Aquino underscores importance of improving PHL criminal justice system
President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the importance of improving the country’s criminal justice system to be up to date and in tune with the rigors and necessities of solving crime in this day and age.
In his speech keynoting the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit on Monday at the Manila Hotel, the President said this gathering of stakeholders of the justice system was an opportune time to reexamine institutional criminal justice issues and forge strategies towards the enhanced delivery of justice.
“Ang pagtitipon natin ngayong umaga ay isang pagkakataon para higit na masuri ang lakas at kahinaan ng ating kasalukuyang criminal justice system, at makalikom ng mga makabago at napapanahong inisyatibang pangkatarungan,” the President said.
The President cited the timeliness of holding the Summit as it brings to fore the important role clerks of court, lawyers and judges play in our democracy.
“Masasabi nating napapanahon ito: dahil sa mga araw-araw na headline sa diyaryo at telebisyon, nasasaksihan din ngayon ng buong bansa kung gaano kasalimuot ang trabaho ng mga clerk of court, abugado, at huwes. Walang duda sa halaga ng inyong trabaho: ang inyong mga desisyon at hakbang ay may makabuluhang implikasyon sa ating demokrasya,” the President said. (PCOO)
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Aquino vows to be unrelenting and tireless in pursuit of justice
Saying the will of the people was behind him, President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to be unrelenting and tireless in his and his administration’s pursuit of justice, saying he had no intentions of backing off from his mandate to protect and uphold the Constitution.
In his speech at the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit on Monday at the Manila Hotel, the President said it was his sworn duty as President of the Philippines to ensure that the injustices that occurred during the Martial Law years as well as the alleged corruption practiced by his predecessor are never repeated again.
“Ngayon, bilang inyong Pangulo, may sinumpaan akong tungkulin—ang pangangalagaan at ipagtatanggol ang konstitusyon, ipatupad ang mga batas nito, maging makatarungan sa bawat tao, at italaga ang aking sarili sa paglilingkod sa bansa,” the President said.
“At bahagi ng aking mandato ang tiyaking hindi na maulit ang mga kadilimang nangyari noong panahon ng Martial law, at kung may gumawa man nito, ang siguruhing managot sila sa kanilang kasalanan,” he added.
He reminded the participants that the power to govern was not a title bestowed on anyone but bestowed by the people and thus it was incumbent upon those who took office to serve in the interest of the people.
“… ang nakasaad sa Artikulo 2, Seksyon 1 ng ating Saligang batas: ang ganap na kapangyarihan ay nasa sambayanan, at ang lahat ng kapangyarihang pampamahalaan ay nagmumula sa kanila,” the President said.
“Kami pong mga nanumpa sa tungkulin ay iisa lamang ang pinagkakautangan ng loob—kayong mga Boss namin, ang sambayanang Pilipino. Narito kami para maglingkod sa ating bansa; at para may manilbihan nang buong katapatan at sigasig sa mga Pilipino,” he stressed.
The President enjoined all Filipinos to fight and end the decades-long problem of corruption.
“Obligasyon ko, at obligasyon nating lahat na manatiling tumahak sa iisang direksyon, sa ilalim ng nagkakaisa nating adhikain: ang paglingkuran at pangalagaan ang interes ng sambayanan,” the President said.
“Sa lahat ng nakikibalikat sa atin sa tuwid na daan, manalig kayo: Hangga’t nasa tama tayo, wala tayong laban na aatrasan. Hanggang nasa likod natin ang taumbayan, magtatagumpay tayo. Huwag natin silang bibiguin,” he said. (PCOO)
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Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on Australia, New Zealand envoys
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna to the outgoing Ambassadors of New Zealand and Australia in recognition of their exemplary contributions to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between their respective countries and the Philippines as well as the promotion of programs that will help uplift the lives of the Filipinos and their peoples.
During his farewell call on the President at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Monday, New Zealand Ambassador Andrew Graeme Matheson was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross) for his significant contributions in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Labor Cooperation in the year 2008; MOA on Environment Cooperation (2009) and the Exchange of Notes on the Temporary Employment of Nurses, Farm Managers and Engineering Professionals (2009).
Ambassador Matheson also exerted an important role in shaping the Development Cooperation program between the Philippines and New Zealand through the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAid).
During the event, the New Zealand envoy was accompanied by Andy White, Deputy Head of Mission; Heather Garven, Consul and Administration and Nathaniel Mackay, Immigration Branch Manager. Also present for the Philippine side were Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Laura del Rosario and Presidential Protocol Chief Miguel Perez- Rubio.
President Aquino also awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on outgoing Australian Ambassador Roderick Richard Campbell Smith for his steadfast efforts in strengthening bilateral relations with high level meetings and the convening of the Bilateral Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings as well as the Inaugural Meetings of the Agricultural Forum, Mining Officials’ Meetings and Climate Change Consultations.
The Australian envoy was cited for an important role he played in shaping the Development Cooperation Program between the Philippines and his country, making the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) the largest development partner of the Philippines for grants in the year 2010.
He was accompanied by Andrew Byrne, Deputy Head of Mission; Titon Mitra, AusAID Minister Counsellor; Group Captain Craig White Defense Attache and Ross Bray, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner of the Australian Trade Commission.
Earlier, United Kingdom Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Jeremy Browne MP also paid a call on President Aquino. Browne was accompanied by British Ambassador Stephen Lillie.
Browne returned to the country for the second time yesterday to affirm the strong relationship between the Philippines and the UK, and to express Britain’s continuing support for Philippine development and reform in line with shared values.
Browne has held various positions in the Liberal Democrat party, including as spokesman on Foreign Affairs and most recently as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He has also been a member of the cross-party Home Affairs Committee. (PCOO)
President Benigno S. Aquino III underscored the importance of improving the country’s criminal justice system to be up to date and in tune with the rigors and necessities of solving crime in this day and age.
In his speech keynoting the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit on Monday at the Manila Hotel, the President said this gathering of stakeholders of the justice system was an opportune time to reexamine institutional criminal justice issues and forge strategies towards the enhanced delivery of justice.
“Ang pagtitipon natin ngayong umaga ay isang pagkakataon para higit na masuri ang lakas at kahinaan ng ating kasalukuyang criminal justice system, at makalikom ng mga makabago at napapanahong inisyatibang pangkatarungan,” the President said.
The President cited the timeliness of holding the Summit as it brings to fore the important role clerks of court, lawyers and judges play in our democracy.
“Masasabi nating napapanahon ito: dahil sa mga araw-araw na headline sa diyaryo at telebisyon, nasasaksihan din ngayon ng buong bansa kung gaano kasalimuot ang trabaho ng mga clerk of court, abugado, at huwes. Walang duda sa halaga ng inyong trabaho: ang inyong mga desisyon at hakbang ay may makabuluhang implikasyon sa ating demokrasya,” the President said. (PCOO)
.
Aquino vows to be unrelenting and tireless in pursuit of justice
Saying the will of the people was behind him, President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to be unrelenting and tireless in his and his administration’s pursuit of justice, saying he had no intentions of backing off from his mandate to protect and uphold the Constitution.
In his speech at the 1st National Criminal Justice Summit on Monday at the Manila Hotel, the President said it was his sworn duty as President of the Philippines to ensure that the injustices that occurred during the Martial Law years as well as the alleged corruption practiced by his predecessor are never repeated again.
“Ngayon, bilang inyong Pangulo, may sinumpaan akong tungkulin—ang pangangalagaan at ipagtatanggol ang konstitusyon, ipatupad ang mga batas nito, maging makatarungan sa bawat tao, at italaga ang aking sarili sa paglilingkod sa bansa,” the President said.
“At bahagi ng aking mandato ang tiyaking hindi na maulit ang mga kadilimang nangyari noong panahon ng Martial law, at kung may gumawa man nito, ang siguruhing managot sila sa kanilang kasalanan,” he added.
He reminded the participants that the power to govern was not a title bestowed on anyone but bestowed by the people and thus it was incumbent upon those who took office to serve in the interest of the people.
“… ang nakasaad sa Artikulo 2, Seksyon 1 ng ating Saligang batas: ang ganap na kapangyarihan ay nasa sambayanan, at ang lahat ng kapangyarihang pampamahalaan ay nagmumula sa kanila,” the President said.
“Kami pong mga nanumpa sa tungkulin ay iisa lamang ang pinagkakautangan ng loob—kayong mga Boss namin, ang sambayanang Pilipino. Narito kami para maglingkod sa ating bansa; at para may manilbihan nang buong katapatan at sigasig sa mga Pilipino,” he stressed.
The President enjoined all Filipinos to fight and end the decades-long problem of corruption.
“Obligasyon ko, at obligasyon nating lahat na manatiling tumahak sa iisang direksyon, sa ilalim ng nagkakaisa nating adhikain: ang paglingkuran at pangalagaan ang interes ng sambayanan,” the President said.
“Sa lahat ng nakikibalikat sa atin sa tuwid na daan, manalig kayo: Hangga’t nasa tama tayo, wala tayong laban na aatrasan. Hanggang nasa likod natin ang taumbayan, magtatagumpay tayo. Huwag natin silang bibiguin,” he said. (PCOO)
.
Aquino confers Order of Sikatuna on Australia, New Zealand envoys
President Benigno S. Aquino III conferred the Order of Sikatuna to the outgoing Ambassadors of New Zealand and Australia in recognition of their exemplary contributions to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between their respective countries and the Philippines as well as the promotion of programs that will help uplift the lives of the Filipinos and their peoples.
During his farewell call on the President at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace on Monday, New Zealand Ambassador Andrew Graeme Matheson was awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross) for his significant contributions in the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Labor Cooperation in the year 2008; MOA on Environment Cooperation (2009) and the Exchange of Notes on the Temporary Employment of Nurses, Farm Managers and Engineering Professionals (2009).
Ambassador Matheson also exerted an important role in shaping the Development Cooperation program between the Philippines and New Zealand through the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAid).
During the event, the New Zealand envoy was accompanied by Andy White, Deputy Head of Mission; Heather Garven, Consul and Administration and Nathaniel Mackay, Immigration Branch Manager. Also present for the Philippine side were Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Laura del Rosario and Presidential Protocol Chief Miguel Perez- Rubio.
President Aquino also awarded the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Datu (Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on outgoing Australian Ambassador Roderick Richard Campbell Smith for his steadfast efforts in strengthening bilateral relations with high level meetings and the convening of the Bilateral Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings as well as the Inaugural Meetings of the Agricultural Forum, Mining Officials’ Meetings and Climate Change Consultations.
The Australian envoy was cited for an important role he played in shaping the Development Cooperation Program between the Philippines and his country, making the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) the largest development partner of the Philippines for grants in the year 2010.
He was accompanied by Andrew Byrne, Deputy Head of Mission; Titon Mitra, AusAID Minister Counsellor; Group Captain Craig White Defense Attache and Ross Bray, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner of the Australian Trade Commission.
Earlier, United Kingdom Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office Jeremy Browne MP also paid a call on President Aquino. Browne was accompanied by British Ambassador Stephen Lillie.
Browne returned to the country for the second time yesterday to affirm the strong relationship between the Philippines and the UK, and to express Britain’s continuing support for Philippine development and reform in line with shared values.
Browne has held various positions in the Liberal Democrat party, including as spokesman on Foreign Affairs and most recently as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He has also been a member of the cross-party Home Affairs Committee. (PCOO)
