NATIONAL NEWS

INCOMING President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on Monday (May 30) received ambassadors from Singapore, United Kingdom, France, and European Union during separate courtesy calls at BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

First to visit Marcos was Gerard Ho, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines at around 9am followed shortly by Ambassador Laure Beaufils of United Kingdom.

At around 11 am European Union Ambassador Luc Vèron also paid a visit followed by Ambassador Michelle Boccoz of France who arrived at about 12 noon.

During their private meetings, the envoys vowed to strengthen the ties in trade and diplomacy, as well as their common interests in democracy, self-determination, and economic recovery.

Singapore Ambassador Ho faced the media following his meeting with President-elect Marcos to discuss his short meeting with him.

“As you know, Singapore and Philippines are friends and close partners. (Our) countries are both founding members of ASEAN and successive generations of Singaporean and Philippine leaders have worked together for the peace and prosperity of the region,” Ambassador Ho said in his opening statement to the media.

“In fact, during our conversation earlier with president-elect, we talked about all the conversations our founding father Mr. Lee and his father Mr. Ferdinand Marcos had talked about when we were discussing developments in the region and working together on it,” Ho added.

The Ambassador also discussed the economic reforms between the two Asian countries.

“I think with the resumption of cross-border travel, as well as the passage of a lot of significant economic reforms in the PH, we are hopeful that we continue to grow this bilateral economic relationship with the PH and it will continue to flourish,” the ambassador noted.

“We see a lot of growth potential in the Philippines and we hope to see more and more Singapore companies coming into the Philippines’ market,” Ho added.

Ho also confirmed that Singapore President HalimahYacob invited Marcos to visit their country.

However, he clarified that there are no details as of yet as they are still discussing the schedule of the two leaders.

Ambassador Beaufils of the UK also insisted on the good relationship of their country with the Philippines.

“So, I am delighted that I just came out of the meeting with the President-elect which was really useful, very informative, and very warm. I was able to set out that the UK already has a really strong bilateral relationship with the Philippines and a strong friendship between our countries and between our peoples and that we intend to take that from strength to strength over the course of the president-elect’s administration,” Beaufils noted.

“We were able to discuss areas of particular joint interests where we want to further work together and expand and broaden and deepen our collaboration. For example, as you know, the president-elect is very focused on the economy and we… boosting the economy after the pandemic and we were able to discuss what the UK has been doing in that space and what more we would do support businesses, to support trade, to support investments and infrastructure in particular,” she added.

Beaufils added that they also talked about climate change, energy, peace process in Mindanao and also human rights and media freedom.

“And I said I was very much looking forward to working with the next administration,” Beaufils averred.

Ambassadors from France and EU did not allow media interview due to prior commitment.

Only last week, Marcos, received United States Chargé d’Affaires, and the Ambassadors from Japan, South Korea, and India during separate meetings Monday at BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong city.

The envoys also assured Marcos of their willingness to provide necessary assistance to hasten the country’s recovery from the ill-effects of the pandemic.

Mas mahaba pa ang nagiging termino ng mga barangay officials kaysa sa pangulo ng bansa.

Binigyang diin ito ni Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto, III makaraang igiit na dapat nang tuldukan ang paulit ulit na pagpapaliban ng barangay election subalit mabuti ring tanungin si President Elect Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. hinggil dito.

Sinabi naman ni Senador Imee Marcos na dahil may bago nang pangulo ng bansa, mas makabubuting ituloy na ang Barangay Election sa Disyembre para may bago ding hatol sa mga nasa baba at magkaroon ng suporta ang bagong administrasyon sa mga bagong barangay officials

Mayroon naman na aniyang budget para sa Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. —-sa ulat ni Cely Ortega-Bueno (Patrol 19)

Kinumpirma na ng Commission on Appointments (CA) ang promotion ng 17 opisyal ng AFP.

Kabilang sa mga kumpirmado na ang appointments sina:

1. Adonis Arial Orio sa ranggong Brigadier General
2. Wilbur Mamawag sa ranggong Major General
3. Alberto Cartlos bilang Vice Admiral
4. William Gonzales bilang Liuetenant General
5. Rommel Anthony Reyes bilang Vice Admiral
6. Glenn Jun Calambuhay bilang Brigadier General
7. Fermin Carangan bilang Brigadier General
8. Araus Robert Musico, Ignatius Patrimonio at Charlton Sean Gaerlan pawang sa ranggong Major General.

Bukod pa ito kina:

1. Renato David bilang Rear Admiral
2. Jonas Lumawag bilang Major General
3. Francisco Tagamolia Jr. bilang Commodore
4. Marvin Licudine bilang Brigadier General
5. Camilo Ligayo bilang Major General
6. Consolito Yecla bilang Brigadier General
7. Romulo Manuel, Jr. bilang Major General

Matapos ang pag apruba sa promotion ng mga nasabing AFP officials, inamiyendahan ng mga mambabatas ang isang section ng CA Rules at ipinakilala ang probisyong nagsasabing lahat ng appointments sa Department of Migrant Workers ay i-e-endorso sa Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Welfare. —sa ulat ni Cely Ortega-Bueno (Patrol 19)

Hihimukin ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ang Kongreso na magpasa ng batas laban sa paggamit ng social media trolls sa panahon ng kampanya.

Ayon kay COMELEC Commissioner George Garcia, “mahirap” na ipatupad ang Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 laban sa mga pekeng user na nagpo-post ng mga libelous comments o disinformation sa mga online platforms.

Inamin din niya na dahil sa kawalan ng batas na kumokontrol sa social media sa bansa ay “walang kapangyarihan” ang poll body na i-monitor ang online campaign expenditures ng mga kandidato.

Sa pagdinig ng Senado noong Pebrero, sinabi ng isang fact-checking group sa mga mambabatas na si Bise Presidente Leni Robredo ang pangunahing target ng disinformation sa social media.