News Roundup 27 April 2024
Apr 27, 2024 • 4 min Read
PISTON announces transport strike from April 29 to May 1 | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Jeepney drivers are preparing for a three-day nationwide strike set for the following week to protest against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) and the approaching April 30 deadline for the consolidation of jeepney franchises.
Progressive Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) will lead the transport strike, scheduled to start on April 29 and end on May 1, Labor Day.
“Ito ay kinakailangan nating gawin upang ipaglaban natin ang ating mga kabuhayan sa sektor ng transportasyon,” PISTON deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon said media forum in Quezon City on Saturday.
(We must take action to safeguard our livelihoods in the transportation sector.)
Baylon said that drivers and operators will continue their routes even after the April 30 consolidation deadline passes.
“Ang a-uno [ng Mayo], sabi nila, huhulihin na raw ang mga jeep. Karapatan ng mamamayang Pilipino na maglingkod sa sambayanan. Kung kaya, kahit na matapos ang deadline, hindi titigil sa pamamasada ang mga drayber at operator,” Baylon added.
(Starting May 1, jeepneys that fail to consolidate will be apprehended. Filipinos have the right to serve their communities. Even after the deadline, drivers and operators will continue their routes.)
Metro Manila is slated to be a focal point for the protest, with key areas including Alabang, Baclaran, Sucat, Taft Avenue, Agoncillo, Monumento, Novaliches, Litex, Anonas, Katipunan, and Philcoa.
Full Story at: PISTON announces transport strike from April 29 to May 1 | Philstar.com
‘No law violated in cops coordinating with ICC’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — No law was violated when police officers communicated with representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigating the drug war launched by former president Rodrigo Duterte, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV maintained yesterday.
Trillanes said ICC investigators would not coordinate with Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, considered one of those involved in the case being the architect of Oplan Tokhang and chief of the Philippine National Police at initial implementation of the war on drugs in 2016.
“First, Bato was not approached because he was the main suspect in the case. The evidence against him is clear,” Trillanes said in Filipino in a Viber message to Senate reporters, referring to Dela Rosa by his nickname.
“Secondly, it is not a crime for the police to interact in their personal capacity because only they as individuals will be harmed if they do not answer for their involvement in the ICC case,” he said.
“Third, Bato said he will not give attention to my statement but he reacted lengthily,” Trillanes added.
Full Story at: ‘No law violated in cops coordinating with ICC’ | Philstar.com
China’s ‘new model’ on Ayungin Shoal a mere ‘invention’ – NSC | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The “new model” that China claims it is following in its conduct around Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is “nothing more than a new invention,” the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement on Saturday.
“As the President [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] has clearly stated, there is no agreement whatsoever about Ayungin Shoal and that we shall continue to do all activities within the bounds of international law and we shall brook no interference in our lawful actions,” the NSC said.
Last April 18, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines made a remark on this “new model,” saying: “A ‘new model’for management of the Ren’ai Jiao situation was also agreed upon by both sides early this year after rounds of serious communications with the Philippine military.”
The NSC asserted that the Philippines would not allow agreements recognizing Chinese control over the shoal.
Full Story at: China’s ‘new model’ on Ayungin Shoal a mere ‘invention’ – NSC (inquirer.net)
DOJ: EJKs during current admin not linked to freedom of expression | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Saturday that reported cases of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under the current administration were caused by personal motives, rather than from the exercise of freedom of expression.
According to the DOJ, this was from the findings of its review panel.
“Following a thorough inquiry, the DOJ Review Panel has concluded that reported EJKs under the current administration were not linked to the exercise of freedom of expression but rather to personal motives,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“It is crucial to distinguish between killings related to legitimate law enforcement activities and true EJK incidents,” it added.
The department also denounced cases of baseless red-tagging and EJKs in the same statement.
Full Story at: DOJ: EJKs in current admin not linked to freedom of expression (inquirer.net)
