Sereno Named As First Woman Philippine Chief Justice

Taking the seat that Chief Justice Renato Corona vacated is Associate Justice, now Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

CJ Sereno has been appointed by Philippine President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on August 24, 2012.

CJ Sereno hails from the University of the Philippines and is now the first woman to take the position as Philippine Chief Justice.

Aside from that, the 52-years old Sereno is currently the youngest appointed justice in the history of the Supreme Court.

Below is the official statement of the Philippine government as published in the Official Gazette.

Statement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda:

On the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines

In the midst of this period of deep mourning for the loss of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, the President is cognizant of his constitutional duty to appoint the next Chief Justice of the Philippines. He has therefore decided to appoint Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal-Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The President is confident that Chief Justice Sereno will lead the judiciary in undertaking much-needed reforms. We believe the Judicial Branch of government has a historic opportunity to restore our people's confidence in the judicial system.

Sereno appointment wins high praise from senators

At least three senator-allies of President Benigno Aquino III on Friday praised the appointment of Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno as the 24th chief justice of the Supreme Court.

"We welcome the appointment of Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal-Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court," Senator Francis Pangilinan said in a statement released Friday.

 "A well deserved appointment. The first lady-CJ," Senator Franklin Drilon said in a separate statement.

 "It's a very good choice.  [It's] a historical move and long-term [a] strategic one," Senator Koko Pimentel said in a text message to GMA News Online.

 Sereno, who was Aquino's first appointee to the Supreme Court, will serve for 18 years since the retirement age for justices is 70.  She turned 52 just last July.

Pangilinan and Drilon, who are members of Aquino's Liberal Party, said Sereno will have the "opportunity to institute reforms" in the judiciary.

 "We hope her relative youth and her passion and dynamism will invigorate the moribund and antiquated system of justice in the country. Nothing less than sweeping and comprehensive reforms will do to ensure that the crisis facing the judiciary will be overcome, and we will need the energy, creativity and stamina of a new generation of jurists to do just that," said Pangilinan.

 Pimentel, who will also run under Aquino's LP in the upcoming 2013 elections, likewise said, "Now, the chief justice cannot use the lack of time as an excuse not to be able to pursue and implement her vision for the judiciary."

 Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, for his part, said that the appointment was a "presidential prerogative."

 "If she is the choice, then let's hope for a more vibrant SC and judiciary," he told GMA News Online in a text message on Friday.

 Sereno will be replacing former chief justice Renato Corona, who was unseated by the Senate in a historic 20-3 vote after a four-month trial that started on Jan. 16.

Sources: Gold Star Daily & GMA News online

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PENTAGON Missile Defense in ASIA will include the Philippines

The United States (US) is already planning an expansion of its missile defense in Asia, including the Philippines.

In a report from the Wall Street Journal, the buildup will supposedly be used to counter threats from North Korea and China.

The report said: "The expansion comes at a time when the U.S. and its allies in the region voice growing alarm about a North Korean missile threat. They are also increasingly worried about China's aggressive stance in disputed waters such the South China Sea, where Asian rivals are vying for control of oil and mineral rights."

The report quoted Congressional Research Service missile-defense expert Steven Hildreth, who said that the US is looking "longer term at the elephant in the room, which is China."

The report added that the expansion includes the deployment of an early-warning radar in the southern part of Japan.

The deployment of the so-called X-Band radar there is still being discussed, however. Earlier, both the allies already ruled out the deployment in Okinawa because of disapproval from residents.

As such, "Some U.S. defense officials have focused on the Philippines as the potential site for the third X-Band, which is manufactured by Raytheon Co. Pentagon officials said a location has yet to be determined and that discussions are at an early stage," the report added.

The Philippines have lodged several protests against China for its incursion in several disputed areas, including the Scarborough Shoal.

China earlier rebuked a senior diplomat of the US there after he raised concerns over the tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

The US embassy's deputy chief of mission was even summoned to explain.

ABS-CBN News

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Philippines Snubs Chinese funds for infrastructure projects – Self suffice

Philippines is no longer going for a loan from China to fund the ₱2.7-billion rehabilitation of the Navotas Fish Port Complex, as well as Phase 2 of the P7-billion Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project.

"Financing the [Navotas] project using government funds is an option that we are considering," Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Joel Rudinas said in an interview with reporters Thursday.

 "The upgrade of the Navotas Fish Port Complex has been identified as a very necessary, if not, a critical project," Rudinas added.

The Agriculture Department was looking at borrowing up to ₱2.56 billion from the China Export-Import Bank to upgrade the 35-year-old port complex.

"We figured that the required funding is not that big anyway," Rudinas said. "I suppose the Philippine government can finance it on its own," he added.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) board is yet to approve the project, even though the Cabinet-level NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee approved it in May.

The Agriculture Department said it would present new financing options for the Navotas Fish Port Complex to NEDA. No date was set for the presentation.

Previously, government said it will shoulder ₱137 million for the rehabilitation of the fish port, which is expected to stabilize fish supply and prices in Metro Manila.

By improving the infrastructure for unloading, the Agriculture Department expects trade in fisheries products to increase by 60 percent to 210,806 metric tons (MT) in 2015 from the current average of 131,934 MT a year.

The National Capital Region sources 80 percent of its fish requirements from the Navotas Fish Port.

On Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Philippine is also no longer interested in getting financial assistance from China for the second phase of the P7-billion Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project.

Manila earlier asked the Beijing for ₱5.29-billion loan to fund the project.

Instead, the Philippine government has turned to South Korea. Agriculture officials said Manila already asked for a credit facility from the Korean Exim Bank for the irrigation component of the Casecnan project.

GMA News

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