Beijing restaurant manager refuses to apologize over ‘racist’ sign

 News
Feb 282013
 
Beijing restaurant manager refuses to apologize over ‘racist’ sign

Associated Press 3:13 pm | Thursday, February 28th, 2013 A restaurant in Beijing displays its sentiment toward the citizens of the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan with which China has territorial issues in the West Philippine Sea and the Sea of Japan. The sign says Japanese, Filipinos, Vietnamese and dogs are barred from the restaurant, presumably in that order. AFP FILE PHOTO BEIJING – A defiant Beijing restaurant manager refused to apologize Thursday despite removing a “racist” sign barring citizens of states in maritime disputes with China, along with dogs, following an international outcry. The notice in the window of the Beijing Snacks restaurant read: “This shop does not receive the Japanese, the Philippines, the Vietnamese and dog(s)” in both Chinese and English. But despite taking down the sign after accusations of racism, the manager said he had no regrets and would not apologize for any offence caused. Images of the sign went viral in Vietnam and were splashed across newspapers in the Philippines on Wednesday. Both are involved in bitter territorial disputes with China over islands in the South China Sea. The manager, surnamed Wang, said it was taken down “because it was a lot of bother”. “I don’t have any regrets,” he told AFP. “I was just getting too many phone calls about it.” He seemed surprised at the attention it had generated but said he would not apologize for any offense caused, suggesting it may have been misinterpreted. “Maybe people misunderstood our meaning… it only said we would Read More …

No change in Sabah stand-off amid reports of imminent attack

 News
Feb 282013
 
No change in Sabah stand-off amid reports of imminent attack

By Ruben SarioThe Star-Asia News Network 2:43 pm | Thursday, February 28th, 2013 TANJUNG LABIAN (LAHAD DATU) – The ongoing Sulu stand-off in this Sabah east coast district remains unchanged for the third week on Thursday. Numerous reports have emerged of an imminent attack by security forces on the group. One report claimed that several soldiers came close to Kampung Tanduo where the followers of the Sulu Sultanate are holed up. A heavy presence of security personnel was observed at various strategic locations surrounding the seaside village late Wednesday. Sabah police also declined to comment if shots were fired in the area on Wednesday evening although nearby villagers claimed to have heard them. Sulu group leader Rajah Muda Azzimudie Kiram told Philippines media that his men had fired warning shots after spotting what he claimed were six Malaysian security personnel entering the village. While claiming to come to Sabah in peace, Azzimudie warned that his followers were willing to “fight to the death” if provoked. 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: Department of Justice , Features , Global Nation , Malaysia , Prince Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram , Sabah , Sultan Jamalul Kiram III Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact Read More …

SC clears media, finds Ampatuan trial prosecutor guilty of contempt

 News
Feb 272013
 
SC clears media, finds Ampatuan trial prosecutor guilty of contempt

The Supreme Court has cleared several journalists of indirect contempt for their article on the disbarment complaint against one of the defense lawyers in the high-profile Maguindanao massacre case. At the same time, the high court found a prosecution lawyer in the case guilty of indirect contempt for distributing copies of the complaint, which it said was supposed to be confidential, against Philip Sigfrid Fortun to the media. In a 16-page decision, the court ordered private prosecutor Prima Quinsayas to pay P20,000 in connection with the filing of the disbarment case on November 22, 2010. “As a lawyer and an officer of the Court, Atty. Quinsayas is familiar with the confidential nature of disbarment proceedings. However, instead of preserving its confidentiality, Atty. Quinsayas disseminated copies of the disbarment complaint against petitioner to members of the media which act constitutes contempt of court,” the Supreme Court said. Fortun is a legal counsel for members of the Ampatuan family who are implicated in the massacre of 58 people, including over 30 journalists, in Maguindanao on November 23, 2009. Quinsayas has yet to comment on the ruling, saying she has yet to receive a copy of it. “I’ll have to read the SC decision first before I can make a sensible response,” she told GMA News Online. In its ruling, the Supreme Court said that as a complainant and a lawyer, Quindayas was bound by Section 18, Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court, which maintains the confidentiality of a disbarment case until Read More …

Comelec chief Brillantes: Getting source code still slim

 News
Feb 272013
 
Comelec chief Brillantes: Getting source code still slim

Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Wednesday said the poll body is in the last part of its negotiations with Dominion Voting Systems, but he admitted that the chance of getting the source code remains slim. “I’m still waiting. I’m still in negotiation with Dominion. Hopefully, something happens before the first week of March,” Brillantes told reporters.   “We are already on the last part of negotiations. (I am) not very much (optimistic). I would say at this point, it’s about 50-50,” he added. The source code is still with the SLI Global Solutions, which tested it and certified it as ‘functionally capable.’ SLI, however, cannot release it without a go-signal from Dominion which is in a legal battle with Smartmatic. “The only pending lang is whether we can ask SLI to bring the source code here so that it can be reviewed by parties and interested groups. Right now, we already announced that we are having difficulty because Dominion does not want to give the go signal for SLI to bring it here,” he said. Dominion wants Smartmatic to pay $10 million for using the former’s technology during the 2010 polls. Brillantes earlier offered to put the money in escrow.   But Brillantes reiterated that with or without the source code review by political parties, “we will proceed with the automated elections.” “Whether we get it or not, we already have the binary code. This is regardless of the presence of the source code. Meron namang source code, hindi Read More …

Comelec to ask Maceda to explain 'raffle' during Kabaka meeting

 News
Feb 272013
 
Comelec to ask Maceda to explain 'raffle' during Kabaka meeting

Another senatorial candidate, this time from the United Nationalist Alliance, could get into trouble with the Commission on Elections for allegedly holding a raffle and offering P500 as a prize. Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Wednesday said the poll body will be sending a letter to senatorial candidate Ernesto Maceda asking him to explain the raffle he held during the Kabalikat ng Bayan sa Kaunlaran (Kabaka) meeting in Manila last Tuesday. A video taken by GMA News showed Maceda, together with re-electionist Rep. Amado Bagatsing and candidate for councilor Ali Atienza, announcing a raffle to the members of Kabaka with a pile of P500 bills on the table. Maceda called out names but did not give the cash. He also announced his number on the May election ballot. The video was shown to Brillantes and lawyer Esmeralda Ladra, Comelec law department head. “Merong statement na parang may nagra-raffle at may perang involved, therefore we don’t really know kung ano ang circumstances, we have to investigate him, just to check kung anong nangyari. So to be fair to the candidate, we have to write him a letter so he can explain,” said Brillantes. He said he will make a conclusion and determine what course of action to be taken once he gets Maceda’s explanation. “Initially, there appears to be something wrong, it is a ground for us to investigate further the details. We always [give] a chance to the candidate because the penalty is serious, he could get disqualified as Read More …

Sultan’s brother open to ‘peaceful’solution

 News
Feb 262013
 
Sultan’s brother open to ‘peaceful’solution

SABAH STANDOFF Conflict puts 800,000 Filipinos in danger, says Roxas By Frances Mangosing, Maila Ager INQUIRER.net 1:54 pm | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu: (seated from left) Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II and (standing from left) Datu Alianapia Kiram, Datu Phugdal Kiram and Datu Baduruddin Kiram. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO MANILA, Philippines – The brother of the sultan of Sulu said his group in Lahad Datu town in Sabah was open to negotiate with the Malaysian government just to have a “peaceful” solution to the Sabah standoff. “Yes. Talagang peaceful negotiation ang kailangan…so long as our rights will not be taken away from us. Negotiation talaga ng gusto namin,” Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram told Radyo Inquirer 990AM on Wednesday when asked if they were open to negotiations. “Kailangan namin ng ganun, peaceful. We have to renegotiate in a peaceful way,” said Raja Muda, brother of Jamalulu Kiram III. Raja Muda said the standoff could be resolved peacefully “so long as there is no betrayal, so long as they are sincere with the negotiation.” His statements came just a day after Sultan Jamalul rejected President Benigno Aquino  III’s call  to withdraw  the armed group in the disputed land or “face the full force of the law.” Raja Muda said they were ready to listen to the President and accept his views if they think these were right. Unfortunately, the sultan’s brother did not agree with the President’s claim that they may have violated Philippine laws when they refused to leave the land. “As President and chief executor of our laws, I have tasked an investigation Read More …

Rights, recognition key to solving Sabah standoff — Sultan's wife

 News
Feb 262013
 
Rights, recognition key to solving Sabah standoff — Sultan's wife

Sulu sultan scoffs at PNoy’s warning, remains defiant. Sitti Krishna Idjirami (left) sister of Jamalul Kiram III (center), the 74-year-old Sultan of Sulu, and Crown Prince Bantillan Kiram (right) speak at a press conference in Manila on Tuesday. President Benigno Aquino III has warned Jamalul Kiram III that he would face the ‘full force of the law’ if he did not withdraw his gunmen from Sabah, Malaysia, but the elderly ruler remained defiant. AFP/Ted Aljibe Proper recognition as rightful owners of Sabah and a stop to human rights abuses allegedly committed on some of the Sultan’s followers are among the factors that could lead to the resolution of the ongoing standoff there, according to the wife of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. “The Sultanate of Sulu wanted only the recognition that the property belongs to the Sultanate of Sulu, number one,” said Princess Fatima Kiram, who is also the Sultan’s spokesperson, in an interview on GMA News TV’s “News to Go” on Wednesday. Hundreds of Kiram’s followers, some of them reportedly armed, remained holed up in Sabah even after the Tuesday midnight deadline set by Malaysia lapsed and despite an appeal from President Benigno Aquino III for them to leave the place. During the interview, Fatima expressed the desire of their followers to be treated “like other Muslim brothers” and to benefit from the “fruits” of the land. “For how many years, centuries na nga yata, na pinakikinabangan nila itong lupain na ito, at ang fruit ng aming lupain ay Read More …

Malaysian National Security Council takes control over Sabah standoff

 News
Feb 262013
 
Malaysian National Security Council takes control over Sabah standoff

INQUIRER.net 6:33 am | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 Sultan Jamalul Kiram lll speaks during a news conference at his house in Maharlika Village, Taguig City. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—A radio report early Wednesday said Malaysia’s National Security Council (NSC) had taken over the standoff situation between the group of Sulu sultanate-led Filipino “intruders” and Malaysian authorities in Sabah. The extended 48-hour deadline for the group to leave the island, which the sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III, claims as their land, lapsed after the last hour of Tuesday. The report said Deputy Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar was coordinating with Sabah police and the military in trying to resolve the standoff. Sultan Kiram III on Tuesday ignored President Aquino’s warning that his followers, holed up in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town and numbering 236, would “face the full force of the law.”—Rick Alberto

Philippines slams patrols for Chinese fishers

 News
Feb 262013
 

By Tarra Quismundo Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:52 am | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Tuesday denounced China’s announced fishery patrols in the Spratly group of islands, as it asserted its sovereignty over its established maritime boundaries in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also called on China to “act responsibly” amid simmering tensions in the region over the contested waters, the subject of a Philippine arbitration bid in the United Nations. “We again call on China to respect our territorial sovereignty and exclusive economic zone. The Philippines strongly objects to the Chinese patrols in the Philippines’ maritime domain in the West Philippine Sea,” said DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez. Chinese state media reported over the weekend that the South China Sea Fishery Bureau of China’s Ministry of Agriculture was set to undertake “routine fishery administrative patrols” in the South China Sea this year. The patrols “will be carried out to better safeguard the legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen,” Chinese media said, quoting Wu Zhuang of the fisheries bureau. Wu said that China would “speed up the routine patrols” with the growing capacity of Chinese law enforcement authorities. Hernandez said the move violated China’s international commitments, including its accession to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). The Philippines invoked the Unclos in taking its dispute with China to the UN arbitral tribunal in hopes of stopping Chinese incursions into its  waters and invalidating the Chinese Read More …

EU envoy: Journalist killings a concern

 News
Feb 262013
 
EU envoy: Journalist killings a concern

By Maricar Cinco Inquirer Southern Luzon 4:26 am | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux: Journalist killings still do happen. FILE PHOTO LOS BAÑOS, Philippines—European Union (EU) Ambassador Guy Ledoux called journalists “true defenders of human rights,” but he said the continuing attacks on media workers in the Philippines and the government’s failure to pass the freedom of information bill remained a concern even after the country had transitioned from authoritarian rule to democracy. Journalists perform alongside lawyers, activists, politicians and other groups in defending human rights but they continue to fall victim to extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, Ledoux said in a speech at the 8th National Congress of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) last weekend. The NUJP elected a new set of officers at the congress, six of whom were reporters and provincial correspondents of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ledoux, who was appointed head of the EU’s delegation to the Philippines two years ago to look into media killings, said 11 to 14 Filipino journalists had been killed since June 2010 but the cases remained unsolved and the masterminds allowed to walk free. Maguindanao massacre “The EU recognizes the current administration’s efforts to eliminate extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, and to prosecute those responsible. But, at the same time, we observe that journalist killings do still happen, with the latest killing taking place on Nov. 8, 2012,” he said. Ledoux cited the massacre in November 2009 of 58 people in Maguindanao, among Read More …

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