News Roundup 28 August 2024
Aug 28, 2024 • 5 min Read
US taking twofold stand vs China’s bullying in South China Sea – coast guard admiral | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The United States is employing a two-pronged approach to counter China’s aggression in the South China Sea: upholding order and fostering partnerships, according to a senior coast guard official.
During a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, Rear Admiral Andrew Sugimoto, deputy commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, explained that this strategy involves demonstrating compliance with international law and conducting joint exercises.
“We can provide training in legal capacity, maritime domain awareness, or even conduct joint exercises at sea, so that they can see we are united in our commitment to upholding the rules-based order that’s so important,” Sugimoto said, as quoted in a transcript released by the Department of State.
Should China continue to defy international norms, it would face global condemnation and see its economic goodwill destroyed, Sugimoto noted. The U.S. hopes this pressure would prompt a change in China’s behavior.
“China wants to have a vibrant economy, and if nations condemn their actions… perhaps they will change the way they do business,” he said.
Sugimoto also criticized China’s recent claim that ramming Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea—a maritime region the Philippines considers its own—was “professional, restrained, and appropriate.” He dismissed this as “unsafe and unprofessional conduct” that exemplifies China’s bullying behavior in the region.
“It’s a little astounding to say that I’m going to break the law in order to uphold the law. It just doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Full Story at: US taking twofold stand vs China’s bullying in South China Sea – coast guard admiral | Philstar.com
DOJ: No need for protection order vs PNP’s entry to KOJC compound | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The actions committed by the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the service of arrest warrant in the compound owned by fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy are lawful, the Department of Justice said (DOJ) on Tuesday.
The justice department said that the PNP acted due to a warrant of arrest issued by courts against the fugitive preacher which is within the duty of the police that eliminates the ground in invoking the writ of amparo.
The DOJ issued this statement on Wednesday, a day after a Davao court issued a temporary protection order on Quiboloy’s “church” Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) and Jose Maria College Foundation Inc., which stemmed from the writ of amparo asked by them on July 1.
A writ of amparo is a protection available to individuals “whose right to life, liberty and property” are threatened resulting from an unlawful act or omission by public officials. It can be filed before any lower court or directly before the Supreme Court.
The protection order issued by the Davao court ordered the Police Regional Office 11 to remove all the “barricades, barriers and blockades” around the Quiboloy-owned compound that hinder the religious, academic and proprietary rights” of the preacher’s supporters.
Since Saturday, the PNP has been around the KOJC compound to implement the arrest warrant against the doomsday fugitive preacher. The police entered the compound with 2,000 personnel which the KOJC supporters and Quiboloy allies called “excessive use of force.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., however, denied the “overkill” claim of Quiboloy’s supporters, saying that the number of policemen deployed was necessary for a 30-hectare compound.
Full Story at: DOJ: No need for protection order vs PNP’s entry to KOJC compound | Philstar.com
Dela Rosa allegedly shielded Espinosas of Albuera town, says Espenido | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa allegedly served as a protector for drug-linked personalities — late Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. and his son Kerwin Espinosa — a police official said on Wednesday.
Police Col. Jovie Espenido, former police chief of Albuera town in Leyte, said in a sworn affidavit handed to the House of Representatives quad-committee that dela Rosa was involved in the dismissal of cases against Kerwin and other local cops who supposedly protected the Espinosa family.
Espenido was credited for the dismantling of the illegal drug trade in Albuera, supposedly operated by Kerwin. The police official was also responsible for filing cases of illegal drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms against the Espinosas.
“I believe Chief dela Rosa was involved in the dismissal of the cases that l built up against Kerwin Espinosa including the burying of the cases that I was building against his police protectors or coddlers who have been receiving money from him,” Espenido said in his statement.
“I can say this because instead of allowing my unhampered access on Kerwin when he was apprehended in Dubai, he immediately ordered Kerwin’s turnover to AIDG (PNP Anti-Illegal Drug Group) instead of ordering his turnover to my unit which was then investigating the drug cases where Kerwin was involved,” he added.
According to Espenido, he has never heard of the cases, which he believes should have been filed before the courts.
Full Story at: Dela Rosa allegedly shielded Espinosas of Albuera, says Espenido (inquirer.net)
Support of Marcos on Quiboloy operation lifts our spirit, says PNP | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The support given by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in arresting fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy lifts the morale of the police force, an official said on Wednesday.
According to Police Brigadier General Roderick Alba, the spokesperson of Special Task Force Teknon Alpha, the confidence Marcos has for their operation keeps their spirit up despite the resistance shown by KJC members.
“‘Yong aming morale, aming spirit despite all the…medyo napatagal kami kaunti because of the challenges imposed mismo ng mga supporters,” he said in an interview with the media.
“We really thank the President for his confidence sa ginagawa ng ating PNP,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously urged Quiboloy to face the charges filed against him, saying that the government is only following the law in ordering his arrest.
Full Story at: Support of Marcos on Quiboloy operation lifts our spirit, says PNP (inquirer.net)
