News Roundup 11 June 2023
Jun 11, 2023 • 4 min Read
Bato: Haphazard MUP pension reforms could cost more, weaken national security | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Attempts to reform the pension system for the military and other uniformed personnel could put the government at further risk of fiscal collapse and would impact national security, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa — chair of the Senate public order committee and a police pensioner — warned Sunday.
In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Dela Rosa said that attempts to collect pension contributions from active duty personnel could lead to a “mass exodus” of military, law enforcement and public safety personnel that would weaken the security sector and could cost the government trillions if many opt to retire early.
“[Finance Secretary Benjamin] Diokno has been warning of a fiscal collapse, but we will be at greater risk of fiscal collapse if this happens,” he said in Filipino.
He said that uniformed personnel may opt to leave the service if the proposal — now referred to a technical working group at the Senate — becomes law. “If all of them file for retirement, the government will need to pay trillions.”
Diokno has said that the current pension system for uniformed personnel — with no contributions collected from personnel, and with pensions indexed to current salaries — has become untenable and needs reform.
Dela Rosa said it would be better to just collect the proposed contributions from new entrants to the uniformed services instead of also taking money from active personnel, especially those who are already near retirement age.
“They have already planned their lives around the current system,” he said of the active personnel.
He said that this could trigger a mass exodus that will lead to a “weak national defense and weak law enforcement” when experienced and well-trained personnel are replaced by rookies.
Full Story at: Bato: Haphazard MUP pension reforms could cost more, weaken national security | Philstar.com
Akbayan urges government to bring West Philippine Sea issue to UN | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Groups led by Akabyan on Sunday called on the government to file a resolution at the United Nations to recognize the Philippines’ historic win at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 against China’s sweeping nine-dash line claims over a large part of the South China Sea.
Ahead of Independence Day commemorations on Monday, Akbayan Party, Akbayan Youth, and the West Philippine Sea Coalition held a protest at the Boy Scout Circle in Quezon City to urge the administration to stand up to Beijing in another international body — the UN General Assembly.
“If China’s actions over the past years have shown us anything, it is that they are the new colonizers of our time,” Akbayan Party president Rafaela David said.
“Their aggression is a threat to peaceful and harmonious relationships in the region, and they are a continuing threat to the safety of our fisherfolk.”
The protest comes after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured Chinese officials at the ceremony for the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding last Friday that Philippine policy towards China “hasn’t changed in any fundamental sense.”
Full Story at: Akbayan urges government to bring West Philippine Sea issue to UN | Philstar.com
EJ Obiena resets Asian record with 6m breakthrough for gold in Norway | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines-EJ Obiena slithered atop the bar, beat his chest with both fists upon landing and rushed to hug coach Vitaly Petrov tightly.
The country’s pole vault star again reset his Asian and national records, but far more historic was Obiena’s breakthrough of finally hurdling the six-meter barrier en route to winning the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway.
“It took a few minutes to sink in. But when it did, tears began to fall and there was no greater shoulder to cry on than my coach, Vitaly,” said Obiena.
“Couldn’t have done it without you,” added the world’s No. 3 vaulter after becoming the 24th person all-time on the planet to clear six meters.
Full Story at: EJ Obiena resets Asian record with 6m breakthrough for gold in Norway | Inquirer Sports
Marcos told: Heed warnings, concerns of UP economists on Maharlika bill | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pay attention to the warnings and issues raised by the University of the Philippines School of Economics’ (UPSE) economists and faculty members on the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) bill.
“I urge and hope the President will seriously consider the warnings put forth by these distinguished economists,” Pimentel said in a statement Saturday.
The senator had earlier called on Marcos to veto the measure, as he described the heavily reconstructed and recently approved bill as “unsalvageable.”
Meanwhile, 21 UP economists and academics from UPSE appealed to the President to “seriously reconsider” the measure, claiming it “violates fundamental principles of economics and finance.”
“Sigurado po tayo na walang agenda itong dalawang dosenang ekonomista ng Unibersidad ng Pilipinas kung hindi ang kapakanan ng ating bayan. Please take heed, Mr. President,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said the 21 economists expressed their grave concern for the bill in a 25-page discussion paper.
Full Story at: Marcos told: Heed warnings, concerns of UP economists on Maharlika bill | Inquirer News
