Category: Foreign Affairs

The return of Michael Ray Aquino

Published by Ellen on April 26, 2011

U.S. CA Apr 25 decision: Michael Ray Aquino petition denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals denied Monday former Police Officer Michael Ray Aquino’s third appeal against the extradition requested by the Philippine government under Gloria Aquino in connection with the November 2000 murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

“The petition for rehearing filed by Apellant having been submitted to all judges who participated in the decision of this court, and to all the other available circuit judges in active service, and a majority of circuit judges of the circuit in regular active service not having voted for rehearing by the court en banc, the petition for rehearing is hereby DENIED,” the decision states signed by Circuit Judge Thomas M. Hardiman.

The U.S. has 60 days to enforce the extradition. I suppose the National Bureau of Investigation would be coordinating with American authorities for the return of Aquino who left the Philippine in July 2001 knowing that the unelected government of Gloria Arroyo would make life difficult for them being identified with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, whom the Arroyos consider their number one tormentor.

China accuses PH of ‘invasion’

Published by Ellen on April 19, 2011

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA Files

Philippine-occupied Pag-asa island in the Spratlys

China has accused the Philippines of “invading” the South China Sea which it claims as wholly its own, the first time it has ever done so.

“Since 1970’s, the Republic of the Philippines started to invade and occupy some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha Islands and made relevant territorial claims, to which China objects strongly,” China said in a note verbale submitted April 14 to the United Nations in reply to the protest lodged by the Philippines on April 5.

“The Republic of the Philippines’ occupation of some islands and reefs of China’s Nansha islands as well as other related acts constitutes infringement upon China’s territorial sovereignty,” according to the note verbale.

Early this month, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China’s 9-dash line territorial claim over the whole of South China Sea, including the Spratlys group, a cluster of oil-rich islands disputed by the Philippines, China,three other countries, and Taiwan.

Please, not Domingo Lee to China

Published by Ellen on April 14, 2011

Early this week, President Aquino signed the appointment of 17 career ambassadors to different foreign posts.

Foreign service veterans said they haven’t seen this big a bunch of appointments of career officers in the history of Philippine service. Needless to say, the career officers are very, very happy.

“This would not have been possible under (former Foreign Secretary) Alberto Romulo,” a career officer said adding that morale is high in the department with Secretary Albert del Rosario whom they describe as “conscientious and hands-on.”

I don’t have the complete list of the 17. But here are some of them: Ricky Manalo to London; Cristy Ortega to Paris;Vicky Bataclan to Belgium; Leslie Baja to Switzerland; Maynard Montealegre to Greece; Lourdes Morales to Netherlands; Leslie Gatan to Canada; Ellen Jaucian to Hungary;

PH protests China’s 9-dash line claim over Spratlys

Published by Ellen on April 13, 2011

China’s reaction to PH protest: In a regular briefing in Beijing today, spokesman of China’s foreign ministry Hong Lei said: “China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and adjacent waters.”

“China owns sovereignty and jurisdiction over the related sea area, seabed and subsoil,” Hong pointed out.

By Tessa Jamandre
VERA FILES

The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest against China’s 9-dash line territorial claim over the whole of South China Sea, a month before President Aquino’s planned state visit to Beijing.

The Philippine protest, dated April 5, was posted by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) as document No. 000228 on April 8.

But the Philippine government tarried in filing the protest, doing so two years after Vietnam and Malaysia, and a year after Indonesia. Vietnam and Malaysia filed their protest a day after China submitted its 9-dash line map to the UN on May 7, 2009. Indonesia registered its protest a year ago, even if it did not have a claim on the South China Sea.

The map is called “9-dash line” or “9-dotted line” because it shows a series of nine dashes or dotted lines forming a ring around the South China Sea area, which China claims is part of its territory. The area includes the Spratlys group, a cluster of oil-rich islands disputed by five other countries, including the Philippines.

China has been using the map with nine dashes in asserting its territorial claim over the whole of the South Sea. But the map first made its way to the UN body, when China used it to challenge the claim made by Vietnam and Malaysia over their extended continental shelves in the South China Sea.

Ang ibang biktima ng sakuna sa Japan

Published by Ellen on March 20, 2011

Updates:
In Libya: Missiles strike in first wave of allied assault http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42164455/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/
In Japan: Situation in Nuke plant stabilizing; radiation found in Japanese milk, spinach http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42165497/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

Click on photo to view it enlarged
Sinabi ni Dennis Garcia sa kanyang Facebook wall na kasama ang mga freedom fighters sa Libya sa mga biktima ng lindol, tsunami at nuclear fallout sa Japan.

Kasi nga, sabi ni Dennis (ng popular na bandang Hotdog noon) dahil sa ang atensyun ay sa Japan, napabayaan ang Libya ng ibang malalaking bansa at unti-unti nang nababawi ni Muamar Gaddafy ang mga teritoryo na sakop ng mga rebelde.

Bago nangyari ang lindol sa Japan, ang atensyun ng mundo ay sa Libya kung saan namimiligro nang mapatalsik si Gaddafi sa kanyang kapangyarihan na hawak niya ng 41 na taon. Lumalapit na ang mga rebelde sa Tripoli, ang capital ng Libya kung saan nandun ang mga pwersa ni Gaddafy.

Ngunit noong Biyernes, habang patuloy na binabantayan ng mundo ang sakuna sa nuclear reactor sa Fukushima, Japan na napektuhan ng lindol, inaprubahan ng United Nations ang no-fly-zone nan nagbabawal kay Gaddafy na magpalipad ng eroplano ng military laban sa mga rebelde.

Stop giving false hopes

Published by Ellen on March 17, 2011

It’s not surprising that China, after giving in to the request of President Aquino to spare the three Filipinos in the death row for drug trafficking, has decided to push through with the execution.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said in a press conference the death sentence on Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain “will be carried out sooner or later, and everything will be done in accordance with Chinese laws.”

The date of the execution will be announced by the Supreme Court of Justice in China,” Liu said.

In Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said “we would still try to appeal.”

Was Lacierda serious or was he saying this just for PR purposes? They should stop giving false hope to the public, especially the family.

Aquino to choose his man in China

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2011

Now that the President has chosen the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Lt.Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr.), the next important appointment that is being awaited is that of ambassador to China which should be made before his state visit there in May.

Two names are prominently being mentioned: Edward Go and Alfonso Uy. Both are businessmen which is good because trade relations with China, the world’s economic superpower, is very important.

Go has extensive banking experience (Citibank, United Coconut Planters Bank , Philippine Bank of Communications, China Banking Corporation, Philippine Banking Corporation, Asian Bank). He holds directorship in more than 20 corporations among them the Philippine Long Distance Company and Metro Pacific Investments Corp, both headed by Manuel V. Pangilinan. It’s something that he has in common with the newly-appointed acting foreign secretary, Albert del Rosario, who was also with MPIC before he returned to foreign service two weeks ago.

Uy, an Ilonggo, is chairman of Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation and former president of the Federation of Filipino – Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII). Click here for Alfonso Uy Biodata

Philippine protests Chinese ships action vs PHL vessel in Reed Bank

Published by Ellen on March 3, 2011

The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest Thursday with China over the intrusion of two Chinese patrol boats Wednesday into Reed Bank in Western Palawan where a seismic survey is being conducted by the Department of Energy.

A text message from Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said: “I confirm the incident on March 2, 2011 (that) two Chinese patrol boats encountered a Phil-sanctioned vessel conducting seismic surveys in the Western Palawan. The Chinese boats warned the vessel away and the vessel moved away from its position.

“We have sought an explanation from the Chinese Embassy regarding the matter. The vessel is expected to resume its normal activities in a few days.”

The Chinese Embassy, through its spokesperson Ethan Y. Sun, issued the following statement Friday:

I noted the related report. What I want to point out is that, ever since ancient times, China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China has been consistently sticking to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. The Chinese side maintains that the related disputes should be resolved through peaceful negotiations. Thank you and have a nice day.

Del Rosario scores in redeeming DFA’s image

Published by Ellen on March 1, 2011

Acting Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario surprised everybody when he flew to Tripoli in Libya the day after he was sworn into office by President Aquino to oversee the evacuation of some 24,000 Filipinos in the African country which is now being rocked by violent protests between the forces loyal to strongman Muammar Gaddafi and rebels who want to end his 42-year dictatorship.

Not everybody applauded saying that the secretary’s job is at the home office to oversee the gargantuan evacuation operation. They said he was exposing himself unnecessarily to risks and added more pressure to the overburdened staff of Philippine embassy .

(Why is del Rosario’s title ‘acting secretary’? To allow him to assume the position of foreign secretary without confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.
Under the law, all cabinet appointments by the President have to pass CA approval. He can only make cabinet appointments without CA approval when Congress is not in session.

Congress is in session now but was not scheduled to meet the week del Rosario had to assume the job because of the emergency in Libya.Thus, the ‘acting” title. Del Rosario’s title will be upgraded once confirmed by the CA.)

JDV’s connection to Gaddafi

Published by Ellen on February 27, 2011

In the light of the United Nations Security Council’s strong action Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi, former House Speaker Jose de Venecia’s letter to the beleaguered strongman seems an exercise in futility and just a boast of his international connections.

The 15-nation UN Security U.N. Security Council Saturday unanimously imposed travel bans and froze the assets of Gaddafi, members of his family and inner circle as he continued to crack down on escalating protests against his 42-year authoritarian rule.

More than a thousand have already been killed and more blood is expected to spill on the streets of Tripoli, where Gaddafi is expected to hold firm as long as he could. He won’t do a Hosni Mubarak. He had warned, “At the suitable time, we will open the arms depot so all Libyans and tribes become armed, so that Libya becomes red with fire.”