• Duterte honors wounded soldiers in Maguindanao
• DOF: VAT exemption for senior citizens, PWDs to remain amid tax reforms
• Palace welcomes survey results on deepening bilateral relations with China and Russia
• From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella on Ms.Universe Pageant and Ms.Philippines Maxine Medina

The soldiers who belonged to 6th Infantry Division of Philippine Army got injured in a clash with lawless armed group in Ampatuan town on Thursday, while acting as support to law enforcers serving a search warrant against the town mayor, Rasul Sangki.

President Duterte awarded the Wounded Personnel Medal to the following army troopers:

SSG Manuel T. Asana

SSG Arvin C. Esperanza

SGT Elmer P. Pelle

SGT Leonardo C. Remulta

CPL Raffy B. Matingkal

PFC Jerusel D. Castañeda

PVT Alden D. Cahoy

PVT Eldie T. Mallorca

PVT Erwin S. Mistoso

PVT Harold John N. Dionisio

PVT Cresaldy O. Coronado

PVT Vincent John M. Gregorio

“I was shown the map where the encounters were. I am earnestly asking, nakikiusap ako sa MN pati MI na do not provide sanctuary itong mga terorista sa lugar ninyo. Kasi pag ka ganon, then we will be forced to go after them within your territory,” the President asked members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

“Kasi may atraso sila. Marami sila pinatay na inosente, bombing, and all,” the Commander In Chief added.

The President was all praises to the gallant soldiers who risked their lives in law enforcement operations.

“I’m glad that I am here with you. I awarded the wounded personnel medals to all,” he said.

President Duterte assured the military of his administration’s full support as long as he is president.

“You can have the resources of government to make yourself comfortable and in the years to come, makukuha ninyo lahat ‘yung kailangan ninyo. And I will see to it that you are a soldier of this Republic, comfortable with your vocation,” the President said.###PND

“Ang good news po dito, ang senior citizen VAT exemption at sa PWD ay hindi tatanggalin pero ang gagawin po natin ay aayusin po natin ‘yung sistema. For example through a national ID para ‘yung leakage ay maiwasan, na ang benepisyo lang ay mapupunta sa tamang tao,” Chua said.

Chua explained that the tax reform measures aim to decrease the poverty rate from 22 percent to 14 percent and make the Philippines a middle-income country by 2022.

He said the tax reform is part of President Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda.

“Nag-promise po siya ng tax reform, ng mas mababang buwis, pero nag-promise rin po siya ng walo pang other priorities na kailangan pondohan. At dahil dito, naisipan po namin na ayusin po ‘yung ating income and other tax system,” Chua said.

“So ang gusto namin ay maging simpler, fairer, at more efficient ‘yung tax system para po ito ay tumulong po sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” he added.

Chua said that while some sectors consider the tax reform measures as a burden, Filipinos should instead look at it as a package.

“Hindi lang po dapat ‘yung oil lang, automobile lang. Dapat as a package po natin tingnan kasi ‘yung totoo po, for majority of Filipinos, ‘yung lowering of personal income tax ay makakadagdag po sa welfare or income nila,” Chua said.

“At kung gamitin po natin itong mga tax revenues para sa mga mahihirap at dahil dito, in-earmark po namin ang revenues na makokolekta namin only to infrastructure, education, health and social protection. Sa tingin po namin ay walang dahilan kung bakit hindi natin masolusyunan ‘yung kahirapan at makita natin ‘yung Pilipinas na maging mas maunlad sa next generation,” he said.

In the same press briefing, meanwhile, Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella conveyed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s message to the Filipino-Chinese community in its celebration of the Chinese New Year.  

“The government shares the joys and hopes of our Chinese friends and Chinese – Filipinos who have found a root and reason for staying in the country,” the President said in his Chinese New Year message.

In his message, President Duterte underscored the role of the Filipino-Chinese community in the country, particularly its contribution to trade and investments as well as in culture.

“The philosophy and attitude in life are a wellspring of practical lessons that all of us, regardless of nationality, can learn from,” Duterte said in his message.

Presidential spokesperson Abella meanwhile noted the reopening of the Philippine-Malaysia barter trade on February 1.

It will be recalled that the barter trade between Sabah, Malaysia and the island provinces of ARMM was shut down almost a year ago following kidnapping of Malaysians by terrorist group Abu Sayyaf.

Abella said there are also plans to put up a consular office in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia to attend to the needs of the Filipino – Muslims in the area.###PND

Malacañan on Saturday lauded the results of the latest Pulse Asia Survey showing that many Filipinos support the Philippines’ thrust to deepen its bilateral relations with China and Russia.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Filipinos are now having a deeper understanding on the current socio-political reality.

“Masaya po tayo that lumalawak ang paningin ng ating mga kapwa Pinoy,” Abella said.

The Palace official said this does not mean closing its doors to other countries that the Philippines have close ties with.

“So in other words, hindi lang tayo nagrereact, tayo na mismo ‘yung nagset ng mga bridges with other relations,” Abella said.

“He (President Duterte) took the initiative to be able to open up friendly relations with the bigger powers in the world,” he said.

Abella meanwhile assured that the Philippines continues to assert its rights over its territorial waters.

Pulse Asia Survey also showed that majority of the Filipinos said they want the Philippine government to assert its rights over the West Philippine Sea.

“Of course we agree totally 100 percent that we should stand by our rights regarding the West Philippine Sea na ibinigay sa atin. Even the President himself has said the same thing,” Abella said.

He however said asserting the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea is also a matter of timing and diplomatic relations.

“Hindi po ibig sabihin na we are giving up. We are not giving up anything. Definitely not. Atin po ‘yan, ‘yung rights diyan, ‘yung EEZ,” Abella said.

“Yes, it’s ours and then it’s just a question of being able to handle it. Tandaan po natin na… the socio-political realities are such na kailangan tayo mismo marunong tyumempo,” he added.

“Nakikita natin na si Presidente ay mahusay siyang diplomatiko at pulitiko at nakikita natin na while it is, ang kanyang primary concern talaga is ang kapakanan ng bayan, but all this has to be done with a wide and determined political will,” Abella explained.

As to the upcoming Miss Universe coronation show on Monday, Abella said the Philippines will be cheering and throwing its support to the country’s very own Maxine Medina.

Abella said Medina “deserves all the moral boost she can get for working very hard and giving her best in a competition that promotes goodwill and friendship among nations.”

“As the country’s representative, Maxine is able to show the beauty, warmth, hope and dignity of the Filipino. We are truly proud of her,” Abella said.

Abella said the country’s experience of hosting the Miss Universe pageant has been joyful and memorable for everyone, especially for the Miss Universe candidates.

He also expressed his hope that the Miss Universe candidates will come back and visit the Philippines again with their family and friends.

“We invite them to come back and bring more of their friends to explore the various islands of the Philippines, ready to be astonished at the unexhausted beauty of each one and willing to be moved in every way by the fervent spirit of the Filipino people,” Abella said.### PND

As the country’s representative, Maxine is able to show the beauty, warmth, hope, and dignity of the Filipino. We are truly proud of her.

We are grateful for this honor of hosting the pageant, assured and confident that the 2016 Miss Universe experience has been joyful and memorable for all the candidates and our foreign guests. We invite them to come back and bring more of their friends to explore the various islands of the Philippines, ready to be astonished at the unexhausted beauty of each one, willing to be moved in every way by the fervent spirit of the Filipino people. Mabuhay!