Maniolas

By Frances Mangosing |INQUIRER.net 5:34 pm | Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 Filipino peacekeepers. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—What is the next mission for Filipino peacekeepers after their “greatest escape” in Golan Heights? That’s Pope Francis and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in 2015. “So far, we have already given the marching order by the Chief of Staff to secure the Pope. So, presently we are conducting — reorganizing our units. Definitely, it will be a different mission and we are already preparing our training; and, of course, we have given a lot of coordination most probably with the Philippine National Police because as announced by the Chief of Staff we will be under supervision by the Philippine National Police. And with that, then we are preparing ourselves, conditioning ourselves and, most probably, there will be another different task that lies ahead of us and we are just only prepared,” said Lieutenant Col. Ted Dumusmog, 7th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights Commander on Wednesday, October 1. Dumusmog will also lead the next missions. The Filipino peacekeepers returned home last September in two batches, after being deployed in Golan Heights last November 2013. “Definitely, it is a challenging mission because it’s not like a combat mission that we used to undertake but it is different. We do not know yet what is the specific of it so we are just waiting for the mission that will be given to us come January 15, next year,” Dumusmog said. He added that they would Read More …

By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 4:29 pm | Wednesday, October 1st, 2014 Protesters shout slogans outside a flag-raising ceremony where Hong Kong’s embattled leader attended in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, to mark China’s National Day. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying attended the flag-raising ceremony Wednesday to mark China’s National Day after refusing to meet pro-democracy demonstrators despite their threats to expand the street protests that have posed the stiffest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took control of the former British colony in 1997. AP MANILA, Philippines—China warned against other countries that have expressed support for the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests to stay out of “China’s internal affairs.” “I’d like to reiterate that Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of China, and Hong Kong affairs fall entirely within China’s internal affairs,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference. “We urge relevant countries to be prudent in words and deeds, refrain from interfering in Hong Kong’s internal affairs in any way, and do not support the illegal activities such as the ‘Occupy Central’ nor send any wrong signal,” she said in the briefing, the transcript of which was uploaded on the foreign ministry website. Thousands of protesters have occupied major highways near government buildings in Hong Kong calling on the Beijing government to allow genuine democratic elections to take place in 2017. Beijing intends to screen the candidates who can run as Chief Executive of the semi-autonomous city. The United States (US) has Read More …

AT THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY By Matikas Santos |INQUIRER.net 3:09 pm | Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines—Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario sounded the alarm before the United Nations (UN) general assembly Tuesday against China’s “dangerous, reckless and forceful activities” in the South China Sea. “We have invited a State Party to settle our maritime disputes peacefully through Unclos (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) including its provisions on dispute settlement, specifically arbitration,” del Rosario said referring to China. “However, it has refused to join us and has continued to unilaterally embark on an expansionist claim that violates the legitimate rights of the Philippines. Instead of peacefully resolving the maritime disputes [under Unclos], said State embarked on a series of dangerous, reckless and forceful activities in an attempt to impose unilateral change in the maritime status quo of the South China Sea,” he said. Philippines and China are locked in a maritime dispute over the West Philippine Sea, which China claims in its entirety, including parts of the Philippines 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone through the nine-dash line claim. Philippine has challenged China’s nine-dash line claim before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (Itlos). China however refuses to participate citing it has “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea based on “historical facts.” Chinese Maritime Surveillance (CMS) vessels have maintained control over the South China Sea since the Scarborough Shoal stand in 2012. The region is believed to be Read More …

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Monday announced that 57 out of 105 examinees passed the Naval Architect & Marine Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Board of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in Manila in September 2014.   The members of the Board of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering who gave the licensure examination were Engr. William B. Hernandez and Engr. Edward B. Cruz. The results were released in two working days after the last day of examination. The examinees who garnered the 10 highest scores are 1. Rodel Dalawampu Maala, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 89.9 2. Edmund Tejada Ramos, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 89.5 3. Ana Theresa Sibulo Mercado, Mariners Polytechnic College Foundation-Baras, 89.1 4. Marlette Floredeliz Natividad, University of Cebu, 87.7  5. Wilson Monterona Pegarido, University of Cebu, 87.6 6. Dondon Perez Mendoza, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 87.1 7. Norwin Duran Dela Cruz, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 87.0 8. Lea Valle Barrameda, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 86.7 9. Clyde Rupert Sumagang Escalona, University of Cebu, 86.5     Gerald Vincent Bughao Gardiano, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 86.5 10. Ramon Angelo Salilican Chacon, Namei Polytechnic Institute, 86.4 Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration will start on October 3, 2014. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and Read More …

The writ of kalikasan plea on the grounding of a US Navy minesweeper in the Tubbataha Reef in January 2013 might have been junked by the Supreme Court but the ruling has opened doors for a possible review of the doctrine of sovereign immunity as applied in the Philippines. In a concurring opinion, SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen emphasized the need in future cases to refine the scopes and limitations of the doctrine of sovereign immunity so those responsible for environment-related incidents like the grounding in the Tubbataha may be held liable. “Our doctrine regarding sovereign immunity needs to be refined in the proper case with respect to its nature, source, and its limitations,” Leonen said. He said the high court can study refining the limits of the doctrine of sovereign immunity’s application when determining jurisdictional immunities of foreign warships, “specifically when it violates domestic laws implementing international obligations even while on innocent passage.” The doctrine is currently understood as “a basic right extended to states by other states on the basis of respect for sovereignty and independence,” said Leonen. In the 1987 Philippine Constitution, sovereign immunity is contained in Article XVI, Section 3, which provides that “[the] State may not be sued without its consent.” The Guardian grounding The USS Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef on January 17, 2013 but much of its potentially harmful content – including 15,000 gallons of fuel – were removed from the ship immediately. The ship was cut up and finally removed in Read More …