News Roundup 02 August 2023
Aug 02, 2023 • 5 min Read
Teves assets frozen on being tagged a terrorist | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The government has branded Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. and his brother Pryde Henry as terrorists for their alleged roles in a series of “killings and harassment” in their province that culminated in the death of their political rival, Gov. Roel Degamo, in March.
As a result, the assets of the Teves siblings were frozen in compliance with the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
Under its Resolution No. 43 dated July 26 but made public on Tuesday, the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) declared the two brothers and 11 other people members of the so-called Teves Terrorist Group, most of whom had been implicated in the brazen attack that killed the governor and nine others in the latter’s residential compound in Pamplona town on March 4.
“The numerous killings and harassment in Negros Oriental which culminated in the assassination of Governor Degamo must not be taken as isolated and random incidents of violence,” the council said in the resolution signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
“These killings and harassment [were] meticulously and deliberately planned and executed for the purpose of intimidating the residents of Negros Oriental as well as to create an atmosphere or spread a message of fear,” the ATC added.
The other persons who were declared terrorists were: Marvin Miranda, Rogelio Antipolo, Rommel Pattaguan, Winrich Isturis, John Louie Gonyon, Dahniel Lora, Eulogio Gonyon Jr., Tomasino Aledro, Nigel Electona, Jomarie Catubay and Hannah Mae Oray.
Full Story at: Teves assets frozen on being tagged a terrorist | Inquirer News
Senate votes for revised resolution on West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.NET –MANILA, Philippines — After more than a month of debates and closed-door discussions on bringing to the United Nations General Assembly the matter of China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Senate on Tuesday voted unanimously to call on the Philippine government to intensify its efforts in “asserting and securing” the country’s sovereignty.
This united stand, however, stopped short of directing the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to raise China’s incursions before the UN General Assembly, as originally called for by Senate Resolution No. 659 which Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed on June 19.
Instead, Hontiveros’ resolution was merged with a second resolution filed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Under the new Senate Resolution No. 718, engaging the United Nations was now only an option for “appropriate action” by the Executive.
Whereas SR 659 urges the DFA to sponsor a resolution before the UN calling on China to stop its harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, Zubiri’s resolution merely “strongly condemns” the continued harassment of Filipino fishermen.
Zubiri said SR 718 was accepted by all senators following closed-door consultations with officials of the DFA and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
Full Story at: Senate votes for revised resolution on West Philippine Sea | Inquirer News
Terror tag baseless, says Teves camp | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Describing the terror tag as baseless, the camp of suspended Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. said yesterday the move by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) did not come as a surprise, as the government is bent on pinning the lawmaker for the murder of governor Roel Degamo.
Ferdinand Topacio, lawyer for Teves, maintained that there is not enough evidence against his client as the key witnesses against him have recanted their testimonies.
“Since Day One of the Degamo killing, the government has mobilized all the resources at its disposal – starting with immediately tagging Teves as the mastermind thereof without investigation, conducting illegal searches on his properties, laying siege to his powers and prerogatives as member of the House, embarking on a massive media campaign to discredit him and prejudice the minds of the public against him, among others – all in an obsessive attempt to blame him for a crime at the expense of his constitutional rights,” Topacio said in a statement.
Topacio accused the government of weaponizing the Anti-Terror Act by using it “for the purpose for which it was not designed.”
“It is a sad day for the rule of law in this country, and a shocking reminder that even under constitutional and republican regime, the return to a government of men and not of laws can always ensue, especially for those targeted for destruction by the present dispensation,” he added.
The lawyers of some of the suspects in the killing of Degamo, who were among those declared terrorists by the ATC, are in disbelief.
Full Story at: Terror tag baseless, says Teves camp | Philstar.com
Bilibid inmates allowed to order food online | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City are now allowed to have food delivered to them through online delivery applications.
This can be done through laptops used for e-dalaw, where they can ask their family members to order food for them and coordinate the delivery with jail guards, according to NBP Supt. Angelina Bautista.
“Their families are the ones who order the food and they will message the PDL (person deprived of liberty) through e-dalaw,” Bautista told reporters yesterday.
She said all deliveries are checked by sniffing dogs.
Bautista noted that not only family members can send food, but also organizations that want to help PDLs, considering that the P70-per-day budget for food at the NBP is not enough for three meals.
The e-dalaw is an online visitation program of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which manages the NBP, as part of the agency’s reformation efforts to give support to PDLs in terms of mental health.
Full Story at: Bilibid inmates allowed to order food online | Philstar.com
