UNDP Administrator Helen Clark pays courtesy
call on President Aquino
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Administrator Helen Clark paid a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino
III on Thursday in Malacanan Palace.
Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister, is in
the country to strengthen UNDP’s partnership and cooperation with the
Philippine government, as well as to witness the signing of the Comprehensive
Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
During a press briefing in Malacanang,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
said President Aquino and UNDP Administrator Clark would discuss issues of
mutual interests, such as the UN’s participation on the rehabilitation of areas
hit by Typhoon Yolanda.
“Si Helen Clark po ang tagapangulo o pinuno ng
United Nations Development Programme at malaki po ang itinutulong sa atin ng
United Nations through its various agencies, kasama na po ‘yung UNDP at ang
Commission on Humanitarian Assistance na noon pang dumating ang super typhoon
Yolanda (Haiyan) ay nandito na sa ating bansa, kaya ipagpapatuloy po ang
pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating bansa sa United Nations,” Coloma said.
“Inaasahan po natin na tatalakayin ng Pangulong
Aquino at ni Chairperson Helen Clark ‘yung mga paksa na mayroong mutual
interest ang ating bansa at ang United Nations, kung paano pa mapapalakas ‘yung
partisipasyon ng United Nations sa pagbabagong tatag ng mga Yolanda-affected
areas, at ‘yun ding kabuuan ng ating development plan dahil ito ay UNDP,” the
secretary added.
Secretary Coloma said the President and the
UNDP’s administrator might also discuss the progress in the Philippine
Development Plan, the government’s development framework that seeks to address poverty,
create employment opportunities and achieve inclusive growth.
“Siguro pwede na ring matalakay diyan ‘yung mga
updates doon sa ating Philippine Development Plan dahil big picture ang concern
nitong UNDP, ‘yung mas malaking larawan ng pangmatagalang kaunlaran ng buong
bansang Pilipinas,” he said.
On Wednesday, UNDP Administrator Clark visited
typhoon-hit Tacloban to see the ongoing recovery efforts there. PND (co)
Palace challenges ex-NBI deputies to go to court
Malacañang challenged the two dismissed National
Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to file a case against those they think had ties
with pork barrel scam suspect Janet Lim-Napoles instead of diverting the issue.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. is referring to dismissed NBI deputy directors
Ruel Lasala and Reynaldo Esmeralda, who he said must have concrete evidences
rather than speculations.
“Siguro po mas mainam kung meron talaga silang
kongkretong pinanghahawakan sa halip na magsalaysay ng maraming kuwento.
Maghain na lamang sila ng kaso kung meron talaga silang pinanghahawakan,” said
Coloma in a press briefing.
Coloma said that the two dismissed NBI deputy
directors are just redirecting the issue.
“Hindi dapat malihis and ating atensyon dulot ng
mga haka-haka at espekulasyon,” the Palace Official said.
Recently, Lasala presented a closed-circuit
television footage showing that Napoles visited NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas in
his office last year. PND (ag)
Malaysian Prime Minister pays courtesy call to
President Aquino prior to signing of Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro
President Benigno S. Aquino III welcomed
Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak who called on
the President prior to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro on Thursday in Malacanang.
The Prime Minister arrived in Malacanang at
around 3:50 p.m. and was accorded foyer honors before proceeding to the
reception hall to sign the guest book.
He then was ushered to the Music Room on
Malacanang to meet with President Aquino.
After the meeting which lasted some 30 minutes,
the President and the Prime Minister then proceeded to the Kalayaan grounds to
witness the historic signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro
that is seen to bring peace and prosperity to Mindanao. PND (rck)
Malaysian PM Najib thanks Philippines for
support in the continuing search for missing flight MH370
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Thursday
thanked the Philippines for its assistance in the ongoing search efforts for
the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 carrying 239 people.
Prime Minister Najib was invited by President
Benigno S. Aquino III to witness the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on
the Bangsamoro held at the Malacanan Palace grounds.
Malaysia has been the facilitator of peace
negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front since 2001.
Prime Minister Najib said Malaysia is grateful
for the support of its neighboring countries, including the Philippines, in the
search for the missing Flight MH370.
“Our belief in cooperation across borders has
been strengthened by tragedy,” the Malaysian premier said in his speech during
the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro on
Thursday.
“The loss of 239 people on board Flight MH370
has been devastating. Malaysia is grateful for the support of our friends and
neighbors, including the Philippines, in the continuing search effort. At this
difficult time, we draw strength from the compassionate response of our fellow
nations,” he added.
The Prime Minister has earlier confirmed that
the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12
crew, “ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” Flight MH370, bound for Beijing,
disappeared on March 8. PND (co)
Aquino leads signing of peace pact with MILF,
says he will aggressively push basic law
President Benigno S. Aquino III led Thursday the
signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) aimed at ending
decades-long conflict that claimed the lives of hundreds of people in Muslim
Mindanao.
The President and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Abdul Razak witnessed the signing of agreement at the Kalayaan grounds in
Malacanang, Thursday.
In his message prior to the signing, the
President said he will aggressively push for a just and equitable Bangsamoro
Basic Law after the signing of the said agreement.
“My administration will go all out to forge a
principled consensus for enduring security and prosperity; I expect the
deliberations in Congress to be characterized by a sincere desire to improve on
the Bangsamoro Basic Law—and not by self-interest that only aims to perpetuate
an untenable status quo,” the President said in his speech.
The President said that currently, the
Bangsamoro Transition Commission is working hard to draft an equitable,
practical, and empowering, Bangsamoro Basic Law that will serve the interests
of the entire nation.
Their current mission is to draft and pass this
law so that it will be presented to the people for ratification in a
plebiscite, he said. The goal is to have the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in
place by 2015 to serve as the interim Bangsamoro government until the elections
in 2016.
At the same time, the President called on
everyone to widen the avenues for trust and positive engagement and cast aside
past prejudices and contribute to the atmosphere of optimism to sustain the
momentum for the development of Mindanao.
It should be the paramount concern of all people
of goodwill to do their part, replacing cynicism with hope, and sorrow with
harmony, peace, and prosperity, the chief executive said.
The country must solve the huge imbalance
between Muslim Mindanao and the rest of the country to start regional
development.
“If we are to truly address the root causes of
conflict, we must close the gap between the region and the rest of Filipino
society,” the President said.
Among the signatories to the agreement were
government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, MILF chief negotiator
Mohagher Iqbal and Malaysian facilitator Tengku Ghafar. PND (as)
Aquino expresses sympathy with Malaysian counterpart
owing to airline tragedy
President Benigno S. Aquino III personally
empathized with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak whose government is
currently in the middle of providing closure to the tragedy caused by the
ill-fated Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370.
Prime Minister Razak was in Malacañang Thursday
to grace the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)
between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front.
“Your Excellency, the Filipino people and I are
filled with sincere appreciation for your presence here today and that of your
wife Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor—especially since we know full well that
you and your government have the heavy responsibility of attending to the
disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370,” President Aquino said during
a merienda cena hosted in honor of his Malaysian counterpart and other
dignitaries after the historic event.
“Such a tragedy understandably led to an outpouring
of emotion—of uncertainty, anxiety, and anger—and you, as head of government,
were thrust into a position where you were asked to immediately answer
questions to which the full answers were not available. I empathize with you
fully.”
The Philippines was among the many countries
that immediately came to Malaysia’s rescue by offering its military assets
after the mysterious disappearance of Flight MH370. President Aquino reiterated
this gesture.
“The sadness of this event weighs heavily on all
people of goodwill around the world, and in this spirit, the Filipino people
and myself reiterate our offer of any and all forms of assistance that we can
possibly render,” he said, adding that “it is especially during the most
challenging times when brother nations should stand in support for one
another.”
Flight MH370 left Kuala Lumpur, carrying 239
passengers and crew, and was supposed to land in Beijing when it vanished in
midflight on March 8. After weeks of intense search, Prime Minister Razak
confirmed in a recent statement that “ended in the southern Indian Ocean.” Its
wreckage, however, is yet to be recovered by authorities. PND (hdc)
Government determined to protect gains of
Mindanao peace process, says President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed to protect
the gains of the Mindanao peace agreement and warned those planning to derail
peace in the region that they will suffer the consequences of their actions.
“May this also stand as a warning to those who
wish to derail our path to a final, lasting peace—to those who wish to sow
divisiveness for self-interest, and to those who continue to wield arms to
pursue their own agendas: So many people have suffered for so long; so many of
our stakeholders have worked so hard to arrive at this point,” the President
said during his message prior to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on
the Bangsamoro in Malacanang on Thursday.
“I will not let peace be snatched from my people
again. Not now, when we have already undertaken the most difficult and most
significant steps to achieve it. Those who want to test the resolve of the
state will be met with a firm response based on righteousness and justice—as we
demonstrated in Zamboanga City,” he added.
The Aquino administration foiled an attack by
the members of the Moro National Liberation Front faction by sending a huge
number of military personnel in Zamboanga last year.
Changing the status quo is daunting, he said,
noting that he is determined to spearhead a long-term transformation of Mindanao
rather than carrying out stop-gap solutions.
The President also thanked those who worked for
the successful conclusion of the peace pact signing such as Prime Minister
Najib Abdul Razak of Malaysia, the leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front, government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and Peace adviser
Teresita Deles.
The President also thanked the members of the
International Monitoring Team—Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Norway, the
European Union and Libya, for creating a peaceful environment conducive to the
negotiations.
He also thanked the International Contact Group
reiterating the country’s gratitude to Japan, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia
and Turkey, and the NGO-members of the ICG.
He expressed his gratitude to the members of the
Independent Commission on Policing such as Canada, Australia, and Japan. The
role played by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was also of great help,
he said.
The President also mentioned the assistance of
the United States through USAID; Japan through the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives
for Reconstruction and Development (J-BIRD); Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Sweden, and the European Union through their contributions to the Mindanao
Trust Fund; Australia and New Zealand for the Facility for Advisory Support for
Transition Capacities (FASTRAC).
“We also thank the World Bank, the United
Nations Development Programme, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and
again the European Union for the assistance that you have extended to us,” he
said.
“You all have the enduring gratitude of the
Filipino people. We will never forget the support you have given, and continue
to give us,” the President added. PND (as)
President Aquino hopes to go on a vacation with
Prime Minister Najib Razak in Mindanao
Hoping that Mindanao would finally achieve true
and lasting peace, President Benigno Aquino III expressed his willingness to
take a vacation with Prime Minister Najib Razak in Mindanao.
In his speech during the historic signing of the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in Malacanang Thursday, President
Aquino said he would imagine himself enjoying a beautiful sunset with Prime
Minister Razak and other officials who played a major role in sealing a peace
pact with the biggest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines.
“If our goals as a nation are fulfilled, my
brothers, Al Haj Murad, Mohagher Iqbal, and myself can all look forward to that
one day in the not-so-distant future, when we will all sit back and enjoy a
quiet sunset in Mindanao—perhaps with the company of friends such as Prime
Minister Najib Razak,” the President said.
“That day, we will look back to the 27th of
March 2014, and allow ourselves a little pride. For now, more work needs to be
done, and I look forward to building a peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive
Bangsamoro with all of you,” he added.
During a merienda cena hosted by the President
in honor of the visiting Prime Minister, His Excellency Najib Razak responded
to the President’s statement saying: “I was very touched in your speech when
you said you hope that one day we can be in that part of the world, watching
the sunset, having a dream together.”
“And I will allow you to do other things as
well. And provided you will allow me to do what I want to do as well,” he
further quipped eliciting laughter from the attendees of the ceremonial toast.
“But above all, we will sit down as brothers.
And together with, of course, Mr. Murad Ibrahim and all the others who played a
part in this peace process. So our tribute to all of you and may that one day
come into being,” Razak ended.
Prime Minister Razak took a short visit to the
Philippines to witness the signing of the peace agreement between the
Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Malaysia is the
third party facilitator in the peace talks and also the head of the
International Monitoring Team. PND (jb)
Mindanao peace agreement could serve as model to
others, says Prime Minister Najib
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said
the recently signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) could serve
as a model to others wanting to end conflict through peaceful dialogue.
In his message during a toast in Malacanang
after the signing of the CAB, Prime Minister Najib said the beautiful Palace
setting for the signing is fitting that 40 years of conflict has now come to an
end and begins a new era that ushers progress and justice in the Bangsamoro.
“And what you have aspired for, which you could
not get through violence, through conflict, you will get through peace and by
working together,” Prime Minister Najib said.
“And this is a very significant signal to others
as well in other parts of the world. We see so much conflict on a daily basis
like there is no end to it and people want to win everything, they want to take
all. They do not want to compromise. They do not want to seek solutions.”
The Philippine government and MILF have shown
others the way that peace can be achieved by sitting together and extending
hands of friendship and by developing trust and confidence.
But developing trust and confidence cannot be
done overnight, he said, noting that parties must have patience to build them
block by block.
The Malaysian leader also said that his country
is glad that it became part of the journey of the Philippine government and the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after it played an instrumental role in
bridging the gap between both sides.
Prime Minister Najib also praised President
Aquino for his personal leadership that eventually led to the signing of the
final peace pact. PND (as)
President Aquino thanks Malaysian PM for
continued support to peace efforts in Mindanao
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Thursday thanked
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak for his country’s continued support to the
peace initiatives between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front (MILF).
“Your Excellency, it is especially during the
most challenging times when brother nations should stand in support for one
another. The Philippines saw this especially in the way that Malaysia, under
your leadership, has supported our aspiration to build a just and lasting
peace,” the President said in his message during the merienda cena he hosted
for the Malaysian Prime Minister.
With the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement
on the Bangsamoro on Thursday, President Aquino said, peace is indeed within
reach.
President Aquino invited Prime Minister Najib to
attend the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.
The Prime Minister flew to Manila despite attending to the disappearance of
Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
Malaysia has been the facilitator of peace
negotiations between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front since 2001, and has hosted the talks in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia also leads
the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao.
“This evening, we are gathered in shared
achievement and optimism. I believe I speak not only for my government, but for
all Filipinos in recognizing the tremendous personal initiative, risk, and
leadership displayed by Your Excellency, which helped us to secure an inclusive
and peaceful future for our countrymen in the Bangsamoro,” the President said.
“I myself wish to extend my personal gratitude
to you, as it has always been clear that you view Filipinos not as adversaries,
but as brothers—as partners to whom you have readily offered assistance. There
is no doubt in my mind that ours is a genuine brotherhood—one made more
meaningful by our shared commitment to advance peace in the Bangsamoro, a peace
that opens up the possibility for fostering greater stability, security, and
prosperity for our respective peoples, and in particular for my countrymen in
the Bangsamoro,” he added.
President Aquino thanked Prime Minister Najib
for his presence at the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the
Bangsamoro, saying the Philippines will never forget Malaysia’s contributions
to peace efforts in Mindanao.
“Your Excellency’s presence here marks the
culmination of a significant chapter in the peace process, and consequently, in
our national narrative. In the Philippines, we have a concept called ‘utang na
loob,’ which translates to ‘debt of gratitude,’” the President said.
“Rest assured: as we move towards the
realization of our aspirations for Mindanao, we will never forget the
significance of your contributions. With this comes our pledge to build on this
success—one that is truly shared by Filipinos and all other peoples of goodwill
across the world—and our promise to continue standing by the Malaysian people
and strengthen the ties that bind our nations,” he added. PND (co)
