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Aquino: PHL gets ASEAN support on maritime dispute with China

 News
Apr 252013
 
Aquino: PHL gets ASEAN support on maritime dispute with China

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday expressed confidence that the Philippines got the support of the Association on Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the way it is handling its maritime dispute with China. In his speech upon arrival from the ASEAN summit in Brunei, Aquino said he was able to voice out the Philippines’ call for a legally binding code of conduct that will govern the South China Sea during the annual meeting of Southeast Asian leaders. “Batid ng lahat ng pinuno ng ASEAN: ang maigting nating paninindigan ukol sa West Philippine Sea, ay nakatuon, hindi lamang sa pansariling interes ng kanya-kanyang bansa, kundi para rin sa mas aktibong kalakalan, at malawakang kaunlaran sa bahaging ito ng daigdig,” he said. Aquino added that ASEAN leaders also agreed to fully implement the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The Philippines refers to maritime areas on the western side of the country as the “West Philippine Sea.” These include the Kalayaan Island Group, which is part of the disputed Spratly Island, and the Panatag Shoal, which was the site of standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels last year. The ASEAN is a regional organization composed of the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan and China, have overlapping territorial claims on parts of the South China Sea. China claims ownership of the whole South China Sea. ‘Two-step approach’ At a separate press briefing Read More …

Kiram daughter claims 400 followers have established base in Sabah

 News
Apr 252013
 
Kiram daughter claims 400 followers have established base in Sabah

Around 400 followers of the Sultanate of Sulu have managed to slip into Sabah to reinforce their embattled compatriots there and build a guerrilla base, the daughter of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III said Thursday. In a phone interview aired on GMA News TV’s “Balitang Pilipinas,” Princess Jacel Kiram said their guerrilla forces were supplied with food and water. “‘Yung nabalita pong umalis d’yan po ay mga two weeks ago, per batches. And I think, nakabuo na sila ‘dun ng 400 sa isang group and they were able to establish a guerrilla base in Sabah,” she said, adding the group was in the towns of Semporna and Lahad Datu. Jacel bared this amid Malaysia’s claim that at least 35 armed men were shot dead by Philippine forces while trying to enter Sabah. Neither Jacel nor Philippine authorities, however, were able to confirm this. Sabah operations Malaysian security forces launched last month an operation to take over an area in Sabah occupied by about 180 followers of Kiram. The Filipinos sailed from Mindanao to press Kiram’s claim to Sabah. Kiram, 74, claims to be the heir to the Islamic sultanate of Sulu, which once controlled parts of the southern Philippines and a portion of Borneo. Jacel said those who were able to slip to Sabah were Sulu residents whose family members were either killed or maltreated by Malaysian authorities. “Ito lamang ay reaction ng mga tao, especially the Tausug. Grabe ‘yung pangyayari in Sabah. Grabe rin ‘yung pagtrato sa mga Filipinos in Sabah, Read More …

Areas of Luzon hit 37°C

 News
Apr 252013
 
Areas of Luzon hit 37°C

While Metro Manila sizzled Thursday at temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius, at least three areas in Luzon recorded temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong also said temperatures in various parts of the country may continue to rise until at least the first week of May. “Next week ang pinaka peak hanggang first week ng May, kaya pwede malampasan ito,” Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. Quitlong said the highest temperature recorded at Science Garden in Quezon City was 36.3 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature in Metro Manila so far this year was 36.6 degrees Celsius last April 19. Elsewhere in Luzon, Quitlong said temperatures reached 37.0 degrees Celsius in Tuguegarao (Cagayan), Cabanatuan (Nueva Ecija), and Echague (Isabela). For Friday, PAGASA said Metro Manila and Tuguegarao may expect temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius (http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/wb/fcst/pf.pdf). Rain over Mindanao Meanwhile, PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin said parts of Mindanao may expect rain on Friday while Metro Manila and the rest of the country may have isolated rain. PAGASA said the trough of a low-pressure area is extending across Mindanao while easterlies are prevailing over the eastern section of Luzon and Visayas. “Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. It added light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from Read More …

ITLOS completes five-man tribunal that will hear PHL case vs. China

 News
Apr 252013
 
ITLOS completes five-man tribunal that will hear PHL case vs. China

The Philippines’ case against China took another step forward after a United Nations arbitration body named the last three judges in the five-man tribunal that will hear Manila’s complaint over what it calls Beijing’s “excessive” claim to the South China Sea. “We are hoping that this case that we filed with the tribunal will proceed as soon as possible,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez told a press briefing Thursday. International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) President Shunji Yanai on April 24 transmitted a letter to Philippine Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza, head of the Philippine legal team on the arbitration case, informing Manila of the appointment of Mr. Jean-Pierre Cot (France), Mr. Chris Pinto (Sri Lanka), and Mr. Alfred Soons (The Netherlands.) Yanai earlier appointed Mr. Stanislaw Pawlak (Poland) as the second member of the tribunal who will represent China in the proceedings. The Philippines, on the other hand, nominated Mr. Rudiger Wolfrum (Germany) to the tribunal. Illegal Manila took a bold step when it initiated an arbitration process under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on January 21 to try to declare as “illegal” China’s nine-dash claim, which covers nearly the entire resource-rich waters, where some parts are called West Philippine Sea by the Philippines. China has resisted the Philippines’ move to let a U.N. body intervene in the disputes, saying the case was legally infirm and carried unacceptable allegations. China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia have overlapping claims on the islands, Read More …

Heed election bans, UK advises nationals in PHL as polls near

 News
Apr 242013
 
Heed election bans, UK advises nationals in PHL as polls near

Avoid large crowds and heed the election bans on firearms and liquor as the May 13 elections draw closer. This was the gist of the advice the United Kingdom on Wednesday gave to its nationals in the Philippines. “The Philippine government has put in place enhanced security measures in the lead up to the May 2013 congressional and local government elections. These include a ban on bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons. The enhanced measures will remain in place until 13 June 2013,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in an update to its travel advice for the Philippines. It also noted there will be increased checkpoints run by the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. UK nationals were likewise advised there will be a liquor ban in place from May 9 to 13. “Keep up to date with local and international developments, and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings of people,” the FCO advised. The FCO also maintained its advice against all travel to Southwest Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago because of “ongoing terrorist activity and clashes between the military and insurgent groups.” The FCO also advised against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao for similar reasons. Some 113,282 British nationals visited the Philippines in 2012, with most visits being trouble-free, the FCO said. — BM, GMA News

ASEAN leaders talk China, trade at Brunei summmit

 News
Apr 242013
 
ASEAN leaders talk China, trade at Brunei summmit

PNoy off to Brunei for 22nd ASEAN Summit. President Benigno Aquino III gives a last-minute talk to members of his Cabinet during send-off at the NAIA Terminal II in Pasay City on Wednesday. Aquino will be attending the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on April 25. At left is Vice President Jejomar Binay. Benhur Arcayan BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Southeast Asian leaders met in Brunei on Wednesday for talks aimed at easing tensions over the South China Sea and building momentum towards groundbreaking economic partnerships. The annual summit of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) began in the capital of the oil-rich sultanate with a dinner in which the leaders were looking to rebuild unity after unprecedented infighting last year. The split was over how much pressure the group should try to apply to China over competing territorial claims to the resource-rich South China Sea. The Philippines and Vietnam, as well as China and Taiwan, claim parts of the sea, which is also home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes as well as rich fishing grounds. But a push by the Philippines and Vietnam for ASEAN to send a united message to an increasingly assertive China crumbled amid resistance from Cambodia, a close Chinese ally that held the rotating chair of the bloc in 2012. Senior ASEAN figures emphasised ahead of the two-day summit that the group, which for more than four decades has operated by consensus, must work hard to find Read More …

Soldiers in Atimonan bloodbath ask DOJ to drop charges against them

 News
Apr 242013
 
Soldiers in Atimonan bloodbath ask DOJ to drop charges against them

The soldiers implicated in the killing of 13 people in the infamous Atimonan bloodbath have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the multiple murder charges filed against them. In their joint counter-affidavit, the soldiers, led by Lt. Col. Monico Abang, denied that they conspired with the policemen in carrying out what investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said was a case of ambush. The group reminded the prosecution team that it was from a soldier where the NBI found out that the police manning the checkpoint with them had tampered with the evidence at the crime scene. “We would not have disclosed what we saw, taking into consideration that the police actions may be considered as our own act,” the soldiers argued. “Without the statement of the undersigned respondents… the NBI would have not learned of this fact,” they added. They also said they found nothing “suspicious” about the operation, which the police claimed was against a criminal group led by Vic Siman, who was among the 13 fatalities. “There was nothing suspicious in the request made by the police that should have aroused our suspicion that our forces were tapped to form part of a concerted effort to perpetrate the commission of any crime,” they said. “Aside from the sole request for military augmentation, there was no independent indication that the checkpoint will be used to camouflage in any case, the commission of a crime,” they added. In its report, the NBI used one of Read More …

Arroyo to testify in her own plunder case

 News
Apr 242013
 
Arroyo to testify in her own plunder case

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will testify for her own defense in the trial of her plunder case at the Sandiganbayan First Division. Arroyo, the incumbent congresswoman of Pampanga’s second district, is the only witness on the defense list, according to her pre-trial brief filed Wednesday. In the seven-page brief, Arroyo’s lawyers said she’s the sole defense witness since the individuals who have personal knowledge of the fund transactions cannot be compelled to take the witness stand as they are her co-accused in the case, which concerned allegations of fraudulent handling of P366 million confidential intelligence funds of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). Arroyo’s co-defendants were PCSO general manager Rosario C. Uriarte; former PCSO Board chairman Sergio O. Valencia; PCSO board directors Manuel L. Morato, Jose R. Taruc V, Raymundo T. Roquero and Ma. Fatima A. S. Valdes; PCSO budget and accounts manager Benigno B. Aguas; former Commission on Audit chairman Reynaldo A. Villar; and former COA-Intelligence Fund Unit head Nilda B. Plaras. Arroyo, who is seeking re-election in next month’s midterm elections, said she has no personal knowledge about “the release, disbursement, use and liquidation” of the PCSO confidential intelligence funds. For this reason, Arroyo said she would rather wait for her co-accused to finish their own presentations before starting her own defense. “She thus prays that… she be allowed to present evidence last so that she may adopt the testimonies of her co-accused who may testify in their behalf or of such witness as they may present during trial,” her lawyers said. However, Read More …

With appointment papers now corrected, poll commissioner Guia takes oath

 News
Apr 242013
 
With appointment papers now corrected, poll commissioner Guia takes oath

Finally getting his appointment papers corrected, Elections Commissioner Luie Tito Guia took his oath Wednesday afternoon. Poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. administered the oath of office to Guia who was accompanied by his wife Karla and 16-year-old daughter Bernadette Louise. “With Commissioner Guia joining us, wala kaming problema sa disposition ng cases,” Brillantes said in an interview after the oath-taking ceremony. He added that Guia will be attending the special en banc meeting Thursday morning. Among the agenda in the meeting will be the tasks to be given to the newly-appointed commissioners. “Officially, we are now six in the Commission on Elections. Makukumpleto na kami. We are having our special en banc tomorrow and Commissioner Guia will be joining us officially as sixth member,” he said. He added they are just waiting for the formal assumption of Commissioner Al Parreño who is also waiting for his replacement at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. Guia’s oath-taking was delayed because his first name was misspelled first on his appointment papers. Malacanang initially spelled his name with an “o.” Guia, for his part, said he can start his work effective immediately. Asked who will replace him as acting executive director of Lente, a poll watchdog, Guia said they already had a person in mind but still finalizing it. In an interview with GMA News Online, Mrs. Guia believed her husband’s appointment is a gift from God. “Nagkasakit ako six months ago, kailangan kong magpahinga sa bahay. With his fulltime job as Read More …

Kiram brother still in Sabah but on the move

 News
Apr 182013
 
Kiram brother still in Sabah but on the move

The brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is still alive and in Sabah but is on the move, the sultan’s daughter claimed Thursday. Princess Jacel Kiram said Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram is “safe” but is constantly mobile for his safety, radio dzBB’s Rowena Salvacion reported. Agbimuddin had led an armed group to Sabah last February and engaged Malaysian security forces in a three-week standoff that ended in deadly clashes last March 1 and 2. The deadly clashes prompted Malaysian forces to mount offensives against Kiram’s followers. Princess Jacel also claimed as many as 400 supporters of Kiram had gone to Sabah. On the other hand, Princess Jacel said they will likely wait for the next administration to pursue a peaceful resolution to the Sabah row. Malaysia ups tourism pitch Meanwhile, Malaysia is intensifying its tourism pitch to improve perceptions about Lahad Datu, Malaysia’s The Star Online reported. Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general Datuk Azizan Noordin said this should allay fears of prospective visitors. “We are also working with the various embassies and high commissions hoping that they will drop their advisories against travel to these areas. The situation in the areas is currently under control, and is not expected to deteriorate,” he said. — LBG, GMA News

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