Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan ‘strongly’ protests to Philippines over fisherman’s death

Agence France-Presse 1:41 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 TAIPEI—Taiwan demanded compensation from the Philippines Thursday over the killing of a crew member of a Taiwanese fishing trawler that allegedly came under fire from a Philippine government boat. The Guang Ta Hsin 28 fishing vessel carrying four crew—three Taiwanese and one Indonesian—was fired on early Thursday some 164 nautical miles off the southernmost tip of the island, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said. The incident killed 65-year-old Hung Shih-cheng and badly damaged the vessel, prompting Taiwan’s coastguard to dispatch a ship to its rescue, the ministry said. “We strongly protest and condemn that a Philippine government boat attacked our fishing boat and demand the Philippines formally apologize, apprehend the murderer and compensate,” it said in a statement. The ministry did not specify what type of a government boat it was, while Taiwan’s coastguard said it was trying to verify some reports claiming that it was a Philippine navy vessel. Taiwan has ruled itself since 1949, but China still considers the island part of its territory. The Philippines, like most countries, officially recognizes China over Taiwan but maintains trade ties with the island. 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: Taiwan-Philippines-crime-fishing Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates Read More …

Aussie survived Mayon explosion, Bali bombing

 News
May 092013
 
Aussie survived Mayon explosion, Bali bombing

By Joanna Los BañosInquirer Southern Luzon 12:07 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 A shoe is separated from two bodies, believed to be those of German nationals, found near the crater of Mayon Volcano in Albay province. Mayon Volcano rumbled to life on Tuesday, spewing room-size rocks and ashes. AP LEGAZPI CITY—“I will be able to help you,” Jerome Berin, 23, of Malilipot, Albay, told his father Romeo, 54, in their last phone conversation on April 28. “I asked him ‘what?’ and he replied ‘secret,’ and just told me he had a job,” recalled Romeo, who later realized Jerome might have been talking about his job as a tour guide to save for his wedding on June 15. “That’s how he is, always teasing,” Romeo recalled of his son, the fourth of his five children who was killed in Tuesday’s eruption of Mayon Volcano, along with four foreign climbers. An Australian, Ewan Marshall, and his girlfriend, Michelle Abad, were among 16 climbers and local guides who were rescued. The two were reported Thursday in the Australian media to be heading to Boracay to continue their holiday. Marshall, who was a survivor of the Bali bombing in 2002, said he and his companion were halfway to the base camp when they heard a massive explosion. “We’re lucky,” he said. “I just feel sorry for those that weren’t. Two to three hours later, we would have been in the same situation.” Romeo Berin, a driver in Manila, last saw his son in Read More …

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
 
De Lima wants Mancao coddlers unmasked

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
 
PNoy backs Loren in NY condo unit issue

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 …

PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

 News
May 062013
 
PH-China defense talks help ease sea dispute tension – DND

By Frances Mangosing Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:22 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines – Notwithstanding territorial disputes, Philippines and China discussed “evolving regional security situation” and bilateral defense relations among others in its talks recently. “This year’s talks enabled the two sides to exchange views on the evolving regional security situation to include maritime security,” the Department of National Defense said in a statement Monday. It said the dialogue also “served as a platform for the Philippines and China to share perspectives on the regional security architecture to include regional multilateral institutions and relations between regional powers such as that between the US and China.” The dialogue, held last April 27, is the fourth Defense Talks since 2005 and is hosted alternately, with China as country host for this year. Among the activities of the Philippine delegation in China include a visit to National Defense University (NDU),where the Philippines has been sending officers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. At present it has sent two AFP officers. “Both the Philippines and China acknowledged that the dialogue is indicative of their respective thrusts to continue cultivating good relations notwithstanding divergence of position on certain issues. The talks are in accordance with the declaration of President Aquino and former Chinese President Hu Jintao to have 2012-2013 as the Years of Friendly Exchange for the Philippines and China,” the statement added. The two countries also had the opportunity to review their bilateral defense relations and explore mechanisms “to further promote Read More …

Japanese robbed of P33,000 in valuables by fake talent scout

 News
May 062013
 

By Julie M. Aurelio Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:04 pm | Monday, May 6th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines — A Japanese national who wanted to try a modelling career ended up getting duped by a man who pretended to be a talent manager and carted away her personal belongings and cash. Shum Honda, 21, pointed to a certain Danny Francisco as the fake manager who got her black bag containing a Samsung tablet worth P20,000, a Samsung phone worth P6,000 and P7,000 cash. Senior Police Officer 4 George Villanueva, the case investigator, said the victim went to the Kamuning police station to complain about the theft, which happened at a restaurant along Timog Avenue in Barangay (village) Sacred Heart at around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The victim first met the suspect as she was walking along Edsa in Mandaluyong City. The man was able to convince the girl to try a modelling career. Honda was enticed to go with the suspect to a restaurant near GMA 7, where the girl was told to try on some outfits to demonstrate her modelling skills. The girl went to the restroom to change her clothes, leaving behind her belongings which the suspect carted away. Villanueva theorized that the Japanese was duped by a skillful con artist who had victimized other people.

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