Philippines ready for any backlash from filing
of case against China: Palace
The government is prepared to face any backlash
following its filing of a case against China in an international court over the
dispute of the two countries in the West Philippine Sea, the Palace said on
Wednesday.
“We will protect our national interest, which
includes the economy,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary
Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a press briefing in Malacanang.
“It is the duty of government to promote the
welfare of its citizens and to ensure the orderly and stable growth of the
national economy,” he said.
On Chinese charge d’affaires Sun Xiangyang’s
statement that what the Philippines did “seriously damaged bilateral relations
with China”, Coloma quoted President Aquino, who said during his 2011 state
visit to China that “the totality of Philippine-People’s Republic of China
relations is not defined by the West Philippine Sea.”
“Sa pananaw po ng ating bansa, iyong
pakikipag-ugnayan natin sa People’s Republic of China ay mayroong kasaysayan na
batay din sa pakikipagkaibigan at pakikipagtulungan. Marami pong larangan na
maaaring maisulong o maitaguyod ang kooperasyon at ang pakikipagkaibigan ng
dalawang bansa.
“Kaya hindi po tayo nagsasabi na iyon lamang
usapin sa West Philippine Sea ang dapat maging batayan ng ating
pakikipag-ugnayan sa bansang People’s Republic of China,” he said.
Manila and Beijing are quarreling over the
clusters of island in the West Philippine Sea. Both are laying claim to the
Kalayan Group of Islands, Ayungin and Scarborough Shoals.
Last March 30, the Philippines filed a memorial
at the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) against China. PND
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Palace to let rule of law take its course on
PDAF case
The government will let the rule of law take its
course regarding the Office of the Ombudsman‘s decision to hold three senators
liable for plundering the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the
Palace said.
“When the 1987 Constitution was promulgated, the
Filipino people affirmed fidelity to the rule of law. We are a government of
laws, not of men. Let the rule of law take its course,” Presidential
Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press
briefing held in Malacañang on Wednesday.
The Ombudsman, in its April 1 ruling, charged
Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ramon Revilla Jr., and
businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles with plunder and graft over the P10-billion
pork barrel scam.
The office will give each of them five days to
file a Motion for Reconsideration after receiving the decision. It will then
evaluate and resolve the Motions within 60 days, and file the information with
the Sandiganbayan.
The Sandiganbayan will issue warrants of arrest
after evaluating the information and records of the cases, and a trial will be
held, Coloma said.
“‘Yung mga proseso pong ito ay pangangasiwaan ng
hukuman. Ang tungkulin po namin sa sangay ng ehekutibo ay sundin ang mga
direktiba ng hudikatura na patungkol sa proseso ng batas,” Coloma told
reporters when pressed for details on the possible detention of the senators.
He reiterated that the executive body’s
participation in this case is limited to prosecution, spearheaded by the
Department of Justice.
All other processes beyond it lie in the hands
of the judiciary, he said.
Coloma stressed that the government continues to
share the people’s fervent hopes on the final resolution of these cases but it
won’t encroach on independent constitutional bodies tasked to resolve this
matter.
“Mahalaga po rito ‘yung prinsipyong sinusunod
natin hinggil sa paggalang sa pagiging hiwalay na opisina ng Ombudsman at ng
hudikatura dahil ito po ang tinatadhana ng batas. Hindi dapat manghimasok ang
ehekutibo doon sa sakop ng kapangyarihan ng Ombudsman at doon sa hudikatura.
Malinaw po ‘yang nakasaad sa batas,” he said. PND (hdc)
Lacson says 85 percent of ‘Yolanda’
rehabilitation can be achieved by 2016
At least 85 to 90 percent of the rehabilitation
work in ‘Yolanda’-affected communities can be accomplished before President
Benigno S. Aquino III steps down from Malacañang in 2016.
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and
Recovery Panfilo Lacson made the statement Wednesday, nearly five months since
the super typhoon destroyed most parts of the Visayan region.
“I am very confident that we can accomplish this
job… by 2016,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s ‘Headstart’.
Lacson said he is set to present the ‘master
rehabilitation plan’ for the President’s approval this June and that its full
implementation may be expected by the end of the year.
He said permanent houses for displaced families
are already being built with the help of private sector sponsors, such as Gawad
Kalinga, Habitat Community, and the ABS-CBN Foundation.
He estimated that more than P20 billion has
poured in from private sector companies and multilateral agencies in aid of the
government’s rehabilitation program, but noted that the amount did not pass
through the administration.
Lacson said he no longer minds the criticisms
they get from the public every once in a while, and that they will just do
their job as best as they could to meet the 85 percent target.
“Mga 85 percent. I’ll be fully satisfied. Para
naman may maiwan doon sa next administration na tapusin nila… Basta’t sige lang
trabaho,” Lacson said. PND (hdc)
Philippines receives $1M donation from Indian
foundation
The Aquino administration on Wednesday received
a $1-million donation from a foundation from Southern India to help survivors
of the super typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.
The assistance came from a foundation called
“Embracing the World” and was turned over to the Yolanda-Haiyan Multi-Donor
Fund.
Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and
Recovery Secretary Panfilo Lacson received the check for $1 million from the
representatives of the foundation during a ceremony in Taguig City.
Also present at the ceremony were Philippine
Disaster Recovery Foundation President Rene Meily, who received the donation on
behalf of the Multi-Donor Fund.
Representing the Embracing the World Foundation
were Swami Ramakrishnananda, member of the Board of Directors, M.A. Center, and
Jay Misra of the Amrita University.
During the ceremony, Lacson said the foundation
will give another $1 Million through in-kind donations. “This is just the first
phase,” he said.
This additional donation is earmarked to help
re-train adults with vocational education along with scholarships for many
orphans in high school.
The Secretary expressed hope that more donations
would pour in as they are intended for a good purpose.
Inspired by Sri Mata Amritanandamayi, popularly
known as Amma (Mother), Swami Ramakrishnananda said they just wanted to help
the “suffering people” and the students in the typhoon-stricken areas. PND (co)
