GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

JAPAN -- The Philippines and Japan on Thursday affirmed their commitment to strengthen defense and security cooperation during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day official trip to Tokyo.

In a joint statement, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this would be done through “strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment and capacity building.”

MANILA – At least eight senior Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers were promoted and given new jobs and positions befitting their seniority and experience amid efforts to further professionalize the organization.

AFP deputy chief of staff, Vice Adm. Rommel Anthony SD Reyes, led the joint change of chief-of-office rites in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday.

MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has turned down a plea by a former Maguindanao town official to downgrade his graft charges.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division rejected the appeal by former South Upi treasurer Onofre Natividad for plea bargaining and the lesser charge of "failure of accountable officer to render accounts."

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the new secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), Malacañang announced Monday.

In a press statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) officer in charge (OIC) Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil announced that Galvez was named DND chief after the President accepted the resignation of Jose Faustino Jr.

The PCO also shared two photos of Marcos and Galvez having a chat and shaking hands.

MANILA – Gen. Andres Centino was appointed Friday by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), replacing previous appointee, Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro.

Centino, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1988, previously served as AFP chief from Nov. 12, 2021 to August 8, 2022. Bacarro is also a member of PMA Class 1988 and a Medal of Valor awardee, the highest decoration in the AFP for combat.

COTABATO CITY - Local and military officials in Region 12 and the Bangsamoro Region are certain of more gains in Malacañang’s Mindanao peace process in 2023.

Three members of the Bangsamoro parliament, Physician Kadil Sinolinding, Jr., the lawyers Suharto Ambolodto and Paisalin Tago, separately told Mindanao Cross last weekend that they are optimistic of more improvements in peace and order in the autonomous region in 2023.

They separately expressed willingness to cooperate in formulating regional laws that can protect the gains of Malacañang’s Mindanao peace process.

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) has posted seven more fireworks-related injuries, bringing the total to 32 from Dec. 21 to 27.

The DOH logged the additional injuries on Dec. 27 from its 61 sentinel hospitals across the country.

"Sa kasalukuyan, ang kabuuang bilang ng mga kaso ng pinsala dulot ng paputok ay nasa 32 na mas mataas nangkumpara sa naitala noong nakaraang taon sa sakop na petsa (At present, the total number of injuries by fireworks is 32, up by 39 percent compared to the same period last year)," it said Wednesday in a statement.

MANILA – The “no work, no pay” policy will be implemented on Dec. 26, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023, both declared as special non-working holidays, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma said those who will report for work on both days will receive an additional 30 percent of their daily salary.

“If they did not report for work, they have no pay unless there is a different company policy,” he said in a radio interview over the weekend.

KIDAPAWAN CITY  – The city government has topped the 2022 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award for the City Government category organized by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The award aims to promote the implementation of energy management systems and best practices on energy efficiency in all designated establishments, including local and government facilities.

Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said Friday the recognition reflects the local governments "commitment to serve better with less expense from government funds.

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday presented "Kapayapaan (peace) Awards" to its partners for their invaluable and continuing support to the military.

The awards were given in simple rites as part of the AFP's 87th founding anniversary celebration, according to military public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor in a statement.