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DFA monitors no ‘specific threats’ to PH diplomatic posts abroad

 News
Aug 052013
 
DFA monitors no ‘specific threats’ to PH diplomatic posts abroad

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 3:32 pm | Monday, August 5th, 2013 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not monitored any specific threats to its posts abroad after the United States (US) has closed at least 20 of its embassies in the Middle East and Africa due to threats. “We recognize the prerogative and the need for any country to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their personnel and their people,” DFA spokesman, Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez, told reporters Monday. “So far they have not monitored any specific threats but they continue to monitor the security situation in their areas,” he said. The diplomatic posts of the US would be closed until August 10 Saturday. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: al-Qaeda , DFA , Features , Global Nation , global warning , Philippine Embassies , Terrorism Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Fil-Ams urge new US envoy to push for stronger military ties

 News
Aug 052013
 
Fil-Ams urge new US envoy to push for stronger military ties

By Vivian Zalvidea AraulloINQUIRER.net US Bureau 2:30 pm | Monday, August 5th, 2013 Newly named Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg PHOTO FROM STATE.GOV SAN FRANCISCO—Filipino American leaders are calling on newly appointed US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg to push for stronger military relations between the United States and the Philippines. They agreed that the dispute between the Philippines and China over territory and maritime lanes in the East and South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) should be the new ambassador’s top concern. “The United States is already ‘pivoting’ towards Asia because of the prominent and aggressive role China has been playing in the past 10 years,” said Loida Nicolas-Lewis, chair of the US Pinoys for Good Government.  “Because of the strategic position of the Philippines in South East Asia, it is in the interest of the United States to be more present in our area.” The disputed territories are believed to be rich in oil and mineral deposits. Claimant countries Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines have complained about various incidents and “acts of aggression” allegedly initiated by China that threaten and encroach upon its stakes in the disputed areas. Jay Gonzalez, professor of Asian studies and international politics at the University of San Francisco believes the US should strengthen its military cooperation with and increase military aid to the Philippines. “American military exercises are very critical, because of the US’ capacity to invite more participants [other countries],” said Gonzalez. “If the US doesn’t conduct these multicountry exercises Read More …

Binay seeks salary law revision to stem flight of skilled gov’t workers

 News
Aug 052013
 
Binay seeks salary law revision to stem flight of skilled gov’t workers

By Kristine Angeli SabilloINQUIRER.net 2:10 pm | Monday, August 5th, 2013 Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday called for the review and subsequent amendment of the Salary Standardization Law to address the exodus of highly skilled government workers to higher paying jobs abroad. “I call on Congress to pursue revisions in the Salary Standardization Law. We need to make sure that we can offer our government workers, especially those performing highly technical work, a compensation package that sustains their families and recognizes their skills and competencies,” Binay said in a statement. The Vice President said the review of salaries and benefits of employees is needed to stop the “brain drain” involving highly skilled government workers, especially amid reports that another weather forecaster and eight aerobridge operators of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have left the country for higher paying jobs abroad. “It is simply not right that the country is deprived of the technical knowledge and expertise of Filipinos who would otherwise be more than willing to serve the country, but are forced to look for greener pastures just to meet the most basic needs of their families,” he said. Binay emphasized the need to retain their services, saying that they play an important role in making the country’s economic gains more tangible. “Aside from ensuring safety and efficiency, our government workers perform public services necessary to implement the national government’s development policy and address concerns of the business Read More …

BRP Ramon Alcaraz enters PH – Navy

 News
Aug 012013
 
BRP Ramon Alcaraz enters PH – Navy

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 2:32 pm | Thursday, August 1st, 2013 The BRP Ramon Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippine Navy under the Foreign Military Sales Program of the United States. The ship was named after Philippine Navy Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a World War II hero who commanded the Philippine Offshore Patrol’s Q-Boat Q-112 Abra which shot down three Japanese aircraft. US EMBASSY PHOTO RELEASE MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ second warship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, arrived early Thursday from an almost-two month voyage from the United States. The warship, with 88 Navy personnel on board led by Captain Ernesto Baldovino, entered the Philippine area of responsibility past 1 a.m., Navy spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic  told INQUIRER.net. “It is expected to be in Casiguran, Aurora by Friday morning,” Fabic said, but declined to provide the current location of the ship for operational security purposes. In Casiguran, BRP Ramon Alcaraz will be welcomed by local fishing vessels. The next day (August 3), BRP Gregorio del Pilar will welcome BRP Ramon Alcaraz on Bolinao waters. The ship is expected to anchor in Subic Bay on Sunday (August 4). A formal welcome ceremony  will be held at Alava Wharf at Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales on Tuesday (August 6). The decommissioned US Coast Guard ship, left Charleston in South Carolina in USA last June 10. It made port stops in Mayport in Florida; San Diego in California; Hawaii and Guam. Related story: Country’s 2nd warship starts Read More …

PH recommends peacekeepers stay in Golan

 News
Jul 312013
 
PH recommends peacekeepers stay in Golan

Associated Press 3:08 pm | Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 An old tank is surrounded by fire following explosions of mortar shells from Syria on the Israeli controlled Golan Heights. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ top diplomat says he has reversed an earlier recommendation to the president and now wants about 340 Filipino peacekeepers to stay in the Golan Heights for at least six months after the UN promised to bolster their safety. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told a news conference in Manila on Wednesday that UN officials assured him in a recent meeting in New York that they would fulfill three conditions laid down by the Philippine government, including providing the peacekeepers with more self-defense weapons. Del Rosario asked President Benigno Aquino III in May to withdraw the peacekeepers from Golan due to escalating hostilities between Syrian rebels and government troops in the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone that separates Syria from the Israeli-occupied plateau. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Filipino peacekeepers , Global Nation , Golan Heights , United Nations Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague Read More …

PH warship test fires guns off Zambales; BRP Ramon Alcaraz due Friday

 News
Jul 312013
 
PH warship test fires guns off Zambales; BRP Ramon Alcaraz due Friday

By Frances MangosingINQUIRER.net 3:02 pm | Wednesday, July 31st, 2013 PH’S 2ND WARSHIP The BRP Ramon Alcaraz. PHOTO FROM TWITTER ACCOUNT OF PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN US MANILA, Philippines – The country’s warship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, successfully test fired its guns off Zambales last Monday, a navy official said Wednesday. The naval drill was held as the Navy prepares to welcome the arrival in the Philippines of BRP Gregorio del Pilar’s sister ship, BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic told reporters that the gunnery test of its Oto Melara 76mm main gun hit a floating “killer tomato” located two nautical miles away within five rounds. He added that BRP Gregorio del Pilar is near the Subic area to welcome the country’s second warship, BRP Ramon Alcaraz, which is due to arrive on August 2. Fabic, however, clarified that the test firing was not a show of force against China. The Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a disputed territory between China and Philippines, is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales. He described the guns, the primary weapon of del Pilar, as “excellent.” The Oto Melara 76mm gun has a range of up to 10 nautical miles, and can fire up to 80 rounds in 60 seconds. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers Read More …

PH firms in Nigeria ‘doing very well’ – foreign minister

 News
Jul 292013
 
PH firms in Nigeria ‘doing very well’ – foreign minister

By Matikas SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 3:07 pm | Monday, July 29th, 2013 Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru visits the country to meet with DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario. He expressed satisfaction with the meeting and hopes that the two countries will be able to improve economic ties. MANILA, Philippines – The Nigerian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with his recent visit to the Philippines to meet with his counterpart in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “Very satisfied. We believe this will enable us to develop relations to a much higher level between our two countries,” Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ayodeji Ashiru told reporters in an ambush interview Monday after his meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. He said that they discussed improving economic cooperation between the two countries in the sectors of energy, agriculture and manufacturing in Nigeria. “We have identified areas where Nigeria and the Philippines can best cooperate in this economic level, one of these is power sector. We are already [know of a] Filipino company [that established] a partnership with a Nigerian company [and] won the bid for power generation in the south west [region of Nigeria],” Ashiru said. “We believe this will also propel the Filipino companies to make inroads into Nigeria. Already there are some of them that have established presence in Nigeria and they are doing very well in the manufacturing sector,” he said. Ashiru said that he raised concerns about Nigerian nationals who are in the country but have yet Read More …

Jonjie de los Reyes; 56

 News
Jul 232013
 
Jonjie de los Reyes; 56

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:59 am | Wednesday, July 24th, 2013 Juliet Arnobit de los Reyes, former corporate executive of GMA Network, Inc., died on July 17 in Henderson, Nevada, after a yearlong battle with brain cancer. She was 56. Known to friends and family as “Jonjie” or “JJ,” De Los Reyes is survived by her husband, Byron Norgren De Los Reyes, and sons Brian Julian, David Christopher and Michael Patrick. She also leaves behind her parents, Eleuterio Arnobit and Dafne Calderon Arnobit, and brothers Terry, Vic, and Ed, all of Honolulu, Hawaii. One brother, Rene, lives in Manila. De Los Reyes’ remains are at the Davis Funeral Home at 6200 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada. Viewing and a memorial service have been set for Friday, July 26, at 2 p.m. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Death Notice , Global Nation , Jonjie de los Reyes , Juliet Arnobit de los Reyes , Obituary , Philippines , US Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

BI denies illegally holding American in overstaying case

 News
Jul 152013
 
BI denies illegally holding American in overstaying case

By Jocelyn R. UyPhilippine Daily Inquirer 5:18 am | Tuesday, July 16th, 2013 Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr.: Allegation baseless MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday denied arbitrarily detaining an American it had arrested three years ago for overstaying his visa. In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. belied the claim of Walter Francis Groves that the bureau had been violating his rights since his arrest on March 23, 2010. David said the BI could not allow Groves’ deportation pending the final resolution of his estafa case in the Makati City regional trial court. While Grove’s case had been “provisionally dismissed,” David said it could still be revived should the parties to the case fail to comply with the compromise agreement reached at the proceedings. David also cited the contention of prosecutor Roberto Lao—who was assigned to the BI by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima—that under the rules the bureau had to wait two years from the date of the provisional dismissal of the case before Groves could be deported to the United States. “But if the court would issue a clearance that there was no more pending case against him, we would waste no time and deport him immediately aboard the first available flight to the US,” David said. He also said he could not approve a bail petition filed by Grove because the deportation order against him was final. Earlier, Grove filed a complaint against David in the Office of the President, charging that he Read More …

One dead, 31 injured as Typhoon Soulik hits Taiwan

 News
Jul 132013
 
One dead, 31 injured as Typhoon Soulik hits Taiwan

Agence France-Presse 3:13 pm | Saturday, July 13th, 2013 TAIPEI—Typhoon Soulik battered Taiwan with torrential rain and powerful winds on Saturday that left one person dead and at least 30 people injured. This as the typhoon, codenamed “Huaning” in the Philippines, left the country’s area of responsibility Saturday morning, prompting the lifting of all public storm alerts in extreme Northern Luzon. As daylight dawned, some areas in Taiwan were submerged by flood waters, roofs were ripped from homes, and debris and fallen trees littered the streets. More heavy rain and strong winds are predicted throughout Saturday with the authorities warning of landslides and further flooding. More than 8,000 people were evacuated from their homes before the typhoon hit, many from southern areas prone to landslides. Soldiers have been deployed to high risk areas and the whole island declared an “alert zone” by the authorities. In the capital Taipei, a 50-year-old police officer died after being hit by bricks that came loose during the typhoon, the Central Emergency Operation Centre said. Three people were left seriously injured with 31 reported hurt in four cities in northeast Taiwan, most of them hit by trees or flying debris. Soulik made landfall on the northeast coast around 03 a.m. Saturday (2000 GMT Friday), packing winds of up to 190 kilometers an hour (118 miles), the Central Weather Bureau said. “We expect Soulik to continue to affect Taiwan with heavy rains and strong winds throughout Saturday across Taiwan even though it is moving away and Read More …

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