News Roundup 13 June 2024
Jun 13, 2024 • 4 min Read
Invader’s playbook: China tactics may include attacking PH from within | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines—The country has to be prepared, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said as he pointed out that external threats have become more pronounced.
But what if defense lines were already weakened even before the start of an open conflict?
Joshua Espeña, a defense analyst, had this stressed as Filipinos now talk about the extent of China’s presence in the Philippines–even in local governments, businesses, and educational institutions.
Why?
Espeña, vice president of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), told INQUIRER.net that “infiltration has always been a playbook for belligerents.”
Based on data from the Philippine Navy (PN), 146 Chinese vessels were seen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from June 4 to 10 — most, or 108, were of China’s maritime militia.
The rest, 38, were of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China Coast Guard (CCG), higher than the 20 from May 28 to June 3. Some 105 maritime militia vessels were seen then by the PN.
“The external threat now has become more pronounced,” Marcos said as he stressed not only the conflict over the WPS, but even the tension between China and Taiwan.
But threats could also come from within, considering the extent of China’s presence in the country, especially in Pogos, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, schools, and even local governments.
Irregular warfare
Chester Cabalza, a defense analyst and president of IDSC, told INQUIRER.net that China certainly started drawing its grand strategy of unrestricted or irregular warfare.
Full Story at: Invader’s playbook: China tactics may include attacking PH from within (inquirer.net)
Teves now under house arrest in Timor Leste | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Congressman Arnolfo Teves is currently under house arrest in Timor Leste, both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and his lawyer confirmed Thursday.
“We learned from Timor Leste Prosecutor General that former Cong. Teves is now under house arrest. As regardless of whether he is in custody, rearrested or house arrest, he is under the control of the police authorities,” Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez told reporters.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio said the Timor Leste Court has allowed the former lawmaker to be placed under house arrest.
“Actually, kahapon po iginawad yung desisyon ng korte (the court yesterday issued the decision that) he should be placed under house arrest,” Topacio said.
He added: “Ngayon kinuha sya right after na release sya from Becora Prison, from preventive detention, nakita after one hearing na hindi ganoon kataas ang flight risk ni Cong. Teves na dapat nasa jail sya o holding area ng Policia Nacional de Timor Leste (PNTL), pinayagan na lang syang nasa bahay under guard ng PNTL. So, yun po ang nangyari.”
(Now, he was not taken right after he was released from Becora prison, from preventive detention. After one hearing, it was determined that Congressman Teves’ flight risk was not that high for him to be in jail or even in the holding area of the Policia Nacional de Timor Leste (PNTL). He was just allowed to stay at home under the guard of the PNTL, so that’s what happened.)
Full Story at: Teves now under house arrest in Timor Leste (inquirer.net)
Chinese Coast Guard bullying escalates after WPS fishing ban — group | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Fishers’ group New Masinloc Fishermen Association (NMFA) said the bullying by the Chinese Coast Guard has intensified after China banned fishing activities in areas in the West Philippine Sea that include the Philippines territory.
NMFA president Leonardo Cuaresma said that Pinoy fishermen are driven away by the CCG and were not allowed near the lagoon in Panatag Shoal.
The Philippines has protested the unilateral ban issued by Beijing, which will start on June 15.
Cuaresma said the number of Chinese ships in Panatag has increased.
“Since the start of the campaign of the government to fight for our sovereignty, even personnel of Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) are being harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard,” he said, adding the CCG even pointed guns at some Filipino fishermen.
Full Story at: Chinese Coast Guard bullying escalates after WPS fishing ban — group | Philstar.com
Are POGOs China’s ‘Trojan horse’? NICA investigates | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) director Ricardo de Leon said that his agency is validating all information, including the angle that Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) may have been China’s “Trojan horse” – referring to Greek mythology that led to the fall of Troy.
“On Trojan horse, we continue to validate. We cannot say yet that they are capable,” De Leon said.
Cruz said that one of the equipment confiscated during a POGO raid in Pasay City was communication equipment with foreign characters, which experts said may have been used to directly communicate with China.
De Leon said this equipment, as well as other pieces of evidence, are being subjected to forensic examination.
“NICA is coordinating with our intelligence counterpart in other countries for experts to intervene,” De Leon said.
Full Story at: Are POGOs China’s ‘Trojan horse’? NICA investigates | Philstar.com
