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The Philippine National Police will field about 50,000 barangay security officers and civilian volunteers to help law enforcement during the All Saints’ Day weekend (Undas). In a statement, PNP spokesman Police Sr. Supt. Wilben Mayor said that about 57,266 individuals composed of Barangay Tanod, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, private security guards, and civilian volunteers will aide the police force for Undas. For its part, the PNP will deploy 41,602 policemen for the nationwide campaign called “Oplan Ligtas Undas 2014.” The civilians are set to assist the police in law enforcement and public safety operations in cemeteries and memorial parks, bus terminals, sea ports, airports, major tourist destinations, vital installations, places of worship, and travel routes. “We welcome and acknowledge the participation and support of LGUs, NGOs, Civilian Volunteer Organizations, BPATs, civic groups and force multipliers to our security operations for the Halloween weekend holiday,” Mayor said. Likewise, he added that PNP will establish Police Assistance Centers along major thoroughfares and highways for emergency road assistance as the police expects the “traditional exodus of city residents to the provinces.” The PNP also advised local police and barangay patrol groups to mobilize a “neighborhood watch group” to provide security to homes left by vacationing residents. For security concerns, the PNP may be reached at Patrol 117 and SMS 0917-847-5757. —Rouchelle Dinglasan/KG, GMA News

(Updated 10:39 a.m.) The Senate blue ribbon committee on Wednesday formally invited Vice President Jejomar Binay to attend its hearing on the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II and corruption allegations against the former Makati mayor on November 6, Thursday. In a letter signed by its chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III, the committee reiterated its invitation to Binay “to make an appearance in a public hearing on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 10 a.m. to be held at the Senate Plenary Hall to shed light and deliberate” on the issue. “Please, rest assured that we will extend the courtesies befitting the Office of the Vice President,” the letter dated October 28 stated. Binay’s office received the letter on October 29. Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political concerns, said they will discuss the invitation with the Vice President. “The Office of the Vice President just received the invitation one hour ago. The Vice President is in the Bicol Region this weekend. We will discuss the matter when he arrives,” Remulla said in a text message to GMA News Online.  Binay’s camp earlier said the Vice President will only attend the hearing if it will be the main committee, and not the subcommittee, which will make the invitation. At present, the hearings on the controversial building are being conducted by the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee headed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III. The Vice President is accused of bid rigging and receiving kickbacks from every Read More …

GENEVA – If you’re waiting for gender equality in the workplace, be prepared to wait a long time. While women are rapidly closing the gender gap with men in areas like health and education, inequality at work is not expected to be erased until 2095, according to a report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) Tuesday. The Philippines, meanwhile, placed in the top 10 most gender-equal countries. The WEF, which each year gathers the global elite in the plush Swiss ski resort of Davos, said that the worldwide gender gap in the workplace had barely narrowed in the past nine years. Since 2006, when the WEF first began issuing its annual Global Gender Gap Reports, women have seen their access to economic participation and opportunity inch up to 60 percent of that of men’s, from 56 percent. “Based on this trajectory, with all else remaining equal, it will take 81 years for the world to close this gap completely,” the WEF said in a statement. The world would be better served to speed up the process, according to WEF founder and chief Klaus Schwab. “Achieving gender equality is obviously necessary for economic reasons. Only those economies who have full access to all their talent will remain competitive and will prosper,” he said. Some ‘far-reaching’ progress The report, which covered 142 countries, looked at how nations distribute access to healthcare, education, political participation and resources and opportunities between women and men. Almost all the countries had made progress towards closing Read More …

Laude sympathizers rally near Olongapo court. Sympathizers of slain transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude rally outside the Olongapo Hall of Justice on Monday, October 27, during the second day of the preliminary investigation on the case. Suspect US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton was again a no-show at the probe. Rouchelle Dinglasan Prosecutors on Monday rejected a motion filed by the camp of US Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott Pemberton seeking to reduce the murder complaint filed against him to homicide, saying it would be premature to do so. The 19-year-old US Marine is the suspect in killing transgender woman Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude, who was found dead in a motel on Oct. 11. The motion was one of three filed by the defense, led by lawyer Rowena Garcia-Flores, during the preliminary investigation at the Olongapo Hall of Justice. The motions were for clarification of the murder complaint, declaration that there was no probable cause, and — in case the prosecution panel finds probable cause — the reduction of the charge to homicide. “Do not teach us what to do. We will base our resolution on the evidence that we’ve gathered,” Olongapo City Chief Prosecutor Emilie Fe Delos Santos said during the proceedings, which lasted less than an hour. All three motions were denied. Delos Santos explained that the evidence needs to be corroborated before the panel can decide if the complaint should be filed in court. Only then will the charge be determined, she said. “It is premature to determine if Read More …

popular Renée Zellweger is that you? Old Hollywood ‘taboo’ again Ottawa gunman made video before attack – police ‘The Judge’: Objection! Badgering the moviegoer Jennifer Laude ignored haters, fought for dolls, kept poise Execs from Harvard bring adobo to US market Palace on Binay-Trillanes debate: Sign of healthy democracy Ancient Philippine textiles studied by Prince Charles’ School of Traditional Arts LeBron homecoming turns Cavaliers into contenders videos AFP spokesman, netizens engage in Twitter war over Sueselbeck Soldier shoved by Sueselbeck gets award Commotion on van causes false holdup alarm First blind bar examinee leaves lawyer dream to God Unicef’ Trick or Treat MANILA, Philippines—A Filipina maid conspired with her Indonesian woman companion to kill a Pakistani driver who allegedly had sexual relations with both of them in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Khaleej Times reported Monday. According to the Sharjah police, the driver was found dead in his room. He died of strangulation, police added. Police said that the maids confessed to the crime. The maids and the driver were working for an Emirati family. The names of those involved in the incident have been withheld by Sharjah police. RELATED STORIES Filipina maid faces adultery rap in UAE Foreign maids endure abuse in UAE—Human Rights Watch Tags: murder Overseas Filipino workers UAE Related Stories: Australia investigates ‘paedophile’ father in Thai baby scandal Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in sinking Bangladesh ferry owner faces charges in Read More …