The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on Tuesday afternoon submitted its own findings on the Mamasapano incident to the Senate Committee on Local Government. In a nutshell, the MILF Special Investigative Commission found no liability among its fighters for the deaths of the 44 PNP Special Action Force commandos, who were on a mission to neutralize suspected terrorists in what is believed to be MILF territory in Mamasapano on Jan. 25. MILF Report on Mamasapano_march24 — GMA News
Detained Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. on Tuesday asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him temporary liberty on March 28 to attend his daughter’s high school graduation. “While he does not want to abuse this honorable court’s kindness and understanding, Sen. Revilla is again constrained to seek this Honorable Court’s permission, this time to attend the Commencement Exercises of his daughter, Ma. Franzel Loudette Bautista, who will graduate from high school at De La Salle Zobel, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City on March 28, 2015,” Revilla’s four-page motion read. “The assemble and march of the graduates will start at 2:30 p.m. The program will commence at 3 p.m. and end at 6 p.m.,” it added. Revilla is currently detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame over allegations that he participated in the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam, which saw public funds diverted to bogus non-government organizations owned by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles. Just two weeks ago, a separate division of the anti-graft court allowed another detained senator, Jinggoy Estrada, to attend his son’s graduation. In his motion, Revilla said his daughter will receive three awards, and that as a father, he would like to be present for the occasion. “As a testament of her diligence and hard work as a student, Sen. Revilla was informed by his wife, Rep. Lani Mercado Revilla that their daughter, Loudette, will receive the following awards: (a) St. Mutien Marie Award; (b) St. De La Salle Award; and (c) Alfonso Yuchengco National Discipline Award,” his motion Read More …
President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday called for a “healthy” rivalry in politics during a luncheon he hosted in Malacañang for the volleyball teams of rivals Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and De La Salle University (DLSU). In his speech during the event, Aquino said his critics should draw inspiration from athletes from rival teams who show “unity and sportsmanship” after a game. “Sana, ang mga pulitiko, pati na ang mga kasapi ng iba’t ibang sektor ng lipunan, ay ganito rin ang ipamalas na ugnayan,” the President said on Tuesday afternoon. “Kapag tinanaw nila ang isang tunggalian o kompetisyon, matanong sana nila sa kanilang mga sarili: Healthy ba ang rivalry na ito? Kapag naman may kritisismo, matanong sana nila: Constructive ba ito?” he added. Aquino also highlighted the importance of national unity in supposed efforts to sow discord in the country. “Sa panahon ngayon kung saan may mga nagtutulak ng kaguluhan at pagkawatak-watak sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng mundo, at maging dito sa atin, maraming puwedeng matutunan sa ipinapakita ninyong mabuting halimbawa,” he said. “Nahahati man tayo sa iba’t ibang isla, mayroon man tayong mga pagkakaiba, sa huli, iisang koponan lang tayong mga Pilipino. Walang spike na di kayang saluhin, kung nakatutok sa nagkakaisang layunin. Walang atakeng hindi kayang itawid, kung may estratehiya, may pasahan, at may koordinasyon ang bawat isa,” he added. Both ADMU’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams took the University Athletic Association of the Philippines championships earlier this month. The President, an Ateneo graduate, said he personally Read More …
No overkill was committed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Mamasapano incident that led to the deaths of 60 individuals, including 44 commandos on a mission to neutralize suspected terrorists in alleged MILF territory on Jan. 25. In its 35-page fact-finding report on the Mamasapano operation, the MILF Special Investigative Commission also found no liability on the part of the MILF fighters in the area as the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force failed to coordinate its mission as supposedly mandated in the peace agreement between the government and the rebel group. “After the initial advantage on the part of the PNP-SAF, the BIAF got the upper hand in the fighting. Their strong points included familiarity with the terrain, their location vis-a-vis their adversaries, their superior number, and the use of the ‘Barrett’,” read the MILF report. According to the report, the police commandos belonging to the 55th Special Action Company stayed in the cornfield while the [Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF’s military component] were able to cover themselves in the river banks and coconut trees surrounding the cornfield. “The fighting also became so intense that at one point, the men were shooting at each other with only three-to-four meters between them,” the MILF report read. “Despite the advantages, the BIAF did not use unnecessary force or employ any method of warfare that violated International Humanitarian Law. Rather, they faced their adversaries employing the weapons that were available to them and using their advantages to the Read More …
A ranking police official on Tuesday said Senator Antonio Trillanes IV may have been “misinformed” when he alleged that an unidentified Special Action Force officer went drinking with Army commanders on the night before the January 25 mission in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. In a text message to GMA News Online, Director Benjamin Magalong, who chaired the police Board of Inquiry that looked into the Mamasapano incident, categorically denied Trillanes’ allegation. “We have already investigated that allegation,” he said. “There is no truth to it.” Forty-four SAF troopers were killed when the mission to arrest three suspected terrorists in a remote village in Mamasapano resulted in a clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which the government has an existing peace agreement, and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Figthers. Fellowship Magalong, who also heads the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), admitted that there was indeed a “fellowship” on the eve of the mission but quickly added that SAF troopers were not part of it. He, however, has yet to respond to further inquiries regarding the fellowship. The PNP has earlier vowed to cooperate with any external investigation on the alleged drinking session. PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the PNP will not investigate the supposed drinking session as it would be too “self-serving” for them. “More wise kung may body outside the PNP ang magsasagawa ng investigation,” he said. —KBK, GMA News
Because of Melissa’s offloading incident, you’ll never look at seat 1A the same way again, right?
MORE REGIONAL hospital upgrades will be added to the project pipeline of the public-private partnership (PPP) program before the administration of President Benigno S. C. Aquino III ends in 2016, the program’s executive director said on Friday.
MANILA, Philippines – Amid bleak news of an impending power shortage this summer (and the years to come), Philips’ MayMagagawaKa campaign was recently launched to shed light on how Filipinos can start saving energy now. “A power outage can be catastrophic for the economy,” said Fabia Tetteroo-Bueno, country manager of Philips Philippines. “We lose the comfort of our homes and the stability of livelihood and business. It will impact all sectors — consequently, it will take the unified efforts of all these sectors to prevent it from happening in the future.” Jointly organized by Philips, Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) Bank, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the MayMagagawaKa campaign seeks to raise awareness and build urgency on energy conservation in the country. The campaign comes on the heels of the Malampaya maintenance shutdown, which left a 700-megawatt void in the local power grid and renewed the mounting calls for energy conservation in the country. “When it comes to power interruptions, it affects the quality of power and disrupts business,” said Henry Schumacher, executive vice president of ECCP. “It is hoped that the measures undertaken by the private sector in joining the Interruptible Load Program (ILP), implementing energy savings, and energy efficiency investments will avoid power outages this summer.” The ILP program is a proposed set of contingency measures to manage electrical consumption amid the Malampaya shutdown, including the use of generators as an alternative power source for private Read More …
(Los Angeles, CA ) The Filipino Cultural School (FCS) will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary Banquet on Sunday, April 12, 2015 starting promptly at 5:00 pm to be held at the Sierra Room in the Cerritos Performing Arts Center in Cerritos, CA. The celebration will honor the 50 years of existence of Filipino Cultural School via speeches, dance performances, video presentations and entertainment. It will especially acknowledge those who took part in the FCS program in the past as well as those who are actively involved in the program today. With the growing influence of American culture in our everyday lives, it is easy to forget where we came from and our origins. This growing impact, without a doubt, affects the youth and can easily create a disparity between the American and Filipino cultures. Filipino Cultural School has encompassed and taught the youth the many different aspects of Filipino culture, such as dance, music, history, geography, lifestyle, and language. The school has been running a summer educational program that teaches the youth (specifically ages 5-18) about their Filipino culture. Furthermore, Filipino Cultural School strives to show the different sides of Filipino culture in hopes of preserving the culture for future generations. Founded in 1965 by the Sampaguita Women’s Circle, the Sampaguita Women opened FCS in the past several years other facilities to accommodate increasing enrollment in the South Bay Area, notably within Cerritos and Anaheim. Dolly Anthony, the first Directress of FCS spent most of her vacation time during the Read More …
ANNE Curtis (MNS Photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) — Actress and TV host Anne Curtis is UNICEF’s newly appointed celebrity advocate for children. Curtis spent two days visiting parts of Leyte, where she saw the recovery operations in areas hit by Typhoon Yolanda. She also spent time interacting with children and their families. “I am honored to join UNICEF on this very fulfilling and meaningful trip. I am deeply touched by how children and families have coped and are building back their lives. Clearly, significant progress have been achieved. Talking to children and their families, and being able to bring smiles to their faces is something I will remember for the rest of my life,” she said. As a donor and supporter of UNICEF, Curtis said she is glad to see that the funds have reached and worked for children who are in need. While in Leyte, Curtis supported emergency response and visited a maternal health care ward in the regional hospital, an immunization site, a child friendly space at a temporary housing site, and educational facilities such as day care centers and elementary schools. In every site she visited, the “It’s Showtime” host took the time to talk with children and families. “I played with children in a child-friendly space and a day care center. I read books to them and helped them draw in an arts and crafts session. I washed hands with school children and participated in their song and dance number,” she shared. “It was heartwarming to listen Read More …