News Roundup 26 March 2024
Mar 26, 2024 • 4 min Read
Coast guard ship visit highlights ‘shared problems’ for PH, India — external affairs minister | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The arrival of the Indian pollution control vessel in Manila brought attention to the shared challenges in marine pollution encountered by both India and the Philippines, according to India’s external affairs minister.
In a speech aboard the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Samudra Paheredar on Tuesday, India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that the ship’s visit in the country is “significant” as both countries have shared challenges in combating pollution and illegal fishing and ensuring marine environmental protection.
“The visit of this pollution control vessel to the Philippines is significant, because it highlights the shared challenges that we face in that domain,” Jaishankar said in his speech at the coast guard vessel docked at the Manila South Harbor.
Jaishankar noted that the cooperation between the coast guards of India and the Philippines was made possible by an agreement reached last year, which involved hosting the Philippines Coast Guard commandant in India for specialized training courses.
He expressed appreciation for the Philippines’ participation in search and rescue and pollution response exercises conducted by the Indian Coast Guard.
Full Story at: Coast guard ship visit highlights ‘shared problems’ for PH, India — external affairs minister | Philstar.com
Teves camp to push case before UNHRC | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Arnolfo Teves Jr. justified its potential decision to present his case before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In an interview with GMA’s Unang Balita on Tuesday, Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said that the alleged “pattern of persecution” of the expelled lawmaker can be brought to the UNHRC.
“Ang ating bansa ay signatory doon sa UN Declaration of Human Rights, and under international law…ang isang indibidwal as opposed to states ay subject na rin po sa international law,” Topacio said.
(Our country is a signatory to the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and under international law…an individual, as opposed to states, is also subject to international law.)
Teves, who was included in the Interpol’s red list in February, was arrested on Thursday last week in Dili, Timor-Leste while playing golf.
On March 23, Topacio said that the lawmaker’s detention had been extended for 15 days maximum or “the for the possible duration of the trial.”
Full Story at: Teves camp to push case before UNHRC | Philstar.com
Sara Duterte’s ‘silence’ on China’s hostility in West PH Sea hit | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—What is Vice President Sara Duterte’s stance on China’s aggressive actions against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea?
A “deafening silence,” according to Akbayan Party head Rafaela David, as she challenged the country’s No. 2 leader to speak up and make her position known amid the persistent hostility of China in the disputed waters.
In a statement, David said Duterte should “show some courage” and “defend” the country’s sovereignty instead of using her voice to defend Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy.
“The Filipino people need real leaders, not traitors. The deafening silence of Vice President Duterte speaks volumes about her priorities,” the Akbayan Party president said Tuesday.
“While she rushes to the defense of the morally questionable, she turns a blind eye to the plight of Filipinos facing aggression in our own waters. It’s time for VP Sara to show some courage and defend our sovereignty rather than seeking refuge in a traitorous silence that betrays the trust of the Filipino people,” she added.
Last March 12, Duterte showed up at a rally in Liwasang Bonifacio to support Quiboloy. She said that the congressional investigation on the sect leader, who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, was a “trial by publicity.” For her, the alleged crimes hurled against Quiboloy were slanderous.
Full Story at: Sara Duterte’s ‘silence’ on China’s hostility in West PH Sea hit (inquirer.net)
3 alleged NPA rebels slain in Batangas clash | INQUIRER.NET – LUCENA CITY — At least three alleged New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were killed in a clash with government soldiers in Rosario town in Batangas province on Tuesday, March 26.
The Batangas police said in an initial report that patrolling Army soldiers led by 2nd Lieutenant Rhyll Romerosa from the 59th Infantry Battalion encountered an undetermined number of armed NPA rebels in Barangay Leviste (Tubahan) around 6:31 a.m.
The battle lasted for 30 minutes, after which the communist guerrillas withdrew toward the north direction.
Full Story at: 3 alleged NPA rebels slain in Batangas clash (inquirer.net)
