PCOO asking for documents on sale of Solar
Entertainment shares in RPN-9
The Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) has asked RPN-9 to submit all documents on the sale of Solar
Entertainment Corporation's shares in the network.
"Recently, our Office was informed that
Solar Entertainment Corporation (Solar) sold its total shareholdings at RPN-9
to the group of former Ambassador Antonio Cabangon Chua. Records show that
Solar owns 34.16 percent of RPN-9," PCOO Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr.
said in a statement issued Friday.
The government, through the Presidential Commission
on Good Government (PCGG), owns 20.80 percent of RPN-9.
Far East Managers and Investors, Inc. (FEMII),
the group of former Ambassador Roberto S. Benedicto, owns 32 percent, and
private individual stockholders own the remaining 13.04 percent.
RPN-9 is one of the agencies under the
supervision of the PCOO, pursuant to Executive Order No. 4, s. 2010.
The group of Cabangon Chua is set to take over
management control of the sequestered broadcasting firm RPN-9, following a deal
to buy the stake held by some key shareholders.
Cabangon Chua also has interests in print and
radio media assets, as well as in real estate, banking, insurance, and car
dealership. PND (as)
Government will not waver in West Philippine Sea
claims, Palace official says
The Philippine government will continue to push
for its claim in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and will use all
diplomatic ways to resolve its dispute with China, a Palace official said.
"The Philippine government will not cease
in filing and availing of the legal and diplomatic means in resolving this
dispute. We have filed a diplomatic protest," Presidential Spokesperson
Edwin Lacierda said in an interview in Malacañang on Friday.
"It is not a question of whether they will
heed the diplomatic protest. What is important is that the Philippine
government continues to assert its right against its neighbors," Secretary
Lacierda said, noting that the Philippines has availed of diplomatic and
arbitration channels in resolving its dispute with China.
Asked if the country is open to bilateral
negotiations with China, he said, “It makes no sense for us to negotiate
bilaterally if the claimants to those disputed seas or waters would comprise
more than two claimant-countries.”
He said the government is very cognizant of the
situation in the West Philippine Sea and it will take measures to ensure the
safety of Filipinos in the area.
Lacierda however said that while the dispute
with China remains unresolved, the Philippines is still interested in dealing
with the Asian giant, especially in terms of trade. PND (as)
President Aquino to review small portion of
draft Bangsamoro Law
The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) peace panels have agreed on more than 70 percent of the draft
Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was submitted to President Aquino on Wednesday
evening, a Palace official has said.
"The bulk of it has already been agreed
upon by both panels. More than 70 percent have been agreed upon, so we are
looking at a few provisions that would still need the President’s
observation," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in an
interview in Malacañang on Friday.
Secretary Lacierda said the President has seen
the draft and is going through it.
“Hopefully, we will be able to see kung ano ang
magiging reaksyon ng ating Pangulo at kung meron pa ba siyang gagawing mga
aksyon,” he said, noting that the President certainly knows the importance of
the agreement, which will be submitted to Congress within this month.
Asked if he thinks the President's review of the
remaining 20 to 30 percent would delay the submission of the draft law to
Congress, Lacierda said it would not.
He added that there has been close collaboration
between the peace panels and also between Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa,
Jr. and Mohagher Iqbal of the MILF.
Both parties recognize the importance of the
initiative and the MILF has expressed optimism over the completion of the
remaining segments of the draft law, Lacierda said.
Once the draft law is approved by Congress, a
plebiscite will be held and a transition authority will be created in
preparation for the conduct of an election in the Bangsamoro in 2016.
President Aquino has vowed to push for the
conduct of a fair and democratic poll in the region before he leaves office in
2016. PND (as)
