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Foreign commercial vessel rams Pinoy fishing boat, 3 fishermen die
Three Filipino fishermen died when the fishing boat they were maneuvering was rammed by a foreign commercial vessel in Bajo de Masinloc, Zambales on Monday, a belated report from the Philippine Coast Guard said on Wednesday. The PCG, on the other hand, failed to identify which flag the commercial vessel belongs to. "One crew of FFB DEARYN shared that it occurred around 4:20 AM on 02 October 2023 while their mother boat was moored to payao for fishing 85 nautical miles northwest of BDM. The mother boat submerged, resulting in the death of its three crew members, including its boat captain," the PCG report released on Wednesday said. Further, the report said the eleven crew members who survived the maritime incident utilized their eight service boats to leave the vicinity waters and transport the deceased victims to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan. "They arrived around 10 AM yesterday, 03 October 2023, and reported the incident to the nearest Coast Guard sub-station for necessary assistance," the PCG report stated. Bajo de Masinloc is a known lair of Chinese maritime operatives guarding the lagoon for Filipino fishermen, as they claim that it belongs to their territory. The Philippines, on the other hand, claims that the Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal, belongs to the exclusive economic zone of the country. The post Foreign commercial vessel rams Pinoy fishing boat, 3 fishermen die appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gov’t to hold accountable those responsible in maritime collision — PBBM
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said that the government is exerting every effort to hold accountable those who are responsible for the unfortunate incident in Bajo de Masinloc. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Marcos Jr. expressed his deep sadness over the deaths of three fishermen in a maritime collision with an unidentified commercial vessel. "We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel," Marcos Jr. said. "The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and the still unidentified commercial vessel." Marcos Jr. also urged the public to refrain from engaging in speculation while the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is conducting its investigation. "Currently, the PCG is backtracking and checking all monitored vessels in the area as part of its ongoing investigation," he said. "Let us allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime." The President also assured the victims, their families, and the public that the government will provide support and assistance to them. "Rest assured that the government will provide support and assistance to the victims and their families," he said. Last 2 October, the PCG responded to a maritime incident involving a Filipino fishing boat rammed by an unidentified commercial vessel transiting the vicinity waters off Bajo de Masinloc. One crew of FFB DEARYN shared that it occurred around 4:20 a.m. on Monday while their mother boat was moored to payao for fishing 85 nautical miles northwest of BDM. The mother boat submerged, resulting in the death of its three crew members, including its boat captain. The eleven crew members who survived the maritime incident utilized their eight service boats to leave the vicinity waters and transport the deceased victims to Barangay Cato, Infanta, Pangasinan. They arrived around 10:00 a.m. yesterday, 3 October 2023, and reported the incident to the nearest Coast Guard substation for necessary assistance. The post Gov’t to hold accountable those responsible in maritime collision — PBBM appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A token of friendship
Longest-serving prime minister in modern Japan Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, undoubtedly was one of the most significant Japanese politicians in the promotion of Japan-Taiwan relations. Many Filipinos remember Abe when he visited with his wife Akie then-President Rodrigo Duterte in his home in Davao City in 2017. Most Taiwanese, on the other hand, remember Abe as the most Taiwan-friendly prime minister in Japan for not only saying, “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency and, therefore, an emergency for the Japan-US alliance,” but showed support for Taiwanese pineapples by sharing a photo of himself with the fruit on Twitter to promote the sale in Japan when trade restrictions disrupted the export of Taiwanese pineapples. Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule for 50 years. Thus, most Taiwanese have a favorable view of Japan, which has long been the top destination for Taiwanese tourists. As a result, some commentators call it “Taiwan’s love affair with Japan.” To honor and pay tribute to Abe and the shared history between Japan and Taiwan, the Hongmaogang Baoan Temple in Kaohsiung made and erected a statue of the late prime minister in September 2022, less than three months after his death and before the State Funeral of Abe. Akie Abe visited the temple in July 2023 and said that she hoped the spirits of her husband and those commemorated at the temple would bring Taiwan and Japan closer together. In fact, the Baoan Temple is unique not only for the statue of Abe but the worship of Captain Matao Takada and the 145 crew of a Japanese warship who died in the line of duty during World War II. According to reports, Captain Takada was just 38 years old when he passed away. He was the captain of the Patrol Boat 38 Yomogi, which was sunk by USS Atule at Bashi Channel in 1944 when it was on the way to Manila to take the survivors of the sunken Japanese battleship Musashi back to then-Japanese colony Taiwan. Eighty-one-year-old Narumi Takada, the son of Captain Takada who was two years old when his father was killed, visited the Baoan Temple this year and finally witnessed how his father is worshipped in Taiwan. Captain Takada and the 145 sailors are not the only foreign soldiers remembered by the Taiwanese. During the Sino-French War on 1884 and 1885 in Taiwan’s northern port city of Keelung, more than 700 French soldiers died and the French Military Cemetery was built there. Nowadays, worshippers still hold ceremonies for the killed French soldiers on the Ghost Festival each year and invite guests from the representative office of France in Taipei to commemorate them. The post A token of friendship appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senators grill Navotas cops over teenage boy’s death
Senators on Tuesday grilled Northern Police District personnel involved in the killing of 17-year-old Jemboy Baltazar, who was shot while he was boarding his boat in Navotas City. During the resumption of the investigation by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs into the killing of Baltazar, lawmakers quizzed policemen, specifically about the absence of paraffin tests on individuals involved in the operation. Juanito Arabejo, who heads the Navotas City police station investigation and detective management section, said he did not conduct a paraffin test on the six policemen who shot Baltazar in a case of mistaken identity on 2 August based on his "sound judgment." A paraffin test is done to determine whether or not a person has fired a gun. "Is that your discretion not to subject them to paraffin test or [did] they refuse?" Senator Ronald "Bato” dela Rosa, who presided over the hearing, asked Arabejo. Responding to Dela Rosa’s query, Arabejo said, "That was based on our sound judgment and in good faith, considering the direct testimony of the eyewitnesses is sufficient to establish the guilt of these six suspects." This prompted lawmakers to ask former Navotas City police chief Allan Umipig whether or not he told Arabejo to conduct paraffin tests. According to Umipig, he ordered Arabejo to subject policemen involved in the operation to paraffin tests during their emergency meeting on 3 August, which Arabejo refuted. Dela Rosa then ordered Umpig to contact other policemen who were present at their 3 August meeting to validate his claim. Minutes later, Navotas City Police Captain Anthony Mondejar, and Police Major Edwin Fuertes, joined the hearing and validated Umipig’s claim. Due to the alleged inconsistency in his statements, Senator Risa Hontiveros, on behalf of Senator Raffy Tulfo, made the motion to cite Arabejo in contempt. “On behalf of Senator Raffy Tulfo and the guidance of the chairperson, I move to cite [for] contempt Police Captain Juanito Arabejo,” Hontiveros said. Dela Rosa, who was evidently fuming over Arabejo’s “annoying smirks,” approved Hontiveros’s motion. This is not the first time Dela Rosa’s panel ordered a cite in contempt of individuals involved in Baltazar’s killing. Last week, the Senate panel also held Navotas City police officers Captain Mark Joseph Carpio and Staff Sergeant Gerry Maliban in contempt for allegedly lying and evading lawmakers’ questions. Carpio was the leader of the team in Baltazar’s fatal shooting. The post Senators grill Navotas cops over teenage boy’s death appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Safeguarding waters
As an archipelago consisting of over seven thousand islands, the Philippines is expected to hold high regard for the security and well-being of its citizens who traverse its waterways, may it be in the seas, rivers, or lakes. Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest freshwater inland lake, should be treated no differently. In the middle of the lake is Talim Island, which is part of Binangonan, Rizal. With over 40,000 inhabitants, the only method of getting to the island is via motorboat. Last 27 July, the worst tragedy struck one of the boats plying this route, claiming 27 innocent lives. Since then, a lot of finger-pointing has taken place between government offices and local officials. It is a question of who is ultimately liable — the Philippine Coast Guard or PCG, the Maritime Industry Authority or Marina, the local boat operators association Talim Island Passenger Motorboat and Patrons Association, or the boat owners and the boat captain. At the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services held last 8 August, it appeared that all of them were at fault. Chaired by Senator Grace Poe, the committee brought together all the stakeholders in this disaster, including the victim-survivors and the families of the deceased. In her opening statement, Senator Poe immediately pointed out the alleged violations, from the reported lack of a license of the boat captain to the absence of safety measures such as the completion of a passenger manifest and the mandatory wearing of life vests. Senator Poe was diplomatic in allowing the PCG and Marina to make their respective presentations, and for the Binangonan mayor and the passenger survivors to share their accounts. Senator Raffy Tulfo, who filed his own Senate resolution to investigate this matter, was sharp in questioning the PCG and Marina. Since the boat captain was already in the orange uniform of a detainee, Senator Tulfo asked why the liable officers of PCG and Marina were not in jail as well. The PCG was gracious enough to admit its shortcomings and negligence, and it was commended for that. The PCG’s performance in saving the lives of those involved in the Romblon boat sinking incident, which happened shortly after the one in Binangonan, was likewise recognized. As for Marina, the officers testified on the presence of laws and regulations that require boats and ships to maintain certain specifications to ensure their safety, but these were not being implemented. It became evident that boat measurements and materials were not being followed, and applicants for permits were allowed to cut corners by “bribing” officials with what is known as “pangiti.” The boat captain himself testified under oath that he gave the PCG officer bananas worth P100 and an additional P50 in cash to fast-track the issuance of his safety permits. All this boils down to a flawed system where we have the required laws and regulations to safely keep our waterways, but we lack the budget, manpower, and infrastructure to implement them. At the Binangonan port, for instance, there is no presence of authorities, such as the PCG, since there is no outpost in sight. I went to this port last weekend to inspect it and meet with the locals since my company was the insurer of the passengers’ personal accident policy of the subject boat. Despite the violations of the policy, our company, Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp., disbursed financial assistance to the victims of this tragedy, for humanitarian considerations. There is a need to strengthen the PCG and Marina to allow them to fulfill their mandates. We hope these would be highlighted in upcoming budget hearings to avoid more deaths on our shores. **** For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post Safeguarding waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL - Recipe for disaster
The Philippine Coast Guard dismissed the story as absurd. Yet because of the tragedy that befell the motorized wood-hulled boat Aya Express last July 27 after leaving the port of Binangonan in Rizal, people tend to believe the story of its captain......»»
Fatal boat mishap in Rizal highlights weak enforcement of maritime, safety rules
The captain of the boat that sunk off the waters in Binangonan, Rizal bared before a Senate panel that he and other boat owners regularly sailed with more passengers than capacity by offering “grease money” to local Philippine Coast Guard members......»»
PCG files estafa case vs MB Aya operator
After discovering that the operator of the ill-fated MB Aya Express is not accredited by authorities to board passengers on its route, the Philippine Coast Guard has filed syndicated estafa against the owner, boat captain, and members of the Talim Island Motorboat and Patrons Association or TIPMOPA. According to CG Rear Admiral Hostillo Arturo Cornelio, District Commander of the PCG District NCR-Central Luzon, TIPMOPA was discovered deceiving authorities, which constitutes fraud, because of constantly submitting falsified manifests. During PCG’s initial investigation into the tragedy that happened last 27 July at Kalinawan Port, Binangonan, Rizal, claiming 27 lives, the motorbanca captain Donald Añain admitted to have logged 22 passengers, but in fact, actual passengers boarded were more than 60. “First of all, submission of 22, submission of a manifest to indicate 22 passengers when in fact hindi naman 22, more than 22. So that means syndicate estafa because TIPMOPA for the past several years, they have been operating and deceiving the public and they are not accredited,” Cornelio said. “Syndicated estafa meaning they’ve been operating the Port of Pritil for the past several years, and kung mapapansin mo, disorganized yung pier, walang ticketing equipment, kanya kanya e, and sila yung nagco-control ng scheduling ng mga motor banca,” he added. According to PCG spokesman, Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, the syndicated estafa complaint was already filed with the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in Taytay, Rizal last Wednesday. Aside from the said complaint, the PCG filed Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Multiple Homicides, Multiple Physical Injuries, and Reckless Negligence at the Rizal Provincial Prosecutors Office against vessel captain Añain, PCG personnel CG PO2 Jay Rivera, and operator of MB Aya Express identified as Rufino Antonil. The post PCG files estafa case vs MB Aya operator appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
On Laguna Lake tragedy
A tragedy occurred on Laguna de Bay last 27 July with the sinking of the MB Aya Express that was battered by strong winds right after it set sail from Binangonan toward Talim Island in the province of Rizal. A total of 27 passengers reportedly drowned, while 41 survived, bringing the total number of passengers to 68, in a boat with a maximum capacity of 42. The deaths included the elderly and the young, making it the worst boat tragedy in the history of Rizal. Laguna de Bay is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines, and it is common for boats to traverse it to get to the different towns surrounding and within it. The largest island in the middle of the lake is Talim Island, which has a population of around 40,000. This is a fishing town with mountain peaks visited by urban trekkers. Notably, Talim Island was once proposed for an airport near Manila that would have been connected by a bridge from Pasig or Taguig. The project did not fly, and the government opted for the San Miguel Corporation-sponsored airport project in Bulakan, Bulacan. With the promise of development for Talim Island being remote, the mode of getting to and from the island remains to be “traditional.” Motor bancas set sail without filling out the passenger manifest, as required by the DOTr’s Marina. The MB Aya Express left its port of origin without any knowledge of the storm signal or sailing orders from the local substation of the Philippine Coast Guard or PCG, which was situated far from the port. It was evident that the tailwinds of typhoon “Egay” were still hammering the metro and utmost safety precautions must be taken despite the absence of rainfall. It was also reported that the boat captain did not have a license to speak of. A survivor recounted that the passengers panicked because of the strong winds that eventually caused one of the wooden outriggers to break. The passengers then all ran to one side, causing the boat to tilt and capsize. Since the sides of the boat were covered with tarpaulin to shield the passengers from the rain and waves, these trapped the passengers in the boat. Even seasoned swimmers would have drowned. The incident led to the death of children as young as five, and of respected elderly women of Talim Island. Immediately after the news broke out, Marina suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate of the boat owner. The captain was apprehended and is facing charges. The two PCG officials assigned to the substation were relieved of their duties. Consequently, Senate and House resolutions were filed to initiate investigative hearings, in aid of legislation, that will be publicized. While these efforts would not bring back the departed, nor erase the trauma of the survivors, this may prevent the same from happening again on Laguna Lake and other waterways around the country. In the spirit of transparency, our insurance company, Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp., is the group personal accident insurer of the boat owner. As we have signified to the victims and their families, we have provided financial support in humanitarian consideration to help alleviate the pain of loss and the trauma experienced. It is our hope that the families and victims of the sunken MB Aya Express will be able to recover from this tragedy and continue with their lives, although this is easier said than done. Rest assured, our insurance company shall assist them to the best of our ability, and it is our prayer that no such tragedy takes place again in our country’s waterways. *** For comments, email him at darren.dejesus@gmail.com The post On Laguna Lake tragedy appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The boat is… (error 404)
The boat is sinking… the boat is sinking… group yourselves into… two?.. three?.. or maybe four? Who is responsible for saving everybody? Oh no my dear readers, not me talking about the literal sinking of boats all happening recently, I’m talking about the game — “Boat is sinking.” You know, the simple icebreaker game where in the end we determine who is the least affected because they were saved after clinging to each other in a certain number declared by the game master. However, since this topic crossed our minds, let us refresh our memories about the horrible sea mishaps in the country and yes we are talking about boats, huge boats in case you are interested to know. Well, I know you do because it is Thirstday! We are always thirsty for facts and information, you silly. The most recent of course is the tragedy in Binangonan Rizal last week where 27 people lost their lives. One cannot help but ask, “Where are their life vests?” “Why are they overloaded?” “Who gave them the clearance to sail despite the bad weather?” “Whose responsibility is it? The captain or the Philippine Coast Guard?” I have the same questions myself. Let us not forget that three years ago, there was the Ilo-Ilo-Guimaras Strait Tragedy wherein 28 people died. Former President Rodrigo Duterte personally visited their wakes. Four Philippine Coast Guard personnel and two Marina officers were removed from their posts after the incident. I was personally there to cover the painful event with their relatives crying non-stop, as I witness it firsthand when I was still a news reporter. After that tragic event, a couple of recommendations floated in the water, including those from then-Transportation Secretary Art Tugade who said local boats should be modernized. Suggestions from relatives of the late victims stated that the designs of the local boats should be improved using aluminum materials and not wood. If we zoom out a bit, another terrifying sea tragedy in the Philippines is the tragic demise of 437 people aboard MV Princess of the Stars in 2008 after sailing despite Typhoon Frank. Out of the 800 plus passengers recorded, only 32 survived while the rest remain missing until now. Again, “Who is responsible?” is the same old question everyone is asking. In December 1987, the passenger vessel MV Doña Paz collided with an oil tanker MT Vector causing a deadly water inferno and one of Asia’s bloodiest sea accidents ever. Out of more than 4,000 passengers, only 24 survived. A simpleton may ask, out of the vastness of the sea, collision is still possible? The board of inquiry back then figured out several violations which are preventable in nature. Doña Paz had been refurbished to add two more decks to allow more passengers when its certificate of stability was only based on two and not four decks when it went down. It was not sea-worthy during the collision, but then again why was it allowed to sail in the first place? And MT Vector? Well, its crew are underqualified and some equipment and instruments are malfunctioning. Just like you, I have so many questions as well. Many maritime companies are still operating old inter-island ships and vessels whose seaworthiness may be questionable and oftentimes these boats are overloaded while passengers have no choice but to ride and pray for their safety. According to government records particularly Marina, the country has an average of 200 sea accidents every year. Mainly because of overloading, dysfunctional ships, bad weather and ship crew error. This is despite the countless directives of every administration and official to implement measures to avoid such accidents. Unfortunately, every year there is always a painful tragedy followed by finger-pointing on who should be blamed — government maritime agencies? Or the shipping industry? With more than 7,000 beautiful islands, ferry and boat travel are the most economical mode for many locals. We cannot stop people from riding even the most dangerous vessel for them. If we cannot yet build bridges to connect our islands due to lack of funds or due to the technological limits of the time, then let us start improving and modernizing the shipping and maritime industry. Why not infuse capital into our own shipbuilding production? Why not invest in our maritime schools to train more skilled crew members? Why not improve our system of checking whether it is good to sail or not? Why don’t we do the basic things we can to save lives? These measures will not only save lives but will contribute to the economy. When shall we wake up from this nightmare of neglect of the safety of life at sea? Do we need another horrific sea accident before we get our acts together? Are we not yet alarmed by the biggest sea mishaps that happened over time? Or do we not value lives as much as we value businesses? Well, your guess is as good as mine. We need to rally our efforts and stand together. All hands on deck! …because we are on the same boat, not the sinking one. The post The boat is… (error 404) appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘Captain of capsized boat has no license’
Donald Anain, the captain of motor banca Aya Express, does not have a valid Boat Captain 1 license, according to the Maritime Industry Authority......»»
EDITORIAL — Slow justice
Criminal charges have been filed by the police against a Philippine Coast Guard officer along with the owner and captain of a motorized boat that capsized off Binangonan, Rizal on July 27, leaving 27 passengers dead......»»
Poe, Tulfo want probe of Rizal boat sinking
Senators Grace Poe and Raffy Tulfo on Monday filed separate resolutions to investigate the capsizing of the motor banca M/B Princess Aya in the waters off Binangonan, Rizal which resulted in 27 deaths. In Senate Resolution 704, Poe sought to determine accountability for the 27 July tragedy and to find out whether maritime regulations were followed. “Those responsible for the deaths of the 27 individuals and the trauma to the 43 rescued victims should be held accountable for this incident,” Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said in her resolution. “This tragedy revealed serious maritime safety compliance lapses that need to be revisited to determine whether the regulations are insufficient to ensure the safe voyage of individuals at sea or whether there was simply complacency in the implementation,” she added. The lawmaker said the probe will look into reports of overloading, for which the operator, shipowner, and boat captain could be held liable. The same liability rests on the said individuals over statements by the surviving passengers that they were not provided life vests, she said. The post Poe, Tulfo want probe of Rizal boat sinking appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG: Capsized boat ‘overloaded’ with 26 confirmed deaths
The motorbanca or MBca “Princess Aya” was overloaded with passengers when it capsized off Binagonan, Rizal yesterday, 27 July due to super typhoon Egay, said the Philippine Coast Guard on Friday, confirming 26 deaths due to the incident. Data from the PCG sub-station Binangonan showed that the motorbanca was authorized to carry 42 person capacity. However, the boat continued to sail with 66 passengers, including crew. The authorities accounted for 26 deaths while 40 were rescued after the incident. There’s an ongoing validation whether the motorbanca was carrying other cargoes such as motorcycles, sand, and cloth, said PCG. In a media interview, PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu said only 22 individuals were declared in the passenger manifest list—which was “submitted to and approved by the PCG Sub-Station Binangonan.” “The boat captain listed 22 passengers only so the manifest was accepted and signed by the Coast Guard because the actual capacity is way below the authorized carrying capacity,” Abu told reporters. He said the Coast Guard personnel no longer conducted an inspection as “it’s a normal routine because what was indicated in the manifesto was below the authorized number. The boat was allowed to sail.” Abu said the two PCG personnel were relieved following the capsized incident in Binangonan. “The reason why we relieved them is so they can no longer interfere in the fair conduct of the investigation. My instruction to our coast guard's regional commander is to conduct a fair, honest, and transparent investigation. We need to be transparent on this issue,” he said. The post PCG: Capsized boat ‘overloaded’ with 26 confirmed deaths appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Funny old world: The week’s offbeat news
From a lion on the loose around Berlin to Indonesia's most controversial newlyweds... Your weekly roundup of offbeat stories from around the world. Bye, bye Bella It has been a dog of a week for man's best friend. Take Bella, the Mexican mongrel who survived two months adrift in the Pacific with her owner Australian sailor Timothy Shaddock. He said the pair survived "many, many, many bad days" on their storm-struck boat with only rainwater to drink and raw fish he caught to eat. But Bella, who shared his unrelenting sushi diet, kept his spirits up. "That dog is something else," he told reporters. "She is a lot braver than I am. She's amazing." So amazing in fact that Shaddock left the stray behind to return to Oz. Cue a growling kennel of consternation at the captain "abandoning" his shipmate. Walkies will never be the same The days of carefree pooping on the pavement could be over for French poodles after a hardline mayor introduced mandatory DNA testing to track dirty dogs. Robert Menard said he was forced to act after street cleaners counted 1,000 turds in the center of the southern town of Beziers. Police can now analyze doggy dejections to tail owners who fail to pick up after their pets. They will be made to pay 120 euros ($135) to clean up the mess. Just barking Two Indonesian dog owners who married their mutts in a lavish "wedding" in a Jakarta mall faced howls of disapproval. The pair shelled out 200 million rupiah ($13,350) -- more than 40 times the minimum monthly wage -- on the bash, in which they dressed their Alaskan Malamutes in traditional Javanese costumes. It didn't help that one of the women worked for President Joko Widodo, who has been lecturing the rich about not flaunting their cash as the country's wealth gap widens. "It's wasting money and defying God," one angry Twitter user wrote as the backlash grew. "Common sense has gone, trampled by the desire to show off." Bedroom Olympics With Paris being the "City of Love", you can see why some might worry how the cardboard beds the athletes will sleep on at next year's Olympics will stand up to the rigors of the planet's most high-performance physiques. But the beds' Japanese maker Motokuni Takaoka tried to prove that they can take "several people" at the same time by jumping up and down on one to calm claims that the singles were "anti-sex". "They can support several people on top", which is what can happen "when someone wins a medal", Airweave founder Takaoka said. Motivation Kyrgyz style It's summer holiday time in Kyrgyzstan, but heaven help any government minister who tries to kick back. "There shouldn't be a single minister lying on the beach in shorts and sunbathing. Don't let me see this," warned Kamchybek Tashiyev, the head of the Central Asian nation's feared GKNB security service. The spymaster, the iron fist of President Sadyr Japarov, has also outlawed lie-ins. He said he wanted to see ministers at their desks by 6:00 am. "We must work hard. We must not rest... If you become ministers, then work," he growled. How this has gone down around the cabinet table is not known. But the former Soviet republic has seen three revolutions and numerous political crises in less than two decades. Ich bin Lion Berliner To Berlin, where police feared a lioness was on the loose after a man filmed what appeared to be a big cat chasing a wild boar down a suburban street. Worried locals were urged to stay indoors, with one dog owner telling German media: "I have two little dachshunds. They are probably ideal lion food." Wild pigs are a menace around the German capital, with one famously filmed stealing a computer from a man sitting in a city park, with the chase going viral. Wags inevitably wondered if the boar had taken the lion's laptop. But police called off the hunt for the lion after 24 hours, saying the mystery beast was probably a boar. Berlin's dachshunds can finally breathe easy. The post Funny old world: The week’s offbeat news appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Vessel turns on side off Romblon waters
The Philippine Coast Guard reported on Sunday that a roll-on roll-off passenger vessel turned to its side as it sailed off the waters of Banton town in Romblon province. In its report, the PCG said that the 93 passengers, and 36 crew members including the ship captain were all safe. Initial investigations showed that the vessel — identified as MV Maria Helena of the Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. — listed 10 degrees portside “due to an imbalance of cargoes and seawater that entered the distressed vessel that occurred approximately 100 meters off Barangay Nasunugan at around 1 a.m. The Ro-Ro boat also carried 16 rolling cargoes. “Listing” is a nautical term describing a vessel that takes on water and tilts to one side. Passengers started disembarking the vessel using its lifeboat at around 3 a.m. They were assisted by the PCG and local passenger boats in the vicinity. The PCG said nine drivers stayed on board to monitor their rolling cargoes, along with the 32 crew members who continued to assess and monitor the vessel’s status. The passengers were then brought to the covered court of Barangay Nasunugan for the assessment of their condition and for further assistance. The post Vessel turns on side off Romblon waters appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Passenger boat tilted due to imbalance cargo off Romblon coast
A roll-on-roll-off (Ro-Ro) passenger boat tilted on its side off the waters of Banton, Romblon early morning Sunday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported. The PCG said all the people on board, including 50 passengers, 32 crew members, and the ship captain, were safe. The maritime incident, according to the PCG, involved the MV Maria Helena of Montenegro Shipping Lines Inc. when the boat had listed 10 degrees portside “due to an imbalance of cargoes and seawater that entered the distressed vessel that occurred approximately 100 meters off Barangay Nasunugan at around 1:00 a.m. when a tire of one of the rolling cargoes blew up and broke the lashing as the boat takes on the waters and tilts to one side. The Ro-Ro boat also carried 16 rolling cargos. “Listing” is a nautical term describing a vessel that takes on water and tilts to one side. Passengers started disembarking the distressed vessel using its lifeboat at around 3:00 a.m. They were assisted by the PCG and local passenger boats in the vicinity The PCG said nine drivers stayed on board to monitor their rolling cargoes, along with the 32 crew members who continued to assess and monitor the vessel's status. The passengers were then brought to the covered court of Barangay Nasunugan for the assessment of their condition and for further assistance. The post Passenger boat tilted due to imbalance cargo off Romblon coast appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Police intercepts P9.4-M contraband
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police authorities intercepted a watercraft loaded with 211 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes worth P9.495 million at the sea waters of Caldera Bay fronting the coastline of Barangay Sinunuc in this city. Police Regional Office for Zamboanga Peninsula Director P/Brig. Gen. Neil B. Alinsañgan said yesterday elements of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company conducted a seaborne patrol and were able to intercept a Jungkong type of watercraft fronting the coastal village of Sinunuc about 10:30 p.m. on Friday. Alinsañgan said the police immediately boarded the watercraft and were surprised to see the assorted master cases of smuggled cigarettes on board the watercraft. The patrolling policemen immediately asked the six crews for the pertinent papers but they failed to show them. The police immediately seized the contraband consisting of 128 master cases of the New Berlin brand and 83 master cases of the Cannon menthol brand. Customs authorities in coordination with the police intercepted a watercraft loaded with 211 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P4.495 million and arrested its six crews. They also placed under custodial investigation the six crews identified as Julamad Banggali, 38 (boat captain); Ronald Banggali, 33; Elvin Jaladil, 26; Almajar Salim, 38; Teting Salem, 35 and one minor. The entry of smuggled cigarettes to this city is becoming rampant and the newly-installed Customs collector seems handicapped to curb the proliferation of the illicit goods. The fresh seizure of smuggled cigarettes reportedly came from Sulu, the trans-shipment site of smuggled cigarettes for cities and provinces in Mindanao. The new customs district collector for the port of Zamboanga has jurisdiction over provinces and cities in the Zamboanga peninsula and Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) seem shy to issue a statement on the border control situation under his area of jurisdiction. . . The post Police intercepts P9.4-M contraband appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Frantic search for survivors of migrant boat sinking
Greece’s coast guards were scanning the Ionian Sea Friday hoping to find more survivors from a sunken migrant boat that a witness said was also carrying 100 children. Some 104 people were rescued while 78 bodies were pulled from the water off the Peloponnese when the fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank on Wednesday. The exact number of people aboard the boat is unknown, with one survivor telling hospital doctors in Kalamata he had seen 100 children in the boat’s hold, broadcaster ERT reported. “Hopes of finding survivors are fading each minute after this tragic sinking, but the search must continue,” Stella Nanou, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, told Agence France-Presse. The Greek coast guard said that rescuers scoured the sea through the night using a helicopter, a frigate and three boats. Police on Thursday arrested nine Egyptians suspected of people smuggling, including the captain of the ill-fated boat. They were detained at the port of Kalamata, where the survivors are being cared for, said Greek news agency ANA. The survivors, mainly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan, were being housed in a Kalamata warehouse. The post Frantic search for survivors of migrant boat sinking appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Taiwanese vessel rescues Pinoy fishermen
Two Filipino fishermen were saved by the crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel in the vicinity waters off Y’ami Island in Taiwan, authorities reported on Monday. According to the report from Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, the rescued fishermen were identified as Gerald Alarcado, 29 years old, and his brother Jenevis, 28, both residents of Batanes province. The report said Taiwanese fishing vessel Maan Shenq Fa No. 6 (CT3-3887) saw the victims onboard a small fishing boat drifting in the waters about 20 nautical miles north of Y’ami Island as it encountered an engine malfunction at around 5 p.m. on 23 May. “The captain and crew members of Maan Shenq Fa No. 6 immediately rescued the fishermen and coordinated the situation with the Taiwan Fisheries Agency and the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration,” the report said. The TECO report also disclosed that because of rough sea conditions, the Taiwanese fishing vessel opted to transport the Filipinos to Taiwan and had them turned over to TCG cutter Weihsing (CG-102) docked in Kaohsiung Port to be assisted by officials from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in coordination with the TECO. In a correspondence between the TCG Attaché of TECO and the Philippine Coast Guard, Batanes Congressman Ciriaco Gato Jr. conveyed his concerns and requested kind assistance from Taiwan for his constituents. To recall, in 2018, 2019 and 2022, similar situations took place and were all successfully coordinated by both Taiwan and the Philippines through mutual efforts from the respective representative offices and coast guard agencies. In these kinds of circumstances, Taiwan is always ready and dedicated to lending a hand to its good neighbors and friends. The post Taiwanese vessel rescues Pinoy fishermen appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»