News Roundup 11 June 2024
Jun 11, 2024 • 5 min Read
PH needs to brace for external threats – Marcos | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines needs to prepare for “external threats” due to heightened geopolitical tension in the Indo-Pacific, from the country’s proximity to Taiwan to its dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. stressed.
Marcos made the remark when he met with members of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division (ID) at Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Monday, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Marcos, the Philippines’ proximity to Taiwan automatically puts it in China’s “area of interest,” which makes it important that the northern part of the Philippines is “well-prepared for any eventuality.”
“And that is why — the external threat now has become more pronounced, has become more worrisome. And that is why we have to prepare,” Marcos told members of the 5th ID.
“So, that is the mission that you have before you. Now, you have two missions, whereas before it was only internal security,” he added.
Marcos clarified that although the Philippines has no intention of encroaching on or claiming anyone else’s territory, its leadership must be fully committed to defending its own — all while upholding peace in the region through diplomatic efforts.
“We are not trying to take territory. We are not trying to redraw the lines of sovereign territory, the EEZ (exclusive economic zone), the baseline,” he said.
“Hindi natin binabago anything na kahit isang — not even one inch. Ngunit hindi tayo puwedeng pumayag na kukunin naman ‘yan sa atin,” he added.
(We’re not trying to change anything — not even one inch. But we cannot agree to have that taken from us.)
This, he said, is part of the reason why the government designated an area in Cagayan as an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site.
Full Story at: PH needs to brace for external threats – Marcos | INQUIRER.net
Surge of Chinese warships noted in Ayungin Shoal–Philippine Navy | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — There is a surge of Chinese warships in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, according to Philippine Navy data shared on Tuesday.
There were eight People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) warships monitored from June 4 to 10. This was a threefold increase in the previous monitoring period, when there were only two PLAN vessels.
Aside from these warships, there are also five China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 29 Chinese maritime militia vessels.
In total, there are 42 Chinese ships in Ayungin Shoal within the said monitoring period.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, attributed the increase to the recently-concluded People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) drills in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
“The increase in ships follows the conduct of the three-day exercise of the PLA-N last Jun 2 to 4 in Sabina Shoal,” Trinidad told INQUIRER.net in a text message.
Full Story at: Surge of Chinese warships noted in Ayungin Shoal–Philippine Navy | INQUIRER.net
Teves in ‘custody,’ not detained — counsel | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. was put under “court custody” and was not re-arrested after his “provisional release,” according to lawyer Ferdinand Topacio.
Topacio revealed this information a day after his client was released due to “missteps” in the Philippine government’s request to extradite the expelled lawmaker, which the Department of Justice called as part of the due process of the Timor-Leste government.
According to Topacio, Teves is only in a holding area and not a prison for he was not “re-arrested.”
“He was not re-arrested for any crime. He was not re-arrested because of crimes he allegedly committed in the Philippines, but because of the extradition process, which is a special civil procedure,” Topacio said in an online press briefing with reporters on Tuesday.
Topacio also revealed that Teves was released for a “considerable amount of time” before he was taken back into custody.
“Nakadaan pa kami sa chapel para manalangin, at nakapunta pa kami sa kanyang residence at para imeet ‘yung kanyang mga kaanak,” Topacio said.
(We were able to stop by the chapel to pray, and we also went to his residence to meet his relatives.)
Teves’ counsel also said that he and other individuals are testifying for Teves at Timor-Leste’s Tribunal de Recurso or the country’s Court of Appeals (CA), where Teves’ extradition case will be heard.
Aside from him, Topacio said that other people testifying for Teves include former Human Rights Commissioner Wilhelm Soriano and former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
Full Story at: Teves in ‘custody,’ not detained — counsel | Philstar.com
Sara Duterte urged to fix delays stalling work of Teacher Education Council | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A national government body tasked with drafting a new roadmap for training future educators remains unable to fulfill its mandate due to apparent appointment delays from Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Private sector group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) on Tuesday urged Duterte, as the chairperson of the Teachers’ Education Council (TEC), to appoint the officials needed for the council to function, two years after its implementing law (Republic 11713) was signed.
“We cannot afford any more delay in this matter,” PBed said.
RA 11713 or the Excellence in Teacher Education Act, signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022, broadens the mandate and functions of the TEC.
Under the law, the TEC is responsible for drafting a roadmap for teacher education, setting requirements for teacher education programs and recommending strategies to attract the best and the brightest to the teaching profession.
The law was passed as a response to the years-long dismal performance of teacher education institutes (TEIs) in the country — one of the priority areas currently being studied by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2) due to the crucial role teachers play in addressing the country’s learning crisis.
Full Story at: Sara Duterte urged to fix delays stalling work of Teacher Education Council | Philstar.com
