News Roundup 09 May 2023
May 09, 2023 • 4 min Read
‘Tayo ang Liwanag’: Former VP Leni Robredo launches coffee table book | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Vice President and Angat Buhay chairperson Leni Robredo launched her coffee table book “Tayo ang Liwanag” on Tuesday, featuring photos and stories of volunteerism and locals who supported her presidential campaign in 2022.
According to Robredo, copies of the limited edition coffee table book, including several pre-sold copies with her signature, are available at the Museo ng Pagasa in line with commemorating the people’s campaign’s first anniversary.
“If I have to go through it all over again, I will. Kasi sa tingin ko, marami tayong na-achieve na on the day I announced my candidacy, I never thought na ma-aachieve natin,” Robredo said in a statement.
(Because we achieved a lot on the day I announced my candidacy. Things I never thought that we would be able to achieve.)
Meanwhile, Angat Buhay Executive Director Raffy Magno, one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds from the book, expressed his gratitude to Robredo’s supporters.
Full Story at: ‘Tayo ang Liwanag’: Former VP Leni Robredo launches coffee table book | Inquirer News
Dismiss 4 top cops linked to drugs, Bongbong Marcos asked | INQUIRER.NET – “I know it’s a bitter pill to swallow. This will be a painful situation at first, but for me this will lead to a better and renewed police force that is united in fighting illegal drugs.”
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to accept the resignations of two generals and two colonels for their involvement in illegal drugs.
The recommendation followed the investigation of 953 officials of the Philippine National Police who filed their courtesy resignations last January as part of government efforts to cleanse the police force of the “deeply entrenched” illegal drug problem.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, who sits as ex officio chair of Napolcom, declined to disclose the names of the four officials pending the official transmittal from Malacañang of the President’s action as well as the conclusion “in two to three weeks” of the precharge investigation to determine the criminal and administrative cases to be filed against them.
Abalos added that the police officers were not yet informed of their fate.
Full Story at: Dismiss 4 top cops linked to drugs, Bongbong Marcos asked | Inquirer News
US: Talks on details of possible joint maritime activities still ongoing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Discussions on the specifics of the joint maritime activities between the United States and the Philippines are still ongoing, the US Embassy in the Philippines said Tuesday.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez told CNN Philippines on Monday he expects that the exercises may begin as soon as third quarter this year.
“Our conversations on combined maritime activities with the Philippines are continuing, and our planners are working hard on specific issues such as timing, assets, and logistics,” the embassy said in a statement on Tuesday.
Manila and Washington “agreed to restart joint maritime patrols” in the South China Sea when US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visitied Manila to meet his counterpart, Carlito Galvez Jr., in February.
Full Story at: US: Talks on details of possible joint maritime activities still ongoing | Philstar.com
Amid defense revamp, Australia keen on helping Philippines with maritime security | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — As ties between the two countries grow amid an evolving regional landscape, Australia hopes to further capacitate the Philippines by providing opportunities for training in maritime security – either through training exercises or through educational opportunities.
Aside from assisting the Philippines in counterterrorism efforts and in addressing the online sexual abuse of children, among the priority areas Australia sees in improving its bilateral relationship with the country is a program to help protect its sovereignty and territorial rights.
“We would like to do more in that area and in particular, through maritime security space,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu told Philstar.com in an interview.
“It’s not only just about having guns and tanks or whatever to do joint exercises, it’s also about sharing knowledge, it’s about grappling with really complex issues together,” she added.
March and April were particularly busy months for Australia as it unveiled its plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines through its trilateral security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom. This was then followed by the release of its Defense Strategic Review, which detailed – among Canberra’s priorities – the “deepening of diplomatic and defense partnerships with key partners” in the region.
Full Story at: Amid defense revamp, Australia keen on helping Philippines with maritime security | Philstar.com
