ties with Biden administration

Palace hopes for ‘close, friendly’ ties with Biden administration

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Malacañang on Wednesday expressed optimism that President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration would maintain its “close and friendly” ties with the United States (US) under the leadership of President-elect Joe Biden.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement, as he extended the Philippine government’s congratulatory message to Biden who will be formally sworn in as the 46th president of the US on Wednesday.

“It’s always good news that democracy prevailed and we congratulate again the incoming president and we look forward to having close and friendly relations with the Biden administration,” Roque said.

On Monday, Roque dismissed a claim that Duterte had “lost an ally” since Biden camp is unlikely to compromise human rights issues.

Roque was confident that Biden would not be tough on Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive.

He also hoped that Biden would fulfill his promise to prioritize offering legal status to an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. Such a move, he said, would benefit Filipinos who are in the US.

Duterte’s relations with the US had become strained under then-president Barack Obama who criticized the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs.

The Philippines’ relationship with the US had improved under the presidency of Donald Trump, who Duterte branded as his “friend.”

Trump’s successor, Biden, served two terms as Obama’s vice president, from 2009 until 2017.

Trump will skip Biden’s inauguration. However, Obama and former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend the swearing in rites. (MNS)

Pangilinan seeks Senate probe on rising food prices

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry on the rising food prices in the country.

In filing Senate Resolution 618, Pangilinan said increases in food prices have a “major impact” on the living standards of low-income households which “generally spend most of their income on food.”

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has also worsened the livelihoods of many Filipinos through job losses and reduced incomes.

With this, the senator said it is imperative to determine and implement immediate measures to stabilize food prices and ensure adequate supply of essential food products.

In his privilege speech, Pangilinan said the rise in prices of food is just as important as the COVID-19 vaccine and its prices.

He said food prices are on the rise as food supply dropped due to the series of pandemic lockdowns, successive typhoons, the African swine fever, and closed fishing season, among others.

‘No basis’ to dismiss de Lima’s drug case — DOJ

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecution has “strongly” opposed detained Senator Leila de Lima’s motion to dismiss the drug charges against her, citing clear evidence that the former justice secretary acted to protect known drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

In their comment filed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205 on Jan. 18, government prosecutors said they are “standing firm that there is no basis in fact and in law to grant the Demurrer to Evidence and strongly opposes the prayer of dismissal” of the opposition senator’s motion.

On Jan. 7, de Lima, through her legal counsels, asked the court that the instant Demurrer to Evidence be granted and that the criminal case be dismissed “for failure” of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

“She could not be expected to personally transact drugs or to deliver drugs or possess drugs,” the prosecutors said of the defense’s claim that there is no direct evidence to incriminate de Lima.

On Feb. 17, 2019, an information for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 was filed against ee Lima but prosecutors noted that as early as April 2011, testimonies by prosecution witnesses including inmate Nonilo Arile, a former Manila detective before he was jailed, showed that de Lima was favoring certain inmates, particularly high profile drug convict Jayvee Sebastian.

Arile also claimed he personally saw de Lima at the maximum security compound in April 2011 when an inmate, Egay Alvarez was caught smoking shabu in a video. The video subsequently went viral on social media, prompting an angry de Lima to take drastic action.

Arile, however, said Sebastian prevailed over de Lima not to proceed with the demolition of the kubols or huts for privileged inmates, allowing the drug trade to continue inside the NBP.

The prosecution also cited the importance of testimony by former police general Benjamin Magalong, then head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), who was stonewalled in efforts in conducting prompt raids in Bilibid to go after known drug lords operating behind bars.

This, even as Magalong’s information at that time had not centered on de Lima as a beneficiary of the drug trade.

Magalong had initiated a case build up in response to reported and discovered illicit drug activities of some CIDG, National Capital Region Police Office, Police Regional Office-Region 3 personnel and other law enforcement officers who are engaged in a modus operandi called “Agaw Bato” and have direct links to high profile inmates at the NBP.

He launched Copan Cronus to neutralize the network established by the NBP inmates and possibly determine the participation of other government officials including Bureau of Correction (BuCor) personnel and brought to his superiors’ attention the urgent need to raid NBP in order to isolate high profile inmates.

Former BuCor chief Jesus Bucayu dissuaded Magalong from continuing the raid as his personal and family security was in danger.

“A raid was subsequently conducted without the CIDG who was then in possession of information of great intelligence value,” the prosecutors said.

The prosecutors also said the de Lima ordered raid was orchestrated.

“Contrary to the argu-

SENATOR LEILA DE LIMA

ment of accused de Lima, Oplan Galugad proved to be not successful but selective only considering that not all high profile inmates who are targets of Oplan Cronus were actually isolated but continued to manage drug trading,” the prosecutors said, adding that the success of Oplan Galugad was “dubious.”

The prosecutors said based on their intelligence report contained in the case operational plan, “there were more or less thirty inmates confirmed to be involved in drug trading but the raid initiated by de Lima only 19 inmates were taken and brought in isolation.”

“But what is disheartening is the fact that de Lima, despite information picturing and pointing her close associate, Jaybee Sebastian to be a top drug trader,” they added.

They also said the absence of evidence showing de Lima’s direct link “does not negate the fact that she allowed, benefitted, participated, and tolerated drug trading during her watch as a secretary of justice.”

They said clear evidence that Sebastian enjoyed de Lima’s favor was clear on Valentine’s Day 2014 when Arile, through an inmate friend Steve Mesinas, met Ruben Acerbo, a drug lord based in Roxas City, and facilitated a transaction network with Jess Arsenal, who acted as the chief escort of Sebastian.

Sebastian and Arile testified that they sourced the drugs from Chinese drug lords, including Peter Co. (MNS)

“These food supply shortages and the resulting hunger may cause greater and long-term devastation than the Covid virus itself,” Pangilinan said.

“Hindi natin puwedeng sabihin sa mga kababayan natin na ‘stay healthy’ habang hinihintay ang bakuna kung wala namang makain o kaya napakataas ng presyo ng pagkain,” he added.

A survey of the Social Weather Stations in September 2020 revealed that families who experienced involuntary hunger or hunger due to lack of food reached a record-high 30.7% or an estimated 7.6 million households.

On January 18, 2020, the Department of Agriculture (DA) monitored the prices of the following commodities per kilo: regular milled rice, P38; galunggong, P280; dressed chicken, P180; liempo, P450; talong, P200; repolyo, P230; and siling labuyo, P1,000. "Sa gitna ng isang pandemyang nag-alis ng mga hanapbuhay ng milyun-milyong mga kababayan natin, seryoso ang tanong: Ano nga ba ang mabibili ng P500 mo?" Pangilinan asked. "Hindi mapigilang mapa-aray ang mga namamalengke dahil sa sobrang taas ng mga presyo ng mga bilihin. Hindi na malaman ng mga maybahay paano pagkakasyahin ang kakarampot na kinikita ni mister," he added. Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 123 which retained the 5% tariff on mechanically deboned chicken and turkey meat, a measure the Department of Agriculture said would prevent a jump in prices of processed meat products. In issuing the directive, Duterte cited the “urgent need” to adopt measures aimed toward mitigating the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos. The EO took effect immediately and will be implemented until December 31, 2022 Further, Pangilinan said Senator Cynthia Villar, the chairperson of the committee on agriculture and food, already agreed to conduct hearings on the resolution.

SENATOR FRANCIS “KIKO” PANGILINAN (MNS)

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Philippines expects VFA issues resolved under Biden, says envoy

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines expects issues related to the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States to be resolved under the newly installed administration of US President Joe Biden, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Thursday.

Romualdez said there is a planned bilateral dialog between the security forces of both countries. "I'm quite confident na lahat ng mga issues sa ting visiting forces, mare-resolve yan. In fact, may planned bilateral strategic dialog between our Armed Forces and the Pentagon or the US Armed Forces," Romualdez said. "This is a continuing program naman. Every year 'yan nagmi-meet sila. Lahat ng kung anong gusto ipaalam sa ating mga kaibigan sa America ite-take up nila dun. Tuluy-tuloy ang relasyon lalo na yung security relationshiop," he added.

The Philippines in February 2020 formally sought the termination of the VFA with the US after it canceled the visa of Duterte ally Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.

The country, however, suspended the termination process in June, citing political and other developments in the region.

The suspension was extended in November.

In December, Duterte threatened to do away with the VFA if the US would not give the Philippines access to COVID-19 vaccines.

As regards issues in the South China Sea, Romualdez said the US under Biden is expected to continue to recognize the Philippines claims as reflected in the arbitral award won by the country. "Sinabi na ni Secretary of State-designate Tony Blink-

US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

en na kilala na natin sinabi niya na yung kanilang policy towards china will be more or less the same as what the trump administration had," Romualdez said. "kanya lang iba yung kanilang approach. There will be cooperation in many other areas pero... for instance, yung sa South China Sea, the US has recognized our arbitral award. So they will continue with that policy," he added. (MNS)

UP president who signed DND accord 'appalled' by abrogation

MANILA (Mabuhay) — mutual trust, and mutual The president of the Uni- respect," he added. versity of the Philippines "I am appalled and disin 1989 has expressed his mayed about this unilatdisappointment over the eral abrogation," Abueva Department of National said. Defense's decision to end Abueva inked the pact the UP-DND accord that with former Defense required prior notice be- Secretary Fidel Ramos in fore soldiers could enter 1989, days after a member the campuses. of the Philippine Colle-

In a statement, Dr. Jose gian staff was abducted Abueva said he and then on campus. Defense Secretary Fidel Donato Continente was Ramos had "great respect later found out to have for each other and for the been arrested. He was institutions we represent- allegedly tortured and ed." forced to confess to the "We had a deep un- murder of American solderstanding between dier Colonel James Rowe. us about the inalienable Defense Secretary Delrights to freedom, democ- fin Lorenzana has unilatracy, justice and peace erally ended its 31-yearthat lasted beyond our old agreement with UP. respective presidencies," In a letter dated JanAbueva said. uary 15, 2021, Defense "There was a deep, mu- Secretary Delfin Lorentual understanding zana informed zana informed of the need to UP President UP President uphold this Danilo ConDanilo Conagreement cepcion of cepcion of and do the DND's the DND's everything for the good of UP and the rights of its students, faculty and staff. This understanding was rooted in decision to end the agreement, citing information that communists are recruiting students inside UP campuses. (MNS) decision to end the agreethat com(MNS)

FORMER UP PRESIDENT JOSE V. ABUEVA, PHD.