News Roundup 03 July 2024
Jul 03, 2024 • 5 min Read
AFP seeks more details from Imee Marcos on claim of ‘hypersonic missile’ threat | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it is “ready to coordinate” with Sen. Imee Marcos after her recent claim that China plans to send “hypersonic missiles” to select areas in the Philippines — an allegation that comes as Beijing and Manila have agreed to ease tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
The AFP told reporters on Wednesday that it will seek more details from Marcos “to take appropriate actions to ensure our nation’s security.”
On July 1, Marcos posted a video on her Facebook page where she alleged, without citing her source, that the Chinese government is targeting to send hypersonic missiles to 25 areas in the Philippines.
The senator identified Batanes, Subic and Ilocos as the initial targets.
Marcos, who claims to have seen the details of the “plan” by China, said the move is in response to the increase in Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites in the country, which allows the United States access to Philippine military bases.
The senator added that the United States has said that it cannot counter the hypersonic missiles, which she said “makes me even more nervous.”
The Philippines and China agreed to deescalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea during a meeting between both countries’ foreign affairs representatives on Tuesday.
Both countries agreed that continued dialogue on the basis of mutual respect was necessary to maintain peace and stability at sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Full Story at: AFP seeks more details from Imee Marcos on claim of ‘hypersonic missile’ threat | Philstar.com
Nancy Binay walks out after dispute with Cayetano over cost of new Senate building | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Nancy Binay on Wednesday butted heads over the computation of the total cost of the new Senate building — a heated discussion that ended with Binay walking out on a disgruntled Cayetano mid-sentence.
During the Senate accounts committee’s hearing into the construction of the new Senate building in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, the panel’s current and former chairpersons got into a heated debate over whether it was accurate to tag the total cost of construction as P23 billion, which included the cost of land acquisition.
Binay, citing official Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) documents, said that the grand total of the new Senate building was only P21.73 billion and not P23 billion as flagged by Cayetano in a letter sent to Senate President Chiz Escudero on June 6.
Cayetano, meanwhile, insisted that the computation should include the land acquisition cost, which is an additional P1.6 billion.
“Kapag bumili ka ng bahay, tatanungin mo ung broker, magkano all in, kasama taxes (When you buy a house, you will ask the broker how much is the total, including taxes),” Cayetano said.
Binay said as reply: “Pero pag magpapagawa ka ng bahay hindi mo isasama cost ng refrigerator at TV as cost of building (When you buy a house, you will not add the cost of a refrigerator and TV).”
The discussion devolved into personal attacks after Cayetano accused Binay of feeding reporters with pre-planned questions to frame the issue as an offshoot of the political rivalry between the local governments of Makati and Taguig.
Binay denied Cayetano’s allegation, saying: “Bakit ako magbibigay ng questions sa media? Baka gawain mo ang magbigay ng tanong sa media (Why would I give questions to the media? Maybe that is your practice).”
Cayetano later said he was referring to radio and not television media in his allegation.
Binay then asked the DPWH representatives to confirm whether a P23 billion figure ever appeared in the documents of the construction of the new building. The senator walked out after obtaining a “no” from the DPWH while Cayetano was speaking and calling for order.
Full Story at: Nancy Binay walks out after dispute with Cayetano over cost of new Senate building | Philstar.com
Slain NPA rebel in Sorsogon identified as top NPA official | INQUIRER.NET – LEGAZPI CITY – The rebel killed in a clash in Juban town in Sorsogon on Tuesday has been identified as a high-ranking official of the New People’s Army (NPA), according to a military report on Wednesday, July 3.
Jose Arnel Esteller, 57, also known as “Mando,” “Arnel,” and “Ariston,” was the secretary of the Sub-regional Committee 3 of the Bicol Regional Party Committee, making him the highest-ranking official of the NPA in Sorsogon, according to a report of Major Frank Roldan, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.
The 22nd Infantry Battalion had a 30-minute firefight with three NPA rebels in Barangay Biriran at 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2, the Army reported earlier.
Relatives of Esteller confirmed his identity after the encounter. He joined the NPA in 1985 and was facing multiple murder and frustrated murder charges.
Full Story at: Slain NPA rebel in Sorsogon identified as top NPA official (inquirer.net)
OSG: Quo warranto petition, another case to be filed vs Guo | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Aside from a quo warranto case, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will also file another petition against suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, within the week.
“We’re just waiting for certified copies of our documentary evidence from official sources,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told the Inquirer on Tuesday. He did not give additional details.
Under the Rules of Court, a quo warranto petition is an action taken against a person who “usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office, position or franchise.”
According to Guevarra, the case may be filed before a regional trial court, the Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Court. He earlier said the quo warranto petition against Guo would be filed within the month.
Last week, the National Bureau of Investigation revealed that Guo’s fingerprints matched those of Chinese passport holder Guo Hua Ping, who, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros, entered the Philippines in 2003 as a 13-year-old using a special investor resident visa.
Full Story at: OSG: Quo warranto petition, another case to be filed vs Guo (inquirer.net)
