HK- BOUND FLIGHT DIVERTED TO MACTAN
A CATHAY Pacific Air enroute to Hong Kong from Brisbane, Australia made an unexpected stop at Mactan International Airport on Thursday night after one of its passengers fell ill, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said on Friday. CAAP said Cathay Pacific Flight CX156 landed at Mactan at 7:51 p.m., to offload the unidentified passenger who was brought to the nearest hospital for treatment. The airline resumed its flight at 9:12 p.m., on the same night to Hong Kong. The aviation regulator could not provide additional details regarding the nationality of the passenger.
BI OKAYS REPATRIATION OF 7 INDONESIANS
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) approved the repatriation of seven abducted Indonesian sailors who were released by Abu Sayyaf bandits in Sulu recently, after Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente signed the request of the Indonesian Embassy. Morente waived the immigration fees and securing clearances normally required by the bureau of departing foreigners so the sailors could immediately return to their homeland. The former captives in the custody of the Indonesian embassy were identified as Lorens Koten, Arakian Emanuel, Theodorus Kopong, Herman Bin Manggak, Mohammad Sofyan, Ismail. The sailors were abducted last June 20 by the bandits aboard their ship in the Sulu Sea near Sabah, Malaysia. Two of them – Sofyan and Ismail – were rescued by local authorities after escaping from their captors last August 17. The four others – Koten, Arakian, Kopong, Manggak – were released in Sulu last September 17 after more than two months in captivity. A total of 25 Indonesian sailors were abducted by the group this year and 16 of them have been released.
MAYNILAD URGED TO ADDRESS WATER INTERRUPTIONS IN MUNTINLUPA CITY
THE Muntinlupa City Council on Friday called on Maynilad Water Services executives to resolve the series of worsening water interruptions besetting the residents. Councilor Marissa Rongavilla, Environmental Committee chairperson, expressed dismay over Maynilad’s failure to follow scheduled water interruptions and its incapacity to finish projects on deadline. Rongavilla and local officials joined irate homeowners association officials in questioning Maynilad’s pro-active and reactive efforts in solving the continuous intermittent water supply in the city. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi instructed the Motorpool and Engineering Department to augment the water ration service. All inquiries on water interruptions or request for water ration service may be coursed to Maynilad hotline at telephone numbers 847-90-79 / 553-72-48.
3 DEAD IN DRUG- RELATED CASES
AN alleged drug user, Joseph Javier Jr. was slain inside his house in Tondo, Manila by two unidentified suspects wearing face masks and bonnets. Police Officer 3 Ryan Balagtas said the killing was drug related. Also in Tondo, an unidentified sputnik gang member engaged police authorities in a shootout after firing shots at patrolling police officers who approached him as they noticed him acting suspiciously. Instead of yielding, the suspect threw a red bag at lawmen and fired shots. Police recovered a sachet of shabu and three side mirrors of an unknown type of vehicle. Meanwhile, alleged drug pusher Willie Ternora was killed during a buy bust in Sta. Ana, Manila after he drew his gun in the wake of the transaction and shot at the poseur buyer. Recovered from Ternora were a sachet of shabu, drug paraphernalia and a caliber 38 revolver. Three other unidentified suspects were bought to the Santa Ana police station while two minors were turnedover to the Social Welfare Department.
ESTRADA RELEASES P42M MANILA POLICE ALLOWANCE
MANILA Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada turned over a check for P42-million to cover the allowance of policemen from May to August this year in a bid to boost the morale of 4,600 police officers of the Manila Police District. Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, city district director, said each policeman is given P2,500 peace and order monthly allowance by the mayor. Estrada also urged the police officers to support President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, including criminality and terrorism. The P42.95 million is part of the P137 million Estrada has set aside for the MPD in 2016. Since 2013, Estrada has allotted P1.9 billion for the crime prevention program, which includes P136 million in back allowances for MPD members and the procurement of 41 new mobile patrol cars and 110 electric personal transporters. He also set aside P20 million for the renovation of the MPD headquarters at the United Nations Avenue, the first time since it was built in 1949.