MANILA (Mabuhay) — With most of the countries worldwide have become dependent on information and communication technology, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin cited the need to improve the country’s defense against cyber threats. He made this statement during the 12th Asia Security Summit Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore Sunday. “As we become increasingly […]
Taiwanese investigators who went to the Philippines to probe the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters returned to Manila Thursday to attend a closed-door meeting with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). NBI deputy director Virgilio Mendez said the foreign probers arrived in the country Thursday morning. “Pero wala pa sila dito sa office namin. Waiting na po kami,” Mendez said. The seven-man team first went to the Philippines last May 27 for a four-day parallel investigation on the fatal shooting of the 65-year-old fisherman that caused a rift between the Philippines and Taiwan. The team inspected the Philippine vessel that confronted the victim and his fellow fishermen, who were accused of poaching in Philippine waters, and interviewed Coast Guard and Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources personnel implicated in the shooting. The team also conducted ballistics exam on the Filipino authorities’ firearms as well as viewed and obtained a copy of the video of the incident. On Wednesday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Taiwanese team would be meeting with the NBI “as matter of courtesy” to discuss findings of their respective investigations. She said the purpose of the meeting is not to “cross-check” the findings of the two teams. De Lima cited a similar instance when the eight-man NBI team flew to Taiwan to conduct its own probe on the matter, which included inspecting the fishing vessel of the victim and getting statements from his companions. After the relatives of the victim disagreed to Read More …
The Philippines and Timor Leste have inked three bilateral agreements in areas of education, policy consultations and infrastructure to further strengthen the cooperation between the two countries. The signings were announced during the five-day visit to the Philippines of Timor Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao — a visit that aims to strengthen his nation’s bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The first agreement—a Memorandum of Understanding and Policy Consultations between the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste—was signed by DFA chief Albert Del Rosario and his Timor Leste counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Luís Guterres. The MOU will define the cooperation between the Philippines and Timor-Leste, particularly on issues of regional and international mutual interest. A second agreement that recognizes the expertise of trainers from the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and aims to build the capability of Timor-Leste Public Works’ personnel in infrastructure planning, quality control, and maintenance was also signed. DPWH chief Rogelio Singson and his counterpart, Timor Leste Minister of Public Works Gastão Francisco de Sousa, inked the agreement that will establish a cooperative approach between the two countries in terms of mentoring, to facilitate capacity development. Finally, Commission of Higher Education (CHED) chair Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan and Timor Leste Minister of Education Bendito dos Santos Freitas signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippine Normal University and the Ministry Read More …
Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central A potential cyclone is now inside the Philippine area of responsibility and may head towards Mindanao, state weather forecasters said Thursday. PAGASA forecaster Alvin Pura said the LPA formed inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Thursday morning and is embedded within the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ). “‘Yung inaasahang LPA nabuo na. Nariyan nakapaloob sa ITCZ … sa loob na ito (ng PAR),” Pura said in an interview on dzBB radio. But he said there is still no storm signal raised yet, as PAGASA is still monitoring the LPA to see whether or not it will intensify into a cyclone. Should it become a cyclone, it will be locally codenamed Dante. Meanwhile, PAGASA forecaster Joey Figuracion said that there is also a chance that the disturbance may veer north towards Taiwan. “Kung napunta sa area ng Pacific papuntang Japan, pwede maging ganap na bagyo,” Pura said. Flashflood, landslide warnings up in Mindanao PAGASA’s 11 a.m. advisory said the LPA and the ITCZ may trigger flash floods and landslides in Mindanao. It said that, as of 8 a.m., the LPA was estimated at 580 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao Del Sur, embedded in the ITCZ. “These weather systems will affect the Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao,” it said, adding the whole Mindanao “will experience cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides.” “Residents in these areas are advised to take all the Read More …
A ranking United States military officer is set to visit the Philippines this week to consult with defense authorities “on a range of common security challenges,” but no media event was scheduled. According to a statement from the US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday, Admiral Samuel Locklear III, commander of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM), will be in Manila on Thursday and Friday. Prior to his scheduled arrival, Locklear attended the annual Shangri-la Dialogue security conference in Singapore where he met with Asia-Pacific defense officials. In June last year, Locklear accompanied General Martin Dempsey, the highest-ranking general in the US military, to meet President Benigno Aquino III, also after attending the Shangri-la Dialogue. The following month, Locklear paid a courtesy call on Aquino to talk about maritime and regional security, as well as the US-Philippine bilateral defense alliance. Locklear’s personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal with one gold star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Bronze Star Medal, and numerous individual, Campaign and Unit awards. The US and Philippines are allied by a 1951 mutual defense treaty. In the early 1990s US forces vacated Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, two large facilities used during the Vietnam War, after a disagreement over rents. In recent years the Philippines has been seeking to improve its defense ties with the US amid a festering territorial dispute with China over parts of the South China Sea. Some of its facilities are being used in Read More …
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday claimed that China and not the Philippines was allegedly violating the Declaration on the Code of Conduct (DOC) in disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. Gazmin made the statement in a chance interview with reporters at Camp Aquinaldo a day after his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing over questions about whether or not China will remove its ships from the Ayungin Shoal. On Wednesday, Gazmin said China intends to keep monitoring Manila over concerns that the Philippines intends to put up new structures on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas) in the disputed Spratly Islands. Gazmin explained that China was concerned about a Philippine ship that was on its way to the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Gazmin explained that the ship is not there to build structures in the disputed territories but is on a supply mission. On Thursday, Gazmin said, “Well we’ve been adhering to the conduct, we’ve been following the DOC, wala naman tayong viniolate.” Gazmin alleged that it is China that is not adhering to the DOC. “Sila ang hindi [sumusunod], kaya nga ito pwedeng [isama] sa ating mga protesta, kaya nga lumalabas yang sunud-sunod na protest natin,” Gazmin said. “Tayo ay nagpupunta dun because of routine provisional missions, at saka yung regular rotation of forces. Ang tao dun stays there for three months, alangan naman three months ka dun sa barko, ang area mo napakaliit, tapos puro dagat lang so kailangan constant ang rotation,” he added. ‘Deescalation’ Read More …
Rainy Thursday expected over most of southern Luzon. PAGASA weatherman Aldzar Aurelio on Thursday, May 30, shows a satellite image of clouds over the Philippines that could bring thunderstorms and rains to parts of Luzon, particularly the Bicol and Quezon provinces, as well as the NCR. GMA News Metro Manila and most parts of the country may expect rain on Friday, even as state weather forecasters said Thursday they expect to announce the start of the rainy season next week. PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang also noted a relatively cool maximum temperature in Metro Manila on Thursday, at 29.2 degrees Celsius. “Iiral pa rin ang inter-tropical convergence zone,” Galang said in an interview on dzBB radio. But Galang said they still cannot declare the start of the rainy season this week yet because the southwest monsoon has not set in. Temperature On Friday, PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 24 to 36 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 23 to 32 degrees Celsius on Friday. Friday outlook PAGASA’s 5 p.m. Thursday bulletin indicated the ITCZ is across Mindanao and may bring rain to most parts of the country. “Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. It added the rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or Read More …
The Philippines was not blacklisted by France due to supposedly lack of transparency in foreign aid, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) clarified Wednesday. In a text message, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the information that the Philippines was included by France on the list of “non-cooperative states” in its fight against foreign aid fraud was “totally inaccurate.” “We have, in fact, been informed that there is a new list and this list does not include the Philippines,” Del Rosario said. He added that the “mistake” on the Philippines’ blacklisting only arose from a French civil servant’s statements published on a French newspaper. On Tuesday, news reports quoted French minister for aids to development Pascal Canfin as saying that the 14 states and territories, including the Philippines, have been blacklisted by France due to lack of transparency in dealing with foreign aid. Del Rosario said that the French foreign ministry has already made a “full denial” on this “misinformation” concerning the Philippines. — Andreo Calonzo and Michaela del Callar/RSJ, GMA News
Defense chief says no plans to boost military presence, but contingent to keep watch MANILA (Mabuhay) – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Thursday said that there are no plans yet to reinforce the Marine contingent keeping watch off Ayungin Shoal. The Filipino presence is located on BRP Sierra Madre, a landing […]
Philippine government officials on Monday welcomed the plan of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form a political party that will participate in the 2016 elections, saying it is “consistent” with the peace process. In a text message, presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles said the MILF’s political plan “demonstrates its commitment to prepare itself for the challenge of democratic and inclusive governance” in the Bangsamoro region, which is set to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “It is consistent with the goals of any negotiated political settlement to transform the engaged armed party into an unarmed political and socio-economic force for continuing change and reform,” Deles said. Last week, the MILF, the country’s largest secessionist group, announced that it is set to form its political party this year to participate in the 2016 national elections. The announcement came months after the MILF and the Philippine government signed a framework peace agreement last October. At a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte welcomed the MILF’s “preparation” for its participation in the political process. “As you all know, the road map towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro ends in 2016 and, understandably, the MILF needs to preparate for that,” she said. Valte, however, said that she is not aware of any plan from the government to help the MILF transition from an armed group to a political party. The peace panels of the Philippine government and the MILF are currently in the process of ironing out issues in Read More …