News Roundup 17 February 2024
Feb 17, 2024 • 4 min Read
PCG reports ongoing dangerous maneuvers from Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is sounding the alarm as Chinese vessels continue in engaging in dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea, despite the presence of PCG and Philippine maritime assets.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesman for West Philippine Sea, disclosed during a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday that they have closely monitored four Chinese vessels, specifically CCG 3063 and 3064, deployed to guard the southeast entrance of Bajo de Masinloc.
The vessels reportedly employ floating barriers whenever Philippine vessels are detected nearby.
Tarriela also highlighted the actions of CCG 3302 and 3105, engaging in what he described as “dangerous maneuvers” to obstruct Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and PCG vessels from approaching Bajo de Masinloc.
“These are the four Chinese maritime militia that we also documented who actively participated in blocking and also carrying out dangerous maneuver to prevent the BFAR vessel in getting close sa Bajo de Masinloc,” Tarriela said.
“We experienced of course dangerous maneuver and then shadowing not just from the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) Navy but even from the Chinese Coast Guard and also the Chinese maritime militia. There is also participation from the Chinese maritime militia,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the PCG and the BFAR to reinforce the country’s presence in the contested waters.
Full Story at: PCG reports ongoing dangerous maneuvers from Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
China using cyanide to ‘destroy’ Scarborough on purpose — BFAR | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) revealed that Chinese fisherfolk have been using the deadly chemical compound cyanide to damage Bajo de Masinloc — a body of water also known as the Scarborough Shoal.
BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera had this to say about the said traditional fishing grounds, an area claimed by the People’s Republic of China even if it’s well within the West Philippine Sea.
“These Chinese fishermen use cyanide,” said Briguera in Filipino during a Saturday News Forum press conference held in Quezon City.
“[T]hey intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc to prevent Filipino fishing boats to fish in the area.”
Briguera estimated that the damages caused by the cynanide fishing could exceed P1 billion. However, the BFAR has yet to conduct a formal study on the matter.
Full Story at: China using cyanide to ‘destroy’ Scarborough on purpose — BFAR | Philstar.com
Zubiri on Cha-cha hearings: Senate a safe place for ideas | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Saturday that the Senate opened hearings on constitutional amendments because it was “a safe place for ideas.”
According to Zubiri, the Senate will go after corrupt, not contrarian opinions.
“The Senate has always been a safe place for ideas. It is an open marketplace for views. We clamp down on the corrupt, but never on those with contrarian opinions. Kaya naman binuksan namin ang hearings sa Charter change,” Zubiri said.
(The Senate has always been a safe place for ideas. It is an open marketplace for views. We clamp down on the corrupt, but never on those with contrarian opinions. This is why we opened hearings on Charter change.)
Zubiri made the statement at the 2024 Alumni Homecoming of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City.
Full Story at: Zubiri on Cha-cha hearings: Senate a safe place for ideas (inquirer.net)
BOC says it collected P106 billion in January 2024 | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) collected P106 billion this January, BOC Deputy Commissioner Michael Fermin reported on Saturday.
“For this year, since we just started, for January we collected P106 billion – that is still ahead of the target so we’re on the right track,” Fermin said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
“We have been efficiently collecting revenues, especially with the higher target this year set by the DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee],” Fermin added, referring to the inter-agency body under the National Economic and Development Authority assigned to set the government’s macroeconomic assumptions.
Meanwhile, for 2023, the BOC official said that they have collected P883.62 billion.
This amount is P9.45 billion higher than the commission’s target collection of P874 billion for last year.
Full Story at: BOC says it collected P106 billion in January 2024 | Inquirer News
