News Roundup 25 March 2024
Mar 25, 2024 • 5 min Read
DFA summons Chinese envoy over latest sea confrontation | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday that it has summoned a Chinese envoy following another confrontation in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend.
The DFA said in a statement that the agency summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy to protest “aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia against a civilian boat supplying troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The Philippine Embassy in Beijing will also lodge a similar protest with China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Manila asked Beijing to respect the rights of the Philippines, and to cease and desist from its continued violation of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 Arbitral Award that rejected China’s expansive maritime claims.
The Philippines stressed that China “has no right to be in Ayungin Shoal,” a low-tide elevation that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.
“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone is unacceptable. It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” the DFA said.
“The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal and the Philippine exclusive economic zone immediately,” it added.
The Philippines on Saturday accused the CCG of blocking and using water cannons against a Filipino supply boat, injuring three soldiers onboard.
Full Story at: DFA summons Chinese envoy over latest sea confrontation | Philstar.com
SC allows UN expert to act as ‘friend of the court’ in Maria Ressa’s cyber libel plea | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Irene Khan, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion, has been allowed by the Supreme Court (SC) to sit as an “amicus curiae” to the court in the appeal for the cyber libel case of Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and former researcher Reynaldo Santos.
In a resolution dated Jan. 24, 2024, reported by Rappler, the SC granted Khan’s motion to appear as an expert in the case to which it also admitted her amicus brief.
An “amicus curiae”, also known as a “friend of a court,” is an “experienced and impartial” adviser to the court.
An amicus brief, on the other hand, is a document which may help the high court decide on the case.
In 2022, a Manila court has convicted Ressa and Santos of cyber libel over the case filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng, a decision which was also affirmed by the Court of Appeals in the same year. This prompted the Nobel laureate and the former Rappler researcher to appeal to the high court.
In Khan’s brief, according to the report, she said that she is “concerned” that the law in the country fails to adequately protect the right to freedom of expression, citing Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which the Philippines is a member.
Full Story at: SC allows UN expert to act as ‘friend of the court’ in Maria Ressa’s cyber libel plea | Philstar.com
2 environmentalists allegedly abducted in Pangasinan | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Two environmentalists and volunteer church workers were reportedly abducted in San Carlos City, Pangasinan Sunday night, according to a rights group.
In a statement, Karapatan-Central Luzon cited reports from witnesses and said that Francisco “Eco” Dangla III and Axielle “Jak” Tiong were “severely mauled, and dragged to a waiting SUV at on or about 8:00 p.m.” on March 24.
It further said that the abduction of the two environmental activists marked the 7th and 8th instances of such attacks against environmentalists “across the central plains of Luzon,” which includes Pangasinan.
“Similar to all other incidences of abductions and enforced disappearance the two were victims of terror-tagging and vilification despite being genuine champions of the environment and the people of Pangasinan,” Karapatan-Central Luzon stressed.
According to the group, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Dangla and Tiong have been “actively raising awareness about the impact of coal-fired power plants and offshore mining.”
Full Story at: 2 environmentalists allegedly abducted in Pangasinan (inquirer.net)
Macalintal offers ways for 3 House bills to truly benefit seniors, PWDs | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — While three recently approved House Bills (HBs) granting additional benefits to senior citizens (SCs) and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are a welcome development, SC rights advocate Romulo Macalintal said the bills need further amendments to enhance their effectiveness.
The House of Representatives last week gave the green light to HB 10061, 10062, and 10063, which will expand the benefits received by SCs and PWDs.
But in a statement on Sunday, Macalintal explained that HB 10061, which grants 20 percent discount and value added tax (VAT) exemption to SCs and PWDs on goods and services on promotion, should be amended to clearly provide that it shall include any “meal package” or “meal combination” consumed inside the restaurant or establishment.
Macalintal, a lawyer, also explained that HB 10062, granting 20 percent discount and VAT exemption on parking fees, “should specifically provide that ‘parking services’ shall include ‘valet parking services’ in any hotel or establishment, for vehicles driven by SCs or PWDs or where they are passengers.”
HB 10062 also provides for a 15 percent discount on electricity and water consumption, “provided the consumption does not exceed 100 kilowatt hours (kwh) or 30 cubic meters.”
Full Story at: Macalintal offers ways to enhance bills to benefit seniors, PWDs (inquirer.net)
