News Roundup 07 April 2024
Apr 07, 2024 • 4 min Read
4-nation naval drills set today: For ‘a free, open Indo-Pacific’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States will hold a “maritime cooperative activity” (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) today to “support a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the allied countries said in a joint statement on Saturday.
The one-day joint exercise to be held in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be conducted in a manner “consistent with international law as well as domestic laws and rules of respective nations,” the statement said, adding that the exercises will observe “safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.”
There was no disclosure yet as of Saturday where in the West Philippine Sea the exercise will be held.
The four countries said the MCA serves to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and respect for maritime rights under international law, [as] reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).”
“Our four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” they also said, referring to the Philippines’ arbitral victory which upheld its exclusive economic zone after it brought that arbitral case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013.
Full Story at: 4-nation naval drills set today: For ‘a free, open Indo-Pacific’ (inquirer.net)
China to hold drills in disputed South China Sea on Sunday – Chinese Army | INQUIRER.NET – China will conduct military “combat patrols” Sunday in the disputed South China Sea, a statement from the army said, the same day as joint drills by the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia.
“On April 7, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organizes joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea,” said the statement.
“All military activities that mess up the situation in the South China Sea and create hotspots are under control,” it added, in an apparent swipe at the other drills being held in the waters.
The announcement comes one day after defense chiefs from four countries including the Philippines — which has been engaged in several contentious maritime disputes with Beijing recently — said they would conduct joint drills Sunday in the area.
Further details about Chinese military activities in the waterway Sunday were not announced.
The exercises take place days before US President Joe Biden is due to hold the first trilateral summit with the leaders of the Philippines and Japan.
Full Story at: China to hold drills in disputed South China Sea on Sunday – Chinese Army | Global News (inquirer.net)
Quiboloy sets conditions for surrender | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is asking for “written guarantees” from authorities as he laid down the conditions for his surrender.
A Davao City court earlier issued warrants of arrest against Quiboloy and five of his followers for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
In his voice message released through the DZAR 1026 YouTube channel, Quiboloy said he wants a written guarantee “that the Americans will not interfere in his case in the Philippines and that their Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the US embassy will not meddle.”
Quiboloy also wants a written guarantee from President Marcos, Department of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) director Medardo de Lemos that the “US government will not interfere.”
“If you fail to give in written form these conditions from the Office of the President, Office of the Secretary of Justice, PNP, NBI and CIDG, you will never see my face,” Quiboloy asserted.
Full Story at: Quiboloy sets conditions for surrender | Philstar.com
Building code compliance pivotal in earthquake preparedness – OCD | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stressed that preparedness is always the best solution in saving lives from devastating earthquakes.
OCD Administrator and Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno reiterated on Saturday the importance of strengthening engineering solutions and building code compliance in preparation for earthquakes, especially for the “Big Ones.”
“I will say it again, engineering solutions and compliance with the building code are the best preparedness measures for earthquakes,” Nepomuceno said. “We really need to improve our efforts for these alongside other measures.”
“We need to ensure that buildings and facilities are strong enough to withstand strong earthquakes.”
Nepomuceno encouraged everyone particularly those who are living in the Greater Manila’s 16 cities and one municipality — Manila, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela and Pateros — to intensify their preparations by checking the buildings and their infrastructures.
He added there are thousands of structures such as buildings and houses are established in Metro Manila, and these could be affected if the “Big Ones come.”
Full Story at: Building code compliance pivotal in earthquake preparedness – OCD | Philstar.com
