News Roundup 04 March 2020
Mar 04, 2020 • 1 min Read
‘A good number’ of Chinese army reportedly in Philippines – Lacson | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday revealed receiving information that “a good number” or approximately 2,000 to 3,000 members of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is in the Philippines. However, the information, which he said he shared with Senator Richard Gordon, still needs validation by the intelligence committee.
With US military aid in peril, Philippines resumes aid talks with UNHRC resolution backers | PHILSTAR.COM – The Duterte administration has lifted a ban on aid negotiations between the Philippines and countries that supported a UN Human Rights Council resolution that mandated an examination on the country’s human rights situation. The latest order effectively allows the Philippines to pursue aid talks with 18 countries, including the UK and Australia, which are among the country’s biggest lenders extending assistance on matters like the peace process in Mindanao as well as military and defense.
AFP verifying reports linking uniformed personnel to smuggle of ‘dirty money’ | Manila Bulletin – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson bared on Wednesday that here are no active military personnel involved in the reported smuggling into the country of around $370 million (P18.78 billion) by two crime syndicates. But raw information reaching officials indicate that retired soldiers and cops may have acted as escorts to enable the entry of “dirty money”.
Duterte dares US: ‘Bring all charges’ | The Manila Times – President Rodrigo Duterte has dared the United States (US) to pursue charges against the Philippine government over the supposed extrajudicial killings associated with the government administration’s war on drugs, as he stood by his decision to terminate the country’s Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Washington.
