Defense chief Lorenzana 'losing sleep' over Abu Sayyaf

Terrorists, drug lords, communist insurgents, an intrusive neighbor and rumored destabilization plots — these occupy the mind of the country's defense chief.

But what's leaving him on edge are the bandits — members of the Abu Sayyaf group — down south.

"The problem in the Southern Philippines, piracy and kidnapping, is actually giving me, personally, a headache. Sometimes I could not sleep at night thinking about how to solve the problem there," said Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense.

"Kidnapping has not abated. When the President was inaugurated on June 30, there were only 18 hostages being held by the Abu Sayyaf. Now, there are 31. So dumami pa [it has increased]," Lorenzana added. "It's very embarrassing to the whole world."

Just last week, Abu Sayyaf bandits beheaded a German hostage, Juergen Kantner.

·         AFP confirms that Abu Sayyaf beheaded the German National

Speaking to reporters and alumni at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Lorenzana said he hopes to "solve the Abu Sayyaf problem" by June, adding he is willing to give the Armed Forces a two-month leeway.

·         AFP aims to erase the Abu Sayyaf by June of 2017

Secure sea lane

Lorenzana said the Department of National Defense (DND) is working with its counterparts from Indonesia and Malaysia to drive out pirates and kidnappers from the waters around Western Mindanao and Borneo Island — where the bandit group had been attacking and abducting victims.

·         Pres. Duterte agree to chase those drug dealer & pirates

The Armed Forces is planning to set up a permanent station on Jolo Island in hopes of driving bandits away for good. Lorenzana said a task force will be formed to guard the area using fast seacraft and drones.

In April or May, navies of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia plan to begin joint patrols in the waters in and around Sibutu Passage. Their goal is to create a secure sea lane for civilian vessels.

Lorenzana admitted that beating the Abu Sayyaf may be a long shot "but we are doing a lot of things within our power," he added.

Chinese ships spotted

But bandits are not the only problem out at sea.

Lorenzana revealed that, from July to December 2016, marine patrols spotted Chinese survey ships in the areas of Recto Bank and Benham Rise.

Recto Bank lies 80 nautical miles northwest of Palawan. It lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as affirmed by the arbitral ruling on Manila's maritime case against Beijing.

·         Philippines wins maritime arbitration case against China

Benham Rise lies 135 nautical miles east of Aurora, near the Philippine Trench. The United Nations declared it part of Philippine territory in 2012.

Both Recto Bank and Benham Rise are thought to be rich in minerals, natural gas and oil — not to mention marine life.

Lorenzana said the Chinese may have been eyeing Benham Rise as a passage for their submarines.

'Keep protesting'

"The thing here is we should protest," Lorenzana said, referring to notes verbales, a way of diplomatically protesting another country's actions in one's territory.

Duterte, nakiusap sa local executives ng Mindanao na tulungan ang gobyerno laban sa terorismo

Nakiusap si Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga lokal na opisyal ng Mindanao na tulungan siya sa paglaban sa terorismo sa rehiyon.

GInawa ito ni Duterte sa kanyang pakikipagharap sa mga mayor at gobernador ng buong Mindanao sa Davao City.

Binigyang-diin ng pangulo na tanging local executives ang makatutulong o makagagawa ng paraan upang maiwasang kumalat ang terorismo sa kanilang mga lugar.

Sinabi ng pangulo na maaari ding hingin ng mga lokal na opisyal ang suporta ng militar kung kinakailangan.

Giit ng pangulo na kung magiging ‘out-of-control’ na ang karahasan sa Mindanao dahil sa mga terorista, mapipilitan siyang magdeklara ng Martial Law.

Tiniyak naman ni Pangulong Duterte na makaaasa ng tulong mula sa kanya ang mga mayor at gobernador na makakasuhan sa Ombudsman hinggil sa kampanya para sa kapayapaan.

Senado, tinapos na ang pagdinig sa Immigration bribery scandal

Tinapos na ni Senador Richard Gordon, chairman ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, ang pagdinig sa bribery scandal sa Bureau of Immigration (BI).

Sinabi ni Gordon na sa limang pagdinig ng Senado ay nakitaan niyang may pananagutan sina dating Deputy Immigration Commissioner Atty. Al Argosino at Atty. Michael Robles sa kasong extortion.

Inabsuwelto naman ni Gordon si Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre sa kasong extortion.

Maging si gambling tycoon Jack Lam ay inabsuwelto rin ni Gordon sa kasong bribery.

Ayon kay Gordon, wala si Lam nang panahong ibigay ni Wally Sombero ang bribe money Kina Argosino at Robles.

Sen. Loren Legarda is confident the resolution will be passed on second reading

The Senate approved on second reading the landmark Paris Agreement on Climate Change that calls for the reduction of carbon emissions.

Sen. Loren Legarda, the main sponsor of Senate Bill 320, on Wednesday said she is confident the resolution will be passed on third and final reading soon.

"We're going to pass it as long as we have a quorum next week, we're going to pass it on third reading…before adjournment so that on Earth Day, we will have a true celebration," Legarda said.

In 2015, members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the Philippines, drafted the agreement to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The pact was signed by 175 countries in New York in April 2016, and took  effect on November 4.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the agreement after rejecting it earlier. 

Once the Senate ratifies the pact, Legarda said the Paris Agreement will compel polluting countries to finance the Green Climate Fund, which will help developing countries like the Philippines to start projects for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

"Once it's completely ratified and we can negotiate on a position of strength having ratified the agreement, this is really a legacy we have for our future generation, for the children of our country," she said.

World Bank Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Program Head Olivier Mahul highlighted the financial cost of disasters in vulnerable countries.

"Every year on average, $300 billion (are lost) in terms of assets, and if you include well-being impact, it's about $500-billion dollars," Mahul said.

He said if countries are better prepared, they can respond quickly and limit the impact of disasters.