News Roundup 17 June 2024
Jun 17, 2024 • 5 min Read
AFP calls China’s claim on latest Ayungin incident ‘deceptive’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday refuted China’s latest claim of an alleged collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels near Ayungin Shoal, labeling the accusations as “deceptive and misleading.”
AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said in a message to reporters that the Philippines would not dignify China’s assertions.
“The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone). We will not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard (CCG),” Trinidad said.
This comes after the Chinese Coast Guard claimed that a Philippine vessel carrying out a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal “illegally entered” waters claimed by China.
Trinidad said the main issue is the illegal presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economicc zone, which infringes on the nation’s sovereignty and sovereign rights.
Full Story at: AFP calls China’s claim on latest Ayungin incident ‘deceptive’ | Philstar.com
PAF patrols to continue amid China no-trespass rule | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said yesterday it will continue to conduct maritime patrols over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), even as China implements the new Chinese coast guard rules to detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea.
Air Force spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo said that conducting maritime patrols over Philippine territorial waters and features within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is part of the Air Force’s inherent duty to protect Filipinos.
Castillo said it is important for Filipinos, particularly fishermen to feel the presence of the PAF in the EEZ.
“It is an inherent duty of the Philippine Air Force to conduct maritime patrol over our territorial waters and the areas within our exclusive economic zone. The most important thing is for our fishermen to feel that the PAF is there for them,” she said in an interview on dzBB.
“Our maritime patrol continues, to ensure that we monitor all activities both in the air and on the sea, here in our exclusive economic zone and our territorial waters,” Castillo said.
She said the PAF has started using drones to monitor the country’s territorial waters.
“Aside from manned aircraft, we are now also using unmanned aerial vehicles in monitoring different areas of interest,” Castillo added.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner urged Filipino fishermen to keep fishing in the country’s EEZ in the South China Sea, despite China’s new coastguard rules which took effect on June 15, and he gave assurance that Philippine authorities are “discussing a number of steps to be undertaken in order for us to protect our fishermen.”
Full Story at: PAF patrols to continue amid China no-trespass rule | Philstar.com
Inventory of items in Porac Pogo hub done; letter with Roque’s name found | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) has already finished its inventory of items discovered from the raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) hub in Porac, Pampanga, where a document with former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s name was also found.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio said they are scheduled to return the search warrant to the San Fernando Regional Trial Court and submit the list of evidence found in the complex on Tuesday.
“We are done with the inventory lahat ng seized items; we finished the inventory Saturday midnight. So tomorrow morning, we will return the warrant to the honorable court,” Casio told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview Monday.
He added that the commission and its task force will also meet on Tuesday afternoon to discuss what cases to file against Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo for her alleged connection with illegal Pogo activities in her town and others found to be directly involved with the operation of Pogo hub in Pampanga.
‘Roque, assistant not persons of interest’
Regarding the document bearing Roque’s name, Casio said they did not find anything “criminally suspicious” about the document, even to the affidavit of support for the travel costs of the former presidential spokesperson’s executive assistant.
The letter and the affidavit, he said, were found with other folders stored inside the administration building of the Pogo complex.
Full Story at: Inventory of Porac Pogo hub done; letter with Roque’s name found (inquirer.net)
Guo may be slapped with human trafficking charges – PAOCC exec | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Alice Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban town in Tarlac, may face human trafficking charges this week, an official of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said.
PAOCC spokesperson Winston Casio explained that Guo may be liable for the crime because she had partial ownership of properties where alleged human trafficking activities took place.
“We are very confident that we will be able to file human trafficking charges against the embattled Mayor of Bamban. Now, we have also been viewing other possible charges in relation to money laundering as well as other charges that – either minor charges so to speak,” he said on ANC’s Headstart on Monday.
“For sure, by this week, we will be able to file human trafficking charges against Guo and her co-conspirators,” he added.
Casio cited a provision in the anti-human trafficking law that penalizes owners of buildings and properties that allow their estates to be used for human trafficking.
Full Story at: Guo may be slapped with human trafficking charges – PAOCC exec (inquirer.net)
