Aquino joins supporters in book launching, asks
for continued volunteerism
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the book
launching of the People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR) and asked the
volunteers to continue advocating reforms in society even after his assumption
to power.
PPVR is a national coalition of citizen
volunteer assemblies that supported the presidential campaign of President
Aquino when he ran for the presidency in the May 2010 national elections.
The volunteer organization is also a partner of
the government in realizing the President’s campaign slogan: “Kung Walang
Corrupt, Walang Mahirap.”
The President, who was supposed to deliver a
prepared speech, opted to have a question and answer with his supporters asking
them to air their views and concerns.
Asked about his thrusts on reforming the justice
system, the President said the people can help his government in many ways. For
instance, he said, the public can give information to the government and serve
as watchdogs against corruption.
Volunteers can assist government agencies in
maintaining public order, peace, and environmental protection, he added.
One volunteer asked the President how he will
sustain the momentum of fighting corruption even after he steps down from
power.
“Ang ambisyon ko kasi... ang laki na ng
ipinagbago, na ito na yung normal. Kung boses ko mag-isa, anong magagawa? Kung
boses ng marami na ang magsasabi dun sa mga papalit sa atin -- ‘Hoy ito yung
minimum standard, itong iniwan natin.’ Siyempre ambisyon ko naman na hindi na
masyadong nakasentro sa atin,” the President stressed.
“Siyempre inaambisyon natin… yung maayos na
lipunan, progresibo, mapayapa, normal na sa Pilipino. Magagawa ho yan kung yung
hahalili sa atin ay hindi nag-aambisyon na baka back to before at doon tayo
magtulungan nang husto,” he said.
During the event held at Xavier School in
Greenhills, San Juan, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman presented the
President the book entitled: “People Power Volunteer for Reform.”
Prior to its publication, the PPVR undertook a
coalition-wide mapping in the latter part of 2011 to determine the composition,
activities and capabilities of its members. The mapping led to the publication
of the PPVR’s book that was launched Tuesday. (PCOO)
Aquino wants China's bullying tactics be known
by international community
The Philippines is raising awareness in the
international community about its current stand-off with China to make the
global community of nations know how China threatens smaller countries like the
Philippines.
“Ang ginagawa po natin, talagang parang pinakasandata
po natin dito ay ang malaman ng buong mundo kung ano ang ginagawa sa atin dahil
ang... Marami silang relasyon sa iba’t-ibang bansa sa mundo na mapapag-isip ang
mga ibang bansa rin naman,” the President said during the book launching of the
People Power Volunteers for Reform (PPVR) on Tuesday in Greenhills, San Juan.
“Kung ganito tayo tinatrato at sila’y kasinlaki
natin o mas maliit sa atin... baka dumating ang panahon ganoon rin ang pagtrato
sa kanila,” he added.
While the Philippines continue to pursue its
claim of the Scarborough Shoal, the President said he doesn’t want an
escalation in the area. But he explained that under the Constitution, it is his
duty to defend the country’s patrimony from foreign intrusion.
He said that the disputed area has been part of
the Philippine territory and was recognized by international law, specifically
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) where both China
and the Philippines are signatories.
“And that’s the only thing we’re asking. Sumang-ayon
tayo dito, nilagdaan nung ating mga kinatawan, nandoon rin tayo doon sa treaty
on endangered species na di ba nakita naman po n’yo ’yung pinagkukuha nung mga
mangingisda nila. Tuparin lang po natin ‘yung mga obligasyon, ayon doon sa mga
kasunduang pinirmahan ng mga awtorisadong representante natin,” he said.
The Philippines has six options in resolving the
Scarborough Shoal issue and it can go to the International Tribunal on the Law
of the Sea (ITLOS), he said, noting however that elevating the issue to the
international court requires China’s approval. (PCOO)
Government finalizing new mining policy, Aquino
says
The proposed Executive Order on new mining
policy has gone through Malacanang and the proposal is being presented to various
mining stakeholders before its final approval, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said.
“Dumaan po sa akin ‘yung proposed executive
order. I understand this is being run through the various stakeholders,” the
President said during the book launching of the People Power Volunteers for
Reform (PPVR) in Greenhills, San Juan on Tuesday.
According to the President, among the issues
being discussed with the stakeholders were ecology, the role of mining
companies and the local communities.
He said he’s awaiting the results of the
consultations but expressed his reservations on some of the features of the new
mining policy.
“We get something like two percent of the
proceeds… And in a very simplistic way of looking at it, 100 percent of the
problem, if there becomes a problem, is our problem. But of the proceeds only
two percent is ours to take care of the 100 percent of the problem. Hindi yata
fair,” he said.
There has to be an increase in what government
gets from mining operations in the country, the Chief Executive said.
He also disclosed that there are at least 78
sites designated as tourism sites that will not be exploitable to mining
interests. Also, some provinces negatively affected by mining operations before
will be banned from mining activities.
The mining industry has been expecting the
immediate release of the new mining policy in the country claiming that the industry
lost significant amount of investments last year because of the absence of new
mining policy.
The government acknowledged that an inconsistent
mining policy has been a problem in the country in the past several years, and
the Aquino administration wants to have a definitive mining guidelines that
will boost the local mining industry and attract more investments. (PCOO)
Government has to come up with best solution to
the country’s energy needs – Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to address
the country’s growing energy needs but stressed the need to come up with the
best solution after extensive consultations with different stakeholders.
During the book launch of the People Power
Volunteers for Reform (PPVR), one volunteer appealed to the President not to
allow the putting up of a coal-powered plant in Subic Bay in Zambales because
of its effects on the environment.
The President said an all-inclusive consultation
with stakeholders will be done before the government decides on the best
solution to the country’s power problems and the best means to produce more
energy.
There has been strong opposition against
coal-powered plants as well as gas plants in the country. Newer and cleaner
means of energy production on the other hand, are costly, according to the
President, citing solar energy and ocean tidal wave. Lack of water due to
changing weather patterns is also becoming a concern in operating hydro-powered
plants, he said.
“I won’t comment specifically on the Subic coal
plant. Pero, at the end of the day, we really have a growing population. We
have a growing base. Yung manufacturers nagbabalikan na—everybody needs
electricity and we have to produce it somehow. We will always do it in
consultation with the people,” the President said.
The President explained that Subic is not just a
tourist site but it’s also a locator site for manufacturing companies.
He pointed out that setting up a power plant
whether in Pampanga, Tarlac or Bataan should be done after knowing the pulse of
the people.
“We will try to come up with a best solution.
But at the end of the day, we are forced to come up with a solution,” he said.
(PCOO)
Aquino focused on efforts to end armed conflict
with MILF
A prominent member of the peace negotiating
panel of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) bared the sincere commitment
of the Aquino administration to end the armed conflict with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) through the crafting of an accord favorable to both
parties as he expressed optimism that the long wanted peace will be attained
with the signing of an agreement between the two panels soon.
In a teleconference held during a press briefing
in Malacanang on Wednesday, GPH chief negotiator Marvic Leonen reiterated that
the government remains focused on exerting necessary efforts to end the
long-standing conflict with the MILF.
“The GPH, as is our principal, His Excellency
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, remains sincerely committed to working
towards a negotiated, comprehensive, political settlement with the MILF to
address the Bangsamoro question,” Leonen said.
“Today we move forward with a healthy amount of
optimism recognizing the need now, more than ever to be guided by lessons from
the past… we look forward to coming weeks of more thorough perhaps more
difficult conversations with the MILF and various affected sectors,” he added.
Leonen cited the urgency of formulating a
solution as soon as possible to pursue development in the affected areas which
will eventually push for more progress within the entire nation.
“Kinakailangan na i-address ang reasons and root
causes of this armed conflict as soon as possible so that the underdevelopment
of that area, as well as the development of our entire country can be aided by
this peace process,” Leonen said.
Leonen together with the other members of the
GPH peace negotiating panel are still in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia attending the
27th Formal Exploratory Talks with the MILF.
On Tuesday the government and the MILF made a
breakthrough during the talks by identifying preliminary decision points on
principles that will be serving as the framework for the eventual signing of
the peace pact. (PCOO)
Peace talks with MILF agree on framework for
final peace agreement
The Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace
process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has made a major step
forward with the signing of the decision points on principles that will serve
as a framework for the eventual signing of a peace agreement.
As the 27th Round of Exploratory Talks concluded
on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, both panels signed the document which
provide a new level of momentum in the negotiations. The parties will meet
again in May 2012.
Both parties acknowledged the roles played by
the Facilitator and the International Contact Group (ICG) in reaching this
breakthrough.
The document was signed on Tuesday by GPH Panel
chairman Marvic M. V.F. Leonen, MILF Panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal and
witnessed by Malaysian Facilitator Tengku Dato' AB Ghafar Tengku Mohamed.
"The Parties expressed their appreciation
to His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III for his commitment to a
just and lasting peace in Mindanao, to His Excellency Malaysian Prime Minister
Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak for his continued support in the
facilitation of the GPH-MILF Peace Talks and the MILF Central Committee headed
by chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim for its continued commitment to the resolution
of the Bangsamoro Question," the parties said in a joint statement.
The parties also extended their gratitude to the
members of the ICG, namely, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United
Kingdom, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Conciliation Resources,
Muhammadiyah, and The Asia Foundation.
"This marks a significant and concrete step
forward by both Parties in their discussions of substantive issues in these
negotiations," Leonen said.
"For the GPH, this document is a
preliminary listing of common points, which the Parties have mutually
identified, coming from their respective initial positions: the MILF, from
their February 2011 Revised Comprehensive Compact, and the GPH, from its
3-for-1 August 2011 proposal," he said.
Leonen also stressed that the document is not
the final peace agreement between the Government of the Republic of the
Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
"With the signing this document, indeed,
comes the mutual recognition of the Parties that there are various outstanding
issues that still require further or more detailed discussions between the
Panels and more difficult decisions for their Principals, such as issues
pertaining to the geographic scope of the autonomous political entity, power
sharing and wealth sharing between the entity and the National Government,
mechanisms for implementation of the agreement and the contours of a
normalization process, which will include details on disarmament,
demobilization and reintegration," Leonen said.
He said such outstanding issues, as well as the
points contained in the document, will be contextualized in the final
agreement.
Leonen said the parties recognize the Bangsamoro
identity and the legitimate grievances and the claims of the Bangsamoro people.
The parties agreed that the status quo is unacceptable and that the parties
will work for the creation of a new autonomous political entity in place of the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The parties agreed that the new autonomous
political entity shall have a ministerial form of the government as well as to
the need for a transition period and the institution of transitional mechanism
in order to implement the provisions of the agreement.
They likewise agreed that the defense and
external security, foreign policy, common market and global trade, coinage and
monetary policy, citizenship and naturalization and postal service are reserved
for the competence of the national government.
The parties agreed that the wealth creation is
important, as well as the need to strengthen the Shari'ah courts and to expand
their jurisdiction over cases. They agreed that the government of such
political entity "shall also ensure guarantees of human rights and
liberties for its inhabitants, such as religious freedom, the right of women to
meaningful political participation, and freedom from ethnic, religious or
sectarian harassment, in addition to rights already enjoyed.
"We look forward to the coming weeks of
more thorough (perhaps, more difficult) conversations with the MILF and various
affected sectors, with the understanding that only through peaceful and candid
dialogues, open and public consultations and continuous reflections can a
sincere, effective and acceptable solution be arrived at," he said. (PCOO)
Government probes demolition of structures at
Silverio compound in Paranaque City – Palace says
Malacanang said that the government is
conducting a thorough investigation on the demolition of some structures within
the Silverio compound in Paranaque City that has turned into violence as it
assured full cooperation from the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the
probe to ferret out the truth on accusations of violation of human rights.
During a press briefing in Malacanang on
Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda gave the assurance saying
that two specific investigations are presently being conducted – one by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and another by the
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) – upon the order of President Aquino.
“When the incident happened, Secretary Jesse
Robredo was tasked by the President (Aquino) to immediately order the
investigation. And so there are two pending investigations right now — one
being conducted by the DILG and one being conducted or will be conducted by the
Commission on Human Rights… we have committed to the Commission on Human Rights
that we promised full cooperation on the part of the PNP in the investigation
with the CHR,” Lacierda said.
“We are looking into the whole incident not only
on the abuses by the policemen when some of the rallyists were inflicted harm
while under handcuffs. We’re also looking into why it happened,” he added.
Lacierda made it clear that the demolition order
came from the judicial branch of the government particularly the regional trial
court and not the executive branch as claimed by some groups.
“There were a number of questions that came out
two days ago accusing the government of this demolition. Let me state for the
record that the demolition order was issued by the regional trial court. It’s
not by the national government,” Lacierda said.
He also said that the case was between the local
government of Paranaque and the residents of the compound.
“This is a case between the city government and
the residents of the Silverio compound. What was agreed upon in that particular
demolition is that the residents’ houses will not be affected, only the 60
structures of the talipapa—the commercial structures. ‘Yung talipapa lang po
ang ide-demolish,” Lacierda noted.
One person died while scores were injured as
violence erupted during a demolition of a wet market at the Silverio Compound
in Paranaque City on Monday.
Reports revealed that the violence was due to
the fear of the residents that their houses will also be affected by the
demolition in the area.
The compound has about 6,000 homes.
The demolition occurred following the expiration
of the 10-day notice of demolition from the local government. (PCOO)
