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'We firmly support Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty': EAM Jaishankar in Manila
Manila [Philippines], March 26 (ANI): External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, who is on a formal visit to Manila, said on Tuesday that India firmly supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty and will continue to further enhance cooperation in various fields, including defence and security. "We firmly support the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty. So I think our position is very clear......»»
Think again before buying bunnies as Easter gifts
SAN DIEGO – With Easter just a week away, animal rescue groups in Southern California are urging people not to buy rabbits as holiday gifts for children. They said that what begins as a well-meaning gesture often leads to abandoned animals when the novelty wears off and families realize they’re not equipped to properly care.....»»
‘Shame on int’l media’
As the conflict between the state of Israel and the Hamas terror organization intensifies, international media coverage has thus far been described as dismal and heavily slanted against the Jewish nation. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss cited as an example the Hamas missile attack on the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, which was hit directly a few days after the 7 October attack by a rocket fired from Gaza, resulting in Israeli deaths and injuries. In contrast, an explosion on 17 October at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City that resulted in a massive number of fatalities and injuries was splashed all over broadcast and print media and was immediately blamed on an Israeli air strike, a narrative peddled by Hamas. Investigations by Israel and the United States proved that a missile launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Gaza-based terror group more radical than Hamas, had misfired and landed on the hospital grounds. “Nobody in the media reported that an Israeli hospital was bombed in Ashkelon, which had so many patients injured and killed. The rockets were shot at the hospital. No media picked it up and condemned nobody,” Fluss lamented during an interview with Daily Tribune editors. “So, for me, this incident is a shame on the international media. These news (outfits) and (media) people sort of still live with this image that it is the ratings that must (dictate the news coverage),” Fluss said. New York Times sorry US publication The New York Times issued on Monday an unprecedented admission that it had “relied too heavily on claims by Hamas” in its reporting of an explosion at a Gaza hospital. The newspaper issued the statement five days after running a headline on its front page, above the fold, reading: “Israeli Strike Kills Hundreds in Hospital, Palestinians Say.” “The Times’ initial accounts attributed the claim of Israeli responsibility to Palestinian officials and noted that the Israeli military said it was investigating the blast,” according to NYT’s editor’s note. “However, the early versions of the coverage — and the prominence it received in a headline, news alert, and social media channels — relied too heavily on claims by Hamas and did not make clear that those claims could not immediately be verified,” the NYT continued. NYT editors also acknowledged that “the report left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was.” The note said Times reporters quickly edited the story on the website, as Israeli officials denied striking the hospital. Nonetheless, it added, “Given the sensitive nature of the news during a widening conflict and the prominent promotion it received, Times editors should have taken more care with the initial presentation and been more explicit about what information could be verified.” Islamic Jihad missile Israeli officials have vehemently denied responsibility for the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital and have released audio files of Hamas officials admitting that the blast was caused by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad projectile that fell onto Gaza. Also provided were images showing that the parking lot where the blast occurred did not have a crater in the ground, and there was no structural damage to nearby buildings, both of which typically would have been left by an Israeli Defense Forces strike. Recurring phenomena Media bias, as Fluss indicated, is a persistent issue. Terror groups like Hamas know this and take full advantage to sway public opinion. “As a result, coverage is often selective, stories get framed misleadingly, or certain perspectives go missing,” according to the American Jewish Committee, or AJC, which is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. “Instead of focusing on Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians, Israel’s efforts to thwart terrorists, destroy terrorist headquarters and weapons sites, and prevent more civilian deaths, some major media outlets characterize Israel’s targeted response as attacks on innocent and beleaguered Palestinians — feeding an unequivocally false narrative,” the AJC said. It added that Western media outlets often use the term “militant” to describe Hamas and other terrorist groups. For example, in the New York Times coverage of Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israel on 7 October, the word “terrorists” was nowhere to be found on the front page of its website. The AJC said, “Hamas is not a militant group. It is a terrorist organization internationally designated as such by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, and others that has fired thousands of rockets and slaughtered Israeli civilians in cold blood.” Hamas has set two long-term goals articulated in its charter: The end of the Jewish state and the creation of an Islamic state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. In the current conflict, Hamas has murdered over 300 Israelis and wounded nearly 2,000. “Using the term ‘militant’ to describe Hamas diminishes the true threat that the terror group poses. Media outlets need to call a terrorist a terrorist,” the AJC added. No occupation Some media accounts on the Gaza Strip often blame Israel’s “occupation” as the root cause of the conflict. Fluss pointed out, however, that Israel does not occupy the Gaza Strip and has had no presence in the coastal enclave for nearly two decades. From 1948 to 1967, the Gaza Strip was occupied by Egypt, which took control of the territory during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, also known as Israel’s War of Independence. After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel took control of the Gaza Strip from Egypt. In 2005, Israel, facing huge political pushback, withdrew from the Gaza Strip, and dismantled its settlements and military forces in the name of peace and in hopes of creating a better future. However, those hopes were shattered after Hamas came to power through elections and, with it, violence and rocket attacks on Israeli civilian population centers. Since 2007, when Hamas violently ousted Fatah from the Gaza Strip, it began launching tens of thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel. Hamas terrorists also infiltrated Israel through land, sea, and air incursions from Gaza to murder and abduct Israeli civilians. Over 600 Israelis were murdered on the 7 October large-scale infiltration into Israeli territory from Gaza. The post ‘Shame on int’l media’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Negotiation not an option
The terrorist group Hamas has been playing with international sentiment using the hostages of different nationalities it seized in the 7 October act of treachery to put global pressure on Israel to implement a ceasefire. The United States thwarted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling for a halt in Israeli operations as the superpower cited the right of Israel to self-defense. Simply put, Hamas as a terror organization cannot demand a ceasefire with Israel, which is a legitimate state. The Israeli airstrikes have essentially crippled the capability of Hamas to pursue its terror campaign against Israel and it now needs an opportunity to regroup, hoping that it will secure help from other terror groups waiting in the wings. Crushing Hamas quickly is necessary to avert the possible participation of other foreign armed groups in the Gaza conflict. Nations that have feuded with Israel sponsor armed militants that are now aching to get an order to strike and join the battle with Hamas. Prolonging the conflict is to Hamas’ advantage as global outrage is guaranteed when civilian deaths pile up and the hostages are released one at a time. An estimated 200 people, including 30 teenagers and young children and 20 people over the age of 60, are being held hostage in Gaza, based on estimates from an Israel Defense Forces source. Among the hostages are a still undetermined number of Filipinos who mostly work as caregivers. The strategy of the terror group to win international sympathy by using subterfuge has backfired in most cases. A commentary in the Thai broadsheet, The Examiner, indicated rising awareness of the level of deception being engineered by Hamas and its supporters. According to the newspaper, comments by the Iranian Ambassador in Bangkok “demonstrate Hamas is using the 19 Thai hostages as leverage to halt the bombardment of the enclave.” Ambassador Seyed Reza Nobakhti said in Bangkok that the Hamas leader had assured the Iranian foreign minister the Thai hostages would be released, but this could not happen until hostilities ceased. “However, Hamas, which Iran funds, made it clear that the hostages were being held in Palestinian safe houses but that no place was safe in Gaza,” according to the commentary. Thailand said 19 of its citizens were seized by Hamas during the terror strike over two weeks ago. On Friday, Hamas released two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following mediation by Qatar. The armed group said more will be released under a ceasefire. Israel has resisted calls for a halt in its offensive against Hamas, saying the release of hostages will not affect its ongoing military operations. Its target is the elimination of all Hamas infrastructure and facilities and the release of all hostages will follow. The problem, however, is that as the crisis plays out longer, and the surgical strikes to take out Hamas targets can’t be completed unless all the civilians evacuate, casualties will tend to rise and so will international indignation. Such a situation favors Hamas which will assume the role of victim, which is preposterous as it initiated the war with Israel with the slaughter of the innocents. Israel, which is now being accused in the United Nations and elsewhere of atrocities, however, had repeatedly warned residents to leave the war zone. Israel has not been remiss in urging the residents to move south, towards a safer humanitarian area. The IDF’s notices to the people of Gaza, which were intended to protect them from the strikes on Hamas, stand in contrast to the way Hamas treats its civilians, using them as shields. Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, one of its most reprehensible deeds is endangering Palestinian civilians during its terror operations, such as by positioning rocket launchers and command centers deep in the heart of Gaza. It even fortified tunnels under UN schools. “Our war is not with the people of Gaza. It’s with a murderous organization that attacks Israelis, while intentionally endangering its residents to protect its leadership,” the IDF said. Hamas is a terror group no different from the Islamic State, which both use mayhem to attain their objective of replacing civilized existence with a fundamental Islamic empire. The post Negotiation not an option appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Missed opportunity
The Department of Energy, before the Marcos administration, had issued Department Circular 2021-09-0028 seeking to establish the Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve Program, which was a squandered program that would have softened the impact of the successive oil price increases. A national petroleum reserve would have significantly helped shield the country against global supply and price disruptions, considering that the country is a net importer of petroleum products. An energy expert cited as a clear example of the country’s vulnerability to global supply and price shocks the impact of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis on our domestic petroleum prices. Former Energy Secretary Al Cusi warned that the momentum of the fuel price surge will be hard to stop since even before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus was already confronted with a production shortfall. The oil bloc refused to raise output despite pressure from the United States, Japan, China, India, and influential International Energy Agency members. Setting up strategic reserves was Cusi’s advocacy since it would address both the uncertainties on supply and provide a buffer against sudden price spikes. Under the proposal, private oil companies and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company would build a strategic petroleum reserve to pool resources to ensure supply is not disrupted. PNOC would lead in maintaining the fuel reserve that would be more than the current 40-day average stock. The program was modeled after similar petroleum reserves, or SPR, of developed nations such as Japan and the United States. Several countries, including the United States, maintain a stockpile of crude oil to provide a buffer against disruptions in oil supplies. The SPR is an emergency response tool to mitigate potential oil shortages due to natural disasters, geopolitical events, and other unforeseen circumstances. The United States established its fuel reserve in 1975 following the Arab oil embargo of 1973-1974. The SPR is managed by the Office of Fossil Energy within the US Department of Energy. Underground storage facilities in salt caverns along the gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana are used. Like the DoE proposal, the primary purpose of the SPR is to ensure the availability of crude oil during severe supply disruptions. The reserve can be tapped into when significant disruptions in oil production, imports, or refining capabilities could lead to shortages and significant price increases. Releasing oil from the SPR aims to stabilize the market and provide relief to consumers, industries, and the overall economy. The US SPR has a capacity of approximately 713.5 million barrels of oil. Until September 2021, the US SPR held around 635 million barrels of crude oil. The decision to release oil from the SPR rests with the US President, who can authorize such action in response to a severe supply disruption. The release typically occurs in coordination with the International Energy Agency and after consultation with other major oil-consuming countries. Aside from the US and Japan, Germany and South Korea also maintain strategic petroleum reserves to safeguard against oil supply disruptions and market volatility. Saying that the local program should have received the government’s support is crying over spilled milk. The government, however, should consider having a buffer stock of fuel since the frequent price spikes have become a threat to the livelihood of Filipinos and thus endanger national security. The post Missed opportunity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Chinese blockade on Taiwan would be ‘monster risk’: Pentagon
A Chinese blockade on the island democracy of Taiwan would be a "monster risk" for Beijing and likely to fail, while a military invasion would be extremely difficult, senior Pentagon officials told Congress Tuesday. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, vowing to seize it one day, and officials in Washington -- a key ally of Taipei -- have cited 2027 as a possible timeline for an invasion. The growing worries come as China has ramped up military pressures on Taiwan, holding large-scale wargames simulating a blockade on the island, while conducting near-daily warplane incursions and sending Chinese vessels around its waters. Ely Ratner, the Pentagon's assistant defense secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, said a blockade would be "a monster risk for the PRC (People's Republic of China)," referring to China by its official name. "It would likely not succeed, and it would be a huge risk of escalation for the PRC, where it would likely have to consider whether or not it was willing to ultimately start attacking commercial maritime vessels," Ratner told the House Armed Services Committee. "A blockade would be devastating to the international community and would likely induce the broad-based wide deep response from the international community... that Beijing would likely be trying to avoid," he said. He was echoed by Army Major General Joseph McGee, a vice director of the Joint Staff. "It is an option but it is probably not a highly likely military option... It is much easier to talk about a blockade than actually do a blockade," McGee said. He also pointed to island's mountainous terrain and the Taiwan Strait waterway separating it from mainland China, saying "there is absolutely nothing easy about a PLA (People's Liberation Army) invasion of Taiwan." "They would have to mass tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of troops on the eastern coast and that would be a clear signal," McGee said, adding that combined amphibious and airborne air assault operations would be "an extremely complicated joint operation." "That would leave them in that (Taiwan Strait) gap, 90 to 100 miles -- that would lead them susceptible to all the fire that could be brought to an invading force that was already telegraphing their intentions." China's latest massive show of force came Monday when Beijing sent more than 100 warplanes in 24 hours around the island, prompting Taipei to decry the "destructive unilateral actions." Also during Tuesday's hearing, Mira Resnick, a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, warned a US government shutdown could affect foreign weapons sales and licenses to its allies, including Taiwan. "This is something we would like to avoid," Resnick said. Her comments come as the United States is less than two weeks from a potential government shutdown, as lawmakers struggle to agree on a short-term spending bill -- an impasse that could also have repercussions on military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The post Chinese blockade on Taiwan would be ‘monster risk’: Pentagon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Libya death toll at 11,300 — UN
A United Nations report released on Sunday put the death toll from the dams burst in the eastern Libyan city of Derna at 11,300, more than three times the figure from the government’s health ministry. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited the Libyan Red Crescent for its figures, which includes 10,100 people still missing from the tsunami-like devastation that occured one week ago. “These figures are expected to rise in the coming days and weeks as search-and-rescue crews work tirelessly to find survivors,” the OCHA report said. The health minister of divided Libya’s eastern-based administration, Othman Abdeljalil, counted 3,166 fatalities. At least 40,000 people have been displaced across northeastern Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration, which cautioned the actual number is likely higher given the difficulty accessing the worst-affected areas. Two dams upstream from Derna burst a week ago under the pressure of torrential rains from the hurricane-strength Storm Daniel. The torrent swept everything before it as it rushed towards the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, foreign emergency workers from the United Nations, Europe and the Middle East are arriving to help survivors and search for the missing. A rescue crew from Malta’s Civil Protection Department discovered a beach strewn with dead bodies on Friday, the Times of Malta newspaper reported. Libya is currently ruled by two rival administrations that have battled for power since Kadhafi’s ousting. With tens of thousands of people displaced, aid organizations have warned of the risks posed by leftover landmines and other unexploded ordnance, some of which the UN said has been shifted by floodwaters into areas previously declared clear. The risks of water-borne diseases such as cholera are also high, according to aid groups. The National Center for Disease Control reported that at least 55 children were poisoned as a result of drinking polluted water in Derna. WITH AFP The post Libya death toll at 11,300 — UN appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US, Vietnam agree to deepen ties as China worries grow
US President Joe Biden hailed closer ties with Vietnam on Sunday as the two countries struck a deal to deepen cooperation, including on semiconductors, but said he was not aiming to contain China. The "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Hanoi is part of Washington's push to bolster its network of allies around Asia and the Pacific in the face of Beijing's rising influence. Biden accused Beijing of seeking to bend the international order to its will. "One of the things that is going on now is China is beginning to change some of the rules of the game, in terms of trade and other issues," Biden said. Sometimes to Beijing's chagrin, Washington has invested heavily in building alliances as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, including the Quad security dialogue with India, Australia and Japan, and the AUKUS pact with Britain and Australia. Biden said he wanted establish clear ground rules for relations. "I don't want to contain China. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away, everybody knows what it's all about," he said. Biden flew in to Hanoi straight from a G20 summit that failed to agree to a phase-out of fossil fuels and highlighted deep divisions over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US president said he had met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 -- a meeting the White House had not announced -- and discussed "stability". Semiconductor deal Global supply chain shocks and fears about US reliance on China for strategic resources have further driven the push to boost ties with the likes of Vietnam. The new partnership includes an agreement on semiconductors, with the United States committing to help Vietnam develop its capabilities and expand production. There is also a section on rare earth minerals, which used in the manufacture of high-tech devices such as smartphones and electric car batteries. Vietnam has the world's second-largest deposits of rare earths after China and US officials say it has a key role to play as it looks to diversify and strengthen its supply chains. Biden moved last month to restrict US investment in Chinese technology in sensitive areas including semiconductors, quantum computing and artificial intelligence. "This can be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation," Biden said as he met Nguyen Phu Trong, the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party and the country's paramount leader. "Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time." The deal puts the United States on a par with China -- as well as Russia, India and South Korea -- at the top level of the Vietnamese hierarchy of diplomatic relations. Trong thanked Biden for his contribution to improving US-Vietnamese ties and said his country would work hard to implement the new agreement. Although it is careful to be seen as not taking sides between the United States and China, Vietnam shares US concerns about its neighbour's growing assertiveness in the contested South China Sea. However, The New York Times reported just ahead of Biden's visit that Vietnam was secretly arranging to buy arms from Russia in contravention of US sanctions. The report cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document that laid out plans to fund arms purchases from the Kremlin through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia. AFP has contacted the Vietnamese government for comment. US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told reporters that Washington acknowledged Vietnam's decades-long military relationship with Russia. But he said there was "increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietnamese with that relationship", and the new partnership would help Hanoi "diversify away from those partnerships" by allowing it to source from the United States and its allies. Human rights Biden said he had raised human rights in his meeting with Trong and pledged to "continue our candid dialogue in that regard". Vietnam has a dire rights record. Government critics face intimidation, harassment and imprisonment after unfair trials, and there are reports of police torture to extract confessions, Human Rights Watch says. While Biden has often criticised China's human rights record, he has largely stayed quiet on Vietnam and campaigners feared he may not raise the subject. On Monday Biden visit a Hanoi memorial to his friend John McCain, the former US senator shot down and held captive during the Vietnam War who in later years helped rebuild ties between the two countries. The post US, Vietnam agree to deepen ties as China worries grow appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Is prior demand necessary?
Time and again, I have emphasized the importance of strict adherence to procedural rules. Again, no matter how meritorious your case is, if you do not follow procedure, it can be dismissed on a mere technicality. That will be a crushing defeat; a knockout punch in the very first round. Your time, resources, and effort, all go down the drain. All for nothing. Specifically, I talk about sending a demand to your obstinate lessee before filing an ejectment suit. Section 2, Rule 70 of the Rules of Court expressly mandates that the ejectment suit “shall be commenced only after demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the lease and to vacate is made upon the lessees, or by serving written notice of such demand upon the person found on the premises, or by posting such notice on the premises of no person be found thereon, and the lessee fails to comply therewith after 15 days in the case of land or five days in the case of buildings.” Failure to comply, even if the lessor has all the right to dispossess the lessee, will result in the dismissal. Such is what happened in Velia J. Cruz v. Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen (G.R. 205539 promulgated 4 October 2017). Petitioner Velia Cruz inherited property from her mother. Respondent Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen already leased said property from her mother during her lifetime. Ms. Cruz, upon her mother’s passing, thus became the spouses’ lessor. In time, lessees failed repeatedly to pay rent. Thus, Ms. Cruz was constrained to demand that the lessees vacate the property and pay all unpaid rentals. The parties met at the barangay for conciliation. No settlement was inked. Three years later, Ms. Cruz finally sent a demand letter to vacate the property and pay the rental arrears. There being a refusal still by the lessees, Ms. Cruz was constrained to file an ejectment suit. At the trial court, Ms. Christensen admitted the lease but made an issue out of the demand letter. She denied having received it and claimed she did not know whose signature appeared on the letter, allegedly receiving it on her behalf. The court, on account of this ground, dismissed the case. It opined that since it was not established who received the demand letter, it could not be said that the lessee received it. Thus, a failure to comply with the demand requirement. Upon dismissal, Ms. Cruz wasted no time appealing to the next level of court. The Regional Trial Court on appeal, gave her the nod. It gave due course to her appeal and required the lessee to vacate the premises and pay the unpaid rentals. Respondent spouses’ turn to go up. The Court of Appeals reversed the Regional Trial Court and reinstated the dismissal by the trial court. Thus, Ms. Cruz had no other recourse but to go up to the final bulwark of justice. Among the issues raised was the sufficiency of the demand; or if such is necessary in the first place. In ruling in favor of petitioner Cruz, the Supreme Court declared, “[T]he property in this case is owned by petitioner. Respondents had a month-to-month lease with the petitioner’s predecessor-in-interest. Petitioner contends that no prior demand was necessary in this case since her Complaint was premised on the expiration of respondent’s lease, not on the failure to pay rent due or to comply with the conditions of the lease. “The jurisdictional requirement of prior demand is unnecessary if the action is premised on the termination of the lease due to expiration of the terms of the contract. The complaint must be brought on the allegation that the lease has expired and the lessor demanded the lessee to vacate, not on the allegation that the lessee failed to pay rents. The cause of action which would give rise to an ejectment case would be the expiration of the lease. Thus, the requirement under Rule 70, Section 2 of a prior ‘demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the lease and to vacate’ would be unnecessary. xxx xxx “However, the respondents’ Answer to the Complaint is telling. Respondents admit that they only had a month-to-month lease since 1969. They contend that they had been continuously paying their monthly rent until sometime in 2002 when the petitioner refused to receive it. Thus, as early as 2002, the petitioner, as the lessor, already refused to renew respondents’ month-to-month verbal lease. Therefore, the respondent’s lease had already long expired before the petitioner sent her demand letters. “Respondents cannot feign ignorance of petitioner’s demand to vacate since the matter was brought to barangay conciliation proceedings in 2005. The barangay certification issued on 11 August 2005, shows that no compromise was reached between the parties.” “Therefore, the respondents’ insistence on the non-receipt of the demand letter is misplaced. Their verbal lease over the property had already expired sometime in 2002. xxx xxx The demand letter would have been unnecessary since respondents’ continued refusal to vacate despite the expiration of their verbal lease was sufficient ground to bring the action.” Clear as day. Another good distinction learned. If the ground is the expiration of the lease, no demand is needed. In case you as a landlord, are in a like situation, you know that no demand before the institution will not be a fatal infirmity. Sources: Section 2, Rule 70, Rules of Court Velia J. Cruz v. Spouses Maximo and Susan Christensen as cited above The post Is prior demand necessary? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat
The Catholic Church will play a more significant role in the anti-insurgency effort through a recalibrated National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said yesterday. The task force will now have the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs as a member. “We welcome the CBCP through its Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs to the NTF-ELCAC Executive Committee and we look forward to working with them in pursuing peace and development in all parts of the country, especially in conflict-affected areas,” Año said. The task force indicated an openness to suggestions from the Church in adopting “moral and ethical approaches in addressing the communist insurgency,” as cited by CBCP president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David in a recent statement. “We are opening the door of NTF-ELCAC to the Church because it has an important role to play in ending violence and terrorism in the country,” Año said. “For more than 50 years, we have lived with the scourge of the communist armed conflict. With peace now in sight, the Church has an important role to play in ensuring peace and development in the long term,” he added. With the CBCP in the NTF-ELCAC, Año believes that concerns raised by the Church or by cause-oriented groups supported by them could be immediately addressed. “Because of this development, the Church will have more opportunity to relay its concerns, since its mandate is to act as a liaison of the CBCP to the government,” he said, citing the attendance of Fr. Jerome Secillano at the NTF-ELCAC executive committee meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Friday. Año reiterated that the task force’s main mandate is to formulate “whole-of-nation” policies to end armed conflict in the country. “CBCP’s membership in the task force ensures a whole-of-nation’s participation because the religious sector is an important component of the nation,” he said. Intervention in influenced areas Año sees the CBCP making significant contributions to the development of areas previously under the influence of the New People’s Army, as well as facilitating social inclusivity in the pursuit of peace. “Given that we are now on the road to total victory, it’s necessary that we recalibrate the way we do things and the entry of the CBCP to the NTF-ELCAC is one of the changes we have implemented under the Marcos administration,” he said. More rebels rejoin society NTF-ELCAC also expressed optimism the government can sustain its peace-building effort to encourage more rebels to reintegrate into mainstream society. At a forum on Saturday, NTF-ELCAC director Alexander Umpar said that in 2023, a total of 959 villages cleared of the insurgency were included in the Barangay Development Program or BDP, an initiative that aims to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities. Under the BDP, each village recipient receives a package of programs, activities, and projects worth a maximum of P20 million. BDP beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022 numbered 822 and 1,406, respectively, he said. Umpar said the NTF-ELCAC is confident that by 2028, it would have attained its goal of achieving lasting peace and development in areas that are vulnerable to armed conflict. “‘By 2028, it is about sustaining the momentum of NTF-ELCAC gains with regard to the dismantling of guerrilla fronts, the reintegration of former rebels, and most of all, building resiliency for our communities under the ambit of good governance toward unity, peace and development,” he said. The government, he said, has dismantled 69 of 89 guerrilla fronts since the creation of the task force in 2018. One of the 20 remaining guerrilla fronts, he said, is active while 19 others had weakened. “‘When we say strategic victory, this (because) of the 19 weakened guerrilla fronts and only one is left to be confronted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said. “There are still concerns about the armed groups but they are no longer able to initiate an armed struggle or to topple our government. So, that’s the strategic victory,” Umpar said. On the other hand, NTF-ELCAC director Jose Descallar urged rebels to give up and join the government in its goal of transforming the country into a “new Philippines.” He said the military could shift its focus to “external threats,” once the government is able to address the local insurgency. Meanwhile, Director Emmanuel Santos of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said the conduct of localized peace engagements has been proven to be the “most effective” approach in addressing the communist insurgency. “We’re localizing the engagement so we will be closer to the people to make them feel that the government is really here,” Santos said. He added, however, that there should be “clear directions” to ensure the full reintegration of FRs into mainstream society. The post NTF-ELCAC gives Church a seat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Marcos imposes rice price cap of P41/P45
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has imposed a price cap on rice amid what the Palace described Thursday as supply chain challenges and widespread hoarding to effect an artificial shortage. Mr. Marcos’ Executive Order 39, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, set a mandatory price ceiling of P41 per kilo for regularly milled rice and P45 per kilo for well-milled rice. With the order released yesterday, Malacañang said the President seeks to ease “the considerable economic strain on Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged and marginalized,” arising from the spiking inflation. In justifying the price cap, the EO cited reports from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Trade and Industry that members of a rice cartel have been actively engaged in hoarding and price manipulation. These illegal activities, coupled with global supply issues like the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the oil price swings, have contributed to the rising rice prices, it added. Nonetheless, the EO said the arrival of imported rice and the expected local production surplus are seen to stabilize the rice supply. Marcos, who concurrently heads the DA, last week inspected several rice storage facilities and ordered the Bureau of Customs and other agencies to raid warehouses storing hoarded rice. He also ordered the Philippine Competition Commission to take action against the cartels. Likewise, he ordered penalties for merchants who leverage their dominant market position or who collude with one another to mark up rice prices. Rice price increased The National Economic and Development Authority said the price of rice in the Philippines increased by 1 percent from January 2022 to 4.2 percent in July 2023. Early in his administration, Marcos said his aspiration was to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. The DA last month projected the supply of rice for the second semester would hit 10.15 million metric tons (MMT), of which 2.53 MMT is ending stock from the first semester. Of the volume, 7.20 MMT is the expected output from domestic production, with 0.41 MMT representing imported rice. The overall supply would result in an ending stock of 2.39 MMT which would be good for 64 days, more than enough to meet the present demand of 7.76 MMT, the DA said. The price cap shall remain in force until lifted by the President upon the recommendation of the Price Coordinating Council and the agriculture and trade departments. The DA and the DTI will lead in the implementation of EO 39 by doing price checks in wet markets and supermarkets. “The EO primarily mandates the DTI and the DA to strictly implement the price ceilings. We will visit major wet markets and retail stores in the coming days,” DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual told reporters. “This is not the sole responsibility of the DTI and DA because it’s a whole of government approach to ensure that rice in the markets is reasonably priced and remains a conveniently accessible staple food to Filipinos,” Pascual added. The DTI chief pointed out during the Laging Handa Public Briefing yesterday that the EO is not mainly on the retail price of rice but also its supply. Not a price freeze “There is no price freeze but a price cap, to be clear. Traders can still lower their prices. This EO is being implemented to prevent price manipulation in the market. Despite the ample supply, prices of rice surged in the past few days,” Pascual said. He maintained the price cap does not apply to other varieties of rice and is only meant for regular-milled rice and well-milled rice. “We have premium varieties that are not covered by the price cap. During our rounds, we will ensure that the subjects of EO 39 are not mislabeled as premium,” he added. Under the Price Act, retailers violating the price ceiling face imprisonment of from one to 10 years and/or fines of P5,000 to P1 million. Price manipulators and hoarders, on the other hand, face prison sentences from five to 15 years and fines of from P5,000 to P2 million. In a media interview in Palawan yesterday, where he opened the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month, Marcos said the DA and DTI will be joined by the Department of Justice and Department of the Interior and Local Government in enforcing the price ceiling. “We have put together a structure for the continuing monitoring,” the President said. “These agencies already have regular inspections when it comes to other issues, so they will now apply the price ceilings that I have ordered in the EO that I signed on Thursday.” Focus on Metro Marcos said the government will focus on Metro Manila, where the problem of rising rice prices is most acute. However, he urged the public to report retailers who are selling rice above the price ceiling to the police, the DA, the DTI, or their local government. “If you find someone selling rice above the price ceiling, please report it,” he said. “We need your help to ensure that everyone has access to affordable rice.” The price ceiling on rice was set in response to the recent surge in rice prices. As of 28 August, the average price of regular milled rice in Metro Manila was P42 per kilo, while the average price of well-milled rice was P48 per kilo. The post Marcos imposes rice price cap of P41/P45 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met in Manila on Tuesday to further discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations. In his meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Malacañang, Marcos Jr. underscored the long-standing friendship between the Philippines and the UK, which dates back to the early 19th century. He also noted the growing trade and investment ties between the two countries, as well as the increasing cooperation in areas such as climate change, security, and defense. In particular, Marcos said that the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United Kingdom is a "welcome evolution." Creating security ties and collaborations with the United Kingdom, according to Marcos Jr., is "not traditional" for the Philippines. "But that seems to be the evolution, the geopolitics these days. It is a welcome evolution in my view, and again, your visit here I think, is a clear indication of that intent," the President said. Marcos added there has been a change in Europe's post-pandemic focus toward Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, to start the economic reform process. "We are not quite at pre-pandemic levels yet, but we are fast approaching that, and that, of course, is very important for us," Marcos said. Cleverly, for his part, said the UK is "committed to working with the Philippines to build a stronger, more prosperous future for both our countries." He also said that the UK is "ready to invest in the Philippines' economic growth and development." “There is still growth. I know that you are very focused on attracting investment into the country and I’ve been discussing with our ambassador about a UK export finance facility, which I hope would encourage UK companies to invest more broadly,” Cleverly said. The foreign minister said both nations can also work “very, very closely together” to combat climate change and accelerate clean energy access. “So I see lots of opportunities to build on what is a really positive bilateral relationship. And so my final thank you is to thank your nation through you, sir, for being a really good friend and partner to the UK, but with huge growth potential for that partnership,” added Cleverly. The post Phl, UK strengthen bilateral relations, geopolitical issues cited appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Void ownership, void contract
Rebecca Fullido and Gino Grilli, an Italian, were sweethearts. Eventually, they maintained a common-law relationship. In time, Gino bought a lot for them and had a house built on it. Gino, being a foreigner prohibited from purchasing real estate, and the title to the land was put in the name of Rebecca. But to ensure his right over it, they entered into an agreement whereby Gino leased the property from Rebecca for fifty years, subject to an automatic renewal for a like period. In addition, they entered into an agreement where Gino, among others, denied Rebecca the right to dispose of the property and that her hold on to it would be a co-terminus with their relationship. The time came when their relationship went sour. Parties traded accusations of unfaithfulness against each other. Court actions ensued. Rebecca filed for a protection order against Gino under the Violence Against Women and Children Law or VAWC. Gino filed for the ejectment of Rebecca from their land. In the ejectment case, the court sided with Rebecca. It said that she could not be ousted because she was a co-owner. The court also considered the protection order issued by another court against Gino. On appeal, the Regional Trial Court opined that the action filed by Rebecca against Gino had no bearing on the ejectment case. And since the only issue in the ejectment case is who has a better right to possession, the court sided with Gino citing the presence of a valid and existing lease in his favor. On appeal, the Court of Appeals affirmed the finding of the appealed court. Rebecca, undaunted, went to the Supreme Court. She posited that Gino had no right over the property. For one, he is a foreigner prohibited by the Constitution from owning land. And another, the contract the parties entered into had no effect whatsoever as Gino had no right to own land in the first place. To this issue, the Supreme Court ruled, “Under Section 1 of Article XIII of the 1935 Constitution, natural resources shall not be alienated, except with respect to public agricultural lands, and in such cases, the alienation is limited to Filipino citizens. xxx xxx The prohibition on the transfer of lands to aliens was adopted in the present 1987 Constitution, under Sections 2, 3, and 7 of Article XII thereof. Agricultural lands, whether public or private, include residential, commercial, and industrial lands. The purpose of prohibiting the transfer of lands to foreigners is to uphold the conservation of our national patrimony and ensure that agricultural resources remain in the hands of Filipino citizens. “The prohibition, however, is not limited to the sale of lands to foreigners. It also covers leases of lands amounting to the transfer of all or substantially all the rights of dominion. In the landmark case of Philippine Banking Corporation v. Lui She, the Court struck down a lease contract of a parcel of land in favor of a foreigner for a period of 99 years with an option to buy the land for 50 years. “Where a scheme to circumvent the Constitutional prohibition against the transfer of lands to aliens is readily revealed as the purpose for the contracts, then the illicit purpose becomes the illegal cause rendering the contracts void. Thus, if an alien is given not only a lease of, but also an option to buy, a piece of land by virtue of which the Filipino owner cannot sell or otherwise dispose of his property, this to last for 50 years, then it becomes clear that the arrangement is a virtual transfer of ownership whereby the owner divests himself in stages not only of the right to enjoy the land but also of the right to dispose of it — rights which constitute ownership. “If this can be done, then the Constitutional ban against alien landholding in the Philippines is indeed in grave peril. Based on the above-cited constitutional, legal, and jurisprudential limitations, the Court finds that the lease contract and the MoA in the present case are null and void for virtually transferring the reigns of the land to a foreigner. xxx xxx “Evidently, the lease contract and the MoA operated hand-in-hand to strip Fullido of any dignified right over her own property. The term of lease for 100 years was obviously in excess of the allowable periods under PD No. 471. xxx xxx The title of Fullido over the land became an empty and useless vessel, visible only on paper, and was only meant as a dummy to fulfill a foreigner’s desire to own land within our soils. It is disturbing how these documents were methodically formulated to circumvent the constitutional prohibition against land ownership by foreigners. “The said contracts attempted to guise themselves as a lease, but a closer scrutiny of the same revealed that they were intended to transfer the dominion of a land to a foreigner in violation of Section 7, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution. Even if Fullido voluntarily executed the same, no amount of consent from the parties could legalize an unconstitutional agreement. The lease contract and the MoA do not deserve an iota of validity and must be rightfully struck down as null and void for being repugnant to the fundamental law. These void documents cannot be the source of rights and must be treated as mere scraps of paper.” The facts and the quoted salient portion of the decision are from Rebecca Fullido vs Gino Grilli (G.R. 215014, 29 February 2016) The post Void ownership, void contract appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed
Despite separate rulings by the Justice Secretary and the Office of the President on the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s, or ARTA, directives pertaining to the assignment of frequency to NOW Telecom, an Omnibus Order and Minute Resolution was issued by the officers of the agency affirming its earlier resolution and Order of Automatic Approval which is illegal. With this, former Anti-Red Tape Authority director general Jeremiah Belgica and four other officials of the agency were ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman after finding them guilty of grave misconduct. The termination order was contained in a 14-page decision prepared by a four-member special panel and approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires. It declared Belgica, his former deputy Eduardo Bringas, division chief Sheryl Pura-Sumangil, and directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Asperin accountable. The ruling carries the accessory penalties of cancellation of civil service eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to hold public office. If the accused were already separated from the service and the penalty could no longer be, the same shall be converted into a fine in the amount equivalent to the respondents’ salary for one year, payable to the Office of the Ombudsman, and may be deductible from their retirement benefits, accrued leave credits or any receivables by respondents from their office. The case against Belgica and company stemmed from a complaint filed by DITO Telecommunity Inc., which accused the respondents of giving preferential treatment to NOW Telecom. Sweetheart deal The alleged preferential treatment was evidenced by ARTA’s 1 March 2021 OAA assigning contingent frequencies to NOW Telecom, which came after the government awarded the same frequencies to DITO as the country’s new telco major player. The order cited the respondents’ “clear intent to violate the law” when they issued the assailed ARTA Resolution and OAA despite being aware beforehand of the status of NOW Telecom with the National Telecommunications Commission. As early as December 2005, NTC records showed Now Telecom was already found to be non-compliant and was disqualified from the assignment of 3G frequency bands due to unpaid supervision and regulation fees and spectrum user fees amounting to P2.6 billion. The telecom company in January 2006 was issued a provisional authority that was not specific to 3G and was premised on the condition on the payment of its outstanding SRF and SUF obligations. At that time, the issue on the outstanding SRF and SUF was already pending with the Supreme Court. In December 2017, NOW Telecom was assigned the 20MHz contiguous bandwidth, 3520 to 3540 MHz, under the 3.5 GHz on the same condition that it settle its outstanding SUF and SRF. NOW Telecom’s PA was extended for 36 months until September 2020 subject again to the condition regarding the SUF and SRF, but was never fulfilled by the company. The post Belgica, 4 others ordered dismissed appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Is ‘reasonable certainty of conviction’ the ‘new probable cause’?
It is well settled in Philippine law and jurisprudence that criminal complaints subject to preliminary investigation are assessed by the prosecutors to determine “probable cause,” or the existence of such facts that would excite the belief in a reasonable mind that the person committed the crime. However, recent circulars of the Department of Justice or DoJ have imposed the additional stricter standard of “reasonable certainty of conviction” in certain cases before a complaint is filed or even when already pending in court, to de-clog and decongest court dockets. In February 2023, the DoJ issued Circulars No. 008 s. 2023 and 008-A s. 2023 directing all public prosecutors handling criminal cases for offenses cognizable by the Municipal Trial Courts or MTCs, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities or MTCCs, and Metropolitan Trial Courts or MeTCs to determine if each has a reasonable certainty of conviction based on the evidence, witnesses, and continued interest of the private complainants, and to withdraw the information if there is none. “Reasonable certainty of conviction” is expressly defined in DoJ Circular No. 016 s.2023 as follows: Section 2. Reasonable Certainty of Conviction. There is reasonable certainty of conviction when a prima facie case exists based on the evidence at hand, including but not limited to, witnesses, documentary evidence, real evidence, and the like, and such evidence, that on its own and if left uncontroverted by the accused, shall be sufficient to establish all the elements of the crime or offense charged, and consequently warrant a conviction beyond reasonable doubt. DoJ Circular No. 16 s. 2023 provides further specific guidelines on its applicability to cases falling under the Rules on Summary Procedure or those that are pending in the MTC, MTCC, or MeTC which (a) had no considerable movement over a period of three months or more; (b) where the complainant or his witnesses have repeatedly failed to appear without valid reason despite due notice; or (c) where the material evidence are not available or can no longer be produced despite earnest efforts by the complainant. In such cases, the absence of reasonable certainty of conviction should prompt the prosecutor to move for withdrawal of the information and/or dismissal of the case/s. On 31 March 2023, the DoJ issued Circular No. 20 s. 2023 which imposed a preliminary evaluation of the complaint based on the same standard prior to its docketing for preliminary investigation or the conduct of inquest proceedings in cases involving heinous crimes, capital offenses, violations of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, Republic Act 11479 or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, and Republic Act 10168 or the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012. Heinous crimes include: (1) Treason under Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); (2) Piracy and Qualified Piracy under Articles 122 and 123 of the RPC, respectively; (3) Qualified Bribery under Article 211-A of the RPC; (4) Parricide under Article 245 of the RPC; (5) Murder under Article 248 of the RPC; (6) Infanticide under Article 255 of the RPC; (7) Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention under Article 267 of the RPC; (8) Robbery with violence against and intimidation of persons under Article 294 of the RPC; :(9) Destructive Arson under Article 320 of the RPC; (10) Rape under Article 335 of the RPC; (11) Plunder under Republic Act 7080; and (12) Carnapping under Section 14 of Republic Act 6539. Sections 5 and 6 of DoJ Circular No. 20 s. 2023 further requires criminal complaints to be evaluated before preliminary investigation or inquest proceedings to determine if they contain all the necessary evidence to prove the essential elements of the crime. The investigating prosecutor would then issue a certification as to the existence of a prima facie case and a reasonable certainty of conviction based on the available documents, witnesses, and evidence. If assessed in the negative, this would be referred to the private complainant, together with a report, advice on the lacking evidence, and a directive to secure such lacking evidence. If this is not possible, then the complaint would be terminated without prejudice to refiling. It is worth noting that the Supreme Court has repeatedly held that a preliminary investigation is not the avenue for a full-blown display of evidence (PCGG v. Navarro-Gutierrez, GR No. 194159, 21 October 2015), and that probable cause does not require clear and convincing evidence establishing certainty of guilt (Galario v. Office of the Ombudsman, GR No. 166797, 10 July 2007). However, it is also undisputed that the determination of probable cause in a preliminary investigation is an executive function, where the public prosecutor is given broad discretion to determine whether probable cause exists (People v. Castillo and Mejia, GR No. 171188, 19 June 2009). We have yet to see the full implications and effects of the cited DoJ circulars, but it is certainly advisable to ensure the presence of sufficient evidence to support all elements of the crime charged before filing the complaint. The post Is ‘reasonable certainty of conviction’ the ‘new probable cause’? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police grant permit for Stockholm Koran burning protest
Swedish police said Wednesday they had granted a permit for a protest outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm, with media reporting the organisers planned to burn the Muslim holy book. The protest, scheduled for Thursday, comes just weeks after a man set fire to pages of the Koran outside Stockholm's main mosque -- leading to widespread outrage and condemnations around the world. Stockholm police told AFP they had granted a permit for a "public gathering" outside the Iraqi embassy, but did not wish to give further comments on what the protesters were planning. According to news agency TT, the organisers had written in their application that the protesters wanted to burn the Koran and the Iraqi flag, and told the news agency that the same two people who participated in the June protest would be staging the new one. AFP has requested a copy of the application from police, but did not immediately get a response. Swedish police have stressed that they only grant permits for people to hold public gatherings and not for the activities conducted during them. In June, Swedish police had granted a permit for 37-year-old Salwan Momika's protest where he stomped on the Koran and set several pages alight in front of Stockholm's largest mosque during Eid al-Adha, a festival celebrated by Muslims around the world. The permit was granted in line with free speech protections, but authorities later said they had opened an investigation over "agitation against an ethnic group", noting that Momika had burnt pages from the Islamic holy book very close to the mosque. In January, Swedish-Danish right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan burned a Koran in front of Turkey's embassy in Stockholm to denounce Sweden's membership application to NATO and the negotiations with Turkey to allow Sweden to join the alliance. The two events triggered a series of condemnations in the Muslim world. Swedish police had originally blocked Momika's protest, citing security concerns raised after the January burning. But the decision was appealed and subsequently overturned by two courts which found that the security concerns cited did not have a clear enough connection to the planned event or its immediate vicinity. The post Police grant permit for Stockholm Koran burning protest appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM eyes Northern Samar to become insurgency-free by yearend
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed confidence that Northern Samar would be declared insurgency-free by the end of 2023 as he cited the accomplishments of the military personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed in the province. Marcos declared his optimism during his visit to Camp Sumoroy in Catarman, Northern Samar last 14 July—where he lauded the Philippine Army’s 803rd Infantry Brigade (IBde) for their efforts in maintaining peace and order in the province, leading to “successful” counterinsurgency operations. He likewise expressed hope that the troops would be relentless in dismantling the remaining communist rebel groups before the yearend. “I just received the briefing on the success rate of dismantling the fronts and that they are weakened. And I was also given a very encouraging deadline that we could say—that we will have dismantled all of the CTG (communist terrorist group) fronts by the end of the year and that is the result of your good work,” he said. "From the progress being made in Northern Samar, we are looking forward to declaring that province clear of CTGs by the end of the year." Marcos said he could not wait to visit Northern Samar again to declare that it is already free from all forms of insurgencies. “I am very, very impatient already to come back here and to be with you when we declare your area of operation clear of any CTG formations, any CTG groups. And that will be a big, big blow to the enemy forces because they have always felt that Northern Samar is a place that they feel safe in,” he added. The 803rd IBde has been instrumental in weakening the insurgents in the region, with the surrender of more than 6,200 of its sympathizers and personalities, and the dismantling of two guerilla fronts in Northern Samar. Despite the brigade’s accomplishments, Marcos reminded the soldiers to stay alert and vigilant over possible security threats. “You are still now in Northern Samar, on the front line. So, do not let your guard down. Continue to do what you have been doing because, as I said, it has been successful, it has been effective and we can see that from the weakening of the enemy forces,” he said. The President also urged the brigade to step up their counterinsurgency efforts and convince the rebels to instead return to the fold of the law. Marcos reassured that rebels who wish to reintegrate into society would get the government’s full support and assistance upon their surrendering. “So, that is the plan. This is how we are going to move forward but this is all founded. It is all based on the continuing good work that you put in every day,” Marcos said. The President also urged the troops to continue their close coordination with communities to ensure the further success of the government’s anti-insurgency campaign. “We have seen…. the increase in the firearms that have been neutralized and also the personalities that have been neutralized. Let us continue that trend,” Marcos said. Marcos also renewed his vow to provide the government troops with all the tools, equipment, and training that they need as part of the administration’s efforts to modernize the AFP not only for internal security operations but also for countering possible external threats. The post PBBM eyes Northern Samar to become insurgency-free by yearend appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gatchalian: NGCP’s existing shareholder pact ‘violative’ of Constitution
Senator Win Gatchalian sees there's a violation in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ shareholder agreement. Gatchalian said on Friday that the existing pact prevents majority shareholders from convening and making emergency decisions “unless minority members are present” and described it as “violative of the Constitution.” “A constitutional provision limiting foreign stake in public utilities to 40 percent is meant to safeguard Filipino interests,” he emphasized. In the case of NGCP, Gatchalian lamented that Filipino board members account for a 60 percent majority stake in the grid public utility. In comparison, he added, the State Grid Corporation of China accounts for a 40 percent minority stake. However, Gatchalian cited that a board meeting—per the shareholder agreement—cannot happen if the minority shareholders do not attend. This can only happen for two consecutive times, after which the majority shareholders can proceed with the board meeting despite the absence of the minority, he added. “This provision effectively tied the hands of the Filipino shareholders. Filipinos should always be in control, management-wise, finance-wise, and in terms of operation,” he further lamented. In a recent Senate hearing by the Committee on Energy on the performance of NGCP, Gatchalian questioned the grid’s ownership. “The Constitution is very clear that 60 percent of the capital of public utilities should be owned by Filipinos. This ownership structure allows Filipinos, and not foreigners, to make decisions on the direction, management, and operations of a crucial business imbued with public use and public service. How can Filipinos make a decision if they cannot convene?,” he said, citing Article 12, Section 11 of the Constitution. Gatchalian was irked that the existing NGCP shareholder agreement won’t really provide Filipino shareholders the power to decide on their own, even during emergencies, including those relating to national security. During the hearing, NGCP Assistant Corporate Secretary, Atty. Dylan Concepcion, said the internal agreement is supported by a Supreme Court decision covering public utility companies. “Concepcion and his team, however, failed to provide the specific general register number of the high court decision he cited,” Gatchalian said. “The constitutional provision that a utility company should always be majority-owned by Filipinos with at least 60% stake is meant to enable control of the utility by Filipinos to ensure public interest and national security are upheld and protected,” he added. Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the Committee on Energy, previously raised concerns over the poor performance of the NGCP and China’s massive control over the Grid’s operations despite the 60-40 investors’ shares. The post Gatchalian: NGCP’s existing shareholder pact ‘violative’ of Constitution appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Beyond partisan politics
The authoritative Tokyo-based publication Nikkei Asia, which started among those who doubted President Bongbong Marcos’ capability to lead the nation appears to be changing its tune in its latest edition, reflecting the growing global respect that BBM has been reaping in the first of his six-year term. Marcos was able to rise above political vindictiveness to utilize the best that the government can offer for the country’s development, one of the business paper’s assessments went. It cited the case of Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan who served in the same post under the late President Benigno Aquino III. Balisacan said he never expected to take the same post under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Nikkei Asia said Aquino’s parents led the opposition to Marcos’ father, President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in the 1986 People Power Revolt. “For Balisacan, his appointment is a sign that Marcos’s determination to rework the economy is stronger than any historical baggage,” Nikkei Asia said. “Not even a chance that I thought about being invited to join because I served the Aquino government,” said Balisacan, also director general of the National Economic and Development Authority. “It became clear to me that Marcos wanted to do something about the economy,” he added. The initial reviews of BBM were not very favorable. “Marcos frustrated investors when he skipped debates during the campaign and spoke more about ‘unity’ than the specifics of how he would run the economy,” the Nikkei Asia report went. “But one year after taking office, Marcos has defied some of the most pessimistic predictions on his presidency. He has won the confidence of business, bolstered the alliance with the US, and pledged to respect human rights,” the report said. In BBM’s first year, the Philippines had the distinction of being among the best-performing economies in the region, growing by 7.6 percent in 2022. “Expansion slowed to 6.4 percent in the first quarter but still surpassed analyst projections. Marcos is aiming for growth of up to 8 percent per year from 2024 to 2028,” Nikkei Asia said. In May, Fitch Ratings affirmed its “investment grade” assessment of the Philippines, raising the outlook to “stable” from “negative,” said the report. The business sector experienced a refreshing change in terms of the attention it received from Marcos. “While his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, attacked tycoons, Marcos gave them a direct line via a business advisory council that he holds regular meetings with. He has pledged to revive the public-private partnership program to allow companies to bid for infrastructure contracts,” Nikkei Asia observed. It quoted BDO Capital and Investment president Eduardo Francisco as saying, “Initially, people were not expecting much.” “They were a little, maybe, skeptical. But [the President] has assembled a very good team,” he said. International watchdogs gave Marcos a glowing review. According to Fitch Director Krisjanis Krustins, “the outlook revision (from negative to stable) reflects confidence in continued strong economic growth and sound economic policymaking.” Analysts also noted the “government’s budget discipline and commitment to gradual fiscal consolidation and reform.” “President Marcos knows the country has a lot of problems, but he is willing to spend his political capital to solve them,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno was quoted as saying. The business publication acknowledged the positive impact of Marcos concurrently holding the post of agriculture secretary. “Inflation slowed to 6.1 percent in May, after marking a 14-year high of 8.7 percent in January when onions were more expensive than meat. Officials expect price gains to settle within the 2 to 4 percent target by the end of this year,” Nikkei Asia said. The post Beyond partisan politics appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Inflation eases further to 5.4%
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said a collaboration with farmers is crucial to reducing inflation which has eased for the fifth straight month in June. Marcos made the statement as data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the consumer price index had eased from 6.1 percent in May to 5.4, mostly due to cheaper prices of food, transportation, housing, and utilities. Overall food prices decelerated to 6.7 percent in June from 7.4 percent in May, with the most notable declines in the prices of sugar, meat, and other animal products. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Livestock Philippines 2023 in Pasay City, Marcos said the government is working with farmers to lower prices, improve production efficiency, and take full advantage of new technologies. “If you remember, inflation increased in January and February, particularly due to the rise in the cost of agricultural products,” Marcos said. “That’s why this kind of collaboration and exchange of ideas being done now is important because we are helping the producers of agricultural commodities to lower prices, improve production efficiency, and take full advantage of new technologies.” Marcos cited the example of sugar, which contributed significantly to inflation in recent months. He said the government has stabilized the price of sugar by making a clear importation schedule. “This is the kind of thing that is helping to bring down the inflation rate,” he said. “That’s why doing this, improving the technologies, helping our farmers at both ends of that value chain, there is an advantage because the farmers will make more money because they are spending less because they are more efficient,” he said. Ensure stability The government, he said, will continue to work with farmers to reduce inflation. He said the goal is to ensure that prices are stable and that consumers can plan for the future. The latest overall inflation rate was the lowest since June last year although fish prices were up 6.2 percent from 5 percent, while the prices of vegetables and rice increased slightly by only decimal points. Fuel prices were also down to -3.1 percent from -0.5 percent, while electricity costs for households dropped to 10.3 percent from 13.6 percent. Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and fuel, also decreased to 7.4 percent from 7.7 percent. Prices of restaurant and financial services, clothing and footwear, and telecommunications remained stable, while personal care products increased slightly to 5.8 percent from 5.7 percent. The National Economic and Development Authority or NEDA expects the continued downtrend in inflation to approach the government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent by the end of the year. “The government remains committed to protecting the purchasing power of the Filipino people by ensuring food security, reducing transport and logistics costs, and lowering energy costs for households,” NEDA Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said. Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said government agencies must monitor the factors that could potentially derail the inflation trajectory from the aforementioned target. “The El Niño or drought, especially in the latter part of this year to early 2024, could reduce agricultural production and supplies, such as rice, thereby leading to a pickup in prices and overall inflation,” she said. She added that the recent P40 increase in the minimum wage in Metro Manila could push up consumer prices again as the public has more cash to spend. “The latest increase in the minimum wage for non-agricultural workers in Metro Manila would lead to some pass-on inflation effects or higher prices of other goods and services in the economy, similar to last year,” he noted. He said government agencies must have other strategies in place to prevent a reversal of the inflation trend as “the wage hike had been somewhat anticipated.” @tribunephl_tiz The post Inflation eases further to 5.4% appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»