News Roundup 07 July 2023
Jul 07, 2023 • 3 min Read
AFP reports swarming of more than 50 Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — More than 50 Chinese vessels have reportedly swarmed the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea since last week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said based on its recent air patrols.
The Western Command (Wescom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spotted during its air patrol on June 30 at least 48 Chinese fishing vessels near Iroquois Reef, south of oil- and gas-rich Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, the AFP has also detected five Chinese Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels near Sabina Shoal.
These were spotted during multiple flights over Iroquois Reef by pilots aboard NV312, a Britten Norman Islander light patrol aircraft of the Philippine Navy.
The aircraft pilots were quoted in an AFP Wescom statement saying that the “swarming” of Chinese fishing vessels is “quite visible from the air.”
The Chinese fishing vessels also appeared to be “anchored in groups of five to seven and no fishing activities were noticed,” the Wescom statement read.
Full Story at: AFP reports swarming of more than 50 Chinese vessels in West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
US calls out China for ‘irresponsible’ behavior vs Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Officials from the United States government have rushed to call out the alleged harassment of Chinese vessels against Philippine vessels that were on a support mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said Thursday that China exhibited “coercive and risky operational behavior against Philippine vessels operating safely and lawfully in the South China Sea, including around Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal).”
Similarly, the US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson expressed concern over the “unprofessional maneuvers” of the Chinese Coast Guard against the Philippine Coast Guard. “The PRC’s irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines.”
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was assisting a naval operation on June 30 when they were “constantly followed, harassed, and obstructed” by Chinese vessels, PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said.
Full Story at: US calls out China for ‘irresponsible’ behavior vs Philippine vessels in Ayungin Shoal | Philstar.com
Quiboloy’s SMNI News on YouTube shut down | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — YouTube has terminated the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) channel, owned by alleged sex trafficker Apollo Quiboloy.
It came just two weeks after Quiboloy’s channel was axed over violating YouTube’s community guidelines.
A visit to SMNI’s channel shows a tag saying, “This account has been terminated for a violation of YouTube’s Terms of Service.”
SMNI has yet to issue a statement regarding the termination.
SMNI has, in the past, been at the center of red-tagging debates on multiple occasions.
Full Story at: Quiboloy’s SMNI News on YouTube shut down | Inquirer News
NBI apologizes over provocative dance number during conference | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday apologized for an incident involving a provocative dance number during its command conference last June 30 and vowed to carry out sanctions.
NBI Director Medardo de Lemos explained that the dancers performed at the end of the command conference, during a fellowship program where regional and national officers were supposed to “bond.”
“Kung naging offensive man ang pagsasayaw na ito noong June 30 — after ng command conference — sa sensibitlites ng ating mamamayan lalo na ng kababaihan, humihingi po kami ng paumanhin,” said de Lemos in a press conference.
(If the dance number on June 30 — after the command conference — was offensive to the sensibilities of our people, especially women, we apologize.)
De Lemos said that the NBI is investigating the incident to identify who invited and authorized the dancers to perform.
Full Story at: NBI apologizes over provocative dance number during conference | Inquirer News
