Aquino declares May 28 as special non-working
day in Imus, Cavite in celebration of the anniversary of the battle of Alapan
President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared May
28 which falls on a Tuesday as a special (non-working) day in the city of Imus
in the province of Cavite in celebration of the anniversary of the Battle of
Alapan.
The Chief Executive issued the declaration
through Proclamation No. 581 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr.
on May 20 to give the people of Imus the full opportunity to celebrate and
participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.
The Philippine Revolutionary Army led by General
Emilio Aguinaldo defeated the Spanish forces in the Battle of Alapan on May 28,
1898. It was also the first time when the Philippine National Flag was hoisted
at Teatro Caviteno in Cavite Nuevo (now Cavite City).
President Diosdado Macapagal first proclaimed
May 28 as "Flag Day" in 1965. This day commemorates the date when the
Philippine flag, brought home by General Aguinaldo, was first unfurled.
On February 12, 1998, President Fidel Ramos
signed Republic Act 8491, known as the "Flag and Heraldic Code of the
Philippines," prescribing the code of the National flag, anthem, motto,
coat-of-arms and other heraldic items and devices of the Philippines. Under
Section 26 of this code, the official celebration of "Flag Days" was
prescribed from May 28 to June 12. PND (js)
Malacañang says Aquino government to publish
information on Philippine Flag on the Official Gazette in commemoration of Flag
Days
The Aquino government will publish an
infographic regarding the Philippine flag on the Official Gazette in
commemoration of Flag Days, a Palace official said on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said in a statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday
that an infographic on the elements of the Philippine flag will be published on
the Official Gazette (www.gov.ph) as part of its portal functions.
"Tomorrow, we mark the 115th anniversary of
the first time the Philippine flag — in its original form, as sewn by Filipino
expatriates in Hong Kong — was used as the revolutionary standard during the
Battle of Alapan, Cavite," Valte said.
"It also marks the beginning of Flag Days,
mandated by Republic Act 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines,
that designates May 28 (anniversary of the Battle of Alapan) to June 12
(Independence Day) every year as a period when the display of the Philippine
flag — the Sun and Stars — in homes, government buildings, and private
establishments is encouraged," she noted.
In commemoration of this annual observance,
Valte said the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning
Office (PCDSPO) is publishing a series of features on the development of the
flag, the country’s coat of arms, as well as other historical flags of the
Philippines on the Presidential Museum and Library website.
"We enjoin our countrymen to learn more
about our flags and take pride in this unifying symbol of our nationhood and
our collective aspirations," Valte said.
Valte also announced that the PCDSPO has
published a comprehensive historical briefer on the storied Mansion House in
Baguio in celebration of May as National Heritage Month.
"From its beginnings as a summer retreat
for American Governors-General and venue for diplomatic activities, the Mansion
House now serves as the official residence of the Chief Executive in the
country’s summer capital," Valte said.
"Integrating memoirs and official documents
from the American period through World War II and the contemporary era, the
briefer celebrates the legacy of one of Baguio’s most prominent landmarks as a contribution
to the yearlong commemoration of Philippine heritage and history, spearheaded
by the National Commission on Culture and the Arts," she added. PND (js)
Malacañang says government welcomes decision of
Moro Islamic Liberation Front to form political party
The Aquino administration welcomed the decision
of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to form a political party that will
run in future elections, a Palace official said on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
issued the statement during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday
following reports that the MILF led by chairman Al Hadj Murad Ebrahim, will
form a political party to field candidates in future elections.
"The government welcomes the political
plans of the MILF for 2016. As you all know the road map towards the
establishment of the Bangsamoro ends in 2016 and, understandably, the MILF
needs to prepare for that to make the necessary preparations," Valte said.
Valte said the Government of the Philippines
(GPH) and the MILF are determined to finish during the term of President Aquino
the implementation of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the new
autonomous political entity that would replace the 23-year old Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
"Well, work on the three annexes are
continuing and the panel will provide updates to the media as soon as they are
available. Allow us to say at this point that both parties are determined to
complete the implementation of the BFA or the Framework Agreement on the
Bangsamoro and its annexes within the term of the President so as not to leave
any unfinished business for the next administration," Valte said.
The GPH and the MILF are now working to complete
the annexes on Wealth-sharing, Power-sharing and Normalization, to complete the
comprehensive peace pact for the establishment of the Bangsamoro.
In December last year, the President issued
Executive Order No. 120 creating a Transition Commission that will draft the
proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law provided for in the Framework Agreement signed by
the government and the MILF on October 15, 2012.
The EO will provide a mechanism for authentic
democratic collaboration in the crafting of a proposed law where the affected
people themselves are actively involved.
Among the commission’s major work is to
coordinate with Congress and other government agencies to craft the basic law
that will pave the way for a Bangsamoro region in Mindanao.
Last February 11, President Benigno S. Aquino
III led the formal launching of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro project aimed at
accelerating the transition of conflict-affected communities into productive
areas in Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao, while the government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF) iron out the final peace agreement with the Muslim
secessionists.
"We’ve seen this in the socio-economic
initiatives that we’ve launched the Sajahatra, and I would defer to Secretary
Deles and to the members of the panel if any sort of assistance towards their
political plans have been discussed among themselves," Valte said. PND
(js)
Malacañang says Aquino administration extending
aid and assistance to families of seven soldiers who died in Patikul, Sulu
The Aquino administration is extending aid and
assistance to the families of the seven soldiers who died in an attack
perpetrated by armed group in Patikul, Sulu last Saturday, a Palace official
said on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
issued the statement during a press briefing in Malacanang following reports
that seven soldiers who belonged to the 3rd Marine Brigade were killed in a
clash with suspected bandits in Barangay Tugas, Patikul town at 6:45 a.m.
Saturday.
Valte said the families of the slain soldiers
will receive pension, burial and financial assistance, among others.
"Ang importante sa kanila ‘yung pension
dahil killed in the line of duty po sila. So makaka-receive po, kung may asawa
na po sila, iyong kanilang may-bahay na naiwan, makukuha ang kanilang pension;
at kung wala naman ay sa magulang mapupunta," Valte said.
"Pangalawa, meron din po silang educational
assistance na matatanggap. Kung meron pong naiwang mga anak, makatatanggap ng
scholarship sa kolehiyo," she noted.
The government condemned the attack perpetrated
by armed men against government troops, Valte said.
Valte also said authorities are now conducting
investigations to identify the perpetrators.
The government also condemned the attack
perpetrated by armed men against the PNP's elite Special Action Force that
resulted in the death of seven policemen in Allacapan, Cagayan province on
Monday morning.
"I don’t want to comment first on the
identity, primarily, because we are still getting reports on the incident.
However, what I can confirm at this point, is that meron nga po tayong seven na
fatalities at meron po tayong pito na wounded," she said.
Valte said the PNP is currently conducting
pursuit operations against the perpetrators.
Reports said that a truck carrying members of
the PNP-SAF hit the landmine while travelling in Barangay Cataratan at 8:30
a.m. After the land mine exploded, armed men fired at the PNP-SAF members.
"Without divulging the operational details
of what the actions are, what I can say at this point, is that they are
heightening their operations. Pinapaigting ho ang paghabol sa mga may sala sa
mga pangyayaring ito," she said. PND (js)
Palace says Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources is helping Filipino fishermen affected by maritime dispute in West
Philippine Sea
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
(BFAR) is helping Filipino fishermen who were affected by the maritime disputes
in the West Philippine Sea, a Palace official said on Monday.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the BFAR had already
deployed aggregate fishing devices called "payao" in the waters off
western Luzon to help local fishermen who were affected by the maritime disputes
in the Scarborough Shoal or Scarborough Reef also known as Panatag Shoals and
Bajo de Masinloc.
"Iyong mga payao po na tumutulong doon sa
mga mangingisda natin ay nandun pa para hindi na sila lumayo mula sa
pampang," Valte said.
The payao, each composed of a metallic float
--an “anchor” made of stone, rope and leaf fronds-- will enable small-scale
fishermen catch big fish without having to go to the Scarborough Reef.
Valte said the BFAR had also encouraged local
fishermen to find alternative fishing grounds.
"Hindi naman ibig sabihin na wala na pong
ibang lugar," she said.
The Aquino administration remains steadfast in
using diplomatic solutions in resolving the maritime disputes in the West
Philippine Sea, Valte said.
She said the government opted not to respond to
provocative statements and provocative actions that would tend to escalate the
situation.
"We have consistently reiterated that ‘what
is ours, remains ours’, but there is a deliberate choice to avoid or to not
respond to any provocative actions. We’ve decided to take it to the proper
forum. We’ve chosen to take it to the arbitral tribunal and we are pursuing
that particular action," Valte said.
The government will adhere to a rules-based
approach in finding a peaceful solution to the maritime disputes, including the
Ayungin Shoal, Valte noted.
"I will have to defer to the DFA on that.
As far as I know, they have already filed the diplomatic protest," she
said.
According to news reports, the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest to
complain China’s encroachment into the Philippines’ established maritime
borders, with the entry of at least three government ships around the Ayungin
Shoal. PND (js)
