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2 Pangasinan-based environmental defenders abducted
by DOMINIC GUTOMAN Bulatlat.com MANILA – Two Pangasinan-based environmental defenders and organizers were violently mauled and dragged into an SUV at about 8 p.m. on March 24 in Barangay Polo, San Carlos, Pangasinan, according to human rights group Karapatan-Central Luzon Karapatan – Central Luzon said the abduction of Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak”… The post 2 Pangasinan-based environmental defenders abducted appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Jaishankar begins Singapore visit with homage to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, brave INA soldiers
Singapore, March 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar kicked off his Singapore visit on Saturday by paying homage to Subhash Chandra Bose and the brave Indian National Army soldiers. The INA Marker in Singapore, which Jaishankar visited recognizes the deep patriotism of the Indian National Army soldiers. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Began my Singapore visit by paying homage to Netaji and the brave Indian.....»»
Bomb components, ammo seized
DUMAGUETE CITY — Authorities here reported that it seized a cache of ammunition and bomb components at a temporary harbor site of New People’s Army rebels in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office Police Community Affairs and Development Unit deputy chief Lt. Stephen Polinar disclosed that they discovered the items in a cave at Sitio Cansanaan in Barangay Abis on Tuesday. He added that the 704th Provincial Mobile Force Company received a report of the presence of unidentified armed men believed to be NPA members and immediately conducted an operation in the vicinity of Barangays Bato, Abis and Samac. They found the cave reportedly been used by suspected NPA members. A subsequent search yielded one red chest bag containing assorted medicines; a container with suspected ammonium nitrate and fuel oil of approximately four liters; an orange backpack containing two pieces of electric blasting cap; two pieces of 9-volts battery; two rolls of firing wire 10-20 meters each; and several rounds of live ammunition of various caliber for short and long firearms; two magazines; a pair of rainboots; and assorted “subversive” documents. The post Bomb components, ammo seized appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate committee cites Socorro ‘cult’ leader, 3 others in contempt
Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. leader Jey Rence Quilario alias Senior Agila and three others were cited in contempt by the Senate committee during a public hearing on Thursday. Senator Risa Hontiveros made the motion after Quilario and the others repeatedly denied that forced marriages of minors happened and were facilitated by the Socorro Bayanihan Service Inc. despite the testimonies of child witnesses present at the hearing. “I respectfully move to cite in contempt Jey Rence Quilaro, Mamerto Galanida, Janeth Ajoc and Karren Sanico,” Hontiveros said. With no objection from the members of the committee, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, ordered the detention of the four individuals at the Senate premises. Speaking at the hearing, a member of the alleged cult group, alias Jane, narrated how she was forced to marry a fellow member at the age of 14. Jane directly pointed to Quilario as the one who chose her 18-year-old husband. She added they were forced to have sex after being married, or they would be accused of disobeying God. Jane likewise said her mother, despite being married to her father, was forced to marry another member. She said she decided to run away from the village due to the unwanted marriage and forced labor she had experienced throughout her stay in Sitio Kapihan under Quilario's leadership. Another member, Lovely Novie Savandal, also narrated how her 12-year-old sister was forced to marry someone she didn’t know personally. Savandal said Quilario was forcing every married couple to have sexual intercourse under pain of punishment. Quilario denied that forced marriages were happening in their group. “Hindi po, hindi po nangyayari (no, that did not happen),” he said. Ajoc also denied that there were child marriages, although a witness in the hearing earlier said that Ajoc's own child was among those who were married at the age of 12. Galanida, meanwhile, said he was not aware of such happenings. “I do not know anything about mayroong ganyang nangyayari sa Kapihan… Walang child marriages kasi po kung meron man, meron dapat ‘yung parents mismo ‘yung magko-complain,” he said. The panel’s investigation came after Hontiveros filed Proposed Senate Resolution 797 seeking a Senate investigation into the cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriage allegedly perpetrated by the group. Dela Rosa also introduced Senate Resolution 796, which aims to look into the alleged presence and operation of a shabu laboratory and a heavily armed private army at the group's premises in Surigao del Norte. The post Senate committee cites Socorro ‘cult’ leader, 3 others in contempt appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Kahit ikaw ay Haring Agila, pwede ka ipakulong ng Bato’ — Sen. Dela Rosa
Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa warns alleged Socorro cult leader, Jey Rence Quilario alias "Senior Agila," to tell the truth when answering allegations of sexual abuse of minors and other cult practices perpetrated by his group, Socorro Bayanihan Service Inc., in Sitio Kapihan, Socorro town in Surigao del Norte. Senator Risa Hontiveros filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 797, seeking a Senate investigation on the cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor, and child marriage perpetrated by an alleged cult in Socorro, Surigao del Norte. Also, Dela Rosa has introduced Senate Resolution 796 to look into the alleged presence and operation of a shabu laboratory and a heavily armed private army in Surigao del Norte. Senior Agila bluntly denied all the allegations linking him and the SBSI to cult practices. The post ‘Kahit ikaw ay Haring Agila, pwede ka ipakulong ng Bato’ — Sen. Dela Rosa appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies 2 activists tortured
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr., on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. We let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered,” Brawner said during the Senate deliberation on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan, after going missing on 2 September. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture — are not true,” he said. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro made a surprising statement that they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney’s Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. In that alone, their claims were already destroyed,” Dela Rosa said. Perjury raps Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements, which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” “There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” Teodoro said. The post Brawner denies 2 activists tortured appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday raised a suggestion that members of the New People Army’s are better off joining military reserve forces to support their pro-people advocacies. “My appeal to the left, to the opponents of the government from the left. We are all Filipinos here. Isa lang namana ng hanay natin. We all wanted ang mabuhay ng mapayapa at mabigyan ng pagkakatapon ang ating mga kababayan na mabuhay ng disente through education through livelihood we are all in the same end games,” Zubiri said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, . Zubiri lamented that overthrowing the government through political ideologies has been long gone. “Yung mga nagnanais na masira ang ating bansa through political means through ideological means—wala na yan sa ibang parte ng mundo wala na yan (Those who want to destroy our country through political means through ideological means—it does not exist anymore in other parts of the world),” he said. Zubiri said, “These rebellions have already failed and they decided to come together and move forward with the political solution.” “Mas maganda na sumama na lang sila sa atin para mawala yung korapsyon para mawala yung kagutuman at kahirapan (It’s better that they join us to eliminate corruption to get rid of the hunger and poverty) he added. Zubiri urged NPA members to become military reserve forces. “Imbes na mamaril pa ng kapwa Pilipino, mas maganda mag volunteer na lang sila sumama na lang sila sa reserve force, doon sila ideploy sa Pag-asa Island. Samahan nila ang mga mangingisda natin doon. Mas maganda po ‘yun (Instead of shooting your fellow Filipinos, its better that they would volunteer to join us and become part of our reserve force. They can be deployed in Pag-asa Island. They should accompany our fishermen there. It will be better),” he said. Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island, is 37.2 hectares of rock located in the Spratly Islands and is the largest of the Philippine-administered islands. It lies about 500 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Amid the ongoing tensions in the Philippine territorial waters, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said NPA members should instead join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps to help defend the country against external threats. “Sana mag-ROTC na lang sila para makatulong (Hopefully, they will join ROTC so they can help),” said Dela Rosa. On the other hand, Zubiri urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take note of the consequences of insurgency-free declaration in various NPA-infiltrated areas. “May mga recidivist pa rin. Yung mga diehard, hindi mawawala iyon. Kaya minsan, hindi maganda na ina-announce niyo na NPA-free yung probinsya kasi pag ina-announce niyo gumagawa sila ng hakbang, maski nagaling sa labas papasok dooon nanggugulo para lang ipakita na mali ang mga annoucements so we have to be careful (There are still recidivists. Those diehards won't go away. So sometimes, it's not good that you announce that the province is NPA-free because when you announce it, they take steps—even though people from the outside come in there causing trouble just to show that you announcements are wrong, so we have to be careful.),” Zubiri said. Brawner explained that the declaration of insurgency-free is intended to help the previously NPA-infiltrated areas to attract investment opportunities “after being deprived for long decades due to the security threats posed by rebels.” “We need to declare first the area insurgency-free so that the investors will also come in. They’ll feel secure coming into that provinces or regions,” he said. Brawner confirmed Zubiri’s remarks that leftists are messing up with the declaration of insurgency-free areas. “Nangyayari po iyon. Totoo po iyon Mr. Senate President na once we declared an area insurgency-free, ang ginagawa ng makakaliwa is that from the outside nag-iinfiltrate sila (That happens. That's true Mr. Senate President that once we declared an area insurgency-free, what the leftists are doing is that from the outside they are infiltrating in that area),” he said, citing one recent incident in Bicol region where a group of NPA rebels attacked a military detachment to sow fear in the communities. The success of the Barangay Development Program within identified conflict-affected areas and geographically- isolated and disadvantaged areas, resulted in the "demolition" of rebels is one of the military's parameters in the declaration of insurgency-free. Brawner noted the huge contributions of the BDP in addressing the root causes of insurgency. He said the government’s BDP allows basic services more accessible to the communities previously infiltrated by the NPA rebels, including farm-to-market roads, and education facilities, among others. The post NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate eyes increase of DND’s 2024 budget
The Senate on Wednesday assured the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that it will push for the allocation of more funds for next year to further strengthen the country’s defense operations. After extensive deliberation, the Senate Committee on Finance has approved the 2024 proposed budget of the DND and its attached, including the revised AFP Modernization Program, “subject to possible budgetary adjustments.” The DND’s proposed budget will then be again submitted to the Senate plenary for deliberation and approval. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed full support for the defense sector’s efforts to defend the country amid the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea. With this, Zubiri committed to increasing the DND and AFP’s budget for next year for more heightened defense initiatives. “But you know my dear friends, courage can only take us so far. And that is why, if we really want to truly defend our country and our seas, we must support their budget. Not only the budget that they have now… We’re going to support, through the efforts of the Senate, an increase in their budget, especially in the defense spending,” he said. In his presentation, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the DND is seeking a total of P229.9 billion in funding under the 2024 National Expenditure Program. Teodoro presented a 12 percent increase compared to the P204.5 billion DND budget allocated under its 2023 General Appropriation Act. Of the budget, the AFP will get P221.6 billion, which will be divided among its major service units including the Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, and Philippine Navy, as well as the general AFP headquarters and AFP-wide service support units. The DND will get P1.2 billion while the remaining P7 billion will go to civilian bureaus, like the Government Arsenal, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, and Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Teodoro said the DND initially requested P115.1 billion for the AFP Modernization Program but was only granted P50 billion. Meanwhile, Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Estrada stressed the need to fast-track equipping the AFP with modern assets to protect the country’s territorial integrity, given the current situation in the West Philippine Sea. Hence then asked Teodoro about the ongoing military modernization: “We are supposed to be in Horizon 3 of the AFP modernization program in 2023. I think we are still in Horizon 2 or Horizon 1. Where are we now?” In response, Teodoro said about 10 percent of the project remains to be accomplished in Horizon 1 while 51 out of 97 projects were already finished in Horizon 2 with some projects will be carried over under Horizon 3. “That’s why we really have to re-strategize it because the paradigms for Horizon 2 may not be valid anymore,” Teodoro said. The military modernization program's Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028 while Horizon 2 is from 2018 to 2022 and Horizon 1 is from 2013 to 2018. All these horizons are geared toward acquiring equipment and weapon platforms that would equip the AFP to perform its external defense mandate. An executive session was conducted with the DND after the Senate panel’s approval of its proposal to discuss some adjustments to the funding, particularly those allocated for defending the WPS. Zubiri stressed that he will not allow the Philippines to be bullied. “Hindi tayo pumayag na ma-bully tayo ng ating kapitbahay sa Norte (we didn’t allow our neighbor in the North to bully us). Because of that, we hear you loud and clear. We need more defense spending in our modernization project… We’re here to support you. You’ll see a drastic difference in your budget come this December,” Zubiri said. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa likewise rallied for the increase of both DND and AFP’s intelligence funds for surveillance and reconnaissance assets. In 2022, DND got P2.3 billion worth of confidential intelligence funds. The agency requested only P1.8 billion in 2023. “With this new defense strategic direction, refocused on archipelagic defense and protection, will there be a corresponding shift, change, or retrofitting of our forces because right now our organization is heavy on the land-based army?” Dela Rosa asked. Teodoro said no changes are needed at the moment as the country needs to sustain internal security. However, he noted the need to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities to cope with the “challenges of time.” The post Senate eyes increase of DND’s 2024 budget appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday denied the allegations of torture by the two young activists who claimed they were abducted by the soldiers in Bataan province. Brawner clarified that environmentalists, Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano, have undergone the military’s standard operating procedure for the rebel returnees. “We applied everything that nandoon po sa ating SOP kapag meron pong nagsu-surrender In fact, ang ginawa po natin pina-medical examination po natin the first hour na nadala po sa ating custody when they surrendered (We applied everything that is stipulated in our SOP when someone surrenders. In fact, what we did was we let them undergo medical examination the very first hour that they were brought to our custody when they surrendered),” Brawner said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the proposed 2024 national budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies. Brawner stood firm that Castro and Tamano had “voluntarily surrendered” to the Philippine Army’s Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion in Plaridel, Bulacan after going missing for weeks. “When they surrendered. The first hour, we called for a doctor to do a physical examination on them. That’s why, their statements that they were tied up with their other allegations of torture—are not really true,” the AFP chief stressed. In a government-sponsored press conference last week, Tamano and Castro said they were “coerced to surrender” and “threatened” by the military. Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said Brawner’s assertion about the surrendering of Tamano and Castro could be backed by the statement of Public Attorney's Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta. “Everything that they said was properly debunked by PAO chief Acosta. Wala talaga, sirang-sira sila doon (In that alone, their claims were already destroyed),” said Dela Rosa. Meanwhile, Defense Chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. noted that the government is preparing perjury charges against the two activists after they recanted their earlier statements which were put through a “handwritten affidavit.” "There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed,” said Teodoro. The post Brawner denies military torture vs activists Tamano, Castro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Perjury raps vs 2 activists underway
Perjury charges are now being prepared against the two environmentalists who recanted their “handwritten affidavit” stating they have “voluntarily surrendered” to the military and declared that soldiers abducted them after they went missing. During the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked on the case update of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro who earlier retracted what they said in their affidavit. “May case preparation ngayon, inter-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges sa kanila. Nire-review lang ang mga sworn statements ng mga testigo (There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed),” Teodoro told Dela Rosa. In a previous press conference organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Tamano and Castor denied that they surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion. Philippine Army chief LtGen. Roy Galido earlier admitted that the two young activists had tricked the military, contrary to their earlier statements sworn before the Public Attorney's Office. "We felt betrayed that's why we will file the necessary case, to use our laws, just like when you are also betrayed when your clients are betrayed, they file a case against you, so we just have to follow the rule of law in our country," Galido said. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa urged the DND to push through with the filing of perjury charges against Tamano and Castro. "We should do that. I am encouraging you. Grabe 'yung maka-kaliwa, grabe maka-jump sa bandwagon nung epekto na 'yun. Talagang all-out sila. Dapat tayo rin, sumagot din tayo. Parang lumalabas na para bang inaamin na lang natin na totoo ang sinasabi nila (The leftists are really jumping on the bandwagon following their retraction. They are really all-out. We must answer that. It seems like we are just admitting that what they are saying is true),” said Dela Rosa. The senator said the security forces should be aggressive in their actions against propaganda of the communist-leaning parties. Teodoro noted that the intelligence information on the two activists is liable. “Your honor, talagang sigurado po ako sa ebidensya dito (I’m really sure about the evidences),” said Teodoro, noting that the recantation of the two activists is just part of the dramas being perpetrated by the left-leaning organizations. ‘Lesson learned: Be wary’ Dela Rosa also warned the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. to be wary of entertaining communist surrenderers. “Lessons learned, General Brawner. Ingat kayo kasi pwede kayong saksakin sa likuran niyan (Just be careful because they can stab your back),” he said. "Masyado tayong mabait, masyado na tayong gentleman. Masyado tayong mapagbigay to the point na 'yun pala, nilalason na pala tayo sa sarili nating tubig (We are too kind, we are too gentlemanly. We are too generous to the point that we are being poisoned in our own waters),” Dela Rosa added. On the other hand, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the need to provide sufficient funds for the NTF-ELCAC, to augment the military’s efforts on its Balik-Loob program. “We should help in their budget, we should continue providing funds for NTF-ELCAC, especially in barangay projects because that’s what winning hearts and minds. It has been very successful in Bukidnon and any other provinces,” he said. Dela Rosa supported Zubiri’s suggestion. However, the funds of the anti-insurgency task force are being lodged in the expenditure program of the National Security Council. The post Perjury raps vs 2 activists underway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Up to 2M reservists eyed once ROTC becomes mandatory
There could be about two million reservists who will be able to augment the reserve force of the Armed Forces of the Philippines every year if the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps becomes mandatory again. This was bared by Major General Joel Alejandro Nacnac, Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservists and Retiree Affairs of the AFP, over the weekend during the opening of the National Reservists Week. “Every year, if ROTC becomes mandatory, we expect an additional two million students from all of the universities,” Nacnac told the reporters in an interview. He said projected servicemen from ROTC will be classified as a “standby reserve”—which is mobilized only in times of national emergency or war. The AFP reserve force is currently at 1.2 million as of June 2023, which is composed of over 71,000 “ready reservists,” more than 15,000 affiliated units from other organizations and institutions, and 1.1 million standby reservists—with most of them from the Philippine Army. The ready reservists are called at “any time to add to the regular forces.” The National Reservist Week is the AFP’s annual activity of the “purposely to widen the Reserve Force manpower build-up and for the existing reservists to be accounted.” The event also provides reservists an update on the current AFP policies and directives with regard to the Reserve Force Development Programs as well as establish a robust operational Reserve force by way of checking their individual readiness in order to provide support to the Regular Force to fulfill its mandate. The bill requiring ROTC for students enrolled in at least two years of an undergraduate degree is pending in the Senate plenary. On the other hand, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa the government may allot P4.2 billion for free uniforms yearly if the proposed mandatory ROTC program becomes law. “If it will materialize, every year we’re going to budget P4.2B for uniforms alone for cadets,” he said in a recent hearing on the budget of the Department of Science and Technology and its attached agencies. Dela Rosa also made a recommendation that ROTC uniforms should be locally sourced. The Philippine Textile Research Institute welcomed the senator’s suggestion. The post Up to 2M reservists eyed once ROTC becomes mandatory appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chosen son: Cambodia’s next PM Hun Manet to succeed father
Hun Manet has an economics degree from England and graduated from US military academy West Point, but there are few expectations he will uphold Western liberal ideals when he succeeds his father as Cambodia's prime minister. Groomed for years, the eldest son of Cambodia's iron-fisted ruler will take over next month in a dynastic transfer long in the making, which sees Hun Manet move from the premier's bodyguard unit to the seat of power in the capital Phnom Penh. After nearly four decades as Cambodian leader, Hun Sen on Wednesday announced his resignation in a televised speech, three days after claiming a landslide victory in a one-sided election that the ruling party was guaranteed to win after having silenced all viable opposition. Hun Manet, already a member of the ruling Cambodian People's Party's powerful permanent committee, has served as commander of the Royal Cambodian Army since 2018. Born on October 20, 1977, the princeling graduated from West Point in 1999 and has more recently met world leaders including President Xi Jinping of China -- Cambodia's main ally and benefactor. But the 45-year-old four-star general only contested a parliamentary seat for the first time in Sunday's election, a poll he has insisted was legitimate, while Western powers criticized it as neither free nor fair. 'After Hun Sen' While Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving rulers, has trailed the handover to his son for a year and a half, he has also made it clear that he intends to wield influence after he steps down, scotching the notion the country could change direction when Hun Manet assumes power. While Hun Sen's politics are shaped by his experiences of revolution and war as a young man during the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, his son was raised in luxury and educated abroad. Hun Manet holds a PhD in economics from the University of Bristol in Britain, and was the first Cambodian to graduate from the prestigious US military academy. He has also served in leadership roles in the ruling CPP's youth movement, his father's bodyguard unit and the counterterrorism special forces. But a Western education is no guarantee of a more liberal approach, exiled politician Sam Rainsy, a longstanding foe of Hun Sen, told AFP this month -- pointing to Syria's brutal Assad dynasty. "Syria's Bashar al-Assad is more educated than Hafez al-Assad, but the son is politically worse than the father," he said. Sebastian Strangio, author of a book about Hun Sen's rule, told AFP that so far Hun Manet had shown "little evidence that he will introduce anything more than cosmetic reforms to the current political system". Without his father's backing, it is not clear Hun Manet would be able to make changes even if he wanted to. He remains untested in the political arena, analyst Ou Virak told AFP this month. "The problem is he's been spoon-fed, mostly with a golden spoon," Ou Virak said. Married with two daughters and a son, Hun Manet will assume the role of prime minister on 22 August. The post Chosen son: Cambodia’s next PM Hun Manet to succeed father appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Rody’ fetes new elite Scout Rangers
Former President Rodrigo Duterte advised newly graduated Scout Ranger Course “Nasiglat” Class 219-2022 “to always remember the people” they pledged to serve. Speaking at the closing ceremony of Scout Ranger Course “Nasiglat” Class 219-2022 on 19 May, Duterte underscored that the “Tabak” badge gained by the graduating troopers was hard-earned through their remarkable skills, stamina, and spirit they have demonstrated during the course of their training. The class was composed of 42 Philippine Army troopers and 17 Philippine National Police personnel. They went through a 28-week training that tested the limits of their physical capabilities, endurance and spirit. Duterte also mentioned that Scout Rangers have greatly contributed to the government’s triumph against the ISIS terrorist-inspired Maute rebel group during the infamous siege in Marawi City last May 2017. “Now will also be an opportune time to thank the Scout Rangers for their valuable contributions in retaking the city of Marawi when I was president,” said Duterte. “I am deeply grateful for your service to our flag and country. Your dedication, commitment, and resolve to perform your duty are truly commendable.” The former President emphasized the crucial role of the newly minted Scout Rangers in the troops’ combat operations against the perpetrators of violence and rebellion. “Your technical knowledge and training will be valuable in defeating our enemies, upholding our country’s sovereignty, and securing our people’s liberty,” Duterte said. Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa proudly congratulated his son, PLt. Rock Dela Rosa, along with other 158 soldiers and policemen earned the “Tabak” badge and become elite Scout Rangers. The senator, who was a Scout Ranger himself, served as the guest of honor of the event as he witnessed his son receive his own badge. “When one lives and dies for the country, such life and such death shall never be in vain. To live and die for one’s country is an act of the highest honor and it is one that we are called upon to face, every single waking moment of our lives,” Dela Rosa said in his speech. The Scout Ranger Course includes four major modules on individual training, small unit training, combat maneuver, and test mission — developing the troops into becoming effective and lethal direct-action combatants who specialize in small unit tactics and combat tracking. The post ‘Rody’ fetes new elite Scout Rangers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Bato’ seeks death penalty vs political warlords
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is keen on the revival of the death penalty against politicians utilizing private armed groups as well as slapping heavy punishment on highly skilled uniformed personnel dismissed from the service working as private armies. This comes following the conduct of five hearings by the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee on Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and spate of killings in the province. “I think they should be because these politicians are the main masterminds of it. They should be included in death penalty. That’s correct, good suggestion,” said Dela Rosa when asked if the political warlords should get capital punishment. “Former members of security forces should also get heavier penalties especially when they use the training skills they acquired from the government, or particularly, from the Armed Forces, from the Philippine National Police — to victimize civilians. That must be a death penalty for them, we must not talk only about reclusion perpetua,” he added. The senator — who was a former Philippine National Police chief — stressed that he will immediately include these proposals in the soon-to-be-submitted committee report for possible adoption. “I will write the report and include these. I’m just waiting for the remaining affidavits from other resource persons,” said the lawmaker, adding that he will include in the committee report death that penalty recommendation will cover active and former AFP or PNP personnel engaged in private army activities. “You see, these people are very deadly. They will continue doing illegalities if they think they will not get the death punishment. They will accept money from politician x and carry out even criminalities. But if they know they will face the death penalty, then, they will slow down,” said Dela Rosa. The committee chair is also considering amending the Omnibus Election Code, specifically, the provision that will totally prohibit the entry of “nuisance candidates” in every electoral exercise -- which he cited as the root cause of the Degamo murder case. Dela Rosa is also eyeing the removal of authority by the local executives to choose or name the police provincial director and police regional director to be deployed within their jurisdiction as stated under the Local Government Code. He stressed that police provincial directors must be appointed by the PNP’s National Headquarters while choosing chiefs of police must be given to either the provincial or regional director of the PNP. The removal of authority from LCEs, he emphasized, will limit police officials being in debt of any politician so they can fulfill the PNP mandates “more independently.” “They can now snob bordering to illegal requests or illegal orders coming from these politicians. In that case, they can also enforce the law without fear to anyone,” Dela Rosa said. “PNP is a huge organization so they should be the ones to know the merit of the officers so they must call the deployment not politicians in the provinces.” Dela Rosa said it will also contribute to the professionalism among the PNP ranks as he disclosed the drafting of a PNP Reformation Bill giving additional powers to disciplining authorities such as the PNP chief or police regional and provincial directors to punish police personnel doing illegalities. “This is more likely a military law wherein commanders have the power to jail the violators among their ranks. I want to like that for the PNP,” said the senator. Dela Rosa said that the five hearings have initially established that neither the camps of Degamo nor Teves group came innocent in perpetrating violence in Negros Oriental as many testimonies were supported by evidence. However, he assessed that some narratives of resource persons were just character assassination. “Nobody can claim from both camps that they are absolutely clean. They are telling the truth, but sometimes, some testimonies are resulting in character assassination, there are two camps here trying to destroy each other,” said Dela Rosa. The post ‘Bato’ seeks death penalty vs political warlords appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Western Visayas Army chief assumes post
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