Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

 News
May 252013
 
Hopes high for a visit from Pope Francis in PHL in 2016 — CBCP

The Philippines may get a visit from Pope Francis (Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio) in 2016 if a request by the Vatican is any indication, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said. CBCP president and Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said he received a request from the Vatican to move the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) slated in Cebu City to an earlier date: January 25 to 31, instead of May 23 to 29. “Two weeks ago, we received a letter from (Archbishop Piero Marini, president of the Pontifical Committee on the International Eucharistic Congress) asking us if we could move the event to the second preferred date because the pope has another schedule in May,” Palma said in an article on the CBCP website on Wednesday. “We told them that January is fine because our suggestion was to make the pope’s visit to the Philippines a priority,” he added. The Philippines had already started preparations for hosting the event, which is expected to draw thousands of laity and Church leaders from around the world. Held every four years, the 51st International Eucharistic Congress 2016 will reflect on the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.” Meanwhile, Palma called on the Filipino faithful to continue praying Pope Francis will indeed make a papal visit to the Philippines. “We know that the pope continues to inspire us and his visit will have an enormous impact on our faith and our Christian life,” he said. Pope Francis’ first international visit Meanwhile, Read More …

Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

 News
May 212013
 
Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

Militant groups on Wednesday picketed the office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Makati City to call for an early resolution to the row stemming from the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters last May 9. The militants, who gathered near the RCBC Tower where the MECO office is located, also voiced sympathies to the relatives of the slain fisherman, radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported. No violent confrontation took place between the militants and police, the report said. During their picket, the militants asked the Philippine and Taiwan governments to resolve their row soonest, and reminded Taiwan that overseas Filipino workers are not their enemy. They also asked the Philippine government to take steps to protect OFWs in Taiwan. Killed in the May 9 incident was fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, 65. His death prompted Taiwan to freeze the hiring of new Filipino workers and to issue a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.  Since the May 9 incident, some Filipinos in Taiwan reported being harassed or injured by Taiwanese angry over the fisherman’s death.  Report: PHL ready to pay NT$1-M to Taiwanese fisherman’s kin The Philippines is ready to pay NT$1 million (P1.38 million) to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman shot dead in an encounter off disputed waters last May 9, the head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office said late Tuesday. But MECO head Amadeo Perez Jr. told Taiwan’s Central News Agency it is still not clear at this time if the Read More …

Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

Taiwan on Thursday demanded an apology from the Philippine government as it condemned the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine vessel. At least one fisherman was reported dead in the incident. A report on Taiwan’s Central News Agency said Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the shooting came from an “official Philippine ship.” Earlier, Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that  a Philippine Navy ship fired upon the fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Quoting the foreign ministry, the CNA report identified the slain fisherman as Hung Shih-cheng, 65, adding the shooting occurred Thursday morning. It said the Taiwanese boat “Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28” was some 170 nautical miles off the southern coast of Taiwan at the time, and was seriously damaged. Aside from an apology, Taiwan demanded that the Philippine government identify those responsible and make compensation for the losses. The CNA report noted there had been past incidents where Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area were arrested and detained by Philippine authorities. But it said there had been few reports of shooting. Quoting Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Raymond Wang, who met with Philippine Coast Guard head Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, the Philippines found one of its ships shot the Taiwanese fishing boat. It said the type of vessel deployed by the Philippines and the weapons used were not immediately known. A separate report on Taipei Times said the vessel was operating at around 164 nautical miles (304 km) southeast Read More …

PAGASA: Thunderstorms in parts of Luzon Sunday, expect more across PHL on Monday

 News
May 052013
 
PAGASA: Thunderstorms in parts of Luzon Sunday, expect more across PHL on Monday

(Updated 7:52 p.m.) While state weather forecasters do not expect the rainy season to arrive until at least late May, thunderstorms brought moderate to heavy rain to several parts of Luzon Sunday. PAGASA, in posts on its Twitter account, said the thunderstorms occurred over parts of Southern Luzon and Ilocos in the afternoon, and Central Luzon in the evening. As of 7:11 p.m. Sunday, PAGASA noted a thunderstorm with moderate to heavy rain affected parts of Mariveles, Limay, Orion and Bagac in Bataan. Light to moderate rain may fall over parts of Mindanao, while Metro Manila and the rest of the country may expect isolated rain showers and thunderstorms on Monday, state weather forecasters said Sunday afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said easterlies or warm winds from the east are affecting the eastern section of the country. “Caraga and Davao region will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” it said. Metro Manila experienced a high temperature of 35.6° Celsius Sunday, and may expect temperatures of 25 to 36°C on Monday. Also expected to have a high temperature of 36°C on Monday are Angeles and Olongapo Cities in Central Luzon. For Monday, moderate to occasionally strong winds from the northeast to east will prevail over Northern Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to ocassionally rough. Light to moderate Read More …

DFA chief: Chinese envoy's decision to skip PHL in Asian tour a prerogative

 News
May 052013
 
DFA chief: Chinese envoy's decision to skip PHL in Asian tour a prerogative

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said the decision of China’s new foreign minister not to visit the Philippines in his Southeast Asia tour is a prerogative. In a text message, DFA chief Albert del Rosario said his office has “not given a second thought” to newly-appointed Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s choice of countries in the region to visit. “The plan for these visits is his prerogative… We look forward to meeting at the appropriate time with the new foreign minister and working closely with him,” Del Rosario said. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte meanwhile said the Palace does not want to speculate why the Philippines was not included in the Chinese foreign minister’s itinerary. “It will not be healthy to engage in speculation. We recognize the prerogative of the Chinese foreign minister to set his own agenda for his trips outside his country,” Valte said in a separate interview over state-run dzRB radio. Last week, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced that Wang will be visiting Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam from April 30 to May 5 “at the invitation” of the foreign ministers of these Southeast Asian countries. Chinese news service China Briefing said the four Southeast Asian countries are Wang’s first overseas destinations since his appointment in March. Also, it said the tour marks the first time in over 15 years that a Chinese envoy gave priority to Asian destinations. The news agency likewise said the four countries “were likely picked for being Read More …

PAGASA: Rain over Cagayan Valley, hot weather anew over NCR and rest of PHL

 News
Apr 252013
 
PAGASA: Rain over Cagayan Valley, hot weather anew over NCR and rest of PHL

Satellite Image as of 7 a.m. Thursday, 25 April 2013. | Weather Central Light to moderate rain may fall over Cagayan Valley due to the diffused tail-end of a cold front, while Metro Manila and other parts of the country can expect hot weather on Friday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Samuel Duran said the diffused tail-end of a cold front is affecting extreme northern Luzon while the easterlies or warm winds from the east are affecting most of the country. “[Mainit na naman sa Metro Manila] dahil umiiral pa rin ang easterlies sa halos kabuuan ng ating bansa,” Duran said in an interview on dzBB radio. Metro Manila, which experienced temperatures of as high as 36.3 degrees Celsius Thursday, may expect temperatures of 24 to 36 degrees Celsius Friday. PAGASA’s extended weather outlook indicated Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 36 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Tuguegarao City may experience relatively cooler weather Friday at 24 to 34 degrees Celsius, and on Saturday at 23 to 33 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius Friday, and 25 to 36 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Friday outlook PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said the diffused tail-end of a cold front is affecting extreme northern Luzon. “Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. It added moderate Read More …

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 …

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 …

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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