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De Lima: Possible witnesses to killings of Ozamiz gangmen are not missing

 News
Jul 192013
 
De Lima: Possible witnesses to killings of Ozamiz gangmen are not missing

The five possible witnesses to the killing in Laguna of the Ozamiz robbery group members are not missing, said Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday afternoon to clarify an earlier report. “They are not missing. [Authorities] were just having a hard time accessing them dahil ayaw lang pumayag yung parents and I think that’s a natural feeling,” De Lima was quoted as saying in a report on Balitanghali. “Hayaan ang CHR (Commission on Human Rights) na mag-access din sa Kanila para mas maging comfortable sila,” she added. A report on “24 Oras” on Thursday said the witnesses were missing. Also, the report said one witness living just 50 meters away from where the killings took place purportedly saw how gunmen in two vehicles ambushed the police convoy transporting Ricky Cadavero alias “Kambal” and Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. alias “Kulot” of the notorious Ozamiz gang. It was a different version from that of the Ozamiz gangmen’s police escorts, who have said that their convoy was intercepted and shot at by gunmen on motorcycles, the report added. Also on Thursday,  a GMA News source tried contacting the family but they could no longer be reached. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, detailed that members of the family had met with NBI agents on Wednesday midnight, along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. However, during the meeting, about 20 members of the Quezon City Police District arrived, the reporty said. There was a tense moment between the law enforcers, the television report said. Read More …

Immigration chief Ricardo David resigns

 News
Jul 152013
 
Immigration chief Ricardo David resigns

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David has resigned from his post, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced Tuesday. Valte said President Benigno Aquino III accepted David’s resignation, stated in a letter dated July 12. The President’s spokesperson said she has no information on David’s replacement at the moment. David also served as chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA News

Supreme Court extends order stopping RH law

 News
Jul 152013
 
Supreme Court extends order stopping RH law

(UPDATED 1:00 p.m.) – In a close vote, Supreme Court justices on Tuesday extended indefinitely the status quo ante order (SQAO) stopping the implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law. The SC imposed a status quo ante order on the law last March, delaying its implementation. The order was supposed to expire on July 17 but the high court extend it on Tuesday. The SC Public Information Office said the justices voted 8-7 to extend the status quo ante (Latin for “the way things were before”) order against the health measure. “SC, voting 8-7, ordered SQAO in RH Law extended until further orders effective immediately,” the SC PIO said. The status quo ante order directs the parties to observe the status or situation before the implementation of the RH law. The controversial law mandates the government to use public to distribute contraceptives, deploy midwives, and teach sex education in elementary among others. The extension came a day before the original 120-day SQA order, issued on March 19, was to expire on Wednesday. In the original SQA order, the justices voted 10-5. The five who dissented in the earlier voting were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen. The second round of oral arguments on the controversial law is scheduled for July 23, when petitioners are expected to continue presenting their arguments against the law, enacted by President Benigno Aquino III in December 2012. During the first day of Read More …

De Lima questions deaths of two suspects in Laguna

 News
Jul 152013
 
De Lima questions deaths of two suspects in Laguna

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is questioning the circumstances of the deaths of two suspected criminals in Laguna who were shot while in police custody and being transferred from Cavite on Monday night. In a press conference in Manila, De Lima said many questions have to be answered on the deaths of Ricky Cadavero alias “Kambal” and Wilfredo Panogalinga alias “Kulot,” who were said to have been shot dead by their police escorts after the two supposedly tried escaping. Cadavero and Panogalinga were being held for illegal possession of firearms. The police officers were transporting Cadavero and Panogalinga back to Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna from Cavite, where the two underwent inquest proceedings when the shooting hyappened on Monday. An initial police report said that at a little past 6:30 p.m., as the police convoy was passing through San Pedro, Laguna on the Magsaysay Highway, the van carrying Cadavero and Panogalinga was shot at by unknown gunmen on two motorcycles. Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, head of the San Pedro Police, said that it was at this point that Cadavero and Panogalinga made a grab for their police escorts’ weapons. The officers resisted and the two alleged gangster ended up getting shot. The police officers suffered minor injuries. Meanwhile, the motorcycle-riding gunmen sped away. The other vehicle in the police convoy then rushed Cadavero and Panogalinga to the nearest hospital, but they were declared “dead on arrival.” Cadavero and Panogalinga were in police custody as they were arrested by the Philippine National Police last Friday Read More …

Trader linked to P10-B pork barrel scam turns tables on whistleblower

 News
Jul 152013
 
Trader linked to P10-B pork barrel scam turns tables on whistleblower

The businesswoman implicated in the P10-billion ghost project scam involving legislators’ pork barrel funds has fired back with her own accusations against a probable witness in the case. “Hindi po. Ako ay isang mother ng mga anak ko. Si Benhur ‘Kilap Kilap’ Luy ang scammer,” Janet Lim Napoles said in a one-on-one interview with GMA News’ Vicky Morales on Saksi on Monday.  This was Napoles’ response to allegations that she is the “mother of all scams,” after being implicated in multi-billion peso ghost projects being probed by the National Bureau of Investigation. Her accuser, Luy, said Napoles’ company JLN Corporation was tapped in ghost projects of the government, including the fertilizer fund scam, the Malampaya fund scam, and several other projects implemented with money coming from the Priority Development Assistance Fund. The ghost projects were pegged in one report as totalling P10 billion worth, and the scam had allegedly been going on for 10 years. “Wow, napakalaki niyan, P10 billion. Buong release na ‘yan ng Kongreso at Senado. So bakit for 10 years ngayon lang sila nagsalita?” Napoles said, frowning.  Sitting with her legs crossed and her hands on her lap, Napoles appeared calm. However, her voice rose as she called for proof of the accusations against her.  “Kaya nga ho, nakakahiya. Nananawagan naman ako kay Ma’am na sana mapatunayan muna ng mga whistleblower bago naman po idamay nila, dinungisan ang isang institusyon na Senado, dahil lang sa mga whistleblower na gustong magtago, magkubli ng katotohanan,” Napoles said, referring to Senator Read More …

Navy warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz readies to leave Hawaii en route to PHL

 General
Jul 152013
 
Navy warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz readies to leave Hawaii en route to PHL

After receiving a warm welcome from the Filipino community in Hawaii, the crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the Philippines’ newest warship, prepared to leave and continue their journey to the Philippines. Photos posted on the BRP Ramon Alcaraz’s Facebook page on Tuesday (Philippine time) showed the crew busy making preparations for the trip home. “(The ship’s crewmembers are) conducting refueling, coordination on the engineering requirements, admin(istrative) and logistical requirements and the testing of other equipment to be utilized during the voyage,” the captions on the photos read. The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz is expected to reach the Philippines on August 3. During its stay in Hawaii, the crew headed by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino toured the USS Arizona Memorial.Five enlisted personnel of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz also took their oaths of re-enlistment:EN2 Regidor Labrador, EN3 Tomas Ciruelos Jr.,EN3 Ernesto Cabahug,S2YN Erica Celemin, andEN3 Marlon Martonito. Last weekend, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz arrived in Hawaii to a warm welcome from the Filipino-American community there. An earlier Philippines News Agency report said Hawaii is the frigate’s second port call en route to the Philippines. Last June 28, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) docked at San Diego 28 for refueling and re-provisioning. Following its Aug. 3 arrival, the newest warship may be commissioned in September. The ship is named after Filipino naval hero Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, who gained distinction in World War II by shooting down three Japanese Zero fighters who tried to attack his ship. – Read More …

PAGASA: Tropical Depression Isang off Quezon coast, Signal 1 up over north Luzon

 News
Jul 152013
 
PAGASA: Tropical Depression Isang off Quezon coast, Signal 1 up over north Luzon

(Updated 6:20 a.m.) In its 5 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Warning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that the low pressure area east of Infanta, Quezon has developed into a tropical depression named Isang. This has prompted PAGASA to raise Public Storm Signal Number 1 over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Ifugao, Cagayan including the Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Mt. Province, Kalinga and Apayao. Those living in areas under the Storm Signal are alerted against possible landslides and flashfloods. As of 4 a.m., the center of Isang was estimated to be 300 km east of Infanta, and had maximum winds of 45 kph. Estimated rainfall within its 300 km diameter is between 5-15 mm per hour (moderate-heavy). Isang was moving west-northwest at 19 kph. It is expected to be 20 km east of Tuguegarao City by Wednesday moring. By Thursday it is expected that Isang will be 230 km northwest of Itbayat, Batanes. — DVM, GMA News

Oil firms imposing big-time price hike Tuesday morning

 News
Jul 152013
 
Oil firms imposing big-time price hike Tuesday morning

Starting 6 a.m. Tuesday, oil companies will impose a big-time fuel price hike. At least two major oil firms on Monday night announced price hikes for fuel products including gasoline, kerosene and diesel, radio dzBB’s Manny Vargas reported. Chevron and Shell both cited price changes in the world market for oil as the reason behind the hike, the report said. The price hikes include: – 75 centavos per liter for diesel– P1.60 per liter for gasoline– P1.00 per liter for kerosene A separate report by GMA News’ Julius Segovia said Petron will implement a similar oil price hike on Tuesday morning. Last week, oil companies including Petron, Shell and Chevron also raised prices of their products. Last week’s price adjustments included: – 60 centavos per liter for gasoline– 45 centavos per liter for diesel– 40 centavos per liter for kerosene — DVM, GMA News

Chinese drug traffickers, Ozamis robbers nabbed by police

 News
Jul 152013
 
Chinese drug traffickers, Ozamis robbers nabbed by police

Convicted members of the Ozamis robbery and hold-up group as well as two Chinese drug traffickers were nabbed by police authorities in two consecutive arrests over the weekend, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government. Serial bank robbers Ricky Cadavero alias “Kambal” and his accomplice Wilfredo Panogalinga Jr. alias “Kulot” were arrested last Friday at Barangay San Agustin 2, Dasmariñas, Cavite. Cadavero escaped New Bilibid Prison December last year, while Panogalinga escaped from Ozamis City jail July last year. Cadavero’s group is linked to various mall and bank robberies in Metro Manila. Panogalinga is also a key suspect in the shooting and killing of a foreigner during the September 2012 robbery of a 7-11 convenience store in Malate, Manila, police said. He is also responsible for the killing of a security guard in another 7-11 store last December 2012. In a “24 Oras” report on Monday, both suspects said poverty compelled them to commit crimes. They were killed Monday night by their police escorts during what police investigators said was an attempt by the Ozamis gang to rescue them. Meanwhile, convicted drug traffickers and couple Li Lan Yan alias Jackson Dy and Wang Li Na, both of whom escaped the Cavite Provincial Jail last February, were recaptured on Saturday at San Juan City. The third drug trafficker Li Tian Hua escaped the police’s dragnet operation, and is believed to have fled to China. Other members of the Ozamis group arrested in Cavite and Batangas were: Nestor Buenabente alias Moklo,Rogie Read More …

MILF exec: Signing of wealth-sharing annex may not stop fighting

 News
Jul 132013
 
MILF exec: Signing of wealth-sharing annex may not stop fighting

GPH, MILF peace panels sign wealth-sharing annex of peace agreement. Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Negotiators reached agreement over the weekend in Kuala Lumpur on wealth-sharing issues of their Framework Agreement for peace in Mindanao. www.opapp.gov.ph The signing of a wealth-sharing peace agreement annex by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front may not necessarily stop clashes in Mindanao, a senior MILF official admitted Sunday. MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar said that if the wealth-sharing agreement is not popular among the Bangsamoro, some groups could use it as an excuse to launch attacks. “Kung hindi ito very popular sa mga Bangsamoro masses, lalo sa mga leader…, nangangamba ako na baka gawin nilang justification sa pagsagawa katulad ng sinagawa ng BIFF na pagsalakay kahapon hanggang kagabi,” Jaafar said in an interview on dzBB radio. He was referring to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) led by Ameril Umbra Kato, who the MILF had described as a rogue commander. Kato had led attacks in Mindanao as early as 2008, when the Supreme Court thumbed down a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain between the government and the MILF. The BIFF launced attacks Saturday, ambushing a military truck in Guindulungan town in Maguindanao. On Saturday night, the government and the MILF closed the 38th round of exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur with the signing of the annex on wealth sharing. “In a show of true commitment, the Parties extended the meeting, originally scheduled for four days Read More …

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