Aquino on Espina, Binay vs Poe, ‘royal baby’ | The wRap

Today on Rappler.

• President Aquino confirms police officer in charge Leonardo Espina did resign. 
• Vice President Binay’s spokesman says his camp is not worried about Grace Poe. 
• The countdown for the ‘royal baby’ begins. 

AQUINO: ESPINA RESIGNED; ACCEPTANCE ‘PENDING’
President Benigno Aquino confirms police officer in charge Leonardo Espina turned in his resignation… but the chief executive has yet to act on it.
Aquino adds, he will accept Espina’s resignation as soon as a new PNP chief is appointed.
The acting police chief speaks up Friday,
saying he didn’t want to get in the way of the President appointing a new police chief.
Espina has been vocal about the need for the Philippine National Police to have a new, full-time chief sooner rather than later. 
But Aquino asks for “patience” as he continues to screen contenders for the post.
Espina continues to lead the PNP through its biggest crisis – the Mamasapano encounter that cost the lives of 44 elite policemen.
He became interim chief last December,
when police chief Alan Purisima was suspended for corruption charges.

BINAY BEYOND ACCUSATIONS
Vice President Jejomar Binay’s spokesperson Rico Quicho says Grace Poe does not worry the Binay camp.
He adds it should be Interior Secretary Mar Roxas who should worry about Poe’s jump in presidential polls.
Roxas is the ruling party’s presumed candidate for 2016.

RICO QUICHO, SPOKESPERSON, VICE PRESIDENT JEJOMAR BINAY: The survey results should worry Secretary Mar Roxas, because if Senator Grace Poe is closing in, it would not be for the best interest of Secretary Mar Roxas.

Quicho also hits critics for using the Senate probe to tarnish Binay’s reputation.

RICO QUICHO, SPOKESPERSON, VICE PRESIDENT JEJOMAR BINAY: If you are invited to a house and you know that your host will have the demeanor of senator Trillanes, the prejudgement of senator Cayetano, sometimes the naivete of senator Pimentel would you answer that invitation?

On Thursday, lawyer Renato Bondal accused Vice President Jejomar Binay of overpricing a housing and relocation program,
but admitted he does not have the documents to back up his claim.

RICO QUICHO, SPOKESPERSON, VICE PRESIDENT JEJOMAR BINAY: The last time I checked, he who alleged must prove it. They’re trying to allege it, now they want the Vice President to answer. Now my question is, and I pose this challenge, where is the evidence?

FERRER ON THE PEACE PROCESS
Government Peace Panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer says the Senate hearings reveal misconceptions on the Bangsamoro Basic Law.
Ferrer reiterates people should be more discerning on the nature of a negotiated peace settlement.

MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER, CHAIR, GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATING PANEL: That is why we are asking the public and also our political leaders to understand the whole context of negotiated political settlement with an armed group. It is not a normal kind of negotiation because having wars, especially domestic wars, are not normal to begin with. But the fact is, our country has been saddled with these internal conflicts for the longest time. 

Ferrer also defends Moro Islamic Liberation Front or MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal on the use a nom de guerre.

MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER, CHAIR, GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATING PANEL: To begin with, we know whom we’re talking to. That’s the most important thing. There’s no other person claiming that he’s mohagher iqbal or he is not Mohagher Iqbal. The person who signed the agreement in behalf of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Ferrer says the peace process is not about individuals but about the nation’s future.

MIRIAM CORONEL-FERRER, CHAIR, GOVERNMENT PEACE NEGOTIATING PANEL: At the end of the day, it’s not about this president, this panel or just about Mr. Iqbal. At the end of the day it’s about the future of our country and how we see ourselves relating to a population of the country that has been alienated from the national government.

G7 FOREIGN MINISTERS HIT CHINA RECLAMATION
Foreign ministers from the world’s 7 most industrialized countries slam China’s artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. 
The foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union say,
they strongly oppose any attempt to assert territorial or maritime claims through the use of intimidation, coercion, or force.
The Group of Seven or G7 supports the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and calls for a Code of Conduct in the disputed region. 
President Benigno Aquino says he fears the fishing ban China will enforce in the disputed West Philippine Sea or South China Sea, 
adding the dispute is not only a regional problem, but a global one as well.
Satellite images taken last week show a runway in the disputed territory, more than one-third complete.

‘ROYAL BABY’ COUNTDOWN BEGINS
Royal watchers begin the countdown for the arrival of Britain’s royal baby.
Prince William and his wife Kate are expected to welcome their second child this month… 
at the Lindo Wing, a private section of St Mary’s Hospital in London.
Their first child, Prince George was born in 2013.
While Kate’s due date was not made public,
parking in the area has been suspended until April 30 for a “special event.”

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– Rappler.com

 Production Staff