News Roundup 31 March 2024
Mar 31, 2024 • 5 min Read
Marcos creates maritime council amid escalating tensions in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the strengthening of the country’s maritime security and domain awareness as tensions between the Philippines and China escalate over territorial disputes.
Marcos signed Executive Order 57 on March 25 “to comprehensively tackle” the cross cutting issues that impact the country’s national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction over its extensive maritime zones.
“Despite efforts to promote stability and security in our maritime domain, the Philippines continues to confront a range of serious challenges that threaten not only the country’s territorial integrity, but also the peaceful existence of Filipinos, including their fundamental right to live in peace and freedom, free from fear of violence and threat,” read the document, a copy of which was made available on Sunday.
The issuance of the order came after Marcos said the Philippines will implement countermeasures against “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by the China Coast Guard and the Chinese maritime militia.
National Maritime Council
Under the order, the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) has been renamed and reorganized as the National Maritime Council. It will act as the central body in-charge of formulating policies and strategies to ensure a coordinated and effective framework for the nation’s maritime security and domain awareness.
Full Story at: Marcos creates maritime council amid escalating tensions in West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
Jinggoy denies Roque claim on Sierra Madre ‘deal’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — It was “unacceptable” for former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to claim that former president Joseph Estrada made a deal with Beijing to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, according to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.
“I once asserted in a privilege speech that there was no agreement or promise that my father, former president Joseph Estrada, made to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal and this was further confirmed by then defense and security officials such as former defense secretary Orlando Mercado,” Estrada, a son of the former president, said.
“It’s disappointing, to say the least, and utterly unacceptable for former presidential spokesman Harry Roque to make such baseless claims when he’s not even privy to such information,” Estrada added.
Roque’s statement, Estrada said, “only spread confusion and doubts about the Philippine integrity and ability to fight for the security of the country” in the face of “worsening pressure and bullying of China.”
“As I pointed out in my privilege speech last August, how is it possible that there was a period of relative ‘peace’ in the West Philippine Sea during the nine-year Arroyo administration? The administration that succeeded my father was conspicuously ‘silent’ and did not take any steps to claim our territorial rights concerning the West Philippine Sea,” he pointed out.
“Amid all these pronouncements, it’s praiseworthy that the Marcos administration is taking concrete actions to protect our sovereign rights and territorial integrity. Any efforts made to address this ongoing and escalating aggression by China should be supported and encouraged,” he said.
“We must remain firm and united in defending our sovereignty, and in safeguarding our maritime territories for the benefit of present and future generations,” Estrada said.
Full Story at: Jinggoy denies Roque claim on Sierra Madre ‘deal’ | Philstar.com
Quiboloy must appear before Senate probe, says retired SC justice | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — “The jurisprudence on the subpoena power of the Senate or its Committees and the right of the person subpoenaed against self-incrimination is well-settled.”
This is what retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio said in a statement on Sunday regarding religious leader and alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy’s refusal to appear before the Senate on the ground of his right against self-incrimination.
According to Carpio, the person who was issued a subpoena, in this case, Quiboloy, must appear before the Senate committee and may raise the right of incrimination “only when the incriminating question is asked.”
Citing a 2009 jurisprudence, the retired Chief Justice highlighted that the subpoenaed individuals must invoke their right against self-incrimination “only when the incriminating question is being asked, since they have no way of knowing in advance the nature or effect of the questions to be asked of them.”
In the same jurisprudence, it was stressed that responding to a subpoena is an “unremitting obligation of every citizen.”
Full Story at: Quiboloy must appear before Senate probe, says retired SC justice (inquirer.net)
Despite Pulse Asia survey, solons insist Cha-cha is key to ease barriers | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Despite a recent survey showing the majority of Filipinos reject amending the 1987 Constitution, proponents of economic Charter change (Cha-cha) at the House of Representatives remain firm that a constitutional reform is needed to “address societal needs” in the country.
In a statement on Sunday, three House lawmakers reiterated the necessity of easing some economic restrictions in the country’s principal Charter, amid a Pulse Asia survey which showed that 74 percent of Filipinos believe that the Constitution should not be amended at this time.
“While we acknowledge the survey results, we cannot ignore the pressing issues that require legislative action,” House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe of Zamboanga City said.
He stressed that the proposed economic Charter change (Cha-cha) is not aimed at consolidating power nor extending terms, but rather at stimulating economic growth, addressing concerns raised by critics of constitutional reform.
Full Story at: Despite survey, solons insist Cha-cha is key to ease barriers (inquirer.net)
