QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Thursday, June 15, said that he would send a letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, seeking the urgent cancellation of the passport of Arturo Lascañas due to his alleged lack of intention to return to the country to face the charges against him. ”Since he is abroad and since there is no indication that he will return, we are constrained to request the […]
Tag: DFA
DFA: Malaysia court’s death sentence for nine Filipinos over 2013 Borneo incursion “not yet final”
(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday said that the decision of Malaysia’s Court of Appeal imposing the death penalty on nine Filipinos implicated in a 2013 incursion in Borneo was not yet final. In a statement, the DFA said the case will be heard by the Federal Court of Malaysia “under automatic appeal.” “The Philippine government has extended legal and other forms of assistance to all the defendants from the trial stage of their case […]
PHL condemns London attack; DFA says it is “closely monitoring” the situation
(Eagle News) — The Philippines on Sunday condemned the Saturday attack in London that left seven people killed, as it assured its citizens it was “closely monitoring” the situation there. “The Philippines strongly condemns the appalling attacks in London and conveys its deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who perished and those who were injured,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. According to the DFA, the attacks were “evidently […]
DFA allays concerns of diplomats amid declaration of martial law in Mindanao
QUEZON City, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs has allayed some concerns of members of the diplomatic corps amid the martial law declaration in Mindanao. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano invited the diplomats to a closed-door meeting recently for this. “There were questions, just like the questions of the Philippine media, why the whole Mindanao, How long, what is the scope, how powerful is this group and everything. And we tried to simplify. Many of […]
President Duterte blames former DFA chief Del Rosario, others for South China Sea issue
(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday chastised former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and those “who keep on talking,” saying they allowed China’s construction of man-made structures in the disputed South China Sea to “blossom into something like an armed garrison now.” “Ito sila Del Rosario, and the rest of the guys, itong lahat na nagdadaldal. Where were they?” he said in his speech during the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Convention in Davao. According to Duterte, […]
Senator Cayetano appointed new Foreign Affairs Secretary; General Año named the next DILG chief
(Eagle News) — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is the new Foreign Affairs secretary, and General Eduardo Año, the next Department of the Interior and Local Government chief. President Rodrigo Duterte made the announcement in a speech prior to his departure to Cambodia on Wednesday. “Come forward and be counted as one of the Filipinos…You are now facing the next DILG secretary. Kailangan ko kasi I have a problem with the police and a military man, halos parehong pareho din […]
DFA denies China hand in ASEAN statement
An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs has denied that China had attempted to influence the Association of Southeast Asian Nations heads of states in crafting their ASEAN joint statement. According to Zaldy Patron, DFA’s executive director for ASEAN affairs, the regional bloc’s leaders just expressed optimism that there will be “good progress” as the code of conduct (COC) framework in the contested waters is expected to be completed by the middle of this year. “Whereas before, China […]
DFA asserts claim on Pag-asa, Kalayaan Island Group
(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, May 2, asserted its claim that the Pag-asa Island and Kalayaan Island Group were part of the Philippines. “Pag-asa Island and the larger Kalayaan Island Group are a municipality of Palawan,” DFA spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar in an interview said. The statement was made after Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua claimed that any occupation, activity and claim by the Philippines on the islands […]
DFA to have new spokesperson
(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs will have a new spokesperson. The DFA announced in a statement on Tuesday that the current spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Charles Jose, will be assuming his post as Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia on Wednesday, April 12. As such, it said Jose would be replaced by Robespierre Bolivar, who is officer-in-charge of the Office of the Undersecretary for Policy. It added he would assume the role of acting DFA spokesperson effective Wednesday, April 12. […]
“Good sign” that China now wants a “code of conduct” for peaceful South China Sea, says DFA
(Eagle News) — China is now pushing for an ASEAN-China framework on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, which will hopefully prevent the escalating of tensions in the region and promote the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes there. This was bared by Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in a press conference in Thailand where he also revealed that China and Philippines have already established a “bilateral mechanism” where both countries […]
DFA expresses “concern” over European Parliament reso calling for De Lima release
(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday expressed “concern” over the European Parliament’s resolution calling for detained Senator Leila de Lima’s release, saying it “casts aspersion on Philippine legal processes, its judicial system, and the guarantees enshrined in the Constitution to uphold and protect the rights of all individuals.” In a statement, the DFA added that while it “recognize(s) the independent standing of the (EP) within the (European Union) system, resolutions that are crafted by […]
DFA sends note verbale to China on Benham Rise ship activity
(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has already sent a note verbale to the Chinese Embassy on the alleged presence of Chinese survey ships in Benham Rise, a 13-million hectare underwater plateau that had been recognized internationally as part of the country’s continental shelf. DFA Assistant Secretary Charles Jose told reporters that “the Philippines has sent a note to the Chinese Embassy seeking clarification on this.” Benham Rise is […]





