01:18.0
Yes, Carmina, we're here at the middle of the sea for the 2nd Atenito Civilian Supply Mission and the convoy is now en route to the Scarborough Shoal.
01:26.2
Just a few moments ago, the Atenito Coalition deployed symbolic boys or markers here at the middle of the sea.
01:33.6
These markers bore the claim that the West Philippine Sea, Atenito, or this is ours.
01:39.0
They also gave food packs and fuel to fishermen.
01:43.4
There are 5 main civilian vessels and we are on board one of them, the FBCA Patti.
01:49.3
Aside from this, over 100 smaller boats are joining the first part of this convoy.
01:54.7
More than 100 volunteers.
01:56.2
Coming from various sectors, the media and international observers are joining this mission aimed in asserting Philippine rights in the West Philippine Sea.
02:04.8
The convoy departed past 7 in the morning.
02:09.1
Up until this point, we have not seen any Chinese vessels yet.
02:13.8
China was reported to be sending huge forces to block this mission from reaching the Bajo de Masinloc, which is part of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
02:23.5
It remains to be seen what will happen.
02:26.2
We have talked to the captain of this ship and he said that he is elated to be part of the mission but he will make sure that the safety will be of utmost priority.
02:35.7
Compared to the first mission, the second mission is made up of smaller fishing boats they call pangulong.
02:41.8
Organizers say they are hoping this will be peaceful yet victorious.
02:45.8
One can sense fear and fervor in the mission that while the threats are huge, volunteers are determined to assert Philippine rights.
02:56.2
I want to join this mission so that we can have an impact on the expedition.
03:01.8
Aside from that, I also want to make sure that we can really be the Skalboro official.
03:09.1
Our lives are very affected by this, especially the stoppage of us from going back to Skalboro,
03:19.1
which is a very beautiful place.
03:24.1
At the same time, it is a source of hope.
03:26.2
What more than the holy ocean awhile do we have left.
03:28.0
The only thing we expect is good luck.
03:34.3
Carmina, if things go according to plan, the convoy will be back to the Subic port on Friday evening.
03:41.7
Thanks a lot, Jervis Menad.
03:43.2
They are joining us live from the West Philippine Sea.
03:46.1
Well, back here at the newsroom, the Philippines may get access to a U.S. government program
03:50.1
that will enable it to use satellite imagery in monitoring the West Philippine Sea,
03:55.0
the use of that satellite imagery to record the human life of its people.
03:55.1
We'll see what the news is going to show us later.
03:55.1
We'll see what the news is going to show us later.
03:55.2
We'll see what the news is going to show us later.
03:55.3
We'll see what the news is going to show us later.
03:55.4
We'll see what the news is going to show us later.
03:55.8
of the Sea Vision Program was recently discussed by the Philippines and the U.S.
04:00.2
at their first trilateral space dialogue in Washington.
04:03.2
They said the Maritime Situational Awareness Tool can help monitor and document vessels
04:09.0
within the Philippines' territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
04:13.7
The two nations also raised the possible hosting of the U.S.
04:17.5
of a geological survey landsat ground station in the Philippines.
04:21.9
The Philippine Justice Department taps the National Bureau of Investigation
04:28.1
to probe foreign diplomats allegedly committing illegal activities in the country.
04:33.5
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulia says the probe cannot be deterred by diplomatic immunity,
04:40.1
which he says is not absolute.
04:42.8
The DOJ did not refer to any specific diplomat,
04:45.5
but it noted how the Chinese embassy supposedly recorded an alleged conversation
04:50.4
of a Chinese diplomat who was in the Philippines.
04:51.9
and a Philippine military official regarding a supposed deal on Ayungin Shoal.
04:57.1
Remulia vows appropriate actions would be taken against those involved.
05:04.3
Senator Francis Tolentino has filed a resolution seeking a probe into the alleged wiretapping
05:10.0
of a top Philippine military official by the Chinese embassy.
05:13.2
We'll be speaking now with Senator Tolentino.
05:15.7
Senator, good afternoon to you.
05:17.2
Thanks for joining us today and welcome to the program.
05:21.9
Nothing wrong without the rest of your viewers as well.
05:24.5
All right, Senator.
05:25.4
We've heard from the National Security Advisor, the National Security Council,
05:29.2
we've heard from the Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy,
05:32.2
saying that there's no new model.
05:34.8
They've denied that allegation and the public, they say, should take their word for it.
05:39.8
No questions asked.
05:41.5
But then the alleged recording and then the subsequent transcript
05:46.0
and now your investigation.
05:49.0
Why are you not taking their word for it?
05:51.9
And continuing on with this investigation, Senator?
05:56.3
I am taking the word of the NSC, NICA, and all our security intelligence agencies.
06:05.1
Naniniwala na po tayo doon.
06:06.6
But this alleged wiretapping incident
06:10.1
lost Republic of 4200, the anti-wiretapping law.
06:17.3
It's also a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
06:21.5
So, it's also a violation of the Indiana Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
06:21.9
So, it is a serious breach in terms of the existing protocols.
06:27.0
That's why there is a need for the Senate to really investigate this.
06:31.2
And I hope an investigation will be forthcoming.
06:34.3
I heard it's going to be on Tuesday.
06:35.9
So, to really get the details of this.
06:39.8
Because this is very serious.
06:42.1
We get the seriousness of the alleged wiretapping.
06:48.2
Hi, can you hear me?
06:49.4
Is this better, Senator?
06:51.9
Yes, I was saying this is a serious matter that has to be investigated.
07:01.6
Yes, so it's a serious matter that has to be investigated.
07:04.4
But there's a very thin line as well.
07:06.7
Because as you investigate it,
07:09.1
chances are you may unveil an actual conversation that had happened.
07:16.1
Something that has been denied by authorities.
07:19.6
How do you tread that thin line, Senator?
07:21.9
But, yes, it has been denied.
07:27.6
Anything that you get from an illegal wiretapping is a form of espionage.
07:33.9
Inadmissible importance.
07:35.6
So, the repercussions here would be serious likewise.
07:40.1
You can have a declaration of persona non grata,
07:43.5
which would result in the expulsion of the diplomat involved.
07:47.3
Because we have precedents on this.
07:49.4
Carlina, do you hear me?
08:21.9
But the actual breach, the breach itself, as I've said, is in violation of Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,
08:31.1
of which the Philippines is a signatory, 1965, and China is a signatory, 1975.
08:38.3
But how do you separate the two, Senator?
08:42.2
I understand the seriousness of the wiretapping allegation, but in your quest to investigate, go ahead.
08:51.9
I understand you. But what can be ascertained, perhaps it was a trap, it was a slice, so we get into the truth of this.
09:01.2
Whether there was really an unauthorized agreement that would allow a new model, we cling to the notion that there was no new model.
09:14.9
But we're now investigating the wiretapping, which is in violation.
09:21.9
Of Philippine laws. And the wiretapping, again, is a serious matter.
09:26.3
So we're not after the accuracy of whether there was indeed a discussion on a new model.
09:34.0
We're after the wiretapping as a violation of the Philippine laws.
09:38.8
This is, if it is proven to be true that there was wiretapping that happened, this must have ramifications on diplomatic ties.
09:51.9
So how do you see this going?
09:54.5
If this will be proven, if this can be proven that there was indeed wiretapping, we can expel.
10:01.0
We can expel the diplomat concerned.
10:04.6
We can ask the Chinese embassy to expel the said diplomat.
10:09.8
And we can even declare him as a persona non grata.
10:14.1
And we can, and this is very serious, we can expel even non-diplomatic staff members.
10:21.9
And we can reduce their staff, so to speak.
10:27.5
And how do you think this is going to affect the diplomatic ties between Manila and Beijing?
10:38.2
They will still have repercussions.
10:41.1
They will still continue to have diplomatic relations with China.
10:47.2
But again, we assert.
10:51.9
The application of Philippine laws.
10:54.2
They're not exempt from complying with Philippine laws.
10:58.3
And that's the anti-wiretapping law.
11:00.8
Basically, you're saying, Senator, our house, our rules.
11:07.8
Except for those, of course, except for those that would involve a diplomatic unity.
11:13.5
And this is that separate, separate.
11:15.3
But this one is, will not involve diplomatic immunity.
11:18.9
But we just heard from...
11:21.9
Justice Secretary Crispin Remulia.
11:26.5
They basically saying that diplomatic immunity is not absolute.
11:34.3
Your thoughts on that?
11:36.1
Yes, it's correct.
11:37.9
It's not absolute.
11:39.2
It only applies to the proper functioning of the embassy.
11:44.0
It does not allow them to violate Philippine laws.
11:47.3
That's part of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
11:51.9
That's a treaty signed by several countries.
11:55.4
So, what are the repercussions?
11:56.8
We can declare a persona non grata, the person involved.
12:00.2
We can file a diplomatic protest.
12:02.4
And we can have a reciprocal action.
12:04.0
Reciprocal action would be this.
12:05.9
We can reduce the size of the Chinese embassy here.
12:09.7
Senator, give us a preview of the resource persons that you are going to invite to this investigation.
12:17.9
What should the public expect?
12:20.4
Who's going to appear?
12:21.9
I just talked to the chairman of the committee, Secretary Senator Stratas.
12:26.7
So, we'll have the DFA.
12:28.1
We will have the Department of National Defense.
12:30.7
We're going to have some national security intelligence agencies, NSC or NICA.
12:37.0
And we will invite some Chinese embassy personnel.
12:42.0
They can refuse, of course, because of the diplomatic immunity.
12:46.1
But since this involves a violation of Philippine laws, they can voluntarily appear.
12:51.9
And that would be probably the tenor of the invitation coming from the Senate National Defense Committee.
12:58.1
So, we will settle this.
12:59.5
Kung hindi naman totoo, di wala.
13:02.4
Pero paano nyo malalaman kung totoo nga o hindi?
13:05.6
Kung halimbawa sabihin nila, hindi sila pupunta?
13:12.9
They have been alleging a transcript.
13:16.5
So, last but not least, transcript.
13:17.4
And then, Senator, tell us what to expect.
13:21.9
If they say, okay, you invite them, they say they don't want to go, citing whichever reason,
13:28.0
do you go to that next step right away?
13:32.1
All the things that you mentioned, persona non grata, reducing the size of the embassy, go ahead.
13:40.9
As a lawyer, everything is subject to proof.
13:43.7
So, if documents are going to be provided because of the absence of the other side,
13:47.8
we'll ask the Philippine side if they can have also a...
13:50.8
if they can present any confirmatory or non-existence of any transcript whatsoever.
14:00.8
So, it will show the seriousness of the matter.
14:07.0
And, Senator, you know that we're not the only ones watching this.
14:10.0
The international...
14:16.1
I was saying, we're not the only one watching.
14:19.6
And again, this is...
14:20.7
This is not the first time it has been done.
14:24.5
I mentioned the incident involving China and Australia before,
14:32.4
the hacking of the Australian Parliament.
14:34.4
And I mentioned about the Seattle incident involving the Chinese consulate in the United States.
14:40.0
And I'm also aware of what happened in the United Kingdom when there was a poison-throwing incident
14:50.7
a Russian personality that led to the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in London.
14:57.5
So, a lot of precedents of this.
14:59.6
Yeah, a lot of precedents.
15:01.1
But is this the first time it is happening here in the Philippines?
15:09.7
And what are your expectations?
15:11.9
It might have happened before, but nobody raised the house.
15:15.6
And because of the tenor...
15:20.0
Because of the tenor, because of the nature, because of the situation that's happening now
15:25.6
between Manila and Beijing,
15:28.6
do you think or are you expecting that even if it happened before in all the countries that you mentioned,
15:34.7
that this time around, it may be different for the Philippines?
15:40.0
Maybe different for Manila?
15:42.9
Maybe different for Manila because we're asserting our loss.
15:46.4
We're asserting our independence.
15:48.8
We're asserting...
15:49.9
We're asserting that the Philippines has a legal system to enforce.
15:55.4
And we are asking as a host country that even diplomats should follow Philippine laws.
16:04.3
That's why I filed a Senate Resolution 1083 for the mother.
16:09.1
And finally, Senator, on this topic, we know that we're not...
16:14.5
Yeah, we know that we're not the only ones watching this very closely.
16:17.6
I think I lost you.
16:18.6
Senator, can you hear me now?
16:25.2
Senator Tolentino, can you hear me?
16:27.7
Yes, yes, I can hear you now.
16:28.6
All right, perfect.
16:29.6
As a final question on this topic, we know that it is not...
16:33.1
The Philippines is not the only one...
16:34.8
We're not the only one watching this.
16:37.0
Anything that involves China now, the world is watching very closely.
16:40.9
Would it be prudent for China to cooperate in this Philippine Senate investigation?
16:46.6
I think you're...
16:49.9
I'm having some connectivity problems for me.
16:56.2
Okay, this is what we're going to do.
16:57.6
If the control can hear me, we're going to end this interview for now, but we are going to try to re-establish a better...
17:03.5
We're having some connectivity problems.
17:05.8
Okay, we're going to try and get you back on the line soon as we can.
17:08.8
We're just going to re-establish our connection with you.
17:10.9
Senator Francis Tolentino there, joining us this soon.
17:13.9
We'll try to get him back.
17:14.9
Right, from there, we're going to take a quick break.
17:16.7
Up ahead, Ifuga Farmers reeling from the prolonged dry season.
17:20.0
We'll give you details when we return.
17:21.5
You're watching Dateline Philippines here on ANC.
17:23.9
We'll be right back.
17:53.9
We'll be right back.
18:21.3
Hopefully, it's a better connection, Senator Francis.
18:23.9
Dato' Tolentino rejoins us on the program.
18:29.6
I can hear you now.
18:30.4
Okay, that's a better connection.
18:32.1
I was going to ask you, last question on that topic.
18:35.3
Anything that involves China now, the international community is watching.
18:40.7
So, for this investigation, why would it be prudent for China to cooperate and not invoke diplomatic immunity?
18:49.5
Can I have the question again?
18:53.9
Anything that China does right now, the whole world watches, correct?
18:59.3
So, for this investigation at the Philippine Senate, why should it or why would it be prudent for China to cooperate with the Philippine Senate investigation?
19:10.5
It would show that they're really complying with post-country rules as enunciated in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
19:22.0
It would show their good faith.
19:23.9
If there is really no white-topping incident, and it would prove in the eyes of the world that there's still a, there are still a, they are still a, they can be considered a member of the global community in good standing.
19:41.1
So, it would be better for them to participate or send a representative voluntarily.
19:47.9
Because we cannot compel them to attend because of their diplomatic immunity.
19:52.8
Let's move on to...
19:55.1
Very quickly, Senator Francis Delentino, you're up for re-election.
19:58.4
Are you gunning for another term at the Senate?
20:04.3
So, I think I have to talk to my political leaders and it would appear that I'm going for another term to perhaps help shape some legal, in the future,
20:23.9
rudeness in the Senate.
20:27.1
I think that that would be my contribution for me.
20:33.5
How will this term be different from the previous terms you've had at the Senate, Senator Delentino?
20:38.8
I think, modestly aside, you have something to show what you have done in your previous years as a senator and how you've handled the legislative meal,
20:53.1
which is quite really...
20:53.9
...in the core of your duties,
20:58.5
at least as a Senator, you can,
21:01.8
as a re-electionist,
21:03.2
that is different from being a first-timer before.
21:07.7
So, you have the wealth of experience in terms of the legislative meal as well as modesty aside,
21:17.7
a semblance of your performance to show to the public.
21:22.4
And you're not the only one saying that.
21:23.9
Senator. There are other people, other
21:26.0
former Senators who are making
21:28.1
a comeback, at least going to try
21:29.8
to make a comeback.
21:32.4
What do you have over them?
21:36.6
That's democracy.
21:38.3
That's democracy.
21:43.5
Alright, we're going to have to leave it at that.
21:46.4
We're still having a bad connection there
21:48.0
but we got the gist. Senator Francis
21:49.8
Tolentino there announcing that he is
21:52.1
going to run for another term come
21:53.9
2025, also giving us his insights
21:56.1
regarding the alleged wiretapping
21:57.7
that happened between
21:59.9
Philippine and Chinese officials. Thank you so much
22:02.0
Senator Francis Tolentino there.
22:04.5
Joining us this noon. Appreciate it.
22:06.6
Alright, in other news,
22:08.0
Philippine Interior Secretary Benher Abalos
22:10.2
highlights gains in the Marcos
22:11.7
Administration's anti-narcotics campaign
22:14.2
at a United Nations Commission
22:15.9
on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
22:18.2
event. There, Abalos
22:20.1
reported, government has seized
22:21.8
over $587 million
22:23.8
in prohibited drugs
22:25.4
in just the first two years of the current
22:27.5
administration. Abalos attributed
22:29.8
this success to their
22:31.9
holistic crime prevention approach
22:33.7
which he says is rooted in
22:35.7
community engagement.
22:37.7
The Marcos Administration's claim of
22:39.6
a bloodless anti-drug campaign is
22:41.6
in stark contrast to the drug
22:43.8
war waged by his predecessor
22:45.4
Rodrigo Duterte which officially left
22:51.8
A lawyer working with the
22:55.5
International Criminal Court in its investigation
22:57.5
into the Duterte drug war believes
22:59.5
it's only a matter of time
23:01.1
before the ICC summons or orders
23:03.5
the arrest of the former president.
23:06.1
ICC Assistant to Council
23:07.8
Attorney Christina Conte says
23:09.4
the court is now determining
23:11.2
who is the most responsible for the bloody
23:13.4
anti-narcotics campaign. See, there
23:15.6
have been reports former police chiefs
23:17.7
under the Duterte administration are also part
23:19.8
of the ICC's investigation.
23:21.8
We've already established
23:25.4
during the preliminary examination
23:27.3
that crimes against humanity occur in the
23:29.6
Philippines. The Philippine
23:31.5
government said, oh maybe
23:32.5
you've forego the investigation,
23:35.4
defer it because we will investigate.
23:38.3
Later on, the ICC says
23:39.7
what kind of investigation are you doing?
23:41.7
You're doing 52 cases?
23:43.9
Ah, we step in again. And so
23:45.6
it started technically in
23:49.3
re-approved again in January.
23:51.8
2022, 2023, and it's
23:54.4
been too long. So I
23:56.3
think at this point, they have
23:58.3
their finger on things already.
24:00.4
And the name of President Duterte
24:04.8
in the OTP, in the Office of
24:06.6
the Prosecutor documents, since
24:11.1
He's been named as someone
24:12.5
who was enabled at the least,
24:15.1
tolerated, or even
24:16.8
ordered or encouraged
24:18.6
his killings. And so
24:20.6
it's not just me.
24:21.8
If we're saying that President Duterte
24:23.7
will likely be looked into,
24:26.3
at the minimum, there will be
24:28.2
someone's issue. But at the maximum,
24:30.4
I think really, there will be a warrant
24:34.7
Meanwhile, Conti denies
24:36.1
the claim of columnist Rigoberto
24:38.0
Tiglau. She's being paid
24:39.8
8 million pesos per year
24:41.5
to help the ICC gather evidence
24:46.5
I am not gathering
24:47.9
dirt specifically against
24:49.8
President Duterte.
24:51.8
I was asked by the victims to figure
24:54.0
out what happened to the killings
24:55.9
and how to connect the killings
24:57.8
to the statements of President
24:59.7
Duterte. What I will admit
25:01.7
is, when we first submitted
25:03.7
a communication to the
25:05.4
International Criminal Court, this was in August
25:07.5
2018, we submitted
25:09.5
transcripts of the statements
25:11.7
of the President with regard to the war
25:13.6
on drugs. This is publicly available.
25:16.2
And, I mean, if there is
25:17.7
dirt at all, it comes from Duterte's
25:19.6
side. What we just did
25:21.2
was put together all this
25:23.0
information and make it
25:25.1
available to the Office of the Prosecutor.
25:29.3
paid part, I think
25:31.3
they're just reading too many novels.
25:37.2
earlier, the second Philippine civilian mission
25:39.2
is already en route to Scarborough
25:41.1
Shoal, and the Philippine Coast Guard is ready
25:43.1
to assist that convoy. Our very own
25:45.1
Michael DeLizo now joins us with that story.
25:47.2
Mike, over to you.
25:49.3
Hi, Stacy. Good afternoon.
25:51.2
The Philippine Coast Guard's
25:52.0
BRP Bagaha is now on standby
25:54.7
at the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal
25:56.9
as the Filipino Civil Society Group
25:59.0
added its sales to the China-controlled
26:01.0
reef. In a press briefing
26:03.1
here in Manila, PCG spokesperson
26:04.8
for the West Philippine Sea Commodore J. Tariella
26:06.9
said, the deployment of the vessel
26:09.0
is part of the government's measure
26:10.8
to ensure the safety of the civilian-led
26:13.3
initiative. Tariella added
26:14.9
that two more PCG vessels
26:16.5
are also set to be deployed in the area
26:18.7
at the risk of a face-off.
26:21.2
Between the civilians and thousands
26:22.7
of Chinese vessels reportedly
26:24.6
deployed by Beijing in the area.
26:27.2
Around 100 people on board
26:28.8
four commercial fishing vessels
26:30.2
and a number of smaller outfiggers
26:32.8
left in order in Philippine port
26:34.8
on Wednesday to sail forward
26:36.5
to Panatag. The trip to the waters around
26:38.6
Scarborough Shoal comes two weeks
26:40.8
after China Coast Guard vessels
26:42.4
fired water cannons at two Philippine government
26:44.7
boats in the same area
26:46.5
in the latest maritime incident between the countries.
26:49.3
While despite China's aggression in the
26:50.9
waters, Tariella maintained, any
26:52.5
Filipinos have the right to sail
26:54.5
in the West Philippine Sea without city
26:56.6
permission from the government.
26:58.3
Thanks a lot, Michael Deliso.
27:00.4
They're joining us on the line back here in the newsroom.
27:02.8
Farmers in the province of
27:04.4
Ifugao blaming the prevailing El Nino
27:06.6
phenomenon for their stunted
27:08.7
harvest. Lady Vicencio reports.
27:13.3
Farmers in Tinok, Ifugao
27:14.9
have started harvesting carrots
27:16.6
this cropping season.
27:18.4
But this year, there were more crops
27:20.9
that were stunted compared to
27:22.8
previous years. Farmers
27:24.9
blame the El Nino phenomenon for the
27:26.9
lack of rainwater for their crops.
27:29.4
Tinok Town is a rain-fed
27:30.8
area, being one of the highest
27:32.7
points in Ifugao province.
27:35.0
Medyo kunti ang harvest na.
27:37.1
Hindi masyadong malaki yung
27:38.6
mga karot. Dapat maraming
27:42.8
maganda. Kunti yung tubig kasi
27:52.8
hindi umuulan. Kunti lang yung tubig
27:54.8
na galang sa mundo.
27:57.0
The Environment Department
27:58.6
said less water is also flowing
28:00.8
down from the mountains due to
28:02.5
deforestation as forests are
28:04.8
being converted to vegetable gardens.
28:07.7
The town of Tinok is
28:08.8
known as the salad bowl of Ifugao
28:10.9
being the largest vegetable producer
28:13.0
in the province. Data
28:14.8
from the Municipal Agriculture Office show
28:16.9
around 286 metric
28:18.9
tons of highland vegetables are
28:20.7
being harvested in the early
28:22.5
months of the year. The goods are
28:24.7
being traded in agri-posts in
28:26.5
Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya.
28:29.4
Due to demand, farmers
28:30.7
expand their farms through
28:32.3
Kainin, which requires cutting
28:34.4
and burning of trees and plants
28:36.5
to prepare land for cultivation.
28:39.2
Forest cover in Tinok has
28:40.8
dwindled by a thousand hectares
28:42.5
in 2020 compared in 2010.
28:48.2
farm located within
28:52.6
very near the river because
28:53.8
the erosion caused by deforestation
28:56.3
destroyed or damaged our
28:58.4
irrigation systems.
29:00.3
Among the factors seen as a challenge
29:02.4
in curbing deforestation in the area
29:04.3
is the number of indigenous people
29:06.3
relying on farming.
29:08.1
Pinopromote din namin sa kanila
29:09.8
hindi sana tutal,
29:12.4
hindi massive, dapat
29:14.0
mag-iwan tayo ng mga areas
29:16.5
for watershed. Affected ang
29:18.1
ating tubig to support our irrigation
29:20.3
system. Government agencies
29:22.5
and stakeholders are working
29:24.2
together to protect forest reserves
29:26.3
and prevent further deforestation
29:30.1
Lady Vicente Shaw, ABS-CBN News.
29:35.6
House lawmakers defend their push to amend
29:38.1
the rice tarification law. The lower
29:40.1
chamber passed amendments to the measure
29:42.2
on second rating Tuesday night.
29:44.5
But Philippine senators are rejecting
29:46.2
that proposal, which seeks to restore
29:48.1
the power of the National Food Authority's
29:50.3
authority to import and sell rice
29:52.2
when prices are high or when there
29:54.3
are shortages. They fear this
29:56.4
would lead to more corruption in
29:58.3
the agency. But the vice chairperson
30:00.5
of the House panel on agriculture
30:02.1
urges her colleagues at the Senate
30:03.9
to consider the chamber's position.
30:08.3
What is their option? Yan ang tanong ko.
30:10.8
Sana mapag-usapan nila.
30:12.1
Nagdaan po kami sa napakaraming oras
30:14.2
ng pagdinig dito sa mga
30:16.2
amendments na ito. And
30:18.2
of course, we recognize and
30:20.3
we realize that trust
30:22.3
is an important issue, especially
30:26.8
ng mandate ng NFA.
30:28.9
So, I think the senators
30:30.5
should also come up with an option sa
30:32.3
Kongreso na isanin-sanang
30:34.4
empowering NFA. If we have
30:36.5
to weed out corrupt officials within
30:38.4
the NFA, let's do it.
30:44.7
Nearly a year after it was
30:46.4
approved at the committee level, the proposed
30:48.5
SOGI-SC Equality Act,
30:50.3
has reached the House plenary.
30:52.7
On Tuesday, sponsors of the measure,
30:54.6
including lawmakers Geraldine Roman
30:56.3
and Arlene Brosas, delivered
30:58.3
privileged speeches for the bill
31:00.1
with groups from the LGBTQIA
31:03.0
plus community in
31:04.2
attendance. Roman says,
31:06.6
while executive orders and local ordinances
31:08.6
are welcome, there's not
31:10.3
enough to protect the members of the community
31:12.3
from discrimination. But she
31:14.3
stopped short of categorically
31:16.2
asking the president to certify the measure
31:22.0
want him to certify it, but
31:24.3
I do realize that
31:25.9
there are other issues
31:28.3
that are more urgent, like
31:31.7
our basic commodities like rice,
31:36.2
in the prices of utilities
31:38.2
like water, electricity,
31:41.0
ang ating mga problema
31:42.1
sa transportation sector.
31:44.3
Those are very important because it's a matter
31:46.4
of life and death, which is not to say
31:48.4
na hindi importante ang pagkilala.
31:52.4
at karapatan ng mga
31:53.9
Pilipino kasama na dyan
31:55.7
ang LGBTQ plus community.
31:58.4
Meron tayong 77 LGUs
32:00.6
with anti-discrimination ordinances,
32:02.8
especially in big cities, but
32:04.4
we do not have a national law, which
32:06.3
begs the question, if
32:07.7
local government units are
32:10.1
capable of recognizing this need
32:12.5
to fight discrimination,
32:15.0
bakit nilang minkaya
32:16.3
sa national level?
32:20.3
Kuncheville reached the House plenary
32:22.3
was in 2017, with all lawmakers
32:24.4
eventually voting in favor of the measure.
32:26.9
But it languished in Congress yet again
32:28.8
due to stiff opposition
32:30.2
from various groups.
32:33.8
I'm going to take another break now.
32:35.2
Still ahead, Beijing vows
32:36.3
retaliation for Washington's steep
32:38.4
tariff hikes on some Chinese products.
32:40.9
More on that when we come back and watch
32:42.1
Dateline Philippines here on ANC.
32:50.3
Thank you for watching.
33:20.3
Since then, the EU and
33:22.1
G7 countries have debated
33:23.6
how and whether to use the funds
33:28.5
The U.S. has proposed seizing
33:30.2
the assets in their entirety, which
33:32.1
Europe has opposed, citing
33:34.1
risks to the euro and massive
33:36.0
legal repercussions.
33:39.5
Our Congress has given us the power to seize
33:41.9
Russian assets in the United States.
33:44.2
We intend to use it.
33:46.5
We're working with our G7
33:47.9
partners to see that Russia's immobilized
33:50.3
sovereign assets are used
33:52.3
to remedy the damage that Putin
33:53.8
continues to cause.
33:55.8
The G7 can unlock billions of dollars
33:58.0
and send a powerful message to Putin
33:59.9
that time is not on his side.
34:04.3
The U.S. unveiled steep tariff
34:06.3
hikes on Chinese imports, including
34:08.2
e-vehicles, computer chips,
34:10.2
and medical products. The sweeping
34:12.2
measure will affect $18 billion
34:14.2
worth of Chinese imported goods.
34:16.9
The White House says
34:18.2
this is in response to China's
34:20.2
unfair trade practices,
34:22.1
which have flooded global markets with
34:23.9
artificially low-priced exports.
34:26.5
But U.S. President Joe Biden says
34:30.3
wants fair competition with Beijing,
34:35.3
Because we're not
34:36.3
going to let China flood
34:38.2
our market, making it impossible for
34:40.0
American auto manufacturers
34:42.4
to compete fairly.
34:44.6
We're also implementing a 25%
34:46.4
tariff on electric vehicle batteries
34:48.1
from China and a 25%
34:50.2
tariff on critical minerals that make
34:51.8
those batteries. Folks, look,
34:54.1
I'm determined that the future
34:55.9
of electric vehicles will be made in America
34:58.0
by union workers. Period.
35:00.1
We're in a stronger position to win that economic
35:01.9
competition in the 21st century against China
35:05.3
because we're investing in America
35:07.7
again, in American workers.
35:12.1
As for China, it immediately
35:13.7
vowed retaliation. Beijing says
35:16.1
it opposes the tariff hikes
35:17.9
and would take measures to defend its
35:23.4
Well, back here at home,
35:24.8
former Senator and Liberal Party
35:26.7
stalwart, Bam Aquino, will lead
35:28.8
a new political party, the Katipunan
35:31.1
ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, as he
35:32.9
sets his sights on a return to the Senate
35:36.3
midterm polls. How will this affect
35:38.5
his former party, the Liberal Party?
35:40.8
We're now joined by LP spokesperson, former
35:42.7
Senator Laila Delima. Attorney Delima,
35:45.0
good afternoon to you. Thanks for joining us today.
35:46.7
Welcome to the program.
35:48.7
Good afternoon, Carmina.
35:50.0
Good afternoon to the viewers.
35:51.3
Alright, so former Senator Bam Aquino
35:54.0
left the Liberal Party back in
35:56.2
2019, I believe, and he's now
35:58.3
going to chair. He's now chairing KNP.
36:00.9
How is this going to affect
36:02.0
the Liberal Party, Attorney Delima?
36:04.9
First of all, let me say
36:06.4
that the Liberal Party collectively
36:08.9
the party leadership individually
36:17.4
And we wish him well.
36:20.0
We wish him luck in his
36:25.3
career by assuming
36:28.1
the chairmanship of this
36:31.5
the Katipunan ng Mga Nagkakaisang
36:33.6
Filipino. So insofar as
36:35.9
the effect to our party, there's hardly
36:38.0
any effect in the sense that
36:39.8
the Liberal Party remains
36:47.3
values for liberal democracy.
36:50.0
Championing still the causes
36:56.6
and the rule of law.
36:59.1
Senator Bam Aquino, but insofar as
37:02.2
whatever profound effect
37:04.2
that it will have on
37:05.5
the LP, I don't think that it's
37:08.3
there. The LP remains today
37:12.3
even if our number has
37:14.2
been decimated all these
37:16.1
years. We still have
37:20.0
LP stalwarts leading the way
37:22.5
and mentoring our
37:25.1
young leaders on the ground.
37:27.5
How does this not reflect
37:31.0
what has been said about
37:32.8
the Liberal Party that it
37:34.9
has not been able to
37:36.2
adjust to the changing of
37:37.9
the times? And this
37:39.7
situation now, the departure
37:44.9
of former Senator Bam Aquino
37:46.7
highlights exactly that.
37:49.5
Well, maybe some people
37:52.2
would have that impression.
37:54.6
But then again, the Liberal Party
37:56.2
remains committed to its basic
37:58.4
ideals, the very principles
38:00.1
that it stands for.
38:03.8
we have been decimated
38:05.3
mostly because, primarily because of
38:07.9
the massive demonization
38:09.8
that was hurled against the
38:11.9
party, especially during the
38:13.8
Duterte administration. All those
38:15.8
name-calling, the character
38:17.9
assassination of some of the
38:19.5
leaders. You all were
38:22.0
witnesses to that.
38:29.2
the Liberal Party.
38:34.9
certain failures of the
38:37.3
P. P. Noy administration.
38:40.1
You know, diminishing
38:41.5
the legacy of P. Noy
38:44.6
the leading officer of
38:47.5
the Liberal Party.
38:49.5
So, even if we are
38:52.1
perceived to be that
38:53.9
by some, that he does not
38:56.1
adjusted to the realities,
38:58.7
the political realities of
39:01.7
been doing our best
39:03.8
to adjust, but without
39:05.8
sacrificing our basic
39:08.3
principles of the party.
39:10.1
How concerned are you, Attorney de Lima,
39:12.2
that with the departure of Senator
39:13.9
Bam Aquino, that he will not be bringing
39:16.2
some of the members of the
39:18.1
Liberal Party? And that, you know,
39:19.5
that it will not lead to further
39:20.9
decimation of the LP?
39:23.6
Well, I think that is
39:25.4
true because, I mean, there would be no
39:27.3
such decimation on account
39:29.5
simply of the, of
39:31.4
Senator Bam Aquino's joining
39:33.0
this relatively young
39:35.2
political party, in which
39:39.4
we consider it also as a positive
39:41.3
development in the sense
39:43.2
that we would be having now
39:45.1
more party allies.
39:47.2
You know, we are, in a sense,
39:49.5
it would be an expansion
39:51.1
of our own base because
39:53.2
our allies would also grow.
39:56.0
You know, we are allies with
39:59.2
the Acbayan Party, the
40:01.1
Magdelo Party, and that we
40:03.3
are in alliance with several
40:05.1
groups, agrupations
40:09.1
political personalities
40:13.1
Pindig Pilipinas,
40:19.5
groups like Every Woman,
40:23.6
we can only look at it positively
40:25.7
in the sense that, as I
40:27.4
said, it would be more or less
40:29.5
an expansion of our own
40:35.6
Tell me something,
40:37.4
Attorney de Lima, because I think it was a couple of months
40:39.5
back when you announced
40:41.3
that the LP will be fielding
40:43.9
at that time three
40:45.4
senatorial bets under the Liberal
40:47.4
Party banner that
40:50.4
Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino,
40:52.9
and Attorney Shell Diok. Now, what happened there?
40:55.3
Why did you announce
40:56.5
when now we're hearing that
40:58.3
he's going to be chairing KNP? Go ahead.
41:01.5
First of all, Carmina,
41:03.7
incorrectly reported
41:06.0
that I made the announcement
41:08.0
as a Liberal Party spokesperson
41:10.0
that I made the announcement
41:11.9
on behalf of the Liberal Party, and that
41:14.5
I made such an announcement
41:15.9
that if the LP that will be
41:18.3
fielding all three
41:20.0
candidates. At that point, it was
41:22.2
in an event where
41:24.0
during the open forum, I was
41:25.9
asked, would you know who would be the
41:28.0
opposition candidate? And the
41:29.9
top of mind answer was
41:31.8
what I know is that the three
41:34.0
of them are interested, the
41:36.0
candidates for 2025
41:37.7
senatorial elections, Kiko,
41:45.3
forum that these are
41:49.6
the official candidates
41:51.5
of Liberal Party.
41:58.3
is the only official
41:59.8
Liberal Party member.
42:01.7
Because the two, Bam and Shell,
42:04.3
are actually members of
42:07.4
and Magkakaisang Filipino.
42:09.7
So it was never meant to be an
42:11.9
official announcement
42:13.5
that is the official
42:18.3
party. But of course, we are
42:27.5
Yeah, okay, we got you back.
42:29.7
Alright, final question.
42:30.9
Yeah, final question.
42:32.8
This time on what Congressman
42:35.0
Edsel Lagman said on the show
42:37.0
yesterday. He said that the
42:39.0
Liberal Party will be having
42:42.8
will be joining the party
42:44.9
list system through the
42:46.4
Mamamayang Liberal.
42:49.4
So, Attorney Dalima, how
42:50.8
is this party list
42:53.8
group representative
42:57.0
the marginalized and
42:59.7
underrepresented being that it
43:01.6
is, you know, sort of a
43:03.7
spin-off of the Liberal Party?
43:05.3
I mean, if you talk about being marginalized and
43:07.5
underrepresented, I mean, that's your own doing.
43:10.8
also a victim of the times as well.
43:14.2
So explain to us how this came
43:15.8
to be, Mamamayang Liberal,
43:18.3
Well, that is a way
43:21.2
or one mode by which we can really
43:23.2
expand the base also of the Liberal
43:25.1
Party. But the Mamamayang Liberal
43:31.1
separate, distinct personality
43:33.3
than the Liberal Party.
43:35.1
But it is considered to be a
43:37.0
sectoral wing or a sectoral
43:39.1
organization of the Liberal
43:41.0
Party. And that is not the first time.
43:43.2
That is not unusual. Because
43:44.9
what I know is that
43:48.3
PDP-LABA, and not just
43:50.7
PDP as it is now, has
43:52.9
its also sectoral wing
43:55.1
called the PDP-CARE.
43:58.8
ML, the Mamamayang Liberal.
44:01.6
It also is the sectoral
44:03.0
wing or sectoral organization
44:05.2
of the Liberal Party.
44:09.0
regional party list.
44:12.2
multi-sectoral party list
44:15.1
organization, sectoral
44:18.3
as well as a regional
44:28.2
National Capital Region. And there is no
44:30.4
legal or strict legal
44:32.4
impediment with respect to that.
44:36.7
I want to know, I'm not getting
44:38.4
so interested in this, who are your nominees?
44:42.4
Well, we are looking at,
44:44.3
we are going to make the official
44:46.1
announcement once,
44:48.3
our accreditation
44:53.2
So it's now pending.
44:54.5
Our petition for accreditation
44:56.1
of the ML as a party
45:02.4
So we would wait for that
45:06.4
we can officially announce
45:10.1
the ML. I understand.
45:12.5
What about your Senate slate? How is that shaping
45:20.0
Senator Kiko Pangilinan
45:24.4
candidate for the Liberal Party.
45:26.4
But then again, I'm not saying
45:30.5
an official announcement
45:31.8
at this point. In June,
45:34.6
we will make the official announcement
45:37.4
the other candidates
45:40.3
of the Liberal Party will be
45:42.3
supported. Okay. We've run out
45:44.5
of time and I also want to let you go because the
45:46.3
line is getting choppy, but we'd like to thank you.
45:48.3
Thank you for joining us this noon.
45:50.0
Really appreciate it. Attorney Laila
45:52.2
Dilima there, spokesperson
45:53.2
of the Liberal Party, also a former
45:56.3
Senator. Thanks again for joining us this noon.
45:59.6
Moving now to the latest in sports, the undermanned
46:02.2
New York Knicks are a win away from reaching
46:04.2
the NBA's Eastern Conference Finals.
46:06.3
Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson
46:08.1
continued his red-hot scoring
46:10.4
as the Knicks routed the Indiana Pacers
46:14.2
in Game 5 of their best-of-seven
46:16.2
series. Brunson, who leads the playoff,
46:18.3
since scoring, dropped 44 points
46:20.7
while teammate Josh Hart
46:22.4
added 18 points and 11
46:24.4
rebounds. The Knicks are on the verge of
46:26.4
advancing to the third round, despite
46:28.4
missing several key players, including
46:30.4
all-star Julius Randle,
46:32.3
an offensive ace,
46:48.3
Google parent company Alphabet
46:50.3
beefing up its artificial intelligence
46:52.4
fleet as the AI race
46:54.2
heats up. In an apparent answer
46:56.5
to rival OpenAI's
47:00.8
Google unveiled a prototype
47:02.4
called Project Astra.
47:06.3
4.0, Project Astra can
47:08.4
talk to users about anything
47:10.3
captured on their camera in real time.
47:13.3
Its AI chatbot, Gemini,
47:14.6
also being rolled out to
47:16.6
more Google services, including
47:18.3
email, which can summarize
47:20.3
long email chains.
47:22.4
It also unveiled Google VO,
47:24.5
a generative AI service which
47:26.3
can create realistic videos based
47:31.1
It can capture the
47:32.4
details of your instructions in different visual
47:34.5
and cinematic styles. You can
47:36.5
prompt for things like aerial shots of a
47:38.4
landscape or time-lapse, and further
47:40.5
edit your videos using additional prompts.
47:43.3
You can use VO in
47:44.4
our new experimental tool called
47:46.2
VideoFX. We're exploring
47:48.3
features like storyboarding and
47:50.4
generating longer scenes.
47:52.8
Video gives you unprecedented
47:54.1
creative control.
47:59.8
And before we go, when he's not busy trying to
48:02.3
end wars, America's top diplomat
48:04.6
really is a rock star
48:06.3
at heart. During his visit to
48:08.3
Kiev, U.S. Secretary of State Antony
48:10.2
Blinken made a trip to a local
48:12.4
bar, tweeting the crowd, a rare
48:14.5
performance of his guitar riffs
48:16.2
and singing chops.
48:18.3
Stool of Diplomacy, this time
48:20.3
around, Neil Young's Rocket
48:22.4
in the Free World.
48:25.7
I know this is a really, really
48:31.9
your citizens, particularly in the northeast
48:34.4
and Kharkiv, are suffering
48:38.1
But, they need to know, you need
48:40.4
to know, the United States
48:42.3
is with you, so much of the world
48:46.1
And they're fighting,
48:48.3
not just for a free Ukraine,
48:50.6
but for the free world.
48:52.7
And the free world is with you, too.
48:55.3
So, maybe we can try something?
49:16.2
That'll do it for today.
49:17.2
Thanks for joining us.
49:18.0
I'm Carmina Ponsentino.
49:19.3
If you want to revisit today's episode,
49:21.4
you can play back this newscast on our YouTube channel
49:23.7
and on ANC 24-7 on Facebook.
49:25.7
Keep well, keep it here on the news channel.
