News Roundup 21 November 2023
Nov 21, 2023 • 4 min Read
Non-opposition House lawmakers join calls for Marcos to support ICC probe vs Duterte | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Two more House lawmakers have filed a resolution urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the alleged crimes against humanity committed in Duterte’s anti-illegal drugs campaign.
House Resolution 1477, authored by human rights panel chairperson Rep. Benny Abante (Manila, 6th District) and Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider Partylist), calls on the Marcos administration “to extend their full cooperation to the ICC Prosecutor” in its investigation of any crimes committed under its jurisdiction.
The resolution noted that the ICC’s jurisdiction includes but is not limited to “the crime against humanity of murder, committed in the Philippines in the context of the so-called `war on drugs’ campaign.”
This follows Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) pronouncements last week that there will be some House action soon on a similar resolution earlier filed by the Makabayan bloc which a House source said had already been referred to the justice committee.
Abante and Gutierrez’s resolution was read on first reading on Tuesday and also referred to the justice committee.
Full Story at: Non-opposition House lawmakers join calls for Marcos to support ICC probe vs Duterte | Philstar.com
Teacher who shared viral Commonwealth traffic jam video files counter affidavit | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A teacher accused by the police of uploading the viral video of an alleged “VIP” causing a traffic jam in Commonwealth has filed a counter-affidavit to a complaint against him for reportedly spreading false information online.
Rights lawyer Chel Diokno accompanied private school educator Janus Munar on Tuesday to file a counter-affidavit as a response to the case against him lodged by the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) over the viral Commonwealth traffic video, which Munar insists he merely shared.
The video in question, which was posted by former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casino on October 5, shows Executive Master Sergeant Verdo Pantollano audibly explaining to a motorist that a portion of Commonwealth was blocked to allow the convoy of “VP (Sara)” to pass.
After Vice President Sara Duterte denied being involved in the road closure, the QCPD apologized for the incident and said Pantollano “mistakenly heard the word VP, hence, he decided to clear the traffic as a sign of courtesy and security.”
Around a week after the incident, Lt. Col. May Genio, commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD)’s Holy Spirit police station 14, publicly identified Munar as the person who allegedly uploaded the video in a radio interview.
Full Story at: Teacher who shared viral Commonwealth traffic jam video files counter affidavit | Philstar.com
Bongbong Marcos announces US and Philippines begin joint patrol in WPS on Tuesday | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — As a show of force in the area gripped by maritime disputes, Philippines and United States on Tuesday began joint patrols in West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“Today marks the beginning of joint maritime and air patrols — a collaborative effort between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Indo-Pacific Command in the West Philippine Sea,” Marcos said on X (formerly Twitter).
Philippines currently occupies nine maritime features, collectively known as Kalayaan Island Group, around the area of WPS.
Despite an international tribunal ruling effectively dismissing its claims, China asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including WPS, causing tension between Manila and Beijing.
BRP Sierra Madre became the flashpoint of the tensions between the two countries as Philippine vessels conducting regular resupply missions for the commissioned World War II-era ship were often harassed by China’s vessels.
Full Story at: Bongbong Marcos announces US and Philippines begin joint patrol in WPS on Tuesday | Global News (inquirer.net)
DND told to refuse donated equipment ‘alien’ to existing arms system | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Monday reminded the Department of National Defense (DND) not to accept donated equipment from other countries that are incompatible with the existing weapons system in the nation’s military arsenal.
Pimentel said this after he received a report that the DND did not utilize certain equipment donated to them.
However, he did not delve into specifics.
“Kaya siguro kung may nagdodonate din sa atin ng mga alien weapon system naman, na hindi rin naman natin gagamitin kesa mapuna pa tayo na tumatanggap tayo ng donation pinapatulog lang daw natin, hindi daw natin ginagamit, ‘wag na nating tanggapin,” Pimentel said during the Senate plenary deliberations of DND’s proposed P233 billion budget.
(If someone is donating a weapon system that is alien to us and cannot be used, rather than get criticized for taking donations and not using them, let’s just not accept them in the first place.)
Full Story at: DND told to refuse donated equipment ‘alien’ to existing arms system | Inquirer News
