Philippine News

DAVAO CITY -- Is popular Pinoy rock band Siakol headed for a breakup?It appears so when the group's guitarist, Anthony “Miniong” Cervantes, announced on Tuesday that he was quitting the band, which has become synonymous with the rock scene that dominated the country in the 1990s.Siakol was known for such hits as “Tropa,” “Bakit Pa,” “Gabay,” the 90s youth anthem, “Lakas Tama” and many others.In a Facebook post, Cervantes, who has been Siakol guitarist since the group's founding in Parañaque in 1994, said he was quitting because his bandmates are always disagreeing.“Paalam Siakol... Pahinga na muna si Miniong...Salamat sa aking mga kabanda na hindi magkasundo.. At salamat mga Siakolista! (Goodbye Siakol...Miniong is taking a rest...Thanks to my bandmates who can't unite...And thanks Siakolista),” Cervantes wrote on Facebook. He followed this with the hashtags #akonalangangaayaw #signingoff #miniong #ayawnyonatalagangmagayos #unhealthyna #burnout and #bahalanasiakolissiakol.…

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 31 (PIA) - Indigenous People (IPs) at the far-flung barangay of Mahagnao in Burauen, Leyte have reasons to meet the New Year with optimism.They were part of the 50 students who were trained on Animal Production (Poultry-Chicken) NC II and Animal Production (Ruminant) NC II held at Brgy Mahagnao, Burauen, Leyte.The training which aims to provide alternative livelihood to the populace in the hinterland communities in Leyte has been very helpful to the populace.Copra production, their main source of income, for years has declined its local and international market value, thus, they are badly in need of an alternative livelihood.Barangay Mahagnao is part of Burauen’s vast wetland forest that houses thousands of century old trees surrounding Mahagnao Volcano, although the volcano has been inactive, it is classified as potentially active due to the active thermal features of the mountain.On December 19, 2019, Personnel of Alpha (Apache) Company, 78th Infantry (Warrior) B…

BUTUAN CITY -- The continued implementation of checkpoint operations by the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) resulted in the confiscation of illegal items, including contrabands believed to be owned by the communist New People’s Army (NPA).
In a statement on Monday, PRO-13 said the Army's support in its checkpoint operations in different provinces in the region has yielded positive results in recent months.
On Saturday evening (December 28), a joint team of police and soldiers from the Army's 30th Infantry Battalion seized various items allegedly owned by the NPA in a checkpoint in Barangay Sapa, Claver, Surigao del Norte.
The confiscated items include 18 packs of black fatigue pants, 37 packs of poncho tents, and 1,000 bottles of soft drinks.
Brig. Gen. Joselito T. Esquivel Jr., PRO-13 director, said the seized items were transported by two single motorcycles.
Esquivel added the drivers of the motorcycles were instructed to deliver the items to Sitio Bay-a…

MANILA -- Rehabilitating a heavily polluted water body is proving to be an extremely difficult task, but the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the leadership of Secretary Roy Cimatu is more determined than ever to win the so-called “Battle for Manila Bay.”Cimatu, who chairs the Manila Bay Task Force (MBTF), said that much has been achieved since the Manila Bay rehabilitation kicked off in January this year, but more needs to be done to achieve the ultimate goal of making it fit again for swimming and other forms of contact recreation.“Our effort to restore Manila Bay is now in full swing and we hope to sustain the momentum of restoring it to its former glory in the coming years,” Cimatu said, noting that the Manila Bay rehabilitation will remain a top priority of the government until 2022.Cimatu said the rehabilitation is currently in its first phase, which is the cleanup and water quality monitoring. The next two phases will be relocation and rehabilitation…

MANILA -- A 15.56-kilometer rail-based transit system aimed to link parts of eastern Metro Manila and the province of Rizal has moved closer to completion after it was approved by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CabCom) during its December 20, 2019 meeting.Dubbed as the Metro Rail Transit Line 4 (MRT-4), the rail-based transit system which is scheduled for operation in 2025, aims to address the worsening traffic condition and inadequate road capacities in the densely-populated areas of eastern Metro Manila to include parts of Quezon City, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City and the Ortigas Center. The line will also link eastern Metro Manila with the neighboring municipalities of Cainta and Taytay in Rizal.With an initial daily ridership projected at 234,433 passengers, the line system will serve 11 stations.The PHP59.3-billion MRT-4 project is calendared for construction from 2021-2025 to be funded by an official development assistance (ODA) from …

MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is expected to further meet its goal of improving the country’s infrastructure in 2020 and in the succeeding years, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Tuesday.Nograles issued the statement as he acknowledged that the government made “substantial gains” this year when it comes to implementing infrastructure projects.“We are already experiencing some of the effects of Duterte Governance: reduced poverty, higher wages, and low unemployment rates. But our job is not finished yet, and we expect even more positive metrics as more and more of the government’s infrastructure projects are completed,” he said in a statement.“Government infrastructure accomplishments under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte will be felt in 2020 and beyond -- a reflection of the President’s commitment to implement programs and projects that will improve the lives of Filipinos for years to come,” he added.Nograles believed that improvements in sev…

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 6 has released 5,900 family food packs to those affected by Typhoon Ursula in Aklan province.Luna Moscoso, DSWD-6 chief of the Disaster Response and Management Division, said in an interview Monday that the province of Aklan was placed under a state of calamity last Dec. 26 and the regional office immediately started sending family food packs for the affected residents totaling some PHP2,124,000.“There are 59,920 families and 260,449 persons affected by Typhoon Ursula in Aklan province,” she said.Moscoso said that as of Monday, there are still 342 families or 1,660 persons remaining in the evacuation centers in the towns of Altavas, Banga, Batan, Ibajay, Malay, Madalag, Malinao, Nabas, New Washington and Tangalan.“The evacuees have remained in the evacuation centers because of their damaged houses,” she said.   She added that the victims were provided with food packs worth PHP360.00 eac…

MANILA -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday slammed the reported death of another overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Kuwait.Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Philippine government is offended over the killing of Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende allegedly by her employer."The Labor Department is deeply saddened and outraged over the violent death of Filipino worker Jeanelyn Padernal Villavende in the hands of her Kuwaiti employer," he said in a statement."The case is a clear violation of the agreement signed by both Kuwait and the Philippines in 2018 that seeks to uphold and promote the protection of the rights and welfare of our workers in the Gulf state," the DOLE chief added.At the same time, Bello urged for the immediate resolution of the death of the household service worker (HSW)."The Department looks forward to the swift resolution of the case and that justice will be served to Villavende and her family," he said.The DOL…

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) on Monday vowed to strictly enforce the ban against illegal firefrackers and pyrotechnics during the New Year revelries. Police major Evan Viñas, Cocpo spokesperson, said they will conduct intensive monitoring to ensure that only legal pyroctechnics are used and only in designated public areas, as stipulated under Executive Order 28 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Viñas said they will also conduct inspections of the manufacturing complex, warehouse, and processing area of manufacturers and dealers of pyrotechnics "to ensure the observance of safety guidelines". In a statement. the Philippine National Police forewarned manufacturers and sellers not to sell firecracker and pyrotechnics to minors or those below 18 years of age.  Among the prohibited firecrackers are: Piccolo, watusi, giant whistle bomb, giant bawang, large judas belt, super lolo, lolo thunder, atomic bomb, atomic bomb triangulo, pillbox, boga…

CaptionODIONGAN, Romblon, Dec. 28 (PIA) -- Muling pinaalalahanan ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) - Romblon ang publiko na ipinatutupad ng ahensya ang batas na nagbabawal sa pagbibilad ng palay at iba pang agrikulturang produkto sa mga kalsada na itinuturing na national highway lalo pa umano't katatapos lang ang anihan.Ayon kay Alden Alag, Road Right-of-Way agent ng DPWH-Romblon, mahigpit itong ipinagbabawal base sa Presidential Decree No. 17 o Philippine Highway Act of 1953. Sinasabi ng batas na posible maharap sa parusa na hanggang anim na buwang pagkabilanggo at P1,000 piyansa ang sino mang mapapatunayang lumabag rito."Batay kasi rito, bawal magpatuyo ng palay sa mga pangunahing kalsada para maiwas sa aksidente ang ating mga motorista. Bawal na bawal po na gawing 'solar dryer' ang kalsada, kasi nga obstruction yan. Pwedeng kunin namin yan!" ayon kay Alag nang ito ay dumalo sa Kapihan sa PIA-Romblon nitong ika-23 ng Disyembre.Sinabi ni Alag na …

10 media partners of the Philippine Information Agency - Romblon were recognized on Friday, December 27, for fully supporting the programs and activities of the agency for the year 2019. (Photo Courtesy: Emmanuel Eranes)ODIONGAN, Romblon, Dec. 27 (PIA) -- The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Romblon on Friday conducted a Media Engagement and Appreciation Day to recognize its media partner in the province for supporting the programs and activites of the agency for the year 2019.This was held at Wavefront Beach Resort in Odiongan, Romblon.During the activity, certificates of recognition and tokens were awarded to the attendees namely: Bill Gabay, Suico Romero, Tony Macalisang and Nicasio Fiedacan of Romblon Sun; Julius Llazer of Romblon Post; Emmanuel Eranes and Melchor Britanico of Radyo Natin-Odiongan; Bing Solis of Radyo Natin-Looc; and Joanne Amar, Intern of PIA-Romblon.The same certificate of recognition was also given to Clinton Solidum of DTI-Negosyo Center Odiongan for allo…

CEBU CITY -- The province of Cebu concluded 2019 with a bullish investment program on infrastructure development aimed at addressing traffic congestion and flooding.“In the pipeline are the big-ticket projects which the Duterte administration is determined to finance to boost socio-economic development in Central Visayas and to ease our burden due to traffic problem,” said Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.He enumerated the seven big-ticket projects that include infrastructure developments meant to address traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.The 73.75-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway that will span from Naga City in the south to Danao City in the north is a long high standard arterial road to meet existing and future traffic demands, he said.Traversing mountain slopes of the province, this PHP28.1-billion expressway is expected to serve as another north-south backbone highway aimed to provide seamless traffic flow from Naga City to Danao City.Next to the…

MANILA -- The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said it succeeded in shortening the duration of the Black Nazarene thanksgiving procession on Monday evening following the implementation of a new security scheme.“The NCRPO marked a safe and sound Black Nazarene thanksgiving procession which started at about 11:45 p.m. Monday (December 30) and ended at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday (December 31), as ‘airtight security’ has been employed,” NCRPO acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said in a statement.Sinas said around 10,000 police officers of NCRPO together with Joint Task Force NCR, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, Task Force Quiapo and other force multipliers were fielded to maintain peace and order throughout the procession and secure places of convergence and vital installations nearby Quiapo Church, as well as the route of the procession.He explained that the enhanced approach with the active participation …

MANILA -- Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday said he is ready to comply with President Rodrigo Duterte's order to supervise the Philippine National Police (PNP).“The President is still searching for a permanent Chief PNP and my job is to supervise the organization on his behalf as his alter ego, being the DILG Secretary and Chairman of National Police Commission(Napolcom). I will do my job until the President chooses the next Chief PNP,” Año said in a statement sent to reporters.“I believe he has choices in his mind but he is closely watching the performance and conviction of these candidates particularly on the fight against illegal drugs and professionalizing the PNP ranks,” he stressed.The PNP is currently headed by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa as officer in charge.PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Gamboa fully respects and supports the decision of the President designating Año to lead and take over the administration and control of the PNP for the meantime.“As Na…

MANILA -- More productive and progressive changes are expected next year, Malacañang said on Monday.In his New Year message, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Filipinos can again look forward to a better quality of life for them and an improved economy for the country under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte."We look at the departing year and we see the change in many aspects of our society transform before our eyes," Panelo said in a statement."Yet we feel it in our bones that there will be more productive and progressive changes to come as this administration led by this strong-willed maverick and incorruptible President charts the destiny of this nation beyond our wildest dreams," he added.Panelo admitted that the administration may face "greater challenges", but also "exciting prospects for a better Philippines."He said the administration will continue to learn from the lessons of the past but at the same time draw insp…

MANILA -- The number of deaths attributed to Typhoon Ursula has climbed to 50 as of Tuesday.In its 6 a.m. update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the casualties were from Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas.Meanwhile, the number of verified injured went up to 143 from Monday's 140, while the number of missing went down from nine to five, per the NDRRMC's Tuesday report.Also, the number of affected families went up to 522,460 which is equivalent to 2,122,581 persons residing in 2,544 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga Region.Of these, 21,409 families or 84,909 persons are being aided in 654 evacuation centers while 14,714 families or 60,732 individuals are being aided outside.Houses damaged were placed at 406, 228, of which 104,469 were totally and 301,759 partially, in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas. (PNA)
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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) has ordered the chiefs of the 11 police stations to strengthen security to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of the New Year.

Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, ZCPO director, said Monday that he will closely monitor the situation and inspect the deployment of policemen to ensure a peaceful welcome of 2020, which is the Year of the Rat.

“Make your presence felt for Zamboanga City to be safer,” Martir said.

Martir has ordered all the police chiefs to saturate the “hot spots” in their respective areas of responsibility and to seal off unwanted elements "who might try to destroy the tranquility of the barangays."

He said they will also closely coordinate with the city government, barangay officials and other stakeholders involved in upholding the safety and protection of the people aside from the Joint Task Force Zamboanga.

The Joint Task Force Zamboanga is the maneuver forces of the military, which has two battalions--A…

MANILA -- BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the country's first missile frigate, performed well during its second sea trials, which took place last December 15 to 18."The second sea trials (were conducted) with satisfactory results," said Philippine Navy (PN) public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.During the testing period, Roxas said systems like the ship's propulsion console, freshwater generator, and steering gear were tested. Also, the frigate's propulsion system was tested and checked for vibration.Likewise, the ship's turning circle when at the maximum design speed of 25 knots and rudders being shifted to "hard left and hard right progressive speed" was determined, the PN official added.Roxas said the BRP Jose Rizal was made to undergo zigzag and spiral maneuvers along with crash stop ahead (full astern to full ahead) and crash stop astern (full ahead to full astern)…

ILOILO CITY – The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) here is reminding residents that public roads should be vacated during the New Year’s Eve celebration.It has become a practice for some villages here to occupy the streets and roads to conduct New Year gatherings, said Jeck Conlu, PSTMO head, in an interview Monday.“Let us keep the roads open. What we are doing is we close our roads every New Year’s Eve so we appeal to them. If our patrols happen to pass along the closed roads, you will be apprehended,” he warned.The PSTMO patrol will be checking the villages and national roads to assure that no group or individuals violate the mandate. Last year, Conlu said 11 villages in the city were apprehended and told to open the roads.He also reminded the public to only use firecracker designated zones which are located far from residential and other establishments.This is in line with the target of Mayor Jerry Trenas to have a zero firecracker-related incident this ye…

MANILA — Junemar Fajardo is ahead in the race for the Best Player of the Conference of the PBA Governors' Cup.As of the semifinal round, which finished last week, the San Miguel Beermen center is number one with 38.8 average statistical points (SPs) per game, even though his team failed to make it in the Final 4.While Fajardo's team did not enter the playoffs at all, Columbian's CJ Perez snatched second with 37.2 SPs.On the other hand, Chris Standhardinger, who helped bring NorthPort to the semifinals, came in third with 35.1 SPs.In fourth place is NLEX's Kiefer Ravena with 34.5 SPs, while Jayson Castro of TNT rounded the Top 5 with 31.6.Despite leading Ginebra to the finals, Stanley Pringle is only in sixth place with 30.8, while Chris Newsome is the top player for the other finalist, Meralco, with 29.8 SPs, good for ninth place.Rounding the Top 11 are KaTropa's RR Pogoy in seventh with 30.4, the Barangay's Japeth Aguilar at eighth with 29.9, and teammate LA T…

MANILA – The year 2019 is one for the books for the Department of Justice which dispensed judgment over celebrated cases, a year that also saw an end, under the Duterte administration, to many glaring social injustices in the country.It also saw the judiciary turning another page in its history under another Chief Justice and new magistrates.Maguindanao massacre: an end to impunityThe saying “Justice delayed is justice denied” seemed to be an exception for the Maguindanao massacre case as December saw the end of the 10-year elusive search for justice of the families of the 57 victims, including 32 journalists, killed in the Maguindanao massacre dubbed as the worst single attack against media workers in recent history.In her long-awaited decision last December 19, the conviction of eight members of the Ampatuan clan and 20 others for 57 counts of murder by Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221 served as an early Christmas present for the fam…

DIGOS CITY – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he wanted to kill illegal recruiters who send Filipino domestic helpers to the Middle East, where they end up as slaves.“Kayong mga recruiter gusto ko talagang patayin kayo. Kasi ito ‘pag may makita problema niya, she will say punta ka ng Middle East. Pagdating doon sa Middle East, nagkaproblema, or are sold to questionable Arab families (I really want to kill (these illegal) recruiters who seize every problem to convince people to go to the Middle East. But when the recruit arrives in the Middle East, the problem develops or they are being sold to questionable Arab families),” he said in a speech Monday at the 60th founding anniversary of Cor Jesu College here, where he spent his high school years in the 1960s.Duterte said his heart bleeds every time he hears stories of Overseas Filipino Workers jumping off the windows of their employers' homes because they could no longer take the punishment of being slaves.“How many…? Almost…

INQUIRER -- Duterte to ABS-CBN owners: Just sell itPHILIPPINE STAR -- Rody pushes 2 dams for MM, warns courtsMANILA BULLETIN -- Say no to firecrackers - prelatesDAILY TRIBUNE -- MVP, Ayala face estafaMANILA TIMES -- Sell ABS-CBNMANILA STANDARD -- Año named PNP handlerBUSINESS MIRROR -- Good current account standing vowed for 2020
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MANILA -- President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday bared that he has asked Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to supervise the Philippine National Police (PNP) while he has yet to appoint a chief for the country’s police force.Duterte admitted he is still having trouble deciding on who to appoint as next PNP chief lamenting that the police force in Manila remained problematic.“Sa mga probinsiya, mahusay ang pulis (In the province, police are doing good). But in Manila...that’s why I did not appoint a PNP [chief.]. Sabi ko kay Gen. Año na hawakan niya (I told Gen. Año to supervise it first),” Duterte said in a speech in North Cotabato.“You fix the police so that by the time we make the exit two years from now, at least yung mga problema ng Pilipino, medyo hindi na masyadong mabigat (the problems of Filipinos would be less heavy),” he added.He also warned police and local politicians involved in the illegal drug trade and corruption from facing the worst type of punishment if caught.“Pagka pumas…