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DepEd opens registration for PEP test scheduled on June 12, 2014
Manila, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) announced today, April 24, 2014 that registration for the 2014 Special Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) is now open. Test will be administered for free on June 12, 2014 in all schools divisions nationwide.
PEP Test is an exam given to out-of-school youths who wish to continue their formal education. It covers all grade/year level from Grade 1 to Fourth Year high school so that takers can have a chance to move to the next grade or year level or even complete basic education in just one examination.
In the DepEd memorandum no. 48 s. 2014, the administration of 2014 PEP test is in coordination with the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC) and with the assistance of personnel from schools division offices (SDOs). The exam is in line with the Education for All (EFA) goal of DepEd and in commemoration of the 116th Celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.
Registration shall be at the SDOs until May 30, 2014. The Division Testing Coordinators (DTCs) are directed to submit the actual number of registrants to NETRC on or before June 3, 2014.
Requirements for the 2014 PEP test are the following: Form 137/138, birth certificate or baptismal certificate and two 1 x 1 ID pictures.
The memorandum also added that PEPT will be administered based on data on school registration of out-of-school children and youth, who are the primary target, to determine their grade/level placement. Hence, they will be encouraged to avail of the learning modules prepared by the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE), Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) or any other learning resources available at the regional offices.
PEP Test is an exam given to out-of-school youths who wish to continue their formal education. It covers all grade/year level from Grade 1 to Fourth Year high school so that takers can have a chance to move to the next grade or year level or even complete basic education in just one examination.
In the DepEd memorandum no. 48 s. 2014, the administration of 2014 PEP test is in coordination with the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC) and with the assistance of personnel from schools division offices (SDOs). The exam is in line with the Education for All (EFA) goal of DepEd and in commemoration of the 116th Celebration of the Philippine Independence Day.
Registration shall be at the SDOs until May 30, 2014. The Division Testing Coordinators (DTCs) are directed to submit the actual number of registrants to NETRC on or before June 3, 2014.
Requirements for the 2014 PEP test are the following: Form 137/138, birth certificate or baptismal certificate and two 1 x 1 ID pictures.
The memorandum also added that PEPT will be administered based on data on school registration of out-of-school children and youth, who are the primary target, to determine their grade/level placement. Hence, they will be encouraged to avail of the learning modules prepared by the Bureau of Alternative Learning System (BALS), Bureau of Elementary Education (BEE), Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) or any other learning resources available at the regional offices.
Miriam Santiago hits 'vast psywar ops' in pork barrel scam
Manila, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago on Thursday said that "there is a vast, costly, and sinister disinformation operation" to compel the Ombudsman to grant the motions for reconsideration of three senators whom she has found to be liable for plunder in the pork barrel scam.
"The principals in this massive psywar operation are: Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile; his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes; and Enrile's ally and attack dog Panfilo Lacson," Santiago said in a commencement speech today at the Lyceum University-Laguna.
Santiago earlier made the same accusation at separate phone-patch radio interviews with Radyo Bombo Iloilo, and with Radyo Inquirer.
"Enrile, 90, is facing suspension from office as senator, and imprisonment in a detention cell while facing trial. He is desperate to prevent the Ombudsman from filing the case against him in court," Santiago said.
She said that this "trinity of unholy conspirators" include Lacson and Reyes, because both were granted safe haven in Cagayan, his hometown, by Enrile.
Lacson was a fugitive from justice who was never punished by the court when he finally appeared.
"Where is Reyes? Nobody knows. Why would Lacson come forward with a spurious document, one month after he claims that it was handed to him?" Santiago said.
Santiago, a multiawarded former RTC judge, said that Lacson's claims are "so full of holes that it's like a sieve."
She said that it is "incredible" that while the Napoles family could have easily contacted other government officials close to Pres. Aquino, Lacson claims that only he was approached, although he is no longer a senator, and is working as one of many presidential assistants.
The senator warned the public, particularly in Metro Manila, to "keep your composure and remain level-headed" during what she claims will turn out to be a "massive psywar disinformation campaign using pork barrel kickbacks."
She said the aim of the psywar campaign is to discredit the Aquino administration, and distract public attention away from the trial and prosecution of those charged with plunder.
"This is a diversionary tactic, very similar to the so-called Zamboanga uprising. Both are bankrolled heavily, because they are intended to forcibly turn public attention away from the criminal culpability of those charged with plunder. For the respondents, this is a desperate make-or-break situation," she said.
Santiago is a member of the Senate blue ribbon committee probing the pork barrel scam. Earlier, she wrote the committee chair Sen. Teofisto Guingona III to recall Janet Napoles to the witness stand.
Santiago called for a new hearing, on the basis of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's report that Napoles promised to give a complete list of all culpable public officials that she dealt with. Since 2000, Napoles started creating NGOs which became implementing agencies or conduits for ghost projects funded by pork barrel.
Santiago also called for "enlightened skepticism" in accepting Napoles' new version of events. The senator expressed disquiet that Napoles is now claiming that she had transactions with many other public officials, none of whom were named by the whistleblowers who testified at the Senate hearing.
"Napoles could be damaged goods. How come that her former employees have documented dealings with named public officials, but they never mentioned other public officials whom Napoles is now scheduled to reveal?" Santiago said.
"Sec. De Lima is entitled to the legal presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions. Lacson has no legal basis for whatever he thinks he is doing. Remember, he is not even a lawyer, but a policeman with a very shadowy background, including his martial law record of human rights abuses, unsolved police rubouts, and the Atimonan massacre committed by his PNP cohorts," she said.
"The principals in this massive psywar operation are: Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile; his former chief of staff Gigi Reyes; and Enrile's ally and attack dog Panfilo Lacson," Santiago said in a commencement speech today at the Lyceum University-Laguna.
Santiago earlier made the same accusation at separate phone-patch radio interviews with Radyo Bombo Iloilo, and with Radyo Inquirer.
"Enrile, 90, is facing suspension from office as senator, and imprisonment in a detention cell while facing trial. He is desperate to prevent the Ombudsman from filing the case against him in court," Santiago said.
She said that this "trinity of unholy conspirators" include Lacson and Reyes, because both were granted safe haven in Cagayan, his hometown, by Enrile.
Lacson was a fugitive from justice who was never punished by the court when he finally appeared.
"Where is Reyes? Nobody knows. Why would Lacson come forward with a spurious document, one month after he claims that it was handed to him?" Santiago said.
Santiago, a multiawarded former RTC judge, said that Lacson's claims are "so full of holes that it's like a sieve."
She said that it is "incredible" that while the Napoles family could have easily contacted other government officials close to Pres. Aquino, Lacson claims that only he was approached, although he is no longer a senator, and is working as one of many presidential assistants.
The senator warned the public, particularly in Metro Manila, to "keep your composure and remain level-headed" during what she claims will turn out to be a "massive psywar disinformation campaign using pork barrel kickbacks."
She said the aim of the psywar campaign is to discredit the Aquino administration, and distract public attention away from the trial and prosecution of those charged with plunder.
"This is a diversionary tactic, very similar to the so-called Zamboanga uprising. Both are bankrolled heavily, because they are intended to forcibly turn public attention away from the criminal culpability of those charged with plunder. For the respondents, this is a desperate make-or-break situation," she said.
Santiago is a member of the Senate blue ribbon committee probing the pork barrel scam. Earlier, she wrote the committee chair Sen. Teofisto Guingona III to recall Janet Napoles to the witness stand.
Santiago also called for "enlightened skepticism" in accepting Napoles' new version of events. The senator expressed disquiet that Napoles is now claiming that she had transactions with many other public officials, none of whom were named by the whistleblowers who testified at the Senate hearing.
"Napoles could be damaged goods. How come that her former employees have documented dealings with named public officials, but they never mentioned other public officials whom Napoles is now scheduled to reveal?" Santiago said.
"Sec. De Lima is entitled to the legal presumption of regularity in the performance of official functions. Lacson has no legal basis for whatever he thinks he is doing. Remember, he is not even a lawyer, but a policeman with a very shadowy background, including his martial law record of human rights abuses, unsolved police rubouts, and the Atimonan massacre committed by his PNP cohorts," she said.
Top 10: DLSU-Dasma grad tops April 2014 Criminology board exam
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 announced the full results (list of passers, top 10 and performance of schools) for April 2014 Criminologist board exam. Van Allen Escalante Padolina from De La Salle University - Dasmarinas topped the board exam with 92.50 percent grade.
Read: 4,688 out of 13,873 passed the Criminologist Board Examination
Kenneth Glenn Agraviador Grospe, graduate of Philippine College of Criminology ranked second with 91.45 percent grade.
The successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places (Top 10) in the April 2014
Criminologist board exam are the following:
RANK NAME SCHOOL RATING(%)
1 VAN ALLEN ESCALANTE PADOLINA
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS
92.50
2 KENNETH GLENN AGRAVIADOR GROSPE
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
91.45
3 MARY FE MANDIN TAGO-ON
CENTRAL MINDANAO COLLEGES
90.50
4 FRANCIS PANG-AY FAGKANG
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
90.30
5 CLEMENTINA MILLER TOMEG
UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
90.10
6 KATRINA NATIVIDAD REYES
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
90.05
7 JAYSON GUIKED LANGGACAO
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
89.90
8 CHERRIELYN GALENDEZ DAHAN
CAGAYAN DE ORO COLLEGE
89.75
9 APRIL TSUAN DOGWE MATCHOK
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
89.70
10 JOSERWIN JOY RAGA BRIAN
UNIVERSITY OF LUZON (LUZON COLL.)
89.60
MORRISON DUMPAYAN IMINGAN
UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
89.60
NOTHING FOLLOWS--------------------------------
Read: 4,688 out of 13,873 passed the Criminologist Board Examination
Kenneth Glenn Agraviador Grospe, graduate of Philippine College of Criminology ranked second with 91.45 percent grade.
The successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places (Top 10) in the April 2014
Criminologist board exam are the following:
RANK NAME SCHOOL RATING(%)
1 VAN ALLEN ESCALANTE PADOLINA
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-DASMARIÑAS
92.50
2 KENNETH GLENN AGRAVIADOR GROSPE
PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY
91.45
3 MARY FE MANDIN TAGO-ON
CENTRAL MINDANAO COLLEGES
90.50
4 FRANCIS PANG-AY FAGKANG
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
90.30
5 CLEMENTINA MILLER TOMEG
UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
90.10
6 KATRINA NATIVIDAD REYES
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
90.05
7 JAYSON GUIKED LANGGACAO
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
89.90
8 CHERRIELYN GALENDEZ DAHAN
CAGAYAN DE ORO COLLEGE
89.75
9 APRIL TSUAN DOGWE MATCHOK
UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS (for.BAGUIO C.F.)
89.70
10 JOSERWIN JOY RAGA BRIAN
UNIVERSITY OF LUZON (LUZON COLL.)
89.60
MORRISON DUMPAYAN IMINGAN
UNIVERSITY OF BAGUIO
89.60
NOTHING FOLLOWS--------------------------------
NASA discovers first Earth-size planet in 'habitable zone'
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced recently that their astronomers using Kepler Space Telescope have discovered the first Earth-size planet orbiting a star in the "habitable zone" which is about 500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus.
The new planet was named Kepler-186f after the Kepler Mission which is specifically designed to survey regions of the Milky Way galaxy to discover hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone.
"The discovery of Kepler-186f is a significant step toward finding worlds like our planet Earth," said Paul Hertz, NASA's Astrophysics Division director at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
NASA, the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research said that Kepler-186f size is already known but its mass and composition are not. Research adds that the Earth-like planet is most likely rocky.
"We know of just one planet where life exists -- Earth. When we search for life outside our solar system we focus on finding planets with characteristics that mimic that of Earth," said Elisa Quintana, research scientist at the SETI Institute at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., and lead author of the paper published today in the journal Science. "Finding a habitable zone planet comparable to Earth in size is a major step forward."
NASA also said that Kepler-186f orbits its star once every 130-days and receives one-third the energy from its star that Earth gets from the sun, placing it nearer the outer edge of the habitable zone. On the surface of Kepler-186f, the brightness of its star at high noon is only as bright as our sun appears to us about an hour before sunset.
"Being in the habitable zone does not mean we know this planet is habitable. The temperature on the planet is strongly dependent on what kind of atmosphere the planet has," said Thomas Barclay, research scientist at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute at Ames.
The Kepler Space Telescope, which simultaneously and continuously measured the brightness of more than 150,000 stars, is NASA's first mission capable of detecting Earth-size planets around stars like our sun.
The new planet was named Kepler-186f after the Kepler Mission which is specifically designed to survey regions of the Milky Way galaxy to discover hundreds of Earth-size and smaller planets in or near the habitable zone.
"The discovery of Kepler-186f is a significant step toward finding worlds like our planet Earth," said Paul Hertz, NASA's Astrophysics Division director at the agency's headquarters in Washington.
NASA, the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research said that Kepler-186f size is already known but its mass and composition are not. Research adds that the Earth-like planet is most likely rocky.
"We know of just one planet where life exists -- Earth. When we search for life outside our solar system we focus on finding planets with characteristics that mimic that of Earth," said Elisa Quintana, research scientist at the SETI Institute at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., and lead author of the paper published today in the journal Science. "Finding a habitable zone planet comparable to Earth in size is a major step forward."
NASA also said that Kepler-186f orbits its star once every 130-days and receives one-third the energy from its star that Earth gets from the sun, placing it nearer the outer edge of the habitable zone. On the surface of Kepler-186f, the brightness of its star at high noon is only as bright as our sun appears to us about an hour before sunset.
"Being in the habitable zone does not mean we know this planet is habitable. The temperature on the planet is strongly dependent on what kind of atmosphere the planet has," said Thomas Barclay, research scientist at the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute at Ames.
The Kepler Space Telescope, which simultaneously and continuously measured the brightness of more than 150,000 stars, is NASA's first mission capable of detecting Earth-size planets around stars like our sun.
Fortun: Janet Napoles is 'least worthy' as state witness
Manila, Philippines - Janet Napoles is the 'least worthy' to be discharged as a state witness.
This is the statement of the prominent lawyer Raymond Fortun as posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday as he gave legal opinion on Janet Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam brains who was reported now ready to 'tell all' everything she knows about the multi-billion-peso scam.
In a report of ABS-CBN News, Justice Sec. Leila De Lima disclosed that Napoles wants to be a state witness in exchange for all the information she will provide, in an effort to avoid criminal prosecution.
Napoles is among the accused of plundering congressional pork barrel along with Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada by allocating senators’ PDAF to bogus non government organizations owned by her.
In addition, De Lima said that Napoles 'tell all' would be more valuable than the testimony of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes.
However, the high profile lawyer from Fortun Law Office cites some reasons why Napoles cannot be a state witness. Here's the full statement of Atty. Raymond Fortun as he deeply tackled the issue:
Napoles cannot be a state witness on LEGAL grounds. She is the mastermind of the entire scam, having offered a 50% cut to senators and congressmen if their PDAF will be coursed through her bogus NGO's. She benefitted the most from the entire scheme. Being the "most guilty" in the eyes of the law, she is disqualified from applying to become state witness under Section 17, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Napoles cannot be a state witness AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. Sometime in the last quarter of 2013, she was brought before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to testify "in aid of legislation". She made a mockery of the entire proceedings by claiming ignorance of the allegations made by Ben Hur Luy et al and refused to help in the investigation. Her current epiphany is a desperate ploy to evade prosecution and conviction.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on MORAL grounds. The fruits of her illegal activities -- the numerous houses and condominiums in exclusive villages, the dozens of cars, the lavish parties -- require no further explanation. The sources of these funds have been revealed by Ben Hur Luy et al; they came from the hard-earned taxes that we Filipinos have been diligently paying in hopes of improving our country's social services and infrastructure but which, instead, had been diverted into the pockets of the few. To grant to her a status which would enable her to evade imprisonment simply because she will "tell all" sends the wrong message to our children. CRIME DOES NOT PAY.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on STRATEGIC grounds. The government's case has by and large been built on the testimonies of and documents presented by Ben Hur Luy et al. These people have been risking their lives AGAINST JANET NAPOLES and the legislators whose names they have implicated in the Pork Barrel scam since March 2013. Simply put, Ben Hur Luy, Merlina Suñas and company have courted danger in order to expose the illegal activities of their boss, Janet Napoles. Janet Napoles is their enemy. For the government to now align Napoles with the very people who have risked so much to reveal the truth will foment demoralization and may affect the overall effectiveness of the entire prosecution.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on ETHICAL grounds. Lest people forget, one of the first people who visited Napoles when she surrendered at Camp Crame (aside from Boy Pick-Up, that is) was President Noynoy Aquino. What they talked about during that visit has been the subject of a lot of speculation. PNoy should shie away from any implication that Napoles is being coddled and granted special treatment in exchange for persecuting the political opposition."
This is the statement of the prominent lawyer Raymond Fortun as posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday as he gave legal opinion on Janet Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam brains who was reported now ready to 'tell all' everything she knows about the multi-billion-peso scam.
In a report of ABS-CBN News, Justice Sec. Leila De Lima disclosed that Napoles wants to be a state witness in exchange for all the information she will provide, in an effort to avoid criminal prosecution.
Napoles is among the accused of plundering congressional pork barrel along with Senators Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Ponce Enrile and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada by allocating senators’ PDAF to bogus non government organizations owned by her.
In addition, De Lima said that Napoles 'tell all' would be more valuable than the testimony of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile's former chief of staff Jessica "Gigi" Reyes.
However, the high profile lawyer from Fortun Law Office cites some reasons why Napoles cannot be a state witness. Here's the full statement of Atty. Raymond Fortun as he deeply tackled the issue:
"Let's cut the crap; among all the accused in the Pork Barrel scam, Janet Napoles is the least worthy to be discharged as a state witness.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on LEGAL grounds. She is the mastermind of the entire scam, having offered a 50% cut to senators and congressmen if their PDAF will be coursed through her bogus NGO's. She benefitted the most from the entire scheme. Being the "most guilty" in the eyes of the law, she is disqualified from applying to become state witness under Section 17, Rule 119 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Napoles cannot be a state witness AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE. Sometime in the last quarter of 2013, she was brought before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to testify "in aid of legislation". She made a mockery of the entire proceedings by claiming ignorance of the allegations made by Ben Hur Luy et al and refused to help in the investigation. Her current epiphany is a desperate ploy to evade prosecution and conviction.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on MORAL grounds. The fruits of her illegal activities -- the numerous houses and condominiums in exclusive villages, the dozens of cars, the lavish parties -- require no further explanation. The sources of these funds have been revealed by Ben Hur Luy et al; they came from the hard-earned taxes that we Filipinos have been diligently paying in hopes of improving our country's social services and infrastructure but which, instead, had been diverted into the pockets of the few. To grant to her a status which would enable her to evade imprisonment simply because she will "tell all" sends the wrong message to our children. CRIME DOES NOT PAY.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on STRATEGIC grounds. The government's case has by and large been built on the testimonies of and documents presented by Ben Hur Luy et al. These people have been risking their lives AGAINST JANET NAPOLES and the legislators whose names they have implicated in the Pork Barrel scam since March 2013. Simply put, Ben Hur Luy, Merlina Suñas and company have courted danger in order to expose the illegal activities of their boss, Janet Napoles. Janet Napoles is their enemy. For the government to now align Napoles with the very people who have risked so much to reveal the truth will foment demoralization and may affect the overall effectiveness of the entire prosecution.
Napoles cannot be a state witness on ETHICAL grounds. Lest people forget, one of the first people who visited Napoles when she surrendered at Camp Crame (aside from Boy Pick-Up, that is) was President Noynoy Aquino. What they talked about during that visit has been the subject of a lot of speculation. PNoy should shie away from any implication that Napoles is being coddled and granted special treatment in exchange for persecuting the political opposition."
Fortun added that if the Queen of Plunder gets away from her crimes, then the saying "only in the Philippines" acquires an all-time low meaning. - TheSummitExpress.com
