In a recent article in Asia Times, William Pesek a Tokyo-based journalist and former columnist for Barron’s and Bloomberg noted that President Rodrigo Duterte might be “shooting the 100 million-person (Philippine) nation in the proverbial foot?” with his bloody war on drugs, instead of continuing to improve the economy he inherited from former President Benigno Aquino—“an economy on the ascendancy – from weak link to investment-grade growth star in just six years” …
(KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia) President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak upon arrival for the Meeting at the Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya on Friday (February 28) during his State Visit to Malaysia. President Aquino and PM Najib are expected to discuss the upcoming signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro. (MNS photo) PUTRAJAYA (AFP) – The Philippine government and Muslim rebels will sign a peace deal to end one of Asia’s longest and deadliest insurgencies “by the end of March”, Malaysia’s prime minister said Friday after meeting his Filipino counterpart. Prime Minister Najib Razak said President Benigno Aquino invited him to witness the ceremony when “the comprehensive agreement is due to be signed by the end of March”. An official in the office of Aquino’s adviser on the peace negotiations confirmed the signing was targeted for the end of next month though no exact date has been set. “The successful conclusion of the Mindanao peace process… makes possible the empowerment of all the peoples of Mindanao,” Aquino told reporters referring to the southern Philippine state where a decades-long rebellion has killed more than 150,000, mostly civilians. Aquino was speaking to reporters in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya on his first visit to the neighbouring country. The Philippine government and the 12,000-member Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) completed negotiations last month for a power-sharing arrangement with the nation’s Muslim minority in the south. Muslim-majority Malaysia hosted the negotiations. The Read More …
The Aquino administration described as “unfortunate” Hong Kong’s decision to scrap the visa-free arrangements for visiting Philippine diplomats and officials but reiterated that the Philippines will not apologize for the 2010 Manila hostage crisis that resulted in multiple deaths to Chinese tourists. “At the end of the day, we submit that the act of one individual should not be construed as the act of the entire nation,” President Benigno Aquino has said MANILA (AFP) – The Philippines insisted Thursday it would not apologize for a 2010 hostage crisis in which Hong Kong tourists died, saying its response to the tragedy had been generous and compassionate. The statement came after the Hong Kong government announced on Wednesday it would impose diplomatic sanctions against the Philippines because of its “unacceptable” failure to apologize. “The Philippine Government regrets the Hong Kong SAR Government’s implementation of sanctions against the Philippines,” foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement. However he said the Philippines “is not prepared to consider” an apology. Rather, the Philippines would reiterate its “deepest regret and condolences”, while providing more compensation to the survivors and the victims’ relatives. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Wednesday that the current visa-free arrangement for visiting Philippine diplomats and officials would be suspended from February 5. They are currently able to stay 14 days without a visa. Leung described the move as the “first phase of sanctions” and said the government may take more action if it thought it could be “effective” Read More …
Malacanang on Sunday confirmed that President Benigno Aquino III has called embattled Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon to a private meeting, presumably to discuss being implicated in the Priority Development Assistance Fund scam. Communications Secretary Heminio Coloma said that the discussions could also include Biazon’s readiness to perform his duties despite the allegations against him. “Ang sinabi nga po ng Pangulo, mag-uusap po sila ni Commissioner Biazon hinggil sa bagay na ito. Kaya po magkakaroon ng pag-uusap ang ating Pangulo at si Commissioner Biazon. Wari ko po’y tatalakayin ‘yung bagay na ‘yan,” Coloma said. However, when asked if Biazon still has the confidence of the President, Coloma said there have been no indications otherwise. “Wala namang indikasyon to the contrary. Ipinaliwanag ko po na simula pa ‘nung State of the Nation Address nang nagkaroon ng talakayan hinggil diyan sa bagay na ‘yan ay nailinaw naman po na hindi magbabago ang pananaw ng ating Pangulo hinggil sa kakayahan ni Commissioner Biazon na pangunahan ang Bureau of Customs,” he said. “Sa buong daloy po ng mga pangyayari, simula pa ‘nung SONA noong 2013 hanggang po sa pagre-reorganisa ng Bureau of Customs, ay naipahiwatig naman po ng Pangulo ‘yung kanyang pagkakaroon ng buong pagtitiwala at kumpyansa sa kakayahan ni Commissioner Biazon,” Coloma said. Biazon, Muntinlupa representative from 2001 to 2010 and a party-mate of President Benigno Aquino, was the most surprising name among the 34 individuals comprising the second batch of criminal complaints in the PDAF scam. The cases were filed Friday morning. Meanwhile, Read More …
Despite the threat of Typhoon Yolanda, Malacañang on Friday said that there is no suspension of work in government offices yet. “No announcement on work suspension from ES [Executive Secretary’s] office; not warranted by present and forecast weather situation,” Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a text message to reporters. He issued the statement after Yolanda, dubbed the most powerful typhoon in the world this year, made landfall in the Philippines on Friday morning. On Thursday night, President Benigno Aquino addressed the public in a televised message and warned them about the danger Yolanda brings. — Kimberly Jane T. Tan /LBG, GMA News
Malacañang on Saturday downplayed a so-called Dec. 6 deadline for President Benigno Aquino to get rid of discretionary or “pork” funds, saying he and his administration will push the proper things at the “correct time.” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said the Palace will continue answering questions on the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program, which Palace critics had dubbed as another form of pork barrel funds. “The president and the administration will push for the correct things at the correct time,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. She was referring to the Dec. 6 deadline by the #ScrapPork Network for Aquino to “destroy the barrier” that blocks his supposed “straight path.” The Dec. 6 date comes 100 days after a massive anti-pork gathering at the Luneta in Manila last Aug. 26. Organizers hinted at gatherings by anti-pork advocates on that day. Valte said the Department of Justice already filed plunder cases against personalities linked to the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam involving the use of fake non-government organizations to siphon funds from lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations. She said the DOJ is set to file charges against another batch of personalities linked to the mess. “The instructions of the president would be to make sure (the cases) will stand scrutiny and (lead to) a conviction,” she added. Meanwhile, Valte said the government will continue “answering” questions on the controversial DAP, which some had branded as another form of pork barrel as it gives lawmakers leeway to identify what projects to Read More …
Malacañang on Saturday said it has not yet seen a bill by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile to create a commission to undertake the immediate rehabilitation of areas in Central Visayas devastated by the Oct. 15 magnitude-7.2 earthquake. But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino would normally identify areas that need help. “Hindi pa umabot sa atin ang proposal nila (His proposal has not reached us yet),” she said on government-run dzRB radio. But she said Aquino would usually form a task force to deal with the effects of disasters and calamities, if the need arises. “Normally ang ginagawa ng pangulo, ina-identify niya ang needs na matugunan sa lugar at pinapakilos niya ang department na merong pangsolusyon sa problema,” she said. Enrile had filed Senate Bill 1872, which seeks to create a “Central Visayas Assistance, Resettlement and Development Fund” that will allocate P10 billion to help victims of the quake. The bill calls for a Central Visayas Assistance, Resettlement and Development Commission, which is patterned after the Mount Pinatubo Commission. Under Enrile’s bill, the proposed body will formulate policies and plans, and coordinate the project implementation among concerned agencies and monitor the progress of the projects. The proposed commission will have a six-year term and will include the secretaries of: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)Department of Education (DepEd)Department of HealthDepartment of Social Welfare and DevelopmentAdministrator of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CouncilDirector of the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and SeismologyCommissioner of the National Commission Read More …
President Barack Obama talks on the phone with FBI Director Robert Mueller to receive an update on the explosions that occurred in Boston, in the Oval Office, April 15, 2013. Seated with the President are Lisa Monaco, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Now that the partial shutdown of the United States government is over, Malacañang said the visit of US President Barack Obama to the Philippines may now push through. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that while there has been no sign for now on when the visit will take place, saying it could be at a “mutually convenient” time for both countries. “(Obama) also committed to push through with his visit at a mutually convenient time for both countries. Kakatapos lang ng domestic issues doon,” she said on government-run dzRB radio. But when asked if there has been any immediate indication of when the visit will be, she said, “Wala pa naman (None as of now).” Earlier, the US announced Obama may not push through with his visit to the Philippines due to the partial shutdown of the government in the US. The partial shutdown had been caused by a deadlocked Congress, but ended after a budget deal was passed. President Benigno Aquino earlier said he understands why Obama canceled his visit to the Philippines amid the partial government shutdown. “(W)e perfectly understand the situation. Stability in their Read More …
Malacañang on Sunday challenged militant lawmakers who are calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, to explain why they availed of their share in the first place. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte gave this reply to the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc, which called for the unconditional abolition of the pork barrel. “They should be the ones to explain why they are calling for abolition yet they avail of the funds under PDAF,” she said on government-run dzRB. She also said there is no need for the lawmakers to plead with the Palace to give their share of the pork barrel funds to them. “I don’t think pleading is needed considering most of it has been released in the past year,” she said. A report on the Philippine Daily Inquirer cited documents from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showing five members of the bloc have received P481 million since President Benigno Aquino assumed office in 2010. — LBG, GMA News
By MYNARDO MACARAIGJuly 27, 2013 4:30pm Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Malacañang . President Benigno Aquino and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Malacañang during Abe’s visit to the Philippines on Saturday. Robert Viñas /Malacañang Photo Bureau