News Roundup 15 January 2023
Jan 15, 2023 • 3 min Read
Top Duterte generals back in key roles under Marcos | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Top generals who served the previous administration are back in the harness under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who swore in former Interior Secretary Eduardo Año as his new national security adviser (NSA), replacing academic Clarita Carlos on Saturday.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Carlos had decided to continue “her pursuit of scholastic endeavors” and rejoined the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives.
Shortly after announcing Año as the new NSA, the PCO released a statement attributed to Carlos.
“I have realized that it is no longer politic to continue as NSA to the President and so, I have decided to migrate to another agency where my expertise on foreign, defense, and security policy will be of use and I shall continue to help build a Better Philippines,” said the retired University of the Philippines (UP) political science professor.
With Año back in government, the president has changed his defense and military chiefs, and NSA — the key officials of the country’s defense and security establishment — all within a week.
Full Story at: Top Duterte generals back in key roles under Marcos | Inquirer News
Pimentel slams ‘soft launch’ of Maharlika wealth fund in WEF | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senate minority leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Sunday chided the planned “soft launch” of the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Pimentel tagged the said move as a mere “marketing strategy,” accusing the government of using the event to put pressure on the Senate to enact the contentious measure.
“It is more than a marketing strategy, it’s a move to tie the hands of Congress, particularly the Senate, on the controversial measure,” said Pimentel.
Full Story at: Pimentel slams ‘soft launch’ of Maharlika wealth fund in WEF | Inquirer News
Workers seek clear bilateral agreements, union-to-union deals for OFW welfare | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Workers are calling on the government to seal “clear bilateral agreements” and help support union-to-union cooperation for the rights and welfare of overseas Filipino workers.
The call is part of the 15-point labor agenda prepared by workers’ groups and unions in the the Philippines. Close to 50 trade unions, workers’ organizations, labor federations, research centers, and civil society organizations helped develop the agenda priorities.
“They also call for [OFWs’] involvement in crafting new and reviewing existing bilateral agreements,” the document of the International Labor Organization Philippines’ Labor Agenda read.
Full Story at: Workers seek clear bilateral agreements, union-to-union deals for OFW welfare | Philstar.com
Workers hopeful ILO visit will lead to better environment for labor, unions | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Workers’ groups are optimistic that the International Labour Organization – High Level Tripartite Mission to the Philippines later this month will lead to policy recommendations for the government to respect workers’ rights, including the right to organize unions to press for better working conditions.
In an “Obrero Talks” briefing on Saturday night, labor leaders and organizers laid out how labor leaders and workers’ groups have been demonized, harassed and attacked since 2016, when President Rodrigo Duterte was elected into office partly on a platform to end labor contractualization.
“It was the first time that workers heard that kind of platform from a presidential candidate,” PJ Dizon, president of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa Suyapa Farm (NAMASUFA), said in Filipino, adding this was why many workers supported and voted for Duterte.
The promise to end contractual labor ended with Duterte’s veto in 2019 of the Security of Tenure bill that he had told Congress urgently needed to be passed. Speakers on “Obrero Talks” said the undelivered promise also came with attempts to weaken unions and persuade them to disaffiliate from labor organization Kilusang Mayo Uno. NAMASUFA is an affiliate of the National Federation of Labor Unions-Kilusang Mayo Uno.
Full Story at: Workers hopeful ILO visit will lead to better environment for labor, unions | Philstar.com
