PH HIRES INT’L LAWYER TO APPEAL ICC DRUG WAR PROBE

The Philippines has hired an international lawyer to help the country in its appeal to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reverse its decision to resume the probe into the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs.

“We engaged Ms. Sarah Bafadhel, she is a British barrister, she has her chambers in London, but she is practicing at the ICC at The Hague, the Netherlands,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra told CNN Philippines’ “The Source” on Wednesday.

The decision to hire Bafadhel to handle the government’s case before the ICC is needed to make sure the country’s interests is represented in the tribunal, Guevarra said.

The Solicitor General also said Malacañang has yet to decide whether to push through with a proposal to create an independent commission to investigate the campaign against illegal drugs during the Duterte administration.

Justice officials in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have insisted that the ICC need not proceed with its investigation as the Philippines has a functioning democracy.

Following the ICC’s decision to issue a warrant of arrest for Russian President Vladimir Putin in connection with the Ukraine-Russia War, Guevarra also said that while issuing a warrant is within the court’s powers, whether the same could be enforced is another thing altogether.

“Whether the ICC can enforce it or not is a totally different question because the ICC will have to depend on local authorities to enforce that warrant of arrest. So, if the government does not cooperate because the matter of jurisdiction has not been finally settled who will enforce the warrant of arrest,” he added.

The Solicitor General, he said, is not representing any particular individual.

“The OSG is not defending any specific person. The OSG is representing the Republic of the Philippines. We are representing the state and we are saying that we are defending our domestic, legal, and judicial system because it has the primary responsibility to deal with crimes that were committed in our own territory,” Guevarra said.

MARCOS DEFENDS DEVOLUTION REVIEW

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday defended his decision to review his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s devolution order of national government functions to local government units, saying it is not an “alternative” to the proposed Charter change agenda.

Speaking to reporters, the President said he is only worried that poorer municipalities would not be able to handle the additional functions under Duterte’s full devolution order despite an increase in their internal revenue allotment share (IRA).

“No. The Charter change efforts are directed at the economic provisions of the Constitution, as far as I understand. So that’s what that is about,” he said on the sidelines of the celebration of the Philippine Army’s 126th anniversary in Taguig City.

“The reason given by the proponents in the House and those in the Senate is that they need to be changed because these conditions have changed. For us to take full advantage of the new economy, we have to amend the Constitution. So, that’s not the same thing as what I think you are referring to,” Mr. Marcos added.

Mr. Marcos presided over a sectoral meeting in Malacañan Palace on Tuesday and ordered government agencies to study Executive Order No. 138, issued by Duterte, for possible amendments, and to determine what national government functions should be devolved to LGUs following the Mandanas-Garcia ruling of the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said President Marcos asked a development panel to review possible amendments on the devolution of functions of LGUs before the Mandanas ruling takes effect.

ICC APPEALS CHAMBER ALLOWS 'WAR ON DRUGS' VICTIMS TO COMMENT ON MANILA'S PLEA TO SUSPEND PROBE

MANILA — The International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber has allowed “war on drugs” victims and victim groups to take part and comment as it resolves the Philippine government’s plea to overturn the Pre-Trial Chamber's ruling to resume investigation into the bloody anti-narcotics campaign.

In an 11-page decision dated March 21, the ICC’s Appeals Chamber directed the Victims Participation and Reparations Section “to collect and transmit to the Appeals Chamber representations from any interested victims and victim groups and prepare and submit a report thereon by 22 May 2023.”

“The Office of Public Counsel for Victims may submit written observations, not exceeding 40 pages, on the Republic of the Philippines’ appeal brief in relation to the general interest of victims by 18 April 2023,” it added.

The Appeals Chamber said it deems it appropriate to include the victims of the “war on drugs” as it resolves the Philippine government’s appeal.

Manila, through the appeal filed by the Office of the Solicitor General, has asked the ICC’s Appeals Chamber to reverse the authorization its Pre-Trial Chamber granted to its prosecutors to resume investigation into the “war on drugs” of the Duterte administration.

ENRILE WANTS TO LIFT CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON NUKES. HERE'S WHY PHILIPPINES CAN'T DO THAT

MANILA — Chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile suggested Wednesday to lift the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons even if the Philippines is party to treaties that prevent it from acquiring these.

The Philippines signed in 2017 the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which bans the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. The Senate unanimously concurred in the ratification of this treaty in 2021.

On top of this, the country is also a party to the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty.

Still, Enrile called the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons “the most serious and unwanted provision” of the Charter.

“In the modern world today, a small country can protect itself against the superpowers if they have nuclear weapons. We should remove that restriction and make the country flexible,” Enrile said.

He continued, “If we can afford it, we should also have nuclear weapons so that our people would not be trampled upon let alone made a tuta (puppy) or alipin (slave) of other countries. We must be sure that we make our people equal, if not better than others.”

The 1987 Constitution states that the country adopts and pursues "a policy of freedom from nuclear weapons in its territory."

But even before the current Charter, the Philippines had already adopted a policy against nuclear weapons.

As early as 1968, during the time of the first Marcos administration during which Enrile was justice secretary, the Philippines signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons which aimed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

The Philippines in the same year entered into a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency which provided that nuclear materials used in peaceful applications should not be used to develop weapons.

Despite this history, Senate constitutional amendments panel chairperson Robinhood Padilla and Senate defense panel chairperson Jinggoy Estrada agreed with Enrile’s stance.

Padilla said he might pursue this amendment to the Constitution after his current push for changes to the economic provisions of the Charter which he deems to be restrictive.

“We are in the nuclear age, let’s not deny that. We are really in that period and we will study that carefully in Congress,” he said in Filipino in a news conference.

HOUSE PASSED 23 PRIORITY BILLS, SAYS SPEAKER

The House of Representatives succeeded in approving on third and final reading 23 of 31 bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) as priority measures of the Marcos administration before its session adjourns for the Holy Week recess, Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said Wednesday.

These measures were already transmitted to the Senate.

Lawmakers will continue working on remaining priority legislation even during the congressional break.

The House authorized Wednesday night all its committees to hold hearings, if needed, during the period of adjournment from March 23 to May 7, 2023, to process important bills pending in various panels of the chamber.

After hearing no objection, Speaker Romualdez, who presided over the session, granted the motion.

The 31 LEDAC priority measures, collectively called the Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) of Malacañang, Senate, and the House of Representatives were drawn up from dozens of legislative measures filed in Congress to further stimulate economic activities, create job opportunities, reduce poverty, and provide better health care services for Filipinos.

Romualdez said out of the 23 measures approved by the House, two had been signed into law by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., while the remaining eight bills in the LEDAC priority list are under advanced stages of deliberation.

23 CRACKS ON SHIP’S SURFACE COUNTED, OPTION TO PLUG OR SIPHON OIL RAISED

The Japanese remotely operated vehicle (ROV) tasked to find the sunken tanker that caused a massive oil spill off Oriental Mindoro has found cracks on the ship’s surface, the mayor of Pola, Oriental Mindoro said Wednesday.

“Images show that there is a crack on the ship and the oil is leaking from it. It cannot be saved anymore, more or less,” said Mayor Jennifer “Ina Alegre” Cruz.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor said the sunken tanker has at least 23 leaking areas.

However, the ROV Hakuyo is not capable of plugging or siphoning oil from the sunken MT Princess Empress, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Artemio Abu said in a television interview.

Abu told News5 another vessel from Singapore may have to be contracted by the tanker’s owner, RDC Reield Marine Services, to do this task, following the “spillers pay” principle.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also said Wednesday there is no need to appoint an official who will lead the government’s response to control the oil spill off the waters of Mindoro Island.

“The head of the task force for the oil spill is the Coast Guard. Admiral [Artemio] Abu heads it. So, there’s no need (for another official). You see, there’s no need to organize something for everything,” Mr. Marcos said in an interview with reporters in Taguig.

“The idea is to have the assets in place so that if something like that happened, we can respond. We do not have to organize a special group, a special committee, or a special task force. They’re ready already as it is,” he added on the sidelines of the Philippine Army’s anniversary celebration.

The President said the Coast Guard is spearheading the effort because it has the assets and is also the one coordinating the foreign aid that is coming in.

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US REPORT: PHILIPPINES STILL STRUGGLING TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL ABUSE

MANILA — The Philippines still does not have enough resources to enforce laws against the sexual exploitation of minors, keeping child abuse a significant problem in the country, according to the US State Department’s report on the country's human rights situation.

"Inadequate prosecutorial resources and capacity to analyze alleged abusers’ computers for evidence were among the challenges to effective enforcement," the country report on the Philippines said.

It also pointed out that individuals who force children into cybersex activities — some of them relatives of the victims — remain undeterred by stiff penalties and government efforts to catch offenders.

"Despite the penalties and enforcement efforts, law enforcement agencies and NGOs agreed that criminals and family members continued to use minors in the production of pornography and in cybersex activities," the report stated.

Offenders found to be producing or in possession of child pornography can be prosecuted under Philippine laws with penalties ranging from one month to life imprisonment, in addition to significant fines.

This, however, has failed to stop the Philippines from remaining a "destination for foreign and domestic child sex tourists."

"Additionally, live internet broadcasts of young girls, boys, and sibling groups performing sex acts for paying foreigners continued," the report also revealed.

It acknowledged, however, that the Philippine government "continued to prosecute accused pedophiles, deport those who were foreigners, and bar the entry of identified convicted sex offenders."

From 2021 to 2022, a staggering 72% of all child abuse cases on average involved sexual abuse or assault, according to the monitoring by Women and Children Protection Units.

In 2021, nearly 6,000 children were sexually abused. This climbed to 6,600 cases in 2022.

WCPUs are established by the non-government organization Child Protection Network Foundation in health department-retained and local government-supported hospitals to increase care services for abused children. There are currently 115 WCPUs in 59 provinces.

MORE THAN P38M IN AID GIVEN TO OIL SPILL-AFFECTED FAMILIES: DSWD

MANILA -- More than P38.1 million in humanitarian assistance has been given to families affected by the oil spill off Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday.

Speaking with Tele Radyo, DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez said the aid has been given to families in Oriental Mindoro, in Agutaya town in Palawan, and in Caluya in Antique.

"Dito po sa ating P38.1 million, kasama po dito yung ating mga family food packs, at ganoon din po, yung atin pong pinamamahagi naman doon sa ating sa assistance to individuals in crisis situations," he said.

"So doon po tayo sa ating cash aid, nasa 5,961 beneficiaries na po yung natutulungan na natin sa Oriental Mindoro, ganoon din po sa Agutaya po sa Palawan at meron din po sa Antique."

"When it comes to (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) po nasa P19.4 million na po yung naipamamahagi nating tulong doon sa mga apektado nating kababayan," he added.

HOUSE VOTES TO SUSPEND TEVES FOR 60 DAYS OVER CONTINUED ABSENCE

The House of Representatives has slapped a 60-day suspension on Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., for refusing to heed its order to return to the Philippines to face murder charges filed against him.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also called on Teves to return from the United States as he played down supposed threats to his life.

Aside from being charged for three murders in 2019, Teves has also been linked to the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, a political ally of the President.

The House on plenary session voted 292-0-0 to adopt a committee report declaring Teves guilty of “disorderly conduct affecting the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives.”

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez assured the public that the House would not tolerate misconduct and wrongdoing among its members.

The House committee on ethics and privileges submitted its report for plenary action, after which the House imposed a 60-day suspension against Teves for disorderly behavior.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LIZA SOBERANO APOLOGIZES TO ABS-CBN, OGIE DIAZ, ENRIQUE GIL

MANILA — Actress Liza Soberano apologized to ABS-CBN as well as to other personalities she offended on her "life update" YouTube video.

In Boy Abunda's "The Interviewer," Liza said that it wasn't her intention to offend them.

"I’m sorry again also to them if there were people that I’ve worked closely with that were offended by some of the things that I said in my vlog, that wasn’t the intention but then also I’m thankful to them," she said.

"And they know this, I’m thankful for them for taking a risk on me when I was a nobody, for investing on me, developing me, creating Liza Soberano. And thank you also for being so understanding when I decided to not renew with them," she added.

Liza also apologized to her former talent manager Ogie Diaz. She also thanked Ogie for everything she achieved because of him.

“To Tito Ogie, I would like to say sorry if I hurt his feelings through my vlog, and I would say thank you for everything that I have, everything that I know, and everything that I achieved through his help,” Liza said.

Liza also apologized to boyfriend Enrique Gil for not being able to see his struggle with her career direction.

“I feel like I should say sorry to Quen for not being as understanding [to him], or for not being able to see through his struggles because I was struggling at the same time, too. I want to say thank you because he was very understanding of the whole situation,” she said.

“[Enrique] supports me with everything that I do. And he’s always been a good friend, good boyfriend, and everything that I could [ever ask for] amid my success. He was the person that I got to share it with in that way. And [LizQuen] was a good experience,” she added.

SPORTS

TNT ELIMINATES PHOENIX, 132-105, ADVANCES TO SEMIS (PBA GOVERNORS' CUP)

Twice-to-beat and no. seed TNT Tropang GIGA eliminates no.8 Phoenix Super LPG, 132-105 in the quarterfinals of the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday, March 22 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

RR Pogoy led the Tropang Giga's balanced attack with 25 points (11/18fg) along with eleven rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block. Jayson Castro had a solid output of 20 points, one rebound, four assists and 2 steals while Glenn Khobuntin added 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc to go with four rebounds and two assists. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with a triple-double of 18 points, twelve rebounds, ten assists, four steals and a block.

TNT advances to the best-of-5 semifinals against the winner of Meralco-Magnolia quarterfinals matchup.

The Scores:

TNT 132 - Pogoy 25, Castro 20, Khobuntin 19, Hollis-Jefferson 18, Oftana 15, M Williams 14, Chua 6, Erram 6, Montalbo 3, Marcelo 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 2, K Williams 2, Varilla 0, Tungcab 0.

PHOENIX 105 – Maxwell 23, Perkins 21, Mocon 15, Serrano 9, Manganti 8, Jazul 8, Tio 7, Muyang 5, Lojera 3, Soyud 3, Alejandro 3, Garcia 0, Adamos 0, Go 0, Camacho 0, Lalata 0.

Quarters: 38-41, 66-64, 100-83, 132-105

MERALCO ELIMINATES MAGNOLIA, 113-107 IN OT, ADVANCES TO SEMIS (PBA GOVERNORS' CUP)

Meralco Bolts escape past the Magnolia Timplados Hotshots, 113-107 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Wednesday, March 22 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Meralco advances to best-of-5 semifinals series against TNT.

The Scores:

MERALCO 113 - Newsome 33, McDaniels 27, Black 16, Banchero 16, Maliksi 9, Almazan 7, Quinto 3, Hodge 2, Caram 0, Pasaol 0, Jose 0.

MAGNOLIA 107 – Lee 22, Hester 21, Barroca 18, Abueva 15, Jalalon 9, Dela Rosa 8, Dionisio 6, Wong 4, Escoto 4, Corpuz 0.

Quarters: 22-21, 47-49, 76-78, 96-96, 113-107

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 54.50

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Telling us to obey our instinct is like telling us to obey 'people.' People say different things: so do instincts. Our instincts are at war. - C.S. Lewis