Latest news with #Ridon
GMA Network
18-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
VP Sara's bank records, SALN can be legally disclosed during trial —solon
The bank records and the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Vice President Sara Duterte can be legally disclosed during her impeachment trial, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon said. Ridon said the disclosure is relevant to the fourth article of impeachment relating to the culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, particularly the allegations of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN. "The bank records will be examined to determine whether there exists a direct correspondence between her family's typical income and her bank deposits and other investments. It should be noted that former Chief Justice Renato Corona had been convicted on the basis of non-disclosure of several assets in his SALN," he explained. The lawmaker said such disclosure is provided under the 2006 Supreme Court decision in the Ejercito v. Sandiganbayan case wherein the High Court ruled that the bank records of then President Joseph Ejercito can be disclosed during his Sandiganbayan plunder trial because of two exemptions provided under the Bank Secrecy Law. These exemptions are that the examination of bank accounts is upon the order of a competent court in cases of bribery or dereliction of duty of public officials, and that the money deposited or invested is the subject matter of the litigation. 'That [Ejercito v. Sandiganbayan] is the right jurisprudence. Lahat po yan pwedeng buksan kapag nasa impeachment trial na po. The prosecution can request the SALN from the Ombudsman, the Vice President, and even the bank can be asked from the banks,' Ridon said in a news forum. 'In fact, we can also ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council para sa record ng pagpasok at paglabas na pera,' he added. However, the disclosure of these bank deposits and the SALN ultimately rests on the Senate impeachment court, which will vote once a motion for disclosure is put forward by the prosecutors. 'To be very clear, the motions will be subject to a vote by the Senate, so we'd like to manage expectations. The Senate can approve or deny requests for further information on bank accounts,' Ridon said. Asked if the Senate would risk getting the ire of the public in the event it denies such requests for further information, Ridon said it is too early to say. 'We can't preempt how the public would react. But as an impeachment court, it is really the Senate that has the authority on that,' he added. The Vice President's spokesperson, Ruth Castelo, earlier said that her boss is "ready" if the impeachment proceeds. 'The Vice President is ready, she's been saying that. And she's eager to be able to present her case or her evidence in the impeachment court so that once and for all, all doubts cast on her will go away. And that's what she wants,' Castelo said. The impeachment case put forward by the House accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly due to alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and for threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza, and his cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Dolomite Beach inquiry eyed amid Manila flooding
A congressional inquiry on the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project has been proposed before the House of Representatives. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon made the call under his House Resolution 56, saying the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), through its Chairman Don Artes, identified the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project as a direct contributor to the persistent flooding in the City of Manila. 'Specifically, it (Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project) caused the blockage of three major drainage outfalls—Faura, Remedios, and Estero de San Antonio Abad—forcing rainwater to be rerouted through a sewage treatment plant incapable of handling flood volumes during heavy rains,' Ridon said. In addition, Ridon cited that the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project was never part of the then National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) -approved Manila Bay Rehabilitation Master Plan. The artificial beach was built during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, The 900-meter long and 60-meter wide beach was later closed for expansion which was completed in 2022. 'As such, it was never envisioned to protect Manila Bay's coastal resources nor to prevent coastal flooding, erosion, or pollution. It is a cosmetic project masquerading as rehabilitation, and has now proven harmful to flood mitigation efforts in Manila,' Ridon said. The lawmaker said the inquiry will shed light on the following issues: Whether the project was a necessary government expense to fulfill the Supreme Court's Writ of Continuing Mandamus on Manila Bay rehabilitation; Whether it was subjected to a proper environmental impact study, especially with respect to flooding in the City of Manila; Whether its implementation aggravated flooding in adjacent areas due to the obstruction of drainage outfalls; Whether the ?389 million project cost was within standard pricing for comparable beach nourishment works; Whether criminal and administrative liability attaches to government officials involved if the project is deemed unnecessary or irrelevant to the mandamus, implemented without a proper Environment Impact Assessment, grossly overpriced, or directly responsible for worsening Manila flooding. 'It is nothing but a criminal wastage of public funds—?389 million that could have been far better spent on sewage treatment plants and other engineering interventions grounded in science and sustainability. We will undertake a full congressional inquiry, determine criminal and administrative liability, and hold every government official directly involved in the origination, planning, and implementation of this project accountable,' Ridon said. Back in June 2021, then President Duterte said the white sand in the Dolomite Beach Project needs to be replenished since the waves have wiped them out. — RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
08-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Lawmakers push for stricter regulations on online gambling amid moves to ban
"That money doesn't vanish. It goes directly into hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, community programs, and social services that improve our daily lives," Benitez said, referring to the billions in revenues yearly. First-term House members on Tuesday pushed for improved regulations on online gambling amid measures seeking restrictions and even a total ban. Negros Occidental Rep. Javi Benite said regulated online gambling generated over P200 billion in revenues annually. He added that more than 40,000 Filipino workers depended directly on regulated online gambling platforms. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said smarter government regulatory policies are the way to go, citing the need for balance as "there are actual government revenues generated through online and physical gambling activities." "That money doesn't vanish. It goes directly into hospitals, schools, infrastructure projects, community programs, and social services that improve our daily lives," Benitez said, referring to the billions in revenues yearly. Benitez said the online gaming platform DigiPlus reported paying P33.7 billion in taxes. "This is because legal, regulated platforms keep gambling transparent and accountable,' Benitez said. Benitez is the son of Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez, the founder of the online gaming platform DigiPlus. The elder Benitez has since divested control of the company. '[DigiPlus verifies] ages to protect minors, ensure games are fair, prevent exploitation, and help spot and support people struggling with gambling addiction early, which is not possible when with underground operators. Outright bans only make matters worse,' Benitez said. As regards the workers relying on online gambling, Benitez said, "These are real people with families, relying on these jobs for food, education, healthcare, and a better life." "That is why I fully support stricter regulations, including smarter, tighter controls to protect citizens and maximize public benefit,' Benitez said. "The reality is simple: Gambling is here to stay. The only question is whether we want it safely regulated and benefiting our communities or unregulated and controlled by criminals. Let's protect Filipino jobs, fund essential services, and keep our people safe," he added. Ridon said it was "to decouple the access of online gaming in popular payment platforms because that could use up all the money people have." 'For one, a physical cash-in can be implemented, just like when you are placing your bet in lotto, wherein the person goes to the physical lotto outlet,' Ridon added. Ridon suggested raising the minimum cash-in for bettors, which could be pegged at P10,000 or P20,000 to ensure that the bettors would think twice about spending that much instead of spending it on groceries and school expenses, among other necessities. 'This is a huge difference from the current setup, wherein you can bet as low as P1 or P20,' Ridon said. Senator Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri on Monday filed his proposed Anti-Online Gambling Act of 2025, seeking to mandate internet service providers, mobile network operators, and digital platforms to block access to gambling websites and remove related apps within 72 hours upon notice from the Department of Justice or Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. At the House of Representatives, Akbayan party-list Representatives Chel Diokno, Perci Cendaña, and Dadah Ismulla filed House Bill 1351 seeking to limit access to online gambling or the Kontra e-Sugal Act. Under the proposal, access to online gambling or casinos will be limited by imposing the following measures: establishment of strict age verification protocols prescribing limits on advertising and promotion implementing a national- self-exclusion registry imposing betting loss limits prescribing minimum guidelines for player protection creating a harm mitigation levy recognize gambling disorder as a public health condition banning campaign contributions from gambling operators and implement strict penalties for unlicensed operators and non-compliant persons. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Think tank urges SEC to double efforts vs. unlicensed crypto exchanges
Think tank Infrawatch on Thursday called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to close enforcement gaps, which enable unregistered platforms to facilitate fraud and abuse. Infrawatch convenor Terry Ridon said the SEC's Strategic Sandbox (StratBox), which allows licensed crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to test new products and services under regulatory supervision, was a timely measure that will promote innovation in the country's digital asset ecosystem. 'The sandbox model supports innovation but only for regulated and licensed entities. The use of crypto for illicit activities remains rampant particularly on unregulated and unlicensed firms, and the government should crackdown on firms operating in the Philippine market,' he said in a statement. 'If the SEC seeks strict compliance from licensed cryptocurrency exchanges, it should undertake stronger measures to crackdown on unlicensed exchanges operating in the Philippines, particularly through advisories warning the public against investing in these firms,' Ridon added. Launched in May, the StratBox was designed to give registered crypto firms a controlled environment to develop and deploy digital financial products while allowing regulators to assess associated risks. Ridon said the SEC should work closely with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to implement access restrictions on illegal platforms, similar to the agency's earlier move to block Binance from operating in the country without proper registration. 'Compliant players are subject to strict regulatory requirements, while unlicensed entities often operate with fewer restrictions, creating a distorted environment where non-compliance appears more profitable,' Ridon said. 'This sends the wrong signal to the market and undermines confidence in the regulatory framework,'' he added. Ridon pointed out that any push to develop the digital asset sector should be grounded in a strong system of transparency, accountability, and law enforcement. GMA News Online has reached out to SEC for comment. — BM, GMA Integrated News
