News Roundup 04 May 2023
May 04, 2023 • 3 min Read
Bilateral Defense Guidelines include AFP modernization, cyber defense | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States have finally released their Bilateral Defense Guidelines, which outline the priorities of the alliance in the coming years.
“The leaders’ discussion reaffirmed the United States and the Philippines’ enduring commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder as allies to bring greater security, prosperity, and stability to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder noted in a readout.
The release of the document comes as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. visited the Pentagon during his official working visit to the United States, where he also met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Manila is Washington’s oldest defense and treaty ally in the region, with a Mutual Defense Treaty that entered into force in 1952 along with other security agreements.
Full Story at: Bilateral Defense Guidelines include AFP modernization, cyber defense | Philstar.com
Two DepEd admin officials resign; Ablan says quitting not related to laptops controversy | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Two Department of Education officials connected to the delivery of administrative services have tendered their resignations, but one undersecretary clarified that the move was not connected to the controversy on laptop purchases of the agency.
DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Kris Ablan confirmed in a message to Philstar.com that he resigned from his post on April 28, but the reason for doing so “has nothing to do with the laptop or Transpac reports of Rappler,” Ablan said.
“In due time, I will answer point by point the issues raised by those reports in order to clear my name,” Ablan added.
Ablan is among the two DepEd officials mentioned in reports published by Rappler on May 1 that revealed, among others, the department’s unpaid fees to logistics partner Transpac Cargo Logistics Inc., which it contracted to distribute billions worth of DepEd technology and materials nationwide.
Another source has confirmed that Assistant Secretary Christopher Lawrence Arnuco, who is in charge of administrative services, has also resigned.
DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa did not respond to Philstar.com’s request for confirmation.
Full Story at: Two DepEd admin officials resign; Ablan says quitting not related to laptops controversy | Philstar.com
Alleged NPA dies, 2 soldiers, 1 civilian hurt in clash in Negros Occidental | INQUIRER.NET – BACOLOD CITY — A suspected communist rebel was killed, two government soldiers were injured, and a civilian was hit by a stray bullet in an encounter at Sitio Ulo-Tuburan, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, at about 4:55 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3.
The encounter between the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion and alleged rebels led to the evacuation of 43 families, composed of 175 individuals, who had returned home on Thursday, said Lt. Col. Renante Jomocan, Himamaylan police chief.
Comelec en banc declares ex-Ako Bicol solon as Legazpi mayor | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has declared former Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. as the mayor of Legazpi City, Albay, after it upheld the disqualification order against Carmen Geraldine Rosal, who came in first in the 2022 mayoral race.In a resolution promulgated on Thursday, May 4, the Comelec body partially granted Rosal’s motion for reconsideration, saying she is not guilty of violating the ban on releasing public funds but is liable for vote-buying.
