News Roundup 04 December 2023
Dec 04, 2023 • 5 min Read
Anonymous accounts flood WPS discourse with ‘CIA agent’ accusations vs PCG spox | PHILSTAR.COM –MANILA, Philippines — Similarly worded allegations that Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Jay Tarriela was a covert “CIA agent” and supporter of the United States government surfaced online after he publicly condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s water cannon attack on Filipino vessels in August.
Besides accusing the PCG spokesperson of aligning with the US government and inciting war with China, several accounts also revived a 2004 news story that mentioned Tarriela as one of the subjects of a probe by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) on a cheating incident. At least two columnists writing for The Manila Times and Net25 echoed this narrative.
These posts have some of the markings of an influence operation that Philstar.com is tracking across all social media platforms, groups and spaces on the internet. Among others, the posts appear to focus on flooding the discourse on Chinese vessels’ behavior in the West Philippine Sea with accusations that Tarriela is providing intelligence services to the US government.
Based on Philstar.com’s monitoring, a verified account exhibiting troll-like behavior on X (formerly Twitter) first posted accusations that Tarriela worked for the US government’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) around two hours after Tarriela called Filipinos defending China amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea “unpatriotic” and “traitors.”
Full Story at: Anonymous accounts flood WPS discourse with ‘CIA agent’ accusations vs PCG spox | Philstar.com
Sara Duterte asked to respond to petition assailing P125 million confidential fund transfer | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte and other government officials were required to comment by the Supreme Court (SC) on a petition assailing the constitutionality of the transfer of the P125 million from the Office of the President’s contingency fund to the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) in 2022.
In a two-page notice, the SC En Banc ordered Duterte, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and the Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman to file their comment within 10 days from receipt of notice without giving due course to the petition.
An order to comment is part of the high court’s procedures in handling cases or petitions.
The petitioners, composed of lawyers and concerned citizens, last November 7 asked the SC to declare the fund transfer “unconstitutional.” They said that the authority to transfer funds from the national budget to the OVP can only be done with the legislative department having the “power of the purse,” by creating a budget item dedicated to the CIF.
“The executive department has no discretion to create another budget item,” Lawyer Ray Paolo Santiago said in a press conference on November 7.
The confidential funds, amounting to P125 million, was spent by the OVP in 11 days in December 2022, according to a report of the Commission on Audit. Duterte’s camp insisted that she spent it in 19 days.
Full Story at: Sara Duterte asked to respond to petition assailing P125 million confidential fund transfer | Philstar.com
Romualdez on reviving peace talks with NDF: It’s not a political maneuver | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has clarified that peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are not mere political maneuvers, but a responsibility of both sides in the pursuit of peace.
Romualdez said in a statement on Monday that the initial talks between the NDFP and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) on the possible resumption of peace negotiations are a step toward a peaceful future for Filipinos.
“This negotiation is more than just a political maneuver; it is a moral imperative, a chance to mend the fissures that have long divided our nation. We are not just negotiating terms; we are weaving the fabric of a peaceful future for every Filipino,” he said.
“Let us embrace this opportunity with open hearts and minds, fostering an environment where peace can flourish. Together, under President (Ferdinand) Marcos’s leadership, we shall strive towards a Philippines that is not only prosperous but also harmonious and united in its diversity,” he added.
In an ambush interview on the sidelines of the House’ Christmas tree lighting event, Romualdez also said that pushing for peace is only timely as the Philippines celebrates the yuletide season.
Full Story at: Speaker on reviving peace talks with NDF: Not a political maneuver (inquirer.net)
PCG: Militia ships in Julian Felipe Reef could be prelude to China reclamation | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The presence of more than 100 suspected Chinese maritime militia (CMM) ships in the Julian Felipe Reef could be a preparation for reclamation activities, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday.
PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said this is just one of the possibilities they see as a substantial increase of vessels were observed in the sand bank compared to previous months.
“There are possibilities that these Chinese maritime militia are just occupying a particular maritime feature and then if they are not going to be noticed or exposed, there is a possibility that they would eventually carry out reclamation activities in a particular area,” Tarriela said over CNN Philippines.
Aside from being a show of force, Tarriela also said that the CMM around the general vicinity of the low-tide elevation was intended for reinforcement of Chinese Coast Guard against the regular resupply mission in the BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin Shoal.
Full Story at: Militia ships in Julian Felipe Reef could be prelude to reclamation (inquirer.net)
