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What’s up in the House?
The House is crumbling. This after they had a fiesta trying to impugn the proposed confidential and intelligence funds for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Speaker Martin Romualdez must be smiling from ear to ear, watching his disciples repudiate the proposed CIFs. His ever-loyal sidekick, Reginald Velasco, joined the fray by articulating Romualdez’s statement that the CIF for the OVP and DepEd would be realigned to other government agencies, making it sound like the funds had already been allocated. How can you realign something that does not exist? In short, all the sound bites from the House of Romualdez were only early and divisive politicking. In short, the Unity Ticket is now just a jumbled heap of a wreck. In the case of the ACT Teachers, Bayan and Gabriela party lists, theirs is a dire act of political survival. They have lost their influence on the mass base with the massive surrender of NPA combatants who had returned to the fold of the law. They are mad specifically at VP Inday Sara Duterte for getting rid of the CPP-NPA-NDF in Davao City, which was the first place to be declared insurgent-free. This was to be followed later by the rest of the provinces and cities in the Davao Region. Finally, the rest of Mindanao has been declared free of the CPP-NPA-NDF by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. All these developments happened because of the proper use of confidential and intelligence funds and the information gathered in the process. The commies are mad at the Vice President because it was during her incumbency as mayor that the NPAs finally lost their total grip on Davao City. Furiously mad because they were aware that the city allocated CIF funds to totally cripple and eradicate several decades of communist insurgency in the now progressive and most livable city in the country. I must, however, say here that credit should go to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the AFP. NTF-ELCAC is the task force organized by the government in 2018, whose job is to respond to and raise awareness of the communist rebellion in the country. The task force operates in tandem with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and local government units. Now, the legal fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF are extremely furious and apprehensive because VP Sara Duterte co-chairs NTF-ELCAC. That spells doom for the armed insurgents in the Philippines. As if the attacks on Sara were not enough to demonize and diminish her popularity, France Castro trivialized the warnings of former President Rodrigo Duterte against the feeble House action in dispensing with the proposed CIF allocations for the OVP and DepEd. With bravado, Castro declared she would file a case against the ex-president, comfortable in the assurance of Speaker Romualdez and House Secretary General Velasco that she would be given security. If the present House leadership believes it can further discredit VP Sara by attempting to diminish the immense and unprecedented fame and popularity of her father, then they are in for some surprises. Digong has been a virtual recluse, but now that he has been dragged into the fray, we can expect exciting fireworks. The post What’s up in the House? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sikh exile’s slay mars Canada-India ties
Canada and India expelled each other’s diplomat Tuesday after Ottawa linked a Sikh exile’s killing near Vancouver in June to Indian spies. “Today we have expelled a senior Indian diplomat from Canada,” Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in Ottawa. The diplomat was only identified as the head of the Research and Analysis Wing of India’s foreign intelligence agency in Canada. Before Joly’s announcement of the expulsion, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an emergency parliamentary session, “The involvement of any foreign government in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.” Trudeau, who was referring to Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, demanded that India cooperate in clearing the matter. New Delhi rejected the claims and said it ordered an unnamed senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country within five days. “Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd,” the ministry said in a statement, adding: “We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law.” Nijjar, whom India had declared a wanted terrorist, was gunned down on June 18 in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver that is home to a large Sikh community. Canada has the largest population of Sikhs globally outside of India. Nijjar advocated for the creation of an independent Sikh state to be carved out of parts of northern India and perhaps part of Pakistan. New Delhi had accused Nijjar of carrying out terrorist attacks in India, a charge he denied. Tensions between India and Canada have been simmering over the unsolved slaying, and Indian unhappiness over how Ottawa has handled right-wing Sikh separatists. India will join “the group of nations that assassinate political opponents” abroad, much as Saudi Arabia orchestrated the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in 2018, former Trudeau adviser Jocelyn Coulon, said. WITH AFP The post Sikh exile’s slay mars Canada-India ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go helps secure ambulance for Parañaque City
Senator Bong Go, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, recently played a pivotal role in providing an ambulance for Barangay La Huerta in Parañaque City on Monday, 28 August. Several barangays have long faced challenges when it comes to emergency medical services. The absence of a dedicated ambulance often leads to delays in medical assistance, putting the lives of residents at risk in various areas of the country. Go, understanding the gravity of the situation, took it upon himself to address this pressing issue. As vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, he was instrumental in securing the necessary funds to acquire the ambulance during the Duterte administration. There are numerous benefits of having a dedicated ambulance in the barangay including faster emergency response. With an ambulance stationed in the barangay, medical teams can reach patients much quicker, thereby reducing the time it takes to get them the medical attention they need. This is particularly crucial in cases of heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening emergencies where immediate intervention can be the difference between life and death. The ambulance is also equipped with essential medical supplies and life-saving equipment, ensuring that patients receive the best pre-hospital care possible. Aside from the ambulance, Go supported several initiatives in the city to ensure its progress amid crisis situations. Among the projects are the rehabilitation and construction of several multipurpose buildings, and the rehabilitation of drainage in Brgy. Don Bosco, and the improvement of the Parañaque River Promenade Bridge. Furthermore, Go offered to help those in need of medical care and encouraged them to get medical assistance from the Malasakit Center at Ospital ng Parañaque. Go initiated the Malasakit Centers program in 2018 after he witnessed the struggles of financially disadvantaged Filipinos in settling their medical expenses. The program, which was institutionalized in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11463, was principally authored and sponsored by Go. On the same day, Go also conducted a relief activity for 1,000 indigent students in Brgy. Don Bosco in Parañaque City. The post Bong Go helps secure ambulance for Parañaque City appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Myanmar faces war crimes case
United Nations investigators are building a war crimes case against Myanmar military and militia officials after gathering evidences of mass executions and sexual violence in the country. The UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar also found evidence of indiscriminate aerial bombardments, the burning of villages and mass killings of civilians and detained combatants, as well as torture. “Every loss of life in Myanmar is tragic, but the devastation caused to whole communities through aerial bombardments and village burnings is particularly shocking,” IIMM chief Nicholas Koumjian said in the statement. “Our evidence points to a dramatic increase in war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country, with widespread and systematic attacks against civilians, and we are building case files that can be used by courts to hold individual perpetrators responsible,” he added. The IIMM was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and prepare files for criminal prosecution. While the team has never been permitted to visit Myanmar, it said it had engaged with over 700 sources and had collected “over 23 million information items,” including witness statements, documents, photographs, videos, forensic evidence and satellite imagery. The team — already cooperating with the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court — said it “plans to accelerate its collection of evidence of the most serious international crimes.” The investigators said they were particularly looking for “linkage evidence” demonstrating responsibility of specific individuals, especially high-level officials. WITH AFP The post Myanmar faces war crimes case appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Biden’s son pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails
US President Joe Biden's son Hunter pleaded not guilty to minor tax offenses Wednesday as a deal with federal prosecutors derailed in a Delaware court. The surprise move came after Judge Maryellen Noreika raised questions over the original deal -- under which Biden had agreed to enter a guilty plea and admit to illegal gun possession -- and effectively placed it on hold. Biden, 53, whose legal troubles have cast a shadow over his father's reelection campaign, had reached an agreement with prosecutors that he would be sentenced to probation on two tax avoidance counts. The deal also specified that the firearms charge would eventually be erased if he adhered to a counseling-and-rehabilitation program. But the deal fell apart after Noreika queried why the gun charge was included in a tax case, and whether the plea agreement protected Biden from charges that might arise from a wider ongoing investigation of his business dealings, according to US media. When prosecutors could not resolve her questions, Noreika said she could not accept the deal, and Biden then entered a not guilty plea to close the session. That was expected to send the deal back to negotiations, which could become more complex. Prosecutor David Weiss confirmed to the court that his office is still examining other possible crimes by Biden. Weiss did not detail those possible crimes, but one issue mentioned in the court was possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, relating to his business deals in China, Ukraine and other countries dating back to the early 2010s, when his father was vice president. Political attacks Republicans have accused Weiss of giving Biden a "sweetheart deal" with the plea agreement announced on 20 June. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that Hunter Biden was "a private citizen. This was a personal matter." The case was "handled independently by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by President Trump," she added. The plea deal was to end a five-year investigation that Republicans have sought to use to politically harm his father Joe. According to the charges, Hunter, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018. He was facing up to 12 months in prison for each tax charge and a possible maximum 10 years on a charge that, as a known drug user, he had illegally possessed a handgun in 2018. But prosecutors recommended probation on the tax charges after Biden paid the taxes and penalties, according to his attorney. In addition, the gun charge was to be suspended and then eliminated if Biden completed "pretrial diversion," which often involves counseling or rehabilitation. That would require Biden to remain sober as the charges arise from a long period when he says he struggled with addiction to alcohol, crack cocaine and other drugs. "The president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life," Jean-Pierre said. The post Biden’s son pleads not guilty on tax charges as deal derails appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Drone attack wounds video journalist
An Agence France-Presse video journalist was wounded by a drone attack while reporting at a Ukrainian artillery position on Monday, AFP reporters who witnessed the explosion said. Dylan Collins, an American citizen based in Lebanon but on assignment in Ukraine, sustained multiple shrapnel injuries in the attack in a forested area near the southern Ukraine region of Bakhmut. He was evacuated to a nearby hospital where he was being treated and doctors have said his condition was not life-threatening. Collins, 35, is conscious and speaking to colleagues. “We are investigating the full circumstances behind this incident. Our thoughts are with Dylan and his loved ones,” AFP’s Europe Director Christine Buhagiar said in a statement. Bakhmut has been at the epicenter of the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The city fell into Russian hands in May after a battle that lasted nearly a year. Since the start of a counteroffensive in June, Ukrainian forces have been advancing slowly to the north and south of Bakhmut in an attempt to surround Russian forces and eventually re-take the city. The attacks along Bakhmut’s flanks run into stiff Russian defenses and minefields. Collins has been working for AFP since 2018 and is currently the agency’s video coordinator for Lebanon and Syria. He has made regular trips to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in February last year and was in the capital Kyiv in first days of the assault. Collins has worked extensively in Middle East conflict zones and covered the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war for AFP. AFP video journalist Arman Soldin was killed aged 32 by Russian rocket fire near Bakhmut in May. Russia hikes ammo production Meanwhile, Russia said Monday it had dramatically increased production of ammunition and military equipment, as its offensive in Ukraine enters its 18th month. “Since the beginning of this year, many types of weapons and military equipment are being produced in quantities far above last year,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov said. “In terms of munitions, we are reaching a level where deliveries in a month exceed last year’s total orders,” Manturov said. Western sanctions have sought to hinder Moscow’s ability to restock by banning exports of machine parts and electronic components that could be used on the battlefield. But analysts say Russia has circumvented some sanctions by importing through third countries. Last week, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine was using from 5,000 to 10,000 of one type of shell daily. WITH AFP The post Drone attack wounds video journalist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
6 killed in China kindergarten attack
BEIJING, China (AFP) -- Six people were killed and one wounded in an attack at a kindergarten in southern China’s Guangdong province on Monday, a spokeswoman for the city government said. “The victims include one teacher, two parents and three students,” she said. She did not offer details about the identities or ages of the victims, nor the weapon used in the attack, which took place in the city of Lianjiang. “One suspect has been arrested,” she said, adding that a police investigation was underway. The suspect was a 25-year-old male surnamed Wu, local police said in a statement. The incident took place around 7:40 am (2340 GMT on Sunday), the state-backed China News Network reported. Videos shot by passersby claiming to show the crime scene were removed from video-sharing platform Douyin and Twitter-like Weibo. While guns are strictly controlled, China has been struggling with a spate of mass stabbings. Violent crime has been on the rise as the economy has grown in recent decades and the gap between rich and poor has widened rapidly. Spate of attacks Fatal attacks targeting students and schools have occurred nationwide in recent years. The attacks have forced authorities to step up security and prompted calls for more research into the root causes of such violent acts. Last August, three people were killed and six others wounded in a knife attack at a kindergarten in southeast China’s Jiangxi province. In April 2021, two children were killed and 16 others wounded when a knife-wielding man entered a kindergarten in southern China. In June of the previous year, 37 students and two adults were wounded by a knife-wielding attacker at a primary school in southern China. And in November 2019, a man climbed a kindergarten wall in southwest Yunnan province and sprayed people with a corrosive liquid, wounding 51 of them, mostly students. The same year, eight schoolchildren died and two others were wounded in a “school-related criminal case” in the central Hubei province, with a 40-year-old man arrested. And in April 2018, a 28-year-old man killed nine college students and injured 12 others outside their school in the northern province of Shaanxi. The attacker later said he acted out of revenge after being harassed by a student at the same school. The post 6 killed in China kindergarten attack appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Garland denies Hunter Biden probe being interfered with
US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday denied allegations that the Justice Department interfered with an investigation of President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter. Prosecutors announced earlier this week that Hunter Biden had reached a plea deal on minor tax and gun charges with the US Attorney in his home state of Delaware. Hunter Biden is due to appear in court on 26 July after agreeing to plead guilty to two federal tax charges and admitting to illegally possessing a gun despite having a history of drug use. A whistleblower from the Internal Revenue Service alleged in testimony before the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee released this week that the Justice Department headed by Garland had slowed the probe into Hunter Biden. Garland, in remarks to reporters on Friday, noted that the US Attorney in Delaware, David Weiss, had been appointed by former President Donald Trump, a Republican. Garland said he personally had given Weiss the authority to continue his investigation into Hunter Biden and “prosecute any way in which he wanted to.” Joe Biden’s son is also facing one count of illegal possession of a firearm. “I don’t know how it would be possible for anybody to block him from bringing a prosecution given that he has this authority,” the attorney general said. “He was given complete authority to make all decisions on his own.” Hunter Biden, 53, is the only surviving child of Joe Biden’s first marriage, which tragically ended in 1972 when his wife and baby daughter were killed in a car accident. Hunter Biden’s business dealings, especially during the time his father was vice president, have been a major target of Joe Biden’s political opponents, and continue to be probed by congressional Republicans. Hunter Biden became a regular focus of Trump’s attacks ahead of the November 2020 presidential election for his work in Ukraine and China. In his memoir, “Beautiful Things,” Hunter Biden insisted he has never done anything unethical and dismissed allegations that he displayed a lack of judgment by accepting a lucrative position on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was Barack Obama’s vice president. Under the plea agreement, Hunter Biden is unlikely to face prison time but will be sentenced to probation. According to the charges, Hunter Biden, a Yale-trained lawyer and lobbyist, failed to file his tax returns on time on earnings of more than $1.5 million for 2017 and 2018. In both years, he owed more than $100,000 in taxes on those earnings. Hunter Biden is also facing one count of “possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.” Hunter Biden has admitted having drug problems in the past and detailed his struggles with crack cocaine in his 2021 memoir, released months after his father took office. Hunter Biden and his wife attended a state dinner at the White House on Thursday for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Asked about his attendance at the event, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “it is not uncommon for family members to attend events at the White House.” The post Garland denies Hunter Biden probe being interfered with 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......»»
Lebanese ambassador in France accused of rape, violence
Lebanon's ambassador to France, Rami Adwan, has been investigated for rape and intentional violence following complaints by two former embassy employees, informed sources said Friday confirming a Mediapart report. A first woman, aged 31, filed her complaint in June 2022 for a rape she says was committed in May 2020 in the ambassador's private apartment. According to her deposition seen by AFP, she made clear her lack of interest in having sex and that she screamed and burst into tears. The woman, who was working as an editor, had already reported to police in 2020 that Adwan, in his post since 2017, had struck her during an argument in his office. She did not, however, file a complaint as she did not wish to "break the life of this man," married and a father. According to the complaint, she had a "loving relationship" with the ambassador who carried out "psychological and physical violence with daily humiliations". The second woman, aged 28, had for her part embarked on a relationship with the ambassador shortly after she arrived as an intern in 2018. She made a complaint last February following an alleged series of physical attacks she says resulted after she turned down sexual relations. The second woman claims Adwan tried to hit her with his car after an argument on the sidelines of last year's Normandy World Peace Forum. She further accused the ambassador of trying to strangle her at her home last December by pressing her face to her bed. "My client contests all accusations of aggression in any shape or form: verbal, moral, sexual," Adwan's lawyer Karim Beylouni told AFP. "Between 2018 and 2022, he had with these two women romantic relationships punctuated by arguments and breakups," Beylouni said. An informed source said the Paris judicial police had closed the case. Asked by AFP to comment, the Paris prosecutor's office said it was not immediately in a position to do so. In addition, Adwan enjoys diplomatic immunity. The post Lebanese ambassador in France accused of rape, violence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Farmers’ group concerned over midnight arrests in Bohol
FARDEC denounces to the highest degree this series of attacks that harks back to Negros Island's Synchronized Enhanced Managing of Police Operations (SEMPO) that massacred innocent farmers in 2018 and 2019. Tabada is a barangay councilor and leader of esteemed commitment that greatly helped (in the) implementation of our projects for peasant communities in Bohol. The post Farmers’ group concerned over midnight arrests in Bohol appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Cavite declares state of calamity due to pertussis outbreak
The province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan declared a state of calamity on Wednesday, according to the Cavite’s information office......»»
PRO-Davao no idea of Quiboloy’s whereabouts
THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) has responded to the accusations of Makabayan ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro that they are “clueless about the whereabouts of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy”......»»
Oplan Harabas yields 3 drivers positive for drugs
FOLLOWING the surprise drug test conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on public utility vehicles (PUVs) last March 26, 2024, two taxi drivers in Davao City were found to be positive for drugs......»»
New DCPO chief pledges technology-driven approach
THE new director of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) underscored the utilization of technology to streamline their operations......»»
Negros Occidental health office urges masking amid pertussis threat
The Negros Occidental provincial health office is campaigning for the use of face masks amid the threat of pertussis or ”whooping cough.”.....»»
Makati swelters with 43.5 degrees heat index
The heat index in Makati yesterday reached a “dangerous” level of 43.5 degrees Celsius, according to the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office......»»
DOTr: 2.2 million more plastic cards to be delivered
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista inspected yesterday the one million delivered plastic cards to be used for the printing of driver’s licenses, at the Land Transportation Office central office in Quezon City......»»
Cebu bus terminals: 100,000 passengers expected on March 27
CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least 100,000 passengers are expected to flock to two of the biggest bus terminals here in Cebu for the Holy Week this year. As early as 7 a.m. on Holy Wednesday, dozens already queued for buses at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT) in the North Reclamation Area. READ MORE:.....»»
Danao City ‘gun maker’ nabbed in raid
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 39-year-old man, who was accused of the illegal manufacture of guns, was arrested in a raid in his residence in Sitio Sapangdako, Barangay Matija, Danao City in northern Cebu, Tuesday dawn, March 26. In a report, the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) said that the raid was based on a.....»»