Usap-usapan noong nakaraang taon ang pagbawi ng Food and Drugs Administration sa Certificate of

Product Registration ng Dengvaxia dahil sa kontrobersiyang nagdulot ito ng pagkamatay ng internal

organs ng ilang mga tinurukan. Ngayon, ay pinag-uusapan ng Department of Health ang pagdedeklara
ng National Epidemic dahil sa naitala nilang 98, 179 na kaso ng Dengue noong unang linggo ng Hunyo
taong kasalukuyan. Sa biglang pagdami ng kaso ng Dengue sa bansang Pilipinas, sumibol ang isyu
tungkol sa pagsasabalik ng Dengvaxia.

Sinisuri muli ng DOH ang

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces the suspension of the extradition bill. Photo: K. Y.
ChengHong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces the suspension of the extradition bill. Photo: K.
Y. Cheng

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces the suspension of the extradition bill. Photo: K. Y.
Cheng

The decision by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to suspend the unpopular extradition bill is
a belated but right step forward. While there will be calls and actions to pursue accountability over the
debacle, in particular the way the bill and the Wednesday’s protest have been handled by the
government, the U-turn is expected to take some heat out of the raging crisis, which, hopefully, will ease
the escalating concerns from all sides and help restore much-needed calm and stability to Hong Kong
society.

The undertaking to listen to different views without a legislative deadline is to be welcomed. Lam
admitted that the government’s explanation had been insufficient and ineffective. The delay gives
officials a good opportunity to listen carefully to different views, and double efforts to allay fears from
local and overseas communities, including foreign investors, over the bill. The row stems from worries
that people could be arbitrarily sent cross the border for trial under the bill, which seeks to transfer
fugitives to places with which the city has no extradition agreement. The arrangements must be better
explained and strengthened with more safeguards in order to win wider support.

The setback is the biggest yet for Lam administration. But the statements from the central government’s
liaison office and the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office showed Beijing fully supported Lam and the
police. The city’s leader would not be drawn on calls to step down, adding that her decisions had
Beijing’s support. She did not apologise to the public or overturn claims by the police that the clashes on
Wednesday were a riot.

Whether the turnout of the mass protest scheduled for today would be dampened remains to be seen.
Lam has sensibly dismissed suggestions that the government viewed Wednesday’s clashes as another
“colour revolution”. But she adhered to the police’s verdict that it was a riot, saying it was only natural
for officers to enforce the law. It remains the fact that most protesters expressed their views peacefully
on Sunday and Wednesday. It is imperative that this fine tradition be adhered to. The pan-democrats
have made clear that nothing short of scrapping the bill would be acceptable. The stance is
understandable. Lam made clear that the bill had not been retracted. But in the world of politics,
compromise is essential. Any opposition should be expressed rationally and lawfully.

Reflections are needed and lessons should be learned. Lam’s performance on Saturday may not satisfy
all. But as she promised, she needs to accept criticism in a humble way. Given the economic and social
challenges facing the city, such as the housing shortage and an ageing population, she has a tough job
ahead in regaining people’s trust and support and helping Hong Kong move on.
Kailangan nang humingi ng clearance mula sa pamahalaan ang lahat ng foreign vessel na dadaong sa
teritoryo ng Pilipinas.

DWIZ Newscenter

@dwiz882

JUST IN: Mga foreign vessels na dadaan sa territorial waters ng Pilipinas, kailangan nang humingi ng
clearance mula sa lokal na pamahalaan – Panelo

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12:53 PM - Aug 20, 2019

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Ito mismo, ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo, ay upang matigil na ang anumang
tensiyon sa hinaharap sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa.

Ayon kay Panelo, ipinag-utos na ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na simula ngayong araw na ito ay hindi na
maaring dumaan sa karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas ang mga foreign vessels kung wala itong permiso mula
sa gobyerno.

Una rito, ikina-alarma ni Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza ang pagdaan ng ilang Chinese warships sa
karagatang sakop ng Pilipinas ng walang permiso mula sa pamahalaan.

Dagdag pa ni Panelo, tiwala naman sila na tatalima ang mga foreign vessels sa kautusang ito, ngunit
sakaling maliitin lamang ito ng ibang bansa, handa ang pamahalaan na ipakita ang puwersa nito.

Matatandaang muli na namang naispatan ng Armes Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang isang Chinese
coast guard vessel sa Ayungin Shoal na sakop ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas.