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‘Taj Mahal’ of Negros Occidental
“Ancient ruins,” said Mary Jo Arnoldi, chair of the anthropology department at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, “give us a connection to the past that’s visceral. This was a real place, and you can walk through it.” This could be why Raymund Javellana, the man who wanted The Ruins, which is listed by oddee.com as “one 12 most fascinating ruins of the world,” restored to its former glory. The Ruins was a mansion built in Talisay City, Negros Occidental. “I am so glad that it was not destroyed completely. With the blessings of The Lord, we were able to restore the mansion itself. I challenge people who keep on destroying the old structures to please stop and make some good use of it,” Javellana said when he accepted the award for The Ruins as Best Destination (Heritage Sites category) at the first Choose Philippines Awards in 2016. Javellana is the great-grandson of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson, the Negrense sugar baron who built the mansion for love. How the mansion came to be Love, goes a famous song, comes from the most unexpected places. This is what happened to Mariano Ledesma Lacson, a sugar baron from Negros. The most-sought after bachelor was visiting Hong Kong with a friend when he met Maria Braga, a Portuguese lady from Macau and daughter of a ship captain. Smitten by her beauty, he courted her earnestly until she said yes. To make the long story short, they got married and he brought her to his ancestral house in Talisay, where they raised their family together. Children came after one another: Victoria, Rafael (who later became the governor of Negros Occidental), Mercedes, Natividad, Sofia, Felipe (who became a mayor of Talisay), Consolacion, Angelina, Ramon and Eduardo. Maria was pregnant with their 11th child when she slipped in the bathroom. She was bleeding; her condition was so precarious that traveling outside of the house was out of question. Mariano summoned some of his men to get a resident doctor from a nearby town. He told them to use a horse-drawn carriage, then the fastest mode of transportation. It was the 1920s and it took two days to traverse the various sugar farms to Silay. By the time the doctor arrived, on the fourth day, Maria and her child were dead. Mariano was so devastated, he went into a depression for a time m. Yet knowing he still had children needing his attention, he began to focus instead on building a house in memory of his beloved wife. He consulted his father-in-law about the idea, who fully supported his plans. Being a ship captain, he brought in many items from Europe and China — ranging from machuca or handmade custom cement tiles, chandeliers and china wares. He even brought with him some construction workers from China just to help build the mansion. A local builder was entrusted to make the design and building specifications. Mariano asked his son Felipe to supervise the project and ensure an A-grade mixture of concrete was precisely poured. The marble-like effect of high-grade concrete can be felt by touching the posts and walls of what remains now of the mansion. The entire property has a floor area of 900 square meters: 450 sq.m. upstairs and the same on the lower ground. Ten rooms occupied the mansion: eight for children, a Master’s bedroom and a family room. The house was of Italianate architecture as evidenced by its neo-Romanesque columns all around. “Since the engineer was a Filipino, it is believed the design came from that of Maria’s ancestral mansion which was given by her father to Mariano as sample,” an inflight magazine said. “The imprimatur of Maria’s father, a ship captain, is now clear from the shell-inspired décor all around the top edges of the mansion – the same ones that identified the homes of ship captains in New England at that time.” It took about three years to finish the Don Mariano Lacson Mansion. Because it was built out of a husband’s devotion to his wife, Javellana likens it to the Taj Mahal, a white marble mausoleum built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife. The initials engraved on every post of the mansion — two Ms facing each other — stand for Mariano and Maria. [caption id="attachment_134716" align="aligncenter" width="525"] The two M's facing each other stand for Mariano and Maria.[/caption] At that time, the mansion was the largest residential structure ever built in the area. It was constructed at the center of a 440-hectare farm. The Lacson family lived in the mansion happily, but it was not “ever after” as Japanese forces invaded the country in December 1941 after Japan’s declaration of war upon the United States, which controlled the Philippines at the time and possessed important military bases. In anticipation of the war, the Lacson family fled their home. They left behind all their furniture, china wares, home décor and some personal belongings, locked up the place and left a caretaker to watch over the mansion. The soldiers of the US Armed Forces in the Far East came to the place. Sensing that it might be used as headquarters of the Japanese troops, it was decided that it would be burned just like other big houses in the area. While it took three years to build the mansion, it took only three days to consume all of its roofs, ceilings, two-inch wooden floors, doors and windows, which were all made of hardwood of tindalo, narra and kamagong. Still, the three-day inferno was not able to flatten the whole mansion. Thanks to its oversize steel bars and the meticulous way of pouring A-grade mixture of concrete, the skeletal frame remains. The four-tiered fountain in front of what remains of the mansion makes it a perfect replica of the ancient homes with spacious gardens – like those you see in the old city of Savannah, Georgia in the United States. Joy Gallera Malaga, an independent writer who visited the place, wrote: “And most likely you would appreciate the mansion even if it was already reduced to its skeletal frame, or maybe it is its present condition that adds to its character and beauty. That’s the charm of old structures; it invites you to engage in an experience just by being there, getting to know it better through the stories it continues to tell.” [caption id="attachment_134715" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Water fountain.[/caption] Love and legacy Filipinos would have never seen The Ruins – which was abandoned for 67 years! – had it not been for Javellana. He is the son of Ramon, who was the son of Mercedes, the daughter of Mariano. Raymund had a travel agency in Manila when his mother requested him to come back to Negros and help her manage their sugar plantations. He now settles in Silay but in one of his trips to Talisay, he saw the abandoned mansion, which is located in Hacienda Sta. Maria. He decided to make it one of the province’s tourist attractions. Although people were not too keen about the idea, Javellana pursued his plans. In January 2008, he opened The Ruins to the public. People flocked to the place. Aside from being a tourist attraction, The Ruins is fast becoming a favorite venue for weddings and photo shoots. It was a good Javellana, inspired by his father and their forebears, kept his dream alive, never giving up on it. That’s love. The post ‘Taj Mahal’ of Negros Occidental appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Safe return of 17 Pinoy seafarers seen – DMW
The Department of Migrant Workers has assured the families of the 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Yemen’s Houthi armed group in the Red Sea last week that the agency is doing its best for their safe return to the Philippines......»»
NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Soldiers killed the leader of the Sendong guerilla front of the New People’s Army and captured another during an encounter in the forested areas of Jimenez town in Misamis Occidental. The soldier also recovered several high-powered firearms at the encounter site in Barangay Carmen, Jimenez. Tabak Division Commander Maj. Gen. Gabriel Viray III said yesterday that soldiers from the 10th Infantry Battalion, operating under the Task Unit “Eradicator” of the 102nd Infantry Brigade, engaged the rebels in a firefight. Viray identified the leader of the guerilla front as Michael Cabayag, also known as “Teddy.” He was killed during the encounter. Viray also identified the arrested NPA as Armida Nabicis, alias “Yumi.” Among the high-caliber firearms recovered by the military at the encounter site were an M16 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher, one CZ rifle, and one M653 carbine. Also recovered were the personal belongings of the NPA rebels. According to Viray, soldiers acted on a report of armed men roaming around the village. Lt. Col. Jose Andre R. Monje immediately dispatched a team of soldiers to the area, and an encounter immediately ensued between the NPA and the soldiers. “Our commitment goes beyond the battlefield. We will ensure that alias Teddy is properly turned over to his family, respecting the principles of compassion and humanity in this challenging situation,” Monje said. Viray also expressed his gratitude to the concerned citizen for providing the soldiers with critical information about the NPA-Terrorist presence in their area. The post NPA leader killed in Misamis encounter appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Colombian gets life sentence in US over killing of Haiti’s president
A US court sentenced a retired Colombian military officer to life in prison for his role in the assassination of Haiti's president in 2021. The United States says it has jurisdiction in the case because it alleges the plot to kill President Jovenel Moise was hatched in part in the US. German Rivera, considered one of the leaders of the mercenary squad that shot and killed Moise in his residence outside Port au Prince, appeared before Judge Jose Martinez to hear the sentence. Rivera, a retired captain, pleaded guilty last month to taking part in the plan. On Friday, dressed in brown prison garb, with his feet and wrists bound, Rivera passed on an opportunity to address the court before the sentence was read out. He was the second person convicted in the United States over the assassination, which plunged Haiti -- already plagued by poverty, gang violence, natural disasters, epidemics, and a weak government -- further into crisis. In June, another member of the conspiracy, Haitian-Chilean Rodolphe Jaar, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison for his role in supplying weapons to carry out the assassination. The 53-year-old Jovenel was gunned down on 7 July 2021 at his private residence by a hired group of about 20 military-trained Colombians. His security detail did not intervene to protect him. In February, US Attorney Markenzy Lapointe told a new conference that underlying the attack on Jovenel was a lust for money and power. Lapointe said two managers of a Miami security firm, CTU, devised a plan to kidnap Moise and replace him with Christian Sanon, a Haitian-American citizen who wanted to become president of the Caribbean country. In exchange for toppling Moise, they were promised lucrative contracts to build infrastructure and provide security forces and military equipment in a future government led by Sanon, also indicted in the United States, prosecutors said. The plot at first was aimed at kidnapping Moise, but then evolved to assassination, according to court filings. In Haiti a probe into the assassination has not led to anyone being put on trial. Haiti has spiraled into deeper chaos since Moise's death. No election has been held and he has not been succeeded. Gangs control around 80 percent of the Haitian capital, and violent crimes such as kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery and carjackings continue to escalate in the impoverished Caribbean nation. The post Colombian gets life sentence in US over killing of Haiti’s president appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Casualties on Israel-Lebanon border as army trades fire with Hezbollah
Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border Saturday as the army traded fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas. Israel already ordered the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a border town which is home to some 25,000 people, as the border area has come fire from Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions. In Lebanon, Hezbollah said one of its fighters had been killed while in Israel, two Thai farm workers were wounded, emergency services said. A senior Hezbollah official warned that the movement stood ready to step up its involvement as Israel masses troops on the Gaza border, vowing to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas in response to its shock cross-border attacks on October 7. "Let's be clear, as events unfold, if something comes up that calls for greater intervention by us, we will do so," said Hezbollah number two Naim Qassem. In northern Israel, a strike in the Margaliot area of the border wounded two Thai farm workers, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said. One was wounded in the chest, the other sustained a limb injury, the service said. There are around 30,000 Thai labourers in Israel, many working in the agricultural sector. Since October 7, exchanges of fire across the border have killed at least four people in Israel -- three soldiers and one civilian. In southern Lebanon, at least 23 people have been killed. Most have been combatants, but at least four civilians, including a Reuters journalist, have also been killed. Saturday's exchanges came as Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant visited the northern border, where he called on troops to remain "vigilant". "Hezbollah has decided to participate in the fighting, and is paying a price for it. We must be vigilant and prepare for every possible (scenario). Great challenges await us," Gallant said. The Shiite Muslim Hezbollah movement, Lebanon's only armed faction that did not disarm after the 1975-1990 civil war, fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006. That war left more than 1,200 dead in Lebanon, mostly civilians, and 160 dead in Israel, mostly soldiers, in a conflict that left the border bristling with guns. The post Casualties on Israel-Lebanon border as army trades fire with Hezbollah appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion
Thousands of tonnes of "life and death" aid for Gaza should be delivered soon, the United Nations said Friday, to relieve a "beyond catastrophic" situation after unrelenting Israeli bombing in response to an unprecedented Hamas attack. Some 175 lorries stuffed with vital medicines, food, and water stretched into the distance at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which has removed concrete roadblocks and is scrambling to repair the route into besieged Gaza -- the only one not controlled by Israel. Overseeing operations personally, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters: "These trucks are not just trucks, they are a lifeline, they are the difference between life and death for so many people in Gaza." Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the Islamist militant group launched a shock raid from the Gaza Strip on October 7, killing at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians shot, mutilated or burned to death, according to Israeli officials. Hamas gunmen also kidnapped some 200 hostages including foreigners from around two dozen countries. The Islamist group said Friday that its armed wing had released two Americans among the captives, a mother and her daughter, the first fruit of mediation efforts by the Gulf state of Qatar. The Islamist group did not detail how or when the hostages were released. The Israeli military said earlier Friday that most of those abducted to Gaza were still alive. It said more than 20 were minors. In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli bombers have levelled entire city blocks in Gaza in preparation for a ground invasion they say is coming soon. The Hamas-run health ministry said 4,137 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have died in the onslaught. Israeli jets pounded more than 100 Hamas targets in Gaza overnight, the army said, with AFP reporters hearing loud explosions and witnessing plumes of smoke billowing from the northern Gaza Strip. Embracing front-line soldiers and clad in body armour, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to "fight like lions" and "win with full force". Fists clenched and voice raised, Netanyahu told cheering troops: "We will deal harsh blows to our enemies in order to achieve victory." Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told some of the tens of thousands of personnel preparing the ground invasion that "the order will come soon". 'Beyond catastrophic' US President Joe Biden said Friday he expected the first aid for Gaza to pass through the Rafah crossing from Egypt within the next two days, under a deal he clinched to allow in 20 trucks of supplies for civilians. Medicine, water purifiers and blankets were being unloaded at El Arish airport near Gaza, an AFP reporter saw, with Ahmed Ali, head of the Egyptian Red Crescent, saying he was getting "two to three planes of aid a day". But World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said Biden's 20-truck deal was "a drop in the ocean of need" and that 2,000 trucks were required. The UN says more than one million of Gaza's 2.4 million people are displaced, with the humanitarian situation "beyond catastrophic" and deteriorating daily. Refugees from northern Gaza told harrowing tales of bombs, profiteering and extreme temperatures as whole families trekked on foot to flee the violence. Mother of seven Fadwa Al-Najjar walked for 10 hours with her family from northern Gaza to reach a UN camp in the southern city of Khan Yunis, saying she saw cars hit by a strike just in front of them. "We saw bodies and limbs torn off and we just started praying, thinking we were going to die," she said. 'It's unimaginable' On the other side of the conflict, the full horror of what Israel suffered on October 7 and following days was still emerging, as traumatised residents recounted their stories. Shachar Butler, a security chief at the Nir Oz kibbutz, where Hamas militants killed or kidnapped a quarter of the 400 residents, recalls more than a dozen gunmen spraying bullets indiscriminately and lobbing grenades at homes. "It's unimaginable," the 40-year-old told AFP as part of a trip organised by the Israeli military. "Anytime someone tried to touch my window, I shot him," he said. "The people who came out got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered." Butler estimated as many as 200 militants attacked the kibbutz, entering from three sides before going house-to-house. Homes there were still charred with burnt personal belongings strewn everywhere. Israel says around 1,500 Hamas fighters were killed in clashes before its army regained control. 'No safe place' Biden requested a massive $105 billion security package Friday, including $14 billion for Israel, but paralysis in the still speakerless Congress means it will hit an immediate wall. Fresh from a whirlwind trip to Israel this week, Biden is hoping to staunch the possibility of a wider Middle East war. The United States has moved two aircraft carriers into the eastern Mediterranean to deter Iran or Lebanon's Hezbollah, both Hamas allies, from getting involved. After days of clashes with Hezbollah fighters along the Lebanese border, Israeli authorities announced the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a nearby town which is home to some 25,000 residents, many of whom have already left. The conflict has inflamed passions across the region, with protests held in several countries. Thousands flooded into Egypt's iconic Tahrir Square in support of Gaza, an AFP correspondent said. Protests were also held outside the French and US embassies in Tunis. Following a strike at a church compound late Thursday, the Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several people sheltering at the church were killed and wounded, blaming an Israeli strike. The Israeli army acknowledged a church wall had been damaged in one of its air strikes targeting a "command and control centre belonging to a Hamas terrorist". "This place is dedicated for praying, a place of love and peace," said witness Abu Khalil Jahshan. "There is no safe place here in Gaza." The post Gazans await ‘life and death’ aid, Israel readies invasion appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Filipino reported injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration or OWWA confirmed that a Filipino was reported injured in the ongoing war in Israel. This was confirmed by OWWA Deputy Administrator Arnell Ignacio in an interview adding that the injured Filipino is now recovering at a hospital. “These are purely reports, but I think you are referring to Joey Pasulingan. If I’m not mistaken, Joey is currently in the hospital. If you are referring to him, he was hit by a bullet and he is now recovering,” Ignacio said. Hamas launched its most severe attack on Israel on Saturday firing rockets and sending armed men to several Israeli cites. At least 22 people died in the said war. Israeli’s Home Front Command declared a “state of war alert” after the incident. As the army reported combat with the militants in several Israeli cities and military bases near Gaza, Israel claimed the Iran-backed group had declared war. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to take action in response. According to a report from Agence France-Presse, the number of those killed in the attacks increased to around 1,000 as claimed by the officials on both sides on Sunday. The post Filipino reported injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration
Palestinian militants have begun a "war" against Israel, the country's defense minister said Saturday after a barrage of rockets were fired and fighters from the Palestinian enclave infiltrated Israel, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Violence between Israel and the Palestinians has been surging for almost two years, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank hitting a scale not seen in years. At least two people were killed in Israel, officials said. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Palestinian militant group Hamas has "launched a war against the State of Israel." "Troops are fighting against the enemy at every location," he said in a statement. AFP journalists said Israel's military began air strikes on Gaza, following the rocket barrage from inside the territory which is sealed off from Israel by a militarized border barrier. "Dozens of IDF fighter jets are currently striking a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the military said. Rockets had earlier streamed across the sky repeatedly after the first launches from multiple locations across the Palestinian territory from 6:30 am (0330 GMT), AFP journalists in Gaza City reported. The armed wing of Hamas, which controls Gaza, said it was behind the aerial assault, saying its militants had launched thousands of rockets and its fighters seized an Israeli tank. Israel's army did not immediately comment on the tank claim when contacted by AFP. Israeli security chiefs convened over the violence, which occurred on Shabbat and during a Jewish holiday. Air raid sirens wailed across southern and central Israel, and the army urged people to stay near bomb shelters. AFP journalists in Jerusalem heard multiple rockets being intercepted by Israeli air defense systems. Sirens blared across the city on more occasions than in any Gaza conflict in the past three years. "We decided to put an end to all the crimes of the occupation (Israel). Their time for rampaging without being held accountable is over," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said. "We announce Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and we fired, in the first strike of 20 minutes, more than 5,000 rockets." Hundreds of Gazans flee Hundreds of residents fled their homes in eastern Gaza to move away from the border with Israel, an AFP correspondent said. Men, women and children carrying blankets and food left their homes, mostly in the northeastern part of the territory, the reporter said. Israel's military said Hamas launched "massive shooting of rockets", while at the same time "terrorists infiltrated into Israeli territory in a number of different locations". Hamas "will face the consequences and responsibility for these events", it said in a statement. In Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, some Palestinian residents cheered and blew their car horns as sirens blared. A regional council for Israeli communities northeast of Gaza said its president was killed in an exchange of fire with attackers from Gaza. Separately, a woman in her 60s was killed "due to a direct hit" in Israel, the Magen David Adom emergency services said. Fifteen others were wounded, two of them seriously, medics said. An AFP photographer in the coastal city of Tel Aviv saw a gaping hole in a building, with residents gathered outside. Hamas calls to 'join battle' Hamas called on "the resistance fighters in the West Bank" as well as "our Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle, in a statement posted on Telegram. The United States condemned the Hamas fire and urged "all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks." "Terror and violence solve nothing," the US Office of Palestinian Affairs wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007 after Hamas took power. Palestinian militants and Israel have fought several devastating wars since. The latest violence follows heightened tensions in September, when Israel closed the border to Gazan workers for two weeks. The shutdown of the crossing came as Palestinian demonstrators along the border burned tires and threw rocks and petrol bombs at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas and live bullets. Resuming workers' passage on 28 September had raised hopes of calming the situation in impoverished Gaza, home to 2.3 million people. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire killed 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. So far this year at least 247 Palestinians, 32 Israelis and two foreigners have been killed in the conflict, including combatants and civilians on both sides, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials. The vast majority of fatalities have occurred in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. There has been a rise in army raids, Palestinian attacks targeting Israelis and Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property. The rising violence this year came against the backdrop of divisive judicial reforms introduced by the hard-right government of President Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies. Several far-right ministers in Netanyahu's cabinet live in West Bank settlements deemed illegal under international law. The post Israel says at ‘war’ after rocket barrages, militant infiltration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quezon City: No truth to armed robberies
he Quezon City government yesterday denied circulating social media posts about supposed incidents of armed robbery affecting several establishments in the city......»»
Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border
The Israeli army launched a drone strike on the Gaza Strip on Saturday after violent protests in which three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, sources on both sides said. The early evening strike is one of a series that has come amid near-daily protests at the border by Palestinians after Israel closed the Erez crossing from Gaza. A drone "struck a military post belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization, adjacent to the area where a violent riot was taking place", the army said. It added that "shots were fired toward" Israeli soldiers near the border during the strike, without reporting any casualties. A Palestinian security source told AFP that an "Israeli aircraft had targeted a Hamas surveillance site east of Gaza City", without mentioning any casualties. Earlier in the day, Palestinian demonstrators faced off against Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, an AFP journalist reported. Demonstrators set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Three Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel has imposed an air, land and sea blockade on the impoverished Palestinian enclave ever since the Islamist group Hamas seized control in 2007. Thousands of Palestinian workers from Gaza have been prevented from entering Israel by the closure of the Erez crossing, which an Israeli NGO, Gisha, condemned as "collective punishment". Israel has issued work permits to some 18,500 Gazans, COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, said on Tuesday. Since September 13, six Palestinians have been killed and nearly 100 wounded during violence at the border, according to figures from the health ministry in Gaza. Armed conflict sporadically erupts between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip. In May, an exchange of Israeli air strikes and Gaza rocket fire resulted in the deaths of 34 Palestinians and one Israeli. The post Israel strikes Gaza again amid new violence at border appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Samar encounter leaves NPA member dead
CATBALOGAN CITY — An alleged member of the communist New People’s Army was killed in an encounter with government troops in the hinterlands of Barangay Anongo, Catubig, Northern Samar. A report from the 8th Infantry Division said the still unidentified man was killed when a team from the 20th Infantry Battalion chanced upon 10 NPA members on patrol, touching off a 10-minute gunbattle. The military said the killed NPA guerilla was a member of Front Committee 15, Sub-Regional Committee ARCTIC, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee who was abandoned by his fleeing comrades. The soldiers recovered from the encounter site four backpacks, a 30-round magazine assembly, an M203 empty shell, seven rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, subversive documents, and other personal belongings. Lt. Colonel Joemar Buban, commanding officer of the 20th IB, called on the remnants of the communist group in Northern Samar to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the law. Catubig Mayor Solomon Vicencio thanked the Philippine Army and the government for trying to end the local communist armed conflict in Northern Samar. Meanwhile, the 8th Infantry Division Commander, Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo also expressed his condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased CNT. The post Samar encounter leaves NPA member dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PNP Hotline 911 nets suspected robber
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District, Novaliches Police Station PS 4 under P/Lt. Col. Jerry Castillo responded to a call from Hotline 911 early morning Monday, and arrested an unidentified man for robbery (akyat bahay), alarm and scandal, and direct assault of a police officer. It was reported that at 2:30 a.m. of 11 September, victim Felnarie Jolo, was sleeping inside their house at Block 2, Lot 16, Amethyst Street, Goodwill Homes, Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. Jolo was reportedly awakened by a loud noise from their galvanized roof. She checked and saw the suspect armed with bladed weapon. She approached the man but became unruly causing fear and disturbance in the area. At that instance, the PS 4 also received a telephone call from emergency hotline 911 regarding an akyat-bahay incident. PS 4 personnel immediately responded to verify the report and spotted the unruly suspect with the bladed weapon. As police officers approached and tried to pacify the suspect to surrender his bladed weapon, but he suddenly stabbed one of the police officers hitting his left hand. With this dangerous situation, the cop drew his service firearm, shot the suspect and arrested him. The wounded police officer was rushed to Novaliches District Hospital while the wounded suspect to Quezon City General Hospital for medical treatment. The post PNP Hotline 911 nets suspected robber appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
World pledges help to quake-hit Morocco
Morocco said late Sunday it was accepting offers from just four countries: Britain, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, after the earthquake that has killed more than 2,100 people. But countries around the world have lined up to offer to help Morocco. International aid agencies The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has released over $1 million from its emergency disaster fund to support the Moroccan Red Crescent's work on the ground. "The next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in terms of saving lives," the global humanitarian network warned on Saturday, adding that help could be needed for months or even years. Spain Spain on Sunday sent 86 military rescuers and eight search dogs to Morocco after receiving a formal request for help from Rabat. A first team, from the armed forces Emergencies Unit, took off in an A400 military plane bound for Marrakesh to "help in the search and rescue of survivors", the defense ministry said. Another military plane took off from a base in Torrejon de Ardoz near Madrid, an interior ministry spokesman said. Qatar Qatar said it was also sending a rescue team. France A team of French volunteer firefighters has arrived in Morocco and President Emmanuel Macron said more, substantial assistance was available, should Morocco request it. "We have mobilized all technical and security teams to be able to intervene when the Moroccan authorities deem it useful." United States The United States has told Morocco it is "ready to provide significant assistance" including search and rescue teams. "We are also ready to release funds at the right time that can help the Moroccans recover and deal with this horrific tragedy," Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer said. "The United States will be with them at every step of the way when they are ready to avail themselves of what we have to offer," he added. Switzerland Switzerland has offered to provide temporary shelters, water treatment and distribution equipment, sanitation facilities, and hygiene kits. Belgium Belgium has offered help including medical teams and field hospitals. The Flanders region, home to a large Moroccan community, said it would provide 200,000 euros ($214,270) in emergency aid through the Red Cross, while the Wallonia region has pledged to provide 500,000 euros. Italy Italy has offered the help of its civil protection agency and fire service, while the Italian Catholic Church has sent 300,000 euros ($321,400) in aid through NGO Caritas Italy. Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday stressed Italy's "willingness to contribute to the complex rescue work". Turkey Turkey has offered to send 265 rescue workers and 1,000 tents. Poland and Israel Poland and Israel said they were ready to provide assistance including search and rescue teams. Iraq and Jordan Iraq and Jordan have offered to provide all possible forms of assistance to Morocco. Organizations The heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Union, and the European Commission, together with the presidents of France and India, pledged in a joint statement to "mobilize our technical and financial tools and assistance" to help Morocco. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca "pledged over $1 million to support immediate humanitarian relief efforts with leading global non-profit humanitarian partners and through matching of employee donations". The post World pledges help to quake-hit Morocco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CdO, my second home
Cagayan de Oro City is fast turning out to be no different from other fast developing metropolises. Quotidian concerns like horrendous traffic, crime, political maneuverings (with the Barangay/Sangguniang Kabataan Elections barely a month away), bickering in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and similar problems of an urban area are common. A year has passed since the new leadership of the city took over, but we don’t see the problems abating. With a full plate before them, the administrators must work double time before their terms of office expire. When the pandemic struck, we sort of evacuated to and settled in the city. It is now a second home to us after our house in Marawi was bombed and ransacked during the 2017 siege (I still have to file my claim for compensation before the Marawi Compensation Board as provided by law). We were a constant visitor to the city and are familiar with its geography. It has always been a choice weekend hideaway of Maranaws of Marawi and as a law practitioner I have cases in courts in the city. But now, I need assistance in navigating its labyrinthine traffic. Thanks to modernity and the Waze app which maps our way to our destination. Still, I feel like a stranger adjusting to life in the city. The main attraction of the city for a golfer like me are the golf courses. Good thing they have courses like Pueblo de Oro which is a championship course, a second-rate military golf course in Patag, Camp Evangelista, and the Del Monte Golf Course — a 30-minute drive from the city, home of golf legends Celestino Tugot and Frankie Minoza. These golf courses were the overpowering magnet that pulled me to settle here, in addition to the fact that many members of my immediate family already lived here. From my vantage position, here are some of the problems I have observed that need attention. Traffic is getting worse. I experience regularly Edsa-like traffic from going my place, Xavier Estates, to the golf course, which I could navigate in two minutes. Unfortunately, there are schools along the road causing monstrous traffic. But we avoid that by teeing off at early dawn to escape the snarl of vehicles. The principal stretch they call Masterson has regular bumper-to-bumper traffic in the morning and late afternoon when office workers’ vehicles fill the street. Yes, I notice uniformed traffic aides managing the flow of vehicles, but they are not enough. A daylight robbery in the heart of the commercial hub of the city has residents worried about their security and peace. Robbers got away with about P9 million. Public and commercial establishment are on their toes because of what happened. The daring robbery has exposed the weak security infrastructure of the city. Residents are asking what happened to the much-publicized installation of 50 traffic lights and 80 closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in strategic spots at a budget of about P93.5 million over a decade ago. It has been kaput since 2012 and has not been attended to nor repaired. The winning bidder for the project was nowhere to be found after completion of the traffic and security infrastructure. Now the city government is toying with the idea of requiring public establishments to install CCTV cameras within their premises before they are issued a permit to operate. In fact, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum circular directing local governments “to pass ordinances mandating all business owners to install CCTVs.” The circular allows for the meting out of “penalties for non-compliant business establishments and grants local chief executives the authority to revoke, refuse to renew or grant permits to establishments for non-compliance.” Problems of this nature come with the march of Cagayan de Oro towards progress and development, being the corridor of northern Mindanao. And this column is optimistic that its new mayor is up to the challenges of his stewardship. *** amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post CdO, my second home appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Insurgent meets end in NegOr clash
DUMAGUETE CITY — The Philippine Army recently confirmed the death of an individual believed to be a member of the New People’s Army during an encounter in the far-flung barangay of Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental last Saturday morning. In its report, the 11th Infantry Battalion disclosed that the recovered body of the slain rebel has yet to be identified. It added that seized from the clash site were one M653 rifle, one anti-personnel mine, four magazines for M653 (20 rounds cap), three magazines for M653 (30 rounds cap), 40 rounds 5.56 mm ball, an electrical tester, three lithium batteries, one bandolier, five backpacks with personal belongings, tarpaulin and food stuff. The 11IB said that the encounter came two days after a government soldier was killed at the same encounter site in Sitio Taleo as government troops were conducting strike operations against remnants of the NPA’s dismantled South East Front following information of armed men in the area. In the first encounter, troops seized two caliber .45 pistols, three magazines for Caliber .45, 11 live ammunition for Caliber .45, one hand grenade and personal belongings. Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, vowed to continue their operations against the rebels. “This incident (death of a soldier) will not dampen our spirits but will further serve as our motivation to aggressively pursue the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group,” Sison said. “We will make sure that this ultimate sacrifice paid by our soldier-hero will not be in vain. We will not rest until none of them remain to continue their futile and senseless armed struggle,” he added. The post Insurgent meets end in NegOr clash appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bukidnon clash leaves NPA leader dead
DAVAO CITY — The Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Battalion reported on Friday that another high-ranking New People’s Army leader was killed in an encounter at Sitio Lagaslasan, Barangay Kulaman in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon last 23 August. 8IB’s Lt. Col. Anthony Bacus revealed that the NPA leader — identified as Christopher Tingkayan alias Mojen/Gamot — is a commanding officer of Headquarters Force Neo, Regional Operations Command of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. The remains of the rebel was identified by Jimboy Tingkayan alias Jovan, his half-brother and a former rebel who recently surrendered to 8IB. Bacus said Mojen’s group was once considered as the stronghold of the so-called Regional Sentro de Gravidad of NCMRC. “After receiving information from concerned civilians that Mojen is in the area of operations, we launched a focused military operation which resulted in an armed clash against more or less 10 members of the NPA,” Bacus said. He added that the 10-minute firefight led to the seizure of two M16 Rifles, two M653 carbine rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, one anti-personnel mine, various terrorist materials, medical paraphernalia, and assorted personal belongings. Meanwhile, BGen. Michele Anayron Jr., the commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade said that the NPA’s presence in the area is an indication that the dwindling criminal group is on a desperate move to recruit and extort resources from the people and continue their income generation scheme, especially as the Barangay and Sanggunian Kabatan Election draws near. “We assure the people of Bukidnon that their Army will not allow criminals to continue threaten communities and robbed them of their hard-earned money. We vow to keep the peace and security in the area,” Anayron said. The post Bukidnon clash leaves NPA leader dead appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Death toll in China’s Hebei floods rises to 29
The death toll from floods in northern China's Hebei province has risen to 29, state media reported Friday, after record-breaking rains pummelled the region in recent weeks. "As of August 10, 29 people have died due to disasters in Hebei Province, of which six were previously missing. There are still 16 missing," state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing authorities. Rescue efforts were still ongoing to find those missing, CCTV said. At least 33 people died in Beijing as a result of a severe rainstorm and floods that struck in late July, including two rescue workers, authorities said earlier this week. And more than a dozen people were killed in northeastern Jilin province after torrential rain last week. Streets in parts of Hebei, which borders the capital, were still caked in mud when AFP visited on Wednesday. Residents were scrambling to recover waterlogged belongings and clean up damaged homes. Millions of people have been hit by extreme weather events and prolonged heatwaves around the globe in recent weeks, events scientists say are being exacerbated by climate change. Beijing's 'moat' During a visit to affected communities last week, Hebei province party chief Ni Yuefeng said that the area could "reduce the pressure on Beijing's flood control" and serve as a "moat" for the capital. China's state media has hailed the government's efforts to mitigate damage from the inundations, with coverage focused on tales of mutual aid and selfless officials working tirelessly on rescue efforts. But a week after the waters first swelled, some villagers told AFP they did not receive adequate warning from the authorities about when the floods would come. The Chinese government on Wednesday said it would allocate one billion yuan ($139 million) to compensate residents in areas that had been inundated to control flood levels in downstream areas. The fund would pay for "damage to crops, animal and poultry farms, commercial forests, houses and agricultural machinery", according to the official Xinhua news agency. Insurance providers in Beijing are paying out at least 380 million yuan in claims for losses caused by the recent rains, according to Xinhua. Heavy rains are expected again over the weekend as tropical depression Khanun -- formerly a typhoon -- approaches China, with meteorologists warning of flood risks in mountainous areas of southwest China, including Sichuan province. At least seven people died in a flash flood southwest of Sichuan's capital Chengdu earlier this week, after an unexpected tide of water washed away a number of tourists on the Longxi River. The post Death toll in China’s Hebei floods rises to 29 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Banning POGOs will reduce industry-related crimes
Criminal activities attributed to the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators could have been stopped if the government agreed to permanently ban the gaming industry’s operations in the country, according to Senator Win Gatchalian. Gatchalian described the proliferation of POGO-related crimes in the Philippines as an “alarming” issue. He said illegal activities related to POGOs are likely to expand “unless the gaming industry will be permanently wiped out of the country.” The senator recalled the recent police operation against an online scam operator, wherein 28,000 registered sim cards were confiscated in a POGO facility in Pasay City. Gatchalian lambasted the massive involvement of the POGO operators in online scamming activities. “The confiscation of registered SIM cards indicates that POGOs are heavily entrenched in online scams, possibly victimizing hapless individuals both here and abroad,” he said. Citing a report from the Philippine National Police, Gatchalian said a total of 4,355 individuals became victims of POGO-related criminalities from January 2017 to June 30 this year, with 903 persons tagged as “perpetrators.” Among these documented POGO-related crimes include human trafficking, forcible abduction, homicide, illegal detention, kidnap-for-ransom, theft, robbery-extortion, serious physical injuries, swindling, and grave coercion. Of the total number of perpetrators, about 793 were Chinese nationals and have pending criminal cases. “Criminal activities involving POGOs are likely to worsen if the POGO industry is allowed to continue operating in the country. As much as we dread that situation, that possibility is not difficult to imagine. This should prompt all of us to take a stand against POGOs,” Gatchalian said. Hence, Gatchalian filed a Senate resolution seeking to investigate the growing involvement of accredited POGO operations in the accounted crimes in the country. Senator Raffy Tulfo previously criticized the lack of coordination between law enforcement, immigration officers, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, and labor agencies in addressing issues related to POGO operations Tulfo underscored the need to assess the effectiveness of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation in fulfilling its regulatory mandate, as well as ensuring proper coordination with other concerned agencies and protecting the rights and welfare of POGO workers. The post Banning POGOs will reduce industry-related crimes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
MUP pension takeaways
In every fiscal year, there should be nothing extraordinarily appropriated for the sole benefit of military and uniformed personnel, active or retired. The MUP’s number of pensioner-beneficiaries has already breached the 120,000 mark and counting. The 2023 allocation of P139.51 billion for their pensions alone bleeds government coffers dry; its budgetary impact further depletes public funds for the rest of state workers, active or retired — outside of the MUP universe. When the finance secretary referred to the pension issue as the “elephant in the room” but nowhere in the President’s State of the Nation Address was mention made of an overhaul of the system, this could be construed by cynics as axiomatic of a lack of political will. Instead, the “game theory” model conveniently adopted by the present dispensation is to do nothing for fear that a financial embargo might stir up a hornet’s nest. Must every president, in effect, “babysit” the military, police, and other armed services in a quid pro quo? Have we become what in the mind of Samuel Huntington is a praetorian society that “shirks” the much-vaunted state policy that “civilian authority is at all times supreme over the military?” What about the implied mandate or reach (if any) of the Civil Service Commission over the military, police, uniformed service? What has happened to the notion that no government employee — more so civilian — should be left behind within the purview of a level-playing field? What about the sacred aim of a “salary standardization law” if there is a Great Cultural Divide between the military and the civilian sectors of the government bureaucracy where two classes with the same salary grades have astronomically different compensation packages — retirement or pension-wise? Insofar as the “fiscal collapse” the finance secretary warned against if no pragmatic move would put an end to this MUP dilemma, it remains a time bomb waiting to explode. It could luminously reach a point where the President would be confronted with “lifeboat ethics” or that moral quandary of whom to give up to save another. Whoever reduced the President to the dog that caught the car doesn’t cut it, either. When typhoon “Egay” caused “agri damage” that soared to P4.5 billion, hit 181 cities and municipalities, and affected 142,000 farmers and fishers in nine regions, methinks covering the damage of 30 “Typhoon Egays” should be as easy as paying MUPs over P140 billion a year. What this mathematical comparison illustrates is the disturbing fact that government can hardly allocate even a measly amount for natural calamities affecting communities, agriculture, infrastructure. There ought to be a philosophical approach to resolving the MUP paradox by identifying the proximate cause of the problem and reverting back to the original scheme at parity with the larger body of government workers or employees in the civilian bureaucracy. There must be a future-proof review as to why the salaries of MUPs and retirees were doubled during the term of the President’s predecessor toward possibly reverting such “political payoff” back to the old configuration. In the altar of public service delivery, the role of the MUP is not unique. For their parochial and arrogant argument of serving at the risk of life and limb to hold true, they must add more meat on that bone. It’s the greatest anomaly of all time for the national budget to have to allocate for MUP pensions some P300 billion for 2024. Note that the allocation for the pension of civilian government employees was only P1.15 billion in 2017 and P1.6 billion in 2022. If we have some 1.7 million government employees inclusive of military/uniformed personnel, it’s obvious who gets more than the lion’s share of the budget pie. An “insane” 1 percent of MUP payouts is a drop in the bucket. Please draw the sword to cut this Gordian knot! Or shop for other best-practice pension plans. The post MUP pension takeaways appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Top Mindanao insurgent falls
DAVAO CITY — The Eastern Mindanao Command on Monday reported that an individual believed to be a notorious leader of the New People’s Army in North Central Mindanao Regional Committee died following an encounter with the Joint Task Force Diamond troops at Barangay Libertad, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental last 26 July. EastMinCom commander Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol disclosed that the NPA leader — identified as Dionesio Micabalo, alias Muling — is the Regional Secretary of the NCMRC and a Communist Party of the Philippines Central Committee Member. Reports said that troops from the 58th Infantry Battalion engaged in a skirmish against the members of Sub-Regional Sentro De Gravidad MTJ Eagles, Sub-Regional Committee 1, of NCMRC following a report from concerned citizens regarding the presence of armed men conducting illegal activities in the area. Recovered from the encounter site were an AK47 Rifle with two loaded magazines, a caliber .22 rifle, six backpacks with personal belongings, terrorist documents, electronic devices and other supplies. Almerol said Micabalo’s group was responsible for numerous atrocities and criminal activities in most parts of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and parts of Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. He added that he had various criminal records, including double murder with frustrated murder, multiple frustrated murders and arson, murder and violation of RA 9851. “Muling has been on the run since the dismantling of all seven guerrilla fronts under NCMRC in 2020. With his demise, the incoming dismantling of the NCMRC is already in sight,” Almerol said. “This is part of our goal to defeat the NPA in Eastern Mindanao this year. Without him leading the way for the survival of his subordinates, their only solution is to surrender or face the same fate,” he added. Last 28 July, the 58IB handed over the corpse of Micabalo to his immediate family and was given by the military forces a proper and decent funeral. Lt. Col. Christian Uy, commander of the 58IB met with the family to express their condolences and provide the necessary support. “The Philippine Army is guided by its dedication to humanitarian principles and respect for the dignity of all individuals, regardless of their affiliations,” Uy said. Meanwhile, the family of Micabalo expressed gratitude to military forces and the local government of Gingoog City for the proper burial assistance provided for them. The post Top Mindanao insurgent falls appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»