Sunday 22 September 2013

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, September 17, 2013

President Aquino declares September 30 as special non-working day in Masbate City, Masbate in celebration of its 13th Cityhood Anniversary

President Benigno S. Aquino III has declared September 30, which falls on a Monday, as a special (non-working) day in Masbate City in the province of Masbate in celebration of its 13th Cityhood Anniversary.

The Chief Executive issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 647 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on August 22 to give the people of Masbate the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

On August 16, 2000, the municipality of Masbate was converted into a component city by virtue of Republic Act 8807. In a plebiscite held later that year, MasbateƱos voted 7,800-3,200 in favor of city hood.

On September 30, 2000, the Commission on Elections Regional Office in Region 5 officially proclaimed Masbate as a component city. PND (js)


Aquino orders all department secretaries and heads of agencies, bureaus or offices of the government in the City of Zamboanga and adjoining provinces to ensure the delivery of government services

President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed all department secretaries and heads of agencies, bureaus or offices of the government in the city of Zamboanga and adjoining provinces to ensure the delivery of government services amid the on-going violent attacks by rogue and armed groups in the city.

The Chief Executive issued the directive through Memorandum Circular No. 54 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on September 12.

The President underscored the need to ensure that government agencies in the city of Zamboanga and adjoining provinces are functioning and that government services are being delivered despite the on-going violent attacks by rogue and armed groups in the area.

He ordered all department secretaries and heads of agencies, bureaus or offices of the government with offices/branches located in the city of Zamboanga and adjoining provinces to assess the normal functioning of their respective regional/provincial/local offices/branches and ensure the delivery of government services in said localities.

In the event that the said offices/branches are unable to operate and function normally, President Aquino instructed the officials to deal and collaborate with the local government units (LGU) concerned for the continuous delivery of government services.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately. PND (js)


Palace defends President Aquino’s presence in Zamboanga City

Malacanang defended the presence of President Benigno S. Aquino III in Zamboanga City, saying the Chief Executive, who has chosen to remain in the province where an ongoing standoff between the government troops and members of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari faction has been raging for over a week, bolsters the morale of the security forces as well as of the people.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda cited the “big role” the President portrays as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

“The President is there. He is the Commander-in-Chief. There are military options being exercised there (Zamboanga City) right now. He gives support; he gives directions so he plays a big role,” Lacierda said.

“He has inspired the armed forces there, the police forces and also the city government and so it shows the confidence that he also has in the armed forces and also the people of Zamboanga City appreciate the presence of the President during this time of crisis,” he added.

When asked on what happens to the affairs of government while the President is away, Lacierda said President Aquino remains in constant contact with his alter egos in the various agencies who give him updates on the state of government.

“The business of government runs even if he is in Zamboanga City, as he is in touch with Cabinet Secretaries,” Lacierda said. PND (rck)


Palace says Indonesia commits to helping Philippines resolve Zamboanga standoff

The Indonesian government has agreed to help the Philippines in resolving the Zamboanga standoff by opening the lines of communication between the government and the Moro National Liberation (MNLF) Misuari faction, the Palace said on Tuesday.

Indonesia has facilitated the review of the implementation of the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, quoting a statement from Peace adviser Teresita Deles, said it is the Philippine government, which seeks the help of Indonesia in ending the Zamboanga incident by facilitating communication between the government and the MNLF.

Lacierda said the Indonesian government gave instructions to its embassy in Manila on its role.

“Embassy officials explained to us that this meant that their lines would be open to receive and transmit messages, from one side to the other, that they did not see it to be within their role to proactively make a call to either side,” Lacierda said quoting Deles.

“We relayed to Indonesia last Tuesday and to the entire OIC Peace Committee last Thursday our request that they could help in any way in resolving the incident. None of the aide countries present offered a proposal.”

Indonesia has not received any information from the MNLF about its interest to end the standoff, Lacierda said.

Last week, Indonesia received a message from the Misuari group about travel arrangements to attend the meeting in Yogjakarta until they asked for postponement of the meeting last Thursday.

President Benigno S. Aquino III remains in Zamboanga City being the country’s command-in-chief. Lacierda said the President continues to give support and directions as well as boost the morale of soldiers fighting the MNLF.

The President is confident that the armed forces could soon end the crisis. The people of Zamboanga appreciate his presence there, Lacierda said. PND (as)


Aquino approves P2-million reward for capture of Davantes killers

President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed the Office of the Executive Secretary for the release of a P2-million reward money for anybody who could provide information for the capture of the killers of the young advertising account executive who was brutally murdered last week in Cavite.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) previously announced a P500,000 reward offer for information about the killing.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda confirmed Tuesday in a press briefing in Malacanang the President’s instruction about the P2-million reward offer.

Asked if the President was disappointed by the pace of the police investigation that’s why he ordered a P2 million bounty, Lacierda said it shows the resolve of the President to identify the killers of 25-years old Kae Davantes.

“It’s not a question of disappointment. I suppose it’s a question of inducing people to help identify the killers of— or the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” he said.

Davantes’s body was found by police in Silang, Cavite, on September 7. Police said they believed Davantes died of strangulation and stab to the neck. Her cell phone and other possessions were not recovered. The car she was driving was recovered in Las Pinas one week later.

Davantes was last seen with her friends in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig a night before the killing.

Anyone who could provide information may contact the Philippine National Police SMS hotline:09178475757; or “I-text mo kay Tsip”: 09178475757; text PNP 2920; PNP-NOC: 09192821142; trunk line:723-0401 to 20.

Informants could also give their information to the PNP through the social media. The PNP’s Twitter account is ireport_krimen; and its Facebook account is facebook.com/pnp.pio. They could also report to the nearest police station. PND (as)


Aquino sees fruitful outcome of the 34th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Brunei

President Benigno S. Aquino III expressed hope for a fruitful outcome of the 34th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Brunei Darussalam this September, acknowledging the commitment of respective legislators from ASEAN countries to devise frameworks that will shape the future of the nations.

"The ASEAN remains a dynamic bloc in this globalized milieu, with our ties of amity, mutual respect, and cooperation serving as the building blocks for our collective success," the Chief Executive said in his message to the AIPA.

Brunei Darussalam is hosting the 34th AIPA which has for its theme "The Role of AIPA in Realizing the ASEAN Community."

The assembly, attended by AIPA parliament members and observer delegations, opened on Sept. 17. The summit will end on Sept. 23.

"May this assembly advance our partnership, in accord with our community’s vision for the coming decade, and bring into alignment our roadmaps for development," President Aquino said.

"Let this revisiting of strategies and policy choices likewise give way to a strengthened agenda for growth and empowerment among our representatives, that we may continue to institutionalize reforms and break ground on an even more competitive and progressive Southeast Asia," the President said.

President Aquino said the Philippines, for its part, redoubles the efforts of its campaign to nourish the seeds of good governance and sustain the country’s transformed outlook.

"We are now a nation breaking free from the shackles of corruption, with a leveled playing field for business, and a country poised to realize its potential. With the support from our partners in other branches of government and in the private sphere, we are optimistic that we will achieve our targets and join our region in accelerating towards greater peace and prosperity," he said.

He said the commitment to justice will guide the legislators in devising frameworks that will shape the future of the ASEAN nations.

According to AIPA, the issues to be discussed during the assembly include supporting the ASEAN Political Security Community, fostering the growth and sustainable development of small and medium enterprises, nurturing the role of young people in the future challenges of ASEAN and advocating better maternal and child health in the regional bloc.

The AIPA members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. PND (js)