Maniolas

The special operations unit of the Philippine National Police aviation security group conducts clearing operations around the isolated Saudia airplane at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Tuesday (Sept. 20, 2016). JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER IT WAS pilot error and not a hijacking that caused a Saudia Airlines flight from Jeddah to raise a security alarm at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) on Tuesday afternoon. Airport authorities ordered Saudia Airlines flight SV 872 to roll to an isolated area off the runway where security forces could assess the situation. The unidentified Saudia pilot reportedly triggered a “hijacking” alert while the plane was 20 miles from the Naia at around 2 p.m. Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal said “it was accidental.”  But he said the pilot was under investigation for the incident because “the problem is it was pushed twice.” 400 returning Filipino hajjis The alert caused the Manila control tower to advise Naia security that the flight was under threat. The plane had over 400 returning Filipino hajj pilgrims on board. “The MIAA together with the Aviation Security Group immediately responded and designated an isolation site at the rapid exit area near main runway 06/24,” Monreal said. Airport Emergency Plan 4, the MIAA strategy for a hijacking, was immediately put into action, he added. Although the incident was eventually attributed to the pilot mistakenly pushing the panic button, Monreal said it still had to be properly investigated. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Read More …

PRESIDENT Duterte on Tuesday let loose a fresh tirade against the European Union (EU) after it had called for a halt to the extrajudicial killing of drug suspects in the Philippines. “I read the condemnation of the European Union against me. I will tell them fuck you. You’re doing it in atonement for your sins,” Mr. Duterte said in a speech before local government officials in Davao City. The President said the members of the European Union had become strict [about human rights] because they had “guilt feelings” over the atrocities they had committed in the past. He called them hypocrites, adding that a check of encyclopedias would show what European countries had done. For instance, he said, France and Great Britain had killed Arabs. “And then the European Union now has the gall to condemn me. I repeat it, fuck you,” he said. Mr. Duterte asked whom he was supposed to have killed in the Philippines. Assuming that the accusations against him were true—and there were over 1,000 killed in the country—he asked who were the people who were killed. “Who were they? Criminals? You call it genocide? How many did they kill?” he said, alluding to the Europeans. Latest Former justice exec says inmate testimony were fabrications NY Times teams with Google parent to tame comments US spy plane crashes; pilot killed, another hurt Cebu ‘drug dealer’ shot, wounded in attack Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which Read More …

CHINESE investors and tourists are starting to warm up to the Philippines on the back of President Duterte’s repeated calls to make peace with China. Francis Chua, chair emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), noted this growing interest, as he disclosed that there will be a cruise ship—with some 2,000 Chinese tourists and investors—docking in the Philippines soon. Chua declined to cite specifics but pointed out that this may be the first time such a huge group from China would be arriving in the Philippines at a given time. “A lot of Chinese are coming in and a lot of people here would like to have more business relationship with China…There is a cruise ship coming in with 2,000 Chinese people, supposedly tourists and investors, and this is significant. (China) is sending somebody to meet me next week,” Chua told reporters on Monday. The PCCI official admitted that the previous administration was clear in its stance of not wanting to have anything to do with China. But it seems, he said, that under the new administration, both countries are warming up—a development he deemed would benefit local companies and industries. “If our relations with China are better, we can get more investments from them, loans and business opportunities for both sides. Also, if the relationship (improves), we can ask them to open up the job market in China for Filipinos. There are a lot of Filipinos working in China but there is no law. We just Read More …

TURNOVER Norwegian hostage Kjartan Sekkingstad is turned over to Nur Misuari, leader of the Moro National Liberation Front, by the Abu Sayyaf in Indanan town in Sulu province. AP INDANAN, Sulu—A freed Norwegian hostage on Sunday said he was “lucky to be alive” after he was kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf bandits and held in the jungles of Sulu for more than a year. Kjartan Sekkingstad appeared gaunt and frail as he was handed over to Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza along with three Indonesian fishermen who had been held captive with him. “I am so very happy and lucky to be alive,” Sekkingstad, heavily bearded and wearing a camouflage jacket, told reporters in Indanan town on Jolo island before being flown to Davao City to meet President Duterte. Sekkingstad and the fishermen were turned over by the Abu Sayyaf to Nur Misuari, leader of a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) that has signed a peace agreement with the government, at the MNLF camp in Indanan on Saturday night. Misuari handed over the freed captives to Dureza in Indanan on Sunday. At his meeting with Sekkingstad in Davao City late on Sunday, President Duterte thanked Dureza, Misuari and former Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan for working hard for the release of the Norwegian. To Sekkingstad, Mr. Duterte said: “Your travails in life are over.” Sekkingstad thanked Mr. Duterte, Dureza, Misuari and the Norwegian government for working for his release. “I am happy to be alive and Read More …

TEODORO LOCSIN JR. INQUIRER PHOTO TEODORO “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr. has been appointed as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations, a job he takes on that will require more than the acerbic and witty charm he has wielded as lawyer, politician and journalist because of President Duterte’s avowed disdain of the New York-based institution. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday said the 67-year-old Locsin told him on Saturday night he had accepted the post as the Philippines’ top diplomat in the United Nations offered to him during a meeting with Mr. Duterte at Bahay Pangarap, the President’s official residence, in Malacañang. The UN post is currently occupied by Lourdes Yparraguirre, a career official at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Yparraguirre has been in the news lately after a migrant workers advocacy group asked the DFA to send a team to the Philippine mission in New York City to look into the alleged abusive behavior of the Philippine ambassador toward her household staff. The appointment of a new Philippine representative to the United Nations comes amid Mr. Duterte’s verbal feuds with UN officials, who have expressed concern over the increasing number of alleged drug suspects being killed in the country as a result of the Chief Executive’s war on illegal drugs. Mr. Duterte has slammed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special rapporteurs on human rights. He has also threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the United Nations. Media, politics Locsin currently hosts shows for the ABS-CBN Read More …