Navy removes China markers on West Philippine Sea

PNoy welcomes U.S. envoy's support over Spratlys row

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy has removed markers in the West Philippine Sea that were placed by Chinese forces.

One was removed from the Reed Bank, which is now known as Recto Bank, one was taken from the Boxall Reef, while another from Douglas Bank.

The markers were placed by China without permission.

Meanwhile, Chinese and Vietnamese poachers are often sighted by villagers in Barangay Simpokan, Puerto Princesa, whose shores face the disputed Spratlys.

However, barangay officials, armed with only one patrol boat, can't go after them.

The Philippine Air Force recently observed Chinese and Vietnamese forces upgrading their facilities on the Spratly Islands.

In August, a second-hand ship from the U.S. Coast Guard will augment Philippine Navy forces in Palawan.

U.S. support for Philippines

The U.S. has also waded in on the Spratlys dispute.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Harry Thomas said being a treaty ally, America will support the Philippines.

"I wanna assure you that on all subjects, we, the United States, are with the Philippines. The Philippines and the United States are strategic treaty allies," he said. "We will continue to consult and work with each other on all issues including the South China Sea and Spratly Islands."

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao earlier said Washington should not interfere in the issue, since it is not a party to the Spratlys dispute.

This was echoed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei after Vietnam also asked the U.S. for help.

The U.S., however, did not categorically state if its support would include military aid if the tension gives way to armed conflict.

President Benigno Aquino III, meanwhile, is happy with Thomas' statement.

Aquino is insisting on the Philippines' right to search for oil within its territory.

He invoked the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that states a country's territory extends 200 nautical miles from its shores.   

Recto Bank is 80 nautical miles from Palawan, and is 576 miles away from China.

"So 576 is obviously greater than 200. So suddenly why should there be a dispute if we are conforming to international law?" Aquino asked.

"Siyempre they are a superpower, they have more than 10 times our population, we do not want any hostility to break out. Perhaps the presence of our treaty partner, which is the United States of America, ensures that all of us will have freedom of navigation."

The Philippines and China, however, both reiterate that they would like to peacefully settle the Spratlys dispute. - Reports from Ces Oreña Drilon and Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News; ANC

PNoy gov't doles out P4B, seeks P2B more

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino government has already spent P4.127 billion of the P17.13-billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) budget allotted for 2011.

Despite this, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman faced the Senate finance oversight committee on Tuesday afternoon and said it still needs an additional P2 billion to cover over 2 million households for its Pantawid Pamilya program.

Senate Finance committee chair Franklin Drilon did not commit to supporting her request for additional funds, pending a certification from the Department of Budget and Management that there are enough funds.

As of May 31, the DSWD had already released P4.127 billion to 1.6 million households.

Soliman said the DSWD is short of funds because it started giving away cash before the programmed implementation in June.

She said the program has a high accomplishment rate in terms of health visits, education, and family development sessions, which are pre-conditions for the release of funds to beneficiaries.

Soliman also told the committee that it has an assessment mechanism, via a survey commissioned to see the effectiveness of the program.

The survey will be done by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) toward the latter part of 2011.

Both Drilon and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said they were satisfied with the explanation of Soliman.

Under the government's CCT program, the poorest of the poor gets P300 for each child (no more than 3 children and not older than 14 years old), while the mother or parent gets P500 every month on the condition that the children attend at least 85% of their school days, and submit to the government's health programs like vaccination.

Palace urged: Consult before appointing ARMM OICs

MANILA, Philippines - Civil society groups from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are appealing to President Benigno Aquino III to hold a dialogue with different sectors in the region before appointing officers in charge (OICs).

They aired their call as Congress approved a bill to synchronize the ARMM polls with the national elections in 2013.

Officials of the groups said there are talks that some personalities are lobbying to be appointed as ARMM executives.

"Naririnig po namin na gumagapang ang mga traditional politicians sa Malacañang na humihingi ng positions sa ARMM," said Dr. Darwin Rasul of the Bangun Minority Rights Forum.

They hope the President will pick those who will truly represent the interest of the ARMM.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has dismissed claims that senators who voted in favor of deferring the ARMM elections received an additional P100 million pork barrel from Malacañang, on top of their yearly allocation of P200 million.

Last Monday, the senators voted 13-7 to postpone the ARMM polls. - ANC

Pagcor may close Thunderbird casinos after TRO

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) said it is studying whether to close Thunderbird Resorts' casinos in La Union and Rizal when a 17-day temporary restraining order (TRO) runs out.

Thunderbird got the TRO earlier this week after Pagcor took steps to close the casinos amid a dispute over its license.

Pagcor said Thunderbird has been operating without a license since 2009 and refused to accept terms the agency set for a new license.

Pagcor said it offered Thunderbird 60% of revenue, compared with 75% in its original license.

"We will comply with the temporary restraining order when the order is in effect but once it lapses then we will study our options whether or not we will enforce the closure again or if by that time Thunderbird and Pagcor come to terms with respect to the issuance of the license," Jay Santiago, head of legal at Pagcor, said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).

In a statement on its website, Thunderbird, which also operates resorts and hotels in Peru, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, said the terms proposed by Pagcor are onerous.   Pagcor clarified that Thunderbird is an isolated case because it was operating without a license.

It said it won't touch other companies whose licenses are in force. Some traders had blamed declines in Alliance Global Group Inc. and Belle Corp. on concern Pagcor may try to revise the terms of their licenses as well.   "The case of Thunderbird is an isolated situation," Santiago said. "Unlike other gaming establishments which have their operating licenses in place, Thunderbird as of now doesn’t have a license to begin with so we cannot compare Thunderbird's situation with gaming operators who are operating validly with a license.''            Alliance Global, which operates the Resorts World casino, fell 3% on Thursday. Belle, which plans to open a casino complex in the Manila Bay area next year, fell for the 7th day.

PH press: Gov attacks radio announcer on air

NUJP urges probe of attack; NPC to file raps

MANILA, Philippines – The governor of Kalinga province is in hot water after being caught on camera attacking a radio commentator inside the announcer's booth of the government-owned DZRK Radyo ng Bayan-Kalinga Tuesday morning.

Radio announcer Jerome Tabanganay said he was hosting his show "Agenda ng Bayan" on Tuesday when Governor Jocel Baac barged into the announcer's booth and started pointing at Tabanganay's monitor. The governor then grabbed a microphone and hit the radio announcer on the lip.

Two security guards then went inside the booth and tried to pacify Baac, who was clearly angry with the announcer.

An Agence France-Presse report said Baac even threatened the announcer before leaving: "Go on. Keep talking. I will kill you."

The entire incident was caught on camera by the radio station. However, the part about the governor hitting Tabanganay was not seen because the cameraman accidentally bumped the camera.

In an interview with ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda", Baac denied intentionally hitting Tabanganay. He said he hit the radio announcer by accident after grabbing the microphone.

"Hindi ko hinampas si Jerome...Pagkakuha ko ng microphone yun ang tumama sa bibig ni Jerome. Ang intensyon ko sa pagpunta duon ay hindi para saktan si Jerome. My intention to go there was to get leverage over radio to answer allegation niya," he told Punto por Punto host Anthony Taberna.

He said he rushed to the radio station because Tabanganay was reporting about the governor's order to the DZRK station manager that they should censor his show.

Baac said that on Monday, he had told the dzRK station manager Basilio Baluyan to inform Tabanganay to take a vacation and put his show on hold because it was making a lot of government officials angry.

He said Tabanganay would often read unverified text messages on his show about alleged anomalies of government agencies.

"Maraming nagrereklamo. As a leader of the province, obligasyon ko to take action," the governor said, adding that Tabanganay was "wild" because he refused to listen.

He also told the station manager to rectify an allegedly erroneous report on the arson attempt on the radio station last month. The report was aired on ABS-CBN and radio dzMM.

The governor noted that Tabanganay had already survived a homicide attempt last year. He said he even sent 2 policemen to the radio station to guard the announcer after the incident.

'Governor a protector of jueteng, illegal logging'

Tabanganay refuted the governor's account of the events. "Nagsisinungaling si governor (The governor is lying)," he said, adding that he has the medical certificate to prove his injuries.

He said the video clearly shows that the governor had no intention of explaining his side in a peaceful manner.

"I have a medical certificate. Hayaan na yung critical aspect, injuries but yung ginawa ni governor na paghablot, pagsira sa istasyon. Tingnan mo yung goons niya. Armado yan ng M-16. May armed men pa sa labas ng station na hindi authorized na humawak ng baril," he told ABS-CBN.

Tabanganay accused the governor of being a protector of illegal gambling and logging in the province. He said Baac wants to dictate to the media because of the various exposés on his show. 

"Galit sa akin yan dahil ayaw niya magbantay ng korapsyon. Pati nga ang Philippine Army pinapagalitan niya pag naghuhuli ng nangangahoy," he said.

The radio announcer said that he is actually the 5th person to be attacked by the governor. He said Baac also attacked 2 engineers and 2 women previously.

Tabanganay said he is just doing his job of exposing the truth.

The governor, meanwhile, said the announcer does not want to listen to his advice.

"These allegations are sour graping.Hindi niya kinukuha ang advice para sa kapakanan niya e. Ayaw namin mangyari sa kanya e...kaya we want him to cool off. Imbes na magcool off ang sitwasyon, masama ang pagtanggap niya sa advice sa kanya," he said. DILG probes attack

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), meanwhile, urged the national government to investigate the incident and stop the escalation of violence against journalists.

In an interview, NUJP Secretary General Rowena Paraan said Tabanganay's plight shows the difficulties faced by journalists in far-off places such as Kalinga. She noted that Tabanganay already survived a murder attempt last year.

"The fact that he continues with his work shows his commitment and is commendable," she said.

Paraan said one problem faced by Tabanganay is the lack of protection provided by government. She said the regional state prosecutor has admitted that the Witness Protection Program (WPP) has no funds to provide him security.

She said she has already received a report that the governor is issuing a petition that would effectively bar Tabanganay from continuing his profession.

Paraan said the Aquino administration should step in to show that violence against journalists by elected officials is not tolerated. "The government must show that the governor's actions are not being tolerated. Hindi dapat pinapabayaan ang mga elected officials na gawin ito. They must be sanctioned," she said.

Paraan said she does not believe the governor's explanation that he was merely trying to explain his side to Tabanganay. She said the video only proves who between the two was being wild.

"Bakit (siya) kailangang awatin? (Why do they need to pacify him?)" she said, referring to Baac.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said he has ordered an investigation of the governor, and directed the police to provide security for Tabanganay.

"If the result of the investigation will show there is evidence against Baac and his bodyguards, then appropriate criminal and administrative charges should be filed against him soon," Robredo said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said that "appropriate procedures" would be taken against the governor.

"We reaffirm our commitment to protect the responsible exercise of freedom of expression by broadcasters and journalists," he added. Gov to face sedition, administrative raps

The National Press Club, meanwhile, said it will file administrative, civil and criminal cases against the governor.

In a statement, the NPC said it will sue Baac for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and for oppression, both punishable with dismissal from the service.

It said Baac will also be charged with violating Article 32 of the Civil Code of the Philippines that calls for free exercise of the press. Finally, the NPC will also file a criminal case for sedition against the governor.

"In the eyes of the NPC, the acts done by the governor is an act of hate or revenge against all in the class of journalists to preserve his political power...Rest assured that the NPC will always take the cudgels for all or any member of the press because it was created for the purpose of upholding the freedom of the press," the group said.   Media and rights groups say the Philippines is one of the world's most dangerous places for journalists.

They say a culture of impunity pervades the country, where powerful figures often act above the law and firearms proliferate.

At least 142 journalists have been killed since the fall of dictator Ferdinand Marcos and the restoration of democracy in 1986, according to the Philippine journalists' union.

Most infamously, 30 journalists were among 57 people murdered in the southern Philippines in 2009, allegedly by members of a powerful clan who wanted to eliminate a rival's political challenge.  With a report from Agence France-Presse

PH maintains ownership of Reed Bank in Spratlys

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines maintained its ownership of Reed Bank, amid a reported call of China to all claimants of the Spratly Islands to stop all forms of explorations in the South China Sea.

Malacañang said oil exploration should continue in non-disputed areas or areas owned by the Philippines, including Reed Bank.

"Number one, we will have to confer with the Department of Energy and with the Department of Foreign Affairs with respect to the disputed areas. With respect to the non-disputed areas, we have every reason to do our exploration there because it's ours. There should be no issue as to our sovereign right to explore our own natural resources," Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters in Malacañang.  

The Philippines stood by its statements on the recent incidents in the South China Sea, even after a statement from the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, demanding that the Philippines "stop unilateral actions that damage China's sovereignty and interests at sea…and stop issuing irresponsible comments that are inconsistent with facts."

"Well, 'yun ang kanilang pananaw. Ang aming pananaw, ang sinabi po ni [Defense] Sec. Voltz Gazmin, it's a very responsible statement. We believe that we are asserting only what we claim is ours in our sovereign capacity…Dapat po walang question sa Western Palawan, sa Reed Bank, ito po ay atin, kasi ito ay 80 nautical miles po from Palawan in contrast to them which is about over 400 or a little less than 500 nautical miles from them. So obviously, ito po ay ating inaangkin noon pa and was never considered disputed," Lacierda said. Peaceful resolution of dispute, PNoy visit

Amid all these, the Philippines remains committed to having the issue resolved peacefully and diplomatically.

Lacierda said the situation is not worsening as all claimants remain committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. He said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues to be in touch with Chinese Embassy officials in Manila.

"What we believe and what we strongly would like to see is the peaceful resolution in this area. China obviously has their claimed of the 9-dash line. We obviously dispute that so we would rather have a peaceful dialogue be undertaken by the various claimants on the South China Sea, not just between the Philippines and China, but also the other claimants of the area, for instance Vietnam and the other countries," Lacierda said.

The date for President Aquino's state visit to China has not yet been finalized but Aquino is expected to take up the Spratlys issue with his Chinese counterparts.

"Well, again, we don't have a firm schedule yet on China. The DFA would be handling that but definitely the President has been apprised of the situation and in the proper time, the President will relay to the Chinese officials, his counterpart, as to the conduct and attitude of the Philippines and the stand of the Philippines on that matter," Lacierda said.

Ex-Comelec exec's nephew nabbed for drugs

MANILA, Philippines - A nephew of former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Moslemen Macarambong was arrested on Thursday night for illegal drugs.

Armed with a search warrant issued by a Manila court,  Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officers raided the house of businessman Sohayle Babao on Amatista Street in San Andres, Manila.

Authorities found sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, inside the house.

PDEA Director Wilkins Villanueva said Babao is a shabu major supplier. He added that the suspect sources the illegal drugs straight from mainland China.

Tension erupted during the operation after several of Babao's friends rushed to the area to prevent his arrest.

PDEA had to seek help from the Manila Police District to prevent an outbreak of violence.

Villanueva described Babao as a "Robin Hood" in the area. He said the suspect helps people in need.

Macarambong also went to Babao's house. However, he did not get involved and allowed PDEA agents to arrest his nephew. - Report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

US also alarmed by China's intrusions: AFP chief

MANILA, Philippines - The United States is also alarmed by China's intrusions into Philippine territory, Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban said on Thursday.

He said President Benigno Aquino III's visit to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson last month had a message for China.

Under their Mutual Defense Treaty, the US is obliged to help the Philippines if it gets attacked by another country.

Oban said Chinese forces have entered Philippine territory 6 times this year.

To boost the Philippines' defense and answer China's intrusions, the Armed Forces plan to buy more equipment and hardware worth around P11.9 billion within the next 3 years.

The military currently only has one radar while at least 6 are needed to secure the country's airspace.

Oban said Philippine troops will fire back if they are attacked in the Spratlys.

However, he said that based on statements made by the Chinese defense minister during his visit to the Philippines last month, the situation in the South China Sea has not deteriorated yet into a shooting war. - Report from Ces Oreña Drilon, ABS-CBN News

Filipino maid cleared in HK double murder: report

HONG KONG  - A male Filipino domestic helper has been cleared of the 2003 double murder of an American couple whom he worked for in Hong Kong, local radio RTHK reported Wednesday.

The report said jurors unanimously acquitted Magno Cruz Manalili over the stabbing deaths of the couple after 23 hours of deliberation.

A court official could not be immediately reached to confirm the jury's verdict. Manalili's trial in Hong Kong's High Court started last month.

The 41-year-old accused had denied murdering Ng Ka-mong, 54, and Sun King-man, 54, who were both secondary school teachers of Chinese descent, according to reports.

Manalili fled to the Philippines soon after the April 2003 killings but was extradited back to Hong Kong last June.

He was arrested in the northern Philippines in 2004, but fought a Hong Kong police extradition request before eventually agreeing to be sent to the territory for trial.

Ex-Ampatuan aide bares bribery attempt on judges

MANILA, Philippines - A former aide of the Ampatuan clan detailed how the family allegedly gave their lawyer P50 million to try and bribe judges in the Maguindanao massacre case.   The affidavit of Lakmodin Saliao led the court to issue a freeze order on more than 700 bank accounts of the Ampatuan family.

Saliao was once a loyal servant of the Ampatuans, but turned state witness after he felt he was next in line to be killed since he knew too much about the family he served.

Along with his affidavit, Saliao attached his identification card as an employee of the Maguindanao Provincial Capitol where he was hired as an administrative aide.

Aside from naming the banks where the Ampatuans keep their money, Saliao related how he would collect P50 million from the Provincial Treasurer every 11th and 15th of the month on orders of former Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr.

Saliao said Ampatuan Sr. would keep the money in a vault, or distribute them to his children for deposit in their personal accounts.

‘Extravagant lifestyle’

Saliao also related the extravagant lifestyle of the Ampatuans. He accompanied the family patriarch when he shopped one day for 36 [Toyota] Hilux vehicles in Davao.

He also joined a trip to Dubai where they stayed at the 7-star Burj Al Arab Hotel. He added Ampatuan Sr. was a casino habitué.

According to Saliao, a day before martial law was declared in the province on December 5, 2009, the Ampatuan family members emptied their vaults and carted away sacks of money, pretending they were throwing away garbage.

Saliao said this was done on orders of Ampatuan Sr.   Among the list of frozen bank accounts are those of Attorney Redemberto Villanueva, lawyer of former ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan.

In his affidavit, Saliao said on April 13, 2010, while Ampatuan Sr. was in the Camp Panacan Hospital in Davao, P50 million was given to Villanueva, allegedly to bribe judges to exclude Zaldy, Sajid, Anwar and Andal Ampatuan Sr. and Akmad Tato from the massacre case.

A source told ANC, the Anti-Money Laundering Council's (AMLC) examination of Villanueva's 2 accounts indicated a P52 million-deposit in one and a transfer of P56 million in another. Freeze order too late?

But some private prosecutors are worried the freeze order is too late. Some of the victims' families have sued the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and AMLC for their slow action in the plunder case. But Attorney Nena Santos believes otherwise.

She said it is also vital to prove the Ampatuans' alleged attempts to bribe members of the judiciary and Department of Justice.

In Wednesday’s preliminary conference on the massacre case, the defense once again named former President Gloria Arroyo as one of their witnesses, after retracting her name in a previous hearing.