News Roundup 19 February 2024
Feb 19, 2024 • 4 min Read
Senate issues subpoena vs Quiboloy | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — One of the most wanted alleged sexual traffickers in the United States is now being compelled to face the charges against him in both chambers of Philippine Congress.
The Senate has officially issued a subpoena against controversial preacher and Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy after his failure to show up to two hearings that aimed to uncover the details of the sexual abuse and forced labor charges against him and his church members.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality that is holding a probe on KOJC, confirmed on Monday that Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has signed the subpoena.
Hontiveros issued the subpoena against Quiboloy after he did not attend the panel’s first hearing. Quiboloy’s legal counsel, Melanio Balayan, attended on his behalf.
In her February 6 letter urging Zubiri to sign the subpoena. Hontiveros said that her office has received a number of “credible evidence of threats” on the lives of the witnesses who spoke about Quiboloy’s alleged sexual abuse of women during the first hearing in January.
Full Story at: Senate issues subpoena vs Quiboloy | Philstar.com
House files identical Cha-cha resolution as Senate, targets passage before SONA | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has introduced a measure identical to the Senate’s that proposes the lifting of economic restrictions in the 1987 Constitution, with House leaders aiming for final approval at least before the president’s third State of the Nation Address.
In a press conference on Monday, House leaders discussed their filing of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, which proposes the same three economic amendments through constituent assembly as the Senate’s RBH 6.
Like its Senate counterpart, RBH 7 seeks to lift the restrictions on foreign ownership in public utilities, education and advertising.
Authors of RBH 7 include Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Dong Gonzales, House Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Dalipe, Rep. David Suarez (Quezon, 2nd District), among others.
“There should be no doubts. We really patterned it. Because they might say this is a different version filed by the House. Constituent assembly. Exactly the same economic provisions the Senate has filed,” Dalipe said in a mix of English and Filipino.
House leaders said that the only key difference between the Senate and House versions is that they want to deliberate the resolution as a committee of the whole – which means all members of the House will have the chance to debate RBH 7’s contents from the get-go instead of starting at the committee level.
Full Story at: House files identical Cha-cha resolution as Senate, targets passage before SONA | Philstar.com
Coast Guard extends aid to fishermen in West PH Sea | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it has sent supplies to fishermen who are in “prolonged fishing activities” in the West Philippine Sea.
On Sunday, the crew of BRP Sindangan and BRP Cabra provided supplies for the Filipino crew onboard fishing boats FB John Jerry, as well as FB Maricris and Tessie.
The crew of FB John Jerry was given food packs and drinking water as they had been fishing in the area for a week.
The PCG also distributed food items and even medicines for a wounded fisherman aboard FB Maricris and Tessie. The boat’s crew has been fishing in the area for a month.
The PCG maintains a presence in the West Philippine Sea, with the rotation and resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal being one of its most salient tasks.
Last year, the humanitarian mission of PCG and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for Filipino fishers there was hounded by the China Coast Guard, according to National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
Full Story at: Coast Guard extends aid to fishermen in West PH Sea | Inquirer News
PNP: 8,500 cops to secure People Power anniversary rites | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is planning to dispatch more or less 8,500 police officers nationwide to ensure public safety during the commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the Edsa People power Revolution on February 25.
PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said they are preparing for one rally in Cebu and another in Metro Manila.
“In Cebu, we are intending to deploy more or less 2,500 personnel; in Metro Manila, we have more or less 6,000, and of course, the numbers will adjust depending on the intelligence reports that will come in,” Acorda said on Monday.
Full Story at: PNP: 8,500 cops to secure People Power anniversary rites | Inquirer News
