News Roundup 25 August 2023
Aug 25, 2023 • 4 min Read
Philippine, Australian troops hold South China Sea drills | PHILSTAR.COM – SAN ANTONIO, Zambales — Australian and Filipino troops held exercises on Friday near flashpoint South China Sea waters claimed by China, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos hailing them as an “extremely important” example of close cooperation.
China deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy and other vessels to patrol and militarise reefs in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.
Friday’s joint drills took place at a naval base about 240 kilometers (150 miles) east of Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground that China seized from the Philippines in 2012 after a tense standoff.
“Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region is extremely important,” Marcos told reporters.
“It is an important aspect of how we prepare for any eventuality,” he said of the drills, which he watched with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
The air, sea and land drills, the first major joint exercise by the two countries, simulated retaking an enemy-controlled island.
About 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Filipino marines stormed a beach during the exercise, arriving in amphibious assault vehicles, by parachute and aboard US Osprey aircraft.
Two advanced Australian F-35 fighter jets provided close air support, and Australian warships secured the surrounding waters.
Full Story at: Philippine, Australian troops hold South China Sea drills | Philstar.com
Ombudsman suspends DepEd, DBM execs amid probe into overpriced laptops for teachers | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of government officials pending an investigation into the procurement of “outdated and overpriced” laptops for public teachers.
In a resolution, Ombudsman Samuel Martires ordered the preventive suspension of the following:
- Annalyn Sevilla, Department of Education undersecretary for finance
- Alain Del Pascua, DepEd undersecretary for administration and procurement
- Lloyd Christopher Lao, former Department of Budget and Management undersecretary and executive director of DBM-Procurement Service
- Salvador Malana III, DepEd assistant secretary for administration and procurement
- Abram Abanil, director of DepEd information and communications technology services and designated ad hoc member of the special bids and awards committee 1 for the “Laptop for Teachers” project
- Jasonmer Uayan, former director and officer-in-charge of PS-DBM
- Ulysses Mora, procurement management officer of PS-DBM
- Marwin Amil, procurement management officer of PS-DBM
- Alec Ladanga, executive assistant at Sevilla’s office
- Marcelo Bragado, director of DepEd procurement management service
- Selwyn Briones, supervising administrative officer of DepEd
- Paul Armand Estrada, procurement management officer of PS-DBM
They will be under preventive suspension until the administrative adjudication on the case is terminated, for a maximum of six months. The Ombudsman said they will not receive pay during this time, “except when the delay in the disposition of the case is due to their fault, negligence or petition.”
Full Story at: Ombudsman suspends DepEd, DBM execs amid probe into overpriced laptops for teachers | Philstar.com
NCRPO’s 5th most wanted nabbed in Taguig | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The fifth most wanted person in Metro Manila has been arrested by police officers in Taguig, reports from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) showed.
NCRPO in a statement on Friday said that Erwin Parcon, 28 years old, who has outstanding charges for rape, was arrested by officers from the 6th Mobile Force Company – Regional Mobile Force Battalion (MFC-RMFB) and the Warrant and Subpoena Unit of Taguig City Police Station.
Operatives served the arrest order against Parcon on Friday around 10:00 a.m. at Barangay New Lower Bicutan in Taguig City.
NCRPO said Parcon is facing charges for three counts of Qualified Statutory Rape and Attempted Qualified Statutory Rape, heard before Branch 163 of the Regional Trial Court in Taguig.
Full Story at: NCRPO’s 5th most wanted nabbed in Taguig | Inquirer News
Comelec: Up to P75 million needed for special elections to replace Rep. Teves | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that it would need P70 to P75 million to fund the special elections for the vacated seat of expelled Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves, Jr.
According to Comelec chair George Garcia, no supplemental budget has been provided to the poll body for the special elections, which means it would have to rely on its already existing budget.
“We will be needing at least P70 to P75 million. The budget will have to come up from the existing budget of the commission [as] there are no special or supplemental appropriations for this purpose,” said Garcia.
“Until today, we are trying to find the necessary budget in order to finance the necessary elections,” he added.
When asked if it was possible that Comelec would be unable to hold elections due to lack of funding, Garcia responded no, adding that the poll body would find a way to conduct the special voting “at all costs.”
Full Story at: Comelec: Up to P75 million needed for special elections to replace Rep. Teves | Inquirer News
