News Roundup 08 April 2024
Apr 08, 2024 • 4 min Read
Brawner disputes China’s claim of ‘combat patrol’ in West Philippine Sea | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The joint maritime activity of the Philippines and three of its key allies in the West Philippine Sea was not met with a “combat patrol” from China.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday said the activity conducted with the United States, Australia, and Japan went unimpeded.
“Narinig natin na yung China daw ay magsasagawa rin ng kanilang combat patrols, pero sa nakita nating pag monitor doon sa area wala naman pong ganoong nangyari,” Brawner said in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo.
(We heard that China will also conduct combat patrols, but from what we saw in the area’s monitoring, nothing like that happened.)
The Department of National Defense said the presence of two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warships with bow numbers 792 and 162 was monitored during the drills.
“While we were conducting our own exercises in the West Philippine Sea we only monitored the presence of two PLA Navy ships at wala namang ginawang mga combat patrol or mga exercises (and there are no combat patrols or exercises),” Brawner said.
Full Story at: Brawner disputes China’s ‘combat patrol’ in West Philippine Sea (inquirer.net)
Hontiveros dares Quiboloy to come out, face Senate: ‘Hindi ka namin uurungan’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday dared Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to come out of hiding and face the Senate.
Authorities now already consider the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) a fugitive after they failed to locate him following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him by a Davao court.
Quiboloy and five others have been charged for allegedly violating Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
“Pastor Quiboloy, lumabas ka na sa lungga mo. Tutal nagpapa interview ka na rin sa mga vlogger, aba, magpainterview ka na rin sa amin sa Senado,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
(Pastor Quiboloy, come out of your hiding. Since you’re already giving interviews to vloggers, you should also give us an interview in the Senate.)
(Those audio files could not hide your fear now that the truth is out.)
Hontiveros was referring to Quiboloy’s latest remarks made through an audio recording posted on the YouTube channel of his Sonshine Media Network International.
In the said audio recording, the fugitive pastor said he would rather die than be caught alive by authorities.
Full Story at: Hontiveros dares Quiboloy to come out, face Senate (inquirer.net)
First US-Japan-Philippines summit to boost defense ties | PHILSTAR.COM – TOKYO, Japan — The leaders of Japan and the Philippines head to Washington this week for a first trilateral summit aimed at boosting defense ties, hot on the heels of four-way military drills in the South China Sea that riled Beijing.
A major upgrade of military command structures between the United States and an increasingly self-confident Japan could be announced, as well as joint coast guard patrols with Manila in areas disputed with China.
Also on the agenda will be securing access to vital supplies such as semiconductors and rare metals, North Korea’s growing belligerence, and the Japanese takeover of US Steel opposed by President Joe Biden.
The talks will “advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations… and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the White House said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday before leaving Tokyo that the Japan-US relationship is “more ironclad than ever” and that his trip will “demonstrate this message to the world”.
China’s foreign ministry on Monday said it was “opposed to the cobbling together of exclusive small circles and to confrontation between different groups in the region.”
Full honors
Kishida will on Wednesday become the first Japanese premier since Shinzo Abe in 2015 to be received with full honours at the White House, including a gala dinner and Rose Garden news conference.
Full Story at: First US-Japan-Philippines summit to boost defense ties | Philstar.com
Quiboloy can’t set conditions for surrender — Remulla | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy cannot impose the conditions of his surrender to authorities, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Monday.
In a statement, Remulla said that the preacher should face the “serious” and “morally abhorrent” charges against him without any conditions.
“Quiboloy cannot impose any conditions. He must surrender not according to his terms but according to the terms of the law. The law applies to all, without exception,” Remulla said.
“The charges against Quiboloy are not ‘simple.’ They involve serious and morally abhorrent offenses such as sexual assault of a minor and human trafficking,” he added.
The DOJ chief’s statement came after the preacher asked for “written guarantees” from the government concerning his surrender.
According to Quiboloy, he would only surrender if there was a guarantee that the U.S. government would not “interfere” after he claimed that there was a ploy between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the U.S. government to allegedly assassinate him.
In response to these conditions asked by the preacher, Marcos said that this request is “tail wagging the dog”.
Full Story at: Quiboloy can’t set conditions for surrender — Remulla | Philstar.com
