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INQToday: PH, China establish hotline presidents can use to stop sea clashes

INQUIRER.net

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:20:30 PST

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: A recently signed agreement will open a direct line of communication between the presidential offices of China and the Philippines to help prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea,  according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday. China and the Philippines have created such emergency telephone hotlines at lower levels in the past to better manage disputes, particularly in two fiercely disputed shoals where the Philippines has accused Chinese forces of increasingly hostile actions and China says Philippine ships have encroached despite repeated warnings. Top defense and security officials of the Philippines and the United States (US) met on Wednesday (Philippine time) to discuss the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the two nations as well as maritime domain awareness to combat “illegal and coercive” activities. In a readout, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles Brown met with key Philippine leaders  – Security Advisor Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff  Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in Manila. Just before his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), a Pulse Asia survey showed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval and trust rating slightly dropped. Marcos’ approval rating dipped to 53 percent in June from 55 percent in March 2024. His trust rating dropped from 57 percent to 52 percent in the same period. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961820/inqtoday-ph-china-establish-hotline-presidents-can-use-to-stop-sea-clashes

Bangsamoro folk told to brace for more floods

Edwin O. Fernandez, Julie M. Aurelio

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:40:00 PST

HELP US A resident of Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, is asking for help from commuters and motorists using cardboard. He and his family have been living in a tent beside the national highway that has been spared from the flood that has inundated his town. —photo courtesy of Datu Bolelo ZM Mamasabulod HELP US A resident of Pagalungan, Maguindanao del Sur, is asking for help from commuters and motorists using cardboard. He and his family have been living in a tent beside the national highway that has been spared from the flood that has inundated his town. —photo courtesy of Datu Bolelo ZM Mamasabulod COTABATO CITY, BARMM, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) on Tuesday issued a general flood advisory for the already heavily inundated region, noting that oncoming rains due to a southwest monsoon could bring more floods. Bangsamoro Interim Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, earlier on Monday, ordered heightened alert for possible emergencies throughout the region due to the lingering weather disturbances. Taking a cue from this, BARMM Health Minister Kadil Sinolinding activated “code white” in all health facilities of the region. READ: Mindanao flood victims climb to over 81,000 Sinolinding ordered all personnel and emergency response vehicles to be on standby for any emergency call. The READi teams have already been at the forefront of operations since last week to bring shelter to the residents of flooded areas. This developed as President Marcos ordered the “continued and complete delivery” of full assistance to families hit by massive floods in Mindanao, particularly in the BARMM. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the directive in posts on his social media accounts on Monday night. “I have instructed the continued and complete delivery of all assistance to the families affected by the recent flash floods in BARMM and other areas in Mindanao,” Mr. Marcos said on his Facebook page. He added: “We are assessing the damage to the infrastructure and the agricultural industry and will implement a swift rehabilitation for the affected communities.” The BARMM has been placed under red alert after an intertropical convergence zone dumped heavy rains and caused flash floods in the region. The floods and landslides in Mindanao and even in some parts of Western Visayas had so far claimed the lives of 13 persons, mainly in the BARMM and the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte, and displaced over 90,000 residents. Earlier, the Department of Social Welfare and Development released P22.6 million in relief aid to residents affected by floods and landslides. ON TO SAFETY Residents move to safer grounds aboard a wooden banca while crossing the flooded Kabasalan Elementary School in the town of Ligawasan, a special geographic area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. —Jess M. Ali/contributor Data from the DSWD showed that the intertropical convergence zone affected a total of 34,883 families, or 174,173 persons in 176 barangays in Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao region, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) and the BARMM. So far, only Maguindanao del Sur, through its provincial board, had declared itself in a state of calamity on Tuesday due to the massive flooding that submerged 17 of its 24 towns. In passing the measure, the provincial legislators noted that based on data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the floods that occurred in the low-lying communities in several days affected over 60,000 families. Ameer Jehad Ambolodto, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, chaired by Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, earlier recommended the measure to allow the provincial government to use its calamity funds. A total of 123 villages in the province remained underwater on Tuesday. Maguindanao del Sur is located at the upper portion of the Ligawasan Marsh and serves as a catch basin of flood waters from Bukidnon, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato provinces. The floods claimed the life of a 22-year-old man who drowned in Barangay Damalasak, Pagalungan town, on Sunday, while trying to save his cow. He was one of the 14 fatalities in Mindanao that resulted from the floods and landslides. Ambolodto said the cost of damages to civilian properties, crops and livestock in his province was still being determined. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. On Tuesday, there was only light rain in the province as disaster response personnel and social workers continued to assess damage and profile the flood victims and their communities. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961643/bangsamoro-folk-told-to-brace-for-more-floods

How to protect your stock portfolio from peso volatility

Henry Ong

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:01:00 PST

Last week, we discussed how historically, the stock market and the peso-dollar exchange rate often move in opposite directions. When the peso depreciates against the dollar, the price of the dollar goes up while the stock market declines. Conversely, when the peso appreciates against the dollar, the price of the dollar goes down while the stock market rises. True to market history, we observed in the past weeks that as the peso appreciated from 58.84 at the start of the month to as low as 58.24:$1 last Friday, the price of the dollar began to correct. Simultaneously, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) began to rally, gaining 4 percent in two weeks to end at over 6,600. As the peso remains volatile, with a 62 percent negative correlation between the exchange rate and the stock market, the market will likely continue its rally as the peso appreciates. However, once this correction is over, we can expect the peso to depreciate again. Given the current strength of this inverse relationship, the stock market is expected to resume its downtrend when the dollar rises. READ: Why the Philippine stock market will fall It is important to recognize that this broad relationship does not apply uniformly to all stocks. Some stocks are highly sensitive to changes in the exchange rate, while others remain relatively stable. Not all stocks exhibit the same behavior in response to exchange rate fluctuations. The sensitivity of stocks to the peso can be measured using beta, a statistical measure that indicates how much a stock price moves in relation to market changes. Beta measures stock volatility compared with the overall market. A beta of 1.0 means that the stock price is expected to move in line with the market. If the market rises by 1 percent, a stock with a beta of 1.0 would also rise by 1 percent and vice versa. Stocks with a beta greater than 1.0 are more volatile than the market, meaning they will experience larger price changes in response to market movements. Conversely, stocks with a beta less than 1.0 are less volatile and will experience smaller price changes. In the context of the peso-dollar exchange rate, beta can help investors understand how sensitive a stock is to currency fluctuations. For example, if we measure the beta of stocks belonging to the PSEi, we will find that ACEN is the most sensitive to volatility in the peso with negative 1.74 beta. This means that if the peso depreciates by 1 percent, the share price of ACEN could fall by 1.74 percent. One reason for the high sensitivity of the stock to exchange rate volatility could be the significant amount of foreign-denominated debts. Although its exposure may not necessarily be the largest among the PSEi stocks, the market may perceive the stock to have the highest risk related to peso depreciation, as indicated by the historical beta. READ: Exercise caution despite falling interest rates Other PSEi stocks that tend to exhibit significant price changes in response to fluctuations in the price of the dollar include Alliance Global, which has a beta of -1.62, followed by Bloomberry with -1.52, JG Summit Holdings with -1.42 and DMCI Holdings with -1.23. Some stocks in the PSEi have shown stability against the volatility of the peso. These stocks are less affected by exchange rate changes and offer a degree of resilience. The top index stocks with the lowest beta are Puregold, which has a beta of -0.157, followed by LT Group with -0.185, San Miguel Corp with -0.205, Meralco with -0.218 and SM Investments with -0.42. It is interesting to note that among the PSEi stocks, there are three that have a positive correlation with exchange rate volatility. This means that their stock prices move in the same direction as the exchange rate. When the price of the dollar goes up, the stock prices also increase and vice versa. These stocks are Nickel Asia, which has a beta of 0.76, Emperador with 0.46 and Aboitiz Equity Ventures with 0.34. Understanding the beta correlation between stocks and exchange rates helps investors develop better strategies. High-beta stocks offer the potential for significant gains but come with higher risks, especially during periods of currency volatility. These stocks may be suitable for investors with a higher risk tolerance and a focus on capitalizing on market movements. Low-beta stocks, on the other hand, provide stability and are less likely to experience drastic price changes due to exchange rate fluctuations. These stocks are ideal for conservative investors seeking steady returns and lower risk exposure. INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Henry Ong is a Registered Financial Planner of RFP Philippines. Stock data and tools were provided by First Metro Securities. To learn more about investment planning, attend 108th batch of RFP Program this July 2024. To register, e-mail [email protected] or text 09176248110. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468972/how-to-protect-your-stock-portfolio-from-peso-volatility

NexGen raises sub-goal P529 million from IPO

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:02:00 PST

NexGen Energy Corp. led by businessman Dexter Tiu closed more than 1 percent above its IPO price during its stock market debut on Tuesday despite not raising its target amount, reflecting a still-receptive environment for renewable energy firms. NexGen, which listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) small, medium and emerging (SME) board under the ticker “XG,” closed at P1.71 per share or 1.8 percent above its IPO price of P1.68. The third company to brave a volatile stock market this year raised P529 million from the sale of 315 million shares. READ: NexGen sets public listing price at P1.68 per share However, this was 8.8 percent below NexGen’s target of raising P580 million, as it did not fully exercise its over-allotment option of 45 million secondary shares. Juan Paolo Colet, managing director at investment bank China Bank Capital Corp., said that while many short-term traders—or active traders who buy and sell stocks within a short period—exited on NexGen’s first day, the bulk of the company’s investors were “strong hands who are confident about the company’s prospects.”“[NexGen’s] successful IPO will encourage other renewable energy or similarly sized companies to explore listing on the PSE,” Colet added. NexGen is also the second renewable energy-focused firm to list on the local bourse this year, following the stock market debut of tycoon Edgar Saavedra-led Citicore Renewable Energy Corp. on June 7. For his part, PSE president Ramon Monzon said NexGen’s IPO “serves as a timely reminder to other small companies that need to raise capital that the SME board is a very practical and feasible listing route.” Funds raised from the renewable energy firm’s IPO will be used to develop a solar project in Zambales and wind projects in Cavite. —Meg J. Adonis INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468968/nexgen-raises-sub-goal-p529-million-from-ipo

Consing: Maharlika seen to boost economic growth, reduce poverty

Philippine News Agency

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:27:12 PST

Maharlika Investment Corp. president and chief executive officer Rafael Jose Consing Jr. (PNA photo by Kris M. Crismundo) Maharlika Investment Corp. president and chief executive officer Rafael Jose Consing Jr. (PNA photo by Kris M. Crismundo) MANILA – The Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will help boost the country’s economic growth by reducing poverty and creating more jobs. Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) president and chief executive officer Rafael Consing said the MIF aims to help support and sustain the country’s high economic growth, reduce poverty by creating jobs, and promote sustainable development. READ: Maharlika gets P 22.2-B fund for first-year investments “’Yung Maharlika Investment Fund, isa siyang sovereign wealth fund na kung saan binuo po siya ng gobyerno para makapag-invest siya (The Maharlika Investment Fund is a sovereign wealth fund formed by the government for investments),” he said during the Pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address) Special aired over People’s Television Network on Tuesday. He said the MIF’s twin objectives are the return of capital and implementing socio-economic development goals. Consing, citing a study conducted by Maybank, said that Maharlika’s multiplier impact is 2.1 times. “Maybank’s study said that the impact… for every one peso that we put in, is roughly about 2.10 to 2.5. Naniniwala kami na tama po ‘yung impact na ‘yun at ‘yun talaga ang gusto naming impact (We believe that is true and that’s the impact that we want),” he said. Consing said the MIC is prioritizing investments to improve electricity services in rural areas, where roughly 52 percent of the country’s population lives. “The primary driver of progress is power,” he said, adding that it will help attract more investments and increase income in rural areas that will allow people to spend more which will eventually boost consumption. READ: OSG told: Maharlika Investment Fund an ‘injustice’ Under Republic Act (RA) 11954 inked by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 18, 2023, the MIF will be used to invest in a wide range of assets, including foreign currencies, fixed-income instruments, domestic and foreign corporate bonds, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and high-impact infrastructure projects that contribute to the attainment of sustainable development. Consing said the MIC “should be up and running” when it makes its first investment before the end of the year. “Meron tayong investment and risk management framework. Sana po ito po ay ma-approve na ng Board this coming Thursday. Siya po ang tinatawag nating condition para magawa na natin iyong una nating investment. (We have an investment and management framework. Hopefully the Board approves it this coming Thursday. This is what we call the condition so we can make our first investment),” said Consing. In a separate Viber message to the Philippine News Agency, Consing said the investment and risk management (I&RM) framework outlines the detailed policies, strategies, and risk management practices that will guide MIC’s investment-decision making and portfolio management. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “According to Article 4, Section 14 of RA 11954, MIC must strictly comply with the Investment and Risk Management Guidelines before engaging in any investment. This implies that the I&RM Framework, which outlines these guidelines, is a precondition for making investments,” Consing said. Subscribe to our business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/469059/consing-maharlika-seen-to-boost-economic-growth-reduce-poverty

BOI raises 2024 investment approval target to P1.6T

Alden M. Monzon

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:09:00 PST

Photo from BOI/FACEBOOK Photo from BOI/FACEBOOK The Board of Investments (BOI) has raised its target investment approvals this year to P1.6 trillion from P1.5 trillion, drawing optimism from the upward trend in the volume of foreign direct investments coming to the Philippines. “Considering the overall numbers are up 18 percent [in] January to April, and considering the pipeline, let’s just say we are thinking of adjusting the upper limit to P1.6 trillion,” Ceferino Rodolfo, BOI managing head, told reporters on the sidelines of the Tatak Pinoy Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center. Back in January, the BOI’s parent agency, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said that they expect approvals to range from P1.1 trillion to P1.5 trillion in 2024. This is after coming from last year’s actual posting of P1.26 trillion, the highest in the BOI’s 56-year history. The bulk of the investments recorded last year were in the renewable energy sector, with the trend falling in line with the government’s road map for renewables to have a 35 percent share in the country’s power generation mix by 2030. READ: BOI investment approvals surged by 36% to P950B in H1 Today, most of the Philippines’ power plants are coal-fired and diesel-fed, tying the local cost of electricity to the volatile global market prices of coal and oil. Meanwhile, investment approvals by the DTI’s lead investment promotions body reached P729 billion in 2022, P655 billion in 2021, P1.02 trillion in 2020, and P1.14 trillion in 2019. INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468969/boi-raises-24-investment-approval-target-to-p1-6t

SC orders 2 axed delivery riders reinstated

Jane Bautista

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:15:00 PST

Inquirer file photo Inquirer file photo MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of two delivery riders and the payment of their back wages and benefits, affirming that both were regular employees, not independent contractors, and were illegally dismissed. In a 21-page decision promulgated on April 9 but made public only recently, the high tribunal’s Second Division granted the petition for review on certiorari filed by delivery riders Walter Borromeo and Jimmy Parcia against Lazada E-Services Philippines Inc. It ordered the e-commerce platform to reinstate the pair to their former positions and pay them their full back wages, including all incentives, benefits and privileges from the time of dismissal to actual reinstatement. READ: SC tackles back pay for illegally dismissed probationary workers The two riders filed a complaint before the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) after Lazada terminated them on Aug. 23, 2017, citing a reduction in personnel at its pick-up department. Both challenged the rulings of the NLRC and Court of Appeals, which found no employer-employee relationship between them and Lazada. Lazada also argued that Borromeo and Parcia were independent contractors, not employees, and received service fees for deliveries rather than wages. The Supreme Court, however, affirmed that they were regular employees of Lazada, citing its 2022 ruling in Ditiangkin vs Lazada, which was “practically identical” to the case. In a decision written by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the high court ruled that an employer-employee relationship existed because Lazada directly hired the petitioners, albeit via an independent contractor agreement, paid them P1,200 daily, had the authority to dismiss them, and controlled their work methods. Aside from the four-fold test, the Supreme Court said Borromeo and Parcia were able to pass the economic reality test as their services were deemed integral to the respondents’ business, giving them a right to security of tenure. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961683/sc-orders-2-axed-delivery-riders-reinstated

Negros cops to file raps vs 2 suspects in Amorsolo painting theft

Carla P. Gomez @carlagomezINQ

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:48:57 PST

FROM NEGROS TO QC The recovery of the Fernando Amorsolo painting “Mango Harvesters,” presented to reporters by National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago on Friday, is important for Silay City and Negros Occidental as the masterpiece has been considered a community treasure. The 88-year old artwork of the Filipino master was stolen from Hofileña Museum in Silay on July 3.—NESTOR CORRALES FROM NEGROS TO QC The recovery of the Fernando Amorsolo painting “Mango Harvesters,” presented to reporters by National Bureau of Investigation Director Jaime Santiago on Friday, is important for Silay City and Negros Occidental as the masterpiece has been considered a community treasure. The 88-year old artwork of the Filipino master was stolen from Hofileña Museum in Silay on July 3.—NESTOR CORRALES BACOLOD CITY — Police investigators are filing theft charges against the two persons who stole the 88-year-old painting by national artist Fernando Amorsolo from the Hofileña Museum in Silay City, Negros Occidental. Lieutenant Colonel Mark Anthony Darroca, Silay City police chief, said the charges would be filed within the week against the male suspect from Iloilo who had been identified, and an unidentified woman, before the Silay City Prosecutor’s Office. The two suspects are still at large. READ: One suspect in theft of Amorsolo painting identified in Negros Occidental Based on the investigation, the suspects pretended to be tourists, and stole the 1936 “Mango Harvesters” painting by Amorsolo on July 3, by placing it in a tote bag as shown in a close-circuit television (CCTV) footage provided by the Hofileña Museum. The painting was transported by commercial plane to Metro Manila. Darroca said the two suspects, who stole the painting, were different from those arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for attempting to sell it on Friday, July 12 in Quezon City. The NBI recovered the Amorsolo painting in an entrapment operation after they received information that a certain “Atty. Ching” was selling it for P3.5 million. The NBI on Friday, July 12, proceeded to the target area at Tomas Morato, Quezon City, and arrested Ritz Chona Castro Ching and Donecio Escobia Somaylo, who delivered the painting for sale on instructions of “Atty. Ching,” said NBI Director Jaime Santiago. READ: Amorsolo painting stolen from museum The two will face charges of violating the Anti-Fencing Law. Jeremy Barns, director general of the National Museum, pegged the painting’s market value at P8 million to P12 million. Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson on Friday thanked law enforcers and all those responsible for the recovery of the painting. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “This serves as a reminder for us to remain vigilant in protecting and ensuring the preservation of our cultural treasures,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961794/negros-cops-to-file-raps-vs-2-suspects-in-amorsolo-painting-theft

INQToday: China Coast Guard’s ‘monster ship’ still in Escoda – PCG

INQUIRER.net

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:17:35 PST

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories: China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” remains within Escoda (Sabina) Shoal contrary to a previous report that it had left, Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said on Wednesday. Tarriela also confirmed the presence of a 135-meter CCG ship with hull number 5303 within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The ship was spotted some 60 nautical miles west of Lubang Island on July 14, as revealed by WPS monitor Ray Powell. Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said her self-appointment as “designated survivor” during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation address was “neither a joke nor a bomb threat.” She, however, refused to clarify what she meant. It is possible that suspended Bamban Mayor  Alice  Guo had already left the country using her Chinese passport. This possibility was raised on Wednesday by Sen. Sherwin  Gatchalian. A rescued Malaysian national testified before a House of Representatives panel that his friend, a Chinese, sold him to the raided Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogo) hub in Bamban, Tarlac for P300,000. During the motu proprio investigation of the House committee on public order safety on Wednesday, a Pogo worker identified as “Dylan”, not his real name, said he came to the Philippines in 2021 from Dubai after his old company moved to the Philippines. A closed-door conciliation meeting between Senators Nancy Binay and  Alan Peter Cayetano will be spearheaded by the chamber’s ethics panel to address the tension between the two lawmakers after a heated discussion on the new Senate building. Panel head and Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, in an ambush interview on Wednesday, said the rules of the committee have been approved and only need to get published. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died, his alma mater announced Tuesday. Bryant, who spent eight seasons in the NBA with three different franchises, was 69. The Philadelphia Inquirer, citing La Salle coach Fran Dunphy, reported that Joe Bryant recently had a massive stroke. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961923/inqtoday-china-coast-guards-monster-ship-still-in-escoda-pcg

South Korean firm Miru condemns bribery allegations against Comelec

Adrian Parungao

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:20:48 PST

NEW PROVIDER Officials of Miru Systems Co. Ltd. led by its president Chung Jin-bok appear at the Commission on Elections in March 2024 for the signing of their P18-billion contract with the poll body. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES NEW PROVIDER Officials of Miru Systems Co. Ltd. led by its president Chung Jin-bok appear at the Commission on Elections in March 2024 for the signing of their P18-billion contract with the poll body. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES MANILA, Philippines — South Korea-based company Miru Systems condemned on Wednesday the allegations that it was supposedly involved in a bribery incident with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). According to Miru, the claim not only stained its reputation, but may also sidetrack the Comelec’s preparations for the 2025 national and local elections. READ: Amid issues at Comelec, Miru Systems vows clean polls “This is a serious allegation that should not have been made public without any evidence,” Miru said in a statement. “This baseless and careless accusation not only maligns our reputation, it also detracts us from all the work that needs to be done with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the 2025 National and Local Elections,” it added. The company said that it maintains a professional relationship with the Comelec, and will cooperate with any investigations. “We will cooperate with any government agency that will conduct an investigation and may even consider pursuing legal action, if necessary. We support the Comelec’s call for redress in the proper forum,” it continued. Miru Systems will be the supplier of the voting machines for the 2025 midterm elections. READ: Garcia: Comelec may resort to manual should SC rule against Miru Miru’s statement came after Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta claimed that an unnamed Comelec official allegedly received P1 billion from banks based in South Korea to 49 offshore bank accounts. Afterwards, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia then said that he was the one being alluded to by the allegations, but has then denied them. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242995/south-korean-firm-miru-condemns-bribery-allegations-against-comelec

PH, US tackle Edca, maritime domain awareness

Charie Abarca

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:09:04 PST

MANILA, Philippines — Top defense and security officials of the Philippines and the United States (US) met on Wednesday (Philippine time) to discuss the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) between the two nations as well as maritime domain awareness to combat “illegal and coercive” activities. In a readout, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Spokesperson Navy Capt. Jereal Dorsey said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Charles Brown met with key Philippine leaders: Security Advisor Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff  Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. in Manila. “The leaders discussed ongoing efforts to strengthen the alliance, including bilateral security assistance, utilization of EDCA agreed locations, and the importance of maritime domain awareness to counter illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive activities,” the readout reads. “The leaders also shared their assessments of the regional security environment, including recent events in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal, and the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” it added. According to Dorsey, the two nations have upheld peace and security in the Indo-Pacific for over 70 years. In a separate statement also issued Wednesday, the US Department of Defense said Brown also visited a U.S. rotational access site designated as part of the EDCA, The sites are designed to strengthen combined training, exercises, and interoperability between the two countries. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242914/fwd-ph-us-execs-on-maritime-domain-awareness

Northern Samar execs invite Robinsons group to invest in the province

Joey Gabieta @joeygabietaINQ

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:41:07 PST

INQUIRER FILES INQUIRER FILES TACLOBAN CITY — The provincial government of Northern Samar has invited a Manila-based conglomerate for them to invest in the province. Gov. Edwin Ongchuan on July 5 met with the Robinsons and Gokongwei Group in Manila with a focus on exploring collaborative efforts to advance the industrial and agricultural sectors within the province. During the meeting, Ongchuan, joined by his own economic team, invited the Robinson’s and Gokongwei Group to invest in the province, considered to be among the fastest-growing economies in Eastern Visayas though poverty remains to be a serious concern. READ: Robinsons Land pumps P33.9B into REIT arm Ongchuan said he wants the big economic player to invest in the province by putting its Robinsons Mall, a Go Hotel, and even return of Cebu Pacific flights to the province. Cebu Pacific flights stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic and has yet to resume since then. Its rival, Philippine Airlines, is the only air company that services the Manila and Catarman, the provincial capital, route five times a week. Ongchuan emphasized the importance of forging strategic partnerships to unlock Northern Samar’s full economic potential. “With the Robinson’s/Gokongwei Group poised as potential partners, the province looks forward to a future marked by innovation, job creation, and heightened prosperity for the Nortehanon people,” he said in a statement. In his sales pitch to the Robinsons/Gokongwei Group, Ongchuan said investors need not worry about the process of preparing needed documents as they are implementing the “green lane policy” which aims to streamline the method of securing business permits and licenses. “This initiative aims to remove bureaucratic hurdles for the Robinson’s/Gokongwei Group should they decide to invest in projects within the province,” the governor said. READ: Robinsons Land raises P8.5B from REIT selldown Supporting the governor in this investment pitch were key officials invested in the development of Northern Samar, including Director Ernesto Delos Reyes of the Board of Investments, Jhon Allen Berbon from the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office, and Jay Keenson Acebuche from the Provincial Planning and Development Office. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Representing the Robinsons/Gokongwei Group were lawyers Jose Luis Aliling, external affairs director of Robinsons Land Corporation; Jose Angelo Cunanan, government relations corporate affairs, and sustainability at JG Summit Holdings, Inc.; and Domingo Hamilton Tutaan III, government relations manager at Universal Robina Corporation. Subscribe to our business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/469064/northern-samar-execs-invite-robinsons-group-to-invest-in-the-province

4 Japanese fugitives arrested in Pasay, Parañaque

Faith Argosino

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 15:47:18 PST

MANILA, Philippines — Four Japanese wanted for their alleged involvement with a telecom fraud syndicate based in Cambodia were arrested in two separate operations in Pasay and Parañaque City on Tuesday, according to police. In separate reports issued on Wednesday, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) identified the four suspects as Masaya Sawada, 43; Seiji Suzuki, 29; Koji Ueda, 27; and Jun Kiyohara, 29. READ: BI arrests a Japanese fugitive who is charged with stealing cash cards Police said Sawada was collared by authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City after his flight landed at Terminal 3 from Cebu. Following his arrest, the three others were apprehended in a follow-up operation on Jakarta Street in BF Homes, Parañaque City around 2 p.m. No other details were provided regarding the case against the four suspects. They are now under the Regional Intelligence Division of the Regional Special Operations Group’s custody. NCRPO said it is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and Japanese authorities to deport the suspects. READ: 13 Japanese tourists, two others hurt in Naga road accident Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242992/4-japanese-fugitives-arrested-in-pasay-paranaque

Marcos administration a 6 out of 10, says economist

Dianne Sampang

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:47:02 PST

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. Screengrab from RTVM President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. Screengrab from RTVM MANILA, Philippines — An economist gave the administration a 6 out of 10 rating due to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unfulfilled promises for the past two years. In an interview with Teleradyo on Wednesday, Emmanuel Leyco said Marcos promised a lot, particularly lowering the price of rice. “We have not achieved that and it seems like we will not achieve it in the coming months,” the chief economist of Credit Rating and Investors Services Philippines said in Filipino. Marcos has promised to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo, saying it is possible but “it won’t be easy.” READ: A year into Bongbong Marcos’ rule: P20/kg rice becomes a conundrum Leyco said that although select Kadiwa stores sell rice at P29 per kilo, it is not accessible to all. Under Program 29 of the Department of Agriculture (DA), rice is sold at P29 per kilo to senior citizens, solo parents, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. On the other hand, DA’s Rice for All program seeks to sell rice at P45 to P48 per kilo to all Filipinos. Leyco also took note of the direction of the economy in terms of developing infrastructure, particularly the Clark International Airport Corporation’s plan to construct a 37-hectare entertainment and events center to accommodate the concerts of artists like Taylor Swift. “It’s okay if we don’t have a Taylor Swift [concert]. It is not the basis of our growth. What we need is the infrastructure that will help boost our production, productivity, and job creation,” he said in Filipino. Leyco also said the President should have a “clear roadmap for economic development.” “We can’t just watch other countries’ economic growth from the sidelines all the time,” he added. READ: PH GDP growth estimate for 2024 cut, but still 2nd fastest in Asean On peace and order, the economist gave Marcos a positive rating, saying that the drug war under Marcos is more peaceful than the anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration. “This is a relief. Unlike before when I would watch news about the killings…now, we do not hear news like that. The President is on the right track when it comes to combating the illegal drug trade,” he said in Filipino. In March, Marcos said the government’s strategy in fighting the illegal drug trade “changed significantly” as he is “diametrically opposed to resorting to violence.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Marcos also reiterated that he would not cooperate with the International Criminal Court on its probe into former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961953/marcos-administration-a-6-out-of-10-says-economist

PH, US coast guards hold joint passing exercise off Lubang Island

Faith Argosino

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:39:43 PST

PCG PCG MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine and United States (US) coast guards conducted a joint passing exercise (PASSEX) within the waters off Lubang Island in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said its BRP Melchora Aquino and USCG Cutter Waesche participated in the PASSEX, focusing on “search and rescue operations, firefighting scenarios, communication exercises, and medical evacuations. READ: West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard’s ‘monster ship’ still in Escoda – PCG “By sharing best practices, concepts, doctrines, and standard operating procedures, the PCG and USCG enhanced their capabilities to respond to maritime emergencies and contingencies,” PCG Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, said. PCG “Sharing similar mandates, values, and objectives, the exercise highlighted the closer and expanding relations between the PCG and USCG. It strengthened maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two Coast Guard services, specifically in maritime safety and marine environmental protection,” he added. Balilo said the collaboration will continue to expand to strengthen the capabilities of the countries’ coast guards in “responding to maritime contingencies and upholding a safe, secure, and peaceful rules-based maritime order.” PCG Before the conduct of PASSEX, a 135-meter Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship was spotted some 60 nautical miles (nm) west of Lubang Island last July 14, according to West Philippine Sea (WPS) monitor Ray Powell. Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS, confirmed the presence of the ship with hull number 5303 within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Earlier Wednesday, Powell revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “CCG 5303 ended [its] two days of loitering activity off of Lubang Island yesterday but is extending its intrusive patrol even closer to the Philippines’ coastline.” “It is now moving 35 to 40 nm from northern Palawan near El Nido,” he added. Aside from the CCG 5303, Tarriela also revealed that China’s “monster ship” remains within Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, contrary to a previous report that it had left the country’s EEZ. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Based on previous reports, CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter with hull number 5901, also the largest coast guard vessel in the world, had been deployed off Escoda Shoal on July 3. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://www.inquirer.net/409023/ph-us-coast-guards-hold-joint-passing-exercise-off-lubang-island/

Samar town gets P100-M bridge under peace project

Philippine News Agency

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:07:30 PST

PEACE EFFORTS. Officials inspect the site of a bridge project in Matuguinao, Samar in this Nov. 16, 2023 photo. The interior town in Samar province will receive P100 million to construct a bridge that will link formerly rebel-infested communities to the town center. (Photo courtesy of Matuguinao local government) PEACE EFFORTS. Officials inspect the site of a bridge project in Matuguinao, Samar in this Nov. 16, 2023 photo. The interior town in Samar province will receive P100 million to construct a bridge that will link formerly rebel-infested communities to the town center. (Photo courtesy of Matuguinao local government) TACLOBAN CITY — The interior town of Matuguinao, Samar will receive P100 million in funding to construct a bridge that will link formerly rebel-infested communities to the town center. In an interview Wednesday, Mayor Aran Boller said the 30-meter concrete bridge in Maduroto would start within the year, replacing a makeshift bridge set up by a contractor and repaired by the local government. “The tall bridge will benefit thousands of residents from 12 villages. We are committed to ensuring that the construction of this bridge will not only connect our barangays but also bring sustainable development to our communities,” Boller told the Philippine News Agency. READ: N. Samar gov’t opens P122-M Laoangan bridge to boost economic activities The bridge is funded under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program, which is under the oversight of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity. The structure will form part of the road connecting the towns of Matuguinao in Samar and Las Navas in Northern Samar. The upland areas of these towns are hiding places for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. Pamana projects have been implemented in different parts of Samar Island to address injustice and improve community access to socio-economic interventions. Matuguinao, a 5th-class town with a population of more than 7,000 people, is one of the recipient communities of Pamana projects since some areas have been affected by armed conflict. Of the town’s 20 villages, four are still affected by the NPA’s armed struggle, the mayor said. (PNA) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961924/samar-town-gets-p100-m-bridge-under-peace-project

Garcia: No resignations among Comelec execs amid bribery claims

Adrian Parungao

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 15:07:48 PST

MANILA, Philippines — No one among the current roster of Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials and commissioners will resign amid the bribery allegations faced by the agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said on Wednesday. According to Garcia, a resignation would be tantamount to proving that the accusations were true. READ: Garcia to NBI: Probe bribery raps, ‘it’s a demolition job vs Comelec’ “Impossible po ‘yan, impossible po na may mag-leave at saka mag-courtesy resignation o mag-resign sa mga miyembro ng Komisyon. Ano sila, hilo?” Garcia said in a press conference. (That’s impossible, it’s impossible that someone among the members of the Commission will leave, or will tender a courtesy resignation. What are they, fools?) “Parang sinasabi namin na totoo ang mga akusasyon,” he added. (That’s as if we’re saying the accusations were true.) Garcia’s remark came after claims surfaced that the Comelec accepted bribes from a South Korean firm, which were transferred to several offshore bank accounts. READ: Comelec chief urged to clarify, address alleged bribery While Garcia said that he was alluded to by the claims, he maintained that he did not have any foreign accounts. The Comelec official has also asked the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to investigate the allegations. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961895/garcia-no-resignations-among-comelec-execs-amid-bribery-claims

Beware of toxic school supplies in Metro Manila, says group

Adrian Parungao

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 17:49:00 PST

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Some school supplies in stores in Metro Manila have dangerous substances, advocacy group EcoWaste Coalition said on Wednesday. According to the group, 47 of the 110 school items in the stores contained lead and cadmium above the standardized limit. READ: Banned beauty products still sold in some Taguig shops https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1959508/banned-beauty-products-still-sold-in-some-taguig-shops “To protect our children’s health, we need to impose a full ban on hazardous chemicals in school supplies and other children’s products,” EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero was quoted as saying in a release. “[W]e need to make it mandatory for the chemical ingredients of a product to be clearly marked on the packaging, starting with products marketed for children’s use such as school supplies and toys,” she added. The World Health Organization said lead may cause developmental disorders among children, as well as other illnesses in the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and renal systems. Moreover, experts found that cadmium can cause cancer, as well as other ailments in the lungs and the kidneys. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961936/beware-of-toxic-school-supplies-in-metro-manila

Boracay prepares for Muslim-friendly set up with exclusive coves

Ruchelle Denice Demaisip

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:51:03 PST

FILE / Ernesto CRUZ / AFP FILE / Ernesto CRUZ / AFP BORACAY — The Department of Tourism (DOT) is set to reintroduce this island as a more Muslim-friendly destination to entice more foreign Muslim travelers. Mayor Floribar Bautista of Malay, Aklan said three potential areas on Boracay could be developed as private coves exclusively for Muslim women “since they are not allowed to swim with others.” These secluded areas, he said, would provide a comfortable and private space for them to enjoy. The initiative, in partnership with the local government of Malay, Aklan, will be officially launched in September this year. In addition to private coves, the island’s port will be redesigned to include a prayer room and an ablution area, an important part of ritual purity in Islam, to cater to Muslim visitors. The DOT is also accepting applications from Boracay accommodation establishments to be recognized as Muslim-friendly stays. In 2023, Aklan province, where Boracay Island is located, had 2.2 million arrivals which gave the government P44.43 billion in total revenues. Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, DOT Undersecretary for Muslim Affairs, expressed optimism about the project. She highlighted ongoing efforts to encourage hotels, such as those in Megaworld’s Newcoast development, to add Halal-certified kitchens. This initiative aligns with Megaworld’s vision, with properties like the Belmont and Savoy hotels on Boracay’s Newcoast set to enhance their Muslim-friendly services. The comprehensive plan includes collaboration with airlines for Halal-friendly services, ensuring a seamless experience for Muslim tourists from arrival to departure. Halal is an Arabic word that means “allowed” or “lawful.” “Everything corresponds to each other. There will be private coves for Muslims, then (a) hotel that has a Halal kitchen, and then there’s another airline that wants to partner with DOT also for Halal-friendly airline,” Abubakar said. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco initially announced the Muslim-Friendly Boracay initiative at the Salaam 2024: Travel and Trade Expo in Quezon City on June 14. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. This initiative is part of the DOT’s broader strategy to promote inclusive tourism and make Boracay a preferred destination for Muslim travelers. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242946/boracay-prepares-for-muslim-friendly-set-up-with-exclusive-coves

Man found dead in his apartment in Liloan, Cebu

eares

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 21:40:07 PST

A man was found covered in blood in his apartment in Sitio Sto. Niño, Brgy. Catarman, Liloan town, northern Cebu on Wednesday morning, July 17, 2024. | Contributed photo A man was found covered in blood in his apartment in Sitio Sto. Niño, Brgy. Catarman, Liloan town, northern Cebu on Wednesday morning, July 17, 2024. | Contributed photo CEBU CITY, Philippines – A man was found lifeless inside his apartment in Purok Okra 2, Sitio Sto. Niño, Brgy. Catarman, Liloan town, northern Cebu on Wednesday morning, July 17. In a report, police identified the deceased as Petronilo Gocela Maglasang, 58. Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of the Liloan Police Station, said they are considering Maglasang’s boyfriend as a person of interest in his death. READ: Liloan shooting: Gang war, personal grudge, love triangle eyed as possible motive Quoting information from his neighbors, the boyfriend visited Maglasang’s apartment at around 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 13. The victim was no longer seen leaving his apartment since. READ: 16-year-old girl killed, 2 other minors injured in Liloan shooting Gingoyon said that Maglasang’s body was found at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday after neighbors noticed foul odor coming from his unit. When they opened the door, they saw him on the floor covered in blood. READ: Gun-for-hire killed in shootout with Waterfront police Neighbors called for police assistance at 8:45 a.m., the police report said. Initial investigation showed that Maglasang, who earns a living by leading novena or prayers for the dead, had various external injuries. But they are yet to determine what caused these injuries through an autopsy. Also, Gingoyon said they are now looking for witnesses who will identify Maglasang’s boyfriend and provide information on his whereabouts. In addition, Liloan police are trying to open Maglasang’s cellular phone with hopes of finding vital information that will help in the resolution of his case. Liloan is a first-class municipality situated approximately 18 kilometers north of Cebu City. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585174/man-found-dead-in-his-apartment-in-liloan-cebu

Suspect in killings of Aussie couple, Filipina at Tagaytay hotel surrenders

Associated Press

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:48:31 PST

A suspect in the killing of two Australian nationals and a Filipino is escorted by police following his surrender in Tagaytay city, Cavite province Philippines on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Associated Press A suspect in the killing of two Australian nationals and a Filipino is escorted by police following his surrender in Tagaytay city, Cavite province Philippines on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Associated Press TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines — The suspect in the killings of two Australians and their Filipina companion at a hotel in Tagaytay surrendered and claimed he wanted to retaliate against the hotel for firing him, Philippine officials said Wednesday. The suspect further said that he randomly barged into the victims’ room last week because its window was open, authorities added. He was identified by the Cavite Police Provincial Office as a 33-year-old using the alias “Ronel.” Earlier, police said Australian citizens David Fisk, 57, and Lucita Cortez, 55, were discovered dead, along with Cortez’s daughter-in-law, Mary Jane Cortez, at the Lake Hotel in Tagaytay City on July 10. READ: Australian couple, Filipina found dead in Tagaytay hotel The victims, whose hands and feet were tied, were found sprawled on the floor in a street-level room in a heinous crime that shattered the tranquility of the tourism destination known for a picturesque volcano nestled in a lake, Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino said. In a pre-dawn news conference at the city hall, Tolentino and police officials presented the handcuffed suspect, who was wearing a hoodie, dark eyeglasses and a face mask. The man, whose identity was not released, will face criminal complaints for the killings and robbery, Tagaytay police chief Charles Daven Capagcuan said. The mayor repeated an apology to the victims’ families and to Australia for what he called the senseless killings. “We are pleased to present to you the main suspect in this brutal crime and as promised that within a week, we will resolve and give justice,” Tolentino said. READ: PH embassy, consulate in Australia condemn Aussie couple slay in Tagaytay Tolentino commended the police for rapidly identifying and locating the suspect, who was then apparently pressured to give up. Capagcuan told The Associated Press ahead of the news conference that the breakthrough in the case came when the suspect was identified by at least three hotel employees based on his image, which was captured by security cameras showing a part of his face when his mask slid down. The identification and information from witnesses eventually led authorities to the suspect’s Batangas home province near Tagaytay, where he decided to surrender on Tuesday, the police chief said. The suspect, who is currently under Tagaytay Component City Police Station’s custody, surrendered to Tuy municipal mayor Jey Cerrado around 1:30 a.m. “He wanted to get back at the hotel management for his dismissal,” Capagcuan told reporters, adding that the suspect used to work as a swimming pool cleaner but was fired by the hotel in March after he was linked to a robbery in one of the rooms. Police officials planned to file criminal complaints of robbery in addition to the killings against the suspect. READ: Task force to probe slays of 2 Australians, Filipina in Tagaytay City The man acknowledged taking the watch and shoes of the Australian male victim after attacking him with a knife and suffocating his partner, a Filipino woman who had acquired Australian citizenship, and her Filipina daughter-in-law, Capagcuan said. “He barged randomly with a knife into the room because its window was open,” Capagcuan said. The Australian woman and her daughter-in-law are to be buried in their family’s home province in the Philippines while the remains of the Australian man would be flown Tuesday to Sydney, Tolentino said. The Australian couple had planned to fly back to Australia on July 10, the day they were killed, but decided to briefly take a vacation in Tagaytay, the Filipino son of the slain Australian-Filipino woman told AP. He spoke on condition of anonymity last week because he was fearful after what happened to his mother and his wife and given the suspect remained at large at that time. During the news conference, the son, who still concealed his identity with a white facial mask and a sport cap, thanked the police and the mayor for quickly locating the suspect. He asked the suspect, who was standing near him, what made him commit the gruesome crime but the man did not respond. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Tagaytay, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Manila, is popular among local and foreign tourists who flock there for its cool weather and to view one of the world’s smallest active volcanos in a lake from elevated ridges teeming with restaurants, viewing decks and hotels, including the one where last week’s killings took place. With a report from Faith Argosino, INQUIRER.net Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242907/suspect-in-killings-of-aussie-couple-filipina-at-tagaytay-hotel-surrenders

Senators want 1,200 ‘Alice Guos’ probed

Marlon Ramos

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:40:00 PST

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Tuesday called on appropriate state agencies to go after about 1,200 “Alice Guos,” or Chinese nationals, who allegedly obtained Filipino citizenship by securing spurious birth certificates in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur province. “It goes to show that the policy on the late registration of birth has really been abused,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian told reporters. “This should be investigated. This is very alarming … It’s a serious problem,” he said. He noted that the incident was similar to the case of Guo, the suspended mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, whose citizenship has become the main focus of an ongoing Senate inquiry on Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos). READ: NBI Davao uncovers ‘200 falsified birth certificates’ issued to Chinese Guo has been in hiding since she was ordered arrested by the Senate last week. She had denied allegations that her real identity was Guo Hua Ping, a Chinese national believed to have illegally acquired Filipino citizenship through the late registration of birth scheme. Gatchalian earlier revealed that foreigners were paying as much as P300,000 for manufactured birth certificates and other government-issued identification cards. Senate President Francis Escudero said the National Bureau of Investigation should conduct a deeper probe and identify those responsible for fabricating the birth documents. This was after NBI Director Jaime Santiago disclosed that up to 1,200 Chinese nationals had been given birth certificates by the local civil registry of Santa Cruz since 2016. The number was six times bigger than the NBI’s initial information that some 200 Chinese citizens had become Filipinos practically in an instant. “I think that is only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ so to speak,” Escudero said. “I believe Guo is not the first and will certainly not be the last to fake a birth certificate.” Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality which is investigating Guo, said the Santa Cruz civil registry office personnel should be held liable, reiterating that Filipino citizenship should not be treated as a commodity. “We must crack down on Filipinos who have made this possible,” she said in a statement. “Uncovering thousands of fake identities is a clear threat to public order and national security. Our recent legislative inquiries into Pogos have already revealed that criminal groups use fake Filipino citizenship to carry out their illicit activities,” she added. For Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, the local government of Santa Cruz should help law enforcement agencies carry out a “comprehensive investigation.” According to Gatchalian, he had received information that there were similar cases of Chinese nationals getting birth certificates in Lanao provinces. He urged the Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs to be on the lookout for individuals who had applied for Philippine passports by presenting birth certificates that were registered belatedly. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court en banc has required Hontiveros’ committee to reply to Guo’s petition within 10 days. “The Court further required the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc to personally serve the Court’s resolution on the respondent, which shall likewise personally file and serve its comment,” Supreme Court spokesperson Camille Ting told reporters on Tuesday. On July 10, Guo’s camp filed a petition for certiorari before the court, seeking to stop the Senate committee from inviting her to its hearings. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. She also sought a temporary restraining order against Hontiveros for grave abuse of discretion after she supposedly subjected Guo to “public prosecution and humiliation” during the hearings. —with a report from Jane Bautista News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961691/senators-want-1200-alice-guos-probed

San Miguel, partners should absorb cost of Naia rehab, says group

Tyrone Jasper C. Piad

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:03:00 PST

The San Miguel Corp.-led consortium, which is the government’s private sector partner for the rehabilitation of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), should absorb the financial burden of an imminent terminal fee hike instead of passing this cost to passengers, according to a group of consumer welfare advocates. Patrick Climaco, secretary general of Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente or BK3, said in a statement on Tuesday that the looming increase in airport fees will burn a deeper hole in the passengers’ pockets, including the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). READ: DOTR: No stopping hikes in Naia fees, charges “The welfare of the majority of travelers, who can only afford the budget fares, should take precedence. Let us consider the millions of OFWs enduring the heartache of being separated from their families and toiling far from home to provide the needed support for their loved ones,” Climaco said. For BK3, said the San Miguel-led New Naia Infrastructure Corp. should bear the brunt of additional costs because the consortium would earn from running the country’s main gateway in the long run. The Department of Transportation estimated that the government would generate P900 billion or 36 billion annually over the course of a 25-year concession period. This includes the P30-billion upfront payment, the P2 billion annuity payment and revenue share. INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://business.inquirer.net/468971/san-miguel-partners-should-absorb-cost-of-naia-rehab-says-group

3 gunmen slain in clash with police in South Cotabato town

Edwin O. Fernandez

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:56:44 PST

INQUIRER FILES INQUIRER FILES COTABATO CITY – Three armed men were killed while a police officer was injured during a shootout Tuesday afternoon in Barangay Palkan, Polomolok town, South Cotabato. Major Johnny Rick Medel, Polomolok municipal police chief, identified the fatalities as Ronnie Romano, 51, Harold Pasaquian, 40, and Yok Dajay, 30, all residents of Antipas, Cotabato. Medel said gunman Nestor Espelon, 56, a farmer from Sitio Satol, Barangay Palkan, was nabbed while four others managed to elude arrest. Police Chief Master Sgt. Jonathan Boiser of Polomolok police station was slightly injured. “We received reports from civilians about the presence of armed men roaming in their farms, so we immediately responded,” Medel said. As the police were approaching the village, the gunmen opened fire, sparking a shootout. Police found two carbine rifles, one M16 rifle, a caliber .45 pistol, and ammunition in the area where the gunmen were staying. Medel said the men could be part of a private armed group. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961946/3-gunmen-slain-in-clash-with-police-in-south-cotabato-town

PH Maritime Zones Act OKd, now up for Marcos signature – Tolentino

Charie Abarca

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:40:07 PST

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Francis Tolentino. Senate PRIB FILE PHOTO: Sen. Francis Tolentino. Senate PRIB MANILA, Philippines — The reconciled and final version of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act was approved by a bicameral conference committee panel on Wednesday, according to Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino. Tolentino, who also chairs the Senate’s special panel on maritime and admiralty zones, confirmed the matter to reporters in an ambush interview on Wednesday. “Approved na,” he said when asked about the status of the measure. (It’s already approved). The primary objective of the Maritime Zones bill is to declare the Philippines’ maritime zones in accordance with the standards set by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also aims to clarify the geographical extent of the Philippine maritime domain, and at the same time, specify the legal powers that the Philippines may exercise over. READ: Senate ratifies bicam report on proposed PH Maritime Zones Act “Yung salient points ay isinama natin yung sa Palawan [at] sinama natin yung sa Philippine Rise. Tapos ni-reconcile natin yung provision ng internal waters at saka archipelagic waters which is legal and technical,” he added. (We included Palawan and the Philippine Rise in the salient points. We also reconciled the provision of internal waters and archipelagic waters, which is legal and technical.) According to Tolentino, the measure is now up for signing of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but he said it’s still uncertain whether the chief executive would be able to sign it before his third State of the Nation Address slated on July 22. READ: Philippine Maritime Zones bill secures Senate OK on third reading “Hindi ko masigurado, but it can be mentioned,” said Tolentino. (I can’t be certain, but it can be mentioned.) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Earlier, Tolentino admitted to believing that the creation of a Maritime Zones Act had been “long overdue,” but is now “more immediate” considering the increasing cases of aggressive actions in Philippine waters. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/409015/west-philippine-sea-ph-maritime-zones-act-okd-now-up-for-marcos-signature/

Local, foreign biz chambers: Make these 21 bills a priority

Alden M. Monzon

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:50:24 PST

Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address, the JFC and other prominent business groups have endorsed 21 pending legislative measures for prioritization to help improve the overall investment environment in the country. —Malacañang photo Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address, the JFC and other prominent business groups have endorsed 21 pending legislative measures for prioritization to help improve the overall investment environment in the country. —Malacañang photo MANILA, Philippines — Less than a week before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation Address (Sona), the business community on Tuesday endorsed 21 pending legislative measures for prioritization to help improve the overall investment environment in the country. The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) and other prominent business groups said they were endorsing these reforms ahead of the President’s Sona on July 22 to drive economic growth, enhance global competitiveness, and promote inclusive development. “With one year left in the current Congress, we believe that the 21 measures are achievable reforms that will generate substantial impact in [reaching] our shared vision of inclusive growth through job generation, poverty reduction, and global competitiveness,” the coalition said in a statement. READ: Senators wish for Marcos to tackle Pogo ban in Sona “We will continue to work with Congress and your administration in support of these remaining reforms as we look forward to your third (Sona),” the letter added. On top of the list is the liberalization of foreign equity restrictions in the Constitution, an issue that has become divisive in Congress owing to fears that it might be used as a vehicle for political changes to the Charter. The other proposed legislation are less controversial, with a number of them pertaining to digitalization, some on improving workers’ welfare and productivity, and a few seeking the creation of new government agencies. Heading the list of digitalization measures is the Konektadong Pinoy bill, which seeks to lower barriers and cost to entry for data service providers, promote sharing of infrastructure and efficient use of resources, and eventually lower internet costs for Filipinos. The private sector is also pushing for amendments to the E-Commerce Act and the Intellectual Property Code to modernize and align these with the country’s treaty obligations and international best practices. It said the bill promoting digital payments would help improve the business climate by mandating the use of safe and efficient digital or electronic modes of payments by all national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations, and local government units. The industry group likewise listed the Satellite-based Technologies Promotion Act as important to ease regulatory requirements for the use of satellite-based internet technologies to connect unserved and underserved communities. For labor, the business community said the government should prioritize the bill calling for a national unemployment insurance program to protect workers from income loss due to retrenchment by providing unemployment benefits while they seek new jobs. It also pushed the amendments to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority Act to allow locators greater flexibility in setting work-from-home and other flexible arrangements. It said lawmakers should also prioritize the proposed Holiday Rationalization Act to refine the number of nonworking holidays and make it comparable to those of neighboring countries and to reduce business costs. It also called for further reforms the current apprenticeship program to make it more attractive to both enterprises and prospective apprentices. Also needed are the amendments to the Secrecy of Bank Deposits law to allow the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to examine, inquire, or look into deposits under certain conditions related to unlawful activities, and the passage of the Freedom of Information Act to provide the parameters and mechanisms for citizens’ access to information in all government offices. The group likewise called for the creation of a Philippine Airports Authority that will handle the regulation and operation of all airports to improve safety and efficiency, as well as an amendment to the charter of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) that will transfer all PPA-operated ports to a more capable separate public sector entity. The bill creating the Department of Disaster Resilience is also being supported by the business sector to lead in the planning, coordination, monitoring, oversight and implementation of disaster risk and vulnerability reduction and management. The remaining bills that need to be prioritized, according to the private sector, are the Capital Income and Financial Taxes Reform; Pandemic Protection Act to prevent the overburdening of the health-care system; Philippine Pension System reforms; repeal of the Commonwealth Act 138 (Flag Act) to remove the 15-percent domestic preference in awarding public works contracts; easing of agricultural land ownership by raising the landholding ceiling from five hectares to 24 hectares and easing restrictions on farm land transactions, and the International Maritime Trade Competitiveness Act. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese and Korean business chambers, as well as the Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters. The other signatory groups include the Association of International Shipping Lines, the Chamber of Customs Brokers, the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, the Management Association of the Philippines, and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/469022/local-foreign-biz-chambers-make-these-21-bills-a-priority

Palarong Pambansa 2024: 2,000 policemen to secure sports event in Cebu

eares

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:10:43 PST

Police Regional Office (PRO-7) policemen Police Regional Office (PRO-7) policemen CEBU CITY, Philippines – A total of 2,000 police officers from the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) are set to be deployed to secure the fast-approaching Palarong Pambansa, which will be held on July 6-17, 2024. This number, however, is likely to change as authorities are still in the process of finalizing the number of additional venues and billeting areas for the national sports event. READ MORE: Palaro organizers announce final list of venues after slight changes Palarong Pambansa 2024 budget cut from P405M to P262M Three weeks before the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2024, law enforcers remain in close coordination with the concerned offices to ensure a strong security plan. “We are in close coordination with DepED and the local government units of Cebu City and other LGUs nga mag-host. Because we understand, sa mga meetings nga gi-conduct, nga naay mga venues pud in areas other than Cebu City,” said PRO-7 spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Ace Pelare. (We are in close coordination with DepEd and the local government units of Cebu City and other LGUs that will host the games. Because we understand, from the meetings that were conducted, that there will be venues in areas other than Cebu City.) “But we have received information that may mga (there are) additional venues. This is still a work in progress up until we can finalize all the venues, and, of course, the billeting areas,” he added. As of this writing, PRO-7 has recorded a total of 25 billeting quarters across Cebu, where they will be focusing their manpower along with the venues. Aside from the venues where the competitions will take place, police will also be keeping a close eye on the many tourist spots in Cebu. Pelare said that this was because they could not discount the possibility that the families of the athletes and other tourists might take this time to visit famous spots in the province. “We expect that beaches, other areas of convergence, tourism sites, will also be flooded with mga bisita nato. So usa sad ni sa atong gibantayan (our visitors. So that is one of the things that we will be monitoring),” he said. READ MORE: DepEd expects Cebu City’s ‘world-class’ hosting of Palarong Pambansa PH athletics with record number of bets in Paris Olympics Moreover, Pelare shared that they had taken into consideration the fact that there would be other major events scheduled to take place in the province at around the same time as the  Palarong Pambansa. The Department of Education’s National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) will be held in Carcar City on July 8-12. In addition, Naga City will be the host for the National Festival of Talents on July 9-12. In preparation for all of these events, Pelare said that they would be looking at all possible security issues and coming up with measures to prevent them. Aside from small crimes, however, there are no major threats that could potentially disrupt the events that will be attended by thousands of individuals. “As far as threats are concerned, wala tay nakita sa atong intelligence community nga posibleng maka-disrupt sa atoang mga incoming activities. But we cannot discount petty crimes like simple snatching, thieveries, or even other security issues like traffic congestion etc. And this will be responded to by the police on the ground,” said Pelare. (As far as threats are concerned, our intelligence community see no possible threats that can disrupt our incoming activities. But we cannot discount petty crimes like simple snatching, thievery or even other security issues like traffic congestion etc. And this will be responded to by the police on the ground.) He assured the public that they would be ready and that they would have already coordinated the security coverage with all the stakeholders. “What we can assure is that your PRO-7 will exhaust all available resources to make sure that itong (this) Palarong Pambansa ay magiging (will be) safe and secured. There was a specific instruction from the regional director, Police Brigadier General Anthony Aberin, na lahat ng avenues, lahat ng (all avenues, all) security preparations should be done as early as now para (so that) we can adjust if ever there will be upcoming developments,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with: Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/579409/palarong-pambansa-2000-policemen-to-secure-sports-event

Chinese ‘Monster’ ship leaves PH shoal after 13 days – Navy

Nestor Corrales

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:20:18 PST

THE MONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship (with bow number 5901) from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —photo from the PCG THE MONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship (with bow number 5901) from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —photo from the PCG MANILA, Philippines — The largest coast guard ship in the world, a 12,000-ton vessel owned by China, has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after being anchored in the area since July 3, the Philippine Navy said on Tuesday. Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the ship, also dubbed “The Monster” for its sheer size, has also left the country’s exclusive economic zone. “It’s no longer at Escoda Shoal. We have to check its latest location,” Trinidad told reporters in Pasay City, adding that the China Coast Guard (CCG) had sent “no replacement” so far. READ: ‘Monster’ vs Magbanua: New source of tension However, four CCG vessels remained at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, another marine feature in the WPS about 67 kilometers west of Escoda, according to data from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. On July 3, the 165-meter CCG ship with bow number 5901 dropped anchor at Escoda, where the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua had been stationed since April this year. The 97-meter Magbanua, the PCG’s most modern vessel, was sent to Escoda in response to the presence of Chinese maritime militias and reclamation activities reported in the area. On Sunday afternoon, another CCG ship with bow number 5303 was spotted about 111 km (60 nautical miles) west of Lubang Island or northwest of Mindoro, according to American maritime security expert Ray Powell. Powell, the director of SeaLight, a program of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation that keeps track of Chinese activities in the WPS, said the CCG ship was conducting an “intrusive patrol” in the area. But Trinidad refused to describe the presence of CCG 5303 ship as intrusive, saying it was “a continuous passage west of Lubang Island, 60 nautical miles from mainland Luzon.” “It’s freedom of navigation. We have monitored their presence and we were aware that they were there,” he said. CCG ship 5303 entered the waters off Lubang ahead of a scheduled joint exercise between Philippine and US coast guards. Trinidad said “it remains to be seen” whether its arrival was connected to the drills, but said the Philippines had issued a radio challenge to the Chinese vessel and did not get a response. Also on Tuesday, the AFP said it had monitored a total of 104 Chinese vessels, including 94 militia ships, swarming in various parts of the WPS from July 9 to July 15. The number was higher than the previous week’s total of 94. “Based on the numbers for the past one month, we have seen a decrease. Last week, we had 94. The previous week, 95. This week, 104. So that’s only a very slight increase compared to the previous month,” Trinidad said at a press briefing. The last bilateral meeting between Manila and Beijing on the WPS situation was held on July 1, following the latest escalation of tensions on June 17 when the CCG rammed and damaged the rubber boats of a Philippine Navy resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, the military outpost in Ayungin. The incident, which saw CCG personnel screaming orders for the Navy teams to stop while brandishing knives, bolos and axes, resulted in one Filipino losing a thumb because of the ramming. The AFP has a standing demand for P60 million as CCG payment for the equipment destroyed by the Chinese. Trinidad on Tuesday said there had been no rotation and resupply (Rore) mission to the Sierra Madre since the June 17 incident, but that the troops stationed there still had enough provisions. The next mission, Trinidad said, would depend on the AFP Western Command which has jurisdiction over the WPS. “We will ensure that our actions are not escalatory. We will continue the Rore missions. We will continue our maritime and air surveillance flights,” he said. “We have never been escalatory in our actions.’’ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “The Chinese Communist Party’s actions in the West Philippine Sea have always been escalatory,” he added. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408981/chinese-monster-ship-leaves-ph-shoal-after-13-days-navy/

West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard’s ‘monster ship’ still in Escoda – PCG

Faith Argosino

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:40:24 PST

THEMONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship 5901 from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —PHOTO FROM PCG THEMONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship 5901 from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —PHOTO FROM PCG MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” remains within Escoda (Sabina) Shoal contrary to a previous report that it had left, Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), said on Wednesday. Tarriela also confirmed the presence of a 135-meter CCG ship with hull number 5303 within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The ship was spotted some 60 nautical miles west of Lubang Island on July 14, as revealed by WPS monitor Ray Powell. “On July 17, 2024, at 7:36 a.m. this morning, the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV 9701) remained to monitor the presence of the CCGV 5901, which was anchored near Escoda shoal. The CCGV 5901 was approximately 638 yards away from the port quarter of the MRRV 970,” Tarriela said in an interview over Kapihan sa Manila Bay. READ: West Philippine Sea: China’s ‘monster ship’ leaves Escoda Shoal – Navy “The second ship, 5303, came close to Lubang Island; I would like to confirm that it was also true. We also monitored that it was moving away towards Palawan and is no longer there in Lubang Island,” he added. Earlier Wednesday, Powell revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that “CCG 5303 ended [its] two days of loitering activity off of Lubang Island yesterday but is extending its intrusive patrol even closer to the Philippines’ coastline.” “It is now moving 35 to 40 nm from northern Palawan near El Nido,” he added. Tarriela said the PCG is now closely monitoring China’s monster ship and has already deployed BRP Melchora Aquino in response to the other ship moving toward Palawan. On Tuesday, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the WPS, confirmed the monster had exited the country’s EEZ. READ: West Philippine Sea: Chinese ship spotted patrolling near Lubang Island “It is no longer off Escoda Shoal,” Trinidad said, adding that “no replacement” has been sent for the ship. When asked if the “monster ship” is still in the country’s EEZ, he said: “No. We have to check its latest location.” To explain the confusing reports from the Navy and PCG officials, Powell explained in a separate post that the monster moved outside Escoda shoal for three days from July 12 to 15. “For most of that time, it remained just to the northeast, except for a brief patrol to the south on the 15th. The two maritime militia ships that accompanied it also went back to the shelter of Mischief Reef during this period — as did the militia ships around Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal,” Powell wrote. “All are now back in place, with CCG 5901 and 2 militia ships back inside the Sabina Shoal closely watching the  Philippines Coast Guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, as they were previously,” he further explained. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. He added: “The most likely explanation for their temporary departure would appear to be sea state. Wave heights were elevated during that period, so the ships likely moved to safer locations as a precaution.” Based on previous reports, CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter, also the largest coast guard vessel in the world, had been deployed off Escoda Shoal on July 3. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408989/west-philippine-sea-china-coast-guards-monster-ship-still-in-escoda-pcg/

LPA may not hit C. Visayas but habagat to bring rains

merram

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:18:44 PST

Satellite image as of July 17, 2024 | Screenshot from Pagasa website Satellite image as of July 17, 2024 | Screenshot from Pagasa website CEBU CITY, Philippines – The low-pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Surigao del Norte may not directly hit Central Visayas but the southwest monsoon will bring rains in the region in the coming days, the state weather bureau said. Cebu and the entire Central Visayas will continue to experience damp weather, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan) said. This is due to the southwest monsoon, or locally known as habagat, that has also been affecting other parts of the country. “Ang naka affect sa Central Visayas kay ang habagat or southwest monsoon. Dinhi sa Eastern Visayas, ang LPA (maoy naka apekto),” said Jhomer Eclarino, weather specialist at Pagasa-Mactan. READ MORE: EXPLAINER: What do color-coded rainfall warnings mean? Rainy Wednesday in many parts of PH due to LPA, ‘habagat’ In turn, the region will expect scattered rain showers with occasional heavy rains this week, prompting the state weather bureau to remind people residing flood-prone and landslide-prone areas to take extra precaution. As of Wednesday, the LPA was last spotted some 200 kilometers east-northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte The state weather bureau has not ruled out the possibility for the weather disturbance to develop into a tropical depression. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585049/lpa-may-not-hit-c-visayas-but-habagat-to-bring-rains

7 regions report sharp hike in dengue cases

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:50:00 PST

Image by Daniella Marie Agacer Image by Daniella Marie Agacer MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Tuesday a sharp increase in the number of dengue cases nationwide. From 6,323 cases from May 19 to June 1, the number grew 30 percent to 8,246 from June 2 to 15. The latest tally from June 16 to June 29 showed dengue cases remaining at 8,213, but the DOH cautioned that there might be an increase due to late reports. READ: DOH exec says Metro Manila has highest dengue cases for past 5 years Seven regions have registered a hike in cases over the past six weeks before June 29: Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and National Capital Region. READ: The dengue fight: From personal vigilance to collective resilience From January until June 29, a total of 90,119 dengue cases have been reported with 233 deaths, up by 19 percent from the 75,968 cases with 291 deaths reported during the same period last year. “From May 12 to June 29, the weekly case numbers have returned to either below or just slightly above what was recorded in 2023. This may be attributed to ongoing intensified efforts of local governments to kill mosquitoes by searching for and destroying their breeding water,” the DOH said in a statement. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961688/7-regions-report-sharp-hike-in-dengue-cases

Teodoro stresses need for stronger cyber defenses

Philippine News Agency

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:49:40 PST

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (right) meets US Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Charles Q. Brown at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 16, 2024.  (Photo courtesy of DND) Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (right) meets US Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Charles Q. Brown at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on July 16, 2024.  (Photo courtesy of DND) MANILA, Philippines – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C.Teodoro Jr. has stressed the need for more formidable cyber defenses amid increasing incidents of attacks against cyber domains and to address critical concerns, especially in information and communications technology. “Our cyberspace is the most vulnerable in the defense establishment, and the most aggressive attacks come from state and non-state actors. In this age of disinformation, maintaining robust cybersecurity is paramount,” Teodoro said in a statement late Tuesday. Teodoro issued the statement following his meeting with US Joint Chiefs of Staff chair Gen. Charles Q. Brown, together with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. According to the DND, discussed during the meeting were areas of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the United States. “Reflecting on the recent talks with US Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary Teodoro reiterated the importance of the continued cooperation between the two nations’ defense establishments,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a separate statement. Teodoro also highlighted the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, expressing optimism for similar agreements with other like-minded countries. The defense chief concluded by highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance cooperation and streamline transactions between defense officials and their counterparts. Brown, for his part, acknowledged the strong relationship between the Philippines and the United States, emphasizing the importance of his visit in sustaining the momentum of bilateral cooperation, according to the DND. Both officials expressed optimism about the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), noting that it is on a positive trajectory, Andolong said. Brawner, on the other hand, expressed the AFP’s satisfaction with the visit of his counterpart, seeing it as a reaffirmation of the robust Philippines-US military relationship. “This visit sends a strong message to our neighbors and signals that our military-to-military relationship is strong. We hope that General Brown’s visit will be beneficial for both the Philippines and the US,” Brawner said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242957/teodoro-stresses-need-for-stronger-cyber-defenses

LPA floods parts of northern Cebu, 1 hurt in landslide

dbongcac

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:05:20 PST

Strong winds due to bad weather has uprooted a huge tree that fell down on the highway and blocked traffic leading to Daanlungsod in Medellin, northern Cebu. | 📷: Medellin MDRRMO Strong winds due to bad weather has uprooted a huge tree that fell down on the highway and blocked traffic leading to Daanlungsod in Medellin, northern Cebu. | 📷: Medellin MDRRMO CEBU CITY, Philippines – At least one got injured while several areas in northern Cebu became inundated due to heavy rains brought by the effects of the low-pressure area (LPA) on Wednesday, July 17. Several localities like the town of San Remigio had also conducted preemptive evacuation on families affected by the floods that started late Wednesday afternoon. According to the local government on its official Facebook page, at least 80 individuals from Brgy. Lawis were transferred to the San Remigio Sports Complex and Evacuation Center. READ: LPA may not hit C. Visayas but habagat to bring rains The barangay captain ordered the evacuation and personally escorted residents after floodwaters began to enter their respective houses. Meanwhile in Catmon town, intense rainfall resulted in a landslide that hit a popular beach destination in Brgy. Binongkalan. Rocks from the landslide injured a 40-year-old man who was immediately rushed to the hospital. READ: Mandaue City floods displace 352 families, Cortes seeks solutions Glenn Villas, head of Catmon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said that the landslide destroyed the parking space of the beach resort. Netizens also reported flooding in other areas in northern Cebu that made some roads impassable, including the highway in Brgy. Don Pedro, Bogo City that borders San Remigio in the west. READ: Inter-tropical convergence zone to bring rains in Cebu – Pagasa The bridge in Brgy. Ilihan in Tabogon town is currently impassable due to strong floodwater surge. | Photo from Renato Espiritu Jr. Floods were also experienced in the towns of Tabogon and Borbon while the highway leading to Brgy. Daanlungsod in Medellin town became impassable due to a felled tree. At 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration in Mactan (Pagasa-Mactan) issued several color-coded heavy rainfall advisories in Cebu due to the presence of the LPA. READ:EXPLAINER: What do color-coded rainfall warnings mean? They raised Orange Warning Level in northern Cebu, covering (San Francisco, Tudela, Poro, Pilar, Carmen, Catmon, Tuburan, Sogod, Danao City, Asturias, Tabuelan, Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan, Santa Fe, Madridejos. Areas under Orange Warning Level will receive rainfall between 15 millimeters (mm) and 30 mm within an hour, and will likely continue in the next two hours. Water from rainfall amounting to 33 mm can fill 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Pagasa-Mactan also raised Yellow Warning Level in other areas in Cebu. These included Pinamungahan, Toledo City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, Cordova, Minglanilla, Naga City, San Fernando, Carcar, Aloguinsan, Barili, Sibonga, Argao, Ronda, Dumanjug, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Alegria, Boljoon, Oslob, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, and Santander. Areas under a Yellow Heavy Rainfall Warning will experience rainfall between 7.5 millimeters (mm) and 15 mm within one hour and will continue in the next two hours. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585205/lpa-floods-parts-of-northern-cebu-1-hurt-in-landslide

New transmission lines to improve Bohol’s power situation

Philippines New Agency

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:32:36 PST

MANILA — The province of Bohol can expect a better power situation as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) targets to complete the Cebu-Bohol 230 kilovolt (kV) line this December. On Tuesday, the NGCP energized the Dumanjug-Corella 230 kV Line 1 and Dumanjug 70 megavolt amperes reactive (MVAR) that will deliver power to Bohol from Cebu. The newly energized lines are part of the Cebu-Bohol 230 kV Interconnection Project, with a capacity of 600 MW and allows direct access to power from Cebu, complementing the existing Leyte-Bohol submarine cable. READ: Luzon grid under yellow alert on Wednesday afternoon, evening DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said this project is pivotal to Bohol, especially with the province’s growing need for electricity driven by the tourism sector. “Ensuring sufficient transmission capacity is crucial for the country’s economic development, as it promotes a reliable power supply that supports economic growth and investment,” Lotilla said in a statement. The Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project is also expected to ease congestion in the Leyte-Bohol 138 kV interconnection, potentially reducing electricity costs for consumers. The DOE also stressed the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to complete the nearly 70 transmission line projects on time as outlined in the Transmission Development Plan, particularly the Batangas-Mindoro Interconnection Project and the Northern Luzon 230 kV loop. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://business.inquirer.net/469094/new-transmission-lines-to-improve-bohols-power-situation

Comelec execs to accusers: File bribery allegations in proper venues

Adrian Parungao

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 15:36:26 PST

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — Commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday that personalities who claim that the agency was engaged in wrongdoing should utilize proper channels so that they can respond properly. According to Commissioners Socorro Inting and Nelson Celis, these personalities should bring their case to a court of law so that evidence on both sides can be properly presented. READ: Garcia to NBI: Probe bribery raps, ‘it’s a demolition job vs Comelec’ “‘Wag kayo pumaris sa Marites. Do not crucify us in the court of public opinion. Crucify us in the courts of law because we will be ready to face you with our evidence,” Inting said. (Do not be like the rumormongers. Do not crucify us in the court of public opinion. Crucify us in the courts of law because we will be ready to face you with our evidence.) “Kung gusto nila mag-akusa, let’s sit down, kung gusto niyo, dalhin sa korte, kasi kami, during my time dinadala rin po namin sa korte ‘yan, kung meron kaming allegations,” Celis said. (If they want to accuse, let’s sit down, if you want, bring it to the courts, because during my time, we bring it to the courts if we have allegations.) Meanwhile, Commissioner Aimee Ferolino likewise agreed that this issue should not become a trial by publicity, while Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who described it as an attack on the Comelec itself, said that the persons who accused the commission of wrongdoing will be held accountable. “Clearly we see this as a direct attack not only to our chairperson George Erwin Garcia but to the entire institution. As you can see we are united. So we will see to it that those persons who are doing these malicious attack against the institution ay mananagot hanggang sa huling-huli,” Casquejo said. (Clearly we see this as a direct attack not only to our chairperson George Erwin Garcia but to the entire institution. As you can see we are united. So we will see to it that those persons who are doing these malicious attack against the institution will be accountable to the end.) “Give us a fair chance. ‘Wag naman ‘yong unfair na sweeping accusations. Ayusin lang nila ‘yong akusasyon nila at sa tamang forum. ‘Wag ‘yong trial by publicity,” Ferolino added. (Give us a fair chance, not sweeping accusations that are unfair. They should fix their accusations and bring it to the proper forum, not a trial by publicity.) In addition, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr. said that the Comelec has always been transparent in their actions, and Commissioner Rey Bulay said that the persons who accuse them should see their performance in the 2025 elections before making claims. “[M]akikita niyo na sinubukan po naming gawin lahat ng mga hakbang na kitang-kita ng taumbayan dahil ang gusto nga po namin ay wala pong makapagsasabi na kami ay kumikilos sa kadiliman or in the shadows,” Maceda added. (You see that we have tried to ensure that all our steps will be seen by the public because we want that no one can say that we move in the dark or in the shadow.) “Alam niyo po, bayaan niyo pong patunayan namin na kaya naming itong eleksyon na ito, na kaya namin gawin to your expectation. ‘Pag hindi po ay hindi naman po natutulog ang batas, ‘di saka niyo kami balikan,” Bulay said. (You know, let us prove ourselves that we can conduct a proper election, that we can do it based on your expectation. If not, the law does not sleep, then that’s the time you come back to us.) READ: Comelec chief urged to clarify, address alleged bribery The statements of the officials came after accusations that around P49 billion of funds were transferred from to several offshore accounts connected with an unnamed Comelec official. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Garcia said that he was the one being referred to by the claims, but has denied the allegations. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961912/comelec-execs-to-accusers-file-bribery-allegations-in-proper-venues

PH-China hotline created for presidents to avert sea clashes

Associated Press

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:12:55 PST

In this handout image provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chinese Coast Guard hold knives and machetes as they approach Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. A recently signed agreement will allow representatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart and their top diplomats to call each other to try to prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea, where hostilities have flared alarmingly since last year, according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP) In this handout image provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chinese Coast Guard hold knives and machetes as they approach Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. A recently signed agreement will allow representatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Philippine counterpart and their top diplomats to call each other to try to prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea, where hostilities have flared alarmingly since last year, according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP) MANILA, Philippines – A recently signed agreement will open a direct line of communication between the presidential offices of China and the Philippines to help prevent any new confrontation from spiraling out of control in the disputed South China Sea,  according to highlights of the accord seen by The Associated Press on Tuesday. China and the Philippines have created such emergency telephone hotlines at lower levels in the past to better manage disputes, particularly in two fiercely disputed shoals where the Philippines has accused Chinese forces of increasingly hostile actions and China says Philippine ships have encroached despite repeated warnings. The territorial disputes, however, have persisted since last year, sparking fears of a larger armed conflict that could involve the United States, which has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, a key Asian treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under attack in the disputed waters. U.S. Gen. Charles Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner in Manila on Tuesday and discussed ways to boost defense ties further, enhance the militaries’ ability to operate jointly, and ensure regional ability, the Philippine military said. During a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine forces at the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in August 2023, the Philippine government said it could not reach Chinese officials through an established “maritime communication mechanism” for several hours. That emergency telephone hotline was arranged after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in January 2023. Chinese and Philippine officials dealing with the territorial disputes held talks in Manila on July 2, following a violent confrontation at the Second Thomas Shoal in which Chinese Coast Guard personnel reportedly wielded knives, an axe, and improvised spears, and Philippine navy personnel were injured. The Chinese forces also seized seven Philippine navy rifles, said Brawner, who demanded China return the firearms and pay for damages. Both sides “recognized the need to strengthen the bilateral maritime communication mechanism on the South China Sea” and signed an arrangement “on improving Philippines-China maritime communication mechanisms,” the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement after the talks in Manila but did not provide a copy or details of the agreement. A copy of the agreement’s highlights, seen by the AP, said it “provides several channels for communication between the Philippines and China, specifically on maritime issues, through the representatives to be designated by their leaders.” The hotline talks could also be done “through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs counterparts, including at the foreign minister and vice foreign minister levels or through their designated representatives,” it said, and added without elaborating that Philippine officials were “in discussions with the Chinese side on the guidelines that will govern the implementation of this arrangement.” There was also a plan to set up a new communication channel between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards “once the corresponding memorandum of understanding” between them is concluded, according to the agreement. During the talks in Manila, China and the Philippines agreed on two other confidence-boosting steps to intensify “cooperation between their respective coast guard authorities” and the possible convening of a maritime forum between Chinese and Philippine scientists and academic leaders. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “Both sides recognized that there is a need to restore trust, rebuild confidence and create conditions conducive to productive dialogue and interaction,” the Philippine department of foreign affairs statement said. It added that China and the Philippines “affirmed their commitment to de-escalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.” It said that “there was substantial progress on developing measures to manage the situation at sea,” but acknowledged that “significant differences remain.” Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242903/new-deal-establishes-ph-china-hotline-presidents-can-use-to-stop-sea-clashes

Bad weather prompts cancellation of some domestic flights on Wednesday

Dianne Sampang

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:35:37 PST

Canceled flights (INQUIRER files) Canceled flights (INQUIRER files) MANILA, Philippines — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced at noon time on Wednesday (July 17) that some flights are canceled “due to inclement weather.” In a Viber advisory released to the media, following is the list of canceled flights as of 12:30 a.m.: READ: Pagasa: LPA, ‘habagat’ combine to bring rainy Wednesday to most of PH Virac Airport Cebu Pacific 5J821 (Manila to Virac) 5J822 (Virac to Manila) Bicol International Airport Philippine Airlines (PAL) Express PAL Express PR2921 (Manila – Bicol) PR2922 (Bicol – Manila) CebGo DG6206 (Cebu to Bicol) DG6207 (Bicol to Cebu) DG6195 (Manila to Bicol) DG6196 (Bicol to Manila) Davao Airport (Diverted Flights) PAL Express GAP2819 (Manila to Davao diverted to Cebu) Philippine Airlines PAL1365 (Cebu to Davao diverted to Cebu) CebGo SR16739 (Cagayan to Davao diverted to Cagayan) Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Services Administration has forecast that rain showers will prevail in most parts of the country on Wednesday. This condition is due to a low pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Norte and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The state bureau is not ruling out the possibility that the LPA will become a typhoon while moving closer to our landmass and it will trigger rainfall in the coming days. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961875/bad-weather-prompts-cancellation-of-some-domestic-flights-on-wednesday

Luzon grid under yellow alert on Wednesday afternoon, evening

Lisbet K. Esmael @lisbetesmael

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:01:38 PST

A power substation in Cainta, Rizal fenced off from the town public market. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON A power substation in Cainta, Rizal fenced off from the town public market. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON Updated on July 17, 2024 at 6:36 p.m. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has placed the Luzon grid under yellow alert on Wednesday afternoon to evening due to a thin power supply. The country’s grid operator said this alert status is being issued “when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.” READ: No single solution for complex Philippine power crisis In an advisory, the yellow alert will be in place from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. It said the tripping of the 417.4-megawatt San Gabriel power plant contributed to this. The Visayas and Mindanao grid, meanwhile, are operating normally. As of 6 p.m., the NGCP said the yellow alert status has been lifted following a decrease in forecast demand. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/469087/luzon-grid-under-yellow-alert-on-wednesday-afternoon-evening

Low tariffs aid growth of PH meat imports

Jordeene B. Lagare

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:06:00 PST

Philippine meat imports grew by 9.7 percent in the first five months of the year as traders took advantage of extended tariff reduction while bracing for possible upswing in global prices. The volume of imported meat stood at 524.68 million kilograms from January to May, rising from 478.32 million kg a year ago, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed. The country’s meat imports have been on the rise since February, with the highest monthly volume for the year recorded in May at 128.29 million kg. READ: Meat imports rise as traders build up stock Pork accounted for the bulk of imported meat, comprising 48.3 percent or 253.55 million kg of the five-month total. The volume of imported pork was 10.6 percent higher than a year prior. Importers mostly brought in offals and pork cuts amounting to almost 200 million kg. Chicken imports came next amounting to 181.23 million kg, up by around 5 percent, mostly consisting of mechanically deboned meat or mechanically separated chicken and chicken leg quarter. Beef imports climbed by 28.8 percent to 68.53 million kg, while buffalo purchases amounted to 20.44 million kg. Traders also imported duck, lamb and turkey during the reference period. Brazil remained the leading source of imported meat as it delivered 180.66 million kg, mainly chicken products. The United States came next with 79.39 million kg of exports, mostly chicken, while Spain shipped out 65.18 million kg. READ: PH seen ramping up meat imports to 1.09M MT This upward trend is in line with the latest outlook of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, which expected the country to source more meat abroad with the extension of reduced tariff rates. Meat Importers and Traders Association president emeritus Jesus Cham previously said, “Importers are likely positioning in anticipation of higher prices abroad, a weaker peso, as well as lower hog production due to El Niño.” Cham also cited “greater attractiveness” of pork products at the current import duty rate. Under Executive Order No. 62 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last month, low tariffs on various products, including rice and pork, were retained to ensure continued supply of essential food products at affordable prices. Import duty on swine, fresh, chilled or frozen meat is kept at 15 percent for in-quota and 25 percent for out-quota shipment. In-quota tariff rate is applied to an agricultural product within the minimum access volume (MAV) or tariff quota while out-quota duty is applied to farm products not covered by MAV. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For mechanically deboned or separated meat, the tariff rate is 5 percent. —With a report from Thony Rose F. Lesaca INQ Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468965/low-tariffs-aid-growth-of-ph-meat-imports

More emerging market central banks push digital money

Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 09:49:03 PST

STOCK PHOTO STOCK PHOTO More central banks from emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), including the Philippines, are starting work on their own digital currency, according to the 2023 survey by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The BIS—which is often dubbed the central bankers’ central bank—cited the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and its “Project Agila” as an example of an EMDEs that is already engaged in some form of work on central bank digital currency or CBDC. CBDC is a digital form of central bank money that is denominated in a unit of account and functions as both a medium of exchange and a store of value. READ: Remolona: PH to have digital currency in 2 years A 2023 BIS survey of central banks showed the share of EMDEs working on a wholesale CBDC proof of concept as growing to 39 percent from 37 percent previously. Meanwhile, the proportion of those already running a pilot went up to 19 percent from 16 percent. In the Philippines, the BSP last year announced a trial or pilot project for its revived wholesale CBCD initiative. Through Project Agila, wholesale CBDCs may be issued to commercial banks and other financial institutions to settle interbank payments, securities transactions, and cross-border payments, among others. The pilot run of the BSP’s wholesale CBDC project is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Over the course of 2023, BIS said there has been a sharp uptick in experiments and pilots with wholesale CBDCs mainly in advanced economies, but various EMDEs also stepped up their wholesale CBDC work. ”Central banks further enhanced their engagement with stakeholders to inform CBDC design. Many CBDC features are still undecided. Yet, interoperability and programmability are often considered for wholesale CBDCs,” it added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/469040/more-emerging-market-central-banks-push-digital-money

Pag-IBIG Fund earns 12th ‘Unmodified Opinion’ from COA

INQUIRER.net BrandRoom

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:23:46 PST

The Pag-IBIG Fund has received another ‘Unmodified Opinion’ from the Commission on Audit (COA) for the 12th consecutive year, top officials announced today, 16 July 2024. In a letter dated 21 June 2024, state auditors informed the agency that it has rendered an unmodified opinion on the fairness of the presentation of Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial statements for 2023. “This recognition from the COA, which Pag-IBIG Fund has earned for the 12th consecutive year, is a result of Pag-IBIG Fund’s commitment towards excellence and integrity in managing our members’ funds. We stay true to our mandate of providing secured savings and shelter financing in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. of providing means for Filipinos to achieve a better quality of life,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and Chairman of the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Pag-IBIG Fund received COA’s ‘unqualified opinion’ from 2012 to 2017 and ‘unmodified opinions’ from 2018 to 2023. *Both unqualified and unmodified opinions indicate that the financial statement of a government agency or corporation is presented, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable financial reporting frameworks.* Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta highlighted the state auditor’s findings as a reflection of the agency’s notable performance in 2023. “Pag-IBIG Fund achieved several milestones in 2023. Our financial standing remains strong, as we concluded 2023 with a record-high net income before MP2 returns of P49.79 billion. Pag-IBIG Fund also surpassed its housing records by releasing a total of P126.04 billion in housing loan takeouts, the highest home loans released during a single year in its 43-year history. This helped 96,848 members acquire new or better homes. Membership savings collection also reached a record high, with membership savings collections amounting to P89.26 billion. *All these enabled Pag-IBIG Fund to declare P48.76 billion in dividends, which was distributed to its members as earnings on their savings for said year—highest in the history of Pag-IBIG Fund,” Acosta said.* “Earning the ‘unmodified opinion’ for the 12th consecutive year further signifies how we were able to achieve our best performance while maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity. Our members and stakeholders can rest assured that we will remain their reliable partner and that we will continue to serve them with Tapat na Serbisyo, Mula sa Puso,” Acosta added. ADVT. This article is brought to you by PAG-IBIG Fund. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242936/pag-ibig-fund-earns-12th-unmodified-opinion-from-coa

Supply chain innovations for the modern Filipino business

INQUIRER.net BrandRoom

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:00:12 PST

Written by: V.P., Country Head, Ninja Van Philippines Inventory and supply chain management can be as challenging as the diversity of culture, language, and habits that make up our archipelagic nation of more than 7,600 islands. The logistics industry as a whole is as fragmented as the archipelago we are trying to serve – and businesses are often only as successful as their ability to make its products accessible to where their customers need them. Batanes to Bongao: building a nationwide network Across fields, mountains, and even seas – Ninja Van has the nationwide network to serve inventory delivery needs of businesses of all sizes. In this exciting post-pandemic consumer landscape where both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar stores thrive together, a customer has never had so many touchpoints to interact with a product or brand. To enable this, logistics had to evolve too. As recently as ten years ago, in the infancy of e-commerce in the Philippines, products still took up to two weeks to be delivered even within the Greater Manila Area. As adoption of e-commerce grew rapidly, so did customer expectations sharpen the delivery network coverage and speed capabilities of many courier companies. Ninja Van’s growth as a startup, tech-enabled logistics company reflected this transformation. When Ninja Van was established in the Philippines in 2016, the company had to ramp up and ensure that Filipinos, wherever they may be ordering from, could be served by reliable logistics services. Ninja Van figured out how to make its technology asset-light and easily deployable, so shippers of all sizes can sell their wares to Filipinos from Batanes in the north, to Bongao in Tawi-tawi in the south. Soon, the cogs of the company’s e-commerce logistics machine were working like clockwork – first mile picks up the parcels from sellers, the state-of-the-art facility in Cabuyao sorts these parcels with much improved accuracy, and hardworking last mile riders ply the roads, mountains, and seas across the country to make hassle-free deliveries happen. Faster deliveries, smaller drops On the flipside of this success in B2C delivery are the many crucial gaps in the Philippine supply chain sector. While many e-commerce shoppers enjoy fast delivery speeds, the same couldn’t be said for many businesses whose inventory and supply chain management systems face systemic inertia and a lack of innovation. Traditional full truckload (FTL) and less than truckload (LTL) shipping services require many businesses to wait for entire truckloads to be full before they could ship out products to target destinations. The reality is that – with the advent of omnichannel retail, some products sell out faster than others, emphasizing that with logistics, flexibility is as crucial as speed. Ninja Van has made it its mission then to enable businesses to gain access to this robust express logistics network they have built doing e-commerce. The company wants to enable businesses of all sizes to restock their stores as frequently as they need – with the cost optimization that comes with having smaller, more frequent drops instead of traditional truckload-based shipments. This innovation is Ninja Restock – a business-to-business (B2B) logistics solution that operates on a pay-per-space framework. Whether you’re a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or pharmaceutical company, or even a homegrown fashion brand looking to send small batches of products to retailers, franchisees, or even sari-sari stores, you need the agility to be able to serve these smaller drop requirements to support your sales and growth targets. Restock helps businesses with supply and demand planning, particularly during seasonal fluctuations, helping prevent both undersupply and oversupply of products. Trucks outside Ninja Van hubs ready to deliver products with frequent and smaller drops – enabling businesses to expand market reach. No business left behind Recent outlook has the size of the Philippine retail sector at upwards of USD 66 billion with the possibility of growing up to USD 97 billion in value by 2029. These exciting projections mean nothing, however, if businesses are unable to figure out the right logistics solutions that would enable them to ride this momentum. With this innovation, Ninja Van hopes to help business unlock the potential of our second or third-tier cities and municipalities often perceived as inaccessible. The fast-growing coffee startup Pickup Coffee, for example, tapped Restock to do daily restocking of their outlets in areas such as Tarlac, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cebu, aiding their rapid nationwide expansion. “If you can dream it, then you can do it,” so goes a popular adage. Many businesses for sure have dreamed of expanding market access and ramping up growth – the best thing is that the logistics infrastructure already exists to make these dreams a reality. Find out more about Restock here. This article is brought to you by Ninja Van Philippines. ADVT. Subscribe to our business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/465291/supply-chain-innovations-for-the-modern-filipino-business

US donating communication tower to PCG in Zambales

Joanna Rose Aglibot

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:25:38 PST

Some fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales joined a fishing expedition recently organized by Pamalakaya in a symbolic move to resist China’s fishing ban. —Joanna Rose Aglibot/Inquirer Central Luzon Some fishermen in Masinloc, Zambales joined a fishing expedition recently organized by Pamalakaya in a symbolic move to resist China’s fishing ban. —Joanna Rose Aglibot/Inquirer Central Luzon SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in this province will soon have a new communications and monitoring tower donated by the United States, for better monitoring of the West Philippine Sea. Cmdr. Euphraim Jayson Diciano, chief of the PCG station in Zambales, on Tuesday said a program formalizing the donation was held in Botolan town, where the new facility will be built. Present at the program were representatives of the US Embassy’s Civil Military Support unit, PCG officials and local government executives, he said. READ: West Philippine Sea: China Coast Guard inching closer to Zambales – report The tower will rise on a 225-square-meter property bought by the Botolan municipal government from a private owner and donated to the PCG. The provincial government, for its part, will fund the construction of PCG barracks in the site. Diciano said the facility’s strategic location on Mount Calib-ungan in Barangay Porac, Botolan, would offer extensive radio coverage for easier communication with PCG vessels, especially those conducting “patrol operations” at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and other nearby areas. Panatag has been under the control of the China Coast Guard, its entrance closed to Filipino fishermen, since 2012 after a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy. Most of the fishermen who lost access to the shoal, one of their traditional fishing grounds, are from Zambales. Those who dare to approach Panatag come back with accounts of being physically harassed by the Chinese. According to Diciano, the new communications facility “is not only focused on security but also on humanitarian aspects’’ such as rescue operations, as well as environmental protection. “The grand objective is to monitor and protect all vessels, including small ones venturing into the sea.” The PCG official spoke of plans to set up another communications facility in the province, this time on its highest mountain, the Tapulao, in Palauig town. The project has yet to obtain the necessary permits since the site is within a protected area. “For now, Mount Calib-ungan is adequate. We need this facility regardless of the future establishment on Mount Tapulao. While we have an existing facility on Mount Samat in nearby Bataan, Tapulao’s height causes signal propagation issues. Hence, the facility on Mount Calib-ungan is essential,” Diciano added. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408979/us-donating-communication-tower-to-pcg-in-zambales/

PH GDP growth estimate for 2024 cut, but still 2nd fastest in Asean

Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:10:00 PST

This photo taken on January 29, 2019 shows a general view of the skyline of the financial district of Makati in Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) This photo taken on January 29, 2019 shows a general view of the skyline of the financial district of Makati in Manila. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) The slower-than-expected economic expansion in the first quarter prompted the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro) to cut its growth outlook on the Philippines, with a weak external environment expected to weigh on the economy. In an update to its flagship Asean+3 Regional Economic Outlook (Areo) report released on Tuesday, the international organization said it expects the Philippines to grow by 6.1 percent this year, lower than its old projection of a 6.3-percent expansion. READ: DOF: 6-7% GDP growth target for ʼ24 can still be achieved But despite the downward revision, Amro’s new forecast would nevertheless settle on the low-end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s 6 to 7 percent growth target for 2024. The Philippines would also be the second-fastest growing economy in Asean this year behind Vietnam, and would even outperform the region’s projected average growth of 4.8 percent if Amro’s new prediction is to be believed. For 2025, Amro penciled in a faster 6.3 percent growth, albeit weaker than its old forecast of a 6.5 percent uptick for next year. Hoe Ee Khor, chief economist at Amro, said the group turned less bullish on the Philippines “in light of the data that comes out in the first half of the year.” “We have shaved down the growth for not just the Philippines but many of the countries in the region. As I mentioned, the recovery in the external sector was weaker than expected,” Khor told a press conference. READ: S&P trims PH 2024 growth forecast to 5.8% Government data showed growth of household spending eased to 4.6 percent in the first quarter—the weakest reading since the 4.8-percent contraction at the height of COVID-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2021—amid stubbornly high inflation and interest rates. That, in turn, held back the first quarter gross domestic product growth to 5.7 percent, slower than market consensus. But while Amro had turned less upbeat on the Philippines, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) retained its growth projections of 6 and 6.2 percent for 2024 and 2025, respectively, in its “World Economic Outlook Update” released yesterday. The IMF said its global growth forecast for this year is also unchanged at 3.2 percent, but flagged “slowing disinflation and rising policy uncertainty.” READ: IMF reverts to original 6% growth forecast for PH “First, further challenges to disinflation in advanced economies could force central banks to keep borrowing costs higher for even longer,” the IMF said. “That would put the overall growth at risk, with increased upward pressure on the dollar and harmful spillovers to emerging and developing economies,” it added. In its updated report, AMRO trimmed its 2024 inflation forecast for the Philippines to 3.3 percent from 3.6 percent previously, but raised its price growth projection for next year to 3.1 percent from 2.9 percent before. The easing inflation, in turn, may give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) room to ease its ultra-tight monetary policy settings ahead of the US Federal Reserve, Amro’s Khor said. “Well, we should remember two things. One is that inflation is pretty well anchored in the region and growth has been pretty robust, so that gives the central bank a lot of flexibility to cut the rates,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “But central banks are holding back because the exchange rate is pretty weak, but they are all weakening together mostly,” he added. INQ Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468967/ph-gdp-growth-estimate-for-%CA%BC24-cut-but-still-2nd-fastest-in-asean

Illegal organ trade: NBI nabs 3, tags NKTI nurse

Dexter Cabalza, Frances Mangosing

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:45:00 PST

BLACK MARKET FOR ORGANS The National Bureau of Investigation, led by its Director Jaime Santiago, presents the three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of human organs on Tuesday. The suspects say they promised their victims P200,000 in exchange for one of their kidneys. —Niño Jesus Orbeta BLACK MARKET FOR ORGANS The National Bureau of Investigation, led by its Director Jaime Santiago, presents the three individuals allegedly involved in the illegal sale of human organs on Tuesday. The suspects say they promised their victims P200,000 in exchange for one of their kidneys. —Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have uncovered a clandestine trade of human organs in the Philippines preying on vulnerable people who are offered a huge sum in exchange for one of their kidneys. A head nurse at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) in Quezon City was implicated as the alleged leader of the organ trafficking syndicate, the National Bureau of Investigation said in a statement on Tuesday. The nurse, identified by the NBI as Allan Ligaya, remains at large. Three of his associates were arrested on allegations that they operated a black market for human organs in Bulacan province, the NBI said. READ: African tagged in human organ trafficking arrested Nine of their alleged victims were rescued during an operation on July 11, it added. Reached for comment, the NKTI issued a statement confirming that Ligaya worked for the government specialty hospital. “While we confirm that the said nurse is indeed an employee of the NKTI, we would like to assure the public that the management is already conducting its own investigation on the matter,” it said. “We would also like to warn the public of transactions outside of the hospital entered into by certain groups, organizations, or private individuals claiming to be from the NKTI. The NKTI… honors only legitimate transactions regarding living organ donation and transplantation, including deceased organ donation,” the hospital added. The three suspects in NBI custody—Angela Atayde, Marichu Lomibao and Dannel Sicat—were accused of luring victims into accepting P200,000 for one of their kidneys to be removed and transplanted to a paying client, the bureau said. The NBI, along with Bulacan police and personnel from San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) City’s Social Welfare and Development Office, conducted a raid on a house in SJDM after receiving a tip on the organ trafficking operation. The nine rescued victims were turned over to the city’s social workers. As part of the suspects’ modus operandi, the victims were first introduced to the intended recipient of their kidney and “would be given a downpayment,” the NBI said. They were later moved to a house in Barangay Tungkong Mangga in SJDM, where they were attended to and then checked to see if they were healthy enough for the surgical procedure and as an organ source. “[The] victims will be held at the said house while undergoing various processes until their kidneys are eventually transferred,” the NBI said. A separate statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ) said four of the nine rescued victims already had one of their kidneys taken out and sold. The DOJ said the victims were recruited “under the pretense of alleviating their financial burdens by selling their kidneys.” “The traffickers orchestrated the illegal transplants, exploiting the victims’ economic vulnerabilities,” it said. According to the DOJ, the suspects were arrested “while attempting to deliver payments to one of the victims.” “They were arrested for their involvement in harboring, and maintaining the victims for organ trafficking purposes,” it added. “This operation underscores the government’s commitment to combating human trafficking and ensuring the protection and welfare of vulnerable individuals. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking,” the DOJ said. The suspects were scheduled to undergo inquest proceedings for violation of Section 4 (h) of Republic Act No. 11862, or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Humans can still live normal, healthy lives with one functioning kidney, although some may experience complications like slightly elevated blood pressure. Patients in need of a kidney transplant are advised to limit their search for donors to relatives up to the fourth degree. For those who do not have a living relative who can be a donor, the NKTI keeps a deceased donor registry in its HOPE (Human Organ Preservation Effort) Office. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. However, there is a waiting list that currently stands at 7,000 and continues to grow, according to the NKTI. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961689/illegal-organ-trade-nbi-nabs-3-tags-nkti-nurse

US military chief meets Brawner in Manila as intel pact takes shape

Nestor Corrales

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:35:48 PST

NEW MOMENTUM FOR OLD ALLIES Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) and his American counterpart, Gen. Charles Brown Jr. (right), chair of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, mark the latter’s visit with a troop review at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. —photos from the Armed Forces of the Philippines NEW MOMENTUM FOR OLD ALLIES Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (left) and his American counterpart, Gen. Charles Brown Jr. (right), chair of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, mark the latter’s visit with a troop review at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday. —photos from the Armed Forces of the Philippines MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the US military met on Tuesday with Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. to show Washington’s “solid commitment” to its alliance with Manila, ahead of a meeting between the top diplomatic and defense officials of the two countries. Gen. Charles Brown Jr., chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in the country on Tuesday for “a series of engagements” with Brawner aimed at strengthening “the long-standing US-Philippines defense relationship,” the US Department of Defense (DOD) said in a statement. Brown’s visit comes two weeks ahead of the 2+2 “Ministerial Dialogue” in Manila between the foreign and defense secretaries of the two security allies. READ: PH, US to finalize 2 pacts this month The meeting, scheduled for July 30, followed the conclusion of negotiations last month on Manila’s General Security of Military Information Agreement with Washington. The United States has required a security inspection of selected military facilities in the Philippines before it seals that intelligence-sharing pact. In a statement on Tuesday, AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the meeting between Brawner and Brown “focused on enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, strengthening joint military exercises, and addressing regional security challenges.” The statement quoted Brawner as saying: “Our alliance with the United States remains a cornerstone of our national security. Through continued collaboration and mutual support, we fortify our defense capabilities and ensure the stability of our region.” According to the DOD, Brown will also visit one of the nine military sites where US forces have access under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca). Explaining Edca’s significance, the US Embassy said it “enables the US and Philippine militaries to train together, respond to natural and humanitarian crises, and achieve modernization goals.” TOP BRASS MEETING US military chief Gen. Charles Brown Jr. (left) and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. affirm the strength of their countries’ security alliance ahead of a crucial foreign and defense ministers’ meeting scheduled for July 30. “The US and the Philippines determine Edca locations together, with the Philippine leadership providing final approval,” the embassy said. Malacañang in April last year named four additional Edca sites—Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana town and Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, Cagayan province; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu town, Isabela province; and Balabac, the southernmost island of Palawan province. These were in addition to previously agreed-upon sites, namely Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City, Mactan-Benito Abuen Air Base in Cebu, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan. The US defense department said Brown had “noted the expansion of US rotational access” last year in the four new Edca sites. “I do see that the relationship is gaining momentum,” the DOD quoted the top American general as saying. “In the Philippines, we have a long-standing, shared interest in regional stability that’s backed by international law.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. A general of the US Air Force, Brown first visited Manila in 1987 when he was still a junior officer, the DOD said. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242885/us-military-chief-meets-brawner-in-manila-as-intel-pact-takes-shape

BIR: Online sellers must now pay withholding tax

Mariedel Irish U. Catilogo

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 05:55:00 PST

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. —photo from BIR Facebook page BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. —photo from BIR Facebook page MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday said electronic marketplace operators such as Shopee and Lazada have started collecting the withholding tax on sellers or merchants using their platforms. “Electronic marketplace operators will begin imposing a withholding tax against their sellers/merchants starting July 15, 2024. We have already extended this by 90 days. No further extensions will be given,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement. In December last year, the BIR issued Revenue Regulation 16-2023 requiring online merchants with earnings of more than P500,000 annually to be subjected to a 1-percent withholding tax. READ: BIR imposes 1 percent withholding tax on online merchants The tax will apply to half of the gross remittances by electronic marketplace operators and digital financial services providers (DFSP) such as GCash and Maya that sellers or merchants use in selling their goods or services through digital platforms. DFSPs also include credit card providers facilitating the settlement of transactions made through the internet and mobile phones. Gross remittances refer to the total amount received by an e-market operator or e-wallet provider from the online buyers of the goods and services. READ: BIR to social media influencers: Pay taxes or face charges The BIR circular provided a 90-day extension to allow affected parties to make the necessary adjustments before the withholding tax is actually imposed. “The withholding tax is not a new tax. It’s merely a system of taxation where taxes are collected at source, which will be credited against the total income tax liability of the sellers/merchants,” Lumagui noted. “The BIR aims to level the playing field between brick-and-mortar stores, which are regularly complying with their tax obligations, and online marketplaces. Whether their business is operated online or through physical stores, sellers and merchants have to pay their taxes,” Lumagui said. The BIR defines e-marketplace as a digital service platform that connects online buyers with online sellers; facilitates and concludes sales, and processes the payment of the products, goods, or services online. Aside from online shopping platforms, this also includes digital food delivery services and other sites using booking resort, hotel and other lodging accommodations. The tax agency has required online sellers and merchants to register their businesses with the BIR and submit a copy of their registration certificate to the e-marketplace operator and DFSP before using their online facilities. For those seeking exemption, merchants must submit a BIR-received sworn declaration to the online platform and DFSP stating that the total gross remittance they are to receive from the e-marketplace operators will not exceed P500,000. Aside from the obligation to withhold applicable taxes before remitting the sales proceeds or payments to sellers, e-marketplace operators and DFSPs must likewise ensure that all sellers are registered with the BIR before allowing them to use their facility. At the same time, the mobile payment service or e-wallet used for customer payments must be for the account of the seller’s BIR-registered trade name, for example, a customer using GCash must pay to a store’s BIR-registered GCash account and not to the owner’s GCash number. Roberto Claudio, president of the Philippine Retailers Association, on Tuesday said that while the move was in the right direction, they were confused as to the intention of the memorandum and the specifics of the 1-percent withholding tax. “If this is the tax to be paid by their foreign merchants and sellers, we find this completely unfair to local retailers who have to contend with a 12-percent value-added tax (VAT),” Claudio told the Inquirer in a message. If such is the case, a rechargeable battery, for example, sold by a local store will pay the 12-percent VAT, while an online foreign seller will pay only a 1-percent withholding tax for a similar item, he said. Marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, Zalora, TikTok and Shein pay taxes only on the commission they earn from using their platforms and not the VAT, which results in an unfair advantage against local retailers, Claudio added. Claudio noted that the BIR still has to explain the specifics of the 1-percent withholding tax and how it would be applied to online merchants or sellers. Many sellers using the top two online shopping sites, Shopee and Lazada, are from China. Robert Dan Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said he expected a mixed impact of the latest BIR measure on consumers and sellers. “While it might generate revenue for the governments, it could also lead to higher prices, reduced choices,” he said. Roces noted that balancing tax collection goals with practical challenges faced by online sellers would be crucial for the success of the new tax regime. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said that the agency’s move would be more effective in tax collections and would expand the tax revenue sources of the government, especially in the coming years as more businesses decide to use online transactions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “Given the boom in e-commerce and online businesses worldwide, it makes a lot of economic and fiscal sense to make this a major government revenue source for the years to come,” Ricafort said. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961672/bir-online-sellers-must-now-pay-withholding-tax

In Iloilo, P20-B hydro dam finally finished after 40 years

Melvin Gascon

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 04:30:00 PST

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the need for the government to speed up the completion of its infrastructure projects as he inaugurated a P20-billion hydroelectric dam project in Iloilo province, the construction of which took 40 years. In his speech during the unveiling of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage 2 (JRMP II), Marcos lamented that the second phase of the project alone took more than 13 years. READ: Drilon lauds Jalaur’s completion “The Senate President reminded me that he has been working at this [project] for 13 years and I think it is entirely too long that the Phase I that was completed in my father’s time … the Phase II should be completed in my time,” he said, referring to former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who was present at the event. “We should not have waited that long. I think we need to accelerate the process a little bit,” the President added. JRMP II, the largest water reservoir project outside Luzon, includes three dams in Calinog town and a high-line canal that traverses nine towns from Calinog to Oton. Its first stage was completed in 1982 during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the incumbent’s father. The National Irrigation Administration broke ground for the JRMP II in 2013, but actual construction work started only in 2019. In his speech, President Marcos said JRMP II has three key components: irrigation, flood mitigation, and tourism. “Our water development projects would not just bring irrigation or potable water to our people, but will also help address flooding, produce food, generate electricity, and develop tourism activities,” he said. Marcos expressed optimism that the project would boost agricultural production and the local economy in Western Visayas, with an estimated increase in annual rice production of 160,000 metric tons, which, he said is about 20 percent of the region’s annual rice requirement. “On top of its use for irrigation, a portion of the water from the high dam’s reservoir, or around 86 million liters per day, will be utilized to supply the commercial and industrial bulk water requirements of Iloilo City and its neighboring municipalities,” he said. The President also expressed gratitude to the government of South Korea, which extended a $207-million loan to the country through its Export-Import Bank, payable in 30 years. “Indeed, this venture is not only a symbol of our strong friendship and our long-standing ties but also our reminder of a shared desire for growth and for development,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961645/in-iloilo-p20-b-hydro-dam-finally-finished-after-40-years

Slippery road causes Liloan accident that killed 2 men

eares

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 20:35:13 PST

The motorcycle driver and his companion were killed in an accident that happened while it rained at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, in Liloan, Cebu. | Contributed photo The motorcycle driver and his companion were killed in an accident that happened while it rained at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, July 17, in Liloan, Cebu. | Contributed photo CEBU CITY, Philippines – Two friends were killed after their motorcycle slipped on the wet road as they were traversing the national highway in Liloan, Cebu. The victims, who were identified as Edgardo Tambago, 27, and Jerwin Belamia, 30, came from a fiesta celebration in Carmen town and were traveling back to their boarding house in Brgy. Basak, Lapu-Lapu City when the accident happened at around 4 a.m. at the vicinity of Brgy. Poblacion, Liloan. Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of Liloan Police Station, said that Belamia, who was the backrider, no longer made it to the hospital alive. READ: Liloan accident: Rider dies after colliding with dump truck On the other hand, Tambago, the motorcycle driver, died while he was being treated for his injuries at the Provincial Hospital in Danao City. READ: Motorcycle rider killed in collision with SUV in Liloan, Cebu The two men were co-workers at the Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ). READ: LPA may not hit C. Visayas but habagat to bring rains During their investigation, Gingoyon said they learned that the two drunk liquor at the fiesta celebration. Gingoyon said that Tambago lost control of his motorcycle as they were traversing a slippery highway in Liloan town as a result of the early morning rain. He said that the two men were wearing helmets.  But their heads may have been badly injured during their fall, which caused their death. Liloan is a first-class municipality situated approximately 18 kilometers north of Cebu City. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585157/slippery-road-causes-liloan-accident-that-killed-2-men

Bigger fines sought for selling uncertified goods

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:08:00 PST

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual. (PHOTO BY EUGENE ARANETA) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual. (PHOTO BY EUGENE ARANETA) The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Tuesday said it was pushing for bigger fines on importers, distributors and sellers of uncertified products. Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said that the current fines imposed on violators are based on laws that were enacted many years ago, thus do not really discourage brazen individuals and companies from bringing in and selling subpar products. READ: DTI seizes P7.8M worth of uncertified appliances in Valenzuela “We have many fines that need updating,” Pascual said during a press conference in Makati where they showed the government’s latest haul of uncertified appliances. “If the laws are not updated, the fine amounts become too petty,” he added. Fillip Sawali, the director of the DTI’s Fair Trade and Enforcement Bureau, said that the fines set under the Vape Act, lapsed into law in July of 2022, have more stringent fines, ranging from hundreds of thousands of pesos to millions of pesos depending on the infraction. “Those are what we hope to follow, that the Consumer Act violation will also be up-to-date,” Sawali said during the same event. Under current laws, Sawali said retailers were fined just P25,000 for every violation while suppliers and importers were penalized P25,000 and P50,000. He said that they are continuously working with lawmakers to push for these reforms. Since the DTI formed its task force called “Kalasag” last April until June, P89.76 million worth of uncertified goods have been confiscated by the government agency. This translates to a little more than 311, 200 units of uncertified goods, which range from electrical appliances to construction materials, down to helmets and visors, as well as automotive supplies. Their latest raid in Tanza, Cavite, resulted in the seizure of P8.27 million worth of goods, most of which are appliances and other consumer goods. Last month, the DTI task force also seized P9.35 million worth of the same goods in Plaridel, Bulacan, as well as another P7.75M worth of contraband in Valenzuela City. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Pascual said they plan to request from Congress more funding to ramp up their crackdown on these goods of questionable quality, —Alden M. Monzon INQ Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468966/bigger-fines-sought-for-selling-uncertified-goods

Organ selling is human trafficking, says DOH exec

Adrian Parungao

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 18:20:43 PST

Organ selling is considered human trafficking, the Department of Health (DOH) reminds the public on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said organ trafficking is illegal and different from voluntary donations of human organs. The health official’s remarks followed the arrest of three people on July 16 for alleged illegal kidney trafficking. INQUIRER.net file photo Organ selling is considered human trafficking, the Department of Health (DOH) reminds the public on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said organ trafficking is illegal and different from voluntary donations of human organs. The health official’s remarks followed the arrest of three people on July 16 for alleged illegal kidney trafficking. INQUIRER.net file photo MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public that organ selling is considered human trafficking. DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said organ trafficking is illegal and different from voluntary donations of human organs. “Organ selling is human trafficking. Ang pagbenta ng kidney ay pagbenta ng katawan,” he said in an ambush interview. (Organ selling is human trafficking. The sale of kidneys is the sale of a human body.) READ: NBI nabs 3 for alleged organ trafficking in Bulacan The official’s remarks on Wednesday followed the arrest of three people on July 16 for alleged illegal kidney trafficking. According to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), nine people were rescued in their operation on Tuesday. The NBI also said National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) head nurse Allan Ligaya is allegedly part of the illegal activity. READ: NKTI: No basis yet to sanction nurse linked by NBI to organ trafficking On Wednesday, NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete said in a press conference that Ligaya denied the allegations and that he would still report to work. Rosete-Liquete added that the NKTI will conduct an investigation on the issue. “Hinihintay po natin iyong resulta noon para, siyempre, due process. Malaman natin kung ano man ang pagkakamali kung meron, at ang karampatang parusa kung kinakailangan,” Domingo said, referring to the probe of NKTI. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. (We are waiting for the results of that with respect to due process. We will know what was the wrongdoing, and if so, the proper penalties if necessary.) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1962306/organ-selling-is-human-trafficking-says-doh-exec

Pagasa: LPA, ‘habagat’ combine to bring rainy Wednesday to most of PH

Faith Argosino

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 08:01:54 PST

MANILA, Philippines — Overcast skies and rain showers will prevail in most parts of the country on Wednesday due to a low-pressure area (LPA) east of Surigao del Norte and the southwest monsoon or “habagat”, according to the state weather bureau. In its early morning bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “habagat” will bring cloudy skies and scattered rain showers to western portions of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Pagasa added that rain will also prevail in the Visayas, Caraga region in Mindanao, and some parts of Southern Luzon due to LPA, which was last monitored some 200 kilometers east-northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. “Sa ngayon di pa rin natin inaalis yung posibilidad na ito ay maging bagyo habang lumalapit ito sa kalupaan, gayunpaman, maging bagyo man o hindi itong LPA, nagbababala tayo kasi patuloy ito magdadala ng mga pag-ulan sa mga susunod na araw,” Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said. (We are not ruling out the possibility that this LPA will become a typhoon while moving closer to our landmass. Still, we warn the public that it will trigger rainfall in the coming days.) He added that thunderstorms will be experienced in the northern and eastern parts of Luzon, particularly the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), and Metro Manila. Meanwhile, no gale warning has been raised over the country’s seaboards. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961764/pagasa-rainy-wednesday-in-many-parts-of-ph-due-to-lpa-habagat

West Philippine Sea: China’s ‘monster ship’ leaves Escoda Shoal – Navy

John Eric Mendoza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:15:23 PST

THEMONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship 5901 from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —PHOTO FROM PCG THEMONSTER Filipino coast guardsmen aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua catch a glimpse of the largest China Coast Guard ship 5901 from a porthole at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on July 3. —PHOTO FROM PCG MANILA, Philippines — China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” has left Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a navy spokesperson said on Tuesday. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that the CCG ship with hull number 5901 has exited the country’s exclusive economic zone. However, he did not specify when the ship left the vicinity of the shoal, where the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) BRP Teresa Magbanua maintains a persistent presence. READ: China’s ‘monster ship’ staying near PCG vessel in West Philippine Sea “It is no longer off Escoda Shoal,” Trinidad said in an ambush interview after a regular press briefing held at Philippine Air Force headquarters, adding that “no replacement” has been sent for the ship. When asked if the “monster ship” is still in the country’s EEZ, he said: “No. We have to check its latest location.” CCG’s gigantic patrol cutter, which is the largest coast guard vessel in the world, had been deployed off Escoda Shoal on July 3. READ: West PH Sea: No Ayungin resupply since violent June 17 encounter BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed in Escoda Shoal on April 16 to become the longest-deployed PCG asset in the West Philippine Sea following suspected reclamation activities around the shoal. Manila is holding the line in the West Philippine Sea as Beijing asserts sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the exclusive economic zone of the country’s western section, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the arbitral award issued in July 2016. The landmark ruling stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013, or a year after its tense standoff with Beijing over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, whose lagoon the latter now has an effective control of. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408932/west-philippine-sea-chinas-monster-ship-leaves-escoda-navy/

Meralco power rates up by P2/kWh in July

Lisbet K. Esmael

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:40:00 PST

HIGHER ELECTRICITY BILL Households with a monthly power consumption of 200 kilowatts per hour will pay P430 more this month under the power rate hike announced by Manila Electric Co. on Monday. —Niño Jesus Orbeta HIGHER ELECTRICITY BILL Households with a monthly power consumption of 200 kilowatts per hour will pay P430 more this month under the power rate hike announced by Manila Electric Co. on Monday. —Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) customers will have to dig deep into their pockets this month as the power distributor is imposing an increase of P2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), pushing the overall rate to P11.6012 per kWh. For households with a monthly power consumption of 200 kWh, this will mean a hike of around P430 in their July bill. In a briefing on Monday, Meralco head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said the hefty upward adjustment was due to “the normalization of power costs.” READ: Meralco hikes electricity rate by 46.2¢ per kWh “We had a disclaimer as early as last month that in July, consumers must anticipate a big increase because electricity costs would return to [a] normal level, plus we will collect the deferred cost,” he explained. The company said it recorded a higher generation charge, which jumped by P2.0021 per kWh, as prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) normalized following “artificially low rates” in June. Last month’s rates were supposed to be higher than in May, but Meralco slashed its rate by P1.9623 per kWh after the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the company to postpone the collection of the WESM portion of the generation charge to cushion its financial impact on consumers due to power outages nationwide. Instead, there will be a staggered collection of the generation charge until September. The WESM is an avenue for producers and distributors to trade power and get a supply boost, especially during hotter months when electricity use goes up. Meralco said that for the July billing, WESM charges went up by P6.6370 per kWh. But thanks to the colder weather, demand in the Luzon grid fell, resulting in lower spot market prices. Charges from independent power producers (IPPs) also climbed by 44 centavos per kWh due to higher fuel costs and lower average plant dispatch. Charges from power supply agreements also increased by 35 centavos per kWh while the transmission charge went down by 15 centavos per kWh. While consumers face higher power bills this month, Meralco head of utility economics Larry Fernandez hinted at a possible decrease in rates in August. “There is hope that the rates will go down in August. We have already seen in the spot market that since the rainy season has started, demand has also decreased and the reserve levels in the spot market are also improving,” Fernandez said. ERC Chair and CEO Monalisa Dimalanta said that while they had anticipated a rate hike this month, the jump in the generation charge was “higher than expected.” “I think the higher rate [compared to last month] is expected, particularly for Meralco since they are implementing two staggered payment schemes—one arranged by them with their IPPs and the other as ordered by the Commission on WESM purchases. Bulk of Meralco’s supply comes from its IPPs,” she told reporters. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “Admittedly, though, the P2.0021/kWh generation rate increase is higher than expected. In any event, the rates are subject to the Commission’s validation pursuant to our cost adjustment (over/under) regulations,” Dimalanta added. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961277/meralco-power-rates-up-by-p2-kwh-in-july

VP Sara shows up in Palarong Pambansa 2024 closing ceremony

mbgerodias

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:22:52 PST

Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during the closing ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 at the Cebu City Sports Center, July 16. CDN Digital photo | Christian Dave Cuizon Vice President Sara Duterte delivers her speech during the closing ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 at the Cebu City Sports Center, July 16. CDN Digital photo | Christian Dave Cuizon CEBU CITY, Philippines — Despite her noted absence during the opening ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9, Vice President Sara Duterte attended the closing ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center on Tuesday, July 16. Duterte’s presence was expected among the delegates of the Palarong Pambansa, especially as she is the outgoing secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd). During the opening ceremony on July 9, Duterte was seen visiting and offering prayers at the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño de Cebu a few hours before the arrival of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who was among the high-profile personalities present at the event. Michael Poa, Education Undersecretary, told reporters a day after the opening ceremony that Duterte was unable to go to the CCSC as she chose to attend to the sick athletes on Tuesday to give them “moral support” as well. In her speech at the closing ceremony, Duterte thanked all the local government units, government offices, and private sectors who supported the success of the Palarong Pambansa. She also congratulated the athletes for their participation and performance in their respective sports. Duterte encouraged the delegates to bring with them the “Cebuano trait” as they leave Cebu City after the event. “Bring to your respective communities the distinct Cebuano trait of pride or value. Cebuanos are known for their ‘garbo’ for one’s culture, talents, faith, and family. It is the same garbo that we always take to heart as we pursue life with excellence, integrity, values, and enduring love of country,” Duterte said. Duterte will remain DepEd Secretary until July 19 and will be replaced by Senator Sonny Angara. The closing ceremony started at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Cebu City last hosted Palarong Pambansa 30 years ago. RELATED STORIES VP Duterte no show at opening of 64th Palarong Pambansa Palarong Pambansa 2024: NCR retains overall crown in runaway fashion Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with: Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585010/vp-sara-shows-up-in-palarong-pambansa-2024-closing-ceremony

NDRRMC: Over 200,000 people affected by southwest monsoon woes

Faith Argosino

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:16:57 PST

A National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report shows bad weather brought by the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, has now affected more than 200,000 people nationwide as of Tuesday, July 16, 2024. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO A National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) report shows bad weather brought by the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat, has now affected more than 200,000 people nationwide as of Tuesday, July 16, 2024. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Bad weather brought by the southwest monsoon has now affected more than 200,000 people nationwide, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Tuesday. In a July 16 situational report released at 8 a.m., the agency said 93,743 families, consisting of 221,435 individuals, in 363 barangays have recently experienced heavy rain, floods, and other effects of the southwest monsoon, locally called habagat. Of the total, 21,464 people were displaced; 20,026 took shelter in 46 evacuation centers (ECs) nationwide, while 1,378 stayed outside ECs. READ: NDRRMC: 2 reported dead in Mindanao due to southwest monsoon The NDRRMC said floods hit the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the past few days. The NDRRMC likewise said it received reports that two people died and two people were injured, while another one went missing due to the southwest monsoon’s effects. It noted, however, that it has validated only one of the two reported fatalities so far. Moreover, the NDRRMC said the southwest monsoon ruined P17,879,687 in crops and affected 238 farmers and fisherfolk as of July 16. READ: Pagasa: Rainy, cloudy Tuesday due to LPA off Davao City, ‘habagat’ The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) previously said the southwest monsoon brought moderate to heavy or heavy to intense rainfall over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao from July 11 to 14. Earlier Tuesday, the state weather agency said the southwest monsoon and a low-pressure area off Davao City are expected to bring overcast skies and rains to various parts of the country. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961355/ndrrmc-over-200000-people-now-affected-by-southwest-monsoon

China prepping to monitor PH-US coast guard drills

Frances Mangosing

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:45:57 PST

China Coast Guard vessel 5901 —PCG photo/www.sealight.live China Coast Guard vessel 5901 —PCG photo/www.sealight.live MANILA, Philippines — A 135-meter China Coast Guard (CCG) ship has inched closer to the Philippines, likely positioning itself to monitor an upcoming joint exercise by the Philippine and US coast guards, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said on Monday. The Philippine and US coast guards have conducted capacity-building exercises in the West Philippine Sea in recent years and the presence of Chinese vessels were a common sight during those drills. READ: AFP confirms, hits China’s ‘intrusive patrols’ in West Philippine Sea Maritime security expert Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project of Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation who has been monitoring South China Sea activities through satellite imaging, said the CCG 5303 was tracked about 111 kilometers (60 nautical miles) west of Lubang Island or northwest of Mindoro at 4:20 p.m. on Sunday and has been conducting an “intrusive patrol.” As of Monday afternoon, the Chinese vessel was still around the area. SeaLight has described the “intrusive patrolling” by the CCG as “a key component of China’s strategy to reinforce its expansive maritime claims in disputed waters.” CCG 5303 was the same vessel involved in “provocative actions and illegal monitoring” of Philippine ships conducting a hydrographic survey in April. It also used water cannons against PCG ships near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in a separate incident in the same month. Also on Sunday, the PCG’s 97-meter BRP Melchora Aquino concluded a two-day patrol some 20 to 25 nautical miles east of Bajo de Masinloc, Powell said on X (formerly Twitter). It was closely tailed by 110-meter CCG 4302, preventing it from coming closer to the shoal. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping its claims with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. Beijing continues to ignore the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims. On July 11, US Coast Guard Pacific Area commander Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson paid a courtesy call on PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan at the PCG headquarters, ahead of the coast guard drills between Manila and Washington. The two officials discussed continued partnership, which is “deeply rooted in strong historical and cultural ties,” the PCG said in a statement. “I firmly believe that this engagement will further improve and intensify our collaboration on maritime security, reinforcing our very strong commitment for ensuring regional stability and peace,” Gavan was quoted as saying. The PCG chief looked back on how the present collaboration has expanded “beyond technical and operational training for the officers to include major infrastructure development.” In May, the PCG inaugurated a P54-million vessel maintenance facility at Sangley Point in Cavite province, a project funded by the US government through the Joint US Military Assistance Group-Philippines. Last June, the PCG announced that their US counterpart will deploy its assets to support the government’s efforts in ensuring the safety of local fishermen in the West Philippine Sea amid the implementation of China’s antitrespassing policy that encroaches on the country’s exclusive economic zone. “The USCG shared they will deploy their North Pacific Coast Guard to support the PCG in upholding its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” the PCG said in a statement. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. However, the PCG said the specifics of the deployment, such as the total number of personnel and the type of vessels to be brought by the US coast guard, remain unclear. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408892/china-prepping-to-monitor-ph-us-coast-guard-drills/

Navy missile boat gets battle system upgrade

Philippine News Agency

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:10:44 PST

Troops manning the Philippine Navy’s fast attack interdiction craft BRP Nestor Acero test the vessel’s upgraded “battle net”  system during a sea trial in this July 4, 2024 photo. Troops manning the Philippine Navy’s fast attack interdiction craft BRP Nestor Acero test the vessel’s upgraded “battle net”  system during a sea trial in this July 4, 2024 photo. MANILA, Philippines–One of the Philippine Navy’s most capable surface combatants, the fast attack interdiction craft BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901), became more potent as its “battle net” (BNET) system received a significant upgrade from Israeli defense manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “This upgrade was validated through a comprehensive sea trial near Manila Bay and Cavite City, involving PG-901 and five other ACPGs (Acero Class Patrol Gunboats),” the BRP Nestor Acero said in a Facebook post Monday night. It added that the sea trial, held on July 4, tested the connectivity and communication range of the upgraded BNET system, focusing on voice, chat, and video feed relay. No other details on the system upgrade were provided for security reasons. “The results exceeded baseline specifications, confirming the upgrade’s success. This enhancement significantly boosts the ACPG fleet’s operational capabilities, ensuring improved connectivity and real-time communication for modern naval operations,” the post read. The PN now has six Acero-class gunboats in service, with the BRP Nestor Acero as the lead ship. The first two Acero-class gunboats, the BRP Nestor Acero (PG-901) and BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG-902), were delivered in September 2022 and commissioned two months later. The third and fourth FAICs, the BRP Gener Tinangag (PG-903) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG-905), were delivered in April 2023 and commissioned the following month. The fifth and sixth were named the BRP Herminigildo Yurong (PG-906) and BRP Laurence Narag (PG-907), respectively, and were commissioned on May 21 this year. All six Acero-class gunboats were named after Medal of Valor awardees. The remaining three Acero-class gunboats are expected to be constructed and delivered within the next two years. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961615/navy-missile-boat-gets-battle-system-upgrade

Batangas haul: Gun, shabu seized from motorcyclist in checkpoint

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:43:36 PST

INQUIRER FILESLUCENA CITY — A motorcycle-riding drug pusher was arrested Monday and yielded an illegal firearm and shabu (crystal meth) after a brief chase with police manning a checkpoint in Tuy town in Batangas province. INQUIRER FILES The Region 4A police reported on Tuesday, July 16, that cops conducting “Oplan Sita,” a routine anti-criminality inspection, flagged down motorcyclist “Samuel” in Barangay Luntal at 1 p.m. for driving a vehicle without a plate number and without wearing a crash helmet. Wearing protective headgear for motorcyclist riders is mandated under the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009. The rider disregarded the cops, who ordered him to stop and sped off, prompting the police to chase him until he was arrested. When frisked, the police found Samuel carrying an undocumented caliber .38 revolver with four bullets. The cops also found him in alleged possession of three plastic sachets containing shabu weighing 5.51 grams worth P37,468. The authorities also discovered that the suspect was on the police watch list as a street-level drug pusher in the locality. The suspect was placed under police custody and is facing criminal charges, including violation of the firearm law and anti-drugs law. The police also impounded Samuel’s motorcycle. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961532/batangas-haul-gun-shabu-seized-from-motorcyclist-in-checkpoint

Oil firms cut prices of products

Lisbet K. Esmael

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:45:00 PST

Inquirer photo Inquirer photo MANILA, Philippines — After four consecutive weeks of price increases, oil retailers cut their prices effective Tuesday. In separate advisories, Shell Pilipinas, Seaoil, Jetti, Caltex, PetroGazz and Cleanfuel said the prices per liter for diesel and kerosene would go down by 95 centavos and P1.15, respectively. Gasoline, on the other hand, would be cheaper by 60 centavos per liter. READ: Are we at the mercy of oil companies? Rodela Romero, director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau, said the downward adjustments for this week’s oil prices could be attributed to cooler inflation print in China, considered a major crude importer. Romero also cited Hurricane Beryl, which slammed parts of the United States earlier this month, saying the storm only led “to relatively little physical damage, allowing the United States to recover oil production, offsetting a larger than expected weekly draw in US crude inventories.” “Thirdly, the dollar contributed to lower oil prices. Though on the later part of the week, oil markets start to focus again on fundamentals and geopolitical issues,” the DOE official said. According to data from the DOE, as of July 9, the year-to-date increases in the per-liter prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene already reached P10.85, P9.05 and P2.35, respectively. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961268/oil-firms-cut-prices-of-products

4.8-magnitude earthquake sways Isabela town

Villamor Visaya Jr.

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 12:26:07 PST

CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela — A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck the coastal town of Maconacon in Isabela at 7:19 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, occurred at a depth of 10 meters northeast of the town. A 2.1-magnitude aftershock was recorded at 9:06 a.m. on the same day, Phivolcs said. No immediate reports of damage or casualties had so far come in, according to Butch Bartolome, the disaster risk reduction and management officer, who cited ongoing monitoring by civil defense and local government units. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961426/4-8-magnitude-earthquake-sways-isabela-town

Excited investors bring PSEi closer to 6,700

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:01:00 PST

Fired up investors pushed the local bourse closer to 6,700 on Monday after encouraging results from US markets and excitement over “larger-than-expected” interest rate cuts. By the closing bell, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) gained by 0.62 percent, or 41.14 points, to 6,689.37. Meanwhile, the broader All Shares Index added 0.50 percent, or 18 points, to 3,594.22.A total of 460.49 million shares worth P5.22 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed. READ: China tech firm’s stock soars as Trump shooting boosts poll odds Claire Alviar, research analyst at Philstocks Financial Inc., said the bourse was buoyed by energized investors cheering “positive spillovers from the US markets’ performance” last week. “Moreover, reports that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may cut interest rates larger than expected boosted sentiment,” she added. Japanese investment bank Nomura earlier said the BSP may slash the key rate by a total of 250 basis points (bps) between the third quarter of the year and the second quarter of next year. This is higher than its earlier prediction of 150 bps by the second quarter of 2025, as the lower tariff on rice was also expected to give the BSP more reason to cut rates. Property firms registered the highest gain at 1.91 percent on the first trading day of the week, boosted by Zobel family-led Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), which was the top-traded stock as it climbed by 3.72 percent to P30.70. ALI was followed by SM Investments Corp., up 2.27 percent to P900; BDO Unibank Inc., unchanged at P143.70; Ayala Corp., up 1.88 percent to P595; and Jollibee Foods Corp., up 1.14 percent to P230 each. Other actively traded stocks were International Container Terminal Services Inc., down 1.30 percent to P363.20; SM Prime Holdings Inc., up 1.02 percent to P29.60; Universal Robina Corp., up 1.30 percent to P117.10; Bank of the Philippine Islands, down 0.57 percent to P122; and PLDT Inc., down 1.02 percent to P1,549 per share. Gainers overpowered losers, 117 to 59, while 52 companies closed unchanged. —Meg J. Adonis INQ Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://business.inquirer.net/468857/excited-investors-bring-psei-closer-to-6700

Ex-health officials oppose tobacco industry donations

Dexter Cabalza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:35:00 PST

INQUIRER.net file photo INQUIRER.net file photo MANILA, Philippines — A growing number of former senior government officials and civil society organizations have expressed disappointment over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) recent legal opinion deeming acceptable tobacco industry donations to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other government agencies. In a joint statement on Monday, they called on the government to reject the tobacco industry’s use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to whitewash its deadly business and harmful products and influence government institutions and officials. READ: Parents group slams DOJ, DSWD: Why take aid from Big Tobacco? “The tobacco industry does its fake CSR to buy goodwill so that government officials will favor them when crafting and implementing tobacco control policies. Who wins then: public health or the industry?” said Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, executive director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance. “We have to be careful not to open doors for the tobacco industry to corrupt our bureaucracy.” “Tobacco products are harmful, that’s why the behavior of this industry is being strictly regulated. It’s inappropriate for government agencies to receive donations from harmful industries when the donations may influence how such harmful industries are regulated,” former Health Undersecretary Madeleine Valera said. The statement was in reaction to the June 6 legal opinion issued by the DOJ allowing the DSWD to accept a donation of three mobile clinics from an undisclosed tobacco company. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla noted that such an action was not a violation of Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2010-01 of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Health (DOH). The JMC, particularly Section 3.3, explicitly forbids government officials and employees from soliciting or accepting gifts, favors, or donations from entities in the tobacco industry. The prohibition was in line with the country’s efforts to comply with its international commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), of which the Philippines was a signatory. According to Remulla, the prohibition under the JMC only covers officials and employees and does not extend to government agencies and offices in general. Former Health Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral, however, noted how the DOJ opinion detracts from the Philippines’ national and international commitments. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “This is against civil service rules and Articles 5.3 and 13 of the WHO-FCTC. Based on our international commitments and our own JMC, we should be banning all forms of tobacco sponsorships and protecting against tobacco industry interference,” she said. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961270/ex-health-officials-oppose-tobacco-industry-donations

Fire ravages parts of oldest shopping mall in Baguio City

Kimberlie Quitasol

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:16:50 PST

Firefighters in Baguio City try to extinguish the blaze on Tuesday, July 16, that struck portions of the Maharlika Livelihood Complex, the oldest shopping mall in the summer capital. (Photo courtesy of Baguio Public Information Office) Firefighters in Baguio City try to extinguish the blaze on Tuesday, July 16, that struck portions of the Maharlika Livelihood Complex, the oldest shopping mall in the summer capital. (Photo courtesy of Baguio Public Information Office) BAGUIO CITY — A fire struck portions of the Maharlika Livelihood Complex, the oldest shopping mall in the city, early Tuesday, July 16, authorities said. The fire reportedly started in one of the stalls on the third floor of the building around 1 a.m. Firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Baguio are still investigating the exact cause of the fire. No casualties have been reported, and damage is still being assessed. An initial report from the BFP said a security guard at Maharlika alerted them about the fire. Firefighters quickly responded and managed to suppress the growing blaze. The fire was declared under control at 4:09 a.m. and fully extinguished around 4:30 a.m. Opened in 1982 under the Human Settlements Development Corporation, the Maharlika Livelihood Complex Center was inaugurated by First Lady Imelda Marcos, who served as the human settlements minister. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961454/fire-ravages-parts-of-oldest-shopping-mall-in-baguio-city

Senate panel ordered to respond to Alice Guo’s petition to annul subpoena

Tetch Torres-Tupas

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:16:04 PST

Bamban, Tarlac City Mayor Alice Guo speaks during the resumption of the Senate probe into a POGO hub in Tarlac province on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO Bamban, Tarlac City Mayor Alice Guo speaks during the resumption of the Senate probe into a POGO hub in Tarlac province on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has required the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to respond to suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s petition to annul the subpoena issued against her. In her petition, Guo asked the SC to annul the subpoena issued by the Senate Committee, stop the committee from further inviting her as a resource person, and issue a restraining order while her petition is pending. READ: Alice Guo asks SC to stop Senate from using her as resource person The Senate Committee is investigating the operations of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos). Guo’s name was dragged into the controversy after the electric meter of a Pogo hub in Tarlac was found to be under her name. Subsequently, questions regarding her nationality came up, prompting various government agencies to conduct investigations. READ: Alice Guo and 7 others cited for contempt, ordered arrested Guo stated that her life, liberty, and security were endangered after her personal details were made public. During Tuesday’s en banc (full court) session, the SC gave the Senate Committee ten non-extendible days from notice to comment on the petition. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242848/senate-panel-ordered-to-respond-to-alice-guos-petition-to-annul-subpoena

DA again extends ban on onion imports

Jordeene B. Lagare

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:10:00 PST

Grig C. Montegrande Grig C. Montegrande MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has again extended the temporary ban on onion imports, moving it to the end of August as the country has enough supply to meet demand. “We’re monitoring everything closely [on a] day-to-day [basis]. As of the moment, it is not necessary to import onions,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in an interview on Monday. “I guess we would be extending [the import ban] on a monthly basis.” READ: Rice, onion prices start dropping after months of remaining high – DA The DA first enforced a ban in January to prevent a further drop in retail prices due to a supply glut after shipments of imported onions arrived late, coinciding with harvest time. Before Tiu Laurel announced the extension, the moratorium was initially set to end in May but was extended to July. He issued a warning to “unscrupulous” traders who might take advantage of the situation to withhold stocks to create an artificial shortage to jack up prices. “Just a warning: we will import onions if they tighten the release of their supplies to stabilize retail prices,” he said. Tiu Laurel had said the DA would activate any plans to import onions only when necessary. Based on the Bureau of Plant Industry’s estimate, the domestic supply of white onions would be enough to cover demand through the early fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the harvest of red onions would be good until the initial months of 2025. Government data showed the country has 163,503.67 metric tons of fresh red and yellow onions. As of Friday, local red onions sold from P80 to P150 per kilogram, lower than the P150 to P180 per kg around the same period last year, based on the DA’s price monitoring of Metro Manila markets. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Local white onions ranged from P60 to P130 per kg, also lower than last year’s P120 to P170 per kg. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961260/da-again-extends-ban-on-onion-imports

Guo will be safe in Senate custody, says Escudero

Charie Abarca

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:47:02 PST

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero —Senate SMU Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero —Senate SMU MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero said suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo will be safe, and may even be allowed to use gadgets, if she ever gets arrested and taken into custody by the Senate. Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview on Tuesday, Escudero said Guo—should she finally be arrested—will be detained in a facility near a Philippine National Police (PNP) office within the Senate compound. The senate chief described the detention facility as an airconditioned room with its own restroom and bunk beds. “At least the PNP itself will be guarding her and only their K-9 unit is hanging out there right now. I have inspected it earlier and if necessary to ensure the security of Mayor Guo, we will detain her there along with her relatives. As long as the committee does not schedule a hearing,” said Escudero. READ: Arrest Alice Guo, others – Senate Asked if Guo will be allowed to use gadgets while in detention, Escudero admitted that he does not see the reason why the embattled local official should not be allowed to use such. “According to the current rules and guidelines, the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) would not allow it. But should the need arise, the OSAA may provide a phone line. But I have ordered a review because I found that the rule was already old and may no longer be applicable,” he said. Meanwhile, in the same interview, Escudero admitted to believing that Guo has no reason to be scared. “I don’t know where the threats against her life are coming from. This is not a penalty. This is not a punishment for the commission of any crime. This order to detain her is only to ensure that she will attend the Senate hearing. And after she attended the hearing, there is no reason to continue her detention,” Escudero emphasized. The Senate on Saturday issued an arrest order against Guo and seven others for refusing to appear, despite due notices, at the committee on women’s hearing on July 10. A quick look into the official arrest order shared to  the media would show that it was signed by panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Escudero. The document stated that Guo’s refusal to appear before the Senate “delayed, impeded, and obstructed” the inquiry into the reported violation of human trafficking, serious illegal detention, and physical abuse and torture in the premises of an internet gaming licensee of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation. Guo is subjected to scrutiny after the Senate panel on women bared her alleged ties to illegal pogo firm Zun Yuan Technology Inc. in Bamban, Tarlac. Questions about her citizenship were also raised, leading to allegations that she is a Chinese spy—which she vehemently denied. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Apart from the embattled local official, arrest orders against her family members Sheila Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo and her suspected mother Wen Yi Lin were likewise released. Also ordered arrested were Dennis  Cunanan,  an alleged authorized representative of Pogos, and Guo’s  accountant,  Nancy Gamo, who is now under the custody of the Senate. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961338/guo-will-be-safe-in-senate-custody-says-escudero

4 domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

Philippine News Agency

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:58:59 PST

MANILA, Philippines–At least four domestic flights were canceled as of 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said, citing inclement weather. The canceled flights were CebGo (DG) 6841/6842 Manila-Siargao-Manila, and DG 6881/6882 Manila-Surigao-Manila. Earlier, the weather bureau said the low-pressure area (LPA) east northeast of Davao City and the southwest monsoon will cause rains over most areas. As of 11 a.m., the LPA was forecast to bring moderate to heavy rains over Surigao del Norte. Flooding and rain-induced landslides remained likely. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961567/4-domestic-flights-canceled-due-to-bad-weather-3

Palarong Pambansa 2024: NCR retains overall crown in runaway fashion

dsingson

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:45:47 PST

NCR’s secondary girls relay team poses for a photo after winning the race. | Christian Dave Cuizon NCR’s secondary girls relay team poses for a photo after winning the race. | Christian Dave Cuizon CEBU CITY, Philippines — The National Capital Region (NCR) reaffirmed its supremacy at the Palarong Pambansa, clinching the overall championship in dominating fashion as the five-day event concluded on Tuesday, July 16. NCR secured a commanding total of 98 gold medals, complemented by 66 silvers and 74 bronzes, with only a few team sports events remaining as of this writing. The final day saw NCR’s Far Eastern University (FEU) Diliman football squad and Rizal High School secondary girls’ softball team delivering the last two gold medals of the tournament. The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with: FEU Diliman triumphed in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Tañon College of San Carlos City from Western Visayas at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex. Meanwhile, Rizal High School secured the victory in the softball finals against Western Visayas at the USC Talamban campus. Following NCR in the standings was CALABARZON (Region 4-A) at second place with a tally of 57 gold, 51 silver, and 53 bronze medals, followed closely by Western Visayas at third with 56 gold, 41 silver, and 41 bronze medals. Notably, Davao Region (Region 11) climbed to fourth place from its 2023 finish at sixth. READ MORE: Palarong Pambansa 2024: LIVE UPDATES Ilocos Norte aims to match Cebu City for Palaro 2025 Another Yulo uses Palaro as career takeoff point The host delegation, Central Visayas (Region 7) maintained its fifth-place position for the second consecutive year. Despite surpassing its medal count from the previous year, the host delegation couldn’t replicate its fourth-place finish from 2019’s Palarong Pambansa in Davao City, ending with a total of 110 medals — 29 gold, 42 silver, and 39 bronze. Central Visayas’ highlights included the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves securing a gold medal in the elementary boys’ football finals against CALABARZON with a score of 3-0 at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex on the final day. Rounding off the top 10 in the final medal rankings were Central Luzon (25-37-45), Eastern Visayas (18-14-22), SOCKSARGEN (17-23-31), Northern Mindanao (14-27-43), and Bicol Region (14-15-20), respectively. The Palarong Pambansa 2024, featuring 34 sports events, welcomed over 12,000 athletes from 19 delegations, including newcomers National Academy of Sports (NAS) and Philippine Schools Overseas (POS). The event marked a historic return to Cebu City after three decades since its last hosting in 1994. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with: Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584936/palarong-pambansa-2024-ncr-retains-overall-crown-in-runaway-fashion

Death toll in Mindanao floods, landslides now 14

Edwin O. Fernandez, Julie S. Alipala

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:40:00 PST

HAPPY TO BE RESCUED Despite the dire situation they are in, this girl still manages to smile during the rescue operation on July 14 by responders of the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) in the flooded villages of Rajamudah, Bagoinged and Buliok in Pikit, Cotabato. —Bangsamoro READi photo HAPPY TO BE RESCUED Despite the dire situation they are in, this girl still manages to smile during the rescue operation on July 14 by responders of the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi) in the flooded villages of Rajamudah, Bagoinged and Buliok in Pikit, Cotabato. —Bangsamoro READi photo ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The death toll in the floods and landslides that hit different areas in Mindanao rose to 14, twice the number previously recorded by disaster response authorities in different stricken localities, mostly in the Bangsamoro and Zamboanga Peninsula regions. The latest fatalities included a young man who drowned in Pagalungan town of Maguindanao del Sur on Sunday, another body fished out of Kabacan River in Cotabato province, and five more bodies recovered in Zamboanga City since Saturday. READ: Mindanao flood victims climb to over 81,000 The rise in the number of fatalities was recorded even as many localities in Mindanao continue to grapple with having to provide for thousands of displaced persons from disaster-stricken areas, where floodwater in some places remained neck deep, or about a meter high, spawned by last week’s days of rains induced by the southwest monsoon and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ). On Monday, in Zamboanga City, the bodies of Nica Ortega, 29, and her 6-year-old son JM, were recovered at 9 a.m., stuck in one of the fallen trees that were covered with mud and big stones in Sitio Anuling, Barangay Pamucutan, some 21.1 kilometers from the city proper. Pamucutan Barangay Captain Roberto Carpio said the mother and son were recovered only a few meters away from the washed-out house of the Ortega family. “It was a moving image, the mother still holding her son when we unearthed their bodies,” Carpio said. Over the weekend, the bodies of Leonilo Moret, 48, and son Justine, 10, were recovered in separate areas in the city during the search and rescue operation. Leonilo’s body was found on Saturday in the river of Barangay Talisayan, around 4 kilometers from Pamucutan, while his son was found floating along Anuling River in Pamucutan on Sunday. Carmelita Moret, Leonilo’s wife, said it was their first time to experience landslides and rockslides in their area, where they have been living for more than 20 years. “We never expected this to happen,” she lamented. She recalled the heavy rain on Friday morning. At night, the earth shook and they took cover. Her husband ran toward the room where Justine was sleeping but it was too late because cascading soil and rocks already hit their house. “Half of our house went down and I managed to grab my other son and we jumped out of the window,” she said. The body of another victim in Zamboanga City, Sonnyboy Jamal, 9, was found in a swamp in Barangay Calarian on Saturday, said his cousin Prince Ivan Jorolan. “My cousin, a person with [a] disability and a special child, was trying to cross the flood when he accidentally fell and was swept away by the current on Friday night. We recovered his body on Saturday afternoon,” Jorolan told the Inquirer. RECOVERED A search and retrieval team recovered on Monday the bodies of Nica Ortega and her son JM in Sitio Anuling, Barangay Pamucutan, Zamboanga City. The mother and son had been missing since Friday night after landslides and rocks buried their home. —photo courtesy of Merasol Monteza City Social Welfare Officer Maria Socorro Rojas said 32 of the 98 barangays in Zamboanga City were affected by floods, displacing 4,462 families or 15,179 individuals. Five more houses were washed away near San Bernardino Bridge in Barangay Tetuan on Sunday night. Relief assistance consisting of food, mats, blankets and utensils was ongoing on Monday in 37 evacuation centers in the city. Throughout Mindanao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported on Sunday that at least 81,000 persons were affected in flood-hit areas. In Maguindanao del Sur, Benjamin Alip, municipal disaster officer of Pagalungan town, said a 22-year-old man tried to rescue his cow from sinking in Barangay Damalasak but got drowned as a result. Pagalungan was among the 22 towns in Maguindanao del Sur that were submerged in floodwaters following last week’s heavy downpour also experienced in the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao del Norte brought about by the southwest monsoon and the ITCZ. In the Kabacan town of Cotabato province, the remains of a woman who drowned in Bukidnon’s municipality of Maramag was fished out kilometers away in the Kabacan River on Sunday. Tim Ambolodto, Maguindanao del Sur disaster response chief, said 9,616 families were displaced by the flooding in Pagalungan, with many more in Datu Montawal and 15 other towns in the province. The Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence reported that for the whole region, the flood damaged 425 homes, of which 285 were beyond repair, while two public schools and a gym were also destroyed. On Sunday, water at the Pagalungan municipal grounds reached neck level, or about 1 meter. A portion of the Davao-Cotabato highway in Pagalungan was also submerged in water until Sunday morning. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. In Sultan Kudarat province, the two bridges that were temporarily shut down after their approaches were carried away by rampaging river water were now passable after Department of Public Works and Highways workers put gravel and sand in them to allow motor vehicles to pass through. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961234/death-toll-in-mindanao-floods-landslides-now-14

West PH Sea: No Ayungin resupply since violent June 17 encounter

John Eric Mendoza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:25:10 PST

WEAPON IN HAND The Armed Forces of the Philippines, which released this photo on Wednesday, said one of the China Coast Guard members shown here (center) wielded a pickaxe and made threatening gestures in their encounter with Filipino troops on a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on June 17. WEAPON IN HAND The Armed Forces of the Philippines, which released this photo on Wednesday, said one of the China Coast Guard members shown here (center) wielded a pickaxe and made threatening gestures in their encounter with Filipino troops on a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal on June 17. MANILA, Philippines — There has yet to be any rotation and resupply (Rore) mission at the naval outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea since the violent June 17 incident there, a navy official said on Tuesday. However, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, assured that the supplies for the troops in the BRP Sierra Madre remains sufficient. “Not yet, the last activity was the evacuation,” Trinidad said, referring to the July 7 medical evacuation of a navy personnel, when asked to confirm if there has been a Rore conducted after the June 17 incident. READ: West PH Sea: China tried but failed to block medical evacuation of sailor – PCG “The last Rore was June 17,” he said. The June 17 incident in the BRP Sierra Madre saw the most violent actions of China Coast Guard personnel so far, leading to what the Philippine military deemed as “looting” of its disassembled high-powered guns and even caused the thumb amputation of one of its naval personnel. READ: West Philippine Sea: 2016 arbitral award ‘a political circus’, says China Last July 7, the CCG also tried but failed to block the medical evacuation of a navy personnel in BRP Sierra Madre, according to the Philippine Coast Guard. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. For comprehensive coverage, in-depth analysis, visit our special page for West Philippine Sea updates. Stay informed with articles, videos, and expert opinions. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://www.inquirer.net/408902/no-resupply-to-ayungin-since-violent-june-17-encounter-but/

Government’s revised export goals slated for Q3 release

Alden M. Monzon @AldenMonzonINQ

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:02:05 PST

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO A high-ranking trade official on Monday said they are working towards releasing by third quarter of this year the government’s revised export targets, goals which will guide the state’s policies for the industry in the years to come. Bianca Sykimte, the director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Export Marketing Bureau answered in the affirmative when asked if they will be able to release the new export targets under the Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028 (PEDP) during the period. READ: PH hopes to grow export revenues by at least 10% in 2024 “It will affect, of course, the succeeding targets because (we are already behind the base targets),” Sykimte told reporters on the sidelines of the Tatak Pinoy Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center. The trade official also said that the new target will more than likely fall below the $143.4 billion goal under the PEDP for 2024, but will be at least on par with the $107 billion indicated under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. “We don’t want to set a target below the PDP because we want to contribute to the socioeconomic objectives of the PDP,” she said. Asked what foreign and domestic issues will factor into the new target, Skimte cited the potential impact of high inflation and the possible bearing of ongoing geopolitical tensions. “The inflation in the market destinations is affecting some of our consumer goods. In 2023 we saw that the final goods that we export were affected by inflation,” said the trade official. “Geopolitical shifts, including the market regulations in key markets like the US. We know very well that our exports of garments were affected by stricter detentions in the US market,” she added, but noted that they were constantly in touch with US authorities to remedy the situation. READ: DTI, Philexport push for greater use of free trade agreements Back in April this year, the DTI released data showing that exports of merchandise and services had reached $103.6 billion in 2023, 4.8 percent higher than the $98.83-billion receipts in 2022. The country’s total export receipts totaled $87.97 billion in 2021, $80.03 billion in 2020, and $94.74 billion in 2019. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The growth in exports was largely driven by the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) and tourism sectors, according to the government agency. Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468917/governments-revised-export-goals-slated-for-q3-release

PH is 29th out of 250 countries with most data breaches in Q2 of 2024

Adrian Parungao

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:41:02 PST

STOCK PHOTO STOCK PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is 29th out of 250 countries and territories ranked by a Norway-based virtual private network provider with the most data breaches in the second quarter of 2024. According to the data breach statistics of Surfshark, the Philippines tallied more than 385,000 data breaches from April 1 to June 30. READ: PhilHealth: 42-M victims of data leak not yet notified of hacking’s extent The number is also lower from the data breaches the Philippines had during the first quarter of 2024, which was at 7.7 million, resulting in its ranking at 6th place. During the same period for 2023, the Philippines also logged 216,800 data breach cases. Meanwhile, Surfshark said that in the second quarter of 2024, there were more than 193 million data breaches worldwide. READ: NPC confirms data of 11M Jollibee customers leaked The United States had the most data breaches in the second quarter of 2024 at 116.7 million, followed by Russia at 25.1 million, and France at third with seven million. The countries that ranked fourth to tenth-highest, respectively, were: United Kingdom; China; Canada; Germany; India; Spain; and Australia. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242861/ph-is-29th-of-250-countries-with-most-data-breaches-in-q2-of-2024

DOH says dengue cases rising, logs over 90,000 from Jan-June 29

Dianne Sampang

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:52:00 PST

The Department of Health (DOH) says dengue cases increased in the country as it recorded 90,119, including 233 deaths, from January to June 29, 2024. Mosquito stock image/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO The Department of Health (DOH) says dengue cases increased in the country as it recorded 90,119, including 233 deaths, from January to June 29, 2024. Mosquito stock image/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said dengue cases increased in the country as it recorded 90,119 from January to June 29. According to the DOH, the count was 19 percent higher than the 75,968 dengue cases listed in the same period last year. It also reported that 233 dengue patients died in the same period, but noted that the figure was lower than the 291 fatalities recorded in the same period in 2024. The DOH attributed the hike in dengue infection to the onset of the rainy season. It noted that frequent rains allow more water to pool and become stagnant, causing the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus to breed in pools of dormant water. READ: DOH urges local officials to act as dengue cases rise In a report on Tuesday, July 16, the DOH also enumerated its documentation of dengue cases from May 19 to June 29, 2024, as follows: The health department likewise noted that seven regions have registered increases in dengue infection over the past six weeks before June 29. These are Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and National Capital Region (NCR). Previously, the agency said that the highly-populated NCR or Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON have the highest cases of dengue for the past five years. READ: DOH exec says Metro Manila has highest dengue cases for past 5 years The DOH then reiterated its call to public to observe its “4S” strategy to combat dengue: search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds; self-protection measures; seek early consultation with a doctor upon the onset of dengue symptoms; and support fogging or spraying in a location where a dengue case increase is reported. “With rain comes the rise of Dengue. We know what works, and that is to kill mosquitoes. Protect loved ones too through clothing and mosquito repellants. Do not self-medicate; ask your doctor or nearby clinic if you have Dengue,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961476/doh-says-dengue-cases-rising-logs-over-90000-from-jan-june-29

183 out of 853 pass 2024 Shari’ah Bar Exam, most of them women

Tetch Torres-Tupas

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:21:43 PST

PHOTO FROM SC PHOTO FROM SC MANILA, Philippines — A total of 183 out of 853, or 21.45 percent of the examinees passed the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Examination, with 62.3 percent being women. Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, Chairperson of the 2024 Shari’ah Bar Examination, said that “62.3 percent of the total passers are female. I’m very happy to announce that. Again, 62.3 percent of the passers are female.” Nine of the top 10 examinees are also female. The top 10 are: The full list of passers can be accessed by clicking this link. “Regardless of your results today, whether you pass or you don’t, all of you deserve to be congratulated for your faith, for your determination and hard work, and for your fortitude,” Singh said. “You are here now because of everyone who believed in you and because you chose to believe in yourselves. Take this opportunity to celebrate yourselves with your families, friends, loved ones, and enjoy the fruits of your labor,” she added. The Shari’ah Bar Exam is separate from the regular Bar Examination. Shari’ah Bar is also a licensure examination that covers Islamic Law. The first Shari’ah Bar Examination was conducted in 1983. This year’s examination, according to Singh, was a lot of “first.” She said this year’s exam was the first time that the chair was a Supreme Court Associate Justice. This year’s exam was also the first to be regionalized and digitalized. The exam was conducted in two local testing centers — Ateneo De Davao University and University of the Philippines – Diliman. Examinees were also allowed to use computers, although some opted to take the exam by hand in Arabic. READ: 852 aspiring lawyers to take 2024 Shari’ah Bar exam Next year’s Shari’ah Bar will be chaired by Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. READ: More than 12,000 register for 2024 Bar Exams Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961576/183-out-of-853-pass-2024-shariah-bar-exam

Gov’t agencies probe falsified PH papers

Jane Bautista

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 04:50:00 PST

INQUIRER.net stock images INQUIRER.net stock images MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has tapped the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and the National Bureau of Investigation in its crackdown on issuing fake birth certificates to foreigners. The bureau said on Monday it asked the PSA for data on all Filipinos who applied for and were issued birth certificates under the late registration scheme. The information will be cross-checked to see who was also issued Philippine passports. READ: Solons seek probe into issuance of almost 200 fake birth certificates Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said they also asked the NBI for the names and other details regarding the 200 falsified birth certificates issued by the civil registry in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. “We must be proactive and thorough in our approach to prevent the misuse of Philippine documents by foreign nationals. This is an issue of national security, and needs to be addressed immediately,” he added. Tansingco said the BI raised the issue of foreigners obtaining fake birth certificates last year after they recorded at least 10 cases of foreign nationals caught with fraudulently acquired Philippine documents. “Once they present themselves as [Filipinos], they are already removed from the purview of the BI, which monitors foreigners,” he said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961266/govt-agencies-probe-falsified-ph-papers

QC prepares for Sona; reaffirms freedom of speech, peaceful assembly

INQUIRER.net

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:12:50 PST

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte MANILA, Philippines – “Quezon City remains a bastion of democracy and free speech as we uphold every Filipino’s right to peacefully assemble. However, all rallyists are encouraged to police their ranks and mandated to follow the law,” stated Mayor Joy Belmonte. The Quezon City government’s Law and Order Cluster has meticulously planned security and safety measures in anticipation of the upcoming third State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on July 22. In collaboration with various departments, agencies, and offices, personnel and resources have been strategically allocated to support the national government’s deployment efforts. The Quezon City Police District will deploy 6,500 police officers to ensure the safety and orderliness of the event. Complementing this force, hundreds of personnel from the Department of Public Order and Safety, Task Force Disiplina, and barangays surrounding the SONA 2024 venue will be on hand to provide additional support. To mitigate traffic disruptions on major thoroughfares, the city government will deploy additional traffic enforcers from the Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD). The QCity Bus, in conjunction with barangay service vehicles, will offer free rides to commuters affected by the event. READ: Sona preparations complete – Romualdez The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is prepared to respond swiftly to any emergencies, with Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue teams, and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams prepositioned to provide immediate medical support and assistance. The city government urges both pro and anti-administration demonstrators to coordinate with the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) to secure necessary permits for their rallies. Demonstrators are also reminded to maintain peace and order and avoid disruptive acts. The city’s traffic management sector will release a detailed traffic rerouting plan in the coming days to guide motorists on which areas to avoid and which roads to use as alternate routes on the day of the event. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961556/qc-prepares-for-sona-reaffirms-freedom-of-speech-peaceful-assembly

PH adopts global ‘passport for goods’

Mariedel Irish U. Catilogo

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:03:00 PST

INQUIRER.net stock images INQUIRER.net stock images MANILA, Philippines— The government and private sector rolled out a new system to facilitate duty-free and tax-free temporary admission of nonperishable goods used for exhibits and professional activities to other countries, with the understanding that these goods will be returned to the Philippines. The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Monday launched ATA Carnet, also known as “passport for goods,” which streamlines the clearance for goods and eliminates the need for bonds as a guarantee that the goods will return to the country. It thus seeks to allow businesses and professionals to temporarily export and import items, professional equipment, and commercial samples without having to pay taxes. “Before, you’d have to secure a tax-exempt certificate coming from the Department of Finance, endorsed by us. That process takes quite a long time. With the implementation of the ATA Carnet, it’s as simple as actually presenting some documents with the BOC and the guarantee will come from the Chambers of Commerce,” Bureau of Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Philip Maronilla told reporters. READ: BOC and agri stakeholders finally unite Among those covered are commercial samples including jewelry, apparel, watches; items for display such as paintings; and professional equipment, including costumes, musical instruments as well as theatrical effects and sets. Goods that are consumable— alcoholic beverages, tobacco and fuels; items intended for processing or repair; items already sold or offered sale and unmounted gems—are not covered. To date, the ATA Carnet document is accepted in 81 countries and custom territories. The BOC said the processing of ATA Carnet document would only take a day. The BOC is looking to exceed its revenue target by P20 to P30 billion this year. The agency targets to collect P959 billion this year as it continues to monitor and improve modernization projects to enhance revenue collection. “For [January to June], we’re P13 billion up from the target. We are very much confident that we will hit the target. In fact, what we’re trying to hit now is the internal target of the commissioner. The commissioner wants a certain amount to be collected, which is higher than our target to be able to help the government in its funding requirements,” Maronilla added. READ: BOC surpasses mid-year revenue target by P22.6-B In the first semester, the BOC surpassed its revenue collection target. It delivered P456.05 billion, up by 5.22 percent or P22.62 billion from the same period last year. The growth was attributed to tighter monitoring and improved collection of delayed payments for government imports. In the first six months, the BOC also seized smuggled goods valued at a record high of nearly P20 billion. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Among the smuggled goods that the BOC most frequently confiscates, items that violate intellectual property rights are among the highest in number, followed by agricultural products. “That’s a commitment that we have to maintain our good standing in intellectual property law enforcement,” Maronilla said. INQ Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://business.inquirer.net/468852/ph-adopts-global-passport-for-goods

Caloocan official: Graft rap vs Rep. Malapitan ‘politically motivated’

Faith Argosino

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:44:06 PST

Former Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo files graft and malversation complaints against Congressman Oscar “Oca” Malapitan before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino Former Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo files graft and malversation complaints against Congressman Oscar “Oca” Malapitan before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. INQUIRER.net / Faith Argosino MANILA, Philippines —  Former Caloocan Mayor Rey Malonzo’s move to file graft and malversation complaints against Representative Oscar “Oca” Malapitan before the Office of the Ombudsman is “politically motivated,” according to the city’s Public Information Office. Earlier Tuesday, Malonzo said he filed the complaints against Malapitan, the first district representative of Caloocan, and six others in relation to the latter’s alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Funds amounting to P8 million from 2007 to 2009. READ: Malapitan denies anomalies in tablet purchase “We maintain that this case and other succeeding cases that he (Malonzo) will file are all politically motivated,” the PIO told INQUIRER.net. “He (Malonzo) has been a Caloocan resident for the longest time, naging ally din ang anak niya ng mga (his son also became an ally of the) Malapitan when he was a councilor, but they were all praises to Cong Oca then. So now that he’s running against Cong Oca, he suddenly thought of all these cases?” it added. Although he intends to run as one of Caloocan’s representatives in the 2025 elections, Malonzo said his move to file cases against Malapitan and others should not be questioned. “When you file a case against a politician, they will say that it’s politically motivated, but what I’m saying is, whatever they say, they should not question me but the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA),” he said in Filipino. In his complaint affidavit, Malonzo claimed that Malapitan and five former officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development allegedly violated Section (a), (e), and (g) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 172 (2) of the Revised Penal Code (malversation of public funds). According to Malonzo, P8 million was illegally transferred to KACI despite being unqualified for PDAF transfer, citing a report from the COA. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961599/caloocan-govt-graft-rapvs-rep-malapitan-politically-motivated

Tiangco lauds ‘Program 29’: 1,500 Navotas residents bought cheaper rice

Gabriel Pabico Lalu

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 19:11:22 PST

MANILA, Philippines — Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco has lauded the efforts of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration in lowering rice prices, noting that residents in his city were able to buy cheaper rice under Program 29. Tiangco in a statement on Tuesday said that 1,500 Navotas residents were able to purchase rice at P29 per kilogram under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Program 29 where rice would be made available in Kadiwa stores every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “We are grateful to President Bongbong for his efforts to ensure Navoteños can have access to low-cost rice through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. The local government of Navotas hopes to continuously work with the national government in delivering basic services that are truly relevant to the needs of our constituents,” Tiangco said. Tiangco also said that the expansion of Program 29 will also bode well for the country’s marginalized sector. “The sustained efforts of this administration to lower the price of basic commodities, including Filipino staples like rice, shows its steadfast commitment to fulfill its promises,” he said. “With this program, Filipinos from vulnerable households and sectors are given some economic relief as they gain access to low-cost goods for their families,” he added. Under Program 29, rice would only be sold to “vulnerable” segments of society, which includes senior citizens, single parents, persons with disabilities, and beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). READ: Gov’t rolls out ‘P29 per kilo’ rice program for low-income folk Initially, the DA said Program 29 would only be available in select Kadiwa stores over Metro Manila and Bulacan, but Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that there will be 23 stores in total, including three provincial areas, with one in Cebu and one in Maguindanao. READ: DA expands ‘Program 29’ beyond original targets Tiangco also reiterated his support for the House leadership’s goal of rice sufficiency by 2028, noting that a renewed focus on agriculture will ensure strong support for farmers and fisherfolk. “I am one with the House leadership in pushing for efforts that will modernize and develop the country’s agricultural sector. Not only will it improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolks, it will also significantly contribute to food security of Filipinos,” Tiangco said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961602/tiangco-lauds-program-29-1500-navotas-residents-bought-cheaper-rice

PH, US now gearing up for much larger Balikatan exercises in 2025

John Eric Mendoza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:18:02 PST

MILITARY DRILLS In this photo taken in April 2019, Filipino and American troops storm a beach facing West Philippine Sea in Zambales province during amphibious exercises as part of the 2019 “Balikatan” military exercises. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA. MILITARY DRILLS In this photo taken in April 2019, Filipino and American troops storm a beach facing West Philippine Sea in Zambales province during amphibious exercises as part of the 2019 “Balikatan” military exercises. INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States are now gearing up for much larger bilateral war games next year, the military spokesperson said on Tuesday. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the early preparation for Balikatan is partly why US General Charles Brown Jr., chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, visited the military headquarters on Tuesday. Brown met AFP chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. “After Balikatan we are already on the works with our planning, so I guess this [meeting] will have more details how the Balikatan exercises will be pushing forward,” Padilla said in a regular AFP press briefing in Philippine Air Force headquarters when asked what kind of message does Brown’s visit bring. Teodoro previously said that the Balikatan 2025 will see a “full scale battle simulation.” “Our Balikatan exercises are on the works because if [this year’s] Balikatan is one of the biggest, it’s gonna be bigger by next year,” Padilla said. As highlight of this year’s Balikatan, the former BRP Lake Caliraya, a discarded “made in China” oil tanker, was also submerged during the sinking exercise held in the shores of Laoag City, one of the country’s northernmost areas near Taiwan that also faces the West Philippine Sea. READ: ‘Made in China’ target ship now a fish shelter after ‘Balikatan’ simulation The same coastal city also saw both forces’ simulation in foiling an invasion attempt by a foreign country through the use of howitzers in live fire drills. In an unprecedented development for Balikatan, the Philippines and the United States were joined by France in conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea, which saw the presence of four Chinese warships throughout their sail. Beijing’s presence there is based on its assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the exclusive economic zone of the country’s western section, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by the arbitral award issued in July 2016. The latest and the 39th iteration of Balikatan was joined by over 16,000 personnel including contingents from the Australian Defence Force, the French Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, becoming one of the biggest-ever war games between Manila and Washington in terms of personnel. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The 2023 Balikatan drills saw over 16,400 troops. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242871/ph-us-now-gearing-up-for-much-larger-balikatan-exercises-in-2025

PVL: Creamline, PLDT missing key players to start Reinforced tilt

Lance Agcaoili

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:15:35 PST

Creamline stars Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos on the bench for the Cool Smashers’ opening game in the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net Creamline stars Alyssa Valdez and Tots Carlos on the bench for the Cool Smashers’ opening game in the PVL Reinforced Conference. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net MANILA, Philippines —Creamline and PLDT are missing some of their stars to open the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday night at Philsports Arena. PLDT star Savi Davison is unlikely to play in the midseason conference as she needs to undergo a left knee treatment, while the Cool Smashers played without Tots Carlos and Alyssa Valdez in their opener. Creamline and its three-time MVPs have yet to bare the reasons why they joined reserve players Aleiah Torres, Rizza Mandapat, Bea Bonafe, and Dij Rodriguez, as well as Alas Pilipinas player Jema Galanza, who will be flying to Japan on Wednesday with the national team, on the bench. SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference Davison, meanwhile, said her knee issue is something minor–a result of wear and tear after her left ACL injury in 2017. She is expected to return in October. “I just wanted to go and clean it up. I have a bit of loose cartilage, so, everything’s OK.  Nothing major. I’ll only be out maybe three or four weeks so they’re just letting me have this conference. Just take my time and come back in October 100 percent,” the Filipino-Canada hitter. “Just over time. Your knee kind of gives out. We jump, maybe, 100 times a day. There’s something bound to happen at one point. I’m just glad that it’s nothing major. That’s what our concern was at management, the decision. Let’s take care of this now before anything else happens. That’s our goal,” she added. PLDT will also miss the services of Rhea Dimaculangan and Dell Palomata, while Kianna Dy’s recovery is still day-to-day. READ: PVL: Creamline upbeat ahead of Reinforced Conference title quest Davison remained confident of the High Speed Hitters’ chances with Russian import Elena Samoilenko, key returnees Mika Reyes and Jovie Prado as well as Kim Fajardo, Majoy Baron, Erika Santos, and libero Kath Arado. “I’m actually really confident in them. With Elena, Mika, and Jovie, coming back, I feel like they have a solid team. I’m really glad I’m not kind of leaving them high and dry,” she said. “For me as well, I want to be able to give my 100 percent and the team knows that too as well. Right now, I feel like they’ve got a handle on it. I’m really glad for that. It’s nice to be able to take my time and kind of reset.” “A lot of people are coming back. That’s something I mentioned towards the end of last season and I can see it in practice now. I’m really excited.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Creamline, on the other hand, will lean on Bernadeth Pons, Michele Gumabao, and import Erica Staunton. Subscribe to our sports news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://sports.inquirer.net/574895/pvl-creamline-pldt-missing-key-players-to-start-reinforced-tilt

PAF chief says over 400 ‘unknown’ airspace tracks not hostile

John Eric Mendoza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:42:16 PST

Screen shot from AFP Instagram account @teamafp Screen shot from AFP Instagram account @teamafp MANILA, Philippines — While details are thin about the 400 “unknown” tracks detected in the country’s airspace, one thing is for sure: they are not hostile. Philippine Air Force (PAF) chief Lieutenant General Stephen Parreño made the assurance in response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s remark about the unknown tracks. Marcos, during the 77th PAF anniversary celebration last July 1, said the 400 unknown tracks were monitored in the Philippine Air Defense Identification Zone, according to news reports. “These are not hostile,” Parreño said in a regular press briefing held at PAF headquarters in Villamor Air Base, citing their flight patterns, speed, and altitude. Parreño said their tracks were tagged as “unknown” only because they were not registered. “It reflects the capability of the Philippine Air Force now to monitor all of these — previously we didn’t have [the capability]; we had limited capabilities,” he said. Meant for the use of PAF, Japan’s TPS-P14ME, a mobile-type long-range air surveillance radar that provides high-resolution surveillance of air assets, arrived in the country last April. READ: New mobile radar system from Japan arrives in Philippines Aside from the mobile radar, there is also a fixed radar system installed at the Wallace Air Station in San Fernando City, La Union. These two radars delivered are among the four units worth P5.5 billion procured by the Department of National Defense as part of the Horizon Two or second phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the remaining two fixed radar systems are expected to arrive in the country two years from now. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242875/paf-chief-says-over-400-unknown-airspace-tracks-not-hostile

2 riders dead after motorcycle bumps parked tractor in Quezon

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:22:51 PST

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO LUCENA CITY — Two motorcycle riders died early Tuesday, July 16, after their vehicle bumped into a parked tractor in Candelaria town in Quezon province, police said. The motorcycle, ridden by a still unidentified driver and backrider factory worker Emerson Alviso, 21, was traveling along the Maharlika Highway around 2:15 a.m. when their vehicle slammed into a parked tractor head on the side of the road in Barangay Masin Norte, a spot report from the Quezon police said. Both riders suffered fatal injuries and died on the spot. The police did not specify if the parked tractor head driven by “Don” had a reflectorized or early warning device to alarm approaching vehicles. Don was placed under police custody while the investigation continued. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961436/2-riders-dead-after-motorcycle-bumps-parked-tractor-in-quezon

Ocampo, Castro, 11 others convicted of child abuse

Germelina Lacorte, Jeannette I. Andrade, Russel Loreto

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:55:00 PST

Former Representative Satur Ocampo  and ACT Teachers Party list Rep. France Castro —photo from the House of Representatives FB page Former Representative Satur Ocampo  and ACT Teachers Party list Rep. France Castro —photo from the House of Representatives FB page MANILA, Philippines — “A clear miscarriage of justice.” This was how former Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Party list Rep. France Castro on Monday described the ruling of the Tagum City Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicting them of child abuse charges relating to the 2018 incident involving “lumad” (indigenous) students in Mindanao. The case stemmed from an incident on Nov. 28, 2018, when the lumad school Salugpungan in Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod town, was shut down by tribal leaders upon orders by the military and the teachers were asked to leave the area. READ: Satur denies recruiting minors, confirms NPAs in lumad areas At 6:30 p.m. that rainy day, the teachers left the area, bringing with them 14 lumad learners, and were fetched in a van by the group of Castro and Ocampo in another sitio after they walked in the dark for three hours. Ocampo and Castro were part of the solidarity mission in Tagum City, where they received a distressed call from the teachers. READ: Charges eyed vs DepEd chief over ‘lumad’ school closures In a decision issued on July 3 but released to the media during the weekend, Judge Jimmy Boco, acting presiding judge of RTC Court Branch 2 in Tagum City, convicted Ocampo, Castro, and 11 others for violation of Republic Act No. 7610, which provides a stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse. The court acquitted the four accused pastors—Edgar Ugal, Rev. Ryan Magpayo, Eller Ordeniza and Rev. Jurie Jaime—after the prosecutor failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Aside from Ocampo and Castro, the court convicted Ma. Eugenia Victoria Nolasco, Jesus Madamo, Meriro Poquita, Ma. Concepcion Ibarra, Jenevive Paraba, Nerhaya Talledo, Maricel Andagkit, Marcial Rendon, Marianne Aga, Nerfa Awing and Wingwing Daunsay, and meted them with prison terms of four to six years. They were also directed to pay P10,000 civil indemnity and P10,000 moral damages to each of the 14 minors. Another person involved in the case, Ariel Ansan, had turned state witness, altering his affidavit to claim that the national solidarity mission “exposed children to danger,” according to human rights group Karapatan. In its decision, the court said the accused committed acts detrimental to the safety and well-being of the minor lumad learners “by keeping them in their company and transporting them on foot in the evening for three hours in a dark and unsecured road without assistance and presence of law enforcement, government agency or even a written consent of the minors’ parents, exposing the minors to hazard.” Ocampo, Castro and the other activists and educators collectively called the “Talaingod 18” vowed to appeal their conviction and will initiate the appeal process at the RTC level and pursue it to the Supreme Court if necessary. In a joint statement, Ocampo and Castro denounced the decision as “unacceptable and unjust,” arguing that the “wrongful conviction speaks of the continuing persecution of those who are helping and advocating for the rights of lumad children and the persistent attacks on lumad schools and communities.” Describing the decision as “absurd and unacceptable,” Castro said the fabricated charges, harassment, and persistent threats against the lumad people and those who stand in solidarity with them must end. Castro’s colleagues in the Makabayan bloc, Gabriela women’s party Rep. Arlene Brosas and Kabataan party list Rep. Raoul Manuel, decried the decision as an injustice. Brosas said the “Talaingod 18” were victims of state persecution for their humanitarian efforts to rescue lumad students and teachers from threats and harassment. “Castro led the charge to hold accountable the Dutertes for the drug war, daughter Sara for her confidential funds racket, and (Apollo) Quiboloy for being an internationally wanted child sex trafficker,” Manuel pointed out, adding “this is sweet revenge for them [and] it would not be surprising if they had a hand in this. This is a political maneuver to preempt the 2025 bid of genuine opposition leaders with Castro at the helm.” Meanwhile, Duterte Youth party list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema lauded the verdict, pointing out that the ACT Teachers Party list lawmaker was not immune from arrest or serving her sentence. Cardema cited section 9 of the House rules which provides, “members shall be privileged from arrest for any or all offenses punishable by not more than six years of imprisonment while Congress is in session.” However, she said Congress is not in session this month and will resume session on the day of the State of the Nation Address on July 22. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año also said the conviction “sends a strong message that those who violate our laws will face justice.” “It doesn’t matter if you are prominent in society, the law is the law and one has to be accountable for one’s actions,” he said in a statement. For Executive Director Ernesto Torres Jr. of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, “justice has been served [since] Satur and Castro were given their day in court… [and they] should accept the court’s decision because we are a nation of laws and not just of men.” Among the groups that condemned the ruling was the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), which urged the higher courts to reconsider and overturn the ruling since the charges were only “fabricated” by the government. “For doing their duties…, teachers and rights defenders were unjustly punished, while military and paramilitary forces who are the true perpetrators of violence and child rights abuses roam free,” ACT chair Vladimer Quetua said in a statement. Cristina Palabay, secretary general of the human rights watchdog Karapatan, said the verdict “shows that even courts of law are increasingly being weaponized against human rights defenders.” The national women’s alliance Gabriela called the decision “a blatant attack on human rights defenders” and “a continuation of the state’s persecution of progressive individuals and organizations.” Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The court decision has also caught the attention of international groups, including the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights, whose chair Mercy Chriesty Barends said it has “no basis in reality.” —with reports from Dempsey Reyes and Francis Mangosing News that matters By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961264/ocampo-castro-11-othersconvicted-of-child-abuse

Comelec registers over 4 million new voters

Dianne Sampang

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 15:21:02 PST

Commission on Elections. INQUIRER FILES Commission on Elections. INQUIRER FILES MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has registered more than 4 million new voters, exceeding its goal of listing 3 million new voters two months before the registration closes. According to data released by the poll body to the media on Tuesday, the number of voters’ applications processed as of July 13 is 4,565,405. The Comelec said 2,359,536 new voters are females while 2,205,869 are males. READ: Comelec looks set to hit goal of 3M new voters Region IV-A tallied the highest number of registrations with 768,899 new voters, followed by National Capital Region (634,881), Region III (534,782), Region XI (268,289), and Region VII (242,816). The voters’ registration will end on Sept. 30. Eligible voters can register at the office of the election officer or satellite registration office in their area from Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applicants need to bring one of the following: READ: Comelec close to registering 3M new voters The midterm elections will be held on May 12, 2025, and the election period will run from January 12 to June 12, 2025. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961517/comelec-registers-over-4-million-new-voters

Palarong Pambansa 2024: Tejero ES wins ‘Best Billeting School’ award

dbongcac

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:51:03 PST

Officials of Tejero Elementary School and representatives from Region 4-A received the mock check for winning the “Best in Billeting School” award in Palarong Pambansa 2024. | CDN Digital photo / Christian Dave Cuizon Officials of Tejero Elementary School and representatives from Region 4-A received the mock check for winning the “Best in Billeting School” award in Palarong Pambansa 2024. | CDN Digital photo / Christian Dave Cuizon CEBU CITY, Philippines — Tejero Elementary School that is occupied by the delegation from Calabarzon was named the “Best Billeting School” of Palarong Pambansa 2024. School officials together with heads of the Calabarzon delegation received a cash prize of P15, 000. Calabarzon (Region IV-A) also placed second overall placer in national meet’s final medal rankings. READ: Ilocos Norte aims to match Cebu City for Palaro 2025 Meanwhile, Don Carlos Gothong Memorial National High School that is occupied by the delegation from Region 11 or Davao Region, placed second. READ: Palarong Pambansa 2024: LIVE UPDATES The second placers also received a cash prize of P10, 000. Lastly, Bicol Region’s (Region 5) second home in the Palarong Pambansa, the Don Sergio Osmeña Sr. Memorial National High School in Brgy. Labangon, rounded off the top three “Best Billeting Schools.” READ: Palarong Pambansa 2024: Delegate loses belongings inside venue They pocketed P8,000. One of the highlights of Cebu City’s hosting of the Palarong Pambansa is the selection of the “Best Billeting School.” The winners were selected based on their display of ‘festival-themed’ designs and how they took care of the members of their delegation who are in Cebu for the national games. A total of 20 Cebu City public schools served as billeting quarters for over 12,000 student-athletes during the meet which concluded on July 16. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584982/palarong-pambansa-2024-tejero-es-wins-best-billeting-school-award

DOH reports rise in dengue cases, logs over 90k from Jan-June 29

dbongcac

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:13:59 PST

Mosquito stock image/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO Mosquito stock image/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said dengue cases increased in the country as it recorded 90,119 from January to June 29. According to the DOH, the count was 19 percent higher than the 75,968 cases listed in the same period last year. It also reported that 233 patients died in the same period, but noted that the figure was lower than the 291 fatalities recorded in the same period in 2024. READ: Dengue cases in Central Visayas reach 7,000 with 19 deaths The DOH attributed the hike in dengue infection to the onset of the rainy season. It noted that frequent rains allow more water to pool and become stagnant, causing the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the virus to breed in pools of dormant water. In a report on Tuesday, July 16, the DOH also enumerated its documentation of dengue cases from May 19 to June 29, 2024, as follows: READ: Summer 2024: DOH-7 reports rise in dengue, influenza-like illnesses The health department likewise noted that seven regions have registered increases in the infection over the past six weeks before June 29. These are Mimaropa, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and National Capital Region (NCR). READ: Dengue in Cebu City: Impose measures vs disease, city health dep’t urged Previously, the agency said that the highly-populated NCR or Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON have the highest cases of dengue for the past five years. The DOH then reiterated its call to public to observe its “4S” strategy to combat dengue: search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds; self-protection measures; seek early consultation with a doctor upon the onset of dengue symptoms; and support fogging or spraying in a location where a dengue case increase is reported. “With rain comes the rise of Dengue. We know what works, and that is to kill mosquitoes. Protect loved ones too through clothing and mosquito repellants. Do not self-medicate; ask your doctor or nearby clinic if you have Dengue,” said Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/585013/doh-reports-rise-in-dengue-cases-logs-over-90k-from-jan-june-29

DMW online systems hit by ransomware attack; alternate measures up

Charie Abarca

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:15:21 PST

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said a ransomware attack prompted the shutdown of its online systems early Tuesday morning. In an advisory posted on its social media pages, DMW said that due to the attack, its Management Information Technology System had to take pre-emptive measures to protect overseas Filipino workers’ (OFW) data and information, such as taking the systems offline. “While efforts to restore online systems are ongoing, electronic or online systems that issue Overseas Employment Certificate/ OFW passes and OFW information sheets, and other online services may not be used temporarily,” the agency’s advisory stated. “Rest assured, DMW databases containing OFW data were not affected by the attack, and that the DMW is currently working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to restore online systems and ensure continued protection of the data and information of OFWs,” it added. To address the issue and allow the continued provision of services to OFWs, DMW said it has activated the following: The DMW said it is coordinating with the Bureau of Immigration and airport authorities to facilitate the smooth departure of OFWs. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961357/dmw-online-systems-hit-by-ransomware-attack-alternate-measures-up

CHR: Maritime cadet forced to exercise to death

Faith Argosino, Russel Loreto

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 05:45:00 PST

Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta Inquirer/Niño Jesus Orbeta MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched an investigation into the death of a 19-year-old maritime academy cadet who was allegedly punished by an upperclassman for accidentally sending a “thumbs-up” emoji in a group chat. Vince Andrew delos Reyes, a sophomore cadet at a merchant marine school in Calamba, Laguna province, died on Monday after performing strenuous physical exercises on orders of a senior student, the CHR said, citing news reports. READ: Grieving mom seeks justice for cadet who died after emoji punishment “The Commission has zero tolerance for such actions,” CHR Chair Richard Palpal-latoc said in a statement. “Such practices not only jeopardize the physical well-being of the student but also violate their dignity and rights,” he said. Based on a police investigation, Delos Reyes had inadvertently sent the emoji in a cadet corps group chat, allegedly displeasing his seniors. As punishment, the upperclassman reportedly ordered Delos Reyes to perform rigorous exercises after the evening meal. Delos Reyes then had difficulty breathing and collapsed. He was rushed to an infirmary and later transferred to Global Care Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The CHR said it initiated its investigation through its regional office in Region 4. Palpal-latoc called for a swift and thorough investigation by the authorities, emphasizing that “severe physical punishments have no place in any educational institution.” In a phone interview with Inquirer.net, the victim’s mother, Ana said Delos Reyes’ school, NYK-TDG Maritime Academy, informed her about what happened on the phone. She and her husband, accompanied by two nephews, traveled from their home in Baco, Oriental Mindoro, to Barangay Canlubang in Calamba City, where the academy is located. Ana said they went to the Calamba City Police Station, where her son’s upperclassman, identified only as “Nathaniel,” had been brought in for questioning, along with four other unnamed witnesses. “When I read the report about the group chat, I first asked them (the witnesses) what they knew about Vince. They said he was very kind and quiet. When I asked if he ever spoke badly [about anyone] or bragged, they said he did not,” Ana said. She said her son’s health had always been in good condition, which was why she doubted that he died only by strenuous exercise. “A classmate said that it’s easy for [my son] to do 300 [push-ups]. His body is fit, and he can even do 1,000,” Ana said. “It is impossible that he’ll have a heart attack. They are very strict with their medical [checkup], and he also underwent one,” she told Inquirer.net. Ana said her son previously denied any bullying or harassment at school whenever she asked him. “When my son would come home, I would always ask how he was. I said, ‘son, don’t hesitate to tell me if they are bullying or harassing you. Don’t keep it a secret if you are experiencing something like that.’ But he told me that nothing like that was happening,” Ana said. Delos Reyes’ body lies at the family’s residence in Barangay Tagumpay, Baco. Ana said it was hard for any parent to accept a child’s death. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “What happened to my son is difficult to accept, but I will try to accept it. The only thing I ask for is justice for my son,” she said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961265/chr-maritime-cadet-forced-to-exercise-to-death

Do you Trust me? Trusts in the Philippines

John Philip Siao

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:00:55 PST

A trust is the legal relationship between one person having an equitable ownership of property (trustor) and another person owning the legal title to such property (trustee). The trustor is entitled to expect the performance of certain duties and obligations from the trustee. In a case decided by the Supreme Court, Margarita owned three parcels of unregistered land in La Union, each measuring 4,512 square meters, 1,986 square meters and 3,454 square meters, all of which properties did not have certificates of titles but were covered by tax declarations in the name of Margarita. (Estate of Cabagungan vs. Laigo, et al. GR 175073, August 15, 2011) Margarita’s son, Roberto, wanted to apply for a visa to visit America and, to show he had financial capacity, he asked his mother to transfer the properties in his name. Margarita agreed and in 1968 executed an Affidavit of Transfer of Real Property where she donated the properties to Roberto. READ: Transfers of shares held in trust are not subject to tax Roberto’s visa was granted, he went to America and returned to the Philippines. In 1990 he sold one of the properties to the Sps. Campos and the other two to Pedro and Marilou, his adopted children, in 1992. Margarita claims that it was only after Roberto died that she discovered that he had sold the properties. She filed a complaint to void the sales and to recover her properties claiming that she only accommodated her son’s request for help and did not intend to relinquish ownership over her properties. Sps. Campos settled the case with Margarita while Marilou and Pedro did not. They claimed to be innocent purchasers for value in good faith and sought dismissal of the complaint of Margarita on the ground of prescription as it was filed more than 10 after the Affidavit of Transfer. The lower courts dismissed the case holding that there was a simple transfer of property between Margarita and Roberto there being no document showing that a trust was created and that Roberto was obligated to return the properties. Further the court declared that, even if a trust relationship was created, Margarita’s complaint in 1996 was barred prescription and laches for being filed past 10 years or for an extended period of time since the transfer to Roberto in 1968. The Supreme Court reversed the decisions and declared that there was an implied trust created, that prescription had not set in, and ordered that the properties be returned to Margarita and her heirs. The decision of the Supreme Court contained several important legal points. The Supreme Court declared that there was no laches (which is the failure to act within a reasonable time which bars a claim) since being family, Margarita trusted Roberto which could explain her delay in enforcing her claim. The action of Margarita filed in 1996 did not prescribe yet as the counting of the 10 year prescription period should start in 1992, or the date when Roberto had repudiated the trust by selling the properties to Marilou and Pedro. The rule concerning innocent purchasers for value applies primarily to registered land. Since the properties in question were unregistered, i.e. covered by tax declarations and not certificates of titles with the Registry of Deeds. Accordingly, Marilou and Pedro purchased the properties at their own risk and peril and could not claim protection as innocent purchasers if their seller, Roberto, had no right to sell them. There are different types of trusts. Trusts are either express or implied. An Express Trust is created by the direct and positive acts of the parties, by some writing or deed, will, or by oral declaration in words showing the intent to create a trust. Implied Trusts arise by legal implication based on the presumed intention of the parties or on equitable principles independent of the particular intention of the parties. They are those which, without being expressed, are deducible from the nature of the transaction as matters of intent or, independently of the particular intention of the parties, as being inferred from the transaction by operation of law basically by reason of equity. Implied Trusts are further classified into Constructive Trusts and Resulting Trusts. A Constructive Trust arises by operation of law and not by agreement or intention. It is imposed by equity to satisfy justice and to defeat wrong such that it is sometimes referred to as “fraud-rectifying trust”. Some examples: An Implied Trust can also be a Resulting Trust due to the nature or circumstances of the consideration involved in a transaction where one person becomes invested with legal title but is obligated in equity to hold his title for the benefit of another. This is also known as “intention enforcing trust” as the trust is interpreted based on the intention of the parties. Some examples: a. When a property is sold and registered in the name of another while the price is paid by someone else who has the beneficial interest on the property; b. In a donation of property where the donee has no beneficial or only a part interest in the property; c. When a person causes legal title to be placed in the name of another; d. When 2 or more persons purchase a property for their benefit but title is placed in the name of only one; and e. When property is transferred to another who has declared that he shall hold it for or transfer it to another. Intent as an indispensable element and the Courts will receive evidence to establish this intention of the parties. In the case of Margarita, the Supreme Court found that the testimonies of Margarita’s daughter and niece were sufficient to establish that an Implied Trust was created. Margarita did not intend to relinquish ownership over the properties as she merely lent them to Roberto for his visa application and expected them to be returned to her. When Roberto sold the properties he repudiated the Implied Trust. Repudiation of a trust may be done when a trustee performs acts of repudiation amounting to an ouster of the trustor and, that such acts of repudiation, which are clear and conclusive, have been made known to the trustor. In Express and Resulting Implied Trusts, a trustee may acquire by prescription the thing held in trust only if he repudiates the trust. This is because in such types of trust, there is the acceptance and intention to create a trust between the trustor and trustee. There is no need for repudiation in Constructive Trusts as there is no promise or fiduciary relation between the trustee and trustor. A trustee in a Constructive Trust is always considered to hold the property in trust adverse to the trustor. (Canezo v. Rojas, GR 148788, November 23, 2007) It is clear that the decision of the Sps. Campos to settle with Margarita was the correct decision. On a final note, it is important that the outcome may have been different if the properties were titled or covered by a Certificate of Title registered with the Registry of Deeds and, not merely by tax declarations. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. (The author, Atty. John Philip C. Siao, is a practicing lawyer and founding Partner of Tiongco Siao Bello & Associates Law Offices, an Arbitrator of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission of the Philippines, and teaches law at the De La Salle University Tañada-Diokno School of Law. He may be contacted at [email protected]. The views expressed in this article belong to the author alone.) Subscribe to our business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468849/do-you-trust-me-trusts-in-the-philippines

Batangas OFW shot dead by riding-in-tandem

Delfin T. Mallari Jr.

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:18:34 PST

INQUIRER FILES INQUIRER FILES LUCENA CITY — A 53-year-old overseas Filipina worker (OFW) was shot and killed on Monday, July 15, by riding-in-tandem gunmen in Lobo town in Batangas province. Lorna Babao, single, was on her way home at 11:23 a.m. aboard a tricycle with her mother when the gunmen,  who were riding a motorcycle,  appeared and repeatedly shot her using a caliber .45 pistol in Barangay Balatbat, the Region 4A police said in a report on Tuesday, July 16. The assailants sped off after the shooting. Babao, a resident of Balatbat, suffered a fatal gunshot wound on her nape and died on the way to the Lobo Municipal Hospital. Her mother and the tricycle driver were left unharmed. The police were investigating the incident further to identify the killers and establish the motive behind the shooting. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961502/batangas-ofw-shot-dead-by-riding-in-tandem

DTI eyes Dec release of products, services list under Tatak Pinoy Act

Alden M. Monzon @AldenMonzonINQ

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 11:19:35 PST

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO INQUIRER FILE PHOTO A top official at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Monday said they are looking to release by December an initial list of domestically-produced goods and services that will be given preference in government bid contracts as part of the recently passed Tatak Pinoy Act. Trade undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba said they are still completing the list and working with both local and foreign experts to finish the roster. READ: Tatak Pinoy Act to boost local industries’ competitiveness — DTI “Our target is that by December we will have a draft, and this will be presented publicly so we can get feedback, suggestions, so that we will have a better Tatak Pinoy strategy,” Aldaba told reporters during the Tatak Pinoy Forum at the Philippine International Convention Center. “It will be a multi-year list. We are looking at having a list that is short-run, middle-run and long-run,” she added. The list is part of the several measures under the Tatak Pinoy Act, one of the priority legislations under Marcos, which was enacted earlier in February. Under the law, and its implementing rules and regulations signed late May, preference will be given to Philippine-made products and services in a bid to strengthen local industry. The period given for this under the law is 10 years upon the effectivity of the law, but allows for an extension if Congress deem it as necessary. A Tatak Pinoy Council will also be established under the law that will serve as the policy and advisory body of the president on creating policies and programs to diversify the productive capabilities of domestic enterprises. READ: Angara: Tatak Pinoy law ‘a giant leap’ to becoming an industrialized PH The secretariat will be appointed from a list of five nominees within the DTI. During the same event, trade secretary Alfredo Pascual said that the Tatak Pinoy initiative is also crucial to president Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s industrial policy which seeks to propel local enterprises toward producing diverse, sophisticated, high-quality products and services. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. “This strategic direction empowers us to confidently navigate industrialization, thereby increasing economic grow Curated business news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://business.inquirer.net/468934/dti-eyes-dec-release-of-products-services-list-under-tatak-pinoy-act

NKTI probes alleged kidney trafficking

Philippine News Agency

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 21:36:27 PST

Photo courtesy of NKTI Photo courtesy of NKTI MANILA, Philippines– The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) on Tuesday said it is conducting its own investigation on alleged cases of organ trafficking. The NKTI reacted on the National Bureau of Investigation’s arrest in Bulacan of three persons who allegedly buy and sell human organs, including kidneys. One of the suspects who remained at-large is an NKTI nurse and the alleged gang leader. “While we confirm that the said nurse is indeed an employee of the NKTI, we would like to assure the public that the management is already conducting its own investigation on the matter,” the hospital said in a statement. It also warned the public against entering into transactions outside the hospital with groups, organizations and private individuals “claiming to be from the NKTI.” Being the National Specialty Center for Renal Health and Organ Transplantation, the NKTI emphasized that it honors “legitimate transactions only” regarding living organ donation, transplantation and deceased organ donation. “We are also advising our patients and other stakeholders to visit NKTI for legitimate and accurate information about our services and activities,” it said. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961628/nkti-probes-alleged-kidney-trafficking

Consolacion gunfight: 2 killed, 1 nabbed by the police

dbongcac

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:21:50 PST

File photo File photo LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — One was killed, another was arrested while a third suspect tried to escape but was later on killed by the police in a gunfight in Sitio Mapo, Brgy. Garing in Consolacion town. Police Lieutenant Colonel Ruel Burlat, chief of Consolacion Police Station, said that the three men belonged to two opposing groups. READ: Consolacion killing: Man shot dead by unknown assailant Two of the armed suspects, who were identified as Vincent Yap, 27, and Rudy Capangpangan alias “Botyok,” allegedly stormed into the residence of Florencio Salde, 35, in Sitio Mapo at around 5 p.m. on Monday, July 15. Yap and Capangpangan were from Brgy. Pulpogan, also in Consolacion town. Burlat said that the two fired shots at Salde who retaliated, which alarmed residents in the area and prompted them to call for police assistance. READ: Construction worker shot dead by coworker after heated argument, police eye illegal drugs as motive As Yap and Capangpangan were about to leave Sitio Mapo on a motorcycle, the cops arrived. Left with nowhere else to go, the two men alleged fired shots at the responding police team. READ: Cebu City shooting: Man, out on bail, killed inside his house Burlat said his men fired back to defend themselves and managed to neutralized Yap while Capangpangan escaped on foot. “Pagkakita sa katong duha ka taw nga naa atong mga tropa, ilang gipusil dayon. Ang usa gagamit ug KG9 ang usa gagamit ug 45. Para madepensahan ang ilang kaugalingon, dunay nahitabo nga gunfight,” Burlat said. READ: Parian gunfight: 2 shooters, 3 other suspects nabbed Yap later on died in the hospital while he was being treated for the bullet wounds on his body. Salde, on the other hand, surrendered to the police and turned over his AR15 rifle with magazine and three live ammunition. He was also brought to the hospital for the treatment of a bullet wound on his left foot which he sustained during the armed encounter with the two other suspects. Salde was later on detained at the Consolacion Police Station for possessing an unlicensed firearm. Meanwhile, police recovered from Yap’s possession a medium-sized plastic believed to contain shabu and some coins. They also recovered at the crime scene a motorcycle, wallet, red baseball cap, the KG9 submachine gun used by Yap , a fired cartridge case, and 28 pieces of live ammunition. Burlat said that Capangpangan was killed by the police during a hot pursuit operation in Sitio Mapo early on Tuesday morning. “While naghimo ta ug hot pursuit operation naka-receive tag tawag nga naay usa ka tawo nga armed person nga spotted sa lugar. Base sa report nga pag-responde sa atong tropa, gipusil napod sila which resulted napod [sa] gunfight,” Burlat said. “Kami sa part sa kapulisan, as much as we want to save lives, kung ang kinabuhi na gani sa kapulisan ang mabutang sa peligro, kinahanglan pod tang modepensa,” he added. Burlat said they continue to investigate the shooting incident in Sitio Mapo to determine what prompted Yap and Capangpangan to try to kill Salde. This early, he could only speculate that illegal drugs caused their disagreement. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584963/consolacion-gunfight-2-killed-1-nabbed-by-the-police

DPWH says 2nd San Juanico Bridge to be located in Tacloban

Philippine News Agency

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:29:22 PST

| PHOTO: DPWH-8 | PHOTO: DPWH-8 TACLOBAN CITY – Officials agreed to relocate the proposed second San Juanico Bridge from nearby Babatngon town to this city, citing accessibility as the main reason, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here confirmed on Tuesday. Citing reports from the DPWH Unified Project Monitoring Office, DPWH regional information officer Cressida Paula Mangaporo said there were three primary reasons why there was a change in the location of the proposed long bridge. “First is access to two-way traffic. If the new bridge is close to the existing one, the other one is intended for Leyte-bound vehicles, while the other one is meant for Samar-bound vehicles,” Mangaporo told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview. The second consideration is the bridge’s sustainability. If the bridge is situated near the existing one, maintenance activities are easier since there are operating maintenance stations on both the Leyte and Samar sides of the existing San Juanico Bridge. “If the new bridge is in Babatngon, we will build a new maintenance station, which is costly,” she added. The third consideration is the proximity of the new bridge to the city, the regional capital of Eastern Visayas. Under the old proposal, the second San Juanico Bridge will cross the Janbatas Channel, a portion of the San Juanico Strait that separates the region’s two major islands. The proposed bridge connects Babatngon, Leyte, and Sta. Rita, Samar. In the new proposal, the new bridge will be located just a few meters from the existing one, connecting Tacloban and Sta. Rita town. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study team for the 2nd San Juanico Bridge project started its first of four on-site visits to the bridge route options on November 17, 2023. The team had their second on-site study in the first quarter of the year. Their third assessment is scheduled this month, while the final visit is in September 2024. Experts are expected to come up with their final feasibility study report early in December 2024. No data on project cost estimates has been released by the DPWH. Construction for the second San Juanico Bridge is expected to kick off in 2025. Eastern Visayas officials pushed for the construction of an alternative bridge due to the deteriorating condition of the existing bridge and the increasing traffic. In 2019, traffic volume on the San Juanico Bridge stood at 7,200 vehicles daily, close to its 10,000 daily capacity. In 2030, it is expected to increase to 10,900 daily, more than its limit, and 15,900 by 2040. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Built in 1973, the existing 2.16 km. San Juanico Bridge faces many issues, such as aging and high maintenance costs. The bridge forms part of the country’s nautical highway that connects Luzon to Mindanao. (PNA) Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961555/dpwh-says-2nd-san-juanico-bridge-to-be-located-in-tacloban

Taxi driver found dead under Marcelo Fernan Bridge

merram

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 13:31:04 PST

[Trigger warning: Mentions of suicide and self-harm] A taxi driver was found dead underneath the Marcelo Fernan Bridge in Mandaue City on Tuesday, July 16. More on this shortly. | via Paul Lauro CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police continue to investigate the death of a taxi driver whose corpse was found floating along Mactan Channel on Tuesday, July 16. Residents near Pajara Park, Brgy. Umapad in Mandaue City discovered the body of a dead man floating underneath the Marcelo Fernan Bridge at past 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16. The victim was identified as Ruben Zamora Remolino. His taxi was found parked at the entrance of the park, with witnesses saying that the vehicle had been parked there for two days already. CTMS to motorists: Avoid using Marcelo Fernan Bridge for now Fishermen in Liloan rescue Marcelo Fernan Bridge jumper Woman found dead in Cavite hotel room Among the possibilities that the investigators are looking into are suicide and foul-play. Citing initial findings from investigators, Police Lt. Col. Mercy Villaro, spokesperson at the Mandaue City Police Office, the victim bore bruises on his face and other parts of his body. Family members, who went to claim Remolino’s body, also told police that the dead taxi driver had attempted to take his own life before. In addition, the operator of the taxi driver shared to investigators that the victim recently broke up with his wife, and this might have impacted on his mental health. Meanwhile, Remolino’s family decided that his body would not undergo an autopsy, Villaro said. “Padayon gihapon atong investigation,” she added. (The investigation will still continue.) *** *Those facing huge personal problems or experiencing extreme sadness can reach out to and call Tawag Paglaum Centro Bisaya if they need someone to talk to. Tawag Paglaum Centro Bisaya is a 24/7 call-based hotline for suicide prevention and emotional crisis intervention established in Cebu. Anyone in Central Visayas experiencing a mental disorder relapse or suicidal thoughts may reach the hotline at 0939-936-5433 or 0927-654-1629.* Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Inquirer

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584923/taxi-driver-found-dead-under-marcelo-fernan-bridge

‘Marites warfare’: AFP denies walkout of top brass at command conference

John Eric Mendoza

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:31:57 PST

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday categorically denied the reported walkout of military officials during a command conference. AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said this in response to a DZRH radio expose about the alleged walkout last July 4 of a “top general” followed by other officials during a command conference. However, it can be recalled that the last command conference of the AFP was presided over by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 4. READ: Marcos leads a command conference with AFP officials The midyear command conference came on the heels of the June 17 incident in the BRP Sierra Madre — a naval outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal — which saw the most violent actions of China Coast Guard personnel so far, leading to what the Philippine military deem as “looting” of its disassembled high-powered guns and even caused the thumb amputation of one of its naval personnel. On July 2, or two days before the command conference, Manila and Beijing also held the bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea to de-escalate tensions between the two nations. READ: DFA: PH, China committed to easing tensions in West Philippine Sea “If you are referring to the command conference, that’s fake news,” Padilla said in a regular AFP press conference held at Philippine Air Force headquarters when asked to respond to such claims. “I was there personally. There is nothing of that sort that happened; it was a very professional exchange of ideas and discussions and there were also a lot of updates that were given. It all ended on a positive note,” she added. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, also categorically denied this. “That is fifty percent fabrication, fifty percent imagination, 100 percent false,” Trinidad said in an ambush interview, branding such claims as “Marites warfare.” “Marites” is a Filipino slang referring to gossipmongers. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Trinidad also shrugged off a circulating text message among military circles purportedly from active AFP members calling for the replacement of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. over the violent June 17 incident. “The chain of command is intact; we have very good and robust working relationships with higher headquarters especially with the Department of National Defense,” Trinidad said when asked to respond to the anonymous text message. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1961539/marites-warfare-afp-denies-walkout-of-top-brass-at-command-conference

Palarong Pambansa 2024: Delegate loses belongings inside venue

eares

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:19:06 PST

Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, Deputy Director for Operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, Deputy Director for Operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO). | CDN Photo/ Emmariel Ares CEBU CITY, Philippines – Throughout the week-long Palarong Pambansa 2024 in Cebu City, there was only one untoward incident involving a delegate that was reported to police. Police Lieutenant Colonel Janette Rafter, Deputy Director for Operations of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said that a delegate reportedly lost some personal belongings after leaving a bag at a corner of a playing venue last week. This incident allegedly took place inside one of the universities in Cebu City where games of table tennis were being conducted. According to Rafter, the incident happened while there was an influx of individuals at the venue and it was difficult to separate players from the students who were there to enroll. She stated that the incident served as a lesson for them to provide stricter security at the schools that were used as venues of the Palarong Pambansa 2024. “So with that, among gi-improve amoang security deployment…Lesson learned pud to sa atoa no nga especially kanang mga event nga giheld sa mga eskwelahan, establishemento,” stated Rafter. She added that they have since cordoned off specific areas where the games were being held and deployed additional personnel at the venues. Aside from this one incident, Rafter relayed that there were no major incidents recorded during Palaro. The games will officially close Tuesday afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center. Rafter added that similar to the Palarong Pambansa 2024 opening ceremony, they are expecting that the closing will also end in a peaceful manner. “As we end it today, [we hope] nga it will remain to be peaceful and festive ang atoang environment diri sa Cebu,” stated Rafter. “Sa pagsugod nato nga masadyaon ug malinawon, we also expect the same nga mahuman ta sa atong Palaro officially karong adlawa nga malinawon pud ug masadyaon,” she added. The closing ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 will take place on Tuesday, July 16, at the Cebu City Sports Center. Police are also expecting that some VVIPs  will be attending the closing ceremony, according to Rafter. Among them is Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte. However, their security plan will not be as extensive as it was during the opening because the number of expected delegates is considerably smaller this time. While around 13,000 delegates were present during the opening of Palarong Pambansa 2024, only 100 participants from each contingent are expected to attend the closing event. In spite of this, law enforcers will continue to be alert for any possible security disruptions. There will also be rerouting of traffic routes, according to Rafter. “Based sa CCTO, there wil be rerouting. There will be some closure. But it’s not as long as the opening,” she stated. Rafter said that around 250 officers will be deployed at the CCSC before the ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m. after their coverage of the other remaining events. The personnel will be tasked to ensure the safety of the VVIPs, delegates, and the thousands of spectators expected to gather at the venue for the end of Palarong Pambansa 2024. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. The PALARONG PAMBANSA 2024: A CDN DIGITAL SPECIAL ONLINE COVERAGE is in partnership with: Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards. Subscribe to our regional newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/584929/palarong-pambansa-2024-delegate-loses-belongings-inside-venue

Pogo ‘handled pretty well’, still not a security threat – NSC official

Charie Abarca

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:22:01 PST

The Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) is still not a national security threat, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official, believing that “[r]ight now, the issue is handled pretty well” by the government. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTOMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) is still not a national security threat, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official, believing that “[r]ight now, the issue is handled pretty well” by the government. The Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) is still not a national security threat, according to a National Security Council (NSC) official, believing that “[r]ight now, the issue is handled pretty well” by the government. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO At the Senate committee on ways and means hearing on Tuesday, NSC Assistant Director General Francis Jude Lauengco said they are satisfied with the government’s initiatives in terms of addressing problems surrounding Pogo. The Senate committee on ways and means was conducting a hearing on the Anti-Online Gambling Act. “Right now, the issue is handled pretty well, we are satisfied with how this is being handled by our law enforcement and regulatory agencies,” the NSC official said. READ: Pogo not a ‘national security threat’ that needs military intervention – Año Lauengco was replying to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian’s query on what’s taking NSC so long to declare Pogo as a national security threat. Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means, stressed that all “fingerprints of a national security threat are there and all of those are pointing to Pogos as the origin of those circumstances.” “So in my mind – ano pang hinihintay natin (what are we waiting for)? What are we still waiting for to elevate it into a national security threat?” the senator asked. But Lauengco cited National Security Advisor Eduardo Año’s earlier pronouncement that Pogos are not yet a national security threat, but a national security concern. “I am taking from the statement of the National Security Advisor when he mentioned that the response to this does not yet have to include the drastic responses, for example, involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines in addressing national security threats like the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army and even terrorist threats,” explained Lauengco. “This is where I am coming from – from the statement already given by the NSC [in] this regard,” he also said. READ: Hontiveros: Why is gov’t having a hard time taking action vs Pogos? Lauengco, however, said the NSC supports the passage of laws that would criminalize illegal Pogos and totally ban illicit offshore gaming and internet gaming licensees (IGLs) in the country. “We have seen, as presented by the chair, the initial presentation – we have seen the extent of criminal activities being conducted in some of the IGLs and Pogo facilities particularly human trafficking, cyber fraud, prostitution [among others],” said Lauengco. “Which to us has become a very serious national concern that [is] now being addressed by the appropriate law enforcement agencies and Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, the Criminal Investigation and Detection group, and also by the appropriate regulatory agency such as Pagcor,” he emphasized. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy. Earlier, the Senate panel on women headed by Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged the NSC to raise before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that Pogos are a threat to national security. The call was made in an executive session where panel members and high ranking security officials tackled suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged connection to Pogos. Subscribe to our global news By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

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https://globalnation.inquirer.net/242839/pogo-handled-pretty-well-still-not-a-security-threat-nsc-official