News Roundup 11 December 2023
Dec 11, 2023 • 5 min Read
Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sea confrontations | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines said it had summoned China’s envoy on Monday and flagged the possibility of expelling him following the most tense confrontations between the countries’ vessels in years at flashpoint reefs in the disputed South China Sea.
Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships blasting water cannon at Philippine boats during two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday and Sunday.
There was also a collision between Philippine and Chinese boats at Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship, with both countries trading blame.
Diplomatic protests had been filed and “the Chinese ambassador has also been summoned”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Teresita Daza told a news conference on Monday.
Daza said declaring China’s ambassador Huang Xilian as “persona non grata” in the Philippines was also “something that has to be seriously considered”.
China’s ramming and water cannoning of Filipino boats as well as the use of a long-range acoustic device was a “serious escalation” of their tactics, Jonathan Malaya, assistant director general of the National Security Council, told reporters.
The China Coast Guard, however, said one of the Philippine supply boats deliberately hit its vessel after “disregarding our multiple stern warnings”.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands near the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.
Full Story at: Philippines summons Chinese envoy over sea confrontations | Philstar.com
Third petition filed vs Sara Duterte’s secret funds reaches SC | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Current and former lawmakers from the Makabayan Bloc on Monday filed a petition for certiorari, challenging Vice President Sara Duterte’s allocation of P125 million for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).
Among the petitioners include Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers), Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela), Rep. Raoul Manuel (Kabataan), Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares, former Bayan Muna Partylist Representatives Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, Eufemia Cullamat and Raymond Palatino.
This will be the third petition against Duterte’s confidential and intelligence funds.
The petitioners urged the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of transferring the Office of the President’s contingency fund to the Office of the Vice President’s confidential and intelligence funds, questioning both the transfer itself and its subsequent utilization.
“Petitioners assail the constitutionality of the release of P125 million confidential funds by the Office of the President (OP) to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in late December 2022, as well as the request, receipt, and use of this amount by the latter,” the petitioners said.
The disclosed funds, totaling P125 million, was reportedly utilized by the OVP within an 11-day period, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
Full Story at: Third petition filed vs Sara Duterte’s secret funds reaches SC | Philstar.com
House OKs resolution asking NTC to suspend SMNI operations | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has adopted the report from the committee on legislative franchises, which calls on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
At the session on Monday, the House adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 1499 via viva voce.
HR No. 1499 was originally authored by PBA Rep. Margarita Nograles. It was adopted during the committee on legislative franchises’ hearing last December 5, while the committee report containing the amended version of the resolution was approved earlier.
Nograles called on NTC to suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corporation — SMNI’s business name — for supposedly violating provisions stated in its franchise, under Republic Act No. 11422.
According to Nograles, who is a lawyer by profession, Section 4 of SMNI’s legislative franchise restrains them from using its stations or facilities to propagate false information.
Full Story at: House OKs resolution asking NTC to suspend SMNI operations (inquirer.net)
House panel suspends talks on Celiz’s furlough request | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Discussions on Jeffrey Celiz’s request for a furlough regarding his detention were suspended by a House panel, after the controversial Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) host filed a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court (SC).
During its hearing on Monday, the House committee on legislative franchises initially took up Celiz’ letter to the panel, appealing his detention at the House complex.
Celiz was detained after he was cited for contempt last December 6, after he refused to reveal who from the Senate gave him the wrong information about Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez having a P1.8 billion travel expense. Lawmakers also called Celiz out for being disrespectful towards the House, after he called the panel a ‘kangaroo court’.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. proposed to grant Celiz’ request for a furlough in the spirit of Christmas, especially after the host’s legal counsel Mark Tolentino said Celiz was remorseful about the remarks he made.
However, several lawmakers including Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez and Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano raised concerns that the SMNI host might keep on attacking the House — contesting the panel’s authority to detain him.
“Because of non-disclosure of his false information have led to an animosity and adversity between the upper and the lower chamber […] How can we be assured of that after we have given him (furlough) to be released in the detention in this House of Representatives, nakakasigurado po ba tayo na hindi niya tayo aatakihin muli?” Fernandez asked.
(How can we be sure that they would not attack us again?)
“We have been elected by the people, and it is our right to vote on something that pertains to our national security. At sa paningin ko po Mr. Chairman, hindi pa po napapanahon,” he added.
(I think Mr. Chairman it is not yet timely.)
Full Story at: House panel suspends talks on Celiz’ furlough request (inquirer.net)
