News Roundup 07 June 2024
Jun 07, 2024 • 5 min Read
‘Standard challenge’ issued vs 2 Chinese warships monitored in Basilan Strait | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it issued a “standard challenge” to vessels of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy which was seen traversing in Basilan and Zamboanga Peninsula.
According to state-media reports, the AFP monitored a training ship and an amphibious transport dock of the PLA Navy which passed through the Basilan Strait on Thursday.
“In accordance with standard operating procedure, the AFP dispatched BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905) to shadow/monitor the passage of the two PLA Navy vessels. Our escorting vessel also issued a standard challenge to the Chinese warships,” the AFP said.
“One of the vessels, Qi Jiquang (BN-83) responded that it was conducting normal navigation from its last port of call in Dili, Timor Leste en route to Dalian, China,” it added.
In naval operations, a standard challenge is a method employed to identify unknown or approaching vessels, aircraft or individuals to ascertain whether they are friend or foe.
This method usually consists of a series of predefined actions and responses designed to ensure security and prevent unauthorized access.
A total of three naval vessels were observed passing through the said waters.
The AFP also stated that the Basilan Strait is acknowledged as an international sea lane that permits the innocent passage of ships from different countries.
Full Story at: ‘Standard challenge’ issued vs 2 Chinese warships monitored in Basilan Strait | Philstar.com
China has backed Philippine maritime zone – Carpio | PHILSTAR.COM – ‘Maybe they didn’t read international treaties’
MANILA, Philippines — By recognizing a 1900 treaty as among those regulating the Philippine territory, China has inadvertently supported Manila’s claim over disputed features in the West Philippine Sea, former Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said.
Carpio, in an interview with “Storycon” over One News yesterday, also described as a “watershed moment” the mention of the Treaty of Washington during the recent keynote speech of President Marcos at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
“When President Marcos Jr., for the first time in Philippine history, said that the Philippine territory is regulated by the Treaty of Paris as that was amplified, clarified and amended by the Treaty of Washington… That is factually, legally and historically correct,” said the former justice.
“That is our narrative. That is the correct story of the Philippines,” Carpio added.
Signed by Spain and the United States in 1900, the Treaty of Washington essentially amended the 1898 Treaty of Paris that granted the possession of various Spanish territories – including the Philippines – to the US.
Carpio said the second treaty was signed after several islands that are part of the Philippine territory were later discovered to be outside the treaty lines identified in the Paris treaty.
“There’s only one article in that Treaty of Washington: Spain also cedes to US any and all islands belonging to the Philippine archipelago, lying outside the lines of the Treaty of Paris,” said the former justice.
Full Story at: China has backed Philippine maritime zone – Carpio | Philstar.com
‘Barbaric and inhumane’: China ship rams boat carrying sick PH soldier | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “intentionally rammed” a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) boat transporting a sick member of the Philippine Navy from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed Friday, June 7, that the incident took place on May 19.
“The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the China Coast Guard has no place in our society,” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation was subjected to harassment.”
According to Tarriela, the PCG high-speed response boat (HSRB) from Buliluyan Port in Palawan was deployed to a rendezvous point with the Philippine Navy rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB), which carried the sick soldier who was stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
“During our attempt to bring the PCG HSRB alongside the PN RHIB at the rendezvous point, we were harassed by vessels and small boats from the China Coast Guard through blocking operations,” Tarriela said.
Full Story at: ‘Barbaric and inhumane’: China ship rams boat carrying sick PH soldier | INQUIRER.net
No corruption? Duterte’s embrace of Pharmally COVID deals | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — No country was ever prepared for the COVID-19 crisis, Rodrigo Duterte, who was president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, had said as he defended the contracts that his administration entered into in response to the contagion.
“When the pandemic started, we had nothing,” he had said.
In 2021, the Commission on Audit (COA) called out the Department of Health (DOH) for “deficiencies” in its handling of P67.3 billion in COVID-19 funds.
But Duterte was quick to clear the DOH, and then Health Secretary Francisco Duque III. “It’s impossible to steal P67.3 billion,” he stated, stressing that the deficiencies only meant that some documents required by COA were missing.
“I’m sorry but I said, even if I’m the only one left, I will stand for Duque even if it will bring me down,” Duterte said to defend the then health secretary, who has received backlash over corruption allegations.
According to data from Pulse Asia, Filipinos’ approval of Duterte’s fight against graft and corruption fell from 77 percent in September 2020 to 52 percent in September 2021, which was the height of the pandemic spending controversy.
Still, Duterte insisted there was no corruption, saying that he would resign if there was proof that COVID-19 funds were mishandled. “[Pinang]sisira lang (It’s just being used to mudsling),” he said of the issue that was being investigated then by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
Controversial deal
Based on COA’s audit report, part of the P67.32 billion handled by the DOH for its response to the health crisis was more than P40 billion transferred to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
The fund transfer by the DOH to the PS-DBM was flagged as it was made without the required memorandum of agreement and Certificates of Previous Liquidation.
Full Story at: No corruption? Duterte’s embrace of Pharmally COVID deals (inquirer.net)
