Ex-leaders back in Palace

  • Page Views 2267
  • For the first time in Philippine history, four former presidents returned to Malacañang Wednesday to discuss with the incumbent President and members of the National Security Council (NSC) “vital policies and strategies” for the future of the country.

    Former presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Benigno Aquino 3rd gathered at the Palace yesterday afternoon for the NSC meeting convened by President Rodrigo Duterte.

    It was the first time that Arroyo set foot at the Palace since she stepped down from the presidency six years ago.

    Discussed during the meeting that started at 3 p.m. were various important issues such as the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s nine-dash line claim on the West Philippines Sea, the peace and development roadmap and updates on the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

    National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said 42 people were invited for yesterday’s meeting. Among those invited were the Senate President, House Speaker, minority leaders of both houses, chairmen of the committees on defense and security, peace and order, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency director general, Armed Forces chief,

    Philippine National Police chief, and the director of the National Bureau of Investigation.

    Also present was Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

    The NSC was created during the Quirino administration through Executive Order No. 330, dated July 1, 1950. It was reorganized by virtue of EO 115, series of 1986.

    The President, together with 35 members of the NSC from the executive and legislative

    branch, was to discuss the recent ruling of the United Nation’s tribunal on our sea dispute with China.

    “The President will lead the NSC in a multipartisan dialogue in order to agree on vital policies and strategies on important matters, including the recent ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the West Philippine Sea,” the Palace said in a statement on Tuesday.

    Malacañang said an overview of the road map for peace and development was to be presented in the first council meeting.

    Duterte decided to convene the NSC in the wake of the arbitral tribunal’s ruling invalidating China’s massive claim over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

    Ramos, a member of the council, has agreed to be the country’s special envoy to Beijing.

    China claims almost the entire South China Sea, home to vital shipping lanes and also believed to hold vast mineral reserves. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have often overlapping claims.(C. Valente, MT)

    Share

    New Posts Recently publish post More

    • 21 March 2024
      1 week ago No comment

      Canada eyes space cooperation with Philippines

      The Philippines held its first space cooperation conference on March 19, 2024 as the country seeks to explore opportunities presented by the heavens. The conference was organized by the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies, a Metro Manila-based think-tank; the fledgling Philippine Space Agency; and ...

    • 14 March 2024
      2 weeks ago No comment

      Mable endorses campaign for Benson Flores marker

      Mable Elmore is supporting the campaign to raise funds for a memorial marker for pioneer immigrant Benson Flores. Elmore is the Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Vancouver-Kensington, which is also home to Mountain View Cemetery where Flores is buried in an unmarked grave. MLA Elmore ...

    • 07 March 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      Quiboloy church linked to fake marriages in Canada

      Some 100 allegedly fraudulent marriages in Canada are connected to the religious group led by the spiritual adviser of now former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. This stunning allegation was made on March 5, 2024 by Dindo Maquiling, a former follower of Apollo Quiboloy. Maquiling is a former executive director ...

    • 07 March 2024
      3 weeks ago No comment

      MP Valdez Visits Vancouver

      Liberal MP Rechie Valdez visited Vancouver to meet with BC Business owners at the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA) Catering in Richmond recently. The meet and greet was an opportunity for local businesses to dialogue directly with Valdez whose portfolio includes small businesses. The roundtable discussion was led ...

    • 29 February 2024
      4 weeks ago No comment

      Minimum wage increases to $17.40 an hour on June 1 VICTORIA

      For Immediate Release Feb. 26, 2024 VICTORIA – B.C.’s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise when the general minimum wage increases from $16.75 to $17.40 per hour on June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with B.C.’s average rate of inflation in 2023. The alternate minimum ...

    %d bloggers like this: