President Aquino arrives in Indonesia for the 7th
Bali Democracy Forum
(BALI, Indonesia) President Benigno S. Aquino III
arrived here Thursday evening to take part in the 7th Bali Democracy Forum, an
annual intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia
Pacific region.
President Aquino and his official delegation left
Manila on Thursday afternoon on board chartered Philippine Airlines Flight PR
001. The President's plane touched down at Ngurah Rai International Airport at
around 8:30 p.m.
The President was welcomed at the airport by
Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Rosario Aguinaldo, Defense and Armed
Forces Attaché Raniel Ramiro, and officials from the Indonesian government.
President Aquino's official delegation include
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras,
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, and Presidential Management Staff
Chief Julia Abad.
On Friday, the President will join his fellow
leaders in the Asia-Pacific region at the Bali Democracy Forum that will be
held at the Bali International Convention Center.
President Aquino, co-chair of this year's forum
with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is also scheduled to
deliver his remarks during the said event.
The forum aims to promote and foster regional and
international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through
dialogue-based sharing of experiences and best practices that adhere to the
principles of equality, mutual respect and understanding.
Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and the
Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, and delegates from 51
participating countries, as well as 68 international observers, are also
attending the annual event.
Also on Friday, President Aquino will receive the
“Bintang Republik Indonesia Adipurna” (Star of the Republic of Indonesia)
award, Indonesia's highest state medal of honor. PND (co)
Indonesian leader welcomes President Aquino, other
Asia-Pacific leaders
(BALI, Indonesia) President Benigno S. Aquino III
and fellow leaders in the Asia-Pacific region were welcomed by Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the opening session of the 7th Bali
Democracy Forum here Friday morning.
President Aquino was greeted by President
Yudhoyono upon his arrival at the Bali International Convention Center for the
opening of this year’s forum.
President Yudhoyono officially opened the 7th Bali
Democracy Forum, which carries the theme “Evolving Regional Democratic
Architecture: The Challenges of Political Development, Public Participation and
Socio-Economic Progress in the 21st Century.”
In his opening statement, the Indonesian leader
welcomed all delegates of the forum, saying that their participation in the
event reflects their “enduring dedication to the cause of democracy.”
“First of all, on behalf of the government and the
people of Indonesia, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to all of you to the
beautiful islands of Bali. Your continuous and active participation in this
forum reflects your enduring dedication to the cause of promoting democracy,”
he said.
President Yudhoyono also thanked President Aquino
for his “readiness” to co-chair this year's Bali Democracy Forum.
Also attending the event are Timor Leste Prime
Minister Xanana Gusmao and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, as
well as delegates from 51 participating countries, and 68 international
observers. PND (co)
President Aquino pays tribute to Indonesia’s
Yudhoyono
(BALI, Indonesia) President Benigno S. Aquino III
on Friday paid tribute to outgoing Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono, whom he considers a “big brother,” during the 7th Bali Democracy
Forum here.
President Aquino said Indonesia has worked with
the Philippines to address shared challenges, such as securing maritime
borders, combating terrorism, and raising awareness on climate change.
“Indonesia has indeed been a true friend to my
people,” the Chief Executive, co-chair of this year’s Bali Democracy Forum with
President Yudhoyono, said in his remarks.
President Aquino acknowledged the role of
Indonesia in the Philippines’ efforts to establish lasting peace in southern
Philippines.
“They have supported us in our efforts towards
establishing a just and lasting peace in Mindanao, by previously chairing key
committees in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and conducting
consultation meetings between my government and the Moro National Liberation Front,
and by taking part in the International Monitoring Team in our negotiations
with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” he said.
The President attributed the strengthening
relations between the two countries to his Indonesian counterpart, whom he also
sees as “an able partner.”
“A leader committed to a vision of mutual
prosperity, he sought to find solutions to a longstanding concern between our
two peoples, and did so while bearing in mind what is best for all parties,” he
said.
With the assuring leadership of Yudhoyono,
President Aquino said, the Philippines and Indonesia were able to resolve in an
amicable manner the issue concerning the maritime boundaries in the Mindanao
Sea and the Celebes Sea.
Last May, the Philippines and Indonesia signed an
agreement that draws boundary on the overlapping exclusive economic zones in
the Celebes Sea and the Mindanao Sea.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive also noted
that President Yudhoyono’s commitment to the rule of law “has been crucial as
we advance the peaceful and just resolution of disputes in the South China
Sea.”
“Under President Yudhoyono, not only has Indonesia
seen impressive reforms that have redounded to economic growth; Indonesia has
likewise emerged as an influential voice in both regional and international
affairs,” he said.
The forum, which is being held at the Bali
International Convention Center, is also attended by Timor Leste Prime Minister
Xanana Gusmao and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, as well as
delegates from 51 participating countries, and 68 international observers. PND
(co)
New SWS survey shows higher public satisfaction
with President Aquino's performance, says Palace
Malacañang on Friday welcomed the higher public
satisfaction with President Benigno S. Aquino III’s performance, as shown by
the results of a new survey.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey result proves professional
naysayers and predictors wrong.
"President Aquino’s ratings remain
historically high compared to the same period of other administrations,"
she said in a statement. "Surveys are snapshots of a political landscape
at a certain time and accordingly fluctuate."
"The more accurate measure of government
performance is the number of people who are empowered to take advantage of new
and better opportunities," she added.
Results of the Third Quarter 2014 Social Weather
Station, conducted from September 26 to 29 among 1,200 adults nationwide, had
59 percent of respondents saying they were satisfied with the President’s
performance and 25 percent saying otherwise, for a “good” net rating of +34.
The survey showed that net satisfaction rose 9
points from June’s “moderate” +25 (55 percent satisfied, 30 percent
dissatisfied).
Valte said that since 2010, the Aquino
administration has consistently instituted good governance and transparency
reforms, which have translated into tangible benefits for the people.
The administration's commitment to "tuwid na
daan" has borne fruit, she said, both in boosting the country’s global
reputation and in bringing about real change in people’s lives.
"We believe that these solid achievements
will always result in public support for the President’s agenda of change,"
she said.
The Palace official credited the higher public
satisfaction with the President’s performance to his continued work and that of
his Cabinet.
“We trust that the public continues to see the
reform agenda of the President and how we continue to push for their
interests,” she said. PND (as)
Palace asks the public to help authorities foil
terror attacks
The Palace on Friday called for increased public
vigilance following the recent arrest of three suspected terrorists in Quezon
City.
Initial reports from the authorities said the
three were members of the Rajah Sulayman group, which appears to be plotting an
attack in Metro Manila.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Armed Forces of the
Philippines has yet to confirm the specific terror plot connected to the arrest
of the suspects.
"However, our intelligence units are seeking
to validate or verify these reports, and as such, we are asking the people to
report any suspicious activities that they see to their local law enforcement,
just to aid in the efforts of our authorities," Valte said.
She assured the public that security agencies are
working more closely in monitoring the situation to preempt any criminal
activity.
Asked if President Aquino had given the police and
the military directives before he left for Indonesia on Thursday, Valte said
the President is aware of the arrest of the three alleged terrorists and he is
confident that the security agencies could carry out measures to protect the
country's major centers.
On the security preparations for the visit of Pope
Francis next year, Valte noted that contingencies are in place for the pope's
visit. She however declined to give specifics.
"But we would like to assure, not just for
the visit of the Pope, that our security forces are continuing to do their
jobs, so that we can sleep peacefully at night," she said. PND (as)
Bali Democracy Forum manifests will of united
Asian people, says President Aquino
The democracy forum in Bali manifests People
Power, as it harnesses the resolve of the Asian people to attain a free and opportunity-laden
region, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Friday.
"What we continue to demonstrate here, I
believe, is one of the many manifestations of People Power: of harnessing our
united resolve towards a democratic regional community, one where our
respective peoples fully enjoy the freedoms borne of democratic aspirations,
where our peoples have the wherewithal to open the doors of opportunity for
themselves and their fellowmen, and where, indeed, no one is left behind,"
the President said in his speech at the 7th Bali Democracy Forum in Bali,
Indonesia.
He said he stands as a leader of a proud nation
that is determined to contribute even more to the discourse on regional issues.
The President also highlighted the importance of
ASEAN centrality, noting that the collective growth of the region’s citizenries
may only be fulfilled in a regional context.
He recognized the steps taken by the regional
bloc, saying ASEAN member countries have worked to strengthen their respective
institutions, and have accorded their peoples the rights due them, allowing
them to fulfill their duties as citizens.
"As democracies, we share the view that the
path to sustainable progress must be one that redounds to the benefit of our
Bosses, the very people from whom our mandates emanate," he said.
President Aquino further said that the current
ASEAN mode of engagement considers each one as a brother in the path to mutual
progress and encourages citizens to embrace the democratic way of life.
While this process requires a significant amount
of time, he said, the prospects it brings are promising, and the regional
partners are seeing this method bear fruit at present.
"Thus, it is incumbent upon us to continue to
show our brothers and sisters in ASEAN that they chose the right path; we can
do this by extending assistance to them, in every manner possible," he
added. PND (as)
President Aquino champions democracy during Bali
forum
President Benigno S. Aquino III spoke about the
benefits of democracy during a forum in Indonesia, saying it empowers the
people and builds just and progressive societies.
In his speech during the 7th Bali Democracy Forum
on Friday, the President shunned authoritarianism, noting that governments
having this system end up in chaos and ruin.
In a democracy, he said, the government is
systematically attuned to the voice of the people, represents the people, and
works toward the betterment of its population.
"And while consensus building, which is the
foundation of such a state, may be a long and complicated process, it
nonetheless presents more stable, more solid foundations for equitable
advancement," he said.
Democratic institutions seek to free and enable
its citizens, and the first freedom should always be from hunger, he said,
quoting his late father, former senator Benigno Aquino, Jr.
This freedom empowers the citizenry to become
capable of nurturing and fostering democracy, resulting in a virtuous cycle of
inclusiveness, stability, and development, he added.
"Meanwhile, when a people are rendered
vulnerable and their rights and freedoms are undermined, they become
marginalized and more susceptible to coercion, abuse, and the temptation to
acquiesce to absolutism," he said.
The President, whose family was a victim of
persecution during the Marcos dictatorship, said that although authoritarian
regimes get things done much faster, they are detached from the people because
they do not seek public opinion.
"Naturally, such a regime, one divorced from
the desires of its people, will have weak foundations," he said.
"And as we have seen in history, all
authoritarian regimes, regardless of the cause of their coming to power, will
at one point make political survival the end all and be all of
government."
The Chief Executive said that leaders may be
tempted to consider an authoritarian method, but they must realize that with
the lack of consensus and consent from the people, such a mode, which offers
quick, short-term gains, may be detrimental to society in the long term.
"That lack of consensus, combined with the
great degree of dissatisfaction that inevitably arises, leads to instability
and the eventual collapse of that particular system," he said.
President Aquino co-chaired the forum with
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He is set to return to Manila
Friday evening. PND (as)
