News Roundup 17 July 2023
Jul 17, 2023 • 4 min Read
75% of Filipinos back closer US-PH military ties amid tensions in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipinos support closer military cooperation between the Philippines and the United States amid the country’s maritime row with China on the West Philippine Sea, a new Pulse Asia survey found.
The poll, distributed in June, showed 75% of respondents said they are in favor of “strengthening the military ties between the US and the Philippines amid the security tension in the West Philippine Sea.”
At least 14% said they are not in favor, while the rest said they either did not know enough to have an opinion (2%) or “can’t say” (8%).
According to the same survey, which included other questions related to the West Philippine Sea, at least 80% also said they “strongly agree” that the Philippines should forge more alliances to defend the West Philippine Sea
The survey was commissioned by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, who said that he supports a recently filed Senate resolution declaring July 12 of each year as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day.
The US Department of State said it will continue to “urge Beijing to comport its maritime claims with international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention” on the seventh anniversary of the Hague ruling that invalidated China’s nine-dash claim.
Full Story at: 75% of Filipinos back closer US-PH military ties amid tensions in West Philippine Sea | Philstar.com
Teves moves for dismissal of criminal raps over Degamo assassination | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental) has asked the Department of Justice to dismiss the murder complaint filed against him over the brazen assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo.
Teves, through his legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, on Monday filed a Motion to Dismiss citing “utter lack of evidence to support a finding of probable cause.”
“All told, the accusations against Teves Jr. remain as bare allegations without proof,” the motion read.
Recantation, no other evidence
Teves’ legal team cited the recantation of the ten suspects in the assassination in their move for the dismissal of the complaint.
“A careful study of the complaint shows that the cases against Teves, Jr. are heavily anchored on these extra-judicial statements,” the motion also read, adding that the accusations against the suspended lawmaker have been “rendered worthless” following the recantation.
It also pointed out that the recantations were voluntarily made with assistance from their own counsel and before the statements were presented in court.
The Department of Justice earlier said the ten suspects pointed to Teves as the mastermind behind the crime, but they later withdrew their statements as the preliminary investigation into the multiple murder complaints against the Negros Oriental lawmaker proceeded.
Teves’ motion also argued that “[n]o other evidence exists on the participation of Teves Jr. in the subject crimes,” and if the recanted extrajudicial statements of the suspects are considered, these still “do not furnish sufficient evidence to sustain probable cause against Teves Jr.”
Full Story at: Teves moves for dismissal of criminal raps over Degamo assasination | Philstar.com
Muntinlupa mayor questions revived shoes-off policy at airports | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon on Sunday questioned the decision of the Office of Transportation Security (OTS) to revive the shoe removal policy for screening passengers, flight crews, and other airport users.
In a Twitter post, Biazon asked whether there was a study done and data provided on the risk of footwear in airport security following reports that the decades-old policy was reimposed in all airports nationwide.
“What’s the compelling reason? Is there data on footwear risk? Is there intel on threats?” Biazon said.
“Is there an order from Icao (International Civil Aviation Organization)? At a time when air travel is becoming tedious w/ immigration policy, overbooking, delayed & canceled flights, we impose this. Was there a time & motion study done?” he added.
‘Mandatory removal’
In an advisory on July 14, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) Area 8 announced that the OTS updated and revised the standard operating procedures for the screening of air travelers.
“Mandatory removal of footwear shall be implemented at the final security checkpoint in all airports nationwide effective immediately,” it said.
Full Story at: Muntinlupa mayor questions revived shoes-off policy at airports | Inquirer News
NSPC 2023 opens in Cagayan de Oro after two-year hiatus | INQUIRER.NET – CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Around 5,000 delegates from all around the Philippines gathered in Cagayan de Oro City for the 2023 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), marking the return of the prestigious in-person competition after two years of hiatus amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Anchored on the theme “From Campus Journalism to Real-World Journalism: Shaping Minds from Schools to Societies,” the Department of Education (DepEd)’s Division of Cagayan de Oro, along with the Region X office is hosting the week-long event from July 17 to 21.
The city division was supposed to host the national tilt in 2021, but was canceled following DepEd’s directive on suspending crowd-drawing events; the department held an online training-workshop edition instead.
Full Story at: NSPC 2023 opens in Cagayan de Oro after two-year hiatus | Inquirer News
