News Roundup 08 May 2024
May 08, 2024 • 5 min Read
‘Atin Ito’ coalition to hold another civilian mission to WPS | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A coalition defending the country’s sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) will conduct another civilian-led mission to Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, next week, its organizers said on Wednesday.
Atin Ito will travel to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal from May 14 to 17 to deliver provisions to Filipino fishers in the area.
Rafaela David, Akbayan Party president and Atin Ito co-convenor, said that the planned mission aims to demonstrate “active citizenship model.”
“This is not a sightseeing excursion to seek out Chinese marine vessels or a provocation to incite conflict,” David said.
“It is a legitimate exercise of Filipino citizens within our own territory. Our approach is grounded in reclaiming what rightfully belongs to us, guided by international law and diplomatic principles,” she added.
The mission will also see the deployment of markers or buoys bearing the message: “WPS, Atin Ito!” (WPS is ours!).
The voyage comes months after the group—composed of fisherfolk, students, youth leaders, and journalists—cut short its trip to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal after being “shadowed” by Chinese vessels.
The Christmas mission was supposed to bring supplies to Filipino troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded warship that serves as the country’s outpost in the West Philippine Sea.
Full Story at: ‘Atin Ito’ coalition to hold another civilian mission to WPS | Philstar.com
SC grants protection writ for ex-Bayan Muna solon, declares ‘red-tagging’ threatens life, liberty, security | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has granted a petition of writ of amparo for Siegfred Deduro, a former lawmaker from Bayan Muna Partylist after authorities associated him with the communist insurgency.
In a 39-page decision dated July 4, 2023, the high court declared that associating red-tagging and guilt by association jeopardizes a person’s fundamental rights to life, liberty, or security, setting aside the ruling of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court (RTC) in dismissing the former lawmaker’s amparo petition.
“Petitioner should not be expected to await his own abduction, or worse, death, or even that the supposed responsible persons directly admit their role in the threats or violations to his constitutional rights, before the courts can give due course to his petition,” the decision read.
“In such cases, the consummation of the threat to petitioner’s life, liberty, or security, or the commission of the abduction or killing may be the subject of proper administrative or criminal proceedings,” it added.
A writ of amparo protects individuals whose right to life, liberty, or security is violated or threatened by unlawful acts of public officials, employees or private entities.
The case stemmed after the military officers led by Maj. Gen. Eric C. Vinoya in 2020 explicitly said that Deduro and others are members of the hierarchy of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed with the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
It was then reported by Bombo Radyo Iloilo and the state-run Philippine News Agency and that there were posters that were put up in different locations in Iloilo about Deduro and other activists as members of the CPP-NPA.
Full Story at: SC grants protection writ for ex-Bayan Muna solon, declares ‘red-tagging’ threatens life, liberty, security | Philstar.com
Hontiveros says Quiboloy still enjoying double standards despite raps | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the “lengthy” grace period granted to Apollo Quiboloy in surrendering his firearms is among the “double standards” being enjoyed by the sect leader.
In a press conference, Hontiveros compared Quiboloy’s so-called privileges to what regular Filipinos go through.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang double standard kay Quiboloy, ‘di ba? Eh yung mamamayan inimbita sa Senate hearing, dadalo. Hindi niya hihintayin isubpoena, lalong hindi niya iintayin isyuhan pa ng warrant of arrest at lalong-lalong hindi siya tatakas at magtatago sa isineserve na mga warrant,” said Hontiveros.
(The double standards for Quiboloy continue, right? If a normal citizen gets invited to a Senate hearing, he’ll attend. He wouldn’t wait for a subpoena, he wouldn’t wait for a warrant of arrest to be issued, and most especially, he wouldn’t hide when a warrant is being served.)
“At ngayon, totoo, pag-surrender ng mga kanseladong dating lisensyadong mga firearms, di registered na mga firearms, dapat kaagad yun. Ang mamamayan nga kung mag-a-apply para sa permit to carry, eh ang klaro ng ganyang mga kondisyon. Once ma-deny yan or hindi na i-renew yan, isusurrender hanggat maaga at hindi kalahating taon ang ibibigay,” he added.
(And now, it’s true, even surrendering his previously licensed firearms should’ve been done right away. A regular citizen—if he applies for a permit to carry—has clear conditions. Once it is denied or not renewed, it needs to be surrendered immediately. It does not need to take half a year.)
Full Story at: Hontiveros says Quiboloy still enjoying double standards (inquirer.net)
Gov’t prepares briefer in case ICC issues warrant vs Duterte, others | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA CITY, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of the Solicitor General are preparing a legal briefer so President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can weigh in on several options in case the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues a warrant against former President Rodrigo Duterte and several others.
“The Department is now preparing a legal briefer for the President, which will describe to him yung mga options na available sa kanya (the options available to him) in relation to any arrest warrants by the ICC. So, the briefer would be an objective statement or an analysis of the pros and cons of each option,” DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavao IV said in a press briefing.
On Tuesday, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said the ICC may issue an arrest warrant against Duterte by June.
He said the warrants would be issued in batches, and it could spill over to July.
Full Story at: Gov’t preparing legal briefer in case ICC issues warrant vs Duterte (inquirer.net)
