News Roundup 27 October 2023
Oct 27, 2023 • 4 min Read
PH, US up military pact after China’s ‘serious escalations’ in WPS | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States agreed to intensify military engagements following China’s “serious escalation” in the West Philippine Sea.
A joint statement from the defense departments of both countries said Friday that this agreement was reached by Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and US defense chief Lloyd Austin III in a phone conversation.
“The Secretaries commended recent bilateral military cooperation, including the bilateral sail last month off the coast of Palawan, and committed to increase the pace and scope of U.S.-Philippines engagements,” the readout from both defense departments states.
Austin and Teodoro also committed to “redouble efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination, interoperability, and support for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
Deemed by Teodoro as a “serious escalation,” Chinese ships hit a resupply boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as a Philippine Coast Guard vessel during a rotation and resupply mission for the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) on Sunday, October 22.
Full Story at: PH, US up military pact after China’s ‘serious escalations’ in WPS | Global News (inquirer.net)
Family of slain mining exec sees ‘hope’ in search for justice | INQUIRER.NET – PROSPERIDAD, AGUSAN DEL SUR — The family of the late retired Col. Samuel Afdal, former president of Philsaga Mining Corp. in Agusan del Sur, has expressed hope that “justice would soon be served” to those who perpetrated his killing two years ago.
In a statement first circulated on social media on Friday, the Afdal family said it was “heartened by recent developments” in the case.
On Thursday afternoon, Afdal’s widow Evelyn filed a complaint-affidavit before the Agusan del Sur prosecutor’s office against three suspects, one of whom was identified to be the alleged mastermind.
Named respondents in the complaint were Ryan Mark Baylon, who was described as a business associate of the former soldier-turned-businessman; Rosalino Degracia; and Alemar Awado.
Evelyn’s complaint largely stems from a confession of alleged gunman Jeffrey Mamerto, a former New People’s Army guerrilla, that Degracia and Awado were supposedly part of the plot to kill Afdal, upon Baylon’s supposed offer of P200,000.
Full Story at: Family of slain mining exec sees ‘hope’ in search for justice | Inquirer News
Filipina caregiver’s courage touches thousands of Israelis | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — “The morning of October 7th was a very dark hour for humanity. But amongst all the darkness, there is Camille’s story,” Emanuel Miller, a media analyst in Israel, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Camille Jesalva, 31, came to Israel from the Philippines five years ago. She takes care of Nitza, a 95-year-old woman in Kibbutz Nirim.
Like their neighbors, the two woke up that morning to the sound of a heavy barrage of incoming rocket and mortar fire, and they sought cover in their bomb shelter.
Shortly before 8 a.m. Jesalva began to hear people talking outside. Having previously worked in Dubai, she realized that these were not Israeli soldiers conversing in Hebrew, but Palestinians speaking in Arabic.
She tried to close the bomb shelter window, but had no luck.
Moments later, she found herself face to face with Hamas. Jesalva was supposed to fly out from Israel two days later in order to visit her son, and had in her purse 1,500 shekels (about $370), which she planned to give to her family.
Without a second thought, she gave the terrorists her purse and said: “Take everything, just don’t take the flight ticket. She’s an old woman and doesn’t understand what’s happening. Take the money and go.”
“Unbelievably, that’s exactly what happened. The terrorists took the money and went away,” Miller said.
Jesalva then climbed into Nitza’s bed, hugging her to calm her down. She stayed at Nitza’s side for two and a half hours until the Israel Defense Forces arrived to save them.
Full Story at: Filipina caregiver’s courage touches thousands of Israelis | Philstar.com
Ombudsman dismisses Bantag’s murder raps vs DOJ, BuCor chiefs | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday junked the murder and grave misconduct complaints of suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director Gerald Bantag against Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla and BuCor Director Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.
According to the Ombudsman, the complaints against Remulla and Catapang were dismissed due to “the lack of probable cause.”
In January 2023, Bantag filed complaints against Remulla and Capatang.
Bantag accused Remulla of masterminding the murders of the late broadcaster Percy Lapid and inmate Jun Villamor, who was allegedly the middleman in Lapid’s killing, which occurred last October.
Remulla denied all the accusations.
He also implicated Catapang in his complaint, alleging that the BuCor chief was involved in authorizing the transfer of inmates from New Bilibid Prison to the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Bantag remains at large while also facing murder charges in connection to the deaths of Lapid and Villamor.
Full Story at: Ombudsman dismisses Bantag’s murder raps vs DOJ, BuCor chiefs | Philstar.com
