News Roundup 11 November 2023
Nov 11, 2023 • 4 min Read
More intelligence funds sought after latest Ayungin water cannon incident | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are urging Congress to promptly approve increased funding for agencies responsible for safeguarding the West Philippine Sea, especially in the wake of China’s recent provocative actions.
China Coast Guard vessel 5203 reportedly blasted a boat carrying provisions to Filipino soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal last Friday, endangering lives in the process.
“This incident should push Congress to finally approve a higher budget for the intelligence funds for agencies that defend our territories. When our frontliners in the West Philippine Sea become stronger, so will our national security,” said Sen. Risa Hontiveros in a statement on Saturday in a mix of Filipino and English.
“We must also upgrade the capabilities of our Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy to maneuver past the Chinese blockade of our troops on Ayungin Shoal. Chinese use of force in the Philippines’ own [exclusive economic zone] is contrary to international law,” she added.
China on Friday demanded the Philippines to “stop infringing on its sovereignty” after it took “control measures” against Philippine boats. This move occurred despite Ayungin Shoal being well within Manila’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Full Story at: More intelligence funds sought after latest Ayungin water cannon incident | Philstar.com
‘Watch out for restoration of Vice President Sara’s secret funds’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The public must be vigilant in monitoring the budget process to prevent the restoration of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds in the 2024 budget, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III urged yesterday.
At a virtual press briefing, Pimentel said while Duterte has dropped her request for P500 million in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and P150 million for the Department of Education which she also heads, the funds can be brought back during the bicameral conference.
“That is the inconvenient truth about the bicameral conference – anything goes there. Theoretically speaking, the bicam has the power to introduce and restore anything,” Pimentel said in Filipino. “Which is why to those interested in the issue, constant vigilance is important until the very end.”
The senator recalled the time Duterte’s P150-million confidential fund request in the 2023 budget of the DepEd was reduced by the Senate to just P30 million but was reinstated to its original amount of P150 million during the bicameral conference.
Full Story at: ‘Watch out for restoration of Vice President Sara’s secret funds’ | Philstar.com
‘We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with PH’: US condemns China’s water cannon attack | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The United States Department of State (DOS) has expressed its support to the Philippines after a water cannon attack from Chinese vessels on Philippine boats on Friday.
The Philippine boats were on a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
“The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our Philippine ally in the face of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) repeated harassment in the South China Sea,” the DOS statement on Saturday said.
The statement added that actions of the Chinese Coast Guard were “inconsistent with international law” and were “dangerous operational behavior in the South China Sea.”
“An international tribunal’s July 2016 decision – legally binding on both the Philippines and PRC – made clear that the PRC has no lawful territorial or maritime claim to Second Thomas Shoal. We urge the PRC to respect the high seas freedoms of navigation guaranteed to all States under international law,” it said.
Full Story at: ‘We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with PH’: US condemns China’s water cannon attack | Global News (inquirer.net)
Magalong downplays alleged destabilization plot vs Marcos admin | INQUIRER.NET – BAGUIO CITY — The alleged destabilization plot against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration might have stemmed from words uttered by young military and police officers frustrated with the government, according to retired police general and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
“Sa tingin ko yung destabilization na sinasabi nila siguro salita lang, sama ng loob, pero walang concrete na galaw talaga,” Magalong told reporters in an ambush interview in Baguio City.
(I think the reported destabilization plot was spawned by just words due to some personal feelings, but with concrete actions.)
“Of course, many young officers were not satisfied with the system of senior officers, especially in handling issues such as corruption, but it doesn’t translate to something that would generate yung mga certain actions that would be construed as violent to overthrow the government,” he added.
Full Story at: Magalong downplays alleged destabilization plot vs Marcos admin | Inquirer News
