Duterte tells Russian TV network he is not going to the US despite Trump invite
PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte, in an interview with Russian TV network RT on Tuesday, said he is not going to the United States for the US-ASEAN Summit set in March despite an invitation from American President Donald Trump. “No,” Mr. Duterte replied when asked “Will you go?” by the RT interviewer. A video of that portion of the interview was posted on YouTube on January 22. Mr. Trump sent the invitation to all leaders of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Mr. Duterte said during the interview that he has never been to the US and has also declined previous invitations. He said his grudge stems from the criticism against him made by former US President Barack Obama in a press conference. “He should have criticized me in a proper venue. He should have brought the case to the United Nation rather than castigate a president of another country in a presscon,” he said.
NO VISA
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said in a briefing Thursday that the President is uncertain if the US will even give him a visa. “Wala pa siyang visa (He doesn’t have a visa),” Mr. Panelo said. “He just expressed certain sentiments relative to some issues that may affect his entry,” he added. — Gillian M. Cortez
Environment, customs official and staff charged over Canada waste
THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed graft charges against eight government officials and staff who were found liable for the illegal importation of solid wastes from Canada. Among those charged are Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, and DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) personnel Irvin G. Cadavona, Geri Geronimo R. Sanez and Renato T. Cruz. The four others are Bureau of Customs (BoC) personnel Benjamin T. Perez Jr., Eufracio L. Ednaco, Matilda G. Bacongan and Jose A. Saromo. NBI Director Dante A. Gierran, in a statement, said those accused are linked to the issuance of import clearances for scrap plastic materials to Chronic Plastics, Inc., Canada despite the company’s failure to provide all the necessary information needed for the clearance application. “The EMB personnel-in-charge in the processing of the application was remiss in their duties to strictly examine the application, as to the completeness of its required documents and to the required inspection prior to the approval of its registration as importer,” Mr. Gierran said. He also said that the assigned BoC examiner and appraiser allowed the imports to proceed to the next process despite its “clear violation on DENR.” The charges are based on Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990, and Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In 2013 and 2014, 69 shipping containers mislabeled as carrying recycled materials from Canada were delivered to the Philippines. The shipments contained household wastes, including plastic bottles and used diapers. In May 2019, the containers were shipped back to Canada. — Genshen L. Espedido
Duterte healthy enough for work as President
PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON Salvador S. Panelo on Thursday again gave assurance that President Rodrigo R. Duterte is healthy enough for the functions of the country’s top post. “Certainly he can still function effectively as President,” Mr. Panelo said when asked to comment on a recent Social Weather Stations’ survey indicating that 72% of Filipinos are worried about Mr. Duterte’s health. “He keeps on telling us exactly what he feels. He tells us his sufferings on particular illnesses that he got arising from accidents. In other words, he has not hidden, kept from us anything that involves his health. He tells us even when he goes to the doctors for examination,” he said. Mr. Panelo did admit that the President’s energy has waned compared to when he first assumed the position in 2016. — Gillian M. Cortez
