Additional ATM fees a burden to clients

MANILA, Philippines state on July 2019 that the Bank clients consider the plan to
increase automated teller machine (ATM) fees burdensome, Senator Grace Poe said
on Monday. In recent weeks as prices continue to rise for other basic commodities,
some say ATM fees have risen. She said also that she have learned that ATM fees
may be increased, amid the increase in prices of some basic goods. According to the
banks, this fee increase is needed for service maintenance, Poe said during the
hearing of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies
which she heads. She also added that the imposition of these additional fees is
considered somewhat burdensome by majority of our bank consumers and it’s even
worse for OFWs who have to pay for additional charges when sending their hard-
earned money to their families. She continued that Remittances that are huge,
contributing to the growth of our economy are still hurting. What would be left if we
didn't take care not to abuse it. The Senate hearing was conducted after the Bangko
Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) lifted of a six-year moratorium on ATM fees in July 2019.

In a memorandum to all BSP-supervised financial institutions, the central bank

ordered that appropriate disclosures on ATM fees and charges should be provided
to the cardholders. The moratorium on fees was imposed by the BSP a few years ago
amid complaints by ATM users of unreasonable fees being charged by certain banks
for ATM transactions. The banking industry defended these fees as being the price
needed to support the provision of these conveniences.
Dela Rosa: Names of ‘Narco Cops’ should be made public

Senator Bato dela Rosa on Tuesday expressed support to the idea of publishing
the names of police officers involved in the illegal drug trade, otherwise termed
as “narco cops.” He is a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), he
said that if the government published the list of “narco politicians” it should also
release the list of “narco cops” as there to serve and protect, not the drug lords.
He also stated that It's better to be public because it's on the congressman's
watchlist, and it’s better if it will be made public because if those congressmen,
mayor in the watchlist are being disclosed why not these policemen can handle?
He told the reporters in an interview. Based on him if there should be the first to
be pushed, it is the police who are involved because they are there to serve and
protect the people not the drug lords in case If there are those who should be
pinned he added.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former chief of the PNP-Criminal

Investigation and Detection Group. He had conducted intelligence operations into
the illegal activities of law enforcement agents while he was CIDG chief. Earlier he
revealed that corrupt policemen recycle drugs seized during legitimate
operations, a scheme dubbed as “Agaw-Bato,” and do business with convicted
drug lords detained in the New Bilibid Prison. He told the Senate inquiry into
irregularities in the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) that corrupt policemen who
recycle seized drugs, a racket known as “agaw bato,” do business with convicted
drug lords detained in New Bilibid Prison. He also testified in the inquiry led by
Sen. Richard Gordon as a resource person, who has served as CIDG chief from
2013 to 2015, and is now mayor of Baguio City. He had conducted intelligence
operations into the illegal activities of law enforcement agents while he was CIDG
chief. According to Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee said that
they will suspend the regular hearing but they will continue the executive session
for the following people.

Yolanda Camilon, common-law wife of an NBP inmate, earlier testified before the
Senate panel and said she paid Bansil P50,000 for the early release of her partner
under the GCTA law.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said that during the executive session,
Magalong revealed that a high-ranking PNP official is protecting subordinates
involved in the illegal drug trade. However, Magalong did not say whether the
official benefited from the alleged illicit activities of his men.