PH won’t give up its national territory — Malacanang

BY THE MANILA TIMES

PH WON’T GIVE UP ITS NATIONAL TERRITORY — MALACANANG
THE Philippines will not be a province of China as it will “continue to assert [its] sovereignty and sovereign rights,”
Malacanang said on Thursday, after Metro Manila woke up to a string of tarpaulins hanging on foot bridges around Metro
Manila with the text: “Welcome to the Philippines, province of China.”
“Because we continue to assert our sovereignty and sovereign rights. But we decided to move on on issues which are non-
controversial because we know that the final resolution particularly on the issue of sovereignty on the disputed islands will
take many years to resolve since this was not the subject of the arbitral ruling that we won two years ago,” Palace Spokesman
Harry Roque Jr said in a statement, referring to the second anniversary today of case that the Philippines filed and won
against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague involving the exercise of its sovereign rights over
the disputed territories on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Roque called the tarpaulins “absurd” and said that the enemies of the government responsible for the stunt should try again
and do a “better gimmick than that.”
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Roque assured the public that the Philippines has not given up on our territory because we will “continue to assert [our]
sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
“They [the enemies of the government] are propagating a lie that we have given up on our national territory. It’s very far
from the truth. The President has said repeatedly that we will stand up for what is ours,” he said.
Former secretary of foreign affairs Albert del Rosario criticized the government and said that it continued to be a “willing
victim of China” because it refused to enforce the Hague ruling two years after the Philippines won the landmark case.
But the palace spokesman questioned Rosario’s authority on the subject.
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“I don’t know what makes him an authority to give that view. I’m not sure what they mean by enforcing an arbitral decision
because an arbitral decision is binding on parties thereto. It clearly underscores the fact that some individuals including the
former secretary of foreign affairs does not fully understand the nature of arbitration,” he said.
“Whether or not China will acknowledge it [arbitration case], China is bound by it,” he added.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified that it did not issue permits for the banners.
MMDA said the tarpaulins may have been “mistranslated” and that they were meant to be welcoming banners for Chinese
delegates on a tour in the country.
President Rodrigo Duterte previously joked that he wanted the Philippines to be a province of China.
“If you want, just make the Philippines your province, like Fujian so we will not have a problem,” Duterte said in a speech
in February.
Duterte said that the disputed waters were “really ours” despite the installation of military facilities by China in the troubled
waters.
While reiterating that “there was no question that the West Philippine Sea was indeed ours,” Duterte said that the Philippines
could only be “diplomatic” in dealing with China.
Duterte blamed the former administration for allowing China to build its facilities in the West Philippine Sea. JULIUS
VILLAVIEJA
Now Duterte says Filipino vessel in Recto Bank ‘sideswiped’
BY THE MANILA TIMES
JUNE 27, 2019
NOW DUTERTE SAYS FILIPINO VESSEL IN RECTO BANK ‘SIDESWIPED’
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday declared that the Filipino fishing boat in the Recto Bank incident was
“sideswiped” and not “rammed” by a Chinese vessel as what had been reported.
Duterte’s latest version of what happened on the night of June 9 came as he reiterated that the incident was a “mere maritime
accident” and was not reason for the Philippines to go to war with China.
“You do not react violently. As a matter of fact halos kami (the Cabinet) ngayon are agreed na side-swiped. Hindi talaga
yung binunggo. Eh kung binunggo sa ilalim na yun,” Duterte said in a speech at the 122nd anniversary of the Presidential
Security Group in Malacañang.
“Ngayon sabihing mong sinadya, let us have an investigation. Tinatago ko yung aking baraha. Meron ng Customs, meron
ang Navy, tinatago ko for the fine report kasi gusto ko tignan yung ano sa China. But that is no reason to go to war,” he
added.
Twenty-two Filipino fishermen were left at sea by a Chinese crew after sinking their boat on June 9. They were later rescued
by a Vietnamese vessel.
Duterte has been criticized for his warmer ties with China and his softer assertion of this ruling. While he questions the
widespread claims of China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), the President has regarded the sinking of the
Philippine boat as a “little maritime accident.”
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The President has since apologized to the fishermen, but said the incident did not warrant sending troops to the area.
Manila and Beijing have agreed to conduct a joint investigation.
Duterte admitted that he could not ban China from fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Gusto nila i-prohibit ko. Why will I go there and prohibit them? Now, the only way to stop them is talagang gamitan ko
ng ngipin iyan,” the President said.
“Sinabihan ang China, sinabi na natin, ang usapan natin, huwag muna ngayong pagusapan, magkaibigan muna tayo, bigyan
ko kayo ng armas. Ano gusto ninyo? May mga projects ngayon,” he added.
The President then called Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio “stupid” after he asserted that giving
Chinese nationals access to the Philippine waters was unconstitutional.
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“Sabi ko nga, alam mo Justice Carpio napaka-istupido mo. That is why hanggang diyan ka lang talaga. He’s from Davao .
Noon pa hindi ako bilib diyan buang na yan. Walang ka-ryhme or reason,” he said.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, Carpio said the use and enjoyment of the fish in EEZ was reserved exclusively for
Filipinos.
“The Constitution mandates, ‘The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its…exclusive economic zone, and
reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens’,” he said.
In a speech on Wednesday, Duterte also slammed opposition senators questioning his decision to allow China to fish in the
country’s EEZ.
“Pati itong mga senador sa oposisyon, alam mo, gusto talaga nila ng gulo. Kasi sabi ko, nag-tanong sila: Will you allow
Chinese to fish? Of course. Iyan ang pinag-usapan namin noon kaya tayo nag-uusap eh. And that’s why we were allowed
to fish again. It was a mutual agreement. See, bigayan tayo,” Duterte said.
“Ngayon, sabi nila, you have to ban China. I-prohibit mo. Kung i-prohibit ko, how do I impose my desire? Takot nga ang
America. Ayaw nga mag-confront tapos ako pa ang i-pusta nila? Gusto talaga nilang isubo ako,” he added. CATHERINE
S. VALENTE

Duterte to del Rosario: You have no business using govt-issued diplomatic passport
BY RALPH VILLANUEVA
JUNE 27, 2019
DUTERTE TO DEL ROSARIO: YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS USING GOVT-ISSUED DIPLOMATIC
PASSPORT
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday chided former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert del Rosario for using his
government-issued diplomatic passport to attend a private business meeting in Hong Kong, where he was barred entry.
Del Rosario was scheduled to attend a board and shareholders meeting of Hong Kong-listed First Pacific on June 21, but
immigration officials held him at the airport and later ordered his deportation.
In a speech during the 122nd founding anniversary of the Presidential Security Group in Malacanang, Duterte said del
Rosario “had no business” using his diplomatic passport.
“You are no longer an employee of government. You have no business using government diplomatic passport,” he said.
Last Friday, del Rosario tried to enter Hong Kong, but was stopped from entering the Chinese territory over “immigration
concerns.”
Del Rosario and then Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales filed a case against Chinese President Xi Jinping for alleged
crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
They were also instrumental in the Philippines’ victory against China at The Hague in Netherlands where the Permanent
Court of Arbitration ruled in the country’s favor over the use of marine resources in the disputed sea.
After the incident, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. cancelled all diplomatic passports given to former
government officials.
Palace on ‘assembly’ of western nations at disputed waters: Just teasing
By: Darryl John Esguerra - Reporter / @DJEsguerraINQ
INQUIRER.net / 02:28 PM June 27, 2019

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte was just goading the United States, Great Britain, and France when he
challenged the western nations to join the Philippines in going to the West Philippine Sea and make a stand against China,
Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the clarification a day after Duterte said the western nations should help
the Philippines claim its territories in the disputed waters if they are brave enough to provoke the Asian powerhouse.
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“Sa tingin ko doon nangangantiyaw siya [I think he was just teasing right there],” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
“Masyado kayong maraming sinasabi ngayon, samantalang noon kaya niyong i-stop. ‘Yun ang punto ni Presidente doon
[You are talking a lot these days, but before, you had the chance to stop. That is the point of the President],” he added.
Speaking before the anniversary of the Presidential Security Group, Duterte said: “Ito ang hamon ko, ang hamon ko sa
America, Britain, France, mag-assemble tayo dito sa Palawan tapos diretso na tayo doon sa Spratly. Agawin na natin kung
maagaw natin.”
(This is my challenge, my challenge to America, Britain, France, let’s assemble here in Palawan and head toward the
Spratlys. Let’s grab it from them, if we can grab it.)
Duterte made the statement after critics lashed out at him for supposedly not putting up a stand for the 22 Filipino
fishermen whose fishing boat was sunk and the fishermen abandoned by a Chinese vessel near the Recto Bank on June 9.
READ: Duterte: China can fish in Philippines’ EEZ
“Hindi ako sa hindi natatakot, kung gusto nila, sabi ko nga mag-imbita sila, kahit hindi naman talaga natin kaya ‘yang put,
karami ng armas diyan ngayon,” Duterte said.
(It’s not that I’m not afraid, if they want as I said it, let them invite, eventhough we really can’t do it, it’s a lot of arms in
there.)
“Sabay-sabay kami. Ako, si (US President Donald) Trump, diyan sa deck. Teleskopyo, malapit na tayo. ‘Pag sumabog
tayong apat eh ‘di okay lang,” he continued.
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(We’ll do it at the same time. Me, Trump, at the deck, telescope, we are near. If we all four explode, well that’s ok.)
The President has downplayed the incident in Recto Bank as a “little maritime accident.”
He also said the incident is not an attack on the Philippines’ sovereignty. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)
RELATED STORY:
Duterte breaks silence on sinking of PH boat: ‘It’s a little maritime accident’
Duterte: Recto Bank incident not an attack on PH sovereignty

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teasing#ixzz5s27VqYQL
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Stiffer fines sought for firms over Metro Manila water shortage
By: Melvin Gascon - Correspondent / @melvingasconINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:32 AM June 27, 2019

PRECIOUS FLOW Metro Manila residents have been reeling from the water shortage for the past several weeks as the
reserve in Angat Dam in Bulacan province dipped to precarious levels because of lack of rain. —GRIG C.
MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Harsher penalties must be imposed on the water concessionaires because the shortage in Metro
Manila is due to their incompetence and greed, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said on Wednesday.
Brosas dismissed the claim of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. that the shortage was due to “force
majeure,” or an uncontrollable event, as just an alibi.
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“The MWSS (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System) as the regulating body should not buy the alibi of the two
private water concessionaires in their attempt to escape liability [for] the suffering of waterless households,” Brosas said in
a statement.
Manila Water rebate
The MWSS was expected to tackle the concessionaires’ force majeure petition on Wednesday as the regulator opened an
inquiry into service interruptions that had been inconveniencing Metro Manilans since March.
Taps in the east zone of the metropolis went dry in March when the reserve in La Mesa Dam dropped below the critical
level, catching the concessionaire in the area, Manila Water, unprepared.
The MWSS fined Manila Water P534 million for failing to provide 24-hour service to its customers for 15 days. The fine
came in the form of a rebate to customers, reflected on their bills for June.
This time, Brosas wants Maynilad penalized as well, because the shortage has extended to the west zone of the metropolis,
and that the penalties be heavier than the fine slapped on Manila Water for its March failure.
“The rebates should be doubled or even tripled in the coming months until such time that water supply is brought back to
normal levels,” she said.
The reserve in Angat Dam in Bulacan province, which supplies 97 percent of Metro Manila’s water needs, has been dipping
to precarious levels in recent days because of the lack of rain.
At a hearing in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, National Water Resources Board Executive Director Sevillo
David warned that the Angat stock might drop again to its lowest mark of 157 meters above sea level (masl) this weekend,
meaning longer service interruptions in Metro Manila.
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As of Wednesday morning, the Angat reserve stood at 158.37 masl, way below the minimum operating level of 180 masl.
Brosas said the contracts of Manila Water and Maynilad let them off only in times of war, drought or severe calamities.
She said the current crisis should not be used to push for the construction of the China-financed Kaliwa Dam in Quezon
province.
MWSS maneuver
“This is an obvious maneuver by the MWSS to justify the supposed need for the Kaliwa Dam to solve the water crisis. But
are we not surprised that [the] government is announcing the water shortage at Angat Dam despite the construction of
several treatment plants and the onset of the rainy season?” Brosas said.
She said the privatization of the water service in the metropolis should be reversed by the government by taking over
Maynilad and Manila Water.
The militant group Bayan Muna has also called for “renationalization” of the water service, which Malacañang has said is
an option for the government in the search for solutions to the water woes of the metropolis.

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shortage#ixzz5s287ErXA
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