by magnolia_eic | Oct 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News
The Aquino Administration on Wednesday reiterated that it will ensure the quick resolution of the cases against the officials found liable in the hostage rescue last August 23.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. stressed that Malacañang would be closely monitoring all developments with regard to the recommendations made by the Palace in connection with the August 23 incident.
“We wish to assure the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese government that the Philippine Government is taking active measures to ensure the quick initiation and resolution of the cases to be filed against the individuals found liable in the August 23 hostage-taking incident,” the Executive Secretary said.
Ochoa said that aside from monitoring the cases, the government was also focused on making the institutional reforms to avoid a repeat of the incident, as well as prepare various agencies in responding to emergency situations in the future.
“We have already begun taking steps to implement the reforms needed to ensure that our police forces have the equipment and training necessary to properly respond to incidents of this nature,” he said. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 15, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Malacañang wants an overhaul of the controversial Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States.
President Aquino has directed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to take a look at the controversial agreement which is among the primary legal pretext for military exercises of local and American troops in the country.
Aquino agreed to a review of the agreement following renewed calls by some groups for its immediate abolition.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President has not yet made a decision whether the government would terminate the RP-US military deal pending the study being conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
For now, Lacierda said there are “no discussion on the abrogation” of the VFA as far as the Executive branch is concerned, although the DFA has recognized the benefits of having such military deal with the United States.
Lacierda said the President stands by his personal commitment made when he was a senator that VFA forged between Manila and Washington should be studied anew. He said then Senator Aquino signed a joint resolution calling for a review of such agreement. (PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 14, 2010 | Headlines, National News
WALA nakauyon ang mga piskal sa Department of Justice (DOJ) nga maoy nagdala sa kaso sa Oakwood mutiny nga hatagan og amnestiya si Senador Antonio Trillanes.
Niingon si Senior State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera nga nadismaya sila sa desisyon sa Malakanyang nga hatagan og amnestiya ang tanang myembro sa Magdalo nga nahilambigit sa Oakwood mutiny tungod kay nahulog lamang sa wala ang pito ka tuig nga ilang gi trabaho sa maong kaso.
Matud pa nga ang timing sa amnesty proclamation ang problema tungod kay a-desisyunan na sa Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) ang kaso batok nilang Trillanes karong Oktubre 28.
Mas maayo daw unta nga gihulat una ang korte nga i-promulgate ang kaso aron mahibaw-an kung sad-an ba o dili si Trillanes.
Nabalaka ang mga piskal nga maghatag hinuon kini og pagpangatarungan sa ubang sundalo nga mobatok sa kagamhanan tungod kay pasayluon raman sila sa kasamtangang administrasyon.
Ang amnestiya usa ka prerogative sa Presidente apan kinahanglan pa nga uyonan kini sa Kongreso.
Ang maong proklamasyon nga gilagdaan ni P-Noy niadtong Lunes i-sumite sa Kongreso aron botohan sa mga magbabalaod. (PIA-Bohol)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 14, 2010 | Headlines, National News
In a move to attain national unity, harmony and reconciliation, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued on Monday Presidential Proclamation No. 50 granting amnesty to soldiers and officers charged in connection with military uprisings in 2003, 2006 and 2007 including detained Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
The President said he submitted the proclamation to Congress for its concurrence after he signed the documents on Monday.
Trillanes, as a Navy officer then, led a band of soldiers that took over the posh Oakwood Apartments in Makati City in July 27, 2003 to demand the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and ranking military officials over corruption allegations. The short lived mutiny led to the arrest of Trillanes.
Three years later, in 2006, the Marines, led by Colonel Ariel Querubin, staged a standoff at Fort Bonifacio also to demand the resignation of Arroyo. Querubin was relieved of his post as commandant of the First Marine Brigade in Campo Ranao, Marawi City, and was put under detention until his release in July this year.
On Nov. 29, 2007 in Makati, Trillanes and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim led soldiers in another protest strongly opposing the Arroyo administration. Lim was granted temporary liberty in May this year after posting bail.
The Senate asked President Aquino, through a resolution, to grant amnesty to Trillanes and other mutineers who were implicated in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny, the February 2006 coup attempt, and the 2007 Manila Peninsula Hotel siege.
Article VII, Section 19 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution grants the Office of the President the power to grant amnesty with the concurrence of a majority of all the members of Congress. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 14, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Freedom of the press and the legitimate right of practicing journalists to act as watchdogs will always be respected by the state as stipulated in the Constitution.
This, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Atty. Ed de Mesa emphasized Tuesday as he assured members of media that there is no reason to be alarmed over the involvement of two of their colleagues in the probe report of the Aug. 23 hostage tragedy.
“We respect the right of media and we highly value press freedom, and so, that is why we are very careful in coming with recommendations against members of the media.” De Mesa said.
De Mesa suggested that members of the media should police their respective ranks in sensitive police operations similar to the Quirino Grandstand bus hijacking and hostage taking incident which killed eight innocent civilians.
De Mesa pointed out that the reason why they left the decision to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas (KBP) to issue possible sanctions against broadcasters Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas is because the KBP has the jurisdiction over them. Tulfo and Rogas are both active members of the KBP. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Oct 13, 2010 | Headlines, National News
MGA kasong administrative cases of misconduct in office ug simple neglect ubos sa Section 60 sa Local Government Code ang ipasaka batok ni Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim kalabut sa nahitabong hostage taking-crisis sa Quirino Grandstand niadtong Agosto 23.
Apil usab nga pasakaan og kaso silang P/Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay alang sa gross incompetence ug serious neglect of duty ug si P/Dir. Leocadio Santiago alang sa less grave neglect of duty.
Si P/Supt. Orlando Yebra, ang usa sa mga negosyador sa nahitabong hostage crisis pasakaan usab og kasong neglect of duty ug si Police Chief Inspector Santiago Pascual III pasakaan og kasong gross incompetence. Kining tanang mga kaso nabutang ubos sa Sec. 2, Rule 21 sa PNP Uniform Rules.
Ang pagpasaka og kaso batok sa ubang opisyal sa kapolisan ipadangat ngadto sa National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Si Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III imbestigahan sa Office of the President tungod sa neglect of duty ug inefficiency in the performance of official duty.
Samtang sa kaso ni Ombudsman Merceditas Guttierez, ang IIRC Report nipadangat sa House of Representatives alang sa ilang aksyon niini. (PIA-Bohol)
