PHILIPPINES PROTESTS CHINESE SHIP INCIDENT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
MANILA — The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest over a Chinese Coast Guard vessel engaging in “close distance maneuvering” that heightened a risk of collision in the disputed South China Sea, Manila’s national security adviser said on Tuesday.
It is the latest of more than 200 diplomatic protests that the Southeast Asian country has filed against China, which claims large swathes of the South China Sea and continues to assert its presence in the strategic waterway.
“There may be counter-claims but we, as a nation, will stand by our established sovereign rights and sovereignty over the area,” Hermogenes Esperon, the country’s top security adviser, told reporters.
“We’ve been saying that’s part of our territory,” he said, referring to the Scarborough Shoal where the encounter occurred.
The Philippine Coast Guard on Sunday reported a “close distance maneuvering” incident, a violation of international regulations to prevent collisions at sea, with a Chinese vessel in the Scarborough Shoa. It was the fourth such incident in 10 months.
DUTERTE CLAIMS SOME PARTY-LISTS ACTING AS NPA’S ‘LEGAL FRONT’
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday blasted the country's party-list system, saying it allows too many sectors to have a say in government, including communists.
"Totoo 'yan, nakapasok sila sa Congress. The party-list. Eh alam mo, bright kasi 'yung gumawa noon eh," Duterte said in a taped public briefing.
While Duterte named the party-lists in the public briefing, ABS-CBN News did not post them in this article until his allegations are independently verified.
Without evidence, Duterte said these groups are legal fronts of the CPP and its armed wing, the New People's Army.
"Makita naman ninyo sa behavior nila and the way they espouse their advocacy for a left ... Left ang talagang drift nila," he said.
"Ang problema, they are supporting ... They are really legal fronts ng Communist Party of the Philippines."
Duterte also said these party-lists are espousing to "end this government".
"And they are espousing an advocacy that in the end ang gusto nila, tapusin itong gobyerno na ito. This government was not imposed upon the people. This government was created or established through legal means. Noon pa, noong nag-republic tayo," he said.
"Ang problema ginagamit nila ang pera, kinukuha nila ang pera ng gobyerno at binubuhay nila ang NPA. They are supporting a bunch of ... Wala na silang ideology," Duterte added.
DUTERTE CRITICIZES MISUSE OF PARTY-LISTS BY THE RICH, BLAMES CONSTITUTION
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday criticized the country's elite for using the party-list system to get them elected to the House of Representatives.
"Until the end of my day, I would continue to criticize and say something about itong mga party-lists. Ito ay ginagamit ng mga mayayaman, ng mga negosyante. Either binili nila ang party-list or nag-create sila because they can do it with their money," Duterte said in a public briefing.
"Fractured na tayo. It's a fractured Constitution. Biro mo, who allowed this, itong ganitong party-list (system)?"
However, Duterte said party-list representatives are "OK" and some of them are his friends.
"But, alam mo, that friendship cannot be used to even say something good what the communists are doing, including their legal friends," he said.
Election watchdog Kontra Daya said earlier this month that 120 out of 177 party-list groups were "identified with political clans and big businesses, as well as for having incumbent local officials, connections with the government and military, unknown or unclear advocacies and representations; and pending court cases and criminal charges."
Poll expert Emil Marañon said that a confluence of factors – including a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that made it possible for non-members of marginalized sectors to represent organizations allowed to run as party-list groups – led to the system's current state.
Marañon and other experts have urged Congress to review the 1995 Party-List System Law, along with members of the academe and other sectors, to fix its flaws.
DUTERTE TO JOIN PDP-LABAN RALLY IN CEBU
MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is expected to endorse the candidates of the PDP-Laban faction aligned with his administration during a campaign sortie in Cebu tomorrow, a party official said yesterday.
If the event pushes through, the vote-rich province of Cebu would be the first of about 20 areas that Duterte may visit to rally support for his political allies gunning for various electoral posts this year.
“March 31, Thursday, that will be the first public appearance of PRRD (President Duterte) to endorse the candidacy of PDP-Laban. It will be in Cebu, in Lapu-Lapu City, it is being arranged now,” PDP-Laban secretary-general and Cabinet secretary Melvin Matibag said at a press briefing held in Quezon City that was streamed on Facebook.
“We are planning, probably, more or less 24 areas, the President will appear to endorse the senatorial candidates of PDP-Laban and also those being endorsed and adopted by the PDP-Laban and the local candidates as well,” he said.
Matibag said the President’s visit in Cebu would be for a project of the government’s anti-insurgency task force and that politics would just be “on the side.”
HUMAN RIGHTS COALITION WANTS SANCTIONS FOR DUTERTE, OTHER PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS
MANILA — A coalition of rights groups launched Tuesday a campaign to urge foreign governments to impose sanctions on President Rodrigo Duterte and other Philippine officials for allegedly violating human rights.
The International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines said in a statement that it will be working with the national governments of Australia, Canada, the US, the UK and the European Union for the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions on Philippine officials.
“In the absence so far of genuine accountability for these crimes through international mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council, ICHRP is launching a global campaign under national Magnitsky Acts to hold those responsible accountable for these widely documented crimes,” it said.
Countries that have Magnitsky laws may impose punishment, ranging from travel bans to financial sanctions, on foreign nationals responsible for human rights violations or corruption in a foreign country.
The coalition is calling for sanctions on Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, both of whom ICHRP described as “architects of the war on drugs and campaign of state terror”, when he spearheaded the anti-illegal drugs campaign called “Oplan Tokhang,” which led to the deaths of thousands of drug suspects.
BADOY FACES SECOND ADMIN COMPLAINT IN A WEEK OVER RED-TAGGING OF VP ROBREDO
MANILA — Progressive groups have filed another administrative complaint against NTF-ELCAC Spokesperson and Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy before the Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday over her public posts red-tagging Vice President Leni Robredo.
To recall, Badoy alleged that Vice President Robredo is a supporter of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army, without offering any evidence besides Robredo's support of groups belonging to the left side of the political spectrum and her willingness to resume peace talks with rebel groups.
Progressive groups Pambansang Lakas ng mga Mamalakaya, Amihan Peasant Women Federation, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan, and labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said in the complaint that the Facebook posts were "presented as official statements of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict."
Badoy in her Facebook posts calls the Vice President a “virtual mouthpiece of the terrorist group” and claims that the Vice President “has betrayed us all.”
"We were appalled and deeply disturbed on how Undersecretary Badoy-Partosa uses the resources of the government not only to wantonly red-tag, maliciously attack and malign progressive individuals and groups but how she brazenly and publicly associates and links the presidential campaign of [Robredo] with the Communist Party," the groups said.
"This is unprofessional and unbecoming of a public official...Without any evidence, her post serves no other purpose than to tarnish the reputation of Vice President and Presidential candidate Robredo."
RALLIES BANNED IN DAVAO CITY
Duterte-Carpio refuses to hold a grand rally in Davao City for her and her running mate, as well as the UniTeam’s senatorial slate.
The mayor also earlier ordered that there shall be no motorcades and caravans for all political parties, including her own UniTeam, until May 8.
Aside from the continuing increase in fuel prices, the vice presidential candidate also would like to prevent the possible renewed surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in this part of the country.
Duterte-Carpio said such political rallies would have been to her advantage since she is a candidate but she also pointed out that she is the mayor of Davao City and is a bit apprehensive as she also has to look after the welfare of her constituents.
The ban on grand political rallies as well as motorcades and caravans applies to other political parties, and not just UniTeam.
Meanwhile, Davao City acting mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is fast becoming a strong crowd drawer in the rallies of the UniTeam coalition of his sister.
Sebastian represented his sister in the rallies in South Cotabato where crowds were screaming for him. Even on social media, netizens have been wanting to interact with the younger Duterte, who is also hoping his father will ultimately endorse Marcos for president.
LAW RAISING AGE OF SEXUAL CONSENT SEEN TO PROTECT MORE FILIPINO TEENS, SENDS CHILLING EFFECT TO ABUSERS — EXPERTS
MANILA — A newly-signed law which raises the age of sexual consent will protect more Filipino teens from sexual violence while sending out a chilling effect to adults who want to take advantage of minors, according to experts.
While child rights advocates and the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) said the law enhances the standards of protection for adolescents, they believe it must be implemented properly on the ground by local government units and other institutions.
In March, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 11648 which amends three laws, namely, the Revised Penal Code, the Anti-Rape Law and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
Notably, the RA said those who engage in sexual activities with children below 16 are liable for committing statutory rape. Previous laws placed the age of offended parties at below 12 years old.
In effect, the new law increases the age of sexual consent to those 16 and above and may also address the thousands of new teenage pregnancies recorded in the Philippines every year.
"It will have a protective effect for children below 16 who may be exploited by older persons, and there is what you might say a chilling effect on adults who try to have relations with a girl below 16," Popcom Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III told Philstar.com.
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'LOCAL VEGGIES CHEAPER, FRESHER BUT...' SENATORIAL BET EXPLAINS PROBLEM FACING FARMERS
MANILA - Senatorial aspirant Manny Piñol on Wednesday said farmers are on the losing end despite lower priced vegetables because of the present marketing system in the country.
"Mas mura ang lokal na gulay kaysa imported na gulay, mas sariwa. Our problem in the country is our marketing system where from the farmgate to the kitchen of the Filipino families, mga 10 kamay ang dinadaanan ng ating mga produkto. Ang carrots P10 in Bukidnon. Pagdating sa kusina ng pamilyang Pilipino, umaabot ng P100," Piñol said on ANC's Headstart.
A group of vegetable traders earlier said Benguet farmers are losing P2.5 million daily due to vegetable smuggling, with some farmers being forced to throw away their products because no one is buying.
“The farmers are running out of capitalization and with this smuggling, we’re actually, the farmers are actually throwing away, basically throwing away ¼ to ½ of their harvest, because it is not being bought, specially the medium-sized carrots.
Balanoy said more businessmen are buying smuggled carrots from China because they have a longer shelf life of about 2 months. “Our carrots, just for 2-3 days, the carrots would already start to rot,” she said.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Noel Reyes also said that imported carrots are bigger than the ones produced by Filipino farmers. He stressed, however, that smuggling is prohibited by the law.
Piñol, a former agriculture secretary, said he wants to rush the digitalization of the Bureau of Customs' operations and correct the Philippines' marketing system "so the products of our farmers could compete price-wise with international products."
He said he would also push for the amendment of the Rice Tariffication Law and the improvement of the local importing system and would prioritize the Department of Agriculture's budget if he becomes senator.
POLICE IN A STANDOFF WITH ARMED MEN IN ABRA VICE MAYOR'S HOUSE: PNP
MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said some police teams and a group of armed men are involved in a standoff in the residence of Pilar, Abra Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono.
In a statement, the PNP Public Information Office said the armed men sought refuge at Disono's house after injuring two policemen and shooting a police patrol car that was chasing after them.
The men where chased by the police after they deliberately run through a police checkpoint in Barangay Poblacion in the morning, the PNP said.
An occupant of the fleeing vehicle also fired at and hit the front windshield of a police car chasing after it.
"May intelligence report na may mga tao na may mga aromas, kaya na-set-up yung checkpoint. Thirty minutes after the checkpoint setup, dumaan itong van na ito na puti. Tapos, pinapara. Hindi pumara. Sinagasaan po yung dalawang pulis natin, pinaputukan pa yung mga pulis natin," Col. Maly Cula, Abra provincial police chief, said in a phone interview.
"Sasabihin ko po, walang harassment. We're just pursuing lawless elements who try to evade out checkpoints. Wala pong harassment na nangyari," he added.
The PNP-PIO said teams from the Pilar Municipal Police Station and the Cordillera Regional Mobile Force Battalion are at Disono's residence to negotiate the peaceful surrender of the driver of the vehicle.
PRO-Cordillera Director Police Brig. Gen.l Ronald Lee is also expected to arrive at the scene to personally assess the situation, the PNP said.
Abra Gov. Jocelyn Bernos attempted to negotiate when she visited the compound in the afternoon but failed.
281,507 TAKE MRT-3 ON DAY 1 OF FREE RIDES
MANILA — The Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) serviced over 280,000 passengers on the first day of implementation of the free rides program on Monday.
In a statement yesterday, the railways management said 281,507 passengers availed themselves of the free rides on the first day.
This was the largest number of passengers ferried since the train resumed operations in July 2020 following the government shutdown of public transport in March 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The largest number of passengers was also ferried following the deployment of 18 three-car CKD train sets, two four-car CKD train sets and a Dalian train set on the mainline.
The management deploys an average of 18 to 21 train sets on the mainline.
Free MRT rides will be provided until April 30, except during the scheduled maintenance shutdown from April 12 to 17.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
‘SEASON FOR HEALING’: JADA BREAKS SILENCE AFTER OSCARS SLAP
Jada Pinkett Smith took to Instagram on Tuesday in her first public comments since husband Will Smith slapped comic Chris Rock at the Oscars.
"This is a season for healing and I'm here for it," she wrote in a post that had been liked more than 65,000 times within the first couple of hours.
There was no elaboration and comments on the post were restricted.
The brief statement came less than 24 hours after Smith issued an apology to Rock over the attack at Sunday's glitzy Hollywood ceremony.
In a shocking episode broadcast live around the world, Smith stormed onstage and hit Rock for a joke about his wife's closely cropped head.
Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a condition that causes her to lose hair.
Stunned Oscar attendees were initially unsure if the powerful slap was part of a skit, until Smith shouted profanities from his seat.
Rock managed to return to the awards, but the atmosphere at the event had shifted unmistakably.
Moments later, Smith won the Oscar for best actor, giving a tearful speech in which he claimed: "Love will make you do crazy things."
Trade title Variety reported Tuesday that the TV audience grew by more than 600,000 during Smith's speech.
On Monday, as the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences said they were probing the assault with view to possible sanctions, Smith said sorry.
There has been no public comment so far from Rock and no immediate reply to AFP queries to his representatives.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES MAR 28
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Hawks38-37 44 30 28 30 132
Pacers25-51 30 33 27 33 123
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SCORING LEADERS
B. Bogdanovic ATL
29 PTS 5 REBB. Hield IND
26 PTS 4 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nuggets45-31 32 24 37 20 113
Hornets39-37 30 27 27 25 109
SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
SCORING LEADERS
N. Jokic DEN
26 PTS 19 REB 11 AST
M. Bridges CHA
27 PTS 11 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic20-56 22 31 27 21 101
Cavaliers42-33 27 33 21 26 107
ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OH
SCORING LEADERS
W. Carter Jr. ORL
15 PTS 12 REB 6 AST
D. Garland CLE
25 PTS 3 REB 12 AST
FINAL/OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Celtics47-29 38 20 22 26 6 112
Raptors43-32 30 29 21 26 9 115
SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON
SCORING LEADERS
M. Smart BOS
28 PTS 10 REB 4 AST
P. Siakam TOR
40 PTS 13 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls43-32 28 22 25 29 104
Knicks34-42 24 29 28 28 109
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK, NY
SCORING LEADERS
D. DeRozan CHI
37 PTS 6 REB 7 AST
R. Barrett NY
28 PTS 6 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Kings27-49 19 22 27 32 100
Heat48-28 31 26 36 30 123
FTX ARENA, MIAMI, FL
SCORING LEADERS
D. Mitchell SAC
21 PTS 2 REB 9 AST
J. Butler MIA
27 PTS 5 REB 8 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Warriors48-28 16 21 30 28 95
Grizzlies53-23 20 43 32 28 123
FEDEXFORUM, MEMPHIS, TN
SCORING LEADERS
J. Poole GS
25 PTS 5 REB 3 AST
D. Bane MEM
22 PTS 2 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Spurs31-44 39 28 29 27 123
Rockets20-56 31 24 29 36 120
TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
SCORING LEADERS
D. Murray SA
33 PTS 7 REB 11 AST
J. Green HOU
30 PTS 4 REB 4 AST
FINAL/OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Thunder22-53 34 24 23 34 19 134
Trail Blazers27-48 28 33 28 26 16 131
MODA CENTER AT THE ROSE QUARTER, PORTLAND, OR
SCORING LEADERS
I. Roby OKC
30 PTS 8 REB 4 AST
B. McLemore POR
28 PTS 2 REB 1 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 52.07
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Three minutes thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time. - A.E. Houseman
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