‘United Asean will try to convince China on sea code of conduct’

 News
Aug 172013
 
‘United Asean will try to convince China on sea code of conduct’

Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:25 am | Sunday, August 18th, 2013 An aerial view shows an islet in the disputed Spratly Group of Islands, in the West Philippine Sea. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will speak as one to convince China to negotiate a binding agreement on conduct in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), a stand that was reached after initial discord on the contentious issue. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Saturday ministers of the 10-member bloc have agreed to collectively encourage China to sit down and discuss the long-delayed completion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the West Philippine Sea, legally binding guidelines that would govern the disputed waters. “With solidarity and in speaking with one voice, Asean has taken the position that it will urge China to agree to an expeditious conclusion of the COC,” said Del Rosario in a text message Saturday. Del Rosario joined fellow Asean ministers in a two-day meeting  at the Hua Hin resort town in Thailand on Aug. 14 and 15, discussions preparatory to Asean’s meeting with China on the COC at the end of the month. The talks to be held in Beijing would follow through on the willingness China had signified to the Asean during ministerial meetings in Brunei in June, where Beijing agreed to discuss the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Del Rosario earlier said the Philippines Read More …

PAGASA: 'Maring' accelerates east-southeast; Luzon dam opens 1 gate

 News
Aug 162013
 
PAGASA: 'Maring' accelerates east-southeast; Luzon dam opens 1 gate

Tropical Depression Maring slightly accelerated as it moved east-southeast Saturday morning, state weather forecasters said. In its 11 a.m. update, PAGASA said Storm Signal No. 1 over Batanes province in Extreme Northern Luzon has been lifted. “Nguni’t inaasahan pa rin ang moderate to heavy na ulan,” PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said in an interview on dzBB radio. Moreover, he said Maring will still enhance the southwest monsoon. PAGASA said that as of 10 a.m., Maring was estimated at 270 km northeast of Itbayat town in Batanes. It packed maximum winds of 55 kph near the center and is forecast to move east-southeast at 11 kph. Maring is expected to be 510 km east of Itbayat, Batanes by Sunday morning, and 740 km northeast of Itbayat by Monday morning. By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be at 960 km northeast of Itbayat. PAGASA said Maring may bring rain of 5 to 10 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within is 300-km diameter. It added the southwest monsoon enhanced by Maring may bring moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over the western section of Luzon. Meanwhile, PAGASA said Magat Dam in Isabela opened one gate at one meter. It said that as of 11 a.m., Magat’s water level was at 192.16 meters. Its maximum water level is 193 meters. — LBG, GMA News

NBI taps Coast Guard in hunt for fugitive businesswoman Janet Napoles

 News
Aug 162013
 
NBI taps Coast Guard in hunt for fugitive businesswoman Janet Napoles

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday tapped the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in its hunt for businesswoman Janet Napoles, the central figure in a multibillion-peso pork barrel fund mess. NBI director Nonnatus Rojas wrote the Coast Guard for assistance, asking its units to inform the NBI if they spot Napoles or her brother Reynald, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported on Friday afternoon. Coast Guard spokesman Cmdr. Armand Balilo said instructions have been sent to Coast Guard stations to be on alert for Napoles and her brother, who are subjects of an arrest warrant issued by a Makati court. The arrest warrant for the Napoles siblings stemmed from the alleged illegal detention of who would turn out to be the whistleblower in the pork barrel scam. Earlier on Friday, the Philippine National Police joined in the hunt for Napoles after receiving a copy of the arrest warrant. An updated dzBB report said the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group deployed 19 tracker teams nationwide to go after the siblings. Napoles, the woman at the center of an alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam, has been ordered arrested for the serious illegal detention case involving whistleblower Benhur Luy. “Warrants of arrest (were) issued this afternoon by Br. 150, RTC-Makati vs Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim in the serious illegal detention case,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told GMA News Online on Wednesday. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has charged Napoles and Lim for the alleged illegal Read More …

NDRRMC: 274 still missing from sunken ship in Cebu

 News
Aug 162013
 
NDRRMC: 274 still missing from sunken ship in Cebu

Red Cross personnel attend to survivors of ships’ collision. Survivors of the collision between two ships near the Cebu International Port in waters off the towns of Talisay and Cordova are attended to be personnel of the Philippine Red Cross. GMA News – Cebu At least 274 passengers are still missing as of 7 a.m. Saturday from the collision of a passenger ship and a cargo vessel off Cebu Friday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 7 a.m. update, the NDRRMC indicated the missing are from the MV Saint Thomas Aquinas of 2GO Shipping, as the crew of the MV Suplicio Express 7 are accounted for. “As of 7 a.m. (Saturday), 24 persons are confirmed dead, 572 passengers were rescued, and 274 are missing,” it said. The NDRRMC said the 38 crewmembers of the MV Sulpicio Express 7 are “all safe and accounted for.” Search and rescue operations are still ongoing, with the Coast Guard, Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Navy, and Department of Health taking part in the efforts. Volunteer groups are also helping in the search and rescue efforts. The NDRRMC said the injured victims were brought to various hospitals while the fatalities’ remains were brought to Pier 4 in Cebu City. Management of 2GO provided relief assistance including temporary shelter to 300 survivors at the passengers’ terminal of Pier 4. Other survivors were billeted at Subutel and Stella Marie Hotel, while other survivors in Talisay City Read More …

NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Labuyo' rises to 10, latest fatalities from Pangasinan

 News
Aug 162013
 
NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Labuyo' rises to 10, latest fatalities from Pangasinan

The death toll from Typhoon Labuyo (international name Utor) rose to at least 10 as of Friday night and the latest fatalities are from Pangasinan province. In its 5:00 p.m. update posted on its website Friday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) identified one of the two as Geronimo Lacson, 64. Lacson, a resident of Bugallon in Pangasinan, died from a heart attack after falling down while sweeping out floodwaters from his house, it said. At least seven were injured and four remained missing, the NDRRMC added. The NDRRMC said at least 86,295 families or 398,813 people in 678 villages in 87 towns and seven cities in 16 provinces were affected. However, it said all evacuation centers had been closed, with those still affected staying with friends and relatives. Lifelines At least 15 roads and one bridge remained impassable while power outages are still being experienced in parts of Zambales, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Baguio City. Some 2,565 houses were destroyed while 18,090 were damaged. Barangay Bulawon in Sta. Cruz, Zambales was still flooded as of Friday afternoon. Damage to property was estimated at P1,084,144,361.59, including: P358,547,941.93 in infrastructure, and P725,596,419.66 in agriculture. Central Luzon sustained the greatest damage at P424,078,642.88, followed by: Cagayan Valley with P417,998,472.50, Cordillera with P241,453,386.21, and Ilocos with P613,680. – VVP, GMA News

Sunken ship had 841 people on board — 2Go

 News
Aug 162013
 
Sunken ship had 841 people on board — 2Go

Red Cross personnel attend to survivors of ships’ collision. Survivors of the collision between two ships near the Cebu International Port in waters off the towns of Talisay and Cordova are attended to be personnel of the Philippine Red Cross. GMA News – Cebu The roll-on roll-off (RORO) ship that sank late Friday in Cebu had 841 people on board consisting of 723 passengers and 118 crew, the ship’s operator said Saturday morning. “The vessel has an authorized capacity of 1,010 passengers and crew,” the 2Go Group said in their statement emailed to GMA News and other news organizations. 2Go added that “while the number of survivors and casualties are still being determined by proper government authorities and shipping officials,  rescue operations  by the Philippine Navy, Coast Guard, PSACC and 2GO Group are ongoing.  The shipping firm also said it “dispatched two of its fast crafts and passenger ship M/V St. John Paul which was in the immediate vicinity.” 2Go clarified that the MV St. Thomas Aquinas was not Manila bound. “The vessel came from Surigao and Nasipit Port bound for Cebu as a stopover port and then to Manila. It was estimated to arrive Cebu at 10 p.m.” Coast Guard officials earlier said the passenger ship was bound for Manila.  — ELR, GMA News

Jesse gone but not his love for his family – Leni

 News
Aug 162013
 
Jesse gone but not his love for his family – Leni

Manila, Philippines — Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo’s face lights up when she talks about her husband, and despite his passing a year ago, it is evident that the love they shared is still felt and cherished. “I miss everything about him. He was such a strong presence in our lives, and he is a regular husband,” she said. She and Jesse shared “assignments” and chores at home. Leni was responsible for picking up and dropping off their kids to school, while Jesse helped with their Math and Filipino assignments. Another staple in the Robredo household in Naga City was that they shared all meals together. “There would be no excuses for that. We ate all meals together,” said Leni. Things only changed when Robredo was appointed as Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary. Because of his hectic schedule, he would only get to eat dinner with his two daughters. His favorite food was the barbecue, Leni ssaid. “He likes karinderia and street food and doesn’t like fine dining.” She recalled how Jesse, when he was holding office in the National Police Commission (Napolcom) building in Makati, would always come down from his office just to order from the nearby karinderia. “When he gets invited to hotels and fancy restaurants, he would always text to say that he would definitely be hungry even after the event,” she laughingly said, explaining that Jesse only had his fill when he eat regular fare. She added that Jesse felt most Read More …

Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

 News
Aug 142013
 
Without copy of warrant, PNP hands tied on Napoles hunt

Until it gets a copy of the arrest warrant for trader Janet Lim Napoles and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, the Philippine National Police admitted Thursday morning it cannot join the hunt for them. Otherwise, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said they are set to help the National Bureau of Investigation track them, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. NBI teams had fanned out to areas where Napoles is suspected to be hiding but had so far failed to locate her.  The Makati City Regional Trial Court had issued an arrest warrant for the Napoleses for the alleged illegal detention of the whistleblower in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.  Sindac said that until the PNP gets a copy of the warrant, its hands are tied. Meanwhile, the NBI and Bureau of Immigration are expanding their watch for Napoles to small airports, dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported. NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said their men will inspect flight manifests, even of private planes. —KG, GMA News

Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

 News
Aug 142013
 
Napoles still at large, now considered a fugitive after arrest warrant

The hunt continues for Janet Lim-Napoles, who was ordered arrested Wednesday for the “serious illegal detention” of a whistleblower in a P10-billion pork barrel scandal. The businesswoman is still at large and the arrest warrant has yet to be served Thursday even as her lawyer, Lorna Kapunan, said she has not spoken to Napoles, nor did she know her client’s whereabouts.  “In all truthfulness, we do not know where she is. I am saying to you as officer of the court if she is listening to this, we are still appealing and saying she has legal remedies under the law and we are studying her legal options,” Kapunan said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday.  Branch 150 of RTC-Makati issued warrants of arrest on Wednesday afternoon for Napoles, the alleged mastermind behind the kidnapping of Benhur Luy, and Napoles’s brother Reynald ‘Jojo’ Lim.  Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said Napoles may also face charges in connection with anomalies involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or pork barrel, of several lawmakers.  “NBI has been working the whole time on an investigation of the PDAF,” De Lima said in a telephone interview on News to Go on Thursday. “Pine-prepare na namin ‘yan kung anong mga kaso ang isasampa at sinu-sino ang mga sasampahan ng kaso other than Napoles,” said De Lima, who said she could not confirm how many lawmakers would be facing charges, as the investigation was still ongoing. “Ayaw pa namin magpalabas ng listahan o Read More …

PNoy cancels Ilocos Sur trip due to allergy attack

 News
Aug 142013
 
PNoy cancels Ilocos Sur trip due to allergy attack

(UPDATED 10:40 a.m.) – President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday cancelled what would have been his first trip to Ilocos Sur since he assumed office in 2010 because of an allergy attack, a Palace official said. “The President has an allergy attack,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told GMA News Online in a text message on Wednesday. Aquino was supposed to go to Cervantes in Ilocos Sur for the inauguration of the Aluling Bridge, which was included in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 22. The bridge took almost 36 years to build. Work on the bridge started in 1978 but was completed only now. However, Valte said the President was suffering from an allergy attack after coming into contact with flowers. “He reacts to them when there are too many at close proximity,” she said. She said he probably got the allergy during the Philippine National Police event last Tuesday. “I think he was actually stifling sneezes during the speech,” she said. “We’ve noticed that it happens pag napapaligiran ng maraming bulaklak at malapitan.  It also happened during his visit to Australia,” she added. Meanwhile, a report of  radio dzBB’s Benjie Liwanag Jr. said Aquino may be represented by his sister Victoria Elisa “Viel” Aquino-Dee at the event. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson is also expected at Thursday’s inauguration. President’s health Earlier, public concern about Aquino’s health spiked after his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 22 was interrupted by at least five coughing Read More …

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