News Briefs: July 8, 2019

Piñol tapped as gov’t point man in Bangsamoro

MANILA, Philippines — Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol is a man trusted enough by President Rodrigo Duterte to have him as the government’s point person in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

This was how Malacañang described Piñol, who is being eyed as the new chief of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) following his offer to resign from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

However, the President has yet to talk to Bangsamoro Transition Authority Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim on naming Piñol to the MinDA.

“The President said Piñol is an expert in agriculture, and the MinDA also needs an expert. He is the only one he trusts there,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo of the President’s trust in Piñol.

Panelo said the President was likely to choose Piñol to lead the MinDA as the government’s point person over someone he does not personally know.

“If it’s between Piñol that he already knows and has already tried working with, and others that he doesn’t know, of course he is going to choose Piñol,” Panelo said.

Last month, Piñol offered to resign from the DA and expressed his openness to be assigned to other government agencies such as the MinDA.

The MinDa is a Cabinet position which has been vacant since its former head, Datu Abul Khayr Dangcal Alonto, died in May. —Julie M. Aurelio

Locsin backs East Timor’s Asean membership bid

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday received visiting East Timorese Foreign Minister Dr. Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares, who is on a four-day visit to the Philippines as part of a swing of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member countries.

During a meeting at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) main office in Pasay City, Babo Soares sought the Philippines’ support for East Timor’s bid for Asean membership.

In response, Locsin assured him of Manila’s support.

Timor-Leste holds an observer status in the Asean. It formally submitted its application for full membership way back in 2011. East Timor is also also a member of the Asean Regional Forum.

The two ministers took the opportunity to review the overall state of relations between the two countries and agreed to work together to explore opportunities for cooperation.

The DFA said Locsin reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to continue providing capacity-building projects to Timor-Leste, including technical and English-language training.

On the economic front, Babo Soares invited the Philippines to explore investment opportunities in East Timor.

The Philippines and East Timor established diplomatic relations in 2002, after East Timor voted to become independent from Indonesia. —Jerome Aning