Malacanang says President Aquino still has full
confidence in AFP Chief of Staff
Malcanang said on Monday that Armed Forces of
the Philippines Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista still retains the full
confidence of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President “saw no problem” with the
leadership of the AFP and cited the response of security forces to dangerous
situations, particularly the ongoing Zamboanga City standoff where government
troops are engaging members of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari
faction.
Lacierda also said the AFP was responsible for
the immediate cessation of new hostilities in Midsayap, North Cotabato after a
platoon from Alpha Company encountered an undetermined number of Bangsamoro
Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) this morning.
“Nakita po natin ang tugon ng Armed Forces of
the Philippines. Handa po sila tumugon sa Zamboanga City at ngayon handa po
sila tumugon, at in fact tumigil na ang fire fight sa Cotabato laban sa BIFF,”
Lacierda said.
“There is no problem in so far as the leadership
of AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista. The President has full
confidence in him,” he added.
According to Lacierda, troops conducting combat
clearing operations in Sitio Mirasol, Barangay Prolomugen, Midsayap, North
Cotabato at around 8:35 this morning, encountered an undetermined number of
BIFFs under an unknown leader. PND (rck)
National Electrification personnel already in
Batanes to restore electricity
The National Electrification Administration
(NEA) has already sent its personnel to Batanes to restore electricity in areas
affected by Typhoon Odette, a Palace official said.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Monday that NEA personnel
are now in Batanes to restore power the soonest possible time in the areas
affected by the typhoon.
Typhoon Odette (international codename Usagi)
slammed into the Philippines’ northernmost islands on Saturday, cutting
communication and power lines, triggering landslides and damaging rice fields
and crops, reports said.
Lacierda said the government is speeding up its
relief efforts to immediately respond to the needs of the communities in the
affected areas.
"A C-130 plane, this morning, flew to
Batanes together with Congresswoman Dina Abad and some NEA officials, NEA
personnel on board. She brought relief goods to Batanes and NEA personnel are
there to restore power in Batanes," Lacierda said.
"Also some telcos (telecommunications) have
also sent their personnel there to provide charging stations for their cell
phones dahil nga walang kuryente doon," he said.
The Aquino government, through the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Department of Social
Welfare and Development, continues to monitor the situation and extend
assistance to all affected communities in Batanes, Subic etc. Lacierda said.
PND (js)
