Duterte has no intention to hold on to power, says Roque
MALACAÑANG ON Thursday denied speculations that President Rodrigo R. Duterte will run as a transition president in tandem with former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr., who lost the vice-presidential race in 2016.
“Kung gusto po ni Presidenteng manatili sa posisyon, hindi na niya sana hiningi sa Consultative Committee (ConCom) na maglagay ng Transitory Provision na ang transition leader dapat ihalal (If the President wants to stay in power, he would not have asked the Consultative Committee to put a provision that the transition leader should be elected,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said when sought for comment during a press briefing at the Palace on Thursday afternoon, July 19.
“It would have been easy for him to stay in office, simply by hanging on to the office. Because the original Transitory Provision provided that he will be the transition leader,” he added.
Mr. Roque also quoted the President as saying, “I will not have any hand in no-el (no elections)” move.
But if there is going to be a people’s initiative to postpone next year’s midterm elections, Mr. Roque said, the President would abide by the voting public’s decision.
Mr. Roque also dismissed claims that federalism is being used to remove Vice-President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo from office.
“Wala pong katuturan iyan (that is nonsense),” he said, noting that the administration has not concerned itself with the political career of Ms. Robredo, who is chair of the opposition Liberal Party.
The ConCom’s draft federal constitution states that the president and the vice-president should step down from power on June 30, 2022 to make way for transition leaders. — Arjay L. Balinbin
US pledges $26.5M for counter-terrorism in the Philippines
THE UNITED States has pledged $26.5 million (about P1.418 billion) worth of assistance for Philippines law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism through “non-military rule-of-law approaches.” In a statement on Thursday, the US Embassy in Manila said the grant will cover the following:
• training, equipment, and other support to build comprehensive law enforcement capacity within a rule of law framework to deny terrorist operations, funding, and movement;
• investigate and prosecute terrorism cases; and
• counter radicalization to violence and violent extremism.
“Our joint efforts to confront shared threats to the peace and security of both of our countries is another powerful example of the depth and breadth of our relationship as friends, partners, and allies,” US Ambassador Sung Y. Kim said. — Camille A. Aguinaldo
Local gov’t leaders express support to talks with NPAs on the ground
LOCAL GOVERNMENT unit (LGUs) leaders have expressed support for the localized peace talks with communist rebels, according to the according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). “We have received good feedback from LGUs as they expressed their willingness to play a more significant role in ending hostilities in their respective localities. In particular, the League of Cities of the Philippines and the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) has expressed support for this initiative,” DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año said in a statement Thursday. “(W)e are pursuing localized peace talks to allow our brothers and sisters in the mountains to rejoin mainstream Philippine society. If Joma Sison (Jose Maria C.) and his minions give up on peace, we will instead talk to all the NPA (New People’s Army) ground units that are sincere in their desire to talk peace,” he said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Mr. Año also said that local government officials “are in a better position to engage in talks with the communist rebels in their area and possibly recommend solutions to address these problems on the local level”. An executive order, to be signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, containing the guidelines for the local talks is being finalize. The DILG is also preparing for the reintegration of former rebels through the construction of more halfway houses around the country.
