Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

 News
May 212013
 
Militants 'picket' TECO office in Makati, seek early resolution to row

Militant groups on Wednesday picketed the office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Makati City to call for an early resolution to the row stemming from the fatal shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman in disputed waters last May 9. The militants, who gathered near the RCBC Tower where the MECO office is located, also voiced sympathies to the relatives of the slain fisherman, radio dzBB’s Mao dela Cruz reported. No violent confrontation took place between the militants and police, the report said. During their picket, the militants asked the Philippine and Taiwan governments to resolve their row soonest, and reminded Taiwan that overseas Filipino workers are not their enemy. They also asked the Philippine government to take steps to protect OFWs in Taiwan. Killed in the May 9 incident was fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, 65. His death prompted Taiwan to freeze the hiring of new Filipino workers and to issue a travel alert discouraging travel to the Philippines.  Since the May 9 incident, some Filipinos in Taiwan reported being harassed or injured by Taiwanese angry over the fisherman’s death.  Report: PHL ready to pay NT$1-M to Taiwanese fisherman’s kin The Philippines is ready to pay NT$1 million (P1.38 million) to the family of a Taiwanese fisherman shot dead in an encounter off disputed waters last May 9, the head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office said late Tuesday. But MECO head Amadeo Perez Jr. told Taiwan’s Central News Agency it is still not clear at this time if the Read More …

‘Annaliza’ makes TV return on May 27

 Entertainment
May 212013
 

MANILA, May 18 (Mabuhay) — The classic Pinoy soap opera “Annaliza” is all set to return on the small screen after ABS-CBN announced that its remake of the popular 1980s TV tearjerker will premiere on May 27. Child actress Andrea Brillantes, who will play the title role that made the late Julie Vega a household […]

Southern California Edison warns customers of payment scam

 Entertainment
May 212013
 

ROSEMEAD, Calif., – Southern California Edison (SCE) is advising Asian customers to be aware of a telephone scam is demanding immediate payment for allegedly past due electricity bills. Imposters have been calling SCE customers telling them they must make immediate payment on past due bills or have their electric service disconnected. The callers are also […]

Coast Guard finalizes report on USS Guardian grounding

 News
May 212013
 
Coast Guard finalizes report on USS Guardian grounding

The Philippine Coast Guard is now finalizing its report on the grounding of the minesweeper USS Guardian at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17 and will soon submit it to Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. Administrative sanctions for those found liable may be included in the final report of the Coast Guard’s Marine Casualty Investigation Team, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported Wednesday. Once he goes over the report, Abaya is expected to submit it to President Benigno Aquino III, the dzBB report added. Last April, the Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) received relevant documents on the incident from the US Navy. The USS Guardian ran aground at Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17, and damaged 2,345.67 square meters of the reef. It was cut and removed from the area last March 30. A news release from the Tubbataha Management Office said the fines for the Jan. 17 grounding may amount to P58.4 million ($1.5 million). On the other hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the MCIT’s safety inquiry also aims to identify measures the Philippines and US may adopt to prevent a repeat of the incident. —KG, GMA News

DepEd ‘s 1,000 teachers program given hiring priority

 Entertainment
May 212013
 

MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) – The graduates of a scholarship program spearheaded by the Department of Education and the Philippine Business for Education will be given hiring priority to work as teachers in the country’s public schools, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Sunday. According to Valte, the DepEd and PBEd’s flagship scholarship program […]

Brillantes wants October 2013 barangay, SK polls postponed

 Entertainment
May 212013
 

MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec), under fire at the heels of the May 13 elections, may postpone the October 2013 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections to late next year or early 2015. According to Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr., postponing the barangay and SK elections to a later date […]

NPA guerrillas release unharmed 6 drivers abducted in north Cotabato

 News
May 212013
 
NPA guerrillas release unharmed 6 drivers abducted in north Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY — The New Peoples’ Army released unharmed on Tuesday in Makilala, North Cotabato the six drivers of rented cars the rebels commandeered and used to raid a security agency in Tagum City, Davao Oriental. Senior Inspector Joyce Birrey, chief of Makilala Police, identified the freed drivers as: Armando Woamil of Davao City, driver of beige Mercedez Benz (LXB 686); Orbil Bacaro of Ma-a, Davao City and driver of red Montero Sports (LGC 129); Reynaldo Pedere of Talomo, Davao City, driver of silver Toyota Grandia (LGY 732); Hashim Moalid of Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, driver of green Hi-Ace Toyota van; Schmidt Apat of Matina, Davao City, driver of black Hyundai Starex (KCP 166); and Danilo Tamayo of General Santos City, driver of gold Toyota Innova (ZCX 871). The drivers told Birrey they were held for one day in a nipa hut in Purok Nangka, Barangay New Bulatucan, about two kilometers away from the national highway. A total of 20 fully-armed NPA rebels were detailed to watch them, the drivers said. Pedere, driver of Toyota Grandia van, said the rebels did not hurt them and provided them with food and water. Also Pedere said that before they were abducted, a woman who introduced herself as a wife of a foreigner contacted him through the internet and hired him to fetch the foreigner who had stayed for a vacation in Barangay New Israel in Makilala town and bring him to the Davao International Airport. The other drivers said they were also hired Read More …

PAGASA: No cyclone near PAR; rain likely over Luzon and Mindanao

 News
May 212013
 
PAGASA: No cyclone near PAR; rain likely over Luzon and Mindanao

Satellite Image at 7:30 a.m. Monday, 20 May 2013. | Weather Central Although there is still no cyclone near the Philippine area of responsibility, residents in parts of northern Luzon and Mindanao may expect rain on Wednesday, state weather forecasters said. PAGASA forecaster Bernie de Leon said the rain will come from a tail-end of a cold front affecting northern Luzon, while the inter-tropical convergence zone is affecting Mindanao. “Sa kasalukuyan wala pa tayong namamataang namumuong sama ng panahon sa Philippine area of responsibility. Subali’t nakaaapekto pa rin ang tail end of cold front sa northern Luzon at ITCZ ang nakakaapekto sa southern Mindanao,” de Leon said in an interview on dzBB radio. In Metro Manila, he said there will be generally good weather but with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms. PAGASA said Metro Manila may expect temperatures of 26 to 34 degrees Celsius while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 24 to 32 degrees Celsius. Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 32 degrees Celsius, it added. PAGASA’s 5 a.m. bulletin said: “The regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley in [northern Luzon], Davao and Zamboanga Peninsula [in Mindanao] will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms,” it said. It added Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the western section.” Light to moderate winds from the southeast to south will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to Read More …

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