News Roundup 27 March 2023
Mar 27, 2023 • 4 min Read
3 Chinese, 1 Vietnamese held for allegedly kidnapping, killing Tsinoy | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Four foreign nationals — three Chinese and one Vietnamese — were arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-AKG) for their alleged abduction and murder of a Chinese-Filipino businessman in Quezon City.
The PNP-AKG said the body of 62-year-old Mario Uy was recovered in the municipality of Tanza, Cavite province, on March 22, four days after he was kidnapped on March 18.
The suspects—Chinese nationals Bei Huimin, Jielong Shen and Sun XiaoHui, and Vietnamese Hong Puc Le—were arrested on March 23 in an operation led by the Anti-Kidnapping Group after the three Chinese suspects withdrew the ransom money at a bank in Parañaque City.
The Vietnamese national, whose bank account was used for the deposit of the P560,000 in ransom money given by the victim’s family, was captured that same day at a mall in Taguig City.
The PNP-AKG sought the assistance of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center in gathering information which helped in identifying and locating the suspects.
Full Story at: 3 Chinese, 1 Vietnamese held for allegedly kidnapping, killing Tsinoy | Inquirer News
Navy deploys fresh troops to PH island nearest to Taiwan | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy recently deployed a fresh batch of troops and supplies in Mavulis, the country’s northernmost island facing Taiwan, and other parts of Batanes.
“PS-39 has recently completed a weeklong mission in the country’s northern maritime frontier that consisted of routine naval patrols to ensure maritime security in the northern borders,” according to the Facebook page of the BRP Conrado Yap, a Pohang-class corvette donated by the South Korean government.
The warship transported “troops, civilians, and other components of the government” to and from the scattered islands of Batanes such as Itbayat, Basco, and Mavulis, during the mission.
Batanes is an archipelagic province and the country’s northernmost province. Mavulis, located less than 150 kilometers from Taiwan’s southern tip, is manned by a marine unit guarding a small shelter.
“These successful operations manifested the PS-39’s commitment to the fulfillment of the Philippine Navy mission as it strives to be responsive to our maritime nation’s defense and development,” the ship’s post said.
Also recently, the Navy inaugurated new administrative and research buildings at Parola and Likas islands, two of the nine outposts occupied by the Philippines in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr. witnessed the ribbon cutting and blessing of the facilities last March 19, the Navy said last week.
He also visited Pag-asa Island, the largest outpost and the only one with a civilian population.
Reiterating ‘threats’ to life, Teves’ lawyers appeal to lift his suspension | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Lawyers representing Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) appealed his 60-day suspension before the ethics and privileges committee of the House of Representatives on Monday, citing perceived threats against his life as valid reasons not to return to the country.
In a copy of the letter seen by media, lawyers Ferdinand Topacio and Joselito Lomangaya, who represent Teves, wrote that the threats to lawmaker’s life should be considered “unavoidable circumstances” which prevent his physical presence in the House.
“Everyone has a right to be cautious about the threats he perceives against his very life. The threat that Rep. Teves conceives, may therefore be said as falling under ‘unavoidable circumstances’ which prevents his physical presence in the sessions of the House,” the letter read.
Full Story at: Reiterating ‘threats’ to life, Teves’ lawyers appeal to lift his suspension | Philstar.com
Biggest Balikatan to highlight ‘whole-of-alliance’ defense approach — analysts | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 2:01 p.m.) — The Balikatan (shoulder to shoulder) exercises this year between the Philippines and United States will be showing the “whole-of-alliance” approach in exploring combat and defense practices, analysts said.
This year’s exercises will see the participation of 17,680 military personnel — 12,000 from the US, 5,000 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and 111 from the Australian forces. This is nearly twice as many as last year’s 9,000 troops who participated in drills across Luzon.
Full Story at: Biggest Balikatan to highlight ‘whole-of-alliance’ defense approach — analysts | Philstar.com
