News Roundup 05 April 2023
Apr 05, 2023 • 4 min Read
Italian priest sends message of hope to red-tagged church workers | INQUIRER.NET – DAVAO CITY–An Italian priest who survived threats in the country has sent a message of hope during the Lenten break to church workers red-tagged and vilified for their works with the poor.
Fr. Peter Geremia, who just celebrated his 60th year of priesthood in Arakan, Cotabato last week, said Christ had experienced his bloody passion and death because he identified with the poor.
In fact, he said, it was Christ’s close identification with the poor, the deprived — deemed “crucified people” during the time of Christ as they are now — that had brought about his bloody passion and death on the cross more than 2,000 years ago.
Geremia, who worked among the poor first in Tondo and later among the tribal people of Mindanao after he arrived in the country 42 years ago, said his works made him share the passion and suffering of Christ, also the same kind of suffering experienced by church workers.
Full Story at: Italian priest sends message of hope to red-tagged church workers | Inquirer News
Basilan Rep. Hataman calls for House probe of ferry fire | INQUIRER.NET – ZAMBOANGA CITY–House deputy minority leader and Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has joined calls for a congressional inquiry into the fire that struck MV Lady Mary Joy 3 last March 29, off the waters of Basilan that claimed the lives of 31 passengers.
Hataman said that he intends to file the resolution once work resumes in the House of Representatives after the Lenten break.
He said he is also seeking a review of related maritime laws, common carrier statutes and other operational rules and regulations applicable to sea vessels carrying passengers and cargo, in the hope of crafting legislation to strengthen laws and regulations protecting passengers.
“Nais nating malaman kung ano ba ang pinagmulan ng trahedyang ito. Saan nagsimula ang sunog? Sino o ano ang responsable? Bakit hindi naagapan agad? Bakit kulang sa response ang mga kawani ng barko? Sea-worthy ba ang ferry? At bakit umabot sa lagpas tatlumpo ang namatay?” asked Hataman, former governor of the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
(We want to know the source of the tragedy. Where did the fire originate? Who are responsible? Why it was not immediately addressed? Why is the response lacking in the vessel? Is the ferry sea-worthy? And why it reached 31 the number of fatalities?)
Full Story at: Basilan Rep. Hataman calls for House probe of ferry fire | Inquirer News
Philippines defense, foreign affairs officials to meet with counterparts as Balikatan begins | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. will be in Washington next week as the United States and the Philippines discuss ways to further develop key areas of bilateral cooperation.
The meeting coincides with the April 11 opening ceremony of this year’s war games back home, with over 17,000 American, Filipino, and Australian troops participating in this year’s Balikatan. Manalo and Galvez, along with the Philippine delegation, will be in Washington DC from April 10 to 12.
Manalo and Galvez will be meeting with their counterparts, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III – both of whom have already visited Manila.
In August last year, US top diplomat Blinken reaffirmed US’ “iron-clad commitment” to its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines. US Defense Secretary Austin’s visit in February, on the other hand, saw the announcement of four new approved sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Full Story at: Philippines defense, foreign affairs officials to meet with counterparts as Balikatan begins | Philstar.com
No oil slick from Mindoro spill spotted in Coron yet — official | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Coron in Palawan has yet to detect traces of oil spilled by sunken tanker MT Princess Empress in the waters of the popular tourist destination.
The University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute on Monday said a satellite image from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed possible oil slicks about 12 kilometers off Coron. The detected slicks were about 19 kilometers long and three kilometers wide.
The marine scientists noted it is unknown if the slicks possibly drifted from the location of MT Princess Empress in Oriental Mindoro or from other sources.
In an interview with TeleRadyo on Wednesday, Coron’s disaster risk reduction and management office head Fernando Lopez said authorities have not monitored any traces of oil in the town’s waters.
“Based on our patrols on Monday and Tuesday and on the reports of barangay officials and fishers, no traces of oil slick have been spotted in Coron,” Lopez said.
Full Story at: No oil slick from Mindoro spill spotted in Coron yet — official | Philstar.com
