France offers training to PH on maritime security

By Rey E. Requejo

But the Supreme Court said it recognized the legal practicality and necessity of proceeding with the conduct of the BSKE on the last Monday of October 2023, pursuant to the operative fact doctrine.

Because RA 11935 was declared unconstitutional, the Court said its predecessor, RA 11462, is revived, which limits the term to Dec. 31, 2022.

All existing barangay and SK officers are deemed to be in a “holdover” capacity.

To avoid confusion, the high court made clear that the next BSKE will be held on the first Monday of December 2025 and every three years after that date.

In finding the law unconstitutional, the Supreme Court granted the petitions filed by lawyers

Romulo B. Macalintal, A. Alberto

N. Hidalgo, Aluino O. Ala, Agerico

A. Avila, Ted Cassey B. Castello, Joyce Ivy C. Macasa, and Frances May C. Realino.

“In granting the petitions, the Supreme Court made the following salient points: First, the Court declared that the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, as protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, requires the holding of genuine periodic elections which must be held at intervals which are not unduly long, and which ensure that the authority of government continues to be based on the free expression of the will of electors,” the Court said.

FRANCE has expressed willingness to work with the Philippines on maritime security as its admiral for Asia-Pacific cited the importance of facing its related challenges.

Speaking aboard French destroyer Lorraine on a port call in Manila on Wednesday, Rear Admiral Geoffroy D’Andigné proposed that troops of both countries should train together to address not only maritime security but also humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response.

Lorraine’s port call and D’Andigné visit in Manila is to “level up our cooperation on interoperability with the Navy.”

Currently, France and the Philippines have achieved a lot of exchanges between their experts on anti-submarine warfare and defense tactics and technologies.

“And tomorrow, when we will go at sea we will have the opportunity to train together at sea with Philippine Navy,” he disclosed in a press conference. France is willing to work with its partners in the region, including the Philippines, as it wants to “promote the values of free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.