President Duterte meets Russian President Vladimir Putin

LIMA, Peru, Nov. 20 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting (AELM) in Lima, Peru.
 


During the meeting, President Duterte expressed his pleasure of meeting President Putin and his respect for the latter’s leadership.





President Putin congratulated President Duterte for winning the May 9, 2016 elections and likewise expressed his pleasure at meeting him.


Putin noted that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Philippines-Russia diplomatic relations, and acknowledged the many accomplishments that have promoted trust and confidence between the two countries.
 


Both leaders discussed the various ways to further develop comprehensive bilateral cooperation in such areas as economic, security and defense, cultural and people-to-people exchange, among others. They likewise agreed to sustain the high-level meetings and consultations that would enhance the mutually beneficial relations.
 


Present during the meeting were members of President Duterte's Cabinet, including Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go.


President Putin was accompanied by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials of the Russian government. 

Bangsamoro CSOs in WesMin urge Moro leaders to work for the common interest

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More than sufficient troops to secure heroes' cemetery for Marcos burial, says PHL Army

MANILA, Nov. 12 (PNA) --- The Philippine Army has more than sufficient troops to secure the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, its spokesperson, Col. Benjamin Hao, has said.

When asked whether the Army has increased security in the heroes' cemetery in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling allowing the interment of former president Ferdinand E. Marcos at the LNMB, Hao said they have more than enough troops, though he did not cite exact figures.

Militant groups have threatened to conduct lightning protest actions at the LNMB should the former president be interred there.

As this develops, Hao said no final date has been set yet for Marcos' burial in the cemetery.

"(As the designated protocol officer), I coordinated with the Marcos family and I asked them whether they have any concern we need to address, (and for the moment), they said they have none and they are still waiting for the final coordination on the date (of the former president's burial)," he said in Filipino.

Hao earlier said the Army is ready to provide Marcos with military honors befitting his rank as former president.

"We will provide former president Marcos military honors befitting a president of our country. He will be given arrival honors by Army brigade-sized honor guards when his remains enter the LNMB," he said. "He will also be given a 21-gun salute."

The Army spokesperson said the former president's casket will be carried by pallbearers, consisting of active-duty senior sergeants and generals, to his final resting place at the cemetery.

An earlier directive said the Army is required to provide a vigil, a bugler, a drummer, a firing party, a military host, pallbearers, an escort and transportation, and arrival and departure honors.

Hao earlier said representatives of the Marcos family have begun cleaning and making initial digs at the regulation 100-sq.-meter plot former presidents are allotted in the LNMB's 5,000-sq. meter Presidential Section.

The remains of three presidents, Carlos P. Garcia, Diosdado Macapagal and Elpidio Quirino have been interred in the heroes' cemetery.

Hao said the Presidential Section still has room for 46 more. 

President Duterte’s speech earns praises from ‘Yolanda’ survivors

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 8 (PNA) – Survivors in coastal communities badly hit by

super typhoon Yolanda welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to move them to permanent homes as early as next month.

In the past two years, single mother Marilyn Singh, 51, and her children and grandchildren have been staying in a bunkhouse. She commended the President for giving attention to them.

“I agree with Duterte. Why delay the housing projects if funds have already been available?” she asked.

Lucia Etolle, 61, shares a room with 10 other family members in the same bunkhouse made out of coconut lumber and plywood.

She lauded the Chief Executive for being apologetic to the plight of survivors, who are compelled to stay in low lying coastal communities and makeshift houses.

“Suffering for nearly three years is too much. We really want to move to a new house with own toilet, stable water supply, and electricity,” said Etolle, who earns meager income from tailoring.

Weeks after super typhoon hit central Philippines, the government built bunkhouses for displaced families. Each unit is divided into 24 rooms for each family. The room measures 8.64 square meters — roughly the size of two Ping-Pong tables.

The two mothers are among the 50 families still living in bunkhouses built in a government-owned lot in the city’s Kalipayan village.

These families are scheduled for transfer to housing projects in the northern part of the city funded by an international non-government organization.

In San Roque village, Tanauan, Leyte several families opted to stay in makeshift houses built near the shoreline even after the turnover of permanent housing units to them.

“Living here is more convenient. It’s closer to the sea where we earn about Php 300 daily from fishing. What’s the point of having a new home if we have nothing to eat?” asked Yiyi Quista, 44, a mother of five.

“With the President’s order, I am positive that concerned government agencies will address the livelihood aspect of relocation,” she added.

During the 3rd Yolanda anniversary on Tuesday, Duterte asked concern agencies to fast track the assistance to survivors, especially housing-related concerns.

“I am not satisfied. In three years only few families were transferred to their permanent houses. The national offices, the respective departments, they’re only given one month to process the paper and it must be out,” the President said.

On Tuesday, thousands of Yolanda survivors converged in town plazas and mass grave sites to celebrate resilience and remember those who perished when the super typhoon battered central Philippines three years ago. (PNA) RMA/SQM/Ana Rose Cinco, Jushua Marga & Aldwin John Cadayong (OJTs)

Zamboanga City allocates Php 200,000 to bury unclaimed cadavers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov. 7 (PNA) – The city government has allocated Php 200,000 for the holding of a mass burial this month of 17 unclaimed cadavers in this city.

Socorro Rojas, city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) chief, on Monday said the unclaimed cadavers will be buried at the city government-owned cemetery in Barangay Talabaan.

Rojas said the cadavers, which were deposited at a local funeral parlor, belong mostly to victims of summary execution while the rest are of “mentally challenged” individuals who were found dead since January this year in this city.

Rojas said the cadavers, all listed as unidentified, were not immediately buried to give ample time for families to claim the remains if they happen to be their relatives.

She disclosed that this year’s number of unclaimed cadavers were lesser than the previous years.

In 2015, she said there were 20 unclaimed cadavers in the city. (PNA)

RMA/NYP/TPGJR/R.G. ANTONET A. GO

OPAPP Statement on the Suspension of Proceedings and Warrants of Arrest for MNLF Founding Chair Nur Misuari –

The positive response of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chair Nur Misuari to President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s invitation to participate in the Bangsamoro peace process and the signing of the executive order that will create a more inclusive Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) on Monday, November 7, are significant steps closer to a comprehensive and inclusive resolution of the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao.

 The peace process in Mindanao is on track with both the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MNLF on board for a more inclusive resolution to the conflict. They are now willing to sit at the peace table and work together with the government to address the historical injustices committed against the Moro people. This is an unprecedented and historic development.

 Chairman Misuari has declared that only President Duterte can solve the long-standing problem of peace and order in Mindanao. This trust in the president’s leadership from the MNLF founder is a key ingredient in the President’s roadmap that will lead us to peace in Mindanao.

 President Duterte’s determination to end the war once and for all during his term has led him to explore creative ways to get all the key actors to the peace table. 

 He has committed to release an unprecedented number of detained leaders of the National Democratic Front (NDF) so they can participate in the peace negotiations and declared an indefinite unilateral ceasefire.

 In the same manner, the President has caused the suspension of hearings and enforcement of warrants of arrest against Chairman Misuari so he can also participate in the Bangsamoro peace process.

 The temporary releases of the NDF leaders and of the MNLF chairman is in pursuit of a larger vision of peace. As justice is a key element of peacebuilding, justice and healing will be an integral part of the peace process. The concern for justice related to the Zamboanga incidents in 2013 as well as other incidents identified by the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission will be dealt with in a comprehensive program.

 As the major actors and stakeholders are now involved in pursuing peace in Mindanao, the opportunity is greater for dialogue and meaningful conversations that can lead to inclusive peace.

 Public participation will be an integral part of the process through the formation of various Peace Tables in the different sectors and communities following President Duterte’s desire for inclusiveness, transparency, and convergence. The bigger peace table of the people will enable every Filipino to contribute not only to make peace happen, but more importantly, to make peace last. (OPAPP)

President Duterte meets Misuari in Malacañang

MANILA, Nov. 4 -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday welcomed Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur Misuari in Malacañang Palace in an occasion that carries great implications in the peace process.

The MNLF chair was in Malacañang upon the invitation of President Duterte just hours after receiving a copy of a court resolution suspending the warrant of arrest issued against him by a Pasig City court for his alleged involvement in the 2013 Zamboanga siege.

“It is with great happiness that I announce to the nation that Chairman Nur Misuari, our brother, who heads the MNLF, has finally decided to just accept my invitation for him to talk to us,” the President said in a short speech.

“He has obliged and we are very grateful,” Duterte said.

The President said that the arrest warrant against Misuari was suspended upon his orders so that the MNLF chair could join the peace negotiations between government and the Moro rebel groups.

“I would like to assure Brother Nur that there was never any intention on my part to deprive you of your liberty,” Duterte told his guest.

He reminisced how, when he was still vice mayor of Davao City, Misuari was accepted with open arms by Duterte and both of them having a vision that they may someday talk together about peace in Mindanao.

“Little did they know that by the grace of Allah, I became the President of the Republic. And in the twilight of our years, we would be able to talk about the problem of our country, the revolution that you have led all these years and finally understanding on a common ground with government,” President Duterte said.

In the meantime, Misuari began his response with the universal greeting of peace of the Islamic world because he said that “peace is a most vital humanitarian value to us.”

“I came here only to see the President. I came here only in answer to the invitation of the President, the man whom I respect and trust,” he said.

“For I believe, as I said during the campaign, ‘that is one single man who can provide solution to the problem of peace and order to our homeland of Mindanao’” Misuari said.

He said that he was grateful to President Duterte for restoring his freedom, albeit temporarily, and vowed to fully support the Administration’s pursuit of peace and its war against drugs.

“I am so happy to be free again owing to the initiative of the President. And now I came here. Foremost in my mind is: how can we help our President finish his job through till the end of his six-year term? Because I know for a fact that he will not abandon his pledge to the people,” Misuari said.

On the government’s war against illegal drugs, the MNLF chair said that he himself had personally seen the destructive effects of drug on the lives of young people in his hometown in Jolo.

“They are destroying our children, our youth. Who will succeed us after this when our citizens are already destroyed by these drugs? To us drugs is a restless, creeping threat to humanity. Drugs is one of the biggest source of crimes to humanity,” he pointed out as he reiterated his vow to cooperate fully with government.

“Allow me to reiterate my sense of gratitude to the President and I promise that should he need our cooperation in his campaign for peace, you can count on us Mr. President,” Misuari said.