News Roundup 05 January 2023
Jan 05, 2023 • 3 min Read
To get rid of ‘less than 5’ top cops in drug trade, over 900 senior officials told to quit | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Over 900 top cops have been told to quit to supposedly cleanse the police force of links to illegal drugs, but by Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin’s own assessment, there might be only “less than five” high-ranking police officers involved in the drug trade.
While Azurin said during a news conference on Thursday that his estimate might be wrong, this still painted a completely different picture than what Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos tried to portray the day before, when he said the police force suffered from a “deep infection” of the drug trade.
Despite the stark contrast between their assessments of the drug links among police, Azurin still parroted Abalos’ characterization of the issue. “The problem is deep because we are a law enforcement agency,” said the top cop, who also submitted his courtesy resignation following the interior chief’s call.
Full Story at: To get rid of ‘less than 5’ top cops in drug trade, over 900 senior officials told to quit | Philstar.com
Compromise between Philippines, China won’t solve fishers’ woes — group | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — For Filipino fishers whose livelihoods have been affected by years of territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea, a compromise between Manila and Beijing will not relieve their misery.
Fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA stressed this Thursday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to “find a compromise and a solution” that would allow Filipino fishers to have access to their traditional fishing grounds. Filipino fishermen face harassment from Chinese vessels, preventing them from entering prime fishing waters.
Instead of finding a compromise, China must recognize the 2016 landmark arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive claims over a large part of the South China Sea, PAMALAKAYA said.
Full Story at: Compromise between Philippines, China won’t solve fishers’ woes — group | Philstar.com
Pope Francis leads Benedict’s funeral as supporters seek sainthood | INQUIRER.NET – VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis presided at the funeral of former Pope Benedict on Thursday, delivering a homily comparing his predecessor to Jesus before tens of thousands of mourners, including some who shouted that he should be made a saint.
Benedict’s death on Saturday brought to an end a decade of the former and present pope living side-by-side in the Vatican and it was the first time in more than 200 years that a pontiff had led the funeral service of his predecessor.
Full Story at: Pope Francis leads Benedict’s funeral as supporters seek sainthood | Inquirer News
Metro Manila Council backs Abalos’ call for courtesy resignations of PNP execs | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Thursday expressed its support behind Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. who called for the courtesy resignations of Philippine National Police (PNP) generals and colonels.
The MMC expressed its support through Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution No. 23-01, explaining that under the 1987 Constitution, “a public office is a public trust and that public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.”
Full Story at: Metro Manila Council backs Abalos’ call for courtesy resignations of PNP execs | Inquirer News
