Opinion 12/10/15 (Philippines, elections, climate, police, Cebu, BBL, Maguindanao)

Inquirer on climate conference in Paris

Developments in the negotiations [of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21)], now down to the last two days of an exhausting fortnight, may still prevent the “Draft Paris Outcome” from taking off. Perhaps countries like Saudi Arabia may balk if full decarbonization is adopted as an objective; perhaps energy-hungry economies like India or China may resist strong language about limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. [...] The sluggish pace of negotiations over the language of the draft agreement and its implementing decision prompted the French hosts—under the UN system, the hosts serve as president of the conference and enjoy a wide latitude for initiative—to fast-track the talks, at the same time preserving the openness of the process which the French presidency put in place. [full text]

Sun.Star Cebu on the new Cebu police director

Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan, formerly of the Directorate for Human Resource and Management in Camp Crame, is now chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7. [...] So it looks like the PRO 7 is in good hands. Gaerlan, though, has big shoes to fill, considering what Bañas did since he took over the post 18 months ago. [full text]

Manila Bulletin about BBL, congressmen, and absenteesim

There is a target date of December 16 for the approval of the  Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) by both the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The two chambers  of Congress are to pass the bill creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) to replace the present Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) before the Christmas break. [...] In an effort to get the House to act on the bill, a group called the Bangsamoro Para sa Bayan, Para sa Lahat (BBPL) Coalition  last week filed a complaint with the Ombudsman, asking it to charge congressmen who have been absenting themselves  from  the sessions in  the last four months. [full text]

Philippine Star on Maguindanao massacre and police dismissal

After six years, the National Police Commission has ordered the dismissal of 21 policemen implicated in the gruesome massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao. Of the 62 policemen in the administrative case, 11 were suspended, 21 were cleared while nine had the complaint dismissed for lack of jurisdiction by the Napolcom. [full text]