NDRRMC: More than 80k now affected by fighting in Maguindanao

 News
Mar 062015
 
NDRRMC: More than 80k now affected by fighting in Maguindanao

The number of people affected by fighting in Maguindanao since February has breached the 80,000 mark as of Friday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. In its update, the NDRRMC said the fighting included a rido on Feb. 9 in Pagalungan town, and government offensives against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters since Feb. 27. As of Friday, the NDRRMC said 16,111 families or 80,555 people have been affected in 59 barangays of Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.   Of these, 15,058 families or 75,290 people have been evacuated. Some 13,261 families or 66,305 people are staying in 49 evacuation centers. The NDRRMC also said that as of Friday, classes were suspended in 42 public elementary and high schools, affecting 18,819 students and 283 teachers. At least 45 houses had been destroyed in Region 11 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Some P16,628,867.60 in relief assistance has been provided to those affected, the NDRRMC said. —Joel Locsin/JST, GMA News

SAF men in Mamasapano operation may receive highest PNP award

 News
Mar 062015
 
SAF men in Mamasapano operation may receive highest PNP award

Some of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos involved in the operation in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last January 25 may receive the highest police award. At a press briefing on Friday, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said the police force’s Special Promotions and Awards Deliberation Board is looking into awarding Medalya ng Kagitingan to the deserving policemen who took part in the operation to arrest two wanted terrorists in the area. “Sa pakikipag-usap ko sa kanila, tinitignan na nila ang posibilidad na magkaroon ng award para sa iba pa,” he said. The SAF troopers were able to kill one of its two targets, Malaysian bomber Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, although the other one, Filipino bomb-maker Abdulbasit Usman, was able to escape. The operation, however, led to a clash with Moro rebels in the area, resulting in the deaths of over 60 people, 44 of them SAF members. The Medalya ng Kagitingan is equivalent to the Medal of Valor in the military, which is the highest award for combat. The National Police Commission (Napolcom), in a memorandum, said “in order to justify this award, a member of the Philippine National Police must perform in action a deed of personal bravery and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty so conspicuous as to distinguish himself clearly above his comrades in the performance of more than ordinary hazardous service.” Cerbo said the award entitles the recipient to a monthly financial assistance. He said the board is Read More …

Napolcom OKs posthumous promotion for SAF 44

 News
Mar 062015
 
Napolcom OKs posthumous promotion for SAF 44

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has approved the posthumous  promotion of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed in the January 25 clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. In a statement released Friday, the Napolcom approved the promotion after Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), made the recommendation. It said the SAF commandos were promoted “for demonstrating acts of conspicuous courage and gallantry in action at the risk of their lives over and beyond the call of duty that resulted in their untimely death.” The fatalities were part of a large SAF contingent sent to Mamasapano to arrest two high-profile terrorist targets. The covert operation, however, led to clash with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Interior and Secretary Mar Roxas, who chairs Napolcom, noted that although outnumbered by “a superior enemy force,” the SAF commandos “held their ground, fought up to their last breath and accomplished their mission.” Benefits Meanwhile, the statement also quoted Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo U. Escueta as saying that the legal spouses of the 28 married SAF members and a legitimate child of one trooper shall receive the following: — gratuity equivalent to one (1) year basic salary,— burial expenses equivalent to three (3) months basic salary, and— monthly pension for five (5) years equivalent to 80 percent of the decedent’s basic monthly pay. On the other hand, it said the surviving parents Read More …

Roxas to ‘immediately submit’ BOI report on Mamasapano to PNoy, Senate

 News
Mar 062015
 
Roxas to ‘immediately submit’ BOI report on Mamasapano to PNoy, Senate

Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Friday promised to submit a copy of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) report on the Mamasapano incident to President Benigno Aquino III and to the Senate as soon as he receives it. In a press statement, Roxas said he will also furnish copies of the report to the National Police Commission (Napolcom), Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and other bodies investigating the incident that resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force commandos. The statement also quoted BOI chairman Director Benjamin Magalong as saying the board will submit their report to PNP Officer-in-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina on Monday. Espina will then submit the report to Roxas, it added. Earlier on Friday, PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said at a press briefing that the fact-finding team is still working on the report. He said Magalong is still waiting for the final report of some of the members of the board. The board was formed to study the incident on the “tactical level”. Senior Supt. Robert Po, a member of the BOI, in a text message to GMA News Online, said the operational audit part of the report would be submitted to Magalong on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Cerbo stressed that since the deadline was only self-imposed, “I would not say na na-delay.” The BOI was originally supposed to submit its report by the end of February, but moved the deadline to Friday, Mar. 6. Forty-four elite Read More …

VP Binay, son to face prelim probe over ‘overpriced’ Makati City Hall Building II

 General
Mar 062015
 
VP Binay, son to face prelim probe over ‘overpriced’ Makati City Hall Building II

Investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed graft and malversation complaints against Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and 22 other city officials in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of Makati City Hall Building II. “The Complaint was filed following months of case build-up and evidence gathering by the Special Panel composed of field investigators,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement. Aside from graft and malversation charges, the respondents were charged for alleged violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act in connection with several alleged irregularities in the procurement and award of the contracts for the design, architectural services and the construction of the controversial building. The elder Binay was Makati mayor while his son was Makati councilor when the controversial building was constructed in 2007. Both had denied irregularities, with the VP Binay linking the accusations to a supposed well-financed demolition job against him. VP Binay has been very open about his plans to run for president in 2016 and has been the top presidential candidate based on various surveys. The investigation of the Ombudsman’s Special Panel stemmed from a complaint filed by lawyer Renato Bondal, who was the younger Binay’s opponent in the 2013 elections, and a certain Nicolas “Ching” Enciso VI. The complainants alleged that the respondents awarded the P11,974,900.00 contract for the design and architectural services for the building to MANA Architecture & Interior Design Company without public bidding. The respondents also allegedly released payments Read More …

New haven for art, antiques and artifacts

 Entertainment
Mar 052015
 
New haven for art, antiques and artifacts

The 650-sq.m. Facility, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday, is located at Km 21, East Service Road, South Superhighway, Sucat, Muntinlupa City. MANILA, Philippines — There is a new go-to place for lovers of vintage collectibles. Harringtons Lifestyle Auction held its third successful Auction Day on February 28 dubbed “Remnants of the Past” – and its bidders went away happy with their rare and valuable finds. Having earned the distinction of pioneering the auction industry in the Philippines, Harringtons has everything that an ardent collector or antiques enthusiast could wish for – from paintings to sculptures, porcelain vases and celadon jars, rosewood tables and elm wood chairs, hand painted Chinese ceramic plates and handcrafted Tibetan necklaces, English fine bone tea sets and ancient Indian stone statues, Italian dining chairs and Victorian wall mirrors. Name it, they have it. Most of the items auctioned off at the well-attended event were furnishings and décor pieces from a prestigious five-star hotel in Makati known for its grandeur and opulence. Among them were commissioned paintings by Phyllis Zaballero, J. Palencia and Jon Lucas Red. There were also paintings from renowned artists Roberto Chabet, Emmanuel Garibay, NenaSaguil, Romulo Olazo and Tony Mahilum, as well as a 1967 Dodge Dart GT. Sculptor Roland Castrillo, whose brass work entitled “Barong-Barong” was bought by a bidder, was present at the auction. The event was presided over by auctioneer Sam Powell, a member of the United Auctioneers Association based in the USA. Branch manager Cila Chua said approximately Read More …

Arquette, Schwarzenegger films to premiere at Tribeca fest

 General
Mar 052015
 
Arquette, Schwarzenegger films to premiere at Tribeca fest

Vincent Piazza, left, and Patricia Arquette. AP/Tribeca Film Festival NEW YORK — The Tribeca Film Festival unveiled the second half of its slate of 97 movies, including films starring recent Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette and Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as documentaries on Rosanne Barr and R&B star Mary J. Blige. Two days after announcing the festival’s competition categories, Tribeca revealed the rest of its 2015 lineup Thursday. Among the films premiering at the annual New York festival are: “The Wannabe,” a Martin Scorsese-produced New York mafia drama starring Arquette and Vincent Piazza; the latest dark comedy from Neil LaBute, “Dirty Weekend,” starring Matthew Broderick; and the zombie thriller “Maggie,” starring Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin. Documentaries added to the festival include “Rosanne for President!” about Barr’s bid to get on the 2012 presidential ballot, and “Mary J. Blige: The London Sessions,” about the recording of the R&B star’s latest album. Blige will perform after the film’s screening. A handful of notable films that have premiered elsewhere will also make stops in Tribeca: Andrew Niccol’s drone warfare drama “Good Kill”; Paul Weitz’s “Grandma,” starring Lily Tomlin; and John Maclean’s Western “Slow West” with Michael Fassbender. The 14th annual Tribeca Film Festival opens April 15 with the premiere of the “Saturday Night Live” documentary “Live From New York.” It runs through April 26.

PLDT to tap $500M loan from Japan banks

 General
Mar 052015
 
PLDT to tap $500M loan from Japan banks

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. group is borrowing about $500 million from Japanese banks to partly fund the capital requirements of both PLDT and Smart Communications. PLDT senior vice president treasurer Annabelle L. Chua said the first deal covering a $200- million loan from Mizuho Bank was signed last month. Before the Japanese fiscal year calendar ends this month, the agreement for another $200-million loan will be signed with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd. Additional loans, possibly reaching $100 million, may be signed with the bank over the next few quarters, Chua said. “We are still finalizing it (the loan details),” Chua said. The PLDT group plans to fund its P39-billion ($883 million) capital expenditure program for 2015 with a combination of bank borrowings and pregenerated cash, Chua said. The bulk of the capital expenditure this year was earmarked for the telco’s 3G and 4G infrastructure, PLDT chair Manuel V. Pangilinan said. PLDT president Napoleon L. Nazareno said the company would continue to “transform” to meet the growing demand for Internet connectivity and data access. Part of the transformation efforts is the activation of more 3G base stations and the expansion of its Time Division-Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) and Frequency Division-LTE (FD-LTE). As of the end of 2014, the PLDT group’s gross debt stood at $2.9 billion, higher by $600 million from year-ago level, mainly due its the P15-billion ($300 million) retail bond issuance in the first quarter of 2014. PLDT said its debt maturity continued to Read More …

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