Page 11 - NOVEMBER 2017 'A' ISSUE

November 2017 – No. 21 • UK & Europe Edition
D‘‘ICFEUUOCATNH,ESOERCASNTWIEEV’ :EASPEAARNTNLEERASDHEIRPS WDRIETHAMAOLLF’
A few days ahead of the 31st
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits,
President Rodrigo Duterte indicated
that the regional bloc would eventually
follow the lead of the European Union
(EU).
“Well, everybody’s dream—‘yung
leaders—is really to come up with a
cohesive partnership with all. And, as I
have said earlier, if the European Union
can do it, why can’t we?” he said when
asked what were the areas that the
ASEAN needed to work on.
Duterte made the remark upon his
arrival in Davao City late Tuesday night
after his two-day official visit to Japan.
The President drew the comparison
between the ASEAN and the EU despite
repeatedly lashing out at the European
bloc in the past over the latter’s criticism veering to the Easternization of the
of his administration’s controversial war
on drugs.
Roque: I won’t curse,
but I’ll scream a lot
INCOMING presidential
spokesperson and Kabayan party-
list Representative Harry Roque on
Wednesday said he was not the type of
person who would curse like President
Rodrigo Duterte, but he would scream
a lot.
“It’s not my nature to curse but I
like screaming, and I will scream a lot,”
Roque said in a report on GMA News
TV’s Balitanghali on Wednesday. advantage of a policy allowing medical
Roque also said his tandem with
Duterte would be “explosive.”
“I’m even more controversial than
him. So together we will be explosive,”
he said.
Moreover, Roque also explained
his threat to throw hollow blocks at
Duterte’s critics in a video uploaded
by Presidential Communications
Operations Office.
“I was speaking to Mocha Uson’s
audience, which is different from the
audience of this body. I’m talking about
Duterte, as the President of the
host country Philippines, is the ASEAN
chairman. He will turn over the duties
to Singapore at the end of the 31st
ASEAN Summit and Related Summits
on November 10-14.
“And in the coming year, we will
be discussing more along this—issues
along these lines to make it more
relevant to the times, to be counted.
Hindi naman tayo binibilang kasi eh,”
the President also said.
He said that the voices of the
European countries seemed to matter
more in international affairs, pointing
out “little, if at all, is being listened to
on our front.”
“Maybe this time, or in the
succeeding years, in the fullness of
God’s time, since the world is now
world—it’s coming, it’s just around the
corner,” he said.
individuals who have made it a hobby
to lambast the administration,” he said.
“I’m not just a spokesperson, but
I’m a trained litigator. If I have to, I will
defend [the President] with very much
passion,” he added.
Before he entered politics, Roque
had made it to the headlines as a
human rights advocate.
In a radio interview over the
weekend, Roque said he would not
change his ways even if Duterte
appointed him as his spokesperson.
“Eh napakalaki po ng aking
bunganga so iyan ang sabi ko kay
Presidente, ‘Paano iyan pareho tayong
malaki ang mga bibig.’ Ang sabi niya,
sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘Maging liability mo
ako.’ Ang sabi niya, ‘Okay lang iyan
marami akong asset eh,so kahit liability
kita,’” he said.
Roque will have his first briefing in
Malacañang on Thursday. n Trisha Macas,
RSJ, GMA News | Published November 1, 2017 1:02 PM
IMMIGRATION / OFNEWS
EU is an economic and a political
union of 28 European countries, but the
United Kingdom voted to leave the bloc
in 2016.
European Council President Donald
Tusk is expected to arrive in the
Philippines for the ASEAN-EU Summit
to celebrate the 40th year of its relations. framework of the Code of Conduct in
‘Huwag lang sana magkagulo’.
While he hoped the ASEAN’s turn at
the spotlight would eventually come,
Duterte still warned of a looming threat
in the region.
“Huwag lang sana magkagulo,
huwag lang ma-ano… It’s—It’s called
miscalculation kasi eh. ‘Pag wala lang
nangyari ganoon, we are on our way
to more faster development. Maybe,
maabutan pa sa generation natin,” he
said without elaborating.
During the 30th ASEAN Summit
in April, the leaders expressed
concern over the developments in the
Study the law, Sotto tells DOH
chief on medical marijuana
SENATE Majority Leader Vicente
Sotto III on Wednesday advised
Health Secretary Francisco Duque
III to study the law over the latter’s
position on a proposal allowing the
“compassionate use” of medical
marijuana.
“He should review RA (Republic
Act) 9165,” Sotto said, referring to
the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002.
“Compassionate use if allowed.
No need for a bill...Aralin muna
nila yung [RA] 9165,” Sotto added,
saying he will object to the position of
Duque during the Health Secretary’s
confirmation hearing before the
Commission on Appointments (CA).
Duque, appointed last week by
President Rodrigo Duterte, said he
is in favor of medical marijuana
for “compassionate use.” Duque
was referring to House Bill 180 or
otherwise known as the proposed
www.hello-philippines.com
Korean Peninsula amid North Korea’s
continuous nuclear tests and missile
launches.
In an attempt to pacify tension in
the disputed South China Sea, ASEAN
and China started working on the
Philippine Medical Compassionate
Medical Cannabis Act.
The proposal, approved at the
House committee level last month,
seeks to legalize the use of marijuana
for medical purposes.
Senator Gringo Honasan, chairman
of the CA health committee, echoed
the position of Sotto, saying the
compassionate use of marijuana is
“already in the law.”
“Technically, it’s already in the law
that with a doctor’s certification that
it’s for medical/compassionate use,
it is allowed,” Honasan said in a text
message.
RA 9165 states that the government
should “achieve a balance in the
national drug control program so that
people with legitimate medical needs
are not prevented from being treated
with adequate amounts of appropriate
medications, which include the use of
dangerous drugs.”
11
the South China Sea.
Duterte then warned that the
Korean Peninsula and the South China
Sea were two of the “flashpoints” in the
world, along with the Middle East. n
MDM, GMA News | Published November 1, 2017
4:37 PM
Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the
Senate health committee, meanwhile,
said he is “open” to the proposal
legalizing marijuana for medical use.
“If it will help in saving lives, why
not? As long as parameters are in place
to prevent its abuse, I am open to the
idea,” Ejercito said.
“Of course, any substance abuse is a
concern. We need to put safeguards to
prevent abuse,” he added.
A bill filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros
seeking to provide a comprehensive
public health approach to the country’s
drug-related policy is also proposing
the use of marijuana upon the approval
of the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA).
Under the proposal of Hontiveros,
“the delivery, possession, transfer,
transportation, or use of cannabis and
other dangerous drugs intended for
medical use or to treat or alleviate
a patient’s medical condition or
symptoms associated with his or her
debilitating disease...shall be allowed
upon application to and approval of the
Food and Drug Administration.”
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, for his
part, warned of users who could take
marijuana.
“We currently have very weak
enforcement against the illegal
drug trade. Because of this inherent
weakness, unscrupulous users will
take advantage of this liberal policy on
marijuana use to make money and sell
it to the market,” Gatchalian said in a
text message. n Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez,
RSJ, GMA News | Published November 1, 2017 11:45 AM