Obama welcomes PGMA, other world leaders at Nuclear Terrorism Summit
The Philippine leader, aboard a Philippines Airlines special flight from
The center is the venue of the two-day Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), billed as the biggest gathering of world leaders in the
Obama, the main convenor of the Summit, had set up a leaders’ arrival area at the Washington Center to welcome the 46 world leaders who will meet Tuesday and Wednesday find a consensus on the US sponsorship of plans to counter the possibility of nuclear and radiological materials illicitly finding their way into the hands of terrorists.
Obama greeted the world leaders one after the other as they lined up to be acknowledged at the reception beamed live by television all over the world. About a thousand media people watched the reception line from a separate room with giant projectors.
President Arroyo’s turn at the welcome platform almost coincided with Russian President Dimitri Medvedev, with whom Obama signed last week a new US-Russia nuclear arms reduction agreement (START) that all but gave more significance to the NSS.
Press Secretary Crispulo Icban disclosed to media that President Arroyo had conveyed to both Obama and Medvedev her congratulations for the successful signing of the START agreement.
Icban and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo were among the cabinet members with the President.
The President will be following a tight schedule during her two-day stay here.
At day two of the
This will be followed by a working lunch where Obama, again as chair, will lead discussions on “The Role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Nuclear Security. Obama will then host a closing press conference at about 4:30 p.m.
The Summit has for its goal a commonly agreed “communiqué” that will reflect the commitment of individual nations to measures needed to secure and protect vulnerable nuclear materials from finding their way into terrorist organizations or groups.
During her stay here, President Arroyo will meet
Lugar will be conferred by President Arroyo with a Philippine government award at the Fairmont Hotel where the Arroyo party is billeted.
Her meeting with Inouye and Bond at Capitol Hill will likely be a moment for her to express the appreciation of the Filipino people for the efforts of the two
A separate meeting with several
In a more significant moment for her, the President on the same day will receive the Teddy Roosevelt International Conservation Award from the conservationist group International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) for her effort in marine environmental conservation and advocacy in the Costal Triangle.
Lakas-Kampi machinery continues to gain ground despite defections, Sarangani gov says
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Leaders of administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD remain unfazed Tuesday over the reported defections by some of its noted leaders to rival political camps saying the party’s established political machinery is still intact and ready to swing resounding results in the coming May 10 synchronized national and local elections.
Sarangani Gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez, provincial chair of Lakas-Kampi CMD- Sarangani Reconciliation and Reformation Organization (Sarro), said the party’s support base and campaign machinery has continued to gain ground in the countryside despite the recent defections and rumblings by some of their members over its supposed lack of campaign funds.
“(The party) has the support of majority of the governors, mayors and other reelectionist local government officials and it has well proven its worth in the previous elections,” he told reporters.
Dominguez, the erstwhile Lakas-Kampi CMD president, admitted that the party has not yet released any campaign fund to its local candidates but said they don’t much consider the matter a major problem.
He cited that most party stalwarts have established campaign resources and don’t rely much on financial backing from the group.
Dominguez, who is seeking a third term as Sarangani governor, recently stepped down as party president following the resignation as party chair of standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro, who is now making a strong push for his presidential bid.
But the governor remained an administration stalwart and reportedly within the inner circle of Teodoro’s presidential campaign.
Since last month, a number of noted Lakas-Kampi leaders have changed camps due to various reasons, among them the supposed lack of party campaign funds.
Among the Lakas-Kampi CMD stalwarts in Mindanao who switched support to rival political parties, specifically to Nacionalista Party’s (NP) presidential bet Manuel Villar, were governors Douglas Cagas of Davao del Sur, Jose Zubiri of Bukidnon and Arturo Uy of Compostela Valley Province.
House Speaker and
Dominguez said he recently met with some Lakas-Kampi governors and congressmen and they reiterated their support to the party and Teodoro’s presidential bid.
He believes majority of the party’s leaders, especially those in the countryside, will honor their commitment to Lakas-Kampi and its standard bearer.
“We will stand tall and honor our commitments. Palabra de honor (word of honor) is very important, especially since were also seeking elective posts,” he added
Lakas officials confident Gibo will get landslide victory in Lanao del Norte
TUBOD, Lanao del Norte – Officials of the ruling party Lakas-Kampi-CMD in Lanao del Norte in Northern Mindanao on Tuesday expressed optimism that administration's standard bearer Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. will get landslide victory in the province on May 10, 2010 national and local elections.
“I’m sure that Gibo will win by a big margin in this province against his rivals,” said Lanao
The provincial chief executive said this as he cited the the massive support of the residents here who trooed to the Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) complex in the capitol town of Tubod to meed Gibo as his helicopter landed in the MCC open field last Saturday.
“The massive show of support is proof that Lanao del Norte is indeed a stronghold of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD,” said Gov. Dimaporo.
According to Dimaporo, more than 10,000 people came to personally see and express their support to the Lakas presidential bet.
Teodoro is the first presidential candidate to make a campaign stop in Lanao del Norte.
“I want a president that we can depend on and will help us in our time of need. And Gibo has proven to be that leader,” said Gov. Dimaporo.
Since the start of the local campaign period, the Dimaporos in Lanao del Norte have been aggressively campaigning for their party’s standard bearer.
In the season of shifting party loyalty, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD (Lanao del Norte chapter) remains steadfast to its official line-up of national candidates, the governor said.
“We want to send a strong message that we are not affected by any negative media reports and that we remain committed to deliver a landslide victory for Lakas-Kampi-CMD here in Lanao del Norte”, added Gov. Dimaporo.
Present during Teodoro’s sortie in Lanao del Norte were Lakas Kampi CMD stalwarts Rep. Abdullah Dimporo, Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, Fatima Aliah Dimaporo, Vice-Gov. Irma Umpa-Ali, provincial board members, municipal mayors, barangay officials and provincial volunteer health workers.
Judiciary remains independent despite PGMA appointments – Palace
Malacanang underscored on tuesday the independence of the judiciary in spite of President Arroyo having appointed all of the 14 Supreme Court (SC) associate justices, except Chief Justice Reynato Puno who is set to bow out of government service on May 17 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar, in a media briefing, pointed out that the High Tribunal on several occasions has ruled against the Arroyo administration.
“The President or her allies have frequently been overruled by the (SC) justices, regardless of her having appointed them. These are men and women of integrity,” Olivar stressed.
At the same time, the Malacanang official took to task an Opposition presidential candidate for prematurely declaring that he would not honor President Arroyo’s appointment of the next SC chief justice.
“There is nothing constructive to be gained by insulting the justices as having ‘vacant minds’ or by threatening to impeach whoever the President ends up appointing. Neither insults nor threats have a place in civil discourse, let alone a campaign,” Olivar said.
He said that the SC chief justice and associate justices will not be beholden to whoever wins in the May 10 presidential election. “It will be helpful that none of the justices will owe his or her appointment to any of the presidentiables.”
Olivar explained that in light of the forthcoming presidential polls, the SC will constitute an electoral tribunal that will proclaim the next president and vice president, apart from being the final arbiter in electoral disputes.
He also said the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is presently interviewing the incumbent justices who may be included in the shortlist of nominees for the chief justice post to be vacated by Puno’s retirement.
“This is part of a six-stage process starting with the publication of the vacancy and ending with the submission of the shortlist to the President,” Olivar said.
Meantime, Olivar said the JBC awaits the SC’s final ruling on the various motions for reconsideration of its previous decision upholding the President’s legal right to appoint the next chief justice despite the 60-day ban on appointments to executive positions.
“It is still mandatory for the JBC to prepare the shortlist and submit this to the President,” Olivar said.
Lady NPA leader in CL falls
FORT RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City, Nueva Ecija - A ranking lady leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Central Luzon was recently arrested by the joint military and police authorities.
Major Gen. Ireneo Espino, commander of the Army’s 7th Infantry Division (7ID), presented late Monday afternoon to the media here the 49-year-old amazon identified as Rosemarie Buergo, alias Irene Sanchez/Cyndy/Cita.
Buergo was arrested in San Simon, Pampanga last Saturday by the joint military and police elements on the strength of arrest warrant issued by the Pampanga Regional Trial Court Branch 42 for murder and robbery under criminal case nos. 15423 and 15422, respectively.
The suspected rebel is a Bachelor of Science in Social Work graduate at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in
Espino said Buergo was secretary of "Sangay sa Partido Platun" (SPP) Pampanga/Bataan/Zambales of the NPA’s Central Luzon Regional Committee.
Her husband, Efren Delalamon, alias Baste, was secretary of SPP Bulacan until his apprehension in 2009, authorities said.
“The capture of this NPA (officer) is a big blow to the underground movement, particularly in Central Luzon,” Espino said, adding that active rebels who would want to lay down their arms and join the mainstream society that the government has set up a system to help them.
But “those who continue to sow terror will be relentlessly pursued,” the general said.
Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr., commander of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom), who was also present during the activity, was convinced that Buergo’s arrest is another major blow to the local terrorist movement, still reeling from past debacles.
From January to March 2010, he said Army division recorded remarkable accomplishments in its relentless campaign against ragtag groups of terrorists wherein 28 CPP/NPA personalities were neutralized; 33 high-powered firearms were recovered; and 15 affected barangays are scheduled for evaluation and validation as cleared before the June 2010 deadline.
Also,
The local government units (LGUs) in these two provinces with the support of the police are now in the lead role when it comes to the maintenance of internal security.
Other areas in
David lauded the 7th Infantry Division for not resting on their laurels.
He is confident that the outstanding performance of all units under Nolcom, including the 5th Infantry Division, will ensure the attainment of the Armed Forces of the
This, as he noted the 1st quarter 2010 Internal Security Operations (ISO) accomplishments and assessment of the two divisions during a conference hosted by Nolcom last April 8 in Camp Aquino.
Due to the improved security situation in
Noteworthy was the pull out of one Army battalion from Central Luzon to assist in the operations being undertaken by the 10th Infantry Division in
So far, four provinces under the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army have been declared clear of insurgency namely, La Union (September 4, 2009), Nueva Vizcaya (December 10, 2009), Apayao (February 17, 2010) and Quirino (March 8, 2010).
Municipal resolutions are being prepared that will pave the way for the successive hand over of these areas to the LGUs and the PNP.
Bumper harvest of onion depressing onion price
What turn out to be a good year for onion farmers in terms of volume of onion production is becoming a nightmare. The BPI Task Force Allium monitored that there were 15,055 hectares of onion planted for an estimated harvest volume of 150,055 metric tons of onion. This is more than the 120,000 metric tons annual consumption requirement. A favorable weather for onion plus a good income realized by onion farmers / traders last year led to over production of onion thus, depressing the price.
The Bureau of Plant Industry has always been the partner of onion growers. Its programs and policies are always geared to protect the interest of the farmers. Continues consultations with onion groups are done to better assess any interventions the BPI has to take that will be favorable to them.
With regards to onion importation, BPI managed the issuance of Plant Quarantine Clearance (PQC). There is no issuance of PQC for onion during period of harvest. It is also managed at a certain time of the year when local production is sufficient to supply the needs of the market. This system is closely coordinated and discussed with all stakeholders including farmers. Additionally, farmers are given equal opportunity to participate in importing onion.
Also, as agreed with farmers, importation will only be allowed once the trigger retail price of PhP 65.00 per kilo is breached.
From the period of November 15, 2009 to February 15, 2010, when the price of onion hit PhP 80-90/kilo, the Bureau of Plant Industry issued 525 PQCS but only 323 were used for a total volume of 14,433 metric tons which is good only for our 45 days consumption. All PQCs issued expired on Feb. 15, 2010.
To address the problem of our farmers the Bureau of Plant Industry has called the attention of the DA – Agribusiness Marketing Service to help our growers market their produce. (DA-BPI)
