News Roundup 19 June 2023
Jun 19, 2023 • 4 min Read
De Lima: Support from UN rights experts galvanizes resolve to seek justice | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — After human rights monitors under the United Nations (UN) called for her freedom, Former Senator Leila de Lima on Monday expressed an energized resolve “to seek justice and vindication.”
To recall, 14 rights rapporteurs and experts from the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights expressed alarm over the recent local court ruling that denied De Lima’s petition for bail.
“Profound expressions of support and solidarity such as this galvanize my resolve to seek justice and vindication,” said De Lima in a statement.
“These are enlightened minds and voices. They perfectly know what they speak of. These experts promote, protect and defend noble universal causes, in my case, the causes of Truth and Justice,” she added.
She then reiterated her innocence, stressing that the drug charges and evidence against her came from convicted criminals with “highly dubious motives and credibility.”
“Their utterly uncorroborated stories are plain lies,” said De Lima.
Full Story at: De Lima: Support from UN rights experts galvanizes resolve to seek justice | Inquirer News
Neophyte senators must welcome, take Drilon’s critique on decorum lapses in stride— Sotto | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Avoiding decorum faux pas is the smart choice.
The observations and criticisms from former senator Franklin Drilon should be welcomed and taken in stride by neophyte legislators, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III said on Monday.
On the sidelines of the necrological service for late former senator Rodolfo Biazon, reporters asked Sotto how lawmakers of the 19th Congress should react to Drilon’s statements that there seems to be a lack of decorum during the Senate’s sessions and committee hearings.
Drilon, a former Senate president himself, urged incumbent Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri last Thursday to show displeasure at the supposed erosion of the legislative body’s prestige.
“They should welcome such observations, ‘yong mga criticisms at saka observations lalo na no’ng mga antigo ay dapat pinakikinggan. We’ve done that before, I was a fledgling senator in 1992 and I heard all of it from (Ernesto) Maceda, (Edgardo) Angara, (Arturo) Tolentino, ‘yong mga kasabay ko, sila Bobby Tañada. So you learn from the old guys,” Sotto said.
(They should welcome such observations, the criticisms and observations especially from “antique” legislators, they should listen to it. We’ve done that before, I was a fledgling senator in 1992 and I heard all of it from Maceda, Angara, Tolentino, other guys like Bobby Tañada. So you learn from the old guys.)
Full Story at: Neophyte senators must welcome, take Drilon’s critique on decorum lapses in stride— Sotto | Inquirer News
Reward up for info on Bantag, Villamor over Percy Lapid killing | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice offered a P2-million reward Monday for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of former corrections chief Gerald Bantag, who has been accused of being the mastermind in the murder of radio broadcaster Percy Lapid.
A reward amounting to P1 million will be also given to those who will provide information leading to the capture of former Bureau of Corrections deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta, Bantag’s supposed right-hand man.
Those with information on the whereabouts of Bantag and Zulueta may contact 0945-483-1058 (Globe) or 0928-416-9585 (Smart).
Both are wanted for the killing of Lapid and inmate June Villamor, who was the alleged middleman in the crime.
Full Story at: Reward up for info on Bantag, Villamor over Percy Lapid killing | Philstar.com
Hontiveros: Philippines should elevate WPS issues to UN General Assembly | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros has called on the Philippine government to sponsor a resolution before the United Nations General Assembly urging China to desist from its harassment of Filipino fisherfolk and military personnel.
Filed by Hontiveros on Monday, Senate Resolution 659 compels the Philippine government through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to elevate to the UN the 2016 Hague Ruling that invalidated China’s claims over parts of the South China Sea.
If adopted, the Senate resolution will push the Philippines to campaign for support in the international community in urging China to comply with the 2016 arbitral award and stop its harassment of Filipino fisherfolk.
The UNGA resolutions are not binding. However, these are still formal expressions of opinions that are voted upon by member countries and are seen to carry “significant political weight” and express the “will and consensus of the international community,” the resolution read.
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio first floated this proposal in May when he said that China’s refusal to respect the arbitral award that denied its claims on most of the South China Sea should be brought up to the UNGA.
Full Story at: Hontiveros: Philippines should elevate WPS issues to UN General Assembly | Philstar.com
