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Elreen surpasses Hidilyn: Ando books Paris berth as Diaz falls short of 5th Olympic stint | delfin.dioquino editor | 03/04/2024 23:55 | LIFT. The Philippines' Elreen Ando in action during the 19th Asian Games.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines – Paris beckons for Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ando.
Ando booked a return trip to the Olympics as she saved the best for last in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, finishing seventh in the women’s 59kg class on Wednesday, April 3.
The pride of Cebu cleared 100kg in snatch and 128kg in clean and jerk for a total of 228kg to crack the top 10 of the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) and secure her Paris Games berth.
Ando eclipsed her previous best lift of 222kg she set in the World Weightlifting Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September.
But with Ando qualifying for Paris, Hidilyn Diaz fell short of her bid to make her fifth straight Olympics as only one athlete per country per weight category will advance, with the World Cup serving as the last qualification event.
Diaz, who owned the No. 8 spot in the OQR after recording 224kg in Riyadh, cleared just 222kg (99kg in snatch and 123kg in clean and jerk) as she settled for 11th place in the World Cup.
A pair of clean and jerk attempts at 127kg in a bid to raise her OQR score to 226kg ended unsuccessful for the 33-year-old Diaz.
Ruling the 55kg division in the Tokyo Games to become the Philippines’ first Olympic champion, Diaz needed to move up to 59kg as her former weight category got scrapped.
Ando, 25, became the second Filipino weightlifter to punch a ticket to Paris after John Ceniza, who earned his Olympic berth in the men’s 61kg class.
The IWF will release its final and official ranking list in May.
Ando, who shattered the Southeast Asian Games record last year, now aims to surpass her Olympic debut performance where she finished seventh in the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Also bound for Paris for Team Philippines are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas. – Rappler.com
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Supreme Court upholds validity of Trillanes’ amnesty, rebukes Duterte order | Jairo Bolledo | 03/04/2024 21:52 | FORMER SENATOR. File photo of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Wednesday, April 3, the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the SC en banc ruled that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 527, which revoked the former senator’s amnesty, was unconstitutional.
The High Court explained that a sitting president cannot revoke a granted amnesty without the Congress’ concurrence. In deciding in Trillanes’ case, the SC said it grounded on the “primacy of Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.”
The SC added that the revocation of the amnesty, after it became final and without prior notice, violated the former senator’s constitutional right to due process. Duterte’s proclamation, which sought to revive Trillanes’ criminal cases that had already been dismissed, violated the former lawmaker’s rights against ex post facto laws and double jeopardy.
An ex post facto law, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution, is equivalent to penalizing a person for an act that may be illegal for a certain time, but was not illegal when the alleged crime was committed. The right against double jeopardy, meanwhile, ensures that a person will not be prosecuted for the same crime.
In addition, the SC said there was convincing evidence that Trillanes filed his amnesty application. The SC also noted that Duterte’s decision to revoke only Trillanes’ amnesty, even though the application forms of other amnesty grantees were also not available, was a violation of the former senator’s right to equal protection of the laws.
“The decision affirms that in balancing the exercise of presidential prerogatives and the protection of the citizens’ rights, the Constitution and the laws remain as the Court’s anchor and rudder,” the ruling read.
Trillanes’ amnesty was granted by late former president Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation No. 50 in 2010. The order also granted amnesty to others involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula incident in 2007.
Aquino granted the amnesty “to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace and in line with the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.” The then-president later issued Proclamation No. 75 in November 2010 that superseded his Proclamation No. 50. Both chambers of Congress concurred in the proclamation.
In 2018, Duterte signed a proclamation that revoked the amnesty of one of his most vocal critics. He also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to pursue all criminal and administrative cases” against the former soldier.
Trillanes’ amnesty case reached several levels of courts – from trial to the High Court.
Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 contradicted Duterte in 2018 and junked the DOJ’s request to have Trillanes arrested. However, Soriano upheld that Duterte was within his power to issue the proclamation.
When the case reached the Court of Appeals (CA), the appellate court sided with Trillanes in 2021 but did not invalidate Duterte’s proclamation. The CA said Duterte’s order did not violate the equal protection clause and the right against double jeopardy.
The SC ruling is important because it explicitly said that Duterte’s proclamation was unconstitutional, and noted that the order violated Trillanes’ rights to equal protection and against double jeopardy and ex post facto laws. – Rappler.com
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I appreciate the Supreme Court’s decision on the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty. I agree that it is grounded on the “primacy of the Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.” I believe this will anger former President Digong Duterte after his belief that he is above the law has been rebuked.
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DOST websites defaced in new cyberattack | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 03/04/2024 13:11 | MANILA, Philippines – At least three websites or services connected to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were defaced on Tuesday, April 2.
The affected links were https://helpdesk.dost.gov.ph, http://hta.dost.gov.ph, and https://sfu.dost.gov.ph.
Aside from the DOST’s help desk, its Health Technology Assessment division and its S&T Foundation Unit were the other defaced websites within the roster.
As with the case of an earlier attack on a number of company websites linked to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, these appear to have been done by the entity known as “ph1ns” as part of the supposed #opEDSA campaign.
The attacks were verified by way of archived pages of the sites on the Wayback Machine. The defaced DOST websites were also sporting the same #opEDSA messages from the attacked company websites linked to Romualdez, calling for an end to charter change and political dynasties.
The three websites remain offline and inaccessible as of posting time.
According to a Manila Bulletin report, sources at the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the hackers also deleted 25 terabytes of data. – Rappler.com
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Court issues arrest warrant against Quiboloy | The wRap | Nina Liu | 03/04/2024 22:15 | Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
A regional court orders the arrest of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy and his associates for child abuse and sexual abuse.
A Pulse Asia survey reveals Senator Raffy Tulfo and Vice President Sara Duterte are the top contenders for the 2028 presidential race.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hits Taiwan on Wednesday, April 3, the strongest tremor to hit the island in at least 25 years, killing at least 9 people, injuring more than 800, with 77 trapped in tunnels and collapsed buildings.
Fifteen Filipinos are on Forbes’ 2024 list of the world’s richest people which has 2,781 names. Real estate magnate Manuel Villar, ports tycoon Enrique Razon, and food and beverage king Ramon Ang are the top 3 richest Filipinos on the latest Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List: The Richest in 2024.
Pope Francis says he found an ally in his predecessor Benedict XVI when he spoke in favor of civil partnerships for same-sex couples. — Rappler.com
How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/april-3-2024/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1kRQFd2YFXlFZwlY0Ig_8cD3r3wBLVrTk9pxhrt7CKYTdrvKrnNSncztY_aem_YdOKHm0MyifmHSFnAhaLNw | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Supreme Court upholds validity of Trillanes’ amnesty, rebukes Duterte order | Jairo Bolledo | 03/04/2024 21:52 | FORMER SENATOR. File photo of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Wednesday, April 3, the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh, the SC en banc ruled that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Proclamation No. 527, which revoked the former senator’s amnesty, was unconstitutional.
The High Court explained that a sitting president cannot revoke a granted amnesty without the Congress’ concurrence. In deciding in Trillanes’ case, the SC said it grounded on the “primacy of Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.”
The SC added that the revocation of the amnesty, after it became final and without prior notice, violated the former senator’s constitutional right to due process. Duterte’s proclamation, which sought to revive Trillanes’ criminal cases that had already been dismissed, violated the former lawmaker’s rights against ex post facto laws and double jeopardy.
An ex post facto law, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution, is equivalent to penalizing a person for an act that may be illegal for a certain time, but was not illegal when the alleged crime was committed. The right against double jeopardy, meanwhile, ensures that a person will not be prosecuted for the same crime.
In addition, the SC said there was convincing evidence that Trillanes filed his amnesty application. The SC also noted that Duterte’s decision to revoke only Trillanes’ amnesty, even though the application forms of other amnesty grantees were also not available, was a violation of the former senator’s right to equal protection of the laws.
“The decision affirms that in balancing the exercise of presidential prerogatives and the protection of the citizens’ rights, the Constitution and the laws remain as the Court’s anchor and rudder,” the ruling read.
Trillanes’ amnesty was granted by late former president Benigno Aquino III through Proclamation No. 50 in 2010. The order also granted amnesty to others involved in the Oakwood mutiny in 2003 and the Manila Peninsula incident in 2007.
Aquino granted the amnesty “to promote an atmosphere conducive to the attainment of a just, comprehensive and enduring peace and in line with the government’s peace and reconciliation initiatives.” The then-president later issued Proclamation No. 75 in November 2010 that superseded his Proclamation No. 50. Both chambers of Congress concurred in the proclamation.
In 2018, Duterte signed a proclamation that revoked the amnesty of one of his most vocal critics. He also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines “to pursue all criminal and administrative cases” against the former soldier.
Trillanes’ amnesty case reached several levels of courts – from trial to the High Court.
Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 148 contradicted Duterte in 2018 and junked the DOJ’s request to have Trillanes arrested. However, Soriano upheld that Duterte was within his power to issue the proclamation.
When the case reached the Court of Appeals (CA), the appellate court sided with Trillanes in 2021 but did not invalidate Duterte’s proclamation. The CA said Duterte’s order did not violate the equal protection clause and the right against double jeopardy.
The SC ruling is important because it explicitly said that Duterte’s proclamation was unconstitutional, and noted that the order violated Trillanes’ rights to equal protection and against double jeopardy and ex post facto laws. – Rappler.com
Error.
Please abide by Rappler's commenting guidelines.
I appreciate the Supreme Court’s decision on the validity of former senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s amnesty. I agree that it is grounded on the “primacy of the Bill of Rights” and “reaffirmed that neither the government nor any of its officials, including the President, are above the law.” I believe this will anger former President Digong Duterte after his belief that he is above the law has been rebuked.
How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/philippines/supreme-court-upholds-validity-antonio-trillanes-amnesty/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1LUUrmf6l8FcW7-3ywPoCY7UY_WMSejW_aWhRecgIMalWDD-a5GCk_GGE_aem_9yGoyEVywDyiTt7Kb4iI2w | null | null | null | null | null | null |
ONE Fight Night 21: Jeremy Pacatiw predicts explosive scrap against Wang Shuo | Jasmine Payo | 03/04/2024 21:56 | COMEBACK. Jeremy Pacatiw celebrates a ONE Championship triumph.
ONE CHAMPIONSHIP
MANILA, Philippines – Jeremy “The Juggernaut” Pacatiw isn’t expecting an easy win in his return to ONE Championship.
The 27-year-old jumps back into the world of MMA against Wang Shuo in a three-round bantamweight bout at ONE Fight Night 21: Eersel vs Nicolas on Saturday, April 6, inside Bangkok, Thailand’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
Wang owns a 16-7 record, with half of his wins coming via KO or TKO, proving that he’s got power in his hands.
Not only that, but the Chinese fighter has never been knocked out, making him one of the most durable opponents Pacatiw will have faced.
“He’s a battle-tested veteran. We’ve seen him compete when he was a flyweight, and he’s a really tough guy,” he said of Wang.
“He’s really sturdy. His strength, I believe, is his toughness and his ability to absorb shots. I’m sure he’s motivated to make his return.”
Nonetheless, Pacatiw expects a scrap in this matchup.
Like himself, Wang has also spent some time away from the sport, so the Filipino expects his rival to come in fired up for this match.
In fact, he promises to give Wang a solid scrap in return.
“This is the perfect match for me. He’s also coming off a layoff, and it will be a beautiful match between two men who are looking to prove a lot of things. I believe this fight will show who really worked during the offseason and who improved,” Pacatiw said.
But while he’s giving Wang the respect he deserves, Pacatiw is confident that he’ll score the win at the end of the fight.
“I don’t know how it will end, but my prediction is my hands will be raised after this fight. Whether it be by finish or decision, I really don’t care as long as it’s not via disqualification,” Pacatiw said, referring to the controversial DQ win that his teammate, Joshua Pacio, experienced earlier this month.
“If there’s an opportunity for the finish, I’ll definitely go for it. But if things are going well for me, my main goal will always be to win and show my improvements as a mixed martial artist.” – Rappler.com
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Stars in each role: Meralco banks on Quinto, others as top scorers struggle | delfin.dioquino editor | 03/04/2024 21:08 | DRIVE. Bong Quinto in action for the Meralco Bolts in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – With top Meralco scorers Allein Maliksi and Chris Newsome struggling, the rest of the Bolts played their roles to the hilt.
Bong Quinto took over down the stretch as Meralco posted back-to-back wins in the PBA Philippine Cup after scraping past stubborn Terrafirma, 86-83, at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, April 3.
Rising to the occasion with both Maliksi and Newsome limited to single-digit scoring, Quinto finished the game on a personal 7-2 run and totaled 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists as the Bolts improved to an even 3-3 record.
“We each have our own roles. Whatever our role is in the team, we have to be a star player in it,” said Quinto, who scored in double figures for just the second time this conference – both coming in wins.
The Dyip were poised to continue their promising start and clinch their fourth win in six games when they went up 81-79 with two minutes left before Quinto sank a triple, a free throw, and a layup in succession for an 85-81 lead.
Stephen Holt pulled Terrafirma within 85-83 off a pair of foul shots, but Quinto sealed the victory with another free throw.
Like Quinto, Norbert Torres stepped up with 15 points, while Raymond Almazan – fresh from winning the Big Men Three-Point Shootout during the PBA All-Star Weekend in Bacolod City – chimed in 14 points with 3 rebounds.
Also crucial in the win were the two offensive rebounds All-Star first-timer Cliff Hodge grabbed inside the final minute to highlight his all-around performance of 4 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
Their contributions made up for offensive woes of Maliksi and Newsome, who entered the game averaging 18.8 and 17.6 points, respectively.
Newsome scored just 7 points, although he also posted 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Maliksi put up only 6 points as they shot a combined 5-of-21 (24%) from the field.
“It is important that we won because if we lost this game, we do not know how we’re going to approach our remaining games,” said Quinto.
Juami Tiongson paced the Dyip with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds on top of 6 assists, while Holt churned out 20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
Despite a pair of solid outings from its top guards, Terrafirma shot itself in the foot with turnovers and poor rebounding late as it fell to 3-3.
Meralco 86 – Quinto 18, Torres 15, Almazan 14, Black 7, Mendoza 7, Newsome 7, Banchero 6, Maliksi 6, Hodge 4, Pascual 2, Jose 0, Rios 0.
Terrafirma 83 – Tiongson 20, Holt 20, Gomez de Liano 11, Ramos 11, Sangalang 6, Go 4, Camson 4, Carino 4, Cahilig 3, Mina 0, Calvo 0, Alolino 0.
Quarters: 19-25, 39-46, 63-65, 86-83.
– Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Link to 4Ps payout schedule not from DSWD | Lorenz Pasion | 03/04/2024 21:00 | Claim: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) posted an online link to the payout schedule for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook page “Cash Payout Online Service – Tulong sa Lahat,” notorious for spreading disinformation about various Philippine government agency programs, made the claim in the group “4p’s Updates” which has over 423,100 members. As of writing, the post has garnered 686 reactions, 46 comments, and 10 shares.
The post included a supposed link from DSWD with the payout schedule for 4Ps beneficiaries.
The facts: DSWD refuted the claim in a post on its official and verified Facebook page on March 24.“Hindi totoo ang Facebook post na ito na ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ay naglalabas ng listahan para sa payout ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) sa pamamagitan lamang ng isang link dahil ito ay lumalabag sa Data Privacy Act of 2012,” the agency said.
(The Facebook post claiming that the Department of Social Welfare and Development released a link to the payout schedule for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is false because it is a violation of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.)
The supposed link in the misleading Facebook post redirects to a blog website, not the official website of the DSWD.
Reacting to a similar false claim, the social welfare department earlier said that the 4Ps program does not release a payout schedule because grants are automatically credited to the cash cards of beneficiaries.
About 4Ps: Institutionalized under Republic Act No. 11310 in 2019, 4Ps is the cornerstone of the government’s comprehensive approach to poverty reduction. The program provides conditional cash grants to eligible beneficiaries, contingent upon their fulfillment of specific requirements.
The DSWD uses the National Household Targeting System or Listahanan to identify prospective beneficiaries. Instead of online posts, payout notifications are channeled through the city or municipal channels of various local government units. Most beneficiaries receive grants directly through Landbank cash cards, while those in remote areas receive their grants through offsite transactions facilitated by their municipal connections. (READ: FACT CHECK: How 4Ps funds are paid out to beneficiaries)
Fact-checked: Rappler has already debunked several false claims on supposed 4Ps payout schedules and beneficiary lists:
Official news: For official updates, refer to the 4Ps website and its official Facebook page. You can also visit DSWD’s official website and its social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. – Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza/Rappler.comChinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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FACT CHECK: Manipulated video cites Willie Ong ‘endorsement’ for hypertension ‘cure’ | Lorenz Pasion | 03/04/2024 19:00 | Claim: Cardiologist and online health personality Dr. Willie Ong, also known as Doc Willie, endorses a cure for hypertension.
Why we fact-checked this: As of writing, the Facebook post has gained 84,000 views and 795 reactions.
The video starts with a clip from the GMA News show 24 Oras, showing broadcast journalist Vicky Morales seemingly reporting about an effective hypertension cure supposedly developed by Ong. This is followed by a clip of celebrity Toni Gonzaga interviewing Ong and talking about the supposed cure.
The bottom line: Ong does not endorse the supposed hypertension cure. The misleading video consists of manipulated clips featuring Ong, Morales, and Gonzaga. While their voices were effectively mimicked, the mouth movements appeared unnatural.
Sensity, a web-based tool for detecting AI, found the video “suspicious” with a 88.7% confidence level.
Sensity noted that “high confidence” indicates the detector has identified clear signals of AI generation or manipulation, with a minimum confidence threshold set at 50%. Established in 2018, Sensity specializes in the detection of “deepfakes and various other forms of malicious visual media.”
The clip of Gonzaga and Ong was altered from the original video posted on Gonzaga’s YouTube channel in August 2022. The topic was not related to hypertension at all, but was about the beginnings of Ong’s YouTube channel.
Managing hypertension: According to the American Medical Association, there is no cure for high blood pressure or hypertension, but lifestyle changes and blood pressure-lowering medications can help control it.
AI disinformation: In a 2023 report, human rights advocacy group Freedom House said artificial intelligence has made it easier to spread disinformation online. “Purveyors of disinformation are employing AI-generated images, audio, and text, making the truth easier to distort and harder to discern,” the group said.
False medical endorsements of Ong have been circulating over social media, with some using AI tools to manipulate videos and images. Ong has repeatedly debunked these fake ads, telling Rappler that the only product he and his wife Liza endorse is Birch Tree Advance, a nutritional milk for seniors.
Rappler has fact-checked similar claims about Ong:
– Andrei Santos/Rappler.com
Andrei Santos is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Senators grill DENR for mismanagement of protected areas | jsitchon0312 | 03/04/2024 18:15 | HEARING. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and other DENR officials attend the Senate hearing on the defacement or exploitation of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument and other protected areas on April 3, 2024.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Senators, during a joint session of the committees on local government and environment, natural resources and climate change scolded officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their alleged negligence in the issuance of environmental compliance certificates (ECC) to projects in protected areas.
To recall, the controversial Captain’s Peak Resort, which built structures on the foot of three Chocolate Hills in Bohol, did not have an ECC. Rappler visited other establishments built on top of Chocolate Hills and found that they had ECCs.
During the Senate session that was broadcast live on Wednesday, April 3, it was revealed that more establishments in other provinces were operating without an ECC, while other establishments had ECCs but were allegedly noncompliant with environmental standards.
In their defense, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga pointed out that the membership of the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) affects what happens to the management of protected areas.
“The membership of the PAMB is dominated by the local interest. The DENR sits as chair, it does not vote, and the PAMB can be constituted when the DENR is absent or is not available,” the DENR secretary said.
Under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018, the PAMB consists of the DENR regional director under whose jurisdiction the protected area is located, the concerned governor, district representative/s, mayor/s, barangay head/s, three representatives from nongovernmental organizations, and at least one representative each from indigenous peoples and communities, academe, and the private sector, to name a few.
Loyzaga argued that it was the barangay officials of Canmano in Sagbayan town who presided over the meeting for the PAMB resolution in 2018 that endorsed the construction of Captain’s Peak Resort.
“Whenever there is a meeting, the sheer number of the attendees will outvote even the DENR,” she said.
Senator Nancy Binay, however, argued that the DENR, through its secretariat, still prepares the agenda for the PAMB resolution meetings.
“Kung hindi ‘yun ang agenda, walang ia-outvote to begin with (If that was never the agenda, nobody would be outvoted to begin with),” Binay said.
An irate Senator Cynthia Villar, who chaired the environment committee, pointed to DENR officials and told them that the committee could excuse the PAMB since it was comprised mostly of non-environmental experts, but the DENR still issued ECCs to questionable establishments.
“Walang nag-i-issue ng ECC kundi ang DENR, so kasalanan ‘yon ng DENR (Nobody else issues an ECC but the DENR, so it is the DENR’s fault),” Villar said.
Senator Raffy Tulfo questioned the DENR’s process in issuing ECCs and how some establishments, particularly in the Mount Apo Natural Park (MANP), managed to build structures despite having no ECCs.
According to him, the DENR in Davao was aware of these structures in the MANP yet still gave the owners of the properties an allowance of two years to comply with the ECC requirement.
DENR Davao Regional Executive Director Mercedes Dumagan said that there were 53 establishments without a PAMB clearance and ECC operating within the MANP.
The regional director explained that they still sent notices of violation to these establishments, called owners to a technical conference, and penalized known violators with a P50,000 fine.
“If it is deemed that the project is not detrimental to the environment, they can be issued an ECC,” Dumagan said.
The senators were still not content with the DENR’s response to the violations and lambasted them for putting minimal effort into preventing the structures from being built.
“You should have monitored that, nakarating sa inyong kaalaman na bawal ‘yan (you learned that it was not allowed), you should have coordinated with the LGU,” Tulfo said.
Binay questioned why the DENR did not just demolish structures encroaching on protected areas.
“You never exercised the power to demolish,” Binay said.
Loyzaga clarified that in some of the protected areas, there were alienable and disposable lands that were titled to locals.
“Therefore, we have no option but to recognize the [ownership] rights,” she said.
According to the DENR, around 13,500 of about 13,900 hectares of land in the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument were alienable and disposable before its enrollment in the E-NIPAS list.
Binay proposed to look for ways to expropriate the properties. Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado echoed the sentiment in his speech and said that private owners should be properly compensated for the land that they could no longer use.
“One of the findings is that the regional office is weak,” Villar said in a mix of English and Tagalog.
Binay pointed out this weakness in the case of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. in Surigao del Norte. Members of the cult organization illegally occupied a 353-hectare protected area provided by the government.
Senator Bato dela Rosa shared that the DENR cited a lack of personnel in the conduct of inspections and enforcement of laws in that protected area.
In the case of the MANP, the DENR cited that it only had one plantilla officer and 30 job-order employees monitoring 62,000 hectares of the protected area.
Binay responded to this, stating that the lack of personnel shouldn’t have prevented the DENR from adopting new technologies like drones to conduct inspections.
Loyzaga said they were still in the process of procuring the necessary drone equipment and specialists.
“We are not fully in control of these areas, as you know, given the kind of manpower that we have. The local governments are our partners in the protection of the environment. This is not DENR’s sole job – this is the job of [everyone],” the DENR secretary said. – Rappler.com
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Masungi’s claim in protected areas in Rizal ‘void from the beginning’ – DENR | Iya Gozum | 03/04/2024 19:27 | KARST. The 'Nanay' and 'Tatay' rock formations are staple tourist attractions in the georeserve.
Screenshot from Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – For the first time, Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga openly spoke about the 2017 contract of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), saying it was void ab initio or void from the beginning.
“The legal grounds for the [recommendation of] cancellation are what we’re calling [void] ab initio, given the advice of the DOJ (Department of Justice),” Loyzaga said on Wednesday, April 3, in a Senate hearing that was broadcast live.
In 2017, the DENR, under the leadership of the late environment secretary Gina Lopez, signed a memorandum of agreement with the MGFI. It gave the MGFI the responsibility to reforest around 3,000 hectares of land in Rizal province which is within the Upper Marikina Watershed and the Kaliwa Watershed. The MGFI also oversees the popular ecotourism spot Masungi Georeserve.
Contested in the said contract was the provision that gave the MGFI “perpetual land trust for conservation.”
The DOJ previously said the perpetuity provision violated Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution, which provided that such agreements must not exceed a period of 25 years.
When asked about the issue in 2023, Loyzaga only said that there were “certain features” that “bring it into question,” which would need “appropriate actions” from the agency.
This is the first time Loyzaga mentioned anything about a recommendation to cancel the contract. Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones had referred to it before, saying the recommendation was still pending the approval of the secretary.
In her message before the Senate committee on environment, natural resources and climate change on Wednesday, Loyzaga said that the conservation of protected areas in the Philippines is historically fraught with conflicting claims.
Four years since the passing of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (E-NIPAS), Loyzaga said the DENR has had to contend with “realities on the ground.”
“The E-NIPAS law has been tested against the context of rights that preceded its passing,” she said. The environment chief said national and local laws, formal and informal agreements, “as well as powerful influences and pressures both benign and malignant” have all affected the implementation of the law.
In response to Loyzaga, the MGFI said in a statement that no one – not Filipinos and not the environment – would benefit from the cancellation of the contract.
“Hindi na nga mabantayan ng DENR ang ating mga protected areas, gusto pa nilang tanggalin ang isa sa mga nangungunang organisasyon na nagtataguyod dito?” said Billie Dumaliang, MGFI’s director for advocacy.
(The DENR can’t even safeguard our protected areas, and now they want to remove one of the leading organizations in conservation?)
The MGFI continued to stand by the validity of the contract they signed with Lopez.
Ann Dumaliang, managing trustee of the foundation, told Rappler they were “ready to defend” the contract in any legal forum.
“We’ll pursue legal action when necessary,” she said.
The MGFI said on Wednesday that the claim that the contract was void ab initio was “untenable.”
“The contract was validly entered into by the DENR secretary under her broad powers under the E-NIPAS Act to enter into agreements with non-state actors in pursuit of conservation. The contract also has all the elements of a valid agreement,” the statement read.
The geopark management was referring to a recommendation from the International Union for Conservation of Nature that conservation projects can be held in perpetuity by private partners to ensure long-term gains, as has been the case in other countries. – Rappler.com
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‘Mini Miss UST’ defies odds anew, books quick UAAP Final Four return with young core | jisaga0269 | 03/04/2024 20:40 | STAR TIGRESSES. UST spiker Angge Poyos (left) and libero captain Detdet Pepito react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Too small. No veterans. No star power.
The UST Golden Tigresses have heard it all before their UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball campaign kicked off, with many fans – for good reason – being somewhat skeptical of their ability to retain their title-contention status.
However, just one year removed from losing veteran stars Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and Milena Alessandrini, this young batch of Tigresses have easily won back hearts and erased all doubts as they were the first in line to book a Final Four ticket off a four-set win over Adamson on Wednesday, April 3.
Largely thanks to super freshman Angge Poyos‘ rookie-record 31-point explosion, UST now holds an impressive 9-1 record, successfully bouncing back from its streak-snapping loss against fellow contender NU last March 24.
One of the few remaining veterans, libero captain Detdet Pepito, couldn’t be prouder that her young proteges quickly bought in to the underdog winning culture the Tigresses are trying to keep since the days of Laure and Sisi Rondina.
“We keep on saying that we didn’t expect to be in this position,” she said in Filipino after the 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 win.
“I’m happy because a lot were saying before that we’re ‘Mini Miss UST’ and that we’d get destroyed by other teams, but we’re happy that we keep on proving that it’s not about height, it’s about heart.”
Even head coach Kungfu Reyes, who has seen it all in his tenure as Golden Tigresses coach, was still surprised that they were able to cruise past the competition so far with big wins one after another.
“We’re just surprised that we’re already here at 9-1. We’re surprised of the results, but not of the way we got there, because that’s already how we move in practice,” he said in Filipino.
“We’re just gauging their performances in their last few games, but I can really see that their hard work is really paying off.”
Meanwhile, Poyos, who quickly reset UE star Casiey Dongallo’s 30-point rookie record, is just thankful that she quickly healed from her pre-Holy Week injuries and was able to rebound from their painful first loss against the mighty Lady Bulldogs.
“I’m thankful for this comeback game and I’m thankful that I was able to contribute to the team,” she said after tallying 27 attacks, 3 aces, and 1 block. “I’m thankful we were able to rally back and I’m thankful for my ates who keep on fighting for me and the team.”
“Mini Miss UST” now has a golden chance for the coveted twice-to-beat advantage with four elimination round games left, and the Tigresses know it’s a foolish endeavor now to lose sight of the ultimate goal at this stage of the tournament.
“We’ll just keep grinding. That’s all it is. That’s just our baseline,” Reyes continued. “How we prepare, that’s one of the good results we keep on seeking. We will polish our skills, regroup, correct our unforced errors, sharpen our skills.”
“Tomorrow, we just go back to training.”
The job is not finished, after all. – Rappler.com
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Calvin Abueva suspended, fined over dirty finger incident | delfin.dioquino editor | 03/04/2024 18:59 | FLOATER. Calvin Abueva in action for the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
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MANILA, Philippines – Flashing the middle finger to a fan proved costly for Calvin Abueva.
Abueva will serve a one-game suspension and pay a fine of P20,000 as punishment for his latest misconduct, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Wednesday, April 3.
The PBA cracked the whip on the Magnolia forward after he got caught on camera flipping off a fan in their 87-77 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Cup last March 31.
“He knows he is wrong for doing that. He apologizes for what happened,” Marcial said in Filipino after summoning Abueva on Wednesday.
“If he does it again, I told him I’ll increase his suspension and fine. He said that it will not happen again. We’ll see.”
The incident came just two months after the PBA slapped Abueva with a hefty fine of P100,000 after he mocked the visual impairment of San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent during the Commissioner’s Cup finals in February.
Marcial then warned Abueva – who once served a 16-month suspension for a series of on-court antics – of a repeat ban if he fails to change his ways.
Abueva explained he only retaliated after being cursed at by the fan, but Marcial said the two-time Best Player of the Conference should leave it to the officials to take action.
“I told him the next time it happens again, he should tell the referees, the technical committee, or me so we can talk to the fan. We can eject them,” said Marcial.
Abueva will sit out as Magnolia battles NLEX at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 6.
– Rappler.com
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[WATCH] In the Public Square with John Nery: The Marcoses’ three-body problem | Nina Liu | 03/04/2024 15:54 | Is it really possible that there are three centers of political gravity inside the Marcos family?
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind two attempts to change the Constitution, but it is his cousin Senator Imee Marcos leading the effort to stop both in the Senate. Senator Marcos has become a principal defender of China in public debates, while her younger brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is deepening political and security ties with the United States.
President Marcos remains very friendly with Vice President Sara Duterte, but Speaker Romualdez is preparing the ground for a presidential campaign to compete with the Vice President.
Joining this episode of In the Public Square with John Nery to make sense of what is going on with the Marcos family are Professor Arjan Aguirre, professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, and Sherwin De Vera, editor-in-chief of Baguio-based Northern Dispatch.
Watch the episode here on Wednesday, April 3, at 8 pm. – Rappler.com
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A peek into Apollo Quiboloy’s expensive gun collection | Jodesz Gavilan | 03/04/2024 16:38 | Illustration by Raffy De Guzman
READ: Part 1 | Inside Apollo Quiboloy’s lavish world: Mansions, rich-and-famous lifestyle in North AmericaPart 2 | Quiboloy in the US: More multi-million properties in Las Vegas, Hawaii
Doomsday preacher Pastor Apollo Quiboloy did not only accumulate multi-million-peso properties abroad. The self-appointed “Son of God” also has an expensive arsenal of licensed firearms.
A Rappler investigation found that Quiboloy, the leader of the controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has a collection of at least 19 firearms whose estimated worth is about P2.3 million ($41,000)*, documents obtained by Rappler showed.
This estimate is based on the current market value of each of the 13 firearms that Rappler was able to independently verify by consulting popular gun stores or directly inquiring with manufacturers. We will update this once we obtain more information about the other five.
Two documents show almost entirely different sets of firearms, save for five guns that appear on both lists. The documents also differ on the indicated date of approval for the licenses. Information in the two documents, however, are both registered with the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO).
One of the documents shows 11 guns, while the other has 13, or a total of 19 linked to Quiboloy. One license recently expired on March 5, 2024, and another one is set to expire in September 2024, records showed.
At least 13, however, have an expiry date of April 2033 – indicating that Quiboloy obtained these licenses in 2023. This means that he benefited from Republic Act No. 11766, which extended the validity of a firearm license from four to 10 years.
RA 11766 was signed into law on May 6, 2022 by known Quiboloy friend and then-president Rodrigo Duterte, just a little over a month before his term ended. Duterte himself obtained 10-year licenses for 358 of his own firearms in June 2022, a few weeks after the law was enacted.
Quiboloy is on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others. In the Philippines, the doomsday preacher was charged with human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, on top of a March 14 arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court in the Davao region for child abuse and sexual abuse.
The PNP on Friday, April 26, announced that it has revoked Quiboloy’s licenses, after the recommendation of the PNP FEO. Spokesperson Jean Fajardo earlier this month confirmed that Quiboloy has 19 firearms, as quoted by several media reports, affirming the count on documents first obtained and reported on exclusively by Rappler.
Earlier on Wednesday, April 24, the PNP FEO told Rappler that it already recommended revoking the gun licenses of Quiboloy, adding that it had submitted the resolution for approval by PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil.
Quiboloy has a Type 5 license, as stated in the document that contains information on the firearms. The document obtained by Rappler certifies that these “information exist in FEO records.”
Individuals who have a Type 5 license can own more than 15 firearms because the law does not impose an explicit limit. This, however, is subject to a process where a prospective license holder needs to submit requirements, including results from drug and psychological tests.
All but one – or at least 18 – firearms in Quiboloy’s vault are pistols. Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2012 defines a pistol as “a hand-operated firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently aligned with the bore which may be self-loading.”
At least 15 pistols listed have complete details, meaning that the document states the pistol’s make, model, caliber, and serial number or “key identifiers of a firearm,” according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “Make” refers to the name of the firearms manufacturer. The “model” is a way to identify each firearm produced by a manufacturer.
The model of three pistols licensed under Quiboloy are not indicated in the documents.
But based on firearms with complete details, the most expensive in the doomsday preacher’s vault are the pistols manufactured by Philippine-based Metrillo Gun Corporation. Quiboloy has at least five Metrillo pistols, with a total conservative estimate of around P1.5 million ($27,000).
Rappler was able to obtain price quotations of specific pistol models – three Fastidious, one Masterpiece, and one Phenomenal – indicated in the documents.
A Masterpiece pistol can range from P285,000 ($5,000) to P420,000 ($7,400), depending on whether it is customized or not. A Fastidious, meanwhile, can go as high as P650,000 ($11,500). The cheapest Phenomenal model is P420,000 ($7,400), while the most expensive is worth P750,000 ($13,300).
Duterte also owns three Masterpiece pistols from Metrillo.
Quiboloy owns two pistols made by CZ, a Czech Republic-based manufacturer. One is a 75 TS Orange pistol, “a top of the range sport special,” that costs P195,000 ($3,466). The other, meanwhile, is a Shadow 2 pistol with a price tag of P100,000 ($1,700). It is described as “an all-steel, large-capacity SA/DA pistol that is currently the most celebrated firearm in today’s dynamic sport disciplines.”
The sole rifle licensed under the doomsday preacher’s name is a Colt that has no indicated model, but one of the cheapest goes for P61,000 ($1,080) a piece.
Gun ownership is not unusual, and that includes even religious leaders.
In the United States, for example, Pew Research in 2017 found that 41% of evangelicals own guns. Sociologist of religion Jayeel Cornelio explained that, in the US context, guns and God go hand-in-hand as a reflection of a theological worldview that Christ is “masculine, dominant, and ready to fight.”
This becomes dangerous when they start believing that people who are not like them – those who have opposing views on important issues – are “potential enemies.”
“Gun ownership reflects two possibilities in the Christian worldview: As a form of protection or in preparation for a possible war,” he told Rappler on Monday, April 1. “Either way, the working assumption is that there is an imminent threat for which gun ownership is necessary.”
Quiboloy may have only 19 firearms in his vault, but one can view this as part of a “bigger war that he is waging,” especially as he continues to face legal issues stemming from accusations of abuse by former KOJC members.
“He is after all a countercultural, counterintuitive religious leader,” Cornelio said. “He knows that many would not like what he preaches so that could be one reason why he feels threatened.”
It is important to note that this report covers only guns that are officially licensed under Quiboloy’s name. These do not include other possible firearms that are in use by his security.
In February 2018, when Quiboloy was temporarily detained, Hawaii News Now reported that authorities discovered “parts to assemble military-style rifles” and undeclared cash in the plane that he and other KOJC associates were on.
A former church member also claimed that the doomsday pastor would arrive in his vast property in Davao City with lots of firearms. He also supposedly witnessed Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, leave the premises with bags of guns. The former president denied this claim, calling it “a very stupid proposition,” and even questioned where Quiboloy would get these guns.
The over P2-million gun vault of Quiboloy (about $41,000) – is the latest in a slew of discoveries about his vast wealth. Rappler previously published reports that explored multi-million-peso homes traced to Quiboloy and his controversial KOJC – four currently owned and one that has already been sold.
The four have a total estimated value of $9.07 million (P503 million), based on current market prices. If the property sold in 2018 is included, the total value would go up to $10.83 million (P601 million).
The properties found to have current links to Quiboloy and the KOJC include the following:
There is also a property in Hawaii worth $1.76 million (P97.71 million) that was the subject of a ruse sale in July 2018, months after Quiboloy was temporarily detained in 2018. The listed owners of the company it was sold to are directly linked to the pastor, while its address leads to a KOJC church.
KOJC is far from being the only church that has this much wealth and properties. According to Cornelio, having that much resources that could be claimed to come from God would be “irrefutable to a believer.”
“For any religious group, the mark of success is the accumulation of wealth,” he said. “It is much easier to say that you have God’s anointing if you can concretely identify the ‘blessings.’”
One way that Quiboloy could justify his wealth is to say that “it is a demonstration of the fulfillment of God’s calling” for him and the KOJC, Cornelio said. Obtaining properties both in the Philippines and abroad happened because God is “at work in them.”
But Quiboloy is accused of accumulating his wealth by forcing members to not just give money, but also solicit donations in various places across the Philippines and even the world. (READ: ‘Root of all evil’: Quiboloy church’s demands for money mire followers in debt)
Following the publication of Rappler’s investigation into Quiboloy’s multi-million-peso mansions, some supposed KOJC supporters defended their leader online by saying that the properties are owned by the entire church. These are aside from the intense defense they mounted against allegations of abuse.
Why are many people still defending Quiboloy? Cornelio said that the KOJC is a “high-demand, high-control religion” where so much is at stake when one joins – referring to demands and responsibilities, as well as repercussions when members stray from what is ordered. This leads to their identities being “fully intertwined with the institution itself.”
“So effectively, individuality gives way to group solidarity [and] for this reason, an attack on Quiboloy is an attack on all of them,” he said.
“But that is also where all the problem lies: not just the lack of accountability when the leader becomes corrupt, but also people’s inability to recognize that something is already wrong,” Cornelio added.
Quiboloy remains untouchable – despite having an existing arrest warrant from a local court, an arrest order from the Senate, and landing on the FBI’s most wanted list. Will he remain invincible? – Rappler.com
*$1 = P56
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Quiboloy aide arrested, 2 others surrender | Mia Gonzalez | 03/04/2024 17:48 | CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Authorities arrested a barangay chairman and a church associate of embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, while two others surrendered on Wednesday, April 3.
The arrest and surrender came after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) served a warrant issued by a Davao court against Quiboloy and five others in connection with a child abuse and sexual abuse case.
The NBI has placed under its custody three of the accused: Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes.
The NBI arrested Cresente in Barangay Tamayong. He is the barangay chairman of Tamayong where the KOJC is based.
Former KOJC members identified Cresente as Quiboloy’s close aide, serving as the preacher’s driver and bodyguard.
Paulene, former KOJC chief financial officer, and Cemañes, a coordinator, surrendered to authorities.
Authorities said the hunt for Quiboloy and two others – Jackielyn Roy and Ingrid Canada – will continue.
Roy, a lead singer in the KOJC choir, serves as one of Quiboloy’s assistants. She and Paulene also serve in the KOJC’s pastoral department.
Ingrid, the Quiboloy church administrator, Cresente, and Paulene are siblings.
Police-Southern Mindanao Director Alden Delvo, said the police were on the lookout for Quiboloy, Roy, and Ingrid.
“I believe he (Quiboloy) is still in Davao,” Brigadier General Delvo said.
He said authorities met with Quiboloy’s lawyers when they went to his known residences in Tamayong, Davao and in Samal Island, and discussed with them the possibility of the preacher’s surrender.
Delvo said, “We are hoping that in the coming days, he will come out. We are hoping that the lawyers would be able to convince their client to submit himself, since there is a lawful warrant of arrest issued against him by the court.” – with reports from Dennis Jay Santos, Rappler.com
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I appreciate the action of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP): three down and three more. Note that the barangay chairperson of Tamayong is also Quiboloy’s driver and bodyguard. I believe that he spent more time serving Quiboloy than his barangay. Is it because Quiboloy gave him more money than he earned as barangay chairperson? Let us hope that both the NBI and PNP will finally arrest Quiboloy. By then, would Quiboloy allow himself to be handcuffed and have his mugshot taken and published on both traditional and social media? (Note: This would be devastating to the image of the “appointed” son of God.) Or would he be treated just like that person who is the son of a high-ranking DOJ official?
How does this make you feel? | Rappler | https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/quiboloy-aide-arrested-others-surrender/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1HDxJZ8BvSnfGD7S-OaF7N1exl2cbzpkg4lMxkSdWf_3329xuU9cgxlbg_aem_9P5f3OLntH9CiDmwf5HnpA | null | null | null | null | null | null |
Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | Jasmine Payo | 05/05/2024 21:02 | ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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Calvin Abueva suspended, fined over dirty finger incident | delfin.dioquino editor | 03/04/2024 18:59 | FLOATER. Calvin Abueva in action for the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Flashing the middle finger to a fan proved costly for Calvin Abueva.
Abueva will serve a one-game suspension and pay a fine of P20,000 as punishment for his latest misconduct, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Wednesday, April 3.
The PBA cracked the whip on the Magnolia forward after he got caught on camera flipping off a fan in their 87-77 loss to Barangay Ginebra in the Philippine Cup last March 31.
“He knows he is wrong for doing that. He apologizes for what happened,” Marcial said in Filipino after summoning Abueva on Wednesday.
“If he does it again, I told him I’ll increase his suspension and fine. He said that it will not happen again. We’ll see.”
The incident came just two months after the PBA slapped Abueva with a hefty fine of P100,000 after he mocked the visual impairment of San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent during the Commissioner’s Cup finals in February.
Marcial then warned Abueva – who once served a 16-month suspension for a series of on-court antics – of a repeat ban if he fails to change his ways.
Abueva explained he only retaliated after being cursed at by the fan, but Marcial said the two-time Best Player of the Conference should leave it to the officials to take action.
“I told him the next time it happens again, he should tell the referees, the technical committee, or me so we can talk to the fan. We can eject them,” said Marcial.
Abueva will sit out as Magnolia battles NLEX at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Saturday, April 6.
– Rappler.com
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Light it up! BGC to hold nature-inspired light festival in April | Steph Arnaldo | 03/04/2024 14:15 | BGC
MANILA, Philippines – Ready to light up your life this April? Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is holding a new light festival called Boni Viva Luci, happening from April 6 to 14!
Aptly translating to “wondrous life in light,” the festival promises a captivating display of nature-inspired art installations illuminated with various lighting techniques.
The free event is co-presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) and Bonifacio High Street (BHS). The theme “Natural Life Echoed in Light” comes to life through a mix of new and existing public artworks transformed with dazzling light displays. The installations will be spread across various stations and locations in BGC, including Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio High Street South, Terra 28th Park, The Mind Museum, and the BGC Arts Center.
Among the festival’s highlights are illuminated versions of Philippine endemic species by Puppet Theater Manila, allowing visitors to see these creatures in a whole new light.
These include LuminiSense: Our Place in the Cosmos by Joyce Sahagun Garcia, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan, showcased through interactive video mapping; Olivia D’Aboville’s Giant Dandelions; The Abyss by Winter David and Ohm David; and Reimagined Chandeliers by Ohm David and Mark Choa, highlighting giant bioluminescent octopuses and chandeliers with LED tentacles.
Mythical creatures take center stage with Cheska Cartativo’s Entanglement: Adarna to Bakunawa on the Glass Bridge. Visitors can also delve into the unconventional portrayal of the goddess of fertility and death through Leeroy New’s Mebuyan Cradle, complemented by shadow play projections titled Into the Shadows are Heroes by Sigmund Pecho, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan.
With detailed visuals on LED screens, Isaiah Cacnio and Joyce Sahagun Garcia will showcase their artistic interpretations of Celestial Waltz and Behold the Eclipse, Behold the Light, respectively. Additionally, Camera Club of the Philippines members Fred del Rosario, Chito Viñas, and Mark Bautista will share their stunning nature photography through projected images.
Don’t miss the Purple Terra installation, where trees are bathed in a vibrant purple glow, illuminating the night sky.
On April 6, the festival will kick off its opening night at the BHS Amphitheatre with performances by vocalists Arman Ferrer, Bayang Barrios, and OJ Mariano, plus a dance performance by Galaw.Co Dance Theater and a musical performance by violinist Liz Besana.
There will also be a parade of giant illuminated puppets of Philippine indigenous animals by Puppet Theater Manila, and then a a grand finale parade with music composed by National Artist for Music, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, specifically for Boni Viva Luci.
In August to October 2023, BGC hosted its inaugural Da Vinci AI exhibit, followed by the second installment of the immersive Van Gogh Alive exhibit in October 2023. – Rappler.com
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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Thursday, April 4, 2024 | Acor Arceo | 03/04/2024 17:00 | MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Thursday, April 4, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
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Malolos-Clark railway workers protest delayed wages | Joann Manabat - CMS | 03/04/2024 18:11 | PICKET PROTEST. Project-based workers of subcontractor Cadcor Builders and Trading Corp hold a protest at the railway construction site in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, on Wednesday, April 3.
Joann Manabat/Rappler
PAMPANGA , Philippines – Twenty-two project-based workers of the Malolos-Clark railway project (MCRP) held a brief protest over their delayed salaries against subcontractor company Cadcor Builders and Trading Corporation at the railway’s construction site in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga on Wednesday, April 3.
Cadcor Builders has around 300 workers suffering from delayed wage payments. However, around 150 workers still work for the MCRP, according to National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW).
NUBCW said the labor concerns of the workers include at least a month’s delay of the wage, unexplained payroll deductions including non-remittance of basic benefits such as Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions, and lack of rest days.
Cadcor Builders is the subcontractor for the MCRP under a joint venture agreement between Spanish and Korean general contractors Acciona and Daelim. Its workers are building the 58-kilometer section of the MCRP, part of of the 109-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) infrastructure project.
Acciona-Daelim is constructing the second section of the railway line connecting Malolos City in Bulacan and Clark International Airport in Pampanga. It is funded by the Asian Development Bank through a loan under the Department of Transportation.
NUBCW secretary general Santi Nolla said the workers have been calling out Cadcor Builders management, as well as Acciona and Daelim, to immediately address the issue. He said the general contractors have fully paid its subcontractor. However, the labor rights issues remain neglected as alleged internal issues in Cadcor Builders affect the release salaries and benefits of the workers.
“As per Acciona-Daelim joint venture ay kumpleto naman sila ng bayad sa subcon nila na Cadcor Builders at wala silang pagkukulang kahit sa social security contributions ng workers. Maraming beses na nilang tinawag ang attention ng Cadcor Builders to fulfill its duties to its workers remittance ng SSS contribution pero okay lang daw ng okay ang Cadcor management,” said Nolla.
(As per Acciona-Daelim joint venture, they have fully paid their subcontractor, Cadcor Builders, and they don’t have any shortage even in the social security contributions of the workers. They have called their attention many times to fulfill its duties to its workers remittance of the SSS contributions but the Cadcor management kept saying okay.)
Service driver Eduardo Ocampo, 47, said there were no issues in their salaries in the early stages. However, the deductions have always been a problem as Cadcor has not been remitting their contributions as benefits.
Ocampo lives with his family of five in a rented apartment. He said the ongoing problem with their wages has affected his family’s income and daily living especially when their rendered service has not been paid. He started working for Cadcor Builders in November 2022.
“Nung bago ang Cadcor, okay naman yung pasahod pero yung benefits matagal na talagang nagiging problema, yung sa SSS, lahat kami kinakaltasan. Ang problema, hindi naman nahuhulugan. Edi sana wag nalang silang magkaltas para kami nalang siguro yung maghulog, pwede yun,” Ocampo shared.
(When Cadcor was new, the salary was okay. But the benefits have been a real problem for a long time, such as the SSS. We are being ripped off. The problem is they are not remitting. Why don’t they just leave it, let us remit it ourselves. That is possible.)
Rappler tried to reach Cadcor Builders but did not get a reply. We will update this story once we receive their response. — Rappler.com
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A peek into Apollo Quiboloy’s expensive gun collection | Jodesz Gavilan | 03/04/2024 16:38 | Illustration by Raffy De Guzman
READ: Part 1 | Inside Apollo Quiboloy’s lavish world: Mansions, rich-and-famous lifestyle in North AmericaPart 2 | Quiboloy in the US: More multi-million properties in Las Vegas, Hawaii
Doomsday preacher Pastor Apollo Quiboloy did not only accumulate multi-million-peso properties abroad. The self-appointed “Son of God” also has an expensive arsenal of licensed firearms.
A Rappler investigation found that Quiboloy, the leader of the controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), has a collection of at least 19 firearms whose estimated worth is about P2.3 million ($41,000)*, documents obtained by Rappler showed.
This estimate is based on the current market value of each of the 13 firearms that Rappler was able to independently verify by consulting popular gun stores or directly inquiring with manufacturers. We will update this once we obtain more information about the other five.
Two documents show almost entirely different sets of firearms, save for five guns that appear on both lists. The documents also differ on the indicated date of approval for the licenses. Information in the two documents, however, are both registered with the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO).
One of the documents shows 11 guns, while the other has 13, or a total of 19 linked to Quiboloy. One license recently expired on March 5, 2024, and another one is set to expire in September 2024, records showed.
At least 13, however, have an expiry date of April 2033 – indicating that Quiboloy obtained these licenses in 2023. This means that he benefited from Republic Act No. 11766, which extended the validity of a firearm license from four to 10 years.
RA 11766 was signed into law on May 6, 2022 by known Quiboloy friend and then-president Rodrigo Duterte, just a little over a month before his term ended. Duterte himself obtained 10-year licenses for 358 of his own firearms in June 2022, a few weeks after the law was enacted.
Quiboloy is on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most-wanted list for sex trafficking of children and promotional money laundering, among others. In the Philippines, the doomsday preacher was charged with human trafficking, a non-bailable offense, on top of a March 14 arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court in the Davao region for child abuse and sexual abuse.
The PNP on Friday, April 26, announced that it has revoked Quiboloy’s licenses, after the recommendation of the PNP FEO. Spokesperson Jean Fajardo earlier this month confirmed that Quiboloy has 19 firearms, as quoted by several media reports, affirming the count on documents first obtained and reported on exclusively by Rappler.
Earlier on Wednesday, April 24, the PNP FEO told Rappler that it already recommended revoking the gun licenses of Quiboloy, adding that it had submitted the resolution for approval by PNP chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil.
Quiboloy has a Type 5 license, as stated in the document that contains information on the firearms. The document obtained by Rappler certifies that these “information exist in FEO records.”
Individuals who have a Type 5 license can own more than 15 firearms because the law does not impose an explicit limit. This, however, is subject to a process where a prospective license holder needs to submit requirements, including results from drug and psychological tests.
All but one – or at least 18 – firearms in Quiboloy’s vault are pistols. Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2012 defines a pistol as “a hand-operated firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently aligned with the bore which may be self-loading.”
At least 15 pistols listed have complete details, meaning that the document states the pistol’s make, model, caliber, and serial number or “key identifiers of a firearm,” according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “Make” refers to the name of the firearms manufacturer. The “model” is a way to identify each firearm produced by a manufacturer.
The model of three pistols licensed under Quiboloy are not indicated in the documents.
But based on firearms with complete details, the most expensive in the doomsday preacher’s vault are the pistols manufactured by Philippine-based Metrillo Gun Corporation. Quiboloy has at least five Metrillo pistols, with a total conservative estimate of around P1.5 million ($27,000).
Rappler was able to obtain price quotations of specific pistol models – three Fastidious, one Masterpiece, and one Phenomenal – indicated in the documents.
A Masterpiece pistol can range from P285,000 ($5,000) to P420,000 ($7,400), depending on whether it is customized or not. A Fastidious, meanwhile, can go as high as P650,000 ($11,500). The cheapest Phenomenal model is P420,000 ($7,400), while the most expensive is worth P750,000 ($13,300).
Duterte also owns three Masterpiece pistols from Metrillo.
Quiboloy owns two pistols made by CZ, a Czech Republic-based manufacturer. One is a 75 TS Orange pistol, “a top of the range sport special,” that costs P195,000 ($3,466). The other, meanwhile, is a Shadow 2 pistol with a price tag of P100,000 ($1,700). It is described as “an all-steel, large-capacity SA/DA pistol that is currently the most celebrated firearm in today’s dynamic sport disciplines.”
The sole rifle licensed under the doomsday preacher’s name is a Colt that has no indicated model, but one of the cheapest goes for P61,000 ($1,080) a piece.
Gun ownership is not unusual, and that includes even religious leaders.
In the United States, for example, Pew Research in 2017 found that 41% of evangelicals own guns. Sociologist of religion Jayeel Cornelio explained that, in the US context, guns and God go hand-in-hand as a reflection of a theological worldview that Christ is “masculine, dominant, and ready to fight.”
This becomes dangerous when they start believing that people who are not like them – those who have opposing views on important issues – are “potential enemies.”
“Gun ownership reflects two possibilities in the Christian worldview: As a form of protection or in preparation for a possible war,” he told Rappler on Monday, April 1. “Either way, the working assumption is that there is an imminent threat for which gun ownership is necessary.”
Quiboloy may have only 19 firearms in his vault, but one can view this as part of a “bigger war that he is waging,” especially as he continues to face legal issues stemming from accusations of abuse by former KOJC members.
“He is after all a countercultural, counterintuitive religious leader,” Cornelio said. “He knows that many would not like what he preaches so that could be one reason why he feels threatened.”
It is important to note that this report covers only guns that are officially licensed under Quiboloy’s name. These do not include other possible firearms that are in use by his security.
In February 2018, when Quiboloy was temporarily detained, Hawaii News Now reported that authorities discovered “parts to assemble military-style rifles” and undeclared cash in the plane that he and other KOJC associates were on.
A former church member also claimed that the doomsday pastor would arrive in his vast property in Davao City with lots of firearms. He also supposedly witnessed Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, leave the premises with bags of guns. The former president denied this claim, calling it “a very stupid proposition,” and even questioned where Quiboloy would get these guns.
The over P2-million gun vault of Quiboloy (about $41,000) – is the latest in a slew of discoveries about his vast wealth. Rappler previously published reports that explored multi-million-peso homes traced to Quiboloy and his controversial KOJC – four currently owned and one that has already been sold.
The four have a total estimated value of $9.07 million (P503 million), based on current market prices. If the property sold in 2018 is included, the total value would go up to $10.83 million (P601 million).
The properties found to have current links to Quiboloy and the KOJC include the following:
There is also a property in Hawaii worth $1.76 million (P97.71 million) that was the subject of a ruse sale in July 2018, months after Quiboloy was temporarily detained in 2018. The listed owners of the company it was sold to are directly linked to the pastor, while its address leads to a KOJC church.
KOJC is far from being the only church that has this much wealth and properties. According to Cornelio, having that much resources that could be claimed to come from God would be “irrefutable to a believer.”
“For any religious group, the mark of success is the accumulation of wealth,” he said. “It is much easier to say that you have God’s anointing if you can concretely identify the ‘blessings.’”
One way that Quiboloy could justify his wealth is to say that “it is a demonstration of the fulfillment of God’s calling” for him and the KOJC, Cornelio said. Obtaining properties both in the Philippines and abroad happened because God is “at work in them.”
But Quiboloy is accused of accumulating his wealth by forcing members to not just give money, but also solicit donations in various places across the Philippines and even the world. (READ: ‘Root of all evil’: Quiboloy church’s demands for money mire followers in debt)
Following the publication of Rappler’s investigation into Quiboloy’s multi-million-peso mansions, some supposed KOJC supporters defended their leader online by saying that the properties are owned by the entire church. These are aside from the intense defense they mounted against allegations of abuse.
Why are many people still defending Quiboloy? Cornelio said that the KOJC is a “high-demand, high-control religion” where so much is at stake when one joins – referring to demands and responsibilities, as well as repercussions when members stray from what is ordered. This leads to their identities being “fully intertwined with the institution itself.”
“So effectively, individuality gives way to group solidarity [and] for this reason, an attack on Quiboloy is an attack on all of them,” he said.
“But that is also where all the problem lies: not just the lack of accountability when the leader becomes corrupt, but also people’s inability to recognize that something is already wrong,” Cornelio added.
Quiboloy remains untouchable – despite having an existing arrest warrant from a local court, an arrest order from the Senate, and landing on the FBI’s most wanted list. Will he remain invincible? – Rappler.com
*$1 = P56
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[WATCH] In the Public Square with John Nery: The Marcoses’ three-body problem | Nina Liu | 03/04/2024 15:54 | Is it really possible that there are three centers of political gravity inside the Marcos family?
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind two attempts to change the Constitution, but it is his cousin Senator Imee Marcos leading the effort to stop both in the Senate. Senator Marcos has become a principal defender of China in public debates, while her younger brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is deepening political and security ties with the United States.
President Marcos remains very friendly with Vice President Sara Duterte, but Speaker Romualdez is preparing the ground for a presidential campaign to compete with the Vice President.
Joining this episode of In the Public Square with John Nery to make sense of what is going on with the Marcos family are Professor Arjan Aguirre, professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, and Sherwin De Vera, editor-in-chief of Baguio-based Northern Dispatch.
Watch the episode here on Wednesday, April 3, at 8 pm. – Rappler.com
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Regents, students question extension of search for UP Baguio chancellor | Chito de la Vega | 03/04/2024 15:37 | UP Baguio remains a bastion of activisism in Northern Luzon.
Sherwin De Vera/rappler
ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — University of the Philippines (UP) President Angelo Jimenez’s recent directive to extend the search for the next chancellor of UP Baguio has sparked questions and concerns among stakeholders.
In an April 1 letter to the Board of Regents (BOR), Staff Regent Marie Theresa Alambra and Student Regent Sofia Jan Trinidad said that they did not discuss the extension of the selection process in their meeting.
The letter stated, “(T)his decision was made without consulting us, the duly appointed Regents from UP Baguio. Likewise, the decision was made without the Search Committee report being disseminated to the Board for our perusal and without any discussion in an official Board meeting.”
They also requested copies of the report on the selection process and to discuss the matter during the BOR meeting set for April 4.
The BOR has 11 members and is the UP System’s highest decision-making body. Alambra and Trinidad represent the professional and administrative personnel, and students, respectively, on the Board.
In a March 27 directive, Jimenez extended the search “in consideration of the consistently expressed preference” of the BOR to have more than one candidate for the office.
“In consideration of the consistently expressed preference of the Board of Regents to have more than one (1) nominee for high University position, you (the Search Committee) are hereby directed to conduct an extended search for Chancellor of UP Baguio for the purpose of finding additional nominees who may be willing to vie for the position of Chancellor of UP Baguio,” Jimenez said.
He also granted the terminal leave of professor Rosemary Guiterrez, the current chair of the search committee. Dean Maria Regina Lucia Lizares of the Virata School of Business, UP Diliman, was appointed to take her place.
The UP President clarified that professor Wilfredo Alangui, who became the sole contender for the seat after incumbent UPB Chancellor Corazon Abansi backed out, was still a candidate.
In a statement, the UPB Student Council asked Jimenez “to explain and clarify the inconsistencies of the search process.”
According to them, precedents where the BOR chose a sole nominee for chancellor contradict Jimenez’s claim of the regents’ preference for multiple nominees. They cited the recent appointment of Dr. Jose Camacho Jr. as the 10th UP Los Banos Chancellor and the assumption of Dr. Carmencita Padilla in 2020 as the UP Manila Chancellor.
The student body said, “We express our deepest concern on this matter, as the decision to extend the search goes against the democratic process we are to uphold inside and outside the institution.”
They added that the decision to extend the search process demonstrated the lack of transparency and democracy, which merited questioning and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS), the oldest political party on campus, said that “an overwhelming number of respected individuals and groups both inside and beyond UP Baguio” support Alangui’s nomination. They also asserted that he was not the lone nominee. They urged Jimenez “to uphold the democracy and transparency of the processes.”
“(W)e demand that the BOR heed the calls of the constituents of UP Baguio: NO MORE DELAYS TO THE SEARCH PROCESS! BOR, DECIDE NOW!” the group said. – Rappler
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Man disrupts Mass, smashes statues in Negros Occidental church rampage | Herbie G | 03/04/2024 16:16 | DESTROYED. A religious icon is destroyed after a man went on a rampage at the San Isidro Labrador Church in Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning, April 3.
courtesy of Father Leopoldo Cahilig
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – Police arrested a man, believed to have mental health problems, who crashed into a Catholic church while Mass being being celebrated and smashed nearly all the religious statues in sight in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, on Wednesday morning, April 3.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rolly Semira, a resident of Sitio Don Pedro Yulo, Barangay Santo Rosario in Binalbagan, where the church also stands.
Semira, 39, barged into the San Isidro Labrador Church with a motorcycle at around 7:15 am while a priest, Father Leopoldo Cahilig, was officiating a morning Mass.
Shocked and helpless, Cahilig paused as he and the mass-goers watched Semira go berserk and begin destroying statues, including images of Saint Joseph, San Isidro Labrador, two angels, and the Immaculate Conception.
Police sergeant Lester Salido, an investigator from the Binalbagan Municipal Police Station (BMPS), said Semira showed no remorse even behind bars, claiming he acted under divine guidance. The suspect told the police he was ordered by a deity to destroy the church properties.
Salido said Semira had been imprisoned following a homicide conviction, and is said to be suffering from mental health problems.
Police said they were preparing a complaint for violation of a law about the obstruction of religious worship against Semira within 18 hours from his arrest.
The offense, detailed in Articles 132 and 133 of the Revised Penal Code of 1930, is considered a crime, and carries the penalty of six months to six years of imprisonment.
In a statement, Cahilig called on town residents and Catholics in Negros Occidental to “pray for the immediate restoration of the sanctuary and complete spiritual and emotional healing of everyone.”
“We entrust the person concerned to the mercy and compassion of God. God bless us all,” Cahilig said.
The priest also said the church will be temporarily closed on Wednesday afternoon “while we try to fix the physical damage in the sanctuary ‘externally’ and the injury and pain felt by all Catholics in Binalbagan ‘internally’ caused by this untoward incident.”
Diocese of Kabankalan Bishop Louie Galbines said in a statement that the parish church will be temporarily closed to repair all the damages inflicted on the church.
“Witnessing the desecration of the sanctuary and utter disrespect to the revered images generated so much pain and suffering to the people of the parish. Thus, while restoring the broken images is urgent, the reparation of the internal injury and pain is even paramount,” he said.
“We unite all our prayers and I fervently hope that we all move forward and come out stronger and more dedicated Catholics at the end of this,” the bishop said.
Binalbagan Mayor Alejandro Mirasol condemned the attack on the church and assured all of its constituents that the local government would help them renovate the church’s damaged properties.
Achir Saripada, an Imam or a Muslim church leader in the town, confirmed that the suspect is among their worshippers and apologized for the damage inflicted by Semira.
“We do not tolerate such actions,” he said.
Saripada clarified that “being a believer in the Islamic faith does not include inflicting damage on other individuals with different beliefs or religions.”
Saripada said Semira converted to Islam when he was imprisoned in Manila after a homicide conviction. He also said that Semira previously attended their worship sessions but he rarely saw him because of his said “underlying mental condition.”
In 2008, Semira was arrested in Taguig City for inflicting harm on a three-year-old girl which led to her permanent blindless, according to a PhilStar report. – With reports from Reymund Titong/Rappler.com
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Quiboloy aide arrested, 2 others surrender | Mia Gonzalez | 03/04/2024 17:48 | CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Authorities arrested a barangay chairman and a church associate of embattled Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, while two others surrendered on Wednesday, April 3.
The arrest and surrender came after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) served a warrant issued by a Davao court against Quiboloy and five others in connection with a child abuse and sexual abuse case.
The NBI has placed under its custody three of the accused: Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes.
The NBI arrested Cresente in Barangay Tamayong. He is the barangay chairman of Tamayong where the KOJC is based.
Former KOJC members identified Cresente as Quiboloy’s close aide, serving as the preacher’s driver and bodyguard.
Paulene, former KOJC chief financial officer, and Cemañes, a coordinator, surrendered to authorities.
Authorities said the hunt for Quiboloy and two others – Jackielyn Roy and Ingrid Canada – will continue.
Roy, a lead singer in the KOJC choir, serves as one of Quiboloy’s assistants. She and Paulene also serve in the KOJC’s pastoral department.
Ingrid, the Quiboloy church administrator, Cresente, and Paulene are siblings.
Police-Southern Mindanao Director Alden Delvo, said the police were on the lookout for Quiboloy, Roy, and Ingrid.
“I believe he (Quiboloy) is still in Davao,” Brigadier General Delvo said.
He said authorities met with Quiboloy’s lawyers when they went to his known residences in Tamayong, Davao and in Samal Island, and discussed with them the possibility of the preacher’s surrender.
Delvo said, “We are hoping that in the coming days, he will come out. We are hoping that the lawyers would be able to convince their client to submit himself, since there is a lawful warrant of arrest issued against him by the court.” – with reports from Dennis Jay Santos, Rappler.com
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I appreciate the action of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP): three down and three more. Note that the barangay chairperson of Tamayong is also Quiboloy’s driver and bodyguard. I believe that he spent more time serving Quiboloy than his barangay. Is it because Quiboloy gave him more money than he earned as barangay chairperson? Let us hope that both the NBI and PNP will finally arrest Quiboloy. By then, would Quiboloy allow himself to be handcuffed and have his mugshot taken and published on both traditional and social media? (Note: This would be devastating to the image of the “appointed” son of God.) Or would he be treated just like that person who is the son of a high-ranking DOJ official?
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DOST websites defaced in new cyberattack | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 03/04/2024 13:11 | MANILA, Philippines – At least three websites or services connected to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were defaced on Tuesday, April 2.
The affected links were https://helpdesk.dost.gov.ph, http://hta.dost.gov.ph, and https://sfu.dost.gov.ph.
Aside from the DOST’s help desk, its Health Technology Assessment division and its S&T Foundation Unit were the other defaced websites within the roster.
As with the case of an earlier attack on a number of company websites linked to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, these appear to have been done by the entity known as “ph1ns” as part of the supposed #opEDSA campaign.
The attacks were verified by way of archived pages of the sites on the Wayback Machine. The defaced DOST websites were also sporting the same #opEDSA messages from the attacked company websites linked to Romualdez, calling for an end to charter change and political dynasties.
The three websites remain offline and inaccessible as of posting time.
According to a Manila Bulletin report, sources at the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the hackers also deleted 25 terabytes of data. – Rappler.com
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[Rappler’s Best] All that drama at Camp Crame | lfangeles0309 | 02/04/2024 14:38 | Nico Villarete/Rappler
Happy Easter to you! I hope you had days of quiet during the Holy Week, which we all deserve in a world of too much chatter and too much strife. Despite problems, Christian churches nationwide prayed for Easter hope.
In Rappler, one unit did not get much rest the past few days. Our spirited faith cluster not only churned out stories on the Philippines’ Lenten activities but also chatted with our readers on the Rappler app. Readers spent the past week vigorously sharing stories, photos, experiences, prayers, ideas, and emojis in the faith channel on the app – giving life and color to our Holy Week traditions. If faith and spirituality is a topic close to your heart, go to the Community tab of the Rappler app, look for the “faith” channel and join the vibrant conversations there. Still don’t have the app and therefore missing a lot? Please download it on iOS or Android.
I surmise that it’s also been a week without rest for a few police generals who anxiously waited for a call from Malacañang that would signal that, yes, he’s the chosen one to replace Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda, whose extended term ended on March 31. After all, the President seemed to have already made up his mind on two things last week: to no longer extend the extended Acorda and to name his replacement.
On March 26, Malacañang sent an advisory to key officials and agencies about a March 27 turnover ceremony for the new PNP chief. This meant that Acorda was indeed going to turn over his post to somebody else – belying persistent speculation he’d get extended yet again. It also meant that the replacement was already known by March 26, for how could a ceremony be planned without a name to put on the President’s appointment order?
Well, something happened in the holiest of days in this Catholic country. On Easter Sunday, Malacañang decided to instead name an OIC – officer in charge – to take the helm at the PNP: Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta. Now why would the President still choose to name an OIC when he had three months – the extended term of Acorda – to choose a replacement? If Peralta can be OIC, why can’t he just be…the chief?
It turned out Peralta – and the PNP – was in for a big surprise; he was only OIC for barely 24 hours. On Monday, April 1, at the retirement ceremony for Acorda, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed the PNP’s comptroller, Francisco Marbil, as the new PNP chief.
What accounts for this unnerving presidential flip-flop on a critical institution?
And thus this happened at Camp Crame: an OIC on Sunday and then permanent PNP chief on Monday. Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo noted that in December last year, a social media post about Marbil as the replacement of Acorda did the rounds, which the PNP branded as fake. Like Acorda, Marbil is a member of Class 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy; Speaker Martin Romualdez is their honorary member.
Why would a choice like this be made in such a haphazard, almost clandestine fashion? Rappler’s Thought Leader John Nery provides some context to this “chaos” in this piece, The Marcoses’ three-body problem. – Rappler.com
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General Emmanuel Peralta is the pitiful victim of President Marcos Jr.’s slow decision-making and sudden flip-flopping. After being OIC for a day, General Peralta was replaced by General Francisco Marbil. Although the former has a higher rank than the latter, the latter is connected to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the honorary member of the latter’s PMA Class 1991. The choice is “indeed haphazard, almost clandestine fashion,” following John Nery’s “The Marcoses’ three-body problem.”
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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Thursday, April 4, 2024 | Acor Arceo | 03/04/2024 17:00 | MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Thursday, April 4, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
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Light it up! BGC to hold nature-inspired light festival in April | Steph Arnaldo | 03/04/2024 14:15 | BGC
MANILA, Philippines – Ready to light up your life this April? Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is holding a new light festival called Boni Viva Luci, happening from April 6 to 14!
Aptly translating to “wondrous life in light,” the festival promises a captivating display of nature-inspired art installations illuminated with various lighting techniques.
The free event is co-presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) and Bonifacio High Street (BHS). The theme “Natural Life Echoed in Light” comes to life through a mix of new and existing public artworks transformed with dazzling light displays. The installations will be spread across various stations and locations in BGC, including Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio High Street South, Terra 28th Park, The Mind Museum, and the BGC Arts Center.
Among the festival’s highlights are illuminated versions of Philippine endemic species by Puppet Theater Manila, allowing visitors to see these creatures in a whole new light.
These include LuminiSense: Our Place in the Cosmos by Joyce Sahagun Garcia, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan, showcased through interactive video mapping; Olivia D’Aboville’s Giant Dandelions; The Abyss by Winter David and Ohm David; and Reimagined Chandeliers by Ohm David and Mark Choa, highlighting giant bioluminescent octopuses and chandeliers with LED tentacles.
Mythical creatures take center stage with Cheska Cartativo’s Entanglement: Adarna to Bakunawa on the Glass Bridge. Visitors can also delve into the unconventional portrayal of the goddess of fertility and death through Leeroy New’s Mebuyan Cradle, complemented by shadow play projections titled Into the Shadows are Heroes by Sigmund Pecho, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan.
With detailed visuals on LED screens, Isaiah Cacnio and Joyce Sahagun Garcia will showcase their artistic interpretations of Celestial Waltz and Behold the Eclipse, Behold the Light, respectively. Additionally, Camera Club of the Philippines members Fred del Rosario, Chito Viñas, and Mark Bautista will share their stunning nature photography through projected images.
Don’t miss the Purple Terra installation, where trees are bathed in a vibrant purple glow, illuminating the night sky.
On April 6, the festival will kick off its opening night at the BHS Amphitheatre with performances by vocalists Arman Ferrer, Bayang Barrios, and OJ Mariano, plus a dance performance by Galaw.Co Dance Theater and a musical performance by violinist Liz Besana.
There will also be a parade of giant illuminated puppets of Philippine indigenous animals by Puppet Theater Manila, and then a a grand finale parade with music composed by National Artist for Music, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, specifically for Boni Viva Luci.
In August to October 2023, BGC hosted its inaugural Da Vinci AI exhibit, followed by the second installment of the immersive Van Gogh Alive exhibit in October 2023. – Rappler.com
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DOST websites defaced in new cyberattack | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 03/04/2024 13:11 | MANILA, Philippines – At least three websites or services connected to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) were defaced on Tuesday, April 2.
The affected links were https://helpdesk.dost.gov.ph, http://hta.dost.gov.ph, and https://sfu.dost.gov.ph.
Aside from the DOST’s help desk, its Health Technology Assessment division and its S&T Foundation Unit were the other defaced websites within the roster.
As with the case of an earlier attack on a number of company websites linked to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, these appear to have been done by the entity known as “ph1ns” as part of the supposed #opEDSA campaign.
The attacks were verified by way of archived pages of the sites on the Wayback Machine. The defaced DOST websites were also sporting the same #opEDSA messages from the attacked company websites linked to Romualdez, calling for an end to charter change and political dynasties.
The three websites remain offline and inaccessible as of posting time.
According to a Manila Bulletin report, sources at the Department of Information and Communications Technology said the hackers also deleted 25 terabytes of data. – Rappler.com
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | Jasmine Payo | 05/05/2024 21:02 | ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: No US, Ukraine aircraft carriers in PH | Lorenz Pasion | 03/04/2024 16:00 | Claim: Aircraft carriers from the US and Ukraine have arrived in the Philippines.
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a Facebook reel video posted by a page with other dubious military-related content.
The video shows images of aircraft carriers along with the text “Ukraine/USA nasa Pilipinas na” (Ukraine/USA now in the Philippines). As of writing, the video has over 17,100 reactions, 982 comments, and 895 shares.
The facts: No official reports confirm the deployment of any warship or aircraft carrier from the US and Ukraine to the Philippines.
There have been no announcements from the defense departments of the US, Ukraine, or the Philippines regarding the supposed arrival of these aircraft carriers.
Not in PH: Using reverse image search, the ship shown in the video is the US Navy’s $13 billion USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the world’s largest aircraft carrier. Commissioned in July 2017, it is the lead ship in the Ford-class of aircraft carriers and is one of the most technologically advanced aircraft carriers in the US Navy’s fleet, boasting features such as advanced arresting gear and an electromagnetic aircraft launch system.
Contrary to the video’s claim, the Gerald R. Ford is nowhere near the Philippines. It returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk last January 17, 2024, following an eight-month deployment to the US Naval Forces Europe area of operations, according to a US Navy press release.
Old footage: The Facebook reel also uses old footage and does not show the aircraft carrier recently arriving in the Philippines. The clip of an explosion shown in the Facebook reel was taken from an August 2021 video posted on the US Navy’s official YouTube account showing the full ship shock trials of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Atlantic Ocean.
Meanwhile, the clip shown at the start of the Facebook reel was originally from the 42-second mark of a November 2022 Naval News video. The original video showed news coverage of the inaugural deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford.
PH and US relations: The video was uploaded amid heightening tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. Last month, China Coast Guard vessels used water cannons against a Philippine vessel, damaging the boat and injuring Filipino crew members.
The US has vowed to support the Philippines amid China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the vast waterway. In March, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to its ally and stronger Philippine-US bilateral ties. US lawmakers and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also expressed support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights.
Beijing continues to assert its expansive maritime claim, rejecting a 2016 Hague ruling in favor of Manila. – Rappler.com
Jed Nykolle Harme is an associate editor at Eamigas Publication, and is a #FactsMatter Journalism Fellow for 2023-2024.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Light it up! BGC to hold nature-inspired light festival in April | Steph Arnaldo | 03/04/2024 14:15 | BGC
MANILA, Philippines – Ready to light up your life this April? Bonifacio Global City (BGC) is holding a new light festival called Boni Viva Luci, happening from April 6 to 14!
Aptly translating to “wondrous life in light,” the festival promises a captivating display of nature-inspired art installations illuminated with various lighting techniques.
The free event is co-presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. (BAFI) and Bonifacio High Street (BHS). The theme “Natural Life Echoed in Light” comes to life through a mix of new and existing public artworks transformed with dazzling light displays. The installations will be spread across various stations and locations in BGC, including Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio High Street South, Terra 28th Park, The Mind Museum, and the BGC Arts Center.
Among the festival’s highlights are illuminated versions of Philippine endemic species by Puppet Theater Manila, allowing visitors to see these creatures in a whole new light.
These include LuminiSense: Our Place in the Cosmos by Joyce Sahagun Garcia, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan, showcased through interactive video mapping; Olivia D’Aboville’s Giant Dandelions; The Abyss by Winter David and Ohm David; and Reimagined Chandeliers by Ohm David and Mark Choa, highlighting giant bioluminescent octopuses and chandeliers with LED tentacles.
Mythical creatures take center stage with Cheska Cartativo’s Entanglement: Adarna to Bakunawa on the Glass Bridge. Visitors can also delve into the unconventional portrayal of the goddess of fertility and death through Leeroy New’s Mebuyan Cradle, complemented by shadow play projections titled Into the Shadows are Heroes by Sigmund Pecho, Ohm David, and Arvy Dimaculangan.
With detailed visuals on LED screens, Isaiah Cacnio and Joyce Sahagun Garcia will showcase their artistic interpretations of Celestial Waltz and Behold the Eclipse, Behold the Light, respectively. Additionally, Camera Club of the Philippines members Fred del Rosario, Chito Viñas, and Mark Bautista will share their stunning nature photography through projected images.
Don’t miss the Purple Terra installation, where trees are bathed in a vibrant purple glow, illuminating the night sky.
On April 6, the festival will kick off its opening night at the BHS Amphitheatre with performances by vocalists Arman Ferrer, Bayang Barrios, and OJ Mariano, plus a dance performance by Galaw.Co Dance Theater and a musical performance by violinist Liz Besana.
There will also be a parade of giant illuminated puppets of Philippine indigenous animals by Puppet Theater Manila, and then a a grand finale parade with music composed by National Artist for Music, Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, specifically for Boni Viva Luci.
In August to October 2023, BGC hosted its inaugural Da Vinci AI exhibit, followed by the second installment of the immersive Van Gogh Alive exhibit in October 2023. – Rappler.com
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[WATCH] In the Public Square with John Nery: The Marcoses’ three-body problem | Nina Liu | 03/04/2024 15:54 | Is it really possible that there are three centers of political gravity inside the Marcos family?
House Speaker Martin Romualdez is behind two attempts to change the Constitution, but it is his cousin Senator Imee Marcos leading the effort to stop both in the Senate. Senator Marcos has become a principal defender of China in public debates, while her younger brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is deepening political and security ties with the United States.
President Marcos remains very friendly with Vice President Sara Duterte, but Speaker Romualdez is preparing the ground for a presidential campaign to compete with the Vice President.
Joining this episode of In the Public Square with John Nery to make sense of what is going on with the Marcos family are Professor Arjan Aguirre, professor of political science at the Ateneo de Manila University, and Sherwin De Vera, editor-in-chief of Baguio-based Northern Dispatch.
Watch the episode here on Wednesday, April 3, at 8 pm. – Rappler.com
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DOH advises public to take precautions vs extreme temperatures | Kaycee | 02/04/2024 19:40 | A regular train commuter rides a 'sikad' or trolley from Beata in Pandacan to Stop and Shop in Sta. Mesa in Manila as he returns for work after the holy week break, on April 1, 2024. The Philippine National Railways will cease operation for five years to give way to the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway. The closure affected an estimated 30,000 daily commuters.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – As some areas in the country suspend on-site classes due to high heat index levels, the Department of Health has advised the public to take precautions as these could also lead to heat-related illnesses.
Under the state weather bureau PAGASA’s recent heat index, multiple areas are expected to have a heat index not going below 40°C until Wednesday, April 3. These include Dumangas in Iloilo, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
Temperatures ranging from 33°C to 41°C are classified under “extreme caution,” while 42°C anywhere up to 51°C is dangerous as heat exhaustion is likely and there’s a high possibility for heat stroke.
“The DOH is actively monitoring cases of heat-related illnesses,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement on Tuesday, April 2.
Here are tips and reminders from the DOH to help with the extreme weather:
If you are planning to head outdoors, wearing sunblock and choosing loose or lightweight clothes is advised. The department also recommended the public to use an umbrella or wear a hat to protect oneself from getting sunburnt.
With the country’s current heat index levels, the public may experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, heat cramps are the “mildest form” of heat illness. Those who work out or exercise in heated environments can get painful muscle spasms.
Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, may manifest through fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and lightheadedness. It happens when the body is not able to relieve itself from the heat, which can also lead to a heat stroke.
Heat stroke – considered a serious condition – may lead to a loss of consciousness, leave the person confused, or have seizures, which the DOH said “can be deadly if left untreated.”
The DOH advised the public to perform the following first aid measures if any heat-related illness symptom is observed:
– Rappler.com
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Results, team standings: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | Jasmine Payo | 05/05/2024 21:02 | ROARING. NU's Bella Belen (left) and Alyssa Solomon react in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball finals
UAAP Season 86 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – The UAAP Season 86 volleyball tournaments reach a tipping point with the men’s and women’s finals!
LOOK: UAAP volleyball championship schedule
Here are the results in the men’s and women’s divisions:
MAY 15
May 11
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
MAY 8
MAY 5
MAY 4
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
** – Twice-to-beat* – Final Fourx – Eliminated
APRIL 27
APRIL 24
APRIL 21
APRIL 20
APRIL 17
APRIL 14
APRIL 13
APRIL 10
APRIL 9
APRIL 4
APRIL 3
MARCH 24
MARCH 23
MARCH 20
First round
MARCH 17
MARCH 16
MARCH 13
MARCH 10
MARCH 9
MARCH 6
MARCH 3
MARCH 2
FEBRUARY 28
FEBRUARY 25
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 21
FEBRUARY 18
FEBRUARY 17
– Rappler.com
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[Rappler’s Best] All that drama at Camp Crame | lfangeles0309 | 02/04/2024 14:38 | Nico Villarete/Rappler
Happy Easter to you! I hope you had days of quiet during the Holy Week, which we all deserve in a world of too much chatter and too much strife. Despite problems, Christian churches nationwide prayed for Easter hope.
In Rappler, one unit did not get much rest the past few days. Our spirited faith cluster not only churned out stories on the Philippines’ Lenten activities but also chatted with our readers on the Rappler app. Readers spent the past week vigorously sharing stories, photos, experiences, prayers, ideas, and emojis in the faith channel on the app – giving life and color to our Holy Week traditions. If faith and spirituality is a topic close to your heart, go to the Community tab of the Rappler app, look for the “faith” channel and join the vibrant conversations there. Still don’t have the app and therefore missing a lot? Please download it on iOS or Android.
I surmise that it’s also been a week without rest for a few police generals who anxiously waited for a call from Malacañang that would signal that, yes, he’s the chosen one to replace Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda, whose extended term ended on March 31. After all, the President seemed to have already made up his mind on two things last week: to no longer extend the extended Acorda and to name his replacement.
On March 26, Malacañang sent an advisory to key officials and agencies about a March 27 turnover ceremony for the new PNP chief. This meant that Acorda was indeed going to turn over his post to somebody else – belying persistent speculation he’d get extended yet again. It also meant that the replacement was already known by March 26, for how could a ceremony be planned without a name to put on the President’s appointment order?
Well, something happened in the holiest of days in this Catholic country. On Easter Sunday, Malacañang decided to instead name an OIC – officer in charge – to take the helm at the PNP: Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta. Now why would the President still choose to name an OIC when he had three months – the extended term of Acorda – to choose a replacement? If Peralta can be OIC, why can’t he just be…the chief?
It turned out Peralta – and the PNP – was in for a big surprise; he was only OIC for barely 24 hours. On Monday, April 1, at the retirement ceremony for Acorda, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed the PNP’s comptroller, Francisco Marbil, as the new PNP chief.
What accounts for this unnerving presidential flip-flop on a critical institution?
And thus this happened at Camp Crame: an OIC on Sunday and then permanent PNP chief on Monday. Rappler reporter Jairo Bolledo noted that in December last year, a social media post about Marbil as the replacement of Acorda did the rounds, which the PNP branded as fake. Like Acorda, Marbil is a member of Class 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy; Speaker Martin Romualdez is their honorary member.
Why would a choice like this be made in such a haphazard, almost clandestine fashion? Rappler’s Thought Leader John Nery provides some context to this “chaos” in this piece, The Marcoses’ three-body problem. – Rappler.com
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General Emmanuel Peralta is the pitiful victim of President Marcos Jr.’s slow decision-making and sudden flip-flopping. After being OIC for a day, General Peralta was replaced by General Francisco Marbil. Although the former has a higher rank than the latter, the latter is connected to Speaker Martin Romualdez, the honorary member of the latter’s PMA Class 1991. The choice is “indeed haphazard, almost clandestine fashion,” following John Nery’s “The Marcoses’ three-body problem.”
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Cagayan de Oro’s pertussis scare: When an ‘outbreak’ isn’t really an outbreak | Herbie G | 03/04/2024 12:56 | SPEECH. Cagayan de Oro City Health Officer Rachel Dilla speaks during a family planning program activity.
Cagayan de Oro City Health Office
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The head of the Cagayan de Oro City Health Office has drawn criticism for announcing on Tuesday, April 2, that the city was seeing a pertussis outbreak, despite city hall documenting only one case and two suspected infections.
City Health Officer Rachel Dilla’s announcement quickly became the subject of viral posts, spreading rapidly on social media and causing alarm in the city.
Later, Dr. Dilla retracted her statement, explaining that her use of the word “outbreak” during an interview with local broadcaster Magnum Radio was not intended to convey a large-scale epidemic.
She earlier told the radio station, “Outbreak siya kay tungod na-control naman unta ni sya nga sakit through vaccination. So, whenever naay maski usa ka kaso o duha, amo nanang gitawag nga murag outbreak, kanang wala naman unta na siya.”
(We call it an outbreak because this disease was supposed to be under control through vaccination. So, whenever there is even one or two cases, we refer to it as an outbreak, since it should no longer be occurring.)
Dr. Ellenietta Herundina Maria Victoria Gamolo, assistant director of the Department of Health (DOH) in Northern Mindanao, said the situation in Cagayan de Oro cannot be considered an outbreak.
“Pertussis was never declared as eradicated or eliminated. It is under control since we have the vaccines for it. The ones who got sick in Region 10 were all unvaccinated,” Gamolo said.
The health department recorded six cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, throughout the region as of March 23, and only two are laboratory-confirmed.
Of the six cases, three are from Cagayan de Oro and one each from the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental.
There was no pertussis case documented in the city or Northern Mindanao from January to March of 2023. The DOH, however, documented 63 cases in the succeeding months in the region last year.
Gamolo noted that Dilla used the word “maybe” in her controversial radio interview, implying that she was unsure about her outbreak declaration.
She said health officials can only declare an outbreak “if cases are higher than the expected number of cases, and deaths are observed.”
Dilla acknowledged her miscommunication, clarifying that the local health office had observed an “increase” in both confirmed and suspected cases of pertussis in Cagayan de Oro compared to the same period in 2023. This year’s cases involve infants from barangays Carmen, Gusa, and Macasandig.
“We, in the City Health Office, consider this not lightly. We really have to do more of what we are doing,” Dilla told Rappler on Tuesday.
However, her retraction came after her initial interview had already been widely disseminated on social media. The Facebook post by Magnum Radio alone garnered over 11,000 views and more than 500 shares as of posting time.
Ailyn Estillore, a mother from Barangay Carmen, expressed her disappointment over Dilla’s initial announcement, admitting to panic after encountering the social media posts, fearing for the safety of her two young children.
“Naka sink in sa ako huna-huna nga basin mas grabe pa ni sa COVID-19. Murag ana akong nabati nga kahadlok,” Estillore told Rappler.
(The thought that this could be worse than COVID-19 began to sink in. That’s how scared I was.)
A store manager in Barangay Kauswagan, Jennifer Generalao, said she became anxious as the radio interview with Dilla and the subsequent social media posts rekindled her traumatic memories of the worst period of the COVID-19 pandemic’s peak, which had severely impacted her career.
Dilla, meanwhile, said the uptick in confirmed and suspected pertussis cases in Cagayan de Oro could be linked to the city’s suboptimal routine immunization rates, which saw only 77% of children fully immunized in 2020. The figure slightly improved to 78% in 2021, reached 80% in 2022, and then 86% in 2023, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting vaccination efforts.
In response, some 2,000 doses of the 5-in-1 pentavalent vaccine, which includes protection against pertussis, were distributed across all health centers in the city.
Local health officials said priority was being given to people in villages reporting instances of whooping cough to mitigate further spread of the disease.
The DOH said pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that can be transmitted from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Health officials said this can be prevented by good hygiene, such as covering the mouth while coughing and sneezing using disposable tissues and wipes, or the elbow and upper arm, and frequent hand washing. – Rappler.com
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It’s hot and we need to save water. Here’s what you can do at home. | Iya Gozum | 03/04/2024 13:32 | Shutterstock
NUEVA ECIJA, Philippines – During the hot season, water consumption increases as people rely on water to stay cool and hydrated.
All the more that it’s important to conserve water, as supply may run out when people need it the most.
Despite having “sufficient water supply” from Angat Dam and other sources, the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the environment department recently released Bulletin No. 003 urging Metro Manila villages and condominiums to conserve water as the country experiences the lingering effects of El Niño this April.
Alongside the reminder are some tips that residents can start practicing at home to save water.
So, what can you do?
Other hacks you can try:
Households combined have the highest expenses on water consumption, according to 2022 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), followed by energy-intensive industries like mining and quarrying, manufacturing, and construction.
The WRMO said in the bulletin, which was released jointly with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and the National Water Resources Board, that they “are working on a scenario of no major interruptions in water services from March to May.”
As of April 2, Angat Dam elevation was at 198.41 meters, or 13.59 meters below the normal level of 212 meters. Angat Dam supplies most of Metro Manila’s water needs. – Rappler.com
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Does Apollo Quiboloy have a choice not to appear before the Senate? | Jairo Bolledo | 03/04/2024 11:13 | PREACHER. Apollo Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and a friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
Quiboloy's Facebook page
Doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy is wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking, and has been charged in two Philippine courts also for trafficking and child abuse.
On Wednesday, April 3, a warrant obtained by Rappler showed that Presiding Judge Dante Baguio of Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 12 ordered Quiboloy’s arrest. On top of these, Quiboloy also faces another arrest and detention, courtesy of the Philippine Senate.
The Senate’s arrest order was issued after Quiboloy was held in contempt for snubbing the summons of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, led by opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros. The same committee has already heard testimonies of Quiboloy’s alleged abuses from former workers of his religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Still evading the Senate, one of Quiboloy’s lawyers told the Philippine Star that they had filed a petition before the Supreme Court to ask the High Court to stop the “unjust and unconstitutional” Senate warrant.
The Constitution empowers the Senate to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation. That is the legal basis for the Rules of the Senate, under which the Upper House can summon witnesses and ask them to bring documents to the inquiry.
Inquiries in aid of legislation have to be based on legislative intent, or hinged on a law or a measure that the Senate wants to strengthen or make more efficient. When former senator Antonio Trillanes IV wanted to investigate former solicitor general Jose Calida for the government contracts won by the latter’s family-owned company, the alleged lack of legislative intent prompted Calida to go to the Supreme Court to stop it. The investigation never pushed through.
If the Senate issues the subpoena to a person, “all those subpoenaed by the Senate or its Committees in aid of legislation have no choice but to appear before the Senate or its committees,” retired SC senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said in a statement.
The rules of the Senate also say that if the summoned person does not appear, he/she may be held in contempt and detained. That is why the Senate can issue the arrest warrant, even though under general rules, only judges of courts can issue warrants of arrest. The person may be detained under the custody of the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms “until he/she agrees to produce the required documents, or to be sworn or to testify, or otherwise purge himself/herself of that contempt.”
This happened a couple of times, like when the Senate held in contempt and ordered the detention of some cops involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar. Some cops caused confusion and were uncooperative during one of the Senate hearings on Baltazar, which prompted Hontiveros to order their detention.
The Senate’s power to detain is not absolute, however. This mandate should be balanced with every person’s right to be free, “unless detained by a judge for a case that has gone through the rules of court.”
In several instances, the SC had reminded the Senate of its limited powers. In the hazing case of University of Santo Tomas law student Atio Castillo, the SC noted that the Senate can detain a person held in contempt only for as long as an inquiry was ongoing.
Quiboloy, in his SC petition, argued that the Senate probe violates his rights against self-incrimination.
Every person is protected by laws to avoid incriminating himself/herself by giving information that can be used against himself/herself. This is enshrined in article III, section 17, of the 1987 Constitution: “No person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.”
But according to Carpio, a person may only raise his/her right against self-incrimination and refuse an incrimination question, only after a question was asked during a Senate inquiry. The retired SC senior magistrate said before a question is asked by the Senate or its committees, “there is no constitutional right that may be violated.”
Carpio said the jurisprudence or previous court rulings about the Senate’s power to subpoena and people’s rights against self-incrimination are “well-settled.” He cited Romero II v. Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources case, where the SC quoted Sabio v. Gordon.
In the said case, the SC said the right against self-incrimination may be invoked “only when theincriminating question is being asked, since they have no way of knowing in advance the nature or effect of the questions to be asked of them.”
“The unremitting obligation of every citizen is to respond to subpoena, to respect the dignity of the Congress and its Committees, and to testify fully with respect to matters within the realm of proper investigation,” the decision added.
Carpio also said that the Rules of the Senate also explain invocation of the right against self-incrimination. Under section 19, resolution 5, a “witness can invoke his right against self-incrimination only when a question which tends to elicit an answer that will incriminate him is propounded to him.”
“His/her invocation of such right does not by itself excuse him from his duty to give testimony,” the rules said. – Rappler.com
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So what happens now? How long shall we wait for the Supreme Court’s decision on the petition asking it to stop the “unjust and unconstitutional” Senate warrant? Meanwhile, what about the arrest warrant issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 12? This shows what money, power, and influence can do to our Justice System.
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Court orders Quiboloy arrest | Chay Hofilena | 03/04/2024 7:09 | ARREST. Controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is ordered arrested by a regional trial court.
Screengrab
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – A regional court has ordered the arrest of embattled doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy and several others for child abuse and sexual abuse, a copy of the warrant obtained by Rappler on Wednesday, April 3, showed.
Judge Dante Baguio of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 in the Davao region issued the arrest warrant on March 14 against Quiboloy and five of his associates identified as Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada, and Sylvia Cemañes.
“Upon a judicious examination and perusal of the Information, the records of the preliminary investigation, including the affidavits and written statements, and other attachments to the Information, the Court finds probable cause to issue Warrant of Arrest,” the court order said.
Earlier on March 19, the Senate had ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for “unduly refusing to appear” at the upper chamber’s inquiry into his alleged human rights abuses.
The Senate committee on women children, family relations, and gender equality led by Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros conducted hearings into allegations of “large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse” in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Former members testified about alleged abuses of Quiboloy and his church associates before the committee in hearings that started in January.
Their testimonies – including that of two Ukrainian women – alleged that the KOJC pastor sexually abused them in the name of religion. These are consistent with, and corroborated by, other allegations also made by former KOJC members in the US against Quiboloy.
Quiboloy and eight of his associates were indicted by a federal grand jury in a US District Court in Santa Ana, California, in 2021. The Davao-based preacher is on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) most wanted list.
An FBI poster says that Quiboloy is “wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.
Hontiveros welcomed the issuance of a court arrest warrant and expressed optimism that Quiboloy would be arrested in time for the next hearing of the Senate committee.
“Bilang na ang masasayang araw ni Apollo Quiboloy. Halos lahat na ng institusyon sa Pilipinas ay gumagalaw para mapanagot siya,” she said.
(The happy days of Apollo Quiboloy are numbered. Almost all institutions in the Philippines are moving to hold him accountable.)
Hontiveros, addressing Quiboloy, urged the controversial preacher to face the accusations leveled at him, submit to legal processes, and “huwag nang mag-inarte (stop the theatrics).”
“Kung walang kasalanan, hindi kailangang magtago,” she added.
(If he’s innocent, then there’s no need for him to hide.)
The child and sexual abuse case against Quiboloy was filed in court after the Department of Justice (DOJ) reviewed and overturned a June 29, 2020 resolution by Davao City prosecutors that dismissed the alleged victim’s complaint. The Davao City Prosecutor’s Office also threw out her motion for reconsideration.
The alleged victim, a former KOJC worker, filed a petition for review the resolution and her complaints for rape, qualified human trafficking, and child abuse. Her petition gathered dust at the DOJ for four years.
The DOJ, in its resolution in early March, noted that the allegations of abuse date back to 2011, and that the alleged victim claimed to have been raped when she was still a minor in September 2014.
She also alleged to have suffered emotional and physical mistreatment, and forced labor without compensation, all in the name of religion.
Four years later, the justice department acted on the petition and ruled that “there exists probable cause against Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy for the crime of sexual abuse of a minor, under Section 5(b) of the Republic Act No. 7610, as well as against Quiboloy and co- respondents for qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse.”
In a March statement, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla noted that the petition for review “lingered unresolved for four long years.”
“Our foremost aim is to achieve justice within the Philippines, grounded firmly on the evidence presented and the statutes of our legal system…. This case represents a significant step towards addressing and rectifying injustices suffered by vulnerable members of our society, particularly children, and reinforces the legal framework protecting them from abuse and exploitation,” read part of Remulla’s statement. – Rappler.com
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It is the job of WCPC Mfu to arrest Quiboloy. I remember already in 2016 WCPC mfu was investigating lots of cyber sex dens popping up in Davao. They were also investigating an American called Jesse Y. He had fled Angeles City in 2007 after his arrest there by the CIDG. He was suspected of involvement in 3 cyber sex dens. Y. fled to Mindanao and started the same sex business in San Francisco, Agusan. Also there, Y. narrowly escaped arrest. After which he fled to Davao and started a restaurant and playground business there.
I appreciate Judge Dante Baguio of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 12 in the Davao region, who issued the arrest warrant on March 14 against Quiboloy and five associates. But why is this only known now? It took eleven (11) working days for the public to know via Rappler. How about the Davao City PNP? Do they know this? Our court needs to communicate better with the public and the PNP. Or is there an intent to slowly reveal this matter to protect the interest of the “powerful” appointed son of God?
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FACT CHECK: No P10,000 cash aid for all senior citizens from DSWD | Lorenz Pasion | 03/04/2024 13:40 | Claim: All senior citizens aged 60 years old and above can receive P10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) upon presentation of their senior citizen IDs.
Why we fact-checked this: The video containing the claim was posted by the verified YouTube channel “Balitang Pinas” with 658,000 subscribers. As of writing, it has 32,523 views and 997 likes.
The thumbnail and title of the video bear the claim: “To all 60 yrs old & above! Basta may seniors ID ka! P10,000 one time cash aid, pirmado na!” (To all 60 years old and above! As long as you have a senior’s ID! P10,000 one-time cash aid, signed!)
The facts: In a public advisory released on February 29, the DSWD clarified that it does not offer a program providing P10,000 assistance to senior citizens upon presentation of their senior citizen IDs.
Similar posts about supposed cash gifts to senior citizens have also been previously debunked by the National Commission of Senior Citizens.
The misleading video used audio from a February 2024 interview with NCSC Commissioner Reymar Mansilungan, but he did not mention any P10,000 one-time cash aid for senior citizen ID bearers.
Conditions for cash aid: Social pensions and cash gifts are available to senior citizens but under certain conditions.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11916, which lapsed into law in 2022, only indigent seniors are eligible for a social pension. Implemented in 2024, the law doubled the monthly social pension for indigent seniors from P500 to P1,000 to support their necessities and medical expenses. Around 4 million senior citizens are expected to benefit from its implementation.
A more recent legislative development is RA 11982, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on February 26, 2024, which expands the Centenarians Act of 2016. Under this law, the government will provide a P10,000 cash gift to Filipinos reaching the age of 80, and another P10,000 every five years thereafter until they reach 95. (READ: Senior citizens aged 80 and up get cash gifts too under expanded law)
DSWD aid: The DSWD offers additional assistance to the elderly through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program. The program supports those experiencing crises by providing aid for various expenses, including transportation, funeral, medical, food, and educational needs.
Debunked: Various versions of this claim have circulated on social media in recent weeks, citing different amounts and various government offices as the supposed source of the cash gifts. Rappler has debunked these claims:
Official news: For official updates on the social pension for indigent senior citizens and DSWD programs and services, refer to the official DSWD website and its social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. – Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza/Rappler.comChinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Just kidding? Takoyaki shop draws flak for April Fools’ tattoo prank gone wrong | pfkahanap0307 | 02/04/2024 18:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Not all jokes are funny.
As different brands joined in on the April Fools’ Day fun with mock social media posts, netizens slammed a food chain after it refused to take responsibility for a prank post gone wrong.
A takoyaki restaurant called Taragis said in a now-deleted Facebook post on Monday, April 1, that they would be giving P100,000 to the first person who had their shop’s logo tattooed on their forehead.
The words “April Fool’s” was written at the bottom of the photo used for the social media post. The phrase cannot be seen properly unless the user clicks on the photo itself.
Unfortunately, a social media user identified as Ramil Albano had taken the post seriously and shared a photo of his new forehead tattoo.
In another deleted post, Taragis said that they were “not accountable for the events that occurred,” and urged readers to remember “how important reading comprehension is.”
Carl Quion, Taragis’ owner, has since talked to Albano and given him the reward, as seen in a video posted on Tuesday, April 2. He also offered to shoulder the cost of the tattoo removal.
“Hindi natin alam na may mga taong gagawin ang lahat para sa pera, kaya iwasan nating gumawa ng mga bagay na makakaapekto sa kabuhayan nila,” Quion said.
(We don’t know how far people will go just for money, so let’s avoid doing things that could affect their livelihoods.)
Albano shared in the video that he had taken on the challenge so that he could have extra money for his children’s needs, especially for his youngest son who has Down syndrome.
After Taragis earlier denied responsibility for the incident, several brands from all over the country offered to give Albano cash rewards, hoping that these would help him and his family.
Netizens said that Taragis’ prank went a little too far, since many Filipinos may not be familiar with the concept of April Fools’ Day.
Hindi lahat ng followers nila ay alam ang April Fools day. At educated enough to read it with comprehension. Pag Pera ang pinag uusapan Lalo sa Pinas may kakagat talaga nyan. They should be accountable with their stupid post. Kainis!
naiinis ak s mga taong pinagtatawanan ung nagpatattoo ng taragis logo like can u not see it was an act of desperation na tattoo lang may 100k ka na of course if ure rly in need of money ud consider it 😅😅 april fools isnt a holiday that every1 knows especially in the philippines
The Philippines doesn't have an April Fool's culture, or else a long history of it. Lalo na sa mga hindi naman masyadong babad sa diskurso ng globalisasyon, malay ba nila? Mabuting tandaang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagintindi natin sa mundo. https://t.co/0pPyZvq2GU
Others also pointed out that some people, especially those like Albano who need financial assistance, could be tempted to take the restaurant’s “offer” amid the rising cost of living in the country.
The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.4% in February, following an increase in food prices and utility costs during the month.
pranking the non privelaged masses like that, then painting them dumb and not taking accountability for it. taragis (whoever the fck they are) has a special place in hell. i hope someone files a case against them. https://t.co/XeC9g116WQ
Some individuals also said that Taragis’ responses to the issue were in bad taste, saying that they portrayed Albano as “dumb” for falling for an April Fools’ prank when he was only looking for ways to make ends meet.
Apaka out of touch na sisihin pa yung hindi nagbasa si kuya. May krisis naman kasi talaga comprehension dito sa pinas imbes na tulungan kahit papano kahit hindi 100k nagmock pa ang mga tao https://t.co/bPrBGxfFBR
exactly. tangina niyong mga walang puso sa taong nagbabakasakali lang. https://t.co/Lyr8BPvo2y
Should they be held accountable for their joke? Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, a lawyer on TikTok, said that under the rules of the Department of Trade and Industry, Taragis should compensate Albano “for causing injury to another person and false advertising.”
She said that they could also be held liable under Article 21 of the Civil Code, which states that “any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
In the April 2 video, Quion has apologized to his critics and explained that he had no intention of hurting other people.
“Sa mga nagkaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa naging April Fools’ post namin, humihingi ako ng tawad. Sana magsilbing aral ito sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kapwa influencers ko o brand na nasa internet, na maging responsable tayo sa lahat ng inuupload natin,” he said.
(For those who disliked our April Fools’ post, I’m sorry. Let this be a lesson to all of us, especially to my fellow influencers and online brands, to be responsible for everything we upload.)
Some netizens have pointed out that Taragis’ prank may be scripted based on the appearance of Albano’s supposedly fresh tattoo.
According to several sources online, a tattoo may take around two to four weeks to heal, and may show dryness, redness, and oozing.
Hahahahahaa scripted. Where the fuck can you see a tattoo that can heal for 2 days that fast???? https://t.co/0s66psw9o1
A social media user who goes by Chonna Mae also called out Taragis for allegedly taking down her comment questioning the legitimacy of Albano’s tattoo.
“Sa totoo namang 3:36 pm kayo nag-post ng April Fool’s Joke ‘nyo tapos 4:04 pm, tapos na agad ‘yung tattoo niya at magaling agad,” she said in a post (It’s true that you posted your April Fool’s Joke at 3:36 pm and at 4:04 pm, his tattoo was done and healed). “Ay nako, mukhang nang-eeme lang ‘yang si Taragis, maniwala kayo sa ‘kin.” (Taragis seems to be kidding around, believe me.)
But regardless of the intent, Filipinos online said that at the end of the day, Albano is just a father who would do anything for his children.
What do you think of this issue? – with reports from Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She often seeks energy boosts in the form of caffeine (both iced coffee and matcha!) and her favorite K-pop groups.
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Villagers evacuated, classes suspended as soldiers, rebels clash in Abra | Herbie G | 03/04/2024 10:02 | VIGAN, Philippines – Villagers evacuated and classes were disrupted after government forces battled it out with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a town in Abra province on Tuesday, April 2.
The fierce clashes in the village of Nagcanasan in Pilar town, Abra forced the local government to suspend primary and secondary level classes starting on Wednesday.
“As a precautionary and proactive measure in anticipation of any untoward incidents in relation to the foregoing and to safeguard the learners and school personnel from physical danger, classes in primary and secondary levels both in public and private schools shall be suspended,” said Pilar Mayor Tyron Christopher Beroña in an executive order issued on Tuesday.
The Army’s 5th Infantry Division said soldiers from the 50th Infantry Battalion encountered members of the North Abra Guerrilla Front of the NPA’s Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee just before noon.
It was the fifth documented clash between communist guerrillas and government forces in Abra this year.
Army Major Bryan Albano, civil-military operations officer of the 501st Infantry Brigade, told local broadcaster DWRS that the soldiers were on security patrol when they encountered the rebel group.
Albano said the fierce clashes lasted for hours, until around 7 pm, with clearing operations continuing afterward. Several videos uploaded on Facebook showed military airstrikes that lasted until sundown.
The military said a soldier was slightly hurt, and they were still finding out if the NPA suffered casualties.
Families living near the site of the encounter fled their homes, with some evacuating to a gymnasium located in the town center.
The town government said the evacuees included at least 21 families from Sitio Paring, Barangay Bababalasioan in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, near Nagcanasan.
The Ilocos Human Rights Alliance, meanwhile, called on the military and NPA to ensure the safety of civilians and uphold International Humanitarian Law, which guarantees that human rights are protected even in times of war. The group also appealed to the military to stop the airstrikes.
“Nananawagan rin kami sa AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) na itigil ang mga aerial bombing dahil sa malaking posibilidad na madamay ang mga sibilyan, alagang-hayop, at masira ang mga taniman at production area ng mga residente sa lugar,” the group said.
(We also call on the AFP to put a stop to the aerial bombings due to the high possibility of civilians, domestic animals, and residents’ crops and production areas being affected.)
The Philippine Red Cross has dispatched a group of workers to provide evacuees relief aid, child-friendly spaces, a first-aid station, and psychosocial support. – Rappler.com
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Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years kills 7, traps 77 | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 03/04/2024 9:13 | A view of a damaged apartment following an earthquake offshore, in New Taipei City, Taiwan April 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Fabian Hamacher
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in at least 25 years killed seven people on Wednesday, April 3, injuring more than 700, with 77 trapped in tunnels and collapsed buildings, authorities said, as rescuers used ladders to help some people descend to safety.
Television broadcast images of buildings tilted at precarious angles in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude quake, which struck just offshore at about 8 a. m. (0000GMT).
“It was very strong. It felt as if the house was going to topple,” said Chang Yu-lin, 60, a worker in a hospital in Taipei, the capital.
The quake hit at a depth of 15.5 km (9.6 miles), just as people were headed for work and school, setting off a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines that was later lifted.
Video showed rescuers using ladders to help trapped people out of windows, while elsewhere there were massive landslides, as strong tremors in Taipei forced the subway system to close briefly, although most lines resumed service.
Fire authorities said about 60 of the roughly 77 trapped were caught in a tunnel just north of Hualien city, with two Germans among those trapped in another tunnel.
The government put the number of injured at 736.
President-elect Lai Ching-te, who is set to take office next month, will visit Hualien later in the day, his office said.
In Japan, the weather agency put the quake’s magnitude at 7.7, saying several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, while downgrading its tsunami warning to an advisory.
In the Philippines, seismology officials earlier warned coastal residents in several provinces telling them to move to higher ground, but later canceled the tsunami warning.
#TsunamiPHADVISORY: CANCELLATION OF TSUNAMI WARNINGTsunami Information No.2Date and Time: 03 Apr 2024 – 07:58 AMMagnitude = 7.5Depth = 011 kilometersLocation = 23.8 N, 121.7 E – Taiwan pic.twitter.com/gabe1UG8jR
Chinese state media said the quake was felt in the southeastern province of Fujian, while a Reuters witness said it was also felt in the commercial hub of Shanghai.
Aftershocks could still be felt in Taipei, with more than 50 recorded, weather officials said.
Most power has been restored after the quake, electricity utility Taipower said, with the island’s two nuclear power stations unaffected.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail operator said no damage or injuries were reported on its trains, although services would be delayed as it made inspections.
A major supplier of chips to Apple and Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said it had evacuated some fabrication plants and safety systems were operating normally.
“To ensure the safety of personnel, some fabs were evacuated according to company procedure,” the semiconductor giant said in a statement, adding later that the employees had begun to return to work.
Taiwan’s benchmark share index closed down 0.6%, largely brushing off the quake’s impact, while TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares ended down 1.3%.
The official central news agency said the quake was the biggest since one of magnitude 7.6 in 1999 that killed about 2,400 people and damaged or destroyed 50,000 buildings.
Taiwan weather officials said the intensity of the earthquake in Hualien county was at the second-highest level of “Upper 6” on an intensity scale from 1 to 7.
Such a quake collapses walls unless they are made of reinforced concrete blocks, while people cannot stand upright and must crawl in order to move, Japan’s weather agency says. – Rappler.com
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16 Filipinos on Forbes 2024 list of world’s richest billionaires | gdecastro0289 | 03/04/2024 10:46 | Raffy de Guzman/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Sixteen Filipinos are on Forbes’ 2024 list of the world’s richest people which has 2,781 names.
Real estate magnate Manuel Villar, ports tycoon Enrique Razon, and food and beverage king Ramon Ang are the top 3 richest Filipinos on the latest Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List: The Richest in 2024.
Villar was 190th on the list with a net worth of $11 billion, Razon was 224th with a net worth of $10 billion, and Ang was 920nd with a net worth of $3.5 billion, as of writing.
They were followed by the following (world ranking and net worth):
1286. Hans Sy ($2.6 billion)
1330. Henry Sy Jr. ($2.5 billion)
1330. Herbert Sy ($2.5 billion)
1330. Lucio Tan ($2.5 billion)
1380. Harley Sy ($2.4 billion)
1438. Teresita Sy-Coson ($2.3 billion)
1545. Elizabeth Sy ($2.1 billion)
1623. Andrew Tan ($2 billion)
2152. Tony Tan Caktiong ($1.4 billion)
2410. Lucio Co ($1.2 billion)
2545. Susan Co ($1.1 billion)
2545. Lance Gokongwei ($1.1 billion)
2692. William Belo ($1 billion)
The Sy siblings own the SM group of companies, which includes SM Prime, SM Investments, SMDC, BDO, Chinabank, 2GO, Goldilocks, among others.
Lucio Tan is founder of the LT group, which includes Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, Philippine National Bank, PAL, Eton Properties, among others.
Andrew Tan is head of Alliance Global Group, which includes Megaworld, Emperador Incorporated, McDonald’s Philippines, among others.
Tony Tan Caktiong is founder of Jollibee Foods Corporation.
Lucio and Susan Co are owners of Puregold Price Club.
Lance Gokongwei heads JG Summit Holdings, which includes Cebu Air or Cebu Pacific airlines, Robinsons Land, Universal Robina, among others.
William Belo is founder and chair emeritus of home improvement company Wilcon Depot.
Forbes said the US has the most number of billionaires on the list with 813, followed by China (plus Hong Kong) with 473, and India with 200.
A post shared by Forbes (@forbes)
The richest person in the world is France’s Bernard Arnault and family, owner of luxury goods firm LVMH (Louis Vuitton) with a net worth of $222.4 billion. Next to the LVMH owner is Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ($198.7 billion); Tesla/SpaceX’s Elon Musk ($190.2 billion); and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg ($174.4 billion), all from the US.
Pop star Taylor Swift made it to the list for the first time with a net worth of $1.1 billion, joining 13 other celebrities. Forbes said Swift’s Eras Tour grossed more than $1 billion from her first 60 shows alone.
Forbes says its “real-time billionaires rankings tracks the daily ups and downs of the world’s richest people.” It is based on net worth, and the value of the person’s public holdings is updated every 5 minutes when stock markets are open. Their net worths are updated once a day. – Rappler.com
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Congratulations to fellow Filipinos who made it to this list, especially Manny Villar. If he ever won the Presidency, we would have our first Forbes-listed Billionaire President. That is better than having a president who has billions of hidden wealth (either in pesos or dollars) and known wealth but with intentionally unpaid and evaded taxes. (Note: Assuming that Manny Villar correctly declares his wealth and prudently pays his taxes.)
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Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years kills 7, traps 77 | Victor Barreiro Jr. | 03/04/2024 9:13 | A view of a damaged apartment following an earthquake offshore, in New Taipei City, Taiwan April 3, 2024.
REUTERS/Fabian Hamacher
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan’s biggest earthquake in at least 25 years killed seven people on Wednesday, April 3, injuring more than 700, with 77 trapped in tunnels and collapsed buildings, authorities said, as rescuers used ladders to help some people descend to safety.
Television broadcast images of buildings tilted at precarious angles in the mountainous, sparsely populated eastern county of Hualien, near the epicenter of the 7.2 magnitude quake, which struck just offshore at about 8 a. m. (0000GMT).
“It was very strong. It felt as if the house was going to topple,” said Chang Yu-lin, 60, a worker in a hospital in Taipei, the capital.
The quake hit at a depth of 15.5 km (9.6 miles), just as people were headed for work and school, setting off a tsunami warning for southern Japan and the Philippines that was later lifted.
Video showed rescuers using ladders to help trapped people out of windows, while elsewhere there were massive landslides, as strong tremors in Taipei forced the subway system to close briefly, although most lines resumed service.
Fire authorities said about 60 of the roughly 77 trapped were caught in a tunnel just north of Hualien city, with two Germans among those trapped in another tunnel.
The government put the number of injured at 736.
President-elect Lai Ching-te, who is set to take office next month, will visit Hualien later in the day, his office said.
In Japan, the weather agency put the quake’s magnitude at 7.7, saying several small tsunami waves reached parts of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, while downgrading its tsunami warning to an advisory.
In the Philippines, seismology officials earlier warned coastal residents in several provinces telling them to move to higher ground, but later canceled the tsunami warning.
#TsunamiPHADVISORY: CANCELLATION OF TSUNAMI WARNINGTsunami Information No.2Date and Time: 03 Apr 2024 – 07:58 AMMagnitude = 7.5Depth = 011 kilometersLocation = 23.8 N, 121.7 E – Taiwan pic.twitter.com/gabe1UG8jR
Chinese state media said the quake was felt in the southeastern province of Fujian, while a Reuters witness said it was also felt in the commercial hub of Shanghai.
Aftershocks could still be felt in Taipei, with more than 50 recorded, weather officials said.
Most power has been restored after the quake, electricity utility Taipower said, with the island’s two nuclear power stations unaffected.
Taiwan’s high-speed rail operator said no damage or injuries were reported on its trains, although services would be delayed as it made inspections.
A major supplier of chips to Apple and Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said it had evacuated some fabrication plants and safety systems were operating normally.
“To ensure the safety of personnel, some fabs were evacuated according to company procedure,” the semiconductor giant said in a statement, adding later that the employees had begun to return to work.
Taiwan’s benchmark share index closed down 0.6%, largely brushing off the quake’s impact, while TSMC’s Taipei-listed shares ended down 1.3%.
The official central news agency said the quake was the biggest since one of magnitude 7.6 in 1999 that killed about 2,400 people and damaged or destroyed 50,000 buildings.
Taiwan weather officials said the intensity of the earthquake in Hualien county was at the second-highest level of “Upper 6” on an intensity scale from 1 to 7.
Such a quake collapses walls unless they are made of reinforced concrete blocks, while people cannot stand upright and must crawl in order to move, Japan’s weather agency says. – Rappler.com
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No KQ, no problem: Jonnel Policarpio stars anew as La Salle stays unbeaten in PBA D-League | Jasmine Payo | 03/04/2024 10:58 | STEP UP. La Salle’s Jonnel Policarpio in action against CEU’s Dave Bernabe in the PBA D-League.
PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines – EcoOil-La Salle forward Jonnel Policarpio continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the 2024 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup.
For the third consecutive contest, Policarpio delivered the goods for the Green Archers as they survived an early scare from the CEU Scorpions for an 89-61 beating at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Tuesday, April 2.
Policarpio stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks for EcoOil-La Salle, which extended its unbeaten record to 3-0.
With UAAP Season 86 MVP Kevin Quiambao not listed in EcoOil-La Salle’s Aspirants’ Cup roster, Policarpio has been leading the charge for the Green Archers early in the season, topscoring for the two-time defending champions in all their three matches.
The 6-foot-4 incoming sophomore put up a season-high 22 points against the CCI-Yengskivel Crusaders in their opening assignment, 17 markers versus the Go Torraku-St. Clare in their second outing, before dropping a game-high 18 on Tuesday.
For Policarpio, who almost left the Green Archers’ nest earlier this year following a title run in UAAP Season 86, it’s all about making the most of the opportunities given to him by the EcoOil-La Salle coaching staff led by deputy Caloy Garcia.
“I just give my best. I just grab the opportunities given to me by my coaches,” said the promising swingman Policarpio in Filipino.
With La Salle trailing by as many as 9 points early in the second quarter, 14-23, Policarpio took over and scattered 8 straight points in less than 2 minutes to pull the Green Archers back within just a single point, 22-23.
With the score knotted at 36-all at halftime, EcoOil-La Salle then pulled away from CEU with a furious 25-13 third-quarter blast, before finishing the game with its largest lead at 28 points.
EcoOil-La Salle’s foreign student-athlete Henry Agunanne backstopped Policarpio with 13 points and 9 rebounds, while do-it-all big man Michael Phillips posted 9 markers and 12 boards.
Jayson Puray topscored for the Scorpions in their Aspirants’ Cup debut with 12 points, while Justin Guevarra added 10.
In the opening game, CCI-Yengskivel notched its first win after taking down Keanzel Basketball, 80-73.
Victor Nuarin showed the way for the Crusaders with 19 points, while Castor Manipolo chipped in 13.
For Keanzel Basketball, Rudolfo Alota registered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.
CCI-Yengskivel hiked its record to 1-1 and handed Keanzel Basketball its second loss in as many games.
First Game
CCI-Yengskivel 80 – Nuarin 19, Manipolo 13, Tener 11, Buenaflor 11, Jawili 6, Galvez 5, Esguerra 5, Dela Cruz 5, Talagtag 3, Puzon 2, Verdadero 0, Guray 0, De Guzman 0.
Keanzel Basketball 73 – Alota 17, Gayosa 15, Ceniza 14, Wong 6, Villaflor 5, Sison 4, Calacalsada 4, Baclig 4, Villamor 5, Panlilio 0, Camay 0, Magpayo 0, Advincula 0.
Quarters: 38-15, 46-38, 60-48, 80-73.
Second Game
EcoOil-La Salle 89 – Policarpio 18, Agunanne 13, Phillips 9, Abadam 8, Cortez 7, Macalalag 7, Gollena 7, Austria 7, Marasigan 5, Rubico 4, Buensalida 2, Daja 2, David 0, Alian 0.
CEU 61 – Puray 12, Guevarra 10, Marcelo 9, Malicana 7, Santos 7, Gamboa 5, Bernabe 4, Olusesi 3, Serrano 2, Mendoza 2, De Guzman 0, Benitez 0.
Quarters: 14-21, 36-36, 61-49, 89-61.
– Rappler.com
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GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | jisaga0269 | 08/05/2024 20:35 | It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
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Heat-induced ailments affect thousands of General Santos students | Herbie G | 02/04/2024 17:46 | Alejandro Edoria
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – Education officials noted a surge in the number of students with ailments blamed on rising temperatures in General Santos City, prompting school authorities to either suspend classes or switch back to online learning methods starting Tuesday, April 2.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in General Santos City reported that, in recent days, at least 2,557 students have complained of severe headaches due to the high heat index, which measures how hot it feels when humidity is combined with the actual air temperature.
About 291 other students have experienced nosebleeds, a condition attributed to the intense heat, according to General Santos Schools Superintendent Isagani dela Cruz, citing reports gathered from various schools across the city.
The dry weather conditions and soaring temperatures prompted Dela Cruz to ask the city government to order the suspension of classes in General Santos.
Based on the DepEd recommendation, General Santos Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao issued Executive Order No. 19-2024, ordering the suspension of all face-to-face classes in all levels in both public and private schools in General Santos from April 2 to April 5 “unless otherwise extended or lifted earlier.”
The state-run Mindanao State University (MSU) in General Santos, however, said its classes would be held online to avoid a disruption.
Norman Ralph Isla, MSU-General Santos campus secretary, said the university’s classes will be held either synchronously or asynchronously and will be supervised by the heads of different academic departments.
Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao also ordered on Tuesday the suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels from April 3 to 19.
In South Cotabato province, the mayors of Banga and Tantangan towns opted to suspend afternoon face-to-face classes to protect students from the heat that typically worsens in the afternoon.
Tantangan Mayor Timee Torres-Gonzales said they have coordinated with the DepEd so their schools would revert to blended learning methods until April 15. Gonzales said the setup is meant not to disrupt the students’ learning schedules.
In Banga, Mayor Evangeline Palencia announced that afternoon classes would be suspended until April 30 to safeguard students’ health against the scorching heat.
The dry weather conditions and scorching heat have also been taking a toll on agriculture in the Soccsksargen region.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) in Alabel, Sarangani province, for instance, recommended to the municipal council to declare the town as being in a state of calamity due to losses caused by the prevailing dry conditions and soaring temperatures.
The MDRRMC also adopted a motion to reprogram a trust fund amounting to almost P4 million to aid farmers affected by the dry spell.
Alabel Mayor Paul Salarda sought a comprehensive detailed report about the extent of the damage to crops such as corn, coconuts, and bananas, as well as livestock and poultry in the municipality.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Soccsksargen said they could not say exactly what the extent of the damage was in the region because they have yet to receive reports from local governments in the region.
DA Regional Director John Pascual said they have not even received requests for assistance. He downplayed the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on the agriculture sector in the Soccsksargen region, saying the damage was not severe and that mitigating measures were in place.
Soccsksargen, which consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Kidapawan, has been seeing less rainfall amid dry weather conditions and intense heat.
On a national scale, the DA said the El Niño phenomenon has damaged at least P1.3 billion worth of agricultural crops, poultry, and livestock as of mid-March.
Meanwhile, environmentalists said the prevailing weather conditions should serve as a wake-up call for the government to do what is right for the environment.
Elizabeth Ramos, chairperson of the Maitum Advocates for Sustainable Environment (MASE), said, “We need some serious and dedicated efforts, not mere lip service or band-aid solutions.”
Another group, the Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia-Early Response Network (CCAA-ERN), said it has monitored the drying of wells and water sources in many villages and municipalities in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Central and Northern Mindanao.
“Farmers are now unable to grow essential crops and vegetables and are struggling to provide food for their families. In many major rice granaries in Northern Luzon and Western Visayas, farmers’ decisions for the planting season are being held back because of the lack of water,” read part of a March 22 statement of the CCAA-ERN.
The group called on the government to declare a state of calamity in many agricultural areas that are now reeling from the effects of El Niño and prioritize farmers and fisherfolk to prevent food insecurity.
CCAA-ERN also asked the government to direct the local disaster risk reduction management officers to closely monitor their areas, especially wells that are starting to dry up and set aside funds for emergency provisioning to avert hunger.
“It is useful to invest in water tankers as early as now for the immediate rationing of water when sources become exhausted…. Funds should be invested for the rehabilitation and building of new wells to ensure the adequate supply of water to communities,” it said.
CCAA-ERN stressed the need to protect wells and other sources of water that are still supplying and sustaining communities.
The group warned, “The drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon is fueling uncertainty and insecurity that is endangering the coping mechanisms and traditional social protection practices in communities. Most people claim it’s the drought, but we have monitored water resources, and the lack of it, and we have seen a major decline in the quality and quantity of water in the past years. The ongoing dry spell has only aggravated what is already a worsening situation brought about by climate change.” – Rappler.com
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Sandiganbayan bars Faeldon’s lawyer from representing him in graft cases | Dwight de Leon | 03/04/2024 7:51 | Lito Borras/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Anti-graft court Sandiganbayan prohibited the lawyer of former Bureau of Customs (BOC) commissioner Nicanor Faeldon from representing him in court, citing the Local Government Code of 1991.
Faeldon’s legal counsel and wife Jelina Maree Magsuci is an incumbent councilor in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, which puts her in conflict with the law’s provision that bars any Sanggunian member who is a lawyer from “appearing as counsel in any criminal case wherein his or her client is a government official accused of an offense committed in relation to public office.”
The Office of the Ombudsman filed two counts of graft against Faeldon in 2021, in connection with the alleged smuggling of Vietnamese rice worth P34 million in Cagayan de Oro in 2017.
Then-senator Panfilo Lacson sued Faeldon in 2017 for supposedly illegally approving the release of the tens of thousands of bags of rice even though customs officers already confiscated them due to non-compliance with permits and non-payment of customs duties and taxes.
The court, in an 11-page resolution promulgated on March 7 but released only on Monday, April 1, essentially granted the prosecution’s motion for disqualification, but took no action on the request to slap sanctions against Magsuci.
The Sandiganbayan said it is up to “the proper authorities to take any action it may deem appropriate” against her.
Magsuci had argued that the disqualification effort against her was a sham pleading, since Faeldon was no longer tied to the BOC or any government agency when she began representing him in court and won for city council.
Faeldon left BOC in September 2019, then hired Magsuci in May 2021.
She also insisted that the intention of the Local Government Code is to prevent only an incumbent government official from using his resources to his advantage.
The court, however, rebuffed Magsuci.
“The Court cannot accept this contention. The plain text of the provision does not require such status on the part of the accused. It simply states that in a criminal case, ‘an officer or employee of the national or local government is accused of an offense committed in relation to his office’,” the ruling read.
It added that the prohibition is anchored on Canon III on Fidelity of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, which bars lawyers in government service from representing “an interest adverse to the government.” – Rappler.com
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Good work, Anti-graft Court Sandiganbayan.
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Weightlifter John Ceniza books Paris Olympics ticket | jisaga0269 | 02/04/2024 20:31 | GOOD LIFT. Filipino weightlifter John Ceniza in action in the 2021 IWF World Championships.
Screenshot from IWF livestream
MANILA, Philippines – Cebuano weightlifter John Ceniza booked his ticket to the Paris Olympics after a strong performance in the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup men’s 61kg event in Phuket, Thailand, on Tuesday, April 2.
The 26-year-old rising star now joins six other elite Filipino athletes who secured their spot in the sport’s biggest stage set this July.
Ceniza, who failed in his third snatch attempt at 134kg to settle at 132kg, rebounded well in the clean and jerk, clearing 168kg in the third lift for an exact total of 300kg.
Only China’s Li Fabin (312kg), USA’s Hampton Morris (303kg), and North Korea’s Pak Myong Jin (301kg) finished ahead of Ceniza, putting the Filipino bet well within the IWF’s top 10 qualification cutoff.
At sixth place in the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking (OQR) going into the World Cup, Ceniza climbed to No. 5 as he eclipsed the 298kg total lift he set in the IWF Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar in December.
The OQR ranks athletes – one per category and per country – with the highest total lift achieved in any of the Olympic qualification events.
Li (314kg), Morris (303kg), Italy’s Sergio Massidda (302kg), and Indonesia’s Eko Yuli Irawan (300kg) are ahead of Ceniza in the OQR.
The IWF will release the final and official OQR in May.
Other Filipino Olympians gunning for glory in Paris are pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas.
More standout weightlifters aim to secure Paris berths, with Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz (59kg), Vanessa Sarno (71kg), Elreen Ando (59kg), and Kristel Macrohon (71kg) still waiting in the wings. – Rappler.com
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Family feud: Journalist Rico Hizon, siblings charged with estafa by brother | Joann Manabat - CMS | 02/04/2024 10:50 | SUED. Broadcast journalist Rico Hizon.
File photo
PAMPANGA, Philippines – Broadcast journalist Rico Hizon and his sisters are caught in a family dispute over an inheritance, with their brother filing an estafa case against them in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The eldest brother of the siblings, Ernesto, filed two counts of estafa involving more than P760 million against former anchor of the now-defunct CNN Philippines and his siblings Maria Belen Hizon and Bernadette Hizon-Deduque.
Judge Rodrigo del Rosario of the Regional Trial Court Branch 114 in Angeles City issued an arrest warrant on March 25, a copy of which Rappler obtained on Monday, April 1.
The court had set the bail bond at P120,000 each.
In a statement from Rico and his two co-accused siblings sent to Rappler , they said they posted bail on the same day they were ordered arrested, “and the court issued an order recalling the warrant of arrest.”
“We have an ongoing family dispute, which unfortunately has resulted in our brother, Ernesto Hizon, filing a criminal case against my two sisters and I. The dispute involves our inheritance in our aunt’s estate. Instead of sitting down with us to come up with a fair and just settlement, Ernesto has resorted to filing cases to harass us into getting his way,” they said.
The three said the criminal case was filed in court even before they received a resolution from the Office of the City Prosecutor.
“We, therefore, find it somewhat malicious that the warrant of arrest received by the office of Ernesto’s lawyer was furnished to the local media after this warrant was recalled,” they said.
“Despite all these irregularities, we are determined to defend our names and ensure that this case which is founded on unjust, baseless and hurtful claims made by Ernesto is dismissed.”
Based on the resolution from the city prosecutor’s office, Ernesto sued his siblings for alleged anomalous financial transactions in their family-owned company, Morlan Realty Corporation.
All four siblings own shares of 0.007% each, and the three respondents in the lawsuit are members of the company’s board of directors. Their deceased aunt owned 96% of the total shares.
Prosecutors said Ernesto flagged P60 million in advances issued to his three siblings in 2018 and P760 million in 2021.
The three siblings were indicted on March 20. The complaint was filed in November 2023.
“Complainant also discovered that based on the financial statements for 2018 secured from the Securities and Exchange Commission, that notwithstanding the income earned for 2018 in the amount of P968,780,768, no dividend was declared by the board of directors and management of the corporation composed of herein respondents, purportedly because they have reserved P803 million of the retained earnings for expansion,” the resolution read in part.
Ernesto alleged that his repeated demands were supposedly ignored, prompting him to file the case.
Prosecutors also said Rico and his two sisters were informed of the complaint against them and failed to submit controverting evidence. – Rappler.com
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Just kidding? Takoyaki shop draws flak for April Fools’ tattoo prank gone wrong | pfkahanap0307 | 02/04/2024 18:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Not all jokes are funny.
As different brands joined in on the April Fools’ Day fun with mock social media posts, netizens slammed a food chain after it refused to take responsibility for a prank post gone wrong.
A takoyaki restaurant called Taragis said in a now-deleted Facebook post on Monday, April 1, that they would be giving P100,000 to the first person who had their shop’s logo tattooed on their forehead.
The words “April Fool’s” was written at the bottom of the photo used for the social media post. The phrase cannot be seen properly unless the user clicks on the photo itself.
Unfortunately, a social media user identified as Ramil Albano had taken the post seriously and shared a photo of his new forehead tattoo.
In another deleted post, Taragis said that they were “not accountable for the events that occurred,” and urged readers to remember “how important reading comprehension is.”
Carl Quion, Taragis’ owner, has since talked to Albano and given him the reward, as seen in a video posted on Tuesday, April 2. He also offered to shoulder the cost of the tattoo removal.
“Hindi natin alam na may mga taong gagawin ang lahat para sa pera, kaya iwasan nating gumawa ng mga bagay na makakaapekto sa kabuhayan nila,” Quion said.
(We don’t know how far people will go just for money, so let’s avoid doing things that could affect their livelihoods.)
Albano shared in the video that he had taken on the challenge so that he could have extra money for his children’s needs, especially for his youngest son who has Down syndrome.
After Taragis earlier denied responsibility for the incident, several brands from all over the country offered to give Albano cash rewards, hoping that these would help him and his family.
Netizens said that Taragis’ prank went a little too far, since many Filipinos may not be familiar with the concept of April Fools’ Day.
Hindi lahat ng followers nila ay alam ang April Fools day. At educated enough to read it with comprehension. Pag Pera ang pinag uusapan Lalo sa Pinas may kakagat talaga nyan. They should be accountable with their stupid post. Kainis!
naiinis ak s mga taong pinagtatawanan ung nagpatattoo ng taragis logo like can u not see it was an act of desperation na tattoo lang may 100k ka na of course if ure rly in need of money ud consider it 😅😅 april fools isnt a holiday that every1 knows especially in the philippines
The Philippines doesn't have an April Fool's culture, or else a long history of it. Lalo na sa mga hindi naman masyadong babad sa diskurso ng globalisasyon, malay ba nila? Mabuting tandaang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagintindi natin sa mundo. https://t.co/0pPyZvq2GU
Others also pointed out that some people, especially those like Albano who need financial assistance, could be tempted to take the restaurant’s “offer” amid the rising cost of living in the country.
The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.4% in February, following an increase in food prices and utility costs during the month.
pranking the non privelaged masses like that, then painting them dumb and not taking accountability for it. taragis (whoever the fck they are) has a special place in hell. i hope someone files a case against them. https://t.co/XeC9g116WQ
Some individuals also said that Taragis’ responses to the issue were in bad taste, saying that they portrayed Albano as “dumb” for falling for an April Fools’ prank when he was only looking for ways to make ends meet.
Apaka out of touch na sisihin pa yung hindi nagbasa si kuya. May krisis naman kasi talaga comprehension dito sa pinas imbes na tulungan kahit papano kahit hindi 100k nagmock pa ang mga tao https://t.co/bPrBGxfFBR
exactly. tangina niyong mga walang puso sa taong nagbabakasakali lang. https://t.co/Lyr8BPvo2y
Should they be held accountable for their joke? Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, a lawyer on TikTok, said that under the rules of the Department of Trade and Industry, Taragis should compensate Albano “for causing injury to another person and false advertising.”
She said that they could also be held liable under Article 21 of the Civil Code, which states that “any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
In the April 2 video, Quion has apologized to his critics and explained that he had no intention of hurting other people.
“Sa mga nagkaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa naging April Fools’ post namin, humihingi ako ng tawad. Sana magsilbing aral ito sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kapwa influencers ko o brand na nasa internet, na maging responsable tayo sa lahat ng inuupload natin,” he said.
(For those who disliked our April Fools’ post, I’m sorry. Let this be a lesson to all of us, especially to my fellow influencers and online brands, to be responsible for everything we upload.)
Some netizens have pointed out that Taragis’ prank may be scripted based on the appearance of Albano’s supposedly fresh tattoo.
According to several sources online, a tattoo may take around two to four weeks to heal, and may show dryness, redness, and oozing.
Hahahahahaa scripted. Where the fuck can you see a tattoo that can heal for 2 days that fast???? https://t.co/0s66psw9o1
A social media user who goes by Chonna Mae also called out Taragis for allegedly taking down her comment questioning the legitimacy of Albano’s tattoo.
“Sa totoo namang 3:36 pm kayo nag-post ng April Fool’s Joke ‘nyo tapos 4:04 pm, tapos na agad ‘yung tattoo niya at magaling agad,” she said in a post (It’s true that you posted your April Fool’s Joke at 3:36 pm and at 4:04 pm, his tattoo was done and healed). “Ay nako, mukhang nang-eeme lang ‘yang si Taragis, maniwala kayo sa ‘kin.” (Taragis seems to be kidding around, believe me.)
But regardless of the intent, Filipinos online said that at the end of the day, Albano is just a father who would do anything for his children.
What do you think of this issue? – with reports from Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She often seeks energy boosts in the form of caffeine (both iced coffee and matcha!) and her favorite K-pop groups.
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EXPLAINER: The ‘permits’ debate on Chocolate Hills controversy | jsitchon0312 | 02/04/2024 22:15 | PERMIT. Besides an Environmental Compliance Certificate, project proponents who wish to construct buildings within protected areas must also secure a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas.
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CEBU, Philippines – The controversy over Captain’s Peak Resort – an establishment built within the protected area of the Chocolate Hills – sparked multiple debates about accountability in the preservation of the nation’s protected areas. This accountability covers government agencies and private tourism site owners of Bohol and the whole Visayas region.
For starters, it was former president Fidel V. Ramos, through Proclamation No. 1037, s. 1997, who declared a “natural monument” around 1,776 chocolate hills and the areas within, around, and surrounding them.
These hills, identified in the towns of Carmen, Batuan, Sagbayan, Bilar, Valencia, and Sierra Bullones in Bohol, are to be protected and placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with national agencies and local government units.
Former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amended Ramos’ proclamation via Proclamation No. 333 on February 26, 2003, excluding the “alienable and disposable flat lands” found near the hills but still maintaining the “buffer zones” found 20 meters from the base of each hill.
In the case of Captain’s Peak Resort in Sagbayan town, structures were built at the foot of three chocolate hills. Rappler visited the resort and saw that a pool was placed at the center of the hills.
As netizens, concerned citizens, and lawmakers got riled up in discussions about the violations committed by the resort owners, the debate eventually revolved around the issuance of a business permit and lack of certain requirements like the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).
Julieta Sablas, the administrator of Captain’s Peak Resort, told Rappler on Thursday, March 14, that they were given a business permit by the Office of the Mayor of Sagbayan even without an ECC.
But what exactly is an ECC and why is it so important for any business operating near protected areas to have one?
Under Presidential Decree No. 1586, signed by former president Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 11, 1978, no person, partnership, or corporation is allowed to undertake or operate a declared environmentally critical project (ECP) or area without first securing an ECC.
Based on the Environmental Management Bureau’s (EMB) Memorandum Circular No. 2014-005, applicants looking to secure an ECC must comply with the requirements set forth by the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System declared in Presidential Decree No. 1586.
These requirements include an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in the form of an EIS, Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) checklist report, Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP), and Programmatic EIS or Programmatic EPRMP.
The EIA is a process that evaluates the impact of the project on the environment where it will operate. Project proponents conduct the EIA with a consultant, EMB representatives, a review committee, and affected communities and stakeholders.
“It also includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures addressing these consequences to protect the environment and the community’s welfare,” the memorandum read.
The EIS is then formulated from the EIA study, following the Philippine EIS System guidelines and categorization of the projects that are ECPs.
As a natural monument, the Chocolate Hills fall under the first category of an environmentally critical area (ECA), which includes protected areas declared under the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.
Category B for ECPs include projects that are not declared as ECPs by past presidential proclamations but are deemed to significantly affect the quality of the environment of ECAs.
“Proponents of these projects implemented from 1982 onwards are required to secure an ECC,” the memorandum read.
New ECC applicants for ECPs can send their EIS to the EMB Central Office at the DENR compound in Quezon City. Processing can take up to 20 working days depending on whether or not the EIS matches EMB standards.
Based on the EMB Ilocos Region official website, these are the processing fees for the following requirements:
The EMB also has an online processing system that includes a longer list of 18 documentary requirements and an application fee of P5,055.
Besides an ECC, environmental lawyer Benjamin Cabrido Jr. told Rappler on Tuesday, April 2, that project proponents who want to operate in protected areas must acquire a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA).
Under DENR Administrative Order No. 2007-17, one of the primary objectives of the SAPA is to provide access and economic opportunities to indigenous peoples, tenured migrant communities and other stakeholders to contribute in “the reduction of poverty incidence.”
The lawyer said that protected areas are given different classifications which each have their own designated limitations for human activity.
These categories of protected areas, under the NIPAS Act, include strict nature reserves, natural parks, natural monuments, wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes and seascapes, resource reserves, and natural biotic areas to name a few.
“This strict nature of protection applies in cases of areas where there is a predominance of wildlife. In those cases, no one is allowed there,” Cabrido said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
However, for those considered as tenured migrants or those with properties in protected areas, the environmental lawyer explained that the national government respects the tenured migrant’s ownership of the land but limits usage of the property.
The administrative order defines the SAPA as a binding instrument between the DENR through the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) and SAPA applicants.
One of the special uses allowed within the protected areas, subject to the issuance of an ECC and approval of the DENR secretary or his or her authorized representative, is “Ecotourism Facilities.”
The first PAMB Resolution endorsing Captain’s Peak Resort described the proposed establishment as an “Eco-Park Tourism” facility.
The matter of ECCs has long been riddled with questionable documentary issuances and opposition by both government officials and environmentalists.
Cabrido criticized the way ECCs are issued because, according to him, it is usually only DENR representatives who conduct the assessments and are paid to do so.
“ECC is not a permit. Let us remember that. It doesn’t mean that when you are issued an ECC, you already have a permit to construct whatever you want inside your lot…it should have been named environmental conditional certificate,” the lawyer told Rappler.
Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) managing trustee and environmental lawyer John Menguito told Rappler on Tuesday, March 26, that there have been multiple cases of projects that have been issued an ECC that are allegedly not compliant with environmental standards.
“What we usually do is challenge the issuance of the ECC via (studies) of third-party scientists…if it is compliant with legal standards, we look at science,” Menguito said.
The environmental lawyer said that the assessments for the ECC should also include environmental scientists and biologists, besides the mandated representatives and stakeholders.
On September 18, 2020, environmental experts in Cebu reported that marine life and corals were affected by mining operations in Alcoy town. These operations supplied dolomite sand to the controversial Manila Bay white sand project.
In a Rappler article dated September 25, 2020, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia said that the mining operations had “obvious violations [of] the ECC.”
Through the years, green advocacy groups called for the revocation of multiple ECCs of all reclamation projects in Manila Bay, claiming that the projects had adverse effects on natural resources.
In June 2023, the DENR began its “cumulative impact assessment” on these development projects, a majority of which were later suspended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on August 7, 2023.
As of Tuesday, April 2, DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga announced that the agency had suspended the power of regional offices to approve ECC applications.
“All pending and future ECC applications for projects within protected areas processed at regional offices shall be submitted to the EMB Central Office for final review and approval,” the DENR secretary’s memorandum dated Tuesday, March 26 read. – Rappler.com
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Agree: “All pending and future ECC applications for projects within protected areas processed at regional offices shall be submitted to the EMB Central Office for final review and approval,” the DENR secretary’s memorandum dated Tuesday, March 26 read. So, were related applications not reviewed by the EMB Central Office in the past? Is this the cause of these abuses? Will this add another layer for those considering bribing DENR officials?
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DENR strips regional offices of power to grant ECC in protected areas | Iya Gozum | 02/04/2024 20:03 | DENR CHIEF. Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga visits Mt. Apo Natural Park on April 2, 2024.
DENR
MANILA, Philippines – Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga has stripped regional offices of the power to approve environmental compliance certificate (ECC) applications within protected areas until further notice.
In a memorandum dated March 26, 2024, addressed to top officials in the central and regional offices, Loyzaga ordered the conduct of an inventory and a comprehensive review of all existing structures within protected areas.
Applications will now be escalated to the Environmental Management Bureau at the Central Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Loyzaga announced this on Tuesday, April 2, during her visit to the Mount Apo Natural Park. Senator Raffy Tulfo had previously raised the issue of alleged illegal establishments inside the park following the controversy surrounding the resorts in Chocolate Hills.
According to the environment chief, they are now “looking at the processes also internally to see how we can make them more attuned to the reason why these areas were enrolled and actually legislated as protected areas in the first place.”
“The evaluations of all the known developments are ongoing,” Loyzaga said on Tuesday.
UPDATE. Regional offices’ power to approve environmental compliance certificate applications is suspended, DENR chief Toni Yulo-Loyzaga said on Tuesday, April 2.All ECC applications will now be approved by the Environment Management Bureau at the DENR Central Office. pic.twitter.com/Kdv2WwADZP
“We’ve already started to determine who has more or less completed documents and permits. That means they have PAMB clearance, ECC clearance, and Sapa. And then also from there [will] follow the different building permits they need to get for their own developments.”
A proponent who wants to conduct a project within a protected area has to secure a PAMB (Protected Area Management Board) clearance. This is a prerequisite before the DENR can issue an ECC.
Existing facilities and structures found compliant with the objectives of the management of a protected area still require a Sapa or a special use agreement in protected areas.
Projects need to apply for ECCs to certify that they “will not bring about an unacceptable environment impact and that the proponent has complied with the requirements of the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) System,” according to DENR Administrative Order No. 21.
In October 2023, the DENR said they would suspend the issuance of tenurial instruments over protected areas after stories of abuse of a “cult” in Surigao del Norte, which used 300 hectares of protected area, came to light. – Rappler.com
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Raffy Tulfo, Sara Duterte top Pulse Asia’s 2028 presidential survey | Bonz Magsambol | 02/04/2024 20:25 | TOP CONTENDERS. Senator Raffy Tulfo and Vice President Sara Duterte are top choices for 2028 presidential race.
SENATE PRIB; ANGIE DE SIVA/RAPPLER
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Raffy Tulfo and Vice President Sara Duterte are the top contenders for the 2028 presidential race, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey.
The poll conducted from March 6 to 10 showed that the two are statistically tied among potential candidates for the presidency, with the neophyte senator obtaining 35% voter preference and the Vice President receiving 34% support.
Former vice president Leni Robredo is trailing with 11% voter preference, followed by Senator Imee Marcos (5%), former senator Manny Pacquiao (3%), Senator Robin Padilla (2%), Senator Risa Hontiveros (1%), and House Speaker Martin Romualdez (0.5%).
Former president Rodrigo Duterte (0.2%) and former Manila mayor Isko Moreno were also mentioned by the respondents (0.1%).
The survey results first circulated online over the weekend. Pulse Asia on Tuesday, April 2, confirmed that this was part of its quarterly Ulat ng Bayan survey.
The rider question was: Some say that those who can run for the presidency in the 2028 elections are the following. Who would you vote for if the 2028 elections were held today? You may mention others not included in the list.
Pulse Asia said that its first quarter Ulat ng Bayan survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.8%.
Tulfo was able to catch up with the numbers of Duterte, who was seen as the frontrunner in the WR Numero’s survey conducted in December 2023. Duterte scored 36% voter preference while Tulfo had 23% voter support in the said poll.
The Vice President has been the subject of attacks in the past months. Political developments in the last year – from the removal of the confidential funds from her office, to the charter change push under the administration – have been interpreted by analysts as disadvantageous to her.
Despite her family’s attacks against the President and her own sentiments of being ganged up on by allies of the administration, Sara said she has no plans of leaving the Cabinet as education secretary.
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe topped a list of possible contenders for the vice presidential race in 2028 with 35% voter preference.
Trailing her are Senator Imee (16%), Pacquiao (14%), and Padilla (14%), Zubiri (7%), Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro (4%), and Romualdez (1%).
– Rappler.com
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It is good that Senator Raffy Tulfo has tied up with VP Sara Duterte. The problem is that we need to know his stand on China’s bullying of our Navy in the West Philippine Sea. He might be equal to or more than VP Sara Duterte when it comes to putting above China’s interest over our nation’s in the West Philippine Sea.
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DOH advises public to take precautions vs extreme temperatures | Kaycee | 02/04/2024 19:40 | A regular train commuter rides a 'sikad' or trolley from Beata in Pandacan to Stop and Shop in Sta. Mesa in Manila as he returns for work after the holy week break, on April 1, 2024. The Philippine National Railways will cease operation for five years to give way to the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway. The closure affected an estimated 30,000 daily commuters.
Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – As some areas in the country suspend on-site classes due to high heat index levels, the Department of Health has advised the public to take precautions as these could also lead to heat-related illnesses.
Under the state weather bureau PAGASA’s recent heat index, multiple areas are expected to have a heat index not going below 40°C until Wednesday, April 3. These include Dumangas in Iloilo, Dagupan City in Pangasinan, and Puerto Princesa in Palawan.
Temperatures ranging from 33°C to 41°C are classified under “extreme caution,” while 42°C anywhere up to 51°C is dangerous as heat exhaustion is likely and there’s a high possibility for heat stroke.
“The DOH is actively monitoring cases of heat-related illnesses,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement on Tuesday, April 2.
Here are tips and reminders from the DOH to help with the extreme weather:
If you are planning to head outdoors, wearing sunblock and choosing loose or lightweight clothes is advised. The department also recommended the public to use an umbrella or wear a hat to protect oneself from getting sunburnt.
With the country’s current heat index levels, the public may experience heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, heat cramps are the “mildest form” of heat illness. Those who work out or exercise in heated environments can get painful muscle spasms.
Heat exhaustion, on the other hand, may manifest through fatigue, dizziness, vomiting, and lightheadedness. It happens when the body is not able to relieve itself from the heat, which can also lead to a heat stroke.
Heat stroke – considered a serious condition – may lead to a loss of consciousness, leave the person confused, or have seizures, which the DOH said “can be deadly if left untreated.”
The DOH advised the public to perform the following first aid measures if any heat-related illness symptom is observed:
– Rappler.com
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Marcos’ trust rating in Mindanao drops by 32 points in March, says Pulse Asia | Dwight de Leon | 02/04/2024 19:45 | PHILIPPINE LEADER. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a departure speech as he heads to Tokyo for the Commemorative Summit on the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December 2023.
PCO
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lost significant footing in Mindanao, after his trust rating dropped by 32 points in the region, based on the March survey of pollster Pulse Asia.
The percentage of people in Mindanao who trust him is now at 38%, down from the 70% he had in December 2023.
It is the first Pulse Asia survey conducted since (1) Marcos and his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte engaged in a public word war by throwing drug-related accusations at each other, (2) since Duterte and his allies publicly opposed the charter change push by the current administration, and (3) since Duterte vaguely called for an independent Mindanao.
Marcos’ numbers also suffered across all key geographic areas, losing 21 percentage points in Metro Manila, 19 percentage points in the Visayas, and 5 percentage points in Luzon.
Marcos also did poorly among socioeconomic groupings, as his trust rating went down by 29 percentage points among Class E (poorest of the poor), 14 percentage points among Class D, and 8 points among Class ABC.
Because of this, his nationwide trust rating slid to 57% in March, from 73% in December, equivalent to a 16-percentage-point tumble.
The President’s cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, was not spared, after his trust rating slid from 40% in December to 31% in March. The drop was attributed to significant losses in the Visayas (20-percentage-point decrease) and Mindanao (18-percentage-point decrease).
Vice President Sara Duterte’s trust rating also went down nationally by 7 percentage points, from 78% to 71%, but she remains the country’s most trusted leader.
Unlike Marcos and Romualdez, Duterte’s trust score in Mindanao hardly moved, although her numbers suffered double-digit drops in Metro Manila (down by 16 percentage points) and the Visayas (down by 11 percentage points).
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was the only top government official unscathed in the latest survey, after his trust rating increased by 2 percentage points. The biggest gain was recorded in Mindanao (an 11-percentage-point rise).
See the full results here:
– Rappler.com
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Marcos’ Mindanao trust rating drops | The wRap | Nina Liu | 02/04/2024 22:01 | Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
A survey by Pulse Asia shows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lost significant ground in Mindanao. The pollster’s March survey reports a 32 point drop in the President’s trust rating in the region.
Cyberattacks defaced the websites for three businesses linked to House Speaker Martin Romualdez: Prime Media Holdings, Marcventures Holdings Inc., and Bright Kindle Resources & Investments, Inc.
Online voting will be the primary mode of casting ballots for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections, except in countries with internet restrictions.
Israeli forces leave Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza on Monday, April 1, after a two-week operation by special forces who detained hundreds of suspected Hamas militants and left a wasteland of destroyed buildings.
A study finds dogs are able to understand that some words refer to objects in a way that is similar to humans. — Rappler.com
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FIRST LOOK: How Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma, Ayala Center Cebu will be redesigned | Ralf Rivas | 15/02/2024 18:50 | FACELIFT. Artist rendition of Glorietta's new look.
Ayala Land
MANILA, Philippines – Ayala Malls is reinventing its iconic flagship malls to meet the new needs and tastes of consumers.
The company is spending P13 billion for the facelift of Glorietta and Greenbelt in Makati City, TriNoma in Quezon City, and Ayala Center Cebu.
Ayala Malls president Mariana Zobel de Ayala said mall-goers should expect a “fusion of contemporary elegance, marrying the functionality and seamless integration of outdoors and indoors and an enhanced cinema experience.”
Here are some renditions of the malls’ new designs:
Customers should expect Glorietta to have a more modern facade, as well as balconies with good views of the parks and lush greeneries.
The confusing layout of the mall will also be addressed.
“What to expect? Exterior and interior design improvements, to reflect a modern and fresh aesthetic, intuitive wayfinding and circulation, and an all-around more cohesive customer experience,” Zobel said.
The redevelopment of Glorietta has started in the first quarter of 2024, with parts of the mall being closed off. Completion of the revamp is expected by the end of 2026.
Glorietta 1 and 2 first opened in 1991, boasting 240,000 square meters of retail space. Glorietta 3 and 4 opened in 1992 and 1998, respectively, while Glorietta 5 was the last to open in 2009.
It is currently a four-level “super regional mall” with seven cinemas and two activity centers, and is also integrated with three hotels – Holiday Inn, Ascott, and Fairmont.
The parks of Glorietta 3 and 4 will be “refreshed” and integrated into the mall for a more cohesive customer experience and improved pedestrian connectivity.
Greenbelt 1 is set to blend luxury with sustainability.
The mall, designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, will be torn down in April. The amount for the reconstruction is separate and will be costlier than the P13 billion allotted for the four malls, according to Zobel.
Greenbelt 1, which first opened in 1986, will have various energy-efficient features, including a direct cooling system, skylights to harness natural sunlight, and a rainwater collection system for garden irrigation and landscaping purposes.
“We need to minimize our carbon footprint…. The gardens are helping us to mitigate carbon emissions [and] increase biodiversity,” said Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls chief operating officer.
Greenbelt 1 is targeted to reopen by 2028.
TriNoma, Ayala Malls’ first mall in northern Metro Manila, will soon have an “expanded and elevated” dining portfolio, a more dynamic activity center, a giant LED wall with 3D capacity, and more multipurpose event spaces at its rooftop.
The facade facing North Avenue will have a fresh entrance and a landscaped garden.
TriNoma first opened its doors in 2007. Works for its improvement started in the first quarter of 2024, while target completion is by the fourth quarter of 2025.
A three-level expansion on the North Avenue side is slated to open in 2026.
Ayala Malls’ first mall outside Metro Manila and Luzon is also set to have a more modern look.
Ayala Center Cebu, which opened in 1994, will have a revitalized activity center featuring a four-floor LED wall. Its grand atrium will have architectural treatments on the ceiling.
Ayala Malls will tap Cebuano talent to incorporate local craft and culture in the overall design.
The mall will also be expanded to house more upscale brands and high-end restaurants.
It will link to Seda Hotel, Ayala Land Premier’s Park Point Residences and The Alcoves, and the 20-floor Ayala Center Cebu Corporate Center.
Zobel, who was recently named Ayala Malls president, said the redesigns were made amid changing habits and preferences post-pandemic.
“In redefining what we call third spaces – a place outside of your home, and work or school, where you would want to spend time – our ambition is to set a new standard in retail that resonates with both past and future generations,” she said.
Sections of the malls will be closed throughout the construction works. Despite these temporary closures, Zobel said Ayala Malls is maintaining its target to double its net income in the next five years.
When asked about how much rent would increase due to the new interiors, Birkett said the bump will come as a welcome development for both Ayala Malls and tenants.
“There’s a basic rent and then the element of rent that is paid according to how successful that unit is. It’s a revenue share, it is common practice, so the more successful that retailer becomes, the more their rent will increase. We constantly measure rent as a relationship to their overall revenue, that there are red and green signals, and all the mall operators do this,” Birkett explained.
“In terms of turnover rent, yes it may go up, but it will only go up because their sales have increased. So it’s a win-win for all of us.”
Ayala Malls executives said they are also looking at how the redevelopments will impact traffic.
“We’ve got to understand how [traffic] flows, how the urban traffic control works. The changing of the roads that we’re doing in front of Glorietta both benefits traffic flow and pedestrian access. We’re working hard with the teams to encourage…more utilization of public transport,” Birkett said. – Rappler.com
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Time to fly from Clark? Sunlight Air moves more flights to Clark airport | lkyu0285 | 01/04/2024 20:45 | GATEWAY. The Clark International Airport is an official laureate in the Prix Versailles Architecture and Design Awards.
LIPAD
PAMPANGA, Philippines – There are now more reasons to fly from the Clark International Airport (CRK) as domestic airline Sunlight Air continues to move more of its flights to the Pampanga gateway.
Sunlight Air launched its inaugural flight from Clark to Busuanga in Palawan – Flight 2R601 – at 2:10 pm on Monday, April 1.
The boutique airline, which has a fleet of three turboprop ATR-72-500s, also has daily flights from Clark to Siargao in Surigao del Norte, twice weekly flights to Boracay, and seasonal flights to San Vicente in Palawan.
Sunlight Air is soon launching more flights from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport too. Starting Wednesday, April 3, there will be daily flights from Cebu to Siargao in Surigao del Norte and Coron in Palawan. More flights from Cebu to Caticlan in Aklan will start in May, while flights from Cebu to destinations in Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro will follow in June.
Earlier in 2024, Sunlight Air also made a big decision to move its hub from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to CRK. Why the move? If you ask Sunlight Air chief executive officer Ryna Brito-Garcia, it’s because CRK offers a better customer experience compared to NAIA.
“It’s a lot more spacious. They have [an] innovative approach in doing things also. They have the self-check-in kiosk. They have the baggage drop. And I think that’s everything our airline stands for. That’s the reason why we chose Clark airport,” Garcia said on Monday.
Sunlight Air’s senior marketing manager John Christopher Bonifacio also explained how CRK’s innovations make for a “better travel experience” for passengers, pointing to streamlined check-in processes, automated systems, and smoother boarding procedures.
Over the years, NAIA has gained an infamous reputation – from being among the world’s worst airports, to suffering from bed bug infestations and power interruptions. CRK, which is operated by Luzon International Premiere Airport Development (LIPAD), has been named one of the world’s most beautiful airports and has been steadily growing its passenger count.
CRK has enough land space to support up to 80 million passengers annually once fully developed. But in the meantime, the volume of passengers at the airport was only about 1.9 million by end-2023 – around 50% below its pre-pandemic level.
The low passenger volume means that the airport can at times seem eerily empty. Some concessionaire stalls remain vacant too.
This is why LIPAD aims to bring in more airlines to establish routes in Clark. For instance, LIPAD CEO and president Noel Manankil believes Sunlight Air’s decision to move its hub and operate more flights out of CRK helped strengthen the airport’s position as a “key aviation hub in the region.”
“What makes people go in the airport are actually the destinations that are available,” Manankil said, adding that Sunlight Air’s domestic network “slowly completes the destination mix” offered by the Clark airport.
Besides the inaugural Sunlight Air route, Manankil said Jetstar will also resume its Singapore routes from Clark. Another undisclosed airline is also expected to expand to CRK soon.
“May effort naman ever since ang DOTr (There’s been an effort ever since by the Department of Transportation). That’s why they also created a technical working group to encourage airlines to look at Clark as an alternative to Manila. That’s still very active,” Manankil said.
Even with the upcoming rehabilitation of NAIA and the development of another international airport in Bulacan, the LIPAD head believes that CRK will still have a strong market of passengers from Central Luzon and Northern Manila.
“We are very confident…that Clark has its own catchment population,” he said. “And I think we’ve proven that as long as the flights are available, then passengers will come.”
For Manankil, the innovations in the airport can also bring a better experience for passengers regardless of where they come from. According to him, it only takes a maximum of 1 hour to go from check-in to boarding gate. – Rappler.com
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Back to the skies: PAL, Cebu Pacific earn big off revenge travel in 2023 | lkyu0285 | 02/04/2024 20:50 | AIRLINES. A Cebu Pacific Airbus A321 taxis in front of a Philippine Airlines Boeing 777 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Shutterstock
MANILA, Philippines – The post-pandemic revenge travel trend has made 2023 a profitable year for both full service carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and low-cost airline Cebu Pacific.
The past year was particularly successful for PAL, which saw its all-time strongest financial performance. The Philippine flag carrier ended 2023 with a record-high $379-million (P21 billion) net income in 2023 – almost double or 92% higher than the $197-million (P11 billion) net income it earned in 2022.
With pandemic restrictions loosened and travel appetite revived, PAL reported a “robust increase in operations and passenger traffic” for both international and domestic flights. In total, PAL operated 105,294 flights in 2023, 36% more than the number of flights it had in 2022.
More flights also meant more passengers, with PAL carrying a total of 14.7 million passengers in 2023 – 58% higher than 2022 figures – at a passenger load factor of 80.8%. As a result, passenger revenues soared to $2.9 billion (P160 billion) in 2023 from $2.1 billion (P114 billion) in 2022, a 37% increase. Total net revenues, which also includes cargo and ancillary revenues, reached $3.2 billion (P181 billion).
PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng acknowledged that the revenge travel trend boosted their revenues.
“Revenge travel, it’s hard to give a percentage. But that definitely helped. It’s still a factor,” Ng told Rappler on Tuesday, April 2. “The demand is still there. It’s still strong.”
Revenue growth aside, another key factor that boosted the airline’s bottom line was the restructuring initiated in 2021, which reduced the airline’s fleet and consequently its overhead costs.
“A big part of it is the surge in demand that was sort of contained because of the pandemic. But I would say also the profit has improved because of the restructuring done by PAL,” Anna Isabel Bengzon, PAL senior vice president and chief financial officer, told reporters on Tuesday.
“The top-line growth, a big part of it is because of revenge travel. But on its own, it may not give you this kind of results because the overhead cost had to come down when we took out the least profitable or losing routes and the heavy cost of having to maintain so much aircraft,” she added.
Overall, revenue growth outpaced costs as operating margins improved to 15% in 2023 from 12% in 2022. Total operating expenses rose to $2.7 billion (P153 billion), with fuel costs being the biggest, eating up 31% of revenues.
The Tan-owned airline said it would use 2023’s record profits to “strengthen its global and local network, upgrade its aircraft fleet, and introduce new and improved products and services.” Earlier in 2023, the flag carrier purchased nine Airbus A350-1000 jetliners capable of long-range flights, which are expected to be delivered in 2025.
“PAL’s corporate transformation continues – we are taking in new aircraft, retrofitting cabins of current aircraft, upgrading airport lounges, and introducing more product innovations to address our strategic, financial, and operational needs across all areas of our operations,” Ng said.
In 2023, PAL operated eight more domestic routes, including Manila to Tuguegarao flights and Cebu to Bicol, General Santos, and Ozamiz flights, among others. It also added several international routes, such as Manila to Perth, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinjiang, and Macau.
The strong appetite for travel cut across markets too as low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific also reported a return to full-year profitability after remaining in the red in 2022.
The Gokongwei-owned airline recorded a P7.9-billion net income in 2023. This was a remarkable turnaround from the P14-billion net loss it incurred in 2022, which was already an improvement from its P24.9-billion net loss in 2021. (READ: Revenge travel brings Cebu Pacific back to profitability in Q1)
In particular, Cebu Pacific had a strong fourth quarter in 2023 as it raked in P23.7 billion in revenue. That translated to a P2.9-billion net income for the period – a far cry from the P1.9-billion net loss that it suffered in Q4 2022.
Cebu Pacific likewise attributed the steep recovery to its resurgent passenger business, with revenue up 78% to P62.5 billion in 2023. Like PAL, the low-cost carrier also flew more flights and passengers in 2023 than the previous year – 41% and 30% higher, respectively. In total, the airline’s revenue reached P90.6 billion for 2023, 60% higher year-on-year.
Cebu Pacific also received 18 aircraft deliveries throughout 2023 as it prepared to mount more flights and open more routes.
“Moving forward, we are optimistic that Cebu Pacific’s solid 2023 financial results will set the foundation for a stronger financial performance in 2024,” Cebu Pacific chief finance officer Mark Cezar said in a press release.
The optimistic outlook is also shared by travel and experience app Klook. In its latest Travel Pulse study, Klook concluded that revenge travel is “still very much alive,” noting that consumers were not only traveling more but also spending more on their trips. – Rappler.com
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Back to the skies: PAL, Cebu Pacific earn big off revenge travel in 2023 | lkyu0285 | 02/04/2024 20:50 | AIRLINES. A Cebu Pacific Airbus A321 taxis in front of a Philippine Airlines Boeing 777 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
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MANILA, Philippines – The post-pandemic revenge travel trend has made 2023 a profitable year for both full service carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and low-cost airline Cebu Pacific.
The past year was particularly successful for PAL, which saw its all-time strongest financial performance. The Philippine flag carrier ended 2023 with a record-high $379-million (P21 billion) net income in 2023 – almost double or 92% higher than the $197-million (P11 billion) net income it earned in 2022.
With pandemic restrictions loosened and travel appetite revived, PAL reported a “robust increase in operations and passenger traffic” for both international and domestic flights. In total, PAL operated 105,294 flights in 2023, 36% more than the number of flights it had in 2022.
More flights also meant more passengers, with PAL carrying a total of 14.7 million passengers in 2023 – 58% higher than 2022 figures – at a passenger load factor of 80.8%. As a result, passenger revenues soared to $2.9 billion (P160 billion) in 2023 from $2.1 billion (P114 billion) in 2022, a 37% increase. Total net revenues, which also includes cargo and ancillary revenues, reached $3.2 billion (P181 billion).
PAL president and chief operating officer Stanley Ng acknowledged that the revenge travel trend boosted their revenues.
“Revenge travel, it’s hard to give a percentage. But that definitely helped. It’s still a factor,” Ng told Rappler on Tuesday, April 2. “The demand is still there. It’s still strong.”
Revenue growth aside, another key factor that boosted the airline’s bottom line was the restructuring initiated in 2021, which reduced the airline’s fleet and consequently its overhead costs.
“A big part of it is the surge in demand that was sort of contained because of the pandemic. But I would say also the profit has improved because of the restructuring done by PAL,” Anna Isabel Bengzon, PAL senior vice president and chief financial officer, told reporters on Tuesday.
“The top-line growth, a big part of it is because of revenge travel. But on its own, it may not give you this kind of results because the overhead cost had to come down when we took out the least profitable or losing routes and the heavy cost of having to maintain so much aircraft,” she added.
Overall, revenue growth outpaced costs as operating margins improved to 15% in 2023 from 12% in 2022. Total operating expenses rose to $2.7 billion (P153 billion), with fuel costs being the biggest, eating up 31% of revenues.
The Tan-owned airline said it would use 2023’s record profits to “strengthen its global and local network, upgrade its aircraft fleet, and introduce new and improved products and services.” Earlier in 2023, the flag carrier purchased nine Airbus A350-1000 jetliners capable of long-range flights, which are expected to be delivered in 2025.
“PAL’s corporate transformation continues – we are taking in new aircraft, retrofitting cabins of current aircraft, upgrading airport lounges, and introducing more product innovations to address our strategic, financial, and operational needs across all areas of our operations,” Ng said.
In 2023, PAL operated eight more domestic routes, including Manila to Tuguegarao flights and Cebu to Bicol, General Santos, and Ozamiz flights, among others. It also added several international routes, such as Manila to Perth, Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Jinjiang, and Macau.
The strong appetite for travel cut across markets too as low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific also reported a return to full-year profitability after remaining in the red in 2022.
The Gokongwei-owned airline recorded a P7.9-billion net income in 2023. This was a remarkable turnaround from the P14-billion net loss it incurred in 2022, which was already an improvement from its P24.9-billion net loss in 2021. (READ: Revenge travel brings Cebu Pacific back to profitability in Q1)
In particular, Cebu Pacific had a strong fourth quarter in 2023 as it raked in P23.7 billion in revenue. That translated to a P2.9-billion net income for the period – a far cry from the P1.9-billion net loss that it suffered in Q4 2022.
Cebu Pacific likewise attributed the steep recovery to its resurgent passenger business, with revenue up 78% to P62.5 billion in 2023. Like PAL, the low-cost carrier also flew more flights and passengers in 2023 than the previous year – 41% and 30% higher, respectively. In total, the airline’s revenue reached P90.6 billion for 2023, 60% higher year-on-year.
Cebu Pacific also received 18 aircraft deliveries throughout 2023 as it prepared to mount more flights and open more routes.
“Moving forward, we are optimistic that Cebu Pacific’s solid 2023 financial results will set the foundation for a stronger financial performance in 2024,” Cebu Pacific chief finance officer Mark Cezar said in a press release.
The optimistic outlook is also shared by travel and experience app Klook. In its latest Travel Pulse study, Klook concluded that revenge travel is “still very much alive,” noting that consumers were not only traveling more but also spending more on their trips. – Rappler.com
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Rodel Canino: Daughter Angel ‘doing fine’ amid grim rumors, awaits DLSU statement | jisaga0269 | 02/04/2024 19:37 | STELLAR. Rookie standout Angel Canino vies to lead the La Salle Lady Spikers anew.
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MANILA, Philippines – The La Salle Lady Spikers may have a bit of trouble ahead as the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament resumes on Wednesday, April 3.
Despite the defending champions currently holding a 7-1 record in second place, fans online have stirred ominous speculations regarding the well-being of reigning MVP Angel Canino – that her playing status for the rest of the crucial second-round stretch may suddenly be in doubt.
Pursued for comment on Tuesday, April 2, Angel’s father Rodel respectfully declined to divulge the exact nature of the issue.
While he did not deny the existence of the apparent problem, he insisted on reassuring fans that his daughter “is doing fine” as of the moment.
The elder Canino, currently an Akari assistant coach in the PVL, also said that La Salle will issue a statement in the near future and that he did not want to preempt the team’s approach on the sensitive matter.
Canino’s true playing status will be confirmed as the Lady Spikers return to action on Thursday, April 4, against the UP Fighting Maroons.
If the rookie MVP will not be able to take the court, La Salle will be forced to lean more heavily on other potent weapons like spikers Alleiah Malaluan and Shevana Laput, and middle blockers Thea Gagate and Amie Provido.
In eight games so far in the season, Canino is averaging stellar numbers of 16.3 points, 5.8 excellent receptions, and 4.8 excellent digs. – Rappler.com
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Another day, another antic: PBA summons Calvin Abueva over dirty finger gesture | jisaga0269 | 02/04/2024 15:17 | THE BEAST. Calvin Abueva in action for the Magnolia Hotshots in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's' Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – It seems that Calvin Abueva just cannot help getting into trouble.
Already one of the most controversial stars in Philippine basketball history, the Magnolia veteran is once again in hot water after being caught on camera waving the middle finger to a fan during the Hotshots’ latest Manila Clasico encounter with rival Barangay Ginebra on Easter Sunday, March 31.
PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro confirmed that the league has issued fresh summons for Abueva on Wednesday, April 2, but declined to indicate what punishment lies ahead.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, who has previously warned the mercurial forward of stiffer penalties and a possible ban for further offenses, has not replied as of posting.
Abueva recently made national headlines after being a major figure in a postgame shouting match involving his wife and San Miguel center Mo Tautuaa and his spouse during the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Following a P100,000 fine due to a separate disability mocking incident with San Miguel head coach Jorge Gallent, the 36-year-old Abueva has since shied away from any major issue, at least until now.
Apart from the middle finger incident late in the first quarter of Magnolia’s eventual 77-87 loss to Ginebra, Abueva played out the rest of his 20-minute appearance without incident and tallied 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists for the Hotshots. – Rappler.com
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Just kidding? Takoyaki shop draws flak for April Fools’ tattoo prank gone wrong | pfkahanap0307 | 02/04/2024 18:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Not all jokes are funny.
As different brands joined in on the April Fools’ Day fun with mock social media posts, netizens slammed a food chain after it refused to take responsibility for a prank post gone wrong.
A takoyaki restaurant called Taragis said in a now-deleted Facebook post on Monday, April 1, that they would be giving P100,000 to the first person who had their shop’s logo tattooed on their forehead.
The words “April Fool’s” was written at the bottom of the photo used for the social media post. The phrase cannot be seen properly unless the user clicks on the photo itself.
Unfortunately, a social media user identified as Ramil Albano had taken the post seriously and shared a photo of his new forehead tattoo.
In another deleted post, Taragis said that they were “not accountable for the events that occurred,” and urged readers to remember “how important reading comprehension is.”
Carl Quion, Taragis’ owner, has since talked to Albano and given him the reward, as seen in a video posted on Tuesday, April 2. He also offered to shoulder the cost of the tattoo removal.
“Hindi natin alam na may mga taong gagawin ang lahat para sa pera, kaya iwasan nating gumawa ng mga bagay na makakaapekto sa kabuhayan nila,” Quion said.
(We don’t know how far people will go just for money, so let’s avoid doing things that could affect their livelihoods.)
Albano shared in the video that he had taken on the challenge so that he could have extra money for his children’s needs, especially for his youngest son who has Down syndrome.
After Taragis earlier denied responsibility for the incident, several brands from all over the country offered to give Albano cash rewards, hoping that these would help him and his family.
Netizens said that Taragis’ prank went a little too far, since many Filipinos may not be familiar with the concept of April Fools’ Day.
Hindi lahat ng followers nila ay alam ang April Fools day. At educated enough to read it with comprehension. Pag Pera ang pinag uusapan Lalo sa Pinas may kakagat talaga nyan. They should be accountable with their stupid post. Kainis!
naiinis ak s mga taong pinagtatawanan ung nagpatattoo ng taragis logo like can u not see it was an act of desperation na tattoo lang may 100k ka na of course if ure rly in need of money ud consider it 😅😅 april fools isnt a holiday that every1 knows especially in the philippines
The Philippines doesn't have an April Fool's culture, or else a long history of it. Lalo na sa mga hindi naman masyadong babad sa diskurso ng globalisasyon, malay ba nila? Mabuting tandaang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagintindi natin sa mundo. https://t.co/0pPyZvq2GU
Others also pointed out that some people, especially those like Albano who need financial assistance, could be tempted to take the restaurant’s “offer” amid the rising cost of living in the country.
The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.4% in February, following an increase in food prices and utility costs during the month.
pranking the non privelaged masses like that, then painting them dumb and not taking accountability for it. taragis (whoever the fck they are) has a special place in hell. i hope someone files a case against them. https://t.co/XeC9g116WQ
Some individuals also said that Taragis’ responses to the issue were in bad taste, saying that they portrayed Albano as “dumb” for falling for an April Fools’ prank when he was only looking for ways to make ends meet.
Apaka out of touch na sisihin pa yung hindi nagbasa si kuya. May krisis naman kasi talaga comprehension dito sa pinas imbes na tulungan kahit papano kahit hindi 100k nagmock pa ang mga tao https://t.co/bPrBGxfFBR
exactly. tangina niyong mga walang puso sa taong nagbabakasakali lang. https://t.co/Lyr8BPvo2y
Should they be held accountable for their joke? Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, a lawyer on TikTok, said that under the rules of the Department of Trade and Industry, Taragis should compensate Albano “for causing injury to another person and false advertising.”
She said that they could also be held liable under Article 21 of the Civil Code, which states that “any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
In the April 2 video, Quion has apologized to his critics and explained that he had no intention of hurting other people.
“Sa mga nagkaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa naging April Fools’ post namin, humihingi ako ng tawad. Sana magsilbing aral ito sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kapwa influencers ko o brand na nasa internet, na maging responsable tayo sa lahat ng inuupload natin,” he said.
(For those who disliked our April Fools’ post, I’m sorry. Let this be a lesson to all of us, especially to my fellow influencers and online brands, to be responsible for everything we upload.)
Some netizens have pointed out that Taragis’ prank may be scripted based on the appearance of Albano’s supposedly fresh tattoo.
According to several sources online, a tattoo may take around two to four weeks to heal, and may show dryness, redness, and oozing.
Hahahahahaa scripted. Where the fuck can you see a tattoo that can heal for 2 days that fast???? https://t.co/0s66psw9o1
A social media user who goes by Chonna Mae also called out Taragis for allegedly taking down her comment questioning the legitimacy of Albano’s tattoo.
“Sa totoo namang 3:36 pm kayo nag-post ng April Fool’s Joke ‘nyo tapos 4:04 pm, tapos na agad ‘yung tattoo niya at magaling agad,” she said in a post (It’s true that you posted your April Fool’s Joke at 3:36 pm and at 4:04 pm, his tattoo was done and healed). “Ay nako, mukhang nang-eeme lang ‘yang si Taragis, maniwala kayo sa ‘kin.” (Taragis seems to be kidding around, believe me.)
But regardless of the intent, Filipinos online said that at the end of the day, Albano is just a father who would do anything for his children.
What do you think of this issue? – with reports from Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She often seeks energy boosts in the form of caffeine (both iced coffee and matcha!) and her favorite K-pop groups.
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Heat-induced ailments affect thousands of General Santos students | Herbie G | 02/04/2024 17:46 | Alejandro Edoria
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – Education officials noted a surge in the number of students with ailments blamed on rising temperatures in General Santos City, prompting school authorities to either suspend classes or switch back to online learning methods starting Tuesday, April 2.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in General Santos City reported that, in recent days, at least 2,557 students have complained of severe headaches due to the high heat index, which measures how hot it feels when humidity is combined with the actual air temperature.
About 291 other students have experienced nosebleeds, a condition attributed to the intense heat, according to General Santos Schools Superintendent Isagani dela Cruz, citing reports gathered from various schools across the city.
The dry weather conditions and soaring temperatures prompted Dela Cruz to ask the city government to order the suspension of classes in General Santos.
Based on the DepEd recommendation, General Santos Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao issued Executive Order No. 19-2024, ordering the suspension of all face-to-face classes in all levels in both public and private schools in General Santos from April 2 to April 5 “unless otherwise extended or lifted earlier.”
The state-run Mindanao State University (MSU) in General Santos, however, said its classes would be held online to avoid a disruption.
Norman Ralph Isla, MSU-General Santos campus secretary, said the university’s classes will be held either synchronously or asynchronously and will be supervised by the heads of different academic departments.
Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao also ordered on Tuesday the suspension of face-to-face classes in all levels from April 3 to 19.
In South Cotabato province, the mayors of Banga and Tantangan towns opted to suspend afternoon face-to-face classes to protect students from the heat that typically worsens in the afternoon.
Tantangan Mayor Timee Torres-Gonzales said they have coordinated with the DepEd so their schools would revert to blended learning methods until April 15. Gonzales said the setup is meant not to disrupt the students’ learning schedules.
In Banga, Mayor Evangeline Palencia announced that afternoon classes would be suspended until April 30 to safeguard students’ health against the scorching heat.
The dry weather conditions and scorching heat have also been taking a toll on agriculture in the Soccsksargen region.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) in Alabel, Sarangani province, for instance, recommended to the municipal council to declare the town as being in a state of calamity due to losses caused by the prevailing dry conditions and soaring temperatures.
The MDRRMC also adopted a motion to reprogram a trust fund amounting to almost P4 million to aid farmers affected by the dry spell.
Alabel Mayor Paul Salarda sought a comprehensive detailed report about the extent of the damage to crops such as corn, coconuts, and bananas, as well as livestock and poultry in the municipality.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Soccsksargen said they could not say exactly what the extent of the damage was in the region because they have yet to receive reports from local governments in the region.
DA Regional Director John Pascual said they have not even received requests for assistance. He downplayed the impact of the El Nino phenomenon on the agriculture sector in the Soccsksargen region, saying the damage was not severe and that mitigating measures were in place.
Soccsksargen, which consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, and Kidapawan, has been seeing less rainfall amid dry weather conditions and intense heat.
On a national scale, the DA said the El Niño phenomenon has damaged at least P1.3 billion worth of agricultural crops, poultry, and livestock as of mid-March.
Meanwhile, environmentalists said the prevailing weather conditions should serve as a wake-up call for the government to do what is right for the environment.
Elizabeth Ramos, chairperson of the Maitum Advocates for Sustainable Environment (MASE), said, “We need some serious and dedicated efforts, not mere lip service or band-aid solutions.”
Another group, the Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia-Early Response Network (CCAA-ERN), said it has monitored the drying of wells and water sources in many villages and municipalities in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Central and Northern Mindanao.
“Farmers are now unable to grow essential crops and vegetables and are struggling to provide food for their families. In many major rice granaries in Northern Luzon and Western Visayas, farmers’ decisions for the planting season are being held back because of the lack of water,” read part of a March 22 statement of the CCAA-ERN.
The group called on the government to declare a state of calamity in many agricultural areas that are now reeling from the effects of El Niño and prioritize farmers and fisherfolk to prevent food insecurity.
CCAA-ERN also asked the government to direct the local disaster risk reduction management officers to closely monitor their areas, especially wells that are starting to dry up and set aside funds for emergency provisioning to avert hunger.
“It is useful to invest in water tankers as early as now for the immediate rationing of water when sources become exhausted…. Funds should be invested for the rehabilitation and building of new wells to ensure the adequate supply of water to communities,” it said.
CCAA-ERN stressed the need to protect wells and other sources of water that are still supplying and sustaining communities.
The group warned, “The drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon is fueling uncertainty and insecurity that is endangering the coping mechanisms and traditional social protection practices in communities. Most people claim it’s the drought, but we have monitored water resources, and the lack of it, and we have seen a major decline in the quality and quantity of water in the past years. The ongoing dry spell has only aggravated what is already a worsening situation brought about by climate change.” – Rappler.com
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Just kidding? Takoyaki shop draws flak for April Fools’ tattoo prank gone wrong | pfkahanap0307 | 02/04/2024 18:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Not all jokes are funny.
As different brands joined in on the April Fools’ Day fun with mock social media posts, netizens slammed a food chain after it refused to take responsibility for a prank post gone wrong.
A takoyaki restaurant called Taragis said in a now-deleted Facebook post on Monday, April 1, that they would be giving P100,000 to the first person who had their shop’s logo tattooed on their forehead.
The words “April Fool’s” was written at the bottom of the photo used for the social media post. The phrase cannot be seen properly unless the user clicks on the photo itself.
Unfortunately, a social media user identified as Ramil Albano had taken the post seriously and shared a photo of his new forehead tattoo.
In another deleted post, Taragis said that they were “not accountable for the events that occurred,” and urged readers to remember “how important reading comprehension is.”
Carl Quion, Taragis’ owner, has since talked to Albano and given him the reward, as seen in a video posted on Tuesday, April 2. He also offered to shoulder the cost of the tattoo removal.
“Hindi natin alam na may mga taong gagawin ang lahat para sa pera, kaya iwasan nating gumawa ng mga bagay na makakaapekto sa kabuhayan nila,” Quion said.
(We don’t know how far people will go just for money, so let’s avoid doing things that could affect their livelihoods.)
Albano shared in the video that he had taken on the challenge so that he could have extra money for his children’s needs, especially for his youngest son who has Down syndrome.
After Taragis earlier denied responsibility for the incident, several brands from all over the country offered to give Albano cash rewards, hoping that these would help him and his family.
Netizens said that Taragis’ prank went a little too far, since many Filipinos may not be familiar with the concept of April Fools’ Day.
Hindi lahat ng followers nila ay alam ang April Fools day. At educated enough to read it with comprehension. Pag Pera ang pinag uusapan Lalo sa Pinas may kakagat talaga nyan. They should be accountable with their stupid post. Kainis!
naiinis ak s mga taong pinagtatawanan ung nagpatattoo ng taragis logo like can u not see it was an act of desperation na tattoo lang may 100k ka na of course if ure rly in need of money ud consider it 😅😅 april fools isnt a holiday that every1 knows especially in the philippines
The Philippines doesn't have an April Fool's culture, or else a long history of it. Lalo na sa mga hindi naman masyadong babad sa diskurso ng globalisasyon, malay ba nila? Mabuting tandaang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagintindi natin sa mundo. https://t.co/0pPyZvq2GU
Others also pointed out that some people, especially those like Albano who need financial assistance, could be tempted to take the restaurant’s “offer” amid the rising cost of living in the country.
The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.4% in February, following an increase in food prices and utility costs during the month.
pranking the non privelaged masses like that, then painting them dumb and not taking accountability for it. taragis (whoever the fck they are) has a special place in hell. i hope someone files a case against them. https://t.co/XeC9g116WQ
Some individuals also said that Taragis’ responses to the issue were in bad taste, saying that they portrayed Albano as “dumb” for falling for an April Fools’ prank when he was only looking for ways to make ends meet.
Apaka out of touch na sisihin pa yung hindi nagbasa si kuya. May krisis naman kasi talaga comprehension dito sa pinas imbes na tulungan kahit papano kahit hindi 100k nagmock pa ang mga tao https://t.co/bPrBGxfFBR
exactly. tangina niyong mga walang puso sa taong nagbabakasakali lang. https://t.co/Lyr8BPvo2y
Should they be held accountable for their joke? Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, a lawyer on TikTok, said that under the rules of the Department of Trade and Industry, Taragis should compensate Albano “for causing injury to another person and false advertising.”
She said that they could also be held liable under Article 21 of the Civil Code, which states that “any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
In the April 2 video, Quion has apologized to his critics and explained that he had no intention of hurting other people.
“Sa mga nagkaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa naging April Fools’ post namin, humihingi ako ng tawad. Sana magsilbing aral ito sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kapwa influencers ko o brand na nasa internet, na maging responsable tayo sa lahat ng inuupload natin,” he said.
(For those who disliked our April Fools’ post, I’m sorry. Let this be a lesson to all of us, especially to my fellow influencers and online brands, to be responsible for everything we upload.)
Some netizens have pointed out that Taragis’ prank may be scripted based on the appearance of Albano’s supposedly fresh tattoo.
According to several sources online, a tattoo may take around two to four weeks to heal, and may show dryness, redness, and oozing.
Hahahahahaa scripted. Where the fuck can you see a tattoo that can heal for 2 days that fast???? https://t.co/0s66psw9o1
A social media user who goes by Chonna Mae also called out Taragis for allegedly taking down her comment questioning the legitimacy of Albano’s tattoo.
“Sa totoo namang 3:36 pm kayo nag-post ng April Fool’s Joke ‘nyo tapos 4:04 pm, tapos na agad ‘yung tattoo niya at magaling agad,” she said in a post (It’s true that you posted your April Fool’s Joke at 3:36 pm and at 4:04 pm, his tattoo was done and healed). “Ay nako, mukhang nang-eeme lang ‘yang si Taragis, maniwala kayo sa ‘kin.” (Taragis seems to be kidding around, believe me.)
But regardless of the intent, Filipinos online said that at the end of the day, Albano is just a father who would do anything for his children.
What do you think of this issue? – with reports from Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She often seeks energy boosts in the form of caffeine (both iced coffee and matcha!) and her favorite K-pop groups.
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Just kidding? Takoyaki shop draws flak for April Fools’ tattoo prank gone wrong | pfkahanap0307 | 02/04/2024 18:26 | MANILA, Philippines – Not all jokes are funny.
As different brands joined in on the April Fools’ Day fun with mock social media posts, netizens slammed a food chain after it refused to take responsibility for a prank post gone wrong.
A takoyaki restaurant called Taragis said in a now-deleted Facebook post on Monday, April 1, that they would be giving P100,000 to the first person who had their shop’s logo tattooed on their forehead.
The words “April Fool’s” was written at the bottom of the photo used for the social media post. The phrase cannot be seen properly unless the user clicks on the photo itself.
Unfortunately, a social media user identified as Ramil Albano had taken the post seriously and shared a photo of his new forehead tattoo.
In another deleted post, Taragis said that they were “not accountable for the events that occurred,” and urged readers to remember “how important reading comprehension is.”
Carl Quion, Taragis’ owner, has since talked to Albano and given him the reward, as seen in a video posted on Tuesday, April 2. He also offered to shoulder the cost of the tattoo removal.
“Hindi natin alam na may mga taong gagawin ang lahat para sa pera, kaya iwasan nating gumawa ng mga bagay na makakaapekto sa kabuhayan nila,” Quion said.
(We don’t know how far people will go just for money, so let’s avoid doing things that could affect their livelihoods.)
Albano shared in the video that he had taken on the challenge so that he could have extra money for his children’s needs, especially for his youngest son who has Down syndrome.
After Taragis earlier denied responsibility for the incident, several brands from all over the country offered to give Albano cash rewards, hoping that these would help him and his family.
Netizens said that Taragis’ prank went a little too far, since many Filipinos may not be familiar with the concept of April Fools’ Day.
Hindi lahat ng followers nila ay alam ang April Fools day. At educated enough to read it with comprehension. Pag Pera ang pinag uusapan Lalo sa Pinas may kakagat talaga nyan. They should be accountable with their stupid post. Kainis!
naiinis ak s mga taong pinagtatawanan ung nagpatattoo ng taragis logo like can u not see it was an act of desperation na tattoo lang may 100k ka na of course if ure rly in need of money ud consider it 😅😅 april fools isnt a holiday that every1 knows especially in the philippines
The Philippines doesn't have an April Fool's culture, or else a long history of it. Lalo na sa mga hindi naman masyadong babad sa diskurso ng globalisasyon, malay ba nila? Mabuting tandaang hindi pantay-pantay ang pagintindi natin sa mundo. https://t.co/0pPyZvq2GU
Others also pointed out that some people, especially those like Albano who need financial assistance, could be tempted to take the restaurant’s “offer” amid the rising cost of living in the country.
The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to 3.4% in February, following an increase in food prices and utility costs during the month.
pranking the non privelaged masses like that, then painting them dumb and not taking accountability for it. taragis (whoever the fck they are) has a special place in hell. i hope someone files a case against them. https://t.co/XeC9g116WQ
Some individuals also said that Taragis’ responses to the issue were in bad taste, saying that they portrayed Albano as “dumb” for falling for an April Fools’ prank when he was only looking for ways to make ends meet.
Apaka out of touch na sisihin pa yung hindi nagbasa si kuya. May krisis naman kasi talaga comprehension dito sa pinas imbes na tulungan kahit papano kahit hindi 100k nagmock pa ang mga tao https://t.co/bPrBGxfFBR
exactly. tangina niyong mga walang puso sa taong nagbabakasakali lang. https://t.co/Lyr8BPvo2y
Should they be held accountable for their joke? Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez, a lawyer on TikTok, said that under the rules of the Department of Trade and Industry, Taragis should compensate Albano “for causing injury to another person and false advertising.”
She said that they could also be held liable under Article 21 of the Civil Code, which states that “any person who wilfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs, or public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
In the April 2 video, Quion has apologized to his critics and explained that he had no intention of hurting other people.
“Sa mga nagkaroon ng negatibong pananaw sa naging April Fools’ post namin, humihingi ako ng tawad. Sana magsilbing aral ito sa ating lahat, lalo na sa mga kapwa influencers ko o brand na nasa internet, na maging responsable tayo sa lahat ng inuupload natin,” he said.
(For those who disliked our April Fools’ post, I’m sorry. Let this be a lesson to all of us, especially to my fellow influencers and online brands, to be responsible for everything we upload.)
Some netizens have pointed out that Taragis’ prank may be scripted based on the appearance of Albano’s supposedly fresh tattoo.
According to several sources online, a tattoo may take around two to four weeks to heal, and may show dryness, redness, and oozing.
Hahahahahaa scripted. Where the fuck can you see a tattoo that can heal for 2 days that fast???? https://t.co/0s66psw9o1
A social media user who goes by Chonna Mae also called out Taragis for allegedly taking down her comment questioning the legitimacy of Albano’s tattoo.
“Sa totoo namang 3:36 pm kayo nag-post ng April Fool’s Joke ‘nyo tapos 4:04 pm, tapos na agad ‘yung tattoo niya at magaling agad,” she said in a post (It’s true that you posted your April Fool’s Joke at 3:36 pm and at 4:04 pm, his tattoo was done and healed). “Ay nako, mukhang nang-eeme lang ‘yang si Taragis, maniwala kayo sa ‘kin.” (Taragis seems to be kidding around, believe me.)
But regardless of the intent, Filipinos online said that at the end of the day, Albano is just a father who would do anything for his children.
What do you think of this issue? – with reports from Isabella Baldado/Rappler.com
Isabella Baldado is a Digital Communications volunteer at Rappler and a Speech Communication student at the University of the Philippines Diliman. She often seeks energy boosts in the form of caffeine (both iced coffee and matcha!) and her favorite K-pop groups.
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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | Acor Arceo | 02/04/2024 18:05 | MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Wednesday, April 3, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
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[EDITORIAL] Filipino journalists to China: Yes, we are trouble | Lilibeth Frondoso | 01/04/2024 11:26 | Nico Villarete
Bago matapos ang Marso, pinabilib tayo ng Beijing sa pinakabago nitong kapal ng mukha at pagbabaliktad ng katotohanan. Ayon sa foreign ministry ng Tsina, ang mga mamamahayag daw na sumasama sa mga resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal ay “troublemakers.”
Sabi pa ni foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, tuwing nag-de-deliver daw ng suplay ang Pilipinas sa grounded warship sa West Philippine Sea, “they had many journalists on board, and had them manipulate the videos they recorded to make sensational news and project the Philippines as a victim.”
Uulitin namin ang nasambit ng isang sundalong humaharap sa water cannon ng mga Tsino, “Tama na, Lord.” Isa itong panalangin na hindi lang bagay na bagay sa isang bansang katatapos lang mag-ayuno, bagay na bagay rin ito sa bansang laging humaharap sa Goliath na makinarya ng propaganda ng Tsina.
Sabi nga ng Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), isa itong “barefaced lie.” (BASAHIN: Journalists in Manila slam China’s manipulation claims: ‘Barefaced lie’)
Sabi naman ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), “hatid ng mga mamamahayag ang on-site reports of incidents” sa karagatan ng WPS, madalas “sa harap ng malaking panganib sa kanila.”
Dagdag pa ng NUJP, maliban sa mga bagay na may epekto sa “operational and national security considerations,” “walang pakialam ang state forces sa produksyon at editoryal na mga desisiyon ng mga report na inilalabas” ng mga journalist. Underline sa “walang pakialam.”
Nakakatawa, sa totoo lang. Gaano mo man baliktarin ang kuwento, hindi mapagkakaila ang aggression sa harap ng overwhelming documentary evidence ng mga eyewitness at mga video. Hindi mapagkakaila ang pambabastos sa karapatan ng Pilipinas sa West Philippine Sea na pinagtibay ng korte sa Hague.
Pero bakit ganito ang asal ng Tsina? Ito’y nangyayari sa buong mundo at hindi lang sa karagatan ng Pilipinas. Halimbawa, sa coast ng West Africa, normal na ang daan-daang Chinese industrial fishing boats na nag-i-invade ng territorial waters at inaagawan ang mga mangingisda roon.
Ang Tsina ang may pinakamalaking fishing fleet sa buong mundo, at ayon sa dokumentaryo ng Outlaw Ocean Project, mayroon itong 7,000 barko na nangingisda at 90 major ports sa buong mundo na nagpoproseso ng seafood.
Ayon din sa dokumentaryo, sobrang laki ng fishing industry ng Tsina na ito’y “10 times bigger than the next competitor.” At araw-araw, hinihigop ng fishing fleet nito ang “unsustainable amounts” ng seafood mula sa karagatan ng planeta.
Sa totoo lang, dahil sa overfishing, “one-third of the world’s fish stocks have collapsed or are on the verge,” sabi ng Outlaw Ocean Project, bagay na kolektibong pananagutan ng maraming bansa, pero malaking bahagi ng kargo de konsiyensiya ay sa Tsina. (PANOORIN: China: The Superpower of Seafood)
Ang hindi sustainable na diskarte ng Tsina sa karagatan ay itinutulak ng higanteng populasyon nitong nakadepende sa seafood. Sa katotohanan, nalampasan na ng seafood ang pork bilang preferred protein source ng middle class sa China.
Kaya’t hindi lang pangte-trespass sa bakuran ng may bakuran ang kasalanan ng Tsina, unti-unti nitong dinadala ang buong mundo sa bingit ng food insecurity. At sino nga pala ang isa sa pinakamalaking importer ng seafood mula sa Tsina? Ang Estados Unidos. Magkakakabit ang mga bituka at vested interest ng mga superpower, apparently. (But that’s another editorial.)
At dahil isa na itong superpower, sabi ni Ronald Llamas sa isang panel discussion sa West Philippine Sea, “It is acting like a superpower.” Just because it can.
Pero mabalik tayo sa mga propagandista ng Tsina. Unsolicited advice sa inyo: iba ang ecosystem ng pamamahayag sa Pilipinas kumpara sa Tsina. We do not go gently into the night.
Mayroon man kaming mga kabaro na napatahimik o nabili ng estado lalo na noong panahon ng dating presidenteng si Rodrigo Duterte – buhay na buhay pa rin ang dangal sa hanapbuhay lalo na sa mga kasapi ng FOCAP at NUJP na araw-araw nakikibaka laban sa censorship at pambubusal sa malayang pamamahayag.
May water hose din ang mga mamamahayag, at ‘yan ay ang puwersa ng katotohanan. Kaya’t sa mga opisyal ng Tsina na tinatawag kaming mga “troublemakers,” tumpak. Asahan ninyong magiging tinik kami sa inyong lalamunan habang dinedeliver namin ang hindi binuburdahang katotohanan. – Rappler.com
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Beyond Siargao: Six other must-visit Caraga destinations | Herbie G | 02/04/2024 14:56 | PICTURE PERFECT. Tourists enjoy the scenic view of Bega Falls in Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
Department of Tourism-Caraga
BUTUAN, Philippines – With the start of the dry season, it’s the perfect time to seek out places to beat the heat, and the Caraga region boasts some of these ideal summer destinations.
While Siargao Island is unquestionably the premiere tourist destination in the region, Caraga has much more to offer beyond its surfing capital’s famed shores. From uninhabited islands, enchanting rivers, and stunning waterfalls, Caraga is a treasure trove just waiting to be explored.
Here are some destinations where you can venture off the beaten track this season and find some of the most fascinating spots that highlight the region’s natural beauty:
Nestled on Pangabangan Island in the town of Libjo, Dinagat Island, this tidal pool got its name ‘Blue Lagoon’ due to its crystal-clear waters, which boast rich shades of blue when viewed from afar.
Surrounded by towering karst formations, the Blue Lagoon is a perfect place for sunbathing, seaside relaxation, and tranquil swimming experiences. There’s a floating cottage available for those who wish to soak up the scenery, or a bamboo raft for exploration.
For those seeking adventure, one can climb a large karst formation that offers a panoramic perspective of the Blue Lagoon and its surrounding waters. Though the climb may be a bit steep and slightly risky, the breathtaking view from the top makes it all worthwhile.
Tourists can opt to spend the night by setting up camp under the coconut trees.
The Tinuy-an Falls Eco Park features a majestic waterfall, with its curtain of water cascading down a four-tier drop that spans 95 meters wide and 55 meters high. Tourists often liken Tinuy-an Falls to a mini-version of Canada’s Niagara Falls.
Found in Barangay Burboanan, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, about 16 kilometers from the city center, the entire area is filled with tall trees, which adds to its appeal.
The water basin on the second tier, the tallest of the four layers, is an attraction in and of itself.
Visitors can swim, take photos, and ride a bamboo raft to come up close to the waterfall and feel the water cascading down like a soothing massage.
As soon as you catch sight of the river tucked away in the coastal town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, you’ll find yourself utterly enchanted.
Situated in the Barangay of Cambatong, about 14 kilometers from the town center, the Hinatuan Enchanted River offers a visual feast of greenish-blue crystal-clear waters.
The river traverses the boundaries of the villages of Talisay and Cambatong and flows out of Hinatuan Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean.
Upon arrival at the spot, you’ll be welcomed by a stunning blue lagoon. Although the enticing color of the water may tempt you to jump right in, it’s reserved solely for sightseeing. The designated area where tourists can take a plunge or swim is situated some 10 meters away from the lagoon and is secured with ropes and floaters.
According to local folklore, the river earned its name due to the “engkantos” (Philippine mythical creatures or spirits) believed to inhabit its waters, with legends also suggesting that supernatural beings act as its guardian.
If you’re seeking an island adventure, Britania Island is definitely the destination for you.
With its clear turquoise waters, pristine white sand beaches, and delectable seafood offerings, this group of islets comprising Britania Islands in San Agustin, Surigao del Sur promises to captivate all who visit.
Located along Lianga Bay, facing the Pacific Ocean, the Britania Islands consist of approximately 20 to 25 islands and islets, their numbers depending on the tides.
Among these islands, four are prominent stops on the island-hopping tour packages that have become popular with tourists: Boslon, Hagonoy, Hiyor-hiyoran, and Naked Island.
Visitors can also enjoy a variety of recreational water activities such as jet skiing, snorkeling, banana boating, and flying fish rides.
While Agusan del Sur, the only landlocked province in the region, may lack the sandy shores found in other provinces with coastlines, it compensates with breathtaking waterfalls, among them is the Bega Falls.
Located in Purok 5 of Barangay Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, approximately 16 kilometers from the town center, Bega Falls stands as a natural wonder boasting three tiers of cascading water within the Bega River system, originating from the source at Sitio Ugnop Cave.
Each level of Bega Falls has its unique charm, with clear water flowing gently over moss-covered rocks. Surrounded by lush greenery, Bega Falls welcomes visitors to experience its layered beauty and enjoy the peacefulness of nature.
On Surigao City’s western side lies a one-of-a-kind beach experience: Mabua Pebble Beach.
Unlike the typical sandy stretches, you might expect, this shoreline is made up of multi-sized pebbles, which sets it apart from most of the beaches in the Philippines.
This pebble beach, named after Barangay Mabua where it is located, offers crystal-clear waters.
Even when the water reaches chest-deep, you can still see your feet clearly beneath the surface.
And those pebbles? They’re not just for looks. Walking barefoot on them is therapeutic too, as it’s like giving your feet a mini-massage while you explore.
For sunset lovers, Mabua Pebble Beach offers a showstopping view. It’s one of the best spots in the Caraga region to catch the sky changing its colors to a mesmerizing orange hue. – Rappler.com
Ivy Marie Mangadlao is a community journalist writing for Mindanews and an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow for 2023-2024.
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Philippines transitions to online voting for most overseas Filipinos in 2025 | Dwight de Leon | 02/04/2024 13:26 | Seniors and PWDs are accommodated in open spaces of the Rizal Elementary School in Taguig City for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30, 2023, and made to sign waiver forms to ensure their official ballot are cast by election officers.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Online voting will be the primary mode of casting ballots for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections, except in countries with internet restrictions.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman Rex Laudiangco said mail-in and physical voting will likely be implemented in only around 17 posts across a dozen countries, namely:
Details of the exact technology that the Comelec will use are not immediately clear, but the poll body is eyeing the use of a mobile application with identity authentication features that overseas Filipinos may download on their devices.
“We can assure you that the system being procured by Comelec has authentication and enrollment features. It will confirm and audit and record not only one’s registration and enrollment, but also the casting, counting, and canvassing of votes,” Laudiangco said in Filipino on Tuesday, April 2.
“Our system is capable of printing the votes in the consulates and embassies, even here in the Philippines, and these will remain secure and confidential. If you can trust financial and banking institutions with your money, you can also trust the system that the Comelec will procure because security and auditability will be our priority,” he added.
The poll body said the move will save the Comelec hundreds of millions of pesos since it would no longer have to ship voting machines in many countries.
It also targets to improve voter turnout among overseas Filipinos, after the 2022 Philippine elections saw a still dismal 38% turnout abroad, despite being the highest in history.
The Comelec said in July 2023 that internet voting would only be optional for overseas voters in 2025.
After a failed bidding in February, the Comelec on Tuesday opened the second round of bidding for the procurement of online voting technology, with one joint venture besting three other participants.
The joint venture of US-based company Sequent Tech and local firm SMS Global Technologies advanced to the post-qualification stage of the procurement process after submitting a bid worth P112 million, undercutting the next lowest bidder, Voatz and its local partners, which offered their services for P435 million.
The Comelec’s maximum budget for the contract is P465.8 million.
The Comelec under previous leaderships tiptoed on adopting online voting, citing the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 that provided that a new law was necessary in order for internet voting to materialize.
The 2013 law, says the Comelec, is authorized to explore other ways – such as internet-based technology – to make overseas voting more efficient, but results of its evaluation must be submitted to Congress.
When veteran lawyer George Garcia took helm of the Comelec, he insisted that no legislation or prior approval from Congress is needed to shift to online voting, arguing that Congress yields to the expertise of the commission in understanding the peculiarities of overseas voting. – Rappler.com
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Angeles City files child abuse complaint vs parents of boy mimicking flagellation | Joann Manabat - CMS | 02/04/2024 17:08 | YOUNG. The blood at the back of the two-year old boy was smeared from his uncle's as he participate in self-flagellation last Maundy Thursday, March 28.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
ANGELES CITY, Philippines – The Angeles City local government, upon orders of Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., has filed a child abuse complaint against the parents of the young boy mimicking flagellation during the Holy Week activities in Pampanga.
The Angeles City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) filed the complaint against the parents of the two-year-old boy on Friday, March 29, for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
The parents of the young boy have been detained at the Angeles City Police Station 2 in Barangay Sta. Teresita since late afternoon of Friday. Their son has been under the care of his grandmother.
The complaint, which was filed before the city prosecutor’s office, stemmed from a video uploaded by Rappler on its social media platforms on Thursday, March 28, showing the boy mimicking flagellants.
CSWDO chief Edna Duaso said the exposure of the child to such acts may result in negative influence. The situation has become a lesson on the responsibility of the parents to protect their children, she said.
“’Yun kasing pag-expose nila doon sa bata, sa mga ganoong gawain, supposed to be hindi naman nila papayagan bilang mga magulang. I-pro-protect natin ang mga bata,” Duaso told Rappler on Monday, April 1.
(Parents are not supposed to allow their children to be exposed to those kinds of activities. We should protect children.)
“Yung violation ng parents, hinayaan nila na ma-expose sa ganoong gawain ‘yung bata na puwedeng magdevelop ng negative na ano sa kanya. Hindi ‘yan laro. Dapat ‘yung isang tao na gumagawa ng ganoon eh naiintindihan niya kung ano ‘yung ginagawa niya. Puwede kasing mag-inflict ng harm sa kanya ‘yung mga ganoon just in case mailakas niya ‘yung palo niya,” she added.
(The violation of the parents is that they allowed their child be exposed in those acts that could possibly develop a negative influence on the child. It’s not a game. A person who is doing something like that must understand what he’s doing. It can inflict harm on him in case he hit himself too hard.)
Duaso also said they are looking for the parents of other children who were seen taking part in beating the flagellants and that they will also file appropriate complaints against them
– Rappler.com
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Court of Appeals reverses Ombudsman order dismissing ex-MIAA officials | Jairo Bolledo | 02/04/2024 15:40 | FORMER HEAD. In this file photo, Cesar Chiong, then-Manila International Airport Authority General Manager, attends the senate inquiry on the alleged human trafficking at the NAIA, on March 20, 2023.
Angie de Silva/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has reversed the dismissal of former Manila International Airport Authority officials who had been sanctioned by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a 13-page decision dated March 21, the CA overturned the Ombudsman order, which found former MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong and former assistant manager Irene Montalbo guilty of grave misconduct, abuse of authority or oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
NEWS UPDATE: The Court of Appeals reverses the dismissal of MIAA general manager Cesar Chiong imposed by the Ombudsman. @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/Efq1mXy0b5
The Ombudsman order imposed the penalty of dismissal from service with forfeiture of all retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification to reenter government service against Chiong and Montalbo.
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is hereby GRANTED. The 01 August 2023 Decision of the Office of the Ombudsman in OMB-C-A-APR-23-0061 is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Accordingly, the Complaint for Grave Abuse of Authority, Misconduct, and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service is DISMISSED for lack of merit,” said the decision penned by Associate Justice Eleuterio Bathan, with concurrences from Associate Justice Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles and Associate Justice Alfred Ampuan.
Chiong and Montalbo’s case stemmed from a complaint filed by “anonymous MIAA officials” with the Ombudsman. The complaint was in relation to the reassignment of around 285 MIAA employees within a year, after Chiong’s designation as MIAA chief. The complaint also cited Montalbo’s appointment despite her “unsatisfactory rating in 2020.”
Chiong and Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista explained that the reassignment was crucial for the improvement of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) operations and finances.
The former MIAA head earlier explained that over 200 reassigned personnel were transferred to the airport police unit to address the security needs of NAIA. He said this was based on the recommendation of the Airport Police Department chief and Assistant General Manager for Security and Emergency Services.
Chiong added that his predecessors “reassigned even larger numbers of personnel without facing any legal repercussion,” citing former MIAA head Jose Angel Honrado who reassigned 646 employees; and Eddie Monreal who reassigned 397 employees.
The Ombudsman, in an order dated April 28, 2023, placed the two officials under preventive suspension, prompting them to file an urgent motion to lift the preventive suspension and their respective counter-affidavits. When the Ombudsman had yet to act on Chiong and Montalbo’s petition after a month, they filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the appellate court.
Certiorari is a legal remedy used to review a decision or order of another body, or grave abuse of discretion. But while the Ombudsman moved for the extension to file its comment on the CA petition, it already issued Chiong and Montalbo’s dismissal.
In their CA petition, Chiong and Montalbo argued that the Ombudsman has no jurisdiction over reassignments in the civil service. The appellate court said it sustained and affirmed the petitioner’s position, based on the Supreme Court decision in Reyes Jr. v. Belisario.
According to the said ruling, “the CSC (Civil Service Commission) has the authority to determine the validity of the appointments and movements of civil service personnel.” The CA said in its decision that there was no definitive ruling from the CSC that the reassignment was not valid “nor at least a referral of the case to the CSC for such prior determination.”
The appellate court also noted that the allegations against the petitioners were acts involving human resource movement in the civil service, so the Ombudsman should have referred the complaint to the CSC.
“Consequently, when the OMB assumed jurisdiction over the complaint and proceeded to rule on the case without the prior ruling of the CSC, the assailed decision should be struck down for prematurity and lack of factual and legal bases. On this ground alone, we resolve to grant the instant petition,” the CA said.
The CA said the Ombudsman decision finding Chiong and Montalbo guilty lacked factual basis and substantial support in evidence. The appellate court explained that an administrative decision becomes valid if it has “something to support itself,” among others.
But in the former MIAA officials’ case, the CA said the Ombudsman “merely made a general statement” that the reassignment and designation of MIAA employees “were exercised with clear intent to violate the law, or flagrant disregard of established rules which characterized unlawful behavior and contradicts the very purpose of the reassignment and designation.”
However, the CA said the basis of the said finding came from four out of the 285 cases of employees reassigned. – Rappler.com
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TIMELINE: The Chocolate Hills resort controversy | jsitchon0312 | 18/03/2024 21:45 | RESORT. The Captain's Peak Resort officially closes down on March 13, 2024.
John Sitchon/Rappler
CEBU, Philippines – Vlogger Renmark Nisnisan, also known as “Ren The Adventurer,” posted what seemed to be an innocent travel video of a resort built in the middle of three Chocolate Hills on Wednesday, March 6.
The video, which the resort’s property owner, Edgar Buton, thanked the vlogger for, exploded with numerous remarks from netizens all over the country who were enraged by the apparent encroachment of the structures on the country’s national treasure.
As of Monday, March 18, the video posted on social media platform Facebook has over 16 million views, 58,000 comments, and over 413,000 reactions. At least 173,000 of the total reactions are “angry”.
The controversy eventually caught the attention of public officials in both the local and national levels. On March 13, Senator Nancy Binay filed Philippine Senate (PS) Resolution No. 967 seeking a probe, in aid of legislation, into the construction of all structures within the vicinity of the Chocolate Hills.
How did a small resort cause a nation-wide investigation of this scale? Here’s a timeline of the events leading up to the resort’s closure.
December 3, 2007
Transfer Certificate Title No. 37139 officially declares Edgar Buton the owner of a parcel of land with Lot No. 3555, CAD 959-D, Case No. 10, situated in the Barrio of Canmano, Municipality of Sagbayan, Bohol.
The document states that the original owner of the land was a member of the Amores clan that was granted the lot on August 14, 1996.
Through the years, the land would be used by Buton’s family as a private recreation area and a camping ground for close friends and travelers passing by their residence.
February 15, 2018
Local officials of Barangay Canmano, including tourism officer Perfecto Bambe, and Buton’s sister, Julieta Sablas, attend a special meeting of the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (CHNM)-Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) at Reyna’s the Haven and Gardens in Tagbilaran City to discuss the proposal to build the Captain’s Peak Garden Eco-Park.
The proposed project includes the establishment of a function hall, landmark, photo booth, swimming pool, cottages, zip line, shower and dressing room, parking area, coconut garden, flower garden, and water fountain.
Officials, through PAMB Resolution No. 1, s. 2018, resolve to endorse the proposal under the following conditions:
DENR Central Visayas Director Gilbert Gonzales III signs the resolution as chairman of the PAMB, signifying the government agency’s approval of the project.
January 2019 to 2020
Captain’s Peak owner Buton and administrator Sablas get their official business permit from the office of the mayor of Sagbayan. The mayor at the time is Ricardo Suarez.
The management of Captain’s Peak doesn’t have an ECC but begins operating as a resort, welcoming guests.
The management also creates an official Facebook page on January 12, 2019, and posts photos of guests posing by built structures on January 19, 2019.
Some time in 2020, the management gets their first building permit for the resort’s expansion operations.
July 13, 2021
The DENR, through its counterpart in Tagbilaran City, conducts a projection and ground verification of Buton’s land which spans 10,068 square meters.
Buton receives the DENR certification for Land Classification Status. The land is classified as Alienable and Disposable, which means that private persons like Buton can legally claim possession over it.
Elena Suarez, the OIC of the City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tagbilaran, signs and approves the certification.
July 12, 2022
Representatives of the CHNM PAMB Committee on Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring conducts an inspection of the Captain’s Peak Resort development areas.
July 13, 2022
The CHNM PAMB Committee on Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring informs DENR in Central Visayas, through the Bohol Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), of the plan of the resort’s management to transfer the development of certain parts to different areas.
“The swimming pools were situated on the flatland while the four cottages were situated on the side of the hills surrounding the area,” the memorandum, attached with location map and geotagged photos, reads.
July 14, 2022
The CHNM-PAMB holds another meeting with Canmano officials and Captain’s Peak management regarding a proposal to transfer the development of amenities and facilities such as the swimming pool, cottages and function hall from its initial project sites near the Chocolate Hills protected zone to the resort’s parking area.
DENR Central Visayas Director Paquito Melicor Jr. signs Resolution No. 21, s. 2022, endorsing the development of Captain’s Peak Resort within the CHNM.
“Whereas, the project area is located at the flat portion and it is within the Multiple Use Zone of CHNM Protected Area per proposed zoning. The area is a titled property owned by Edgar Buton,” the document reads.
The resolution reiterates that the project proponents must secure necessary permits, clearance from the local government unit (LGU) and other government entities.
Another condition in the resolution reads: “No development in areas which the PAMB does not allow based on the plan of the CHNM Protected Area.”
February 3, 2023
The Sangguniang Barangay of Canmano passes Resolution No. 2, s. 2023, requesting Sagbayan Mayor Restituto Suarez III to repair the Canmano-Libertad Norte access road going to Captain’s Peak.
Some residents express their concern about the apparent “cutting” of the feet of two Chocolate Hills in the area for the road widening.
August 14, 2023
The Freeman, a member of the Philippine Star Media Group and the longest-running newspaper in Cebu, publishes the first part of an in-depth report by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol about projects that are “ruining Chocolate Hills.”
Bohol provincial board member Nathaniel Binlod finds out about Captain’s Peak through the report.
August 15, 2023
In the second part of The Freeman report, Sagbayan municipal engineer, Alan Dinoy, says that he was surprised to find out about the “excavation” between the two hills for the access road near Captain’s Peak.
“it did not pass through his office although he said, they had a site visit before in the area,” the report reads.
Binlod in a privilege speech during the session on Tuesday, August 15, urges the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to investigate the “defacement” of the Chocolate Hills.
August 18, 2023
The board members, through the committees on tourism and environmental protection, survey the resort and find the cottages and water slides built at the foot of three hills.
August 23, 2023
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado orders the Bohol Environment and Management Office (BEMO), PENRO, and the Central Visayas regional office of DENR to investigate the alleged destruction of Chocolate Hills.
He and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan request the DENR to furnish them a copy of the results of the investigation.
September 6, 2023
The DENR issues a temporary closure order (TCO) against Captain’s Peak Resort. It is unclear if a copy of the TCO was given to local authorities, especially the governor.
The resort still operates while completing important documents like the ECC at this point.
January 9, 2024
Suarez signs and approves the renewal of the business permit of Captain’s Peak Resort. The Mayor’s Permit Number is BP-2024-00096-0. The amount paid for the permit is P13,932.40
January 22, 2024
DENR sends Captain’s Peak management a Notice of Violation for operating without an ECC. It is unclear if a copy of the notice was given to local authorities.
February 16 to 18, 2024
The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bohol holds the provincial athletic meet for the swimming category of boys and girls at Captain’s Peak Resort. The event is one of the DepEd’s main activities before the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet.
The Bohol Tourist Police Unit posts photos with student athletes during the event on their official Facebook page.
March 6, 2024
Vlogger Ren the Adventurer posts a drone shot video of Captain’s Peak Resort, catching the attention of numerous netizens who claim that the resort has “destroyed” the Chocolate Hills.
Media outlets pick up the story about the controversial Bohol resort.
March 13, 2024
The Bohol governor says that they already addressed the issue about Captain’s Peak Resort, contrary to claims by netizens about negligence on the part of the LGU.
He adds that the province will be elevating the issue to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga for guidance and direction.
DENR Central Visayas issues a memorandum directing PENRO to create a team that will inspect the resort for compliance with the TCO.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) also says in their statement that the resort is not an accredited tourism establishment under the agency’s accreditation system. “There is no pending application for accreditation for the same,” the statement reads.
Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9593, “Primary Tourism Enterprises” (PTEs) such as hotels, resorts, inns, and other accommodation establishments are required to secure accreditation from the DOT.
Binay, who chairs the Senate tourism committee, files Senate Resolution No. 967 seeking a probe, in aid of legislation, into the construction of all structures within the vicinity of the Chocolate Hills.
In a social media post, Captain’s Peak announces its closure for maintenance and environmental preservation efforts.
March 14, 2024
The LGU of Sagbayan serves the revocation of the resort’s business permit.
“Unless they can provide us the ECC from the DENR in Central Visayas, then we cannot renew their permit. They can reapply, so to speak, but until then, we cannot renew,” Sagbayan executive secretary to the mayor Felito Pon says. Pon adds that it was only on March 15 that the Sagbayan LGU learned about the TCO and Notice of Violation.
In a social media post, Captain’s Peak Resort informs the public about the revocation of their permit and expresses disappointment about the situation.
– Rappler.com
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Last August 14-15, 2023, The Freeman, a member of the Philippine Star Media Group and the longest-running newspaper in Cebu, published the first and second parts of an in-depth report by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol about projects that are “ruining Chocolate Hills.” Yet only on March 13, 2024, and March 14, 2024, did the Provincial Government of Bohol and the Municipal Government of Sagbayan take action, respectively. The gap is around seven (7) months from such publication. But the gap between the controversial social media posting (March 6, 2024) to the March 13, 2024, Provincial Government action and the March 14, 2024, Sagbayan LGU action is five working days (for the Bohol LGU) and six working days (for the Sagbayan LGU). The speed in which these LGUs have acted should be based on the August 14-15, 2023 dates and not on the March 6, 2024 date.
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Key PNP movements: One-day OIC then new chief Marbil | Jairo Bolledo | 02/04/2024 14:57 | NEW CHIEF. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior chief Benhur Abalos lead the induction of Police General Rommel Marbil as the new PNP chief on April 1, 2024.
RTVM
Following Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda Jr.’s retirement from police service, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new chief of the 232,000-strong police force.
Marbil’s appointment came as quite a surprise announcement during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1.
Acorda already reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, and was supposed to retire in December 2023, but Marcos extended his term until the end of March this year. Acorda served for almost a year – he was appointed in late April 2023.
Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief, after Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Acorda, and is the 30th national police head since the PNP’s inception in 1991. The 55-year-old police general will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be around three months before the midterm senatorial and local elections in May next year.
In his first speech as the new top cop, Marbil listed down things that he said the PNP needs to accomplish to increase its effectiveness:
The new PNP chief noted in his speech that the PNP needs personnel and officers with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He added that under his term, the national police’s infrastructure and membership will be examined to identify ways to improve their effectiveness.
“We need officers who can communicate with the public well, display empathy and conduct themselves at all times responsibly, ethically, and morally. We need officers who recognize that it is simply not enough to act decisively, relentlessly and fast in the war against crimes but that there must also be accountability and transparency on our end and most importantly, we will nurture police officers to whom a human approach to law enforcement is a given,” Marbil added.
Like his predecessor Acorda, Marbil’s appointment was announced only on the day of the turnover ceremony. But what made Marbil’s designation extremely surprising was that Marcos had appointed an officer-in-charge (OIC) the day before the change of command ceremony.
On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as the PNP’s OIC. Marbil’s appointment overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office,” and made him an acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours.
There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs.
His extremely short term was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served for at least several months. Gamboa was OIC for around three months and then was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020.
Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022, or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed Azurin as his first PNP chief in August 2022.
“Except probably for making history as the shortest serving OIC of the PNP, there are no implications, good or bad either to PNP or to himself [Peralta],” former senator and PNP chief Panfilo “Ping” Lacson told Rappler.
Lacson, along with former senator and retired military officer Antonio Trillanes IV, reiterated that Peralta’s appointment has no effect on his benefits as a police officer. Lacson said that the pension or retirement benefits of a retired PNP office is based on his/her rank, and not on position. So OIC or not, Peralta will still get the same benefits.
In addition, Peralta will still enjoy the benefits of a four-star general, even though he will retire as a three-star general, because the law provides that police and military officers are entitled to one rank higher upon retirement.
“With that said, OIC PNP PLtGen Peralta will be receiving the same retirement benefits as newly retired PGen Acorda when he retires whether or not he was designated as OIC,” Lacson added.
As early as last year, Marbil’s name was already part of the roster of Acorda’s possible successors. In December 2023, a photo that showed Marbil would replace Acorda made the rounds on social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement denying it.
Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. He also served as the head of the Eastern Visayas regional police and the PNP Highway Patrol Group.
Marbil is Acorda’s classmate – they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991. Incidentally, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, is an honorary member of the said PMA class.
Marcos seems to be following the pattern of his predecessor in appointing his PNP chiefs. Duterte was known for picking “Davao boys” or police generals who have ties with Davao, and Marcos did the same with his first two appointments. Both Azurin and Acorda have ties with Ilocos, the President’s home turf.
Although Marbil has no known Ilocos ties, he was once police regional director of Eastern Visayas, which is Romualdez’s turf.
As the new PNP chief, Marbil now heads the government unit mandated to enforce laws, and prevent and control crime. The PNP also has the task to observe peace and order in the country, ensure public safety, and to protect the internal security of the Philippines with the help of communities. (READ: What are the mandates of the Philippine National Police under the law?)
Aside from these mandates provided by laws, Marbil now has the task to regain the trust of the people since police continue to be embroiled in various controversies.
“He needs to improve the PNP’s internal mechanisms for accountability, including ensuring that cops implicated in drug war killings are investigated thoroughly and charged if evidence warrants. He needs to dispel the notion that the PNP as an institution does not care about accountability and only wants to protect its members,” Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde said.
Among the biggest and most recent police-related controversies was the death of 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, who was killed by cops in Navotas in August 2023. Although the case reached a decision, the Baltazar family was not entirely happy with the outcome since the cops in the case only received lighter penalties.
The six cops in the case, including two of their supervisors, were ordered dismissed from the police service, but the dismissal has yet to be made final because the dismissal order is still under appeal.
As to the drug war, Marcos said his administration will adopt a “slightly different” approach to it, but drug-related killings continue to persist. According to the tally of the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, there were at least 593 drug-related killings under the current administration, as of March 26.
Under Duterte’s drug war, around 30,000 people were killed, if vigilante-style killings are included, according to several human rights groups. The drug war killings, including the Davao Death Squad killings when Duterte was still Davao City mayor, are at the center of the probe led by the International Criminal Court.
“He also needs to show that the drug war is indeed different under Marcos and that means adhering to due process,” Conde added.
On top of all these, Marbil also now has the duty to cleanse the ranks of the police, like what his predecessors had done.
The latest attempt to cleanse the PNP was in 2023, when Interior chief Benhur Abalos asked colonels and generals to submit courtesy resignations to rid the ranks of police officers who have alleged drug links. Abalos said in January 2023 that resignations of those with proven links to illegal drug trade will be accepted.
Months later, in July 2023, Marcos announced that he accepted the resignation of three police generals and 15 colonels over their alleged drug links. Amid the resignation controversy, none other than the interior department also revealed that some high-ranking cops allegedly covered up the arrest of a cop during a buy-bust operation in 2022. (READ: Who are the high-ranking police tagged in P6.7-B shabu mess?) – Rappler.com
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The new PNP Chief General, Rommel Francisco Marbil, delivered an inspiring speech. But can he pass the Marcos government’s litmus test? (Ref.: Val Villanueva’s “The untouchable Quiboloy.”) Can he arrest Pastor Quiboloy?
I have to disagree with former PNP Chief Ping Lacson when he said: “Except probably for making history as the shortest serving OIC of the PNP, there are no implications, good or bad either to PNP or to himself [Peralta].” The incident speaks of President Marcos Jr.’s decision-making ability as a leader, which will more likely adversely affect the PNP as an organization. It also makes General Peralta a pitiful victim of such decision-making, and consequently, he must hide his anger and frustration.
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[Vantage Point] The ‘untouchable’ Quiboloy | Glenda Gloria | 02/04/2024 8:14 | Will self-proclaimed “Son of God” Apollo Quiboloy violently resist if and when the Senate serves its arrest order against the flamboyant cult leader?
On March 20, the upper chamber finally decided to cite the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader for contempt after snubbing the Senate investigation into his alleged predatory sexual exploits.
The arrest order was signed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality. The Senate was probing assertions of years of exploitation and abuse perpetuated against former KOJC workers by preacher Quiboloy and his associates.
In a parallel move, the Department of Justice (DOJ) also ordered the filing of cases of child abuse and human trafficking against Quiboloy and five of his associates. Many are speculating that the DOJ move could be related to the extradition of the cult leader to the United States where he is on the most-wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In November 2021, a superseding federal indictment in the Central District of California was unsealed, charging Quiboloy and two church administrators with conspiring in a sex trafficking operation between 2002 and 2018, where girls and women, aged between 12 and 25, were recruited to work as the pastor’s personal assistants.
It is a fair question to ask if Quiboloy would go quietly. Quiboloy’s lair in Davao is suspected of harboring several munitions, some of which are believed to be carried locked and loaded by his loyal servants. In fact, a witness, alias “Rene,” alleged during the Senate investigation that Vice President (VP) and Education Secretary Sara and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had left Quiboloy’s vast property in Davao City with bags of assorted firearms.
The VP did not confirm nor deny the allegation. But several witnesses saw them leaving the Glory Mountain with bags of guns. Quiboloy’s mountain den is a vast property nestling on the ramps of Mount Apo, in Barangay Tamayo in Davao City’s Calinan District. Ms. Duterte could only say that all these allegations are politically motivated.
On June 20, 2002, at least 23 people died during a night fraught with violence as policemen and soldiers were to serve the arrest warrant to the late Ruben Ecleo Jr., who, just like Quiboloy, was politically well-connected. Ecleo was the leader of the cultist group Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA).
A joint team of Philippine National Police (PNP) and soldiers of the Army’s 20th Infantry Battalion – with air support from two MG-520 helicopters – were met with bullets when they tried to serve Ecleo a warrant of arrest for the murder of his wife, fourth-year medical student Alona Bacolod Ecleo, in Cebu City on January 6, 2002. Ecleo finally surrendered after a night of blood shedding, but eventually jumped bail while he was on trial. He had been on the run with a P2-million bounty on his head since 2011 and was finally re-arrested on July 2020. He died from various heart complications on April 25, 2021, while serving prison time.
Quiboloy has many sympathizers, among them, the Duterte father and daughter, on whom the pastor is said to be leaning to bolster his innocence. These die-hard supporters have in fact participated in organized prayer rallies in support of Quiboloy, along with the Dutertes and some cabinet secretaries of the former president. Recent rallies for the embattled cult leader turned into anti-Marcos Jr. assemblies, where chants calling for the resignation of the President loudly rang out.
It is from this base support that Quiboloy draws his confidence and belief that he is untouchable. Quiboloy’s case, from my Vantage Point, is also a litmus test for the government. Would the Marcos Jr. administration really execute its lawful duty to hale Quiboloy into court?
How could President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allow his VP to lend her presence to a crowd that her father was agitating to clamor for his ouster? One of the reasons former VP Leni Robredo was fired from her post as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) was that then President Rodrigo Duterte suspected her of conniving with the opposition in undermining his administration.
A reader wrote that she is perplexed as to why Ms. Duterte issued a statement during Women’s Month no less that she is supporting Quiboloy who is allegedly a rapist. “Wasn’t she a victim of rape too?”
When presidential candidate Duterte was onstage at a campaign rally for the 2016 elections, he narrated a rape incident about Australian lay missioner Jacqueline who was also killed during the 1989 hostage-taking at the Davao Penal Colony. Duterte said he felt angry because it was a waste that, as then city mayor, he should have been “first in line” when Hamill was raped because “she was as beautiful as an American actress.” The former president said later that he was just joking.
In her Instagram account, VP Sara posted that she was not offended by her father’s comments about Hamill, although she claimed that she too was a rape victim: “Not a joke. I am a rape victim … I am just saying I went through it and I do not feel offended by the rape joke. I do not want to talk about the details of my experience. It is embarrassing.”
Mr. Duterte later dismissed his daughter’s confession by describing her as a drama queen: “She can’t be raped – she carries a gun.”
Since the Dutertes look like they are twisting themselves into a pretzel in defending Quiboloy, some people suspect that they are doing so because they expect something big in return.
Is it the promise of block votes from Pastor Quiboloy who claims to have millions of devoted followers? Pray tell, the size of Quiboloy’s congregation, notwithstanding his claims, is not even a fraction of that of, say, the Iglesia ni Cristo.
Political pundits believe that it is not for the votes. The flighty Ms. Duterte, they say, is executing a calculated political move for the most ignoble reason. It could be for the protection of the family’s political war chest. She needs billions of pesos to finance her coming campaign for the presidency.
The compelling motivation is dark money. While other politicians can expect only crumbs, the father and daughter may get the lion’s share of the KOJC’s wealth.
Mr. Duterte’s appointment, announced by Quiboloy himself, as caretaker of the vast religious empire, does nothing to dispel that suspicion. He actually owns, people believe, houses in the US and Canada, found to have been registered in the names of KOJC operatives in those countries. The real estate properties cost millions of dollars each.
However much Quiboloy squeezes them, his members can only deliver so much by way of tithing. Most of them are dirt-poor, living on the fringes of society.
To finance his lavish lifestyle (with a jet plane and a fleet of helicopters and luxury cars), the pastor sends out an army of brainwashed young men and women every day in Metro Manila, with instructions to sell rice cakes, ballpoint pens, and other knickknacks and pretend they are poor students trying to earn tuition money. In spite of their best efforts, however, they could only make a few hundred pesos each to remit to their handlers.
He deploys members to major cities in the US and Canada to beg for alms, supposedly to benefit calamity victims in the Philippines. They are brought there carrying religious visas, for which Quiboloy and his associates have been charged with fraud, among other offenses, by the FBI.
The Dutertes did not hesitate at raising the communist bogeyman in an effort to get Congress to appropriate billions, even trillions, of pesos that they to date have not been accounted for.
As it has now become apparent, the P125 million that President Marcos Jr. granted to Ms. Duterte before the Uniteam unraveled was spent in just 11 days is only the tip of the iceberg. The amount is “loose change,” compared to what she felt she was entitled to. VP Sara wanted Congress to allocate P100 billion and put that money at her disposal.
Unfortunately for Ms. Duterte and Mr. Duterte, Quiboloy’s religious empire is collapsing under its own weight. Just recently, District Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of California ordered that the warrants against KOJC founder Quiboloy unsealed. That, according to legal observers, is the first step towards the filing of a request for the extradition of Quiboloy from the Philippines to the United States.
Coming on the heels of that development was the announcement made by the Pasig Prosecutors Office that it had approved a resolution charging the self-proclaimed messiah with human trafficking and child abuse. No bail was recommended, which means the accused will have to stay in the hot, overcrowded, vermin infested city jail pending resolution of the cases. Give Quiboloy a few days in that hellhole, and he’ll long for the comfort of a California detention facility, into which the FBI or the US Marshal plans to consign him after his extradition.
The man flatters himself when he claims the Central Intelligence Agency is preparing to subject him to the infamous rendition process. Under the arrangement, the US deep state, as it is called, subjected to waterboarding and other forms of torture suspected terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to extract information from them regarding the whereabouts of Usama bin Ladin, the Al-Queda leader who planned the attack on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.
Why Guantanamo Bay? A writ of habeas corpus, which compels authorities to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his detention, cannot be enforced there, which is beyond the reach of the US judicial system.
It’s funny because Quiboloy does not have the guts and the smarts required of a terrorist. He is wanted by the FBI for the common but very serious crimes of rape of minors, human trafficking, and cash bulk smuggling, in addition to the aforementioned fraud charges. The CIA, the US spy organization ranged against the Russian Federation’s KGB, is not interested in a common criminal like him. It has bigger fish to fry. – Rappler.com
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I agree: “Quiboloy’s case is a litmus test for the Marcos government.” It is a test of President Marcos Jr.’s concern about Quiboloy’s victims, and the latter’s still unaware, denying, or brainwashed members (except its officers). In the background, this is a contest of who has the better political savvy: President Marcos Jr. or Former President Digong Duterte. President Marcos Jr. should not underestimate the significance of this contest because it will directly affect the chances of his cousin Martin’s quest for the Presidency in the 2028 national elections.
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Key PNP movements: One-day OIC then new chief Marbil | Jairo Bolledo | 02/04/2024 14:57 | NEW CHIEF. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior chief Benhur Abalos lead the induction of Police General Rommel Marbil as the new PNP chief on April 1, 2024.
RTVM
Following Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda Jr.’s retirement from police service, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new chief of the 232,000-strong police force.
Marbil’s appointment came as quite a surprise announcement during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1.
Acorda already reached the mandatory retirement age of 56, and was supposed to retire in December 2023, but Marcos extended his term until the end of March this year. Acorda served for almost a year – he was appointed in late April 2023.
Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief, after Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Acorda, and is the 30th national police head since the PNP’s inception in 1991. The 55-year-old police general will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be around three months before the midterm senatorial and local elections in May next year.
In his first speech as the new top cop, Marbil listed down things that he said the PNP needs to accomplish to increase its effectiveness:
The new PNP chief noted in his speech that the PNP needs personnel and officers with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He added that under his term, the national police’s infrastructure and membership will be examined to identify ways to improve their effectiveness.
“We need officers who can communicate with the public well, display empathy and conduct themselves at all times responsibly, ethically, and morally. We need officers who recognize that it is simply not enough to act decisively, relentlessly and fast in the war against crimes but that there must also be accountability and transparency on our end and most importantly, we will nurture police officers to whom a human approach to law enforcement is a given,” Marbil added.
Like his predecessor Acorda, Marbil’s appointment was announced only on the day of the turnover ceremony. But what made Marbil’s designation extremely surprising was that Marcos had appointed an officer-in-charge (OIC) the day before the change of command ceremony.
On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as the PNP’s OIC. Marbil’s appointment overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office,” and made him an acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours.
There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs.
His extremely short term was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served for at least several months. Gamboa was OIC for around three months and then was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020.
Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022, or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed Azurin as his first PNP chief in August 2022.
“Except probably for making history as the shortest serving OIC of the PNP, there are no implications, good or bad either to PNP or to himself [Peralta],” former senator and PNP chief Panfilo “Ping” Lacson told Rappler.
Lacson, along with former senator and retired military officer Antonio Trillanes IV, reiterated that Peralta’s appointment has no effect on his benefits as a police officer. Lacson said that the pension or retirement benefits of a retired PNP office is based on his/her rank, and not on position. So OIC or not, Peralta will still get the same benefits.
In addition, Peralta will still enjoy the benefits of a four-star general, even though he will retire as a three-star general, because the law provides that police and military officers are entitled to one rank higher upon retirement.
“With that said, OIC PNP PLtGen Peralta will be receiving the same retirement benefits as newly retired PGen Acorda when he retires whether or not he was designated as OIC,” Lacson added.
As early as last year, Marbil’s name was already part of the roster of Acorda’s possible successors. In December 2023, a photo that showed Marbil would replace Acorda made the rounds on social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement denying it.
Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership. He also served as the head of the Eastern Visayas regional police and the PNP Highway Patrol Group.
Marbil is Acorda’s classmate – they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991. Incidentally, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, is an honorary member of the said PMA class.
Marcos seems to be following the pattern of his predecessor in appointing his PNP chiefs. Duterte was known for picking “Davao boys” or police generals who have ties with Davao, and Marcos did the same with his first two appointments. Both Azurin and Acorda have ties with Ilocos, the President’s home turf.
Although Marbil has no known Ilocos ties, he was once police regional director of Eastern Visayas, which is Romualdez’s turf.
As the new PNP chief, Marbil now heads the government unit mandated to enforce laws, and prevent and control crime. The PNP also has the task to observe peace and order in the country, ensure public safety, and to protect the internal security of the Philippines with the help of communities. (READ: What are the mandates of the Philippine National Police under the law?)
Aside from these mandates provided by laws, Marbil now has the task to regain the trust of the people since police continue to be embroiled in various controversies.
“He needs to improve the PNP’s internal mechanisms for accountability, including ensuring that cops implicated in drug war killings are investigated thoroughly and charged if evidence warrants. He needs to dispel the notion that the PNP as an institution does not care about accountability and only wants to protect its members,” Human Rights Watch senior researcher Carlos Conde said.
Among the biggest and most recent police-related controversies was the death of 17-year-old Jerhode Jemboy Baltazar, who was killed by cops in Navotas in August 2023. Although the case reached a decision, the Baltazar family was not entirely happy with the outcome since the cops in the case only received lighter penalties.
The six cops in the case, including two of their supervisors, were ordered dismissed from the police service, but the dismissal has yet to be made final because the dismissal order is still under appeal.
As to the drug war, Marcos said his administration will adopt a “slightly different” approach to it, but drug-related killings continue to persist. According to the tally of the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines Diliman’s Third World Studies Center, there were at least 593 drug-related killings under the current administration, as of March 26.
Under Duterte’s drug war, around 30,000 people were killed, if vigilante-style killings are included, according to several human rights groups. The drug war killings, including the Davao Death Squad killings when Duterte was still Davao City mayor, are at the center of the probe led by the International Criminal Court.
“He also needs to show that the drug war is indeed different under Marcos and that means adhering to due process,” Conde added.
On top of all these, Marbil also now has the duty to cleanse the ranks of the police, like what his predecessors had done.
The latest attempt to cleanse the PNP was in 2023, when Interior chief Benhur Abalos asked colonels and generals to submit courtesy resignations to rid the ranks of police officers who have alleged drug links. Abalos said in January 2023 that resignations of those with proven links to illegal drug trade will be accepted.
Months later, in July 2023, Marcos announced that he accepted the resignation of three police generals and 15 colonels over their alleged drug links. Amid the resignation controversy, none other than the interior department also revealed that some high-ranking cops allegedly covered up the arrest of a cop during a buy-bust operation in 2022. (READ: Who are the high-ranking police tagged in P6.7-B shabu mess?) – Rappler.com
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The new PNP Chief General, Rommel Francisco Marbil, delivered an inspiring speech. But can he pass the Marcos government’s litmus test? (Ref.: Val Villanueva’s “The untouchable Quiboloy.”) Can he arrest Pastor Quiboloy?
I have to disagree with former PNP Chief Ping Lacson when he said: “Except probably for making history as the shortest serving OIC of the PNP, there are no implications, good or bad either to PNP or to himself [Peralta].” The incident speaks of President Marcos Jr.’s decision-making ability as a leader, which will more likely adversely affect the PNP as an organization. It also makes General Peralta a pitiful victim of such decision-making, and consequently, he must hide his anger and frustration.
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GAME SCHEDULE: 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference | jisaga0269 | 27/04/2024 22:53 | PVL Images
The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) heads to another title showdown between the league’s top sister teams!
Defending champion Creamline and sister squad Choco Mucho dispute the PVL All-Filipino championship for the second straight conference in a best-of-three series. Here’s the schedule:
It’s all even again for the top four teams.
The semifinalists of the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference battle in a single round-robin, where the top two teams will advance to the best-of-three finals. Here’s the schedule:
Near-daily volleyball is back to satisfy fans’ hunger for action as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) releases its 2024 All-Filipino Conference schedule, starting on February 20.
The development comes after the UAAP also released its Season 86 men’s and women’s volleyball tournament schedules on a Wednesday-Saturday-Sunday rotation.
The PVL, meanwhile, stays in its usual Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday slate, kicking off Tuesday, February 20, at the PhilSports Arena with a double-header featuring newcomers Strong Group Athletics and Capital1 taking on contenders Petro Gazz and Chery Tiggo, respectively.
Capping off the conference’s first week is an appearance at the Araneta Coliseum, with reloaded Farm Fresh challenging the Creamline dynasty in the 6 pm triple-header main event.
Fans outside NCR, however, will have fewer chances to see their favorite PVL stars live unlike the past conference, as only the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Rizal and the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna are the announced venues away from Metro Manila.
The season-starting All-Filipino Conference is scheduled to run for three months until May 14 at the maximum, unless plans change.
Other notable elimination round matches are Choco Mucho vs. Petro Gazz on February 27, Petro Gazz vs Creamline on April 6, PLDT vs Chery Tiggo featuring multiple former F2 Logistics veterans on April 16, and the Creamline-Choco Mucho finals rematch on April 18.
Here is the entire conference schedule, as of Wednesday, February 14:
– Rappler.com
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Jerusalem resurrects PH boxing for the 2nd time | delfin.dioquino editor | 01/04/2024 22:48 | CHAMPION. Melvin Jerusalem (middle) captures the WBC minimumweight belt.
Sanman Boxing Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Melvin Jerusalem saved Philippine boxing from winding up without a world champion in January 2023, when he stopped Japanese Masataka Taniguchi in two rounds to clinch the World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight crown in Osaka.
On March 31, Jerusalem repeated the feat, resurrecting the country’s fading ring hopes with a split decision win over Japanese Yudai Shigeoka that made him the World Boxing Council minimumweight champion in Nagoya.
The 30-year-old pride of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon stands as the only reigning Filipino world champion so far.
Having lost his first world crown in just four months, Jerusalem swore he would give all his powers to keep it longer this time.
“The WBC belt is the most beautiful among the four belts because it has all the flags of the nations of the world represented here,” said Jerusalem, clutching a replica of the WBC strap he won less than a day earlier in Japan, told a throng of Manila media on Monday, April 1.
“I will do my best to keep this title for a long time,” added Jerusalem, who was accompanied by his promoter and Sanman Promotions head JC Manangquil and chief trainer Michael Domingo.
“We borrowed it (belt) from another former WBC champion,” said Manangquil, adding it would take some time before the Mexico-based WBC could deliver Jerusalem’s real belt.
According to Manangquil, Jerusalem is mandated to make two title defenses before being allowed to choose his next championship opponent.
For Jerusalem, however, it hardly mattered as he’s prepared to defend it against whoever is picked to challenge him.
Manangquil agreed and said he’s giving Jerusalem and Domingo the time to celebrate first before charting their next moves. – Rappler.com
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Philippines transitions to online voting for most overseas Filipinos in 2025 | Dwight de Leon | 02/04/2024 13:26 | Seniors and PWDs are accommodated in open spaces of the Rizal Elementary School in Taguig City for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 30, 2023, and made to sign waiver forms to ensure their official ballot are cast by election officers.
Alecs Ongcal/Rappler
MANILA, Philippines – Online voting will be the primary mode of casting ballots for overseas Filipinos in the 2025 midterm elections, except in countries with internet restrictions.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman Rex Laudiangco said mail-in and physical voting will likely be implemented in only around 17 posts across a dozen countries, namely:
Details of the exact technology that the Comelec will use are not immediately clear, but the poll body is eyeing the use of a mobile application with identity authentication features that overseas Filipinos may download on their devices.
“We can assure you that the system being procured by Comelec has authentication and enrollment features. It will confirm and audit and record not only one’s registration and enrollment, but also the casting, counting, and canvassing of votes,” Laudiangco said in Filipino on Tuesday, April 2.
“Our system is capable of printing the votes in the consulates and embassies, even here in the Philippines, and these will remain secure and confidential. If you can trust financial and banking institutions with your money, you can also trust the system that the Comelec will procure because security and auditability will be our priority,” he added.
The poll body said the move will save the Comelec hundreds of millions of pesos since it would no longer have to ship voting machines in many countries.
It also targets to improve voter turnout among overseas Filipinos, after the 2022 Philippine elections saw a still dismal 38% turnout abroad, despite being the highest in history.
The Comelec said in July 2023 that internet voting would only be optional for overseas voters in 2025.
After a failed bidding in February, the Comelec on Tuesday opened the second round of bidding for the procurement of online voting technology, with one joint venture besting three other participants.
The joint venture of US-based company Sequent Tech and local firm SMS Global Technologies advanced to the post-qualification stage of the procurement process after submitting a bid worth P112 million, undercutting the next lowest bidder, Voatz and its local partners, which offered their services for P435 million.
The Comelec’s maximum budget for the contract is P465.8 million.
The Comelec under previous leaderships tiptoed on adopting online voting, citing the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 that provided that a new law was necessary in order for internet voting to materialize.
The 2013 law, says the Comelec, is authorized to explore other ways – such as internet-based technology – to make overseas voting more efficient, but results of its evaluation must be submitted to Congress.
When veteran lawyer George Garcia took helm of the Comelec, he insisted that no legislation or prior approval from Congress is needed to shift to online voting, arguing that Congress yields to the expertise of the commission in understanding the peculiarities of overseas voting. – Rappler.com
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Cone all praises for Boatwright as SBP initiates naturalization talks | delfin.dioquino editor | 01/04/2024 20:35 | LAYUP. Bennie Boatwright in action for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone did not have to look far to find Gilas Pilipinas’ next candidate for naturalization.
Cone handpicked Bennie Boatwright as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) initiated talks for the San Miguel import to become a naturalized player and suit up for the national team.
“I was the one who asked for him. I think he’s a tremendous talent. He’s got great size and he can play in and out. He’s very versatile,” said Cone on Sunday, March 31.
Boatwright took the PBA by storm when he came in as a replacement import for the Beermen in the last Commissioner’s Cup, steering the legendary franchise to a record-extending 29th championship.
A stocky forward with a soft touch from long range, Boatwright gave Cone headaches as he and San Miguel swept Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals, where he averaged 29 points, 11.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks.
It marked the first time the Gin Kings got swept in a best-of-five affair under the tutelage of Cone.
Boatwright and the Beermen then completed a six-game conquest of Magnolia in the finals to lift the Commissioner’s Cup trophy.
The 27-year-old gunner finished the conference with averages of 30.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 13 games.
Cone said Boatwright resembles resident Ginebra import and current Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
“He kind of reminds me of a young Justin, just like three or four inches taller. We’ll see. He’s a young guy,” said Cone.
Cone, though, made it clear Brownlee will continue to don the national colors as the Philippines competes in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, in July.
“[W]ithout a doubt, and this is written in stone right now, Justin is our guy. And Bennie is going to be his backup,” said Cone.
After his San Miguel stint, Boatwright took his act to the Chinese Basketball Association, where he currently plays for the Shanxi Loongs.
The SBP said on Monday that Boatwright expressed his desire to return to the PBA “as soon as possible since he has developed a strong connection with the Philippines.”
If his naturalization pushes through, Boatwright will join a pool of naturalized players that also includes NBA player Jordan Clarkson and big man Ange Kouame.
“Boatwright is currently 27 years of age, making him a solid choice for naturalization as the SBP seeks to secure the future of the national team alongside working on its current goals,” said the federation. – Rappler.com
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FIRST LOOK: How Glorietta, Greenbelt, TriNoma, Ayala Center Cebu will be redesigned | Ralf Rivas | 15/02/2024 18:50 | FACELIFT. Artist rendition of Glorietta's new look.
Ayala Land
MANILA, Philippines – Ayala Malls is reinventing its iconic flagship malls to meet the new needs and tastes of consumers.
The company is spending P13 billion for the facelift of Glorietta and Greenbelt in Makati City, TriNoma in Quezon City, and Ayala Center Cebu.
Ayala Malls president Mariana Zobel de Ayala said mall-goers should expect a “fusion of contemporary elegance, marrying the functionality and seamless integration of outdoors and indoors and an enhanced cinema experience.”
Here are some renditions of the malls’ new designs:
Customers should expect Glorietta to have a more modern facade, as well as balconies with good views of the parks and lush greeneries.
The confusing layout of the mall will also be addressed.
“What to expect? Exterior and interior design improvements, to reflect a modern and fresh aesthetic, intuitive wayfinding and circulation, and an all-around more cohesive customer experience,” Zobel said.
The redevelopment of Glorietta has started in the first quarter of 2024, with parts of the mall being closed off. Completion of the revamp is expected by the end of 2026.
Glorietta 1 and 2 first opened in 1991, boasting 240,000 square meters of retail space. Glorietta 3 and 4 opened in 1992 and 1998, respectively, while Glorietta 5 was the last to open in 2009.
It is currently a four-level “super regional mall” with seven cinemas and two activity centers, and is also integrated with three hotels – Holiday Inn, Ascott, and Fairmont.
The parks of Glorietta 3 and 4 will be “refreshed” and integrated into the mall for a more cohesive customer experience and improved pedestrian connectivity.
Greenbelt 1 is set to blend luxury with sustainability.
The mall, designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, will be torn down in April. The amount for the reconstruction is separate and will be costlier than the P13 billion allotted for the four malls, according to Zobel.
Greenbelt 1, which first opened in 1986, will have various energy-efficient features, including a direct cooling system, skylights to harness natural sunlight, and a rainwater collection system for garden irrigation and landscaping purposes.
“We need to minimize our carbon footprint…. The gardens are helping us to mitigate carbon emissions [and] increase biodiversity,” said Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls chief operating officer.
Greenbelt 1 is targeted to reopen by 2028.
TriNoma, Ayala Malls’ first mall in northern Metro Manila, will soon have an “expanded and elevated” dining portfolio, a more dynamic activity center, a giant LED wall with 3D capacity, and more multipurpose event spaces at its rooftop.
The facade facing North Avenue will have a fresh entrance and a landscaped garden.
TriNoma first opened its doors in 2007. Works for its improvement started in the first quarter of 2024, while target completion is by the fourth quarter of 2025.
A three-level expansion on the North Avenue side is slated to open in 2026.
Ayala Malls’ first mall outside Metro Manila and Luzon is also set to have a more modern look.
Ayala Center Cebu, which opened in 1994, will have a revitalized activity center featuring a four-floor LED wall. Its grand atrium will have architectural treatments on the ceiling.
Ayala Malls will tap Cebuano talent to incorporate local craft and culture in the overall design.
The mall will also be expanded to house more upscale brands and high-end restaurants.
It will link to Seda Hotel, Ayala Land Premier’s Park Point Residences and The Alcoves, and the 20-floor Ayala Center Cebu Corporate Center.
Zobel, who was recently named Ayala Malls president, said the redesigns were made amid changing habits and preferences post-pandemic.
“In redefining what we call third spaces – a place outside of your home, and work or school, where you would want to spend time – our ambition is to set a new standard in retail that resonates with both past and future generations,” she said.
Sections of the malls will be closed throughout the construction works. Despite these temporary closures, Zobel said Ayala Malls is maintaining its target to double its net income in the next five years.
When asked about how much rent would increase due to the new interiors, Birkett said the bump will come as a welcome development for both Ayala Malls and tenants.
“There’s a basic rent and then the element of rent that is paid according to how successful that unit is. It’s a revenue share, it is common practice, so the more successful that retailer becomes, the more their rent will increase. We constantly measure rent as a relationship to their overall revenue, that there are red and green signals, and all the mall operators do this,” Birkett explained.
“In terms of turnover rent, yes it may go up, but it will only go up because their sales have increased. So it’s a win-win for all of us.”
Ayala Malls executives said they are also looking at how the redevelopments will impact traffic.
“We’ve got to understand how [traffic] flows, how the urban traffic control works. The changing of the roads that we’re doing in front of Glorietta both benefits traffic flow and pedestrian access. We’re working hard with the teams to encourage…more utilization of public transport,” Birkett said. – Rappler.com
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GAME SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball | jisaga0269 | 08/05/2024 20:35 | It’s down to the last two teams standing as the University of Santo Tomas and National University battle for the UAAP volleyball championship in both the women’s and men’s divisions!
The league’s best separate themselves from the pack as the Final Four showdown kicks off! Here’s the schedule:
UAAP Season 86 volleyball action intensifies as the second round of the men’s and women’s divisions begins on Wednesday, March 20.
The contenders will separate themselves from the pack, with each game determining which teams will make the Final Four. Here’s the schedule:
Volleyball action is back in the UAAP!
Stars from both men’s and women’s divisions are set to ply their growing skill sets once again in front of thousands of fans, beginning on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the first-round schedules for both divisions:
*The March 13 games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Notable matches include women’s champion La Salle’s debut against contending Adamson on Saturday, 4 pm, at MOA, while men’s three-time defending titlist NU rolls into an immediate finals rematch with UST on Sunday, 12 pm, also at the same venue.
La Salle and NU – finalists in the last two women’s tournaments with one title won each – will wrap up their first-round schedule on March 16, 2 pm at Araneta. – Rappler.com
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History made: Fil-Am guard Ethan Alvano bags Korean Basketball League MVP | delfin.dioquino editor | 01/04/2024 21:11 | SHOT. Ethan Alvano in action for the Wonju DB Promy in the Korean Basketball League.
Wonju DB Promy Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American guard Ethan Alvano just made history in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).
Alvano, who plays for the league-leading Wonju DB Promy as an Asian Quota import, was named as the domestic MVP of the 2023-2024 KBL Season on Monday, April 1, becoming the first non-Korean player to capture the top individual award.
In 54 games played this regular season, the 27-year-old Alvano averaged 15.9 points, 6.6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals to steer Wonju to an impressive 41-13 record.
Alvano, who is in his sophomore year in the Land of the Morning Calm, is one of 11 Filipino imports to suit up in the KBL this season, along with Rhenz Abando, SJ Belangel, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Dave Ildefonso, Justin Gutang, Migs Oczon, Alex Cabagnot, Joshua Torralba, and Filipino-Canadians Calvin Epistola and Avan Nava.
Prior to his stint with Wonju, Alvano had seen action for the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the now-defunct ASEAN Basketball League, Hi-Tech Bangkok City in the Thailand Basketball Super League, and Eisbären Bremerhaven in Germany.
Aside from Alvano, another Wonju player took home an individual award this season as American import Dedric Lawson got hailed foreign MVP.
Wonju will take on the winner of the quarterfinal series between the Seoul SK Knights and the Busan KCC Egis in the semifinals. – Rappler.com
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Cone all praises for Boatwright as SBP initiates naturalization talks | delfin.dioquino editor | 01/04/2024 20:35 | LAYUP. Bennie Boatwright in action for the San Miguel Beermen in the 2023-24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
PBA Images
MANILA, Philippines – Tim Cone did not have to look far to find Gilas Pilipinas’ next candidate for naturalization.
Cone handpicked Bennie Boatwright as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) initiated talks for the San Miguel import to become a naturalized player and suit up for the national team.
“I was the one who asked for him. I think he’s a tremendous talent. He’s got great size and he can play in and out. He’s very versatile,” said Cone on Sunday, March 31.
Boatwright took the PBA by storm when he came in as a replacement import for the Beermen in the last Commissioner’s Cup, steering the legendary franchise to a record-extending 29th championship.
A stocky forward with a soft touch from long range, Boatwright gave Cone headaches as he and San Miguel swept Barangay Ginebra in the semifinals, where he averaged 29 points, 11.3 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks.
It marked the first time the Gin Kings got swept in a best-of-five affair under the tutelage of Cone.
Boatwright and the Beermen then completed a six-game conquest of Magnolia in the finals to lift the Commissioner’s Cup trophy.
The 27-year-old gunner finished the conference with averages of 30.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 13 games.
Cone said Boatwright resembles resident Ginebra import and current Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
“He kind of reminds me of a young Justin, just like three or four inches taller. We’ll see. He’s a young guy,” said Cone.
Cone, though, made it clear Brownlee will continue to don the national colors as the Philippines competes in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, in July.
“[W]ithout a doubt, and this is written in stone right now, Justin is our guy. And Bennie is going to be his backup,” said Cone.
After his San Miguel stint, Boatwright took his act to the Chinese Basketball Association, where he currently plays for the Shanxi Loongs.
The SBP said on Monday that Boatwright expressed his desire to return to the PBA “as soon as possible since he has developed a strong connection with the Philippines.”
If his naturalization pushes through, Boatwright will join a pool of naturalized players that also includes NBA player Jordan Clarkson and big man Ange Kouame.
“Boatwright is currently 27 years of age, making him a solid choice for naturalization as the SBP seeks to secure the future of the national team alongside working on its current goals,” said the federation. – Rappler.com
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Cebu Capitol to file case vs National Museum officials over ‘stolen’ church panels | Dwight de Leon | 01/04/2024 20:45 | HISTORY. The controversial early 19th-century panels depicting the founder of the Augustinian Order displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines.
National Museum of the Philippines
CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu provincial government is preparing a case against officials of the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) on the issue concerning four pulpit panels that were allegedly stolen from the heritage church of Boljoon in southern Cebu.
The provincial board approved via a unanimous vote in its regular session on Monday afternoon, April 1, the authorization for Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to file the “appropriate case” against NMP officials and “any person who kept the said panels after it was stolen.”
The resolution said the NMP officials refused to return the objects to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Patrocinio de Maria Santisima Church in Boljoon.
There is no information yet on the nature of the case and how many will be filed but sources indicated that the Capitol will be holding a press conference to share more details.
The resolution introduced by Board Member Andrei Duterte said Governor Garcia sent a letter to the NMP on February 26, “urgently requesting for the return” of the panels. The NMP never responded to that letter, according to the resolution.
Officials of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) led by Chairman Ino Manalo met with Governor Garcia at the Capitol on March 13. Jose Eleazar Bersales, the provincial government’s consultant on museums and heritage, told Garcia during that meeting there was a commitment to return the panels.
Manalo, however, told Garcia that the final decision will be made by the NMP.
NMP Board of Trustees Chairman Andoni Aboitiz is scheduled to meet with Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma in the middle of April to discuss the panels.
Aboitiz, who met with Governor Garcia on February 27 at the Capitol, told Rappler they wanted to look into how the panels were lost from the church and ended up in the hands of private collectors Edwin and Aileen Bautista.
The Bautistas donated the panels to NMP, and its exhibition as a “Gift to the Nation” triggered appeals from local officials to have the the items returned to Boljoon.
Garcia told NCCA officials during the March 13 meeting that the panels were stolen because they belong to the church.
“So any stolen item, even though years may have passed and these are eventually officially donated, are still stolen items,” she said.
Archbishop Palma also asserted those were not works of art but sacred objects of the church. – Rappler.com
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I appreciate this action by the Provincial Government of Cebu under the leadership of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. The appropriate case should be filed against buyers of stolen artwork to discourage future buyers of similar items.
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Why reverting to old academic calendar is just a ‘stopgap’ measure | Bonz Magsambol | 02/03/2024 9:00 | FILIPINO STUDENTS. Students and teachers go about regular classes at the General Roxas Elementary School in Quezon City, on February 21, 2024.
Jire Carreon/Rappler
In 2023, over a hundred students of a public school in Laguna were hospitalized due to dehydration after a surprise fire drill.
The school official said the temperature when the fire drill happened on March 23, 2023 was between 39 and 42°C. It was very hot and humid. In a tropical country like the Philippines, where classrooms are not built to withstand extreme heat, conditions are not conducive to learning.
Classes in the Philippines typically begin on the first Monday of June concluding in March, as mandated by Republic Act 7797. But in 2020, this law was amended to accommodate changes in school opening schedules. Classes should start not later than the last day of August, the new law said.
The country made the adjustment due to the impact of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown in 2020. But even prior to the pandemic, there had been calls to make the academic calendar in the Philippines synchronized with other countries, especially with its Southeast Asian counterparts. Proponents of the shift also said that the months of June and July coincide with the typhoon season, resulting in class disruptions.
Since then, the academic year had shifted to August, meaning, students were now in school from April to May – a time that previously marked their summer vacation in the previous school calendar, and a period when high temperatures were often recorded.
But after a year of full adjustment, public clamor to revert to the old academic calendar intensified. A survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the basic education committee, revealed that 8 in 10 Filipinos want summer breaks back to April and May. This prompted the Department of Education (DepEd) to gradually revert to the old calendar.
“The shift to the school calendar back to the usual April-May break will be gradual. We will end on May 31, but we will open around July 29. And then slowly, we will move it back until we return to the normal April-May break,” DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa said.
Poa said the decision to revert to the old academic calendar was based on consultations done by DepEd. “This is a decision made by the people,” he added.
The education official said that by school year 2026-2027, schools would open in June and end in April, based on DepEd’s projected timeline. By school year 2027-2028, schools would open in June and end by mid-March.
While the reversal of the academic calendar was welcome news to many, education experts said that it was just another “stopgap” measure. Meanwhile, for critics, it was just another “populist” policy by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
“I think it’s more of a stopgap because DepEd couldn’t address the heat problems in the classrooms, which is the main reason why the public school teachers and students had clamored for the revert,” said education psychologist and University of the Philippines professor Lizamarie Olegario.
Olegario noted that Filipino students suffer from extreme heat in their classrooms because school buildings do not have “enough ventilation.” She enumerated the following issues that need to be addressed instead of reverting to the old calendar.
Classroom shortages had been a problem even before the pandemic. In some schools, 75 to 80 students were packed into one classroom meant for only 40. To make up for the lack of classrooms, class shifting had been implemented to accommodate enrollees every year. (READ: Classroom shortages greet teachers, students in opening of classes)
At a Senate hearing in 2023, it was revealed that DepEd would need P397 billion to address the 159,000 classroom backlog nationwide. Gatchalian also noted that the congestion rate in schools was at 32% for Kinder to Grade 6, 41% in Junior High School, and about 50% in Senior High School.
While electric fans are a common appliance in any Filipino household, there are still classrooms that don’t have them.
At a separate Senate inquiry in 2023, Senator Raffy Tulfo blasted the DepEd for soliciting funds from students – through the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) – to buy school supplies and appliances such as electric fans for classroom use, as these should be provided by the agency.
There have been calls to “institutionalize” remote or blended learning in Philippine basic education so class suspensions would be lessened in case of typhoons or any natural disasters.
But doing so is not as easy as ABC because access to technology for both teachers and students remains a problem up to this day. Teachers are also not equipped with adequate know-how on how to use technology for learning.
As if the lack of resources for teachers wasn’t enough, the DepEd even got embroiled in a corruption controversy for purchasing “overpriced and outdated” laptops in 2021.
A separate Rappler investigation also revealed that laptops procured by the agency were being resold in markets.
“Since it has been decided that basic education reverts to the old calendar, during the rainy season, the teachers and the students should be equipped to have automatic online learning. There should be no need to wait for announcements from local officials for cancellation of classes,” Olegario said.
In a statement on February 21, the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) said that with the DepEd’s move to revert to the old academic calendar, the agency should tap local governments to address issues in the education sector, “as many of the concerns can be addressed at the local level.”
“The decision to revert back to the old academic calendar should not be seen as a stopgap measure to address the underlying issues that make the existing school calendar unbearable. To safeguard our children, we need to make sure that classrooms can withstand extreme weather conditions and have transportation support available,” the group said.
In an interview with Rappler on February 28, PBEd executive director Justine Raagas emphasized that the problem in Philippine basic education is not really the academic calendar.
“Regardless of the academic school year, one of the biggest problems is, our classrooms are not conducive for learning. The problem goes beyond the shifting measures. The problem is classrooms can’t withstand typhoons, or classrooms are in very poor conditions that they don’t allow proper ventilation,” Raagas said.
But another issue that cropped up with the reversal to the old academic calendar is the looming long break for senior high school students going to college.
If by school year 2027-2028, basic education in the Philippines would open in June and end in March, that would mean senior high school graduates would have a five-month break before they enter college.
Raagas fears that the long break would result in learning loss, especially since students’ foundational knowledge isn’t strong.
“Learning loss occurs whenever a student is outside the classroom. If you remember in 2020, schools opened late, sometime in October 2020. Even in normal times, where you have two months of summer break, that results in learning loss. That’s why the first few weeks of the start of classes, it’s for catch-up, and review of past lessons,” she noted.
Learning loss, according to the Journal of Education and e-Learning Research, “occurs when students lose knowledge and skills generally or specifically or there is an academic impediment due to prolonged gaps or the discontinuation of the educational process.”
With the recent move by DepEd, should the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also change its academic calendar? Olegario and Raagas don’t think so.
“For college, it was done because they want to align with international standards and for better partnership. It could stay that way but the basic education should improve,” Raagas said, noting that DepEd should improve its teaching quality so the long break would not result in learning loss.
For Olegario, higher education institutions in the Philippines “do not have problems with ventilation in the classrooms.”
“I’ve never heard of similar issues mentioned by the public school children. I’ve never seen classes that are too cramped, unlike what I saw in some elementary and public high schools,” she added.
CHED has not released any statement yet on the recent move by the DepEd.
The public hopes that the revert to the old academic calendar will benefit students and help in learning recovery.
“If we make the decision, let’s stick to it. It’s not fair that we experiment on schedules at the expense of our students. [Our] children require normalcy and stability in their education,” Raagas said. – Rappler.com
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FACT CHECK: Link for DepEd scholarship program application is fake | Lorenz Pasion | 01/04/2024 19:30 | Claim: The Department of Education (DepEd) released an online application link for students to apply for scholarship allowances of up to P10,000.
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was made in a post on the Facebook group “Landbank 4Ps update all region,” boasting of over 705,200 members. As of writing, the post has garnered 660 reactions, 1,100 comments, and 84 shares.
According to the post, the DepEd scholarship program allegedly provides a P7,000 allowance for elementary students, P9,000 for high school students, and P10,000 for college students. Interested applicants are instructed to prepare their school IDs and report cards, and submit their applications through links provided in the post.
While the post mentions a deadline of March 10, it continues to receive comments and inquiries from prospective applicants.
The facts: The supposed scholarship program is fake. On March 18, the education department released an advisory warning the public against fake DepEd scholarship programs circulating online.
“These posts are illegally using the DepEd seal and the photo of the Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Z. Duterte to scam people. Parents and guardians are strongly advised not to give out their children’s school information and identification to these kinds of hideous posts so as not to compromise their security,” the post read.
DepEd assistance: In a previous Rappler fact check debunking a similar claim, DepEd said that there are no scholarships for public school students since education in public schools is free.
Furthermore, contrary to the post’s claim that the supposed scholarship program is available to college students, the DepEd’s mandate is limited to primary and secondary education. For tertiary students, the Commission on Higher Education serves as the governing body.
DepEd offers various programs designed to support students, such as the Education Contracting Service program for junior high school students, the Senior High School Voucher program, and the Joint Delivery Voucher program for senior high school students pursuing technical-vocational tracks.
These programs do not offer scholarships of P7,000, P9,000, or P10,000 but instead provide subsidies for students’ tuition.
Data privacy: The link for the supposed application does not redirect users to the official DepEd website or any Philippine government website, but to a blog site.
Users who provide their personal information, such as their school IDs, through the fake application link may be exposed to potential phishing scams and the risk of identity theft. (READ: Phishing 101: How to spot and avoid phishing)
Fact-checked: Rappler has already debunked several false claims on supposed scholarship programs from various government agencies:
For official updates on DepEd programs and services, refer to its official website and social media accounts on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube. – Chinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza/Rappler.comChinie Ann Jocel R. Mendoza is a graduate of Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program. This fact check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. You may also report dubious claims to the #FactsFirstPH tipline by messaging Rappler on Facebook or Newsbreak via Twitter direct message. You may also report through our Viber fact check chatbot. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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Marcos appoints Rommel Francisco Marbil as new PNP chief | Jairo Bolledo | 01/04/2024 9:43 | Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil
Screenshot
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, a day after he named an officer-in-charge (OIC) to take the place of retired police general Benjamin Acorda Jr.
As announced during the change of command and Acorda’s retirement ceremony on Monday, April 1, Marbil will be the new head of the 232,000-strong police force. Prior to his appointment, Marbil was the head of the PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership.
Marbil, 55, will retire on February 7, 2025 after he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56. This will be barely three months before the mid-term senatorial and local elections.
Marbil is Acorda’s classmate; they both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sambisig Class of 1991.
Marbil once headed the Eastern Visayas regional police – the home turf of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin. Incidentally, Romualdez is an honorary member of PMA Class 1991.
The new PNP chief also served as head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. In December last year, a photo stating that Marbil will replace Acorda made the rounds of social media. This prompted the PNP to issue a statement dispelling the information.
Marbil is Marcos’ third PNP chief and the 30th top cop since the national police’s inception in 1991.
The announcement surprised not a few. On Sunday, March 31, Malacañang appointed Police Lieutenant General Emmanuel Peralta as acting PNP chief. Marbil’s appointment thus overwrote Peralta’s appointment, since the latter’s designation was effective “until a replacement is appointed or until otherwise directed by this [Malacañang] office.”
There was an expectation that Peralta would serve at least for months, like previous PNP OICs. However, Peralta served as acting PNP chief for less than 24 hours. This was quite unusual since the last two PNP OICs – retired police generals Archie Gamboa and Vicente Danao – served at least for several months.
Gamboa was OIC for around three months and was eventually appointed PNP chief by former president Rodrigo Duterte. He served for almost a year before retiring in September 2020.
Danao, meanwhile, served for over three months. He was designated OIC on May 5, 2022 or a few days before the 2022 elections, and remained in the post until Marcos appointed retired police general Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as his first PNP chief in August 2022. – Rappler.com
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Congratulations to Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief. He has two huge problems to solve: 1) the capture of Pastor Quiboloy and 2) the discipline of police officials who did not follow the anti-drug policy of PBBM. Good luck, General Rommel Francisco.
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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | Acor Arceo | 01/04/2024 14:20 | MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Tuesday, April 2, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
– Rappler.com
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View from Manila: How to counter China the Marcos and Aquino way | Bea Cupin | 01/04/2024 14:00 | WATER CANNONS IN AYUNGIN. Two China Coast Guard ships train their water cannons onto the Unaizah May 4 (between the two Chinese ships), a wooden boat used to bring supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre. Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos was on board the Unaizah May during this mission.
Screenshot from PCG video
MANILA, Philippines – On Maundy Thursday, March 28, as Catholics all over the Philippines were practicing their penance and braving the unforgiving heat of the dry season, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced “a response and countermeasure package” given China’s “attacks” in the West Philippine Sea.
“We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends but we will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience,” said the Philippine President in his statement.
A week prior, Marcos also signed Executive Order 57, which renamed and reorganized the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) into the National Maritime Council (NMC). The same EO created the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns.
A key difference between the NCWC and the new NMC is the inclusion of the National Security Adviser as the representative of the National Security Council, the Solicitor General, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency. The National Security Adviser, retired military chief Eduardo Año, is also the chairperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.
The restructuring, in effect, strengthens a council that was created by the late former president, Benigno Aquino III.
Aquino and Marcos couldn’t be any more different. The late Aquino was the son of democracy icons who led the painful re-establishment of democracy in the Philippines. The current president is the son and namesake of the dictator whose horrible regime Aquino’s parents fought against.
Yet, as chief occupants of Malacañang nearly a decade apart, they find themselves in the same situation when it comes to dealing with our superpower Asian neighbor. How can Manila manage Beijing’s bullying in the South China Sea – particularly in the West Philippine Sea, where Filipino should be able to exercise their sovereign rights?
It was under Aquino that Manila took Beijing to court – a case that was decided on in 2016, just as Rodrigo Duterte promised a “pivot” to China. Many expected Marcos to continue Duterte’s pro-China policy (Who could blame them? The candidate Bongbong was painfully vague about his plans in 2022) but two years in, he’s done the exact opposite: bring Manila closer to Washington and other partners.
Marcos flexed the defense and security ties he’s built on and cultivated in his March 28 statement.
“I have also been in constant communication with representatives of relevant allies, partners, and friends in the international community. They have offered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our Sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” said the President.
He added: “I have given them our requirements and we have been assured that they will be addressed.”
What will these countermeasures entail? Defense officials are understandably tight-lipped. Military officers have also yet to expound on these measures, and frankly, we don’t expect them to.
But remember the “new” National Maritime Council and the mention of “representatives of relevant allies, partners, and friends in the international community” in the aftermath of what is possibly the worst Chinese attack in the West Philippine Sea to date.
The March 23 resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal left the Unaizah May 4 worse for wear. The China Coast Guard’s water cannons injured three Navy personnel, including one soldier whose body was thrown against the wooden walls of the Unaizah May 4 from the impact of the water cannons.
An earlier mission on March 5, during which the Unaizah May 4’s wind shield was shattered, only saw one supply ship (the Unaizah May 1) making it to BRP Sierra Madre. On March 23, the Navy was able to rotate troops and bring only “essential supplies” via rubber boat to the grounded World War II ship.
Ayungin Shoal is an important feature; nearby is Recto Bank, believed to be bountiful in gas and oil deposits. It’s also crucial for the Philippines to maintain control of it because of how close Mischief Reef is to the Philippine mainland.
When China talks about the West Philippine Sea, they always bring up a couple of things: that it is theirs (it is not) and that the Philippines has failed to fulfill its promises. There are at least two promises that Manila has supposedly reneged on: a promise to tow the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal (who made that promise and when it was made, nobody can or is willing to say) and a promise not to bring construction supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre so no harassment would befall Filipino sailors.
Marcos has already denied the existence of a tow promise and said that if any agreement does exist, he officially rescinds it.
The second promise was apparently made under then-president Rodrigo Duterte. Rappler’s community head Pia Ranada, then Malacañang reporter, reported China’s promise “not to block the Philippine military’s delivery of food and humanitarian supplies”
“China, however, draws the line when it comes to delivery of construction supplies to Ayungin Shoal. Fearing Philippine construction of a lighthouse or similar structure, Chinese officials have said they will react to the sending of these types of materials,” reads her August 2019 report, summarizing West Philippine Sea deals brokered under Duterte.
But Manila can’t seem to find any documentation of this promise, and neither has Beijing produced evidence.
Retired associate justice Antonio Carpio, among the country’s foremost experts on the West Philippine Sea, said that the supposed Duterte-era deal was “lopsided” and a “disguised surrendered” of the Philippines’ sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal, a low-tide elevation.
“Duterte knew that without repairs the BRP Sierra Madre would collapse and thus end our presence in Ayungin Shoal…. Duterte’s ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ was lopsided in favor of China which under the Arbitral Award had no right to erect any structure on Ayungin Shoal and had no right to stop the Phil from erecting any structure on Ayungin Shoal, much less any right to stop the Philippines from repairing the Sierra Madre,” he said.
Besides, as another West Philippine Sea expert, Jay Batongbacal pointed out, China has no moral ascendancy in insisting on keeping promises. Back in the late 90s, Beijing wrote that its construction in Mischief Reef was just a fisherman’s shelter. It was not, and it rapidly turned into a military outpost.
The developments in Mischief Reef is why the BRP Sierra Madre was run aground in the first place.
If a few weeks ago, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) seethed over the Chinese Embassy’s anonymous disclosure of confidential discussions to media, Beijing has been seething everywhere, everything, at all once it seems.
It lashed out too against… the Philippine media. This is nothing new. China has also bristled over the presence of journalists during Philippine missions to another feature, Bajo de Masinloc.
Three organizations – the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Defense Press Corps – issued separate statements denouncing China’s ministry of foreign affairs and its embassy in Manila.
Beijing has also been busy fuming at Seoul after its Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said they were “gravely concerned about the recent and repeated use of water cannons in the South China Sea” in a March 26 briefing.
“We are gravely concerned about the recent and repeated use of water cannons in the South China Sea,” Seoul’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, told a briefing.
“The ROK is not a party to the South China Sea issue. What the ROK has done lately does not contribute to peace and stability in the South China Sea, still less to China-ROK relations. We urge the ROK to stay prudent when it comes to the South China Sea issue,” said China’s ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Lin Jian, in a March 28 briefing.
South Korea is among the countries that have only recently expressed support for the Philippines and concern over China’s actions in the South China Sea.
Another major country in the Indo-Pacific, India, also recently reiterated support for the Philippines. During a quick visit to Manila, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of adherence to the “rules based order” as well as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“We are convinced that the progress and prosperity of this region Is best served by staunch adherence to a rules-based order, the UNCLOS. It is particularly important in that regard as it is the constitution of the seas. All parties must adhere to it in its entirety both in letter and in spirit,” said Jaishankar.
Of course, Beijing is sure to seethe over the upcoming leaders’ trilateral meeting between the US, Japan, and the Philippines in Washington, DC. Politico is reporting that a joint sail in the South China is in the works for the three countries. – Rappler.com
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I agree: “What will these countermeasures entail? Defense officials are understandably tight-lipped. Military officers have also yet to expound on these measures, and frankly, we don’t expect them to.” Even if this is against the Principle of Transparency, National Security should take precedence at this point in time. I hope that PBBM has checked the loyalty of each National Maritime Council (NMC) member and the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns. We know there are many pro-China government officials, even though some are silent about it and some deny it, too. Perhaps the Office of the Vice-President and the Senate are offices to look into.
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Environmentalists oppose construction of capitol building on Cebu mountain | jsitchon0312 | 01/04/2024 16:43 | SHAVED. Netizen Wiley Yray's drone shot view of the deforested area of a mountain in Balamban gained numerous mixed reactions on March 18.
Wiley Yray
CEBU, Philippines – A coalition of concerned citizens and environmentalists started a petition on Monday, April 1, opposing the construction of the Cebu provincial government’s capitol building on a mountain in Balamban town.
In a petition on change.org, the Save Cebu Movement alleged that the civil works, located along the slope of a mountain in Barangay Cambuhawe, Balamban, risked the geological formation’s capacity to protect critical watersheds and defend against natural disasters.
“This project poses a grave threat to the mountain ecosystem and a possible irreversible damage to the environment,” the petition read.
To recall, Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia announced in November 5, 2020, plans to relocate the provincial capitol from Cebu City to Balamban town with the aim of making government services more accessible to the public and spur development in the area.
Initially, P550 million were earmarked for land acquisition and construction work. In 2023, the province allotted P200 million and received the pledges of Senator Sonny Angara and Senator Francis Tolentino, who promised P100 million and P80 million, respectively.
Thousands of netizens criticized the relocation after a Facebook post by Wiley Yray on March 18 showed a shaved off area of a mountain top where the project site is believed to be located.
Garcia refuted this claim on March 22, stating that the deforested area of the mountain is for a road project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“Prone kaayo mo sa landslide ana, gi unsa ninyo paghunahuna (That’s so prone to landslide, how did you even think of this),” netizen Neil Descartin Tingal said in a comment on Yray’s post.
The environmental coalition demanded a halt to the project until a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was done and environmental rules and regulations were properly enforced.
The Save Cebu Movement, in a statement on Saturday, March 30, condemned what it called a “continued assault” on Cebu’s mountains.
“The ongoing site development in Balamban pending a showing that a proper Environmental Impact Assessment has been conducted by the proponent shows the egregious disregard of the Constitution as well as environmental laws and regulations,” their statement read.
The coalition said that Cebu’s mountains serve as buffer zones for the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).
The CCPL covers parts of protected areas namely, the Central Cebu National Park, Kotkot-Lusuran Watershed Forest Reserve, Mananga Watershed Forest Reserve, Sudlon National Park, and the Buhisan Dam.
The Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018, says buffer zones are “areas outside the boundaries of and are immediately adjacent to designated protected areas that need special development control to prevent or reduce harm to the area. “
Similar to the Bohol resort controversy, the Save Cebu Movement alleged that the project lacked important documents like the environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
“If there was no EIA and environmental compliance certificate, why did the province, municipality, and environmental department allow the DPWH to proceed, if indeed it is DPWH’s site development work,” Save Cebu Movement’s statement read.
The Save Cebu Movement called on to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Office of the Ombudsman to probe the issue immediately.
“Those responsible must be held accountable and answer to criminal, civil, and administrative liabilities,” they said.
At least 11 organizations and 15 individuals, comprising lawyers and advocates, signed the Save Cebu Movement statement on Wednesday, March 27.
Garcia’s staff said, the governor will clarify the issue in a press conference on Tuesday, April 2. – Rappler.com
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Behind bars, giving a mother’s touch isn’t easy | Michelle Abad | 31/03/2024 8:25 | TOGETHER. A person deprived of liberty in the Correctional Institution for Women tends to her five-month-old baby inside the facility’s mothers’ ward on March 14, 2024.
Michelle Abad/Rappler
Last of 2 parts
Part 1 | In prison, mother and baby share P85 a day for food, medicine
Editor’s Note: This story is based on an original submission by Ateneo de Manila students Angeline Braganza, Allison Co, and Iana Padilla for their investigative journalism class.
When overseas Filipino worker Rose* took a vacation to the Philippines in 2003, she had every intention of returning to Dubai. She had already worked almost two decades as a house maid, but her children still had dreams to fulfill.
With three kids she needed to get through school, Rose took on some side hustles in an office and a hospital. They graduated college by the time she went on that vacation, and later on one became a dentist, another, a physical therapist, and the third, a computer engineer.
But Rose never got to return to Dubai, nor was she able to see her college graduates turn into professionals. Today, she is an elderly person deprived of liberty (PDL) taking care of the women and babies in the mothers’ ward of the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW). But she remembers all too well the events that led to her life sentence in prison.
It was around 1 am on November 20, 2003, she said, when cops entered her house in Pasig looking for her husband. He apparently became known to law enforcement as a drug dependent.
“Why are you looking for my husband, sir?” she recalled asking them.
As soon as the cops spotted her, they turned towards her.
The police arrested her for a charge which turned out to be connivance in drug usage. “What did they mean, connivance? I didn’t have any drugs on me. I also turned out negative on my drug test. Well, it just so happened that it was my house [that my husband was using].”
“My grandchild and adopted son just happened to be there. They were crying, but I could not bring myself to cry, because I was in shock…. I fought the police. Sad to say, the police harmed me. And I hated that my adopted son saw the police hurt me,” she said.
Rose’s husband was home, asleep. But they were both arrested and taken to a Pasig jail.
Two years later, both were convicted to life in prison. Her husband went to the New Bilibid Prison, while she went to CIW, full of resentment towards him. Her role as a mother was snatched from her, never to be returned.
“What hurts is how long I was away from [my children’s] side. And now, I’ve been in prison for another 20 years. I’ve been away from them for 40 years now,” she said.
Rose has learned to live with peace in her heart. Her resentment towards her now-deceased husband has subsided, and she is proud of her kids who had grown up to live their lives in Dubai together with their own children.
The family she now has is found in the CIW mothers’ ward. She plays a vital role there, where she has been assisting in the care of both PDLs and babies since 2010 due to the lack of medical personnel who can monitor them at all times.
The women tell her that their babies are her “grandchildren.”
Along with the toys for these “grandchildren” on a shelf of the mothers’ ward is a purple, polka-dotted go-bag with baby garments that don’t belong to any one baby. They are worn by the infants who come and go. The bag is there for any woman in the mothers’ ward who has to be rushed to the hospital to give birth. It is Rose who packs it.
Rose has it ready all the time because pregnant women who enter the prison often aren’t prepared with the clothes their babies will wear. It was also Rose who loaned Maria* the P3,000 she needed for her ultrasound from the extra money she had in her pharmacy deposit.
The women in the mothers’ ward at the CIW have the option to keep their newborn babies with them. This is somewhat of a privilege, compared to what some incarcerated mothers have to go through, like Reina Mae Nasino.
When mothers in prison have such an option, the assumption is that they’d prefer to maximize that time with their babies as much as possible. But with an uncertain future and feelings of being ill-equipped to care for their babies, some mothers choose to let their babies out early.
CIW rules say that when a PDL under their care gives birth, the babies may stay with the mothers for a maximum period of one year. But according to lone resident doctor and Corrections Technical Chief Superintendent Maria Lourdes Razon, at least in her past year working at CIW, there are no babies who have celebrated their birthdays in the facility.
Rita*, 32, is one of the four mothers – three with newborns and one still pregnant – housed in the CIW’s mothers’ ward as of mid-March. She has the tiniest and youngest of the three babies, but Rita knows that she is set to give her up soon.
Her family has decided that her uncle, who is based in the US, would take her baby when she is three months old with hopes she will live a better life in America. She has around two months left before that happens.
“I already have three children, and this is my fourth. My brother has been taking care of my first three and sending them to school. But he told me that he cannot handle a fourth,” said Rita.
“It’s painful. I was expecting my partner to take her. But unfortunately, he’s already found someone else to be with in the outside world,” she added.
Rita is only starting her eight-year sentence in prison for drug-related charges. She hopes that one day she will be able to visit her child in the US.
“They told me that they will still raise her knowing that I am her mother,” she said.
The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders, also known as the Bangkok Rules, is a set of 70 rules focused on the treatment of female prisoners, including pregnant PDLs. Under these requirements, the mother and the child’s time together must be “made in the best interests of the child.”
In Malaysia, prisons’ regulations provide that a child under the age of three may be admitted with his or her mother and the child should be provided with basic necessities and care by the director general.
Meanwhile, in Thailand, specifically the Central Women’s Correctional Institution in Lat Yao, there is not only a mothers’ ward but also a designated nursery for newborn babies. The babies are taken care of by the nurses of the facility.
Lawyer Gian Taruc from the Visitorial Division of the Commission on Human Rights pointed out the disparity among the Philippines’ regional members.
“In other countries that are equally Third World countries too, like Malaysia and Bangkok, they are able to implement these programs. They have policies that allow them to give proper care for female PDLs. So why not in the Philippines?” he said.
The deficiency of mental support for mother PDLs is a persisting reality even beyond the walls of CIW. Nasino also cited similar psychological harassment inside the Manila City Jail where she was detained.
“From my experience [in Manila City Jail] when I gave birth, there was this condemnation from the guards blaming me for the situation of my baby. They would tell me: ‘It was you who got yourself imprisoned, so why should you rely on us for your pregnancy?’ This is why other PDLs who feel unwell would opt not to say anything instead,” she said.
In a study conducted by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, 15.6% of Filipino women experience depression during pregnancy and 19.8% after childbirth.
Rose does not allow the women under her care to mingle with the general, congested population. It’s a precaution to keep the mothers and babies healthy. Most of the time, the babies do not have access to vaccines.
The unavailability of vaccines was the very first reason Maria cited why she did not plan to keep her baby in the facility for up to a year. Maria also eyed transitioning her baby from breastfeeding to bottle feeding so that her family outside wouldn’t have a difficult time feeding him. Health experts have long cited breast milk as best for healthy infants.
With some solitude in the mothers’ ward, the women have time to reflect on what they plan to tell their babies about themselves as they grow older. For them, accountability for their crimes lies with them, and their babies need not worry about their mothers’ past mistakes. Women at the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)-supervised CIW are convicted with sentences no less than three years and a day.
“I will not be ashamed to tell my child what happened to me,” said Maria, who also faces drug-related charges. “I’ll tell him the truth, that I had him here with me. I’d rather he finds out from me than anyone else. I gave birth to him [while detained], he met so many people here, and he was a Baby BuCor.”
Rita had similar sentiments about not being ashamed to tell her daughter one day. “It was not them who made the mistakes, but us.”
Jasmin*, the only pregnant PDL at the ward, wants to wait until her children are mature enough to understand what she had gone through. Apart from the baby she was carrying in her womb, she also has a three-year-old with her family.
“I will wait until they’re old enough. It will be difficult for me to explain when they might not understand. My three-year-old doesn’t know that I’m here, and thinks that I’m just working,” said Jasmin, who is serving a sentence for theft.
In the House of Representatives, the Makabayan bloc filed House Bill No. 570, or the Parents in Jail bill.
Nasino’s case is particularly cited in the bill’s explanatory note. It highlights the need to provide prisoners, especially mothers, the necessary mechanisms and facilities to enjoy their parental rights and ensure that the needs of their children are attended to while they are incarcerated.
HB No. 570 stresses that facilities must strictly comply with Republic Act No. 11148, or the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act, which covers nutritional needs of both mother and child, as well as the availability of prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and other medical needs of the child.
The bill also proposes “child-friendly visitation programs” that mandate the establishment of special visitation rooms in prison facilities for solo parents and their children.
Budget increases would be crucial for the better treatment of mothers, and the medical needs of PDLs in general at the CIW, according to Razon.
If the CIW had their way, each PDL would have a minimum P100-medicine budget per day, Razon said.
More could be done for the mothers at CIW, who already have decent living conditions – and more so for mothers in jails who don’t even have that shelf of dusty toys, or their own ward.
While Rose is happy to take care of her “grandchildren,” questions remain if she would have been assigned there if there were enough medical personnel to tend to them.
“In any case, I’m here. I’m here to supervise, to help, in any way I can,” she said. – with reports from Angeline Braganza, Allison Co, and Iana Padilla/Rappler.com
*Names have been changed.
All quotes have been translated into English.
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CA upholds life sentences of 7 Abu Sayyaf members in 2007 Palawan murder | Herbie G | 01/04/2024 14:20 | Shutterstock.com
MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the decision of a regional court that convicted seven members of the dreaded Abu Sayyaf and sentenced them to spend the rest of their life in prison for the murder of a military informer nearly 17 years ago.
The appellate court, however, modified the ruling of the Regional Trial Court in Taguig, increasing the civil liabilities of the convicts.
The seven men – Omar Jakarin Ibno, Hiya Arabain Hapipuddin, Muadzi Aisal Jala, Najer M. Daud, Omar E. Panagas, Jemar Malpa, and Ibrahim Misuari – were found guilty for the 2007 murder of military informer Jemar Bairulla.
The incident happened on August 12, 2007, when a group shot Bairulla dead during a boat trip to Sarong, Bataraza, Palawan.
Court records showed that they tried to cover up the murder by burying the body in sand, but a fisherman found the corpse two days later.
On September 6, 2007, the suspects were arrested in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and taken to a military camp in Zamboanga City for questioning. There, they denied being part of the Abu Sayyaf group and said they had no role in Bairulla’s death. They also claimed to be students and said they were arrested illegally, accusing the military of forcing them to confess.
The CA, however, rejected the group’s assertions as it upheld their murder convictions and their reclusion perpetua sentences, without parole.
In a 26-page decision penned by Associate Justice Eduardo Ramos Jr., the CA’s 7th Division confirmed the earlier decision of the Taguig cour as it revised the lower court’s order on civil damages. From P275,000, they were ordered to P350,000 in damages, which includes moral, exemplary, and temperate damages, with a 6% annual interest from the judgment’s finalization until full payment.
The appellate court stated, “The evidence of the prosecution was strong enough to overcome the constitutional presumption of innocence in their favor…. The defense has failed to refute the prosecution’s evidence. Hence, the accused-appellants must remain in prison for the rest of their lives unless age or sincere remorse unfastens their bonds.” – Rappler.com
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In prison, mother and baby share P85 a day for food, medicine | Michelle Abad | 30/03/2024 9:16 | MOTHER'S WARD. Persons deprived of liberty tending to their babies at the Correctional Institution for Women's mothers' ward on March 14, 2024.
Michelle Abad/Rappler
First of 2 parts
Editor’s Note: This story is based on an original submission by Ateneo de Manila students Angeline Braganza, Allison Co, and Iana Padilla for their investigative journalism class.
In October 2020, activist Reina Mae Nasino, surrounded by cops, wrapped up in full protective gear, and wearing handcuffs, attended her baby’s funeral.
Nasino and her baby River became icons of injustice, not just of the crackdown on dissent during the Duterte administration, but of the conditions of detained mothers who simply want to care for their newborn babies. Baby River was separated from Nasino at birth, and died when she was only three months old.
“I would randomly wake up, tears welling in my eyes. And then, I would find myself embracing the last shirt my baby wore,” Nasino said in a recent interview. In 2023, she was acquitted of charges pertaining to illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Nasino, who spent most of her pregnancy in the Manila City Jail, is just one of the countless mothers in the Philippines who enter prison with a baby in their wombs. Over in Mandaluyong, there is a 21-square-meter room in the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) called the mothers’ ward.
Here stay persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who are pregnant, or had just given birth. The mothers’ ward consists of six beds, a shared bathroom with curtains serving as a door, a meager pantry, faded stickers of cartoon characters on the walls, and a shelf of dusty toys.
Maria*, 34, was once among the expectant mothers – she entered CIW eight months pregnant in September 2023. The following month, she gave birth to a baby boy. While she felt delighted to welcome this little drop of joy into her life, she couldn’t cope with the storm of financial demands that assaulted her. Maria had to borrow money from a fellow PDL to cover her ultrasound sessions, check-ups, and laboratory fees.
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) has a measly P15-medicine budget per PDL, per day. According to lone resident doctor and Corrections Technical Chief Superintendent Maria Lourdes Razon, this already accounts for everything medical – from medicines to medical supplies like cotton balls and alcohol, and even period products. There’s no separate budget for a PDL who is pregnant or ill.
In CIW, according to Razon, PDLs who have prescription medicines have to deposit in the pharmacy whatever money is provided by their families. The pharmacy then deducts from the fund whatever medicines PDLs avail of.
When needed, and especially for births, CIW’s pregnant PDLs are referred to the Mandaluyong City Medical Center (MCMC), a stone’s throw from the prison. Razon claimed that the PDLs who need procedures need not shell out any money, as it is a public hospital. But such does not seem to be the case – if Maria’s experience is any indication.
Maria was lucky that her fellow PDL had an extra P3,000 she could spare from the money deposited in the pharmacy.
A shortage of resources and medical staff compromises the quality and accessibility of healthcare services, particularly in terms of prenatal and postnatal care. This situation forces pregnant PDLs to bear the financial burden of medical expenses, as Maria herself experienced.
As of March 2024, the CIW has a population of around 3,100, but, according to Dr. Razon, the facility is meant to house only 1,000.
Besides Razon, there are only 13 nurses to tend to the over 3,000 PDLs in CIW, translating to one nurse for every 231 women, with no obstetricians, gynecologists (OB-GYN), nor midwives.
The CIW shares a line item with the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in the BuCor’s budget. From the P5.2 billion budget the NBP and CIW shared in 2023, their budget was cut down to P4.72 billion in 2024. But NBP likely takes a significant share. The notoriously overcrowded men’s prison housed around 30,000 by end-November 2023 – 10 times as many as the population in CIW.
If one were to assume that CIW takes 10% of the budget, that leaves just P472 million for the CIW in 2024. This already accounts for administrative and operational costs.
The National Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), which oversees local city and municipal jails that exclude the BuCor-supervised CIW, recorded more than 1,600 pregnant detainees and 485 births in the past two years.
On the rare times that specialists who are part of medical missions organized by non-government organizations are able to visit, pregnant PDLs get to be examined. But more often than not, they have to make do with the little that’s available.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said that only 37 out of 84 women’s dormitories are equipped with a breastfeeding room, again indicating very limited access to maternal health services.
According to Dr. Jonelle Baloloy, chief resident of the MCMC OB-GYN ward, PDLs who come to the hospital for maternal services are treated no differently from other patients, but when they need services that don’t require admission, they are prioritized in the queue since they only have limited time outside prison.
After securing permits to leave the facility, PDLs from CIW are accompanied by an escort and a nurse. There have been reported issues, however, according to Baloloy, of PDLs “having difficulties in securing permits to leave the facility.”
For example, for OB patients, she said, “their follow-up appointments are fixed, so those are easy. But since the hospital or local government unit pays for laboratory fees, the PDLs still have to go through the LGU for those appointments.”
Both CIW and MCMC assert that PDLs don’t have to shell out any money for their procedures, and if ever they do, fees are minimal, or the hospital finds a way to get the local social welfare office to pay for them. Yet women PDLs still say that what they need help the most with is still financial support.
It doesn’t help that the P15-medical budget covers the mothers only. Babies, who have their own needs like diapers, clothes, and hygiene products, are not PDLs and are excluded from the budget. While there is a separate P70-food allocation per day, or just P23.33 for a meal, pregnant PDLs and breastfeeding mothers need more because they also require special nutrition, like increased fluid intake.
“Most of the time, our food doesn’t have soup. We need more food, because we have increased appetites. Every time our children breastfeed, we go hungry,” said Maria.
The infirmary may not always be prepared to handle swift births as well.
“As much as possible, we really refer [births] to the nearest government hospital, MCMC. We are not equipped to deliver babies. Although there was one who went into labor quickly, and we weren’t able to bring her to the hospital on time. We were able to guide her through her labor. But we worry sometimes [about sudden births] since I’m not here 24/7, or if there’s a problem with the baby. We’re not equipped, because we are just an infirmary,” said Razon.
For Imelda Duras of the CHR Prevention Cluster Visitorial Division, prison medical staff should be equipped with multidisciplinary, and not just custodial, skills. Some of these skills include being able to provide psychological and social support for PDLs.
“So there should be health [personnel] – nurses and doctors – and we should have mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers,” said Duras.
Karen Bantang from the CHR Gender Division also cited the alarming concern about postpartum depression among mother PDLs. A study conducted by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development found that 15.6% of Filipino women experience depression during pregnancy and 19.8% after childbirth. The pregnant PDLs of CIW aren’t any different.
With resources already at the bare minimum for women in the mothers’ ward, they also deal with the mental anguish of possibly not being able to live out the duties of motherhood. (To be concluded) – with reports from Angeline Braganza, Allison Co, and Iana Padilla/Rappler.com
*Names have been changed.
All quotes have been translated into English.
NEXT: Part 2 | Behind bars, giving a mother’s touch isn’t easy
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#WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | Acor Arceo | 01/04/2024 14:20 | MANILA, Philippines – Some areas suspended face-to-face classes for Tuesday, April 2, due to high heat index levels.
The heat index is measured using the air temperature and the relative humidity in a place at a given time. It is also called the feels-like temperature, and it typically soars during the Philippines’ warm and dry season from March to May.
This list will be updated once local or national authorities make announcements.
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