Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Laos People's Democratic Republic envoy
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna rank of Datu (Gold Distinction) on Laos People’s Democratic Republic Ambassador Leuane Sombounkhan in recognition of his significant contribution to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippines and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) on the promotion and protection of investments and the MOU on the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation.
The Chief Executive conferred the award on Thursday during Ambassador Sombounkhan’s farewell call at the Yellow Room of the Premier Guest House in Malacañang.
Ambassador Sombounkhan was accompanied by his wife, Manithone Sombounkhan. Also in attendance was Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo who witnessed the conferment rites.
During his tour of duty to the Philippines, Ambassador Sombounkhan was also commended for his significant contribution to the signing of the MOU on the documentary film production of the 450th anniversary of the city of Vientiane.
The Lao envoy was referred to as an outstanding and dedicated servant in the field of international relations and a competent representative of his country to the Philippines.
Ambassador Sombounkhan relentlessly encouraged his government’s full support to various Philippine candidatures in the international arena. (PCOO)
Liberal Party leaders assure Aquino of their full support
The entire leadership and members of the Liberal Party assured President Benigno S. Aquino III of their full support for his administration’s vision, straight path governance, as well as his plans and programs to uplift the lives of the Filipino people and for the growth and progress of the country.
In a simple gathering marking the 65th anniversary of the Liberal Party at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall on Wednesday night, the party leaders unanimously agreed to support President Aquino’s plans and programs, not only for the good of the party, but for the good of the Filipino people.
In his remarks, Senator Franklin Drilon urged the officers and members of the Liberal Party to “take advantage of the situation when we have the confidence, we have the support of the senate and the entire Filipino people. This is the opportunity for our party to push our programs of government and give our people hope that we have at least the ability to dream for the better future of our country.”
“Indeed, Mr. President you have built such a goodwill that right now you have the Senate which is very supportive of your government and your programs. This does not happen very often. This is my 15th year in the Senate and I have not seen a Senate more cooperative to the administration than you receive today. And that is because they believe in your sincerity, in your leadership, and in your sincere desire to help our people,” Drilon stressed.
For his part, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said that majority of the lawmakers in Congress is very supportive to the President because of his strong goodwill to serve the country.
Belmonte expressed confidence that in the remaining 40 session days of Congress they should be able to pass his priority measures.
“I think we should hit the ground running. We should be able to make series of headway in terms of enacting the priority measures. Sabi nga nila, let us strike when the iron is hot and ensure that your priority measures will be passed by Congress this year or by the third quarter (of 2011),” Belmonte said.
Other allies, Senator Teofisto Guingona Jr. and Francis Pangilinan told the President that they are willing to help and support his administration.
“So kami ngayon we’re starting the year with this gathering as a show of unity, a show of forcefulness. And kami po sa Senado we are ready for anything (to help you),” both Guingona and Pangilinan said.
Meanwhile, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) president and San Fernando City, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez reiterated that the mayor’s league is committed to work closely with the Aquino administration in reducing poverty-incidence and ensure the delivery of basic social services in line with his administration’s anti-poverty reduction program under the Millennium Development Goals.
The LCP vows to enjoin cities to implement standards and reform policies and programs of the national government by strictly implementing the Anti-Red Tape Act in their areas.
“Mr. President, the League is your partner in creating a culture of good governance, of transparency and accountability,” Rodriguez said
Rodriguez noted that the Philippine cities will be the “engines of sustainable development, champions of good urban governance and catalysts for nation-building committed to the improvement of the lives of our constituents.”
Governors League of the Philippines national president and Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali Jr. said the league has no serious problem right now because the members of the Cabinet particularly the President himself are closely assisting them to fulfill their mandate to their respective constituents. (PCOO)
Aquino says he is proud to be a member of Liberal Party
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he is truly proud to be a legitimate member of the Liberal Party.
The Chief Executive made this statement in his impromptu speech during the social gathering of the Liberal Party at Malacanang’s Heroes Hall on Wednesday night. Newly-elected LP president and former Senator Mar Roxas III together with senators, congressmen and mayors, who all belong to the same party were present during the social gathering.
“Kinakausap ko po kayo ngayon hindi lamang bilang pangulo ng bansang minamahal nating lahat, ngunit mas lalo na, bilang isang kapartido. Nililinaw lang po natin iyan, dahil baka may nakikinig sa labas at sa kanilang mga telebisyon, baka may magbasa po nito sa diyaryo na hindi pa batid hanggang ngayon: Ako, si Noynoy Aquino, ay isang miyembro ng Liberal Party. Karangalan ko pong mapabilang sa inyong hanay,” the President said.
The President told his partymates that his father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, was a former secretary general of Liberal Party.
The President said that as long as the Filipino people will extend their cooperation to his reform agenda, the Liberal Party will ensure that their trust and confidence would not be compromised.
“Kasabay po ng karangalang dala ng ating kasaysayan ay ang karangalan ding dala ng pagkakataong sa wakas ay maipatupad na ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng ating partido,” the President stressed. (PCOO)
Llamas appointed Adviser on Political Affairs
Malacañang confirmed on Thursday the appointment of Akbayan president Ronald Llamas as presidential adviser on political affairs.
In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed Llamas’s new post in the Aquino cabinet saying that President Aquino has yet to sign his appointment papers.
Valte said Llamas could fill in the need for a singular political affairs adviser to the President who could render service on a regular basis
“Akbayan is an ally of the President, having supported the Liberal Party (LP) in the 2010 elections… As you know, there is no singular political adviser and there is a need for one to advice the President and who will represent President Aquino in some matters in that specific area,” Valte said.
Akbayan is a coalition partner of the LP, and Llamas himself is a key adviser of President Aquino as well as LP president and former Senator Mar Roxas.
Meanwhile, at the celebration of Liberal Party’s 65th anniversary at the Heroes Hall of the Palace Wednesday night, Llamas said he will “seriously pursue reforms and political projects of the president in order to change the system of corruption and poverty in our country.”
Llamas was earlier appointed by the President as member of the board of directors of the Development Bank of the Philippines. (PCOO)
Aquino orders PNP to resolve carjacking cases
President Benigno S. Auino III has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to leave no stone unturned in resolving the series of carjacking in some parts of the metropolis.
In a media briefing at the Palace on Thursday, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President already ordered authorities to step up their operations for the swift conclusion of the alarming increase in crime cases in the country.
Part of the security measures being implemented by the PNP are the installation of checkpoints in strategic areas of Metro Manila to increase police visibility that could deter unscrupulous groups in carrying out their illegal activities.
“Certainly, it (cases of carjacking) is a cause for alarm, which is why the President has already asked the PNP to be on top on this… to take extra measures some of them, particularly the Manila Police District (MPD) has been putting up checkpoints to increase police visibility”, Valte said.
She added that a task force has already been handling the previous cases for immediate resolution.
Valte said that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo will update the public on the status of the investigation on Friday.
The crime cases, Valte said, serves as a challenge to the PNP.
When asked on the Palace’s confidence on the leadership of Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo, Valte said that they are confident the PNP chief will soon address the issue.
“Yes we do, we know that PNP chief Bacalzo is doing his best to address this particular issue”, Valte noted.
The PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) said that the number of carjacking cases in the country is lower this year compared to previous years.
With 31 vehicles stolen from January 1 to 19 this year, an average of 1.6 vehicles were stolen per day.
The PNP said this is lower than the 2010 average of 2 to 3 each day, and the 3 to 4 stolen daily in 2009. (PCOO)
Aquino receives 26-men crew of Balangay boats
President Benigno S. Aquino III received this afternoon the 26 crew members of the three-boat Balangay Expedition, which was a symbolic journey to retrace and recapture the ancient pre Hispanic history as seafaring and trading royal civilized people intended to make the Filipinos proud and believe in their virtues.
The voyage revived the Philippines’ sea faring tradition that was recorded in the 16th century Chronicles of Pigafetta. Balangay is also known as the oldest pre-Hispanic watercraft.
Headed by team leader, former Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Arturo T. Valdez, a veteran mountaineer who founded the Mount Everest Expedition, the crew presented to the President two replicas and a scroll charting the route of the three boats from Butuan to the six countries in Asia.
The expedition first sailed throughout the archipelago and wherever it docked, it gave lectures in Philippine culture and history and engaged the people to go back to their bayanihan spirit.
The expedition also visited Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the waters of Vietnam where the crew shared the message that the seas do not divide but connect and unite these countries with the Philippines.
The crew is composed of former Mt. Everest summit climbers like Valdez that included Leo Oracion (the first Filipino to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in May 2006); Erwin “Pastour” Emata (the second Filipino to reach the tip of Everest), Janet Belarmino (the youngest mother to reach the tip of Everest); Carina Dayondon (the second Filipina to reach the summit of Everest); Noelle Wenceslao (the first Filipina to reach the summit of Everest); Dr. Ted Esquerra (of the Philippine Coast Guard); Fred Jamili (Valdez’ partner for 30 years and a member of the First Philippine Mt. Everest Expedition); Voltaire Velasco (a doctor in environmental physics and the voyage’s weather analyst); Lito Esperar and Mark Lim. It also has Badjao members.
Valdez said the expedition sailed for 14 months and seven weeks or a total of 13,600 kilometers. The Balangay boats and their crew will leave for Mindanao Thursday night and rejoin their families.
The Balanghai or Balangay boats discovered in 1976 in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, are said to be dating back to 1250 A.D. (PCOO)
Ochoa mulls privatization of some gov’t services
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. is looking into the possibility of privatizing some services of the government and leaving these to experts in the private sector who can do a job better.
Ochoa told “Talking Points” on government dzRB that lack of expertise and funds to continue the operations of some government entities were affecting the services to the public.
“Ang bias ko talaga in government is we have to privatize as much as we can ng mga services,” Ochoa said. “Kasi ‘yung expertise ng government is limited so there are a lot of areas that should be left to the private sector that is more equipped, has more logistics, and who are experts on those fields.”
The Executive Secretary, however, did not specify yet the services that will be lined up for privatization.
Ochoa added that in the case of government-run NBN 4 and sequestered television networks RPN 9 and IBC 13, there was no final decision yet and discussions were still underway with Secretary Herminio Coloma, head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which oversees these stations.
“So along those lines, pinag-uusapan naming ‘yung magiging kalagayan ng mga networks na ‘to, kung papano namin ito eventually mapa-privatize pero wala pa. It’s still in the process… pinag-aaralan pa lang nang mabuti,” he said. (PCOO)
Ochoa: President Aquino tackles crime situation with DILG, PNP
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Thursday that President Benigno Aquino III had met with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and ranking police officials in the wake of the gruesome murders of two car dealers.
Ochoa told government radio station DzRB that the President had summoned him, Robredo, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Raul Bacalzo and National Capital Region Police Director Nicanor Bartolome to the Palace the other day to address the twin killings and ensure the safety of the public.
At the meeting, Ochoa proposed to the PNP to step up visibility as a way of deterring criminal activities and allay fears of the public stemming from the murders of car dealers Emerson Lozano and Venson Evangelista.
According to the Executive Secretary, he has assured the police force that he would push for additional funding to boost the logistical support for peace and order and address criminality in the country.
“Our police, of course, have certain concerns that they want addressed immediately,” Ochoa said. “We will certainly help them but I ask them to make it more concrete, to propose it to me and I’ll do something about it.”
Ochoa added that improving the law enforcement system, including heightened police visibility, was better than reviving the death penalty to fight crimes.
“There are many schools of thought but the important question on this issue is if it (death penalty) does deter crime. I’m not sure if we simply say there is death penalty right now, it will deter crime right away. That is the point that we should look into carefully,” Ochoa said.
“My opinion does not really matter but what is important is what is really right for us, for our country,” Ochoa said.
The Executive Secretary said there were enough existing laws to deal with various incidents of crime in the country and re-imposing death penalty would not guarantee immediate solution to criminality.
Ochoa, however, said he understood the sentiments of the people seeking to revive the death penalty law because of their frustration with the country’s criminal justice system.
“The solution to this is not just immediate. The solution we see is for us to improve our law enforcement system and genuinely and truthfully train our police and our people on how to address criminality in the country,” he noted. (PCOO)
