By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Special to Philippines Today

WASHINGTON D.C. – As the human rights record of the government of President Aquino improves, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario is urging the United States government to release its Foreign Military Financing (FMF) allocation for the Philippines.
Mr. Del Rosario lamented that because the U.S. has tied the FMF to human rights record, it merely released $3 million out of the total of $30-million FMF allocations for the Philippines since 2008.
Secretary Del Rosario contrasted the U.S. State Department’s 2006 FMF request for the Philippines, which accounted for over 70% of the total for East Asia, that has fallen to 35% for fiscal year 2012.  He raised the matter up with the State Department during his visit.
  Assistant Secretary Andrew Shapiro of the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs committed to double the initial $15 million in FMF for the Philippines to $30 million for FY 2012.  He also added that the State Department will explore additional creative funding streams for the Philippines. 
He said this was merely released after the U.S. State Department reported that:
 “1) the Philippine government is taking effective steps to prosecute those responsible for extrajudicial executions (EJEs), sustain the decline in the number of EJEs, and strengthen government institutions working to eliminate EJEs; 
“2) the Philippine government is implementing a policy of promoting military personnel who demonstrate professionalism and respect for internationally recognized human rights, and is investigating, prosecuting and punishing military personnel and others who have been credibly alleged to have violated such rights; and,
“3) the Philippine military does not have a policy of, and is not engaging in, acts of violence or intimidation against members of legal organizations who advocate for human rights.”
 
SPOKE AT HERITAGE
FOUNDATION
 
Del Rosario made the plea as he spoke as guest of the Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C. think tank, Wednesday (May 2) two days after he attended the first ever 2 + 2 meeting at the U.S. State Department with Philippine Secretary of Defense Voltaire Gazmin and their U.S. counterparts U.S. State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta where the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the Philippines and the United States.
Kim R. Holmes, Ph. D., vice president, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies and Director of the Davis Institute for International Studies at the Heritage foundation, introduced Mr. Del Rosario.
During his 40-minute talk, Mr. Del Rosario said that the Philippines has already gained strides in the field of human rights by reducing the extrajudicial killings and setting up strong policy for respect and sensitivity to human rights. But he came up short with details if the military is holding rigorous human rights sensitivity training.
But in the operational side, he mentioned the issuance of arrest warrants on some high-profile suspects, notably General Jovito Palparan and former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and the prosecution of 198 suspects in the massacre of journalists.
“Even our harshest critics acknowledge that there has been a significant decline in the number of extrajudicial killings,” the Secretary remarked.  He added, “President Aquino’s family itself was a victim of a most heinous human rights crime since his father who was then in the political opposition was assassinated in 1983.  For this reason, President Aquino has taken bold and resolute action to break the culture of impunity and to institutionalize greater sensitivity and full respect for human rights.”
Secretary del Rosario also touted the Philippine ratification, two weeks ago, of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which obligates the Philippines to create a National Prevention Mechanism that will conduct independent and unannounced visits to places where people are deprived of their liberty. 
 
DEFENSE UPGRADE

This ratification comes a few months after the country’s accession to the Rome Statute, where parties are obliged to bring to justice those responsible for crimes under international law.
He said that while the Aquino government has made major investments in the upgrade of Philippine defense equipment, supplementary foreign military financing from the U.S. remains a very important component of our effort to develop our external defense capabilities.
“While fully recognizing the constraints posed by recent congressional limits placed on defense spending,” the Secretary noted with concern the shrinking allocation for the Philippines of the U.S.’ FMF pie for East Asia and the Pacific.
Del Rosario said when the Philippines invokes its alliance with the U.S., it was not meant  to “confront or contain anyone.” Far from it, it will be the “last thing that the Philippines would do – heighten tensions in the West Philippine Sea and drag our allies into it.”
Last Monday (April 28) Secretary Clinton firmly reiterated that the United States will honor its treaty obligations under its Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines and urged the claimant countries in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to clarify and settle their claims legally in accordance with international law including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – a move which PH has been advocating.  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

MANILA – Seven Chinese fishing vessels, three surveillance ships, and 23 service boats are still operating in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, according to Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) chief Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara.
This means that tension between the Philippines and China over the shoal has not eased and may have in fact intensified with the presence of more China ships and boats.
Alcantara based his statement Tuesday  on the sighting report forwarded to him by the crew of the Coast Guard’s BRP EDSA DOS and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ MCS-3001 who are still on patrol on the disputed waters.
BRP EDSA DOS’ present position is 7.1 nautical south east off Panatag Shoal while MCS-3001 is located 1.6 nautical miles north east off South Rock.
While the locations of China Maritime Surveillance (CMS) vessel 75 is 3.5 nautical miles south east of North Rock and 8.1 nautical miles north east from the present position of BRP EDSA DOS.
While CMS 81 is 1.04 nautical miles south east off North Rock and also 8.1 nautical miles away from BRP EDSA DOS
And Fisheries Law Enforcement Command 310 is 8.4 nautical miles south east of North Rock and 7.5 nautical miles away from the Coast Guard ship.
Alcantara said that the seven fishing vessels with their 23 service boats were scattered in the waters of Panatag Shoal and remained under constant surveillance and monitoring by the NOLCOM.

QUEZON CITY — Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes on Monday said he is optimistic the government will finish the distribution of land to farmer-beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita in six to 12 months.
At a media conference, Delos Reyes said the timeframe set is “realistic” as they have already lined up a process from the validation of the beneficiaries until the distribution of land.
“Ang estimate namin ay six to 12 months. Ang assumption nito ay konti lang ang magkwestiyon sa pilian at distribution,” Delos Reyes told reporters.
Delos Reyes presented their plan on the distribution of of the more than 4,000-hectare land owned by the Cojuangco family to more than 6,000 farmer-beneficiaries.
He noted however that the department has yet to receive an official copy of the Supreme Court’s decision last April 12 that affirmed the land distribution.
Until such time, Delos Reyes said they could not start with the process which begins with validation of farmer beneficiaries and information campaign.
“I can’t start unless I get an official copy. We’ll have to wait. I expect it (receive a copy) to happen within the next seven days,” he said.
He said he has ordered for the establishment of 10 temporary help desks in barangays inside the Hacienda Luisita to expedite the identification, screening and validation of qualified beneficiaries.
Delos Reyes also assured that the government has funds to acquire the land for the farmer beneficiaries who would in turn pay the monthly amortization at government-run Land Bank.
“Considering the target we have this year, I think we have enough money,” he said

By CLAIRE MORALES TRUE

MANILA — World boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao for the second year in a row is the richest among the 287 members of the House of Representatives. In fact, he is the only billionaire since 2010 among the lawmakers who are mostly multi-millionaires.
Lawyer Ricardo Bering, director of the House of Representatives Records Management Service, would not reveal Pacquiao’s actual net worth for 2011, except to say that it was an increase by a few millions compared to his 2010 net worth of P1.13 billion.
President Aquino, meanwhile, declared a net worth of P54.9 million 
Bering made his statement after the last day of filing of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for government officials.
Following Pacquiao in the top 10 lawmakers based their SALNs are Reps. Alberto Benitez of Negros Occidental, who was worth P624.847 million;  Imelda Marcos of Ilocos Norte, P623.6 million;  Julio Ledesma of Negros Occidental, P555.069 million; and  Ferdinand Martin Romualdez of Leyte, P475.611 million.
Also in the top 10 are Reps. Augusto Syjuco of Iloilo,  P294.602 million; Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, P283.291 million;  Enrique Cojuangco of Tarlac, P199.593 million; Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, P195.78 million; and  Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo, P165.996 million.
Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was the 17th richest representative with a net worth of P140.212 million.
Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano was the poorest lawmaker,  with a net worth of P75, 711.
House Secretary General Marilyn B. Yap and lawyer Artemio Adasa, House deputy secretary general, said the House of Representatives had a 100 percent compliance with the SALN submission as of April 30, the deadline for the filing of SALNs.
Adasa said contents of the lawmakers SALN cannot be made public yet as it has to be reviewed by a committee within  10 days.
In the Senate, Senator Manny Villar Jr. still listed as the richest member of the Upper Chamber.
Sen.  Villar Jr. and his wife, former Las Piñas representative Cynthia Villar, used to be the richest congressman when they were members of the House. This year, based on their filing, the couple has a combined net worth of P854,213,716 compared to P725,221,964 in 2010 and P947,883,619 in 2009.
In Villar’s SALN, he listed at least six residential houses acquired on various dates, mostly in Las Piñas City. The couple listed purchase as mode of acquisition. They also placed both the assessed and fair market values of the properties, which totaled P4,588,619.
The couple also listed investments in shares of stocks amounting to P219,228,941 and other real and personal properties pegged at P630,396,156 or a total of P849,625.097 in personal and other properties.
The Villars do not have any liabilities as reflected in the 2011 SALN.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, considered the poorest senator, had a net worth for 2011of P3,897,121.50.

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Special to Philippines Today

CHICAGO (jGLi) – President Barack Obama sent Wednesday (April 25) the nomination of Filipino American Lorna G. Schofield of New York to the United States Senate for confirmation as a federal judge in the Southern District of Court of New York in place of retiring Judge Shira A. Sheindlin.
Attorney Schoefield, if confirmed, will become the first American of Filipino descent ever to serve on the federal bench.
A press release from the White House received by this reporter nominated Schofield along with four others, namely, Terrence G. Berg, Jesus G. Bernal, and Shelly Deckert, to different federal district courts in Eastern District of Michigan, Central District of California and Middle District of Louisiana, respectively, and Charles R. Breyer as member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
“I am honored to put forward these highly qualified candidates for the federal bench,” President Obama said of Ms. Schofield’s nomination along with three others.? “They will be distinguished public servants and valuable additions to the United States District Court.”
Ed Navarra, national chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) congratulated Schofield on her nomination, saying, “As a second-generation Filipino American, Ms. Schofield’s nomination and confirmation by the Senate would make her the first in the history of the United States to serve as a federal judge. Given that Asian Americans are significantly underrepresented in the federal judiciary, Ms. Shofield’s addition will greatly enhance the judiciary’s diversity.” 
“GREAT ADDITION TO THE BENCH” 
Rozita Lee, NaFFAA National Vice Chair Emeritus, added, “We are elated with her nomination and our community is very proud to see a Filipino American achieve this honor and distinction. Given her professional background and experience, she will no doubt bring a unique perspective to the U.S. District Court.”
In recommending Lorna G. Schofield to serve “as a judge on the prestigious U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” Senator Charles Schumer said Schofield, 56, “would make a great addition to the bench.” 
 “As a top-flight lawyer and former Assistant US Attorney, Schofield has had a distinguished legal career and would make a fantastic judge,” said Schumer. “When I select judges, I always look for three things – excellence, diversity, and moderation – and Schofield exemplifies all of these qualities. I’m pleased to recommend her to President Obama for the Southern District Bench.”?
Schofield graduated from Indiana University magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and from NYU Law School, where she served as staff editor and note-and-comment editor of the NYU Law Review. Schofield then went to work at the law firm of Clearly, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. ?
She then left to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she worked as a prosecutor on cases involving domestic terrorism, arms smuggling and tax fraud. ?
After four years, Schofield left to work at Debevoise & Plimpton, where she was made partner in 1991. At the firm, she worked on civil cases as well as white-collar crime.
 
SUPER LAWYER
 
According to a profile in the “The College Magazine” of the Arts and Sciences at Indiana University (her alma mater) in Spring 2011 edition, Schofield (BA, 1977) has been named a “Super Lawyer for five years in a row by Super Lawyers magazine.”
 
The College profile said Schofield lists “her most memorable – and most fun – case” when she represented Hollywood comic Rosie O’Donnell in the lawsuit filed against O’Donnell by the publisher of (O’Donnell’s) magazine.”
 
In 2003, O’Donnell’s publishers sued her for $300-million over her decision to terminate her interest in Rosie magazine after the company attempted to seize editorial control from her.  ?
By the end of the contentious litigation, the presiding judge, not content with merely stopping the case, admonished lawyers for the publishing group, saying their case was “ill-conceived.” Following the O’Donnell trial, Schofield was interviewed by many news programs, including the Today Show.  Dan Rather on Sixty Minutes IIinterviewed her on corporate confidentiality agreements and sealing orders. 
 
HEADS 70,000-MEMBER ABA’S LITIGATION SECTION
 
S he is the first Asian American to chair the 70,000-member litigation section of the American Bar Association.  ?
The only child in her family, Schofield said, “My father (a U.S. serviceman) left us when I was 3. My mother came to the United States because of her idealism about the country that had saved her during World War II, and remained here, I believe, because of the stigma and shame she would have suffered had she returned to the Philippines as a divorced woman.  She was a pharmacist and stressed achievement, independence and self-sufficiency as essential values.” ?
Schofield double-majored in German and English, graduated with honors, and considered pursuing an academic career.  She soon settled on law school, however, and a stint as a prosecuting attorney sealed the deal: she was going to be a litigator. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Special to Philippines Today

CHICAGO (jGLi) – A Filipino American owner of a home health care business pleaded guilty Friday (April 20) before United States District Judge Frederick J. Kapala in the outlying suburb of Rockford, Illinois to healthcare fraud and kickback violations, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Merigrace Orillo, 45, of Elmhurst, Illinois and co-owner and operator of Chalice Home Heathcare Services, Inc. with her husband, Virgilio Orillo, admitted that her fraud scheme defrauded the Medicare program of more than $400,000. Chalice has offices in Chicago, Freeport and Morris, Illinois.
Ms. Orillo pleaded guilty to Count One, which charges defendant with health care fraud, and Count Two, which charges defendant with aiding and abetting another in paying kickbacks for patient referrals under a Federal health care program.
In a written plea, Ms. Orillo admitted that from January 2007 thru April 2010, she and her late husband, Virgilio Orillo, falsified documents in order to pad the payments Chalice received from Medicare.
 
MEDICARE FOR 65-YEARS OLD PLUS ONLY
Medicare is a national healthcare program, which provides free or below-cost health care to eligible beneficiaries, primarily persons who are 65 years of age or older. Chalice was an enrolled provider with the Medicare program since 2004.
Chalice’s nurses, nurses’ aides, physical therapists, and occupational therapists provided services to patients in their homes. Chalice was usually paid for these services through the Medicare program.
Prior to submitting a claim before Medicare, the claimant-home health care provider is required to assess the patient and complete a Comprehensive Adult Nursing Assessment with Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) element form.
The OASIS form is used to determine if the patient was homebound, the severity of symptoms, and reimbursement rate to the home health care provider. If after 60 days the patient needs additional home health services, the home health care provider is required to complete a Recertification/Follow-Up Assessment form (“Recertification”). 
The Recertification form incorporates OASIS elements and is used to determine whether the patient is still eligible for Medicare reimbursed home health care and, if so, the rate of reimbursement.
The rate of reimbursement will determine the Medicare will pay for home health care for the patient. And this rate was falsified by the Orillio couple after the rate was submitted to them by the nurses that caused Chalice to receive more than $500,000 in Medicare benefits, which it was not entitled to receive.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall Samborn, public information officer of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Illinois, said Merigrace Orillo’s sentencing is set on July 19, 2012.
The charges against Merigrace Orillo’s husband, Virgilio Orillo, had been dropped following his death last Aug. 30, 2011 while the case was pending.
Healthcare fraud carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or a fine totaling twice the loss to any victim or twice the gain to the defendant, whichever is greater, as well as restitution to the victims. The kickback charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Judge Kapala has an option to modify, increase or decrease the penalty based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines at the sentencing.
In the plea agreement, Orillo also admitted that she knowingly assisted her husband in paying cash kickbacks to a Chicago doctor. The kickbacks were paid in return for the doctor referring patients to Chalice for home healthcare services. Orillo admitted that she withdrew cash from Chalice’s bank account and provided that cash to her husband to be used to pay these kickbacks.
The indictment, which was filed on February 15, 2011, charged both Orillo and her husband Virgilio with healthcare fraud.
The filing of charges was part of a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations that led to charges against 111 defendants for their alleged participation in numerous Medicare fraud schemes.
 Earlier, Alona Bugayong, 38, also a Filipino American employee of another home health firm in Lincolnwood, Illinois, was sentenced to a 10-month probation after pleading guilty to one of two counts of paying $500 kickback to anybody or company owner, who would refer an elderly patient to Mr. Bugayong’s firm.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cole earlier dismissed without prejudice charges of conspiracy to violate federal anti-kickback statute by agreeing to offer or pay or to solicit or receive kickbacks for the referral of Medicare patients for home health care services against five Filipino Americans associated with Goodwill Home Healthcare, Inc. (“Goodwill”) in Chicago.
The Fil Ams were Marilyn Maravilla, a nurse, who became the controlling owner of Goodwill, Junjee L. Arroyo, Ferdinand Echavia, Kennedy Lomillo and Baltazar S. Alberto. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobalnet)

U.S. State Dep’t urges China to exercise restraint

By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA
Special to Philippines Today
 
WASHINGTON D.C. – A spokesman of the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. urged Monday (April 23) for “continued diplomatic efforts to resolve the current situation near Scarborough Shoal (Panatag Shoal)” standoff between the Philippines and China in the Philippine Western Sea (South China Sea).
In a statement emailed to this reporter, a U.S. State Department staff, who refused to be quoted by name, said, “We urge continued diplomatic efforts to resolve the current situation near Scarborough Shoal.  All parties should continue to exercise restraint and avoid escalatory actions.  As a strategic ally, the United States honors our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.  We will not engage in discussion of hypothetical scenarios.” 
In a transcript of Monday’s daily briefing, it was disclosed that U.S. State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will be holding the fourth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing on May 3rd and 4th that will discuss a “full range of bilateral issues, regional issues and global issues,” including the disputes in South China Sea (Philippine Western Sea).
When asked by a reporter if the U.S. would “wade into the “South China Sea dispute” as the “Philippines is now seeking international support in the standoff with China,” the spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said, “Well, I think you know our position on these disputes in the South China Sea. We want to see them resolved through dialogue; we want to see them resolved through consensual means. 
“In general, in all of the most recent meetings that Secretary Clinton has had with Chinese counterparts, whether they were here, whether they were in China, whether they were in multilateral fora, she has reiterated our interest in deepening and broadening mechanisms within ASEAN, within regional fora, and bilaterally for solving these things consensually, not by force, calling for restraint by all sides. That’s where we are on this particular one and where I’m sure we’ll be in Beijing next week.”

CLINTON, PANETTA TO MEET DEL ROSARIO, GAZMIN
Secretary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will also be holding a bilateral meeting on Monday (April 30) in Washington, D.C. with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin ahead of her U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing.
Clinton and Panetta’s meeting with their Philippine counterparts is part of the continuing high-level consultation following the second round of bilateral talks between the two countries last January.
Clinton’s Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Lavoy for the United States and Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio and Undersecretary of National Defense Pio Lorenzo Batino for the Republic of the Philippines held their second U.S.-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue also in Washington, D.C. last Jan. 26 and 27.
The January dialogue among others resolved to reinforce “the significance of our Mutual Defense Treaty as the basis for the alliance and the treaty’s continued relevance to the peace, security, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. We are committed to further enhance cooperation, including in security, defense, commerce, law enforcement, human rights, and disaster relief.  We agreed to deepen and broaden our maritime security cooperation.” 
 
FULFILL VISION OF MANILA DECLARATION
  During the dialogue, the United States and the Philippines reaffirmed their commitment to fulfill the vision of the Manila Declaration through an invigorated and expanded alliance capable of addressing 21st century challenges. 
“We emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral trade and investment ties to increase prosperity for the people in both countries.  We reviewed our ongoing collaboration in the Partnership for Growth and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. 
“We recognized the efforts being taken by the Philippine government in resolving human rights cases and discussed positive developments in the prosecution of abuses. We emphasized a mutual commitment to these efforts.”
The two sides also announced upcoming opportunities for further high-level engagement, including a visit by Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro to the Philippines last February and a visit to the Philippines by Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis in late February to discuss economic issues and the interest of the Philippines in potentially joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Clinton and Panetta’s meeting with Del Rosario and Gazmin are likely to take up the upcoming state visit of Philippine President Noynoy Aquino at the White House in June. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)

TARLAC CITY — Lt. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, chief of the Northern Luzon Command, reiterated on Tuesday that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is committed to defend the country’s sovereignty over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal even as diplomats from both the Philippines and China are scurrying to find a diplomatic solution to the two-week shoal standoff.
President Benigno S. Aquino III also warned neighbors in Southeast Asia they should fear Beijing’s growing aggressiveness over its claims in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Other developments:
1. An international think thank warned of possible prolonged and wider conflicts with China over the disputed Spratlys group of islands and the Scarborough Shoal.
2. The US Pacific Command chief said US military will uphold its defense treaty with the Philippines, adding it was ready to assist to avoid armed confrontation in the South China Sea and Philippine West Sea. The statement was made even as some 8000 American and Filipino soldiers continue their war drills off Palawan.
3. China and Russian naval forces also started their joint war exercises.
Aquino stressed China’s territorial claims spanned a huge area and were getting “closer and closer” to the Philippine archipelago.
“They (the Chinese) claim this entire body of water practically. Look at what is excluded and what they are claiming,” Aquino said pointing to a map. “So how can the others not be fearful of what is transpiring?”
Aquino’s comments came shortly after the government said it would raise an increasingly tense dispute with China over the Bajo de Masinloc (also referred to as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal) at a high-level bilateral meeting with the United States next week.
This developed as one of China’s most popular newspapers has warned of a potential “small-scale war” between Beijing and Manila as a result of their standoff at Panatag Shoal as the area is known internationally.
The Global Times, in an editorial published in its Chinese and English editions, said over the weekend that “China should be prepared to engage in a small-scale war at sea with the Philippines.”
“We will not allow them (Chinese) to conquer Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal,” Alcantara said at the Northern Luzon Command headquarters at Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac.
Alcantara said that this is based on the Department of National Defense’s order instructing them to take “care of our territory and assert our sovereignty at Panatag Shoal.”
He also said that while the Northern Luzon Command and the rest of the military are hoping for a peaceful solution to the Panatag Shoal impasse, this does not mean that they are not willing to enforce their mandate.
“I can assure you that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is prepared to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding the country’s people and territory,” Alcantara emphasized.
The Northern Luzon Command chief added that right now, his command is doing everything it can to ensure that Filipino fishermen from Pangasinan and Zambales can go about their rightful business in Panatag Shoal.
He also said that there are sufficient naval forces at hand, ready for immediate deployment in the disputed area, should the situation calls for it.
“I can assure you that your AFP and the Philippine government are prepared for any eventualities,” Alcantara stressed.
The Northern Luzon commander added that the AFP’s present lack of equipment will not deter if from implementing its mandate to protect the country from intrusion.

As U.S., Filipino troops open war drills, Scarborough Shoal standoff continues

By FRED GABOT

IMPASSE AT HIGH SEAS The BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, the country’s biggest warship, figures in a tense standoff with Chinese surveillance ships at the Scarborough Shoal.