PEACE-MAKER
Former Speaker of the House Jose C. De Venecia Jr.
During our foray into parliamentary and political diplomacy, we travelled to Iran many times since the first year of the Shah. And in 2006, in Tehran, we conferred with Iran’s highest political leaders on possible ways and means of
Newly-appointed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin MANILA - Newly-appointed Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin is trusted by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and well-qualified to take on the job, Malacanang said Tuesday. Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the President picked Bersamin, a former Chief Justice, primarily on a "trust basis", but noted that his qualifications also match what he is looking for in an Executive Secretary. "Sinasabi ng ating Pangulo (The President says), he is well-qualified to be the Executive Secretary having put in so many years in the Judiciary. He has the necessary legal background and the ability to deal with paperwork, plus he is trusted and well-qualified for this," she said in a Palace press briefing. Earlier, Cruz-Angeles announced that Bersamin took his oath before the President on Tuesday morning and attended the 9th Cabinet meeting right after being sworn in. Bersamin served as chairperson of the Gover
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile (Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB) MANILA - The declaration of martial law on Sept. 21, 1972 practically "wiped out" the communist movement in the Philippines like a storm, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said on Wednesday. Enrile, who served as martial law administrator, maintained that military rule was successful in suppressing communist insurgency during the Senate hearing of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes. The Senate panel hearing coincided with the 50th anniversary of former President E. Marcos Sr.'s declaration of martial law. "Natakot sila. Parang bagyo na lumipas iyong movement ng mga kuwan [komunista] na iyan. Nahuli na lahat namin sila (They were scared. The communist movement was wiped out like a storm)," Enrile said, naming Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison and other individuals arrested during martial law. He blamed f