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)
