Malacañang cited on Thursday the latest Pulse Asia Survey showing 70 percent of Filipinos still trusting President Benigno S. Aquino III, “as an indication of support for the President’s fight against corruption and poverty.”
In a statement read during the regular press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the survey clearly shows that the benefits of the reforms implemented by the Aquino administration are being felt by the people.
“As we have always maintained, public office is a public trust. There is no greater proof that the public is feeling the effects of our reforms than the President’s sustained trust and satisfaction ratings,” Lacierda said.
He pointed out that the President remains committed to achieving the advocacies laid out during his Presidential campaign: to improve the lives of all Filipinos.
“We take these results as reinforcement to push for economic and institutional reforms which will lead to inclusive and equitable growth,” Lacierda said.
The survey, which was conducted from February 26 to March 9, 2012 and based on a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above, showed the work done by President Benigno S. Aquino III (70%), Vice-President Binay (84%) and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (71%) is appreciated by most Filipinos. (PCOO)
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Malacanang says wider US military presence intended to build up Philippine defense capabilities
Malacanang reiterated that the decision of President Benigno S. Aquino III to accept more American soldiers, increase ship visits and expand military exercises between the Philippines and the United States is intended to strengthen the Philippines’s defense capability to protect its borders and has nothing to do with external threats.
“We have to update our military training and capability. As we have always maintained, we first acquired the Hamilton Class Cutter for the purpose of maritime protection and also environmental protection,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
The President’s Spokesman was responding to questions profounded by Malacanang reporters whether the decision of President Aquino is related to the disputed West Philippine Sea issue.
“Our military hardware is quite not up to date with our neighbors. So it’s imperative for us to update our military hardware and that’s for purposes of our protection for our country. This is primarily to improve our military training and capacity,” he added.
Lacierda stressed that the decision of the President wasn’t prompted by the external threats but is intended to ensure the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s borders adding that some Asean-member countries have manifested for a peaceful solution to the disputed West Philippine Sea.
He explained that the arrangement has legal basis and that a new agreement isn’t necessary.
“The parameters would be based on the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Mutual Defense Treaty and also the 1987 Constitution. There are mechanisms involved there. So I think that would be the basis for (the number of) troops (that) will be rotated here in the Philippines for exercises and other related matters,” Lacierda said.
In an interview with foreign media this week, the President said the Philippines would welcome the entry of more US troops in the country on a rotational basis but ruled out putting up permanent military bases.
The Philippines was also asking the United States to build up its defense capabilities, the President said as he emphasized that among the country’s request are the F-16 fighter jets, patrol vessels, transport aircraft and radar systems.
According to the Chief Executive, getting modern fighter jets from the US is a top priority for the Philippines considering that the Philippines is one of the most poorly-equipped in Southeast Asia.
The US has announced recently that it is expanding its military presence in the Asia Pacific as a counterweight to the rising presence of China in the region. Last year, it brokered a deal with Australia to place more troops there. It is also expanding its maritime presence in Singapore and in stepping up deployments in Thailand. (PCOO)
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Aquino to reappoint five cabinet men bypassed by Commission on Appointments
President Benigno S. Aquino III will re-appoint the five cabinet secretaries after the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed their nominations because they still enjoy the trust and confidence of the Chief Executive, a Palace official said on Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda issued the statement after the CA bypassed the nominations of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
"For one reason or another, hindi na-approve ang kanilang confirmation. But the President continues to trust in these Cabinet members and so the President will continue to reappoint them," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday.
Lacierda said President Aquino has no plans to look for replacements of the said five cabinet secretaries.
"And we hope that at a certain point in time, the Commission on Appointments will find favor with these five Cabinet secretaries and confirm them," he said. (PCOO)
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Kuwait’s Amir arrives Friday for five-day state visit
His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber, the Amir of the State of Kuwait is arriving in the country Friday for a five-day state visit to strengthen Kuwait-Philippine relations.
Sheikh Sabah will arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on board a Kuwait Government Aircraft B747-400. He will be welcomed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Philippine Ambassador to State of Kuwait Shulan Primavera, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Jose Angel Honrado and Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto.
After his arrival, Sheikh Sabah is scheduled to proceed to the Rizal Park for a wreath-laying ceremony and will depart for Malacanang Palace for a welcome ceremony.
Following the welcome ceremony, Sheikh Sabah will pay a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Music Room of the Malacanang Palace. After the courtesy call, an expanded bilateral meeting will be held between the two leaders.
Joining the President during the courtesy call will include Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo.
President Aquino and Sheikh Sabah will also witness the signing of several bilateral agreements between the two countries following their bilateral meeting.
President Aquino will likewise confer the Order of Lakandula with the rank of Grand Collar (Supremo), on His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber. In turn, Sheikh Sabah will confer on President Aquino the Mubarak Al Kabeer Medal.
In the evening, the President will host a State Dinner for the visiting Amir of Kuwait at Malacanang’s Rizal Hall.
Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Philippines will hold a dinner in honor of Sheikh Sabah during the second day of his state visit. The Amir is also scheduled to visit Tagaytay Highlands on the third day of his visit.
On the fifth day, the visiting Sheikh Sabah will then proceed to Clark Export Processing Zone to unveil the marker for the Sabah Al Ahmad Global Gateway Logistics City. He will depart for Kuwait after the Clark event. (PCOO)
PHL, Kuwait to sign agreements to further solidify relations
The Philippines and Kuwait will seal several agreements during the five-day state visit of Kuwait’s Amir, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber, to further cement the growing relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Sabah will arrive in the country Friday afternoon and will meet with President Benigno S. Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace for a courtesy call and bilateral meeting.
Among the agreements to be signed by the two countries include: Memorandum of Understanding on Agricultural and Fisheries Cooperation, Agreement on the Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic, Special and Official Passports, Executive Program for the Cultural Agreement for the Years 2012-2014, Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Recruitment and Employment of Filipino Household Service Workers, and Memorandum of Understanding in the Field of Labor Cooperation.
The signatories for the Philippine side will be Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and National Commission on Culture and the Arts Chairman Felipe de Leon.
For the Kuwait government, the signatories will include Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, deputy head of the council of ministers, minister of foreign affairs and minister of state for the affairs of the council of ministers.
The Amir’s visit to the country is upon the invitation of President Aquino to reaffirm the commitments of the two countries in reinforcing ties and in strengthening cooperation.
Kuwait is one of the country’s leading investment and development partners in the Middle East. (PCOO)
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Palace expresses optimism on GRP-MILF formal peace discussions
The continuing talks between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is a positive indication that both sides are still optimistic towards forging a peace agreement, Malacanang said.
Observers to the formal exploratory talks between the government and the MILF say the developments in the peace talks were a bit slow, fearing that it might result to a stalemate.
But in a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that while there were difficulties in the talks, both parties did not walk away from the negotiations.
“The fact that the parties continue to push through with the talks is a positive sign that both parties are still hopeful towards arriving at a peace agreement,” he said as he echoed his optimism in the discussion.
Government peace panel chair Marvic Leonen said at the start of the second day of the 26th Formal Exploratory Talks between the government and the MILF that despite difficulties, the peace negotiation with the MILF is moving forward.
Leonen’s statement allays earlier fears of a possible stalemate in the negotiations as both parties continue to trudge on the substantive aspects of the negotiations.
He said that both parties were discussing substantive issues, delving into the heart of the negotiations and describing it as “hard bargaining” on the table.
The government chief negotiators also called on the MILF to work with the government to evaluate reasons and standpoints and see their political viability, noting that “there are goals more appropriate rather than sticking to our encrusted positions.” (PCOO)
