NEWS BRIEFS: June 5, 2019

Jockeying underway for prime House positions

MANILA, Philippines — Negotiations are underway between top political parties and the candidates for House Speaker for the assignment of plum positions in exchange for their support, Minority Leader Danilo Suarez told a press briefing on Tuesday.

“It’s not individual jockeying but it’s in terms of party membership,” the outgoing Quezon representative said.

Outgoing Rep. Anthony Bravo of Coop-Natcco party list said he expected the party list bloc to be crucial, as its chosen candidate would be assured of at least 45 votes. —DJ Yap

Truck of meatballs from China intercepted

MANILA, Philippines — A truck containing meat balls from China was intercepted by the Bureau of Customs and quarantine officers from the Bureau of Animal Industry as the government intensifies its security measures against the entry of African swine fever into the country.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol posted on his Facebook page that a refrigerated container from China, which was declared to contain fish tofu, yielded meat balls and other pork products that are currently banned by the agency.

Following reports that pork coming from China continues to be sold in markets, especially in Binondo, Manila, Piñol has urged the public to report private entities that continue to sell the prohibited products. —Karl R. Ocampo

Palace to PCGG: Start auction of Marcos jewelry

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) should begin the public auction of former first lady Imelda Marcos’ P704.8-million jewelry collection after Malacañang posed no objection to its sale, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said.

The Office of the President has officially informed the PCGG that it interposes no objections to the proposed activities relative to the disposal of the Marcos jewelry collections, subject to compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations, Medialdea said in a text message to reporters. —Julie M. Aurelio

Fix your own party, Pimentel tells Villar

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday scoffed at Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Nacionalista Party, for telling him to iron out the supposed internal squabbling in the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) over the chairmanships of Senate committees in the 18th Congress.

“Why are you insisting that we have a problem in our party when we have no problem?” Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, told reporters, addressing Villar.

“So mind your own party. Fix your party. I know we have to fix our own party. Nobody has to tell us [that],” he added. —Marlon Ramos