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Pope Francis seeks blessings for Pinoys, Yolanda victims

General

Dec 252013

Pope Francis seeks blessings for Pinoys, Yolanda victims

First Christmas message of Pope Francis: End all conflicts . Pope Francis waves to the crowd as he delivers his first “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and world) message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday. Celebrating his first Christmas as Roman Catholic leader, Pope Francis called for dialogue to end the conflict in South Sudan and all wars, saying everyone should strive to be personal peacemakers. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi Pope Francis on Wednesday sought God’s blessings for Filipinos, especially victims of super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). In his Urbi et Orbi Message for Christmas 2013, the Pope also referred to Filipinos as the “beloved people of the Philippines.” “Lord of heaven and earth, look upon our planet, frequently exploited by human greed and rapacity. Help and protect all the victims of natural disasters, especially the beloved people of the Philippines, gravely affected by the recent typhoon,” he said. Yolanda had devastated Visayas and Southern Luzon last Nov. 8, leaving more than 6,100 dead. Also, the Pope asked everyone to “give glory to God, for he is good, he is faithful, he is merciful.” He voiced his hopes that everyone will “come to know the true face of God, the Father who has given us Jesus,” and that “everyone will feel God’s closeness, live in his presence, love him and adore him.” True peace Meanwhile, Pope Francis called for true peace, which he said is not a lovely “façade” that conceals conflicts and divisions. “Peace calls Read More …

'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

News

Dec 232013

'Record high' 11 percent of Visayas expect bleak Christmas – SWS

Given the major natural disasters in late 2013, 11 percent of Visayas residents expect a bleak Christmas this year, according to a new poll by Social Weather Stations. “In Visayas, the expectation of a happy Christmas declined to a new record-low 57 percent in 2013 as the expectation of a sad Christmas reached record-high 11 percent,” the SWS said in its poll. Last Oct. 15, a magnitude-7.2 quake devastated Central Visayas, while super typhoon Yolanda devastated the Visayas last Nov. 8. The SWS noted the expectation of a happy Christmas in Visayas declined by nine points, from 66 percent in 2012 to 57 percent in 2013. Before to 2013, SWS said the lowest recorded expectation of a happy Christmas was 60 percent, in 2006. “Conversely, the expectation of a sad Christmas in Visayas increased by four points, from 7 percent in 2012 to 11 percent in 2013,” the pollster said. The survey was taken from Dec. 11-16. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among 1,550 adults, with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, ±4% for Visayas, and ±6% for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon and Mindanao. National numbers Nationwide, the SWS said slightly more than three out of five Filipinos (62 percent) still expect a happy Christmas. The 62-percent figure was a slight decline from the 64 percent in the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012. Also, nine percent of Filipinos expect a sad Christmas this year, while 28 percent expect it to be neither happy nor sad. “The expectation of Read More …

Nine-year-old, latest victim of illegal 'piccolo' firecracker

News

Dec 232013

Nine-year-old, latest victim of illegal 'piccolo' firecracker

The inevitable rise in the number of firecracker-related casualties during the Christmas-New Year holidays has started, with the Health Department recording a nine-year-old boy as the latest injured. Jeric Paul Suarez from Tondo, Manila, was the seventh victim of the firecracker known as “piccolo” since December 21, according to DOH records. “Hindi na po [ako magpapaputok]. Delikado,” Suarez said timidly in a report on GMA 7’s “24 Oras”. The DOH has so far recorded 13 cases of firecracker-related injuries, an increase from the nine cases recorded in the same period last year. Also, according to the DOH’s records, 27 percent of all firecracker-related injuries in 2012 came from piccolos. Despite its dangerous record, it remains popular being the firecracker of choice in the face of a general decrease in the use of fireworks in the country. Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag hopes that the recent spate of natural disasters – typhoon Yolanda, the Cebu-Bohol earthquake – will discourage people from spending on fireworks. “Dahil dun sa sunod-sunod na unos natin, maraming nagsabi na parang toned down ang pag-celebrate natin ng pasko. Subalit nagkaroon ng parang turning point nitong weekend. Sumigla ang pamimili ng mga tao,” said a dismayed Tayag. The undersecretary is thus fully supportive of Davao City’s anti-fireworks policy, which bans both legal and illegal fireworks. “Mga ilegal katulad ng piccolo, fly-by-night, ‘di maganda ang kaledad, malamang sa hindi, disgrasya resulta niyan,” said Tayag. — Rie Takumi/DVM, GMA News

Palace confident Customs chief can increase collections, counter corruption

News

Dec 232013

Palace confident Customs chief can increase collections, counter corruption

Will “Sunny” be the best disinfectant for a Customs bureau with a reputation for shadowy figures and shady deals? The Palace said Monday it is confident newly-appointed Customs Commissioner John “Sunny” Sevilla can improve revenue collections amid reported corruption at the Customs bureau. “We know for a fact that there is corruption in the Bureau of Customs. That has never been hidden from public view,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters at a press briefing at Malacañang. “That’s why he (Sevilla) is instituting a lot of mechanisms to make sure that the corruption in BOC would be minimized, if not, hopefully eliminated from that.” “It’s a tall order for Commissioner Sevilla but we are certain that, given the new set of deputy commissioners and a new set of leadership through Commissioner Sevilla, we will see some improvements in the Customs collection,” he noted. A report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Monday revealed the code names of three “big-time traders” who purportedly operate in the bureau. They were identified in the report as “Big Mama,” “Ma’am T,” and “Mr. T.” The report also said corruption has led to missed Customs collection targets. A former high-ranking Customs official confirmed these code names. “Alam ng lahat ‘yan. That’s common knowledge. Kilalang-kilala [na sila] na nagtatransact [sa BOC],” the former Customs official, who refused to be named, told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Monday. “Malakas ang loob ng mga nasa baba kasi mayroong higher than the commissioner kung meron mang Read More …

PNoy awards soldiers for service during calamities, Zambo crisis

News

Dec 192013

PNoy awards soldiers for service during calamities, Zambo crisis

President Benigno Aquino III on Friday personally awarded soldiers for their role in peacekeeping and disaster relief efforts during the Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda. Attending the 78th founding anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino led the conferment of awards to 53 individuals, including 49 soldiers, two civilian employees, and two ROTC cadets. Aquino is commander-in-chief of the military. Last month, Aquino also led the awarding of at least 18 soldiers who fought during the Zamboanga crisis. Earlier, the AFP said the 2,473 soldiers who participated in the Zamboanga crisis either in administrative or combat capacity are all set to receive an award “commensurate to their bravery in combat and valuable service rendered in operations.” — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News

LTO, LTFRB intensify inspection of province-bound buses for Xmas exodus

News

Dec 192013

LTO, LTFRB intensify inspection of province-bound buses for Xmas exodus

With Filipinos expected to start flocking to the provinces for the holidays, transportation officials on Friday started inspecting buses to make sure they are roadworthy. The inspections are expected to be stricter following last Monday’s fatal accident involving a bus at the Skyway, radio dzBB’s Glen Juego reported. On Friday, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board enforcers made the rounds of bus terminals and checked units heading for the provinces. A photo posted on Twitter by dzBB’s Juego showed the inspectors checking the buses, including their baggage compartments. LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said LTFRB personnel have instructions to pay attention to the condition of the buses’ tires and lights. The yearly exodus, where Filipinos are to flock to the provinces to spend Christmas and New Year with their families, is expected to peak starting this weekend. On the other hand, transportation officials have tightened their watch on buses following Monday’s fatal accident involving a Don Mariano Transport Corp. bus. In Monday’s accident, a Don Mariano bus flew off the elevated portion of Skyway and crashed into the service road below, killing at least 18 people. A separate report by dzBB’s Juego said the Araneta bus terminal in Quezon City was crowded as of 7 a.m. Friday, with people heading for the provinces. Many cabbies waited outside the bus terminal for passengers who may come from the provinces to spend the holidays in Metro Manila. Several of the passengers were heading for Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Pangasinan, Read More …

19 Pinoys intercepted off Sabah – Malaysia news agency

News

Dec 192013

At least 19 Filipinos are in Malaysian custody after they were intercepted while allegedly trying to enter Sabah late Wednesday, Malaysia’s Bernama news agency reported Thursday. The Bernama report quoted Eastern Sabah Security Command director-general (Esscom) Datuk Mohammad Mentek as saying the 19 included seven men, four women and eight children. Mohammad Mentek said the 19 Filipinos arrived in a boat at 8:45 p.m. and tried to enter Sabah at the Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu. http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1002263 “The illegal immigrants were detained after (our forces received) information from the public,” the Bernama report quoted him as saying. Lahad Datu had been the site of an armed confrontation between Malaysian forces and followers of the late Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III last February and March. Kiram died last October but sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani said the sultan left instructions to his followers to continue efforts to reclaim Sabah. Mohammad Mentek said an initial investigation showed the boat carrying the 19 Filipinos was heading to Sinakut in Labian, Felda Sahabat. — ELR, GMA News

UN chief Ban Ki-moon to visit Tacloban for 'first-hand assessment'

News

Dec 192013

UN chief Ban Ki-moon to visit Tacloban for 'first-hand assessment'

UNITED NATIONS – UN leader Ban Ki-moon arrives in Manila Friday for talks with top government leaders and will go to Tacloban on Saturday to assess super typhoon Yolanda damage and ascertain response needs. The United Nations this week launched a $791 million aid appeal to take care of the survivors’ needs over the next 12 months, an amount that UN said will complement the government’s rehabilitation plan. “2013 was another year of extreme weather — as we saw most recently with Typhoon Haiyan. On Thursday, I will depart for Manila and Tacloban for a first-hand assessment of the aftermath,” Ban said Monday as he announced the visit. Ban said he is organizing a major summit on climate change for September 23 next year, just ahead of the UN General Assembly. The UN leader will leave the Philippines on Sunday. Last Wednesday, the Philippines launched an $8.17 billion plan to rebuild the lives of millions made homeless by Super Typhoon Haiyan and strengthen the disaster-prone nation’s defenses against future tempests. The government says that more than 6,000 people died in the November 8 typhoon — one of the strongest storms ever recorded — which badly hit Tacloban and surrounding regions. Almost 1,800 people are still missing. President Benigno Aquino appealed for more foreign aid and private-sector pledges to revive hundreds of devastated communities. “The task immediately before us lies in ensuring that the communities that rise again do so stronger, better and more resilient than before,” he told foreign diplomats Read More …

PNoy mulls oversight body on PHL compliance with global anti-corruption treaty

News

Dec 192013

PNoy mulls oversight body on PHL compliance with global anti-corruption treaty

In one of the biggest gatherings of government heads in the country, President Benigno Aquino III said he is considering setting up an oversight committee that will monitor the country’s compliance with international anti-corruption efforts. Aquino made the announcement during the first State Conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and Review on Thursday. UNCAC is an international anti-corruption treaty ratified, accepted, approved and acceded by 168 countries, including the Philippines. Since signing the convention in 2003, the Philippines has crafted a five-year 21-point Anti-Corruption Action Plan. “I was listening earlier to the [idea of] setting up of an oversight committee on our compliance, and if they [officials] are willing to again have additional duties, in addition to IAAGCC [Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council], I am more than willing to endorse that idea,” Aquino said. “Hopefully you will never tire of accepting more assignments than what you originally thought you would receive,” he added. Efforts against corruption During Thursday’s event, Aquino trumpeted the accomplishments of his administration in the fight against corruption. “Go anywhere in the country and you will have seen the changes of what we can do now versus what we couldn’t even imagine just a few years ago, and this is just the beginning. As the song by Michel Legrand said, ‘Watch what happens’,” he said. He specifically cited the filing of cases “against a former president who is now under hospital arrest;” the removal from office of “a Chief Justice who chose to lie Read More …

AFP chief: Reds should declare ceasefire ‘forever’  

News

Dec 192013

AFP chief: Reds should declare ceasefire ‘forever’

A six-day truce announced by the Communist Party of the Philippines is too short, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday, adding the communist rebels should declare a ceasefire “forever.” “Napakaiksi naman ng dineclare nila, nag-declare pa sila. (Kung) gusto nila, forever wala nang putukan e, di ba yun ang gusto natin,” AFP Chief of Staff Lieutanant General Emmanuel Bautista told reporters Thursday. The CCP on Wednesday declared two three-day ceasefires to mark the holidays as well as its founding anniversary. The truce will be from 12:00 a.m. on December 24 to 11:59 p.m. on December 26, and another from 12:00 a.m. on December 31 to 11:59 p.m. on January 2, 2014. The CPP will celebrate its 45th founding anniversary on December 26. “Bakit hindi sila mag-declare ng mahaba, forever. Sana, kung magde-declare sila, pang-matagalan na, para yung ating mga kababayan hindi na magdusa sa armed struggle, masyadong matagal na tayong nagdurusa dyan,” Bautista said. The government has yet to announce a ceasefire of its own but Bautista said the AFP will comply with whatever truce the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process will set. “Depende sa OPAPP, wala kaming problema. Depende sa OPAPP kung gaano kahaba yung ide-declare na SOMO (suspension of military operations). Whatever is the order, we will follow,” he said. Peace talks between the government and the CPP-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front have been stalled since April this year. — Amita Legaspi/JDS, GMA News

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