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Jewels in the Palace kitchen
Power and food. These are not usually spoken in the same sentence, but hey, they go hand in hand. Last September, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos posted on her official Facebook page a photo showing her at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new catering area in Malacañang. No other details of the project were released. The post got mixed reactions from netizens. However, despite the praise and criticisms of said post, it somehow got us into thinking — who are the people behind the important functions of each and every chief executive living in the Palace? Hands down, Glenda Rosales Barretto comes to mind. The one and only doyenne of Philippine cuisine. She of the Via Mare fame. From Ferdinand Marcos Sr. down to Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Barretto presided over numerous state dinners in Malacañang. The most recent was the inaugural ball of the 17th president of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Barretto is caterer extraordinaire well-known for reinventing and refining Filipino dishes fit to be served at the highest tables in the land. During PBBM’s inauguration, she served savory chicken soup with ginger, lemongrass and green papaya (more like a deboned chicken tinola), prawn in roasted coconut cream, seared prime beef tenderloin with kaldereta sauce and guava-basil sorbet. Barretto is also popular for her humba (a Visayan braised pork similar to the classic adobo), crispy adobo flakes (ultra crunchy and extra flaky dish using chicken, beef or pork), pancit luglog, puto bumbong and bibingka. Via Mare, founded in 1975, has a well-established and long-standing reputation of being the choice concessionaire to do banquets for heads of state and international guests in the Palace serving traditional flavors. It can be recalled that Barretto rose to prominence when she catered the silver wedding anniversary of President Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, and soon after became the official caterer of the Palace. [caption id="attachment_161357" align="aligncenter" width="1137"] MARGARITA Fores | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF www.theworlds50best.com/[/caption] Margarita “Gaita” Fores Gaita Fores has also been trusted in handling the country’s most delicious affairs, hosted by the Palace for visiting chiefs of state. “I started catering only during Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s time,” said Fores in a text message to Daily Tribune. Fores recently catered the state dinner for Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the first European prime minister to visit the country under the new administration to discuss trade relations and mutual cooperation. The Asia’s Best Female Chef also served a delectable Filipino spread before the men and women of the diplomatic corps during the last vin d’honneur in Malacañang to celebrate the 12 June Independence Day. In 2016’s vin d’honneur, the last major function of the Aquino administration, Fores’ Cibo presented a Filipino buffet of three kinds of longganisa, toasted adobo flakes and corned beef flakes. Fores, who’s been in the food business for more than 30 years, has also prepared presidential dinners for King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, US Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama and Prince Albert of Monaco in Malacañang state dining room. Fores is the first cousin of former senator and interior secretary Mar Roxas, who is the second cousin of First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. Chef Jessie Sincioco Jessie Sincioco, dubbed the “Papal Chef,” is still the most in demand chef for fine dining and fine catering today. She has served the dining pleasure of Presidents Corazon Aquino, Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Noynoy Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte. She catered the inauguration lunch of PBBM for the diplomatic corps at the National Museum, serving smoked milkfish on toast with bihod, mini croissant sandwiches of smoked salmon or chicken salad, mini pandesal stuffed with chicken adobo or grilled kesong puti, lemongrass chicken, brochette of beef lamb ball with potato and ensaimada balls with ube halaya, to name some. A frequent caterer to Malacañang, Sincioco shares with us some of the favorite food of each president that she has served through the years. “Tita Cory loved spinach mushroom soufflé,” said Sincioco in a text message to this writer. “FVR, pan-fried Chilean seabass. Estrada, roast beef. GMA, chocolate durian souffle. PNoy, US black angus bistek. Digong, pan-fried Chilean seabass. BBM, brochette of lamb and beef ball with potato (pica-pica).” [caption id="attachment_161361" align="aligncenter" width="730"] millie and Karla Reyes. |PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF www.flavorsoflife.com[/caption] The Plaza The Plaza Catering, another reputable food and catering service run by the mother-and-daughter team of Millie and Karla Reyes, also has the privilege of serving the head of state and official banquets. “We have catered all presidents from Marcos Sr. to Duterte,” said Karla. “Not yet with PBBM.” The Plaza has been in the business since 1965 and is well-known for its piece de resistance — The Plaza premium baked ham and corned beef which Millie and Karla include in the menu whenever they cater to the Palace banquets. The Plaza has played host to foreign heads of state, such as Pope Paul VI, US Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and George H.W. Bush, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Premier Li Hsien Yen of the People’s Republic of China. They also shared their version of the presidents’ favorites. “Marcos Sr., fish and Ilocano food. He had his own cook preparing his meals,” said Karla. “Imelda, steaks and she’s a very good cook. Erap, lechon and our boiled Angus corned beef and baked ham. GMA and husband Mike, The Plaza ham. PNoy, barbecue and angus tapa.” She added: “For Duterte, we didn’t get to serve him up close and personal. We catered an event at Malacañang but he came like five hours late to his own event so he didn’t eat anymore.” [caption id="attachment_161358" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Bulak Bustaliño at the Arlegui Guest House in 1996. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF kusina ni maria[/caption] Kusina ni Maria During the time of Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos, Kusina ni Maria would also cater to Malacañang events, including special occasions at the Arlegui Guest House, where Cory and FVR lived during their time while holding government affairs in the Executive Building. Among their favorites were lengua con setas, chicken relleno, callos a la Madrileña, zarzuela de mariscos, grilled blue marlin, sarsiadong bias, paksiw na bihud, asadong curacha, tostadong alimango, kare-kare oxtail with bagoong, lao-ya, minaisang kabute and pancit buko. “Same dishes as what we have now,” said Ding Bustaliño, who now runs Kusina ni Maria founded by her late mom Bulak Bustaliño in 1984. “I used to join my mom in Arlegui when she would check the table setting, flowers and those were the food she would serve.” The real jewels in the Palace — made up of the virtual who’s who in Philippine cuisine — are in the kitchen. The post Jewels in the Palace kitchen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM thinks certain objections to MIF ‘laughable’
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allayed fears of fund mismanagement after signing the Maharlika Investment Fund into law on Tuesday, saying it will be independent of the government and should not be linked to politics. Marcos recalled reading and seeing the criticisms directed at the recently enacted law in the ceremonial signing at Malacanang Palace. He considered some of those objections "laughable." "I noticed that at the very beginning, I would hear some people commenting, 'When we have money like that, when we have those funds, they should be allocated to agriculture, infrastructure, they should be invested in energy development,'" Marcos said. "Well, I was watching television and I said, of course, I was talking to the TV. Where do you think they're thinking of putting it? Are we going to buy fancy cars? Are we going to buy a large yacht? That... it makes me laugh because that is so far from the truth," he added. For context, the bill has undergone revisions to address worries about how the fund would be managed and financed. Hence, Marcos said establishing an Investment Fund would enable the Philippines to reduce its dependence on borrowing for infrastructure development. “I assure you that the resources entrusted to the fund are taken care of with utmost prudence and intent,” Marcos said in a speech after signing into law what he described as an “extremely important” measure. The enactment of the Maharlika Investment Fund into law followed the actions taken by neighboring Asian countries such as Malaysia and Singapore and more recent efforts by Indonesia to establish sovereign wealth funds, although the outcomes have been varied. In Malaysia, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund became embroiled in a massive corruption scandal, resulting in significant political consequences. Marcos emphasized that the newly created fund would be entrusted to professionals and operate independently from political interference. To raise its capital, the fund will have the authority to issue a combined total of P500 billion in preferred and common shares, which the national government, state-run companies, and banks can acquire. It was not immediately clear when the fund will be launched. Nevertheless, it has the capability to allocate funds to assets such as foreign currencies, tradable commodities, fixed-income securities, and stocks with the intention of generating revenue to support the funding of infrastructure initiatives. The post PBBM thinks certain objections to MIF ‘laughable’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DND chief: Peace talks with Reds ‘farce, oxymoron’
Newly appointed Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. has reiterated his stance over the call to resume peace negotiations between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Teodoro rejected the plans of reopening the peace tables for the CPP-NPA-NDF saying there’s a legitimate political process to engage with them. “My personal position is no. It has been my position even before. and I think that is the position of the security cluster as of this time,” Teodoro said. “First of all, the government is open if the members of the CPP-NPA-NDF will return to the folds of the law,” he added, noting that the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity can always do its job to help rebel returnees restore their peaceful lives. “OPAPRU is ready to help them and rehabilitate them,” he said. Teodoro cited the huge contributions of the country’s anti-insurgency task force in dismantling the remaining guerrilla fronts of the communist rebels. Hence, he said the peace talks are "not anymore necessary." “I think, the peace talks—in terms of the democratic process—this can be done in a proper forum. That’s in the Congress. Go get participate in the legitimate political process,” Teodoro stressed. He said establishing CPP is not prohibited in the law, citing the provisions of Republic Act 1700 that have been repealed long ago. However, if the intent of the CPP was to support the indirect and direct armed struggle, Teodoro said: “That’s the problem. So to me, there’s no such thing as…it’s an oxymoron—that legal front? There’s no legal front [because] front is illegal.” Asked how would the DND intend to deal with CPP-NPA-DNF, Teodoro said: “Ideologically, to me, it’s a farce. What we intend to do is to convince those that are still continuing whatever business is they’re continuing—which is against the law—to come and join the folds of the law and join the national development.” The DND chief underscored the CPP-NDF can always apply to become part of the legislative process. “And as a political party, they can register as a legitimate political party just as long as there is evidence that there is a total disavowal of resort to subversive means in order to gain political power,” he said. Teodoro sees the communist ideologies remain unclear. “All of these theories, Marxism, etc., these are political theories, and the end is to gain political power. Now, at the end of the day, people who run things and so, although, it is hidden behind theory – it’s a human too. So, what motivates that human is to gain political power. And behind that, we cannot define what’s the real intention. Now to be fair, have elections,” he said. Former President Rodrigo Duterte officially terminated the peace talks with the CPP-NDF on 21 March 2019. In his remaining months in office, Duterte slammed the arrogance of the communist movement’s armed wing, the NPA, saying he could not give the communist guerrillas another chance to resume the peace negotiations with the CPP-NPA because of the "continuous killing spree of the NPA.” Despite his own position, Teodoro said he has yet to consult Marcos regarding the President’s plan on the proposed resumption of peace talks. The post DND chief: Peace talks with Reds ‘farce, oxymoron’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China to donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to PH — Palace
Malacañang said Saturday that the Chinese government will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines as the two countries reaffirmed ties and cooperation against the pandemic. Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (DFA OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT/ MANILA BULLETIN) The Office of the President (OP) made the statement as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi made a 40-minute courtesy call to President Duterte in Malacañang Saturday. In a statement, the OP said that Wang assured Duterte of China’s commitment to support the Philippines’ efforts to combat COVID-19, a disease that originated in Wuhan, China. “He (Wang) announced that China will donate 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines. He likewise affirmed China’s resolve to do everything to ensure that vaccines become a global good,” Malacañang said. According to Malacañang, Duterte lauded the continued high-level engagement between the Philippines and China even amid the pandemic and stressed the importance of both sides delivering on the promises of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation. Duterte stressed that cooperation on public health must be strengthened, particularly access to safe and effective vaccines, to safeguard the health of the people and in order to hasten the economic recovery of both nations and their neighboring countries. “The recovery of nations… sits on the back of stronger economies,” Duterte told Wang. “China plays a very key role in reviving our region’s economy. Let us do all we can to revive economic activities between the Philippines and China,” he added. Malacañang said that Duterte thanked China for its continuing support and cooperation in the country’s fight against COVID-19 in terms of medical equipment and supplies and sharing of experiences and expertise as well as in the repatriation of Filipinos. Economic cooperation Wang declared that China will continue to support the Philippines’ recovery through enhanced economic cooperation. He likewise reiterated his country’s determination to complete pending infrastructure projects. The Palace said that Wang underscored China’s commitment under President Xi Jinping to work closely with the Philippines to sustain the positive trajectory of the valued and special bilateral relations. At the start of his presidency in 2016, Duterte has expressed his desire to build stronger relations with China — even temporarily setting aside the country’s victory over the West Philippine Sea in The Hague to make it happen......»»
CPP is deceiving the public for denying existence of its front organizations — Roque
It would be the height of deception of the local communist rebel group if it will deny the existence of their front organizations, a Palace official said Tuesday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (OPS / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has an armed group, the New People’s Army (NPA), as well as a political wing composed of the so-called legal front groups. He argued that these front organizations may not take up arms but still belong to the communist rebel group. Roque made the statement even after clarifying that authorities have been advised against red-tagging personalties without presenting proof. “Lilinawin ko, bagama’t ang sinabi ni Secretary Lorenzana na polisiya natin talaga ay kung walang ebidensiya dapat manahimik at huwag mag-red tagging eh hindi naman po ibig sabihin noon na wala talagang mga organisasyon na talagang kasapi at kabahagi ng CPP-NPA (I’d like to make clear that although (Defense) Secretary (Delfin) Lorenzana mentioned our policy to stay silent and avoid red-tagging personalities without proof, it does not mean that there are no organizations belonging to the CPP-NPA),” Roque said during a televised press briefing. “Ang CPP-NPA po, talagang mayroon silang revolutionary armed struggle, iyan po iyong NPA at mayroon silang political, kasama sa political ay iyong mga tinawag nilang mga organisasyon na diumano’y legal dahil hindi naman sila humahawak ng baril pero kabahagi pa rin po ng CPP-NPA at hindi po madi-deny iyan. Kaplastikan po ng CPP-NPA kung sasabihin nilang wala silang mga legal fronts na tinatawag. (The CPP-NPA has a revolutionary armed struggle, that’s the NPA and they have a political arm composed of what they call legal organizations because they don’t take up arms but they are still part of the CPP-NPA and that cannot be denied. It will be deceitful for the CPP-NPA if they will say they don’t have so-called legal fronts),” he said. Amnesty International earlier appealed to the Philippine government to halt “its vicious and at times deadly practice of red-tagging” or labeling of groups or persons as communists or terrorists. The group urged the government to address criticisms about its policies instead of allegedly endangering people practicing free speech.“In the prevailing context where red-tagged individuals become the targets of harassment, threats and even killings, courts and pertinent government agencies must take concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of these individuals,” the group said in its website. The appeal was made as the Senate started an inquiry into the controversial red-tagging activities of some military officials. Last week, the Palace said President Duterte wanted military and police officials to stop labeling personalities as communists without showing evidence. Duterte has spoken through Lorenzana who advised officials to be careful in red-tagging, according to Roque. .....»»
EDSA as commemorated by Marcos, Duterte, and the media
FEBRUARY 25, 2024 marked the 38th year of the EDSA People Power anniversary as Ferdinand Marcos Jr. moves through his second year as president. As the dates continue to resonate with the power of remembrance for many Filipinos, the milestone continues to pose a challenge to him and his administration. The events of 1986 gathered people on the streets to support renegade officers who called for the resignation of Ferdin.....»»
EDSA as commemorated by Marcos, Duterte, and the media
FEBRUARY 25, 2024 marked the 38th year of the EDSA People Power anniversary as Ferdinand Marcos Jr. moves through his second year as president. As the dates continue to resonate with the power of remembrance for many Filipinos, the milestone continues to pose a challenge to him and his administration. The events of 1986 gathered people on the streets to support renegade officers who called for the resignation of Ferdin.....»»
Sara: Baste quit call made out of ‘brotherly love’
Vice President Sara Duterte said she has not spoken to her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, about his call for President Marcos to resign, which she stressed was more out of “brotherly love” to protect her from the shabby treatment she has been receiving from people within the Palace inner circle......»»
‘Agreement with the devil’: VP Sara opposes peace talks with communist rebels
Vice President Sara Duterte opposes President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.'s decision to grant amnesty to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF). She referred to it as an agreement with the devil, emphasizing her personal experiences with the atrocities committed by the communist group during her tenure as mayor of Davao City. Despite her support for peace initiatives, Duterte firmly believes that granting amnesty to rebels is not the solution. She urged the government to continue efforts through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and strengthen them, emphasizing the need to support communities that have been affected by terrorism. Duterte questioned the sincerity of the peace negotiations, citing historical evidence of the group's lack of commitment to peaceful resolutions. She also expressed concerns about the joint statement signed by the Philippine government and the NDF in Oslo, Norway, warning against the potential betrayal of the government and deception of the people. In response, Marcos highlighted the need to amend and update the functions of the National Amnesty Commission to process applications for amnesty under the new proclamations. The Vice President's stance has faced criticism from progressive groups advocating for the resumption of peace talks. This opposition to the peace talks reflects a broader debate within the Philippine government and society regarding the best approach to addressing the longstanding conflict with communist rebels......»»
Duterte ‘unrest’ remarks only a reminder for AFP, PNP
Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks on the supposed unrest in the military and police were not a threat, but a stern reminder to government officials of their obligation to protect the people, according to a former Palace official......»»
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......»»
Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew
House lawmakers Paolo Duterte and France Castro continued to trade barbs, with the former accusing his peer of merely sensationalizing the issue with his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte struck back anew at Castro—who filed a grave threat case against the former president—for her swift retaliation against his remark that "public servants should not be onion-skinned." "I just wish that your passion to sensationalize this further is the same as your passion to protect the farmers and innocent victims who were killed and victims of the NPAs," Duterte told Castro. The younger Duterte made the remark in response to Castro's latest tirades against his father, saying the erstwhile president's statement was far from a legitimate criticism but a threat. Recall that Castro sued the ex-president before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday after threatening to kill her and "all you communists" on a television program. Castro, a member of the Makabayan bloc, stressed that "this is a crime against a person" and that "Duterte's threats should stop." "Death threats and red-tagging aired on television must be must be stopped because it endanger the lives of people. It is far different from criticisms and should not be tolerated because it fosters the state of impunity," Castro said. Congressman Duterte came to the defense of his father, accusing Castro of using her right to silence critics. "The former President has received much harsher and humiliating criticisms in the past but never filed a case against anyone. As public servants, we all are under scrutiny by the Filipino people," Duterte said. He added, "If the former President has said something that threatened her, then maybe she should come out clean. It's not that we hide behind this so-called 'right.'" Furthermore, Duterte stressed that Castro should do away from the drama and publicity. "You filed a case; let the court look at the merits. Simple as that. Like what I've said, it is your right. But I heard worse." Castro has been on the receiving end of the Dutertes tirades following the crusade of the Makabayan bloc to strip Vice President Sara Duterte's office and the Department of Education, which she concurrently heads, of P650 million in confidential funds from the proposed 2024 budget. Ex-president Duterte said Castro would have been the "first target" of his daughter's intelligence fund. The OVP and DepEd were among the five civilian agencies, namely the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Information And Communications Technology, awarded zero confidential funds for next year. The post Reps Duterte and Castro trade barbs anew 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......»»
Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim
Crisis brings out the best and the worst in man. It reveals his true persona behind the façade of photo-shopped and public relations-created images. Amidst the Israel-Hamas war, former president Rodrigo Duterte outrageously advised Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu to make “Gaza the world’s biggest cemetery.” And just recently, our ambassador to the United Kingdom twitted on social media (taken down later) that “Palestinian children should be killed . . .” These comments went viral among Moro netizens who unleashed a barrage of angry libelous words against the source. Now, juxtapose this with the public statements by regional leaders about the crisis. And from the gallery of regional statesmen, I pick Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Seri Anwar Ibrahim whose poignant messages earned the praise of not a few, including non-Muslims. The reaction of these leaders betrays the dichotomy of opinions along religious lines. The Muslim countries, true to their affiliation with the Muslim Palestinians, as members of the World Brotherhood of Muslims or “Ummah Islamiyyah” stood should-to-shoulder with the Palestinians. On the flip side are the non-Muslims led by the United States which condemned the 7 October surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. The world is now on edge because of the strong words of revenge of rightist President Benjamin Netanyahu using the world media stage for his threats of annihilation and cutting off of basic supplies of food, medicines, water, electricity, and fuel to the Palestinians of the Muslim City of Gaza. According to jurists, these are crimes against International Humanitarian Law and other UN covenants and Geneva Conventions. And they claim that while Israel has the right to defend itself, that is not a license to commit genocide. Prime Minister Ibrahim stood tall among Muslim leaders in expressing the sentiment of his government. He had been vocal at every turn of the crisis. He must have had a premonition of the impending catastrophe. His eloquent speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 22 September, which in my book is in the same league as the “What it means to be a Muslim” speech of King Abdullah of Jordan, has earned praise from many observers. He said, “In the Middle East, the politics of dispossession continues with a vengeance with more illegal settlements being built, stripping Palestinians of land that rightfully belongs to them. This constitutes a gross violation of international law. It also poses an insurmountable obstacle to a two-state solution, not to mention the continued killings. There is also flagrant hypocrisy in dealing with the issue of Palestine. The international community must speak up against the atrocities committed towards the Palestinians even as they so vehemently speak out against human rights violations, injustice, and abusive regimes.” When the war broke out on 7 October, one of the countries that reacted immediately was Malaysia. PM Ibrahim issued a statement expressing his country’s solidarity with the struggles of the Palestinians and reiterated his indictment of the international community for its “one-sided actions regarding . . . cruelty and oppression against the Palestinians. The confiscation of land and property belonging to the Palestinian people . . . done relentlessly by the Zionists.” After the bombing of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, which killed more than 500 innocent civilians, PM Ibrahim described it as being “on an insane and inhumane level. What is most regrettable is that Western countries, which speak about human rights, seem to differentiate between peoples, with some considered first-class and others as subordinates.” PM Ibrahim knows how geopolitics works. There will be consequences for standing up against the position of the world powers, the US and Europe, which had expressed total support for Israel. There might be a price to pay. Economic, trade, and political relationships might be put in jeopardy. But the Islam in him outweighed other interests. And for that, Muslims salute him. We are proud to belong to the Malay race. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Message of PM Anwar Ibrahim appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM eager to resolve diplomatic tensions with Kuwait
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants to successfully resolve the diplomatic tensions between Kuwait and the Philippines following a brief meeting with Kuwait's Crown Prince, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In a roundtable interview with the reporters on Saturday morning (Manila time), Marcos said Kuwait's Crown Prince approached him at the sidelines of the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh. According to Marcos, Kuwait's Crown Prince requested a brief meeting to address the ongoing discord between the two nations. "He said, 'Can we have a quick chat for just 3 to 5 minutes?' He assured me it wouldn't take long, and we readily agreed," Marcos told the reporters, describing how the impromptu meeting started. In the discussion, the Crown Prince expressed his dissatisfaction with the actions of his people and disapproved of the strained relations between Kuwait and the Philippines. "The words that he used are 'Do not listen to them. These words come from small people. I do not agree with what they have been doing'," Marcos said. He added that the Crown Prince absolved the Philippines of any need to apologize. According to the Chief Executive, the Crown Prince told him: "There is no reason for you to apologize to us. In fact, I will apologize to you." He cited the enduring support of President Marcos's father for Kuwait, emphasizing the historical ties between the nations. "We will fix it, and we will make it right because we love the Philippines," the Crown Prince affirmed, promising resolution and reconciliation between the two countries. Earlier this year, Kuwait told the Philippines to honor the Gulf state's sovereignty after the Middle Eastern country halted issuing new entry visas to citizens of the Southeast Asian country due to a labor agreement dispute. Kuwait has announced that it will extend the temporary prohibition on all types of visas for Filipino workers. However, they have also confirmed that they will renew visas for those who hold valid residence permits and wish to continue their employment in Kuwait. In 2018, the Philippines and Kuwait entered into a labor agreement aimed at regulating domestic workers. This agreement came about following a dispute between the two nations, which resulted in a ban on Filipino workers after a domestic worker was tragically murdered. This year, another distressing incident occurred when a 35-year-old Filipina maid was killed by a Kuwaiti teenager, prompting the Philippines to reevaluate its labor agreement with Kuwait. This incident occurred nearly five years after the murder of Joanna Daniela Demafelis, a Filipina domestic worker whose body was discovered in a freezer after being killed by her employers. These events caused a diplomatic strain and led the then-president, Rodrigo Duterte, to temporarily ban Filipinos seeking employment in the Gulf country. The post PBBM eager to resolve diplomatic tensions with Kuwait appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Entrepreneurship eyed in SHS curriculum
The possibility of including entrepreneurship as a subject in the current senior high school curriculum is underway, said Go Negosyo chairperson Joey Concepcion following a meeting with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte. Concepcion discussed with the Vice President several avenues in which entrepreneurship skills can be included in the school curriculum, among them through direct mentoring by veteran entrepreneurs, and another is through the help of private companies, specifically those engaged in the agriculture sector. “Our idea is if we open up this avenue to young people, there would be a way for them to find an alternative path to success,” Concepcion said. Under the current curriculum, Filipino children in public schools attend a minimum of 13 years under the K-12 program. An average of four more years would be added if the student decides to pursue higher education,” the Go Negosyo chairman said in a statement on Thursday. He added that not all families have the resources to support children through the completion of the entire curriculum, noting that “We could help these young people find their path, focus on it, and maybe one day the students can turn it into a business.” He said that there are many successful entrepreneurs who succeed even without the benefit of higher education. Concepcion noted that among the possible paths that were discussed in which entrepreneurship can be incorporated into the curriculum is through proven mentoring programs that are already being implemented by Go Negosyo. One of these is through roadshows in which a successful entrepreneur is sent to mentor the students at their respective schools; another way is for students to observe actual mentoring with active and aspiring entrepreneurs. Moreover, he said Go Negosyo has employed different methods of reaching out to potential entrepreneurs. It has conducted plenary events targeted toward women, the youth, OFWs, as well as thematic events that focus on introducing MSMEs to digital platforms and to opportunities offered by the tourism sector. During the pandemic, it ported its mentoring programs to social media and conferencing platforms, enabling it to continue mentoring entrepreneurs in the provinces and even across the ASEAN region. The post Entrepreneurship eyed in SHS curriculum appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao de Oro lawmaker defends House leadership
A ranking member of the House of Representatives has expressed full support for the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez in light of the criticisms former president Rodrigo Duterte issued about the realignment of his daughter’s confidential and intelligence funds......»»
Hands-on
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is living proof of US President Abraham Lincoln’s adage: “You can please some of the people all of the time; you can please all of the people some of the time; but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” In the previous regimes, the usual question was, “Where is the President?” during critical periods such as when calamities struck and the elected leader was slow to react. Thus, there was a frequent demand for medical bulletins on previous presidents when they were not in public view for consecutive days. Both President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte are taking flak from critics who allege that they are monopolizing authority for holding Cabinet positions aside from their elected posts. Bugged endlessly about relinquishing his Department of Agriculture post, Marcos said he would maintain the current arrangement since many officials in the graft-ridden agency do not easily take orders except from him. Amid the rising prices, some sectors whose only interest is to have an official that favors them have been harping on the need for a full-time secretary, floating names in a subtle endorsement to PBBM. Marcos has held the agriculture post since he assumed office in July 2022. Since then, and especially in January 2023, amid the rise in the cost of food, critics have been calling on Marcos to finally appoint someone who can hold the post full-time. The President knows what he is doing and has competent advisers to help him make fast decisions in the critical agriculture sector. Making difficult but critical decisions, even with political will, would take more time from an alter ego. He explained the situation: “Generally speaking, if the President asks them to do something, they’ll do it. If someone else asks them to do it, they’ll probably do it, or they may not.” The need for swift action was particularly evident in the recent rice price shock when the cost of a kilo of rice rocketed to more than P60. The intervention was tricky because of the complex network in the industry that needs to balance the welfare of consumers, farmers, and retailers. Add to that the external situation in which supply has been affected by the limits that India, a major producer, imposed on its exports. President Marcos, the other day, lifted Executive Order 39, which imposed a price ceiling of P41 per kilo on regular milled and P45 per kilo on well-milled rice. The EO effectively brought down the market price of the grain, but it affected retailers who complained of losses since they were selling below the price they were buying from middlemen, while farmers said traders demanded that the farmgate price be lowered. The National Food Authority then had to set the buying price of palay at P19 to P20 per kilo from P16 to P19 to maintain farmers’ income amid the price cap. Retailers were also provided with subsidies to offset their losses due to the government-imposed ceiling. Economic officials knew the measures were temporary since they would drain the government coffers if imposed for too long. The aim was to stabilize the market until the harvest season, and the influx of grains from imports under the tariffication law brought the situation back to normal. Had the steps taken been delayed by just days, it may have caused a crisis where consumers would have had to eat alternatives to the grains such as kamote (sweet potato) and corn. Then, the public would have been outraged, and the heated situation would have been stoked by the opportunists who waited like vultures for public support for Marcos to weaken. Rice remains a political commodity, which spelled the 15-point difference in Marcos’ rating in the recent survey. The post Hands-on appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former OTS chief lambasts cultural decay at airports
The former Office for Transportation Security chief lambasted the cultural decay in the airport security teams that allows negligent screeners to continue working there, this before he could begin an internal purge. Ma. O Ranada Aplasca, who resigned from his post over the airport screener caught on closed-circuit television swallowing $300 bills taken from an outbound Chinese national, said the problem with airport security is “more than systemic, it is cultural.” “There was the problem with ‘tanim-bala.’ Maybe the problems were not highlighted in the past because no one was caught. Based on our records, for the past several years, no one was dismissed in the OTS for violations of our disciplinary policies,” he said. Aplasca said when he was the director of the PNP Aviation Security Group, his initial task was to clear the country’s airports of the “tanim-bala” scheme, in which airport inspectors hid bullets in travelers’ luggage to extort money. “That tanim-bala was the first marching order to me by former President Duterte, and that’s where I felt his 100-percent support; that’s why, in less than one month, we were able to solve the problem,” he said. Aplasca said that before his resignation Tuesday, the OTS had initiated 68 cases against erring personnel, with at least 11 people dismissed. Found guilty Meanwhile, DoTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said the female Security Screening Officer and three other OTS screeners involved in the cash swallowing incident last 8 September were “found guilty of stealing.” Bautista said the guilty verdict was included in the investigation report handed to him by the OTS group of investigators, which included the CCTV footage that showed the lady scanner stuffing the money into her mouth at Terminal 1’s final security checkpoint at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The four SSO screeners face administrative and criminal cases. “The investigation showed that she was guilty and swallowed the money. However, what she said in an affidavit was that it was chocolates. But the investigators saw that she was guilty,” Bautista said in Filipino in an interview with the media after a Senate hearing on Tuesday. The CCTV footage showed that at around 8:20 p.m. on 8 September, a Chinese passenger, identified only as Mr. Cai, placed his shoulder bag on the inspection tray at the final security checkpoint. After trying to promote the gateway to potential foreign investors who may want to operate the NAIA, Bautista expressed frustration and dismay at the incident. He authorized the imposition of the maximum penalty on those found guilty to demonstrate the Department of Transportation’s determined push to rid the NAIA and attached agencies of scalawags. Aplasca submitted his courtesy resignation last Tuesday, 26 September, to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. through DoTr Secretary Bautista after House Speaker Martin Romualdez told him to resign or the Speaker would personally block the budgets of the DoTr and OTS. Not enough Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe said Wednesday the resignation of Aplasca would not be enough to stop the criminal activities at the country’s airports. “A resignation at the top does not clean up the ranks,” said Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services. “More than ever, the Office of Transportation Security needs steady leadership to implement much-needed reforms,” she said. “There should be zero tolerance for criminal acts and unprofessional behavior,” she added. “While a witch hunt might put a syndicate on pause, the OTS urgently needs to review and tighten its security program,” she said. She continued: “Our airports should improve the physical layout of the security screening stations and provide proactive measures to prevent further incidents.” She also noted that the challenge now is to appoint someone with “immense political will to overhaul the agency and stop these incidents once and for all.” The senator stressed that the OTS must improve its hiring system and enforce ethics training. “Employees must undergo extensive background checks,” she said. “In the long-term, we should also look into providing better compensation and benefits to these employees so they would not be enticed to do this nonsense,” she added. The post Former OTS chief lambasts cultural decay at airports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Solon: OVP ‘fund shift’ constitutional
One of the vice chairpersons of the House Committee on Appropriations on Sunday has joined other members of the panel in clarifying that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s transfer of P125 million to the office of Vice President Sara Duterte was not unconstitutional. Iloilo Representative Janette Garin stressed that the transfer of the Office of the President’s P221.42-million fund to the Office of the Vice President — which included the P125-million confidential fund allegedly spent by in just 19 days, was sourced from Marcos’ contingent fund. “The problem was that there was confusion about contingent funds versus confidential funds. And in my opinion, that was the first mistake because the people were confused because they thought that the used contingent fund of the Office of the Vice President was confidential,” Garin said in a radio interview on Sunday. “What happened here is that the confidential fund was tainted because it was not immediately answered or clarified. Just to be factual, what the Office of the Vice President used was a contingent fund that was included in the special purpose fund,” she added. The lawmaker explained that the special purpose fund is a fund of the President that he can use for current or new programs when a Cabinet official or an office requests it. The issue of the fund transfer first came when the Commission on Audit report revealed that the OVP spent P125 million in confidential funds for 2022. Then-Vice President Leni Robredo, who then prepared the 2022 budget of the OVP, said there was no line item for confidential funds in the budget they crafted. Confidential funds are used for discreet costs associated with surveillance operations carried out by civilian government agencies in support of their mandate or operations. Lawmakers Elizaldy Co and Stella Quimbo, the panel’s chair and the senior vice chair, earlier shed light on the issue, saying the transfer of the funds was allowed in the 2022 General Appropriations Act, despite opposition solons claims that it breached the law since there was no line item in the OVP’s 2022 budget on confidential funds. The Department of Budget and Management likewise defended the legality of such transfer in a letter sent to Co last week, which the latter has yet to provide a copy to the House reporters. Co said that the P125 million released to OVP came from the P7-billion budget set aside as contingent funds for 2022 and “was intended to support the OVP’s Good Governance Engagements and Social Services Projects,” citing DBM chief Amenah Pangandaman. Pangandaman, however, cleared that they did not bypass the House’s power over the purse when it released contingency funds to the OVP. The post Solon: OVP ‘fund shift’ constitutional appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»