Opening of school generally peaceful, orderly,
says Palace
Monday’s school opening was generally peaceful
and orderly, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday
deployed 18,500 personnel for more than 7,400 police assistance desks
established nationwide to assist and maintain order during the opening of
classes, Lacierda said in a press briefing.
“This is over and above the regular mobile and
foot patrols that will be likewise focused on the different schools and
campuses. The PNP had earlier set the operational guidelines and procedures to
ensure a safe, secure, and peaceful opening of classes up to the succeeding
weeks,” he added.
An estimated 26 million students from both
public and private schools returned to school on Monday. PND (ag)
Review of Bangsamoro Law is to ensure it
complies with comprehensive agreement, Palace says
Malacanang is reviewing the Bangsamoro Basic Law
(BBL) to ensure that it complies with the provisions of the Comprehensive
Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), a Palace official has said.
“We are making sure that this will stand
judicial scrutiny. To a large extent, we want to make sure that when it goes to
Congress, it will be as smooth as possible,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda said during Monday’s press briefing.
He said the BBL is still being evaluated and
studied by the Office of the President and the Chief Presidential Legal
Counsel.
Asked why it is taking too long to transmit the
BBL to Congress for approval, Lacierda answered, “It is the evaluation of the
bill itself. They have to go through each and every provision just to be sure
that it is in sync with the agreement.”
He said Malacanang is making sure that the BBL
can stand on its own, should there be a challenge to its constitutionality.
“We can assure (Bangsamoro Transition
Commission) Chair Mohagher Iqbal that the Bangsamoro Basic bill will reflect
the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and its annexes,” Lacierda added.
The CAB was signed in Malacanang last March 27,
ending the decades-long conflict that has claimed the lives of hundreds of
people in Mindanao. PND (ag)
Director of Taiwan-based Foundation calls on
President Aquino
A ranking official of the Taiwan-based nonprofit
organization, Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, paid a courtesy
call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang Palace on Monday
afternoon.
Stephen Huang, the foundation’s director for
global coordination, met with President Aquino at the Palace’s Music Room.
Also present during the courtesy call were Tzu
Chi Foundation Philippines vice president and chief executive officer Alfredo
Li, Honorary Board of Commissioners head Dr. Francis Chua, Social Welfare and
Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Presidential Assistant for
Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson, and Secretary to the Cabinet Jose
Rene Almendras.
The Tzu Chi Foundation promotes awareness of
world issues and environmental protection. PND (ag)
