News Roundup 28 May 2024
May 28, 2024 • 4 min Read
Zambales fishers reject China’s fishing ban in Philippine waters | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Small-scale fisherfolk said that they will continue fishing activities in the Philippine waters despite China’s unilateral imposition of a four-month fishing ban in the South China Sea.
The chapter of fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) in Zambales said that it will defy China’s fishing moratorium in the South China Sea, which includes waters the Philippines claims as its own.
“Hindi kami tatalima sa walang batayang fishing ban ng China sa aming karagatan. Walang karapatan ang sinumang dayuhan na magbawal ng pangingisda sa sarili nating teritoryo,” said Joey Marabe, coordinator of PAMALAKAYA-Zambales.
(We will not comply with China’s baseless fishing ban in our waters. No foreign entity has the right to prohibit fishing in our own territory.)
Beijing’s annual fishing ban covers the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, which has been utilized by generations of Filipino fishers. The fishing moratorium runs from the last week of May until September 16.
“Insulto at hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang China pa ang magpapatupad ng fishing ban para diumano sa konserbasyon ng karagatan, samantalang sila ang nagsasagawa ng mapanirang aktibidad tulad ng reklamasyon at iligal na pamamaraan ng pangingisda,” Marabe added.
(It is an insult and unacceptable that China imposes a fishing ban under the guise of marine conservation, while they themselves engage in destructive activities such as reclamation and illegal fishing practices.)
Full Story at: Zambales fishers reject China’s fishing ban in Philippine waters | Philstar.com
SC OKs transfer of Quiboloy cases from Davao to Quezon City | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has granted the request of the Department of Justice to transfer the child and sexual abuse cases of fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.
In a press release on Tuesday, the SC said that it granted the request of the DOJ to “avoid the miscarriage of justice.”
“The Court found compelling reasons to justify the transfer of venue as the cases involve public interest, with the accused, a well-known religious leader, being influential in the area,” the SC said.
“As this could cause local biases and a strong possibility that witnesses cannot freely testify due to fear and influence of the accused, the Court found it prudent and judicious to order the transfer of the cases to Quezon City,” it added.
The SC also instructed judges in Davao City and other Mindanao stations, where future related cases involving Quiboloy and his co-accused might be filed, to independently order the transfer of the case records to the Office of the Clerk of Court of the RTC and Metropolitan Trial Court in Quezon City.
Full Story at: SC OKs transfer of Quiboloy cases from Davao to Quezon City | Philstar.com
Villanueva: 3 or 4 ‘Solid 7’ members ready to join minority bloc | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva said at least three members of “Solid 7” are now “more than willing” to join the Senate minority bloc.
The Solid 7 includes former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito, Loren Legarda, and Sherwin Gatchalian.
The faction emerged after Zubiri was replaced as Senate chief on May 20 by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
“Kung ano man ang magiging desisyon namin talagang it’s all for the betterment of our service as senators of the Republic of the Philippines. ‘Yun naman ang commitment ng pito sa aming grupo,” Villanueva said in an ambush interview Tuesday.
(Whatever our decision will be, it’s for the betterment of our service as senators of the Republic of the Philippines. All seven of us in our group have committed to that.)
“Tatlo [o] apat I can say. Si Sen. JV already mentioned, Sen. Binay already made a statement also, nandyan si dating Senate President Migz, nandyan si Sen. Sonny Angara — so ‘yan po lahat open to that idea to be part of the minority,” he added.
(Three or four, I can say. Sen. JV already mentioned it, Sen. Binay already made a statement also, and there’s former Senate President Migz and Sen. Sonny Angara — so all of them are open to that idea of being part of the minority.)
Full Story at: Villanueva: 3 or 4 ‘Solid 7’ members ready to join minority bloc (inquirer.net)
Driver shot dead in Edsa-Ayala tunnel ‘road rage’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – A stay-in driver was killed in a shooting incident along the southbound lane of the Edsa Ayala tunnel in Makati City on Tuesday afternoon.
The Makati City Police said Aniceto Mateo, 65, was shot to death at around 2:30 p.m. by the suspect who was aboard a black Mercedes Benz with a plate number of BCS77.
Police said Mateo, together with passengers Marites Valmorio, 47, and a minor were on board a white Toyota Innova and were on their way to Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
Police said it was a case of road rage.
“[A]nd as a result the driver/occupant of the Mercedes Benz with the use of unknown firearm fired shot towards the moving Toyota Innova, hitting the right passenger window that passed through the back right shoulder of the driver/victim causing his instantaneous death, where the bullet exited on the left window of the said Toyota Innova,” the police report read.
Full Story at: Driver shot dead in Edsa-Ayala ‘road rage’ (inquirer.net)
