News Roundup 13 May 2024
May 13, 2024 • 5 min Read
Former PDEA chief: Ex-agent Morales known as ‘STL or storytelling liar’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines— A former head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) faced a Senate hearing on Monday to testify about the credibility of its former agent, Jonathan Morales.
Former PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago was Senator Jinggoy Estrada’s surprise witness in the ongoing Senate probe into alleged leaked PDEA pre-operational reports linking certain personalities to illegal drugs.
Morales supposedly signed the alleged PDEA reports on March 11, 2012.
According to Santiago, he worked with Morales as PDEA’s chief from 2006 to 2010. Morales joined the agency in 2009.
“Alam nyo, Mr. Chairman, ako director general ako. Nandun sila, doormat sila e… nandun sya sa baba, imbestigator sya…Ang nagtataka ako, bakit he’s all over. Bakit nandun ka, nilalampasan mo lahat ng tao?” he said when Estrada asked about the integrity of Morales.
(I was the director general. They were there, they were doormats… they were there at the bottom, they were investigators. What surprises me is why he’s all over. Why are you there, bypassing everyone?)
“Nakaderetso nga sya hanggang Malacanang daw e. Walang chain of command na sinusundan, he’s all over,” Santiago added.
(He can even go directly to Malacañang. No chain of command was followed. He’s all over.)
Santiago said Morales criticized his leadership and even those who succeeded him at the PDEA after his stint in 2010.
Full Story at: ‘Ex-agent Morales known as ‘STL or storytelling liar’ (inquirer.net)
Ako Bicol rep wants ex-adviser explain frequent links to anomalies | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines – A party-list lawmaker believes it is about time for Michael Yang, the former economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, to address accusations linking him to illegal drugs and his seeming frequent association with anomalies.
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon questioned on Monday why Yang’s name consistently emerges in discussions involving illegal activities, pointing to his alleged involvement in the government’s controversial procurement of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Well, let us have a brief history of who Michael Yang is. As mentioned, he was involved in a very controversial corruption case allegedly with regard to the Pharmally and Michael Yang used to be the adviser, economic adviser of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and we see now that his name is being dragged to a drug case,” Bongalon said in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex.
“So it seems he’s involved in everything illegal, so there has been nothing good attributed to Michael Yang’s name so I guess when we speak of serious cases like drugs, I guess the administration, the government should really look into these controversies,” he added.
Yang’s name resurfaced again when Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers announced that the businessman would be invited to the House of Representatives’ committee on dangerous drugs hearing. This decision came after it was revealed that one of the warehouses where illegal drugs were seized belonged to Yang’s translator, Lincoln Ong.
Full Story at: Ako Bicol rep wants ex-adviser explain frequent links to anomalies (inquirer.net)
DFA probes ‘illegal’ activities by diplomats | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday it would investigate alleged illegal activities by foreign diplomats, following calls to probe China’s possible violation of Philippine laws over a phone call recording.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs will look into any reports of illegal and unlawful activities by diplomatic officials, and undertake necessary action in line with existing laws and regulations,” the DFA said.
The agency’s statement comes after Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año called on the DFA to take appropriate actions against individuals from the Chinese Embassy in Manila for potentially violating the Anti-Wire Tapping Act and breaching diplomatic protocols and conventions.
The Chinese Embassy released a supposed two-minute recording of an alleged phone call with Admiral Alberto Carlos, commander of the military’s Western Command, on the so-called “new model” arrangement on the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that China’s claim of an audio recording allegedly between Carlos and a Chinese diplomat “does not merit significant concern as it appears to be a malign influence effort from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”
“Foreign diplomats accredited to the Philippines are accorded the necessary liberties to conduct their diplomatic duties, with the expectation that they, in turn, will conduct their diplomatic activities with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, in pursuit of common interests and mutually beneficial outcomes,” the DFA said.
Full Story at: DFA probes ‘illegal’ activities by diplomats | Philstar.com
Civilian mission to WPS undeterred by reported Chinese presence | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The civilian-led mission aiming to deliver supplies to Filipino fisherfolk in Panatag Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, will proceed with the trip despite the reported heavy presence of Chinese vessels in the area, its organizer said on Monday.
Atin Ito Coalition will sail to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal from May 14 to 17 to bring supplies to fishers and install buoys bearing the message: “West Philippine Sea is ours!”
Akbayan Party president and Atin Ito co-convenor Rafaela David stressed that the upcoming civilian mission is a legitimate exercise of Filipinos’ right to movement within the country’s territory.
David called the reported heavy presence of Chinese vessels in Panatag Shoal “lamentable, but not surprising.”
“It only underscores the urgency of civilianizing the area in response to China’s militarization,” she said.
Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, an open-source research initiative that tracks Chinese maritime activity, said on X that China is deploying a “huge force” to blockade Panatag Shoal.
“By this time tomorrow at least four coast guard and 26 large maritime militia ships on blockade (not counting ‘dark’ vessels),” Powell said.
Full Story at: Civilian mission to WPS undeterred by reported Chinese presence | Philstar.com
