Monday, 3 February 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, January 18, 2014

Parents who push children into child sex abuse can be held liable, Palace warns

Malacañang on Saturday warned that parents who push or allow their children into child sex can be prosecuted for doing so.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Department of Social Welfare and Development can also take actions to protect minors from such abuse.

"Paalala sa magulang, they can be prosecuted for doing that. may batas tayo riyan (A reminder to parents: they can be prosecuted for doing that)," Lacierda said on state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

He added it is "not acceptable" that parents rear their children to be a source of such income instead of shaping them to become upright citizens.

In the meantime, Lacierda said the appropriate agencies are expected to work closely together against cybersex, including coordinating with tourist establishments.

According to him, the tourism industry is a concern for the government because it has to protect minors while avoiding a negative connotation to the Department of Tourism's slogan that "it's more fun in the Philippines."

"Ang emphasis ni DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez na 'it's more fun in the Philippines,' it's fun in a positive way ... We don't want to be identified as a haven where tourists can engage in activities that are ... illegal and will affect our minors," he added.

Meanwhile, Lacierda said stakeholders may have to meet anew to thresh out concerns about requiring owners of prepaid SIM cards to register, amid reports the Philippine National Police appealed for the passage of such a measure.

The PNP had said such a measure would help it better address cybercrimes, including offenses against children.

He said that while law enforcement wants the move to curb crimes where perpetrators use disposable SIM cards, there could be privacy issues.

"It's a very ticklish issue that has to be discussed properly," he said. PND (jl)


Palace welcomes China's willingness to dialogue with Phl on fishery row

Malacañang on Saturday welcomed China's willingness to dialogue and meet halfway on fishing rules in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda pointed out it was the Philippines thwas had set the tone for discussion by seeking clarification from China on Beijing's fishery rules.

"Certainly maganda mag-dialogue. Tayo ang nauna (We made the first move), we asked them, we wanted to seek clarification," Lacierda said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He said Manila is not surprised that China is willing to dialogue on the matter, since the Philippines had sought clarification.

Besides, he said the Philippines is talking about international waters and its exclusive economic zone.

"We're precisely talking about internationalk waters, about our EEZ. That's why there was a need for clarification. It's not surprising they want to dialogue with us," he said.

Earlier, the Philippines had said it will defy the so-called rules, with government vessels escorting Philippine fishing boats to protect them if needed.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted in news reports as saying China is resolute in defending its sovereignty, though it will "put forth efforts to resolve the relevant issue through dialogue and consultations." PND (jl)


Palace: Government remains open to talks with communist rebels but will protect citizens from NPA attacks

Malacañang on Saturday maintained the government is open to peace talks with communist rebels, but will continue to protect citizens from the rebels' attacks.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the peace talks could not push through since the rebels had been making difficult demands.

"Insofar as pursuing peace negotiations, we've always been open.

This has been our statement for so long, pero may hinihingi silang condition na we cannot comply with because these were conditions which they themselves created (We've always been open but they have been seeking conditions we cannot comply with because these are conditions they themselves created)," Lacierda said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He cited the demand of the rebels to confirm the list of peace consultants covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG).

But he said the supposed list was in a floppy disk whose contents cannot be accessed.

In the meantime, he said that while the talks have yet to resume, the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to defend citizens from rebels' attacks.

"Habang ayaw nila lumapit sa negotiating table, may obligasyon ang estado, ang AFP, na ipagtanggol ang ating kababayan. The mandate of the AFP is to protect and defend our countrymen so yan pa rin ang ating gagawin (So long as the rebels don't want to return to the negotiating table, the state through the AFP has an obligation to defend our citizens. The mandate of the AFP is to protect and defend our countrymen so it will continue doing that)," he said. PND (jl)


Palace welcomes improved investment climate ranking of the Philippines

Malacañang on Saturday welcomed reports that the Philippines ranked second in a survey on improved investment climate, but added there still is room for improvement.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the government will continue to implement reforms that will improve the investment climate.

"That's certainly welcome news for us. We've engendered to create a culture for investment to be welcomed," Lacierda said on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

He was referring to the Philippines' showing in the survey by The Economist Corporate Network (ECN).

Such news is "certainly gtratifying" since the government has been taking steps to further improve the investment climate in the country, though it can still do more.

"We hope to become the first and we are doing a number of steps moving toward that. We started with open data, we're finding ways on how to improve our services to the public and improve the investment climate," he said.

He also noted Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo will do roadshow presentations in other countries to promote trade and investment for the Philippines.

Domingo is also going to Davos, Switzerland this week to represent the Philippines in the World Economic Forum, he added. PND (jl)


Palace announces Presidential appointments

Malacañang on Saturday announced appointments by President Benigno Aquino III to positions in government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda read the appointments in an interview on state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday morning.

The appointments were to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., Philippine National Oil Co. Renewables Corp., Tourism Promotions Board, the Department of Labor and Employment's Tripartite VOluntary Arbitration Advisory Council, and Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC-13).

They include: Members of the Board of Directors of PAGCOR (term ending June 30, 2014): Cristino Naguiat Jr., Jorge Sarmiento, Eugene Manalastas, Enriquito Nuguid and Jose Tanjuatco Member, Board of Directors, PNOC Renewables Corp. (term ending June 30, 2014): Rafael Iriarte,

Board of Directors member representing other tourism enterprises and the Tourism Promotions Board (term ends June 30, 2014): Edwin Vincent Ortiz

Member representing the labor sector, Tripartite Voluntary Arbitration Advisory Council of the DOLE's National Conciliation and Mediation Board (three-year term, replaces Atty. Augusto Villanueva): Ricardo Lapesura Jr.


Board of Directors, IBC-13 (term ends June 30, 2014): Jose Avellana Jr., Chairman; Manolito Cruz, President/CEO; Ernesto Maipid Jr., Reynaldo Castro, Jose Rafael Hernandez, Lauro Vizconde, Diosdado Marasigan, Jaime Alanis, (vice Eric Canoy) and Arturo Alejandrino (vice Ronald Ricketts), members. PND (jl)