‘We fought for the release of Senator Trillanes’– Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said the release of Senator Antonio Trillanes by the Makati Regional Trial Court on Monday night was “something that we fought for.”
In an ambush interview after distributing cash gifts to the wounded soldiers confined at the V. Luna Hospital in Quezon City , the Chief Executive said the release of Trillanes’ will allow him to fulfill his duties as senator with the mandate given him by the people who voted for him.
The President expressed hope that Trillanes would use his freedom to catch up on his responsibilities and the opportunities to improve society, through legislation, which he missed for the past three years while in detention.
Shortly after his releases Trillanes, immediately thanked President Aquino for issuing Proclamation No. 75 last Nov. 24, 2010 granting him amnesty, which was readily approved by the Senate.
Trillanes was elected senator in May 2007 while in detention in Camp Crame . A Philippine Navy lieutenant, Trillanes served as the spokesman of the Magdalo group that seized the Oakwood Premiere Hotel (now Ascott) in Makati City on July 27, 2003 along with more than 300 soldiers who demanded the resignation of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for alleged corruption.
During the hearing in November 2003 on the Oakwood Mutiny, Trillanes walked out of the court along with some Magdalo group members and triggered a standoff at the Peninsula Manila Hotel also in Makati. (PCOO)
Aquino increases combat pay of of soldiers
In recognition of their sacrifices, President Benigno S. Aquino III has increased the combat pay of soldiers who, most of the times, willingly offer their lives for the peace and security of the country.
The Chief Executive announced this good news during the 75th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The President told the soldiers present that he already signed an Executive Order on Monday amending Executive Order 658 increasing the combat pay of soldiers to P500 from the current P240.
The President said the soldiers in the field will start receiving the new rate effective January next year.
“Pagdating po ng Enero, hindi lamang po Bagong Taon ang ipagdiriwang ng mga sundalong rumeresponde sa mga lugar na balot pa rin ng tensyon. Sasalubong din po sa kanila ang karagdagang combat allowance na nagkakahalaga ng 260 pesos,” the President stressed.
Since the establishment of the AFP under Commonwealth Act No. 1, or the National Defense Act of 1935, the President said the soldiers have been at the forefront in protecting the country’s sovereignty in times of peace, war and calamities.
Under his administration, the President said reforms continue to upgrade the capability of the AFP which, he said, include reforms in the procurement process under the AFP Modernization Program (AFPMP) resulting to the acquisition of additional requirements for the AFP.
“In just a few months, we were able to provide an additional eight Basic Trainer Aircrafts to the Philippine Air Force (PAF), aside from the four watercraft units for the Philippine Army,” the President said.
To date, the President noted that the AFP is closely coordinating with the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of National Defense (DND), to provide more requirements and benefits for soldiers.
During the event, AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Ricardo David Jr. presented the AFP Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) which the President said will start a new paradigm shift in managing peace and security towards achieving peace and prosperity using the “bayanihan spirit.”
According to the President the primary focus of the IPSP is winning peace from a predominantly militaristic solution to one that is founded on broad-based consultations and cooperation among the key stakeholders that include the soldiers, policemen and the community.
“Sa ating kasundaluhan, sampu ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino, sama-sama nating buhayin ang diwa ng bayanihan. Sama-sama nating tahakin ang landas tungo sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran. Maaasahan ninyong ako mismo ang mamumuno sa adhikaing ito. Kapit-kamay nating buhayin ang diwa ng bayanihan; sama-sama nating ihatid ang ating bayan sa liwanag na matagal nating hindi nasilayan,” the President said.
The anniversary rites was highlighted by the President’s distribution of awards and recognition to the following:
Rear Admiral Alexander Pama (Distinguished Service Star); cpat Marlou Parugrug, Sgt. Celso Llena and Sgt. Louie Lagrama (Gold Cross Medal); Maj. Jeffrey Alan Pizarro (Outstanding Achievement Medal); Sgt. Delfin Olotio (AFP Enlisted Personnel of the Year); Cadet Col. Neil Brian casem (ROTC Cadet of the Year); Lydia Cabajar (Model Civilian Supervisor of the Year); and Barangay Balayangon Chairman Francisco Llagao of Pinukpuk, Kalinga for his support to the AFP internal security operations in Kalinga. (PCOO)
Aquino leads giftgiving at AFP Medical Center
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III led the distribution of cash grants and gift packs as part of the “Pamaskong Handog ng PAGCOR – 12 Days of Christmas” in efforts to boost the morale and speedy recovery of patients at the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City.
Some 300 soldiers from different units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), some were victims of gun battles against rebel armed groups in Mindanao, benefited from the gift-giving program spearheaded by the Commander-In-Chief, President Aquino.
Thirty patients confined at the Heroes Ward of the hospital received one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) as part of the special financial assistance from the Chief Executive.
Also turned over was eight hundred sixty four thousand pesos (P864,000) in donation or thirty six thousand pesos (P36,000) each to 24 children with hydrocephalus that will cover the pre and post-operation treatments. Jojo Mitra, president of the Hydrocephalus Foundation received the cash grant from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
One of the first to benefit from the donation is Ma. Prinze Cid, a one-year-old baby from Cagayan de Oro, who will soon undergo free operation at the AFP Medical Center. Ma. Prinze is also suffering from meningocele, a condition characterized by the protrusion of the spinal cord due to meningococal infection that occurred during infancy.
Private First Class Rodelito Daasco, 47, one of the 300 Pamaskong Handog beneficiaries at AFP Medical Center said soldiers like him are happy to know that institutions like PAGCOR remember them, especially in this season of sharing.
As a soldier, Daasco spent most of his life at the battlefields and army camps in Catbalogan, Samar. After several years in service, he now suffers from heart ailment and may undergo coronary angioplasty, a procedure used to open blocked heart arteries. He has been confined at the AFP Medical Center since October.
Hospital equipment amounting to one million pesos, which include 20 nebulizers, automatic hospital beds, operating tables, ultraviolet sterilizers, laryngoscopes and heavy duty suction machines were also donated to the AFP Medical Center on top of the one million pesos cash donation to the hospital. (PCOO)
Prudent spending helped PH meet deficit target for 2010 – Aquino
Prudent spending and belt tightening measures helped the Aquino administration meet its deficit target for 2010.
In an interview after giving cash awards to the wounded soldiers confined at the V. Luna Hospital, President Benigno S. Aquino III said the country will experience a budget surplus, “the third and probably the best this year.”
The President disclosed that the National Economic Development Authority board met Monday to review projects proposed for implementation in the coming months.
“I asked for the specifics of two or three projects to determine if some have to be changed,” he said.
The President proposed programs under the Department of Agriculture headed by Secretary Proceso Alcala are evaluated on the basis of cost-benefit analyses and whether they meet the economic targets. If they do not match the goals and expected outcomes, then Alcala does not push through with them,” he said.
According to the President, the right way of using public funds enabled the government to fix the fiscal position of the country.
The President said he was told that the 2010 deficit will actually be below what has been projected and this is because of the savings obtained from belt tightening and prudent spending.
“I always question the need for undertaking any foreign trip. I always ask what would be the return on investment of the trips to the Filipino people. If we can’t fully justify the cost of a certain travel abroad, I forgo it,” he said.
His training in the private sector, according to the President scrutinize investments versus returns. “Kung walang return sa taumbayan, hindi okay,” he said. (PCOO)
Aquino appeals to media: Focus on good news, too
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Tuesday called on media practitioners to allot more space to “good news,” focusing on people who have done so much to effect change in society.
The President made the call during the annual Christmas party of the Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel media forum at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.
In his speech, the President acknowledged the importance of critical and hard-nosed reporting to expose flaws and fallacies in the system but underscored the importance of talking also about the good especially if it would help uplift the Filipinos’ spirit.
“I hope sometimes, maybe we can focus our attention to help those who have done so much for the country by showing others how they helped in changing society,” he said in the vernacular.
The President lauded members of the Bulung Pulungan for their “journalistic ethics” which he said had made them become “agents of change.”
He said that with their help, he would be able to withstand the rigors of the Presidency.
“While there remains the difficulties, I can say with certainty that the prospects of our future is getting brighter,” the President said. (PCOO)
