China wants PH to drop arbitration case to heal diplomatic wounds

 News
Apr 082014
 
China wants PH to drop arbitration case to heal diplomatic wounds

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 3:56 pm | Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 A China Coast Guard vessel attempts to block a Philippine government vessel as the latter tries to enter the China Second Thomas Disputed Shoals, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, to orate Philippine troops and resupply provisions Saturday, March 29, 2014. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The new Chinese Ambassador to the Manila urged the Philippines to set aside its United Nations (UN) arbitration case over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) dispute in order to bring back the good relations of both countries. “The current difficulties in the bilateral relations, caused by some problems including the arbitration case on the South China Sea issue, are not what the Chinese side wishes to see, and are not in the common interests of both China and the Philippines,” Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua said in a statement after he presented his credentials to President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday. “It is China’s hope that the Philippine side could, in the spirit of seeking common grounds while shelving differences, work with the Chinese side to properly handle relevant disputes, and to overcome obstacles and bring the bilateral ties back to the normal track of development,” he said. The Philippines on March 30 submitted its memorial to the UN arbitration court seeking to invalidate China’s nine-dash line claim that covers nearly the entire South China Sea including portions of the Philippine 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. China has expelled Filipino fishermen from Bajo de Read More …

US Embassy closed April 9 for Araw ng Kagitingan

 News
Apr 082014
 
US Embassy closed April 9 for Araw ng Kagitingan

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 2:31 pm | Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The United States (US) Embassy in the Philippines will be closed on Wednesday in observance of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor). “The US Embassy in Manila and its affiliated offices will be closed to the public on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, in observance of Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of Valor, a Philippine holiday,” the Embassy said in a statement Tuesday. “The US joins the Philippines in honoring the sacrifices and heroism of Filipino and American soldiers who fought in World War II, particularly those who fought in Bataan, in defense of freedom and democracy,” it said. The Embassy and its affiliated offices will resume services on Thursday, April 10. RELATED STORIES: Free MRT, LRT rides for veterans this week US Embassy closed January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Follow Us Other Stories: Law expert: China’s actions may spur US-PH defense treaty Filipinos, other Asians top success index in US PH gov’t has other options to address sea dispute with China—Palace Obama, Aquino to tackle defense, China during state visit 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: Araw ng Kagitingan , Day of Valor , United States , US Read More …

Briton, 73, caught touching minors

 News
Apr 082014
 
Briton, 73, caught touching minors

By Julliane Love de JesusINQUIRER.net 2:09 pm | Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 MANILA, Philippines–‎A 73-year-old British man has been arrested by the police for allegedly touching the private parts of three minors in Cebu province. Stanley James Lamb, who goes by the alias “Dan,” was arrested by the members of Carcar City police station in Camagayan house at Barangay (village) Perrelos on Monday. Chief Superintendent Danilo Constantino, Central Visayas police regional director, ‎said Lamb was charged with acts of lasciviousness he committed against three unnamed minors. Constantino said the British national invited the three minors in his house, where he took advantage of the victims and touched their private‎ parts. Lamb is currently under the custody of Carcar City police station pending the filing of charges against him. Last Saturday, a 46-year-old Italian diplomat ‎was arrested in a Laguna resort after he was accused of trafficking and committing child abuse against three underage boys. According to witnesses, Italian ambassador to Turkmenistan Daniele Bosio ‎was seen “touching and caressing” the children in the swimming pool. Bosio is detained at Biñan police station while the boys, whom he claimed were street children from Manila, are under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. RELATED STORY Italian envoy nabbed for child abuse Follow Us Other Stories: Italian envoy nabbed for child abuse American nabbed for allegedly threatening doctor in fender bender case Binay seeks probe into release of foreigner accused of molesting minor Magellan to reconnect PH and Portugal after Read More …

LTFRB to let other bus lines ply routes of suspended firm for Holy Week

 News
Apr 052014
 
LTFRB to let other bus lines ply routes of suspended firm for Holy Week

For the coming Holy Week exodus, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board will allow some bus companies to ply the routes of a bus firm suspended due to a deadly accident in Northern Luzon last February. The LTFRB will let these firms take the place of GV Florida Transport during this time, radio dzBB’s Rodil Vega reported Sunday. A separate report on Journal Online said the LTFRB may give special permits to bus firms with franchises in the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera regions. The report said the special permit will be valid until September 11, 2014, or when the six-month suspension on G.V. Florida Transport is lifted. Filipinos are expected to flock to the provinces in the coming weeks so they can spend Holy Week with their families. GV Florida’s franchise was suspended for six months by the LTFRB last March 14, following a Feb. 7 accident where one of its units fell into a ravine in Mountain Province. Popular comedian Arvin “Tado” Jimenez, 39, was among the 14 who perished in a horrific bus crash. He was an active advocate of many causes, including pork barrel scandal, reproductive health issue, and relief for disaster victims. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News

DOJ supports AMLC bid to freeze assets of senators in 'pork' scam

 News
Apr 052014
 
DOJ supports AMLC bid to freeze assets of senators in 'pork' scam

The Department of Justice fully supports the Anti-Money Laundering Council’s (AMLC’s) bid to have a freeze order issued on the bank accounts and properties of the three senators implicated in the alleged pork barrel scam. According to a Friday report on GMA 7’s Saksi, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the council had started working on freezing the assets of the implicated lawmakers — Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla, and Jinggoy Estrada. “It is public funds, kaban ng bayan iyan, coffers ‘yan, national treasury ‘yan. So in the end, dapat i-recover ‘yan. That is part of the integral process of exacting justice in anti-corruption cases such as this — lalo na’t plunder,” De Lima added. Meanwhile, a source told GMA News that the AMLC has requested documents from the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation to support the asset preservation order to be filed against the three senators. Last year, the DOJ filed plunder charges against Enrile, Estrada, and Revilla, as well as other former lawmakers for allegedly receiving kickbacks from so-called pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim Napoles, in an elaborate scheme to funnel their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) into ghost projects and NGOs. On Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman announced the indictment of Enrile, Estrada and Revilla for plunder, along with Napoles, over the P10-billion pork barrel scam. The Ombudsman has yet to resolve two other batches of government fund-related complaints filed last year by the DOJ and the NBI. One batch is connected Read More …

Arroyo spends third birthday under hospital arrest

 News
Apr 052014
 
Arroyo spends third birthday under hospital arrest

Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo celebrated her 67th birthday with more than 50 guests at the Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City on Saturday. The former president’s guests–who were approved by the Philippine National Police–consisted of family, friends and political allies, including her former Cabinet members. This marks her third birthday celebration in the medical institution since she was placed under hospital arrest in 2012. Although Arroyo’s petition for a furlough to celebrate her birthday in her hometown in Lubao, Pampanga was junked by the Sandiganbayan, the court allowed extended visiting hours on April 4 and 6. Members of her extended family were also allowed to sleep over during the weekend. Meanwhile, her former office, the Malacañan, wished her the best through Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.  “We want to greet her a happy birthday, and we hope that she will be happy celebrating it, along with her loved ones,” Coloma said during a press briefing. Arroyo, who is suffering from recurrent dysphagia or problems in swallowing, is under hospital arrest over plunder charges. She was first placed under hospital arrest in late 2011 over a separate electoral sabotage case. — Andrei Medina/JDS, GMA News

AFP: Naval blockade in place vs. Sabah abductors

 News
Apr 052014
 
AFP: Naval blockade in place vs. Sabah abductors

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Saturday said a Philippine Navy unit has set up naval blockade against suspects in the abduction of a Filipina worker and a Chinese tourist at the Singamata resort near Semporna in Sabah on Wednesday. In a text message to GMA News Online, AFP spokesman Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala said the Naval Task Force 62 has started its operations, even as units of the military’s Western Mindanao Command continue their search and rescue operations in the Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi areas, “where the two kidnapped victims were supposedly brought by kidnappers from Sabah.” In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on state-run dzRB the AFP is also in contact with the Philippine National Police to help in the search. “So far, [may] combined efforts ng AFP at saka ng PNP… sa pag-recover at paghahanap doon sa dalawang kidnap victims,” she said. Asked if the government is set to coordinate with Chinese authorities in the search, Valte said: “I’ve not heard of any proposal to do that, at this time.” A report from Agence France-Presse on Friday indicated China is pressuring Malaysia to rescuekidnapped Chinese tourist. Earlier, Zagala said the Abu Sayyaf Group may be behind the abduction. He said the victims were kidnapped by seven armed men believed to be members of an Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) unit in Tawi-Tawi. One of the members of the unit is Murphy Ambang Ladia (also known as Haji Gulam), a former member of the Moro National Read More …

Palace backs Miriam Santiago meeting with GPH panel chair on Bangsamoro peace deal

 General, News
Apr 052014
 
Palace backs Miriam Santiago meeting with GPH panel chair on Bangsamoro peace deal

Malacañang on Saturday expressed support on government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer’s decision to meet with Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to discuss the newly-signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. “Mabuti po ‘yon kasi maganda din po na nagkaroon sila ng ganitong exchange because the government is always open to explain [the] contents of the agreement,” she said in an interview on state-run dzRB radio. “Hopefully, matuloy po ‘yung pag-uusap ni Senator Santiago at ni Ma’am [Miriam Coronel-]Ferrer para mapakita kung ano ho ‘yung mga proseso at ano ho ‘yung annexes, ‘yung mga nilalaman nung Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro [CAB],” she added. Asked to comment on Santiago’s claim that the historic peace agreement is unconstitutional, Valte said: “Should there be a challenge to it in the Supreme Court, siyempre, lahat po tayo ay umaasa na maa-uphold po ‘yung constitutionality nung CAB.” Earlier, Senator Santiago said the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on the Bangsamoro violates the 1987 Constitution because it creates a “substate.” Senator Santiago chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments. “The Bangsamoro Agreement appear(s) to facilitate the secession of the Bangsamoro from our country, in a manner similar to the secession of Kosovo and Crimea,” Santiago told graduates of the Gordon College on Wednesday. Last week, the Philippine government and the MILF signed a comprehensive peace pact that is expected to end the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao. However, government peace negotiators have insisted the peace agreement with the MILF was done in Read More …

Napoles's doctors prepare for surgery

 News
Apr 042014
 
Napoles's doctors prepare for surgery

Detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles’s team of private doctors may operate on her at the government-run Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) by Sunday. On Friday, OsMak doctors met with Napoles’s team of doctors to discuss the medical procedures that will be performed to remove a cyst in her uterus, for which a Makati court allowed her to seek treatment. The OsMak doctors also turned over the results of medical tests that they have done on her. “We discussed liability and accountability as attending physicians…The liability and accountability will now fall on the laps of the attending physicians of Mrs. Napoles,” announced OsMak director Dr. Perry Ishmael Peralta in a press conference aired on GMA News’ “24 Oras” Friday evening. It may take one to two days for Napoles’ doctors to review the results of the medical tests, thus, the operation might be performed on Sunday, the report said. “Ang request naman ng team (ni Napoles), which we gave in to, is they would like to review all the tests that we’ve performed. They would like to reexamine Mrs. Napoles before we can really set a date for the procedure,” Peralta said. Napoles’s doctors meanwhile said they will just review the results turned over by OsMak. However, doctors from St. Luke’s Medical Center may also conduct additional screenings to ensure that Napoles would not suffer any complications from the medical operation, “24 Oras” said. Earlier laboratory test results showed Napoles has a cyst in her uterus. She has also complained of abdominal Read More …

Aquino pushes defense dialogue with Singapore

 News
Apr 032014
 
Aquino pushes defense dialogue with Singapore

A TOAST TO SINGAPORE’S GENEROSITY. President Aquino toasts Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam, thanking him in Malacañang on Thursday for Singapore’s post-“Yolanda” help. Tan, here on a four-day visit, flies to Western Samar on Saturday to deliver medical supplies to Basey District Hospital. EDWIN BACASMAS MANILA, Philippines—Facing an increasingly aggressive China, President Aquino on Thursday proposed a defense dialogue with Singapore to boost the two countries’ military defense ties, during visiting Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam’s courtesy call at Malacañang. “The Philippines proposed the holding of a defense dialogue to further strengthen our cooperation,” said Aquino at the Palace reception hall. “I believe that strengthening defense and security cooperation between the Philippines and Singapore is key to maintaining regional stability.” 45th anniversary This year marks the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations. In the last few days, the Philippines has had to deal with China’s verbal onslaughts and naval maneuvers in the South China Sea, which the Philippines now calls the West Philippine Sea. After filing a memorandum with a United Nations tribunal challenging China’s “nine-dash line” claim in the international waterway on Sunday, the Philippine government drew a sharp rebuke from Chinese Embassy officials in Manila. Charge d’Affaires Sun Xiangyang said the move “seriously damaged” the bilateral relations between the two countries, and accused the Philippines of unilaterally shutting the door to negotiations and consultations. China, Taiwan and Asean members the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which Read More …

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