nationataglance
These terrorists have no claim to the values of Islam, nor to the brave and dignified history of our people.” — Gov. Mujiv S. Hataman, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, April 24 statement
PHL-US to hold annual joint military exercises on May 8-19
THE ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and US troops will hold a joint military exercise, the Balikatan 33-2017, on May 8 to 19 in different parts of Luzon and the Visayas. In a statement issued yesterday, the US Embassy in Manila said the training will focus on enhancing skills for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations as well as counter-terrorism. “Balikatan is designed to meet current challenges facing the Philippines,” said Molly Koscina, US Embassy Press Attaché. “Along with preparing the US forces’ and AFP’s ability to respond to natural disasters and deliver humanitarian aid, Balikatan will also increase our militaries’ counter-terrorism capabilities.” Forces from Australia and Japan will also participate in all major training events, and the AFP has invited military troops from several other nations to be part of the International Observers Program.
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: TAGUIG CITY
Bomb-making notes found at jail with Abu Sayyaf inmates
VARIOUS CONTRABAND were seized Monday morning after authorities launched an “Oplan Galugad” or search operation at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. Around 300 cops of the National Capital Region Police Office confiscated cellular phones, drug paraphernalia, assorted bladed weapons, gadgets, and a notebook that contains instructions on how to make bombs from the cells of “high-profile inmates” at Special Intensive Care Area (SICA) 2. Among the inmates in SICA 2 are members of the Abu Sayyaf and various criminal groups. The operation was conducted ahead of the meetings at the capital for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this week. The international event gathering world leaders to be staged in Manila requires thousands of security personnel. —
WESTERN VISAYAS: ILOILO CITY
HK investors to explore business opportunities in Iloilo City
A GROUP of 30 prospective investors from Hong Kong will visit Iloilo City in May to look into business opportunities, the city government announced yesterday. The visit follows last weekend’s joint trip of Iloilo city and provincial officials to Hong Kong, where they presented the economic portfolio and potential partnerships before 50 Chinese investors at a dinner at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. Iloilo Mayor Jed Patrick E. Mabilog, in a statement, said he stressed in his presentation the “SMART” investment priority areas of the city, which stands for services, manufacturing, agribusiness, arts and culture, research and technology.
CENTRAL LUZON: PANDI, BULACAN
Senate to inspect Pandi housing
THE SENATE committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, chaired by Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito, is conducting an ocular visit today of the housing units in Pandi, Bulacan that has been occupied by members of the militant group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay). The visit comes on the heels of the Senate hearing last week, which was attended by representatives of government housing agencies, the respective housing board of the police and the military for whom these houses were originally constructed, and Kadamay chairperson Gloria Arellano. During the hearing, the military, police and the Kadamay all had their respective complaints on the government housing. “We’re looking for a win-win solution in this issue,” Mr. Ejercito told reporters after the hearing. — Lucia Edna P. de Guzman
Fuel prices roll back this week
AFTER THREE straight weeks of price hikes, oil companies will cut the cost of gasoline, diesel and kerosene this week to reflect the movement of prices in the international market. Gasoline will be down by 20 centavos per liter, diesel by 30 centavos, and kerosene by 40 centavos. Most retailers will be implementing the price cut at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25. Petron Corp. and Seaoil Philippines, Inc. will be the first to adjust prices at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. —
CENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU
CoA orders DAR-Region 7 officials, employees to return allowances
THE COMMISSION on Audit (CoA) has ordered officials and employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office 7 in Cebu to return the amounts they received after the state audit agency denied their appeal on the notice of disallowance it issued on the payment of incentives and medical allowance. In November 2010, CoA issued Audit Report No. VII Decision No. 11-015 , which affirmed the various disallowance on the payment of the Collective Negotiation Agreement Incentives, Performance Bonus Incentives and medical allowance to DAR officials and employees with a total amount of more than P14.18 million. The ruling also ordered the Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, CoA “to forward the case to the Office of the Ombudsman for investigation and filing of appropriate charges, if warranted, against the persons liable for the transaction.” —
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION
DoJ indicts Korean-American nabbed for drug trafficking
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has indicted alleged drug supplier Jun No, a Korean-American, who escaped police custody in East Avenue Medical Center following his operation for acute appendicitis last April 15. Mr. No, who also goes by the name of Justine and Jazz, is facing charges in violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. He was arrested last April 5 in an entrapment operation at the parking lot of the Mall of Asia Complex and seized from his possession were 140 tablets of ecstasy. The cops assigned to Mr. No, SPO2 Michael Macarubbo and Intelligence Officer 2 Ernie Eugenio, are already facing charges for evasion through negligence. —
DAVAO: TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE
Lapanday asserts court ruling in contested farm area
LAPANDAY FOODS Corp. (LFC) continues to secure the 145-hectare farm area being contested by a group supported by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as the company asserts that a court has ruled against DAR’s intervention in the case. “The instant case does not present an agrarian dispute and is therefore not within the DAR’s jurisdiction,” the company said in a statement, citing the decision of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 14 Judge Jill Rose S. Jaugan-Lo. Last week, the attempt of members of the DAR-supported Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association (Marbai) to take over the area was derailed as there was no support from the local police. — >> See full story on
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO: PATIKUL, SULU
ARMM Jurisconcult, gov. condemn beheading of soldier by Abu Sayyaf
AUTONOMOUS REGION of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Mujiv S. Hataman and the Regional Jurisconsult (Darul Ifta’) condemned the latest “act of terrorism” by the Abu Sayyaf — the beheading of a soldier, Anni Siraji, a former member of the Moro National Liberation Front who has been integrated into the military. “Siraji is the latest victim of what has become a series of indiscriminate acts of terrorism by the Abu Sayyaf, killing even our fellow Bangsamoro,” Mr. Hataman said. The Darul Ifta’, in a separate statement, said: “This inhuman and un-Islamic (act)… shows their brutality and disregard and disrespect to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.” Mr. Hataman reiterated his government’s support to intensified law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf. Members of Joint Task Force Sulu recovered late Sunday the remains of the victim two-and-a-half kilometers from the place where he was abducted. —