News Roundup 09 January 2023
Jan 09, 2023 • 3 min Read
Quezon City court clears 10 rights activists of perjury | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:17 p.m.) — A Quezon City court acquitted Monday 10 human rights activists of perjury as it scrapped the charge initiated by former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who accused them of lying when they sought protection from the Supreme Court.
Those acquitted “on the ground of reasonable doubt” by the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 139 of perjury were:
- Rural Missionaries of the Philippines national coordinator Sr. Elenita Belardo
- Karapatan chairperson Elisa Tita Lubi
- Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay
- Gabriela secretary general Joan May Salvador
- Ronel Clamor
- Gabriela Krista Dalena
- Edita Burgos
- Jose Mari Callueng
- Wilfredo Ruazol
- Gertrudes Libang
Full Story at: Quezon City court clears 10 rights activists of perjury | Philstar.com
Faustino steps down as Defense chief, Galvez to assume post | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:51 p.m.) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has offered Carlito Galvez Jr. the cabinet post vacated by Department of National Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr.
According to a statement by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil on Monday afternoon, Faustino has just resigned from his post.
“The President has offered the position of DND Secretary to Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. and he has accepted,” Velicaria-Garafil said.
Full Story at: Faustino steps down as Defense chief, Galvez to assume post | Philstar.com
AFP units back Centino amid talk of unrest | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — In an apparent show of unity, major service branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines have rallied behind the leadership of the reappointed chief of staff, Gen. Andres Centino, over the weekend, amid talk of unrest among their troops.
The Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force on Saturday night issued separate statements welcoming Centino on his second stint as AFP chief and declaring support for President Marcos’ decision to bring him back at the helm of the military.
Earlier that day, Centino formally assumed his former position and delivered a speech urging the military to stop its “squabbling” among their ranks.
In a reversal of fortune, he replaced his military academy classmate Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro only five months after the latter took over as the country’s top military commander in August, leaving Centino on “floating” status at the time.
On Saturday, the two switched roles, with Bacarro handing over leadership of the military to his batchmate during a subdued ceremony.
Full Story at: AFP units back Centino amid talk of unrest | Inquirer News
Nearly 600 generals, colonels heed call for courtesy resignation of PNP top brass | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – Nearly 600 police generals and colonels in the country have so far tendered their courtesy resignations, heeding the call of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. as part of the government’s efforts in weeding out high-ranking cops that allegedly have ties to criminal drug syndicates.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. bared this figure on Monday during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“As of yesterday, we were able to account, more or less, 500 to a close to 600 as reported from our different regions, by our different units,” he said, speaking in a mix of English and Filipino.
Azurin said some of the filed courtesy resignations are currently en route to the PNP headquarters for collation and will later be passed on to the five-member committee tasked to review the records of the top police officers.
Full Story at: Nearly 600 generals, colonels heed call for courtesy resignation of PNP top brass | Inquirer News
