NEWS BRIEFS: June 4, 2019

Palace: Duterte invite to Naruhito will cement Japan ties

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is optimistic that President Duterte’s invitation to Japanese Emperor Naruhito to visit the Philippines will further cement the strong partnership of the two countries.

The President extended the invitation during his bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

“The President likewise conveyed the best wishes of the Filipino people to Emperor Naruhito’s ascension to the throne, adding that it would be a great honor for our country to receive Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in the Philippines in the future,” Panelo said in a statement.

The Palace made the remarks following the President’s “productive and fruitful” visit to Tokyo. —Julie M. Aurelio

Puno’s party backs Cayetano’s speakership bid

MANILA, Philippines — Former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano’s bid for the House speakership has gained momentum after the incoming Taguig City representative secured the backing of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Political strategist Ronaldo V. Puno, the NUP chair, issued a statement on Monday declaring his party’s support for Cayetano.

The NUP is expected to have some 26 seats in the 18th Congress, which will open in July. If the NUP votes as a bloc, that will add to at least 40 seats won by Cayetano’s Nacionalista Party.

The ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan is expected to choose between former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, who is reportedly the personal choice of the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. The Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, on the other hand, will field incoming Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. —DJ Yap

Legal basis needed to ban Smartmatic, says Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is studying President Rodrigo Duterte’s “suggestion” to ditch Smartmatic in future elections but it cannot unilaterally ban or disqualify the technology company, the poll body said on Monday.

“There has to be legal basis … Remember, Smartmatic right now had nothing to do with the counting of votes, so the issue goes beyond just that,” James Jimenez, spokesperson for the Comelec, told reporters.

“ We need to follow due process,” Jimenez said after a hearing of the House public accounts panel, which is investigating technical glitches that marred last month’s midterms.

But he said the Comelec was not rejecting the President’s directive to “stop using Smartmatic” over doubts on the integrity of the election results. —DJ Yap

Dutch embassy laments killing of wildlife photographer

MANILA, Philippines — The Embassy of the Netherlands in Manila has expressed sadness over the death of Dutch wildlife photographer Ewold Horn, who was shot by his Abu Sayyaf guards in Sulu on Friday when he tried to flee during a clash between government troops and the militants.

“We are deeply saddened by the news that our citizen, Mr. Ewold Horn, who was kept hostage for more than seven years, has been killed on the island of Sulu,” the embassy said on its Facebook page

. Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said he would ask Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. “for clarification.”

Horn, 59, and Swiss citizen Lorenzo Vincinguerra, were taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf in Tawi-Tawi while on a bird-watching trip in 2012. Vinciguerra escaped in December 2014. —Jerome Aning

Deadline for senior high cash aid applications extended

The Department of Education has extended to June 7 the deadline for applications to its Senior High School Voucher Program. “Every child has a right to quality education, not just education for education’s sake,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said on Monday in announcing the extension during her visit to Signal Village National High School in Taguig City. The program provides financial assistance of up to P22,500 to qualified Grade 10 finishers in participating private schools and local and state universities and colleges. The results of the applications will be released on June 24, said Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla. —MATTHEW REYSIO-CRUZ