News Roundup 05 November 2023
Nov 05, 2023 • 4 min Read
AFP chief warns troops vs joining ‘destabilization’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Alleged efforts to oust President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instigated by some retired military officers have prompted Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. to warn troops who participate in any move to destabilize the administration that the military would act “swiftly but judiciously” against them.
But National Security Adviser Eduardo Año immediately sought to allay any fears of military unrest and dismissed notions that the Marcos administration would be overthrown, saying that Brawner was “misquoted or misinterpreted” by the media when he spoke on Friday.
While there were indeed “healthy and passionate exchanges/debates among some retired or former military officers and even some criticism against certain policies of the current administration,” these were “within the bounds of our democratic space,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
“Although often abused, they are part of the freedom of expression where most are academic discussions or politically motivated,” Año said.
AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar also said Brawner was “simply misquoted” and “merely mentioned the reported efforts by certain individuals to upset the peace and stability that the country is enjoying right now” under the president’s leadership.
Full Story at: AFP chief warns troops vs joining ‘destabilization’ | Inquirer News
Radio anchor shot dead during live broadcast in Misamis Occidental | INQUIRER.NET – ILIGAN CITY – A local broadcaster and radio station owner was shot inside the announcer’s booth of his own radio station in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental.
The killing happened at Purok-6, Barangay Don Bernardo A. Neri in Calamba town of Misamis Occidental at around 5:35 a.m. on Sunday, November 5.
Juan Jumalon, 43, popularly known as DJ Jonny Walker, was on board on his popular Sunday program “Pa-hapyod sa Kabuntagon” when a lone gunman barged into the radio station right in the victim’s own home.
The assailant shot Jumalon through his mouth, according to Police Officer Eliver Quicio, chief investigator.
Quicio said Jumalon was the owner and station manager of 94.7 Calamba Gold FM.
Full Story at: Radio anchor shot dead during live broadcast in Misamis Occidental | Inquirer News
‘Order in South China Sea should be governed by rules, not force’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, addressing Congress yesterday, underscored that the maritime order in the South China Sea (SCS) is “governed by laws and rules, not by force.”
In his speech before the joint session of the House of Representatives and Senate at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City, Kishida said to “maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, multi-layered cooperation among allies and like-minded countries is crucial.”
“In September, President Marcos, United States Vice President (Kamala) Harris and I exchanged views for the first time and confirmed to enhance cooperation,” he noted.
Kishida, who is the first Japanese prime minister to speak before Congress, cited that in the SCS, the trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is “underway.”
“In addition to the participation of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces in the joint US-Philippines exercises held last month, the first joint exercise by the coast guard agencies of the three countries was held in June this year,” he maintained.
“Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force,” he said.
According to Kishida, the international community is currently at a “historic turning point.”
At the same time, he pointed out, the “international order based on the rule of law that we have taken for granted is under serious threat.”
“The international community is also facing complex and interrelated challenges such as climate change and infectious diseases. Under these circumstances, we cannot afford to have the world divided based on ideologies and values,” Kishida added.
Full Story at: ‘Order in South China Sea should be governed by rules, not force’ | Philstar.com
Attacks delay evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza — DFA | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The evacuation of foreigners, including Filipinos, from the Gaza Strip to Egypt has been delayed due to attacks, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The first batch of Filipinos who had decided to leave the war-torn Gaza was scheduled to cross into Egypt Sunday. However, the evacuation of foreign passport holders did not proceed due to recent attacks, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo.
According to De Vega, Israel claimed that Hamas attacked the border, while the Palestinian militant group has accused Israel of targeting convoys en route to the border.
To return to the Philippines, Filipino nationals need to enter Egypt through the Rafah crossing and travel to capital Cairo.
The first group of Filipino evacuees may be able to enter Egypt by Monday. The second batch of Filipinos is scheduled to exit Gaza in the next few days.
Full Story at: Attacks delay evacuation of Filipinos in Gaza — DFA | Philstar.com
