Senate to give Teves chance to be heard – Bato

by CeCille Suerte Felipe Philstar.com

MANILA — Suspended

Negros Oriental 3rd District

Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be given the chance to be heard if he attends the public hearing of the Senate committee on public order on his alleged involvement in high-profile murder cases in the province, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said on Monday, April 10.

Dela Rosa said Teves was invited as a resource speaker in the public hearing of his committee next week. He clarified that the hearing will not cover the criminal cases against Teves being handled by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“Hopefully, Congressman Arnie Teves can join us… even via Zoom if he is still abroad,”

Dela Rosa said in an interview with Senate reporters online.

He said the public hearing will cover policy matters involving individuals having bodyguards and private armies as well as gun control.

“The legal aspect is well handled. The DILG and DOJ are on top of it,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the cases filed against the suspended congressman in connection with the March 4 killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo and several others.

“The main focus of this investigation is more on policy matters. Let us look at having bodyguards, about having private armies, about gun control. All policy matters which could be touched and address policy gaps through legislation, then we can do that,” the senator said.

But he did not rule out gathering additional evidence in the course of the public hearing, which the prosecution might use to make the case against Teves airtight.

The senator said the public hearing might also touch on other related killings in Negros Oriental that were not properly investigated then as few or no witnesses had come forward for fear of reprisals from perpetrators of the killings.

When asked how he intended to prevent other politicians from using the committee hearing for their political advantage, Dela Rosa said that as an experienced and retired police investigator, he is capable of protecting the committee.

“But then again, since this is a public hearing, let us accommodate all those who want to testify. For all we know, justice will prevail in this hearing,” he added.

“Maybe some witnesses have long wanted to come out but are afraid to because they know the suspect as high and mighty and powerful. But now, he’s no longer powerful so they can come out in the open,” he said.

The House of Representatives approved the suspension of Teves after he refused to return to the country and report for work amid allegations of his involvement in high-profile murders, including Degamo’s.

The suspended congressman went on medical leave in the U.S. on Feb. 28, four days before the assassination of Degamo. He is believed to still be in the U.S. n

Ang mga AAP ay namamahala sa paggamit ng mga pederal na pondo mula sa U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ang mga pondo ng Lungsod na natanggap sa pamamagitan ng pormula mula sa HUD ay kinabibilangan ng Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), at Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA). Ang mga pondo ng pormula ng Lungsod ay may average na humigit-kumulang $14 na milyon taun-taon, depende sa pederal na badyet. Ang pagsulong ng mga Planong ito ay ipinaaalam nang lubos sa pamamagitan ng mga feedback ng publiko.

Kung gusto mong magbigay ng mga komento sa pag-amyenda sa Plano, tinatanggap ng Lungsod ang iyong pagdalo sa alinman sa mga pulong na nakalista sa iskedyul sa ibaba. Bukod pa rito, ang mga komento ay maaaring ibigay sa pamamagitan ng telepono, regular na koreo (sa City of San José Housing Department, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 12th Floor, San José, California 95113), o sa pamamagitan ng pag-email sa mga impormasyon ng kontak na nakalista sa ibaba para sa mga gumagamit ng Ingles at ang mga may limitadong kasanayan sa Ingles. Ang draft na mga Mahalagang Pagbabago ay makikita para sa komento ng publiko sa Housing Department’s website mula Abril 23, 2023 hanggang Mayo 23, 2023. Upang humiling ng mga espesyal na akomodasyon para sa alinman sa mga pagpupulong o isang alternatibong pormat para sa anumang nauugnay na naka-print na materyales, mangyaring tumawag sa (408) 294-9337 (TTY) sa lalong madaling panahon, ngunit hindi bababa sa tatlong araw ng negosyo bago ang pulong. Ang lahat ng mga pampublikong pagpupulong ay maa-access ng mga may kapansanan sa pagkilos.

Iskedyul ng mga Pampublikong Pagdinig

Ano Sino Saan Kailan

Paglabas ng Iminungkahing mga

Mahalagang Pagbabago para sa FY

2019-2020 AAP Simula ng 15-araw na pagbibigay for maritime security and domain awareness, as well as the employment concept of newly acquired equipment and weapon systems under its modernization program and application of newly developed doctrines "with the end-in-view of projecting a credible defense posture."

Variava stressed that this year's joint military activities will be the biggest ever which, she said, is "an indication of the growth of our alliance and how it continues to evolve to meet our shared goals."

Licudine emphasized the importance of the Balikatan to both forces.

"It builds interoperability, enhances capabilities, and demonstrates mutual defense of the Philippine sovereign territory," he said.

Exercise Balikatan, to this day, remains one of the best training opportunities to improve both countries' military arms. In this historic event, the CSAFP urged the participants to embody professionalism, excellence, and the spirit of camaraderie.

Present in the opening ceremony were U.S. Chargé d'affaires Heather Variava, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Loss Carlson; AFP Chief of Staff General Andres C Centino; U.S. Exercise Director Representative Major General Eric Austin of the U.S. Marine Corps; and Philippine Exercise Director Major General Marvin Licudine of the Philippine Army. In his remarks, General Centino said for the AFP in particular, this year's Balikatan exercise is "most timely" as the Philippine military fast-tracks the enhancement of its capabilities

On the 38th iteration of the Balikatan, the participating forces will enhance their joint and combined capabilities in maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire exercise, urban operations, aviation operations, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

Major General Austin said Balikatan signifies a more robust security relationship between the Philippines and the U.S., which are longtime allies.

"Balikatan is an important opportunity to train shoulderto-shoulder and build trust and confidence that enable our forces to respond to crises and contingencies as a team," shared.

Meanwhile, Major General

"I am confident that both our Armed Forces shall reap invaluable benefits from this Balikatan Exercise as we continue to pursue our shared goals of regional peace, security, and stability," Centino said.

The opening salvo of the Balikatan was held in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija on Monday, April 10 as Filipino and American soldiers trained side by side in knock-out bunker and room clearing operations.

At the same time, partner nation Australia will also participate in some events, and officials from Japan are expected to observe some. Furthermore, different assets and weapon systems will be utilized for various activities. n

PH keeps tight watch over growing Taiwan Strait tensions

MANILA – The Philippines continues to monitor developments over growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait as China caps its three-day war games around Taiwan, the country’s top diplomat said Tuesday, April 11.

In a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) forum on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said a conflict would spell disaster, specifically to the Philippines given its close proximity to the island.

The top diplomat reiterated that any kind of escalation of tensions, more so a military conflict, puts at risk the over 100,000 Filipinos working in Taiwan.

“[A]ny kind of escalation of tensions or, even worse, some kind of a conflict, military conflict, would have really adverse repercussions on the

Philippines,” he said. Manalo then reiterated his call for all parties to engage in a dialogue.

Over the weekend, Beijing sent warships and fighter jets around Taiwan for military drills following Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit to the United States.

TheChinese Foreign Ministry said the war games is meant to serve as a “stern warning to the provocative activities of Taiwan independence secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces.”

China, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province, firmly opposes any form of official contact between the U.S. and Taiwan.

The Philippines, like the U.S., adheres to the one-China principle and recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the government of China. While the U.S. has no diplomatic ties with Taipei, it maintains a “robust unofficial relationship” with the island and makes available “defense articles and services necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.”

Washington, DC, according to the State Department, also maintains its “capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of Taiwan.” At the CSIS forum, Manalo deferred when asked about restrictions and if U.S. weaponry could be stored in the newly identified Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites.

He said all activities within any of the sites have to be discussed and permitted by U.S. and Philippine sides. (PNA)

Easter recovery

EASTER Sunday, a special day devoted to the risen Christ, is marked this year with genuine celebration. For the first time since the crippling lockdowns in March 2020 to contain a deadly pandemic, all restrictions on religious rites have been lifted.

Masks are still worn outdoors even if this is no longer mandatory, but throughout this Holy Week, people freely gathered again – for masses and processions, for rituals to remember the passion and death of Christ, to chant in prayer and visit different churches for the Stations of the Cross. In Central Luzon, bloody self-flagellation and live crucifixions, although not sanctioned by the Church, were fully back, with no more restrictions such as those imposed last year by some of the local government units.

This Holy Week, many people are also emerging from the grief of personal loss caused by COVID: the death of loved ones and friends, the loss of jobs and shutdown of businesses. The threat isn’t over; as of Holy Wednesday, April 7, the official COVID death toll in the country stood at 66,396, with the 9,120 active cases bringing the total infections since 2020 to 4,082,580. The cases are widely believed to be underreported because people are no longer getting RT-PCR tests on which the

Babe’s Eye View

BaBe Romualdez

THERE’S hardly enough time for Easter break in Washington, DC as we expect a flurry of activity starting with the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on April 11 of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ricky Manalo and Defense OIC Charlie Galvez with their U.S. counterparts, State Secretary Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The policy-level dialogue is expected to solidify the alliance between the Philippines and the United States even more, with discussions to center on mutual concerns that include energy security, strategic trade and investment cooperation, critical and emerging technologies and infrastructure, supply chains and other areas that would help both nations achieve mutual economic prosperity.

The talks will be a great opportunity for both nations to modernize the alliance which has been in existence for over 70 years, and determine courses of action to effectively counter terrorism and other transnational official figures are based. Still, vaccines and infections have created sufficient immunity for people to resume many prepandemic activities. Those who suffered grievous loss are picking up the pieces of their lives and moving into a post-pandemic normal.

The lifting of mobility restrictions has allowed the reopening of the economy and recovery of livelihoods. This long Holy Week break has been a boon for travel and tourism and the downstream industries, which were among the worst hit during the lockdowns. The tragedy created by a killer pandemic heightened awareness of the fleeting nature of life and brought many people closer to their Creator. Contemplation of mortality was heightened during the Lenten season, even as Easter’s message of salvation through the Resurrection of Christ has louder resonance.

It’s a new and better day; there is much to celebrate this Easter Sunday. (Philstar.com)

Two plus two plus six crimes. The agenda will certainly include regional security, considering that the treaty allies are both keen on fostering a free and open as well as a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region.

The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue was established in 2012, with the second one held in 2016. However, it took seven years for the third iteration to happen, which is why the dialogue this April will be very significant as it will set the long-term direction of the security and defense alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines, including future engagements.

As explained by our Defense OIC Charlie Galvez, there are “hundreds of activities” that are being lined up until 2028 for American and Filipino troops, among them joint maritime patrols, inter-service training with coast guards and navies and people-to-people engagements.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the 2+2 ministerial dialogue will happen on the opening of the 38th U.S.-Philippines Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises between Filipino and American troops with other like-minded nations joining as observers. This will be the biggest iteration of the exercises with around 12,000 U.S. troops and 5,000 Filipino forces taking part, with a small contingent of Australian forces participating for the first time.

Defense OIC Galvez said other allied nations can join in the future, especially in the navy-tonavy and air force-to-air force exercises. The Balikatan 2023 exercises are expected to help the Armed Forces of the Philippines develop its external defense capabilities and contribute to international efforts to counter terrorism and other threats in the region.

We have also arranged for Secretary Manalo to be the keynote speaker at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leadership Forum, where he will share his “insights about a new era in the alliance in the context of the Philippines’ pursuit of its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its efforts to advance a more peaceful and prosperous region.”

Shortly after the 2+2 ministerial meeting, the Philippine economic team composed of Finance Secretary Ben Diokno, Bangko