President Aquino leads mass oath-taking of
military officers
President Benigno S. Aquino III presided over
the mass oath-taking of newly promoted generals and flag officers of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a ceremony in Malacanang on Tuesday.
The Chief Executive was joined by AFP Chief
General Emmanuel Bautista and Department of National Defense Undersecretary
Honorio Azcueta when he swore in the military officers at the Rizal Hall in
Malacanang Palace.
Leading the roster of the newly-promoted
officers were Army Chief Hernando Iriberri, Air Force Chief Jeffrey Delgado,
and Central Command Commanding General John Bonafos, all promoted to the rank
of Lieutenant General.
Also inducted into office were Vice Admiral
Jesus Millan, Rear Admiral Alexander Lopez, Rear Admiral Romeo Santiago Nebres,
Commodore Enrico Juan Talon, Commodore Jorge Amba, Commodore Virgilio Garcia,
Commodore Rafael Mariano, and Rear Admiral Antonio Habulan, Jr.
Promoted to the rank of Major General were
Virgilio Hernandez, Felicito Virgilio Trinidad, Jr., Rey Leonardo Guerrero,
Silvino Alcabasa, Jr., Lysander Suerte, Oscar Lactao, Remigio Valdez, and
Emeraldo Magnaye.
Promoted to the rank of Brigadier General were
Rafael Valencia, Martin Pinto, Wilson Leyva, Alexis Tamondong, Carlito Galvez,
Jr., Eduardo Davalan, Dario Quindoza, Inocencio Mayangao, Elmer Pabale, Jose
Tanjuan, Jr., Angelito de Leon, Joselito Kakilala, Domingo Palisoc, Jr., Jose
Johriel Cenabre, Robert Theodore Romero, Adrien Quidlat, Virgilio Garcia, and
Benjamin Espiritu.
Following the ceremony, the generals and flag
officers, along with their respective families, had a photo opportunity with
President Aquino. PND (jb)
President Aquino instructs DFA to ensure safety
of Filipinos in Thailand
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure the safety of Filipinos in
Thailand, following the declaration of martial law by the Thai Army.
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during a press conference on Tuesday that
the DFA has raised the Alert Level in Thailand from 1 to 2.
“Under Alert Level 2, Filipinos in Bangkok and
the surrounding areas are instructed to restrict non-essential movements, avoid
public places, and prepare for possible evacuation when necessary,” said
Coloma.
The Thai Army declared martial law effective 3
a.m. on Tuesday, saying the step is “to restore peace and order for people from
all sides”.
News reports said tension began last December
when then Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra dissolved the lower house of
parliament. Anti-government protests in Bangkok followed, with demonstrators
blockading parts of the city.
Yingluck called a snap general election in
February but protesters disrupted the polls and the election was later
annulled.
A court removed Yingluck from office earlier
this month for abuse of power. On Monday, acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong
Boonsongpaisan insisted his government would not resign, resisting pressure from
protesters. PND (ag)
Palace: West Philippine Sea claimants must agree
on a COC
Malacanang on Tuesday reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to pursue a peaceful resolution to the West Philippine
Sea dispute but also urged claimant countries to work on a binding Code of
Conduct (COC) to ensure regional stability.
"The government remains firm in its
position on observing the rule of law and finding a peaceful settlement of
disputes in the West Philippine Sea," Presidential Communications
Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement on the
reclamation project being done by China at the Mabini Reef.
The Mabini Reef is part of the Kalayaan Island
Group, which is part of Philippine territory but is also being claimed by China
and Vietnam.
Coloma said the President affirms the
government’s position, as reflected in the Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) agreed by the ASEAN and China in 2002.
The declaration calls on parties to exercise
self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate
disputes and affect regional peace and stability.
These include refraining from inhabiting the
uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features.
"This is reflective of the joint statement
issued by the Foreign Ministers of all the member countries of the ASEAN during
the Plenary Session of the ASEAN Summit in Myanmar last week," Coloma
added.
"The President believes that it is
imperative to pursue an expeditious conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the
South China Sea to reduce tensions and create an environment of mutual trust
and confidence that is conducive to the attainment of regional peace and
stability."
The government reported an extensive reclamation
by China at the Mabini Reef. It said that China has been building an airstrip
or a military base.
These actions are considered destabilizing and
in violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China
Sea and international law, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The Philippines filed a protest at the
international arbitral tribunal last month, but it was rejected by China. PND
(as)
Government monitoring power supply on hourly
basis, Palace official says
The Department of Energy (DOE) has been closely
watching the power supply situation in the country, especially as demand
increases in the waning days of summer and as the country hosts the World
Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia this week.
In a press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday,
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
said the DOE is watching the supply of electricity on an hourly basis so it
could immediately act on any contingency, such as what happened last week when
power-generating plants shut down, resulting in rotational brownouts in some
areas of Metro Manila.
"Si Kalihim Jericho Petilla, habang siya ay
nasa Gabinete, ay nagbibigay ng continuing updates kay Pangulo hinggil sa power
situation," Coloma said.
Petilla has been reporting to the President any
rotational brownout and has called on consumers who have their own generating
facilities to use them to ease demand for energy in Luzon.
"Sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay masinsing
tinututukan ng Department of Energy ang sitwasyon para makatugon at para
maibsan ang maaaring epekto nito na maaaring magpahirap sa mga mamamayan,"
he said.
Asked if the government is doing more
preparations because of the WEF, Coloma said the effort is not only for the WEF
but also for the general population. PND (as)
Government to go after Filipino hackers who
defaced Chinese websites: Palace
The Palace said Tuesday that Filipino hackers
responsible for attacking Chinese government and commercial websites will face
the law.
“We have laws on maintenance of integrity of
(internet) sites, in cyberspace, and we need to remind all concerned that such
laws are being enforced in our country, respective of views that may be held by
people who are resorting to those actions. We will continue to abide by our
laws,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma,
Jr. said in a press briefing.
A group of Filipino hackers, who called
themselves “Anonymous Philippines,” has claimed responsibility for the hacking
of 195 Chinese government and commercial websites late Monday.
In the defaced Chinese websites, the hackers
posted a message: "China's alleged claim on maritime territories and
oppressive poaching can no longer be tolerated. Stand against Oppression! It's
time to fight back! Say no to China's bullying!"
The hackers were referring to Chinese fishermen
caught poaching near the Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal) off Palawan in the
West Philippine Sea, an area that is also being claimed by China.
Philippine Maritime Police arrested the 11
Chinese fishermen and impounded their vessel, which was carrying 400 sea
turtles. Nine of the fishermen have been charged in court while the other two
were considered minors and were deported back to China. PND (ag)
