News Roundup 17 April 2023
Apr 17, 2023 • 4 min Read
PNP chief: Bantag now declared as a fugitive | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag is now a fugitive following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him, Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said on Monday.
“Anybody who has an existing warrant of arrest at di pa siya na-aresto (who has not been arrested yet) [is considered as a] fugitive,” Azurin said in a chance interview in Camp Crame.
The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is now conducting its manhunt operation against Bantag and his deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.
Full Story at: PNP chief: Bantag now declared as a fugitive | Inquirer News
Muntinlupa City court wraps up case vs Leila de Lima; decision set on May 12 | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — One of the two remaining drug cases filed against detained former senator Leila de Lima is up for decision next month, her lawyer said Monday.
Atty. Filibon Tacardon said Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 has already submitted for decision the case stemming from her alleged receipt of drug money from former Bureau of Corrections chief Rafael Ragos.
The case promulgation is set for May 12.
“Malalaman na natin dito kung inosente talaga si Senator Leila de Lima at hinihiling namin ang dasal ng ating mga kababayan na pagdasal natin si Senator Leila de Lima na sana mabasura na itong kaso na ito laban sa kanya,” Tacardon added.
(We will find out here if Senator Leila de Lima is innocent, and we ask for prayers from our fellow countrymen that this case against Senator Leila de Lima will be dismissed.)
De Lima was accused of receiving a total of P10 million from Ragos and her aide Ronnie Dayan. The money allegedly came from inmates of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). Purportedly, the money was meant to fund her 2016 senatorial bid.
But Ragos already disowned his earlier testimony against de Lima, saying he was only coerced to accuse de Lima of wrongdoing.
Full Story at: Muntinlupa City court wraps up case vs Leila de Lima; decision set on May 12 | Inquirer News
National Security Council: EDCA position already discussed with Chinese envoy | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The National Security Council stressed that it had already explained that the Philippine government is consistent with Beijing’s “One China policy” regarding issues related to Taiwan strait.
The council in a statement over the weekend also said they already met with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian last week, where National Security Adviser Eduardo Año assured the envoy that the sites identified under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement will not be used against China or to interfere with Taiwan issues.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently approved the designation of four more EDCA sites, which will be located in Cagayan, Isabela, and Palawan. Some of these sites are in the northern part of the country, facing Taiwan.
However, Año also explained to Huang that the sites were identified according to the Strategic Basing Plan of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“That is why when he spoke at the Manila forum on Friday, we were surprised by the statements that were made,” National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said, in response to a question during a forum hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute on Monday.
Full Story at: National Security Council: EDCA position already discussed with Chinese envoy | Philstar.com
Carpio: Philippines should consider patrols with ASEAN in South China Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — As the Philippines looks to tap other countries to conduct joint patrols within the West Philippine Sea, Former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Manila should consider doing joint maritime activities with nations with claims that overlap with China’s nine-dash line.
“We should have joint patrols with Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia in each other’s exclusive economic zones because that would be asserting that all of us have exclusive economic zones,” Carpio told reporters on the sidelines of a forum hosted by Stratbase ADR Institute on Monday.
China’s so-called nine-dash line covers much of the South China Sea, including areas of the West Philippine Sea in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
China’s claims overlap claims by Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam but the Philippines also has competing claims with other ASEAN countries.
The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 ruled that China’s nine-dash claim has no basis in international law.
Full Story at: Carpio: Philippines should consider patrols with ASEAN in South China Sea | Philstar.com
