News Roundup 27 November 2023
Nov 27, 2023 • 4 min Read
De Lima seeks full probe of raps vs 2 ex-DOJ chiefs | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday called for a “full investigation” of former Justice Secretaries Vitaliano Aguirre II and Menardo Guevarra after the Court of Appeals (CA) determined that the Ombudsman dismissed her criminal and administrative complaints against them without due process.
“The wheels of justice continue to turn,” De Lima said, herself a former justice secretary. “I expect the Ombudsman to now conduct a full investigation of both Aguirre and Guevarra or, at the very least, to require Guevarra to answer the administrative aspect of the case and defend his role in propping up criminal convicts as state witnesses even if they are disqualified from being granted immunity under the law.”
She made the call after the CA ordered the Ombudsman on Nov. 21 to investigate De Lima’s complaints against Aguirre and Guevarra, whom she accused of dereliction of duty for admitting felons, convicted of crimes of moral turpitude, as state witnesses.
Full Story at: De Lima seeks full probe of raps vs 2 ex-DOJ chiefs | Inquirer News
PCG boats used in WPS missions join PH-Japan water cannon, towing drills | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Three of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) multirole response vessels often used in regular resupply missions to a military outpost in West Philippine Sea (WPS) participated in joint water cannon and towing drills between Philippines and Japan.
The activities were meant to improve water cannon and towing capabilities of PCG and its Japanese counterpart.
BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) conducted the exercises in the vicinity waters off Lamao, Bataan from November 20 to 24.
The boat joined the drills along with BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403).
BRP Teresita Magbanua is, so far, the biggest PCG ship in its fleet.
“The MRRVs and their sailing crew demonstrated proper handling of emergency towing gears, selecting correct towing line and throwing tow lines accurately to get hold of the ship,” PCG said in a statement over the weekend.
“Also, test protocols and capability demonstration in identifying maritime threats within the area of responsibility was conducted,” it added.
Full Story at: PCG boats used in WPS missions join PH-Japan water cannon, towing drills | Global News (inquirer.net)
Chinese jets shadow Philippine aircraft in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – US conducts freedom of navigation trip in SCS
MANILA, Philippines — Aircraft from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) shadowed Philippine aircraft that participated in the joint Philippine-Australia drills in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) over the weekend, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
In an interview yesterday, Brawner said the Chinese jets that shadowed an A-29B Super Tucano from the Philippine Air Force provided the only noteworthy moment in the joint exercises.
When asked how the joint patrol exercise with Australia was going, the AFP chief said everything was going “OK,” with no untoward incidents.
“There were two Chinese jet fighters that circled our plane. They just circled,” Brawner added in Filipino.
The Philippine aircraft, he said, was shadowed by the two Chinese jets while it was flying in the vicinity of Hubo Reef.
“There was shadowing (of our plane) in the maritime (patrol), and in the air,” Brawner said.
He said that the Super Tucano was able to finish its air and maritime patrol mission as laid out in its flight path, despite the shadowing done by the Chinese aircraft.
Full Story at: Chinese jets shadow Philippine aircraft in West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
Caution advised for Filipino travelers amid Myanmar crisis, recruitment scams | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration has advised Filipino travelers to exercise “extreme caution” in light of the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and the prevalence of illegal recruitment activities.
The bureau made the statement Monday, a week after four Filipinos who had fallen victim to illegal recruitment were repatriated amid ongoing clashes in Myanmar.
Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that only documented overseas Filipino workers are allowed to travel to Myanmar, with stringent protocols and safeguards in place, following the classification of the conflict in the Southeast Asian nation as “Crisis Alert Level 2” or “restricted phase.”
“Illegal recruitment not only violates our laws but also undermines the rights and welfare of Filipino workers,” Tansingco said.
“Aspiring OFWs are urged to verify the legitimacy of job offers, ensure proper documentation, and seek guidance from licensed recruitment agencies before applying abroad,” he added.
Full Story at: Caution advised for Filipino travelers amid Myanmar crisis, recruitment scams | Philstar.com
