News Roundup 31 August 2024
Aug 31, 2024 • 5 min Read
China Coast Guard ship repeatedly rams PCG vessel in Escoda Shoal | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel maneuvered dangerously and repeatedly rammed a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, according to the PCG.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG Spokesperson for the WPS said the ramming incident between CCG vessel 5205 and BRP Teresa Magbanwa (MRP 9701) — which has been deployed in the shoal since April 15 — occurred at around 12:07 p.m.
“China Coast Guard vessel 5205 carried out a dangerous maneuver resulting in its direct running on the port bow of MRP 9701. Obviously, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 has ignored collision regulation because of such action,” Tarriela said as he showed a video of the collision during a press conference.
“And then what happened next after this, it would turn around and then it will reach the starboard quarter of the vessel. It will also directly and intentionally run MRP 9701 on our starboard quarter. A few minutes after it carried out a dangerous maneuver and rammed the port bow of Teresa Magbanua,” he added.
After this, Tarriela disclosed that the CCG vessel turned around again and rammed against the port beam of the PCG vessel.
“It is important for us to take note that this ramming happened despite our unprovoked action and presence in Escoda Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard vessel did not provoke or did not do anything while we are loitering around Escoda Shoal. But the Chinese Coast Guard carried out dangerous maneuvers despite being unprovoked,” he added.
Full Story at: China Coast Guard ship repeatedly rams PCG vessel in Escoda Shoal | INQUIRER.net
Ex-president Duterte skipping House probe into drug war – Panelo | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Former President Rodrigo Duterte maintained that he would not attend the lower chamber’s probe into human rights violations during his administration’s drug war, saying that it would only “violate” his rights, his former spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Saturday.
Panelo revealed Duterte’s stand when asked if he would show up at the House of Representatives quad committee’s joint investigation of illegal activities in Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo), the illegal drug trade, and the war on drugs during the previous administration.
“Sabi niya (Duterte) paano naman ako pupunta doon? Eh yung Congressional meeting di naman tunay na hearing, they violate your rights,” Panelo said in a news forum on Saturday.
(Why will I attend that? The congressional meeting is not a real hearing. They violate your rights.)
“You cannot even speak. And if you speak, they will stop you from speaking. That’s useless, di ako attend dyan,” he added, quoting the former chief executive.
In June this year, Duterte said he would only show up in a court hearing and not during the lower chamber’s probe into his drug war, as revealed by lawyer Harry Roque.
Full Story at: Ex-president Duterte not attending House probe into drug war (inquirer.net)
Money laundering case filed vs Alice Guo, 35 others | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Complaints for 87 counts of money laundering amounting to P7 billion were filed yesterday against dismissed Bamban mayor Alice Guo, her purported sister Shiela, business partner Cassandra Li Ong and 33 others.
The complaint was filed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission and the National Bureau of Investigation before the Department of Justice (DOJ) .
Other respondents include the sisters’ father Jian Zhong Guo, also known as Angelito Guo and Angelito dela Cruz; their mother Lin Wenyi, also known as Wen Yi Lin; Seimen Guo, Amelia Leal and former Technology and Livelihood Resource Center deputy director general Dennis Cunanan.
According to AMLC deputy director Adrian Arpon, they found Alice Guo to be “the principal in the money laundering committed,” using several entities in transferring money.
Ultimately, the money ended up with the real estate company Baofu Land Corp., where Guo was a shareholder and which leased a property to the Hongsheng/Zun Yuan Technology, the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) raided in Bamban over human trafficking and other alleged crimes.
Full Story at: Money laundering case filed vs Alice Guo, 35 others | Philstar.com
‘VP’s misuse of confidential funds impeachable’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — For Alliance of Concerned Teachers Rep. France Castro, Vice President Sara Duterte had committed an “impeachable offense” for misusing the P125-million confidential funds given to her in 2022.
Castro, a known critic of Duterte in the House of Representatives, said the Vice President was given several opportunities to explain how the confidential funds were utilized during the chamber’s hearing on the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s budget for next year.
However, Duterte opted not to answer questions not related to her office’s proposed budget for 2025.
“Her stonewalling on legitimate questions from members of the House regarding her use of public funds showed utter disrespect for the basic principles of check-and-balance, transparency and accountability of public officials entrusted with the people’s money,” she said.
Castro noted Duterte should have “accountability” as she spent people’s money.
“Her misuse of confidential funds is an impeachable offense… In misusing the confidential funds in times when funds for public services are lacking, she remained silent in explaining her use of the said funds,” she added.
Castro, however, fell short of saying if she would initiate the filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Full Story at: ‘VP’s misuse of confidential funds impeachable’ | Philstar.com
