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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.....»»
Masara in pictures 6 days later
Six days after the landslide that buried 50 houses and killed 68 people (confirmed as of noon of Monday), Zone 1 of Barangay Masara in Maco, Davao de Oro is now desolate. Its residents have been made to evacuate to safer areas in Maco and neighboring Mawab municipality. Only rescuers and uniformed men are in […].....»»
Killer landslide: 7 confirmed dead, 1 critically injured, 5 missing in Monkayo
A devastating landslide in Monkayo, Davao de Oro, claimed the lives of seven individuals, left one critically injured, and five others missing. The tragedy occurred during a prayer meeting in Purok 20, Pag-asa, Barangay Mt. Diwata. Jergrace Cabag, an official from the Local Government Unit (LGU)-Monkayo, confirmed the casualties and ongoing search efforts. The injured person was rushed to Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital, while the deceased were taken to the funeral parlor. Due to the ongoing landslide and heavy rain, search and rescue operations were temporarily halted, with plans to resume when conditions permit. The Municipality of Monkayo issued a forced evacuation order due to the threat of further landslides and flooding. Mayor Manuel E. Zamora emphasized the importance of heeding government warnings to prevent future incidents......»»
Firecracker factory in Lapu-Lapu hit by fire: 4 dead
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Four people, including the owner, died when a blaze struck a firecracker factory in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City, on Monday, December 11, 2023. Fire investigators from the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Station have confirmed that four of the five individuals reported missing during the fire perished. READ: TIMELINE: The deadly fire in.....»»
4 kids die in fire in Brgy. Tisa, Cebu City
CEBU CITY, Philippines (UPDATED) – A fire that broke out in a residential area in Sitio Upper Capaculan, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City on early Thursday morning, November 23, 2023, claimed the lives of four children, fire officials confirmed. As of this writing, four persons have been confirmed to have died, all of whom are children......»»
EDITORIAL - Post-election murders
From Aug. 28 to Oct. 30, the Commission on Elections counted 19 confirmed killings related to the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. To no one’s surprise, armed attacks related to the BSKE have continued long after the Comelec finished counting the votes......»»
1.4M vacationers flocking to ports
The Philippine Ports Authority said Wednesday that vacationers flocking to various ports in the country may surpass 1.4 million during the long weekend. Malacañang has recently declared 30 October 2023 as a regular national holiday through Presidential Proclamation No. 359 s.2023 for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, while 1 and 2 November are regular holidays -- All Saints and All Souls Day, respectively. “This year’s forecast of 1,422,406 passenger traffic is 6 percent higher than the figure recorded in 2022 which was 1,337,396 mainly caused by the relaxing of travel requirements after the Covid-19 pandemic. It is likewise significantly higher than the 500,000 plus number of passengers recorded in 2020 covering the same dates,” PPA general manager Atty. Jay Santiago said in an interview. The influx of passengers is also expected to start on 28 October based on the data gathered by PPA over the past years, he added. Among the ports with the highest number of passengers recorded in 2022 were the ports in Iloilo, Batangas, Babak Port in Davao, Dumangas Port in Panay Island and the ports in Negros Occidental. “Plan your trips early and make sure you have all your bookings confirmed. Also, check with the shipping lines for any change in schedule and don’t bring unnecessary items, especially prohibited items, and check with local government units on prohibited agricultural and meat products,” Santiago reminded travelers. No leave policy To ensure full workforce complement and maintain strict security protocol at public ports, Santiago issued a “No Leave Policy” effective Wednesday, 25 October to 8 November 2023. In a memorandum issued on 23 October 2023, Santiago instructed all PPA personnel to refrain from availing leave of absence during this time when port services are mostly needed. “As the lead agency in the passenger operation of PPA-managed ports nationwide, we have a huge responsibility in ensuring that sea travel of the public, especially during this coming BSKE and Undas, remains convenient, safe, and responsive to their needs, thus, the implementation of this No Leave Policy,” Santiago said. PPA also heightened its security measures at 25 port management offices nationwide. The measures include strict security, 24/7 CCTV monitoring and K9 dogs roving in all port vicinity, passenger luggage passing through x-ray machines and passengers passing through body scanners. The PPA said the public can check its social media pages for hourly updates or inquire via the PPA hotline, which operates 24/7 for any port-related questions through landline number (02) 8711-2360. Marina’s effort Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Atty. Hernani Fabia said they have already coordinated with the domestic shipping lines to ensure that their online ticketing systems are up and running for the convenience of travelers. “It is one of my orders to Enforcement Service and MROs (Marina Regional Offices),” according to Fabia. The post 1.4M vacationers flocking to ports appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dcott complies with security plan
The Office of Transportation Security (OTS) recently conducted an audit of the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) and found it to be compliant with its security plan, with only moderate recommendations. DCOTT Manager Aisa Usop said that the audit focused on five key areas: adequacy of security organization and security responsibilities, presence of contingency plans, training drills and exercises, records protection from unauthorized access, and security measures and procedures. The audit confirmed the conduct of periodic security drills and the protection of records and documents from unauthorized access, but gave recommendations on security screening procedures. Usop said that the recommendations and findings from OTS will help remind the men in uniform about the upcoming barangay election and Undas......»»
COMELEC says no ‘untoward’ incidents in most regions on first day of campaign
The Commission on Elections reported on Thursday that the first day of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections campaign was peaceful. No suspicious occurrences or unlawful campaign violations were reported in the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, CARAGA, Region IV-A, Region IV-B, Region V, Region VI, Region VII, Region IX, and Region X, according to the data released by the COMELEC. Several areas in Pangasinan, however, were reported committed unlawful violations with the posting of campaign materials while a conflict in Barangay Buttong, Laoag City, is said to have resulted in physical injury and unjust vexation. There were no reported undesirable events that occurred in the rest of Region I. Meanwhile, posters were observed to have been placed outside approved areas in Davao City, Digos City, Bansalan, Hagonoy, Sta. Cruz and Malalag in Davao del Sur. The rest of Region XI reported no undesirable events occurred. COMELEC chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed that today is the scheduled delivery of the accountable forms for use in the plebiscite for the conversion of San Juan Del Monte, Bulacan, from a component city into a highly urbanized city. The post COMELEC says no ‘untoward’ incidents in most regions on first day of campaign appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bucay town poll violence spills in metro
BAGUIO CITY — Hours before the shooting of a barangay kagawad candidate took place in Bucay town, Abra province, the wife of a candidate for village chief in the same town was confirmed abducted by unknown suspects in Parañaque City. Reports from the Parañaque City Police Station disclosed that the victim — identified as Bliss Progreso Loy, a teacher of Col. E de Leon Elementary School in Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque City — was abducted in the morning of 18 October 2023. Initial investigations revealed that the teacher, together with her siblings, were on board a motorcycle at Matthew Street, Barangay Moonwalk, Parañaque City when two male persons on board a motorcycle blocked their way. The suspects grabbed the teacher and forced her inside a black van with plate number ABR-5730. The alleged kidnap victim is the wife of Benjamin Loy, a candidate for captain of Barangay Abang in Bucay town, Abra. Days before the alleged abduction, their house in the said barangay was ransacked by unknown assailants. The police are reviewing the CCTV footages to identify the suspects and the direction where the black van headed. At past 7 a.m. on 18 October, a candidate for barangay kagawad was shot two times by unidentified gunmen at Sitio Nagpasinan, Barangay Bangbangcag, Bucay, Abra. The victim was identified as Catalino Turalba Sr., a resident of Barangay Bangbangcag. Police reported that Turalba was on board his motorcycle with his son and was said to be heading to Barangay Palaquio of the same town. On their way, a riding on tandem followed him and one of the suspects shot him two times with a pistol of unidentified caliber. The victim was rushed to the St. Therese Hospital in Talogtog, Dolores, Abra by personnel of the 1504th Regional Mobile Force Battalion. He was later transferred to the Abra Provincial Hospital in Bangued where he expired. On 9 October 2023, an encounter ensued between the Bucay police and armed men where one of the suspects died. Series of events which led to the latest incident involving Turalba have brought “fear” among the people in the province and a sense of “helplessness” as reports of armed men continue to roam around. Abra officials appealed for the deployment of more government troops in the province especially in Bucay because of the election-related violence happening in the area. While the sight of uniformed personnel helps, a number of Abrenios clamor for further intervention of various groups and stakeholders to call out presence of violence in the province. The post Bucay town poll violence spills in metro appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSKE: Selected voters from Pitogo, Pari-an to cast ballots in malls
CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least two barangays in Cebu have been chosen as part of the Commission on Election – Central Visayas’ (Comelec-7) pilot program to conduct actual voting inside malls. Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, director of Comelec-7, confirmed on Wednesday, October 18, that the voting centers for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), for selected precincts in Barangays Pitogo in Consolacion and Pari-an in Cebu City, will be in malls. READ: Mall voting simulation set for August 19 – Comelec official BSKE: Designated malls for voting centers These will be at SM Consolacion and Robinsons Galleria in the North Reclamation Area (NRA), Cebu City. There will be five clustered precincts from Pitogo and five clustered precincts from Pari-an that will have the mall voting, Castillano said. “Only five precincts from each barangay considering the space constraint,” he added. READ: Comelec-7 to launch mall voting on Brgy and SK Elections 2023 Two simulations Comelec-7 has also conducted two simulations of the ‘mall voting’ during the first week of October to assess the feasibility of having malls as voting centers for the BSKE. According to Castillano, the Comelec decided to implement a pilot test on having malls as part of their goals to enhance voting experience. The Comelec-7 official cited the high turnout they observed when voter registrations were conducted in malls as the basis behind the decision. The Barangay and SK polls will be held this October 30. ALSO READ: Guarding the vote: Over 180,000 cops to be deployed for BSKE /dbs.....»»
In Bohol, man accused of stalking then killing 25-year-old woman
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 25-year-old woman was killed by her alleged stalker in Talibon town in Bohol on Friday, October 13, 2023. Police in Talibon Police Station confirmed that a stabbing incident occurred at Purok 4, Brgy. Calituban, Talibon, and claimed the life of a female college graduate. The victim was identified as Rosana Amorin, who is also a resident of the same area. The suspect, Jerald Garcia, is currently under police custody. Amorin sustained a total of eight stab wounds, said Police Corporal Elton Jan Fuentes who is part of the investigating team. Citing their initial findings, Fuentes said Garcia had allegedly been stalking Amorin before committing the crime. A few days prior to her untimely demise, the victim had apparently caught the suspect trailing her. She called out his attention, said Fuentes. Police believed personal grudge as Garcia’s motive in attacking and then killing Amorin. “Basin nauwaw (pagkahuman nasakpan siya nga nagsunod-sunod sa biktima),” Fuentes added. According to investigators, the crime took place around 3:30 a.m. on Friday. The suspect trespassed the Amorins’ residence by accessing the house’s back door, which was unlocked. Garcia, carrying a kitchen knife, went towards the victim’s room where she was sleeping. The victim’s older brother told the police he suddenly woke up after hearing Rosana’s screams. He rushed to her room where he reportedly saw the suspect clutching the knife and the younger Amorin bathed in her own blood. The brother immediately apprehended Garcia, and called the authorities. Neighbors have also heard the commotion and helped the older Amorin bring Garcia to the barangay hall. Rosana was rushed to a nearby hospital but she succumbed to her stab wounds shortly. Fuentes said they will file murder charges against Garcia on Monday, October 16. In the meantime, police continue to verify reports that the suspect had apparently been under the influence of illegal drugs when he committed the crime. Police have also seized the murder weapon from Garcia. RELATED STORIES Robbery eyed in death of taxi operator, who was shot, stabbed in Cebu City house Construction worker jailed for stabbing woman he suspected as pickpocket, sex worker.....»»
5 vote buying DQ cases filed by Comelec, warns LGU of prohibitions
The Commission on Elections has begun filing petitions against the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections candidates allegedly involved in vote buying on 6 October. Out of the 40 complaints being investigated, the Comelec poll board submitted five disqualification petitions, according to Comelec Deputy Executive for Operations Rafael Olano. He added that the Committee on Vote Buying has received complaints from the public on various platforms, including Facebook and messages which contained screenshots or images. "All of these complaints came from voters. We verified and evaluated them for possible filing of disqualification cases “he said. Olano confirmed that one of the five candidates under investigation for disqualification is involved in a BSK bet showing up at a local government unit aid distribution, which he claimed to be qualified as vote buying. “There were local government officials, mayors distributing relief but the BSKE candidate was present and was allowed to speak," he said. After the official filing of candidacy, it was claimed that another BSK candidate distributed financial aid out of his pocket. Prior to the election, the poll body warned candidates of its strict measures which prohibit the distribution of ballers, t-shirts, caps, and anything else of worth under the suspicion of vote buying and selling. Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr. reminded LGU officials to be aware of such prohibitions during a separate briefing. "If they conduct assistance programs, they should not let BSKE candidates join them, lest they be disqualified,” he said. Maceda added that the Comelec would consider potential reinforcing techniques if similar incidents persist as the campaign period drew closer. “We will study how to reprimand them or take appropriate actions,” he said. In the end, Maceda stressed that the poll body is “dead serious” about its exclusion warning in order to assure not just the validity and honesty of the BSK polls but also to raise the bar for campaigning standards across the nation and the importance of each BSK candidate’s character. As of Friday, the Task Force Anti-Epal had filed an additional 10 disqualification petitions against candidates who were allegedly involved in premature campaigning while the Committee on Kontra Bigay had filed five disqualification cases for vote buying. Overall, there are 82 petitions for premature campaigning, 5,169 show cause orders, and 1,132 responses from the BSK bets. The post 5 vote buying DQ cases filed by Comelec, warns LGU of prohibitions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QCPD files criminal rap over 15 fire deaths
A criminal charge has been filed against the remaining incorporators of a company operating a residential building that caught fire in Barangay Tandang Sora on Aug. 31, leaving 15 people dead, the Quezon City government confirmed yesterday......»»
NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday raised a suggestion that members of the New People Army’s are better off joining military reserve forces to support their pro-people advocacies. “My appeal to the left, to the opponents of the government from the left. We are all Filipinos here. Isa lang namana ng hanay natin. We all wanted ang mabuhay ng mapayapa at mabigyan ng pagkakatapon ang ating mga kababayan na mabuhay ng disente through education through livelihood we are all in the same end games,” Zubiri said during the deliberation of the Senate Committee on Finance on the 2024 proposed P229.9-billion budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies, . Zubiri lamented that overthrowing the government through political ideologies has been long gone. “Yung mga nagnanais na masira ang ating bansa through political means through ideological means—wala na yan sa ibang parte ng mundo wala na yan (Those who want to destroy our country through political means through ideological means—it does not exist anymore in other parts of the world),” he said. Zubiri said, “These rebellions have already failed and they decided to come together and move forward with the political solution.” “Mas maganda na sumama na lang sila sa atin para mawala yung korapsyon para mawala yung kagutuman at kahirapan (It’s better that they join us to eliminate corruption to get rid of the hunger and poverty) he added. Zubiri urged NPA members to become military reserve forces. “Imbes na mamaril pa ng kapwa Pilipino, mas maganda mag volunteer na lang sila sumama na lang sila sa reserve force, doon sila ideploy sa Pag-asa Island. Samahan nila ang mga mangingisda natin doon. Mas maganda po ‘yun (Instead of shooting your fellow Filipinos, its better that they would volunteer to join us and become part of our reserve force. They can be deployed in Pag-asa Island. They should accompany our fishermen there. It will be better),” he said. Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island, is 37.2 hectares of rock located in the Spratly Islands and is the largest of the Philippine-administered islands. It lies about 500 kilometers west of Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Amid the ongoing tensions in the Philippine territorial waters, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said NPA members should instead join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps to help defend the country against external threats. “Sana mag-ROTC na lang sila para makatulong (Hopefully, they will join ROTC so they can help),” said Dela Rosa. On the other hand, Zubiri urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to take note of the consequences of insurgency-free declaration in various NPA-infiltrated areas. “May mga recidivist pa rin. Yung mga diehard, hindi mawawala iyon. Kaya minsan, hindi maganda na ina-announce niyo na NPA-free yung probinsya kasi pag ina-announce niyo gumagawa sila ng hakbang, maski nagaling sa labas papasok dooon nanggugulo para lang ipakita na mali ang mga annoucements so we have to be careful (There are still recidivists. Those diehards won't go away. So sometimes, it's not good that you announce that the province is NPA-free because when you announce it, they take steps—even though people from the outside come in there causing trouble just to show that you announcements are wrong, so we have to be careful.),” Zubiri said. Brawner explained that the declaration of insurgency-free is intended to help the previously NPA-infiltrated areas to attract investment opportunities “after being deprived for long decades due to the security threats posed by rebels.” “We need to declare first the area insurgency-free so that the investors will also come in. They’ll feel secure coming into that provinces or regions,” he said. Brawner confirmed Zubiri’s remarks that leftists are messing up with the declaration of insurgency-free areas. “Nangyayari po iyon. Totoo po iyon Mr. Senate President na once we declared an area insurgency-free, ang ginagawa ng makakaliwa is that from the outside nag-iinfiltrate sila (That happens. That's true Mr. Senate President that once we declared an area insurgency-free, what the leftists are doing is that from the outside they are infiltrating in that area),” he said, citing one recent incident in Bicol region where a group of NPA rebels attacked a military detachment to sow fear in the communities. The success of the Barangay Development Program within identified conflict-affected areas and geographically- isolated and disadvantaged areas, resulted in the "demolition" of rebels is one of the military's parameters in the declaration of insurgency-free. Brawner noted the huge contributions of the BDP in addressing the root causes of insurgency. He said the government’s BDP allows basic services more accessible to the communities previously infiltrated by the NPA rebels, including farm-to-market roads, and education facilities, among others. The post NPA rebels better off joining military reserve force—Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM, DSWD chief lead distribution of confiscated Jasmine rice in Zamboanga
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of confiscated rice to some 5,000 poor beneficiaries in the Zamboanga Peninsula Region on Tuesday, 19 September. Gatchalian said the rice distribution in Zamboanga served as a kick-off since the more than 42,000 bags of Jasmine rice seized by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) have been donated to the DSWD. “We expect more than 42,000 poorest Filipinos to benefit from the seized rice by the BOC, which is in line with the President’s directive to crack down on rice smugglers and hoarders,” the DSWD chief said. The DSWD Field Office 9 (ZamboPen Region) prepared the list of the 5,000 “poorest of the poor” who were the first batch of recipients of 25 kilos of the high-grade Jasmine fragrant white rice, according to DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Group Josefina Romualdez. “There will be simultaneous distribution of 25 kilos of Jasmine rice to 5,000 poorest of the poor beneficiaries in the municipalities of Tungawan and Sibuco and the City of Zamboanga,” Romualdez said. She added that the 5,000 bags of Jasmine rice for distribution on Tuesday was part of the 42,180 bags of imported rice worth P42 million confiscated by the BOC Port of Zamboanga (BOC-POZ) following a raid on a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu in Zamboanga City last 19 May 2023. During the investigation, BOC authorities discovered disparities between the actual seized goods and the descriptions provided in the submitted documents. The payment records submitted referred to a shipment of “White Rice 15% Broken,” while the physical examination confirmed that the confiscated rice was Jasmine Fragrant Rice. The warehouse also lacked the necessary Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), according to the BOC. On 1 September, the BOC-POZ issued an Order of Forfeiture for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), Rice Tariffication Law, and Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. According to BOC-POZ chief Benny Lontok, they are following the express directive of the President under Executive Order 39, which put a price cap on rice and which authorized intensified efforts to combat smugglers and price manipulators. “Iyon po ay bilang pagtugon sa directiba ng ating Pangulo at para matugunan po iyong presyo ng bigas kung saan pag-issue ng executive order para magkaroon ng price cap sa pamilihan sa halaga ng presyo ng bigas,” Lontok said, referring to the seizure of the smuggled rice in Zamboanga City. The BOC said they will conduct more inspections of warehouses following the directive of President Marcos to immediately address the issues of hoarding and rice smuggling. In late August, the BOC raided three warehouses in Bulacan allegedly storing smuggled rice reportedly worth over P500 million. The post PBBM, DSWD chief lead distribution of confiscated Jasmine rice in Zamboanga appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BOC to donate seized P42-m smuggled rice for gov’t programs
The Bureau of Customs is considering donating the confiscated 42,180 bags of imported rice to some departments implementing government assistance programs. In a news forum, BOC-Port of Zamboanga chief Benito Lontok said the plan to donate the smuggled rice for the implementation of the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa Program and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s assistance programs is still “subject to approval” of BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno. “Idu-donate po yata sa (It might be donated for the implementation of a) government program, I don’t know po kung Kadiwa or sa DSWD (if it would be donated for Kadiwa or DSWD’s programs). Pero ‘yun po ay pinag-uusapan pa (It is still being discussed),” Lontok said. The smuggled rice, amounting to P42 million, was seized during a raid at a warehouse in Barangay San Jose Gusu in Zamboanga City. The local bureau inspected the warehouse on 19 May after receiving information that smuggled rice was being stored in the area. Lontok said authorities found irregularities, although the warehouse owner, BLY Agri-Venture Trading, was able to submit import documents. There were disparities between the actual seized goods and the descriptions provided in the submitted documents, he added. “The payment records submitted referred to a shipment of White Rice 15 percent Broken, while the physical examination confirmed that the confiscated rice was Jasmine Fragrant Rice,” he said. Lontok added the warehouse also lacked the necessary Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance from the Bureau of Plant Industry. “That’s why we issued a warrant of seizure and detention, and eventually na-forfeit po iyong goods (the goods were forfeited) in favor of the government,” he said. On 1 September, the BOC-POZ issued an Order of Forfeiture for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Rice Tariffication Law, and Republic Act No. 10845, otherwise known as the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016. The BOC said they will conduct more inspections of warehouses following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “to address hoarding and illegal rice importation” in the country. In late August, the BOC raided three warehouses in Bulacan allegedly storing smuggled rice reportedly worth over P500 million. The post BOC to donate seized P42-m smuggled rice for gov’t programs appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Possible oil spill looms in Batangas
Another oil spill is being monitored in the province of Batangas following the sinking of a fishing vessel Sunday morning which was carrying thousands of liters of diesel, according to Protect Verde Island Passage on Monday. The group disclosed that the fishing vessel, which was carrying 70,000 liters of diesel when it sank off the coast of Calatagan sparked fears of another oil spill as the area — part of the internationally acclaimed biodiversity hotspot Verde Island Passage — still struggles to recover from the MT Princess Empress tragedy that spilled 900,000 liters of industrial oil exactly six months prior. Also on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed the report, saying that a total of 13 crew members were successfully rescued when fishing vessel Anita DJ II submerged around seven nautical miles from the shoreline of Cape Santiago, Barangay Bagong Silang, Calatagan. “At 6:45 a.m., Coast Guard Station Batangas received a phone contact from Agutaya police stating authorities of an alleged submerged vessel within Batangas’ jurisdiction. The Coast Guard received information from the mother of one of the crew that the distressed boat was submerged in the waters off the coast of Batangas,” the PCG report said. The PCG added that the distressed boat with a gross tonnage of 448.83 tons and net tonnage of 273.59 tons is owned by IRMA Fishing, departed Navotas Port Sunday dawn bound for Palawan fishing grounds. “Coast Guard Station Batangas coordinated with IRMA Fishing Company and directed them to provide a tugboat for the towing operation of the subject vessel. Likewise, they also coordinated with Harbor Star Towage Company and requested assistance in which the company’s Motor Tug Great Lark proceeded to the said location to carry out possible towing operations,” according to the PCG. The search and rescue team of Coast Guard Sub Station Calatagan sighted the distressed vessel and immediately approached the Fishing Banca Rainbow Warrior to rescue the 13 crew aboard and bring them to the nearest shoreline. The search and rescue team along with 13 rescued crew members of the vessel safely arrived at CGSS Calatagan. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office also provided medical assistance to the rescued crew. “BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410), a 44-meter multi-role response vessel operated by PCG, was dispatched to respond to the distressed vessel. MRRV 4410 reported the stricken boat to be half-submerged about 1:35 p.m. and confirmed its sinking at 3:17 p.m. on Sunday in waters 2.16 nautical miles South-southwest of Cape Santiago in Calatagan Island. The reason behind the mishap is currently being investigated,” the PCG said. Meantime, the PCG said it also coordinated with the MDRRMO to prepare available oil spill response and local tourism officials to inform resort owners and local barangays to be vigilant for possible oil spills. The post Possible oil spill looms in Batangas appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palawan CoC filing ‘peaceful’
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Commission on Elections here on Monday said that the first day of filing of certificates of candidacies for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections was generally peaceful. City and provincial election supervisors — Atty. Julius Cuevas and Atty. Percival Mendoza — confirmed that checkpoints were deployed across Puerto Princesa and the 23 municipalities of Palawan, starting as early as 11 p.m. on Sunday night. Cuevas said that the start of reactivating checkpoints for the BSKE 2023 in Puerto Princesa went well, with no unfavorable incidents. “The launching of the checkpoints was very successful for the simultaneous holding of the BSKE filing of certificates of candidacy,” Cuevas said, expressing gratitude to the Puerto Princesa City Police Office and its various units. He also mentioned an estimated 2,100 individuals from the 66 barangays of Puerto Princesa are expected to submit their certificates of candidacy until the filing period ends on 2 September. The filing is happening at SM City Puerto Princesa, the sole designated location, Cuevas said. The designated time for the activity is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., but the last admission will be at 4:45 p.m. Over at Central Visayas, the Comelec-7 disclosed that 48,048 positions are to be contested for the 2023 BSKE. In an interview with DAILY TRIBUNE, Comelec-7 regional director Atty. Marco Lionel Castillano said there are eight Barangay and SK posts up for grabs, with each barangay to have one chairman and seven councilors each for the Barangay and SK positions. “In the region, we have 3003 barangays as every barangay have 16 posts, thus this will be 48,048,” Castillano said. Cebu Province has the highest number of barangays with 1,203, followed by Bohol with 1,109, next is Negros Oriental with 557 and Siquijor with 134. The BSKE in the region will be managed by 133 city and municipal election offices. The post Palawan CoC filing ‘peaceful’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Insurgent meets end in NegOr clash
DUMAGUETE CITY — The Philippine Army recently confirmed the death of an individual believed to be a member of the New People’s Army during an encounter in the far-flung barangay of Milagrosa in Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental last Saturday morning. In its report, the 11th Infantry Battalion disclosed that the recovered body of the slain rebel has yet to be identified. It added that seized from the clash site were one M653 rifle, one anti-personnel mine, four magazines for M653 (20 rounds cap), three magazines for M653 (30 rounds cap), 40 rounds 5.56 mm ball, an electrical tester, three lithium batteries, one bandolier, five backpacks with personal belongings, tarpaulin and food stuff. The 11IB said that the encounter came two days after a government soldier was killed at the same encounter site in Sitio Taleo as government troops were conducting strike operations against remnants of the NPA’s dismantled South East Front following information of armed men in the area. In the first encounter, troops seized two caliber .45 pistols, three magazines for Caliber .45, 11 live ammunition for Caliber .45, one hand grenade and personal belongings. Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3rd Infantry Division commander, vowed to continue their operations against the rebels. “This incident (death of a soldier) will not dampen our spirits but will further serve as our motivation to aggressively pursue the remaining members of the Communist Terrorist Group,” Sison said. “We will make sure that this ultimate sacrifice paid by our soldier-hero will not be in vain. We will not rest until none of them remain to continue their futile and senseless armed struggle,” he added. The post Insurgent meets end in NegOr clash appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»