President Aquino swears in Sonia Brady as
Ambassador to the People's Republic of China
President Benigno S. Aquino formally
administered the oath of office to Sonia Brady as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the People’s Republic of China in ceremonies held in
Malacañang on Monday.
The President appointed Brady, who had served as
Ambassador to Beijing from 2006 to 2010, in May this year.
The Commission on Appointments, taking
cognizance of her expertise and experience as a veteran diplomat, swiftly
confirmed her appointment a few days after.
Aside from Brady, President Aquino also swore in
three new Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals, newly appointed
government officials and officers of the Philippine National Police and the
National Press Club.
These were: Associate Justices Ma. Luisa
Padilla, Renato Francisco, and Joseph Lopez; Assistant Secretaries of the
Department of Budget and Management Janet Abuel, Gil Montalbo and Deputy
Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera;
Police Deputy Director Generals Emelito
Sarmiento and Rommel Heredia; Police Directors Elpidio De Asis, Jr., Samuel
Diciano, Gil Meneses, Felipe Rojas, Jr., and Arnulfo Perez;
Police Chief Superintendents Roland Vicente,
Diosdado Ramos, Fernando Idio, Ronilo Quebrar, Fidel Posadas, Percival Barba,
Sonny Cunana, and Raul Petrasanta.
The NPC officers are: Benny Antiporda,
president; Marlon Purificacion, vice president; Louie Logarta, secretary; Jerry
Yap, Treasurer; Rolly Gonzalo, Auditor and Directors Mina Navarro, Alvin
Murcia, Paul Gutierrez, Joel Sy Egco, Nats Taboy, William Depasupil, Ronniel De
Guzman, Arlie Calalo, Ma. Kristina Maralit and Leonel Abasola. (rck)
Aquino declares June 21 a special non-working
day in the City of Tagaytay in Cavite
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared
June 21, which falls on a Thursday, as a special (non-working) day in Tagaytay
City in the province of Cavite in celebration of the "74th Araw ng
Tagaytay".
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 403 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on June 11 to give the people of Tagaytay the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
On June 21, 1938, Tagaytay became a chartered
city by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 338.
The city is one of the country's most popular
tourist destinations because of its cool climate and distinct scenery that
includes a view of Taal volcano. (js)
Malacañang says decision to suspend classes
during heavy rains is with local government units
Malacanang said that Local Government Units
(LGUs) have the responsibility to inform the parents of suspension of classes
based on their assessment of heavy rains in their respective areas, adding that
the system of declaration should be improved to ensure that students are not
exposed to danger.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang
Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that the declaration
regarding the suspension of classes mainly rely on the situation in specific
areas upon the discretion of the local executives concerned.
“When it comes to areas where, for instance,
it’s Signal No. 2, then obviously the high school and elementary classes are
suspended. But it’s discretionary on the local government, for instance, if
there is flooding in the area, if it is impassable, if circumstances would
prevent the school from continuing their operations. And if the local
government is aware of that, then the local government unit has the discretion
to do so,” Lacierda said.
Lacierda said that the announcements by the city
or the municipal mayors should be made early enough or before the students
leave their homes going to their classes.
Due to the continuous heavy rains since Sunday
evening, classes in various parts of Metro Manila and Luzon have been
suspended. The continuous rains have caused flooding in some parts of the
metropolis and the neighboring areas.
It will be recalled that the Department of
Education has recently enacted a new policy transferring the declaration of
suspension of classes to the local government officials. (jcl/2:20 p.m.)
Palace maintains 'no-ransom' policy in dealing
with alleged kidnapping by Abu Sayyaf Group
The Aquino administration reiterated its
no-ransom policy following reports that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) reportedly
demanded a P50-million ransom for the release of the Jordanian broadcast
journalist who was reported missing since June 12, a Palace official said on
Monday.
"We continue to maintain the no-ransom
policy. But, again, the lines of communication are between Sulu Governor Sakur
Tan and the ASG," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a
regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.
Reports said Jordanian journalist Baker Abdulla
Atyani of Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV and his two Filipino cameramen Rolando
Letrero and Ramelito Vela were reported missing in Sulu after they failed to
return to the Sulu State College Hostel in the capital town Jolo.
"Sulu Governor Sakur Tan has formed a
crisis committee in Sulu. What we can confirm is that the said journalist is in
the hands of the ASG and that he went there (ASG lair) voluntarily for an
interview," Lacierda said.
"It is also confirmed that he had in
another occasion the opportunity to interview an Abu Sayyaf head,"
Lacierda said.
Lacierda said the government, through the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), is closely monitoring the
progress of the operations being undertaken to secure the safety of the
Jordanian journalist and his crew.
The ASG, reportedly holding Atyani and his crew,
is in the forested areas of Patikul to avoid detection from the military and
police authorities who are conducting follow-up operations.
Atyani and his crew arrived in Jolo on June 11
and checked in at the Sulu State College Hostel in Barangay Bangka.
At 5 a.m. the following day, Atyani was fetched
by a white multi-cab with plate number LLC 238 to head for Bud Datu in Patikul.
The three never returned to the hostel since
then, according to the police. (js)
Palace welcomes decision of Judicial and Bar
Council to extend deadline for nominations for Chief Justice
The Aquino administration welcomed the decision of
the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to extend the period for accepting
nominations for the next Chief Justice saying the council's move will pave the
way "for the broadest public participation and the widest possible pool of
candidates."
"The extension of the period of nomination
will allow the public, civil society, academe, and others to have time to
nominate individuals for consideration. What is at stake at the end of this
exercise is for the JBC to present a list of meritorious nominees for the consideration
of President Aquino," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a
statement issued on Monday.
The JBC decided to extend the submission of
nomination for the position of Chief Justice until July 2. The original
deadline for the nomination is today, June 18.
"This should be a landmark moment in our
collective effort to achieve judicial reform. As the recent decision of the
Supreme Court indicates, a new era of transparency and accountability is
dawning in the judiciary," Lacierda said.
Malacanang earlier lauded the High Tribunal for
its decision to post on its website the budget accountability reports of the
Supreme Court and the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.
"The disclosure of personal SALNs
(statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth) and the financial operations
of the Supreme Court, including its use of various funds, will already help the
administration determine the proper budgetary support for a reenergized Supreme
Court," Lacierda said.
The Chief Justice post is presently vacant after
the Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, removed Chief Justice Renato
Corona last May.
Voting 20-3, the Impeachment Court found Corona
guilty for failure to lawfully disclose all of his assets, particularly his
dollar and peso deposits in various accounts. (js)
