Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

 News
May 092013
 
Taiwan condemns PHL attack on fishing boat, meets PCG chief

Taiwan on Thursday demanded an apology from the Philippine government as it condemned the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine vessel. At least one fisherman was reported dead in the incident. A report on Taiwan’s Central News Agency said Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the shooting came from an “official Philippine ship.” Earlier, Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that  a Philippine Navy ship fired upon the fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Quoting the foreign ministry, the CNA report identified the slain fisherman as Hung Shih-cheng, 65, adding the shooting occurred Thursday morning. It said the Taiwanese boat “Kuang Ta Hsing No. 28” was some 170 nautical miles off the southern coast of Taiwan at the time, and was seriously damaged. Aside from an apology, Taiwan demanded that the Philippine government identify those responsible and make compensation for the losses. The CNA report noted there had been past incidents where Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area were arrested and detained by Philippine authorities. But it said there had been few reports of shooting. Quoting Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines Raymond Wang, who met with Philippine Coast Guard head Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, the Philippines found one of its ships shot the Taiwanese fishing boat. It said the type of vessel deployed by the Philippines and the weapons used were not immediately known. A separate report on Taipei Times said the vessel was operating at around 164 nautical miles (304 km) southeast Read More …

PNoy dispels fears of ‘No-El’

 Entertainment
May 092013
 

MANILA, May 9 (Mabuhay) — President Aquino dispelled fears that Wednesday’s power outage was a dry run for a no-election scenario on Monday. Speaking to reporters, Aquino said the energy department’s inventory has shown that there will be enough supply of electricity on election day. Aquino denied that the administration has anything to do with […]

2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

 News
May 092013
 
2 Chinese spy ships sighted off PH-held shoal

By Redempto D. Anda Inquirer Southern Luzon 3:19 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The Western Command is monitoring the presence of two Chinese military surveillance vessels that were reported to have been stationary since Tuesday afternoon near the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the disputed Spratly’s region. The two Chinese vessels were identified by other defense sources, who asked not to be identified, as “maritime surveillance vessels.” The vessels were reported to be some six nautical miles west of Ayungin Shoal since Tuesday afternoon. According to the source, the information about the Chinese presence “has been relayed to proper authorities,” including Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Wescom spokesperson Lt. Cherry Tindog confirmed that the regional military command has received reports about the Chinese vessels but declined to issue additional information concerning the reported intrusion. Ayungin Shoal, also known internationally as Second Thomas Reef, is one of the reef formations within the six islands where Philippine troops are present and is considered by the country as part of the municipality of Kalayaan. It is closest to Mischief Reef, which until 1995 was occupied by the Philippines until the Chinese built a fortification on it.

PHL Navy ship fires upon Taiwan fishing boat, one  dead – report

 News
May 092013
 
PHL Navy ship fires upon Taiwan fishing boat, one  dead - report

Beijing-based Xinhua News Agency reported on its website Xinhua.net that a Taiwanese fisherman died Thursday morning after a Philippine Navy ship fired upon a fishing vessel in seas south of Taiwan. Xinhua said the deputy head of Taiwan’s fishery administration, Tsay Tzu-yaw, disclosed details of the incident. GMA News Online contacted the Philippine Navy for comment or confirmation, but no authorized officer was available as of posting time. Citing Taiwanese media reports, Xinhua said the Filipino ship dealt severe damage to the fishing boat while chasing it for an hour “after killing the fisherman” in waters 180 nautical miles southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan.  — DVM/ELR, GMA News

GMA Life TV celebrates five years of being the first international Filipino lifestyle channel

 Entertainment
May 092013
 

GMA Life TV, the first international Filipino lifestyle channel by GMA International, is commemorating five years of celebrating the best in Pinoy lifestyle this May through a colorful and vibrant television campaign representing all the wonderful things that the channel is known for. For five years already, GMA Life TV – one of GMA’s overseas […]

Angara honored by Japan

 News
May 092013
 
Angara honored by Japan

By Cathy C. Yamsuan Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:54 am | Friday, May 10th, 2013 Sen. Edgardo Angara INQUIRER FILE PHOTO Outgoing Sen. Edgardo J. Angara was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by Emperor Akihito in Tokyo on Thursday, making him the third Filipino to be given what is said to be the highest distinction given by the Japanese government to an individual. Previous Filipino recipients of the award were the late Carlos P. Romulo, former foreign secretary and president of the United Nations General Assembly; and Alfonso T. Yuchengco, the country’s former ambassador to Japan. Other known personalities who received the distinction were former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, former United Nations Children’s Fund executive director Carol Bellamy, former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, the late US Sen. Daniel Inouye and former Brookings Institution president Michael H. Armacost. The Philippine Embassy in Tokyo said Angara was given the recognition for his valuable contributions to “promoting friendly relations and developing economic cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.” Simple rites The award was given in simple rites witnessed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the senator’s wife, Gloria, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The embassy noted that the Order of the Rising Sun was created in April 1875 to recognize individuals with “distinguished achievements in international relations, the promotion of Japanese culture, the preservation of the environment and advances in development and various fields.” It is awarded in seven classes, with the Read More …

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 …

 Older Entries  Newer Entries