Philippines intensifies monitoring against illegal drug smuggling
MANILA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Thursday that it will heighten monitoring measures to fight against illegal drug smuggling. PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan issued the order after its force recovered 122.7 million pesos (about 2.2 million U.S. dollars) worth of suspected cocaine in the waters off and shorelines of central and southern Philippines this month. Gavan ordered.....»»
DTI intensifies action vs illegal vape sales
DTI intensifies action vs illegal vape sales.....»»
PSSO warns anew vs building structures atop dikes, coastal road
The Davao City Public Safety and Security Office's (PSSO) Coastal Road and Davao River Monitoring Team has issued a renewed warning to Dabawenyos against constructing buildings on top of dikes and along the coastal road. This caution follows the dismantling of 334 illegal structures from October 2020 to the third week of January 2023. PSSO Head Angel Sumagaysay emphasized that these structures, including house extensions, kitchen extensions, cages, and sala extensions, are typically found atop or attached to dikes and gabions near the Davao River. Recent operations in the Talomo District involved the removal of a hut at Purok 8 Iñigo, Matina Pangi, and a reconstructed fisherman's kiosk at the Punta Dumalag section of the Coastal Area. Sumagaysay highlighted that the PSSO collaborates with barangays to identify and address illegal structures, and owners are given the choice to self-demolish or have the PSSO carry out the demolition. Sumagaysay stressed that illegal structures on dikes and gabions pose risks to the structure's integrity, potentially leading to increased flooding and related issues. He urged residents living near the river to refrain from constructing any form of extension or additional structure on the dikes, emphasizing the need to preserve their stability to prevent flooding and overflow. The PSSO does not have a specific target number of structures to dismantle, but rather identifies them during monitoring and inspection, working in coordination with barangays and purok leaders. Sumagaysay hopes that the public comprehends the purpose behind these dismantling efforts, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the dikes to mitigate flooding risks......»»
Rift intensifies between Philippines president and Duterte family
Rift intensifies between Philippines president and Duterte family Reuters.....»»
BTAO intensifies campaign on ‘no parking,’ ‘controlled parking’ areas
BTAO intensifies campaign on ‘no parking,’ ‘controlled parking’ areas.....»»
Senate probe sought on smuggling of luxury cars
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate ways and means committee, said that the Senate investigation aims to determine "revenue leaks" from the smuggling of luxury cars......»»
BOC: Cases of outright smuggling on the rise
There has been an increase in the number of cases of outright smuggling, the Bureau of Customs said on Friday......»»
British Chamber pushes for Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, lauds appointment of Recto as DOF Secretary
BCCP Executive Director/Trustee Chris Nelson reiterates support for the passage of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act, one of the key priority legislation under the Marcos administration......»»
Around P10M in illegal drugs seized in two-day anti-drug ops in Central Visayas
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Close to 150 suspected drug personalities, and illegal drugs worth around P10 million were seized following a two-day anti-drug operation in Central Visayas. Police in the region conducted another round of Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations (Sacleo) over the weekend, Police Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of the Police.....»»
PDEA warns vs. proliferation of Marijuana-flavored vapes
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has cautioned the public on the proliferation of electronic cigarettes or vape containing marijuana oil. It issued the warning after monitoring an upsurge in the product’s presence nationwide during its recent anti-illegal drugs operations. PDEA also said the item is illegal and it poses health risks......»»
VP Sara ready to face ICC charges only before a Filipino court
Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her readiness to confront any allegations against her but insisted that she would only do so in front of a Filipino judge and within the jurisdiction of a Filipino court. In a statement on her Facebook page, she emphasized her refusal to participate in any process that could tarnish the reputation and integrity of the Philippine judiciary system. Duterte adamantly opposed the involvement of foreign entities in the country's legal affairs, citing it as a dishonor to the sacrifices made by Filipino heroes for the nation's freedom. Duterte, who previously served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City, vehemently denied any involvement in the Davao Death Squad during her terms in office. She expressed dismay over the sudden appearance of a witness against her in the International Criminal Court (ICC) after assuming the vice presidency. Duterte dismissed the accusations and questioned the motives behind the allegations, asserting her capability to accomplish tasks without resorting to unlawful means. In a related development, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voiced his refusal to acknowledge the ICC's jurisdiction in the Philippines, considering it a threat to the country's sovereignty. He issued a directive for all government agencies to refrain from cooperating with the ICC, emphasizing the nation's non-recognition of the court's authority. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that ICC investigators had gathered substantial evidence against former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding his administration's war on drugs. He anticipated an imminent issuance of an arrest warrant against the former president. Former President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the ICC's decision to initiate a preliminary investigation into the war on drugs, labeling it an insult to the Philippines and challenging the court's jurisdiction within the country. During his presidency, he initiated the withdrawal of the Philippines' membership from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC. The ICC appeals chamber recently granted a request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity related to the Philippines' controversial drug campaign, spanning from November 2011 to March 2019. The developments surrounding the ICC's probe into the Philippines' internal affairs have sparked a contentious debate, with key political figures and rights groups expressing divergent views on the matter. The ongoing tensions between the Philippines and the ICC underscore the complex intersection of international law, national sovereignty, and human rights issues......»»
DTI Capiz intensifies watch on ‘noche buena’ goods sales
ROXAS CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry has been intensifying its monitoring activities during the holidays ensure that consumers are well-protected......»»
The Municipality of Baras and one Barangay in Caramoran Declared Drug-Cleared
In the deliberation conducted by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) at nine o’clock in the morning on the 19th of January, the Municipality of Baras was officially declared a “Drug-Cleared Municipality,” while Barangay Baybay in the Municipality of Caramoran was declared a Drug-Cleared Barangay. The activity was led by Dir III […] The post The Municipality of Baras and one Barangay in Caramoran Declared Drug-Cleared appeared first on Bicol Peryodiko......»»
If he gets elected, Yogi Ruiz warns drug traders to leave Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Illegal drug traders were warned by former Bureau of Customs Commissioner (BOC) and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz to leave Cebu City within 30 days if he is elected as mayor in the 2025 local and national elections. This was his promise as he is 100%.....»»
Addressing the Philippines’ 2024 Threat Landscape: Kaspersky Launches KUMA Platform
To help Filipino businesses and organizations stay safe in cyberspace while embracing digitalization, Kaspersky announces today the launch of Kaspersky Unified Monitoring and Analysis Platform (KUMA), its integrated software solution that includes a set of functions for security information and event monitoring and management. The Philippines is expected to continue its double-digit growth towards $35B […].....»»
Lapu-Lapu drug test: Tourism office JO positive for illegal drugs
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu- One tested positive for using illegal drugs during a surprise drug test conducted by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP) on Friday, March 15, for the occupants of the Tourism, Historical, and Cultural Affairs Commission (TCHAC) building. The government structure is occupied by tourism office personnel and employees.....»»
Travel agencies group warns about cheap, illegal operators
The Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) has issued a warning about unregistered and illegal travel and tour operators in their area. These operators have been found to be offering travel and tour services without proper licensing, leading to issues such as lack of refunds, scheduling problems, and other travel arrangement discrepancies. Pia Partoza Montano, a travel agency owner and Vice-President for the Travel and Tours Sector of DTAA, emphasized the prevalence of these unauthorized operators, particularly in inbound tourism, and the challenges in monitoring and regulating them due to their large numbers. Montano also highlighted the potential risks associated with using these unregistered agencies, as they may offer cheaper rates but could lead to problems in case of incidents. To address this issue, the Department of Tourism-Davao (DOT-Davao) has introduced a QR code system to help the public verify the legitimacy of travel agencies by accessing data on authorized and registered operators. The DOT-Davao encourages travelers to transact with accredited enterprises to ensure the quality and reliability of their travel arrangements. Currently, there are at least 109 registered travel and tour agencies in Davao City under DOT-Davao's accreditation. The DOT-Davao also provides information on the requirements for registration and renewal for travel agencies on their official website. This warning serves as a reminder for the public to be cautious and discerning when engaging with travel and tour operators to avoid falling victim to unauthorized and illegitimate services......»»
Drug den in Punta Princesa, Cebu City shut down, three men nabbed
CEBU CITY, Philippines — With the help of concerned citizens, law enforcers arrested three newly identified drug personalities and dismantled a suspected drug den in Sitio Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City on Thursday afternoon, March 21, 2024. The drug bust took place at around 1:25 p.m. in the barangay, which was previously.....»»
San Fransico drug bust: Ex-drug surrenderee, cohort nabbed with P816,000 shabu
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A drug peddler, who voluntarily surrendered earlier and completed the government’s reformation program, and his alleged cohort will be spending time in jail after they were arrested in a drug bust in San Francisco, Cebu Friday night. Jufer Belmoro, 40, and Jilou Montalban, 34, were nabbed with five packs of suspected.....»»
CLOSAP: 3 Barangay Ibo employees fail drug test
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Three out of 88 employees of Barangay Ibo tested positive for drug use in a surprise drug test conducted on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. The drug test was carried out by the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP). CLOSAP executive director Garry Lao reported that one garbage worker and two.....»»
Hontiveros dares both Marcos and Duterte to undergo drug test
MANILA, Philippines — In order to put an end to tirades from both camps, opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros encouraged on Wednesday both President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte to undergo drug tests. “Drug testing should always be suspicionless and voluntary. Para matapos na ang patutsadahan sa drug use ng dalawang.....»»