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Brawner: Modern weapons ‘crucial’ to combatting external threats
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday said the military organization needs to acquire modernized defense equipment and weapons so it can better protect and defend the country against any external threat. Aside from modernized weapons, Brawner also cited the need to equip soldiers with the resources and skills to prepare them for any challenges of fighting and neutralizing threats. Brawner said the AFP is also envisioning the creation of “citizen warriors” or recruiting more reservists that can be readily tapped during emergencies. “‘Yung taong bayan ay kailangang ihanda natin, tingnan nyo po yung nangyari sa Israel nung umatake yung Hamas, ang mga unang dumepensa sa bansa nila ay yung mga citizen warriors, yung mga reservists, yun din po ang gusto nating mangyari dito,” he said in an interview over the DZRH. “Gusto po natin talagang ihanda yung ating mga kababayan mga mamamayan for any eventuality whether it is man made or even natural,” he added. Asked if the AFP is ready for any external aggression, Brawner said: “When it comes to Filipinos’ fighting spirit, we number one, because for the longest time—we have been fighting for years, so we are one of the most fighters in the world so we just need modern equipment, modern weapons and that’s what we are doing in our modernization effort.” Brawner said an allocation of huge funds is needed to acquire more modern defense equipment and weapons. “Because really mahal po kasi yung mga kagamitan na kailangan natin but we have to invest in our defense kasi kung hindi po natin gagawin yan, kahit na anong gastos natin sa ibang mga bagay pero kung may mangyari man, kung may umatake sa atin mawawala lahat ito,” he added. Brawner earlier said the AFP is targeting to acquire “multi-role fighter aircraft, naval assets, command and control or C-2 systems, shore-based deterrent capabilities, submarines and the like” under the third Horizon of the AFP modernization program. The Horizon 3 is slated for 2023 up to 2028. Horizon 2 was undertaken from 2018 to 2022 and the Horizon 1 was pushed from 2013 to 2017. Brawner said such procurement tranches are designed to acquire equipment, weapons systems, and platforms geared at enhancing the external or territorial defense capability of the military organization. Among the platforms procured in the ongoing AFP Modernization Program include the S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopters, missile frigates, close air support aircraft, air defense surveillance radars, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, corvettes, anti-submarine helicopters, light tanks, tactical radios, amphibious assault vehicles, civil engineering equipment, and modern pistols......»»
Druggie yields P400K shabu
A female drug suspect was arrested and more than P400,000 worth of suspected shabu was seized in an anti-illegal drugs operation in Pasig City Friday evening. The 29-year-old woman was identified only as alias Kukay, a resident of Barangay Bambang, Pasig City. She was nabbed in a buy-bust operation conducted by joint operatives of the Pasig City Police Station’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Bambang Police Sub-Station 3 and Station Special Weapons and Tactics Team at Villa Reyes Street, Barangay Bambang at about 7:30 p.m. Confiscated from the suspect were one piece of heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet and one piece of knot-tied transparent plastic containing suspected shabu weighing more or less 65 grams with an estimated street value of P442,000, P200 buy-bust money, ten pieces of one-thousand bill, and a black pouch. The suspect will be charged with violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The post Druggie yields P400K shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CCTV cam gives away bike ‘thief’
One of several robbery suspects was nabbed for allegedly burglarizing a house in Pasig City Thursday morning, carting away a motorcycle, a wristwatch and debit cards of a sales staff. The police on Friday said the arrested suspect was identified only as alias Kokoy, 24 years old, a resident of Phase 3, Lupang Arienda, Taytay, Rizal. According to the complainant, identified only as alias Harvey, 24 years old, he parked his Yamaha Aerox motorcycle beside his rented apartment and went to sleep. Subsequently, when he woke up, he noticed that their sliding window was opened and his Casio wrist watch worth P3,000, a black leather wallet containing P1,500, debit cards, and personal identification cards that were placed on top of the sink were missing. He immediately went out to check his motorcycle, and to his surprise, it was also missing, he said. The victim viewed the CCTV footage from his neighbor leading to the discovery of the three male suspects carting away the motor bike and the filing of a complaint with the anti-carnapping unit of the Pasig City police. The post CCTV cam gives away bike ‘thief’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fighting gun violence, Kamala’s new task
“We know true freedom is not possible if people are not safe,” United States Vice President Kamala Harris said Friday in announcing her new role to combat gun violence. The 58-year-old Democrat will lead the new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which will coordinate on the issue but lacks significant enforcement authority to combat the epidemic in a nation with more firearms than people. “We do not have a moment to spare nor a life to spare” while the United States is “torn apart” by gun violence, she said at the White House on Friday. “After every mass shooting, we hear a simple message, the same message all over the country,” she added, saying Americans are begging for their leaders to “‘do something, please do something.’” Despite the new push, the White House does not have unilateral power to meaningfully limit gun use in the United States, such as by banning assault weapons. Any substantial moves would have to come from Congress, where fiercely anti-gun regulation Republicans control the House of Representatives. Biden has tried to work around legislative requirements and imposed certain regulatory and administrative restrictions, which have only a limited scope. The new role adds a significant job to Harris’s portfolio just a little over a year ahead of the 2024 race, in which she and the 80-year-old president are facing re-election. The vice president has already been tasked with handling other politically sensitive issues such as immigration. Tackling gun violence gives the former California prosecutor the chance to work on a visible issue that often garners more widespread consensus from the American public. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-governmental organization, 44,374 people were killed by guns across the United States last year. Gun deaths have slowed slightly this year, at 28,793 for the first eight months, according to the archive. Harris — the first woman to become vice president as well as the first Black person and person of South Asian descent to hold the job — also recently embarked on the so-called Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour, in which she visited several US universities. She was generally received with enthusiasm, in contrast to her often-flagging favorability poll numbers. with AFP The post Fighting gun violence, Kamala’s new task appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District have arrested 22 individuals for various offenses in a 24-hour operation over the weekend. QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said three wanted persons were among those apprehended by the Project 4 Police Station 8, Eastwood PS 12 and Payatas Bagong Silangan PS 13. PS 8 under P/Maj. Reynold Tobias arrested Sherwin Lubaton at 3:50 p.m. of 22 September 2023 for illegal possession of bladed, pointed or blunt weapons; the PS 12 under P/Lt. Col. Vicente Bumalay Jr. arrested Francisco Rosadeño Tañala at 2:09 p.m. of 22 September at No. 007, Barangay Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal for Acts of Lasciviousness; and PS 13 under P/Lt. Col. Leonie Ann dela Cruz served warrants of arrest to Ferdinand Bunuan Pantinople at 3:15 p.m. of 22 September at Quezon City Jail, EDSA corner Kamuning, Quezon City for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Maranan said the respective courts of origin of the warrants will be notified regarding the arrest of the wanted persons. In the campaign against illegal drugs, 19 druggies were apprehended in a series of buy-bust operations. The La Loma PS 1 under P/Lt. Col. Romil Avenido arrested Paulo Ramos at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September, along Kaingin Road, Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City and Francis Formento and Mike Pastrana at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September at Clover Leaf Market, Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City. Likewise, the same operatives arrested Alfredo Satiada at 3 a.m. of 23 September, in front of Petron gas station along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon, Quezon City and Adonis Mercader at 6 a.m. of 23 September along Don Pepe Street, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were 1.15 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P7,820 and the buy-bust money. Furthermore, the Talipapa PS 3 under P/Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar arrested Nelson Macaraeg; Mherly Solis; Erol Rivera; Mark Anthony Onana; Herchon Pronce; Jefrrey Harden; and Jamarde Kadil at 10:45 p.m. of 22 September along Ibabaw Ng Tulay, Quirino Highway, Barangay Balong Bato, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600; a black cellular phone; one unit orange Motorcycle Honda Beat; and the buy-bust money. The post QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American
Five police officers already charged in the murder of Tyre Nichols, a young African American who died after being beaten, now face federal indictment, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. Videos showed the officers, who are all Black, repeatedly kicking and punching Nichols during a traffic stop close to his home in the US city of Memphis on January 7, three days before he died in hospital. "The country watched in horror as Tyre Nichols was kicked, punched, tased, and pepper sprayed," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief video statement posted online. The department said the five officers, who have been fired, "willfully deprived Nichols of his constitutional rights," resulting in "bodily injury and the death of Nichols." A federal grand jury in Memphis, located in the US South, on Tuesday charged the five former officers with federal civil rights, conspiracy, and obstruction offenses, the Department of Justice said. The officers -- Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III, and Desmond Mills Jr. -- have already been charged by state prosecutors in Tennessee with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, official misconduct, and "official oppression." They have pleaded not guilty. Nichols, 29, was stopped by the five, who were members of a special police anti-crime squad called the Scorpion Unit, for an alleged traffic violation, according to police. He was beaten viciously by the officers, in scenes recorded in body camera and security camera footage that triggered outrage when made public later that month. Vice President Kamala Harris attended Nichols' funeral in February and Nichols' family members were invited to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address in Washington several days later. The post Federal charges for five police over beating death of African American appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
2 nabbed for carnapping, gun ban violation
Two suspects, including a minor, were nabbed for alleged carnapping and for violating the Comelec gun ban in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City Monday evening. A 33-year-old complainant, a businessman, reported to the police that his white Yamaha Mio Sporty motorcycle, which was parked outside his residence, was missing. During a follow-up operation, joint operatives of the Pasig City Police chanced upon the 15-year-old suspect while driving the motorcycle of the victim. The stolen motorcycle was being pushed by the 20-year-old suspect, identified only as alias Marcel, using his foot, who was driving a black Suzuki Smash motorcycle along Amang Rodriguez Avenue in Barangay Manggahan. Seized from the suspects were one caliber .38 revolver without serial number loaded with two live ammunition and one hand grenade. During the investigation, it was learned that the Suzuki Smash motorcycle was owned by another complainant, a 29-year-old salesman, also a resident of Barangay Manggahan. According to the victim, his motorcycle was stolen on the same date while parked outside his residence. The arrested suspects also divulged the identities of their cohorts as alias Jelal and alias Rex, both residents of Barangay Pinagbuhatan, also in this city. Alias Jelal was also arrested in a follow-up operation. Recovered from him was a blue Yamaha Mio Sporty motorcycle owned by a female vendor. She said her motorcycle was stolen on the same date while parked outside her house in Barangay Santolan, also in this city. The suspects will be charged with violation of Republic Act 10883 or the New Anti-Carnapping Act, Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to Omnibus Election Code, and Republic Act 9516 or the Illegal Possession of Explosives. The post 2 nabbed for carnapping, gun ban violation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Makati City scores anew
Six days after taking over the management and supervision of the 14 schools affected by the dragging boundary dispute between Makati and Taguig City, the Department of Education gave Makati City the go-signal to distribute school supplies to the affected students in 10 EMBO barangays the Supreme Court had ordered transferred to Taguig City. In a letter to Makati City Mayor Abby Binay dated 22 August, DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael Wesley Poa said Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte had approved the former’s request to distribute the school supplies, including the use of the school facilities. Binay earlier wrote to Vice President Duterte seeking permission to distribute school supplies in the 14 public schools to alleviate the financial burden on parents who would otherwise have to purchase new school supplies. “On behalf of the city government and all the intended beneficiaries in the 14 public schools, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte. We are thankful that she has the best interest of the students at heart in making a prudent and just decision,” Binay said, adding that the distribution would go on until 29 August when classes start. The 14 public schools are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School and Pitogo High School. Parents, school kids cheer Mayor Binay, accompanied by her husband, Makati 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, distributed school supplies at Pembo Elementary School and Pitogo High School yesterday. School supplies will be given to all 45,000 students in the 14 public schools in 10 former barangays within Fort Bonifacio — Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside. Upon arriving at the Pembo Elementary School, Binay and her entourage were cheered by the parents and students who had been waiting for her since 10 a.m. Her arrival at 2 p.m. elicited applause and shouts of “Abby, Abby” from the crowd, many of whom were crying, including the children who rushed to hug the mayor. The parents were particularly ecstatic because they said the school supplies they received from Taguig were not comparable to what they received from Makati. Package contents Under the expanded Project FREE (Free Relevant and Excellent Education) of Makati, public school students from kindergarten to senior high school, including Special Education students in elementary and high school, receive school uniforms and supplies. Students in all levels each receive school uniforms, PE T-shirts and jogging pants. School bags, caps and anti-dengue kits are also given to kindergarten pupils. Elementary students each receive a pair of black leather shoes, three pairs of white socks, Randoseru bags (Grades 1 and 4), dengue kits, and school supplies consisting of 10 notebooks, five intermediate pads, and five ballpoint pens and pencils. Junior and senior high school students receive black shoes and socks, and the same school supplies package given to elementary students, with a Math graphing notebook added. Grades 11 and 12 students also get a jacket with hoodie. For SPED students in elementary and high school, the city provides a school supplies package, uniforms, leather shoes and three pairs of socks, and anti-dengue kits for elementary SPED. Schools to be rented out Asked what would happen to the 14 schools formerly under Makati City, Binay said they would be rented out to Taguig as the former held the titles to them. In a Facebook post, Binay said there was a “last-minute attempt” by the Taguig City government to halt the distribution even if Makati had written authorization to carry it out. Taguig City has also started distributing school packages to the students of the city, including those at the EMBO schools. Duterte issued DepEd Order No. 023 last week, titled “Assumption of authority of the Department of Education over the 14 public schools affected by the Supreme Court decision in G.R. No. 235316.” According to the order, DepEd is mandated to promote every Filipino’s right to accessible, equitable, and quality education which is consistent with its mandate to provide a safe and enabling environment for learners, teachers, and personnel. Duterte, in her order, said that relative to the SC’s final and executory decision in the case titled Municipality of Makati vs Municipality of Taguig (G.R. No. 235316), the Department of is cognizant of the increasing tension present in the 14 schools affected by the ruling, that caused uncertainty as to the peaceful and orderly reopening of schools on 29 August 2023. It further stated that in the pursuit of protecting the best interest and welfare of the learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel, “the Office of the Secretary shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools, pending a transition plan, effective immediately.” Duterte created a transition committee composed of the regional director (assigned outside of the National Capital Region); DepEd Schools Division Superintendent of Taguig-Pateros; the DepEd Schools Superintendent of Makati City; City Legal Officer of Makati and City Legal Officer of Taguig. Binay has since stood her ground that all 14 public schools are titled to Makati City and therefore Taguig City has no jurisdiction over it, though Mayor Lani Cayetano refuted the claim saying it was included in the SC order that is final and executory. The post Makati City scores anew appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Kadayawan sa Dabaw now on its 38th year
Today, 20 August, is the culmination of Kadayawan sa Dabaw, touted to be the festival of all festivals in Mindanao. Now on its 38th year, the official festivity of Davao’s most colorful and bonggacious celebration started last 10 August. [caption id="attachment_173332" align="aligncenter" width="784"] street dancing at the festival. | Photographs By Henrylito Tacio For The Daily Tribune[/caption] [caption id="attachment_173333" align="aligncenter" width="763"] Floralfloat.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_173334" align="aligncenter" width="898"] The streets of the city were on fire as dancers stomped their feet, swayed their hips and cheered in their loudest voices.[/caption] A week later, 17 August, Kristine Claire Tar of the Bagobo-Klata was crowned as this year’s Hiyas ng Kadayawan. “Hiyas sa Kadayawan is a great avenue for us to show not only for our strength as a tribe but to show as a woman that we are powerful, we have a voice and that we are talented,” she answered when asked the question: “How does Hiyas sa Kadayawan empower the women of Davao City?” “The Hiyas sa Kadayawan,” she further explained, “is a showcase of different diversity, the unique beauties of the 11 ethnolinguistic tribes of the city. It is a way for us to showcase our uniqueness and our diversity, and I am an example for that.” Tar then concluded her reply, “I, as a Hiyas, have experienced the great opportunity to show and share my voice, in sharing my advocacy and my plans as a tribal youth president, and as a woman.” First runner-up Juhana Sultan of the Maranao ethnic group was chosen as Hiyas sa Panaghiusa while Althea Asnawi of Taosug tribe settled for second runner-up as Hiyas sa Kalambuan. Sultan also got the following special awards: Eastern Smile of the Night, The Spectrum, Pau-Pau Choice, Hiyas of Mr. D.I.Y and Best in Cultural Presentation. Street dances On the 19th, the streets were filled again with contingents from the city itself and even those from other provinces of Davao and even other regions with the execution of Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan. Some streets of the city were literally on fire as street dances stomped their feet, swayed their hips and shouted with their loudest voice ever during the event. Moving colors — mostly red, yellow, orange and green — flooded the streets. For the Davao City School-Based Category, there were six contingents: Apo Duwaling Dance Company of the Mabini National High School; Tribung Lacson Performing Arts and Ensemble of Lacon Integrated School; Sining Sayon Dawet Cultural Ensemble of Davao City National High School; Hinugyaw Dance Performing Arts of Don Enrique Bustamante National High School; Sining Mananayaw Ensemble of Catalunan Pequeno National High School; and the Performing Arts Company of Lapu-Lapu Elementary School. There were 13 entries in the Open Category or those contingents outside of Davao City. Davao Oriental was represented with four entries: Caraga Matimawa of Caraga National High School (from Caraga), Tribu Maganahay Matiao National High School (from Mati City), Banayan Performing Arts (from Banaybanay) and Rise and Shine Caraga of San Luis National High School. (also from Caraga). Davao del Norte had two entries: Madyaw Samalikha Cultural Dance Troupe (from Island Garden City of Samal) and Asuncion National High School Performing Arts Guild (from Asuncion). There was a lone entry from Davao de Oro: Indak Elizalde Performing Arts Guild of Elizalde National High School (from Maco). Entries outside of Davao Region were as follows: Tribung Balovebagueño (from Balabagan, Lanao del Sur), Agusan del Sur Artists’ Guild (from Agusan del Sur), Landan National High School Performing Arts Group (from Polomolok, South Cotabato), Kalingawan Dance Troupe (from Sto. Niño, South Cotabato), Gagandilan Akbar Performing Arts Guild (from Akbar, Basilan) and Sindac Anib Performing Arts Guild (from Bislig, Surigao del Sur). “The Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan is wildly popular because of the distinctively Mindanaoan beat and costumes,” one pundit commented. “Several tourists come to Davao to watch hundreds of people dancing with vigor in the streets, clad in their native attire and carrying extravagant props that would give Hollywood studios a serious run for their money.” Unlike in the past, the street dancing was moved to the afternoon instead of the usual morning. When asked why, Second District Council Al Ryan Alejandre, the festival spokesperson, told Davao media: “So, it will not be too hot for the children, and we have a good vantage view since it will be in the afternoon and the evening.” (Editor’s note: By the time this feature came out, the winners were already announced.) ‘Pamulak sa Kadayawan’ Also today, August 20, the Pamulak sa Kadayawan will be held. It is a sight to behold as it is patterned after the Pasadena Parade of Roses in the United States — where flowers and fruits are set in colorful floats by business establishments, community assemblies and peoples’ organizations as they promenade on the streets symbolizing all the bounty sustainably enjoyed by the city’s residents. This year, the Daku Category has nine entries: Ipi Kadayawan Float, Kadayawan Kaleidoscope: A multicultural Float Gala, The Fruits of Love and Caring the Nature, Kahayas sa Kalipay (XVI Global Holdings B.V.), IQOR Nurturing Hands, Nurturing Hearts, Harmony in Motion: Vista Estates and Vista Mall Tribute, Fly with the Champions — Philippines Air Asia, Inc., The Davaoeño Spirit (Aeon Blue), and National Food Authority Region XII. The Gamay Category has 13 entries: Guardians Anti-Crime Phil, International Inc., Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines First District, Teleperformance, Kababaihan Group, Duterte Squad Solid Supporters Group, Hudyaka sa Sutherland, Black Hawk Extreme Riders of Davao, Inc., Eng Seng Products, Tahawrog Tribe, Own Your Future — Alorica Teleservices, Inc., The Cause and Effect — A and L Marketing Solutions Hub, Inc., and Balangay — Philippine Retirement Authority. The Non-Competing Category has 14 entries. Perhaps not too many know that the festivity actually started in the 1970s when then Mayor Elias B. Lopez initiated tribal festivals featuring the lumad (native) and the Muslim tribes of Davao City where they showcase their dances and rituals of thanksgiving. It was then called “Apo Duwaling,” in honor of the three royalties for which Davao is famous for — Mount Apo, durian and waling-waling. In 1988, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte renamed “Apo Duwaling” to “Kadayawan sa Dabaw.” Kadayawan is derived from the friendly greeting “Madayaw,” a term taken from a Dabawenyo word dayaw which means “good,” “valuable,” “superior” or “something that brings good fortune.” “As the longest-running community festival in Mindanao, Kadayawan sa Davao has metamorphosed into a grand celebration that honors Davao’s rich cultural heritage and the many blessings bestowed on the city,” the Davao Tourism Office said. “Kadayawan’s sights and sounds remain unparalleled.” The post Kadayawan sa Dabaw now on its 38th year appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
China: Combat Anti-Black Racism on Social Media
(New York) - The Chinese government should acknowledge and condemn anti-Black racism prevalent on the Chinese internet and adopt measures to promote tolerance and fight prejudice, Human Rights Watch said today. Chinese social media platforms, which are quick to delete content critical of the Chinese government, should remove racist content that violates their commu.....»»
Taguig rejects Makati help to EMBO studes
Taguig City has rejected the offer of Makati City to continue providing free uniforms, shoes, supplies and other school needs of 30,000 public schools students in the 10 barangays covered by a Supreme Court decision on the boundary dispute between the two cities. Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said Taguig officials rejected the offer in a meeting last July with Mayor Abby Binay and officials of the Department of Education. Mayor Lani Cayetano was present during the meeting. “We have offered an arrangement that would benefit the students. But Taguig rejected it,” he said. Certeza said Mayor Abby proposed a status quo where Makati will continue its services in the affected schools to ease the worries of the students and their parents and avoid disruption in school operations. The Taguig officials, however, rejected the offer and told Makati to stop distributing the students’ school needs starting this school year. Since the 1990s, Makati has been providing all public school students with free school uniforms and school supplies. Makati students under the administration of Mayor Abby Binay, also receive sneakers, white socks and black leather shoes, reusable water tumblers, and Japanese-inspired Randoseru bags. Students also receive hygiene kits, dental kits, anti-dengue kits, hard hats and Emergency Go Bags, rain gear including rain coats and rain boots and jackets. Last March, Mayor Abby launched Project FEED (Food for Excellent Education and Development) which provides students from Kinder to Grade 6 with nutritious snacks every school day. The students are also provided with free educational experiential learning trips every school year. “For the sake of the youth and the residents of the 10 affected barangays, please let us provide free school gear and supplies to the students. Let us make them our priority,” Certeza said. He said they are hoping that compassion for residents prevail and work together so that their welfare and lives will not be affected. Certeza said Makati’s offer will greatly ease the worries of both parents and students in the affected barangays. “Makati has offered to continue to provide these benefits to ease the worries of the students and their parents. We have asked COA for guidance on how best to proceed, but we are willing and ready any time,” he said. Certeza said the offer still stands despite the provocative action of Taguig. The 14 public schools located in the affected barangays in District 2 are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, and Pitogo High School. The post Taguig rejects Makati help to EMBO studes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taguig rejects Makati offer to provide free school supplies to EMBO students
Taguig has rejected an offer from Makati to continue providing free uniforms, shoes, supplies and other school needs of some 30,000 public schools students in the 10 barangays covered by a Supreme Court decision on the boundary dispute between the two cities. Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said Taguig officials rejected the offer in a meeting last July with Mayor Abby Binay and officials of the Department of Education. Mayor Lani Cayetano was present during the meeting. “We have offered an arrangement that would benefit the students. But Taguig rejected it,” he said. According to Certeza, Binay proposed a status quo where Makati would continue its services in the affected schools to ease the worries of the students and their parents and avoid disruption in school operations. The Taguig officials, however, rejected the offer and told Makati to stop distributing the students’ school needs starting this school year. Since the 1990s, Makati has been providing all public school students with free school uniforms and school supplies. Under Mayor Abby Binay, Makati students also receive sneakers, white socks and black leather shoes, reusable water tumblers and Japanese-inspired Randoseru bags. Students also receive hygiene kits, dental kits, anti-dengue kits, hard hats and Emergency Go Bags, rain gear including rain coats and rain boots and jackets. Last March, Binay launched Project FEED (Food for Excellent Education and Development) which provides students from Kinder to Grade 6 with nutritious snacks every school day. The students are also provided with free educational experiential learning trips every school year. “Alang-alang sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan at mga mamamayan ng sampung apektadong barangay, hayaan nyo na kaming magbigay ng libreng gamit at supplies ng mga estudyante. Sila po sana ang unahin natin,” Certeza said. (For the sake of the youth and the residents of the 10 affected barangays, please let us provide free school gear and supplies to the students. Let us make them our priority.) “Nawa’y mangibabaw ang malasakit sa mga mamamayan at magtulungan tayo upang hindi maapektuhan ang kanilang kapakanan at pamumuhay,” he said. (May compassion for the residents prevail and work together so that their welfare and lives will not be affected.) Certeza said Makati’s offer will greatly ease the worries of both parents and students in the affected barangays. “Makati has offered to continue to provide these benefits to ease the worries of the students and their parents. We have asked COA for guidance on how best to proceed, but we are willing and ready any time,” he said. Certeza said the offer still stands despite the provocative action of Taguig. Earlier, Certeza appealed to Taguig to follow the rule of law to avoid creating unnecessary and unwanted tension in the affected areas, as it did over the weekend. The 14 public schools located in the affected barangays in District 2 are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School, Cembo Elementary School, South Cembo Elementary School, Pitogo Elementary School, East Rembo Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, Comembo Elementary School, West Rembo Elementary School, Pembo Elementary School, Makati Science High School, Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School, Tibagan High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, and Pitogo High School. -- Sincerely, Information and Community Relations Department Makati City Telephone +632 899.8938 The post Taguig rejects Makati offer to provide free school supplies to EMBO students appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New York teen arrested in hate crime death of Black gay dancer
A 17-year-old high school student in New York has been charged with murder as a hate crime in the stabbing death of a Black gay dancer, authorities said Saturday, in a case that has attracted attention from stars like Beyonce and Spike Lee. O'Shae Sibley, 28, a professional dancer and choreographer, was killed on July 29 by a single stab wound to the chest during an altercation at a Brooklyn gas station. "He could be my son," New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is Black, said at a news conference at the gas station where the suspect's arrest was announced. The teen, who was not named, surrendered on Friday evening, said Joseph Kenny, an assistant chief at the New York Police Department's detective bureau. He was charged with second-degree murder as a hate crime, and with criminal possession of a weapon. The deadly confrontation late last Saturday night was captured on camera, showing Sibley and several other men shirtless and wearing shorts at the gas station. "As they waited to refuel their vehicle, Mr. Sibley and his group began dancing to music that was being played in their car," Kenny said. The suspect and others in his group "began to yell at Mr. Sibley and his friends, they began to call him derogatory names and use homophobic slurs against him," Kenny said. "They also made anti-Black statements, all while demanding that they simply stop dancing." The confrontation lasted four minutes, ending when Sibley was stabbed once in the chest, hitting his heart. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Tributes have poured in for Sibley, including from superstar singer Beyonce whose website opened with the message: "Rest in Power O'Shae Sibley." Filmmaker Lee posted a photo on Instagram of Sibley dancing joyfully against a rainbow background. "Always loved," the caption said, adding the hashtag #saytheirnames, a phrase calling attention to victims of systemic racism and racial injustice. nr/acb/tjj The post New York teen arrested in hate crime death of Black gay dancer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hypocrites humbled
The Ombudsman’s decision to throw out the complaint of New York-based Filipino-Americans who keep stirring controversy in the country led by billionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis exposes a deeper agenda in the effort. Lewis is known to be the heavy gun behind the Liberal Party who provided the bulk of the funding for the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo’s lost pink cause in the 2022 polls. The long-distance meddling had been repeatedly disclosed in the past with no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte pointing to a rich Filipino-American, who was obviously Nicolas-Lewis, as leading the effort to destabilize the government. In one of his abrasive speeches, Duterte foretold the international offensive against him emanating from the group of Nicolas-Lewis. “For all I care, I do not have any illusions, do not give me a reason to leave because you might get your wish,” he had said. “A certain financier, a rich woman who married a black (American) and is now a millionaire, she is planning to do protests,” he added. The plot was confirmed by then Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who recalled rumors in the Filipino-American community about plans to oust Duterte because of his alleged human rights violations and continuous attacks against the US. Duterte then mockingly told Nicolas-Lewis he’d follow her advice and even provide staff for her. “If you think that you can help, tell me because I will appoint a group of presidential advisers and (I will give you) a Cabinet position without a portfolio but with Cabinet rank. And I will follow your instructions to a tee,” he said. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said of the plot. He said the recordings included one in which Lewis told another person, “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Being referred was the International Criminal Court case that was a successful campaign considering the recent decision of the tribunal to proceed with an investigation into the war on drugs of Mr. Duterte. Nicolas-Lewis had led a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprised of executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration on 1 June 2016. The top-notch mission included tycoons, retired American diplomats, executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis’s sister was former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas who was part of the “Hyatt 10” — members of the Cabinet who turned on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members were recruited to key posts in the succeeding administration of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was appointed head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Duterte is being targeted for investigation for the complaint of crimes against humanity as a result of the methods undertaken in the anti-drug campaign. The late plaintiff Jude Sabio admitted using manufactured numbers that at one point reached 20,000 so-called extrajudicial killings, which a Senate investigation found dubious since it came from Philippine National Police figures that tallied all forms of deaths investigated, including those unrelated to police operations since Duterte assumed office. Veteran lawyer Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said that from the start, he was against the proceedings at the ICC. “We’re an independent sovereign country and they want to unduly interfere in our internal affairs,” Enrile said. He pointed out the drug war was a policy to rid the country of its narcotics problem and involved law enforcement. “Who are they to tell us what is good for our society?” Enrile asked. “In the case of the insurgency, the government conducts operations. Are we going to answer to the ICC on the way that we defend ourselves from an internal threat?” Enrile demanded. The persistence of the ICC was discovered to have a sinister origin, based on information that Duterte had gathered. It all started with the designs of meddling Filipinos living overseas who wanted to impose their brand of hypocrisy on the hapless nation but were effectively foiled. The post Hypocrites humbled appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Russian-occupied Ukraine nuclear plant mined
International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have found anti-personnel mines in an area of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Monday the mines are located in a buffer zone between the site’s internal and external perimeter barriers that are inaccessible to plant personnel. Any detonation of the mines “should not affect the site’s nuclear safety and security systems,” Grossi said. The laying of the explosives at the site, however, was inconsistent with IAEA safety standards and nuclear security guidance, he added. The mines also created additional psychological pressure on the staff, he further said. The ZNPP, which has six reactors and produces around a fifth of Ukraine’s electricity, have been shut down for months. Europe’s largest nuclear facility fell to Russian forces shortly after the invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Kyiv and Moscow have since accused each other of planning an incident at the site. Meanwhile, Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Monday condemned the Russian bombing of Ukrainian port infrastructure on the Danube river at his country’s border. “This recent escalation poses serious risks to the security in the Black Sea. It also affects further Ukrainian grain transit, thus the global food security,” Iohannis said. Amateur footage posted on social media by a Romanian showed an explosion just across the Danube, as drones appeared to hit the Ukrainian port of Reni on the river. Reni is a Ukrainian port town where the Danube forms a natural frontier with Romania, and is also near the Moldovan border. Ukrainian officials reported a four-hour Russian drone attack on port infrastructure in the southern Odesa region. The Danube delta region, which spans Romania and Ukraine, is being used as an export route for Ukrainian grain. Romania is a member of the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told journalists in Washington on Monday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured his Romanian counterpart, Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu that NATO will defend every inch of its territory. WITH AFP The post Russian-occupied Ukraine nuclear plant mined appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Viral disease killing felines on ‘cat island’ Cyprus
A sickly ginger kitten named Bebe is pulled out of a cat carrier at a veterinary clinic in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia. The six-month-old is suffering from a strain of feline coronavirus that is wreaking havoc on the prolific cat population of Cyprus. Cats are everywhere on the eastern Mediterranean island, home to the earliest evidence of the animal's domestication and known by some as the "island of cats". Many of the island's felines are strays. They wander at will into people's gardens, sit expectantly beside restaurant diners in hopes of a tasty morsel, and loiter near garbage bins. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), which is not transmittable to humans, has rapidly spread across Cyprus in recent months, being "highly contagious" among cats, veterinarian Kostis Larkou said as he gently examined the visibly disoriented Bebe. Animal advocates say the number of cats dying from disease is significantly higher than the 107 cases of FIP officially reported by the agriculture ministry in the southern part of the island. "We have lost 300,000 cats since January" from FIP, said Dinos Ayiomamitis, head of Cats PAWS Cyprus and vice-president of Cyprus Voice for Animals. Cyprus has been split since a 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a Greek-sponsored coup. The self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which covers the northern third of the island, is recognized only by Ankara. But cats on both sides of the United Nations-patrolled buffer zone are dying from the illness. Experts say the island's cat population is equal to or even exceeds the human population of a little more than one million. In the south, Ayiomamitis estimates that a third of the cats have succumbed to the virus. Cats with FIP have symptoms including fever, abdominal swelling, weakness, and sometimes even aggressiveness. But with so many stray cats, the contagion has proven difficult to diagnose and document. Ancient cat history Cypriots have a long and intertwined history with their furry friends. Legend has it that a Roman empress, Helena, first brought cats to Cyprus to do away with poisonous snakes about 1,700 years ago. But archaeological evidence of cats' domestication on the island dates back further than anywhere else in the world -- to 9,500 years ago at the Neolithic village of Shillourokambos, where the remains of a cat and a human were found deliberately buried together. That bond between feline and human has continued through the millennia, leaving animal lovers like Ayiomamitis taking care of the island's cats today. He has fears, though, for the roughly 60 cats he has been feeding at a cemetery in the capital for a quarter of a century. "The colony is doing well, but we are worried because if one is infected, the others will be too," says the retiree, 70, as cats scampered up marble tombstones. Several people who feed stray cats told AFP that many of their regulars are disappearing, and very few corpses are found, noting that when cats are sick, they often self-isolate and die alone. An outbreak is suspected to be also spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, but in the absence of studies, that cannot be confirmed, said Demetris Epaminondas, vice president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association. To contain the spread, two treatment options have been considered. One is molnupiravir, an anti-Covid pill which officials say could not be authorized for use on animals in Cyprus. Another antiviral tablet, GS-441524, chemically similar to the Covid-19 treatment remdesivir, is approved for animal use in Britain and for importation to Cyprus, with restrictions. But its cost, at 3,000 to 7,000 euros (about $3,300-$7,700) per cat, is prohibitive, and there is no supply in Cyprus. Black market For weeks, Epaminondas has been trying to obtain government authorization for molnupiravir, which would cost a far more affordable 200 euros per cat. The agriculture ministry told AFP it was examining all possible means of addressing the issue through "various therapeutic preparations available on the European market". Some have resorted to clandestine methods to save their pets. "We bought our medicines on the black market online, or from Facebook groups. But we keep our suppliers secret so that we can continue to treat our animals," said one Cypriot, requesting anonymity because of the questionable legality of her actions. Vasiliki Mani, 38, a member of several animal welfare organizations, is demanding a swift solution. In January, she spent 3,600 euros to treat two stray cats with FIP. "I have spent all my savings," she said, denouncing the cruelty of "allowing animals to die" in Cyprus. If FIP continues to spread, Mani lamented, Cyprus will become "the island of dead cats". The post Viral disease killing felines on ‘cat island’ Cyprus appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Unveiling the shabu bust scandal
On 13 June, Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government announced that criminal charges have been filed against 50 police officers, including Gen. Benjamin Santos, former PNP-Drug Enforcement Group chief, and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo. The investigation leading to the charges was conducted jointly by the National Police Commission and the Philippine National Police’s Special Investigation Task Group which uncovered the officers’ alleged involvement in a coverup in the seizure of 990 kilograms of shabu worth around P6.7 billion in October 2022. They were charged with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act, the Revised Penal Code (specifically, falsification, perjury, false testimony, and malversation of public property), and Presidential Decree 1829, which deals with obstruction of justice. Much of the evidence was obtained from closed-circuit television camera footage which captured the alleged involvement of police officers in the attempt to pilfer 42 kilograms from the total 990 kilograms of shabu seized at WPD Lending, a finance company owned by Master Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo. The CCTV footage taken on 8 October 2022 corresponded to the day Mayo was apprehended during a drug operation at WPD Lending which resulted in the seizure of the 990 kilograms of shabu. What appeared to be a momentous victory for the PNP, however, quickly turned into a massive scandal seemingly straight out of the big screen. On 10 April, Secretary Abalos stepped forward to unveil a complex syndicated coverup surrounding the shabu bust. For the first time in public, he presented the CCTV footage that revealed a stark disparity between the reports filed by the PNP regarding the arrest of Mayo. This revelation, coupled with multiple reports, prompted Abalos to issue a statement exposing the “massive attempt to cover up” Mayo’s arrest and implicating certain PNP officials in the process. Subsequently, the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs and the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs initiated separate inquiries into the anomalies surrounding the drug bust. Mayo and several PNP officials were summoned to shed light on the matter during these investigations. During the congressional hearings, Congressmen Barbers and Acop were able to spot several conflicting details from the PNP officials ranging from the date, time, and place of the arrests of Mayo and his alleged accomplice, Ney Atadero. Among those questioned about the conflicting details were Brig. Gen. Narcisco Domingo Jr., Lt. Col. Julius Olonan, and Capt. Jonathan Sosongco. The three officers were among the 10 ranking officers who were placed on leave after an alleged attempt to cover up Mayo’s arrest was uncovered by the National Police Commission’s fact-finding board. Olonan claimed that only Atadero was arrested at 1 p.m. at WPD Lending in Tondo, while Mayo was arrested in Bambang. Sosongco said both Mayo and Atadero were captured at around 4 p.m. at the Western Police District. The CCTV footage, however, showed that on or about 1:40 p.m. at WPD Lending, Mayo appeared in handcuffs as he alighted from a grey SUV while being escorted by the team of Sosongco who were followed by a black sedan from which Sosongco alighted. This was in stark contrast to what was reported by the PNP that Mayo was arrested by a Captain Piñon. The CCTV footage further showed several PNP officers entering and exiting WPD Lending, carrying suitcases that were loaded into vehicles and on a motorcycle. These vehicles and the motorcycle were then driven to a nearby establishment suspected to belong to another PNP official named Jimenez, where the suitcases were believed unloaded. This Jimenez was a subordinate of Colonel Ibañez of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 4A, who was also listed in the Drug Watch list along with Mayo and Jimenez, whom Ibañez specifically asked to be part of his team. Domingo denied a coverup and said that the senior officers seen in the CCTV footage were discussing their next moves. He said efforts were being made to identify other cohorts of Mayo, recover the pilfered drugs, and cooperate with the Department of Justice in building a case against the suspects. The ramifications of these revelations led former president Rodrigo Duterte to accuse the PNP of being the “gatekeeper” of the illegal drug trade and challenged its personnel to resign. He expressed concern about the significant volume of drugs allegedly passing through the hands of the police, even reaching the level of the generals. Secretary Abalos assured Duterte and the public that they were taking action on the issue of alleged drug ties among police officers and that they were actively carrying out their responsibilities and conducting investigations into the matter. As we delve further into the shabu bust scandal, it is crucial that we remain focused on our ultimate objectives: purging the PNP of corruption, rebuilding public trust, and upholding the rule of law. He should be applauded for his courage in exposing the complicity of senior PNP officials, despite the potential risk to his personal safety from both internal and external syndicates. His unwavering resolve to root out drug connections in the PNP and restore its damaged reputation is truly commendable and deserving of our admiration. The post Unveiling the shabu bust scandal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Target of the right, George Soros hands reins to son
As George Soros passes control of his philanthropic empire to his son, the legendary investor and democracy advocate remains subject to unrelenting and often anti-Semitic attacks from the right. Under the transition, Soros, 92, will hand the reins to his 37-year-old son Alexander Soros, according to a Wall Street Journal interview with both men. The shift comes as the elder Soros remains one of the far right's favorite targets. He has been baselessly blamed for propagating migrant crises in Europe and on the southern border of the United States, as well as for orchestrating mass protests against police brutality after the 2020 killing of George Floyd. Soros's army of haters has included right-wing politicians like Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, the media figure Tucker Carlson and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, who tweeted in May 2023 that Soros "wants to erode the very fabric of civilization" and "hates humanity." Soros is known for his financing of the Open Society Foundations, which has supported reforms to liberalize economies, establish governance norms, protect minorities and refugees, and promote freedom of expression. These endeavors followed some wildly successful investment decisions, as in 1992 when Soros bet against the British pound shortly before it was devalued. A leading British newspaper dubbed Soros "the man who broke the Bank of England" over a move that allowed him to pocket $1 billion. The episode won Soros' respect in the financial world, but he also became a much-feared figure among government finance ministers. Progressive causes Born in August 1930 in Budapest, Soros's Jewish family used false papers to pass as Christian during the Nazi occupation of Hungary in 1944 and 1945. "I learned at an early age how important it is what kind of political regime prevails," Soros said in 2019. After the establishment of communism in Hungary, Soros left for London in 1947, obtaining degrees from the London School of Economics before moving to New York in 1956. Soros launched his own speculative fund in 1970, a step in building his wealth to an estimated $6.7 billion, according to Forbes; the figure does not include the $18 billion Soros transferred to his foundations in 2017. He began steering some of his wealth to philanthropy in 1979, backing Black students in apartheid-era South Africa and political dissidents in Central Europe. His activities expanded considerably after the end of the Cold War. In the United States, for example, Soros has supported the progressive side on a host of hot-button issues, including criminal justice reform, same-sex marriage, and the decriminalization of marijuana. A father of five, Soros studied in London under his mentor Karl Popper, a champion of open society and fierce critic of totalitarianism. Intensifying criticisms As Soros broadened his support of politically progressive candidates and philanthropic endeavors in the 2010s, he was met with more virulent criticism, often tinged with anti-Semitism. In 2018, following attacks by the nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Soros shuttered the Budapest branch of the OSF and moved staff to Berlin. Later that year, Soros was named Person of the Year by the Financial Times, a recognition of his role as "the standard bearer of liberal democracy and open society." But the newspaper also alluded to the ugliness of Soros's legion of haters, noting, "There are so many anti-Semitic conspiracy theories targeting Mr. Soros that it is difficult to keep count." In terms of his record in finance, Soros has experienced setbacks in addition to glory. He lost money in the 1987 stock market crash and in the 1998 Russian currency crisis. He has also found himself in the crosshairs of the law. In 2002, Soros was convicted of insider trading in France for trades of Societe Generale, and in 2009 in Hungary, in a market manipulation case. Soros's funds have continued to speculate, with investments running the gamut from new technologies to housing to physical commodities. But Soros has also spoken of the need for strict regulation of markets. Soros has described his efforts as a kind of responsibility. "My success in the financial markets has given me a greater degree of independence than most other people," he wrote in 2011. "This obliges me to take stands on controversial issues when others cannot." The post Target of the right, George Soros hands reins to son appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
George Soros passes reins to son Alexander
American investor George Soros is passing control of his multi-billion dollar foundation to his son Alexander, the 92 and 37-year-old duo said in an interview published Sunday. The Hungarian-born father told the Wall Street Journal that his son, the second youngest of five children, had "earned it." Reviled by conservatives, and often the target of anti-Semitic conspiracies, George Soros used his wealth amassed as a financier in the 1970s and 80s to create the Open Society Foundations (OSF), which support a broad arrange of causes and NGOs worldwide, ranging from good governance and democracy-building programs to liberal public policy initiatives. He has also been one of the biggest Democratic Party donors in the United States. Alexander, who goes by Alex, told the Wall Street Journal he is "more political" than his father, and that one of his top aims would be to push back against a possible second term by former president Donald Trump. "As much as I would love to get money out of politics, as long as the other side is doing it, we will have to do it, too," he said. Under his direction, the younger Soros said the OSF will continue down a similar path his father charted, pushing free speech, criminal justice reform, minority and refugee rights, and backing liberal politicians. But he also wants to embrace voting rights, abortion, and gender equity initiatives. The board of OSF had quietly elected Alex Soros as its chairman in December, the Wall Street Journal reported, adding that he is also the president of his father's "super PAC" -- a type of organization in the United States that can spend unlimited amounts of money on politics. An OSF spokesperson confirmed to AFP on Sunday that "Alex is Chair of the Open Society Foundations," without any further details on the timing of the change. The US newspaper also said he is the sole family member on the investment committee for Soros Fund Management, the firm that oversees family and foundation money. Some $125 million has been set aside for the super PAC over the coming years, while most of the $25 billion in the Soros Management Fund will be directed toward the OSF, the Wall Street Journal reported. More focused on domestic politics than the elder Soros, Alex is already focused on helping Democrats increase their appeal with Latino voters and improve Black voter turnout. "Our side has to be better about being more patriotic and inclusive," the 37-year-old said. "Just because someone votes Trump doesn't mean they’re lost or racist." The post George Soros passes reins to son Alexander appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pasay druggies fall
A minor and his companion was busted by anti-drug operatives in a buy bust operation conducted by Pasay City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Barangay 60 Zone 7, Pasay City recently. The suspects were identified as Jomarie Chester Cruz and a 16-year-old minor, both listed in the Drugs Watchlist and Street Level Individual. The 16-year-old was the subject of the operation that yielded one heat-sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu weighing more or less 5.3 grams amounting to P36,040. Also confiscated were black coin purse, genuine P500 bill and P1000 boodle money used as buy bust money. The suspects are now under the custody of Pasay City Police Station and will be facing complaints for violations of RA 9165. The post Pasay druggies fall appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»