President Aquino praises Cardinal Quevedo’s
contribution to Central Mindanao peace, development
(COTABATO CITY) President Benigno S. Aquino III
attended Tuesday the thanksgiving mass in honor of Orlando Cardinal Quevedo
recognizing his contribution to Central Mindanao’s peace and development.
In his message, the President particularly
expressed his gratitude to the cardinal for his support to the Mindanao peace
process that is expected to be signed late this month.
The President said Cardinal Quevedo became an
inspiration for the Christian faith and for those doing volunteer works. He was
admired by the people when he fought the dictatorship of former strongman
Ferdinand Marcos, he noted.
Even after several decades of unwavering
service, he has not changed his views and continues to persuade others to join
and contribute for the benefit of society, the President said.
Cardinal Quevedo has given voice to the
oppressed, rallied behind them and asked people to fight abuses, he added.
The administration is lucky to have peace
advocates like Cardinal Quevedo that support the Bagngsamoro peace process, the
President said. Quevedo advocated the benefits of forging a peace deal between
the government and the MILF knowing the long-term effects of the peace pact.
”Kaisa natin siya sa paniniwalang sa tapat at
mapayapang dayalogo, mawawakasan ang dekadekadang karahasan na umangkin sa
maraming buhay at naging mitsa ng paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan,” the
President said in his message.
“Sa pagtaas ng antas ng pamumuhay sa mga
komunidad, sa pagsusulong ng mapayapang paglalahad ng damdamin at interes at
pagpapatupad ng batas upang matiyak ang seguridad, tiwala tayong ang taumbayan
na mismo ang sisigurong matatamasa natin ang malawakang kaunlaran.”
“Sinasalamin po ng mga gawain at inisyatiba ni
Cardinal Quevedo na iisang direksyon lang ang ating tinatahak—ang higit na
paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan. Lumalakas po ang ating loob na ipagpatuloy
ang ang agenda ng malawakang reporma dahil sa mga tulad po ninyo,” he added.
With the reforms being initiated in government,
the President said the country has started to reap its benefits. And with the
unity and cooperation among Filipinos, the nation could overcome whatever
challenges that lie ahead.
Cardinal Quevedo, who was born in Laoag, Ilocos
Norte on March 11, 1939, was ordained in October 1980 in Kidapawan, Cotabato.
He initially started his primary education in Ilocos Norte before transferring
to South Cotabato in the 1950s until he graduated from high school.
He was named cardinal by Pope Francis on January
14, 2014 and was elevated as cardinal on February 22 this year. PND (as)
Malacanang says Phl can not accept China’s
nine-dash line concept
Malacanang said on Wednesday that it cannot
accept the People’s Republic of China’s nine-dash line concept, which seeks to
demarcate Philippine territory in the West Philippine sea to within 200 meters
from shore.
In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said diplomacy and a rules-based approach is still
the way to go when dealing with this international matter.
“The Nine-dash line is something we can not
accept. Its as simple as that. That’s why we filed an arbitration case before
the International Tribunal on the Law of the Seas (ITLOS),” Lacierda said.
“(Diplomacy) is a process that we will continue
to exercise. It’s putting on record the—our protest and putting on record their
offense as we see it, as the Philippine government sees it. And so, again, this
emphasizes the need for a rules-based approach to the situation in South China
Sea,” he added.
Lacierda pointed out that the nine-dash line
concept does not conform to international law.
“So the long and short of our claim is that the
nine-dash line does not—is not consistent with international law, is not
consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” Lacierda
said. PND (rck)
Malacanang committed to go after housing scam
perpetrators
The Palace said it is committed to prosecuting
those involved in the multibillion-peso housing scam allegedly perpetrated by
detained businessman Delfin Lee during the previous administration.
I certainly know that this government is
committed to prosecuting those involved in the housing scam. Let us know who
this person is baka puwede pang isama sa kaso,” Presidential spokesman Edwin
Lacierda said in press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
With regards to the planned inquiry of the House
of Representative on the housing scam and the possible participation of some
officials from the previous administration, Lacierda said it’s up to the House
leadership to conduct the investigation.
“It’s within their jurisdiction to choose, if
they choose to do so. I remember there was already a Senate investigation on
the housing issue. If the House would prefer to also conduct their own
investigation, of course, it is their prerogative to do so.”
The House’s majority bloc received an authority
to conduct a probe on the multibillion-peso housing scam.
Lee is the owner of Globe Asiatique Holdings
Inc., which allegedly used “ghost buyers” to get close to P7 billion in loans
from the Pag-Ibig Fund from 2008 to 2011. PND (as)
