Janella Salvador mourns passing of Twinkie, her cat for 17 years
Actress Janella Salvador is reeling from the loss of another furry friend, this time, of her cat Twinkie whom she had looked after since 2006......»»
Veteran broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez dies at 71
Award-winning television and radio newscaster and host Mike Enriquez, has passed on at age 71. This was announced at the closing minutes yesterday of 24 Oras, the primetime newscast on GMA 7 that Enriquez anchored for 19 years. His fellow anchors Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Emil Sumangil couldn’t hide their sadness as they read the network’s statement announcing Enriquez’s passing on 29 August. Enriquez spent a total of 29 years on the GMA Network, as news anchor of 24 Oras and its predecessor Saksi, and as host of the long-running investigative docudrama Imbestigador and head of its regional and radio subsidiaries. He became a household name with his unique brand of delivering the news, which commanded authority but was not too formal, allowing him to inject casual remarks. Famous for the catchphrases “excuse me po” and “hindi namin kayo tatantanan,” his booming newscasting style became material for fond parodies and spoofs. Born Miguel Castro Enriquez on 29 September 1951, the multi-awarded broadcaster began his career as a staff announcer at the Manila Broadcasting Company in 1969. He went on to work as disc jockey, reporter, desk editor, program director and station manager in various stations, including Radio Mindanao Network where he steered to success DWKC 93.9 on FM radio as station manager and DJ. Enriquez left RMN in 1994 and joined GMA in the same year to lead its radio operations, but was soon convinced by his GMA bosses to be a news anchor. He first worked on-cam in the network’s coverage of the 1995 senatorial elections. The veteran radio-TV anchor went on medical leave in December 2021 to undergo kidney transplant. In a previous interview, Enriquez shared that aside from battling diabetes, he also underwent heart bypass surgery in 2018. After his medical hiatus, Enriquez headlined GMA-7’s Eleksyon 2022: The GMA News and Public Affairs’ Election Coverage with fellow GMA News pillars Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales, Arnold Clavio, Howie Severino and Jessica Soho. Shortly after, he returned to his regular programs on GMA’s flagship AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594. Enriquez also hosted Super Balita sa Umaga and Saksi sa Dobol B. In addition to his on-air duties, Enriquez served as RGMA Network Inc. president and GMA Network’s consultant for Radio Operations. Among other awards in his five-decade career, Enriquez won the Most Outstanding Male News Anchor at the De La Salle Araneta University’s Gawad Lasallianeta Awards for four consecutive years. He is survived by his wife Lizabeth “Baby” Yumping. (With additional reporting by Pauline Songco) The post Veteran broadcast journalist Mike Enriquez dies at 71 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Number of Filipino fatalities in Hawaii wildfires reaches four – DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday confirmed the death of another Filipino in the catastrophic Hawaii wildfires, bringing the death toll of confirmed Filipino fatalities to four. Citing a report from the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Eduardo de Vega identified the fourth victim as Rogelio Mabalot, 68 years old. Mabalot, who was living in Lahaina, Hawaii, renewed his Philippine passport in December last year. Last week, the DFA also confirmed the death of Rodolfo Rocutan, a 76-year-old Filipino resident of Lahaina, Hawaii. Mabalot, Rocutan, along with Alfredo Galinato and Salvador Coloma, were the confirmed Filipino fatalities from the 8 August wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii as reported by Maui County officials. The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu is currently verifying the nationality of six individuals who may have come from the Philippines or have relatives here. They are Conchita Sagudang, Danilo Sagudang, Carlo Tobias, Antonia Molina, Pagblo Pagdilao III and Poomaikai Losano. According to the Consulate General of the Philippines in Hawaii, as of August 27th, the confirmed death toll has risen to 115, and at least 50 percent of the deceased have been identified. Currently, 388 people have been identified as missing. The post Number of Filipino fatalities in Hawaii wildfires reaches four – DFA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sandigan absolves Alcala in graft raps
The Sandiganbayan has absolved ex-Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala of a graft charge involving P13.5 million of government funds illegally given to an ineligible farmers’ foundation. In a 40-page decision, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division cleared Alcala of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (RA 3019) purely on reasonable doubt. His co-accused, Laureano Mañalac, however, then-DA head executive assistant, was found guilty of violating the same provision of the law. He was meted up to 10 years behind bars and was permanently barred from holding public office. On top of the conviction, the court ordered him to pay P13.5 million, representing the sum paid to Isa Akong Magsasaka Foundation Inc. or IAMFI. Filed by the Ombudsman in 2018, the case stemmed from the irregular accreditation of IAMFI as a DA development partner for the construction of the Quezon Corn Trading and Processing Center at P13.5 million in 2012. Investigation revealed that IAMFI, which was an ineligible foundation but applied to become a development partner of the DA in May 2011, was controlled by Mañalac. Alcala was accused of conniving with Mañalac to release P13.5 million to IAMFI’s former president, Bautista Ella. State prosecutors said the DA’s erstwhile officials gave the IAMFI unwarranted benefit, advantage, or preference. On 17 July 2019, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the case against Ella owing to his passing. Authenticated document The prosecution’s investigation further revealed that IAMFI submitted together with its application for accreditation an authenticated articles of incorporation, concealing that Mañalac is an incorporator, which was in violation of the Commission on Audit Circular 2007-001, and was “highly irregular.” According to the prosecutors, the DA fell short when it failed to investigate its unlawful grant of P13.5 million in funding to the IAMFI, to which it is not entitled to. “The government suffered undue injury in the amount of P13,500,000, which was illegally given to the IAMFI due to the acts of Manalac. Instead of giving the funds to a qualified foundation, it was given to one ineligible being controlled by Mañalac,” the Sandiganbayan said, brushing off the accused claim that the sum was legally awarded to the foundation. In acquitting Alcala, the anti-graft court ruled that despite the prosecution’s serious efforts, it failed to prove that the ex-DA secretary violated RA 3019. “The court, however, is compelled on reasonable doubts grounds to acquit Alcala of the crime as he claims to have relied on multiple layers of review by his subordinates.” Further, it ruled that “no evident bad faith” could be attributed to Alcala in accrediting and signing the memorandum of agreement with IAMFI; instead, it found that all the offense elements have been proven beyond reasonable doubt in the case of Mañalac. According to the Sandiganbayan, it was “very clear that Mañalac was involved in the processing of the proposal of IAMFI.” Mañalac, who resigned from the DA on 30 September 2012, was “immaterial” and “will not serve to exculpate him,” the court said. “Even with Mañalac’s departure from the DA, the proposal would continue to go through the application process in view of the PMO’s positive preliminary recommendation,” it added. The post Sandigan absolves Alcala in graft raps appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Another Pinoy confirmed dead in Hawaii wildfires – DFA
The Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday confirmed the death of another Filipino in the catastrophic wildfires that hit Hawaii, bringing the number of Filipino fatalities to three. Citing a report by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, the DFA identified the third Filipino victim as Salvador Coloma, 77 years old. At the moment, the DFA said the Consulate is verifying the nationality of other reported casualties. “The Consulate’s records yielded negative results for Conchita Sagudang, 75, and Danilo Sagudang, 55,” the agency said. “There is information online that they are from Abra province. Online information likewise indicates Antonia Molina, 64, and Carlo Tobias, 54, as having relatives in the Philippines. However, the Consulate’s records also yielded negative results,” it added. The DFA said relatives of affected Filipinos in Hawaii may contact the Consulate at its hotline number +1808 253-9446. “This is needed for the Consulate to verify its records of reported Filipino casualties or other distressed Filipinos, and to provide assistance as required,” it said. Earlier, Philippine Consul General to Honolulu Emil Fernandez said the number of Filipino fatalities in the Hawaii wildfires may continue to increase. “Yes, we can expect that, given the significant Filipino population in Maui, especially Lahaina,” Fernandez said. According to the DFA, a total of 388,000 individuals who identify themselves as Filipino are in Hawaii, of which 25,000 are still holding Philippine passports. The post Another Pinoy confirmed dead in Hawaii wildfires – DFA appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why is the South China Sea a flashpoint for Asia?
Competing claims to the South China Sea and its hundreds of reefs and islands have for decades been a source of tension in the region. The latest spat erupted on 5 August when Chinese coast guard vessels blocked and fired a water cannon at a Philippine resupply mission to a remote outpost in the disputed waters. Such incidents have fueled fears of a potential miscalculation or accident igniting a military conflict that could draw in the United States. AFP looks at the territorial disputes in the sea and what's been done to resolve them. Where is the South China Sea? The South China Sea covers more than three million square kilometers (1.16 million square miles), ringed by southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo island and mainland Southeast Asia. Most of its hundreds of small islands, islets and rocks were originally uninhabited. The Paracel and Spratly chains contain the biggest islands. Scarborough Shoal is a small outcrop in the east. Why does it matter? The sea is the main maritime link between the Pacific and Indian oceans, giving it enormous trade and military value. Its shipping lanes connect East Asia with Europe and the Middle East, with trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passing through the sea annually. Huge unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under the seabed, though estimates vary greatly. The sea is also home to some of the world's biggest coral reefs and, with marine life being depleted close to coasts, it is important as a source of fish to feed growing populations. Who claims what? China and Taiwan both claim nearly all of the sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each have overlapping stakes to parts of it. Beijing's argument is based largely on Chinese maps dating back to the 1940s. It originally used an 11-dash line to demarcate its claims, but it was reduced to nine dashes under former leader Mao Zedong. The expansive claim approaches the coasts of other countries. The Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, though Beijing has held all of them since a conflict with South Vietnam in 1974. China has also controlled Scarborough Shoal -- a rich fishing ground 230 kilometers (140 miles) off the Philippine island of Luzon -- since seizing it from the Philippines in 2012 following a tense standoff, and it holds at least seven of the Spratly Islands. Vietnam controls 21 rocks and reefs in the Spratlys, while the Philippines has outposts on nine reefs and islands in the archipelago. Taiwan holds the largest feature in the Spratlys, Itu Aba, while Malaysia controls five others. How do they assert their claims? For years, rival claimants have been building up the tiny reefs and islets to bolster their claims to ownership. China's land reclamation program has been particularly aggressive. In the past decade, it has ripped up thousands of hectares of reef in the archipelago to create militarized islands, with runways, ports and radar systems. China also deploys hundreds of coast guard and other vessels in key parts of the sea, often more than a thousand kilometers from the Chinese mainland, to guard particular features such as Scarborough and perform other security duties. Has there been military conflict? There have been two armed conflicts between China and Vietnam in the sea that killed more than 130 Vietnamese troops. Beijing gained control of the Paracel Islands in 1974 after clashes with the South Vietnamese Navy. The other major conflict occurred when Vietnam and China fought a naval battle on Johnson Reef in the Spratlys in 1988. Relations between China and the Philippines have been frayed by disputes over the waters, but incidents on the open sea have so far not resulted in military conflict. What are diplomats doing? The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China adopted a non-binding "declaration of conduct" in 2002 to discourage hostile acts. All sides agreed not to use threats or force to assert claims. But negotiations since then to turn it into a legally binding "code of conduct" have failed. Manila will host another round of talks this week. In 2013, the Philippines filed an international arbitration case against China. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in Manila's favor, declaring China's "nine-dash-line" has no legal basis. Beijing refused to take part in the proceedings and has ignored the judgment. The post Why is the South China Sea a flashpoint for Asia? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairperson of the House ad hoc committee on Military and Uniformed Personnel created to resolve issues plaguing its pension system, is buying Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro’s proposals in the bill recently approved by his panel and vowed that his concerns will still be accepted. “As chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, I would like to assure the Secretary that his requests are acceptable. We will adopt the Teodoro proposal of indexation for all retired and retirables and a transitioned contribution scheme,” Salceda said in a text message to reporters. While the deliberations on the panel-approved bill were already terminated, Salceda assured that Teodoro’s amendments would still be introduced to the plenary floor. “My job is to get a bill that will work fiscally but is also acceptable to all stakeholders. So, of course, if Secretary Teodoro has major concerns, part of my job is to accommodate. Not without DoF (Department of Finance) concerns, of course, but that’s for them to settle in the Cabinet,” the economist-lawmaker said. Salceda made the assurance days after the Defense chief raised concerns on a substitute bill, in the consolidation of other measures, all intended to propose reforms in the MUP pensions system, such as the mandatory contribution, that hurdled Salceda’s panel. Teodoro opposed the measure, saying it does not conform to the national government’s intent concerning the MUPs’ pension. The Defense chief believes that the imposition of mandatory monthly contributions “without a transition phase will definitely have an impact on our soldiers.” Under the panel-approved bill, those in active service will be required to contribute 5 percent of their base and longevity pay during the first to three years of the MUP pension reform implementation, 7 percent in the fourth to sixth year, and 9 percent in the seventh year onward. The government will contribute its counterpart 16 percent to the pension fund of those in active service during the first three years, 14 percent during the fourth to sixth year, and 12 percent in the seventh year onward. But for Teodoro, soldiers’ pensions and entitlements, including the 100-percent automatic indexation, shall remain unchanged. The MUP pension system, which the DoF has earlier warned is fiscally unsustainable, was among President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s priority legislation. Mr. Marcos wants Congress to reform the pension system by passing his proposed MUP pension law, which he listed as one of his priority legislation in his second State of the Nation Address. Salceda, however, explained that only new entrants would contribute 9 percent with a government counterpart of 12 percent. “And I will heed the request for full indexation for those who are retired and due for retirement,” he said. “Of course, the proposal will add some 1.2 trillion more to the actuarial reserve deficiency from the current 2.2 trillion under the current substitute bill.” According to the solon, they will still clarify the request with the DoF and the DND since they are hearing clarifications that they just want to ensure that those who have given 20 years of service or more will not pay contributions or be subject to lower indexation. “Our initial impression from the statement is that they don’t want anybody from the active service to pay any contribution or to give up any amount of indexation,” he stressed. “I would also like to remind all stakeholders that the aim of fiscal sustainability is to ensure that the pension system is substantially preserved in a way that can still be guaranteed by the State. In other words, a reform that is not too expensive, but also not too disruptive,” he added. Further, he said that there could be some pushback from the DoF and the economic managers on Teodoro’s proposal. So, we hope that within the executive, they will sort their position out.” The post Gibo requests on MUP acceptable — solon appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Just as my heart started to heal : Carla Abellana mourns dog of 11 years
Actress and animal welfare advocate Carla Abellana is mourning the loss of her pet dog Patches whom she looked after for 11 years......»»
‘We are afraid’: Violence-hit Ecuador votes under heavy security
Heavily-armed security officers kept watch Sunday as Ecuadorans voted in a presidential election marked by the murder of a top candidate and despair over the lawlessness that has engulfed the once-peaceful nation. Polls closed after a tense day, with soldiers and police searching voters at the entry to polling stations, while some of the eight presidential candidates wore helmets and bulletproof vests to cast their ballots. The small South American country has in recent years become a staging for foreign drug mafias seeking to export cocaine, stirring up a brutal war between local gangs. The murder of serious presidential contender Fernando Villavicencio on the campaign trail less than two weeks before the vote underscored the challenges facing the country. "The most serious problem is insecurity," said voter Eva Hurtado, 40, as she left a polling station north of the capital Quito on Sunday morning. "So many crimes, assassinations, disappearances. We are afraid." "Security, above all the security of our families, of our people, must be improved," said public worker Luis Veloso, 52. Villavicencio's killing has reshuffled the electoral cards, with none of the eight contenders expected to get an absolute majority -- likely forcing a runoff on October 15. Ecuadorans voted for a successor to conservative leader Guillermo Lasso, who called a snap election to avoid an impeachment trial just two years after coming to power. - Lawyer, reporter, sniper - Leading the polls before Villavicencio's murder was Luisa Gonzalez, 45, a lawyer from the leftist party of former president Rafael Correa. Villavicencio, who was polling second before his murder, was replaced at the last last minute by a close friend, another journalist, Christian Zurita, who witnessed his gunning down. Hours ahead of the vote, Zurita said he was receiving death threats on social media. "The threats against my life and my team will not stop us, but they are forcing us to take greater security protocols," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, adding that his party had alerted authorities and election observers. Political analysts say the candidate who has seen the biggest boost to his popularity is 40-year-old right-wing businessman Jan Topic. Nicknamed "Rambo," the former paratrooper and sniper with the French Foreign Legion has vowed to wipe out criminal gangs and build more prisons, emulating El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. While casting his ballot, Topic urged voters to elect "the candidate who has the experience, the will, and the plan to eradicate violence in the country." Other leading candidates are right-wing former vice president Otto Sonnenholzner and leftist Indigenous attorney Yaku Perez. In one of the world's most biodiverse countries, two key referendums are taking place on Sunday alongside the election. One will ask voters to choose whether to continue oil drilling in an Amazon reserve that is home to home to three of the world's last uncontacted Indigenous populations. Another focuses on whether to forbid mining activities in the Choco Andino forest. "I feel bad voting in favor of oil exploitation, but Ecuador lives off this oil," said electrician Magdalena Maurisaca. - Brutal gang war - Ecuador was once seen as a haven of peace wedged between cocaine-producing nations Colombia and Peru. The small country straddles the Andes and the Amazon, and was best known as the world's top exporter of bananas and home to the biodiverse Galapagos Islands, where British scientist Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution. However, in the past five years its large ports, lax security and corruption have lured foreign cartels that have come under increased pressure from the war on drugs in Mexico and Colombia. A struggle for power between local gangs has mostly played out in prisons, where 430 have been killed since 2021, leaving a trail of dismembered and burned bodies. "Ecuadorans are going to vote with three feelings: fear of insecurity... pessimism regarding the economic situation and distrust of the political class," political scientist Santiago Cahuasqui of the SEK International University told AFP. In 2022, the country hit a record of 26 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, higher than the rate in Colombia, Mexico or Brazil. Voters will also elect members of the 137-seat parliament. Initial results are expected to trickle in late Sunday, with a final tally expected in 10 days. To win in the first round a candidate must capture 40 percent of the vote or come 10 points ahead of their nearest competitor. The new president will take office on October 26 and will serve only the remainder of Lasso's term, a year and a half. bur-fb/dw © Agence France-Presse The post ‘We are afraid’: Violence-hit Ecuador votes under heavy security appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Victory for ordinary consumers
The Energy Regulatory Commission, on 8 August 2023, made the correct decision in suspending Resolution No. 07, S. 2011, which unfairly allowed the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, or NGCP, to pass on its three-percent franchise tax to energy consumers. The suspension order was triggered by the Senate Energy Committee hearing in July where Senator Raffy Tulfo, chairman, moved to raise a review of the franchise tax of NGCP amid delays in the completion of 37 transmission projects. He pointed out the NGCP projects were delayed by 820 days or 2 years and 3 months. Adding insult to injury, Senator Tulfo said, the NGCP has been passing on its franchise tax to consumers since 2011. “Perhaps it’s time for ERC to revisit its Resolution No. 7, series of 2011. And since we’re at it, maybe it’s about time to revisit the franchise tax of NGCP and impose a regular income tax on them instead,” declared the good senator. Senator Win Gatchalian, vice chairman of the committee, said the ERC should not allow NGCP to pass on its franchise tax to consumers because there is a 2002 Supreme Court ruling that the income tax, which is not an operating expense, cannot be passed on by a utility to its consumers. In the case of NGCP, the franchise tax is not an operating expense. Moreover, the franchise tax, according to the NGCP franchise, is in lieu of income tax. As such, NGCP should not be allowed to pass on its franchise tax to consumers. You see, the government in granting NGCP a franchise to operate the power transmission system in the country, exempted the company from all kinds of taxes, including the 30 percent corporate income tax, except for a 3 percent franchise tax based on its annual gross receipts. However, in 2011, the ERC granted the NGCP’s application to allow the franchise tax to be part of the transmission costs included in the electricity bills of consumers. In RP vs Meralco (G.R. No 141314, 15 November 2002), the Supreme Court ruled that a public utility cannot charge its income tax to consumers by including it in its operating expenses that form part of the electricity bill since no benefit is derived from it by the consumers. The Supreme Court said that to charge consumers for expenses incurred by a public utility that is not related to the service or benefit derived by the consumers is unjustified and inequitable. Quoting from the case of Smyth v. Ames, 169 U.S. 466, 545 (1898), the Supreme Court declared: “[T]he public cannot properly be subjected to unreasonable rates in order simply that stockholders may earn dividends… If a corporation cannot maintain such a [facility] and earn dividends for stockholders, it is a misfortune for it and them which the Constitution does not require to be remedied by imposing unjust burdens on the public.” This 2002 ruling was recently reiterated in the May 2023 Supreme Court decision barring Maynilad and Manila Water from passing on to consumers their corporate income taxes as operating expenses. In a 102-page decision penned by Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC ruled that in operating the waterworks and sewerage system, Maynilad and Manila Water are public utilities that are expressly prohibited from passing on to consumers their corporate income taxes as operating expenses. Indeed, the act of NGCP of passing on its franchise tax to consumers is simply repulsive when the corporation has been given all the special privileges to operate the monopoly business of transmitting electricity and is exempted from all other taxes. The franchise tax is the single obligation imposed on NGCP, yet its handful of billionaire owners deigned to pass it on to the ordinary consumers, who do not enjoy the same privilege of tax exemption of the wealthy corporation. Passing on the NGCP’s franchise tax obligation to the consumers only furthers an economic system that makes the poor poorer and the rich richer. The post Victory for ordinary consumers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bong Go pushes for increased salaries for public sector workers
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his support for the proposed implementation of salary increases for public sector employees during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC)'s presentation of the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) before the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, August 15. While the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 6 is still pending legislation, Go lauded the finance managers of the current administration for preparing already the availability of fund sources for this endeavor. Meanwhile, Go highlighted the importance of SSL 5, which was passed during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, as a response to the rising cost of living. The law was authored and co-sponsored by Go in 2019. "This year is the last year of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization 5. Ito po ‘yung pinasa natin nung Duterte Administration dahil na rin po sa pagtaas ng mga presyo ng bilihin, isinusulong natin na magkaroon po ng SSL 6 para tuluy-tuloy ang pag-increase ng sweldo ng ating mga civil servants,” said Go. He emphasized the need for a seamless transition to SSL 6, asking Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, "Kung sakaling ma-aprubahan po ito, ang SSL 6 ngayong taon, may sapat na budget po ba tayo para sa 2024? I heard na meron po kayong na-earmark na P16 billion for this." Pangandaman confirmed that there is an earmarked fund of P16.25 billion, but acknowledged the necessity of passing SSL 6 Law. Go further inquired about the coverage of SSL 6 and the amount allocated for SSL 5 in 2020. Undersecretary Janet Abuel clarified, "About P33 billion po sa first tranche, but for the entire four tranches po, about P133 billion but that was allocated four years." Concerned if the P16 billion would be sufficient, Go asked, "So, ito pong P16 billion, is it enough?" Pangandaman responded that it was still lacking but mentioned the possibility of accessing other compensation and lump sum funds. "Kulang pa po. But we have po dun sa MPBF (Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund). Meron po kasing other compensation na lumpsum fund, pwede pa po s’yang gamitin. Pwede pong i-access ‘yung lumpsum fund na ‘yun if magkulang po yung P16.95 billion na yun,” she said. Go then expressed readiness to work on the necessary legislation for the next salary increase for government employees. Pangandaman assured Go that the Government Commission for GOCCs (Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation) study will have results by October. Go expressed his gratitude on behalf of government workers, saying, "Maraming salamat po at inaabangan ito ng ating mga government workers." Go authored and co-sponsored SSL5 in 2019, which enabled the fifth round of salary increases for civilian government employees. He is now focusing on the future, actively exploring new opportunities to enhance support for the nation's civil servants. The post Bong Go pushes for increased salaries for public sector workers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92
Clarence Avant, the entertainment executive who is counted among the music world's most impactful figures, died over the weekend, a statement from his family said Monday. He was 92 years old. Avant "passed away gently at home" in Los Angeles on Sunday, said his children Nicole and Alex Avant, as well as Nicole's husband, Netflix executive Ted Sarandos. "Through his revolutionary business leadership, Clarence became affectionately known as 'The Black Godfather' in the worlds of music, entertainment, politics, and sports," the statement said. "Clarence leaves behind a loving family and a sea of friends and associates that have changed the world and will continue to change the world for generations to come. The joy of his legacy eases the sorrow of our loss." Avant was born on 25 February 1931 in small-town North Carolina, the oldest of eight. After spending most of his childhood in North Carolina he moved to New Jersey as a teenager, getting his start in the music business as a club manager of Teddy P's Lounge in Newark. He later was mentored by the longtime Louis Armstrong manager Joe Glaser. He went on to become one of the most revered players in music and beyond, an advocate and mentor who pushed the boundaries for Black entertainers in an industry rife with racism. Avant helped establish Venture Records, the first joint effort between a Black-owned music company and a major record label, in this case, MGM. He later launched Sussex Records and signed the likes of Bill Withers. Avant worked at an array of other labels, produced films, and also brokered deals for Black athletes including baseball superstar Hank Aaron. "He's the perennial godfather of our business," Quincy Jones said in 2006, in an interview with Billboard. "Everyone in our business has been by Clarence's desk if they’re smart." 'True pioneer' Avant also consulted at Motown and worked with other top producers including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as Babyface. He's been credited with burnishing the careers of countless artists, including Jones as well as Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, and Whitney Houston. "Clarence Avant connects us all through his incredible impact since before I was born up until now. He's the godfather to so many of us -- and not just African Americans, most of the industry," Pharrell said in a statement in 2019, ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary "The Black Godfather." In 2021, Avant's wife of over 50 years, Jacqueline, was fatally shot at age 81, during a break-in of the couple's Beverly Hills home. Earlier that year Avant received special accolades from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Recording Academy has also bestowed a number of honors on him and in 2007 he received the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award from the NAACP. Tributes to Avant began pouring out upon news of his death, including from Jay-Z's company Roc Nation, which hailed him "a true pioneer" who "burst through doors and tore down ceilings, changing lives and providing opportunities for generations." "Clarence Avant isn't just the 'Godfather Of Black Music,' he is our cultural Godfather," the company said. Bill and Hillary Clinton, the former US president and secretary of state, said in a joint statement they were "saddened by the passing of our friend." "It was impossible to spend time with him and not come away feeling more positive and wanting to follow his example." The post Clarence Avant, ‘Godfather of Black Music,’ dies at 92 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Former Manila vice mayor Lacuna, 85
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna on Sunday announced the passing of his father, former Manila Vice Mayor Danilo Lacuna at the age of 85. Through a social media post, the Manila mayor said that their “Daddy Danny” died early Sunday morning surrounded by his loved ones. “A man of great service and compassion, Danny touched many, creating a life that spans further than just his years and into the hearts of us all where he will remain forever,” the post read. To recall, the Lacuna patriarch served as Manila City Councilor from 1968 to 1975, and Manila Vice Mayor from 1970 to 1971; 1988 to 1992; and 1998 to 2007. He also founded the local political party, Asenso Manileño, which produced former Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and incumbent Mayor Honey Lacuna, according to the Manila Public Information Office. The late vice mayor is survived by his wife Melanie “Inday” Lacuna and five children: Honey, Lei, Dennis, Liza, and Philip. Details regarding the wake will be announced later, according to the Manila Public Information Office. The former vice mayor was also adviser of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association during his incumbency. During the recent 122nd Founding Anniversary of the Manila City Council, he was conferred the “Dangal ng Konseho Award” in recognition of his decades of selfless service both as member and Presiding Officer of the MCC and for his “compassionate leadership that steered the city council to greater heights, producing measures that redounded to the benefit of a great number of Manilenos and his exemplary performance worthy of emulation by future generation of public servants.” His children, Councilors Dr. Lei and Philip and architect Dennis, received the award in behalf of their father. The post Former Manila vice mayor Lacuna, 85 appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hawaii fire death toll hits 55, expected to rise
A terrifying wildfire that left a historic Hawaiian town in charred ruins has killed at least 55 people, authorities said Thursday, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the US state's history. Brushfires on the west coast of Hawaii's Maui island -- fueled by high winds from a nearby hurricane -- broke out Tuesday and rapidly engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina. The flames moved so quickly that many were caught off-guard, trapped in the streets or jumping into the ocean in a desperate bid to escape. "It really looks like somebody came along and just bombed the whole town. It's completely devastated," said Canadian Brandon Wilson, who had traveled to Hawaii with his wife to celebrate their 25th anniversary, but was at the airport trying to get them a flight out. "It was really hard to see," he said, teary-eyed. "You feel so bad for people. They lost their homes, their lives, their livelihoods." The fires follow other extreme weather events in North America this summer, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. "What we've seen today has been catastrophic... likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history," Governor Josh Green said. "In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a large wave came through Big Island," he said earlier in the day, referring to a tragedy that struck a year after Hawaii became the 50th US state. "This time, it's very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that." Maui County officials said just after 9:00 pm Thursday (0700 GMT Friday) that fatalities stood at 55, and firefighters were still battling the blaze in the town that served as the Hawaiian kingdom's capital in the early 19th century. Pictures taken by an AFP photographer who flew over Lahaina showed it had been reduced to blackened, smoking ruins. The burned skeletons of trees still stand, rising above the ashes of the buildings to which they once offered shelter. Green said 80 percent of the town was gone. "Buildings that we've all enjoyed and celebrated together for decades, for generations, are completely destroyed," he said. Thousands have been left homeless and Green said a massive operation was swinging into action to find accommodation. "We are going to need to house thousands of people," he told a press conference. "That will mean reaching out to all of our hotels and those in the community to ask people to rent extra rooms at their property." President Joe Biden on Thursday declared the fires a "major disaster" and unblocked federal aid for relief efforts, with rebuilding expected to take years. 'Bodies in the water' US Coast Guard commander Aja Kirksey told CNN around 100 people were believed to have jumped into the water in a desperate effort to flee the fast-moving flames as they tore through Lahaina. Kirksey said helicopter pilots struggled to see because of dense smoke, but that a Coast Guard vessel had been able to rescue more than 50 people from the water. "It was a really rapidly developing scene and pretty harrowing for the victims that had to jump into the water," she added. For resident Kekoa Lansford, the horror was far from over. "We still get dead bodies in the water floating and on the seawall," Lansford told CBS. "We have been pulling people out... We're trying to save people's lives, and I feel like we are not getting the help we need." Green said around 1,700 buildings were believed to have been affected by the blaze. "With lives lost and properties decimated, we are grieving with each other during this inconsolable time," Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said. "In the days ahead, we will be stronger as a... community," he added, "as we rebuild with resilience and aloha." Evacuations Thousands of people have already been evacuated from Maui, with 1,400 people waiting at the main airport in Kahului overnight, hoping to get out. Maui County has asked visitors to leave "as soon as possible," and organized buses to move evacuees from shelters to the airport. The island hosts around a third of all the visitors who holiday in the state, and their dollars are vital for the local economy. At the airport in Kahului, Lorraina Peterson said she had been stuck for days without food or power, and was now looking at a lengthy wait for a flight. "I don't know if we'll be able to get a hotel room, or we'll have to sleep here on the floor," she said. With a hurricane passing to the south of Hawaii, high winds fueled flames that consumed dry vegetation. Thomas Smith, a professor with the London School of Economics, said that while wildfires are not uncommon in Hawaii, the blazes this year "are burning a greater area than usual, and the fire behavior is extreme, with fast spread rates and large flames." As global temperatures rise over time, heat waves are projected to become more frequent, with increased dryness due to changing rainfall patterns creating ideal conditions for bush or forest fires. The post Hawaii fire death toll hits 55, expected to rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hawaii fire death toll expected to rise ‘very significantly’: governor
The death toll from a terrifying wildfire that razed a historic Hawaiian town is expected to rise "very significantly", the state's governor said Thursday, with 36 people already known to have perished. Brushfires on the west coast of Hawaii's Maui island -- fueled by high winds from a nearby hurricane -- broke out Tuesday and rapidly engulfed the seaside town of Lahaina. The flames moved so quickly that many were caught off-guard, trapped in the streets or jumping into the ocean in a desperate bid to escape. Governor Josh Green said Thursday the latest confirmed death toll of 36 would dramatically increase. "That number is going to go up very significantly," Green told CNN. "In 1960 we had 61 fatalities when a large wave came through Big Island. This time, it's very likely that our death totals will significantly exceed that." An official update was expected later Thursday, but Green said the numbers would "go into the 40s today at the least." Lahaina on Thursday lay in charred, smoking ruins, with Green saying 80 percent of the town was gone. "There is no doubt everyone would describe this as though a bomb hit Lahaina," he said. "It looks like total devastation; buildings that we've all enjoyed and celebrated together for decades, for generations, are completely destroyed." President Joe Biden on Thursday declared the fires a "major disaster" and unblocked federal aid for relief efforts, as residents said they needed more help in a recovery that could take years. Bodies US Coast Guard commander Aja Kirksey told CNN around 100 people were believed to have jumped into the water in a desperate effort to flee the fast-moving flames as they tore through Lahaina. Kirksey said helicopter pilots struggled to see because of the dense smoke pouring from the huge fire, but that a Coast Guard vessel had been able to rescue more than 50 people from the water. "It was a really rapidly developing scene and pretty harrowing for the victims that had to jump into the water," she added. For resident Kekoa Lansford, the horror was far from over. "We still get dead bodies in the water floating and on the seawall," Lansford told CBS. "We have been pulling people out... We're trying to save people's lives, and I feel like we are not getting the help we need." Aerial photographs of Lahaina, which served as the Hawaiian kingdom's capital in the early 19th century, showed entire blocks reduced to cinders. Green said around 1,700 buildings were now believed to have been affected by the blaze. "With lives lost and properties decimated, we are grieving with each other during this inconsolable time," Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said. "In the days ahead, we will be stronger as a... community," he added, "as we rebuild with resilience and aloha." Evacuations Thousands of people have already been evacuated from Maui, with 1,400 people waiting at the main airport in Kahului overnight, hoping to get out. Maui county has asked visitors to leave "as soon as possible," and has organized buses to move evacuees from shelters to the airport. The island hosts around a third of all the visitors who holiday in the state, and their dollars are vital for the local economy. Fires have also broken out on Hawaii's Big Island, but officials said they were under control on Thursday. The state's tourism chief Jimmy Tokioka acknowledged the tragedy but reiterated that the "rest of Hawaii is open." With a hurricane passing to the south of Hawaii, high winds and dry vegetation fueled the flames. Thomas Smith, a professor with the London School of Economics, said that while wildfires are not uncommon in Hawaii, the blazes this year "are burning a greater area than usual, and the fire behavior is extreme, with fast spread rates and large flames." The Hawaii fires follow other extreme weather events this summer in North America, with record-breaking wildfires still burning across Canada and a major heat wave baking the US southwest. Europe and parts of Asia have also endured soaring temperatures, with major fires and floods wreaking havoc. As global temperatures rise over time, heat waves are projected to become more frequent, with increased dryness due to changing rainfall patterns creating ideal conditions for bush or forest fires. The post Hawaii fire death toll expected to rise ‘very significantly’: governor appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
14-year-old internet rapper Lil Tay passes away
14-year-old internet rapper Lil Tay (Claire Hope) has passed away, as seen from the statement uploaded by her family on her Instagram account. "It is with heavy heart that we share the devastating news of our beloved Claire's sudden and tragic passing. We have no words to express the unbearable loss and indescribable pain," the statement said. Lil Tay established her fame as the "youngest flexer of the century" when she was 9 years old, featuring her lavish hip-hop lifestyle via Instagram videos. The statement also said Lil Tay's brother also passed away. "Her brother’s passing adds an even more unimaginable depth to our grief. During this time of immense sorrow, we kindly ask for privacy as we grieve this overwhelming loss, as the circumstances surrounding Claire and her brother’s passing are still under investigation," it said. The post 14-year-old internet rapper Lil Tay passes away appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Exorcist’ director William Friedkin: ‘maverick, Wildly talented, game-changer’
William Friedkin, film director and brainchild of Hollywood classics The French Connection and The Exorcist, died on 7 August at 87 years old. Friedkin died from heart failure and pneumonia at his home in Bel Air, said his wife and former Paramount Pictures producer Sherry Lansing. Friedkin was one of the young filmmakers who defined a new generation of cinema in the 1970s with his exotic, robust and thrilling films. [caption id="attachment_169249" align="aligncenter" width="1007"] William Friedkin got his big break in the film industry with the neo-noir action thriller 'The French Connection' in 1971.[/caption] Before making his film debut with Good Times in 1967, Friedkin started his directorial career in television series and documentaries. In 1970, he directed the queer film The Boys in the Band, with a screenplay by Mart Crowley based on his landmark play. The Boys in the Band was one of Hollywood’s first explicitly gay films, at a time when there was little to no queer representation in mainstream film. Friedkin got his big break in the film industry with the neo-noir action thriller The French Connection in 1971, which earned widespread recognition from audiences and critics. With this film alone, he bagged five Academy awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director. Friedkin gained further acclaim with the 1973 film The Exorcist, based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations and is now considered one of the greatest horror movies in cinema. Aside from The French Connection and The Exorcist, Friedkin also directed the films Sorcerer (1977), Cruising (1980), The Hunted (2003) and Killer Joe (2011). Hollywood saw an outpouring of tributes over Friedkin’s passing, among them from actresses Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair, who starred in The Exorcist; Emmy award-winning producer Jason Blum, American film director Francis Ford Coppola and more. Burstyn, who gained her second Oscar nomination when she played the helpless mother in The Exorcist, eulogized the director in a statement: “My friend Bill Friedkin was an original; smart, cultured, fearless and wildly talented. On the set, he knew what he wanted, would go to any length to get it and was able to let it go if he saw something better happening. He was undoubtedly a genius.” Meanwhile, Blair, who starred as the 12-year-old possessed girl in The Exorcist, honored Friedkin in an emotional Instagram post: “Like Sidney Poitier‘s famous movie To Sir with Love, how do you put into words appreciation to the person that changed your life forever, along with the world? Billy Friedkin was a game changer, thought outside the box, was a genius with an incredibly bold personality and extraordinary imagery that electrified colleagues and moviegoers alike, and remained a true maverick throughout his career in the film industry.” “It was an honor to know him and I am deeply saddened at this time,” she added. “He changed my life forever, along with the world through my performance, and all my performances throughout my career. The post ‘The Exorcist’ director William Friedkin: ‘maverick, Wildly talented, game-changer’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Markus Paterson only has nice words for Janella, reflects on their separation
Markus Paterson minced no words in a tell-all, sit-down interview with Ogie Diaz on the latter’s YouTube channel. Paterson discussed all the issues that have swirled around him, particularly his separation from fellow actor Janella Salvador, who he only had good and kind words for, describing how good of a mother she was to their now 2-year-old son. He described in detail how things fell apart after they got back to the Philippines from the UK, where Janella gave birth, and reality set in, having to deal with a growing family amid the pressure of work, the pandemic, and child-rearing. He also admitted to his shortcomings as a partner, and his lack of ability to hash things out during arguments, preferring to avoid rather than confront. He vehemently denied that he ever resorted to domestic violence, but that he understood why Janella would be very traumatized by his drinking. Even if Janella knew that he would never lay a hand on her, it brought back trauma from a previous relationship, explained Paterson. The post Markus Paterson only has nice words for Janella, reflects on their separation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pope’s vigil in Portugal draws 1.5 million pilgrims
A sea of 1.5 million pilgrims packed a riverside park near Lisbon on Saturday for a vigil held by Pope Francis as part of a global Catholic youth festival. Worshippers cheered as the 86-year-old pontiff slowly drove by on his "popemobile" to the stage at the Parque Tejo on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital. "We are the pope's youths!" they chanted. Several national flags fluttered in the crowd estimated at around 1.5 million people according to the Vatican, citing Portuguese officials. Many waited for hours under a blazing sun for the start of the vigil, singing, dancing and playing cards to pass the time at the park, which was built for the occasion on a former landfill site. There was little shade, and worshippers protected themselves from the sun with umbrellas or makeshift tents made from sheets, or tried to cool off by pouring water over their heads. Portugal's state weather office has put Lisbon on alert for scorching temperatures that reached nearly 36 degrees Celsius (97 Fahrenheit) on Saturday. "It is very impressive to walk around and see the number of Catholics who turned out today," Ana Carvalho, a 19-year-old Portuguese nursing student, told AFP. The vigil is part of World Youth Day festivities, which is actually a week of religious, cultural and festive events held every three years in a different city. - 'Everyone can enter' - Santi Salvador, a 19-year-old Spanish student, said he walked to Lisbon from Barcelona to attend the event, a distance of some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles). "We left 40 days ago... It's a pilgrimage to see the pope," he told AFP. Earlier Saturday, Francis visited the shrine of Fatima, a revered site north of Lisbon devoted to the Virgin Mary, where he was welcomed by around 200,000 people. He recited the rosary with sick and disabled youths at the chapel built on the spot where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to three shepherd children in 1917. In an address to the crowd, the pontiff reinforced calls made many times during his trip for an inclusive Church. "This little chapel where we find ourselves, is like a beautiful image of the Church, welcoming, without doors," he said in improvised remarks. "The Church does not have doors, so that everyone can enter," he added to applause from the crowd. It is the second day running that the pope has not followed his prepared remarks. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told reporters the pope had improvised one of his speeches on Friday due to "discomfort of vision", but that in Fatima it had been "a choice". - Final mass - The pope prayed in silence for several minutes before a statue of the Virgin Mary in the chapel. In a text published later on Twitter, recently rebranded as X, the pontiff said he had prayed for the "church and the world, especially for countries at war". The pontiff, who now uses a wheelchair or walking stick to get around, arrived in Portugal on Wednesday for the World Youth Day jamboree. The leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics will deliver a final open-air mass on Sunday morning at the Parque Tejo before returning to Rome. World Youth Day, created in 1986 by John Paul II, is the largest Catholic gathering in the world and features a wide range of events, including concerts and prayer sessions. This edition, initially scheduled for August 2022 but postponed because of the Covid pandemic, will be the fourth for Francis after Rio de Janeiro in 2013, Krakow in 2016 and Panama in 2019. cmk-lf/ds/js © Agence France-Presse The post Pope’s vigil in Portugal draws 1.5 million pilgrims appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’
A sea of flag-waving pilgrims from around the world packed a Lisbon park on Tuesday for an open-air Mass that kicked off a week-long jamboree of Catholic youth on the eve of the arrival of Pope Francis. Lisbon's patriarch, Cardinal Manuel Clemente, delivered the homily at the service held at the hillside Eduardo VII Park with sweeping views of the Portuguese capital and the Tagus River. "Lisbon welcomes you wholeheartedly," he told the crowd as pilgrims waved national flags in the air. Local authorities expect some 300,000 people to attend the opening Mass of World Youth Day, which is actually a week of religious, cultural, and festive events held every three years in a different city. Francis is set to arrive in Lisbon on Wednesday morning to join the event, which has been dubbed the "Catholic Woodstock". The 86-year-old pontiff is by Church standards the most liberal pope in decades and is very popular with young people. During his papacy, he has tried to create a more compassionate church, reaching out to the gay community and talking frankly to youngsters about abortion, divorce, and gender identity. "Pope Francis is open to young people," said Cristina Kelly, a 39-year-old who came from Brazil, just before the start of the Mass. "He called on us and we came. People need that today, for young people to be called to God," she told AFP. 'Recharge spiritual battery' In Portugal, the pope has a typically packed schedule for his five-day visit, despite having spent nine nights in hospital after undergoing hernia surgery in June. Francis, the first Latin American pope, is due to make 11 public pronouncements and hold numerous meetings, and on Saturday will visit the shrine of Fatima north of Lisbon. Church organizers expect one million faithful will attend the event's closing mass which will be delivered by the pope on Sunday at a waterside park on the outskirts of Lisbon. Images of the pope were on display on banners across the city as well as on screens on automatic bank machines along with the message: "I am with you". A Lisbon pastry shop is even selling cookies with the image of the smiling pontiff wearing a crucifix. "My goal is to recharge my spiritual battery because sometimes, as young people, we let it run low," Xochilt Cecilia Velis, a 24-year-old from El Salvador, told AFP in central Lisbon. World Youth Day is part of the Vatican's efforts to galvanize young Catholics at a time when secularism and disgust over clerical child sex abuse cause some faithful to abandon the Church. Meeting with abuse victims The gathering comes as the Portuguese Catholic Church is reckoning with its legacy of clerical sexual abuse. A report released in February by an independent commission determined that at least 4,815 children had been abused by clergy members in Portugal since 1950. The inquiry -- similar to audits elsewhere in Europe and the Americas -- concluded that the Church hierarchy "systematically" tried to conceal the abuse. Pope Francis is scheduled to meet privately with abuse victims during his visit but the date of the encounter or other details has not been released. Initially scheduled for August 2022, but postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lisbon World Youth Day is the 16th international edition of what has become the largest gathering of Catholics worldwide. Church organizers said there are pilgrims registered to take part in this year's event from every country in the world except the Maldives. A brainchild of the late Pope John Paul II, the event started in 1986. The current one is the fourth presided over by Pope Francis, who became head of the Catholic Church in 2013. The last three events took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2013, in Krakow, Poland in 2016, and in Panama City, Panama in 2019. The post Huge mass in Lisbon ahead of pope’s arrival for ‘Catholic Woodstock’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
More migrants cross dangerous jungle route
Panama has reported a surge in migrant crossings in the dangerous jungle route along the Panama-Colombia border. As of Sunday, 248,901 migrants have walked through the 265-kilometer Darien Gap, Maria Isabel Saravia, Panama’s deputy director of migration told a news conference on Monday. That figure exceeds last year’s total by more than 600 people, and is approaching double the total of 133,000 in 2021. Panama Public Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino warned that the number passing through the Darien Gap could reach 400,000 by the end of the year. Along the journey are wild animals, rivers and criminal gangs who rob migrants or demand money to guide them through the jungle. Panamanian authorities do not know the exact number of migrants who die in the dense jungle area, with many deaths unreported. Just over a fifth of the migrants recorded so far this year are children and adolescents, half of whom are five years old or younger, Saravia said. More than 100,000 of the migrants were Venezuelans. Also passing through the route were roughly 33,000 Haitians, 25,000 Ecuadorans and 8,500 people from China. The migrants were heading to the United States, which warned months ago that it would not allow access to anyone who crossed into Panama without proper authorization. WITH AFP The post More migrants cross dangerous jungle route appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»