AFP confirms scheduled release of Filipino peacekeepers

 News
Mar 082013
 
AFP confirms scheduled release of Filipino peacekeepers

By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net; Radyo Inquirer 2:42 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed Friday a CNN report saying the 21 UN Filipino peacekeepers were set to be freed by the Syrian rebels on Friday. Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos confirmed the television report when interviewed by Radio Inquirer 990AM. The soldiers, part of a 333-strong Filipino peacekeeping unit, were detained at a rebel observation point on Wednesday by gunmen who said the troops would be held until Syrian regime forces pulled back from a Golan village. “If ever they will be released within the day, they will be turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Burgos said, citing reports from their personnel in Golan Heights. He said the rebels agreed to that arrangement. A UN Disengagement Force has been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974. The United Nations has reported a growing number of incidents in the Golan over the past year. It has sent extra armored vehicles and communications equipment to reinforce security for the mission. Up to the end of February there were about 1,000 troops from Austria, Croatia, India and the Philippines operating in the ceasefire force. With Agence France-Presse

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

 News
Mar 082013
 
Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

Agence France-Presse 2:14 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that rebels who are holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers hostage in the Golan Heights are insisting Syrian troops leave the area before releasing their captives. The refusal by the Syrian rebels to compromise had dampened hopes of the UN peacekeepers being released quickly, and forced the government to step up its negotiation efforts, foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. “The demand of the rebels for the re-positioning of Syrian forces in the area of Jamla is still outstanding so this is still being worked out,” he said on ABS-CBN television. The rebels want the Syrian troops to move 20 kilometers (12 miles) back from Jamla, an area in the Golan’s ceasefire zone, before they will free the Filipinos, he said. “That is the main demand of the rebel group,” he told AFP, adding he did not know of any other conditions. The Philippine government had previously received information that raised hopes the 21 would be released on Friday morning, Philippine time, and the government now did not know if or when they would be freed, Hernandez said. “We are trying to intensify our negotiations with the rebel groups,” he said. However he said the Filipino peacekeepers were still being treated well. “(They are) being treated as guests and are unharmed,” Hernandez said. The 21 Filipino troops, members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) observing a 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel, were abducted Read More …

Sabah ownership issue between Sulu sultanate and Malaysia only — Kiram's daughter

 News
Mar 072013
 
Sabah ownership issue between Sulu sultanate and Malaysia only — Kiram's daughter

Sultan Kiram III declares unilateral ceasefire in Sabah. At a press conference in Taguig City on Thursday, Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III (center) gets teary-eyed as he thanked the United Nations and the media for their support. The sultan declared a unilateral ceasefire in Sabah where at least 40 lives have been lost. He also ordered his followers to initiate evasive and defensive posture against Malaysian forces. Sherie Ann Torres The daughter of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III on Friday said negotiations regarding the ownership of Sabah should be between their sultanate and Malaysia only, virtually excluding the Philippine government. In an interview on GMA News’ “Unang Hirit,” Princess Jacel Kiram said the resolution authorizing the Philippine government to represent the sultanate in the territorial dispute has already “lapsed.” “Nag-lapse na po ito. Nakalagay po ‘dun sa kasulatan na in 20 years time, kung wala pong nagawa ang gobyerno… may expiration ‘yung authority. So back to the Sultanate of Sulu na ulit,” she said. The resolution — passed by the sultanate’s council of advisers during the time of Sultan Esmail Kiram I and the late President Diosdado Macapagal — effectively authorized the Philippine government to represent the sultanate in the dispute. The resolution also stated that should the government fail to act on the claim on a given period, its authority will be revoked and the Sulu sultanate may retain their sovereign rights to prosecute their claim on Sabah. “Ang isyu nga po dito is about Sabah, dapat talaga ang Read More …

Ferdinand Marcos’ mortician offers to embalm Chavez

 News
Mar 072013
 
Ferdinand Marcos’ mortician offers to embalm Chavez

Agence France-Presse 1:25 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The mortician famous for putting dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos into a glass display case offered his services Friday to the deceased Hugo Chavez, whom Venezuela wants embalmed “like Lenin”. Manila-based embalmer to the stars Frank Malabed stressed experts must act quickly if they wanted to successfully preserve the Venezuelan president, who died on Tuesday from cancer. “I have not been contacted for it but I am always expecting a call. I will process anyone, anywhere,” Malabed, 62, told AFP. He said the methods employed would depend on the condition of the corpse of Chavez, who his successor said on Thursday would be preserved “for eternity”. “What is important is they must not delay (choosing an embalmer). The longer they delay it, the more difficult it would be,” Malabed said. While Venezuelan authorities said they wanted Chavez embalmed “like Lenin”, Malabed said he would not use the same techniques as those employed for the Soviet revolutionary leader. “I was told they preserved Lenin using resin. It’s like making a block of ice. You have a box, you pour water on it and freeze it. If I were asked to do it (embalm Chavez), I would do it differently,” he said. Malabed detailed some chemicals that would need to be used. “You need to inject fluid into the arteries after draining blood from the veins. You use a hypodermic needle for that. Then you replenish it regularly. It has to be checked Read More …

Ferdinand Marcos' mortician offers to embalm late Venezuelan ruler Hugo Chavez

 News
Mar 072013
 
Ferdinand Marcos' mortician offers to embalm late Venezuelan ruler Hugo Chavez

Remains of Venezuela ruler to be preserved for ‘eternity’ . Adan Chavez (2nd left), brother of the late Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, his mother Elena Frias (4th left), and father Hugo, view the remains of the Venezuelan ruler during a wake at the military academy in Caracas on Thursday. The late ruler will be embalmed and put on display ‘for eternity’ at a military museum after a state funeral and an extended period of lying-in-state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday. Reuters/Miraflores Palace A Philippine mortician famous for putting dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos into a glass display case offered his services Friday to the deceased Hugo Chavez, whom Venezuela wants embalmed “like Lenin”. Manila-based embalmer to the stars Frank Malabed stressed experts must act quickly if they wanted to successfully preserve the Venezuelan president, who died on Tuesday from cancer. “I have not been contacted for it but I am always expecting a call. I will process anyone, anywhere,” Malabed, 62, told AFP. He said the methods employed would depend on the condition of the corpse of Chavez, who his successor said on Thursday would be preserved “for eternity”. “What is important is they must not delay (choosing an embalmer). The longer they delay it, the more difficult it would be,” Malabed said. While Venezuelan authorities said they wanted Chavez embalmed “like Lenin”, Malabed said he would not use the same techniques as those employed for the Soviet revolutionary leader. “I was told they preserved Lenin using resin. It’s Read More …

DOTC: Two domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

 News
Mar 072013
 
DOTC: Two domestic flights canceled due to bad weather

At least two domestic flights were canceled Friday due to bad weather conditions, the Department of Transportation and Communications said. In a post on its Twitter account, the DOTC indicated the affected flights both belonged to carrier Air Philippines. The canceled flights are 2P-030 Catarman to Manila, 2P-022: Masbate to Manila. Earlier, PAGASA forecast cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rain showers and thunderstorms over Bicol and Eastern Visayas. It also said Mindanao and the rest of Visayas would be cloudy with scattered light to moderate rain showers or thunderstorms. But it said Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon would be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.” — LBG, GMA News

Navy intercepts 2 boats from Sabah

 News
Mar 072013
 
Navy intercepts 2 boats from Sabah

By Julie S. AlipalaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:24 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Navy Capt. Rene Yongque of Task Force 62 in Tawi-Tawi confirmed to the Inquirer that a Navy patrol boat has intercepted two motorboats loaded with some 80 people entering the Philippine waters from Sabah. Yongque said Navy personnel aboard patrol ship Auxiliary Transport AT 291  spotted the two moto rlaunches around 9 a.m. Friday and were now escorting the boats  to Bongao in Tawi-Tawi. Yongque said those intercepted were Filipinos fleeing the Sabah violence and were not followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. “They will immediately be turned over to the Task Force Basulta on Sabah Crisis for processing. I repeat, they are not armed nor they are followers of Kiram.They are just ordinary people.” he said. 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: navy , Navy Capt. Rene Yongque , Sabah 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: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

Sulu group leader Azzimudie’s fate still unknown

 News
Mar 072013
 
Sulu group leader Azzimudie’s fate still unknown

The Star-Asia News Network 11:57 am | Friday, March 8th, 2013 Malaysian troops in the mopping up and search operations in Tanduo village/The Star-Asia News Network LAHAD DATU– The fate of Sulu armed group leader Azzimudie Kiram remains unknown as Malaysian elite military and police teams enter into the final stage of search and mopping up operations at Kampung Tanduo and Kampung Tanjung Batu near here Friday. Azzimudie, the brother of self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram III, has failed to contact the Kiram family in Manila for the past two days and security forces expect to know what happened to him in a day or two. The so-called Royal Sulu Army general identified as Haji Musa was among the some 30 gunmen killed in a shootout at Kampung Tanjung Batu on Wednesday. Azzimudie and his trusted commanders were believed to be among those who slipped out of Kampung Tanduo on Sunday, two days before aerial and artillery bombardment began on Tuesday. Azzimudie told The Star over the telephone Wednesday that one of his sons was with him in Tanduo along with 200 to 300 of his followers, including six women. Malaysian security forces launched an all-out offensive against the intruders on Tuesday, after a stand-off that began on Feb 9. 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 Read More …

DOLE: After 2877 hired in January job fairs, more job fairs coming in March

 News
Mar 072013
 
DOLE: After 2877 hired in January job fairs, more job fairs coming in March

At least 2,877 jobseekers found work on the spot in 40 job fairs conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment last January, with more job fairs coming this month, DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said. Baldoz said the job fairs are the DOLE’s response to requests for employment assistance. “The Department has still many job fairs to come. We expect more job applicants will be hired on the spot in the next job fairs which we will conduct year round,” said Baldoz. Breakdown In the 40 job fairs held last January, a total of 21,385 jobseekers registered for 70,651 job vacancies offered by 621 prospective employers. Of these, 9,461 of these vacancies were from Metro Manila. More than half (51 percent or 11,938) of the applicants were women. “During the job fairs, applicants select vacancies suited to their qualifications and employers could interview and hire on the spot qualified workers,” Baldoz said. Schedule for March In March, the DOLE regional offices will hold 81 job fairs, as follows: Metro Manila March 11: Quezon City Hall Covered Walk and SM San Lazaro, Manila March 18: SM Tunasan, Muntinlupa City March 20: Star J Malabon March 21: Pasay City Sports Complex March 22: Quezon city and Pasay City Region 1 March 8: Urdaneta City University, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan March 26: CB Mall, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan March 30: Asingan Gym, Asingan, Pangasinan Job fairs are also tentatively scheduled at the University of Pangasinan, Dagupan City; Colegio De Dagupan; and Bayambang, Pangasinan this March. Read More …

Navy: 121 Pinoy evacuees aboard two boats from Sabah now on way to Tawi-Tawi

 News
Mar 072013
 
Navy: 121 Pinoy evacuees aboard two boats from Sabah now on way to Tawi-Tawi

(UPDATED 1:30 p.m.) –  At least 121 Filipinos were aboard the two motorized vessels that were heading for Tawi-Tawi from Sabah before they were intercepted by the Philippine Navy early on Friday. Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Fabic said in a radio interview they also found sacks of rice and foodstuff aboard the two ships. “Yung destination nila, papuntang Bongao. In-escort ng Philippine Navy papuntang Bongao para sa proper disposition,” Fabic said in an interview on dzBB radio. On Thursday, Malaysia had set up a tight blockade and defensive line at Sabah’s east coast.  Earlier this week, a vessel carrying Filipinos fleeing from the conflict in Sabah arrived in Tawi-Tawi.  Malaysian forces had adopted an all-out stance against Kiram’s followers after a series of fatal clashes since March 1. On Thursday, the sultan declared a unilateral ceasefire after the United Nations called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but Malaysia has rejected the ceasefire offer. —KG/VVP, GMA News

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