News Roundup 27 May 2024
May 27, 2024 • 5 min Read
DFA: China’s Coast Guard rules violate international law | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines warned China that it would be “in direct violation of international law” if it orders its coast guard to detain for up to 60 days without trial supposed “trespassers” in the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines has jurisdiction.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said China’s coast guard regulations, set to take effect on June 15, may not be applied in other states’ territories, maritime zones or jurisdictions and would “violate other sovereign states’ rights and entitlements under international law.”
Domestic laws “cannot be applied nor enforced in the high seas under international law,” added the DFA.
“China would be in direct violation of international law should it enforce these new regulations in the waters and maritime features within the illegal, null and void, and expansive 10-dash line, which would effectively cover areas of the West Philippine Sea where the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, or in the high seas,” the DFA said in a statement on Sunday.
The DFA reminded China that its domestic laws should “abide by its commitments and obligations under international law,” particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, as well as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Full Story at: DFA: China’s Coast Guard rules violate international law (inquirer.net)
Emergence of Solid 7 stuns Escudero, realizes ‘separate group’ in majority | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The emergence of the group Solid 7 following a leadership change came as a surprise to newly-installed Senate President Francis Escudero.
The group is composed of resigned Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Loren Legarda, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara and Sherwin Gatchalian.
But for Escudero, the changing of the guard at the Senate was peaceful.
“Ilang beses kaming nakapag-usap at yung kudeta sanay lang naman ang media na tawagin yan pero nagkaroon ng mapayapang pagpapalit,” he said in an interview over Unang Hirit on Monday.
(We’ve already talked several times and the media is just used to calling it a coup, but there was a peaceful transition.)
“Pinuntahan namin ni Senator Cayetano si Senator Zubiri sa kanyang tanggapan pero alam naman na niya na merong sapat na boto para magkaroon ng pagpapalit ng liderato. Kaya nga naging mapayapa yung transition bago kami nagtapos ng sesyon sine die…” he added, referring to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano
(Senator Cayetano and I went to Zubiri’s office but he already knew there were enough votes to change the leadership. That’s why the transition was peaceful before we adjourned sine die.)
Shortly after, Solid 7 was born – to Escudero’s surprise.
Under Zubiri’s leadership, he had the support of the 22-member “solid and strong” majority bloc, the new Senate chief pointed out.
“Nagulat na lamang kami nitong mga nakaraang araw sa kabila pala ng solid majority at strong majority ng 22 ay meron din palang 6 o 7 sa loob nun na hiwalay na grupo,” Escudero said.
(We were surprised to learn in the past days that despite the solid majority and strong majority of 22, there were also 6 or 7 within it who were part of a separate group.)
Full Story at: Emergence of Solid 7 stuns Escudero (inquirer.net)
BIFF bomb-maker killed, 26 IEDs seized in 6th ID anti-terror operation | PHILSTAR.COM – COTABATO CITY — Soldiers killed a member of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and confiscated 26 improvised explosive devices in an air and ground anti-terror offensive in Barangay Butilen, Salibo town in Maguindanao del Sur on Saturday.
Major Gen. Alex Rillera, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, told reporters on Monday that the calibrated anti-terror operation was launched after residents of Barangay Butilen and their municipal officials reported the convergence in the area of BIFF members, as if bracing for an attack.
Soldiers dispatched to clear the area, after the aerial maneuvers by Philippine Air Force attack helicopters and fixed-wing bombers, traded shots with BIFF terrorists at one spot in Barangay Butilen, killing one of them in the ensuing encounter.
Villagers told reporters that the slain BIFF member, who had two names that they believe were fictitious, Ahmed Samsudin and Jivin Ansao, was an expert in fabrication of improvised explosive devices that can be detonated from a distance using mobile phones.
Community leaders said that the companions of the slain BIFF bomb-maker immediately escaped, carrying four wounded companions when they sensed that more soldiers were closing in.
Soldiers found 26 explosives in the makeshift shelters in the scene of the encounter. These are now in the custody of 6th ID’s bomb disposal experts.
Full Story at: BIFF bomb-maker killed, 26 IEDs seized in 6th ID anti-terror operation | Philstar.com
4 farmers killed in South Cotabato gun attack | PHILSTAR.COM – COTABATO CITY — Four farmers who were drinking in Barangay Dumadalig in Tantangan, South Cotabato were killed, while another was wounded in an attack by men armed with M16 assault rifles at almost Sunday midnight.
In separate reports released early Monday, the Tantangan Municipal Police Station and the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office stated that Jerry Tabamo Yuarata, Ronald Orin Vallespin, Argie Villas Villorente and Marcelo Barnachea Combiz all died on the spot from multiple bullet wounds.
The incident left another farmer, Freddie Reyes Tabamo, badly wounded. He is now confined in a hospital.
Officials of the Tantangan police force and local executives, among them members of the Tantangan multi-sector Municipal Peace and Order Council, told reporters that the victims were drinking liquor together in Purok 5 Luayon in Barangay Dumadalig when their attackers, brandishing M16 assault rifles, arrived and opened fire.
The gunmen hurriedly escaped, according to witnesses.
Barangay tanods and villagers in houses around scampered away when gunshot reverberated through the scene, apparently scared that they could be harmed too if they intervened.
Story at: 4 farmers killed in South Cotabato gun attack | Philstar.com
