Ochoa advises Cabinet members to be ready 24/7
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. advised Cabinet members on Monday that they may have to be on call 24/7 while President Benigno Aquino III is on a seven-day working visit to the United States.
President Aquino will address the United Nations General Assembly and meet with US President Barack Obama and counterparts from Southeast Asia as well as top US businessmen during his first overseas trip from Sept. 20 to Sept. 27.
Ochoa, who has been tasked by the President to convene the Cabinet if necessary, said he and the department heads should be ready just in case the Chief Executive decides to call a meeting while he is in New York.
According to the Executive Secretary, the teleconferencing technology will enable President Aquino to preside over the Cabinet meeting while he is 13,000 kilometers away.
Ochoa pointed out that the availability of this technology and other communications facilities explains why President Aquino, in his memorandum to members of the Cabinet, said he will continue to “exercise all the functions of his office as enjoined by the Constitution and the laws, in the same manner as when he is within the national territory.”
“The President is only a phone call away. He can always ask or be asked to weigh in and decide on any major decision that urgently needs to be acted upon,” Ochoa said.
On Sept. 17, President Aquino issued a memorandum providing instructions in the conduct of public affairs while he is out of the country.
Under the memorandum, Vice President Jejomar Binay will represent the President in ceremonial and social functions and may preside over a Cabinet meeting, if necessary; or, in his absence, the Executive Secretary.
At the same time, Ochoa has been authorized by President Aquino to “assist or sign papers ordinarily signed by him or under the authority of the President and shall decide routine matters.”
The Chief Executive added that “all official communications to the President shall be transmitted through or by the Executive Secretary.” (PCOO)
IIRC findings to restore confidence between RP, PROC - Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III today expressed optimism the report of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) on the tragic Aug. 23 hostage incident will restore confidence to the existing bilateral relationship between the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China (PROC).
“I’m hoping that will be the case. I’m hoping that it will restore confidence,” the President said in a press conference this afternoon when asked if the IIRC findings would serve as an avenue to repair the strained relationship with China following the Luneta hostage incident which killed eight Hongkong nationals.
He stressed that the findings would also provide an accurate message to Beijing that his administration is taking appropriate actions to prevent such tragedy from happening again.
The President also said the high-level mission to be headed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will definitely push through to personally bring the IIRC findings and reiterate the government’s sincere apology over the incident.
He said the government has already furnished the Chinese Embassy a copy of the IIRC probe and the complete report will be published on the government's Official Gazette at www.gov.ph.
"This morning, we sent a copy of the report to the Chinese ambassador. Now I am authorizing the release of IIRC’s findings of fact to the public, in fulfillment of our administration’s commitment to transparency. It will be published online in the Official Gazette," he said.
"We gave them a copy to prevent any possibility of miscommunication or misunderstanding. We are repairing relations with the PROC (People's Republic of China)," the President added.
To further strengthen the cases recommended by the IIRC, the President also announced he has directed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Presidential Legal Counsel Ed de Mesa to review the report before he acts on the committee’s recommendation. (PCOO)
Legal team to review probe body recommendations
President Benigno S. Aquino III has forwarded the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report to his legal team for review and will be acted on upon his return from a seven-day working visit to the United States.
The President issued the statement Monday afternoon hours before his departure for San Francisco where he will take another plane for New York.
President Aquino said he has directed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo De Mesa to review and make recommendations on the IIRC report.
When asked to comment on the IIRC report, the President emphasized that he will not make decisions on such important matters without a thorough review.
He added that upon his return from the US, his first priority is to study the findings of his legal team on the recommendatory report of the IIRC and act on it accordingly.
The result of the legal team’s evaluation and recommended course of action will also be released at that time.
After reviewing the IIRC report, the President assured his administration’s commitment to implement the necessary changes to upgrade the capabilities of the local government units, the police and security forces to ensure the safety of the public.
He said efforts are now being made to improve the procedures and protocols for emergency and crisis situations which will eventually lead to drafting a new crisis management manual.
The IIRC recommended the filing of administrative and criminal charges against former PNP Chief Jesus Versoza, General Rodolfo Magtibay, NCRPO Chief Leocadio Santiago, Supt. Orlando Yebra, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Broadcasters Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas and the big three television networks which covered the bus hostage-taking crisis.
The IIRC report will be published online in the Official Gazette. (PCOO)
