Malacanang expressed strong condemnation of the
recent violence in Mindanao that has hurt scores of civilians and killed
several individuals as it assured that the various concerned agencies are
exerting all efforts to determine the culprits and bring them to justice.
In a regular press briefing in Malacanang on
Thursday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the Aquino
government strongly condemns the lawless acts and that thorough investigations
are being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in coordination
with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to identify the perpetrators of
the two separate bombings in the towns of Sumisip and Lamitan in Basilan.
“First, let us issue a very strong condemnation
of the attack to civilians, we understand that there were six casualties… five
of whom are employees of the rubber plantation. The information that we now
have is that the investigation is underway, conducted by the PNP in that area,
while the AFP will continue to provide support by way of securing the area,”
Valte said.
Reports revealed that authorities suspect the
Abu Sayyaf Group as responsible for the ambush of the rubber plantation workers
in a convoy that was escorted by government militiamen in Sumisip on Wednesday killing
six persons and wounding 22 others.
The military said that a four-vehicle convoy of
the workers of the Tumajubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Integrated
Development Council (TARBIDC) was traversing along the Circumferential Road in
Barangay Sapah Bulak at around 6 am when it was attacked.
Meanwhile, another violent incident took place
in Lamitan town also on Wednesday where five people were killed while 30
others, including eight soldiers securing the voters’ re-registration, were
wounded in an ambush, Valte said adding that the Commission on Elections has
been coordinating with the police to provide tighter security for the people in
the area.
“From what I understand, the Comelec has already
coordinated with the PNP with regard to the security for the voters’
re-registration in that region… the first line of defense there would be to
provide tighter security in that area to prevent it from happening again,”
Valte noted.
The 10-day relisting of voters is being held in
areas under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in efforts to cleanse the
voters’ list. The re-registration will run until July 18. (jcl/1:30 p.m.)
Aquino appoints new government officials
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed
new officials in the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and
the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
announced during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday that the
Chief Executive signed the appointment letter of Jaime Raphael C. Feliciano as
Assistant Secretary of the DOTC, replacing George D. Esguerra. His term of
office is co-terminus with the appointing authority.
Feliciano graduated Bachelor of Arts, Major in
Management Economics from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1999. He obtained
his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) in 2003
and was admitted to the Bar in 2004.
He worked as Senior Associate of the Romulo
Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles law firm. Prior to his
appointment as Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary, Feliciano
served as DOTC Director for Legal Services and Director for Infrastructure
Projects since July, 2011.
President Aquino also signed the appointment
letter of Ronaldo Franco Corpuz as member of the LTFRB. He took over the
position vacated by Samuel Julius B. Garcia.
The Chief Executive, likewise, appointed Al
Parreno as member of the LTFRB, replacing Manuel M. Iway.
Valte said the apointment letters were signed by
the President on Tuesday, July 10. (js)
Palace says President Aquino is satisfied with
action of Congress on Palace-backed proposals
President Benigno S. Aquino III is satisfied
with the way Congress is handling the bills he had proposed in his last State
of the Nation Address (SONA), a Palace official said stressing that most of the
said bills are in the advanced stages of legislative deliberations.
In a press briefing on Thursday in Malacanang,
members of the media asked Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte about
the President’s thoughts on the bills he had pushed for Congressional approval
last year when he delivered his SONA.
Some of the bills mentioned in his 2011 SONA
include the Kasambahay Bill and the Human Rights Compensation Bill.
The President also called on Congress to work on
the proposals seeking improvement on pensions for soldiers, the expansion of
government scholarships granted to underprivileged students, the advancement of
universal quality healthcare, the responsible management of the environment,
and the formation of facilities that assist calamity victims.
Also mentioned by the Chief Executive is his
support for the development of the Bureau of Corrections, National Bureau of
Investigation, National Electrification Administration, and PTV 4 for the
better fulfillment of their mandates.
Out of 32 remaining bills, 22 of them are in
advanced stages of deliberations, Valte said adding that the congressional
bicameral committee has recently passed the Data Privacy Act.
“Mukhang marami namang pumasa na sa House. More
than 10 have passed the House on third reading. So OK naman yung progress. We
are cognizant of the legislative process that the bills have to go through,”
Valte said.
With regards the Legislative Executive
Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting, Valte said that while LEDAC has
not been meeting this year, the Palace is in close coordination with both
houses of Congress.
Both the executive and legislative branches have
been closely working together as evidenced by the swift passage of the two
anti-money laundering measures that needed to be passed to avoid being
blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Valte said. (as/2:18pm)
Aquino says he’s willing to talk about amending
the Constitution with proponents of Charter change
President Benigno S. Aquino III said changing
the present Constitution remains not a priority of his administration adding
however that he’s ready to discuss the issue with those contrary ideas.
“I would want to listen to their points. We are
in a democracy, you have to listen to different ideas and come up with what’s
best for the people,” President Aquino said in an interview after attending a
road show spearheaded by the interior and local government department on
Thursday.
The President attended Thursday afternoon a
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation road show at the SMX
Convention Center in Pasay City.
The President said he was surprised by recent
newspaper reports saying the Senate president and house speaker were pushing
for constitutional amendment. The last time they meet, the President said they
discussed issues about the West Philippine Sea and China.
With regards to the proposal limiting the
changes to economic provisions of the Charter particularly lifting restrictions
on foreign ownership, the President said he wasn’t sure if such a proposal
would be the right move to push the country forward economically.
The chief executive said that even with the
current economic provisions of the Constitution, the Philippines was able to
post 6.4 percent GDP growth during the first quarter of the year despite the
global economic slowdown.
“Merong kasabihan ‘yung mga Amerikano, ‘if it
ain‘t broke, don’t fix it.’ So even with the present Constitution palagay ko we
are capable of reaching the economic heights, for one, and changing the
Constitution, changes the rules of the game which might even delay the
progress,” he said.
“So that has to be discussed really thoroughly.
What would be the basis? What is the proof that such a move will redound to the
benefit of our people?”
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said they’ll initiate the long-contemplated
amendments to the Constitution, particularly on the restrictions on foreign
ownership of land, utilities, media and other services.
Enrile and Belmonte said they are confident that
legislators from both houses of Congress would support Charter change at this
time. (as/5:56pm)
Country now more prepared to handle disasters,
says President Aquino
The country is now more prepared to handle
disasters after empowering local government units and communities throughout
the country, President Benigno S. Aquino III said during a disaster risk
reduction roadshow on Thursday.
The President attended the “Tapatan Roadshow” on
Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation spearheaded by the
Department of the Interior and Local government at SMX Convention Center in
Pasay City.
The national government continues to empower
LGUs, according to the President adding local disaster risk-reduction
management plan is already in place.
From April of this year, 92 percent of LGUs have
area-wide warning and alarm systems, 86 percent have their own evacuation
centers, and 78 percent have emergency response, rescue, and medical teams, he
said.
Also, the national government helped LGUs put up
their own disaster command and auxiliary command centers so they could easily
respond to disasters, the President said.
The field offices of Department of Social
Welfare and Development were given standby funds of up to P500,000 for every
office. This will enable LGUs to immediately provide relief goods whenever
disaster strikes, the chief executive said.
The national government will also recognize LGUs
that made successful preparations to make their communities safe, the President
said noting this is the essence of the seal of Disaster Preparedness of the
DILG.
“Tunay po na ang mga local government units ang
mga kamay at paa natin sa pamahalaan; kayo ang nagpapausad sa ating bayan sa
pagbagtas sa tuwid na daan tungo sa kaunlaran,” President Aquino said.
“Nawa’y ‘di na tayo lumihis pa sa direksyon ng
tapat, mabuti, at mapagmalasakit na pamamahala. Abot-kamay na po natin ang
Pilipinas na matagal na nating lahat inaasam. Kaya po, wala nang kailangan
hintayin kung hindi kumilos tayo tungo sa direksyong na gusto naman natin
talagang maparoonan,” he added.
DILG’s roadshow is aimed at raising awareness,
acceptance and participation on disaster risk reduction and management among
local governments and communities. (as/6:48pm)
Aquino declares July 13 National Day of Remembrance in honor of Dolphy
President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Thursday
Proclamation 433 declaring July 13, 2012 a National Day of Remembrance to honor
the memory of the late Rodolfo Vera Quizon, Sr or Dolphy.
“The President issued the proclamation in
recognition of how the nation deeply feels the passing of Dolphy. In the
proclamation, the President cited Dolphy as a man who will live on in
Philippine cultural history—and in the hearts of many of his countrymen,”
Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a statement on Thursday.
“President Aquino in his proclamation said that
every milestone that Dolphy marked in a career that spanned decades, raised the
standards of the entertainment industry, and strengthened our cultural
identity, giving innumerable aspirants an example to look up to.”
The President cited Dolphy as a philanthropist,
whose encouragement of charitable causes was driven by a deep-rooted genuine
generosity.
The President said in the proclamation that it
is appropriate to mark the memory of Quizon's contributions to Philippine
culture, arts, and entertainment even as the country grieves the loss of the
cultural icon.
On the Day of National Remembrance, the
President asked all Filipinos to reflect on the art and artistry, the personal
kindness and generosity, and deep patriotism of Quizon, and the manner he
exemplified in his works the positive values of the Filipino people, Valte
said.
Also, the President wants the country to make
the Day of Remembrance a celebration of the full life that Quizon, with utmost
generosity, shared with the country, she added.
“The President’s proclamation is in keeping with
the wishes expressed by the late Dolphy himself, and his family, that he be
remembered not with sadness, but with the same warmth and joy he brought to the
lives of millions throughout his career,” Valte said. (as/7:19pm)
