SC sets preliminary conference on anti-terror law pleas, no date yet for debates
The Supreme Court has set the 37 petitions challenging the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 for preliminary conference on November 26, its Public Information Office said Tuesday......»»
‘Hands off our war!’
Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, stressed yesterday that his country does not want the United Nations to interfere in its war against the extremist group Hamas, which killed at least 1,400 people, mostly Israeli civilians, in an unprecedented attack last 7 October. In a roundtable discussion with DAILY TRIBUNE editors and reporters, Fluss accused the UN of having a long-standing anti-Israel bias as he brushed aside a UN Security Council call for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict. The UN was founded 78 years ago to the day today, on 24 October 1945. “We’re in a war against Hamas, which is like the war in Afghanistan (following the 11 September 2001 or 9/11 terror attacks against the United States),” said Fluss, describing the attack by Hamas as second only in barbarity to what Israelis faced during the holocaust. Hitler’s Nazi Germany exterminated about six million European Jews from 1941 to 1945 during the Holocaust in World War 2. The genocide would spur the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. “We will make sure that there’s no humanitarian crisis as much as possible, and we are trying hard to minimize the casualties there,” he said, explaining that the airstrikes in the Gaza Strip are targeting well-known Hamas enclaves. Israel, with about 300,000 soldiers and armor massed at its border with Gaza, has expressed an intent to launch a ground offensive to rout Hamas, without occupying the territory it left in 2005. Fluss pointed out that civilians in Gaza are being warned in advance of the attacks, with pleas made for them to relocate to its south, away from the fighting. War on terror “Our objective in this war is to ensure that Hamas will no longer be able to attack Israel like it did. We will remove their capability in a war that is solely against Hamas and not the Palestinians,” Fluss said. The envoy stressed that Israel is not against delivering humanitarian aid to the civilians in Gaza, while stressing Israel’s right to protect its citizens against terrorist groups like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the Hezbollah in Lebanon. Fluss said that nobody, not even the UN, can stop Israel from a war that it did not start, one that was “forced on us” by Hamas with the latter’s massacre of innocent Israelis, including women and children. Enemies of Israel He explained that while the Philippines enjoys recognition by all countries, Israel has for decades, if not centuries, been trying to be recognized as a state with the right to exist peacefully. But Fluss lamented that the UN has been passing resolutions — at least 20 every year — “which are anti-Israel, (resolutions) that take the Palestinian narrative.” “There is no recognition of the Israeli narrative. The bias against Israel in the UN is well-known,” he said. He said that the UN and its agencies, like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, otherwise referred to as the UN Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA, have allowed themselves to be used by the enemies of Israel. Fluss cited as an example the use by Hamas of UNRWA facilities, supplies and even marked vehicles in attacking Israel. UNRWA had been accused in the past of perpetuating destabilizing events in order to have a perpetual supply of refugees to justify its existence and funding. It has over 18,900 staff working in 138 countries. Israel, as the lone Jewish state in the UN, is ranged against an automatic majority of countries that support the Palestinian initiatives. The Arab League has 22 members in the UN, while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has 57 members. It may be recalled that a number of Arab countries had banded together to wage wars against Israel, including in 1948 during its founding. The UN has also accommodated Palestinians many times in the past. In October 1974, or 14 years before the Palestine Liberation Organization nominally forswore terrorism, the UN General Assembly voted to invite it to send a spokesperson to take part in its deliberations. No one who was not a representative of a government — except the Pope, and even he was the head of a quasi-state — had ever before been granted such a privilege. The vote to extend the invitation was overwhelming, 105 to 4, with only the United States, Israel, and two Latin American governments opposed. The assembled delegates heard Yasser Arafat proclaim the necessity of getting at the “historical roots” of the issue, namely, “the Jewish invasion of Palestine [that] began in 1881,” and addressing it with a “radical antidote,” rather than “a slavish obeisance to the present.” Expulsion try In 1975, the foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference were determined to have Israel expelled from the UN. The PLO lined up support for this move at a meeting of the African states while training its sights on a ministerial meeting of the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) scheduled a month later, in August 1975, in Lima, Peru. Washington then objected. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered a major speech on the subject, with a thinly veiled warning that the United States might turn its back on the United Nations. In addition to Washington’s hard line, the drive to expel Israel was also slowed by disarray within the Arab’s ranks. The most decisive factor that disrupted the expulsion move was the surprising position of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who announced his opposition to it because “Israel must be present at the United Nations if it is expected to comply with its resolutions.” Israel’s enemies soon came up with an alternative that again targeted Israel through a resolution of the General Assembly, echoing Arafat and Soviet propagandists who declared Zionism to be “a form of racism.” In 1982, the body declared that Israel “is not a peace-loving member state and that it has not carried out its obligations under the Charter.” Likewise, the UN General Assembly has voted each year on 70 to 100 resolutions, including from 15 to 20 resolutions pejorative to Israel. Of all General Assembly resolutions that criticize a particular country, three-quarters apply to Israel. The relentless recitation of UN declarations reinforces the conviction in the Arab world that all right lies on the Arab side and that Israel is irredeemably evil. The post ‘Hands off our war!’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pascual backs pass-thru fees suspension
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual has expressed support to an executive order suspending the collection by local government units of pass-through fees on cargo movers. “The Department (of Trade and Industry) is supportive of the implementation of Executive Order 41 which prohibits the collection of pass-through fees as these fees are often passed on to consumers,” Pascual said in a press conference on Wednesday at the Board of Investments office in Makati City. “This is also aligned with the DTI’s aim of facilitating a sound trade environment for businesses while protecting consumers’ interests,” he said. “President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 41 to reduce food logistics costs that will ensure the welfare of the Filipino people by easing the burden of the rising prices of goods and commodities in the country. This EO is also another step forward in realizing one of the pillars of Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socio-economic agenda of reducing transport and logistics costs,” Pascual added. The DTI chief said EO 41 is fully supported by external stakeholders, particularly manufacturers, transport agencies and consumers as it is aimed at lowering the inflation rate in the country. Moreover, he said the EO also ensures the efficient movement of goods across regions as laid out under the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028. “We recognize the challenges faced by the private sectors, particularly in the transportation and logistics sector. This EO should help alleviate truckers and manufacturers from the high cost of logistics. We commit to further reduce such costs in order to make prices more affordable for Filipino consumers,” Pascual said. Aligned with the Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda presented by the DTI, Secretary Pascual said that EO 41 aims to address a long-standing problem raised by the private sector. The EO emphasized that building a robust and collaborative partnership between the national government and LGUs is essential in effectively addressing the impacts of inflation and promoting economic prosperity across all regions. To ensure the effective implementation of EO 41 across all parts of the country, the DTI together with the Departments of Interior and Local Government, Transportation, Public Works and Highways, Finance, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority are currently formulating the implementing rules and regulations of the order. The IRR will be issued within 30 days from the EO’s effectivity. The post Pascual backs pass-thru fees suspension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Germany and Israel sign ‘historic’ missile shield deal
Germany on Thursday signed a deal to acquire the Israeli-made Arrow 3 hypersonic missile system that will become a key part of Europe's defence against air attack. The signing of the deal was a "historic day" for both countries, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a press conference alongside his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant. Worth around $3.5 billion (3.3 billion euros), the sale is the biggest ever deal for Israel's military industry. The Arrow 3 system would make "German air defense ready for the future", Pistorius said. Germany has led a push to bolster NATO's air defenses in Europe after the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, urging allies to buy deterrence systems together. "We can see with the daily Russian attacks on Ukraine how important anti-air defense is," Pistorius said. The signing of the deal was a "moving event for every Jew", looking back at the events of the Holocaust, Gallant said. "Only 80 years since the end of the Second World War yet Israel and Germany join hands today in building a safer future," he said. Sky shield The long-range Arrow 3 system, designed to shoot down missiles above the Earth's atmosphere, is powerful enough to offer protective cover for neighboring European Union states. The system was developed and produced by Israel and the United States and the sale had to be approved by Washington before it could be finalized. The system was first deployed at an Israeli air force base in 2017 and has been used to protect Israel against attacks from Iran and Syria. Arrow 3 is a "mobile system" that can be deployed depending on the threats faced, according to manufacturer Israel Aerospace Industries. The money for the deal comes from a landmark 100-billion-euro fund unveiled by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to bolster the country's defenses in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More than a dozen European countries have so far signed up to Germany's common air defense project, the European Sky Shield Initiative. The Sky Shield project would involve joint procurement for short-, medium- and long-range systems, including the German-made Iris-T, the American Patriot system and Arrow 3. Some of Germany's neighbors have however so far declined to sign up to the pact, including France and Poland. Officials in Paris have argued instead for an air defense system using European equipment. Berlin has said it expects the Arrow 3 system to be delivered in the final quarter of 2025. The post Germany and Israel sign ‘historic’ missile shield deal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Perjury raps vs 2 activists underway
Perjury charges are now being prepared against the two environmentalists who recanted their “handwritten affidavit” stating they have “voluntarily surrendered” to the military and declared that soldiers abducted them after they went missing. During the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa asked on the case update of Jhed Tamano and Jonila Castro who earlier retracted what they said in their affidavit. “May case preparation ngayon, inter-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges sa kanila. Nire-review lang ang mga sworn statements ng mga testigo (There is a case preparation now, multi-agency case preparation for the filing of perjury charges against them. The sworn statements of the witnesses are being reviewed),” Teodoro told Dela Rosa. In a previous press conference organized by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Tamano and Castor denied that they surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 70th Infantry Battalion. Philippine Army chief LtGen. Roy Galido earlier admitted that the two young activists had tricked the military, contrary to their earlier statements sworn before the Public Attorney's Office. "We felt betrayed that's why we will file the necessary case, to use our laws, just like when you are also betrayed when your clients are betrayed, they file a case against you, so we just have to follow the rule of law in our country," Galido said. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa urged the DND to push through with the filing of perjury charges against Tamano and Castro. "We should do that. I am encouraging you. Grabe 'yung maka-kaliwa, grabe maka-jump sa bandwagon nung epekto na 'yun. Talagang all-out sila. Dapat tayo rin, sumagot din tayo. Parang lumalabas na para bang inaamin na lang natin na totoo ang sinasabi nila (The leftists are really jumping on the bandwagon following their retraction. They are really all-out. We must answer that. It seems like we are just admitting that what they are saying is true),” said Dela Rosa. The senator said the security forces should be aggressive in their actions against propaganda of the communist-leaning parties. Teodoro noted that the intelligence information on the two activists is liable. “Your honor, talagang sigurado po ako sa ebidensya dito (I’m really sure about the evidences),” said Teodoro, noting that the recantation of the two activists is just part of the dramas being perpetrated by the left-leaning organizations. ‘Lesson learned: Be wary’ Dela Rosa also warned the Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. to be wary of entertaining communist surrenderers. “Lessons learned, General Brawner. Ingat kayo kasi pwede kayong saksakin sa likuran niyan (Just be careful because they can stab your back),” he said. "Masyado tayong mabait, masyado na tayong gentleman. Masyado tayong mapagbigay to the point na 'yun pala, nilalason na pala tayo sa sarili nating tubig (We are too kind, we are too gentlemanly. We are too generous to the point that we are being poisoned in our own waters),” Dela Rosa added. On the other hand, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the need to provide sufficient funds for the NTF-ELCAC, to augment the military’s efforts on its Balik-Loob program. “We should help in their budget, we should continue providing funds for NTF-ELCAC, especially in barangay projects because that’s what winning hearts and minds. It has been very successful in Bukidnon and any other provinces,” he said. Dela Rosa supported Zubiri’s suggestion. However, the funds of the anti-insurgency task force are being lodged in the expenditure program of the National Security Council. The post Perjury raps vs 2 activists underway appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Remulla rejects cult’s request to hold DOJ probe in Sitio Kapihan
The officers and members of the suspected “doomsday cult” Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. requested the Justice Department (DOJ) to conduct the preliminary investigation on the charges filed against them in Sitio Kapihan, Surigao del Norte. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla though categorically denied this request, stating, “That’s a big no. That’s not gonna happen.” Remulla made this clear during a press conference at DOJ yesterday. The DOJ chief justified the decision to move the preliminary investigation to the DOJ’s main office in Manila by highlighting that complainants and witnesses were unable to speak freely in Sitio Kapihan. Remulla said, “They want the Senate hearings to be held in their location and the DOJ to conduct the preliminary investigation there. Is the DOJ willing to do this? I don’t think that’s a good request.” While the SBSI had previously agreed to cooperate with the Senate’s investigation into the allegations against them, they insisted that the legislative hearing take place in their location. Remulla further explained the necessity of conducting the investigation in Manila: The reason we are stepping in and resuming the preliminary investigation in Manila is that the people there are unable to function properly due to threats and intimidation. That’s why we are investigating in Manila. We can send people there but not investigate there. The National Bureau of Investigation – Caraga Regional Office in Butuan City has recommended charging cult officers and members with qualified trafficking under Republic Act No. 9208 (Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003), violation of RA 7610, kidnapping, and serious illegal detention after a thorough investigation. The recommendation was forwarded to the Surigao del Norte Prosecutor’s Office in June. Named respondents are Jey Rence Quilaro, also known as “Senior Agila,” Mamerto Galanida, and 11 other alleged cult officers and members. But Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano revealed that the preliminary investigation encountered obstacles due to multiple motions for the inhibition of prosecutors. The allegations against SBSI are deeply concerning and involve accusations of abuse and coercion of over 1,000 children since February 2019. The post Remulla rejects cult’s request to hold DOJ probe in Sitio Kapihan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri
The upper chamber will approve 17 bills that are set for the third and final reading, said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Saturday. Zubiri noted that four of these bills are part of the priority legislation of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC while 12 are local bills for the improvement of state universities and colleges. “In fact, on Monday, we will approve four measures that are part of our LEDAC commitments. And so far, we are on track to meeting our deadlines because, by the end of this year, we hope to approve all 20 LEDAC priority measures pending in the Senate,” the Senate President said. Zubiri noted that the Senate has approved a total of five bills on second reading during the previous week which includes Senate Bill 2001 or the New Philippine Passport Act; SB 1846 or the Internet Transactions Act of 2023; SB 2224 or the Ease of Paying Taxes Act; SB 2028 or An Act Recognizing the Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, and Centenarians; and SB 2233 or the Public Private Partnership Act. These bills, except for SB 2028, are LEDAC priority bills, he said. “These measures will be up for final reading on Monday. The deliberations on these bills have been exhaustive and I am confident that we did a good job of crafting these pieces of legislation, the efforts and expertise of the legislative staff in the Senate included,” he added. There are two bills pending President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s signature including the Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act and the Local Government Unit Income Classification Act. The Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, meanwhile, has been approved by the Senate on final reading and is on standby for bicameral committee action. Zubiri said there are 12 local bills involving SUCs that are also up for approval on final reading. After the approval of the four LEDAC measures on Monday, the Senate will set the schedule for the bicameral conference committee hearing with their counterparts in the lower house, bringing the measures closer to enactment into law. Undergoing amendments before their approval on the second reading is the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers while the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act—which has been certified as urgent and has a high possibility of being approved in its third reading. Further, the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform Act, Waste-to-Energy Bill, Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and National Service Training Program, as well as the National Disease Prevention Management Authority/Center for Disease Prevention Bill are all in the interpellation and are pending approval on second reading. Zubiri assured that the Senate will meet its commitment to approve on final reading the remaining 17 of the 20 LEDAC measures before the session adjourns in December of this year. The remaining LEDAC bills, he added, are all up for deliberations and discussions. ”With our pace in approving these LEDAC measures, I am confident that come December, all of our LEDAC commitments will have been met," Zubiri said. The post Senate to approve 17 bills up for final reading says Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding!
The claims of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and the Vatican that Pope Pius XII had officially decreed that the Mediatrix apparitions were of “no supernatural character or origin” is not exactly true. If it is proven not true, the Papal “decree” is not binding and the faithful are allowed not to follow the decree, based on Canon Law. The CBCP released Circular 23-04 dated 14 July 2023 — quoting the official Dicastery document Protocol 226/1949 — stating that “in 1951, the Dicastery, the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy See, after due examination of the documents made available, declared the alleged apparitions in Lipa (of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Grace) to have no supernatural character or origin, a decision directly approved by Pope Pius XII.” There has been no document in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican publication, that said that Pope Pius XII had indeed approved the decree. It was never formalized into an official “promulgation,” which is a requirement of Canon Law, to be binding. In other words, the Dicastery Decree is official, but not the Papal Decree. Protocol 226/1949, authored by the Dicastery, did not clarify that the Pope Pius XII Decree had not yet been official and binding in a formal promulgation. Then apostolic administrator Bishop Rufino Santos said, in his decree of 12 April 1951, that he was still awaiting the Vatican decision regarding Lipa, contradicting Protocol 226/1949 that said a decision had been made. I, therefore, challenge the CBCP and the current Dicastery to produce documentary evidence that there was indeed an existing official Papal Decree of Pope Pius XII in fulfillment of the Canon Law ruling. The decree of Pope Pius XII is important because it was the basis for the recent order of Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera to suppress Mediatrix activities in all churches in Lipa. “Vatican directs CBCP to cease 75th celebration of Lipa apparition” (CNN Philippines 28 July 2023). The CNN article reported that the Vatican reaffirmed its 1951 decree, precisely the questionable Pope Pius XII decree. Only the Pope has the authority to confirm and declare a Marian apparition. If the 1951 Pope Pius decree is now in question, so also are all the recent bans and suppressions of Mediatrix activities in Lipa. The added sentence reads, “The Confraternity of the Mediatrix of All Grace is a movement with dozens of chapters nationwide.” Confraternity members report that a Filipino priest very close to Pope Francis approached him to forward the sentiments of the Mediatrix devotees. He said the Pope simply passed the ball to the Dicastery. And since the Dicastery is vehemently anti-Mediatrix, it was a dead end, a failed attempt. Many Confraternity members were disappointed. The Confraternity has a nationwide presence, although its membership keeps moving dynamically forward and backward. There are chapters whose memberships are strong and keep growing, but there are some whose memberships have decreased. The dynamic chapters include Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Kidapawan, Davao City, General Trias, and Jaro, to name a few. However, the Confraternity is different from the devotees. Confraternity members are essentially professionals, educated and articulate. They are well organized and subject to meetings and activities. The ordinary Mediatrix devotees are peasants, farmers, and fishermen, and are simply humble churchgoers, not so organized. But there are so many who have a strong faith and devotion to Mama Mary in their hearts. They do not even know the issues in the conflict. Their devotion is based on their hearts, not their minds. When the entire Philippine Church was held in submission by the Vatican under threat of excommunication or alienation, it was the laity that took up the cudgels, out of reach of the clutches of the Vatican and the CBCP. The Confraternity distributed hundreds of life-size Mediatrix statues nationwide. They laid the infrastructure for devotion to spread like wildfire to the sea of marginal devotees. It is estimated from Confraternity reports that Mediatrix devotees are broadly around four million nationwide. Herein lies the victory of the Virgin over the Vatican. Despite 70 long years of suppression and repression since the 1951 apparitions to this very day, Mediatrix devotion proliferates. The Vatican and the CBCP have succeeded in silencing Filipino nuns, priests, bishops, and cardinals but they are helpless against the true Marians among the masses. Even the suppressed Church prelates still believe in the silence of their hearts in the Mediatrix. Suppression has ironically strengthened the Filipino Marians. The Confraternity says it has devised a simple strategy. They will suffer and ignore the suppression without opposition, and discern the will of the Lord and Our Lady, and focus on divine messages, teachings, and pray, pray, pray, especially for the Pope, the Vatican and the CBCP. *** eastwindreplyctr@gmail.com The post 2015 Vatican decree on Mediatrix not binding! appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Southeast Asian air force chiefs to snub Myanmar meeting
Several Southeast Asian air force commanders will shun an upcoming meeting chaired by Myanmar's military rulers, officials told AFP, deepening the junta's regional isolation as it struggles to crush resistance. The annual ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference gathers top air force leaders from the 10-nation bloc to discuss cooperation in defense, combating extremism, and disaster relief. Current chair Myanmar is set to host the meeting next week but at least three Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries told AFP they will not send their top officials. The junta has been accused of war crimes over air strikes carried out by its jets -- mostly Chinese and Russian-built -- in support of ground troops battling opponents of its 2021 coup. Its air force chief Htun Aung, who will chair the conference, has been sanctioned by the United States and Britain. The air force chiefs of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia will not attend the meeting, officials told AFP. Malaysia's air force chief will not attend, a spokesperson said, while the Philippine commander will send a video message to his counterpart rather than go in person. Indonesia's air force chief "will not be attending and won't be sending anyone to represent him either," air force spokesperson Agung Sasongkojati told AFP without giving a reason. At a summit this week, ASEAN accused the junta of targeting civilians in the grinding conflict sparked by its coup, and of ignoring a peace plan agreed with the bloc to end violence. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said there had been "no significant progress" in the five-point plan agreed with the junta more than two years ago. ASEAN has barred junta officials from high-level meetings over their refusal to engage with the plan and their opponents. Cambodian air force commander Soeng Samnang declined to comment on whether he would attend, and the defence ministry could not be reached for comment. The air forces of Singapore, Brunei and Vietnam did not respond to requests for comment. But Thailand's air force chief will make the trip to neighboring Myanmar, a defense ministry official told AFP. While ASEAN has halted high-level meetings with Myanmar's generals, Thailand has held its own bilateral talks with the junta and deposed democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in recent months, further dividing the bloc. War crime claims Amnesty International said last year the junta was likely using air strikes as "collective punishment" against civilians supporting anti-coup fighters, and in March the United Nations said the military had carried out more than 300 air strikes in the past year. Also in March, the junta held a parade to mark Armed Forces Day, with flyovers by Russian-made Yak and Sukoi Su-30 jets. The military bombed a gathering in northern Sagaing region in April that media and locals said killed about 170 people, sparking renewed global condemnation of the isolated junta. Human Rights Watch said it had evidence the military had used a thermobaric "vacuum bomb" in the attack, saying it likely amounted to a war crime. Air strikes on a concert held by a major ethnic rebel group in northern Kachin state killed around 50 people last October. The junta has said reports civilians were among the dead were "rumors". AFP has contacted a Myanmar junta spokesman for comment. The post Southeast Asian air force chiefs to snub Myanmar meeting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
VACC lauds SC for firing road rage ex-cop
The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption hailed the decision of the Supreme Court to terminate the employment of an employee who figured in a road rage video recently. The anti-crime group described as a prompt action of Supreme Court Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario to terminate the employment of the ex-cop who got into an altercation with a cyclist on the road. This was aired by VACC president Arsenio “Boy” Evangelista saying Rosario’s move would regain the trust and confidence of the public in the justice system, especially since the Supreme Court was dragged into the controversy due to the behavior of Wilfredo Gonzales on a bicycle rider on 8 August. Evangelista said that to many citizens on the brink of disillusionment about the country’s slow-grinding and sometimes unfair justice system, what the SC magistrate did gave them good reason for hope. Netizens condemned the action of Gonzales when the video of the incident went viral in social media with his drawn gun in front of the bicycle rider. The public condemnation also cost the position of Quezon City Police District Nicolas Torre III who opted to quit his post over social media backlash on the press conference he held with Gonzales. Evangelista said Justice Rosario’s action was a game changer towards attaining principled and swift justice in this country. The anti-crime crusader said he found no justification in Gonzales’ dangerous act of physically assaulting an unarmed cyclist and then pulling out his gun and cocking the pistol toward him. Evangelista said, “Whether or not it was the cyclist that provoked the altercation, the High Tribunal magistrate delivered what he believes is the highest standard of justice that Filipinos deserve. This he did quietly and without a speck of propaganda fanfare.” He also lauded Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and the entire membership of the high bench for “upholding the decision” of Rosario to dismiss Gonzales. The post VACC lauds SC for firing road rage ex-cop 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......»»
CBCP clarifies its rep’s role in anti-Red task force
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Friday clarified its association with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), after its head announced earlier that the bishops now had a representative in the task force. The CBCP also said it would take up “moral, ethical approaches” in tackling with The post CBCP clarifies its rep’s role in anti-Red task force appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Blasts rock Quito, inmates take 57 guards hostage
Grenades and car bombs have exploded in Ecuador’s capital, followed by inmates in six prisons taking hostage 57 guards in an apparent retaliation for crackdowns on jail weapons and transfer of notorious prisoners. One of the explosions outside the headquarters of the SNAI prisons authority on Wednesday night was caused by a car rigged with “two gas cylinders with fuel, a slow fuse and apparently dynamite sticks,” the police’s anti-drug investigations boss, General Pablo Ramirez, told reporters Thursday. The other car bomb detonated at a building that formerly housed SNAI offices. Three grenade explosions also hit the capital city, Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz said. No one was hurt in the explosions. Six people, including a Colombian national, were arrested near the scene of one of these explosions, according to Ramirez. The official said an inmate transfer and the police raid of a prison in the southern city of Latacunga to search for weapons, ammunition and explosives earlier Wednesday may have triggered the blasts. Inmates in Cuenca — hundreds of kilometers away from Latacunga — and jails in five other unnamed locations then took dozens of prison guards hostage. “They want to intimidate the state to prevent us from continuing to fulfill the role of the armed forces and the police in controlling these penitentiary centers,” Security Minister Wagner Bravo told FM Mundo radio. The condition of the hostages is unknown but Interior Minister Juan Zapata expressed concern over their safety during a press conference in the capital Quito. Meanwhile, six people, including a Colombian national, were arrested near the scene of one of the explosions, according to Ramirez. WITH AFP The post Blasts rock Quito, inmates take 57 guards hostage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Canada warns LGBTQ community about travel to US
The Canadian government on Tuesday warned members of the LGBTQ community planning to visit the United States they may be at risk in some parts of the country, telling them to "check relevant state and local laws." The advisory links to a government web page that emphasizes that some foreign jurisdictions may target people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Published online on the website of Global Affairs Canada, such warnings are usually reserved for countries known for LGBTQ rights violations, such as Russia, Egypt, and Uganda. Canada's travel advisories generally focus on risks linked to political instability or natural disasters. Asked about the warning at a news conference on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stressed that the decision was not political. "We have professionals in the government whose job is to look carefully around the world and to monitor whether there are particular dangers to particular groups of Canadians," she said. Canada, home to 40 million people, has around one million people from the LGBTQ community, according to Statistics Canada. The US is the top destination for Canadians going abroad, with 2.8 million visits south of the border in June alone. Ottawa's notice comes as anti-LGBTQ rhetoric intensifies in the US, with some states trying to ban drag shows and restricting transgender people from participating in sports events. Moreover, proponents of such restrictions have launched targeted boycotts of brands, such as the Target supermarket chain, that have supported LGBTQ causes. In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that businesses may refuse some services to LGBTQ customers on religious grounds. The post Canada warns LGBTQ community about travel to US appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MR. FREEZE PARTNERS WITH HEALTH-BOOSTING COMPANY MYATOMS
Gerry Santos, aka Mr. Freeze, the celebrity businessman behind the Mr. Freeze purified tube ice business, has now partnered with MyATOMS, a supply chain management and marketing company focused on concocting and selling herbal health supplements for cleansing and detoxification. With more than 50 tube ice-making plants across the Philippines under his ownership, Mr. Freeze is also the face of ALLTV’s Negosyo Goals. He also publicly hangs out with showbiz celebrities like Derek Ramsay, Albert Martinez and Aga Muhlach. Now, the business guru is thrilled to be the poster boy of MyATOMS. At a recent press conference and contract signing between MyATOMS and Mr. Freeze, Santos professed his trust on MyAtoms, which also happens to provide a business program called MyAtoms Business Academy (M.B.A) to help educate micro-entrepreneurs or corporate entrepreneurs. “Siguro nakikita ko ‘yung vision ng MyAtoms, which coincides with my vision and mission also of helping a lot of people. As a successful entrepreneur, syempre ang role ko is mentorship, so to inspire a lot of people like I did before doon sa nag-host ako ng show. Itong group, nakita ko ang potential. Nakita ko pa dito, it coincides with my lifestyle in sports — playing golf and tennis, tapos, syempre ‘yung product nila, kailangan healthy ka eh. Kung hindi ka healthy, hindi mo magagawang mag-tennis, magagawang mag-negosyo. Mawawala ang focus mo. Syempre, always, health is wealth. Kaya, sabi ko, I’d like to join this company, MyATOMS, and help this company to grow,” Santos said. Jonathan Petalver, MyATOMS’ MBA executive director, explained that they decided to pick Mr. Freeze to promote the company’s products as he is a symbol of health, athleticism, and business savviness. “In this new economy, called the digital economy, when you promote the product, hindi na siya about definition, benefits and all. That’s why we asked — actually, we begged Mr. Freeze — to join us, kasi the product is very, very beneficial, especially if you’re into sports, conditioning, mental health, and anti-depression and all. We believe Mr. Freeze is the perfect example for that. So, him, taking the product, and doing this with us in this journey — that alone speaks of the product. Hindi na siya questionable,” Petalver said. Meanwhile, MyATOMS chief executive officer Marcam Marasigan believes that the public needs to be educated on the benefits of probiotics through Mr. Freeze. Marasigan also believes that their health products could contribute to the solution for the growing and alarming problem of mental health issues. “Most of the time, ang tinatarget pagdating sa health products ay mga nasa late 30s pataas. And then, the tendency na the younger generations na hindi nata-target,” Marasican said. “Probiotics is a very, very powerful supplement — if we are educated. So, we want to educate people on probiotics. And the second reason for the product — ang pinaka-mataas na reason for death now for millennials, and late Gen Xers like us, are stress, anxiety and depression, which leads to suicide, diba? And most of them are triggered by stress. Mataas ang cortisol nila sa katawan. That’s what our products do — to give them a healthier mental health, brain health and, overall, ‘yung body din,” he emphasized. It was revealed in the press conference that MyATOMS, in partnership with Gerry Santos, will launch a series of programs and activities to promote not just their health products but to help entrepreneurs become business masters — like the man himself, Mr. Freeze. The post MR. FREEZE PARTNERS WITH HEALTH-BOOSTING COMPANY MYATOMS appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded
Forty years ago, Rudy Giuliani was the fearless Mafia-busting prosecutor whose aggressive use of racketeering laws brought down New York's Five Families. On Tuesday, he was fighting for his own freedom after being ensnared by the very legal strategy he had pioneered. The man once feted as "America's Mayor" for steering the US financial hub through the horror of the 11 September 2001 attacks has experienced a stunning fall from grace. Charged with 13 felonies over the help he is alleged to have given his client and longtime friend Donald Trump in trying to subvert the 2020 presidential election, the attorney is threatened with years behind bars as his 80th birthday approaches. "It's just the next chapter in a book of lies with the purpose of framing President Donald Trump and anyone willing to take on the ruling regime," Giuliani said on X, formerly known as Twitter, after he was charged Monday. It was a typically bombastic response from the 107th mayor of New York City, who played a starring role in Trump's post-election push to cling to power through an allegedly criminal campaign of lies about voter fraud. Giuliani was charged Monday under Georgia's Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Practices (RICO) statute, the plaudits he once earned squandered in a series of increasingly bizarre media appearances around the 2020 election. He is one of 18 co-defendants charged alongside Trump. 'Person of the Year' They included an unwitting cameo in a Sacha Baron Cohen movie in which Giuliani was filmed lying on a hotel bed with his hands down his pants and a post-election press conference held outside a landscaping business surrounded by a crematorium and a sex shop. At another press event, Giuliani and his allies claimed mass voter fraud without a shred of evidence as hair dye streamed in dark rivulets down the attorney's cheeks. Born in an Italian American enclave of Brooklyn on 28 May 1944, Rudolph William Louis Giuliani made his name in his 40s as a pioneering US attorney for Manhattan, using RICO to bring down the high command of the New York mob. Giuliani captured the New York mayorship in 1993 and gained national prominence in the wake of the 9/11 attacks by helping salve the shocked city's soul, earning Time Magazine's prestigious "Person of the Year" honor. "We've undergone tremendous losses, and we're going to grieve for them horribly, but New York is going to be here tomorrow morning, and it's going to be here forever," he declared. The Republican suffered his first big setback in 2008 with a disastrous bid for the White House and appeared adrift until Trump eventually brought him back into the fold. Gaffes and walk-backs After Trump was elected, he appointed Giuliani to fight a federal probe into the campaign's extensive ties to Russia, and the lawyer became a constant TV presence. But gaffes and walk-backs were as much a feature of Giuliani's lawyering as his spirited talk show diatribes -- and he led Trump into trouble as often as steering him away. Never the most reliable spokesman, Giuliani proved susceptible to seemingly unforced admissions -- contradicting Trump's denials over hush money payments to a porn star and his pursuit of a business deal in Moscow before the 2016 election. But the effort to reverse Trump's clear election loss in 2020 appears, in the end, to have sealed Giuliani's downfall. One by one, his post-election court challenges were withdrawn or dismissed as groundless. Giuliani's license to practice has been suspended in New York over his "demonstrably false" claims of a stolen election and the Bar in the nation's capital is considering disbarring him. Long before attracting the attention of a legal system that once basked in his reflected glory, Giuliani acknowledged that representing Trump could end up being his legacy. "I am afraid it will be on my gravestone. 'Rudy Giuliani: He lied for Trump,'" he told The New Yorker in 2019. "If it is, so what do I care? I'll be dead. I figure I can explain it to St. Peter." The post Giuliani: ‘America’s Mayor’ threatened by anti-Mafia law he spearheaded appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New York teen arrested in hate crime death of Black gay dancer
A 17-year-old high school student in New York has been charged with murder as a hate crime in the stabbing death of a Black gay dancer, authorities said Saturday, in a case that has attracted attention from stars like Beyonce and Spike Lee. O'Shae Sibley, 28, a professional dancer and choreographer, was killed on July 29 by a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation at a Brooklyn gas station. "He could be my son," New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is Black, said at a news conference at the gas station where the suspect's arrest was announced. The teen, who was not named, surrendered on Friday evening, said Joseph Kenny, an assistant chief at the New York Police Department's detective bureau. He was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime, and with criminal possession of a weapon. The deadly confrontation late last Saturday night was captured on camera, showing Sibley and several other men shirtless and wearing shorts at the gas station. "As they waited to refuel their vehicle, Mr. Sibley and his group began dancing to music that was being played in their car," Kenny said. The suspect and others in his group "began to yell at Mr. Sibley and his friends, they began to call him derogatory names and use homophobic slurs against him," Kenny said. "They also made anti-Black statements, all while demanding that they simply stop dancing." The confrontation lasted four minutes, ending when Sibley was stabbed once in the chest, hitting his heart. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Tributes have poured in for Sibley, including from superstar singer Beyonce whose website opened with the message: "Rest in Power O'Shae Sibley." Filmmaker Lee posted a photo on Instagram of Sibley dancing joyfully against a rainbow background. "Always loved," the caption said, adding the hashtag #saytheirnames, a phrase calling attention to victims of systemic racism and racial injustice. nr/acb/tjj The post New York teen arrested in hate crime death of Black gay dancer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Deaf or blind to Vietnam’s activities?
Last week I mentioned the report regarding Vietnam facilities and other structures being built within the Philippine territory. I am just wondering how come the government is quiet about the issue. I even suggested that a public forum and press conference be conducted to inform the people and make fellow Filipinos aware of it. A fellow observer even asked me why is it that the Marcos government is silent on such an issue. As I remember right, since President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. took over as the Chief Executive there have been only six diplomatic protests filed against Vietnam compared to the 97 against China. I cannot recall if the protests against Vietnam were in the news but I am afraid the public was never informed about such things. A fellow journalist confirmed that there has been no report of Hanoi’s ambassador to Manila being summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs to explain the Vietnamese activities in our country’s exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippine government has the responsibility to make statements on this matter considering that it is our sovereignty that is at stake. As I said, Vietnam’s activities in the WPS are a threat to our national security and should be dealt with accordingly by Philippine authorities. To give you a picture of how serious this matter is, on 1 August, despite heavy rains a small group of around 50 members of Makabayan Alyansa ng Bansang Anti-War and Anti-Terrorism (Makabansa), who claimed to be concerned citizens, held a protest rally in front of Vietnam’s embassy in Malate, Manila, to show that they are against what the Vietnam government is doing. The protesters called on the Vietnam government to stop the alleged militarization at the WPS and their fishing in the Kalayaan Group of Islands. The militant group through their spokesman, Benny delos Reyes, urged the embassy to respect their demands for amicable ties between the Philippines and Vietnam. For the information of the Philippine government, its department or agency concerned, Vietnam is planning to build “a covert fortification, command fortification, firepower fortification, weapons storage fortification, traffic trench system, trench, and related tactical items” within the Philippine territory. The Vietnamese government is ready to send more people to the land features, where they will set up residence. Perhaps due to the non-reaction of the Philippine government, Vietnam thinks that building military and civilian infrastructure and sending people to live on the islands will prove that those islands, which are in a portion of the WPS, belong to them. Let our government be reminded that Vietnam first took possession of areas within our own territory in 1978. Without knowing it, Vietnam might not only be occupying Philippine territories but already controlling our society. In the Gospel today, Jesus takes some of His friends away from the business of the village and marketplace. He invites them to travel with Him as He makes His way up the mountain. This is not unusual. We know from the Gospels that Jesus often went off by Himself to the mountains to pray. While they were there praying something wild and wonderful happened. Jesus was transfigured; He was changed; His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as light. Imagine how surprised, shocked, and taken aback those with Jesus were. Once composed, Peter uttered the famous words: “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here.’ But more important than what was said is what they heard: ‘This is My Son, the Beloved, He enjoys My favor, listen to Him.” My regards to Rev. Father Richard Diaz, CICM, the Academic Dean of Maryhill School of Theology, and to Ms. Daisy Arao-arao, MST Registrar, all the faculty, students, and staff of MST who are about to start the Academic Year 2023-2024. The post Deaf or blind to Vietnam’s activities? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU, Philippines agree to relaunch free trade talks
The European Union and the Philippines will restart negotiations on a free-trade agreement as they seek to accelerate "a new era of cooperation", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday. Talks began in 2015 under then-Philippine president Benigno Aquino but stalled two years later under his successor Rodrigo Duterte, whose deadly drug war strained diplomatic relations with the West and sparked an international probe. "I'm very glad that we have decided to relaunch negotiations for (a) free-trade agreement (FTA)," von der Leyen told reporters at a joint news conference with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Manila. "Our teams will get to work right now on setting the right conditions so that we can get back to the negotiations," she said, noting an FTA has "huge potential for both of us" in terms of jobs and growth. The European Union is the Philippines' fourth-largest trading partner and an FTA would be Manila's second bilateral deal after Japan. Marcos described the Philippines and the European Union as "like-minded partners" with "shared values of democracy, sustainable and inclusive prosperity, the rule of law, peace, and stability, and human rights". The Philippines enjoys a Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status that allows it to export 6,274 products to the European Union tax-free, but this is set to expire at the end of this year. Under the GSP+ scheme, which is extended to developing countries, Brussels cuts its import duties to zero on two-thirds of product categories in return for implementing 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, the environment, and good governance. Drug war Rights monitors and some EU members of parliament have urged the European Union to withhold a deal extension for the Philippines because of Duterte's anti-narcotics crackdown that claimed thousands of lives. The drug war has continued under Marcos even as he emphasized a greater focus on rehabilitation, but a local monitoring group estimates more than 350 people have been killed since he took power in June 2022. Human Rights Watch's EU director Philippe Dam said it was concerning that von der Leyen "could not be heard tackling human rights and civil liberties issues". "Make no mistake -- the human rights situation in the Philippines remains dire," Dam said in a statement. "The EU should not look the other way and should tie a future trade deal to concrete labor and human rights improvements and accountability for past violations." An EU official told journalists from Manila that Marcos has been taking "important steps" to improve his country's human rights record, though it remained a "work in progress". The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Marcos's overall posture as a leader "has facilitated our cooperation" even if other imperatives had also come into play, especially the need for Europe and the Philippines to reduce their reliance on trade with China. Von der Leyen, the first European Commission president to visit the Philippines, said the two sides had "learned the hard way the cost of economic dependencies". A free-trade agreement was the basis for diversifying supply lines and could also be "a springboard for a new technology cooperation to modernize the broader economy". She said the European Union would provide 466 million euros ($513 million) to help the Philippines develop "green energy" and plastics recycling, as well as provide satellite data to help it better prepare for extreme weather. The post EU, Philippines agree to relaunch free trade talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EU, Philippines agree to relaunch free trade talks
The European Union and the Philippines will restart negotiations on a free-trade agreement as they seek to accelerate "a new era of cooperation", European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday. Talks began in 2015 under then-president Benigno Aquino but stalled two years later under his successor Rodrigo Duterte, whose deadly drug war strained diplomatic relations with the West and sparked an international probe. "I'm very glad that we have decided to relaunch negotiations for (a) free-trade agreement," von der Leyen told reporters at a joint news conference with President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila. "Our teams will get to work right now on setting the right conditions so that we can get back to the negotiations," she said, noting an FTA has "huge potential for both of us" in terms of jobs and growth. The European Union is the Philippines' fourth-largest trading partner and a FTA would be Manila's second bilateral deal after Japan. Marcos described the Philippines and European Union as "like-minded partners" with "shared values of democracy, sustainable and inclusive prosperity, the rule of law, peace and stability, and human rights". The Philippines currently enjoys a Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status that allows it to export 6,274 products to the European Union tax-free, but this is set to expire at the end of this year. Under the GSP+ scheme, which is extended to developing countries, Brussels cuts its import duties to zero on two-thirds of product categories in return for implementing 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, the environment and good governance. Rights monitors and some EU members of parliament have urged the European Union to withhold a deal extension for the Philippines because of Duterte's anti-narcotics crackdown that claimed thousands of lives. The drug war has continued under Marcos even as he emphasized a greater focus on rehabilitation, but a local monitoring group estimates more than 350 people have died since he took power in June 2022. Von der Leyen, the first European Commission president to visit the Philippines, said the two sides had "learned the hard way the cost of economic dependencies". A free-trade agreement was the basis for diversifying supply lines and could also be "a springboard for a new technology cooperation to modernize the broader economy". She said the European Union would provide 466 million euros ($513 million) to help the Philippines develop "green energy" and plastics recycling, as well as provide satellite data to help it better prepare for extreme weather. It also wanted to help develop the Philippines' mining industry to secure the supply of critical raw materials. "We have a broad roadmap to bring our partnership to the next level," von der Leyen said. The post EU, Philippines agree to relaunch free trade talks appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Salilig hazing suspects plead ‘not guilty’
Two more suspects in the controversial hazing case of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig pleaded not guilty in a court in Biñan, Laguna on 26 July during the arraignments of their cases. Suspects Lester John Sus, aka “Biggie” and Armando Hernandez, aka “Tyler” filed their not-guilty pleas through a video conference. Sus was arrested in Biñan, Laguna on 14 July 2023 based on the warrant of arrest issued by Biñan RTC Branch 155 on 6 July. The same warrants were issued to alias Tyler and Justine Argay Fontanilla, also known as McGregor. Sus claimed that he was only invited in the initiation rites as an official of the San Pedro chapter of the Tau Gamma Fraternity. However, based on the evidence on the fraternity’s group chat, Sus was the one who varnished the paddles that will be used for the hazing. The anti-hazing complaints against Hernandez and Sus were filed by John Matthew’s older brother, John Michael, and Roi dela Cruz, another Adamson student who went through the initiation rites with Salilig. At least eight suspects are already in the custody of Binan City Custodial Facility — two are in CIDG’s custody while three are in the facility of NBI. The other remaining five suspects are still at large and are being tracked down by the authorities. To recall, Salilig was a chemical engineering student of Adamson University that was reported missing on 18 February 2023 and 10 days later, his body was found in a lot in a vacant lot in Barangay Malagasang 1-G in Imus City, Cavite. The post Salilig hazing suspects plead ‘not guilty’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»