| The Palace on Sunday condemned the act of violence that killed two people and injuried more than 50 others in an explosion in Zamboanga City.
“Kaisa natin ang buong sambayanan sa mariing pagkondena ng insidente ng pagpapasabog sa lungsod ng Zamboanga na ikinasawi ng dalawang katao at ikinasugat ng 50 iba pa,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in an interview over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
President Benigno Aquino III went to Zamboanga City on Saturday to personally received assessment from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the incident.
“Personal din siyang dadalaw sa mga pamilya ng dalawang namatay sa pagsabog at sa mga nasaktan at kasalukuyang ginagamot sa ospital,” Coloma added.
Coloma assured the public that the situation is under control.
“Kasalukuyan nang tinutunton ng PNP (Philippine National Police) ang ilang posibleng leads na makapagtuturo sa kinalulugaran ng mga salarin. Hindi tatantanan ng pamahalaan ang pagtugis sa mga sangkot sa insidente upang panagutin sila sa batas,” said Coloma.
“Sinisiguro ng pamahalaan na nakatuon ang mahigpit na pagbabantay ng buong intelligence community at nakatutok ang buong puwersa ng Sandatahang Lakas at ng Pambansang Pulisya upang pigilan ang anomang banta sa seguridad sa bansa,” he added.
According to initial reports, an explosion occurred in front of a videoke bar near a bus station along Maria Clara Lobregat Highway around 3 p.m. on Friday.
With the President in Zamboanga City are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and AFP Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang. PND (ag) |
| Malacañang announced on Sunday that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Senior Officials’ Meeting will begin on Monday in Clark Field, Angeles, Pampanga and Subic Bay Olongapo.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said APEC’s theme this year is ‘Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World.”
“Ang nasabing pagpupulong ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng nakatakdang pagdaraos ng 23rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting sa Nobyembre ng taong ito kung saan ang Pilipinas ang tatayo bilang host at tagapangulo,” said Coloma in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), over 30 working group and committee level meetings will be held in the first leg the APEC meeting.
Among the topics to be discuss includes trade and investment, economic and technical cooperation, anti-corruption, combating terrorism, fisheries and the seas, customs, expanding e-commerce, life sciences and health, fighting illegal logging, and improving different services.
“Layon din ng pagpupulong na isulong ang mga programa at lahat ng patakaran hinggil sa haligi ng APEC na trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, at economic and technical cooperation,” Coloma added.
Coloma said there are four priorities to be discussed during the meeting, which includes: enhancing regional economic integration; fostering small and medium enterprises’ participation in the regional and global economy; investing in human capital development; and, building sustainable and resilient communities.
“Bilang host, magdaraos din ang Pilipinas ng isang diyalogo sa pagitan ng mga kinatawan mula sa pampubliko at pribadong sektor upang talakayin ang mga paraan tungo sa pagpapalakas ng kalakalan at kakayahan sa sektor ng information technology and business process management (IT-BPM), creative industries, at research and development services sa rehiyon ng Asya Pasipiko,” said Coloma.
APEC is composed of 21 member economies representing Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papau New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America and Vietnam. PND (ag) |
