Maniolas

THE 15-MAN Bangsamoro transition committee (BTC) will be racing against time and practically against federalism to draft a replacement to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), which was shelved by the previous Congress following a deadly clash that left 44 police commandos dead last year. Members of the government peace panel left early Friday for Kuala Lumpur to activate the implementation phase of previously signed agreements with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Presidential peace adviser Jesus Dureza said that the implementing stage of the Bangsamoro peace accords will be formally launched on Saturday, during which the composition of the BTC will be finalized to embark on two tasks: the crafting of an enabling law for the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro (CAB), and the drafting of proposed constitutional amendments. Replacement of BBL “The (Bangsamoro Peace and Development) Roadmap is for us to come together, get all the Bangsamoro groups to come together and then craft the replacement of the BBL that did not pass and recommend this to Congress for enactment and hopefully we can entrench and install the Bangsamoro government units as quickly as possible while our national government is working toward federalism as the end-game,” Dureza said. Dureza said the government was hoping that an enabling law to expand a Muslim autonomous region would be signed soon. “We hope for an early passage of an enabling law (for the CAB) that is inclusive and will converge all the signed agreements with Read More …

The US Embassy in Manila on Friday reiterated its concern about President Rodrigo Duterte’s homophobic comments against Ambassador Philip Goldberg and hinted Washington was reconsidering aid to the Philippines. But Mr. Duterte said he would not apologize to Goldberg. “He did not apologize to me when we saw each other, why would I apologize to him? He started it,” Mr. Duterte said in a televised interview on Friday. Goldberg drew Mr. Duterte’s ire during the presidential campaign when he commented about a joke made by the candidate during a rally. Mr. Duterte spoke about the gang-rape and murder of an Australian missionary during a prison riot in Davao City in 1989. He said the missionary was so beautiful and he should have been the first to rape her. Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely responded, saying violence against women was unacceptable and should not be trivialized. Joining her, Goldberg, speaking in an interview on CNN Philippines, said the United States did not condone any statement by anyone that degraded women or trivialized serious issues like rape. Mr. Duterte yesterday said Goldberg’s comment hurt him, as it came during the campaign.   ‘I was hurt’ “I was hurt, it was election time. Now I’m somewhat OK,” he said. “Who would not get angry, it was election time and you would say things like that?” he added. Speaking at a military camp in Cebu City on Aug. 5 after a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, who pledged $32 Read More …

In this Aug. 9, 2016 file photo, former Philippine President Fidel Ramos listens to a question during a press briefing at the Philippines consular office in Hong Kong. AP FILE PHOTO Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Friday said China had welcomed him to visit Beijing for discussions in the wake of last month’s ruling of an international arbitration tribunal in favor of the Philippines over China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea. President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Ramos his special envoy to China to initiate talks with Beijing after the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled last month that China’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea had no basis in international law.   READ: Ramos accepts Duterte offer to become special envoy to China The tribunal also found that China violated the Philippines’ rights to fish and explore resources in waters within its 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone in the strategic waterway. Ramos, speaking in Hong Kong near the end of a two-day trip undertaken to rekindle Philippine ties with China, said he had met with two Chinese officials and they had discussed the need to build trust and confidence to reduce tensions in the South China Sea through talks. A longtime advocate of closer Philippine-Chinese ties, Ramos said he had discussions with Fu Ying, chair of the foreign affairs committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s communist-controlled legislature. Fu Ying is a former ambassador to the Philippines. Formal discussions Ramos said he Read More …

The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has partnered anew with SM Supermalls in mounting a photo exhibit and a stage play to raise awareness and uphold the rights and welfare of children with disabilities (CWDs). The photo exhibit titled “See What I Can Do,” held in collaboration with Camera Club of the Philippines, was formally launched recently and opened by Vice President Leni Robredo, Unicef Deputy Representative Julia Rees and SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia. The exhibit featured photographs of CWDs and the outstanding achievements they have done despite their condition. After the opening of the photo exhibit, the play, entitled “Sandosenang Sapatos,” was staged by Tanghalang Pilipino. The musical play is based on Dr. Luis Gatmaitan’s Palanca award-winning children’s book of the same title. It tackles the love between the father and his daughter who was born without legs. Garcia said the objective of the exhibit, which coincided with the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week, was to help raise awareness and create an inclusive environment wherein CWDs’ abilities are highlighted instead of their disabilities. “It is said that children with disabilities are oftentimes misunderstood in society, facing discrimination at times. With society’s lack of understanding, these children and their parents find it hard to realize their full rights and potentials,” Garcia said. Garcia said the play was just one of the collaborative projects SM has with Unicef, being partners since 2008. “This event even becomes more special because it also touches on an advocacy close to our hearts—the Read More …

By: Lito B. Zulueta, January 29th, 2016 03:52 AM THUMBS UP Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle speaks before 15,000 delegates on the fourth day of the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ CEBU CITY, Philippines—Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle criticized corrupt politicians, saying they were part of the “throwaway culture” condemned by Pope Francis. Speaking on the fifth day of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) being held here, Tagle said materialism and individualism had skewed moral and social values, and there was a need to foster the “culture of giving and sharing.” “Politicians, will you throw away people’s taxes for your parties and shopping or guard them as gifts for social services?” the prelate said. While urging dialogue with “traditional and emerging cultures,” Tagle warned against dealing with people whose values were contrary to Christianity. “We should avoid cultures with widespread acceptance but are incompatible with Christian values,” he said. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas admitted that members of the clergy might have committed moral lapses like politicians. Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, asked for forgiveness for the Catholic clergy whose questionable acts might have alienated them from the faithful.   ‘Forgive us’ “Our parishioners, forgive us, your lost shepherds, and beg God to show us His mercy,” Villegas told 15,000 IEC delegates from 71 countries during the penitential service, a ritual that prepares Catholics before confession, at the IEC Pavilion. “May the shepherd and the flock be merciful with each other,” Read More …