News Roundup 19 December 2023
Dec 19, 2023 • 5 min Read
‘Laban ng lahat’: Civilian role in kicking China out of PH waters growing, crucial | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—The “gravest external threat to the Philippines since World War II,” Chinese occupation of West Philippine Sea (WPS), inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, has to be fought not just by the Philippine military but by civilians, too, said the group Atin Ito.
No matter how powerful or intimidating China is, the group said “the West Philippine Sea is ours.”
Rafaela David, Atin Ito convener, told INQUIRER.net via FB Messenger, that “it is critical for ordinary citizens to take part in standing up to China as it sends a strong message that the Filipino people are united and will not be bullied by the giant nation.”
This was the reason that last Dec. 10, the coalition of Filipinos fighting for Philippine sovereignty in WPS embarked on a historic civilian-led mission to bring gifts and supplies to soldiers and fishermen stationed in Ayungin Shoal, and the islands of Patag and Lawak in the Kalayaan Island Group.
While the mission was cut short on the same day, with Atin Ito saying that it had agreed to return to El Nido, Palawan “after the constant shadowing of four Chinese vessels,” one of the 40 Filipino vessels reached Lawak Island on Dec. 11.
Full Story at: ‘Laban ng lahat’: Civilian role in kicking China out of PH waters growing, crucial | Inquirer News
Diplomatic efforts fail: Marcos eyes radical solution in West PH Sea row | INQUIRER.NET – TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is calling for a paradigm shift in the West Philippine Sea dispute, said the Palace on Tuesday.
“It’s time that the countries that feel that they have an involvement in this situation, we have to come up with a paradigm shift,” Marcos told Japanese media.
The President admitted that confrontations in the disputed waters have fallen into a pattern. The Philippines would engage in traditional methods of diplomacy after each incident by sending a note verbale and the Philippine Embassy would send a démarche to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“We have been doing this for many years now, with very little progress,” Marcos said.
“We have to do something what we have not done before. We have to come up with a new concept, a new principle, a new idea so that we move, as I say, we move the needle the other way. It’s going up, let’s move the needle back, so that paradigm shift is something that we have to formulate,” Marcos added.
Full Story at: Marcos wants ‘paradigm shift’ in West Philippine Sea row (inquirer.net)
MTRCB suspends SMNI programs hosted by Duterte, Badoy and Celiz | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:03 p.m.) — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has slapped a two-week preventive suspension on two programs of the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), including one hosted by former President Rodrigo Duterte, for allegedly airing content unfit for broadcast.
In a release, the MTRCB said that it has suspended SMNI programs “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa,” hosted by Duterte, and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan,” hosted by former government anti-communist task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz to “prevent further violations or protect the interest and welfare of the public.”
MTRCB said that it received complaints over the two shows’ airing of unverified news content, alleged death threats and foul language, all of which violate the government’s guidelines and standards governing broadcasts under Presidential Decree 1986
The regulatory board said that the complaints pertained to two episodes of Duterte’s show — aired in October and November — where there was an alleged use of death threats and profane language.
Duterte allegedly threatened violence against House lawmaker Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) during his October 10 episode, where he said, specifically: “You France, you communists that I want to kill.”
In a November episode, Duterte linked Castro to communist rebels anew, saying: “Communists should be killed, you should be included.”
Castro has filed a grave threats complaint against Duterte over the October 10 episode and included Duterte’s remarks in November in a supplemental complaint.
Meanwhile, Badoy and Celiz alleged in their show that Romualdez has spent P1.8 billion in travels, triggering a House probe that led to them being detained in the lower chamber after they were cited in contempt for their answers. Both hosts have apologized for the incident, with Celiz saying that his “source” on the information turned out to be wrong.
Full Story at: MTRCB suspends SMNI programs hosted by Duterte, Badoy and Celiz | Philstar.com
Tagle identity stolen, used to sell aircons | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Sunday said his identity has been “stolen” and is being used in marketing gimmickry to sell tea, portable air-conditioning units and even medication for rheumatism.
In his homily during the Gaudete Sunday of the Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass) for the Filipino community at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Dec. 17, the 66-year-old cardinal disclosed that his identity has been repeatedly stolen.
“My name has been used to sell medication for rheumatism, to sell portable AC and even fans… to sell milk, tea… What I can tell you is that it is not I, and whoever is taking other people’s identity, I pity you,” Tagle, who is the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, said.
“You have your own name and you have your own mission. Why don’t you stand up (for yourself). Why do you have to live using fake identity and fake news?” he added.
Full Story at: Tagle identity stolen, used to sell aircons | Philstar.com
