NEWS BRIEFS: Oct. 22, 2018
BRP Tarlac back from Russia
The Philippine Navy vessel that completed historic port visits to Russia and South Korea is returning on Monday.
On the same day, the Philippines would welcome a goodwill visit by an Indonesian Navy vessel. Cmdr. Jonathan Zata, Navy public affairs chief, said the ceremony for the return of the BRP Tarlac would be held at South Harbor.
The ship, with a crew of 300, completed port visits to Vladivostok
and Jeju Island. Zata said
it was the first time that a Philippine Navy ship went
on a port visit to Russia. —Jeannette I. Andrade
DepEd told: Enforce law on IP history
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement a law requiring the teaching of indigenous peoples’ (IP) history.
In a statement, Angara said Republic Act No. 10908, or the Integrated History Act of 2016, was meant to lead to full understanding of IP’s history, culture and identity.
Angara issued the statement in time for the National Indigenous Peoples’ Month. —Julie M. Aurelio
Palace welcomes SWS survey on Cabinet
Malacañang on Sunday welcomed the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet got improved net satisfaction rating in the third quarter of 2018.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Cabinet’s
improved rating of +32 for September was proof that the people recognized efforts in fighting inflation.
The Cabinet’s net satisfaction rating went up by 6 points in September. —Julie M. Aurelio
Locsin: Duterte anticrime tack most efficient
In his first speech as a foreign secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr. defended the Duterte administration’s strong-arm tactics to stamp out the drug menace.
Locsin told the European Union that governments had to use the “most efficient” means to protect their citizens.
According to Locsin, the Philippines’ recent reelection to the UN Human Rights Council despite criticisms against President Rodirgo Duterte’s war on drugs was spurred by the “dawning
realization” that the defining role of a state was to defend its “law-abiding citizens against the violence of lawless elements.”
He said the Duterte administration did not “subscribe” to being
passive on crime or treating criminals “with kid gloves.”
Locsin represented the President at the biennial summit of EU members in Brussels. —Dona Z. Pazzibugan
DPWH told: Exercise caution on ROW payment
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) should make public the list of individuals who were entitled to receive P28.9 billion in right of way (ROW) payments next year to avoid a repeat of irregularities in ROW claims, according to a member of the House appropriations committee.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the DPWH should now be very careful about making ROW payments after a recent Senate investigation uncovered questionable ROW transactions worth P8.7 billion.
The modus included the use of fake titles to demand compensation for parcels of land supposedly affected by government projects in General Santos City.
The DPWH had allotted P28.9 billion for ROW payments next year after allotting P56.4 billion for the same purpose this year. —Marlon Ramos
