News Roundup 05 February 2024
Feb 05, 2024 • 4 min Read
6 Catholic bishops demand protection for Filipino fishers from Chinese aggression | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Six Catholic bishops in dioceses near fisher communities have issued a rare appeal for the government to bring the full might of the law against Chinese vessels harassing Filipino fisherfolk, backing international action to stem China’s “forcible occupation” of Philippine maritime zones.
In a joint pastoral exhortation on Sunday, the Catholic bishops said that “all legal means must be exhausted” to fend off China’s destruction of the Philippines’ marine resources, which in turn have “wrought havoc on the lives of our fisherfolk.”
“(And) if present diplomatic endeavors do not suffice, then it is permissible – morally necessary even – to have recourse to the friendship of allies who can help us defend what is ours,” the statement read.
The joint pastoral exhortation was signed by Socrates Villegas, archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan (Pangasinan); Bartolome Santos Jr., bishop of Iba (Zambales); Daniel Presto, bishop of San Fernando (La Union), Socrates Mesiona, apostolic vicar of Puerto Princesa (Palawan); Broderick Pabillo, apostolic vicar of Taytay (Palawan); and Fidelis Layog, auxiliary bishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.
The Church leaders stressed that aggressive incursions of Chinese vessels into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone have brought “widespread destruction of coral reefs, marine sanctuaries and the habitat of fish and sea-dwelling animals” and “has wrought havoc on the lives of our fisherfolk.”
Full Story at: 6 Catholic bishops demand protection for Filipino fishers from Chinese aggression | Philstar.com
Castro asks DOJ to review grave threat raps vs ex-president Duterte | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers Party-list) asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the fiscal’s resolution after the Quezon City prosecutor junked the grave threat charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
In a petition for review filed before the DOJ on Monday, Castro asked the department to “nullify” and “set aside” the dismissal of charges by the prosecutor on the grave threat raps under the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act against Duterte.
“Complainant-Appellant Castro respectfully prays that in the interest of substantive and procedural due process, this Honorable Office annul and set aside the Assailed Resolution and, in lieu thereof, render a Resolution finding probable cause against Respondent-Appellant Duterte and directing the Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor to file the Information against the Respondent-Appellant,” Castro’s petition read.
In a separate statement, Castro said that the decision of the prosecutor sets a precedent of selectively interpreting statements, potentially extending protection to public figures who make violent remarks or casually red-tag others in the media.
“This undermines efforts to address online threats, contributes to normalizing violent rhetoric, and erodes public trust in the legal system’s ability to handle explicit threats from those in power, effectively deterring dissent,” Castro said in a statement.
Full Story at: Castro asks DOJ to review grave threat raps vs ex-president Duterte | Philstar.com
DND to secure PH sovereignty, says Teodoro on Mindanao independence push | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense (DND) will “strictly enforce” its mandate to protect the integrity of the national territory amid calls for a separate Mindanao, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Monday.
“The mandate of the Department of National Defense is to secure the sovereignty of the State and integrity of the national territory as enshrined in the Constitution,” Teodoro said in a statement.
“We will strictly enforce this mandate whether externally or internally,” he added.
On January 31, former president Rodrigo Duterte claimed that local political forces would regroup in the Davao Region to start a movement for Mindanao’s independence.
Full Story at: DND to secure PH sovereignty, says Teodoro on Mindanao independence push | Inquirer News
Año: Any secession move to be met with force | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — National Security Adviser Eduardo Año warned that the government “will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop all attempts to dismember the Republic” as the military chief also reminded troops that “there is only one Philippines,” following former President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for an independent Mindanao.
“Any attempt to secede any part of the Philippines will be met by the government with resolute force, as it remains steadfast in securing the sovereignty and integrity of the national territory,” Año said in a statement on Sunday.
Full Story at: Año: Any secession move to be met with force (inquirer.net)
