Police nab suspects in slaying of two Fil-Am teens in San Jose, CA

 News
Jun 072013
 
Police nab suspects in slaying of two Fil-Am teens in San Jose, CA

By Harvey I. BarkinINQUIRER.net US Bureau 3:21 am | Saturday, June 8th, 2013 Christian Comilang SAN JOSE, California–A combined team of the Covert Response and Metro units of the San Jose Police Department last Saturday, arrested without incident two suspects in the May 26 slaying of two Filipino American high school students. The victims, Christian Comilang, 15, and Johnson Cular, 16, were students of Independent High School and members of the Filipino Youth Coalition, a community service group founded in 1992. The two were San Jose residents who would have been sophomores in the fall. After a week-long wait without word from the SJPD as to possible motive or suspects in slayings of two Filipino American youths, the youth coalition appealed to authorities for action. Police on June 1 finally arrested Matthew Clifford, 19, and a 17-year-old juvenile. The two suspects were booked at the Santa Clara County Jail and Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, respectively. Clifford is a resident of this city, but the other suspect has not been named since he is still a minor. Shot pointblank According to FYC sources, Comilang and Cular separated from a group of youths enjoying a late Sunday afternoon frolic toward the end of Rinehart Drive, behind the Kohl’s department store along McKee Road. They were seen talking to a stranger on a bicycle, who had one hand in his pocket. The bicyclist suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Comilang and Cular pointblank. The police report logged the 911 call at Read More …

71 of 138 pass Environmental Planner Licensure Exam — PRC

 News
Jun 072013
 
71 of 138 pass Environmental Planner Licensure Exam — PRC

A total of 71 out of 138 examinees passed the Environmental Planner Licensure Examination given in Manila and Lucena city in Batangas this month, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Friday. [Click here for complete list of passers.]    The PRC said registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on June 25.  Meanwhile, the date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination will be announced later, the PRC said. — KBK, GMA News   

Flood, landslide warnings still up in VisMin, Palawan as LPA nears

 News
Jun 072013
 
Flood, landslide warnings still up in VisMin, Palawan as LPA nears

Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central A potential cyclone off Catanduanes province threatens to bring rain that can trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Palawan, Western Visayas and Mindanao, state weather forecasters said Friday afternoon. PAGASA said the low-pressure area (LPA) was estimated at 590 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes as of 4 p.m., embedded in the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao. “Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said in its 5 p.m. bulletin. It added Bicol and the rest of Visayas will have “cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.” On the other hand, Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be “partly cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening,” PAGASA said. Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said the LPA has a 50-50 chance of intensifying into a cyclone. Should it intensify into a cyclone while inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it will be codenamed Dante. For Saturday, Metro Manila, Angeles and Olongapo Cities may expect temperatures of 25 to 34 degrees Celsius, while Tuguegarao City may expect temperatures of 25 to 36 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to occasionally strong winds from the northwest to west will prevail over Eastern Luzon and coming from the southwest over Palawan and the western section of Visayas and Mindanao. Read More …

Heavy rain in Mindanao from LPA; at least 2 flights cancelled

 News
Jun 072013
 
Heavy rain in Mindanao from LPA; at least 2 flights cancelled

Satellite Image at 7 a.m., June 6, 2013. | Weather Central At least two flights between Manila and Mindanao were canceled Friday afternoon due to bad weather, the Department of Transportation and Communications said. The DOTC said on its Twitter account the affected flights were those of Cebu Pacific, between Manila and Cagayan de Oro City. It said these included 5J-389 from Manila to Cagayan de Oro, and 5J-390 from Cagayan de Oro to Manila. As this developed, state weather forecasters warned of heavy rain in several parts of Mindanao, due to a potential cyclone. In a post on its Facebook page, PAGASA warned of heavy rain over Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Norte, Misamis Oriental and portions of North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur. “Flooding is threatening in low-lying areas,” it said. PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, also said a potential cyclone – a low-pressure area – may trigger flash floods and landslides in parts of Palawan, Western Visayas and Mindanao in the next 24 hours. “Mindanao, Western Visayas and Palawan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides,” it said. — TJD, GMA News

Former Navy chief Pama is new Palace undersecretary

 News
Jun 072013
 
Former Navy chief Pama is new Palace undersecretary

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed retired Navy Flag Officer in Command Alexander Pama as undersecretary under the Office of the Executive Secretary, Malacañang announced Friday.  But while his official designation is undersecretary under the Executive Secretary, reliable sources said Pama will head the National Coast Watch Council, an inter-agency body created by President Aquino in 2011.   Based on information made available to reporters, Aquino signed Pama’s appointment papers on May 31. Prior to his appointment, Pama, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1979, served as Navy chief until his retirement on Dec. 21 last year. He was replaced by current head of the Navy Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano. Not the first Pama is not the first retired military or police officer to be appointment to a civilian post by President Aquino.  Others before Pama were former military chief Eduardo Oban Jr., who was appointed Department of Transportation and Communications undersecretary in Nov. 2012 and Ricardo David Jr., another former military chief, who was named Immigration chief in March 2011. Retired general Nestor Ochoa, who once served as acting chief of staff, is currently Philippine envoy to Brunei Darussalam. He was appointed by Aquino in April 2011. Retired Vice Admiral Ferdinand Golez, who was the 30th flag-officer-in-command of the Philippine Navy, was also appointed director of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in May 2012. Another retired military officer, Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan, previously headed the Bureau of Corrections following his appointment in July 2011. Read More …

PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

 News
Jun 072013
 
PNoy satisfied with results of Serendra blast probe

President Benigno Aquino III is satisfied with the results of the investigation on last Friday’s explosion at the Two Serendra condominium building in Taguig City that left three people dead, Malacañang said Friday. Aquino, however, asked investigators to continue being vigilant to truly determine the source of the gas leak that resulted in the explosion, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. “The president was updated last night [and he] was satisfied with the results,” Valte said at a press briefing in Malacañang. “Kung matatandaan ninyo po ang mahigpit na bilin ng pangulo doon sa interagency task force ay siguraduhin that the findings will stand the scrutiny of anyone and that findings will be based on the evidence that was gathered on site,” she added. Earlier in the day, Interior and Local Goverment Secretary Mar Roxas II announced based on the result of the investigation, a gas leak and not a bomb caused the deadly blast. Valte said Aquino has instructed the investigators to continue their probe with the same thoroughness. “Itutuloy po ‘yung thoroughness, hindi pa ho tapos ‘yung imbestigasyon. Na-rule out na po that the explosion was caused by any device, na-rule out na po ‘yon at nandoon na po sa stage na nasasabi na po ng mga imbestigador na this is attributable to a gas explosion most likely LPG (liquefied petroleum gas),” she said. PNoy to attend Ayala-hosted luncheon Meanwhile, despite the ongoing investigation on the property owned by Ayala Land Inc., Valte said Aquino, who is in Read More …

HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE NAIA?

 News
Jun 072013
 
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE NAIA?

Just like its infamous traffic gridlock, Manila’s airport woes have defied solution for the longest time. But if our officials are to be believed, there is a glimmer of hope, at least on the airport scene. (Forget the monstrous traffic jams on EDSA, they’re beyond salvation.) The Aquino administration is hell-bent on finding a long-term solution to Manila’s airport woes after numerous rehabilitation efforts at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have failed to uplift the gateway’s reputation as one of the world’s worst airports. Transportation and Communications Secretary Emilio Abaya said the government is studying several options on whether to rebuild NAIA into a modern facility or move the international airport somewhere else. In a speech before the Makati Business Club last April, Abaya said his department has submitted three proposals on the airport system to President Aquino and the Cabinet. The first option, Abaya said, involves a single airport system. Under this proposal, the government will end operations at NAIA and sell the property, and develop the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The second option is the twin airport system, where the government will develop Clark while maximizing operations at NAIA through 2025. At the same time, the government will look at an alternative site for a new airport, preferably 25 kilometers or 30 minutes away from the NAIA. The third option is also a twin system, where the government will develop both Clark and NAIA, while considering an alternative airport. “Previously, the direction was to move all Read More …

Annabelle, Nadia in tearful reconciliation

 Entertainment
Jun 062013
 

MANILA, June 6 (Mabuhay) — All’s well that ends well for Annabelle Rama and Nadia Montenegro. The warring camps finally reconciled during a closed-door judicial dispute resolution at the residence of San Juan Judge Marianito Santos. The two women were emotional as they said sorry to each other after a year of personal attacks and […]

PHL needs to beef up defense vs cyber threats

 Entertainment
Jun 062013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) — With most of the countries worldwide have become dependent on information and communication technology, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin cited the need to improve the country’s defense against cyber threats. He made this statement during the 12th Asia Security Summit Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore Sunday. “As we become increasingly […]

Aquino leaves for Myanmar to attend WEF East Asia summit

 News
Jun 062013
 
Aquino leaves for Myanmar to attend WEF East Asia summit

President Benigno Aquino on Friday morning left for Myanmar to attend the 22nd World Economic Forum East Asia summit. Aquino received departure honors from the Philippine Air Force before boarding a Philippine Airlines flight, radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen reported. The report said his delegation included: – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario– National Economic and Development Authority head Arsenio Balisacan– Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo– Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla– Presidential Management Staff head Julia Abad– Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Other officials who went to Myanmar in advance included Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima, and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang. Seeing him off at the NAIA Terminal 2 were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, presidential peace process adviser Teresita Deles, Philippine National Police chief Director General Alan Purisima, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino. In his departure statement, Aquino promised to strengthen ties with the Philippines’ neighbors and boost cooperation with them. He also said the Philippines will seek to learn from the summit as part of its preparations to host the WEF on East Asia in 2014. Aquino said he expects to meet with Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and exchange ideas with her. He is also expected to meet with business groups during his visit, the report said. Upon arrival in Myanmar on Friday morning, Aquino is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein. He will also meet Read More …

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