Making Philippines workforce ready for the future
In response to the rapidly evolving global working landscape, Bayan Academy with the support of J.P. Morgan, has undertaken an initiative called #InDemandPH......»»
Former The Freeman editor-in-chief passes away
Former The Freeman editor-in-chief passes away.....»»
JP Morgan CEO warns world may be facing ‘most dangerous time’ in decades
Title: JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon Warns of Potentially Disruptive Impacts as Israel Prepares Ground Offensive on Gaza In a recent statement, Jamie Dimon, the.....»»
Palestinian supporters, pro-Israel counter-protestors rally in Manhattan
Some thousand demonstrators on Sunday gathered in Manhattan in solidarity with Palestinians as pro-Israel marchers counter-protested following a bloody escalation in the Middle East conflict. The rallies followed Saturday's surge in violence that's killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the region after militant group Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel which responded by hammering blockaded Palestinian Gaza with heavy air strikes. Demonstrators in New York waved Palestinian flags during the peaceful march from Times Square to near both the Israeli consulate and the United Nations headquarters, where the Security Council was to convene over the weekend's violence. "We are here in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are fighting 75 years of Israeli settler colonialism, settler violence, and 16 years of military blockade of Gaza," said Munir Atalla, a 30-year-old member of the Palestinian Youth Movement group, which was among the demonstration's organizers. "What we saw yesterday was the people of Gaza breaking out of their open-air prison," he continued. "It's impossible to view the events of this week, without first understanding the context that the Israeli regime is founded on violence... it's founded on the erasure and annihilation of Palestinians." Counter-demonstration The rally was among others backing the Palestinian cause in American cities including Washington and Chicago. The demonstrations came as the United States quickly affirmed its support for Israel, with US President Joe Biden ordering US ships and warplanes closer to its ally and sending fresh military aid. "Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel's crimes," protestors in New York chanted. Sarah Barqawi, 38, told AFP she came to Sunday's rally "because my family is currently under siege in Gaza and are just waiting to know if they will be alive or dead, without any electricity, without any support, without any supplies." "They are merely trying to defend their right to existence." On Saturday evening the New York branches of organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now marched to the Brooklyn home of Chuck Schumer, the Senate's majority leader, to call "for an end to all US military funding to Israel." Schumer was among the chorus of US political leaders over the weekend to reiterate support for Israel and its "unwavering right to defend itself." At a separate Manhattan protest on Sunday, a couple of hundred people waving Israeli flags decried "vicious Hamas," among them Ofer Jacobawitz, who said, "We need to demonstrate for public opinion." "We just want everyone to know that we're supporting Israel and whatever it does now in order to defend itself and prevent this from ever happening again." New York's Governor Kathy Hochul -- who lambasted Manhattan's Palestinian solidarity rally as "abhorrent and morally repugnant" -- meanwhile ordered landmarks in the state including the World Trade Center and Niagara Falls to be illuminated in blue and white. "New York is proud to be home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel," she said. As he marched on Sunday at the Palestinian solidarity rally, Morgan Bassichis, 40, told AFP that "as a Jewish person who believes that everyone, with no exception, should be free, I am firmly in support of the Palestinian freedom movement, and I believe that all violence in the region is a result of the root cause of Israeli apartheid." "It's our job as people in the US to get our government" to stop financing Israel, he said. The post Palestinian supporters, pro-Israel counter-protestors rally in Manhattan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
P23.6-B narcotics seized in PBBM term
Authorities have seized P23.62 billion worth of narcotics across the country since the start of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said on Monday. The latest PDEA data also showed 61,269 were arrested, including 4,174 high-value targets, during 44,338 anti-illegal drugs operations from 1 July 2022 to September 30 this year. It said a total of P23.62 billion worth of illegal drugs which includes over 3,000 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride locally known as shabu, 25.78 kilograms of cocaine, 43,940 pieces of ecstasy, and 2,739.93 kilograms of marijuana were apprehended. Authorities likewise dismantled 683 drug dens and one clandestine shabu laboratory during the same period. At least 27,748 out of 42,046 barangays (villages) have been declared drug-cleared as of September 30 while 7,785 are still drug-affected. The barangays with drug-cleared status were issued certifications by members of the oversight committee on the barangay drug-clearing program. In a related development, Quezon City Police District Director Brg. Gen. Redrico Maranan on Monday said that 817 drug suspects and confiscated P41,124,151.60 worth of illegal drugs in a series of buy-bust operations conducted for the third quarter of this year in the city Maranan also said that a total of 458 anti-drug operations were conducted by the different police stations and units of QCPD which resulted in the confiscation of 5,699.72 grams of shabu, 18,442.13 grams of marijuana, and 158 grams of Kush or high-grade marijuana. On top of these were the operations conducted by the Novaliches Police Station 4 under Lt. Col. Jerry Castillo that led to the arrest of 74 drug personalities and the confiscation of P9,363,399.60 worth of illegal drugs followed by the District Drug Enforcement Unit under officer-in-charge Maj. Wennie Ann Cale who apprehended 29 drug peddlers and confiscated PHP8,851,200.00 worth of shabu and marijuana. Likewise, the Kamuning PS 10 under Lt. Col. Robert Amoranto confiscated P4,017,304.00 and arrested 78 drug suspects while the Talipapa PS 3 under Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar nabbed 53 drug suspects and seized P3,962,680 worth of illegal drugs. Meanwhile, 55 drug peddlers were also arrested and P3,628,304 worth of illegal drugs and confiscated by the operatives of the Batasan PS 6 under Lt. Col. Paterno Domondon Jr. The post P23.6-B narcotics seized in PBBM term appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects
Operatives of the Quezon City Police District have arrested 22 individuals for various offenses in a 24-hour operation over the weekend. QCPD Director P/Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said three wanted persons were among those apprehended by the Project 4 Police Station 8, Eastwood PS 12 and Payatas Bagong Silangan PS 13. PS 8 under P/Maj. Reynold Tobias arrested Sherwin Lubaton at 3:50 p.m. of 22 September 2023 for illegal possession of bladed, pointed or blunt weapons; the PS 12 under P/Lt. Col. Vicente Bumalay Jr. arrested Francisco Rosadeño Tañala at 2:09 p.m. of 22 September at No. 007, Barangay Calumpang, Binangonan, Rizal for Acts of Lasciviousness; and PS 13 under P/Lt. Col. Leonie Ann dela Cruz served warrants of arrest to Ferdinand Bunuan Pantinople at 3:15 p.m. of 22 September at Quezon City Jail, EDSA corner Kamuning, Quezon City for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Maranan said the respective courts of origin of the warrants will be notified regarding the arrest of the wanted persons. In the campaign against illegal drugs, 19 druggies were apprehended in a series of buy-bust operations. The La Loma PS 1 under P/Lt. Col. Romil Avenido arrested Paulo Ramos at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September, along Kaingin Road, Barangay Apolonio Samson, Quezon City and Francis Formento and Mike Pastrana at 1:30 a.m. of 23 September at Clover Leaf Market, Barangay Balingasa, Quezon City. Likewise, the same operatives arrested Alfredo Satiada at 3 a.m. of 23 September, in front of Petron gas station along A. Bonifacio Avenue, Barangay Pag-ibig sa Nayon, Quezon City and Adonis Mercader at 6 a.m. of 23 September along Don Pepe Street, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were 1.15 grams of shabu with an estimated value of P7,820 and the buy-bust money. Furthermore, the Talipapa PS 3 under P/Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar arrested Nelson Macaraeg; Mherly Solis; Erol Rivera; Mark Anthony Onana; Herchon Pronce; Jefrrey Harden; and Jamarde Kadil at 10:45 p.m. of 22 September along Ibabaw Ng Tulay, Quirino Highway, Barangay Balong Bato, Quezon City. Confiscated from them were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600; a black cellular phone; one unit orange Motorcycle Honda Beat; and the buy-bust money. The post QC anti-crime drive nets 22 suspects appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
US authorities return seven works of art stolen by Nazis
New York authorities announced on Wednesday the return of $9 million in art stolen by the Nazi regime to the family of Fritz Grunbaum, an Austrian Jewish cabaret performer killed in the Holocaust. The seven drawings, all from Austrian artist Egon Schiele, were "voluntarily surrendered by the holding institutions and estates," including New York's famous Museum of Modern Art, "after they were presented with evidence that they were stolen by the Nazis," the Manhattan District Attorney's office said in a statement. The move comes as a victory for Grunbaum's heirs, who have been fighting for the art's return for years. Grunbaum died at the Dachau concentration camp in 1941. "I hope this moment can serve as a reminder that despite the horrific death and destruction caused by the Nazis, it is never too late to recover some of what we lost (and) honor the victims," District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. Timothy Reif, a judge and one of Grunbaum's relatives, thanked authorities for having "succeeded in solving crimes perpetrated over 80 years ago." "Their righteous and courageous collaboration in the pursuit of justice -- unique among prosecutors and law enforcement in this entire nation, if not the world -- shine a bright light for all to follow." As of June, Bragg's office had returned more than 950 looted or improperly acquired pieces of art worth $165 million, to countries including Cambodia, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Italy. 'Degenerate' The seven Schiele drawings were seized by the office's Antiquities Tracking Unit earlier this year, from the Museum of Modern Art, The Ronald Lauder Collection, The Morgan Library, The Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Vally Sabarsky Trust in Manhattan. The works by Schiele, an Austrian expressionist artist, are valued between $780,000 and $2.75 million each, with the district attorney's office estimating their total value at more than $9 million. Grunbaum, who was also an art collector and critic of the Nazi regime, possessed hundreds of works of art, including more than 80 by Schiele. Schiele's works, considered "degenerate" by the Nazis, were largely auctioned or sold abroad to finance the Nazi Party, according to the district attorney's office. Arrested by the Nazis in 1938, Grunbaum was forced while at Dachau to sign over his power of attorney to his spouse, who was then made to hand over the family's entire collection before herself being deported to a different concentration camp, in current-day Belarus. The seven works whose restitution was announced Wednesday had reappeared on the art market after World War II in the 1950s, first in Switzerland and then making their way to New York. A judge in 2018 had ruled in favor of the Grunbaum heirs concerning two different Schiele pieces, after a London art dealer argued that a sale of 54 Schiele drawings by Grunbaum's sister-in-law after his death was a valid transfer of the work. But the judge rejected the idea that Grunbaum would have ever given her possession of the works voluntarily, writing that "a signature at gunpoint cannot lead to a valid conveyance." That ruling was one of the first to come after Congress passed the Holocaust Expropriated Recovery Act in 2016, designed to relax the s The post US authorities return seven works of art stolen by Nazis appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Starbucks opens $220 million plant outside Shanghai
US coffee behemoth Starbucks opened a $220 million development outside Shanghai on Tuesday, a sign established multinationals are still looking to China for growth despite its faltering post-Covid recovery. A survey released Tuesday by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai reported optimism among US businesses in China was at a "record low", mainly blaming the sluggish economy and Washington-Beijing tensions. But Starbucks' "Coffee Innovation Park", which includes a roasting plant and distribution center, is the largest investment the company has made in any such project outside the United States, a news release said Tuesday. "Starbucks' best days are ahead in China," a spokesperson for the company told AFP by email when asked to comment on business sentiment in the country. "As Starbucks' largest and fastest-growing international market, we will continue to deepen our investment and reinforce our unwavering long-term commitment to the China market," CEO Laxman Narasimhan was quoted as saying in the release. Narasimhan visited China in May, when he met the mayor of Shanghai, according to state media. His trip took place as other CEOs of major multinational companies flocked to the world's second-largest economy to shore up business support post-Covid -- including Apple, Tesla, JP Morgan, and General Motors. Starbucks declined to give further details on the visit when asked. The company has more than 6,500 coffee shops in more than 250 Chinese cities and says that a new store opens in the country every nine hours. The new Coffee Innovation Park has been built to serve the company's China stores exclusively, the company said, with some beans used coming from southern Yunnan province. The post Starbucks opens $220 million plant outside Shanghai appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QCPD arrests 17 suspects; confiscates 17 firearms
Quezon City Police District Director P/Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan on Thursday reported the arrest of 17 suspects and the confiscation of 17 firearms by the different police stations and units from 28 August to 11 September 2023. Maranan said this is in line with the COMELEC Gun Ban and as part of the QCPD commitment to combat illegal possession of firearms. A total of 15 operations were conducted by the different Quezon City police stations and units. The La Loma Police Station (PS 1), under P/Lt.Col. Romil Avenido, arrested three suspects and confiscated three firearms. The Talipapa Police Station (PS 3), under P/ Lt. Col. Morgan Aguilar, nabbed two suspects and seized two firearms. The Novaliches Police Station (PS 4), under P/Lt.Col. Jerry Castillo, apprehended four suspects and seized four firearms. The Batasan Police Station (PS 6), under P/Lt.Col. Paterno Domondon Jr., arrested three suspects and confiscated three firearms. The Holy Spirit Police Station (PS 14), under P/Lt.Col. May Genio, nabbed four suspects and confiscated four firearms. The District Special Operation Unit (DSOU), under P/Maj. Jun Fortunato, arrested a suspect which led to the recovery of one firearm. All the suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act in relation to the Omnibus Election Code (COMELEC Gun Ban). Maranan commended the relentless efforts of his officers in executing the QCPD's anti-criminality operations, which led to this notable accomplishment. “QCPD would like to extend its appreciation to the community for their vigilant support and cooperation in reporting illegal firearms and suspicious activities. Together, we are working towards a safer and more secure Quezon City”. The post QCPD arrests 17 suspects; confiscates 17 firearms appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QCPD 24/7 anti-crime drive nets 27 offenders
A total of 27 individuals were arrested for various offenses by the different police stations and units of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) over the weekend. In its campaign against illegal drugs, the Anonas Police Station (PS-9) under P/Lt. Col. Ferdinand Casiano arrested Joselito Ruta Balones at 3:40 a.m. on 10 September 2023 in front of a house located along Maginhawa St., in Brgy. Sikatuna Village. Confiscated from his possession were 10 grams of shabu valued at P68,000. In addition, the PS-9 arrested Abdullazis Sandangan at the same day along Kamias Road corner K10th St. in Brgy. East Kamias. Confiscated from his possession were five grams of shabu valued at P34,000, a cellular phone, and the buy bust money. The suspects were charged for violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Meanwhile, by virtue of warrants of arrest, the Talipapa Police Station (PS-3) under P/Lt.Col. Morgan Aguilar served warrants of arrest to Loida Junio on 9 September at PS-3 Custodial Facility for violation of Batas Pambansa Blg. 22 or the Anti-Bouncing Check Law and Estafa, respectively. The court of origin of the warrant will be notified regarding her arrest. Furthermore, in campaign against illegal gambling, 24 gamblers were arrested by the following police stations and units. The Masambong Police Station (PS-2) under P/Lt.Col. Resty Damaso arrested Jared Jorquia; Gaspar Lomboy; Jayson Monedero; Frederick Paje; Jonel Dela Cruz; Estelito Solayao; Dioscoro Sombrio; Elmer Andresa; and Rolen Beryoso at 5:30 p.m. on 9 September at West Ave. in Brgy. West Triangle for their involvement “Illegal cockfighting.” For playing “cara y cruz”, the Novaliches Police Station (PS-4) under P/Lt.Col. Jerry Castillo arrested Mark Gregory Bautista, Jayson Lorenn De Vera, and Ron Ron De Leon at 9:00 p.m. on 9 September at Victoria St., Brgy. Gulod in Novaliches; Emmanuel Odiaman, Albert De Guzman, and Joel Pangan at 9:30 p.m. on 9 September at Victoria St., Brgy. Gulod; Richard Datiles, John Carlo Datiles, Eduard Dela Cruz, and Ishang Perez at 11:00 p.m. on 9 September at Pacquita St., Brgy. Gulod; and Jalbert Erjas, Ardee Delos Santos, and Jefferson Leonardo at 11:30 p.m. on 9 September at Veronica St., Brgy. Gulod in Novaliches. Similarly, the Pasong Putik Police Station (PS-16) under P/Lt.Col. Reynaldo Vitto arrested Renante Nayon and Julies King Misola at 6:30 p.m. on 9 September along Mindanao Avenue Extension in Brgy. Greater Lagro, Quezon City. Several illegal gambling paraphernalia and bet money were confiscated from the suspects. A case of violation of PD 1602 or the Anti-Illegal Gambling Law were filed against them before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office “Let us continue our intensified campaign against all forms of criminality to maintain peace and order in Quezon City”, P/Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan, the QCPD Director said, as he lauded the dedication and efforts of the men and women of QCPD. The post QCPD 24/7 anti-crime drive nets 27 offenders appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jessica Villarubin umalma sa mga nang-ookray sa kanyang ‘pagbirit’ sa burol ni Mike Enriquez: Andun po kami para magbigay pugay
PINABULAANAN ng Kapuso singer na si Jessica Villarubin ang mga kumakalat na opinyon ng mga netizens ukol sa kanyang pagkanta sa lamay ni Mike Enriquez. Base sa inilabas na ulat ng The Freeman, nilinaw ng singer na hindi niya sinapawan ang mga kasamang kumakanta. Kasama ni Jessica sa pagkanta ng “Lead Me, Lord” sina Julie The post Jessica Villarubin umalma sa mga nang-ookray sa kanyang ‘pagbirit’ sa burol ni Mike Enriquez: Andun po kami para magbigay pugay appeared first on Bandera......»»
15 druggies nabbed over P623k shabu
Fifteen druggies who yielded P623,400 worth of shabu over the weekend were nabbed by operatives of the Quezon City Police District. QCPD Director P/Brig.Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the Masambong Police Station (PS 2) led by P/Lt.Col. Resty Damaso, arrested Michael Legria and Maricar Bacocanag at 9:10 p.m.of Friday, 18 August, infront of No. 14 Sta. Ana Street, Barangay San Antonio, Quezon City. Based on the report, a concerned citizen tipped off the illegal activities of the suspects which resulted in their immediate arrest. Confiscated from their possessions were 60 grams of shabu valued at P408,000 and the buy-bust money. The Batasan Police Station (PS 6) under P/Lt.Col. Paterno Domondon Jr. arrested Johari Bantayao at 5:35 p.m. on the same day at Isaiah corner F. Salvador Street, Jordan Plains Subdivision Gate 2, Barangay Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City. A buy-bust operation was conducted by PS 6 operatives in coordination with PDEA-NCR wherein a police officer acted as poseur buyer and bought P1,000 worth of shabu from the suspect and at the given pre-arranged signal, he was arrested. Seized from the suspect were 18 grams of shabu valued at P122,400, a cellular phone and the buy-bust money. Also, the Talipapa Police Station (PS 3) under P/Lt.Col. Morgan Aguilar arrested Ian Jomail and Carol Aquino at 6:30 p.m. along Quirino Highway, Barangay Unang Sigaw, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were one gram of shabu valued at P6,800, a black coin purse, a cellular phone and the buy-bust money. The Novaliches Police Station (PS 4) under P/Lt.Col.Jerry Castillo arrested Juan Luis Macaraeg at 11:45 p.m. at Masterkee Carwash along Quirino Highway, Barangay Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City. Confiscated from his possession were 1.5 grams of shabu valued at P10,200, a cellular phone and the buy-bust money. The Anonas Police Station (PS 9) under P/Lt.Col. Ferdinand Casiano, arrested Jay-ar Visayana and Ruby Salazar at 9:30 p.m. on the same day at Block 3, Lot 16, Pook Arboretum, Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600.00, brown coin purse, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. At 6:55 a.m. also Friday, along Cluster 5, Manunggal Street, Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City, the Galas Police Station (PS 11) under P/Lt.Col. Jake Barila arrested Jonjon de Guzman and Mark Benzon Santos. Confiscated from their possessions were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600, a coin purse, cellular phone and the buy-bust money. The Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station (PS 13) under P/Lt.Col. Leonie Ann dela Cruz arrested Jay Brazil Taneo at 8:30 p.m. at house number J-2, Lot 48, Road 6, Sitio Kumunoy, Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. Confiscated from his possession were three grams of shabu valued at P20,400 and the buy-bust money. While the Holy Spirit Police Station (PS 14) under P/Lt.Col. May Genio arrested John Paul Pangilinan; Larry Panglinan; Regy Rael; and Macbot Paculanang at 1:15 a.m. of Saturday, 19 August at No. 91 Marcel Village, Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were three grams of shabu valued at P24,400, coin purse and the buy-bust money. The suspects were charged for violation of R.A. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Torre commended his operatives for their relentless efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of evidence. The post 15 druggies nabbed over P623k shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC cops nab 15 druggies; seize P623-K worth of shabu
Quezon City Police District operatives arrested 15 druggies, who yielded P623,400 worth of shabu, over the weekend. According to QCPD Director P/BGen. Nicolas Torre III, the Masambong Police Station (PS 2), led by P/LCol. Resty Damaso, nabbed first Michael Legria and Maricar Bacocanag at 9:10 p.m. on 18 August 2023 in front of a house at Sta. Ana St. in Brgy. San Antonio, Quezon City. Based on the report, a concerned citizen tipped off the illegal activities of the suspects which resulted in their immediate arrest. Confiscated from their possessions were 60 grams of shabu valued at P408,000 and the buy-bust money. Meanwhile, the Batasan Police Station (PS 6), under P/LCol. Paterno Domondon Jr., arrested Johari Bantayao at 5:35 p.m. on 18 August 2023 at Isaiah corner F. Salvador Sts., Jordan Plains Subdivision Gate 2 in Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City in a buy-bust operation. Seized from the suspect were 18 grams of shabu valued at P122,400.00, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. Also, the Talipapa Police Station (PS 3) under P/LCol. Morgan Aguilar arrested Ian Jomail and Carol Aquino at 6:30 p.m. on 18 August 2023 along Quirino Highway in Brgy. Unang Sigaw, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were one gram of shabu valued at P6,800, a black coin purse, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. The Novaliches Police Station (PS 4), under P/LCol. Jerry Castillo, arrested Juan Luis Macaraeg at 11:45 p.m. on 18 August 2023 at Masterkee Carwash along Quirino Highway in Brgy. Sta. Monica, Novaliches, Quezon City. Confiscated from his possession were 1.5 gram of shabu valued at P10,200, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. The Anonas Police Station (PS 9), under P/LCol. Ferdinand Casiano, arrested Jay-ar Visayana and Ruby Salazar at 9:30 p.m. on 18 August 2023 at Pook Arboretum in Brgy. UP Campus, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600, a brown coin purse, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. At 6:55 a.m. on 18 August 2023 along Cluster 5, Manunggal St., in Brgy. Tatalon, Quezon City, the Galas Police Station (PS 11), under P/LCol. Jake Barila, arrested Jonjon De Guzman and Mark Benzon Santos. Confiscated from their possessions were two grams of shabu valued at P13,600, a coin purse, a cellular phone, and the buy-bust money. The Payatas Bagong Silangan Police Station (PS 13), under P/LCol. Leonie Ann Dela Cruz arrested Jay Brazil Taneo at 8:30 p.m. on 18 August 2023 at a house at Sitio Kumunoy in Brgy. Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. Confiscated from his possession were three grams of shabu valued at P20,400 and the buy-bust money. While the Holy Spirit Police Station (PS 14) under P/LCol. May Genio nabbed John Paul Pangilinan, Larry Panglinan, Regy Rael, and Macbot Paculanang at 1:15 a.m. on 19 August 2023 at Marcel Village in Brgy. Pasong Tamo, Quezon City. Confiscated from their possessions were three grams of shabu valued at P24,400, a coin purse, and the buy-bust money. The suspects were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. Torre commended his operatives for their relentless efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs that resulted in the arrest of the suspects and the confiscation of evidence. “Asahan po ninyo na hindi kami magsasawa at mas lalo pa naming paiigtingin ang aming kampanya kontra iligal na droga,” he said. The post QC cops nab 15 druggies; seize P623-K worth of shabu appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Five lawyers penalized for ‘homophobic’ posts
The Supreme Court on Thursday revealed that it has sanctioned five lawyers over alleged homophobic statements posted on their social media accounts. In a 26-page Per Curiam decision, the SC reprimanded Atty. Morgan Rosales Nicanor, Atty. Joseph Marion Peña Navarrete, Atty. Noel V. Antay Jr. and Atty. Israel P. Calderon while imposing a P25,000 fine on Atty. Ernesto A. Tabujara III for violation of Rule 7.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility. On 29 June 2021, the Court motu proprio resolved to require Atty. Antay, Atty. Tabujara, Atty. Calderon, Atty. Nicanor, and Atty. Navarrete to show cause why no administrative charges should be filed against them for certain Facebook posts. The post Five lawyers penalized for ‘homophobic’ posts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
U.S. must step up too
American analysts have been exploring the possible ways the West Philippine Sea conflict will play out primarily with the so-called “gray zone” maneuvers by China in the disputed waters in which non-military activities are employed for coercion. The United States Institute of Peace, or USIP, a federal body tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention worldwide, is reviewing ways that Washington can play a role in de-escalating the tension in the region. The review was sparked by an act of aggression last week when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel deployed a water cannon to redirect an unarmed Philippine Navy supply boat. China blamed the incident on the Philippine government’s continued defiance of an earlier understanding to ban the delivery of construction materials to the beached BRP Sierra Madre navy vessel at Ayungin Shoal. Tensions have been on the rise since last year on China’s perception that Manila was moving closer to Washington, prompting a more aggressive assertion of its claim over most of the West Philippine Sea. “Given that Washington and Manila have a mutual defense treaty, there is credible concern that an incident like this could trigger a wider US-China conflict,” according to the USIP. Under a new Philippine administration, the formerly conciliatory approach the country had taken in its dispute with China has shifted. Instead, Brian Harding, USIP senior expert for Southeast Asia and Pacific Islands, said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has highlighted China’s efforts to swarm and intimidate fishing and coast guard vessels to take the bold move of deepening defense ties with the United States, bringing China-Philippines ties to a new low. Ayungin Shoal, the USIP expert said, has long been a likely candidate for the first showdown between the Philippines and China since Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012. Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio also identified the shoal, in a speech the other day, as one of five possible flashpoints that may lead to a deeper maritime conflict. In 1999, the Philippines intentionally beached a World War II naval vessel on a submerged reef, located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and has since maintained a small contingent of Marines on board in extremely austere conditions. As a practical matter, in recent years China has turned a blind eye to the Philippines replenishing supplies for the Marines but has blocked the delivery of materials that could be used to repair the ship. USIP’s Andrew Scobell, a China expert, said the recent aggressive actions of a large China Coast Guard vessel on a tiny Filipino Navy supply boat was merely the latest episode in a decades-long campaign of intimidation and coercion by Beijing. Based on its insisted-on nine-dash line boundaries, Beijing claims the right to restrict access to ships from other countries to the South China Sea. “Many of (China’s) white-hulled ships are far larger, much better equipped, and more intimidating than the gray hull naval vessels possessed by most Southeast Asian states,” USIP said. China has persisted in its well-orchestrated campaign of low-intensity conflict, what is widely called “gray zone” actions, to forcefully advance its claims and aggressively push back against rivals. Carla Freeman, a senior USIP expert on China, said that beyond the effort to persuade and deter China, the US should engage in diplomacy to encourage allies and partners in the region to make clear to Beijing their own concerns about the risks to peace posed by confrontation. Regional allies have already issued statements criticizing China’s behavior, with Tokyo using unusually strong language to condemn China’s conduct, the USIP said. Like the Philippines’ position, the USIP said that Washington’s efforts in support of a binding code of conduct, or CoC, would be key to preventing conflict. The USIP, nonetheless, sees as a major obstacle toward progress in the United States itself since it is limited in its diplomatic capabilities after it failed to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Taking the high road in the simmering conflict, thus, would need both the US and China to review their positions of leadership to keep the stability in the region. The post U.S. must step up too appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam
As a teenager Grandmaster Flash began pioneering the turntable-as-instrument, playing the now iconic Bronx block parties that gave birth to hip-hop and revolutionized music. On Friday, he was back home, commemorating 50 years of the genre with a performance that had New Yorkers born in the mid-20th century reliving their youth -- and hip-hop's. "This is not a concert -- this is a jam!" Flash, now in his 60s, shouted from the stage, as hundreds of fans roared in applause in the South Bronx's Crotona Park. The audience swayed with their hands in the air as Flash threw it back to the jams of the early 1970s, which ushered in the genre that's profoundly impacted music as well as fashion, dance and the culture at large. The community parties offered teens and families a lifeline in an era of financial crisis that left much of the borough in crippling poverty. "It was the music that really resonated at the time in New York," said Quentin Morgan, 54, who rolled into the park on his bike to catch the event that's part of a series of festivities commemorating hip-hop's birth. "It was gritty in New York -- barely any laws," he said with a chuckle. "It was a different era." Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982 released "The Message," delivering a raw portrait of urban life and bringing a socially conscious element to the genre on a grand scale. On Friday night, the air was electric as Flash brought MCs Melle Mel and Scorpio onstage where they delivered a rendition of the iconic hit. That preceded a fierce appearance from MC Sha-Rock, widely considered the first woman to MC during hip-hop's nascent years. And KRS-One, who also hails from the South Bronx, freestyled to a chorus of cheers as Flash scratched and transformed, manipulating the vinyl, using now-standard techniques he pioneered half a century ago. Earlier in the evening as opening acts warmed up the crowd, Coke La Rock -- who on 11 August 1973 joined DJ Kool Herc at the party many musicologists consider hip-hop's official conception -- told AFP that for him, hip-hop and the Bronx are one and the same. "I can't see no division of it," the 68-year-old said, calling offshoots of the genre across the United States and even the world "my kids." "They all my kids, if I'm the patent, they the product." 'Biggest music on earth' Speaking to AFP backstage, Flash said Friday's event was meant to emulate the jams of his youth. "It was recreation -- moms said go outside and play," he said. "Never... did I think it would become part of the biggest music on earth." Organizers also relayed a message from the mayor of New York, as the city officially declared August 4 "Grandmaster Flash Day." Keisha Harmon joined the event with her partner of 27 years -- "my Teenage Love," she said, quoting the rap classic by Slick Rick. She'll be 50 in October: she was born in the Bronx just months after the genre she grew up on. "I have chills, look, goosebumps," she told AFP. "All the songs that are playing -- I'm a mother of seven and I'm a grandmother of eight -- and they take me back to No Kids." She described how the hip-hop jams of her childhood spread by word of mouth: "Hey, DJ-such-and-such is in the park, and we would have parties and sing, and it was just fun." "And this reminds me of that," Harmon added, motioning to the park crowded with partygoers on a humid August evening. The celebration "shows our talent" as citizens of the Bronx, she added. "It shows what we contributed to the arts," Harmon said. "Hip-hop has a substance." "The artists were storytellers." "South South Bronx, South Bronx!" the audience shouted throughout the evening, singing the song by Boogie Down Productions produced by KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock. According to city organizers, Friday night was Grandmaster Flash's first time playing the Bronx in two decades. Along with fellow hip-hop pioneers, he was joined by a troupe of breakdancers who wowed the audience with a throwdown. "Where's my old-schoolers at?" Flash asked the joyous crowd. "I wanna keep it in the 70s." "Somebody say Bronx!" The post Icon Grandmaster Flash leads the Bronx in 70s-style hip-hop jam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hypocrites humbled
The Ombudsman’s decision to throw out the complaint of New York-based Filipino-Americans who keep stirring controversy in the country led by billionaire Loida Nicolas-Lewis exposes a deeper agenda in the effort. Lewis is known to be the heavy gun behind the Liberal Party who provided the bulk of the funding for the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo’s lost pink cause in the 2022 polls. The long-distance meddling had been repeatedly disclosed in the past with no less than former President Rodrigo Duterte pointing to a rich Filipino-American, who was obviously Nicolas-Lewis, as leading the effort to destabilize the government. In one of his abrasive speeches, Duterte foretold the international offensive against him emanating from the group of Nicolas-Lewis. “For all I care, I do not have any illusions, do not give me a reason to leave because you might get your wish,” he had said. “A certain financier, a rich woman who married a black (American) and is now a millionaire, she is planning to do protests,” he added. The plot was confirmed by then Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who recalled rumors in the Filipino-American community about plans to oust Duterte because of his alleged human rights violations and continuous attacks against the US. Duterte then mockingly told Nicolas-Lewis he’d follow her advice and even provide staff for her. “If you think that you can help, tell me because I will appoint a group of presidential advisers and (I will give you) a Cabinet position without a portfolio but with Cabinet rank. And I will follow your instructions to a tee,” he said. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said of the plot. He said the recordings included one in which Lewis told another person, “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Being referred was the International Criminal Court case that was a successful campaign considering the recent decision of the tribunal to proceed with an investigation into the war on drugs of Mr. Duterte. Nicolas-Lewis had led a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprised of executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration on 1 June 2016. The top-notch mission included tycoons, retired American diplomats, executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis’s sister was former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas who was part of the “Hyatt 10” — members of the Cabinet who turned on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members were recruited to key posts in the succeeding administration of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was appointed head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Duterte is being targeted for investigation for the complaint of crimes against humanity as a result of the methods undertaken in the anti-drug campaign. The late plaintiff Jude Sabio admitted using manufactured numbers that at one point reached 20,000 so-called extrajudicial killings, which a Senate investigation found dubious since it came from Philippine National Police figures that tallied all forms of deaths investigated, including those unrelated to police operations since Duterte assumed office. Veteran lawyer Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said that from the start, he was against the proceedings at the ICC. “We’re an independent sovereign country and they want to unduly interfere in our internal affairs,” Enrile said. He pointed out the drug war was a policy to rid the country of its narcotics problem and involved law enforcement. “Who are they to tell us what is good for our society?” Enrile asked. “In the case of the insurgency, the government conducts operations. Are we going to answer to the ICC on the way that we defend ourselves from an internal threat?” Enrile demanded. The persistence of the ICC was discovered to have a sinister origin, based on information that Duterte had gathered. It all started with the designs of meddling Filipinos living overseas who wanted to impose their brand of hypocrisy on the hapless nation but were effectively foiled. The post Hypocrites humbled appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Graft buster clears Cusi
Citing the presumption of regularity, the Office of the Ombudsman threw out the graft complaint of a New York-based billionaire against former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, other Department of Energy officials, Davao City-based executive Dennis Uy, and several others over the sale of 90 percent of the shares of the Malampaya natural gas consortium. On 18 October 2021, US-based geologist Balgamel Domingo and Filipino-American anti-Duterte leaders Rodel Rodis and Loida Nicolas-Lewis filed charges against Cusi, Uy, and the others involved in the sale of the Malampaya stake to the Udenna group of Uy. In a copy of the ruling obtained by the Daily Tribune, the Ombudsman said it could not delve into the complaint on the legality of the transaction since “the authority to make such a determination belongs to the court.” “Seemingly, this complaint is in actuality a collateral attack on the validity of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement,” it said. The decision declared that “matters of such tenor are not determinable in a preliminary investigation before the Ombudsman’s Office.” “Without any judicial determination decreeing the illegality of the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement, this Office is left with nothing but to acknowledge its validity,” the ruling said. The Ombudsman cited a precedent in the case of Teresita Buenaventura vs Metrobank, in a ruling that stated: “The burden of showing that a contract is simulated rests on the party impugning the contract.” “This is because of the presumed validity of the contract that has been duly executed,” the Ombudsman ruling read. “Wherefore, the criminal charges for violation of Section 3(e) and of Republic Act 3019 against the respondents are dismissed for lack of probable cause.” The ruling was signed by members of a Special Panel of Investigators composed of Ronald Allan Ramos, Josephine Mae Rosapapan, Francisco Alan Molina and Bonifacio Mandrilla. Prime takes control The operation of the Malampaya project was recently assumed by the Razon group’s Prime Energy which bought a 45-percent stake from Malampaya Energy XP, or MEXP, of the Udenna group. MEXP had bought the shares of Shell Philippines Exploration B.V., or SPEX, in the consortium. The Department of Energy had branded the complaint a political move since the two Fil-Am lawyers in the suit were prominent in the “Oust Duterte” movement in the United States. The complaint alleged that Cusi and other energy officials had granted “unwarranted benefits and advantage” to Uy’s UC Malampaya in the buyout of Chevron’s share in the consortium. Udenna, through spokesperson Raymond Zorilla, said there is “no law requiring approval of the transfer of shares of companies that have an interest in Malampaya.” Zorilla said the transfer of Chevron and Shell shares underwent strict bidding processes and due diligence by both multinational oil and gas players. “The share sales were above board and legal and had to pass scrutiny by Philippine regulators, international lenders, and the said private multinationals involved,” Zorilla added. Cusi, in an interview with Daily Tribune, had said the DoE was not involved in choosing the buyer of the shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya project. “The DoE did not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why didn’t you choose the big companies, and why Udenna?” he said. Industry experts said the sale of shares was a private transaction that the accusers, who are US lawyers, should have been very familiar with. Cusi said the DoE, during his watch, went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions, the results of which were provided to the public. Political agenda The complaint, he said, had an underlying political agenda connected to his being the head of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP Laban. “It is not only political propaganda against me, but it also has a destabilization background… because I’m the president of the PDP.” The complaints, in turn, stemmed from the unending Senate inquiries on the Malampaya deals. The DoE said the Senate probes and the controversies that resulted from them had caused costly delays in the review process that would ultimately affect the country’s energy security. To refute a recent remark by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the DoE, in a statement said: “The inquiries of Senator Gatchalian are causing undue delay to the timeline of the consortium corporations, and this may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk.” The DoE’s approval of the sale of shares of stock of Chevron Malampaya LLC, one of the three corporations in the Malampaya Gas Field Project Consortium, had been dubbed by Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, as “lutong Macau.” It also backed the Udenna assessment that the deals were above-board. “When the sales were made, both Chevron Philippines, which owned Chevron Malampaya, and Shell Petroleum NV, owner of SPEX, followed rigorous global standards,” the DoE said. Nicolas-Lewis was part of a 25-person delegation from the US-Philippines Society, a private group comprising business executives and diplomats, who met with Duterte a week before his inauguration as president in 2016. Nicolas-Lewis was then accompanied by former Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan, retired American diplomats, and executives of Coca-Cola, SGV, JP Morgan, and other top corporations. Nicolas-Lewis is the sister of former National Anti-Poverty Commission chairperson Imelda Nicolas, who was one of the “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who turned against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2005. Imelda and most of the Hyatt 10 members ended up getting key posts in the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. Imelda was made head of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. Nicolas-Lewis plot bared In February 2018, former President Duterte bared intercepted conversations that indicated Nicolas-Lewis was behind efforts to push the International Criminal Court, or ICC, to probe his war on drugs. Duterte revealed a recorded conversation between Lewis and another political opponent whom he did not name. “I was listening to the tapes of their conversation. It was provided to me by another country, but the conversation was somewhere in the Philippines and New York,” Duterte said. He said that among the recordings was one in which Lewis allegedly told another person: “See you in the headquarters when the case is filed.” Duterte then said in a public address that he was aware of developments on the ICC case and that lawyer Jude Sabio, the main complainant in the case, was a paid hack of Magdalo Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Rep. Gary Alejano, both failed putschists. Sabio withdrew his complaint before the ICC and revealed that the case was the handiwork of the dirty tricks factory of Trillanes. In 2016, Duterte pointed to Lewis as the financier of an alleged destabilization plot against his administration. Nicolas-Lewis invested heavily in the failed presidential campaigns of Liberal Party bets Mar Roxas in 2016 and Vice President Leni Robredo in 2022. The post Graft buster clears Cusi appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Elizabeth Oropesa no longer a loyalist
What a difference a year makes. Elizabeth Oropesa (real name Jaqueline Elizabeth Freeman) declares that she has given up being a Marcos loyalist. Oropesa had always been one of the more vocal, not to mention weepy, actors to declare her loyalty to the Marcoses. During the presidential campaign of 2022 she posted how tirelessly she joined sorties, and when Bongbong Marcos won the elections, her joy could not be contained: "...36 years ka naming hinintay! Luha ng kaligayahan....sobrang saya." But the grapes have withered on the vine rather quickly, and she has disavowed her loyalty on her Facebook account. People have wondered why, were there promises to her that were broken? "Hindi naman kayo dios. Hindi nakasalalay sa yo ang kaluluwa ko," she ended. The post Elizabeth Oropesa no longer a loyalist appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Fortman Cline declared Best M& A Advisory Team in SE Asia
Fortman Cline Capital Markets was recently named the Best Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Team in Southeast Asia for 2023 by Capital Finance International, a premier London-based print journal and online resource for business, economics and finance. In recognition of FCCM’s work as a corporate finance advisory and consulting firm, CFI wrote that the firm has “demonstrated a track record on assisting entrepreneurs and family businesses achieve transformational growth via joint ventures, external fund-raising placements, and inorganic acquisitions.” “In addition, it has assisted a number of entrepreneurs monetize their businesses via strategic transactions with responsible partners that could transform businesses towards a larger scale. The team has also developed specialized practices in healthcare, consumer businesses, infrastructure, and logistics. It has complemented its workforce with industry professionals,” CFI further said. The CFI award program aims to demonstrate “the many ways in which the economies of the world are converging” and the awards are given to individuals and organizations “that truly add value.” This is the second time that CFI has bestowed the recognition to FCCM. The first time was in 2019. That same year, FCCM was also given the Most Innovative Solutions Provider Award from International Finance, Inc. FCCM has been ranked as one of the top M&A firms in the Philippines by Bloomberg and in Southeast Asia by Thomson Reuters. “Having meaningful dialogues with our clients over a company’s lifecycle is very important. This develops customer loyalty, and annuity like revenue streams vis-à-vis a transaction-oriented approach to business,” said FCCM president and co-founder Daniel D. Ibasco. FCCM acted as one of the two financial advisers of Professional Services Inc., the company that owns The Medical City, as it recently sealed the deal with Luxembourg-based CVC Capital Partners. The deal will involve a control entry by CVC over the hospital’s Philippine assets and operations through a combination of convertible notes and secondary share purchases via an ongoing tender offer. FCCM has also assisted PSI in refinancing $146 million worth of guaranteed obligations of its subsidiary in Guam with non-recourse long-term debt from a syndicate of South Korean lenders. FCCM has assisted TMC grow into one of the largest healthcare networks in the Philippines through a series of multiple transactions performed for TMC over the last 10 years. In November 2022, FCCM advised TMC on the issuance of up to P12.7 billion of convertible notes to Universal Healthcare Services, Pte., Ltd., which is managed by CVC. The move is part of the hospital’s recapitalization program. “The current industry environment is ripe with opportunity driven by a demand for quality healthcare services, an increase in healthcare spending, and a growing middle class population,” Ibasco said. Prior to the CVC-TMC deal, FCCM advised Mang Inasal Philippines Inc. on its sale of a 70-percent stake to Jollibee Foods Corporation, and All First Equity Holdings on its acquisition of a 60-percent equity stake in Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. from Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings, LLC (USA). The firm was also the financial advisor of San Miguel Corporation’s acquisition of Citra Tollways’ interest in the Southern Luzon Expressway, the sale of Air 21 Group to AC Logistics Holdings Corporation, the sale of 51% of The Generics Pharmacy to Robinson Retail Holdings, Inc., Bounty Fresh Food Inc.’s $300 million acquisition of Tegel Foods Ltd. in New Zealand, Fernwood Holdings, Inc.’s acquisition of a 100-percent stake in Liquigaz Philippine Corporation, and more. Before founding FCCM along with Gary P. Cheng in 2007, Ibasco headed Asian Capital Markets and Southeast Asian Investment Banking for Bear Stearns and Co. in Singapore and Hong Kong. He has over 30 years of experience in investment banking, debt and equity capital markets, private and venture equity and special situations, specializing in emerging markets and Southeast Asia. Cheng, on the other hand, is currently the Managing Director of FCCM. He was the president and CEO of Amalgamated Investment Bancorporation and has worked with J.P. Morgan in New York, Hong Kong, and London. Ibasco and Cheng are joined in the top executive positions by Clarisse T. Tan and Michael C. Tiutan, Executive Directors for the Investment Banking Group. Earlier in the year, FCCM established a management consulting arm under the leadership of Francis S. Del Val, who has more than three decades of global executive experience. The post Fortman Cline declared Best M&A Advisory Team in SE Asia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»