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PAGASA: Rain over Mindanao, 38-degree Celsius weekend for Central Luzon

News

May 092013

PAGASA: Rain over Mindanao, 38-degree Celsius weekend for Central Luzon

Satellite Image as of 7:30 a.m, 9 May 2013. | Weather Central Central Luzon is in for scorcher of a weekend as temperatures as high as 38 degrees Celsius was forecast. Meanwhile, rain was projected over parts of southern Luzon, western Visayas and Mindanao due to the inter-tropical convergence zone. PAGASA forecaster Ricky Fabregas on Friday said that while the ITCZ would be affecting Mindanao, the easterlies or warm winds from the east will be affecting the rest of the country. “Sa Election Day, ang Mindanao may high probability ng paulan dahil sa ITCZ. Sa Luzon at Visayas, mababa ang probability, mga isolated rain showers and thunderstorms,” Fabregas said in an interview on dzBB radio. He also said temperatures will be hot in Luzon on Election Day, at about 26 to 35 degrees Celsius. Visayas and Mindanao may expect cooler weather at 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. 38-degree Celsius weekend PAGASA’s extended outlook indicated temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius in Angeles and Olongapo Cities in Central Luzon. It said the two cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 37 degrees Celsius Friday, and 25 to 38 degrees Celsius Saturday and Sunday, before settling to 25 to 37 degrees Celsius on Monday. Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius Friday and Saturday. Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 24 to 36 degrees Celsius Friday. Friday weather In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Mimaropa, western Visayas and Mindanao will have cloudy skies with light to Read More …

Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

News

May 092013

Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

Taiwan on Thursday demanded an apology from the Philippine government as it condemned the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine vessel. At least one fisherman was reported dead in the incident. A report on Taiwan’s Central News Agency said Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the shooting came from an “official Philippine ship.” Earlier, Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that a Philippine Navy ship fired upon the fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Quoting the foreign ministry, the CNA report identified the slain fisherman as Hung Shih-cheng, 65, adding the shooting occurred Thursday morning. It said the Taiwanese boat “Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28” was some 170 nautical miles off the southern coast of Taiwan at the time, and was seriously damaged. Aside from an apology, Taiwan demanded that the Philippine government identify those responsible and make compensation for the losses. The CNA report noted there had been past incidents where Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area were arrested and detained by Philippine authorities. But it said there had been few reports of shooting. Quoting Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Raymond Wang, who met with Philippine Coast Guard head Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, the Philippines found one of its ships shot the Taiwanese fishing boat. It said the type of vessel deployed by the Philippines and the weapons used were not immediately known. A separate report on Taipei Times said the vessel was operating at around 164 nautical miles (304 km) southeast Read More …

PHL Navy ship fires upon Taiwan fishing boat, one  dead – report

News

May 092013

PHL Navy ship fires upon Taiwan fishing boat, one  dead - report

Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that a Taiwanese fisherman died Thursday morning after a Philippine Navy ship fired upon a fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Xinhua said the deputy head of Taiwan’s fishery administration, Tsay Tzu-yaw, disclosed details of the incident. GMA News Online contacted the Philippine Navy for comment or confirmation, but no authorized officer was available as of posting time. Citing Taiwanese media reports, Xinhua said the Filipino ship dealt severe damage to the fishing boat while chasing it for an hour “after killing the fisherman” in waters 180 nautical miles southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan. — DVM/ELR, GMA News

1,542 out of 3,601 pass Civil Engineer Licensure Exam — PRC

News

May 092013

1,542 out of 3,601 pass Civil Engineer Licensure Exam — PRC

A total of 1,542 out of 3,601 passed the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi and Lucena this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Thursday. The PRC said the results of examination with respect to two examinees were withheld pending final determination of their liabilities under the rules and regulations governing licensure examination. [Click here for complete list of passers in Civil Engineer Licensure Exam.] Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be from May 20 to May 22, 2013, the PRC said. The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees in the said examination will be announced later, the PRC added. — KBK, GMA News

Graft raps filed vs. Loren Legarda over misdeclared assets

News

May 062013

Graft raps filed vs. Loren Legarda over misdeclared assets

Self-proclaimed “anti-corruption crusader” Louis Biraogo on Monday filed a complaint against re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda for allegedly misdeclaring her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The case was in connection with the posh residential condominium unit that Legarda bought in New York in 2006 for $700,000. “Eto po ay napaka-expensive, mahal na property, na hindi kaya ng ordinaryong tao dito sa ating bansa. Ito ay binili ni Sen. Loren Legarda noong 2006 sa halagang $700,000,” Biraogo said in a report on GMA News’ “24 Oras.” Legarda, who is running under the administration coalition, was accused of violating the anti-graft law and code of conduct and ethical standards of public officials, the report said. At a press briefing last week, Legarda said the property, which she said is family-owned, has been in her SALN since 2007 but declared as “Equity in Real Property.” The price of the unit as reflected in her SALN was $7.1 million, supposedly her share in purchasing the property. But in filing the complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, Biraogo presented to the media the title for the condominum unit showing that Legarda is the sole owner of the property. “Eto yung titulo, at sa titulo po ang buyer ay si Sen. Loren Legarda. Walang nakalagay na kapatid nya o asawa nya,” he said. Legarda was among the senators who voted in favor of ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona last year for misdeclaring his SALN. Legarda, who continues to top surveys Read More …

MILF reminds members vs supporting candidates in upcoming polls

News

May 062013

MILF reminds members vs supporting candidates in upcoming polls

In the last week before the May 13 elections, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front issued a last-minute reminder to its members against supporting any candidate. At most, MILF secretariat chairman Muhammad Ameen said, the MILF’s members can vote for candidates who are pro-people and pro-peace process. “We will not support any candidate officially during the May 13 Philippine national elections. However, we appeal to our people and members who wish to participate to vote for candidates who are genuinely pro-people and pro-peace process and reject those who are corrupt, oppressive, and violent,” he said in an article posted Monday on the MILF website. The article stated that this is “the nth time” that the organization has reiterated its “hands-off policy” on Philippine elections. “The MILF is beyond partisan politics and considers everyone as part of its constituency,” Ameen said, adding the MILF is a revolutionary Islamic organization. Ameen issued the hands-off reminder on May 2 following a meeting of the MILF central committee. MILF chairman Al Haj Murad had presided over the meeting after returning from a visit to several countries in Asia and the Middle East. On April 29, he attended the launching of the FASTRAC (Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities) in Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. FASTRAC is a three-year program organized by the MILF, the United Nations and the World Bank. It provides on-demand technical assistance in the run-up to the establishment of the upcoming Bangsamoro political entity. — BM, GMA News

De Lima wants Mancao coddlers unmasked

News

May 062013

Investigators are currently zeroing in on the coddlers of fugitive murder suspect Cezar Mancao II, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Monday. “I don’t think mag-isa siya (Mancao). May kasama siya [at] may ibang nagpo-protekta sa kaniya. Iyon ngayon ang pinapahanap ko,” De Lima said. De Lima also said they are determining Mancao’s possible real agenda in escaping, among these to put the Department of Justice in bad light and to push for his candidacy for local position in Compostela Valley, his home province. Mancao, a suspect in the high-profile Dacer-Corbito double murder case, escaped from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) compound last Thursday, the same day he was about to be transferred to the Manila City Jail. In various interviews after his escape, Mancao cited fear for his life as reason for his escape. De Lima said Mancao could have another agenda for escaping, although investigators have yet to confirm this. “I hope wala nang ibang agenda. Ang sinasabi niya kaya siya tumakas dahil mamamatay lang siya sa city jail,” De Lima said. “Pero what if kung may mga tao na ibang agenda na somehow maa-access siya?” Sabotage the DOJ De Lima noted the possibility that Mancao’s escape was part of a plan to “sabotage” the DOJ and the NBI. “Ayoko nag-iisip ng ganoon. Pero I also want to think ahead. Sa trabahong ito, hindi puwedeng hindi ka paranoid paminsan-minsan,” she said She said whoever could be coddling Mancao probably wants to “destroy the reputation and put to Read More …

PNoy backs Loren in NY condo unit issue

News

May 062013

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday attested to Senator Loren Legarda’s “long and credible record of advocacies” amid accusations that the senator did not declare a posh New York City condominium unit in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs). On Monday, Legarda’s office released to the media copies of Aquino’s statement expressing support for the senator. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda confirmed that the President issued the statement for Legarda, who is currently running for reelection under the administration slate. “Throughout this campaign, Loren Legarda has enjoyed the overwhelming support of voters, which is in keeping with her longstanding status as a member of the Senate and a public official. She has a long and credible record of advocacies, which is the foundation for her public support,” Aquino’s statement read. “I am confident that she is not only prepared, but will do her utmost best, to answer any and all allegations raised against her,” the President added. Last week, Legarda was found to own a condominum unit in New York worth $700,000. The senator’s SALNs did not categorically state that she owned this property, instead referring to “other investment,” without the specifics required by the Civil Service Commission. In response to the accusation, Legarda’s office said the condominium unit

Palace: No 'hit list' vs communist rebels

News

May 062013

Palace: No 'hit list' vs communist rebels

Malacañang on Monday denied the existence of a supposed “hit list” containing names of “most wanted” communist rebels in the country, which progressive groups said may cause further harassment in their ranks from government security forces. “There is no ‘hit list.’ What we have is the list of those who have been issued warrants of arrest,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing. He added that the list of persons with standing arrest warrants can be easily accessed by the public from courts. “They are public. These are all public documents. A warrant of arrest is a public document issued by the courts,” he said. The Manila Standard Today on Monday published a report on some political and human rights activists fearing the revival of a supposed “hit list” the government may use against communist rebels. The report said lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc wants the government to publicly release the names of 235 wanted communists in the country. Last year, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Defense came up with a joint order listing the names of 235 suspected insurgents with standing warrants, carrying P176-million total bounty on their heads. Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, for his part, said the public deserves to know which names are on this list, since the bounty being offered comes from their taxes. “Kapag naghahanap ka nga ng labandera, inilalagay mo sa labas ng bahay mo: ‘Wanted Labandera.’ The public deserves to know this. We want Read More …

To put more allies in Senate, PNoy ramping up support for admin bets

News

May 052013

To put more allies in Senate, PNoy ramping up support for admin bets

The administration slate bears his name, so President Benigno Aquino III is pulling out all the stops to make sure that most, if not all, of his senatorial bets will emerge victorious in the 2013 polls. Last week, the President accompanied the administration senatorial ticket, which was called “Team Pnoy,” almost every day during sorties in provinces where he dominated the voting during the 2010 national polls. The Liberal Party (LP)-led senatorial slate went with Aquino last week to vote-rich Pangasinan, Camarines Sur and Quezon province, as well as the President’s home province, Tarlac. Data culled by GMA News Online also showed that the President was present in 11 of the 12 provincial sorties the administration ticket mounted in the past month. Aquino also graced the LP-led coalition’s kickoff for the local race in vote-rich Manila last April 1. At a press briefing last week, the President said that he wants to “increase efforts” for the 12 candidates he is endorsing for Senate seats in the upcoming polls. “I think I am leading also by example. We believe we are espousing a certain ideology,” Aquino said at a press conference last Tuesday. The President likewise assured the public that while he is campaigning for his slate, he makes sure that he does his duties as the country’s top elected official. He said he checks ongoing projects, conducts dialogues with local officials, and meets with the security sector when he visits provinces for sorties. TV ads The President does not only Read More …

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