Philippines ratifies Rome Statute of the ICC
The Aquino Administration has ratified and endorsed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), sending a message to the international community that it is committed to upholding and protecting human rights.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Sunday that President Aquino III signed on February 28 the Instrument of Ratification of the treaty, which provides for the establishment the of the ICC, and had asked the Senate for its concurrence.
“Ratification of the Rome Statute enhances Philippine commitment to human rights and is our contribution to an effective international criminal justice system,” Ochoa said.
“It complements Republic Act No. 9851, which enables our country on its own to prosecute international crimes and strengthens human rights’ enforcement in our country,” he added.
Republic Act No. 9851, or the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity, was signed into law in December 2009. It is said to be the country’s version of the International Humanitarian Law.
According to Ochoa, the ICC is the first permanent institution having power to exercise jurisdiction over persons for the most serious crimes of international concerns such as the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes of aggression, and is seen to help end impunity for the perpetrators of these crimes.
“It adopts the principle of complementarity that recognizes a State’s right to exercise jurisdiction over these crimes. Meaning, the ICC will only act if such State is unable or unwilling to carry out the investigation and prosecution of the crime,” Ochoa explained.
The Rome Statute adheres to the general principles of criminal law and exclusion of jurisdiction over persons under 18 years old, he added.
In a meeting convened by the Presidential Human Rights Commission in September last year, the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Foreign Affairs (DFA) and National Defense (DND) agreed to recommend the ratification of the Rome Statute by the President and subsequently transmit it to the Senate for concurrence.
The DFA has recommended the timely transmittal of the Rome Statute to the Senate in view of the visit of ICC President Sang-Hyun Song from March 7 to 8 in the country.
The Philippines is one of the countries that drafted the 1998 treaty. Former Acting Permanent Representative to the U.N. Enrique Manalo signed it in December 2000. (PCOO)
President Aquino names Oban as new AFP chief
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: President Benigno Simeon Aquino III named Lieutenant General Eduardo Oban Jr. as the 42nd chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing Gen. Ricardo David Jr. who will retire on March 8.
The Chief Executive made the announcement at the 106th commencement exercises of the Philippine Military Academy’s Laon Alab Class 2011 on Sunday at the Borromeo Field here.
The President said he has no doubts that Oban is capable of continuing the reforms in the Armed Forces initiated by David.
The President also expressed hope that Oban will serve as an “inspiration” for the new graduates “so we can achieve our goals for our country.”
Oban is the third AFP chief to come from the Air Force since 1996.
Before his appointment as the new AFP Chief, Oban held the third highest post in the Armed Forces, being the Deputy Chief of Staff responsible for the administration and supervision of the joint coordinating, technical and special staffs of the military headquarters.
He is a member of PMA Class of 1979 and graduated as one of the topnotchers of his class.
He was formerly Vice Commander of the Air Force.
Before he entered the PMA, Oban graduated from the University of Santo Tomas. He also has a master’s degree in business economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific. He will retire on Dec. 13 this year.
Oban’s most prominent role in his career was his involvement in negotiations to end the Oakwood mutiny in 2003. The general was among those chosen by the mutinous Magdalo to be part of the government panel that negotiated with them for their return to the barracks.
A former instructor pilot, Oban hails from Sorsogon. (PCOO)
Aquino leads the commissioning of 196 PMA graduates in Baguio City
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday led the commissioning of the 196 graduates as second lieutenants and ensigns of the Philippine Armed Forces.
The Chief Executive was the guest of honor and Speaker at the 106th graduation rites of the Philippine Military Laon Alab (Lakas Tipon Alagad ng Bayan) Class 2011 here.
The President handed over to Cadet First Class Angelo Parras, 21, of Apalit, Pampanga the Presidential Saber for topping this year’s graduating class while Vice President Jejomar Binay presented to Cadet 1st Class John Gregor Guiang,21 of Zamboanga del Norte the Vice Presidential Saber for ranking second.
Parras is set to join the Philippine Navy.
Cadets 1st Class Jason Cortes Luna, 23, of Enrile, Cagayan, ranked third.
Of the 196 graduates, 22 are females. One hundred and one of the new graduates (105) will join the Army, 51 will go to the Navy and 40 will join the Air Force.
The other top graduates were Cadets First Class John Gregor Guiang of Zamboanga del Norte; Jason Cortes Luna of Enrile, Cagayan; Aljan Cabriga Dino of Naic, Cavite; Rigor Narag Pamittan of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Janice Baniaga Matbagan of Baguio City; Bobby Gabayno of Cainta, Rizal; Ramon Kristofer Ganab Engay of Tuao, Cagayan; Norman Avila Carual of Tabaco City, Albay, and Jason Fabros Parinas of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
This year's graduating class is the youngest in the last five years with their median ages between 20 and 22.
At least 10 members of the of graduating class were aged 20 and need a waiver to serve as officers in the military because AFP requires its members to be at least 21 years old.
After the commencement rites, the graduates and their parents had lunch with the President at the Mansion, the official residence of the President in Baguio City. (PCOO)
New taxes last resort to raise revenues - Carandang
The implementation of new taxes to generate additional revenue is farthest from Malacañang’s mind right now, Presidential Communications Development Strategic and Planning Secretary Ramon “Ricky” Carandang said on Sunday.
Carandang made the statement in an interview aired over dzRB in response to a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) article stating that new taxes were needed to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Carandang, however, clarified that while new taxes “will be the very last possible resort we can go to in order to raise revenues,” the government will still “consider” the findings of the PIDS-led study.
In its study entitled “Financing the MDGs and Inclusive Growth in the Time of Fiscal Consolidation,” the state-operated think tank said that while improving tax collection helped increase revenues, new taxes were still needed.
“We will consider the findings (of the study because it came from) the government think tank. Pero alam naman nating yung posisyon ni President Aquino at ng Department of Finance -- kung may magagawa pa tayong paraan to raise revenue without increasing taxes, gagawin natin yun,” Carandang said.
“Raising taxes will be the very last possible resort we can go to in order to raise revenues,” he stressed. (PCOO)
Aquino urges new PMA graduates to avoid corruption
FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City: President Benigno S. Aquino III urged the new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy to remain steadfast against corruption in the military and government.
In his message at the 106th commencement exercises of Laon Alab Class 2011, the President said he believed in the capacity of the new 196 soldiers to follow the right path even when confronted by temptations, corruption, injustice and poverty.
“You are here not because you want to enrich yourselves. You stand before me today because you chose to serve the country. So, I hope that when someone dumps a truckload of money in front of you, you can easily resist the temptation of taking it because the principles that the PMA had instilled in you would prevail,” the President said.
It is their conscience which is their only weapon in fighting off wrongdoing, he said.
“You will engage in battle where your only weapon is your conscience,” he said.
The President challenged the new soldiers to follow the example set by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar (after whom the PMA campus is named) and be a hero respected by his countrymen or follow those who had been afflicted by amnesia, referring to military officers who have been denying their involvement in fund irregularities in the AFP.
The President also warned the new soldiers of the challenges ahead, challenges that are far from inside the PMA but realities they have to face once they get out of the military school and start protecting the Filipino people.
“You should keep in mind that you will face difficult challenges for the first time – corruption, injustice and poverty,'' the President said.
Accor4ding to the President the new soldiers will become the “face of the government'' and that they will not only protect the Filipino people from physical danger but also help uplift them from poverty.
“You will meet people who posing as politicians. They will try to seduce you with piles of money and offer you power so that you will stray from the straight path,'' he stressed.
The President vowed that his administration will not repeat the sins of the previous administration in which officials tasked to enforce the law and guard the public interest ended up being blind, deaf and silent.
“This administration…will right wrongs, …will straighten those [who] have been twisted in government, and make the thieves and their cohorts answer for their sins,” said the President, stressing that “there will be no holy cows in our crusade.''(PCOO)
Malacanang says Aquino's visit to Singapore to ensure welfare of OFWs
President Benigno Aquino III will ensure the welfare of Filipinos working in Singapore when he visits that country this week. The President leaves Tuesday for a five-day state visit to Indonesia and Singapore.
In an interview over dzRB radio station on Sunday, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang, said the President will prioritize knowing the conditions of Filipino workers in Singapore because many of them work there than in Indonesia.
There are few Filipinos working in Indonesia and most of them are management and high ranking professionals so they are more secured, he said.
“There’s really a need to focus on those working in Singapore because there are many more of them there. Second, they are in need of more assistance because most of them are domestic workers. So, the issue regarding the welfare benefit of the OFWs is more for Singapore than for Indonesia” Carandang said.
According to the Foreign Affairs department the President’s trips are aimed at strengthening ties with the neighboring countries. The visit also follows a tradition for new heads of state to pay courtesy visits to fellow ASEAN-member countries.
After Indonesia, the President will fly to Singapore on Mar. 9, where he is set to hold briefings at the Changi Reclamation Plant, Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore Technologies Kinetics and the Changi International Airport. He leaves for Manila Mar. 11.
The Singaporean government will confer on President Aquino the honor of having an orchid breed named after him, a courtesy accorded to a visiting heads of state.
President Aquino will also meet with the Filipino community in Singapore as well as with business taipans and organizations to gain support for government investments. (PCOO)
