President Aquino leads various religious groups
during ‘2013 Care for Philippines Prayer Assembly’ in Pasig City
President Benigno S. Aquino III joined people of
different religious groups, including Christians, during the "2013 Care
for Philippines Prayer Assembly at the Global Discipleship Congress in Pasig
City on Friday.
The Chief Executive was the guest of honor and
speaker during the event held at the Christ Commission Fellowship Auditorium,
Frontera Verde Drive, Ortigas Avenue corner C-5, Pasig City.
The event gathered Filipinos and foreigners of
different religious organizations to pray for the country and President Aquino
and the country's leaders.
After delivering his message, the President,
himself, prayed for the country and the entire Filipino people. He was
subsequently prayed over by intercessors led by Care for Philippines Movement
(K4Phil) founder and president Bishop Jonel Milan and Christ Commission
Fellowship (CCF) founder and president Dr. Peter Tan-Chi.
In partnership with the CCF, the K4Phil Movement
organized the prayer assembly that was attended by delegates from various
religious groups here and other countries.
The program included prayer intentions for
President Aquino, the leaders of different government bureaucracies and
departments, legislators, members of the judiciary, law enforcers, media organizations,
non-government organizations, busines sector, teachers, parents and children
and youths, as well as leaders and members of the religious organizations.
Bishop Milan called on the entire Filipino
nation to join them in praying for the President and his Cabinet and the
society.
"The prayer focus are their good health,
protection, wisdom so they can advance righteousness in the land. The President
and other leaders need our prayers and encouragement for a sustained
transformation of our country," Bishop Milan said.
"This call is for everyone who truly cares
for the country, young and old, church and schools, individuals and families
among others. This prayer event is another attempt to raise not intercessors
but prime movers for this call. We are thanking the Lord for blessing our
President & and his Cabinet with health, protection, wisdom and
righteousness in pursuing good and restraining evil in their governance, he
said.
Since 2002, K4Phil intercessors and members are
praying daily for our leaders, especially the executives who are capable of
bringing immediate change.
In 2012, the prayer assembly was held at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on the occasion of World Vision's 55th
Anniversary. Around 12,000 intercessors from different churches and World
Vision's partners attended the prayer rally.
In 2011, around 11,000 intercessors from various
religious groups held a prayer assembly at the World Trade Center in Pasay
City. PND (js)
President Aquino reiterates his administration’s
commitment to protect 10 million Filipinos working and residing in other
countries
President Benigno S. Aquino III reiterated on
Friday his administration's commitment to protect the 10 million Filipinos
residing or working in other countries.
In his message during the "2013 Care for
Philippines Prayer Assembly at the Global Discipleship Congress" held at
the Christ Commission Fellowship Auditorium, Frontera Verde Drive, Ortigas
Avenue corner C-5, Pasig City on Friday, the Chief Executive said the welfare
of the Filipinos abroad remains one of his top concerns.
"So my friends, being President of this
country is not exactly the easiest job in the world. We have about 10 million
Filipinos elsewhere. Chances are if there’s an incident that happens anywhere
in the world, there would be a Filipino directly involved," the President
said.
"And let me give you some examples of the
problem, early on in this administration, there was a flare up in the Korean
Peninsula, which is unfortunately turning into a regular occurrence," he
said.
The government is mandated to ensure the safety
and protection of 50,000 Filipinos in South Korea and nine (9) nationals in
North Korea, the President noted.
"I had to ask “why do we have people in
North Korea?” and I was told: “Sir they are part of various United Nation
offices and missions. Now the problem is, we have an embassy of 23 people in
South Korea. (With) the Filipinos in North Korea, we have to deal with them
through our Beijing Embassy," he said.
After the South Korean warship sunk in April
2010, the President said his administration had to address the plight of the
50,000 Filipinos there despite of the government's limited resources.
President Aquino said the administration
continues to hurdle the challenges to be able to improve the lives of the
Filipinos here and abroad.
"You might think that I’m complaining about
the job, but I guess, I just really want to impart to you, in the lightest way
possible, that there are difficult burdens in this particular job especially
when you don’t want to be just taking your turn in the merry-go-round that
leads nowhere, but when you want to lead the people towards the rightful place
in the sun and be part of transformative phase," he said.
The President also noted the need to seek God's
intervention to lead the country to achieve progress.
He, likewise, cited the contribution of the
K4Phil and the CCF for their support to the government's campaign to provide
the people jobs and better public services.
"I agree prayer is indeed a very, very,
very efficient weapon and tool, and really the source of our strength," he
said.
During the event, the President prayed and
thanked God for giving him and his administration of steadfast friends and
supporters, including the K4Phil and CCF, to help transform the country into a
progressive nation. PND (js)
Aquino receives updates on the case on PSG
members involved in QC heist
President Benigno S. Aquino III is receiving
regular updates from the Presidential Security Group in the case of two of its
member who reportedly figured in a robbery incident in Quezon City this week.
PSG Commander Colonel Ramon Mateo Dizon said in
a press briefing in Malacanang on Friday that the PSG is cooperating with the
Quezon City Police Department in its investigation adding that the PSG
leadership will not tolerate wrongdoing among its members.
However, Dizon said it’s too early to say
whether the two PSG members are really involved in the heist because the
investigation is still ongoing.
Although there is an alleged involvement in
criminality of two of its members, Dizon clarified that it is not the
organization that committed the mistake, and only the two people who belong to
the organization.
"We’re not tolerating it, we’re cooperating
with the PNP. We’re having it investigated. We’re supporting them. So, I guess,
that’s all we can do because I cannot go and investigate instead of QCPD,"
Dizon said.
Since the investigation is still ongoing, Dizon
said the soldiers' rights must also be protected and the PSG has sent its
lawyer to assist them in whatever legal battle they will face in the future.
Asked if the PSG will carry out the new policy
to discipline its ranks, Dizon said it is not necessary because the men and
women of the PSG are performing their duties effectively.
"Now, if there are one or two of us who are
violating any rules or regulations, then they’re made answerable for it. They
have to answer for that," he said.
"We’ve already instructed our commanders
to, again, remind our people that, here in PSG, we are even stricter than other
units," he added.
Dizon said there are certain rules for PSG
members and anyone violating its general orders or SOPs may be reprimanded or
demoted.
Sgt. Marvin Gaton and Cpl. Bobby Ates allegedly
robbed an establishment in Quezon City together with other three suspects. They
are currently at the custody of the Quezon City Police Department. PND (as)
