US EMBASSY CLOSED ON THURSDAY
THE US Embassy in the Philippines and affiliated offices will be closed to the public this Thursday, November 23, in observance of Thanksgiving, an American holiday. The embassy and affiliated offices will resume services on Friday, November 24.
BOC SEIZES P 4.6- M SMUGGLED RICE
JOINT operatives of the Bureau of Customs ( BoC) and several law enforcement agencies have intercepted at the Port of Davao a vessel carrying 250 tons of smuggled rice worth P4.6 million. Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena said the vessel, believed to have originated from Malaysia, was found to contain 5,000 bags of rice and was turned over to the custody of Philippine Navy in Panacan, Davao City for an inventory. Davao Port Collector Erastus Sandino Austria said the shipment has no import permit from the National Food Authority. “This is the largest rice smuggling activity apprehended in the Port of Davao this year,” Austria noted.
BASKETBALL HOOP ‘ KILLS’ STUDENT, WOUNDS ANOTHER
ZAMBOANGA CITY: A high school student was killed and another injured after a basketball hoop collapsed and pinned the victims inside the school’s gymnasium here on Tuesday. Officials said Greyshen Kurt Balanto, 12, died instantly while Jay Mark Gutierrez, 13, was brought to a hospital. The victims were listening to music on their cell phones when the accident happened at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School. One of their classmates, Remitch Remigio, who witnessed the incident, has told the victims to move away from the heavy hoop, but the victims – who had their headsets on – did not hear the warning. It was not immediately known whether the families of the victim would sue the school for negligence. Police are investigating the incident.
OPERATION VS LOOSE FIREARMS NETS 14; 1 DEAD
CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna: Fourteen people were arrested, while one was killed and 22 assorted firearms were confiscated in the operation against illegal firearms in Laguna. Police Provincial Director, Senior Supt. Cecilio Ison said the campaign was to go after owners of unregistered firearms; obliterated or altered firearms; guns that have been lost or stolen; illegally manufactured; registered firearms in the possession of individual other than the licensee and those with revoked licenses. The operation in San Pablo City resulted in the death of Ryan de Guzman, alleged notorious member of PAZ gun- for- hire and gun running group. Also recovered at the crime scene were 14 sachets of shabu, a sachet of marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia. Laguna PPO has also intensified the conduct of “Oplan Katok” to persuade owners of loose firearms to surrender it before they will be arrested.
BIFF SUSPECT IN MAGUINDANAO GRENADE ATTACKS
SHARIFF AGUAK, Maguindanao: The outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ( BIFF) fired a rocket- propelled grenade toward Gani L. Abpi College compound in Barangay Buayan in Datu Piang, Maguindanao. Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao police director, said nobody was injured in the grenade attack on Sunday night which was perceived as diversionary tactics. The blast damaged glass panes and a vehicle parked near the building. No one has claimed responsibility but police and military authorities believed the outlawed BIFF with Islamic State links was behind the attack as diversionary tactic. But local police said the attack was an attempt to silence students practicing street dancing with huge drums and bugle instruments emitting powerful sounds that could have irritated the residents nearby. Similarly, unidentified men threw a hand grenade at the house of Hayder and Samra Manibpal in Barangay Inug- og, Pikit, North Cotabato. Senior Insp. Rolly Castanares, Pikit chief of police said no casualty was reported. Investigators could not say if the grenade attack in Pikit and Datu Piang were related.