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 …

Police file charges vs 3 Indian nationals over bomb in minivan

 News
Apr 252013
 
Police file charges vs 3 Indian nationals over bomb in minivan

By Jamie Marie ElonaINQURER.net 7:31 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Police filed charges Thursday against three Indian nationals who allegedly took for servicing a minivan in Laguna that was later found to be rigged with a powerful improvised explosive device, police said. Senior Inspector Walter Ebora, Alaminos Police Chief, said charges of illegal possession of explosives have been filed against Indian nationals identified as Narinder Singh, Rajeth Kumar and Jasbir Singh. He said the suspects underwent inquest proceedings earlier Thursday. Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police regional director, said the three took the Toyota Avanza for engine oil replacement at a repair shop along Maharlika Highway in Barangay (village) San Benito in Alaminos, Laguna around 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, and left a few minutes later. A mechanic then discovered the explosive device under the engine of the vehicle. Earlier reports said the bomb was made from military-grade C-4 explosives rigged to a mobile phone as a trigger device. The mobile phone’s battery ran out that’s why the device didn’t explode, police said. He said authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the incident. 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: car bombs , Crime , Features , Regions , Terrorism Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article 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 …

Manila disputes report of killings near Malaysia

 News
Apr 252013
 
Manila disputes report of killings near Malaysia

Associated Press 6:48 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines— The Philippine military disputed a newspaper report that its naval and coast guard forces killed 35 gunmen to stop them from entering the Malaysian state of Sabah. Malaysia’s The Star quoted Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as telling a news conference Thursday in Penang that Philippine troops shot the gunmen from southern Sulu province before they could enter Malaysian waters, after the gunmen had refused to turn back. Philippine regional naval commander Capt. Renato Yonque says the border with Malaysia has been “very quiet,” and “we have no information on that.” Hamidi and his aides did not immediately answer calls to their cell phones. Since March, Malaysian troops have battled armed followers of Sultan Jamalulu Kiram III of Sulu who is claiming Sabah. 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: Malaysia , Malaysian state , Sabah , Sabah Crisis , Sulu 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:

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 …

Filipino seafarers in Portugal get to vote for first time in years through OAV

 News
Apr 252013
 
Filipino seafarers in Portugal get to vote for first time in years through OAV

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 6:08 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — One seafarer had not voted in nearly 18 years. Another thought the Binay on the ballot was Vice President Jejomar Binay suddenly seeking a Senate seat. Still, another has been out of the show biz loop and thought reelectionist Juan Miguel Zubiri was still dating singer-actress Vina Morales. But they were only too happy to vote, finally able to exercise their right to choose their leaders even while thousands of miles away from home, perhaps for too long. If only to reach a sector mostly excluded in the polls, the Philippine Embassy in Portugal has devised a way to reach the Filipino seafarers and let them vote. “We call it “akyat-barko,” Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe Lhuiller told reporters of the unique system he designed. “It was just one of the crazy ideas I had. Because why would they come to the Embassy to vote? They have no time. Their ship arrives at 7 a.m., they leave at 6 p.m. And of course they want to go out there [to see the city],” said Lhuiller in an interview in Manila. Under the scheme proposed by the envoy and approved by the Commission on Elections, Lhuiller himself and two other staff personally boarded ships at the Lisbon port to look for Filipinos who would like to register in the Overseas Absentee Voting system. The Embassy team then went back to port this week to see if Read More …

Philippine police nab 3 Indians with bomb in car

 News
Apr 252013
 
Philippine police nab 3 Indians with bomb in car

Associated Press 5:38 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines— A Philippine police official says three Indian nationals are facing charges of illegal explosives possession after a powerful homemade bomb was found inside their car. Regional police chief Benito Estipona says a mechanic found the device in the engine compartment Wednesday at a car dealership in Laguna province’s Alaminos township. The three men left the vehicle there for repairs. He says the device was fashioned from C4 explosives connected to a detonator, battery and a cellphone. Estipona said Thursday that police will continue investigating to determine those responsible for placing the bomb in the car, but the three men were liable for carrying the device. He said a government prosecutor will determine the extent of their criminal liability or whether they were the targets of a would-be bombing. 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: home-made bomb , illegal possession of exclusives , Indian national 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:

Southeast Asian leaders urge China to discuss rows

 News
Apr 252013
 
Southeast Asian leaders urge China to discuss rows

Agence France-Presse 4:38 pm | Thursday, April 25th, 2013 Leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations pose for a group photo section during the 22nd ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Thursday, April 25, 2013. They are, from left, Philippines President Benigno Aquino III, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Myanmar’s President Thein Sein, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Malaysia’s Senate President Abu Zahar Ujang. AP BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN—Southeast Asian leaders on Thursday called for urgent talks with China to ensure that increasingly tense territorial disputes over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) did not escalate into violence. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) wrapped up a two-day summit in Brunei with a chairman’s statement in which they emphasized the importance of “peace, stability and maritime security in the region”. Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the host of the talks, told reporters after the summit that the leaders wanted to “urgently work on a code of conduct” with China aimed at defusing tensions in the strategically vital body of water. The other key focus at the summit was pushing forward plans to create a single market for Southeast Asia and its 600 million people — known as the Asean Economic Community — by 2015. However the flashpoint South China Sea issue dominated the meeting, amid growing concern among some Southeast 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

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