by aimee | Sep 27, 2013 | National News
The Philippines signed at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters on Wednesday, September 25, the first ever Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) that establishes common international standards for the global trade in conventional arms.
Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, signed the Treaty on behalf of the Philippine Government. The Philippines was the first country in Southeast Asia to do so.
“The Philippines signed the ATT to fulfill our country’s commitment to promoting international peace and security. The proliferation of conventional arms has contributed to violence and instability in many parts of the world including the Philippines and there is a need to address this serious concern,” Ambassador Cabactulan said.
The ATT was opened for signature on June 3, 2013, and will enter into force after 50 ratifications. To date, the total number of signatures represents more than half of all Member States.
The ATT covers conventional weapons intended for military use and small arms, their ammunition, parts and components. It contains strong regulations, based on human rights and international humanitarian law, and provides a set of criteria in the export of conventional arms.
After a seven-year process at the United Nations, the Treaty text was adopted through a resolution by the UN General Assembly on April 2, 2013, by a vote of 154 in favor, three against and 23 abstentions.
The Philippines voted in favor of the text of the ATT. Prior to its adoption, the Philippines consistently voted in favor of the ATT since it was first tabled in the General Assembly in 2006.
The Philippines actively participated in the negotiating process leading to the adoption of the ATT including the four Preparatory Meeting of the Arms Trade Treaty (2010-2012), the July 2012 Negotiating Conference and the Final Conference in March 2013. (DFA)
by aimee | Sep 27, 2013 | National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 27 (PIA)–Gikumpirmar karon sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) ang gitakdang pagbisita ni Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III sa South Korea sa Oktubre 17-18, 2013.
Matud pa sa DFA, ang maong state visit ni Presidente Aquino base sa imbitasyon ni South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
Gitakdang ipahigayon sa duha ka pangulo ang ilang unang summit meeting diin tukion ang bilateral issues apil na ang kooperasyong politikal, depensiba ug ekonomiya.
Makigpulong usab si PNoy sa mga negosyante aron aghaton nga mamuhunan sa Pilipinas.
Gawas niini, makigkita ang Pangulo sa mga Pinoy sa Seoul.
Marso 3, 1949 sa dihang gipalig-on ang relasyon sa Pilipinas ug South Korea.
Sapagkakaron, apil ang Republic of Korea sa mga nag-unang trade partner sa nasud.
Pinakadaghan ang mga Koreano isip turista sa nasud diin kapin sa usa ka milyon ang mibisita sa Pilipinas niadtong 2012. (PIA-Bohol/ec)
De Lemos, bag-ong OIC NBI director
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 27 (PIA)–Gibutang karon ni Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila de Lima si Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos isip bag-ong officer-in-charge sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Kini human niduso sa irrevocable resignation si kanhi NBI Director Nonnatus Rojas niadtong Setyembre 3, 2013.
Sakop sa trabaho sa OIC ang administrasyon sa operasyon sa NBI base sa gipagawas nga Department Order No. 712 sa DoJ.
Apan matud pa ni De Lima, dili na sakop sa trabaho ni De Lemos ang paglagda sa mga kontrata, pagtangtang og empleyado ug uban pang hisgotanan sa policy determination.
Epektibo ang maong kamanduan hangtud dili pa makatudlo og bag-ong direktor si Presidente Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III.
Si De Lemos nahimong assistant director ni Rojas kaniadto ug sa wala pa kini nahimong assistant director, siya ang NBI director sa rehiyon 7. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by aimee | Sep 26, 2013 | Headlines, National News
The Palace said it won’t tolerate the alleged looting committed by soldiers at the height of the siege in Zamboanga City against the members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
“We frown on our own soldiers harming our own civilians in this manner. Looting is not acceptable. They are there to protect the people,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing on Wednesday in Malacanang.
“Let me just emphasize: We—the AFP and this government—will not tolerate any looting by our own soldiers. The leadership of AFP has already imposed sanctions on these soldiers who have done those despicable acts,” he added.
It was alleged that four army personnel face accusations of looting after they allegedly ransacked a house in Zamboanga City.
There were reports saying a resident lost valuables in his family’s home when uniformed men earlier stormed the place.
The military issued immediate apologies, acknowledging that the incident was a serious breach of the organization’s ideals. It said the uniformed personnel allegedly involved in the robbery are being held at a stockade pending a military trial.
Meanwhile, reacting to reports saying that the feared Christian vigilante group Ilaga has reorganized to counter attacks by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in North Cotabato and Maguindanao, Lacierda issued an appeal to the public to let the police and the military do their security and law enforcement jobs.
“We would like to call on all these groups, whether you’re a civilian, let the military do its job. Let the law enforcement authorities do their job,” he said.
The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters had reportedly attacked Midsayap, North Cotabato, as well as some towns in Maguindanao this week. (PND)
by aimee | Sep 26, 2013 | Local News / Bohol Balita, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Sept. 26 (PIA)–Gipahinomdoman sa Commission on Elections (Comelec) ang publiko sa hugot nilang pagpatuman sa gun ban nga magsugod na sa Setyembre 28, adlaw nga Sabado alang sa gitakdang barangay elections sa Oktubre 28.
Ang gun ban matapos sa Nobyembre 12, usa ka buwan human sa adlaw sa piniliay.
Matud pa ni Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez, sa maong mga petsa suspendido usab ang permit to carry firearms outside residence ug ang gitugotan lamang nga magdala og pusil kadtong mga nakakuha og COMELEC gun ban exemption.
Dugang pa ni Jimenez nga gawas sa gun ban, magsugod na usab sa Setyembre 28 ang appointment ban ug ang pag-promote og posisyon sa trabaho sa bisan kinsang empleyado sa gobyerno.
Tungod niini, gipahinomdoman sa Comelec ang katawhan nga sundon gayud ang maong mga patakaran.
Ang filing sa certificates of candidacy (COC) magsugod sa Oktubre 11 hangtud Oktubre 17.
by aimee | Sep 24, 2013 | Features, National News
AN IMPENDING invasion of Boracay island is afoot. Not by armed groups, though, but by geeks from all over the globe.
Boracay, considered as the “best island” in the world by Travel+Leisure, will be swarming with technology buffs and startup developers this week when the “Geeks On A Beach” (GOAB) tech and startup conference gets underway Sept. 26-27 at the Boracay Regency Hotel.
Already teeming with local and foreign tourists, this wonderful island in the central part of the Philippines will be abuzz with a lot more activities as these geeks are coming not just for the conference but as well as to enjoy the beguiling landscape Boracay is famous for.
According to Tina Amper of the organizing TechTalks.ph, the GOAB promises to be a uniquely exciting experience for the geeks who will be completely engrossed with the discussions amidst the soothingly beautiful natural backdrop that Boracay offers.
“Boracay provides a unique atmosphere for the conference, which makes GOAB more distinctive than other tech-startup confabs,” Amper said. “Hopefully, we can make GOAB an annual destination for geeks.”
Amper said they are expecting the arrival of around 300 people for the conference, including the speakers, resource persons, and some members of the regional media from Cebu and Davao.
Most of the registered participants are composed of entrepreneurs and founders with a 34.57% turnout, developers at 22.34%, and people from the corporate world at 14.36%. Other participants are web designers, VCs, investors, angels, and students. The rest of the attendees are from the academe, the government, and the media.
The GOAB is indeed a must-go-to event as it has drawn the attention of more influential personalities and wannapreneurs.
Reinforcing yet an all-star lineup of resource speakers is Eden Shochat, founder and equal partner of Aleph, who will likewise share his knowledge and experience in the tech industry.
Startup enthusiasts are also coming to pitch their innovative ideas in hopes of creating a network of partners, building new products, and attracting investors.
Among the startup buffs participating in the GOAB are a group of diverse individuals from Bohol and the Information Technology students from Ateneo de Davao University who topped the recent Startup Weekend Davao competition last August.
The Bohol group is composed of a businesswoman, a tech entrepreneur, a professor, and trainee programmers who are all members of a startup community, while the “Keep Up” team from Davao is made up of Alexandra Victoria Eneco, Marcel Tunichii Villaruz, Mary Mynell Mariano, and Jasper Adlaon.
Attending startup groups are guaranteed to bring home a cornucopia of knowledge about technopreneurship, the tech industry in the ASEAN region, technology innovations, and business solutions, among many other essential topics lined up for discussion.
Most of the registered participants are composed of entrepreneurs and founders with a 34.57% turnout, developers at 22.34%, and people from the corporate world at 14.36%. Other participants are web designers, VCs, investors, angels, and students. The rest of the attendees are from the academe, the government, and the media.
The GOAB techfest will also be spiced up with a touch of the Carribean as the songs of Bob Marley and some real Jamaican reggae music play in the background while experts from across the globe share their insights on startups, technology, gaming, mobile apps, and graphic design.
Smart Communications (SMART) founder and chief wireless adviser Doy Vea will be the keynote speaker in the opening program of the conference. SMART will be providing its super-fast LTE wireless technology to the participants and organizers for the duration of the confab.
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Louis Napoleon Casambre, executive director of the government agency’s Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), will also speak about startups and their role in growing the economy to cap the opening ceremonies.
Other resource speakers for the event include Bowei Gai of World Startup Report, Jojo Flores of Plug and Play Tech Center, Ron Hose of Innovation Endeavors, Zac Cohn of Liffft, Khailee Ng of of 500 Startups, Mark Deustch of HappyGaraje, Isabel Gatuslao, Seph Mayol, Stephen Jagger of PayrollHero, Earl Valencia of IdeaSpace.ph, Minette Navarette of Kickstart Ventures, Erick Garayblas of Kuyi Mobile, Jia Jih Chai of Airbnb, M. Christina Laskowski of STAC-Silicon Valley, Eric Su of PicLyf, Jay Fajardo and Jason Torres of Proudcloud, Paco Sandejas of Narra Venture Capital, and Josh Villanueva of Rappler, among many others.
Topics slated for discussion include The World Startup Ecosystem: Distinguishing the Asian Experience, The Evolution of Philippine Startup Ecosystem, Fostering and Funding Asian Startups, Startup Best Practices and Philippine Startup Success Stories, Social Media for World Change, World Startup Report: Opportunities and Threats, Strategies of Successful Startups, Attracting Investors, and Investing in Emerging Markets.
Amazon Web Services is also set to provide on-site business and technical mentoring during the two-day techfest.
Organized by TechTalks.ph in cooperation with DOST-ICTO, “Geeks on a Beach” is co-presented by SMART SMART Bro, SMART DevNet, and IdeaSpace.ph. It is powered by Sym.ph, branded by HappyGaraje.com and under the able PR and event management of PRWorks.
Other event partners include Amazon Web Services as platinum sponsor, WaveMaker Labs as gold sponsor, and Freelancer.ph, Ng Khai Development Corporation, Fineupgrades, Boracay PubCrawl, TheGoSee.com, SPR Boracay Real Estate as silver sponsors with LBC Express as the official logistics partner.
Airbnb is the official accommodations partner of GOAB, while Microsoft Philippines, GT Cosmetics Manufacturing, Island Souvenirs, and Megaworld are the bronze sponsors.
Institutional partners of the event are the Philippine Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, UP CebuInIt.org, CedFit.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Brain Gain Network, DevCon, UVNS, and STAC-Silicon Valley.
“Geeks on a Beach” is also supported by Lenovo Mobile, MetroDeal.com, KuyiMobile, Plug and Play Tech Center, SHIFT, SeedAsia, Mynimo, Pinoy Great Deals, Crowdsourcing Week, Geek Speak, Malee, R&M Preserves, Lenddo, Nulab and Lakwatsa Resto Lounge.
Media partners of the confab are Webgeek, e27, Newsdesk Asia, istorya.net, auza.net, Third Team Media, Panay News, Davao Bloggers Society, Vigattin Radio, Inno Pub Media, SGEntrepreurs, Rappler, Alcordo Advertising, Asian Journal Publications, Balik Bayan Magazine, and ABS-CBN.
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by aimee | Sep 23, 2013 | Headlines, National News
PRESIDENT Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Simeon Aquino III on Sunday disclosed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is readying charges against Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding-chairman Nur Misuari and his men, in connection with the standoff that entered its 14th day Sunday.
This, even if Misuari denied and disowned the acts of his trusted aide, Habier Malik, who led hundreds of MNLF rebels in infiltrating this city through the shores of Barangay Rio Hondo and other nearby barangays.
President Aquino disclosed Sunday that the government has witnesses who could testify that Misuari has a hand in the standoff that started last September 9.
The DOJ, on orders of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, has sent a special team of prosecutors to Zamboanga City to file appropriate criminal cases against the rebels involved in the attack, including Misuari.
President Aquino also revealed that the prosecutors are gathering additional testimonies and evidences to file cases against Misuari and his followers.
Earlier, Local Government Secreary Manuel Roxas II, said that cases to be filed against the rebels will include violation of Republic Act 9851, otherwise known as the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
Roxas said that R.A. 9851 penalizes people who intentionally direct attacks against civilians, properties and people involved in humanitarian and peace keeping missions. (PNA)
