• Palace salutes Filipino athletes competing in Southeast Asian Games
• Malacanang welcomes China’s statement on having a peaceful solution to the West Philippine Sea row
• Palace acknowledges report showing country’s inprovement in Rule of Law Index 2015

“Nakikiisa si Pangulong Aquino sa sambayanang Pilipino sa pagpapaabot ng dasal, suporta at pagpugay sa ating mga atletang kasalukuyang lumalahok sa ika-28 Southeast Asian Games sa Singapore,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma also congratulated triathlete Ma. Claire Adorna for winning the first gold medal for the Philippines.

“Sa kabila ng kanyang injury, nagtagumpay ang 21-anyos na si Binibining Adorna, at pumangalawa sa kanya ang kanyang teammate na si Kim Mangrobang, na nakuha ang pilak na medalya para sa 1-2 finish ng pangkat Pilipinas,” said Coloma.

He also extended his congratulations to other Filipino athletes who won medals in their respective events.

“Lubos din ang ating pagbati sa iba pang atletang Pilipino nagkamit na ng medalya sa iba’t ibang palaro tulad ng fencing, table tennis, Wushu, canoeing, Judo, shooting, at traditional boat race,” said Coloma.

As of 1pm on Sunday, the Philippines garnered two golds, six silvers and eight bronzes.

The second gold medal is courtesy of another triathlete, Nikko Huelgas.

“Sa pagpapatuloy ng mga kompetisyon, umaasa tayo na mahihigitan ng Pilipinas ang nakamit nitong dalawampu’t siyam na ginto, tatlumpu’t apat na pilak at tatlumpu’t pitong tansong medalya noong ika-27 Southeast Asian Games sa Myanmar,” said Coloma. PND (ag)

“Ikinalulugod natin ang mga pahayag na tulad niyan at sang-ayon din po tayo doon sa proposisyon na hindi dapat gumamit ng anumang military solution. At inaayunan din po natin ‘yung kanilang pahayag na ang apatnapung taong pakikipag-ugnayan sa pagitan ng China at ng Pilipinas ay peaceful, friendly at cooperative,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma said that since the maritime dispute in the WPS involves other countries it will not be as simple as solving the issue bilaterally.

“Marami pong bansa, usually po ay more than two sa bawat pinagtatalunang lugar diyan o features o maritime entitlements diyan sa West Philippine Sea. Kaya po iyon po ang ating posisyon. Hindi po ganoon kasimple,” said Coloma.

Zhao Jianhua, China’s ambassador to Manila, last Friday said, “We want the Philippines to return to the negotiating table,” and added that China has no precondition to the resumption of the talk.

On March last year, the Philippines has filed a memorial before the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) against China regarding its reclamation activities in the WPS.

Other claimants of land features located at the disputed maritime area are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. PND (ag)

“We note the recently published 2015 Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project where the Philippines was ranked 51st among 102 countries. This is a significant improvement of nine spots from our ranking of 60 in 2014,” said Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., in a radio interview with dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

This year’s report shows that the Philippines is the most improved country among ASEAN member states ranking 9th among 15 countries in East Asia and the Pacific for 2015.

According to Coloma, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative Director Elizabeth Andersen pointed out that the Philippines is one of three countries considered as rule of law “success stories.”

“Ms. Andersen mentioned about improvements by the Philippine government, such as ‘judicial and policy reforms including the Department of Justice’s court automation initiative and efforts by the government to remove the country from the Intellectual Property Watch List,’” said Coloma.

“The Aquino administration will persevere in its efforts to pursue reforms in government and will continue to work to make such reforms sustainable and permanent,” he added.

The Washington, D. C.-based, World Justice Project is an independent, multidisciplinary organization working to advance the rule of law around the world. It was founded in 2006 through the initiative of the American Bar Association. PND (ag)