Government bans unlabelled silver cleaners

ARE your teeners one of those trendy guys glinting with silver accessories? If they are, beware.

According to some sources, silver accessories made shiny by cleaning solutions flooding the market
now have alarmed authorities over reports of poisoning.

On this, the government has issued warnings against silvers being cleaned by silver cleaning
solutions that are unlabelled and thus come from unregistered sources.

The culprit, silver cyanide, an active component in the cleaning compound has been detected with
over the safe levels in these silver-cleaning products.

Cyanide is a chemical compound that can cause poisoning, especially when cyanide ions are dissolved
in water, according to the wikipedia.

At this, the Departments of Health (DOH) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have
issued a ban on selling of unlabelled silver jewelry cleaning solution.

In a joint advisory dated September 24, both agencies issued a warning on buying unregistered and
unlabelled silver jewelry cleaning solutions or agents proliferating in the market today.

The advisory states, “laboratory analysis of samples of silver cleaners solution show elevated levels of
cyanide clearly posing imminent danger or even death to humans, particularly when accidentally or
deliberately ingested.”

Both agencies said these substances pose as threat to health and safety, thus they stress their strict
prohibition and sale in the market.

The advisory also carries a warning to all commercial establishments such as jewelry shops and other
retail outlets and ambulant vendors against selling or dispensing these silver cleaners.

By Presidential Decree 881, the law has empowered the secretary of the Department of Health to
regulate the sale, labeling and distribution of hazardous substances.

The same decree defines hazardous substance as those which toxic, corrosive, irritant, strong
sensitizer, flammable or combustible and that which causes substantial injury when ingested.

The public then is enjoined to report to the DOH any information leading to the apprehension
of persons engaged in distributing these products. Any individual in possession of such banned
substances may as well surrender them to the DOH for proper disposal, the advisory said.
(racPIABohol)

Malacañang gihangyo nga i-apil ang ‘Morong 43’ sa amnesty proclamation

GIHANGYO sa mga senador ang Malacañang niadtong Martes nga i-apil ang “Morong 43”
sa listahan sa mga beneficiaries ni Presidente Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III sa iyang amnesty
proclamation.

Mao kini ang gisugyot ni Senador Joker Arroyo atol sa Senate hearing sa amnesty
proclamation ni Presidente Aquino.

Ang maong hearing na suspenso niadtong Lunes tungod sa pag-apil sa pangalan ni Senador
Gringo Honasan ug ubang miyembro sa Communist Party of the Philippines-National
Democratic Front sa listahan sa mga beneficiaries.

Gisuportahan usab ni Senador Francis “Chiz” Escudero ang sugyot ni Arroyo og niingon
nga angay hatagan usab og amnestiya ang “Morong 43” dili lamang tungod sa panahon sa
Pasko, apan alang usab sa patas nga proteksyon.

Matud pa ni Escudero nga majority sa iyang mga kauban sa Senado, apil na usab sa mga
magbabalaod sa House of Representatives, nagpaabot lamang sa desisyon ni Presidente
Aquino sa “Morong 43” kinsa gipang-aresto tungod sa giingong ilang kalambigitan sa
underground movement. (PIA)

Palace to pursue corruption probe against previous administration

The Aquino Administration will pursue steps to make officials of the previous administration
accountable for allegations of corruption and wrongdoing, Executive Secretary Paquito N.
Ochoa Jr. said on Tuesday.

Ochoa made the statement after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Executive
Order No. 1, which seeks to establish the Truth Commission whose task is to investigate
reports of graft and corruption committed by officials of the previous administration and their
cohorts from the private sector.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of Executive Order No. 1 will not
deter us from pursuing measures necessary to look into the allegations of corruption by the
previous administration,” Ochoa said.

“While this decision may hamper and perhaps delay our efforts to obtain justice for the
people, we remain steadfast in our commitment to scrutinize the numerous allegations and
accusation in our quest for truth,” he added.

According to the Executive Secretary, Malacañang will file a motion for reconsideration and
explore other options within the bounds of the law to investigate, try and punish those who
may have used and abused their positions to enrich themselves while in office.

President Benigno Aquino III created the Truth Commission in response to urgent call from
the people to determine the truth behind reports of large-scale graft and corruption allegedly
perpetrated by his predecessor and her officials. (PCOO)

Palace to seek reconsideration of SC decision on Truth Commission

Malacanang on Tuesday said it would seek reconsideration of the Supreme Court decision
declaring as unconstitutional Executive Order No. 1, which creates the Truth Commission,
pointing out that the verdict will set back efforts for reforms and accountability in government.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda described the decision as
unfortunate, saying it will set back the reforms the Aquino administration has implemented in
pinpointing the accountability of the previous administration. “We will not be stymied by these
decisions.”

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa meanwhile said that while a motion for reconsideration
will be filed, “we will explore other options within the bounds of the law to investigate, try and
punish those who have used and abused their positions to enrich themselves in office.”

Lacierda said the government will do whatever is appropriate under the circumstances.

On the status of the Commission, Lacierda said as an independent entity, its chairman,
former Chief Justice Hilario Davide was supposed to be one of those drafting the rules.
(PCOO)

Palace mediating in PAL labor row to avoid strike

While members and leaders of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) are
holding a strike vote, Malacañang is trying to mediate between union and management in the
hopes of averting a work stoppage involving around 3,700 workers of the flag carrier.

In a media briefing Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III said that Executive Secretary
Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr. is acting as arbiter between PAL workers and management.

PALEA said Monday it will hold a strike vote Nov. 7 to determine if the association could
muster the numbers needed for a strike. The union said it expects around 3,700 members
from PAL offices in Manila, the airports in Cebu and Davao, and outlying stations in 14 cities
to take part in the strike vote.

On Oct. 29, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz affirmed a March 2010 Department of Labor
and Employment decision allowing PAL management to retrench 2,600 employees to
streamline the airline’s operations.

The move cuts down PAL’s workforce to 4,000 and the Office of the President is still
reviewing the decision of Baldoz.