News Roundup 29 March 2023
Mar 29, 2023 • 3 min Read
Japan says trilateral security pact with US, Philippines still up for discussion | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Japan on Wednesday clarified that the trilateral security pact with the Philippines and the United States is not yet set in stone following reports that discussions may start by April.
The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said “nothing has been decided at this point.”
“Japan and the Philippines are important partners who share basic values and are both allies of the United States in the region,” the embassy said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Regarding cooperation among the three countries, it was agreed at the Japan-Philippines Summit Meeting in February that we will continue to study ways to strengthen cooperation.”
The Kyodo News Agency on Tuesday cited Presidential Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who said that talks regarding the security triad may start next month.
Discussions over the proposed security triad were also held during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Japan in early February, with the chief executive also floating the possibility of securing a Visiting Forces Agreement with Tokyo amid geopolitical tensions. The US is the only country the Philippines has an existing VFA with.
Marcos Jr. previously said Manila and Tokyo have agreed to conduct reciprocal port calls, aircraft visits, transfer of defense equipment and technology, as well as capacity-building efforts in security and defense.
US Navy sends remote sub, boats and booms to assist in oil spill response | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The United States Navy will send a remotely operated vehicle to augment efforts to contain the oil spill and recover the tanker MT Princess Empress, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday.
The operations of the US Navy’s Hydros ROV will commence on April 3.
According to PCG, the US Navy will provide a crane and launching system to deploy the working-class ROV.
Full Story at: US Navy sends remote sub, boats and booms to assist in oil spill response | Philstar.com
PH to ‘disengage’ as ICC junks appeal on probe | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the country would now “disengage” from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it rejected on Monday the government’s appeal that the court suspend its drug war probe while the Philippine government is also appealing the ruling authorizing the resumption of the investigation.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros raised this concern on Wednesday after Marcos announced that the Philippines would be “essentially disengaging” from the ICC after the international body junked the government’s plea to suspend its probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s violent war on drugs, pending the appeal on the ruling that authorizes the resumption of the investigation.
The denied request to suspend the investigation is different from the still pending request by the Philippine government that the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) reverse its decision authorizing a full investigation into the drug war.
When asked what the government’s next move would be Marcos said: “We don’t have a next move. That is the extent of our involvement with the ICC.”
Full Story at: PH to ‘disengage’ as ICC junks appeal on probe | Inquirer News
Two alleged NPA members killed in Agusan del Sur clash | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Two suspected members of the communist New People’s Army have been killed in an encounter with government troops in Agusan del Sur town, the Philippine Army said Wednesday.
Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Battalion and 10 NPA rebels figured in a 15-minute firefight at Sitio Vertudazo, Brgy, on Monday. San Juan in Bayugan City, where a certain “Dano” and “Zig” were killed, according to the military.
Former rebels identified Dano and Zig, the Army said.
Consequently, the military seized M4 Carbine Rifle, one modified carbine rifle, numerous ammunition and magazines, and 12 cellular phones following the clash.
Full Story at: Two alleged NPA members killed in Agusan del Sur clash | Inquirer News
