DFA issues alert level 2 as Bangkok protests continue

 News
Jan 232014
 
DFA issues alert level 2 as Bangkok protests continue

By Matikas SantosINQUIRER.net 3:02 pm | Thursday, January 23rd, 2014  (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) MANILA, Philippines – Alert level 2 has been raised in Thailand by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Thursday citing “threats to life, security, and property of Filipinos” as anti-government protests continue in the capital city of Bangkok. “The DFA has raised the Alert Level from 1 (Precautionary Phase) to 2 (Restriction Phase) for Bangkok and surrounding areas which have been placed under a 60-day state of emergency by the Thai Government,” it said in a statement. “Alert Level 2 is issued when there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance or external threat,” DFA said. Filipinos have been instructed to “restrict non-essential movements, avoid public places and prepare for evacuation.” Bangkok has been under intense protests from anti-government demonstrators calling for the resignation of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra due to allegations that she is a puppet of her brother, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. “While there has been an effort to maintain a state of normalcy in the Thai capital, the situation remains fluid and volatile particularly in anti-government protest areas,” DFA said. “The Philippine Embassy in Bangkok continues to advise Filipinos with essential travel plans to, and those residing in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand to avoid the rally sites and large gatherings and to refrain from taking part in the protest or other political activities,” it said. Demonstrations have been held in major intersections and government offices Read More …

Advance pricing agreements for Philippine taxpayers

 Economy
Jan 222014
 

WHEN the Philippine Transfer Pricing (TP) Guidelines (Revenue Regulations [RR] No. 2-2013) were finally issued in January 2013 (after nearly a decade of waiting), it was generally regarded by many as a welcome addition to the roster of administrative issuances and regulations being implemented by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), especially by multinational enterprises (MNEs) that deal with numerous related parties (i.e. companies belonging to the same group or common controlled companies) from various jurisdictions around the world.

China ‘bully boy’ tactics scored

 News
Jan 222014
 
China ‘bully boy’ tactics scored

After a storm of criticism China upped its contribution to $1.8 million and dispatched its Peace Ark hospital ship (in photo), but the response paled in comparison to Japan’s $30 million, the United States’ $20 million—and even some private companies’. AP FILE PHOTO BEIJING—Mountains of Norwegian salmon left rotting at port. A beachfront resort in Palau abandoned before completion. A sluggish response to a devastating Philippine typhoon: crossing China’s “red lines” can have painful economic consequences. Beijing is looking to build up its political and diplomatic status as a “major responsible country” commensurate with its global economic position, and improve its cultural reach worldwide. As well as the world’s second-largest economy, China is its biggest trading nation in goods and Africa’s biggest trading partner, a fact highlighted last week by Japan’s attempt to present itself as a competitor on the continent. But experts say Beijing’s tactical moves toward smaller countries risk backfiring against its broader strategy. Beijing has sought to punish Norway since the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to jailed dissident and prodemocracy activist Liu Xiaobo—despite Oslo having no control over the prize committee’s decisions. Strict new import controls left Norwegian salmon wasting away in Chinese warehouses, and its market share in the country, once 92 percent, plummeted to 29 percent last year. A musical starring Norwegian 2009 Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak had its tour canceled, and Norwegians are excluded from China’s 72-hour transit visa schemes. Bully boy tactics “The ‘bully boy’ tactics that China has adopted, especially Read More …

Manila Observatory analyzes LPA that affected Mindanao

 General
Jan 222014
 
Manila Observatory analyzes LPA that affected Mindanao

Figure 1. NDRRMC and media reported landslides and floods, as of NDRRMC SitRep #9, Jan. 16, 2014. Background A low-pressure area (LPA) has been dumping heavy rains over Mindanao and parts of the Visayas since Jan. 10. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), local DRRM councils and the media have reported numerous landslides and flashfloods resulting from the continuous rainfall. As of the NDRRMC report on the night of Jan. 16, the effects of the LPA had claimed over 31 lives, while seven people were missing and 36 had been injured. The heavy, continuous rainfall has affected around 376,000 people (approximately 79,000 families). Thousands of families from Regions 10, 11 and Caraga have been evacuated and are being served by relief operations. Several local government units (LGUs) have declared a state of calamity. However, according to the DPWH, many roads are still impassable due to the damages caused by landslide debris and floods, which washed out and completely destroyed some bridges along the Surigao del Sur-Davao Oriental Coastal Road, among many other roads. Classes and flights were suspended or cancelled due to inclement weather conditions. The Libuganon River and Saug River swelled from the immense amount of runoff. Communities and households near the rising Magpayang River were evacuated. Southern Leyte, recently devastated by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) two months ago was also affected by the LPA, with reported landslides in Sogod municipality. In addition, some of these strong floods and rainfall-induced landslides occurred in the provinces of Davao Read More …

Gov’t, MILF start ‘last round’ of peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur

 News
Jan 222014
 
Gov’t, MILF start ‘last round’ of peace negotiations in Kuala Lumpur

MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation (MILF) began on Wednesday what could be the final round of negotiations between the two panels should they agree on the last annex that would make up the comprehensive peace agreement aimed at bringing an end to the decades-long war in Central Mindanao. On the table of the 43rd exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the normalization annex, the last of the four annexes that would comprise the Final Peace Agreement between the government and the MILF. The normalization annex deals with the overall security in the new Bangsamoro that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), where the Moro rebels are expected to lay down their arms. The peace agreement with the MILF is one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration, and the Moro rebels themselves have said they want a peace deal before President Benigno Aquino III completes his term in June 2016. “It is not farfetched that during this 5-day session, we will be able to settle all the remaining outstanding issues on the Bangsamoro Waters and Annex on Normalization that block our way to conclude the talks and eventually sign the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) very soon,” said MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal in his opening statement on Wednesday. But Iqbal remained cautious. He said that even if a comprehensive peace agreement was signed, it would be the “Exit Agreement that will formally terminate this negotiation.” “(It) Read More …

PH says China’s territory subject to Unclos

 News
Jan 222014
 
PH says China’s territory subject to Unclos

By Tarra QuismundoPhilippine Daily Inquirer 10:02 pm | Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez. FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines insisted on Wednesday that under international law, China could not project its power beyond its boundaries, following Beijing’s announcement of fresh sea patrols in disputed parts of the South China Sea. In a statement, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Raul Hernandez invoked the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) to remind China of the limits of its territory. “Under international law, including Unclos, China’s [exclusive economic zone] cannot extend beyond [370 kilometers] measured from the Chinese mainland and Hainan island. Coastal states have sovereign rights over their EEZ,” Hernandez said. Hernandez insisted that China might not project its sovereign rights in the high seas, as provided under international law. “Also under international law there is a high seas area in the South China Sea over which no state can exercise sovereignty,” he said. China announced earlier this week that a 5,000-ton civilian vessel will begin regular patrols in the South China sea to “safeguard national sovereign rights and benefits, develop at-sea assistance, ensure navigational safety.” The announcement followed China’s implementation of a fisheries law requiring foreign vessels to seek approval of Chinese authorities to fish and explore in the South China Sea. The Philippines, which calls the waters within its EEZ West Philippine Sea, is protesting the regulation. Vietnam, which has territorial claims in part of the South China Sea that it Read More …

Saudi deports quarter million migrants in 3 months

 News
Jan 222014
 
Saudi deports quarter million migrants in 3 months

Associated Press 8:56 pm | Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 The sun sets behind the minarets of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AP FILE PHOTO RIYADH — Saudi Arabia says it has deported “more than a quarter million” foreign migrant workers from the kingdom over the past three months. The Interior Ministry said late Tuesday the foreigners had been residing in the country illegally and were in violation of labor laws. It didn’t elaborate. The deportations began after November 4 with a nationwide campaign targeting many of the kingdom’s 9 million migrant laborers after years of lax law enforcement. Many of those deported were Ethiopians accused of crossing into Saudi Arabia illegally through its southern border with Yemen. Most foreign workers in the kingdom are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines, as well as Egypt and Yemen. Saudi authorities say booting out illegal foreign migrants will open more jobs for its own citizens. RELATED STORIES OFWs allege abuse in Saudi immigration crackdown Saudi begins clampdown on illegal foreigners 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: Global Nation , Immigration , Labor , migrant workers , ofws , Overseas employment , Saudi Arabia , Saudization Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe Read More …

DFA: China can’t conduct regular patrols in West PH Sea

 News
Jan 222014
 
DFA: China can’t conduct regular patrols in West PH Sea

MANILA, Philippines – China cannot conduct regular patrols in the West Philippines Sea because it extends beyond their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as mandated by international law, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. “Under international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China’s EEZ cannot extend beyond 200 nautical miles measured from the Chinese mainland and Hainan Island,” DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a text reply to reporters seeking his comment. “Coastal states have sovereign rights over their EEZ. Also under international law there is a high seas area in the South China Sea over which no state can exercise sovereignty,” he said. China Ocean News of China’s State Oceanic Administration reported that a civilian patrol ship will be stationed in Sansha City on the Paracel Islands to conduct regular patrols. International news media, quoting China Ocean News, reported that China has plans to establish “a regular patrol system on Sansha city to jointly protect the country’s maritime interests.” The Paracel Islands, also known as Xisha Islands in China and Hoang Sa Islands in Vietnam, is a group of islands being claimed by both China and Vietnam. In 1974, a military engagement between Vietnamese and Chinese ships in the Paracel Islands left at least 70 dead and ended with China being able to control the entire group of islands. Free For All Nations When reached for comment, Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines’ Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said that even the Philippines could conduct patrols in the high seas because it is free for all nations. Read More …

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