News Report
05 September 2018 Local
1. PH removes warship from disputed shoal Philippine Daily Inquirer, 05 September 2018, p. A5
The Philippine Navy’s flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (FF-15) was successfully refloated shortly before midnight on Monday, six days after it ran aground in Hasa Hasa Shoal (Half-Moon Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
It was still unclear how and why the ship ran aground. The frigate is one of the three former US Coast Guard cutters acquired by the Philippine military during the previous administration. It is the lead ship of her class.
2. Rody orders AFP to buy equipment from Israel The Philippine Star, 05 September 2018, p. 6
President Duterte has ordered the military to buy defense equipment from Israel as he thanked the country for helping the Philippines in its campaign against terrorism, including efforts to liberate Marawi. President Duterte claimed the United States, the Philippines’ traditional ally, spies on those who buy equipment from it.
Previous reports claimed Duterte would push for an arms deal with Israel but officials have yet to confirm it.
3. Palace voids Trillanes’ amnesty
Manila Bulletin, 05 September 2018, p. 1, continued on p. 6
President Duterte has revoked the amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV by then President Benigno S. Aquino III in connection with two attempts to overthrow the Arroyo administration.
In Proclamation No. 572, the President declared the amnesty given to Trillanes in 2010 as “void ab initio” since he failed to apply for such amnesty and did not admit guilt for the crimes committed.
But Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the Upper Chamber will not allow Trillanes or any other senator to be arrested within its premises. Trillanes also explained that the granting of an amnesty is an act of Congress and cannot be superseded by an Executive Order. As of press time last night, Trillanes has decided to stay at the Senate premises.
Korea -
Economic
4. PHL to ink exploration deal with Israeli oil firm
Business Mirror, 05 September 2018, p. A1 continued on p. A8
Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. said in a press briefing that an agreement on energy exploration in Palawan between the Philippines and Israeli company Ratio Petroleum Ltd. is expected to be signed during the President’s visit in Israel. The agreement is meant to help the country explore other sources of energy in a bid to ensure energy security.
5. Landbank gets ₱2 B from JICA to finance Mindanao’s agri sector Manila Bulletin, 05 September 2018, p. B-3
Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) has secured a funding worth P2 billion from Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) specifically to support the agriculture sector in and around the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and other conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.
The loan seeks to provide concessional loans to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), corporatives (plantation farm management services), large agribusiness enterprises, cooperatives, and
participating financial institutions in ARMM and other conflict-affected neighboring areas.
6. House approves TRAIN 2 on second reading The Philippine Star, 05 September 2018, p. 6
The Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High Quality Opportunities or TRABAHO or the second package of the administration’s controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) program was approved yesterday by the House of Representatives.
The business sector is jittery about the second installment of tax reform. Business leaders have warned the administration and lawmakers that if fiscal incentives were taken away, many businesses would close shop or relocate to other countries.
