No one is above the law
Take for instance the case of the celebrated mixed nationality players who dream of coming back to their homeland to showcase their skills and show their love for the game of basketball as professional cagers.
They have to secure clearances from the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Justice and even the Department of Labor and Employment to ensure their proper application for local employment.
Another classic example is the hoard of nurses seeking employment abroad who, aside from having to pass the CGFNS, have to pay the necessary fees and complete the required piles of documentation to gain entry into another country.
In both cases, locals abide by the law even if it means risking everything just to make sure that everything is in order and avoid the nuances that may arise later on. Compare this with some non-Filipino entities which flagrantly violate our laws just to feed their own ulterior motives and further their businesses. There are certain professions which only Filipinos can practice in this country like accounting and auditing.
Yet some foreign firms manage to practice here. Some pose as consultants to their local partners but, in practice, they sometimes go beyond what their duties and responsibilities as consultants cover, to the extent that they essentially perform the tasks of regular auditors or accountants.
Not that there is something wrong with this, In fact they may even make other people’s lives easier, but it reaches a point that they breach the law. Apart from practicing professions exclusively reserved for Filipino citizens, apparently, these foreign firms operate in the country illegally – in direct defiance of the agreements covering offshore operations of a foreign entity in another country.
Also, a number do not pay taxes at all despite the windfall revenues they get from prestigious contracts with prominent clients – a clear case of corporate tax evasion. In the case of these mixed nationality basketball players, they are willing to adhere to the rules and regulations governing not only the Philippine Basketball Association but the country as well and even have to pay the proper taxes once employed.
The same thing holds true for our nurses. They will be subject to the laws of the country they will work in and be taxed accordingly. In this world where trade barriers are swiftly falling down and the exchange of goods as well as people is more liberated than before, laws governing each country will serve as the fundamental basis to safeguard against illegitimate and abusive conduct on the notion of globalization. We appeal to everyone to adhere to the rule of law wherever and whenever. In the same manner, we call on the guardians of the constitution to strictly enforce the rule of law especially with respect to the influx of foreign professionals and their involvement into our local affairs. Let us not allow our laws to be desecrated by self-serving individuals with devious schemes guised under the umbrella of globalization.
Not so hidden agenda
Kudos to Jurist Bar: The legal profession is abuzz with excitement over one particular law graduate who passed the recent bar examinations with flying colors – placing sixth in the prestigious top 10 list.
Gladys Gervacio from the University of Perpetual Help of Rizal was cited by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban and Justice Romeo Callejo during the oath-taking for new lawyers for garnering perfect scores in two bar subjects – labor law and legal ethics – the first in the history of the bar exams. Retired Supreme Court Justice Florenz Regalado still holds the distinction of having the highest score in the bar, yet he scored 100 only in one subject which is remedial law.
Gervacio is University of Perpetual Help’s first bar exam placer and her remarkable performance she attributes largely to the preparation she received from the Jurist Bar Review Center in Las Piñas with its unique bar review program that features coaching with multi mock bar exams. Jurist, put up only last year, also recorded an 85 percent passing percentage among those who regularly attended the review classes and took the mock exams, none of who attended UP or Ateneo Law Schools. Aside from the coaching and mock exams, Jurist also has its regular review for the eight bar subjects. Atty. Manuel Riguera is the review director.
Outstanding students cited: Splash Foundation held its "Splash Henyong Pinoy – Outstanding Student Scientific Research Award" with P1 million in prizes given away to the winning students, teachers and schools. It recognizes exemplary, pioneering and innovative research projects on indigenous marine and terrestrial flora and fauna as a natural source of active ingredient for beauty, personal or health care products.
The awards, P300,000 to the student, P50,000 to the adviser and P100,000 to the school of the grand prize winner, provide incentives for students to look at their undergraduate thesis not only as a requirement for graduation, but as an opportunity to advance scientific research in the country. Students of Our Lady of Fatima University composed of Chad Ryan Mallari, Archival Guzman and Joseph Avril Milanes II under the supervision of their adviser Elaine Lanuza bagged the grand prize. Their winning research piece was entitled "The Effect of an Indigenous Plant Extract on the Blood Glucose Level." First runner up was Anthony Sebastian Montuno of the UP Diliman Institute of Biology with Dr. Sonia Jacinto as adviser. Taking the second runner up slot is the paper submitted by Kathleen Ann Enriquez, supervised by her adviser Marni Cueno of UP Los Banos. Consolation prizes went to Gerard Lorenz Penecilla of the West Visayas State University, Dept. of Biological Sciences and Ma. Ilah Yumul of the Ateneo de Manila University.
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