News Roundup 27 June 2024
Jun 27, 2024 • 4 min Read
Marcos aware of need to go beyond diplomatic protests vs China | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — After nearly two years of dealing with repeated skirmishes in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. believes the Philippines must do more than file diplomatic protests to address Chinese vessels’ aggression at sea.
Marcos told reporters at the sidelines of an event on Thursday that the country has filed “over a hundred” protests and a similar number of démarches to respond to Chinese vessels’ presence in Philippine waters.
“We have to do more than just that,” Marcos said, according to a Presidential Communications Office news release.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the Philippines and China are preparing to hold a bilateral consultation mechanism meeting in July. During this meeting, escalating tensions between the two nations in the South China Sea, the entirety of which China claims, are expected to be brought up.
“Whatever confidence-building measures we achieve, they will be not at the expense of promotion of our sovereignty, sovereign rights, as well as our rights and jurisdiction on the West Philippine Sea,” Manalo said.
Full Story at: Marcos aware of need to go beyond diplomatic protests vs China | Philstar.com
Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping’s fingerprints match — Hontiveros | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that the fingerprints of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping match, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Thursday, who remarked this could be the most damning evidence that can be used to remove Guo from her position.
In a statement sent to reporters, Hontiveros said that the NBI has confirmed that the Guo’s and the Chinese passport-holder’s fingerprints are “of one and the same person.”
“This confirms what I have suspected all along. ‘Mayor Alice,’ or should I say, Guo Hua Ping, is a fake Filipino,” Hontiveros said.
The senator added: “She is a Chinese national masquerading as a Filipino citizen to facilitate crimes being committed by POGO.”
Earlier, Sen. Win Gatchalian bared government documents that show Guo might have entered the Philippines already as a teen using a passport that bared the name “Guo Hua Ping” and which states her nationality as Chinese.
One document is a photocopy of a passport with the name “GUO HAPING.” The place of birth indicated in the passport is Fujian, China, with the date of birth being Aug. 31, 1990.
Hontiveros said the NBI’s confirmation of the fingerprint match between Guo and “Guo Hua Ping” is the “heaviest evidence that can be used to remove ‘Mayor Alice’ from position.”
The senator urged the Office of the Solicitor General to expedite its filing of a quo warranto case against her.”
Full Story at: Alice Guo and Guo Hua Ping’s fingerprints match — Hontiveros | Philstar.com
Dela Rosa: Dutertes to lead opposition if Marcos, ‘pinklawan’ unite | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the Dutertes will be compelled to lead the political opposition if President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allies with the “pink forces” and other non-traditional partners.
Dela Rosa underscored the potential role of the Dutertes in shaping the country’s political landscape.
Earlier, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV floated the possibility of forming an “Anti-Duterte Unity Ticket” after Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and two siblings – Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte – are gearing up to run for senator in the 2025 midterm polls.
“No choice. Ano bang mangyayari dyan? Eh wala ng opposition. Nandoon na ‘yung mga yellow, mga pink – kasama na sa Malacañang. Paano mafi-fiscalize ‘yung mga affairs of the state kung walang opposition? At saka ang tao naman ang titingin dyan eh,” dela Rosa said during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on Thursday.
(No choice. What will happen there? There’s no opposition. The yellows and pinks will already be there – together in Malacañang. How can the affairs of the state be fiscalized if there is no opposition? Anyway, it’s the people who will decide.)
Full Story at: Dela Rosa: Dutertes will be compelled to lead opposition if… (inquirer.net)
Duterte assured of fair, respectful House EJK probe | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte was assured that lawmakers would be “fair and respectful to him” during a House panel hearing on extrajudicial killings.
The House of Representatives committee on human rights extended an invitation to Duterte to attend the hearing, which should be a good opportunity for the former top leader of the nation to address allegations of rights abuses in his administration’s “drug war”, according to Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr.
“The invitation to former President Rodrigo Duterte is an opportunity for him to personally address issues that have been brought to light during our ongoing inquiry regarding the war on drugs that was undertaken during his administration,” said panel chair Abante.
“If the former President Duterte chooses to appear, the Committee will be as fair and respectful to him as it has been to every resource person invited to testify during the proceedings. We will also extend every courtesy due to a past Chief Executive and former member of the House,” he added.
Full Story at: Duterte assured of fair, respectful House EJK probe (inquirer.net)
