Ilocos Norte LGUs host public viewing of Marcos inauguration

By Leilanie Adriano

LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte was at a standstill on Thursday as locals watched the live coverage of the inaugural ceremony of President Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the National Museum in Manila.

Employees of City Hall and the Capitol here took time out from their regular routine as they watched Marcos take his oath of office as the 17th President of the Philippines before Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.

Early Thursday, various local government units in Ilocos Norte hosted public viewings of the event in their respective gymnasiums or auditoriums.

As soon as the Information and Technology Department of the Ilocos Norte government installed the big screen at the Capitol auditorium, Fe Siazon, provincial government human resource, and management officials said Thursday she rushed to the venue to get a front-row seat at the viewing party.

Having worked with the now-President when he was still the governor of Ilocos Norte, Siazon was elated over Marcos' assumption as the newly inaugurated chief executive and promised to promote unity and bring progress to the country.

“The President is determined to make a change but he will be needing our cooperation to make it happen,” she said.

Despite the choppy internet signal, Helen Abad, 75, from Barangay San Lorenzo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte still managed to listen to the President’s speech via her cellular phone.

“This is history in the making. I pray for the President’s good health and wisdom to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos,” she said in Ilocano.

Market vendors and salon workers in Laoag City also rejoiced as they witnessed another Ilocano lead the country for the next six years.

In Batac City, thousands of employees and students of state-run Mariano Marcos State University virtually watched at the University Review Center the turnover and oath-taking ceremonies of Marcos.

"Being the sole state university in the province from where our newest president hails, we are very much proud of our [President Bongbong Marcos], and optimistic of the greatness that will unfold for our country starting today," MMSU president Shirley Agrupis said.

On Wednesday, around 60 invited guests mostly composed of provincial, city, and municipal officials as well as some department heads from Ilocos Norte left for Manila to personally witness the inauguration.

The Ilocos Norte officials are expected to take their oath-taking in Malacañang with Marcos. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177924

Marcos Jr. sworn in as Philippines’ 17th President

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

Ferdinand Romualdez "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. took oath as the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines, with a promise of promoting unity and bringing progress to the country.

Marcos, the son of the late former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr., was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo at the National Museum of the Philippines in the City of Manila.

In his inaugural address, Marcos vowed to fulfill his mandate to serve and protect fellow Filipinos.

"This is a historic moment for us all," he said. "You picked me to be your servant to enable changes to benefit all. I fully understand the gravity of the responsibility that you have put on my shoulders. I do not take it lightly, but I am ready for the task," he said.

Marcos, donning a rayadillo-inspired barong made by multi-awarded designer Pepito Albert, opted for a "very solemn and simple" inauguration.

Marcos' wife First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and their sons Sandro, Simon, and Vincent graced the formal inauguration ceremony.

Also present were Marcos' mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos; and sisters, Senator Imee Marcos and Irene Marcos-Araneta; Vice President Sara Duterte; and former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph Estrada.

The 1987 Constitution mandates the President-elect to take oath at noon on June 30, a ceremonial event marking the commencement of his six-year term as the country's new chief executive.

Prior to the inauguration, Marcos met with his predecessor, outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte, at Malacañan Palace for the latter's departure honors.

After his inaugural rites, Marcos is expected to host a traditional Vin d'honneur for foreign dignitaries, diplomatic corps and other invited guests.

Marcos will also administer the mass oath-taking of his Cabinet Secretaries at Malacañan Palace. He is also set to host an inaugural dinner.

The so-called People's Concert, which is part of Marcos' thanksgiving activity, will also be held on Thursday night.

The country's leading orchestra Philharmonic Orchestra and world-renowned Cecile Licad were tapped by Marcos to perform in the concert.

Marcos won the presidential race after garnering 31,629,783 votes or 58.77 percent of the votes cast in the May 9 national and local elections.

No hitch

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) thanked its personnel for their hard work which resulted in the peaceful and orderly inauguration rites.

In a statement, PNP director for operations, Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon also thanked soldiers and personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Bureau of Fire Protection, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Health, and other force multipliers from various government agencies.

"Indeed, all will be well if everything is planned well. The inauguration of our new President, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is peaceful, orderly, and successful. But we would not be able to do it without the hard work and sacrifices of everybody who took part as early as in the planning up to the last-minute implementation of the security measures," he added.

More than 15,000 policemen, soldiers, and other members of law enforcement and national and local government were deployed to secure the inauguration, which was attended by VIPs and foreign dignitaries.

De Leon also recognized the role of leaders, organizers, and members of various groups that held protests for policing their own ranks, which led to the peaceful programs.

Close to 1,000 protesters held a peaceful program at the Plaza Miranda in Manila, which was designated as a freedom park for the event.

Meanwhile, more than 5,000 Marcos supporters trooped to the public viewing area at the golf course in front of the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila before a lockdown was enforced in the area. (with Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177892

NegOcc city's neophyte mayor vows transparent gov't service

By Nanette Guadalquiver

BACOLOD CITY – Neophyte Javier Miguel Benitez has vowed to provide a responsive and transparent government service and lead by example as he assumes the post as the youngest-ever mayor of Victorias City, Negros Occidental on Thursday.

The 27-year-old son of Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the new mayor of Bacolod City, took his oath before his uncle, reelected Third District Representative Jose Francisco Benitez, in ceremonies held at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center on Wednesday afternoon.

“I will be fair and just. I will lead by example. I will not demand what I will not do myself. I will set high expectations for each performance as I commit the same for myself,” the young mayor said.

He assured the people of Victorias that he will value their trust and will not let them down.

“I offer myself with full knowledge of the responsibilities that await me as a mayor. My youth will be my strength rather than my weakness,” said the former actor, who is in a relationship with television and movie actress Sue Ramirez.

A graduate of Political Science at the Santa Clara University in California, USA, Benitez said Victorias has been his childhood home, outside of Manila. When his father ran and served as congressman of the third district, he saw how it is like to lead and was inspired to join public service.

“During the time of the pandemic, I was able to reflect. I realized my purpose in life. I want to help others even in a small way, to alleviate their suffering,” he said.

Benitez said he will pursue an agenda that he introduced during the campaign, focusing on dignified human settlement, disaster resilience, the revival of the local economy, education, health, and responsive and transparent government service.

Acknowledging that he does not have all the solutions to the problems faced by the northern Negros city, he asked for help and welcomed suggestions from the various sectors on how to strengthen the delivery of government services to his constituents. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177904

Parliament passes controversial bills to create new provinces in Papua

The Indonesian parliament on Thursday approved the creation of three new provinces in the restive Papua region, despite opposition from many indigenous Papuans who fear an influx of outsiders, and criticism from rights groups that the move is a “divide-and-rule” strategy.

The action paves the way for the formation of South Papua Province, Central Papua Province, and Papua Highlands Province, in addition to the existing provinces of Papua and West Papua.

“The division is aimed at accelerating equitable development, the improvement of public services, people’s welfare and dignity,” lawmaker Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung said in parliament.

The plans to carve up Papua have been widely opposed by indigenous people. Protests involving thousands of people against the plans have been held in Papuan cities including Jayapura, Wamena, Yahukimo, Timika, Nabire and Lanny Jaya.

Ika Mulait, an activist with Papuan People’s Petition, a group that organized rallies against the creation of new provinces, warned of worsening human rights violations with the presence of more security forces.

Jakarta granted special autonomy for Papua in 2001 to mollify desires for independence, but Indonesian security forces have been accused of human rights abuses during anti-insurgency operations there.

A special autonomy law for Papua, which was passed last year, allows Jakarta to create new administrative units in Papua without the approval of the provincial government and the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP).

“These three new provinces will certainly result in more many military personnel entering Papua and the Papuan people are already traumatized by the presence of the security forces,” Ika told BenarNews.

Activists and Papuans said the bills were drafted without consulting the indigenous people who are represented through the MRP and the Papuan People’s Representative Council (DPRD).

“The government really has mastered the art of finding solutions to Papuan problems without listening to Papuans,” Ligia Giay, a Papuan studying in Australia, told BenarNews.

Legal challenge

Veronica Koman, an activist with Amnesty International Australia, said the creation of new provinces was a “divide-and-rule” tactic.

“New security bases and posts will be built in each new area, exacerbating conflicts and human rights violations through increased militarization,” she said on Twitter.

“As an Indonesian, I am deeply ashamed that a new chapter of Jakarta’s settler-colonialism project in West Papua has been officially legalized by the Indonesian parliament today,” she said.

Edho Gobay, director of the Papua Legal Aid Institute, said his organization would challenge the bills at the Constitutional Court in Jakarta.

“We will mount a legal challenge because Papuans also have constitutional rights guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution,” Gobay told BenarNews.

Meanwhile, Sebby Sambom, spokesman for the West Papua National Liberation Army, the armed wing of the separatist movement, said the creation of new provinces was to serve only the interests of the elite.

“We never asked for special autonomy or new autonomous entities. That’s what Indonesia wants through the Papuan elite,” Sambom told BenarNews .

“That is the nature of colonialism. Indonesia will impose its will on Papua using the hands of the indigenous Papuans,” he said.

Clashes between rebels and government forces have intensified since December 2018, after rebels killed 20 people who worked for a state-owned construction company building a road in Papua.

Papua has been home to a separatist insurgency since the 1960s. In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua – like Indonesia, a former Dutch colony – and annexed the region that makes up the western half of New Guinea Island.

Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a United Nations-sponsored vote, which locals and activists said was a sham because it involved only about 1,000 people. However, the United Nations accepted the result, essentially endorsing Jakarta’s rule.

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/three-provinces-06302022133848.html