News Roundup 19 June 2024
Jun 19, 2024 • 4 min Read
Sara Duterte resigns as DepEd secretary, says Palace | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has resigned as the Department of Education (DepEd) secretary, said the Palace on Wednesday.
In a statement to reporters, the Palace said Duterte did not disclose the reason for her resignation.
Duterte also resigned from her position as the vice chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).
“At 2:21 pm of 19 June 2024, Vice President Sara Duterte went to Malacanang and tendered her resignation as Member of the Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Education and Vice Chairperson of the NTF-Elcac, effective 19 July 2024,” said the Palace.
“She declined to give a reason why. She will continue to serve as vice president,” noted Malacañang.
Duterte has been noticeably absent from the events of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the past weeks, failing to attend his departure ceremonies to Singapore and Brunei.
She also did not attend various law-signing ceremonies in Malacañang, including a law that granted additional allowances to teachers.
Duterte’s apparent falling out with members of Marcos’ administration did not begin there.
In 2023, lawmakers stripped Duterte of her proposed funds. After which, Duterte said it was no time for politicking.
By 2024, members of the Duterte clan began throwing punches at Marcos.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte in January publicly called upon the president to resign if he did not have love for his country.
Full Story at: Vice Pres. Sara Duterte resigns as DepEd secretary, says Palace (inquirer.net)
Marcos accepts Sara Duterte’s resignation as DepEd chief | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted Vice President Sara Duterte’s resignation as Education secretary and member of the Cabinet, said the Palace on Wednesday.
“Yes, accepted,” Press Secretary Cheloy Garafil told reporters when asked if Marcos accepted Duterte’s resignation.
Duterte resigned on Wednesday afternoon at exactly 2:21 p.m.
The Palace said Duterte tendered her resignation as member of the Cabinet, Department of Education secretary and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict vice chairperson.
This action will be effective on July 19.
Full Story at: Marcos accepts Sara Duterte’s resignation as Education chief (inquirer.net)
PCG deploys BRP Gabriela Silang for joint exercises with Indonesia, Japan | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that it sent its vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang, to join the Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2024 in Bacolod.
According to the PCG, the exercise will be among the coast guards of the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
“This exercise underscores our steadfast dedication to protecting these precious waters from securing our maritime borders to executing swift emergency responses. We exemplify steadfast guardianship to our nation’s ship serving as a beacon of safety and protection of the open waters,” Coast Guard Commodore Rejard Marfe said on behalf of Coast Guard fleet commander, CG Rear Admiral Edgar Ybañez, during the send-off ceremony of BRP Gabriela Silang at Panacan Wharf in Davao City.
The maritime exercise is scheduled for June 24 to June 29.
According to a report by the Philippine News Agency, representatives from the coast guards of each country will participate in exercises focused on search and rescue, firefighting, oil spill recovery, equipment retrieval and damage assessment.
Story at: PCG deploys BRP Gabriela Silang for joint exercises with Indonesia, Japan | Philstar.com
Philippines says Chinese coast guard boarded navy vessels in South China Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine military said Wednesday the Chinese coast guard rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats in a violent confrontation in the South China Sea this week in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb.
Monday’s incident was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the disputed area.
Filipino military chief General Romeo Brawner alleged the Chinese boarders were armed with swords, spears, and knives in the incident off Second Thomas Shoal.
He denounced the Chinese action as “piracy” and demanded the return of seized weapons and other equipment, as well as reparations for damaged items.
China defended its actions, saying on Wednesday that “no direct measures” were taken against Filipino personnel.
“Law enforcement measures taken by the China Coast Guard at the site were professional and restrained,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Second Thomas Shoal hosts a tiny Philippine garrison stationed on a deliberately beached old warship and has been the focus of a series of recent confrontations.
Full Story at: Philippines says Chinese coast guard boarded navy vessels in South China Sea | Philstar.com
