De Lima confirms recommendation to file charges vs PCG

 News
Jun 132013
 
De Lima confirms recommendation to file charges vs PCG

OVER SHOOTING OF TAIWANESE FISHING BOAT By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 1:01 pm | Thursday, June 13th, 2013 Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng’s boat, the Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28, is checked by Taiwanese officers after arriving at Liuqiu port in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan, Saturday, May 11, 2013. Taiwanese boat owner Steven Liao said the damage to the Guang Ta Hsin 28 costs around NT$8 million (P11 million). AP PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has confirmed a recommendation to press charges against some members of the Philippine Coast Guard involved in the shooting incident off Batanes that killed a Taiwanese fisherman. “I confirm that the NBI has recommended the filing of charges against the PCG personnel involved in the incident,” Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said in a text message to INQUIRER.net. The Justice chief is currently in Madrid, Spain to attend the 5th World Congress Against Death Penalty. De Lima said criminal and administrative case will be filed against PCG personnel. No Taiwan pressure She, however, clarified that the findings of the Philippine government was not influenced nor a product of pressure from Taiwan. “There was no influence from Taiwan side. [But] hopefully, the conclusions from both side would jibe or are not that different,” De Lima further said. De Lima, however, declined to give details on what charges will be filed pending clearance from President Benigno Aquino III who already was furnished a copy of the NBI’s findings. Objective evaluation of evidence “It is for his consideration and Read More …

US immigration office halts Filipina’s deportation after public outcry

 News
Jun 122013
 
US immigration office halts Filipina’s deportation after public outcry

INQUIRER.net US Bureau 9:13 am | Thursday, June 13th, 2013 Karla Gaerlan, baby Christopher, U.S. Army Specialist Thad Schmierer. Photo by rciriacruz U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) cancelled the deportation order for Karla Gaerlan, an undocumented immigrant from the Philippines, following hundreds of emails and phone calls from community members and a protest/press conference this morning. ICE had scheduled Karla’s deportation this Sunday – Father’s Day. Thad Schmierer, Karla’s husband, is a member of the U.S. Army.  Karla and Thad have a nine-month-old baby boy. Also, earlier today, eight members of the House of Representatives joined immigrant rights organizations calling for a halt to deportations while immigration reform moves through Congress. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: ICE , Immigration , immigration reform , Secure Communities , voluntary departure process Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Austrian UN troops begin pullout from Golan

 News
Jun 122013
 
Austrian UN troops begin pullout from Golan

Agence France-Presse 7:43 am | Thursday, June 13th, 2013 Loading the player… Austrian troops in the UN monitoring force on the Golan Heights begin withdrawing on Wednesday, days after Vienna decided to quit the mission over security concerns. AFP QUNEITRA CROSSING—A first group of 67 Austrian troops in the UN force monitoring the Golan ceasefire line between Syria and Israel withdrew Wednesday, days after Vienna decided to quit the mission over security concerns. Uniformed soldiers in jeeps and accompanied by armored vehicles entered the Israeli-occupied zone through the Quneitra crossing, the only passage between the two countries. “It had been scheduled in advance that we would perform a rotation, and it had been scheduled for today,” Austrian officer Erwin Klem told an AFP correspondent as he and his men crossed. The troops, the first wave of the 378-strong Austrian contingent which is due to be pulled out in stages, then transferred to a fleet of white UN buses for the drive to Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv. They arrived in the evening at Schwechat airport, near Vienna, where they were greeted by Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann and Defense Minister Gerald Klug. Austria announced on June 6, after fighting at Quneitra between Syrian government forces and rebels, that it would withdraw its peacekeepers because of deteriorating security. Klug said the pullout would take two to four weeks. Austria has been a cornerstone of UNDOF, the UN force monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel, since the force was set up Read More …

PAGASA: Potential cyclone threatens west Luzon, Visayas with floods, landslides

 News
Jun 122013
 
PAGASA: Potential cyclone threatens west Luzon, Visayas with floods, landslides

Flash floods and landslides threaten the western parts of Luzon and Visayas Thursday as a  low-pressure area, just outside the Philippine area of responsibility enhances the southwest monsoon, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Gener Quitlong said their models show the LPA intensifying into a cyclone. However, it is not likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility and may instead move toward Vietnam. “Nagpapalakas ito ng habagat,” Quitlong said in an interview on dzBB radio. But if the LPA intensifies into a cyclone and enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will be codenamed Emong, he said. Thursday outlook For Thursday, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas. “Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas and the provinces of Zambales and Bataan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It added Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the rest of Luzon and of Visayas will be cloudy with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The rest of Mindanao will have partly cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, it added. Also, moderate to strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Light to moderate winds coming from the southeast to south will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas and from the Read More …

Rainy Thursday in NCR, parts of Luzon and VisMin

 News
Jun 122013
 
Rainy Thursday in NCR, parts of Luzon and VisMin

Southwest monsoon to bring rain to western side of PHL. PAGASA satellite image shows the southwest monsoon affecting the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas PAGASA Residents of Metro Manila and several parts of the country may expect light to moderate rain Thursday due to the southwest monsoon, state weather forecasters said Wednesday afternoon. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas. “Metro Manila, Ilocos region, the provinces of Zambales and Bataan, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and SOCCSKSARGEN will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. The rest of the country will be “partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” PAGASA added. In past weeks, residents of Metro Manila had experienced rain from thunderstorms. In some instances, the thunderstorms caused floods in some major thoroughfares. But it was not until Monday that PAGASA officially declared the start of the rainy season. Thursday outlook  For Thursday, PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 25 to 36 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 24 to 32 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Light to Read More …

10 frat members ordered arrested over death of San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos

 News
Jun 122013
 
10 frat members ordered arrested over death of San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos

(Updated 2:53 p.m.) A Cavite trial court has ordered the arrest of 10 members of San Beda-based Lex Leonum fraternity over the hazing rites that led to the death of first year law student Marc Andre Marcos on July 30 last year. In an order by Executive Judge Perla Cabrera-Faller, the Cavite Regional Trial Court Branch 90 ordered the arrest of the following for alleged violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law: Jenno Antonio Villanueva Emmanuel Jefferson Santiago Richard Rosales Mohamad Fyzee Alim Chino Daniel Amante Julius Alcancia Edrich Gomez Dexter Circa Gian Angelo Veluz Glenn Meduen “Finding probable cause to sustain the prosecution of the above-mentioned accused for the crime charged in the criminal information, let a warrant for their arrest be issued,” said Judge Faller in her order dated June 3. “[I]n the meantime send the entire records of this case to the archives until the said accused shall have been arrested,” she added. In October last year, the San Beda College of Law, through its Committee on Student Conduct, approved the penalty of exclusion against 27 of its students found to be members of the Lex Leonum fraternity. The committee also suspended eight other Bedans who “have shown remorse” after violating the College’s students’ code of conduct. The committee came out with the list dated October 23, in relation to an administrative investigation on the violation of the college’s students’ code of conduct. Marcos died from extensive traumatic injuries in his upper and lower extremities Read More …

PAGASA: Monsoon rain over Luzon, Visayas on June 12

 News
Jun 112013
 
PAGASA: Monsoon rain over Luzon, Visayas on June 12

Southwest monsoon to bring rain to western side of PHL. PAGASA satellite image shows the southwest monsoon affecting the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas PAGASA Rain from the southwest monsoon may fall over parts of Luzon and Visayas on Wednesday, even as state weather forecasters continued to monitor a potential low-pressure area off Palawan. PAGASA forecaster Buddy Javier also said the Mindanao area may expect partly cloudy weather due to the inter-tropical convergence zone. “Ang potential low-pressure area sa may Palawan at Mindoro (The potential low-pressure area is near Palawan and Mindoro),” Javier said in an interview on dzBB radio. Earlier, PAGASA had said the potential LPA may bring rain but is not likely to become a cyclone. For Wednesday, PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 25 to 33 degrees Celsius, while Angeles and Olongapo may expect temperatures of 23 to 33 degrees Celsius. But it will still be hot in Tuguegarao City, which PAGASA said may expect temperatures of 26 to 37 degrees Celsius. Wednesday outlook PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin indicated the southwest monsoon is affecting the western sections of Luzon and Visayas. “Luzon and Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms,” it said. It added moderate to occasionally strong winds from the southwest to south will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to occasionally rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to Read More …

BRP Ramon Alcaraz stops at Florida to test-fire cannon

 News
Jun 112013
 
BRP Ramon Alcaraz stops at Florida to test-fire cannon

BRP Ramon Alcaraz sails for PHL. The newest warship of the Philippine Navy, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF 16) with 14 officers and 74 enlisted personnel lead by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, departs on Monday, June 10 from Charleston, South Carolina bound for the Philippines. The ship is expected to arrive in August after making port visits to San Diego, Hawaii and Guam for reprovisioning. The BRP Alcaraz will test fire its main gun off the coast of Florida. PN/DFA/Elmer Cato The BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the the Philippine Navy’s second Hamilton-class ship, made a stop at Mayport, Florida in the US Tuesday evening (Philippine Standard Time), the Philippine Embassy in Washington said. In posts on its Twitter account, the embassy said the Ramon Alcaraz was to load and test-fire its 76-mm Oto Melara cannon while in Mayport. According to Italian manufacturer Oto Melara, the 76-mm compact naval gun is a rapid-fire cannon that can be installed on relatively small warships. It shoots 76-mm, 62-caliber shells at selectable rates of either one round or a full rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute. The embassy also said that Florida was the Alcaraz’s first stop in its voyage to the Philippines. It would also pass through the Panama Canal. The BRP Ramon Alcaraz started its journey to the Philippines from the United States Monday night (Philippine Standard Time). It was given an emotional send-off by the Filipino community of Charleston, South Carolina. — DVM, GMA News

Ashes of Pinay who died in US limousine fire, now with her family in Tarlac

 News
Jun 112013
 
Ashes of Pinay who died in US limousine fire, now with her family in Tarlac

The ashes of Neriza Fojas, the Filipina who died when she got trapped inside a burning limousine in San Francisco, California, was brought home to her family in Tarlac, GMA News TV’s flagship newscast reported Tuesday evening. The victim’s husband, Carlo Moya, brought the ashes from the United States to the Philippines, a report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho said. Moya and Fojas were married in a civil ceremony last year. They had planned to have a church wedding in the Philippines on June 19. Fojas was having a celebration with eight of her girl friends inside the limousine, when it caught fire on the night of May 5.  They were heading across the San Mateo-Hayward bridge in San Francisco for a bachelorette party at a hotel.  Aside from Fojas, four of her friends also died, while the other four survived. Mechanical failure has loomed as a probable cause of the limousine fire, according to a Reuters report on June 7.  — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/ELR, GMA News

Aquino allies among 'most tardy' in Senate

 News
Jun 112013
 
Aquino allies among 'most tardy' in Senate

Senators allied with President Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party (LP) were the “most tardy” during the 15th Congress. A report on GMA News TV’s “Balitanghali” on Tuesday said based on the Senate Journal Service, the following senators had the most number of session where they failed to arrive in time for the roll call: Serge Osmena III Francis Pangilinan Ralph Recto Manny Villar Alan Peter Cayetano Pangilinan and Recto are LP members while Osmeña, an independent, is a known Aquino ally. Villar and Cayetano are members of the Nacionalista Party, which allied itself with the LP for the 2013 midterm elections. Meanwhile, Senate President Pro-Tempore and now acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada and former majority leader Vicente Sotto were not only the most punctual senators, they also had a perfect attendance during the 15th Congress, or from July 26, 2010 to June 8, 2013. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, meanwhile, had incurred the most number of absences due to her bone marrow condition. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News

 Older Entries  Newer Entries