President Aquino renews commitment to stop media
killings
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday made
an assurance that his administration will continue to work to stop attacks on
members of the press “until this number reaches zero."
In his speech during the Annual Presidential Forum
of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Marco Polo
Ortigas, the President said things have changed since the martial law years, as
the country has returned to democratic rule.
‘We no longer live in a country where the media is
muzzled, or where the government tries to impose its will on journalists,” he
said.
In fact, he said, his administration has been in
active pursuit of all those who have allegedly committed extralegal killings,
including those involving media, and the public can already see the effects of
the government’s efforts.
"We have made high-profile arrests, recently,
most prominently that of Retired Major General Jovito Palparan for alleged
violations of human rights," the Chief Executive noted.
There is also a significant reduction of recorded
or validated extralegal killings, from a total of 168 during the Arroyo
government to 42 in the four years of the present administration, he said.
"Indeed, one could consider this as progress,
but make no mistake: Our administration will not be content until this number
reaches zero," he emphasized.
The President in turn requested the press to
protect the truth.
"As we continue our efforts to bring to
justice all those who have resorted to violence or intimidation to skew or hide
the truth, my only request is that the media fulfill its obligation of
protecting the truth as well," he said.
The President expressed hope that in making their
news reports, the press would exert more effort in defining the problem and
describing the situation accurately.
“If there was a crime committed, for instance,
then media men must be clear about the facts, and the motivations of the
culprits to solve the problem,” he said.
President Aquino also acknowledged that the media
is part and parcel of society, and press people must always tell the truth.
That role also means “accurately representing the
national condition by striking a healthy balance between the positive and the
negative,” he said. PND (as)
President Aquino encourages media to inspire the
people with ‘uplifting news’
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday
proposed to the members of the press a "paradigm shift," saying they
could continue criticizing the government but must provide the people uplifting
news as well.
In his speech during the annual Presidential Forum
of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Marco
Polo Ortigas, President Aquino acknowledged the role the foreign press played
when the country was under martial rule.
“Back then, media taking an adversarial role to
government was a symbol of bravery, social responsibility. It was a badge of
honor, and rightfully so,” he said.
He however observed that despite the return of
democracy – and freedom of the press -- in the country, “some veteran
journalists have maintained their jaundiced eyes towards government.”
This attitude is no longer compatible with the
times, he said, noting that while it is incumbent on the press to tell the
truth, it also needs to strike a “healthy balance between the positive and the
negative."
"Negativism has driven some members of our
media for far too long, and it might one day convince our people that a
disproportionate amount of national events are negative; that all is lost and
it is foolish to hope," he lamented.
"By all means, criticize; dialogue has, in
many cases, helped accelerate our nation’s development. My only suggestion is
for you to make room in your reports for hope. After all, it is also one of the
tasks of media to inspire our countrymen with uplifting news," the
President reminded the press.
These days, there is no shortage of positive,
inspiring news in the country, he said, citing the Mindanao Peace Process and
the performance of the economy as examples.
“Rest assured, the government will do everything
in its power to produce even more of these developments to report,” said,
appealing to the media to give these stories “their time in the sun."
"Even as you retain a sharp critical eye…
still look to inspire and encourage our people along the path to
progress," President Aquino said. PND (ag)
President Aquino welcomes National Democratic
Front's intention to talk peace with government
President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday his
administration welcomes any move by communist insurgents to return to the
negotiating table to end several decades of rebellion in the Philippines.
The President, during the annual Presidential
Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Marco
Polo Ortigas, was asked if he is pursuing peace talks with communist rebels and
wants progress before he steps down in 2016.
It was reported that the National Democratic Front
(NDF) mentioned on Tuesday that there would be informal talks with the
government in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
"That’s a hopeful message from them, but may
I reiterate that they were the ones who walked out. So now they are ready to
talk. We will welcome," he said.
"We would rather talk than fight, but if they
would rather fight than talk, then we will not accommodate them," he
added.
The negotiations have collapsed following the
rebels’ demand for the government to free some of their consultants who are
still in detention. PND (as)
Code of Conduct in West Philippine Sea, a major
thrust in next ASEAN meeting, says President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he will ask
for an update on the discussion on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
(West Philippine Sea) when he attends the closing sessions of the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar next month.
"Number one is, we will ask for an update of
precisely what has transpired after the agreement with regard to pushing for
the Code of Conduct," the President said when asked about the issue during
the annual Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the
Philippines in Marco Polo Ortigas on Wednesday.
He said he understands that there have been at
least two preliminary discussions before the formal talks on the Code of
Conduct.
Asked about the status of the relations between
the Philippines and China, the Chief Executive said that it has not changed
much since tensions escalated in the West Philippine Sea.
He however noted that when he visited China in
2011, his counterpart then, Hu Jintao, acknowledged that the tensions in the
West Philippine Sea should not be the end-all and be-all of their relationship,
which was described as multifaceted.
The President also said that trade between the two
countries continues to grow and the number of tourists from both countries has
increased despite China’s advisory against travel to the Philippines.
The promise of cultural assistance from China,
such as the provision of Mandarin instructors, is happening, he said, citing
information from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce.
"Hopefully, we can really move on that Code
of Conduct with China as an active participant so that we can introduce a
regime of stability based on rules that everybody acknowledges that we are
bound to,” President Aquino said.
The ASEAN and China in 2002 agreed on the
non-binding Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Aside from China and the Philippines, other
claimants to the West Philippine Sea include Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and
Taiwan. PND (as)
President Aquino: Government implementing
two-pronged strategy to defeat Abu Sayyaf
The government is carrying out a two-pronged
approach in dealing with the Abu Sayyaf Group, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said on Wednesday.
During the annual Presidential Forum of the
Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Marco Polo Ortigas,
the President said the government is using military power to crush the rebel
group but is also exerting efforts to develop Mindanao.
The military and the police are implementing
security measures to combat the Abu Sayyaf, especially following the release of
the two German hostages last week, he said.
He declined to give details but said the public
will see "very significant accomplishments as far as suppressing the Abu
Sayyaf is concerned."
While military operations are being carried out,
the government is also undertaking peace initiatives in Mindanao, the President
said.
“Even before we signed the Framework Agreement on
Bangsamoro, we have been trying to show the people of the ARMM (Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao) the benefits of peace,” he said.
For instance, there are more than 700,000 new
enrollees in PhilHealth, he said, adding that the government's Sajahatra
program is transitioning into a formal institution to give the people
livelihood skills so they could participate in the development of Mindanao.
He further said that the Trade Department has set
up markets for the mangosteen and lanzones produce of Sulu province, hoping
this would spur economic activity not only in Sulu but also in Basilan and
Tawi-Tawi.
"We will try to change the status quo to get
them to buy into the system and be partners in development rather than people
who stifle the development activities in the area," President Aquino said.
PND (as)
Coal-powered plant in Subic, possible solution to
power shortage next year, says President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said Wednesday the
government is looking into the possibility of acquiring the much-needed power
load from a stalled coal-powered plant in Subic, Zambales to address the
projected electricity shortage during next year’s summer months.
"Perhaps we would also like to ask the
judiciary to finally rule on the Redondo (Peninsula Energy, Inc.) issue in
Subic Bay with finality. As you know, that could have been decided rather
quickly from our perspective," said the President during the annual
Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
in Marco Polo Ortigas, Pasig City.
He was referring to the case filed before the
Supreme Court.
In 2007, the Redondo Peninsula Energy, Inc., a
joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp. and Taiwan's Cogeneration Corp.,
secured a government deal to build a coal-fired power plant at the Redondo
peninsula in Subic Bay.
In 2012, the High Tribunal issued a writ of
Kalikasan after local residents, environmental groups and local government
units in Zambales opposed the construction of the power plant.
"If it had been approved, then you would have
additional 600 megawatts already being produced by the end of this year, but
it’s still pending with them. The ground has been prepared and after that
nothing else, because there is that pending issue with the courts," said
the President.
When asked if the controversial Bataan Nuclear
Power Plant could be used as an alternative source of power, he replied that
there is a study to see if it could be converted into a gas- or a coal-powered
plant.
“Pero ‘yung nuclear—and with all due respect to
our Japanese friends—their rigidity in terms of rules, et cetera, did not
prevent the tragedy of Fukushima," President Aquino said. PND (ag)
Philippines maintaining dialogue with China
regarding West Philippine Sea, says President Aquino
The Philippine government is trying to maintain an
open line of communication with China despite tensions on the issue of the West
Philippine Sea, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.
"We are trying to keep the lines of
communication open. Even on the ground, the Chinese ambassador and our
Secretary of Foreign Affairs, amongst others, keep on dialoguing," the
President said in response to a question on the country's relationship with
China, during the annual Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents
Association of the Philippines in Marco Polo Ortigas.
In his upcoming attendance to the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing next month, the Chief Executive said he
is scheduled to meet with other leaders for bilateral talks but there is no
scheduled meeting with the Chinese leader.
The President however stressed that the
Philippines’ position is that “preserving the status quo doesn’t do anybody any
benefit,” and that is why the country has entered into arbitral proceedings and
is pushing for the Code of Conduct.
Backing off from these two approaches, he said,
would just exacerbate the problems that the country is seeing in the West
Philippine Sea.
Asked to comment on reports that there are members
of the Chinese government who are just waiting for President Aquino’s
administration to end before enhancing China’s relationship with the
Philippines, the Chief Executive said he does not believe that his successor
would compromise the country's interest in the West Philippine Sea.
"At the end of the day, it’s still a problem.
And, I guess, the focus is to achieve a solution through peaceful means bound
by international law to everybody’s benefit," he said. PND (as)
No special treatment for U.S. Marine, says
President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday
denied that US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, who is
suspected of killing a transgender in Olongapo City, is getting special
treatment.
"He is not being treated with kid gloves and
the Americans, may I reiterate, are conforming to the treaty wherein they have
to make this person and others available for both the investigative and the
judicial processes that are forthcoming," the President said during the
annual Presidential Forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the
Philippines in Marco Polo Ortigas, Pasig City.
He noted that a Filipino citizen suspected of
committing the same crime would also undergo a preliminary investigation, as
what Pemberton is going through at present.
The Olongapo City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday
began preliminary investigations on Pemberton to see if there is enough
evidence to charge him in court.
Pemberton, suspected of slaying transgender
Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, 26, on October 11, was brought to Camp Aguinaldo on
Wednesday, following the Philippines’ request to the US for his custody. PND
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