Maniolas

By Perfecto T. Raymundo Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines carry the remains of the 15 soldiers at the Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga, Tuesday. The soldiers were killed in a clash with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Sulu. (MNS photo) MANILA  (PNA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said that there is no threat amid the clashes between government forces and members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Sulu province. This was the reaction of the PNP following fears that the ASG would conduct bombing attacks in Metro Manila after clashes have claimed the lives of 30 ASG members and 15 troopers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). In an ambush interview, PNP Spokesman Sr. Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in Taglish (mixed Tagalog and English) that “because there is now an ongoing regular inter-agency assessment in Metro Manila.” ”The result of that (assessment) will show us if the threat level in Metro Manila is high or not, and in other parts of the country based on the assessment, whether it is happening in Mindanao,” Carlos said. Based on the assessment, Carlos said, “we will see that probability whether the probability will happen in Metro Manila, so we will monitor that.” The PNP official noted that the presence of ASG in Metro Manila is not the same compared to their presence in Sulu and in Basilan provinces. ”So, if there is such a threat, it will be found in the regular meeting Read More …

By Benjamin T. Bondoc MANILA  (PNA) – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday it will push for the provision of a hazard pay for its traffic constables. Traffic on EDSA near the Kamuning Avenue flyover is heavy again on Tuesday after the long, 5-day holiday amid the visit of Pope Francis. Despite some roads being closed for motorcades during the papal visit, the holidays kept traffic light in the metropolis. (MNS photo) In an interview, MMDA General Manager and concurrent Officer in Charge Thomas Orbos said this is to protect and compensate constables exposed to the perils of traffic in the streets of Metro Manila, such as extreme weather conditions, pollution and harassment from abusive motorists. “On the matter of hazard pay for our traffic constables, we are discussing it with the Department of Transportation, under the leadership of Secretary Arthur Tugade,” Orbos said. “Just like soldiers, our traffic enforcers in the streets brace themselves for war-like traffic management tasks. This is why they deserve to get hazard pay,” he explained. Based on the modified salary schedule for civilian and uniformed personnel under Executive Order 201, an MMDA traffic constable’s monthly salary ranges only from PHP10,000 to PHP15,000. At present, among those who are given hazard pay are military and uniformed personnel, health workers and science and technology employees. In the absence of a hazard pay, the MMDA has undertaken measures to ensure the protection of traffic constables while performing their duties. In 2013, the agency began implementing Read More …