AFTER LASER INCIDENT, PH COAST GUARD CONFIRMS PRESENCE OF CHINESE VESSELS IN COUNTRY'S EEZ

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday confirmed the presence of Chinese vessels within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), more than a week since the laser incident that has triggered new tensions between the two countries.

The PCG came by the visual confirmation during its conduct of a Maritime Domain Awareness flight over Ayungin Shoal and Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, both within the Philippines' EEZ.

Around 26 suspected Chinese maritime militia vessels were anchored in and around the vicinity of the shoal, according to the PCG.

In a statement, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said that as the PCG Cessna Caravan 2081 aircraft approached the airspace over Sabina Shoal, it received radio challenges, both in English and Chinese, from the CCG.

The PCG aircraft then issued its own radio challenge, emphasizing that it was conducting an MDA flight within the airspace over the country’s EEZ.

As the PCG approached 10 nautical miles off Ayungin Shoal, it once again received an “unclear” radio challenge from the CCG, the NTF-WPS added.

The PCG responded by ordering the CCG to leave the area immediately.

Over Ayungin, the PCG said it observed at least 4 Chinese militia vessels anchored in the area.

The NTF-WPS noted, throughout the MDA flight, the PCG continued to issue radio challenges to both CCG vessels and suspected Chinese maritime militia vessels in the areas around Ayungin Shoal and Sabina Shoal.

PCG pilots also relayed their patrol data and observations to Armed Forces of the Philippines personnel stationed onboard BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin.

US 'COMMITTED' TO JOINT SEA PATROLS WITH PHILIPPINES: US NAVY CHIEF

MANILA — The United States is "committed" to conducting joint maritime patrols with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, the US navy chief said Wednesday, as the countries seek to deter Chinese aggression.

US naval operations chief Admiral Michael Gilday made the remarks during a visit to the Southeast Asian nation, as part of US efforts to strengthen military alliances across the region and beyond.

Beijing's growing assertiveness on Taiwan and its building of bases in the contested South China Sea have given fresh impetus to Washington and Manila to repair their partnership.

Previous Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte favoured China over his country's former colonial master, but the new administration of Ferdinand Marcos has been keen to reverse that.

The longtime treaty allies agreed this month to resume joint patrols in the sea, and also struck a deal to give US troops access to another four military bases in the Philippines.

Gilday said the countries were "in the beginning of the planning stages" for combined maritime activities, but he insisted the United States was "committed and focused".

In Manila, Gilday held talks with Philippine navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci and military chief of staff General Andres Centino.

They agreed "in principle that we need to move forward, focused and with speed, in order to improve our interoperability together in the South China Sea and across the region", Gilday told reporters.

EU LAWMAKERS MEET WITH PHILIPPINE SENATORS ON DUTERTE DRUG WAR

MANILA — Representatives from the European Parliament (EP) met with Philippine senators on Wednesday, with both parties maintaining their opposing positions on the Duterte adminstration's bloody drug war.

EP vice chairperson of the subcommittee on human rights Hannah Neumann told reporters that they had an "open and critical discussion" on the matter with their Philippine counterparts: Senators Francis Tolentino, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, and Robinhood Padilla, along with 2 Filipino ambassadors.

In the meeting, Neumann expressed the EP's "deep concern" about the extrajudicial killings that occurred during the drug war, maintaining that the cases must be probed by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“The position especially of the European Parliament has been quite clear that we were deeply concerned about the extra-judicial killings happening on the war on drugs. We see right now prosecutions starting, but the thing is it’s slow with at least 6,000 people killed in the war on drugs. Only 20 cases filed and three people convicted,” Neumann said.

“We, as the European Union are members of the Rome Statute. We support the ICC. And we see this as a potential to support the investigations into the killings. We clearly understand that the senators we met right now see this differently,” she added.

In response, Tolentino said that their group was able to "clearly state" the Philippine government’s position on the ICC.

“Hinihingi natin ang kanilang respeto sa ginagawa ng ating bansa at pamunuan bilang isang sovereign state. Hindi tayo kabilang sa ICC. Ginagalang nila iyon. At nagkaroon man ng dialogue, hindi man mainitan, naipaliwanag natin yung ating posisyon,” Tolentino said.

For his part, Sen. dela Rosa said their meeting with EP was "too intense."

You know these Europeans, they are trying to impose their standards upon us,” dela Rosa said.

Aside from the war on drugs, both parties also discussed proposed measures to help Filipinos affected by armed conflict, including compensation fund bills and the Marawi compensation bill.

MARCOS JR. CALLS FOR ‘QUIET REFLECTION’ FOR LENT

As the country celebrates Ash Wednesday this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos for a “quiet reflection” of the event that ushers in the Lenten season.

“We pray for our nation’s quiet reflection this Ash Wednesday,” the President said yesterday in a social media post.

“As we prepare for the season of Lent, may the love of Christ inspire us to endure and faithfully continue our service to others,” Mr. Marcos added.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent. It is observed by the Catholic Church as a holy day of fasting and praying.

Its name comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting, using ashes from the palm fronds blessed by priests on Palm Sunday of the previous year.

Filipinos observe the Holy Week with various activities such as “Senakulo” or the re-enactment of the Passion of Christ and “Pabasa” or book reading of the passion of Christ, which is common in provinces and rural areas.

In another Facebook post, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) hoped for a solemn celebration of Ash Wednesday.

The PCO said the occasion serves as a reminder for Catholic believers to pray and fast.

“As the Lenten season begins, this day is an opportune time to pray and fast as a way of acknowledging Jesus Christ’s sacrifice,” it said.

PALACE: SUGAR IMPORTS ABOVEBOARD

MANILA — There were no irregularities in the government’s importation of some 450,000 metric tons of sugar before the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order No. 6, Malacañang officials clarified yesterday.

At a press briefing at Malacañang, Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said he considered the memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin dated Jan. 13 as a “sugar order” to proceed with the importation to augment the country’s tightening supply of the commodity and prevent price surges.

“In response to the directive of the President to address inflation and create a buffer stock and given that sugar is one of the components of most commodities that drives the consistently high inflation rate, I acted with haste and interpreted the memorandum issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary as an approval to proceed with the importation,” Panganiban said.

“With the urgency of the directive of the President to address inflation and create a buffer stock and given that sugar is one of the components of most commodities that drives the consistently high inflation rate, I acted with haste and interpreted the memorandum issued by the Office of the Executive Secretary as an approval to proceed whe situation, I instructed three capable and accredited companies to proceed with the importation of sugar, provided that they agree to reduce the prices of sugar, sell the commodity at a price that is commercially acceptable in the market and that they will shoulder the cost of warehousing,” he added.

PASSENGERS OF CRASHED CESSNA ON MAYON VOLCANO ALL DEAD: MAYOR

All passengers of a downed Cessna 340 plane found near Mayon Volcano's crater have died, Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin Baldo confirmed Thursday.

"Hindi na po search and rescue. Retrieval na po ang operation ngayon kasi napuntahan na kahapon yung mga sakay ng eroplano. Wala na po talagang buhay. Nandun po yung apat na pasahero natin," he said in a TeleRadyo interview.

The mayor said a retrieval team had difficulties reaching the crash site, located at an elevation of 3,500 to 4,000 feet on the west side slope of Mayon, due to the volcano's rough terrain.

"Challenge pa sa atin kung paano ibababa ang mga pasahero ng eroplano," he said.

Richard Tantoco, president and chief operating officer of EDC, also confirmed the passing of the four passengers.

"We mourn the confirmed passing of our dear colleagues, pilot Captain Rufino James Crisostomo Jr., Joel G. Martin, Simon Chipperfield, and Karthi Santhanam, who were all aboard the Aircraft RPC-2080 that was reported missing early Saturday morning shortly after taking off from the Bicol International Airport," he said in a statement.

FOREIGN CHAMBERS HAIL RCEP OKAY

The seven members of the Joint Foreign Chambers in the Philippines on Wednesday lauded the Senate’s ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, saying the country’s inclusion in the largest trading bloc in the world would expand the network of foreign markets accessible to Philippine exports.

“It reinforces the decision of many of our members to invest in the Philippines and will attract more investment from our home countries,” the group said in a statement.

It also builds on significant economic reforms aimed at liberalizing investment rules, the group said.

’GOV’T TO STUDY EO ON DEVOLVED LOCAL FUNCTIONS’

The national government is studying “very seriously” Executive Order No. 138, considering the existing technical capabilities of local government units (LGUs) and reduced tax allotment this year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

“We will now use this one year to carefully study the 138. Let’s see if there are functions that are given locally, but they shouldn’t really be local,” the President said in a speech during the general assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Manila Hotel.

“And so that’s what we are examining, expect as I said that we are taking very seriously the issues that have come out from the Mandanas ruling and how we will implement it because hopefully by next year, by 24 our collection will improve, because on 2021, it improved slightly, our economy slightly flourished, maybe we can get something really,” the President added.

EO No. 138, which directs the full devolution of certain functions of the executive branch to the LGUs, was issued to aid the efficient implementation of the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case and strengthen the autonomy and empowerment of LGUs.

The President described the implementation of the Mandanas ruling as one of the most significant issues faced by the government.

“I’m sure everybody is aware of that and wondering what is really going on,” the President said.

DFA WARNS OFWS IN HAWAII, SAMOA VS. CRYTOCURRENCY SCAMMERS

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday warned Filipinos in Hawaii and American Samoa against being duped by a criminal syndicate who ostensibly offer jobs as call center agents in Southeast Asia, might end up as crypto scammers.

The DFA through the Philippine Embassy in Honolulu raised the warning for those under its jurisdiction, noting that some “Filipino victims are enticed” by these “spurious job offers.”

“Once they are recruited, the Filipino victims are issued tickets to fly to a Southeast Asian country, from which they are taken to adjacent countries and brought to remote areas,” the embassy said.

The embassy said the recruits “forced to work as online scammers engaged in cryptocurrency” and others.

The embassy also said the victims usually experience many forms of abuse, including physical and psychological abuse, prolonged working hours under difficult work conditions, non-payment of wages and confiscation of passports and devices.

Some are even held hostage, demanded to pay an exorbitant amount in exchange for freedom, and worse, amputation and death, the embassy added.

It also feared of some victims being sold by syndicates to be engaged in other forms of slavery, including sexual slavery.

It can be recalled that the DFA rescued a number of Filipinos from Myanmar and Cambodia who were victimized by such syndicates.

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SARA TELLS MAYORS: DON’T USE TEACHERS TO WIN POLLS

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte attended the assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Manila on Tuesday.

Duterte thanked the mayors for supporting the programs of the Department of Education, which she heads.

Duterte also urged mayors not to interfere in the designation of teachers and principals in their jurisdiction, saying they should not use educators to win in the next elections.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna opened the LMP assembly attended by 1,000 members at the Manila Hotel.

Lacuna lauded the league composed of around 1,500 members for uniting municipal mayors nationwide.

“Let me congratulate the leadership of the LMP headed by (La Paz, Abra) Mayor JB Bernos, the entire executive committee for organizing this general assembly,” she said.

DRUG SUSPECTS MAY BE BEHIND ADIONG AMBUSH: PNP

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it is eyeing a group of drug suspects as the ones behind the ambush of Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr.

“Base sa ongoing na investigation, meron na po kaming tinitingnan na isang , at ang subject po ay grupo sa, yun nga sa mga drug personalities,” PCol. Robert Daculan told TeleRadyo.

The official refused to name the group as it might hurt their investigation.

Daculan said they are now collecting statements from first responders and survivors of the attack.

“Sa ngayon nasa finalization stage kami ng collection ng mga affidavits ng mga nag-survive, mga first responders. Then sa operation regarding sa grupo na ito ay tuloy-tuloy po,” he noted.

The cop also said Adiong and his staff member, Ali Macapado Tabao, are now in stable condition.

“Base sa medical bulletin niya, okay naman po siya,” he said.

One of the suspects in Adiong’s ambush, identified as “Otin,” was killed in an armed encounter. His father known as "Fighter" and 4 other suspects remain at large.

PHILIPPINES LOSING P33 BILLION YEARLY TO TEENAGE PREGNANCY – UNFPA

MANILA — The Philippines is losing P33 billion in potential income yearly due to problems brought by teenage pregnancy, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

During the launch of the Joint Program on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy in the Philippines on Monday, UNFPA country representative Leila Joudane said the figure was based on a study that the agency conducted in the country recently.

Joudane said adolescent pregnancy affects the life cycle as well as the cycle of poverty.

“Adolescents who get pregnant usually drop out of school. When they do, they have fewer chances of becoming active and productive members of society,” Joudane said.

She said these girls would earn less than those who continued and finished their studies.

“Teenage girls who get pregnant and do not finish high school may lose earnings of up to P83,000 per year,” Joudane said.

In a speech read during the event held in Tacloban, Leyte, Department of Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the UNFPA study showed that adolescent mothers who did not finish high school or college are more likely to become unemployed or poor.

“Adolescent pregnancy is also an important social issue. It often results in poor lifelong social and economic outcomes for both the adolescent mother and her child,” Vergeire said.

She said that adolescent pregnancy remains an issue, especially among disadvantaged groups.

MMDA, MAKATI CITY OPEN THREE NEW PARKS

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Makati City government on Wednesday unveiled the three Adopt-A-Park project sites in the city.

The three parks – EDSA-Buendia Park, EDSA-Pinagkaisahan Park and Magallanes Interchange Phase A – Mini Park – have a combined lot area of 3,000 square meers. The parks were designed by the city’s Department of Environmental Services.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes, deputy chairman Undersecretary Frisco San Juan Jr. and Makati administrator Claro Certeza led the inauguration and turnover of the parks.

Artes said improvement of the facilities serves as an avenue for social interactions and family gatherings to be enjoyed by the residents living in Makati.

“These parks could give the residents of Makati the opportunity to spend quality time among members of the families and communities,” Artes said, adding that the agency is in constant coordination with the local government for future projects.

Certeza, for his part, expressed his gratefulness to the MMDA for its initiatives to provide open spaces in the city. Joel E. Zurbano

“On behalf of Makati City Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay, we wish to express our gratitude to the MMDA for this wonderful project. We will do our best to protect and preserve these beautiful parks for the benefit of my fellow Makatizens,” Certeza said.

The three parks, which were turned over to the local government, have landscaping designs and hardscape features such as concrete floor pavings and benches.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MARCOS FEATURED IN 'JEOPARDY!' AS PRESIDENT WITH 'SO MANY FOREIGN TRIPS'

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was featured in the episode of the long-running American game show "Jeopardy!" on Tuesday.

In the wager round of the show, the three contestants were asked about which country has a president since 2022 who has "taken so many foreign trips" and has a play on his name "Ferdinand Magellan Jr."

One of the contestants, Avi Gupta, got the correct answer, which is the Philippines.

"What (is) the Philippines? That is correct. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also known as Bongbong," host Mayim Bialik confirmed.

Since his presidency in 2022, Marcos went on a total of 10 foreign trips.

Marcos earlier said he will reduce his overseas trips in 2023, as his administration needs to “consolidate” the investment pledges he obtained from his first 8 trips as chief executive.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros has said that the trips seemed a little excessive but Marcos responded to these criticisms by saying that the public should look into the return on investments, and not just the cost of the trip.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public. – Epictetus