News Briefs

Duterte to attend China’s Belt and Road forum in April

President Duterte will go to Beijing in April to attend China’s Belt and Road forum, his spokesperson Salvador Panelo said on Thursday. Panelo said Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua invited the President to attend the forum during his courtesy call in Malacañang on Wednesday. “[The President] looks forward to attending the event,” Panelo said when asked if the Duterte accepted the invitation. Zhao, he said, also “commended” the policeman who was attacked by a Chinese woman at an MRT station after he stopped her from bringing a cup of soybean curd inside in line with the MRT’s no-liquid policy. Panelo was referring to Police Officer 1 William Cristobal who did not flinch when fashion student Zhang Jiale threw a cup of curd on him. —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO

Palace on calls for Cardema to resign: He knows what to do

Malacañang on Thursday said it was up to National Youth Commission Chair Ronald Cardema to resign amid calls for him to do so after he called for a presidential order to strip state scholarships from antigovernment students allied with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army. “If [Cardema] feels he is still adequate, he knows what to do. If he thinks that he is a burden to the administration because of the statements he made, then he knows what to do,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said. But Cardema, he said, should take the cue from President Duterte, who said on Wednesday that mere expression of dissent would not affect the scholarships of student activists. Duterte said he wanted to see “more overt acts,” such as students espousing the overthrow of the government.  —CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO

3 Filipino tourists jailed in HK over forged documents

Three Filipino tourists in Hong Kong were sentenced to five months in prison after they were caught using forged documents to open bank accounts. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the three call center employees were meted the jail term on Feb. 18 after pleading guilty to two counts of “using a false instrument.” Philippine Consul General Antonio Morales said the three Filipinos were expected to be released in March after their prison term was made retroactive to October, when they were arrested. According to the DFA, the three were offered a free trip to Hong Kong in exchange for opening bank accounts, which authorities suspect would be used to launder money. —DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN