Report: 6 PHL ships deployed to prevent spillover of Sabah standoff

 News
Feb 222013
 
Report: 6 PHL ships deployed to prevent spillover of Sabah standoff

At least six Philippine Navy ships have been deployed to the Sulu and Tawi-Tawi area to prevent a possible spillover of the standoff between a group of armed Filipinos and Malaysian authorities in Sabah. The ships are patrolling the waters of Tawi-Tawi, which is near Tandau village where the group involved in the standoff has been staying since Feb. 9, according to a report Friday on Malaysia’s The Star online. Malaysian security forces had cordoned off the area where the group is staying but is awaiting efforts to resolve the standoff peacefully. Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic was quoted in the report as saying the vessels have no instructions to evacuate the group led by Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. “We are hoping that this will be resolved peacefully. If they are retreating, we are not there to help them because we need instructions if they can be picked up,” The Star online quoted Fabic as saying. The standoff in the eastern state of Sabah has threatened to spark tension between thePhilippines and Malaysia, whose ties have been periodically frayed by security and migration problems along their sea border, a Reuters report said, citing security analysts. Security analysts had warned that the historic peace deal signed by the Philippine government and Moro rebels last October to end 40 years of conflict in the Philippine south risked stirring instability by alienating powerful clan leaders. Jamalul Kiram III, 74, a former sultan of Sulu in Read More …

DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

 News
Feb 202013
 
DOTC: 2 flights canceled due to bad weather

Two domestic flights were canceled Thursday amid bad weather conditions brought by Tropical Depression Crising, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the affected flights were those of Zest Air, between Manila and Tablas (Romblon). The affected flights were Z2-240 and Z2-241, from Manila to Tablas and back. Earlier this week, several domestic flights had been canceled due to bad weather conditions brought by Crising. PAGASA said Crising, which had brought rain to several parts of Mindanao this week, is heading for Southern Palawan. It said Crising may exit the Philippine area of responsibility by early Friday. — KBK, GMA News

Philippine papal bet wants people power for Church

 News
Feb 202013
 
Philippine papal bet wants people power for Church

Agence France-Presse 11:45 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle wants to bring the Catholic Church closer to people, a vision his fans say comes from a genuine passion for helping the poor and one that could make him Asia’s first pope. The 55-year-old cardinal from a working-class family close to the Philippine capital is being touted at home and abroad as a genuine chance to succeed Pope Benedict XVI during a historic Vatican vote next month. Tagle has a reputation across the devoutly Catholic Philippines as a humble man with a lifelong commitment to helping the poor, while senior Church figures regard him as a moderate progressive who balances conservative doctrines. Tagle, the archbishop of Manila who was appointed a cardinal in November, has refused to discuss his chances for the papacy since Benedict announced he would resign on February 28 due to poor health. But speaking at a public seminar in Manila last weekend, Tagle elaborated on his well-known views that Church leaders needed to do a better job at reaching out to the people within their communities, particularly the youth. “The young want to be connected,” Tagle said at the forum. “That is the basic of the faith — (to be) connected to God, connected to others, to the Church. We need to go back to that fundamental.” Eloquent and with a soothing voice, Tagle has also made high-profile speeches in recent years calling for Read More …

Cardinal Tagle wants people power for Church

 News
Feb 202013
 
Cardinal Tagle wants people power for Church

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle wants to bring the Catholic Church closer to people, a vision his fans say comes from a genuine passion for helping the poor and one that could make him Asia’s first pope. The 55-year-old cardinal from a working-class family close to Manila is being touted at home and abroad as a genuine chance to succeed Pope Benedict XVI during a historic Vatican vote next month. Tagle has a reputation across the devoutly Catholic Philippines as a humble man with a lifelong commitment to helping the poor, while senior Church figures regard him as a moderate progressive who balances conservative doctrines. Tagle, the archbishop of Manila who was appointed a cardinal in November, has refused to discuss his chances for the papacy since Benedict announced he would resign on February 28 due to poor health. But speaking at a public seminar in Manila last weekend, Tagle elaborated on his well-known views that Church leaders needed to do a better job at reaching out to the people within their communities, particularly the youth. “The young want to be connected,” Tagle said at the forum. “That is the basic of the faith — (to be) connected to God, connected to others, to the Church. We need to go back to that fundamental.” Eloquent and with a soothing voice, Tagle has also made high-profile speeches in recent years calling for a humbler Church that is more open to the public’s concerns. Born in 1957 in the then-rural township of Imus, Read More …

UNA drops Chiz, Loren, Grace Poe as candidates

 News
Feb 202013
 
UNA drops Chiz, Loren, Grace Poe as candidates

In a statement, Navotas Rep. and UNA secretary general Tobias Tiangco said the UNA “is no longer obligated to include the names of Chiz Escudero, Loren Legarda and Grace Poe-Llamanzares in its list of candidates.” Tiangco’s statement came a week after UNA said it will no longer campaign for its three guest candidates who will not physically show up in the coalition’s sorties. Tiangco said they tried their best to “accommodate the three candidates but that they were aware how the Liberal Party, through campaign manager Senator Franklin Drilon, has repeatedly warned them against joining their election activities.” “We would have wanted and were looking forward to having them join our nine UNA candidates in our rallies and sorties. Unfortunately, none of them have taken any concrete move or extended any meaningful gesture to assure us that they will live up to their commitments,” he said. He likewise said “public statements have been made by at least one of them ruling out participation in UNA events.” “It is clear that they have made up their minds. We need to move on,” Tiangco said. For his part, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, LP campaign spokesperson, said UNA’s decision to drop the three senatorial candidates was already “forthcoming.” “We are not surprised by the decision of UNA. Now, the lines are very clear between the reformists and the opposition. At least the people will now have a clear choice,” Evardone said in a text message. During the proclamation rallies last week, Escudero, Legarda Read More …

NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Crising' rises to 2; 120k people affected

 News
Feb 202013
 
NDRRMC: Death toll from 'Crising' rises to 2; 120k people affected

Satellite image at 8 a.m., 20 Feb 2013. Tropical Depression Crising at 8 a.m., 20 Feb 2013 Weather Central The death toll from Tropical Depression Crising rose to two as of Thursday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its 6 a.m. update, the NDRRMC said the most recent fatality was Erwin Campana, 43, who drowned while crossing a river in Montevista town’s Barangay Camansi in Compostela Valley. Earlier, the NDRRMC said the other fatality – Francisco Digaynon – drowned while crossing the Taytayan River in Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Compostela Valley. Moreover, the NDRRMC said the number of missing people also rose to two. The latest was identified as Suden Abdullah, who went missing while on his way home. It said Abdullah, a resident of Barangay Pinol in Maitum in Sarangani province, was on his way home from fishing when his boat encountered big waves. Earlier, 63-year-old Percela R. Apolinario was reported missing while crossing the river in Brgy. Magugba. The NDRRMC said Crising has affected 25,350 families or 120,269 people in 80 villages in Regions 9, 10, 11 and 12. Of these, 864 families or 3,950 people were brought to seven evacuation centers. At least seven roads and six bridges were affected in Regions 8, 10, 11, and 12. The NDRRMC also said at least two houses in Regions 10 and 11 were destroyed while 85 were damaged. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development recorded 23,000 affected families, DSWD-Disaster Risk Reduction Read More …

Multiple organ infection may have led to Lolong's death, necropsy shows

 News
Feb 202013
 
Multiple organ infection may have led to Lolong's death, necropsy shows

Lolong, the Philippine crocodile that held the record as the world’s largest crocodile before it died earlier this month, may have suffered from multiple organ infection even before it was captured in 2011. This was one of the findings of a necropsy conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, according to a report of Jun Veneracion on GMA News’ Saksi Wednesday night. “Based dun sa nakita dun sa lesions, talagang hindi rin siya tatagal… [may] multiple organ infection,” said PAWB Director Theresa Lim.  Lolong was found dead last Feb. 10. With its death, the Guinness World Records now recognizes Australia-based Cassius as the world’s biggest crocodile in captivity. Lim said Lolong may have already been weakening due to infection of major organs including the heart, kidneys and liver. She also said this condition could have preceded the pneumonia earlier tagged as the cause of Lolong’s death. “Maaring before pa siyang nahuli meron na siyang infection,” she said. The “Saksi” report also quoted Dr. Emilia Lasticay of the University of the Philippines’ College of Veterinary Medicine as saying they are still trying to establish if Lolong’s condition was chronic. “We are trying to establish yung timeline kung recent lang ang condition o kung matagal na ang condition,” she said. — RSJ, GMA News

PH immigration awaits travel papers for 9 Myanmar crew

 News
Feb 202013
 
PH immigration awaits travel papers for 9 Myanmar crew

By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net 9:11 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David on Thursday said they were waiting for travel documents from the Myanmar embassy for the repatriation of the nine  surviving crewmen of a Myanmar ship that sunk last week off the coast of Bolinao , Pangasinan. David said the nine crewmen were turned over by the BI to the custody of the Myanmar embassy last Monday. They were identified as Kyi Win, Khin Maung Win, Aung Kyaw Khine, Aung Thu Nyein, Win Saw, Win Min Thein, Aung San Win, Thant Zin Moe, and Cho Aye. Theodore Pascual, BI bay service section acting chief, disclosed that until last Monday the Myanmar nationals have been under the custody of immigration officials in Region 1 since the mishap occurred last February 16. Pascual said the crewmen were initially under the custody of the BI field office in Dagupan before they were turned over to the BI office in San Fernando City , La Union. “They were eventually turned over to the Myanmar embassy which is now processing their travel documents which are required to facilitate their repatriation,” Pascual explained. A crew member died while 14 others went missing when the foreigners’ vessel sank Saturday night. The Philippine Coast Guard said the MV Arita Bauxite encountered engine trouble and sank 17 nautical miles (31 km) northwest of Cape Bolinao at about 11:30 p.m. The nine survivors were reportedly Read More …

US lawmakers warn Japan PM on ‘comfort women’

 News
Feb 202013
 
US lawmakers warn Japan PM on ‘comfort women’

Agence France-Presse 8:39 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: New “future-oriented” statement on World War II. AP/KYODO NEWS WASHINGTON—Two US lawmakers on Wednesday warned Prime Minister Shinzo Abe not to revise Japan’s apology over sexual enslavement in World War II, saying the move would set back relations between the allies. The lawmakers raised the issue two days before a White House visit by the conservative Japanese premier, whose previous period in office was dogged by historical issues but who is now seen as increasingly pragmatic. Representative Mike Honda, who spearheaded a 2007 House resolution that took Japan to task for holding wartime sex slaves, and Representative Steve Israel voiced “serious concern” about the Abe government’s stance. In a letter, the two Democratic lawmakers wrote that if Japan revises a 1993 apology it “would have grave implications for the US-Japanese relationship and could ignite unnecessary tension and provocation with neighboring countries.” Historians say about 200,000 “comfort women” from Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere were drafted into Japanese army brothels. The legacy remains a particular sore point in Japan’s relations with South Korea. In the 1993 statement, Japan offered “sincere apologies” for the “immeasurable pain and suffering” inflicted on comfort women. Two years later, Japan issued a broader apology expressing “deep remorse” for war suffering. Abe, whose grandfather was a World War II cabinet minister, raised controversy during his 2006 to 2007 premiership for his statements on comfort women and after leaving office he called for Read More …

2 Koreans, Filipino arrested for selling ‘carnapped’ vehicles in Cebu

 News
Feb 202013
 
2 Koreans, Filipino arrested for selling ‘carnapped’ vehicles in Cebu

By Chito O. Aragon Inquirer Visayas 6:10 am | Thursday, February 21st, 2013 CEBU CITY, Philippines—The police arrested two Koreans and a Filipino for alleged involvement in carnapping in Metro Cebu and recovered at least seven Hyundai Starex vans. The police identified the suspects as Korean nationals Kim Jae Young, 42, alias Leo Lim/Andy; Hong Seo Yong, 28, alias Luis; and Raphael Montilla, 27, alias Raprap, a registered nurse and a resident of Vista Grande, Barangay (village) Bulacao, Talisay City. Two of the vans were seized from the house of Montilla while five others were recovered along A.S. Fortuna St. and the streets in Maguikay highway and Cabangcalan, all in Mandaue City. Former Philippine Basketball Association player Ramon Fernandez and his wife, Carla, own one of the recovered vans. Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, chief of Police Regional Office (PRO-7) said the three allegedly belonged to an organized group operating nationwide. Chief Inspector George Ylanan, chief of Regional Operation Group (RSOG), an operating unit of Regional Intelligence Division (RID), said they first arrested Montilla at his home in Talisay City Tuesday afternoon after they received information that he was selling a Hyundai Starex van for only P40,000. When the RSOG operatives arrived at Montilla’s home, they saw two Starex vans parked there. The police asked for the certificates of registration of the two vehicles, but Montilla could not present any so he was arrested and taken to the RSOG office for questioning. During the investigation, Montilla admitted that two Koreans had Read More …

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