Says PUP Political Science Undergraduates Leading the Way Jan. 24, 2012- CIBAC Rep. Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales commends undergraduate students from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) for religiously attending the impeachment proceedings at the Senate since it started last week. The lady solon had learned about this matter from her party-list’s staff. According to her informants, most of the impeachment spectators from the PUP were Political Science students belonging to the Political Science Society (PSS), the university’s lone student association for the course. Says Cruz-Gonzales, learning is not limited to the four walls of the classroom. “College education is just one of the multiple sources of learning- there are many more avenues in which  students can enhance their knowledge to be more productive citizens of the country.” The CIBAC solon argues that learning can be gained from “regular activities such as going to school or joining activities...

Argues Case's Resolution Will Impact on AFP's Conduct     Jan. 12, 2012- CIBAC Rep. Sherwin Tugna commends the leadership of the Office of the Ombudsman for reversing the anti-graft body’s earlier decision in 2009 to dismiss the murder charges filed against 10 Navy personnel in connection to the death of Navy Ensign Philip Pestaño in 1995. “At last, justice beckons for the Pestanos and the country as well,” gushes Tugna. “While new evidence was presented more than two years ago, it was sad that the Ombudsman did not seriously consider them. Zooming in on the circumstances of Philip’s death reveals that the cause could not have been suicide as his superiors had insisted.” The CIBAC solon notes reports given to the Senate and the Armed Forces about an illegal shipment of lumber aboard the the BRP Bacolod City where Pestaño was cargo deck officer. Apparently, it was in exchange for drums of fuel oil. Allegedly, the sailor objected to it but was told by his superiors...

  Argues Need for Review of Environmental Policies
Planting trees in disaster prone areas is not enough to prevent another Sendong tragedy. According to CIBAC Rep. Sherwin Tugna, it will take a couple of years for seedlings to take root and be able to effectively prevent erosion. Meanwhile, stronger typhoons and more incessant rains are expected to pummel the country this year. Thus, besides tree-planting activities, the “government needs to actualize other necessary short and long-term preventive steps.” Earlier, on Jan. 9, DENR Sec. Ramon Paje inked a P50 million deal with ARMM OIC Gov. Mujiv Hataman to reforest 2,500 hectares of denuded forest in the region’s five provinces. The project is part of the government’s National Greening Program which, according to its website, aims to “plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares by 2016.” Says Tugna, there is a holistic way to address the denudation and deforestation of mountains and forests...