Maniolas

Shabu (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO) DAGUPAN CITY– Two Nigerian students were caught sniffing shabu inside a rented apartment here on Wednesday (Sept. 7). Emmanuel Divine Ugochukwu, 29, and Stephen Samuel Anoruo, 30, were arrested in Barangay Pogo Grande here, and were the first foreigners to be charged in the goverment’s war on drugs, said Bismarck Bengwayan, Ilocos spokesman of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday (Sept. 8).  SFM Latest Drug suspect killed in Olongapo buy bust Cops kill alleged leader of gun-for-hire gang in Quezon 10-kg dried marijuana leaves seized in Naga City Ban Ki-Moon urges Asean states to ratify climate change pact Recommended Disclaimer: Comments do not represent the views of INQUIRER.net. We reserve the right to exclude comments which are inconsistent with our editorial standards. FULL DISCLAIMER View Comments For feedback, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, left, glances at Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, right, at the start of 11th East Asia Summit on the last day of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and other related summits at the National Convention Center Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 in Vientiane, Laos. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member states to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change within the year to bring it closer to force. Speaking at the Asean-UN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, Ban said that of the 10 Asean members, only Laos had ratified the Paris Agreement which relates mainly to efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate a disastrous rise in world temperatures in the coming years. The Philippines was represented at the meeting by Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. in place of President Duterte. It was one of the mini summits taking place around the main Asean summit. Aside from the Philippines and Laos, the Asean includes Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. So far, 27 countries—together responsible for about 39 percent of global GHG emissions—have ratified the Paris Agreement. “We need 28 more countries to ratify, accounting for a further 16 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, to bring this agreement into force,” Ban said in his opening remarks. “If nine more Asean countries ratify, we will have just 19 more countries to go. I am counting on your leadership,” he told Read More …

JAKARTA, Indonesia—Convicted drug mule Mary Jane Veloso is “anxiously” awaiting President Duterte’s meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday at the Istana Merdeka in central Jakarta. Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Ma. Lumen B. Isleta said Veloso is “OK.” “My consul has gotten in touch with her… I can understand she’s [feeling] anxious about the visit of the President,” she said. She said the embassy could not squeeze in a meeting between the President and Veloso during his 24-hour visit to Indonesia because the convict’s prison is an hour’s flight away from here. Mr. Duterte is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Widodo and a state dinner later today after delivering a speech to the Filipino community at the Shangri-La Hotel. In an interview with reporters at the Philippine embassy, Isleta said “we’re always hopeful” that Veloso would finally get out of Indonesia’s death row. “There is always hope. And, of course, the President can convey the country’s appreciation and gratitude for the last-minute reprieve which is only temporary and not permanent,” said Isleta, who noted that Indonesia had never granted a full pardon to a death convict. Veloso was found guilty of drug smuggling and was temporarily spared  from the firing squad at the last minute by Widodo in April last year. Mr. Duterte said he would appeal for Veloso’s life “in a most respectful and courteous way” but he would not begrudge Widodo should he reject his personal appeal for mercy. Victim of recruiter Isleta said the Read More …