NDRRMC: Floods force evacuation of 225 families in Surigao Norte

At least one resident of Surigao del Norte in Mindanao was reported missing while some 225 families in the province were evacuated due to floods in the area.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday identified the missing as Amado Basadre of Honrado village in San Francisco town.

"Basadre (described as 30 to 40 years old) was reported missing while attempting to cross a river but was swept away by the strong current of water," NDRRMC said in its 6 a.m. update.

It also said at least 225 families or 1,089 people were evacuated from Mainit town and Surigao City due to floods.

Floods affected at least 65 villages in nine towns of Surigao del Norte and one town in Dinagat Islands, the NDRRMC added.

Death toll stands at 75

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said the floods and landslides across the eastern part of the country in recent weeks had affected 394,065 families or 1,972,433 people in 2,188 villages in 189 towns and 18 cities.

Some 1,496 families or 6,790 people are still housed in 50 evacuation centers.

The death toll remained at 75, while 13 were injured and 22 still missing.

At least 753 houses were destroyed while 4,600 were damaged.

Damage to property was estimated at P2.052 billion, including P659.553 million to agriculture and P1.372 billion to infrastructure.

The NDRRMC said a state of calamity was declared on Cebu and Mandaue Cities in Cebu province Central Visayas region Friday.

A similar state of calamity was declared Thursday in the region’s Bohol province. (report from LBG, GMANews.TV)

Aquino orders NBI, PNP to catch prank callers

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañan wants to put to a stop the placing of prank calls of bomb scares such as the one that involved the Makati Stock Exchange at the heart of the Ayala business district in Makati on Thursday.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima bared that President Benigno Aquino III gave orders for the creation of a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Philippine National Police (PNP) unit to run after groups and personalities who cause bomb scares.

"The president has instructed the creation of a special PNP-NBI unit, kahit maliit lang na unit, to run after yung may mga kagagawan ng bomb scare. Initially, they are also part of terroristic acts until ma-validate na prank lang pala. In any case, the effect is the same. For example, yung kahapon sa Ayala, and that is the premier business district of the country," De Lima said.

"Instruction ni Presidente na talagang hanapin ang may kagagawan ng ganyan because hindi sila nakakatulong, nakakadagdag sila sa tense situation," De Lima said.

The justice chief said bomb scares directed at commercial centers and business establishments, which disrupt normal operations and the normal conduct of doing business, may even fall under economic sabotage and may possibly be penalized under the Human Security Act.

"How would you know kung totoo o hindi ang mga tawag na ganyan? So initially, they are also part of the terroristic acts until mavalidate na prank lang pala," De Lima said.

AN ABS-CBN News report aired over TV Patrol on Thursday revealed the Department of the Interior and Local Government's (DILG) emergency 117 call center receives some 13,000 emergency calls and tips per day, but 98% of these are mere prank calls.

"So, we are issuing this stern warning to all those persons, personalities or groups who are behind (these prank calls)," De Lima said.

The justice chief reminded the public of Presidential Decree (PD) 1727 which declares as unlawful "the malicious dissemination of false information of the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives or any similar device or means of destruction and imposing penalties."

Under this decree, "any person who, by word of mouth or through the use of the mail, telephone, telegraph, printed materials and other instrument or means of communication, willfully makes any threat or maliciously conveys, communicates, transmits, imparts, passes on, or otherwise disseminates false information, knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt or alleged attempt being made to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual or unlawfully to damage or destroy any building, vehicle, or other real or personal property, by means of explosives, incendiary devices, and other destructive forces of similar nature or characteristics, shall upon conviction be punished with imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, or a fine or not more than forty thousand pesos (P40,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction over the offense...."

The decree also authorizes the Arrest, Search and Seizure Order (ASSO) of violators without an entitlement to bail pending trial by military tribunals or military courts which have exclusive jurisdiction over cases violative of the provisions of the decree.

Malacañan, through Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, yesterday told ABS-CBN News "it's very unpatriotic for those who sow fear and spread his hoax at this time."

The Department of Justice assures that rights will be respected even as those behind bomb scares and similar prank calls shall be dealt with accordingly.

"We have to be careful also about possible violations of constitutional and human rights, but as it is, kailangan maging conscious tayo dyan na certain sectors are taking advantage of situations like that na nagkaroon ng insidenteng ganyan tapos dadagdagan pa yung apprehensions, yung takot ng community, ng populace," De Lima said. (report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News)

Report: 4 rescued after pump boat stalls off Cebu

At least four people were rescued after their pump boat stalled when it encountered big waves off Cebu province Friday.

Radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate reported the pump boat was on its way back to Talisay City in Cebu from Bohol when it encountered big waves.

The report said the passengers, identified as Allan and Jacinto Marania; Carl Baldo; and Stephen Campo, were safe and managed to return home.

An initial investigation showed the four had brought a relative to Bohol province and were on their way home when they encountered big waves.

The Coast Guard said the pumpboat was found off Naga town in Cebu. Officials of Naga town and Talisay City coordinated to help bring the four home. (report from RSJ, GMANews.TV)

Don't distract Azkals at training, Negros fans asked

As the Philippine "Azkals" football team started training in Negros for their match against Mongolia less than two weeks from now, their manager appealed to Filipino fans not to distract them during their practice sessions.

Team manager Dan Palami made the appeal in Bacolod City Thursday, as the Azkals prepare to face Mongolia for their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying series at the Panaad Park and Stadium on February 9.

Palami said those who want to watch the team practice are welcome, but fans have to maintain their distance from the players so that the training will not be disrupted, according to a report on Visayas-based news site Visayan Daily Star Friday.

The Azkals are in Bacolod to train on their attack, defense and transition play to achieve their goal to beat Mongolia.

He said the team's first practice in Talisay City went smoothly, and that they are now looking into other options for training venues.

Palami added that while the practice schedule is no secret, they also have to consider other options to preserve the condition of the pitches where the team plays.

On the other hand, Palami said they are grateful for the warm welcome they received from Negros residents.

He said the Azkals are determined to play their best against Mongolia to make their fellow Filipinos proud.

Team member Reymark Palmes said that while they have not seen Mongolia play, they are not underestimating their opponents' strength.

For his part, team co-captain Emelio Caligdong said everyone in the team, including several Filipino-foreigners, gets along well. He said all the team members respect one another.

"They are in the team because we need them. What is important is we win our games for the country," Caligdong said. (report from KY and JVP, GMANews.TV)

Aquino dangles P1M for capture of bus bombers

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) – President Aquino is offering a reward of P1 million to anyone who can give information that would lead to the arrest of the people behind Tuesday's bus bombing along Edsa that killed five people.

"I did order a provision of a P1-million reward of information leading to the arrest and prosecution of all the suspects involving this case and we will increase that if necessary," Mr. Aquino said in a text message today.

The President said there is a need to make the citizens involved in the government's fight against terrorism.

Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo said that the reward money was agreed upon during a security cluster meeting a day after the bombing and will come from the contingency funds of the Office of the President.

Authorities are already looking at the possible involvement of extortion group Al Khobar in Mindanao and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's SOG as among the suspects because of the improvised explosive device that was used. (report from Philstar.com)

Philippine tourist arrivals hit all-time high

MANILA, Philippines –Tourist arrivals in the Philippines reached an all-time high of 3.52 million last year as increasingly affluent South Koreans and Chinese flocked to its tropical attractions, the government said Friday.

Visitor numbers in 2010 beat the previous record despite a bus hijacking that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in August and a series of travel alerts by Western nations in November warning of an imminent terror attack.

The number of tourists arriving in the Philippines rose 16.68 percent over the previous year, with East Asians, led by South Koreans, accounting for nearly half the total, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

"The improved economic condition in these markets boosted their outbound traffic," the statement said.

The final numbers topped the annual target of 3.3 million set by President Benigno Aquino III's government, which is seeking to boost tourist arrivals to six million by the time he leaves office in mid-2016.

Traffic from fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations members should surge this year after passenger air services were liberalised within the 10-nation economic bloc in November last year, the ministry said.

The previous record for arrivals was set in 2008 with 3.14 million visitors.

The Philippines is targeting 3.7 million tourist arrivals this year, but this is still just a fraction of the tourist numbers enjoyed by Southeast Asian neighbours such as Thailand. (report from Agence France-Presse)

7 killed in Davao Norte road accident

Seven people were killed and four were injured when a truck rammed a multi-cab along the highway in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on Thursday, police said on Friday.

Initial reports from Davao region police showed that the accident occurred along the Davao-Agusan National Highway in Barangay (village) Bincungan at around 12:30 p.m.

The Isuzu truck with plate number WTD 102 and driven by one Albin Pagay rammed the rear of the multi-cab of Nando Oros, resulting in the immediate death of seven people.

Police identified six of the seven fatalities as Pacita and Anastacio Soriano, 75 and 78 years old, respectively, Anabelia Buslon, 40, Norma Fuerzas, 55, Liberta Sanchez, and Agustin Baguio.

Pagay was believed to be under the influence of alcohol and is now under police custody. (report from Abigail Kwok and Karen Boncocan, Inquirer.net)

Filipina 'Idol' contestant impresses the judges

Another Filipino “American Idol” contestant makes it to Hollywood: 15-year-old Thia Megia.

During her audition in Milwaukee (episode aired in the Philippines last Jan. 27), the young aspirant wowed the Season 10 judges---Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, and Steven Tyler---with her soulful rendition of Adele’s “Chasing Pavements.”

Jennifer deemed that Thia is “the total package.”

“I love you… You look very comfortable up there,” she added.

Steven, likewise, liked the House Mountain, California native “a lot.”

“I love your voice. I thought it had a lot of character,” said.

Apparently impressed, all the judges gave her a “yes” and a beaming Thia got her “Golden Ticket.”

Before she performed her piece, Thia, a high school student, looked to have been at ease interacting with the three judges.

Randy noticed the rhyme in her name. “Thia Megia, it kinda rhymes… I like that,” he said.

Jennifer declared, “That’s a movie star name,” to which the Aerosmith front man concurred, “It sure is.”

She further engaged the trio, particularly Randy, as she related her desire to audition on the show since Season 1.

“I’ve been watching this show since Season 1, and I can’t believe I’m here right now. I’m actually star-struck to see you guys. I mean, Randy I’ve been seeing you on television before I could even start reading,” said Thia.

When Randy asked if he still looks the same since the pilot season, Thia said, “You look even younger!”

“Even younger! I love this girl! This girl knows what’s going on,” exclaimed the record producer.

In her VTR, Thia said she originally planned to audition in the next season. However, the age reduction for the contestants (from 16 years old to 15) prompted her to give her long-time dream a chance via Season 10.

“I just immediately booked the flight, the hotel and flew straight to Wisconsin. I knew that there [would] be auditions for California but I just couldn’t summon the patience to wait,” Thia recalled.

Thia had previously impressed a different set of judges when she joined “America’s Got Talent” in 2009. Although she got eliminated in the quarterfinals, judges David Hasselhoff, Piers Morgan, and Sharon Osbourne were all praises for her rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” In the same year, Thia also performed at the "David Foster and Friends" show in California which also featured her friend, singing sensation Charice.

In previous “Idol” seasons, a number of Filipinos had made it past Hollywood week, eventually becoming finalists on the show. These were Jasmine Trias (Top 3) and Camile Velasco (Top 9) from Season 3 and Ramiele Malubay (also Top 9) from Season 7. (report from Rowena Joy Sanchez, Manila Bulletin)

Mobile apps downloads forecast to double in 2011

WASHINGTON - More than 17 billion mobile applications will be downloaded from online stores this year, more than double the number of the mini-programs downloaded last year, research firm Gartner said Wednesday.

Gartner said worldwide mobile application store downloads were forecast to reach 17.7 billion this year, a 117% increase from the estimated 8.2 billion downloads in 2010.

Worldwide mobile application store revenue is projected to exceed $15.1 billion this year, up from $5.2 billion this year, Gartner said.

It said the revenue figures include purchases of applications, popularly known as apps, by end users and the advertising revenue generated by the programs for their developers.

Gartner said it expected free downloads to account for 81% of total mobile application store downloads in 2011.

By the end of 2014, over 185 billion apps will have been downloaded from mobile applications stores, it said.

The Gartner forecast came just a few days after Apple announced that its App Store had hit 10 billion downloads.

The App Store, which was launched in 2008, offers more than 300,000 free and paid apps for Apple's popular iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

The success of Apple's App Store has spawned rivals Blackberry, Google, the developer of the Android mobile operating system, Nokia, and others to launch their own online app stores.

"Application stores have become a highly visible and potentially lucrative part of the smartphone 'ecosystem,' largely due to Apple's App Store," said Stephanie Baghdassarian, research director at Gartner.

Baghdassarian said the "app frenzy" was not just a fad.

"We do not think so," Baghdassarian said in a statement. "We strongly believe there is a sizable opportunity for application stores in the future."

Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner, said Apple's App Store was expected to retain its lead for the forseeable future.

"We estimate that Apple's App Store drove close to nine application downloads out of 10 in 2010 and will remain the single best-selling store across our forecast period (through 2014), although to a lesser extent, as other stores manage to gain momentum," Milanesi said. (report from Agence France-Presse / abs-cbnNEWS.com)

KC invites Younghusband to join her cause

MANILA, Philippines - Is actress-TV host KC Concepcion willing to go out with Philippine Azkals' heartthrob Phil Younghusband, who has publicly stated that he finds her attractive?

Well, he will have to do more than just expressing his admiration for Concepcion on television.

Concepcion reacted to the compliment by inviting Younghusband to join her mission with the United Nation-World Food Program (UN-WFP) to end hunger.

She was also glad that basketball-crazy Filipinos are now paying attention to football.

"Talaga? Well makakatulong siya sa WFP [World Food Program]. Well, go Azkals! I'm very proud na bukod sa basketball ay mayroon ding atensyon na naibibigay sa soccer. Kasi ako, soccer player din ako ng bata pa ako," Concepcion said.

"The Buzz" co-host added she was flattered that Younghusband, a Filipino-British, admires Filipino women.

"So, maganda ang feeling na may mga Pinoy na mahal pa din nila ang bansa nila at 'yong mga Pinay, siyempre I'm proud to be Pinay. So, sa lahat ng taong nakilala at nakasalamuha niya sa mundo he still likes Pinays, and that's a good sign," she said.

Concepcion was interviewed at a press conference called by UN-WFP where the actress shared her experiences about her trip to Uganda, Africa, as part of her civic work in helping end world hunger.

Last Monday, Filipino-British striker Phil Younghusband said he finds ABS-CBN contract stars Angel Locsin and Concepcion attractive.

"They are both very pretty and they're always on billboards and you see them a lot. They are very attractive," Younghusband said.

Younghusband made the statement during a contract signing between ABS-CBN and Philippine Football Federation.

The Kapamilya network will air all matches of the Philippine football team, the Azkals, this year. Younghusband and some of his teammates attended the contract signing.

The hunk football player, who has yet to meet the 2 actresses, said he is willing to spend Valentine’s Day with either Locsin or Concepcion.

"I'm single. I've been alone for the last four years on Valentine's Day. So I wouldn't be surprised if I'm alone again. But if Angel and KC would wanna bring me on Valentine's and ask me if I’m willing to do something, then I'm willing to," he added.

Although he already tried to join show business, Younghusband said he wants to concentrate on football. (report from Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com)

Oil inches higher above $87 a barrel in Asia

BANGKOK — Oil prices inched higher above $87 a barrel Thursday in Asia as traders weighed President Barack Obama's plans to boost the US economy against the possibility that China, the world's biggest energy consumer, will soon raise interest rates to slow growth and contain inflation.

Benchmark crude for March delivery was up 7 cents at $87.40 a barrel at late morning Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.14 to settle at $87.33 a barrel on Wednesday.

It was the first significant move higher for oil in a week after prices tumbled on signs the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which produce about 40 percent of the world's crude, could raise production to bring down the price of oil.

Traders are now taking their cue from world stock markets, which moved higher on Obama's call in the State of the Union address to close corporate tax loopholes and lower business tax rates — moves that could stimulate the world's biggest economy and boost demand for fuel.

But the possibility China may raise interest rates or take other tightening measures before Lunar New Year holidays begin next week kept a lid on the oil price in Asian trading on Thursday.

"There is still a strong probability that China’s central bank will raise interest rates or increase reserve requirements again to cool economic growth there," energy consultants Cameron Hanover said in a report.

Adding to the caution, the Energy Department said US stockpiles of oil and gasoline rose more than expected last week.

Crude supplies expanded by 4.8 million barrels to 340.6 million barrels. Gasoline supplies rose by 2.4 million barrels to 230.1 million barrels, while demand in the past four weeks increased 1.1 percent. Supplies of distillate fuel, which includes diesel and heating oil, declined by 100,000 barrels to 165.7 million barrels.

In other Nymex trading in February contracts, heating oil was up 0.1 cent at $2.671 a gallon while gasoline fell 0.6 cent to $2.425 a gallon. Natural gas for March delivery slipped 0.5 cent to $4.495 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent crude was down 6 cents at $97.85 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange. (report from AP/GMANews.tv)

PSEi bounces back after Makati bombing incident

The Philippine Stock Exchange index promptly bounced back Thursday as bargain-hunting on selective blue chips diminished jitters caused by the recent bombing incident in Makati.

"The gains [on Thursday] signified the continuation of technical rebound stalled due to the bombing incident in Makati," said Jose Vistan, senior manager of AB Capital Securities Inc.'s research department.

The PSEi gained 58.85 points or 1.5 percent to finish at 3,990.49, according to the PSE's online market information as of 12:10 p.m.

More than 1.087 billion shares worth P7.463 billion changed hands during Thursday's trading session.

Advancers outpaced decliners 87 to 48, while 46 issues remained unchanged.

Most Asian stock markets were mostly higher Thursday, but their gains were modest amid speculation that China may raise interest rates ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday next week.

On Wall Street overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly broke through 12,000 for the first time since June 2008. (report from JE/OMG, GMANews.TV)

CPJ to use $100K grant to check press freedom in PHL, Russia

A New York-based press freedom group will use a $100,000 (P4.416 million) grant to boost its campaign against impunity against journalists, especially in the Philippines and Russia.

The Committee to Protect Journalists made the statement after receiving a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in support of CPJ’s Global Campaign Against Impunity (GCAI).

"This year, with support from Knight, we will continue to demand accountability in Russia and the Philippines. At the same time, we are intensifying our efforts to combat injustice in other places around the world where the journalists are routinely killed, from Pakistan to Mexico. We do this because we are outraged to see our colleagues killed for their work. But we also believe that violent forces must be challenged in their efforts to censor and control the news," CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in a statement posted on the CPJ website.

Simon noted the CPJ campaign against impunity enters its third year in 2011, having achieved "significant successes" including high-level commitment to prosecute the killers of journalists in the Philippines and Russia.

"Our goal in the year ahead is to turn those commitments into results," he said.

The CPJ's GCAI began as a pilot project, focusing on the Philippines and Russia where the killers of journalists routinely go free.

Simon said that while violence against the press is common to both Russia and the Philippines, the countries have little else in common.

"The Philippines features a rollicking media but a weak central government. In Russia, with some notable exceptions, the press is toothless and the government itself exerts powerful influence over all aspects of society. The Philippines, highly dependent on international aid, is vulnerable to international pressure. Russia bristles at any outside criticism of what it views at its internal affairs," he noted.

"It's precisely because they are so different that we wanted to test whether systematic and focused advocacy could make a difference in both places. While violence against journalist has continued in Russia and the Philippines, government responses in both nations have changed as a result of our engagement," he added.

Simon said that in the Philippines, government officials used to routinely challenge the CPJ's research and decry as "an exaggeration" the organization's description of the country as one of the world's most dangerous [place] for the media.

But when CPJ visited Manila soon after President Benigno Aquino III took office last year, it found the government open and highly receptive to its concerns.

"No one denied the importance of the impunity issue or sought to challenge our research. Instead, they met with our delegation and pledged to pursue justice not only in the Maguindanao massacre but in the other media killings that preceded it," he said.

Media killings

In November 2009, some 32 journalists and media workers were slaughtered in what is now known as the Maguindanao massacre.

On Monday, Gerry Ortega, a hard-hitting broadcaster in Palawan, was gunned down in Puerto Princesa City. Five men have been charged for the killing, including the alleged gunman.

A total of 142 journalists have been killed since Philippine democracy was won back in 1986.

Likewise in Russia, where CPJ sent delegations the last three years, authorities were highly receptive to the group's concerns.

"While we welcome such commitments as a positive sign, we obviously remain skeptical of the government's intention in both places. The question in the year ahead is how to turn these commitments into concrete action--meaning arrests, prosecutions, and convictions," he said.

Impunity index

In designing the GCAI, CPJ also developed a statistical tool for measuring progress: the Impunity Index.

Using detailed date compiled by CPJ staff, the index calculates the number of unsolved killings as a percentage of a country's population.

"When we released our 2010 Index, the Philippines ranked third, with 55 unsolved killings, and Russia ranked eighth, with 18," Simon said.

"The only way for a country to reduce its ranking is to solve these crimes. We hope that Russia and Philippines will decline in their ranking when our next index is released later this year. We are encouraged that suspects in the latest murder in the Philippines, which took place earlier this week, were quickly apprehended," he added. (report from LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV)

10 dead as scaffolding in Makati building collapses

(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines – At least 10 people were confirmed dead while a still undetermined number of people were feared dead or injured after a scaffolding on a building that they were working on collapsed in Makati City today.

Reports quoted Police Chief Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio as saying that the incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. from the 34th floor of the 40-storey Eton Residences on the corner of Paseo De Roxas and Gallardo Street in Makati.

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay said the workers were standing on the platform at a high-rise building under construction. The platform had been elevated to the 32nd floor and then suddently fell to the 7th floor.

The building has already been cordoned off by police.

Rescue teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection are recovering the victims' bodies. (report from Dino Maragay, Philstar.com)

Another journalist attacked in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - A publisher and editor of an Iloilo-based newspaper was attacked by an unidentified assailant Wednesday evening, just outside the newspaper's office.

Western Visayas Daily Guardian publisher-editor Lemuel Fernandez was about leave the newspaper office in Iloilo City's Molo district when a lone attacker hit him in the back of the head with a blunt object.

A witness, Allan Francis Angelo, said he witnessed the attack at the office's parking area. He said the attacker was a man clad in shorts and white shirt. The attacker fled the area immediately after the attack.

Fernandez suffered a cut from the blow and was immediately rushed to the Iloilo Saint Paul's Hospital.

Police say it has yet to identify the suspect and the motive for the attack. (report from Stanley Palisada, ABS-CBN News)

4 dead, 14 hurt in bus explosion along EDSA

MANILA, Philippines (7th UPDATE) – Four people were killed and 14 others were injured in an explosion that ripped through a passenger bus along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Makati City on Tuesday afternoon.

Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said that the fatalities include 3 males and a female passenger of Newman Goldliner bus with plate number TXJ 710.

In a radio dzMM report, 4 of the 14 injured victims were identified as Lino Antonio, Victoriano Jeffrey, Anabelle Gozon and Mary Grace Borondia.

Bartolome said the injured victims include 9 females and 5 males. The victims were rushed to the Ospital ng Makati and St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.

Bartolome declined to name the fatalities since they have not informed their next of kin.

The bus was at the north-bound loading bay of EDSA corner Buendia when it was hit by a strong explosion at around 2 p.m..

Bartolome said he has organized a special investigation task force to look into the bus explosion. He added that the city government has also formed a crisis management committee.

He said investigators are now reviewing footage of closed-circuit television cameras installed along EDSA.

Bartolome said investigators have yet to determine what type of explosive material was used. He said the police's immediate concern is to swiftly gather evidence, including parts of the bomb and parts of the bus' body, so they can remove the bus from EDSA.

He said the bus will be moved to the Southern Police District headquarters for further forensic investigation.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said earlier, based on initial briefing given to him by the police, there is a strong indication that the explosion was caused by a bomb.

Binay said that when he arrived at the scene, he saw blood and some body parts inside the bus. He said he also saw a severely injured man through the big hole created by the blast on the passenger bus.

The mayor said a man and a woman were initially killed by the blast.

Bartolome said the explosive device was planted under a seat on the 6th row of the bus' right side.

"Gitnang-gitna ito eh. Sa ilalim siya malamang inilagay," he said.

He said the location of the explosion indicates that the people who planted the bomb wanted a lot of people hurt.

Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed a huge hole created by the explosion on the right side of the bus. Windows on the left side of the bus and its windshield were also damaged.


Metro on full alert

He said police investigators are interviewing the surviving passengers, as well as the driver and conductor of the bus.

Police closed the affected north-bound lane of EDSA-Buendia. The Ayala flyover going to Cubao area was also closed. Other parts of EDSA remained open.

Bartolome announced over government-owned radio station Radyo ng Bayan that he has placed all police units in Metro Manila on full alert.

He said he has ordered all vital government installations around Metro Manila and public places secured by cops.

“We would like to ensure that all our policemen will be available and that vital installations will be properly secured,” he said.

He added: “We encourage everyone to go on with their normal schedules. The PNP [Philippine National Police], the government, the local government in Makati, and other law enforcement agencies will continue to get to the bottom of this incident.”


Smell of gunpowder

In an interview with reporters at the Makati City Police Station, bus driver Maximo Peligro said he smelled gunpowder right after the blast.

"Kung normal na explosion yun, walang amoy na pulibura (If it was a normal explosion, there would be no smell of gunpowder)," Peligro said.

Peligro said it was impossible that mechanical failure caused the explosion since the bus was well-maintained. "If it wasn't well maintained, we would have kept it in the garage," he said.

He also dismissed possibilities that the attack on the bus was done by enemies of the bus company's owner.

"Pentecostal kami. Nagde-debosyon kami (We are members of Pentecostal church. We have devotions [before we leave the terminal]," he said.

He said Newman Goldliner bus is owned by pastors of the Pentecostal Mission Church of Christ.


Many passengers got off before blast

Based on an ABS-CBN News interview with the bus driver, 25-year-old Michael Haralde, there were at least 30 passengers on the bus when the blast happened.

According to Haralde, the bus came from Baclaran in Parañaque City and was bound for SM mall in Fairview, Quezon City.

Haralde said they had 20 passengers when they left Baclaran, and it became almost full when they stopped at a loading bay in Evangelista area in Pasay City.

Almost half of the passengers disembarked at EDSA Ayala.

The driver and the conductor said the explosion happened before they reached Buendia corner EDSA.

They said they could not immediately recall the passengers who may have planted the bus. They said 7 people entered the bus at Taft area and 2 of them got off before they reached Buendia.

Haralde was injured on both of his legs by the blast, while bus conductor Peligro escaped the incident unscathed.

The bus driver also told reporters that some of the passengers were injured because they all panicked after the explosion.

He said that the bus' windshield was not damaged by the explosion. He said he kicked open the windshield, and majority of the surviving passengers exited the bus through it. (reports from Pinky Webb, ANC; Dexter Ganibe and Charlie Mendoza, radio dzMM and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News)

Erap intervenes in violent San Juan demolition

Former President Joseph Estrada intervened in a heated confrontation between police and residents of Barangay Corazon de Jesus in San Juan, where a demolition was being carried out.

"Kaya ako nandito, ayokong magkasakitan. Iniiwasan natin yung gulo. Kayo dito, hindi naman kayo maapektuhan pa. Yung mga andun na ilang pamilya lamang, nakahanda na yung paglilipatan nila. Kakailanganin 'yan ng gobyerno eh," Estrada said to the residents.

The former president, who served as San Juan mayor for nearly 17 years, explained that the government had already negotiated with the affected families. A new city hall is set to be built on the demolition site, which is government-owned.

The city's current mayor is Guia Gomez, to whom Estrada has a son — Rep. JV Ejercito.

Meanwhile, the 103 affected families will be relocated to Montalban, Rizal.

But residents complained that the relocation site is far from their places of work and schools.

Though the affected families had already been notified, they threw bottles and rocks at the demolition team, which fought back by spraying the residents with water from a firehose.

A GMA Flash Report said the police also used teargas, which affected several people including children and elderly residents who were hiding inside their houses. Even residents not included in the operation were affected by the teargas.

Members of the demolition team as well as some residents were injured in the incident.

Estrada said he would have the police ground commander investigated for the use of teargas in areas not included in the demolition site.

After things calmed down, the demolition pushed through as planned. Meanwhile a press conference was being held in the nearby Pinaglabanan Shrine where Ejercito reiterated that the residents would not be left homeless.

He added that the San Juan government would gather the affected residents in a meeting, where the relocation would be explained to them. (report from Carmela Lapeña and RSJ, GMANews.TV)

MMDA starts new traffic scheme along Commonwealth

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino is confident that accidents along Quezon City's "killer highway" will be lessened by the agency's new traffic scheme, which took effect on Tuesday.

"Positive po ako na mare-reduce natin ang accidents. In fact, ngayong araw walang nai-report sa akin na accident dito sa Commonwealth Avenue," Tolentino said in an interview on ABS-CBN's "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Tolentino personally led the MMDA contingent deployed along Commonwealth Avenue during the first day of implementation of the 60-kilometer per hour speed limit along the 12.4 kilometer highway.

Aside from the speed limit, the MMDA also started implementing lane segregation along Commonwealth Avenue.

Under the lane segregation scheme, the right-most lanes are for buses while the second lane next to the bus lane is for motorcycles and jeepneys.

The other 5 lanes of the highway are for private vehicles with 2 lanes set for vehicles who will take U- turn slots.

Tricycles, meanwhile, are banned from using the highway under the new scheme.

The MMDA reported that as of 7 a.m., 24 tricycles were apprehended for violating the ban, and 24 buses were flagged down and issued tickets for violating breaching the "bus lane" or the yellow lane.

Eleven motorcycles that entered the yellow lane were also arrested, and 2 passenger jeepneys were stopped for defective headlights.

Eight buses and passenger jeepneys were also apprehended for obstruction.

Tolentino said that the MMDA deployed at least 140 traffic enforcers along Commonwealth Avenue. He added that they are using more than 20 speed guns.

Tolentino said that if the new scheme becomes successful, the MMDA will study the possibility of implementing the same scheme in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, including Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). (report from ABS-CBN News)

Environmental group demands justice for slain Palawan broadcaster

An environmental legal assistance group has called on local and national law enforcement agencies to ensure that justice is given to slain Palawan broadcaster Dr. Gerardo "Gerry" Ortega.

In a statement, the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) said authorities must not only work to put in jail the actual killer, "but that any and all those who were involved in his murder be brought to justice."

"We stand with the indigenous peoples, the disenfranchised farmers and marginalized fisher folk in Doc Gerry’s fight for good environmental governance and social justice," ELAC added.

Last January 24, Ortega was shot in the head as he was shopping in the San Pedro district of Puerto Princesa City, the capital of Palawan province.

A few minutes earlier, he had just finished what turned out to be his last broadcast on dwAR radio.

A commentator on dwAR, Ortega had publicly campaigned against mining operations in Palawan. He also headed an eco-tourism project in the province supported by the charitable arm of broadcaster ABS-CBN. Ortega, a former gubernatorial candidate, was also a vocal critic of the province's governor.

ELAC, which has a branch office in Puerto Princesa, asserted that the murder will not deter them in their fight for Palawan's future.

"We call on all Palawenos to assert all the more their rights and to continue to hold accountable Palawan’s leaders for all their actions, especially in the management of our natural resources and protection of our environment. This is what Doc Gerry advocated for. We will carry on with the fight," it said.

Meanwhile, the Reporters without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres/RSF) branded the killing as an “act of savagery."

“The organization is horrified by this act or savagery and calls once again on the government to guarantee the protection of journalists... It is time that the promises of Benigno Aquino III, president of the Philippines since July 2010, who announced better security for journalists in his country and an end to the culture of impunity, become a reality. Impunity remains the chief evil corroding the country," it said in a statement posted on its website.

Another international media group said "Ortega's murder is a reminder that the Philippines is still among the world's most dangerous countries for media workers," International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)-Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park said.

IFJ’s affiliate National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) also condemned the murder. "His death, like those of all his colleagues before him, must not go unpunished by authorities in the Philippines," it said in a statement.

Shortly after the shooting, police apprehended Manila resident Marlon de Camata (a.k.a. Marvin Alcaraz). It is not yet known whether Ortega's murder was related to his work as a radio anchor.

Ortega is the 142nd media worker to be killed since the end of the Marcos dictatorship in 1986.

The NUJP said if it is proven that Ortega's killing is work-related, he would be the second journalist to be murdered during President Benigno Aquino III's administration.

While De Camata reportedly claimed to only have intended to rob Ortega, RSF noted that Ortega’s family lawyer, Joselito Alisuag, said the killing had to be linked to his work as a journalist since he had “no personal enemies or particular vice." (report from Carmela Lapeña, LBG and RSJ, GMANews.TV)

Ex-AFP comptroller Garcia attends House probe on plea bargain deal

Former military comptroller Major General Carlos Garcia attended on Tuesday morning the House probe on the controversial plea bargain deal he entered into with the Office of the Office of the Ombudsman last year, amid claims that he has gone into hiding.

Garcia is set to face the House committee on justice, led by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas, during an inquiry into the plea bargaining agreement aimed at finding out the government’s policy on such deal, and to hold officials liable if there are any irregularities to the agreement.

Garcia was seen accompanied by his lawyer, Constantino de Jesus.

Also present during the House probe are Armed Forces officials Brig. Generals. Raul Reyes, Honorato delos Reyes and Gilberto Roa; Assistant Solicitor General Amparo Tang; former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo; and former Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-ignacio.

Garcia's attendance came amid earlier pronouncements by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that the former Army general has already gone into hiding to evade congressional inquiries on the deal.

The House probe was set after Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez, in a privilege speech last week, urged the lower chamber to look into circumstances surrounding the plea bargaining agreement.

The Senate is also set to conduct its own investigation into the controversial plea bargain agreement on Thursday.


Ombudsman snubs inquiry

Officials of the Office of the Ombudsman, however, did not attend the inquiry, saying that their office is a "constitutional and independent office."

In a letter sent to the House committee on justice, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and her deputies "refused" to attend the inquiry, saying it "may not be in aid of legislation and may not be in the legitimate province of the legislature."

Deputy Speaker and Quezon province Rep. Erin Tanada III called the Ombudsman’s refusal an "insult" to the House and a show of "arrogance" from Gutierrez and her deputies.

"It is not for the Ombudsman to determine if the procedures in the House are in aid of legislation," he said.

Due to this, the House panel decided to issue subpoenas to Gutierrez and six other officials from her office to compel them to attend the next hearing.

Gutierrez is currently facing impeachment complaints before the House committee on justice— the same panel conducting the inquiry on the plea bargaining agreement.


Plea bargain

Last year, special prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman entered into a plea bargain agreement with Garcia, who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of direct bribery and money laundering instead of the crime of plunder as part of the deal.

After admitting to these offenses, the ex-military comptroller was allowed to post bail and to temporarily walk out of jail in December last year.

The former military comptroller was also allowed to return only P135 million out of the P303 million he allegedly stole from government coffers.

The Office of the Solicitor-General (OSG) has asked the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court last week to allow it to intervene in the controversial deal and to nullify Garcia’s arraignment for direct bribery. (report from Andreo C. Calonzo and RSJ, GMANews.TV)

Lawmaker files resolution for holding of Con-con to amend Constitution

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — Noting the need to amend some provisions of the 1987 Constitution, a lawmaker has filed a resolution at the House of Representatives urging Congress to immediately call for a Constitutional Convention (Con-con).

In filing House Resolution 848, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said that after almost 24 years of implementing the 1987 Charter, "it has become imperative to revisit the Constitution to make the country more responsive to the needs of the people, create a more attractive investment climate for foreign capital, and boost the economy beyond the bondage of restrictive and dormant policies."

Evardone cited the much-needed reforms in the country's electoral system in order to become a fair, honest, orderly and peaceful elections.

"Article 17 of the 1987 Constitution empowers Congress to call for a Constitutional Convention as one of the modes to amend the Constitution," he said, that would be "more acceptable to the people compared to the Constitutional Assembly (Con-ass) whose members would be suspected of preserving and protecting their own interests."

Evardone said Con-con should prioritize amendments to economic provisions that will enhance the country's competitiveness, generate investments and employment.

It should also prioritize political reforms "that will put an end to political dynasties and level the playing field of political arena," and provisions that will preserve, protect and enhance the environment without putting manacles in the development process.

Con-con should also look into amendments to provisions that promotes mass-based democracy and strengthen democratic institutions.

Evardone said Con-con shall be composed of two delegates from each existing congressional legislative district and that all political parties, coalition or alliance shall be prohibited from nominating, fielding, endorsing, supporting directly or indirectly any candidate.

He said the Convention should complete its work within 60 consecutive days from the opening of its session and should conduct public hearings to ensure that the Filipino people will have adequate and sustained participation in the formulation of proposed amendments to the Constitution.

An initial amount of P250 million shall be appropriated for the holding of a Constitutional convention.

The House committee on Constitutional Amendments, headed by Misamis Occidental Rep. Loreto Leo Ocampos, will conduct hearing on Tuesday to discuss proposals to amend the Charter. (report from Manila Bulletin)

CHR to probe killing of botanist, 2 co-workers in military-rebel clash

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Philippines—The findings of the Department of Justice (DoJ) that absolved Army soldiers of any liability in the killing of botanist Leonardo Co and his two co-workers will not have any impact on the public hearing on the case by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

CHR Regional Director for Eastern Visayas Paquito Nacino said that the findings of the DoJ absolving the members of the 19th Infantry Battalion in the deaths of Co, forest guard Sofronio Cortez, and farmer Julius Borromeo, had no bearing on the commission’s own probe.

The findings of the three-panel member of the DoJ would not influence the CHR investigation, said Nacino.

“It is just the findings of the DoJ. Remember, no case has been filed in court. It did not undergo a preliminary investigation,” Nacino said on Monday.

“The CHR will not be swayed with their findings. All our commissioners will be around during the public hearing and each of them will ask questions to our invited guests,” Nacino said.

The CHR en banc public hearing scheduled for January 26 and 27 in Tacloban City will be headed by Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales.

Among those invited to the CHR hearing was Lieutenant Colonel Federico Tutaan, commanding officer of the 19th IB, the unit of the soldiers tagged in the killings of Co and his two co-workers.

The military had claimed they were conducting a legitimate operation against the New People’s Area and that Co and his two companions died in a crossfire.

Tutaan earlier said that he would be willing to face any investigation, including the CHR probe.

The findings of the DoJ were criticized by several groups, including the National Democratic Front (NDF) in Eastern Visayas.

NDF Eastern Visayas spokesman Santiago Salas described the findings as “pure hogwash.”

“It is deplorable that the so-called DoJ ‘fact-finding’ consisted of swallowing the military's alibi of a ‘crossfire’ and then spewing a whitewash on the public," Salas in an e-mailed statement dated January 21 said. (report from Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas)

Teenager caught with stolen motorcycle in N. Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – North Cotabato police authorities said they were trying to find out if syndicates were using minors to steal motorcycles.

The possibility surfaced Monday following the arrest of a 16-year-old boy in Tulunan town after he was caught in possession of a stolen Honda XRM after the Makilala town police sent out an alarm when a resident reported the disappearance of his motorcycle.

The North Cotabato police set up checkpoints in the hope of recovering the stolen motorbike.

Inspector Ramil Hajilla, Tulunan police chief, said it was past 4 p.m. Monday when his men reported the interception of a minor who was driving a motorcycle fitting the description of stolen motorbike.

The driver, a resident of Kidapawan City, later admitted to the police that he was on his way to Datu Paglas in Maguindanao to sell the motorbike to a contact, Hajilla said.

Hojilla said they were trying to establish if the boy was also involved in other motorcycle thefts in the province.

But even so, the police were at a loss because a minor could not be criminally charged, he said.

The theft of motorcycles was so rampant in North Cotabato—40 motorcycles were stolen from January to September last year—that the Kidapawan City police had offered a reward of P15,000 for information leading to the arrest of any motorcycle thief.

Superintendent Chino Mamburam, Kidapawan police chief, urged motorcycle owners to take precautionary measures such as investing in locks and leaving their vehicles in secure places.

In Cagayan de Oro City, motorcycle and car theft was also among the top concerns of the police, according to Senior Superintendent Gregorio Pimentel of the Highway Patrol Group in Northern Mindanao.

Pimentel said their efforts paid off in October with the arrest of the owner of an insurance company in Butuan City who was caught with blank registration documents, dry seals, vehicle conduction stickers and other documents from the Land Transportation Office.

Pimentel said they suspected that stolen vehicles from other parts of the country had been “processed” at that insurance office.

In Northern Mindanao, car and motorcycle theft were listed along with murder among the top police concerns. (report from Carlo Agamon, Tito Fiel and Bobby Lagsa, Inquirer Mindanao)

'Twilight,' 'Airbender' lead Razzies with 9 nominations

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Vampires, werewolves and airbenders lead the pack at the Razzies, an Academy Awards spoof that hands out prizes for the year's worst films.

The blockbuster supernatural tale "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" and the action fantasy "The Last Airbender" tied for the most nominations Monday with nine each, including worst picture.

Also nominated for worst picture are Jennifer Aniston's action comedy "The Bounty Hunter," Sarah Jessica Parker's romantic romp "Sex and the City 2" and the "Twilight" parody "Vampires Suck."

"Twilight" star Kristen Stewart had a worst-actress nomination for her role as a teen caught in a love triangle involving her vampire boyfriend (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf pal (Taylor Lautner). Pattinson and Lautner both were nominated for worst actor.

Razzies founder John Wilson said that though "Vampires Suck" was a "Twilight" spoof, "Eclipse" actually was funnier to watch.

"I know people who are into 'Twilight' who take it totally seriously and they're very vociferous," Wilson said. "Those of us who are not 'Twi-hards', we don't get it. I don't actually know any teenage girls who have had to make the choice between a werewolf and a vampire."

"The Last Airbender" was adapted from the animated TV series about a young hero with the power to reunite feuding nations of people who can control air, water, fire and earth. "Last Airbender" filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan received Razzie nominations for worst director and screenplay.

"All of this gobbledygook language about airbenders and fire benders and water benders," Wilson said. "You feel like you're on a bender watching the movie. It's completely illogical."

The Razzies lineup was announced a day before Oscar nominations come out. Razzie winners, chosen by the group's roughly 600 voters, will be announced Feb. 26, the night before the Oscars.

Three Oscar-winning divas are among nominees for worst supporting actress — Cher for the song-and-dance tale "Burlesque," Liza Minnelli for "Sex and the City 2" and Barbra Streisand for the comedy sequel "Little Fockers."

Jackson Rathbone had a supporting-actor nomination for roles in both "The Last Airbender" and "Eclipse." Dev Patel and Nicola Peltz also had supporting nominations for "Last Airbender."

The entire casts of "Eclipse" and "Last Airbender" were among nominees for worst screen couple or ensemble.

"Last Airbender" also was chosen for worst eye-gouging misuse of 3-D, a special category to mark Hollywood's current craze for shooting in three dimensions or converting 2-D movies to 3-D. The other 3-D nominees are "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," "Clash of the Titans," "The Nutcracker in 3-D" and "Saw 3D."

Along with worst-actress contenders Stewart and Aniston, the four "gal pals" in "Sex and the City 2" — Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon — shared a nomination. Also up for worst-actress are Miley Cyrus for the teen drama "The Last Song" and Megan Fox for the action flop "Jonah Hex."

Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, had a supporting-actor nomination for "The Spy Next Door."

Joining Pattinson and Lautner in the worst-actor category are Jack Black for the fantasy comedy "Gulliver's Travels," Gerard Butler for "The Bounty Hunter" and Ashton Kutcher for the action comedy "Killers" and the romance "Valentine's Day." (report from Philstar.com)

PDEA: Nalbuphine now a dangerous drug

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) issued a warning to the public regarding the inclusion of nalbuphine hydrochloride in the list of dangerous drugs based on regulations issued by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

PDEA director general Jose Guitierrez Jr. cited DDB Regulation Number 1, series of 2010 dated December 16, 2010, which classifies nalbuphine (HCL) as a dangerous drug effective January 28, 2011.

Nalbuphine hydrochloride is a synthetic opioid used for pain medications. Its analgesic potency and characteristics are similarly equivalent to that of morphine, demerol, pethidine or codeine.

“All importers, manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors/traders and retailers of this drug are therefore required to register and apply for license with the Compliance Service (CS), the regulatory arm of PDEA. Only practitioners with valid S-2 License can prescribe the said pharmaceutical product through DOH-prescribed “yellow prescription” for a maximum of only forty (40) milligrams per prescription. Importation, likewise, requires an Import Permit duly approved by the Agency,” PDEA said.

Guitierrez said that based on the foregoing DDB Regulations, PDEA as the lead anti-drug agency in partnership with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and other instrumentalities in the field of drug law enforcement will include this substance in their close monitoring and will apprehend offenders of the law. (report from Philstar.com)