Lawyer of Serendra blast victim to Ayala Land: Pay family for damages

 News
Jul 082013
 
Lawyer of Serendra blast victim to Ayala Land: Pay family for damages

The lawyer of Angelito San Juan, the tenant who was injured in the May 31 explosion of a condominium unit at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) who later died without giving a statement, said the family is planning on suing Ayala Land Inc. for damages. In a “24 Oras” report on Monday, San Juan’s attorney Raymund Fortun said that although Ayala Land has paid for San Juan’s hospitalization and burial, it has not yet coordinated with the family to settle damages. “A civil suit for damages, actual, moral and exemplary damages has to be imposed. We’re always open to any form of settlement of these cases,” Fortun said. “Kailangan lang namin maging reasonable sila at maging sincere ang kanilang desire to try to alleviate ‘yung suffering of parties involved,” he added. He said the family deserves compensation for any financial loss they could face following the death of San Juan, who succumbed to burns all over his body. “Mayroon pang ilang taon na ‘yung tao ay magiging productive, na kikita pa o mapapakinabangan ng kanyang pamilya. Dahil dito sa hindi inaasahang pagkamatay, nawalan ang pamilya ng ganito,” Fortun said. “Certainly some form of compensation would be justified,” he added. Suzette Naval, Ayala Land’s corporation communications manager, told GMA News Online: “We’ve not had any information about the intention [of the family about compensation].” She said that Ayala LAnd has yet to issue a statement about the family’s plea. Meanwhile, Interior secretary Mar Roxas has assured the public that his department will Read More …

Palace: First day of Ramadan is not a holiday

 News
Jul 082013
 
Palace: First day of Ramadan is not a holiday

The first day of the holy month of Ramadan is not a holiday, Malacañang said Monday. In a post on its Twitter account, the Official Gazette said it made the clarification after receiving many queries about whether Tuesday is a holiday because of Ramadan. “[Regarding] queries: Tomorrow, July 9, 2013, is not a nationwide holiday,” it said. However, the date of the start of Ramadan varies—July 9 in some countries, July 10 in others. According to MakkahCalendar.org, the Philippines will be among the countries that should start Ramadan on July 10. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, and offer prayers. The Official Gazette pointed out that Proclamation 495 does not include the start of Ramadan on its list of holidays. It also noted that separate proclamations will be issued for the observance of Eid’l Fitr and Eidul Adha. — BM, GMA News

Military halts ops vs. MILF breakaway group before start of Ramadan

 News
Jul 082013
 
Military halts ops vs. MILF breakaway group before start of Ramadan

The military has halted its operations against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF)—the armed wing of a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)—in time for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, officials said Monday. In a text message to reporters, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the military “will keep the peace during Ramadan” but “will act accordingly should harassment continue to persist.” Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, meanwhile said that troops have already “called off” their operations against the BIFF since they were only allowed three days to conduct operations against the group. “We have to abide by that kasi ayaw naman natin na ma-derail ‘yung peace process,” Gapuz said in a separate interview. He, however, added that government troops are “prepared” to “react” if the BIFF launches attacks during Ramadan. 2 clashes On Saturday, five soldiers were killed in two separate attacks launched by the BIFF in Maguindanao and North Cotabato. Col. Dickson Hermoso, spokesman for the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said the attacks may have been launched by the BIFF to derail the peace talks between the Philippine government and the MILF, which formally resumed on Monday. Last October, the government and the MILF signed a landmark framework agreement that would pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro territory to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar earlier appealed to the BIFF to support the Read More …

PAGASA: Storm Soulik intensifies, moves closer to PHL 

 News
Jul 082013
 
PAGASA: Storm Soulik intensifies, moves closer to PHL 

Tropical Storm Soulik forecast track as of 8Jul2013. The Weather Central forecast track for Soulik as of 8am Monday shows that the tropical storm may enter the northeastern corner of the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday. GMA News Tropical Storm Soulik intensified anew Monday afternoon as it moved closer to the Philippine Area of Responsibility, state weather forecasters said. In a radio interview, PAGASA forecaster Gladys Saludes said Soulik is  expected to enter the PAR Wednesday afternoon. “Bahagya ito lumakas… by Wednesday afternoon papasok ito ng Philippine Aea of Responsibility,” Saludes told dzBB radio. Once it does, she said the tropical storm will be locally codenamed Huaning. She said the storm is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon. Saludes said that as of 5 p.m., Soulik was estimated at 2,010 km east of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It is moving west at 20 kph, she added. “Maghahatak ito ng habagat sa Huwebes,” she said. The Japan Meteorological Agency, meanwhile, projected that Soulik may continue to move west. Tuesday outlook PAGASA’s 5 p.m. bulletin said the Intertropical Convergence Zone will continue to affect Palawan and Mindanao. “Light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over Visayas and Mindanao. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be slight to moderate,” it said. — RSJ, GMA News

LA’s new mayor vows to keep city entertainment capital

 Entertainment
Jul 082013
 

LOS ANGELES  (AFP) – Los Angeles’ new mayor Eric Garcetti promised to keep the entertainment industry in the city as he was sworn in Sunday to replace Antonio Vallaraigosa, local media reported. Saying the city is “a place where you can’t be pessimistic even if you want to be,” Garcetti vowed to end the flight […]

SC urged to issue opinion on bid to let US, allies to use PH bases

 News
Jul 082013
 
SC urged to issue opinion on bid to let US, allies to use PH bases

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 3:35 pm | Monday, July 8th, 2013 Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Fisherfolk group on Monday urged Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to issue a legal opinion that puts question on the constitutionality of the proposal to allow the US government and other military allies of the Philippines to use military bases across the country. In a three-page letter to De Lima dated July 8, members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) through its Vice Chairperson Salvador France and Peter Gonzalez, Chairperson-Southern Tagalog said they believe the Justice Department is “constitutionally, politically and morally obliged to issue a legal opinion that questions the legality of such proposal. “We ask the honourable chief of the justice department to break her silence and tell the people in Malacañang that the proposal to give greater access to US, Japan and other junior partners of Washington DC for rated-A military intervention and aggression all over the country is a flagrant violation of the 1987 Constitution and grand affront to the sovereign rights of more than 100-million Filipinos,” they said in their letter. President Benigno Aquino III defended the plan to give the US and Japan access to the former US bases in the Philippines. The government has dismissed report that the Philippines is planning to build new air and naval bases that US forces could use to counter China’s creeping presence in the West Philippine Sea. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on Read More …

Palace considers senators’ concerns on planned bases agreement with US

 Entertainment
Jul 082013
 

MANILA (Mabuhay) – Malacañang said it is open to having discussions with lawmakers to allay fears of some senators who said the planned bases access agreement with the US may be violating the Constitution. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino administration is willing to discuss the issue with the senators while the defense […]

Asian stocks sink on China growth jitters

 General
Jul 072013
 
Asian stocks sink on China growth jitters

Associated Press 12:35 pm | Monday, July 8th, 2013 People walk by an electronic stock board of a securities firm in Tokyo Monday, July 1, 2013. AP FILE PHOTO BANGKOK – Concern over China’s slowdown weighed on Asian stock markets Monday after the head of the International Monetary Fund warned of a loss of momentum in emerging economies. Asia’s losses came despite strong U.S. job numbers that sparked a Wall Street rally on Friday. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 1.9 percent to 20,463.80 and China’s Shanghai Composite was down 1.6 percent to 1,974.82. Most other regional markets also fell amid renewed worries that economic recovery in China, the world’s No. 2 economy, is faltering. IMF Director Christine Lagarde warned at a conference in France on Sunday that a slowdown in emerging economies could result in the fund lowering its 2013 forecast for world growth. The Chinese central bank’s clampdown on easy credit has fueled additional concern. Michala Marcussen of Societe Generale Group said in a commentary that credit data due out this week would likely show a slowdown in lending. “This data will do little to change the picture of credit tightening in China, pointing to slower growth ahead,” Marcussen said. South Korea’s Kospi dipped 1.1 percent to 1,813.13. Taiwan’s TAIEX fell 1.1 percent to 7,913.22 and Indonesia’s JSX was down 2.1 percent to 4,505.61. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 0.2 percent to 14,338.62 as the yen resumed its weakening trend, which is a perk for Japanese exporters. World markets Read More …

10 MANILA PARKS TO VISIT

 News
Jul 072013
 
10 MANILA PARKS TO VISIT

Let nature take its course and find its way to you with these 10 green patches around Manila–all natural, healthy, and pocket-friendly, but most of all, they’re refreshing alternatives for your next weekend outing. READ FULL STORY PHOTO: Paco Park

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