News Roundup 08 February 2024
Feb 08, 2024 • 4 min Read
‘Doomed to fail’: Marcos appeals to stop calls for Mindanao secession | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The calls for an independent Mindanao separate from the Philippines is a “constitutional travesty” that is “anchored on a false premise,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday.
In a speech at “Constitution Day” event in Makati, Marcos said that the calls for Mindanao secession are “doomed to fail” as the Bangsamoro government does not support this call.
“The new call for a separate Mindanao is doomed to fail…The current leadership of BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) itself has repudiated this preposterous proposal and so did the other political leaders of Mindanao,” Marcos said in his speech.
“This is a grave violation of the Constitution,” he added.
This is Marcos’ first statement on the call of former President Rodrigo Duterte about Mindanao separating from the rest of the Philippines, which government agencies and Bangsamoro leaders opposed.
Full Story at: ‘Doomed to fail’: Marcos appeals to stop calls for Mindanao secession | Philstar.com
Philippines’ ICC cooperation may include issuance of arrest warrant — Carpio | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said that the government’s issuance of an arrest warrant for former President Rodrigo Duterte could be a form of cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The former magistrate echoed an SC ruling, saying that the Philippines still has an obligation to the international tribunal despite the country’s membership being withdrawn.
“We are no longer a member state, but I think the decision of the Supreme Court said that since the offense with which (former) President Duterte is charged happened while we were members of the ICC. We are obliged to cooperate up to now,” Carpio said in an interview with reporters on Wednesday.
“That cooperation may include implementing a warrant of arrest,” he added.
Carpio referred to the 2021 Pangilinan et al. vs. Cayetano et. al. case, in which the SC rejected the petitions, challenging the validity of the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC.
The case, however, citing Article 27 of the Rome Statute, pointed out that the Philippines is still bound to its obligations to the international tribunal as the alleged crimes against humanity were committed when the country was still a member state.
Full Story at: Philippines’ ICC cooperation may include issuance of arrest warrant — Carpio | Philstar.com
House panel to Quiboloy: Show up or face arrest | INQUIRER.NET – The House committee on legislative franchises issued on Wednesday a subpoena for televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to compel him to appear in the inquiry into the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), which is purportedly owned by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder.
The panel, chaired by Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, warned Quiboloy that he could be cited in contempt and ordered arrested should he continue to ignore the summons.
Committee vice chair and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel moved for the issuance of a subpoena for Quiboloy on the prompting of Gabriela women’s party list Rep. Arlene Brosas, who said the televangelist appeared to have continuing influence over SMNI.
Brosas sought the subpoena after SMNI lawyer Mark Tolentino maintained that “Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is the honorary chairman of SMNI and he’s not part of the day-to-day operations of SMNI,” despite the lawmaker’s observation that Quiboloy was “credited” in all SMNI shows.
Full Story at: House panel to Quiboloy: Show up or face arrest (inquirer.net)
Solon to DOTr: Congress can intervene in PUV consolidation issue | INQUIRER.NET – Solon to DOTr: Right to grant franchises only relegated to you, we can step in
MANILA, Philippines — Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo on Thursday called out the Department of Transportation (DOTr) over its insistence on consolidating the franchises of jeepneys.
Quimbo said during the hearing of the House committee on transportatio that the right to grant franchises is a power of Congress — which means the legislature can amend the franchise rules set by DOTr’s attached agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“It is very clear the power to grant franchises rests with Congress. Not government, Mr. Secretary, it rests with Congress,” Quimbo told Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, who attended the committee hearings on the public utility vehicle. modernization program for the first time.
“It is simply delegated to you Mr. Secretary. And there is a special, there is a provision in the Public Service Act as amended, and I will read it to you,” she added.
Quimbo proceeded to read the Public Service Act’s provisions stating that franchises cannot be granted except “under the condition that is always subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by Congress when the public interest so requires”.
Full Story at: Solon to DOTr: Congress can intervene in PUV consolidation issue | Inquirer News
