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Philippines FDI ‘bound to improve’ in coming years – HSBC
The Philippines would be able to attract more foreign direct investments (FDI) in the coming years amid reforms that improved the country’s business climate, HSBC Global Research said......»»
Shell Pilipinas profit tumbles to P1.2 billion in 2023
The earnings of Shell Pilipinas Corp. plunged by 70.7 percent to P1.2 billion in 2023 from P4.1 billion in 2022 on the back of declining global fuel prices and elevated interest rates......»»
Summer is officially here, says Pagasa
Friday, March 22, 2024, has been declared as the official start of the summer season by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Dr. Nathaniel Servando, Pagasa chief, announced this during a press briefing, today. READ: Pagasa forecasts two days of 46°C heat index in La Union “Today, we officially declare the start of.....»»
Seoul police chief indicted over Halloween crush
SEOUL — South Korean prosecutors have indicted the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency , charging him with contributing through negligence to the Halloween crowd crush in Seoul in 2022 that killed nearly 160 people, according to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors Office. The indictment of Seoul police chief Kim Kwang-ho came more than.....»»
BI chief: International travel has bounced back
INTERNATIONAL travel and tourism has bounced back after the pandemic. Thus said Bureau of Immigration chief Norman Tansingco, as he cited that the agency has recorded 12.6 million arrivals from January to December 2023. The number is more than double the 6.1 million arrivals recorded in 2022, even as he projects the numbers to even […].....»»
DBP cited for good governance
The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has received recognition for its exemplary corporate governance practices. The government's chief corporate regulator, the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), has honored DBP with the Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) Hall of Fame award for consistently ranking in the top ten of the CGS ratings since 2017. DBP President and CEO, Michael O. de Jesus, highlighted the significance of this accolade, emphasizing the bank's unwavering commitment to best practices in corporate governance. Established under the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, the GCG utilizes the CGS to evaluate and assess the corporate governance initiatives of government-owned and controlled corporations. Moreover, DBP was also recognized as a Top 4 performer in the Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2022, attaining a high score of 100. De Jesus reaffirmed the bank's dedication to fortifying its corporate governance mechanisms, aligning with its core values and the national agenda for good governance. He emphasized DBP's resolve to uphold the highest standards in corporate governance, underscoring its support for the government's efforts to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth......»»
Agriculture chief appoints assistant secretary for consumer affairs
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has appointed a new assistant secretary for consumer affairs, the position vacated by a dismissed official who was implicated in the onion mess in December 2022 with retail prices of the bulbs reaching as high as P720 per kilo......»»
Tycoon-turned-DA-chief denies appointment is payback for Marcos campaign donation
Newly selected agriculture secretary and Marcos campaign donor Franciso Tiu Laurel Jr. has insisted that his appointment was not payback for supporting the president’s electoral bid in 2022......»»
Steven Tan named Winshang’s International Influential Person in Shopping Centers
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan was recognized as one of Winshang’s Golden Censer Prize winners for being “The International Influential Person of the Year 2023 in Shopping Centers” at the 2023 China (International) Shopping Center Summit in Shanghai on 24 August. The Golden Censer Prize is a large-scale professional recognition of China’s commercial real estate and famous brands initiated by Winshang, in collaboration with mainstream industrial media, based on field research, data analysis, and media surveys among others. Tan, who assumed the role of president of SM Supermalls in 2020, has been a key figure in the growth and innovation of the mall chain in the Philippines and China. Retail legacy As President, he oversees mall operations in both countries, carrying forward SM’s 65-year legacy of retail innovation and outstanding customer service. Under his leadership, SM Supermalls withstood the challenges of the pandemic and rebounded as the economy slowly opened up amid the global health crisis. With the guidance of the Sy family, Tan made sure that SM responded with an agile, innovative, and proactive approach to cater to the needs of all stakeholders, from employees and tenants to shoppers. Mall’s strategies The mall’s strategies — adapting the tenancy mix, creating novel reasons to attract visitors to malls, targeting new customer segments through innovative marketing, and developing omnichannel services — enabled them to gain the trust and loyalty of modern shoppers during the pandemic. Because of this, SM managed to recover and exceed pre-pandemic revenues and income by 2023. In line with its latest expansion program, SM continues to open new malls in China and the Philippines. This brings the total number of shopping centers, locally and internationally, under Tan’s stewardship to 93, featuring a cumulative construction area of over 10.8 million square meters and a daily foot traffic of more than 4.2 million. The latest SM malls to open are SM City Yangzhou last 28 September 2023 (left) and SM City Sto. Tomas, Batangas last 27 October 2023 (right). The latest malls to open were SM City Yangzhou last 28 September 2023 and SM City Sto. Tomas, Batangas last 27 October 2023. Numerous accolades Tan’s exceptional efforts were also honored by various international organizations over the years. He received numerous accolades including the 2021 Asia’s Most Influential by Tatler Asia, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles Awards Leadership Commitment by United Nations Women, and the Global Filipino Executive of the Year at the Asian Chief Executive Officer Awards just to name a few. His dedication and visionary leadership continue to shape the landscape of shopping centers and commercial real estate, not just in Asia but across the globe. The post Steven Tan named Winshang’s International Influential Person in Shopping Centers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Ombudsman ordersDA Asec dismissed
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from the service of Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista in connection with a dubious deal with an onion supplier that led to a spike in the price of the commodity last year. The Ombudsman found Evangelista and John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III, vice president for operations of Food Terminal Inc., guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. They were dismissed for grave misconduct and negligence of duty, respectively. Moreover, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Evangelista, Trinidad, and several others for breach of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) and for “falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents (Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code).” The criminal and administrative charges against DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, chief accountant officer-in-charge Lolita Jamela, administrative officer V Eunice Biblanias, and budget division head Juanita Lualhati were dropped due to lack of probable cause and insufficiency of evidence. Likewise, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of both criminal and administrative charges against FTI president Robert Tan, who will stand as a witness for the prosecution. Back in August, the Ombudsman placed Evangelista, Trinidad, and several others, except for Panganiban and Tan, under preventive suspension in connection with the onion supply shortage in the country’s markets, price manipulation, and the dubious procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative. Ombudsman records showed the DA entered into a memorandum of agreement with FTI for the Food Mobilization or Kadiwa Food Hub project. FTI, on the other hand, entered into a letter of agreement with Bonena for the delivery of 8,845 bags (approximately 28 kilograms/bag) of onions as part of the Kadiwa Food Hub. They were accused of violating RA 3019 and the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) due to the lack of parameters in the selection of a cooperative that would supply and deliver the onions; the questionable advance payment of 50 percent of the contract price; non-compliance of the MoA; partial implementation of the contract; and doubtful deliveries by Bonena.” The country experienced an agricultural shortage, primarily in onions, which soared to as high as P500 to P700 per kilo during the last quarter of 2022. The post Ombudsman ordersDA Asec dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers
SM Supermalls president Steven Tan was recognized as one of Winshang’s Golden Censer Prize winners for being "The International Influential Person of the Year 2023 in Shopping Centers" at the 2023 China (International) Shopping Center Summit in Shanghai on 24 August 2023. The Golden Censer Prize is a large-scale professional recognition of China's commercial real estate and famous brands initiated by Winshang, in collaboration with mainstream industrial media, based on field research, data analysis and media surveys, among others. Tan, who assumed the role of President of SM Supermalls in 2020, has been a key figure in the growth and innovation of the mall chain in the Philippines and China. As president, he oversees mall operations in both countries, carrying forward SM's 65-year legacy of retail innovation and outstanding customer service. SM Mall of Asia Complex Under his leadership, SM Supermalls withstood the challenges of the pandemic and rebounded as the economy slowly opened up amid the global health crisis. With the guidance of the Sy family, Tan made sure that SM responded with an agile, innovative and proactive approach to cater to the needs of all stakeholders, from employees and tenants to shoppers. SM City Yangzhou SM City Sto. Tomas The mall’s strategies -- adapting the tenancy mix, creating novel reasons to attract visitors to malls, targeting new customer segments through innovative marketing and developing omnichannel services -- enabled them to gain the trust and loyalty of modern shoppers during the pandemic. Because of this, SM managed to recover and exceed pre-pandemic revenues and income by 2023. In line with their latest expansion program, SM continues to open new malls in China and the Philippines. This brings the total number of shopping centers, locally and internationally, under Tan's stewardship to 93, featuring a cumulative construction area of over 10.8 million square meters and a daily foot traffic of more than 4.2 million. The latest malls to open were SM City Yangzhou last 28 September 2023 and SM City Sto Tomas, Batangas last 27 October 2023. Tan’s exceptional efforts were also honored by various international organizations over the years. He received numerous accolades including the 2021 Asia's Most Influential by Tatler Asia, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women's Empowerment Principles Awards Leadership Commitment by United Nations Women, and the Global Filipino Executive of the Year at the Asian Chief Executive Officer Awards, just to name a few. His dedication and visionary leadership continue to shape the landscape of shopping centers and commercial real estate, not just in Asia but also across the globe. Steven Tan receives the 2023 PeopleAsia People of the Year Award. Tan shared the Winshang Golden Censer Prize with his two co-awardees, namely Powerlong Real Estate Holding’s Co-president Chen Deli, and SCE Commercial Management Holdings' chairman of the board Huang Lun. SM Supermalls is a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings Inc., with 85 malls in the Philippines and 8 in China. The post SM’s Steven Tan named Winshang’s 2023 International Influential Person in Shopping Centers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Agri officials dismissed by Ombudsman for graft, misconduct
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of Department of Agriculture assistant secretary Kristine Evangelista in relation to a dubious deal with an onion supplier that led to a spike in the commodity last year. The Ombudsman found Evangelista and John Gabriel Benedict Trinidad III, vice president for operations of Food Terminal Incorporated, guilty of conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and dismissed for grave misconduct and negligence of duty, respectively. Moreover, the Ombudsman found probable cause to indict Evangelista, Trinidad and several others for breaching the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019), and for "falsification by private individuals and use of falsified documents (Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code)." The criminal and administrative charges against DA senior undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, chief accountant officer-in-charge Lolita Jamela, administrative officer V Eunice Biblanias and budget division head Juanita Lualhati, however, were dropped due to lack of probable cause and insufficiency of evidence. Likewise, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of both criminal and administrative charges against FTI president Robert Tan to stand as a witness of the prosecution. Back in August, the Ombudsman placed Evangelista, Trinidad and several others, except for Panganiban and Tan, under preventive suspension in connection with the onion supply shortage in the Philippine markets, price manipulation and the dubious procurement of onions by FTI from Bonena Multi-Purpose Cooperative. The Ombudsman’s records showed that the DA entered into a memorandum of agreement with FTI for the Food Mobilization or Kadiwa Food Hub project. FTI, on the other hand, entered into a letter of agreement with Bonena for the delivery of 8,845 bags (approximately 28 kilograms/bag) of onions as part of the said Kadiwa Food Hub. They were accused of violating RA 3019 and the Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) due to the lack of parameters in the selection of a cooperative that will supply and deliver the onions; questionable advance payment of 50 percent of the contract price; non-compliance of the MoA; partial implementation of the contract; and doubtful deliveries by Bonena. During the last quarter of 2022, the country experienced an agricultural shortage, primarily in onions, the prices of which soared to as high as P500 to P700 per kilo. Citing the evidence, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said “it seems like the prices of onions were manipulated.” “It seems like there was no bidding. We obtained CCTV footage from FTI showing what looks like a single person bringing three envelopes to the senior vice president,” he said. The post Agri officials dismissed by Ombudsman for graft, misconduct appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals
US chip giant Intel on Thursday said it made more money than expected in the recently ended quarter as it continued to invest in a "geographically balanced" supply chain. Intel shares jumped more than 7 percent to $34.88 in after-market trades. "We delivered a standout third quarter, underscored by across-the-board progress on our process and product roadmaps; agreements with new foundry customers, and momentum as we bring AI everywhere," said Intel chief executive Pat Gelsinger. Intel reported revenue of $14.2 billion, which was 8 percent less than the amount seen in the same quarter a year earlier but ahead of forecasts. Net income tallied $300 million, compared with $1 billion profit in the same period in 2022, earnings figures showed. "Our results exceeded expectations," said Intel chief financial officer David Zinsner, who said earnings benefited from "expense discipline." Intel has been working to catch up with rivals, especially Nvidia, when it comes to powerful chips needed to handle the computing demands of artificial intelligence. Intel touted investments being made in chip production facilities with an aim of creating a "geographically balanced, secure, resilient supply chain." California-based Intel is seen as a key tool for the United States to reduce its dependence on major global producers, such as Taiwan's TSMC. Earlier this year, Intel announced it would spend $25 billion on a new plant in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling it the country's single largest foreign investment. The "agreement in principle" would see the semiconductor firm build the facility in the southern city of Kiryat Gat that would open by 2027 and operate at least until 2035, Israel's finance ministry said. Intel has been operating in Israel since the 1970s with development centers and a production site that employs some 12,000 people, the finance ministry said. In 2017, Intel acquired Israel-based Mobileye, which makes technology for automated driving systems in vehicles, for just over $15 billion. Gelsinger said Intel teams have kept operations going despite the war between Israel and Hamas. "Our utmost priority is the safety and welfare of our people in Israel and their families," Gelsinger said. "Despite all of these challenges, they're performing extremely well. I am praying for a swift return to peace." China Gelsinger said Intel was carefully studying updated rules in the United States that tighten curbs on exports of state-of-the-art AI chips to China. "We do believe that we'll have plenty of opportunity in China," Gelsinger said. "We are continuing to deploy our products there broadly, even as we comply and work with (the United States) around the regulations that they're putting in place." The new rules tighten measures from a year ago that banned the sale to China of microchips crucial to manufacturing powerful AI systems. Calls to further close the supply chain grew after the popularity of generative AI platform ChatGPT. When announcing the beefed-up curbs, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo insisted they were intended to close loopholes and prevent China's development of AI for military use. "It's true that AI has the potential for huge societal benefit. But it also can do tremendous and profound harm if it's in the wrong hands and in the wrong militaries," she told US media. The rules will not affect chips used in consumer goods such as laptops, smartphones, and gaming consoles, though some will be subject to export licensing requirements. China has said it is "strongly dissatisfied" and "firmly opposes" the curbs. "The US continues to generalize the concept of national security, abuse export control measures, and implement unilateral bullying," the commerce ministry said in a statement. The post Chip maker Intel beats earnings expectations as it pursues rivals appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM skips PCCI annual event’s end
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. failed to attend the final day of the 49th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, or PBCE, sending Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin instead. PBCE is the main assembly yearly of the country’s biggest trade group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. An incumbent president usually attends the second day of the PBCE to personally receive the business group’s resolution and suggestions on various issues. Malacañang did not give any detail on Marcos’ failure the biggest gathering of businessmen yearly. However, Vice President Sara Duterte attended the first day of the conference, in which she urged PCCI officials and members to join the Department of Education in reviewing the current senior high school system and provide valuable insights on skills matching in order to produce employable graduates. Besides the President, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual also did not make it which according to the Department of Trade and Industry communication’s chief, Undersecretary Kim Lokin, Pascual has not been feeling well since Wednesday. Cabinet officials, however, were in the event. They included Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy, Energy Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan and Internal Revenue Commissioner Artemio Lumagui Jr. Resolution submitted Bersamin received PCCI’s resolution, handed over by PCCI president George Barcelon and PBCE chairperson Felino Palafox. The resolution included the positions of various sectors, namely agriculture, energy and power; the environment and climate change; education and human resources development; industry and trade; ease of doing business and stability of rules and regulations; infrastructure, transport and logistics; innovation and digitalization; taxation, and tourism. Under the sectors of agriculture, energy and power, the business group urged the national government to develop a long-term plan to attain food security in agriculture and fishery through infrastructure support, technology transfer, product diversification, export enhancement, economies of scale, and adherence to the improvement of value chains and supply chains. For energy and power, the PCCI wanted the Marcos administration to ensure adequate and affordable power supply throughout the country by considering modern technology and harnessing renewable energy resources that meet the criteria of reliability and affordability. In terms of caring for the environment and climate change, PCCI officers and members also wanted the government to update and continue the execution of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (2010- 2022) which envisions a climate risk-resilient Philippines with healthy, safe, prosperous, and self-reliant communities and thriving and productive ecosystems. For education and human resources development, the government was urged to propel the Philippine education system to world-class status by harnessing new technologies, fostering innovation, and implementing comprehensive reforms that will prepare students for success in the digital age and the globalized world of work. Empowering businesses For industry and trade, the Marcos administration wanted to empower industries and enterprises by providing them with the necessary tools, resources, and support programs to enhance their competitiveness both in the domestic and international markets, contribute to economic growth, and promote innovation in the Philippines’ industrial and trade sectors. Furthermore, the government was also advised to provide a stable and predictable business environment by ensuring clear, consistent, and transparent regulations, streamlining and simplifying bureaucratic processes, reducing unnecessary red tape, and eliminating barriers that hinder business growth and development. Bersamin received PCCI’s resolution, handed over by PCCI president George Barcelon and PBCE chairperson Felino Palafox. Despite the ongoing Build, Better More infrastructure program, PCCI urged the government to implement a comprehensive national infrastructure, transportation and logistics master plan that outlines a long-term vision for connectivity and country-wide development. Together with the goal of urban decongestion, the strategy shall encompass the development of growth/business centers in different regions to create more employment opportunities and encourage people to relocate outside Metro Manila. The post PBBM skips PCCI annual event’s end appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market
Meta on Wednesday reported that its quarterly profit more than doubled from last year's figure as it looks ahead at a volatile ad market and lawsuits accusing it of profiting from "children's pain." "Meta earnings looked pretty good," said independent tech analyst Rob Enderle. "They have clearly cut back on the bleeding surrounding their metaverse efforts and the company appears to be on a more even keel right now." The tech giant said it made a profit of $11.6 billion as ad revenue climbed 23 percent to $34 billion when compared to the same period a year earlier. "We had a good quarter for our community and business," said Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. The number of people using Facebook monthly rose slightly to 3.05 billion in a year-over-year comparison while monthly active users of Meta's "family" of apps was 3.96 billion a 7 percent increase from the same quarter in 2022, the company reported. Meta said it had trimmed costs, with layoffs and other belt-tightening measures started last year providing "greater efficiency." Meta had suffered a rough 2022 amid a souring economic climate and Apple's data privacy changes, which allowed users to block ad targeting, the pillar of Meta's business. Meta's vow of austerity on spending brought an unprecedented round of cost-cutting that saw the company lay off tens of thousands of workers since last November. Meta shares, which closed the formal trading day down, fell more than three percent further in after-hours trades to $289.50. Chief financial officer Susan Li said during an earnings call that Meta is seeing "volatility" in an ad market that started to soften when the conflict between Israel and Hamas began. "It's hard for us to attribute demand softness directly to any specific geopolitical event," Li said. "We have seen broader demand softness follow other regional conflicts in the past, such as in the Ukraine war, so this is something that we're continuing to monitor." Lawsuit peril Analyst Enderle maintained that Meta is at risk from lawsuits poised to damage its image and its wallet. Dozens of US states this week accused Meta of profiting "from children's pain," damaging their mental health and misleading people about the safety of its platforms. "In seeking to maximize its financial gains, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its Social Media Platforms," argued a joint lawsuit filed in federal court in California. The states accused Meta of exploiting young users by creating a business model designed to maximize time they spend on the platform despite harm to their health. In total more than 40 states are suing Meta, though some opted to file in local courts rather than join in the federal case. Meta said the states were singling it out unfairly instead of working with social media companies to develop universal standards for the whole industry. "This landmark lawsuit could herald a seismic shift in how social media platforms approach product features and user engagement," said Insider Intelligence principal analyst Jeremy Goldman. "That said, even as tech stocks face uncertainty, Meta's consistent performance cements its leadership in the digital realm." Meanwhile, the European Union is seeking details on measures Meta has taken to stop the spread of "illegal content and disinformation" in light of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The AI race The tech giant is putting artificial intelligence into digital assistants and smart glasses as it seeks to gain lost ground in the AI race. "I'm proud of the work our teams have done to advance AI and mixed reality with the launch of Quest 3, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and our AI studio," Zuckerberg said in the earnings release. The second-generation Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses made in a partnership with EssilorLuxottica have a starting price of $299. "Smart glasses are the ideal form factor for you to let AI assistants see what you're seeing and hear what you're hearing," Zuckerberg said. Meta has taken a more cautious approach than its rivals Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google to push out AI products, prioritizing small steps and making its in-house models available to developers and researchers. "The majority of the world's population will have their first experience of generative artificial intelligence with us," Meta chief technology officer Andrew "Boz" Bosworth told AFP in a recent interview. Meta recently unveiled AI-infused chatbots with personalities, along with tools for creating images or written content using spoken prompts. The post Meta quarterly profit jumps but it sees volatility in ad market appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar nationals ask Philippines to probe alleged war crimes
Five Myanmar nationals asked the Philippines on Wednesday to investigate alleged war crimes committed by 10 serving or former members of Myanmar's military against the mainly Christian Chin minority. Filipino lawyers representing the Myanmar nationals told reporters they lodged the "landmark" criminal complaint against junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and nine others at the Department of Justice in Manila. They asked prosecutors to open an investigation into alleged war crimes under a Philippine law penalising "crimes against international humanitarian law, genocide, and other crimes against humanity". The five Myanmar nationals are from western Chin state, but now live in Australia, Britain, Canada and India. They were at the justice department in Manila. "This is a landmark suit because this is the very first time that such a case is being brought before the Philippines," Romel Bagares, one of the lawyers, told reporters. Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla said his department would "evaluate" the complaint, which he described as "very novel". "If this is sufficient in form and substance, that's the time when we will require the respondents to answer these complaints," Remulla told reporters. Among the accused is Chin Chief Minister Vung Suan Thang, who is a former military officer. The others are serving members of the military. The complaint alleged that members of Myanmar's military killed a pastor and two church elders in Thantlang town, Chin, in September 2021. It also accused the 10 of "intentionally" directing attacks on churches and the burning of hundreds of houses in the same town between August 2021 and June 2022. They also allegedly blocked relief supplies from reaching people in Chin state in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha in May. 'Truly historic day' Philippine law allows for the prosecution of war crimes committed elsewhere. One of the stipulations of the law is that the accused must be present in the Philippines. According to Gilbert Andres, another Filipino lawyer representing the Myanmar nationals, if the Philippine justice department were to decide to mount a case against the 10 accused, it could issue subpoenas to Myanmar's Central Authority or go through diplomatic channels. The toppling of Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in a 2021 coup sparked a huge backlash and the military junta is now battling opponents across swaths of Myanmar. Some of the bloodiest fighting has been happening in Christian-majority areas, including in Chin state. "This is a truly historic day," Salai Ling, one of the five complainants and also of the Chin Human Rights Organization, told reporters in Manila. "We are really hoping that with the solidarity and support from the Filipino people and people in the ASEAN region, that we will be able to get some form of justice for the atrocities that our people suffered." Myanmar and the Philippines belong to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The regional bloc's efforts to defuse the Myanmar crisis have been fruitless so far. The Philippines is now the subject of an international human rights probe, with the Hague-based International Criminal Court investigating "possible crimes against humanity" during former president Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drugs crackdown. In July, President Ferdinand Marcos said the Philippines was "done talking with the ICC" but would continue to question the tribunal's jurisdiction. The post Myanmar nationals ask Philippines to probe alleged war crimes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’
Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., on Tuesday said the military organization needs to acquire modern defense equipment and weapons so it can better protect and defend the country against external threats. Aside from modern weapons, Brawner cited the need to equip soldiers with the resources and skills to prepare them for any challenges in fighting and neutralizing threats. Brawner said the AFP also envisions the creation of “citizen warriors” or recruiting more reservists that can be readily tapped during emergencies. Asked if the AFP is ready to meet any external aggression, Brawner said: “When it comes to Filipinos’ fighting spirit, we are number one because, for the longest time, we have been fighting for years, so we are one of the most capable fighters in the world so we just need modern equipment, modern weapons and that’s what we are doing in our modernization effort.” Brawner said an allocation of huge funds is needed to acquire more modern defense equipment and weapons. He said the AFP is targeting to acquire “multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control or C-2 systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines and the like” under the third Horizon of the AFP modernization program. Five-year program The Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028. Horizon 2 was undertaken from 2018 to 2022, and Horizon 1 was pushed from 2013 to 2017. Brawner said such procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms to enhance the military organization’s external or territorial defense capability. The post Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’ to combatting external threats
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said the military organization needs to acquire modernized defense equipment and weapons so it can better protect and defend the country against any external threat. Aside from modernized weapons, Brawner also cited the need to equip soldiers with the resources and skills to prepare them for any challenges of fighting and neutralizing threats. Brawner said the AFP is also envisioning the creation of “citizen warriors” or recruiting more reservists that can be readily tapped during emergencies. “‘Yung taong bayan ay kailangang ihanda natin, tingnan nyo po yung nangyari sa Israel nung umatake yung Hamas, ang mga unang dumepensa sa bansa nila ay yung mga citizen warriors, yung mga reservists, yun din po ang gusto nating mangyari dito,” he said in an interview over the DZRH. “Gusto po natin talagang ihanda yung ating mga kababayan mga mamamayan for any eventuality whether it is man made or even natural,” he added. Asked if the AFP is ready for any external aggression, Brawner said: “When it comes to Filipinos’ fighting spirit, we number one, because for the longest time—we have been fighting for years, so we are one of the most fighters in the world so we just need modern equipment, modern weapons and that’s what we are doing in our modernization effort.” Brawner said an allocation of huge funds is needed to acquire more modern defense equipment and weapons. “Because really mahal po kasi yung mga kagamitan na kailangan natin but we have to invest in our defense kasi kung hindi po natin gagawin yan, kahit na anong gastos natin sa ibang mga bagay pero kung may mangyari man, kung may umatake sa atin mawawala lahat ito,” he added. Brawner earlier said the AFP is targeting to acquire “multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control or C-2 systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines and the like” under the third Horizon of the AFP modernization program. The Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028. Horizon 2 was undertaken from 2018 to 2022 and the Horizon 1 was pushed from 2013 to 2017. Brawner said such procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms geared at enhancing the external or territorial defense capability of the military organization. Among the platforms procured in the ongoing AFP Modernization Program include the S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters, missile frigates, close air support aircraft, air defense surveillance radars, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, corvettes, anti-submarine helicopters, light tanks, tactical radios, amphibious assault vehicles, civil engineering equipment, and modern pistols......»»
Manila says Chinese vessels ‘intentionally’ hit Philippine boats
Manila said Monday that Chinese vessels "intentionally hit" Philippine boats at the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions in the South China Sea. The countries have traded blame over Sunday's incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy vessel that was grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's territorial claims. Philippine officials accused a Chinese coastguard ship and a "militia" vessel of "dangerous maneuvering" that resulted in collisions with a Philippine resupply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro took it one step further Monday, labelling the Chinese actions near Second Thomas Shoal deliberate. "Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra," Teodoro said. "We are here to really decry in the strongest possible terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the (Philippines') 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China's distorting the story to fit its own ends." His comments came hours after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met with security officials and ordered the coastguard to investigate the incident, which was "being taken seriously at the highest level of government", his communications team said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning on Monday accused the Philippines of "continuing to spread false information and hype things up". Earlier Monday, the Philippine foreign ministry summoned China's ambassador to Manila and lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident. Spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the ambassador was unavailable and was represented by his deputy chief of mission. "Ayungin Shoal is part of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and we have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it," Daza said, using the Philippine name for the shoal. The Chinese foreign ministry and embassy in Manila also issued "stern representations to the Philippines" over its "infringements" at Ren'ai Reef, Mao said, using China's name for Second Thomas Shoal. China has said a "slight collision" happened after the Philippine resupply boat ignored "multiple warnings and deliberately passed through law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner". In the other incident, China accused the Philippine Coast Guard of reversing in a "premeditated manner" into a Chinese fishing vessel. No Filipino crew member was injured, but the supply boat was damaged and forced to turn back, Philippine officials said. A second supply boat reached the tiny garrison on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre and unloaded its cargo. Manila's longtime ally Washington has led a chorus of international criticism of China's alleged interference in the resupply mission. The US State Department on Sunday reiterated its mutual defence pact with the Philippines "extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft –- including those of its Coast Guard –- anywhere in the South China Sea". 'Arbitral ruling is binding' China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored a 2016 international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island. Previously warm ties between Manila and Beijing have cooled since Marcos took power in June 2022, as he seeks stronger relations with the United States. The Marcos administration has publicly criticized Chinese actions in the South China Sea, publishing photos and videos to support its claims of Chinese harassment and the blocking of its vessels. Beijing has released its own images of the incidents. Despite the challenges, the Philippines would "continue to do what is necessary" to supply its troops on the BRP Sierra Madre with provisions, said Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council. Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes in the South China Sea. Tensions flared in August when China Coast Guard vessels used water cannon against a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, preventing one of the boats from delivering its cargo. The post Manila says Chinese vessels ‘intentionally’ hit Philippine boats appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BFP snubs Belmonte’s fire marshal pick
The controversy continues on the ranks of the Bureau of Fire Protection as reports that the leadership of the BFP is snubbing the order of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte of appointing a fire marshal in the Quezon City Fire Department. This comes as Daily Tribune discovered that most of fire safety inspectors and firefighters at the QCFD are saying that there exist the alleged “bata-bata” system and a “quota system” in the agency. Just recently, the QCFD held a turnover ceremony at the BFP National Capital Region office where Sr. Supt. Florian Guerrero was named as the next District Fire Marshal of Quezon City, replacing Sr. Supt. Aristotle Bañaga. Bañaga, was relieved because of unfortunate fire incident a couple of months ago where a fire gutted a residential house converted into a warehouse located at Barangay Tandang Sora which resulted to 15 deaths — which included retired General George Ancheta. Ancheta was an uncle of Quezon City Council Majority Leader Dorothy Delarmente, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Laws, Rules and Internal Government. During the council’s investigation, it was discovered that there were indeed lapses committed by QCFD for their failure to conduct the required yearly inspection based on the provision of the Fire Code of the Philippines and its Revised IRR. Though records showed that there were inspections undertaken in the year 2021, it failed to notice an unauthorized business activities at the address where the blaze killed 15 people. Because no inspection was conducted in 2022 and 2023. The incident prompted Belmonte to recommend to Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. — who has jurisdiction over BFP — the relief of Bañaga and his Fire Safety Enforcement Section head Chief Inspector Dominic Salvacion. Abalos then ordered another thorough investigation and let BFP chief director Louie Puracan handle the situation. Puracan instructed Bañaga to take a leave and passed the judgement to BFP-NCR chief Region head Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza who immediately issue an order dated 18 September 2023, appointing Bañaga’s deputy, Supt. Gilbert Arellano as “caretaker” of the Office of the Quezon City Fire Marshal. However, Tarroza has also appointed Supt. Rowena Gollod, an “under rank” official, who was in “floating status” for being assigned at the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit as the Deputy Fire Marshal, replacing Arellano. BFP sources disclosed that Tarroza is allegedly trying to prevent the city government from appointing its own choice for fire marshal because the BFP leadership allegedly benefits from the “bata-bata” and “quota system” in which fire marshals are required to “remit” certain amount of money to the BFP for every Fire Safety Inspection Certificate that they issue. This quota system allegedly could bring in as much as P100,000 per month for BFP higher-ups. In Quezon City, the fire marshal should allegedly accumulate and “remit” P300,000 monthly. P100,000 each for BFP national and metropolis office, and for two DILG padrinos who are holding an Undersecretary positions, a former Quezon City official and the other, a retired firefighter, who could influence Abalos on every BFP issue. Appreciating the BFP gesture of relieving Bañaga and Salvacion without any administrative orders, Belmonte wrote Puracan on 2 October 2023, expressing her thanks to the BFP and recommended that she preferred to have Sr. Supt. Dennis Molo — a former QCFD Deputy — as the Chief of the QCFD and Arellano as his deputy. “As a seasoned Fire Officer, F/SSupt. Molo has generously shared extensive knowledge, experience and expertise with the City Goverment. His contributions in the crafting of public safety policies, formulating and recommending fire safety plans, executing on-the- ground operations and proposing engagement with potential national and international partners-stakeholders have been highly appreciated. For his part, F/Supt. Arellano, as lawyer, has been instrumental in his knowledge of the Fire Code, DILG directives and other relevant laws.” Belmonte wrote in her recommendation letter to Puracan. Puracan then responded to Belmonte by rationalizing his decision in designating Guerrero and brushed aside the Mayor’s recommendation to assign Molo as QCFD Marshal by saying the latter should process first his transfer to the BFP-NCR, as Molo was already assigned at BFP-Region 4A office. The post BFP snubs Belmonte’s fire marshal pick appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»