News Roundup 17 March 2023
Mar 17, 2023 • 3 min Read
Marcos urged to take charge of Oriental Mindoro oil spill response | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Protect Verde Island Passage coalition on Friday called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to personally order government agencies to “direct all resources” to contain an oil spill from a tanker that sank off Oriental Mindoro last week.
Citing reports from the disaster management office of Calapan City, Protect VIP said traces of oil have been seen in Barangay Navotas. Calapan City is a major economic center in Mimaropa.
“The only way to achieve the president’s hope to clean up the oil spill in four months is to compel government agencies to direct all resources for containment,” Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Protect VIP Convenor, said.
“We are also in support of the consensus raised during the Senate hearing for the need to assign an oil spill response chief. Mr. President, the VIP is a crucial contributor to the Philippine economy. You must move now,” he also said.
Gariguez said that civil society groups have been trying to help community response to the oil spill, but that they “can only do so much.”
Full Story at: Marcos urged to take charge of Oriental Mindoro oil spill response | Philstar.com
Tokhang survivor who played dead cleared in direct assault case | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City court has cleared a man who survived being shot by police during an Oplan Tokhang operation by playing dead of direct assault, a charge filed against him by police way back in August 2016.
The Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 133 acquitted Efren Morillo as it ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that he actually resisted police and attacked them with a gun.
“The prosecution fell short as well of proving that accused Morillo seriously resisted and attacked the police operatives as none of the prosecution witnesses saw accused Morillo fire his gun. Forthwith, the acquittal of the accused Morillo is in order,” read the March 3 decision penned by Presiding Judge Gloria Monica Lopez-Lao released Friday to media.
The court also said that the alleged assault on the police officers did not happen at a time when they were in the lawful exercise of their duties.
Full Story at: Tokhang survivor who played dead cleared in direct assault case | Philstar.com
ICC judges issue arrest warrant against Putin over alleged war crimes | INQUIRER.NET – AMSTERDAM — The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being responsible for war crimes committed in Ukraine.
Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces have committed atrocities during its one-year invasion of its neighbor.
The ICC issued the warrant for Putin’s arrest on suspicion of unlawful deportation of children and unlawful transfer of people from the territory of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the court was expected to issue warrants, the first in its investigation into the Ukraine conflict.
Separatel,y the court issued warrants for Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, on the same charges.
Hontiveros wants PCG, Marina execs held liable for Mindoro oil spill | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) should be held accountable for their “negligence and nonfeasance” in the massive oil spill that started off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, said Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Hontiveros made the statement on Friday after Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed a witness’ claim that MT Princess Empress–the tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel that capsized in waters near Najun town on Feb. 28 due to engine trouble–was “rebuilt scrap.”
The National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police have already been tapped to look into the allegation, according to Remulla.
Full Story at: Hontiveros wants PCG, Marina execs held liable for Mindoro oil spill | Inquirer News
