President Aquino: Government won’t stop hunting
down perpetrators of media killings, other crimes
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) While it cannot
promise a total end to the killing of journalists, the government can promise
it will never stop in going after the perpetrators and making sure they pay for
their crimes, President Benigno Aquino III said Friday night.
In an interview with journalists, the President
said that as far as the Executive Branch is concerned, it will go after the
perpetrators of heinous crimes and build airtight cases against them to ensure
their conviction.
“Now we cannot promise that there will never be
any shooting (or) killing of anybody. What we can promise is we will never stop
in trying to come up with the suspects,” he said.
But he also said there is a need to come up with
a more holistic approach, such that people will learn to settle differences
civilly and not take the law into their own hands.
Still, he said people who commit crimes “have to
be brought before the bars of justice,” and the government has not stopped its
efforts toward this end.
The President also said he has told all the
people involved that filing charges should not be the measure of success as
much as the conviction of the defendant.
“I tell all the people involved, filing a charge
is not the measure of success. It is the conviction. Up to now we really want
conviction that will send the message you do a crime, you pay the price,” he
said.
In past weeks, three media practitioners were
shot dead while a radio reporter in Iloilo was wounded in an ambush. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Capture of NPA land mine
factory to prevent injuries to noncombatants
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Friday night said the capture of a land mine factory of the
communist New People’s Army by government forces in Agusan del Sur province in
Mindanao will prevent injuries to innocent civilians.
The President lauded the state forces (the
Eastern Mindanao Command) that discovered and captured the facility last
Wednesday (December 11), saying the Philippine government is a signatory to an
international agreement against the use of land mines.
“It has prevented injuries especially to
noncombatants,” he said, noting such land mines had wounded many innocent
civilians who should have been spared from the fighting.
He added the discovery of the factory is “a very
significant find,” with more than 100 assembled mines and components.
President Aquino said land mines had been very
destructive even to those not involved in fighting between government forces
and the NPAs.
But he also noted the National Democratic Front
insisted that there are “exemptions” where certain types of mines are legal.
“Bakit pa (kailangan ng distinctions) kung mines
are indiscriminate? Theoretically dapat ang combatants lang ang napapasok sa
sagupaan, pero itong mga landmines, in particular, marami nang napinsala na
hindi mga combatants (Why make a distinction when mines are indiscriminate? In
theory, only combatants should be involved in fighting. But these land mines
kill or injure people regardless of whether they are combatants or not),” he
said. PND (jl)
President Aquino thanks Communications Exec
Carandang for service, communications group to move on
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Friday evening thanked outgoing Presidential Communications
Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang for his services
for the last three-and-a-half years, even as he said the Palace’s
Communications Group will “move on” after Carandang’s departure.
Speaking with reporters covering his visit here,
the President said he appreciates Carandang’s taking a pay cut to serve in
government.
“I would like to thank Sec. Carandang for all
the help he has done,” he said.
He added Carandang as a Cabinet secretary does
not make much compared to his previous job as a news presenter.
The President earlier accepted Carandang’s
resignation. Carandang is leaving the Cabinet effective December 31.
But the President also said that once Carandang
leaves, he expects the Communications Group to move on.
“Then we move on. There is a mission that has to
be done,” he said. PND (jl)
President Aquino: Conscience clear on matter of
post-Yolanda work in Tacloban
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Friday night said his conscience is clear on the matter of
seeking "clarifications" from Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez on
what needed to be done immediately after super typhoon "Yolanda"
(Haiyan) devastated the city.
At an interview with media here, the President
said the government needed to clear the air on what the local government can do
and how the national government can help.
"My conscience is clear," he said,
adding the national government did the best it could under the circumstances.
He maintained the national government had to be
cautious on its actions because the local government is the primary responder,
and the national government provides support.
Also, the President said the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council law allowed him to remove the mayor if he
is "no longer able to function" but he did not do so.
"The bottom line is they are in charge,
they are the primary responders and if they are no longer able to discharge
their functions then it is national government’s responsibility to fill the
void," he said.
But he said that had he implemented that, the
government would have been criticized for persecuting one who is identified
with the Marcos family.
"So let’s bend over backwards... Nakiusap
lang tayo na ‘pwede ba natin ilagay ito… na ito specific na request mo para
hindi naman dumating ang panahon na sabihing hindi namin ginawa (So let's bend
over backwards. We asked the local government to make specific requests so we
would not be accused of not doing our jobs)," he said.
In the meantime, he said the government still
has many more affected areas other than Tacloban to attend to.
"The task really is daunting ... That’s why
we are saying it will take about P130 billion to put everybody at least in a
better situation than where they were," he said. PND (jl)
Government to let airlines decide to submit
flight plan to China
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) The Philippine
government will let airlines decide whether to submit flight plans to China for
its Air Defense Indemnification Zone (ADIZ), Transportation Secretary Joseph
Emilio Abaya said Friday evening.
Speaking at coffee with reporters covering
President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Japan, Abaya said the Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines met with the airlines, but did not direct them to
comply or not to comply.
“Upon receipt of that pronouncement by China,
CAAP had a session with the stakeholders, our airlines. They were not directed
to comply or not to comply,” Abaya said.
But he said logically, it could be surmised that
commercial airlines “on their own” would gladly comply.
He said once a country issues a notice to
airmen, “the natural course is to comply.”
Abaya also pointed out any aircraft would file
its flight plan with the needed details, and need only to add an additional
recipient of such a document.
“But on the government side, they were not
compelled to comply or were discouraged to, but merely left on their own to go
by existing policies,” he said. PND (jl)
Phl reaffirms support for prominent role of
women in society, government
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) The Philippines,
through President Benigno Aquino III, on Saturday reaffirmed its support for
giving women a prominent role in various aspects of society, including spurring
economic development.
In his statement at the session of the ASEAN
Japan Commemorative Summit here, the President said the Philippines has been
committed to fostering inclusiveness and openness in society.
“Just as we are determined to build
disaster-resilient communities, we too are committed to fostering inclusiveness
and openness in society. Part of this agenda includes enabling women to take a
more prominent role not only in rehabilitation efforts but also in spurring
economic development and further strengthening the ties of communities,” he
said.
He added the Philippines welcomes the
declaration of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to create a society where
women “shine.”
“This is a vision our administration shares as
we have constantly worked to empower women in our country, whether by
implementing initiatives in health and education, or by making certain that all
Filipinos have equal access to opportunities,” he said.
He added the Philippines looks forward to
chairing the 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March
2014.
Also, President Aquino looks forward to
deliberations on a draft resolution that Japan is to submit to the United
Nations “that presents the role of women in times of natural disasters.”
In the meantime, he said the Philippines
encourages everyone to “continue finding ways to foster gender equality and
women’s empowerment in the long term, which is fundamental to creating a truly
inclusive global community.” PND (jl)
Aquino calls for mechanism to combat Climate
Change in wake of 'Yolanda'
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) – To avoid a
repeat of the devastation brought by super typhoon "Yolanda"
(Haiyan), President Benigno Aquino III on Saturday called for an international
mechanism to combat climate change.
Speaking at the session of the ASEAN Japan
Commemorative Summit here, the President said the consequences of global
climate change do not discriminate between economic powerhouses and developing
states.
“It is incumbent upon all of us, especially for
the countries that have the capacity to contribute significantly in combating
climate change, to come up with an equitable mechanism that every nation, every
corporation and every individual will adhere to. I have personally witnessed
the degree of devastation brought by Haiyan. And it is my belief that we all
have a crucial role to play in ensuring my nation or any nation for this matter
does not once more suffer through a tragedy of this scale,” he said.
Yolanda tore through the Visayas and Southern
Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 6,000 dead in its wake.
While President Aquino thanked the ASEAN and
Japan leaders for the help they extended to those affected, he also lamented
less industrial nations such as the Philippines “bear a disproportionate amount
of suffering from the effects of climate change.”
“As we all know, our respective nations cannot
be caught in a vicious cycle of preparation, devastation and reconstruction.
Haiyan is a reminder to all of us that just as we are determined to safeguard
the interest and welfare of our peoples by improving our capacities to prepare
for and respond to natural calamities, we must also commit ourselves to
dismantling the conditions that enhance the effects of these disasters,” he
said.
Still, he said the solidarity that ASEAN and
Japan showed for Filipinos in the wake of Yolanda “reflects your people’s
sincere and genuine regard for the welfare of my country.”
“The support of the international community,
particularly of Japan and our brothers in ASEAN, tells us the Philippines is
not alone in confronting the many different concerns of our time, one of which
is the need to effectively manage and prepare for natural calamities,” he said.
On the other hand, the President stressed the
need for connectivity, not just for trade but also for saving lives and
ensuring a reliable and consistent flow of information, goods and persons.
He thanked Japan and the Philippines’ fellow
ASEAN members for allowing the use of their aircraft, ships and other vessels
to deliver goods and humanitarian teams to affected areas.
Also, he said the Philippines is hopeful for the
continued support of Japan in implementing maritime infrastructure connectivity
projects under the master plan for ASEAN connectivity.
Meanwhile, the President said the Philippines
looks forward to the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015
here in Japan.
He said this gathering will provide an opportunity
to develop concrete steps towards not only building more resilient communities
but also in addressing climate change and natural disasters. PND (jl)
Aquino airs concern over Air Defense
Identification Zone of China, renews pitch for rules-based approach to
territorial disputes
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Saturday aired concern over China’s recent establishment of an
Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), along with recent claims by Chinese
officials that such zones may be replicated.
In his statement at the session of the ASEAN
Japan Commemorative Summit here, the President also made a new call for a
peaceful and rules-based approach to resolving territorial disputes, including
those with China.
“The Philippines’ call for peace and stability
in our region is amplified by recent developments in the East China Sea, on the
establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone, which raises concerns over
international civil aviation, safety and security,” he said.
“We all should view with greater concern the
recent pronouncements of Chinese officials that China will establish other
ADIZs in due course,” he added.
In the Philippines’ case, President Aquino said
the country is pursuing a two-track approach to disputes in the sea
“known-by-many-names.”
Such an approach is both peaceful and
rules-based, and the Philippines is advocating the conclusion of the legally
binding code of conduct as soon as possible, he added.
“To resolve disputes, we are pursuing arbitration.
The Philippines views arbitration as an internationally recognized forum for
the peaceful settlement of disputes. In addition to clarifying entitlements and
the corresponding obligations, arbitration promotes the rule of law and
redounds to the benefit of all parties,” he said.
He also said that as Japan and ASEAN move to
deepen their partnership, they must keep in mind they can maximize
opportunities for growth but only in a “wider regional international community
in which all nations adhere to the rule of law and work to promote peace and
stability.”
“It is therefore incumbent upon all of us to
remain committed to the principles of international law and to continue to
engage each other in a positive and productive manner as we tread the straight
path to mutual prosperity and advancement in the Asia Pacific,” he said. PND
(jl)
President's Social Fund explored to alleviate
effects of power rate adjustment
TOKYO, Japan (via Smart/PLDT) President Benigno
Aquino III on Friday evening said the government is considering tapping the
President's Social Fund (PSF) for hastening the repair of power facilities
damaged by super typhoon "Yolanda" (Haiyan).
Interviewed by media here, the President said
this is a potential alternative to the option involving Malampaya funds, which
the Supreme Court ruled may not be used for repairing or restoring power
facilities.
"Mukhang pwede sa PSF pero hindi ako
sigurado kung kakayanin ang buong amount (The PSF looks like an option but I am
not sure if it can cover the whole amount)," he said.
He said more than 200 transmission towers were
damaged after Yolanda tore through Visayas and Southern Luzon last month.
The President said the Supreme Court had issued
a ruling indicating Malampaya funds are for energy development, and energy
distribution may not be covered by it.
"Now, I’m still having the lawyers look if
it is at all possible to use Malampaya for the purpose of re-establishing all
of these distribution lines. Pero so far their initial advice, and medyo
extensive din ang study nila, mukhang latest Supreme Court definition does not
allow it (But based on initial advice, the high court's latest ruling may not
allow it)," he said.
He said the high court's ruling indicated
Malampaya funds can be used mainly for exploration and development, not distribution.
Also, he said the Palace's legal minds are
studying if the PSF can be tapped to restore damaged infrastructure brought
about by a calamity. PND (jl)
