04 JULY 2019

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A2 NEWS Thursday, 4 July <strong>2019</strong> Daily Tribune Why not? School children try a boodle fight during recess to save on meal allowances. HnP flips win-win deal ROMAN PROSPERO Peace trio President Rodrigo Duterte, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon pause for a moment of silence for order in the country. MALACAÑANG PHOTO From page A1 Lessons learned We in the AFP shall constantly and will remain loyal to the flag, to the constitution and to the Filipino people the AFP and PNP not to mount a coup during his term, it could be just a random remark on the part of the President and Commander-in-Chief. Consistent message The AFP spokesman said that as early as the first Joint AFP-PNP Command Conference that the president presided upon his assumption of office and in several other instances after that, he has conveyed the same message to the security forces. “He (president) says, in essence, forget about mounting a military take-over that would lead to violence, death and destruction. If anyone among the military (or the police) thinks he or she can better run the country’s just tell him (The President) and he will step down,” Arevalo said. If you don’t want me, do not bring your weapons and mechanized armors there. Just call me and we will have coffee and I am ready to say: It’s yours. Arevalo said the reforms implemented in the AFP included its modernization; the increase in pay, allowances and benefits like housing to soldiers so they can best perform their mandate. These are more than enough reason for them to shun staging any coup. In his speech during the celebration of the 72nd anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, the President said the AFP and the PNP should refrain from staging a coup. “Do not do it, please, during my term,” said Duterte. “I know that the Armed Forces and the police will have to decide one day, somehow,” he added. Professionalism vowed In a statement, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Noel Detoyato said there is no reason for them to be remiss of their duty to serve the Filipinos as he underscored the professionalism of the military. “There is no reason at all for your security sector to be remiss of our duty to serve the Filipinos,” said Detoyato, adding that soldiers are more focused on mission accomplishment. “We are all guided by our transformation road map and our soldiers have so much to look forward to in our modernization program that is 100 percent supported by the government,” he noted. “Besides, we are better compensated than before and we have to give back by serving the Filipinos with all our heart,” he added. I have never said ‘no’ to any of the commanders and to (Defense Secretary) Delfin Lorenzana and to (National Security Adviser Hermogenes) Esperon. The PNP also assured that it is not planning any coup d’etat against the Duterte administration. In a statement, PNP chief Police General Oscar Albayalde said that there are no plans of an uprising. The PNP chief stressed that he does not know where Mr. Duterte obtained the information about the supposed coup plot being hatched against him. No unlawful act PNP spokesman Police Colonel Bernard Banac, on the other hand, echoed Albayalde’s statement, saying that the police will never participate in such an “unlawful act.” “As a professional law enforcement agency with a constitutional mandate, we assure the public that the PNP upholds the rule of law and will neither stage nor participate in any unlawful act such as coup d’etat,” Banac said. The Armed Forces of the Philippines is comprised of professional and matured servicemen and women. Meantime, National Capital Region Police Office chief Guillermo Eleazar also said the police force has no plan to stage a coup. He said the President is concerned about the military and the police and provides their requests if he could, which the Metro Manila top cop said is done in exchange for the law enforcers’ performance of their duties. Elmer N. Manuel /FTW We earnestly hope that everyone can see the light in this option Our investigation was finished. It was exhaustive. It’s not, I got to tell you, it doesn’t paint our fishermen in the brightest lights From page A1 Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. who had seen the report. Locsin said the findings of a government investigation “doesn’t paint our fishermen in the brightest lights.” In a televised interview, Locsin disclosed that of the Filipino boat’s 22 crew members, only their cook was awake before they were hit by the Chinese vessel last month near Recto Bank, which is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “I got the Coast Guard report immediately... Our investigation was finished. It was exhaustive. It’s not, I got to tell you, it doesn’t paint our fishermen in the brightest lights,” already has an overwhelming number of members of Congress supporting him, Pimentel said. is “immoral” aside from being “illegal” that the members of the Executive department is “lobbying on a purely Congressional matter.” Cayetano insisted that the President had endorsed term-sharing with Velasco but the Marinduque legislator denied that he had a formal agreement with Cayetano on the matter. From page A1 brother from Hugpong sa Tawong Cabinet meddling Lungsod, Congressman Paolo President Rodrigo Duterte was son, Davao City 1st District Rep. Duterte, to resolve the conflict “pressured” by eight members Paolo Duterte’s speakership bid. among candidates, therefore, of the Cabinet to implement “We suggest that Cong. Alan we are endorsing the bid of the so-called term sharing in the House Peter Cayetano take the Majority Congressman Isidro Ungab for leadership, Buhay Rep. Lito Leader position, Cong. Lord Alan Speaker,” the statement read. Atienza disclosed. Velasco take the Appropriations The friction in the Speakership race “We heard they are pressuring President Rodrigo Duterte Committee and Cong. Martin was primarily brought about by the the President to insist on term-sharing was ‘pressured’ by eight Romualdez to head the insistence of Taguig Rep. Alan Peter and in fact they want Cayetano to members of the Cabinet Accounts Committee,” Cayetano on a term-sharing deal. take the first portion,” Atienza to implement the so-called HnP said. “We earnestly hope that everyone Velasco goes first since told the Daily Tribune in a phone term-sharing in the House can see the light in he already has an interview. leadership. this option and overwhelming number He said from the information move forward with of members of Congress he got, two economic managers On Tuesday, Paolo announced urgency in serving supporting him. were “highly mentioned” as those that he will take back his first who are pushing for term-sharing. decision not to run for Speaker as our country,” the party The ruling Partido Demokratiko “Obviously, those who have an Cayetano’s insistence triggered statement said. Pilipino (PDP) said it is now open to interest in budget deliberations his decision to toss his hat into The HnP said it the idea of term-sharing provided that were vocal about their choice of the contest. understands Mr. Duterte will its official candidate, Marinduque speaker. What and who motivates not back Rep. Duterte in running Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, will take them?” Atienza added. Ungab accepts challenge for the post due to delicadeza. the first few months of the three-year The partylist lawmaker Ungab accepted the regional The party said that after term as House leader. emphasized that the “Executive political party’s decision on it “patiently observed” the PDP president and Sen. Koko or the Cabinet has no business or Wednesday. “I abide by the decision developments in the House of Pimentel said the party will heed whatsoever in meddling with internal of our party HnP. HnP hopes that Representatives, HnP chose the term-sharing deal to help affairs of Speakership or Congress.” everyone will aim for and work Ungab as their official bet. settle the issue of House Speaker He said that these secretaries towards unity and cooperation in “We understand if President which has been dragging for a should respect the separation order to establish a strong and Duterte, because of delicadeza, considerable period of time. of powers of the three branches efficient House,” Ungab said in a will not accept the intent of our Velasco goes first since he of the government saying that it statement. Only cook awake in rammed boat Locsin said. “They had no lookout, even the enemies of the President says you need an assigned lookout. They didn’t... Everybody was asleep.” The cook, he said, “had a small light.” “Whether or not that light should have been sufficient to warn the oncoming Chinese vessel, I don’t know,” said Locsin, adding that after the ramming, the Chinese boat “backed up and they went.” Locsin said the Philippines immediately filed a diplomatic protest with Beijing after the incident and delivered remarks at the UN Headquarters in New York where he said abandoning anyone in need is a felony. Abandonment unforgivable “Abandoning persons in danger is covered not just by UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) but maritime law in general...There is a crime of abandoning a person in danger,” said Locsin previously. Bright idea The Department of Transportation’s (DoTr) free ride for students in mass transits is a blockbuster hit. It encourages students to go to school early as well. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG The Filipino fishermen earlier said that they were left adrift for hours before they were rescued by a Vietnamese vessel. However, Locsin said he was not authorized to reveal more about the Coast Guard’s findings into the incident. They had no lookout, even the enemies of the President says you need an assigned lookout. They didn’t... Everybody was asleep. He earlier objected to a joint investigation by Manila and Beijing into the incident. “In a joint investigation, I do not believe that China would allow our Coast Guard to go to Chinese soil, no more than we would allow Chinese Coast Guard to step on Philippine soil to interview our fishermen will they allow us to interview the captain of the Chinese vessel,” he said. “When you come up with separate investigations, the two results are there, then you can compare notes and say why is it like this?” he added. Rody draws line The Philippine (Benham) Rise and Malampaya gas field are ours. This was the short, but firm, message President Rodrigo Duterte relayed as he stressed the country’s sovereign claim to the said maritime territories in the West Philippine Sea. Mr. Duterte made the remark as he graced the Philippine Air Force’s 72nd founding anniversary last Tuesday night at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, expressing his gratitude to the PAF’s service to the country and the people. Abandoning persons in danger is covered not just by UNCLOS but maritime law in general. “I acknowledge your unwavering commitment to your sworn duty to protect our territorial lines of defense through aerial reconnaissance and maritime patrol missions in the West Philippine Sea and of course which is really ours — the Philippine Rise,” said the Chief Executive in his speech. “Also noteworthy are your efforts in securing (the) Malampaya natural gas (field) off the coast of Palawan, which is ours,” he added. In 2012, the Philippine Rise, also called Benham Rise, a 13-million-hectare underwater plateau located in the country’s eastern border, was confirmed by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as part of the Philippines’ continental shelf. Kristina Maralit
Thursday, 4 July <strong>2019</strong> Daily Tribune PAGE THREE Morale booster Actor and Army reservist Probationary 2Lt. Matteo Guidicelli takes a groupie with troops during a visit in Jolo, Sulu Tuesday. ON CANCELATION OF DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS Locsin: Go to court The proliferation of courtesy passports devalues the passports of the incumbent ambassadors By Elmer N. Manuel Amid the uproar generated by the cancelation of all courtesy passports, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday urged those who are questioning his order to bring the matter to the court. In a televised interview, Locsin reiterated that he made the move after former DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario was barred from entering Hong Kong and eventually deported despite carrying a courtesy diplomatic passport. “It’s not covered by law. That’s their interpretation which is fine. What they should do is go to court,” said Locsin, adding that the DFA had issued 172 courtesy passports. “They are cancelled. I already issued the order. Blue passports, with all their immunities, confined exclusively to serving ambassadors or special envoys or anyone that I decide will be on a special mission for that specific mission,” said Locsin. The DFA chief also said that the proliferation of courtesy passports devalues the passports of the incumbent ambassadors, noting that Del Rosario properly used his diplomatic passport by going to the DFA and asking it to be re-validated. However, he was still barred from entering Hong Kong. “I said this kind of incident, in supposing it has been used by an irresponsible person precisely to provoke diplomatic row, I don’t want this to happen again. Therefore, I am canceling these courtesy passports and then I’m going to come up with stricter rules,” he said. Del Rosario earlier said courtesy passports are allowed under the law and could not be canceled outright. The DFA chief said he did not ask a formal explanation from Hong Kong on why it denied entry to Del Rosario. “No, I will never do that because if any country questions our immigration policy, however ‘bastos’ (rude) we would want to be, I would really resent it. That’s a sovereign function,” he said. Before Del Rosario, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales was also barred initially from entering Hong Kong while on a vacation trip with her family last May. She was later cleared but decided to just return to Manila. Del Rosario and Morales had filed a case against China’s President Xi Jinping for alleged crimes against humanity over Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea before the International Criminal Court. Hotline 8888 now TV program President Duterte is expected to make an appearance in future episodes to personally answer questions from the people By Kristina Maralit President Rodrigo Duterte’s 8888 Hotline, activated to provide all Filipino a direct access to Malacañang, is now a television show. To premiere on 11 July on staterun People’s Television Network-4 (PTV-4), “Digong 8888 Hotline” will be an hour-long public service program to be hosted by Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Kris Roman and PTV news anchor Trixie Jaafar. It will air every Thursday at 2-3 in the afternoon. “This one-hour program aims to bridge the gap between government agencies and the people through segments that will directly address the ordinary Filipino’s concerns on various government services,” said Panelo in a statement released yesterday. The Palace official added that the show will feature one government agency per week where they can answer the public’s queries sent through social media and field interviews. It will also feature case studies from the Presidential Complaint Center. Mr. Duterte is also expected to make an appearance in future episodes to personally answer questions from the people. Not a parade Long queue of tricycles are on a stand still due to heavy traffic flow along a main thoroughfare in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. ROMAN PROSPERO Go pushes BFP modernization Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go is pushing for the modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to boost the agency’s overall capability in terms of manpower and equipment. Go, during a visit to fire victims at Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, said that he already formalized his advocacy to modernize the BFP by filing the Fire Protection Modernization Bill before the Senate on Monday. The bill seeks to modernize the BFP with the adoption of a Fire Protection Modernization Program which includes the hiring of more personnel, acquisition of modern fire equipment and trainings for firefighters. Go stressed that the BFP modernization is necessary to suppress all kinds of destructive fires and prevent deaths and injuries. The BFP modernization bill was among the 10 bills that Go filed on Monday. “We need to hire more firefighters and provide a lot of trainings for them. We also need to acquire modern equipment and fire trucks to address the needs of every fire victim,” he added. The senator vowed that he will not get tired of providing assistance to fire victims and listen to the cry for government help of ordinary people. Go said that his election as senator will not stop him from going and talking directly to the people to know their sentiments and needs. “I am here ready to serve all of you,” Go told the members of the 65 families who were left homeless by the fire in Barangay Bahay Toro, adding “I don’t want to limit myself as a mere lawmaker. I want to reach out to you to provide prompt solution to your problems and address your concerns.” The victims are currently staying at the GSIS covered court. Highlighting his concern for education, Go promised to provide uniforms and school supplies to all the student-victims for them not the skip classes. MJMallari Boracay plan boosted President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of the P25 billion Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan was branded yesterday by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon as a huge boost to the government efforts to restore the beauty of the island paradise. “The approval of the Boracay Medium-Term Action Plan is a significant development in our desire to restore Boracay as the most beautiful island in Asia,” Drilon said. Drilon complemented the move with his filing of Senate Bill 17 which calls for the creation of Boracay Development Authority that will be mandated to take over the management, development, regulation, protection and maintenance of the island, including its coastal and marine biodiversity. MJM
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