News Roundup 28 August 2022
Aug 28, 2022 • 4 min Read
No visitors allowed as De Lima celebrates her 63rd birthday | INQUIRER.NET – No visitors were allowed into the detention cell of former Sen. Leila de Lima on Saturday as she celebrated her 63rd birthday. This angered those who went to the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame hoping to mark the event with her. Among them were economist Solita “Winnie” Monsod and husband Christian Monsod, a former Commission on Elections chairman; former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and former senatorial candidate Chel Diokno. “It is OUTRAGEOUS! We were on our way to visit Leila de Lima on her birthday when our request made weeks ago was just now VERBALLY disapproved,” Monsod said in a Twitter post. “Too much! She’s not convicted, not allowed a phone, and now this!” Supporters of De Lima celebrated her birthday instead through a virtual event on Saturday. Her supporters, including former Vice President Leni Robredo and ordinary citizens, could only post their greetings on her Facebook account. Her brother, Vicente “Vicboy” de Lima, read the following message from her: “I never knew birthdays can be sad. Now, I admit I spend my birthday mornings thinking about what I would be doing if I was free. I worry that the longer I stay here, I might lose track of the days. So I count my birthdays like I count my days in detention so as not to forget that each day and each birthday brings me close to my freedom and vindication.” De Lima, a staunch critic of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been in detention since February 2017 for what she repeatedly branded as “trumped-up” drug charges. Last Aug. 16, De Lima marked her 2,000 days in jail.
US warships carrying out Taiwan Strait passage, first since Pelosi visit—officials | INQUIRER.NET – Two U.S. Navy warships are sailing through international waters in the Taiwan Strait, three U.S. officials told Reuters, the first such operation since heightened tension with China over U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. In recent years U.S. warships, and on occasion those from allied nations such as Britain and Canada, have routinely sailed through the strait, drawing Beijing’s anger. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory against the objections of the democratically elected government in Taipei, launched military drills near the island after Pelosi visited in early August, and those exercises have continued. The trip infuriated Beijing, which saw it as a U.S. attempt to interfere in China’s internal affairs. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, on Saturday said U.S. Navy cruisers Chancellorsville and Antietam were carrying out the operation which was still underway. The narrow Taiwan Strait has been a frequent source of military tension since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the communists, who established the People’s Republic of China.
PNP says additional requests to visit De Lima on her birthday were filed late | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippine National Police on Sunday said it does not deprive detained individuals of opportunities to have visitors, saying also that additional requests to see former senator Leila de Lima on her birthday were filed too late. In a statement published by the Police Community Affairs and Development Group in Eastern Visayas on Sunday, the police Public Information Office emphasized that those who wish to visit persons in PNP custody should file a written request at least 10 working days before their intended date of visit, subject to approval. The PNP Custodial Center allegedly received additional requests to see de Lima just four days in advance. However, there was also a visitation request filed weeks before that was turned down on the day itself. “The Senator is aware that her request fell short of the required number of days stated in the memo, but still the PNP Headquarters and Support Service made earnest efforts to process the request,” Police Col. Mark Pespes of the PNP Headquarters Support Service said. He said the Custodial Service Unit told de Lima informally on Friday evening and through a letter on Saturday that the request “was immediately processed but did not reach approval.” “Any request for visitation is evaluated thoroughly and will usually take a process which needs ample time before it finally gets approved if ever no complications are observed,” Pespes said. Most of the political personalities who requested to see de Lima on Saturday for the detained ex-senator’s birthday were barred entry. Only her brother Vicente was allowed to see her as the police only permitted visits from immediate family members. Economist and former socioeconomic planning secretary Solita Monsod said their request was filed weeks before and was only “verbally disapproved” on Saturday morning.
