News Roundup 20 December 2023
Dec 20, 2023 • 4 min Read
Defense chief rebukes China, says no country has condemned the Philippines over SCS | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — After another fresh wave of accusations that the Philippines has been stirring up “trouble” in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday that no country has condemned the Philippines over its actions in the tense waterways.
“I just want to react, I think there was a comment that the Philippines is provoking activities here and that we are creating trouble in the South China Sea as stated by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My response to that is that only China believes in what they are saying,” Teodoro told reporters at the sidelines of an event in La Union.
“And no country in the world, none, to this type has condemned the Philippines in what it’s doing. That is the best proof of what I said,” Teodoro added.
Teodoro also said that no nation “unequivocally” backs China’s claim to the whole of the South China Sea, which includes its use of a nine-dash line that cites sovereignty claims already rejected by an international tribunal seven years ago.
Full Story at: Defense chief rebukes China, says no country has condemned the Philippines over SCS | Philstar.com
Transfer of inmate-witnesses in De Lima’s final drug rap OK’d | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A Muntinlupa court approved the transfer of the 11 witnesses in the third and last drug case of former Sen. Leila de Lima.
Judge Gener Gito of Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 issued a resolution for the transfer of the witnesses, who are also inmates, from Sablayan Prison Camp in Occidental Mindoro to New Bilibid Prison’s minimum security compound in Muntinlupa City.
The decision follows De Lima’s November 21 motion, requesting the transfer of the seven inmate-witnesses.
The 11 inmate-witnesses to be transferred are:
- German L. Agojo
- Tomas D. Doniña
- Jaime Patcho
- Wu Tuan Yuan (alias “Peter Co”)
- Engelberto Durano
- Jerry R. Pepino
- Hans Anton Tan
- Herbert R Colangco
- Noel G. Martinez
- Nonilo A. Arile
- Joel D. Capones
In a letter penned on November 17 and addressed to De Lima, Agojo, Doniña, Patcho, Yuan, Durano, Pepino, and Tan expressed their intention to retract their testimonies against her. They cited enduring “unimaginable threats” when coerced to testify against the former senator.
Full Story at: Transfer of inmate-witnesses in De Lima’s final drug rap OK’d | Philstar.com
SMNI programs’ suspension not curtailing free speech – De Lima | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) decision to suspend two Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) programs is not an attempt to curtail free speech, as they were a reprimand for past incidents according to former senator Leila de Lima.
De Lima in a statement on Wednesday admitted that the suspension of SMNI programs ‘Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa’ and ‘Laban Kasama ang Bayan’ may look like prior restraint, as it seems to be a way to restrict program hosts from airing their views.
However, de Lima said that the suspension orders have merits, as these were imposed as a penalty for previous incidents where former president Rodrigo Duterte allegedly issued death threats, and self-proclaimed former rebel Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz shared false information.
“At 1st glance, the 14 day suspension meted out by the MTRCB on Duterte’s and (Lorraine) Badoy’s SMNI shows appears to be a case of unconstitutional prior restraint,” De Lima, a lawyer by profession, said.
“However, upon closer look, the suspension is action taken by the MTRCB on past, not future, speech made by Duterte threatening Congw[oman] France Castro with premeditated murder and SMNI host Celiz reporting malicious speculation on the cost of Speaker (Ferdinand Martin) Romualdez’s foreign travels in Badoy’s show,” she explained.
Full Story at: SMNI programs’ suspension not curtailing free speech – De Lima (inquirer.net)
Tolentino resigns as chair of Senate blue ribbon committee | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino on Tuesday confirmed that he had decided to give up his post as chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee to honor a deal he supposedly made with his colleagues.
In a media briefing, Tolentino said he agreed with the Senate leadership that he would only lead the powerful Senate panel tasked with investigating corruption allegations in the government for one and a half years.
He said he would also quit as a member of the majority bloc in the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) since he made the same arrangement with his fellow senators.
“I find it both a duty and an honor to uphold the essence of a prior agreement,” Tolentino said in a media briefing.
“This decision is rooted in a deep-seated belief that public office demands fidelity to pledges made … It is my intention to honor that agreement,” he said.
Full Story at: Tolentino resigns as chair of Senate blue ribbon committee | Inquirer News
