Thursday 21 August 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Palace confirms retired General Bautista’s appointment as Executive Director of security cluster

The Palace has confirmed the appointment of retired General Emmanuel Bautista as Executive Director of the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace.

Bautista will have the rank of Undersecretary and will be reporting directly to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr., who leads the security cluster, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during Tuesday’s press briefing.

The security cluster is composed of the respective secretaries of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, and Department of Justice, as well as the National Security Adviser and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

Based on Executive Order No. 43, Series of 2011, the security cluster is tasked to ensure the preservation of national sovereignty and the rule of law, and focus on the protection and promotion of human rights, and the pursuit of a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.

Bautista was the 54th Commanding General of the Philippine Army before he assumed the post of Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on January 20, 2013.

He is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Dimalupig Class of 1981 and earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines in 1985. PND (ag)


Police, communities work together to fight criminality, says Palace

Malacañang made an assurance on Wednesday that the government continues to work to protect the public against crimes.

A recent spate of crimes, such as robberies, assault and the killing and rape of a 23-year old woman in Bulacan, have raised concerns about the people's security.

In a press briefing at the Palace, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said one of the strategies of the police is to work with communities.

"Patuloy ang pagkilos ng ating pamahalaan para tiyakin ang kaligtasan at kapanatagan ng ating mga mamamayan. Isa sa mga mahahalagang elemento dito ay ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng kapulisan sa mga komunidad," Coloma told reporters.

He said it is a proven strategy that when the police and the people work together, they can prevent crimes.

When the citizens and the police work together, authorities can easily monitor the movement of people, he explained, adding that the people must always be vigilant to catch criminals.

Another government strategy is the systematic registration of firearms to address the proliferation of loose guns that often end up in the hands of criminals, the Communications Secretary said.

"Bahagi din diyan ang pagbibigay ng sapat na kagamitan at modernong equipment sa ating kapulisan na magagamit nila sa investigation, crime detection, at crime prevention," he said.

Fixing the country's criminal justice system is also a major thrust in fighting criminality, Coloma said, adding that a lengthy trial that leads to the acquittal of suspects gives criminals more confidence in violating the law.

"At isa rin ‘yang dahilan kung bakit mayroon tayong security, peace and justice cluster, dahil nga magkakaugnay ang mga suliraning kinakaharap ng iba’t ibang kagawaran," he added.

The national and local governments are also working together to fight crime in the country, Coloma noted. PND (as)


Additional trade routes to decongest traffic in Manila Port Area, Palace says

The opening of additional “trade routes” for cargo trucks aims to decongest traffic in Manila’s seaport, a Palace official said on Tuesday.

“Meron na silang tinatawag ngayon na ‘trade routes’ na dinadaanan ng mga cargo trucks para mapabilis ang paglipat ng mga cargo mula sa pantalan patungo sa iba’t ibang mga sentro ng kalakal,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said during the daily press briefing.

Secretary Coloma said the Philippine Ports Authority is anticipating the increase in cargo shipments in view of the “-ber months” leading up to the Christmas season.

“Iyong pong patungong Timog, ‘yung para sa mga establisyimento sa CALABARZON (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon); ‘yung patungo naman sa Hilaga, ‘yung sa Central Luzon. At nagtutulungan lahat ng mga adjoining ports katulad din ‘nung sa Batangas at sa Subic para ma-address itong sitwasyon na ito sa Port of Manila,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coloma said that PPA General Manager Juan Sta. Ana has confirmed that his assistant general manager David Simon had been replaced by Arman de Guzman.


Simon has reached the mandatory retirement age, he said. PND (ag)