Saturday, January 15, 2011
Palace: No commitment yet on release of detained members
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Bad weather mars but does not stop Sinulog prelude
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Not even a heavy downpour and sporadic thunder could stop the thousands of pilgrims who walked the wet, and in some parts slightly flooded, streets of Cebu yesterday for the procession to honor the city's patron saint, the Señor Sto. Niño.
The procession anchored the day-long religious activities that have traditionally preceded the merrymaking and street-dancing held every third Sunday of January, the final day of the Sinulog Festival, commemorating the feast day of the Child Jesus.
The procession, which started at 1 p.m., was a five-kilometer walk to and from the Basilica del Sto. Niño, passing through the major streets of downtown Cebu City.
Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees, many without umbrellas, were drenched barely 30 minutes into the procession, but stayed on, singing hymns to the Child Jesus.
Earlier yesterday, a fluvial procession was held on the Mactan Channel, reenacting the conversion of the Cebuanos to Christianity and the transfer of the Sto Niño image from Mactan island to the Cebu mainland.
Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees flocked to the city’s different ports to watch the two-hour fluvial procession centered on a boat that was decked out and designated the "Galleon Trinidad," carrying the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
A cargo-passenger vessel that was supposed to join the fluvial procession ran aground a few minutes after the start of the event, to the extreme frustration of the 274 pilgrims on board.
Capt. Anelito Gabisan, deputy commander and information officer of the Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas, said the Lapu-Lapu Ferry 8 had just commenced sailing from the vicinity of the General Milling Corp. (GMC) when it ran aground at 7:30 a.m.
“We don’t know yet why it ran aground. Maybe it went nearer to the port of GMC but I can’t speculate,” said Gabisan.
The 274 pilgrims on board the disabled vessel were all safe, he said.
Gabisan said the vessel was towed to Pier 3 and docked there at 9:15 a.m., almost exactly the same time that the procession’s main boat, the "Galleon Trinidad," reached Pier 1 in Cebu City.
The procession was held to return the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City. The images had been transferred from the Basilica to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City on Monday night and devotees held an overnight vigil there prior to the fluvial procession.
Some 180 seacraft joined the annual fluvial parade, said Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Rolando Punzalan.
Another 20 smaller seacraft, which did not register with the Coast Guard, joined at the tail end of the fluvial procession, Punzalan said.
Newly installed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma joined the fluvial parade, boarding the “Galleon Trinidad.”
The fluvial procession was followed by the reenactment at the Basilica of the First Mass and First Baptism in Cebu, featuring Rayna Juana and Datu Carlos (Humabon).
Sinulog organizers are meanwhile preparing not just for the huge number of people for Sunday’s Sinulog grand parade but also for the arrival of President Aquino.
Mr. Aquino is expected at the Cebu City Sports Center at 10 a.m., and will deliver a speech, according to an advisory from the Philippine Information Agency.
The President will stay for just an hour before flying back to Manila, said the PIA.
Forty-nine dance contingents will participate in today’s Sinulog grand parade, whose finale will feature the Chinese influences on Cebu's culture and economy.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said the final number after the grand parade revolves on the theme, “Sino-Sugbo,” highlighting the Chinese elements in Cebuano culture.
The stage design features a man-made lagoon and lotus flowers. Chinese lanterns, tai chi and a lion dance will also feature in the finale. Tangub City's Tribu Sinanduloy is scheduled to perform.
According to Mel John F. Belarmino, committee head of the geographic information system of Sinulog 2011, 12 out of the 49 participating contingents will come from provinces and cities outside of Cebu. This was a big increase from last year's five, he noted.
This year’s out-of town contingents are from the cities and towns of Leyte, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Surigao del Note, Negros Oriental, Masbate and Lanao Del Norte.
Cebu City Representative Cutie del Mar will join the grand finale this year. She is replacing former Cebu City first lady Margot Osmeña, who passed on the tradition to Del Mar.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will dance with the Bonga Festival of Sibonga town this year. This is the seventh year that Garcia will be dancing in the grand parade. (Report from Jhunnex Napallacan and Cris Evert Lato, Inquirer Visayas)
The procession anchored the day-long religious activities that have traditionally preceded the merrymaking and street-dancing held every third Sunday of January, the final day of the Sinulog Festival, commemorating the feast day of the Child Jesus.
The procession, which started at 1 p.m., was a five-kilometer walk to and from the Basilica del Sto. Niño, passing through the major streets of downtown Cebu City.
Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees, many without umbrellas, were drenched barely 30 minutes into the procession, but stayed on, singing hymns to the Child Jesus.
Earlier yesterday, a fluvial procession was held on the Mactan Channel, reenacting the conversion of the Cebuanos to Christianity and the transfer of the Sto Niño image from Mactan island to the Cebu mainland.
Thousands of Sto. Niño devotees flocked to the city’s different ports to watch the two-hour fluvial procession centered on a boat that was decked out and designated the "Galleon Trinidad," carrying the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe.
A cargo-passenger vessel that was supposed to join the fluvial procession ran aground a few minutes after the start of the event, to the extreme frustration of the 274 pilgrims on board.
Capt. Anelito Gabisan, deputy commander and information officer of the Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas, said the Lapu-Lapu Ferry 8 had just commenced sailing from the vicinity of the General Milling Corp. (GMC) when it ran aground at 7:30 a.m.
“We don’t know yet why it ran aground. Maybe it went nearer to the port of GMC but I can’t speculate,” said Gabisan.
The 274 pilgrims on board the disabled vessel were all safe, he said.
Gabisan said the vessel was towed to Pier 3 and docked there at 9:15 a.m., almost exactly the same time that the procession’s main boat, the "Galleon Trinidad," reached Pier 1 in Cebu City.
The procession was held to return the images of the Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City. The images had been transferred from the Basilica to the National Shrine of St. Joseph in Mandaue City on Monday night and devotees held an overnight vigil there prior to the fluvial procession.
Some 180 seacraft joined the annual fluvial parade, said Cebu Coast Guard Station commander Rolando Punzalan.
Another 20 smaller seacraft, which did not register with the Coast Guard, joined at the tail end of the fluvial procession, Punzalan said.
Newly installed Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma joined the fluvial parade, boarding the “Galleon Trinidad.”
The fluvial procession was followed by the reenactment at the Basilica of the First Mass and First Baptism in Cebu, featuring Rayna Juana and Datu Carlos (Humabon).
Sinulog organizers are meanwhile preparing not just for the huge number of people for Sunday’s Sinulog grand parade but also for the arrival of President Aquino.
Mr. Aquino is expected at the Cebu City Sports Center at 10 a.m., and will deliver a speech, according to an advisory from the Philippine Information Agency.
The President will stay for just an hour before flying back to Manila, said the PIA.
Forty-nine dance contingents will participate in today’s Sinulog grand parade, whose finale will feature the Chinese influences on Cebu's culture and economy.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the Sinulog Foundation Inc., said the final number after the grand parade revolves on the theme, “Sino-Sugbo,” highlighting the Chinese elements in Cebuano culture.
The stage design features a man-made lagoon and lotus flowers. Chinese lanterns, tai chi and a lion dance will also feature in the finale. Tangub City's Tribu Sinanduloy is scheduled to perform.
According to Mel John F. Belarmino, committee head of the geographic information system of Sinulog 2011, 12 out of the 49 participating contingents will come from provinces and cities outside of Cebu. This was a big increase from last year's five, he noted.
This year’s out-of town contingents are from the cities and towns of Leyte, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato, Surigao del Note, Negros Oriental, Masbate and Lanao Del Norte.
Cebu City Representative Cutie del Mar will join the grand finale this year. She is replacing former Cebu City first lady Margot Osmeña, who passed on the tradition to Del Mar.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will dance with the Bonga Festival of Sibonga town this year. This is the seventh year that Garcia will be dancing in the grand parade. (Report from Jhunnex Napallacan and Cris Evert Lato, Inquirer Visayas)
Bacalzo sacks cop over drugs
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – “I don’t want to hear any explanation from you. You are now dismissed from the police service.”
Thus said PNP Chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo when he saw Police Officer 1 Richard Guiyab of the San Jose del Monte City Police Station, who was recently caught in the act of engaging in a shabu pot session, during his visit to the Police Regional Office 3 in Camp Olivas, Pampanga, last Friday.
Bacalzo was at the PRO3 headquarters to witness the completion of the first batch of the police retraining program. A total of 47 PNP personnel from PRO3, 60 from the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), and 60 from PRO4-A (Calabarzon) completed the retraining course.
The PNP Chief urged all policemen in Central Luzon not to relax in the performance of their duties despite the crisis besetting the organization.
Bacalzo said the refresher-retraining course for all members of the PNP is part of his advocacy and has the full support of Chief Supt. Alan La Madrid Purisima, PRO3 director, and Director Danilo Q. Abarsoza, director of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD).
While Bacalzo told Guiyab in Camp Olivas that he is now dismissed, the PNP said on Saturday that the Bulacan policeman was only relieved from his post and given a preventive suspension.
Aside from Guiyab, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesman, said the relief and preventive suspension also covered Police Officer 2 Antonio Carmona and Police Officer 1 Elvin Tabora, both of the Caloocan City Police who were caught on video engaged in a pot session.
In Metro Manila, the NCRPO announced that random drug tests will be conducted on all policemen in the National Capital Region after two Caloocan cops were caught on video engaged in a drug session.
Director Nicanor Bartolome, NCRPO chief, said that the random or unannounced drug test will be done anytime of the day and night.
Bartolome said that the test will cover everyone – officers, non-commissioned personnel, including civilian personnel.
“No one will be exempted from the test,” Bartolome stressed.
The NCRPO chief said that Makati Police Station will no longer be included as they have already conducted surprised drug test on their personnel.
Bartolome said that members of the Caloocan Police Station were immediately subjected for drug test after Carmona and Tabora were caught on a video engaged in a pot session.
He said that although the two policemen tested negative for drug use, they will still be charged administratively.
It was learned that during drug test conducted on members of the Caloocan Police Station, two policemen tested positive for drug use. They were identified as PO2 Armando Jimenez and PO3 Hermil Lumba. Both were immediately relieved from their posts, disarmed, and placed under restrictive custody of the Caloocan Police Station.
Bartolome also ordered the relief of Senior Inspector Albert Ebdane, Caloocan Police Community Precinct 6 commander and will also be charged administrative for command responsibility.
He also ordered SPO3 Henry Bañez, Police Community Precinct 7 officer-in-charge to take proper action or face the same consequences.
It was learned that Carmona, Jimenez and Lumba were assigned under the command of Ebdane while Tabora is assigned to Bañez.
At the Northern Police District in Metro Manila, more than 80 policemen went through a surprise random drug test, the second since August last year in an effort to cleanse its ranks.
Chief Superintendent Edgardo T. Ladao, NPD director, and Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva, directorial chief, led the drug test conducted by the Scene of the Crime Office (SOCO) of the NPD headed by Supt. Filemon Porcioncula.
Ladao said 54 policemen from the NPD headquarters went through the random drug test, while the rest came from the four other police stations. (Reports from Freddie Velez and Aaron Recuenco with Jean Fernando and Ed Mahilum, Manila Bulletin)
Thus said PNP Chief Director General Raul M. Bacalzo when he saw Police Officer 1 Richard Guiyab of the San Jose del Monte City Police Station, who was recently caught in the act of engaging in a shabu pot session, during his visit to the Police Regional Office 3 in Camp Olivas, Pampanga, last Friday.
Bacalzo was at the PRO3 headquarters to witness the completion of the first batch of the police retraining program. A total of 47 PNP personnel from PRO3, 60 from the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), and 60 from PRO4-A (Calabarzon) completed the retraining course.
The PNP Chief urged all policemen in Central Luzon not to relax in the performance of their duties despite the crisis besetting the organization.
Bacalzo said the refresher-retraining course for all members of the PNP is part of his advocacy and has the full support of Chief Supt. Alan La Madrid Purisima, PRO3 director, and Director Danilo Q. Abarsoza, director of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD).
While Bacalzo told Guiyab in Camp Olivas that he is now dismissed, the PNP said on Saturday that the Bulacan policeman was only relieved from his post and given a preventive suspension.
Aside from Guiyab, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesman, said the relief and preventive suspension also covered Police Officer 2 Antonio Carmona and Police Officer 1 Elvin Tabora, both of the Caloocan City Police who were caught on video engaged in a pot session.
In Metro Manila, the NCRPO announced that random drug tests will be conducted on all policemen in the National Capital Region after two Caloocan cops were caught on video engaged in a drug session.
Director Nicanor Bartolome, NCRPO chief, said that the random or unannounced drug test will be done anytime of the day and night.
Bartolome said that the test will cover everyone – officers, non-commissioned personnel, including civilian personnel.
“No one will be exempted from the test,” Bartolome stressed.
The NCRPO chief said that Makati Police Station will no longer be included as they have already conducted surprised drug test on their personnel.
Bartolome said that members of the Caloocan Police Station were immediately subjected for drug test after Carmona and Tabora were caught on a video engaged in a pot session.
He said that although the two policemen tested negative for drug use, they will still be charged administratively.
It was learned that during drug test conducted on members of the Caloocan Police Station, two policemen tested positive for drug use. They were identified as PO2 Armando Jimenez and PO3 Hermil Lumba. Both were immediately relieved from their posts, disarmed, and placed under restrictive custody of the Caloocan Police Station.
Bartolome also ordered the relief of Senior Inspector Albert Ebdane, Caloocan Police Community Precinct 6 commander and will also be charged administrative for command responsibility.
He also ordered SPO3 Henry Bañez, Police Community Precinct 7 officer-in-charge to take proper action or face the same consequences.
It was learned that Carmona, Jimenez and Lumba were assigned under the command of Ebdane while Tabora is assigned to Bañez.
At the Northern Police District in Metro Manila, more than 80 policemen went through a surprise random drug test, the second since August last year in an effort to cleanse its ranks.
Chief Superintendent Edgardo T. Ladao, NPD director, and Senior Supt. Roberto Villanueva, directorial chief, led the drug test conducted by the Scene of the Crime Office (SOCO) of the NPD headed by Supt. Filemon Porcioncula.
Ladao said 54 policemen from the NPD headquarters went through the random drug test, while the rest came from the four other police stations. (Reports from Freddie Velez and Aaron Recuenco with Jean Fernando and Ed Mahilum, Manila Bulletin)
Tacurong City bags excellence award
TACURONG CITY (PIA) – Mayor Lina Montilla’s first foray into public office kicked off to a promising start after the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Tacurong City bagged the Seal of Excellence Award, a notable feat only six LGUs in the country achieved.
Commissioner Cesar Buenaflor of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) handed over the Seal of Excellence plaque to Montilla in a ceremony held last Dec. 27 in Tacurong City.
The Seal of Excellence is an award given to select LGUs that satisfactorily complied with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007.
In early 2009, the CSC named Tacurong as the Model City for Region XII in the implementation of the ARTA’s provisions, especially in the crafting and implementation of its Citizen’s Charter which informs the citizens about the service entitlements customers have as users of a public service, the frontline services, the standards they can expect for a service (time frame and quality), remedies available for non-adherence to standards, and the procedures, costs and charges of a service.
Tacurong launched its charter on March 31, 2009. From then onwards, former Mayor Lino Montilla ordered a strict observance of the provisions of the Charter.
When Montilla assumed office as the new mayor in July 2010, her first message to the officials and employees was simple: to remind themselves of the SWS and ABC of customer service. SWS stands for serve with a smile and ABC for always be courteous.
The mayor said that these are the basic customer service skills that are very easy to practice but seldom maintained by the service providers. (report from Manila Bulletin)
Commissioner Cesar Buenaflor of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) handed over the Seal of Excellence plaque to Montilla in a ceremony held last Dec. 27 in Tacurong City.
The Seal of Excellence is an award given to select LGUs that satisfactorily complied with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9485, otherwise known as the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007.
In early 2009, the CSC named Tacurong as the Model City for Region XII in the implementation of the ARTA’s provisions, especially in the crafting and implementation of its Citizen’s Charter which informs the citizens about the service entitlements customers have as users of a public service, the frontline services, the standards they can expect for a service (time frame and quality), remedies available for non-adherence to standards, and the procedures, costs and charges of a service.
Tacurong launched its charter on March 31, 2009. From then onwards, former Mayor Lino Montilla ordered a strict observance of the provisions of the Charter.
When Montilla assumed office as the new mayor in July 2010, her first message to the officials and employees was simple: to remind themselves of the SWS and ABC of customer service. SWS stands for serve with a smile and ABC for always be courteous.
The mayor said that these are the basic customer service skills that are very easy to practice but seldom maintained by the service providers. (report from Manila Bulletin)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
8 charged in Christmas Day bombing of Jolo chapel
JOLO, Sulu, Philippines (Inquirer.net)—Police authorities have filed charges against eight alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf for the December 25 blast at a chapel inside the police headquarters here in which 11 persons were wounded.
Philippine National Police Director General Raul Bacalzo said of the eight men charged in connection with the bombing of the Sacred Heart chapel on Asturias St., two remained unidentified.
Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified six of the eight suspects as Alhabsi Misaya, Sali Saed, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, Jul Attip Jalmaan, a certain Bong and a certain Gafur.
Bacalzo said all suspects remained at large.
“We are now waiting for the issuance of the warrants of arrest against these suspects,” he said.
Latag said the police managed to establish the identities of the six suspects based on testimonies of witnesses.
“They are all members of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
Bacalzo, meanwhile, said the police were still in the process of conducting their security inspection and audit.
“We want to determine where the lapse occurred,” he said.
Bacalzo said administrative sanctions would be imposed on police officials who failed or had been remiss in their duties.
Latag admitted that the police headquarters was supposed to be tightly guarded.
“It’s a well-guarded compound. It’s manned and secured by regular police forces, by the Special Action Force and a nearby detachment of the Philippine Marines, that's why I can't understand how the bombing became possible,” Latag said earlier.
It was the second bombing inside the police headquarters in recent years.
On October 15, 2006, three persons were also wounded when suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf set off a bomb in an alley between the camp's hospital and the Peacekeepers' Inn.
On December 29, four days after the chapel bombing, a guard foiled an attempt to bomb Patikul town.
A month earlier, police authorities in Cotabato City arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member who was transporting three kilos of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can also be used in bomb-making. (report from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao)
Philippine National Police Director General Raul Bacalzo said of the eight men charged in connection with the bombing of the Sacred Heart chapel on Asturias St., two remained unidentified.
Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, police director of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, identified six of the eight suspects as Alhabsi Misaya, Sali Saed, Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, Jul Attip Jalmaan, a certain Bong and a certain Gafur.
Bacalzo said all suspects remained at large.
“We are now waiting for the issuance of the warrants of arrest against these suspects,” he said.
Latag said the police managed to establish the identities of the six suspects based on testimonies of witnesses.
“They are all members of the Abu Sayyaf,” he said.
Bacalzo, meanwhile, said the police were still in the process of conducting their security inspection and audit.
“We want to determine where the lapse occurred,” he said.
Bacalzo said administrative sanctions would be imposed on police officials who failed or had been remiss in their duties.
Latag admitted that the police headquarters was supposed to be tightly guarded.
“It’s a well-guarded compound. It’s manned and secured by regular police forces, by the Special Action Force and a nearby detachment of the Philippine Marines, that's why I can't understand how the bombing became possible,” Latag said earlier.
It was the second bombing inside the police headquarters in recent years.
On October 15, 2006, three persons were also wounded when suspected members of the Abu Sayyaf set off a bomb in an alley between the camp's hospital and the Peacekeepers' Inn.
On December 29, four days after the chapel bombing, a guard foiled an attempt to bomb Patikul town.
A month earlier, police authorities in Cotabato City arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf member who was transporting three kilos of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can also be used in bomb-making. (report from Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao)
Cops arrest suspects in Laguna school robberies
MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested Wednesday night 2 suspected members of a group responsible in a series of school robberies in Laguna province.
Inspector Jeffersin Ison, Pila town police chief, identified one of the arrested suspects as Efren Vega. The other suspect is only 17 years old.
Ison said the suspects were arrested after a heist at the Pansol Elementary School in Pila town before midnight on Wednesday.
Police said the suspects have already broken into 8 classrooms and carted away a DVD player, a microphone and food intended for pupils, when they were spotted by a roving barangay watchman.
When police arrived, the suspects scampered. The 2 suspects were arrested after a brief chase in a rice field near the school.
Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director, said that at least 4 schools have been burglarized by the group since December of last year.
Cruz said that the group's biggest hits so far were in Victoria town. The group took 10 new laptops, a TV set, cash and other school equipment from the Banca-Banca Elementary School and Victoria High School.
He said the group usually strikes during heavy downpour and at night.
Cruz said manhunt operations are being conducted for the arrest of the remaining members of the group. (report from ABS-CBN News)
Inspector Jeffersin Ison, Pila town police chief, identified one of the arrested suspects as Efren Vega. The other suspect is only 17 years old.
Ison said the suspects were arrested after a heist at the Pansol Elementary School in Pila town before midnight on Wednesday.
Police said the suspects have already broken into 8 classrooms and carted away a DVD player, a microphone and food intended for pupils, when they were spotted by a roving barangay watchman.
When police arrived, the suspects scampered. The 2 suspects were arrested after a brief chase in a rice field near the school.
Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police provincial director, said that at least 4 schools have been burglarized by the group since December of last year.
Cruz said that the group's biggest hits so far were in Victoria town. The group took 10 new laptops, a TV set, cash and other school equipment from the Banca-Banca Elementary School and Victoria High School.
He said the group usually strikes during heavy downpour and at night.
Cruz said manhunt operations are being conducted for the arrest of the remaining members of the group. (report from ABS-CBN News)
Philippine floods, landslides kill 42
MANILA, Philippines - Sustained heavy rain and floods in the central and southern Philippines have killed 42 people and damaged crops and infrastructure worth more than P1 billion ($23 million), disaster officials said on Thursday.
Floods and landslides caused by more than two weeks of heavy rains in late December and January have displaced nearly 400,000 people, Benito Ramos, head of the government's disaster agency, told reporters on Thursday.
Major rice and corn production areas in the north and western part of the country have been spared.
"Our soldiers are using helicopters to deliver relief goods and survey areas for clearing and rehabilitation," Ramos said, appealing for food, water, medicines and warm clothes.
Most of the dead either drowned or were buried by mudslides, Ramos said. Five people are still missing, including three fisherman.
About a third of the country's 80 provinces had been affected by the rains, which have destroyed roads and bridges, small rice and corn farms and houses made of light materials, Ramos said.
On Friday, President Benigno Aquino will visit several flood-hit provinces in the central Bicol, eastern Visayas and Mindanao regions to assess the damage and determine how much money is needed for rebuilding. (report from Reuters / ABS-CBN News)
Floods and landslides caused by more than two weeks of heavy rains in late December and January have displaced nearly 400,000 people, Benito Ramos, head of the government's disaster agency, told reporters on Thursday.
Major rice and corn production areas in the north and western part of the country have been spared.
"Our soldiers are using helicopters to deliver relief goods and survey areas for clearing and rehabilitation," Ramos said, appealing for food, water, medicines and warm clothes.
Most of the dead either drowned or were buried by mudslides, Ramos said. Five people are still missing, including three fisherman.
About a third of the country's 80 provinces had been affected by the rains, which have destroyed roads and bridges, small rice and corn farms and houses made of light materials, Ramos said.
On Friday, President Benigno Aquino will visit several flood-hit provinces in the central Bicol, eastern Visayas and Mindanao regions to assess the damage and determine how much money is needed for rebuilding. (report from Reuters / ABS-CBN News)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Port official shot dead in Zamboanga
MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A port official was killed today in a shooting incident in the southern Philippines, local police said.
The victim, identified as Abdulhamin Bandahala, assistant operation liaison of regional port authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao was shot to death inside a hotel in Zamboanga City around 7:45 a.m. local time, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said.
The victim was identified based on the documents found on his possession, he said.
Cruz said one of the suspects is a police officer of Talipao Police Station in Sulu province.
"Heated argument ensued between the victim and the suspects followed by fistfight regarding the availability of rooms in the hotel, followed by shooting incident," Cruz said.
Local police is investigating the matter. (report from Philstar.com)
The victim, identified as Abdulhamin Bandahala, assistant operation liaison of regional port authority of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao was shot to death inside a hotel in Zamboanga City around 7:45 a.m. local time, Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said.
The victim was identified based on the documents found on his possession, he said.
Cruz said one of the suspects is a police officer of Talipao Police Station in Sulu province.
"Heated argument ensued between the victim and the suspects followed by fistfight regarding the availability of rooms in the hotel, followed by shooting incident," Cruz said.
Local police is investigating the matter. (report from Philstar.com)
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