Windows26: Weekend Roundup: ‘Atin Ito’ convoy to Scarborough Shoal; Bamban Mayor Alice Guo; and the divorce bill

Hi, reader!

This week, we feature the successful civilian-led convoy to Scarborough Shoal, Comelec's stricter rules on placeholder candidates, and the House's approval of the divorce bill on second reading.

This is your Weekend Roundup, your weekly fix for everything you need to catch up.

'ATIN ITO'

Mission accomplished

Volunteers of the civilian-led convoy that reached about 50 nautical miles from Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal have concluded their mission, stating they successfully accomplished the three objectives of the voyage's first phase. These objectives included conducting a peace and solidarity regatta, placing symbolic buoys and markers, and distributing supplies such as fuel and food packs to Filipino fishermen.

Though the convoy aborted plans to sail closer to the shoal, the organizers declared the success of their mission after another boat was able to deliver provisions to 144 Filipino fishers despite the presence of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels in the area.

The voyage, organized by the "Atin Ito" (This is Ours) Coalition, is a supply mission to bring provisions to Filipino fishermen who have ventured into the shoal despite the intimidating presence of the CCG and their militia vessels. "We should normalize and regularize civilian access in the West Philippine Sea," said Rafaela David, co-convenor of the coalition.

Amid all these assertions from the Philippine side, China has approved a new policy authorizing its coast guard extensive powers to detain foreigners deemed "illegally crossing" its borders without trial, according to media reports. Senate President Migz Zubiri hit the said policy, saying it is a violation of international laws.

ON MY RADAR

Ten must-reads

Marcos on Mayor Guo: 'No one knows her'
The peculiar case of Alice Guo
16,200 Chinese granted student visas
Comelec gets stricter: No more 'placeholder' ploys
Who does the Absolute Divorce Act protect and who does it jeopardize?
The lazy sunbather's guide to looking fresh
Mesa ni Misis: Brown rice for the win
A track-by-track breakdown of EXO's D.O.'s new 'Blossom' EP
A Boracay barbecue of epic proportions—and portions
Column of the Week: Heat kills—why aren't we taking it seriously?

CHINA INVASION OF WPS

Access to oil, gas

According to data from the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the whole South China Sea has billions of gas and oil reserves. Most of the SCS is being claimed by China through its illegal nine, now 10-dash line. Learn more on this special story here.

OUTDATED BUILDING CODE

Metro Manila at risk

With a hodgepodge of buildings that, at best, comply with an obsolete 47-year-old National Building Code of the Philippines and, at worst, are built to no code at all, Metro Manila has been described as a "ticking bomb," exposing its millions of residents to earthquake-related hazards. Read more about this special report here.

Thanks for reading our Weekend Roundup, reader! See you again next week. For suggestions and feedback, please reach out to me at newsletter@inquirer.net.

Regards,

Samuel Yap

Digital Content Distribution

May 18, 2024

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