Recent Stories – Page 46

Palace hails new pope

News

Mar 132013

By TJ BurgonioPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:27 pm | Thursday, March 14th, 2013 Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang on Thursday morning hailed the election of Argentine Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio as the new Pope, saying this brings the “promise of renewal’’ in the Catholic Church. “From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica came an announcement of great joy: that Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio had been elected as Pope, and taken the name Francis. From the city to the world, the joyful news has been accompanied by prayer and goodwill born of new beginnings,’’ President Benigno Aquino III’s spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a statement. The President, together with the Filipinos, “joins all the Catholic faithful as they receive their new leader and meet his proclamation with a sense of boundless promise,’’ Lacierda said. “As the first pope from outside Europe in a millennium—the first pope from the Society of Jesus, and the first from Latin America—the election of Pope Francis brings with it the promise of renewal in the Catholic Church, as it strives to fulfill its mission here on earth,’’ he said. Lacierda aired the hope that this would inaugurate a pontificate that “will bear witness not only to the basic tenets of the Gospel, but will also serve as a voice for peace, justice, and charity in a world threatened by tension and armed conflict, poverty, uncertainty, and loss of confidence in institutions.’’ “This is not merely a time for all Catholics to come together. This is Read More …

Dismantling of US minesweeper halfway through

News

Mar 132013

Dismantling of US minesweeper halfway through

By Jerry E. EsplanadaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:31 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 In a photo released by the U.S. Navy, the mine countermeasures ship USS Guardian sits aground in this Jan. 22, 2013 file photo on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea in the Philippines. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The dismantling of the USS Guardian stuck on the Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea is about 50 percent complete, the Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday. In a report to the PCG headquarters in Manila, Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, head of Task Force Tubbataha and commander of the Coast Guard’s Palawan district, said on Tuesday the US Navy-contracted salvage team had dismantled about 50 percent of the grounded minesweeper. The salvage team is “expecting calm weather in the next three to four days so work will continue on the USS Guardian,” he added. Aside from the PCG, the task force includes the Philippine Navy, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Tubbataha Reef Foundation and local government units in the island-province of Palawan. Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, the PCG’s spokesman, said on Wednesday that “with wind speeds of 10 to 15 knots and waves of less than one meter, weather conditions in the reef area have been very favorable to continue the salvage operation.” “Today, the salvage team will continue removing the pipelines in the engine room of the Guardian. The team is also scheduled to remove the remaining main engine and two auxiliary engines, as well as the Read More …

Danish tourist found dead in Olongapo

News

Mar 132013

By Robert GonzagaInquirer Central Luzon 2:29 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines—A Danish tourist was found dead in an apartment he was renting in Barangay (village) Barreto here on Wednesday. Police said Soren Andreasen, 48, was found on a sofa at 9 a.m. by Eduardo Acosido, the apartment complex’s caretaker. Acosido said Andreasen had complained on Tuesday of stomach pain and dehydration. He said the Dane refused to be taken to a hospital, saying he had no money to pay for his bills. Mario Cortez, a local official in Barreto, said Andreasen arrived in the country in November last year for a vacation and was to have left on Feb. 28. Police said initial investigation showed that Andreasen could have died of natural causes, noting that investigators found no sign of foul play. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Foreign affairs , Police , Tourism Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate:

Jamalul Kiram rules out disengagement from Sabah

News

Mar 132013

Jamalul Kiram rules out disengagement from Sabah

By Marlon RamosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 2:14 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 Filipino Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. AP FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of Sulu on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of his armed followers leaving Sabah soon, saying he did not authorize his younger brother to negotiate with the government about the “disengagement” of the sultanate’s “royal army” from the east Malaysian state the sultanate claims to own. Speaking to reporters at his residence in Taguig City, Kiram maintained that while he allowed his brother, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II, to meet with Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, he did not give the green light to negotiate in behalf of the sultanate. “The truth is I don’t like him to talk to anybody. If possible, I told him to stay with me,” Kiram said. “There is no (negotiation on disengagement). I don’t like that. It’s like playing baseball. I’m already on the third base, why would I leave? Why would I go out?” “That (disengagement) will only happen after I talk with my brother in Sabah,” he said, referring to his younger brother, Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, who led a 234-strong contingent of the “royal sultanate forces” which occupied Tanduao village in Lahad Datu on February 9. Malaysian security forces have dispersed the group in operations, backed by aerial and artillery bombardment, that have claimed 57 Filipino and 9 Malaysian lives. Asked if he thought Esmail acted on his own when he claimed that the sultanate was open Read More …

Agbimuddin alive despite assault

News

Mar 132013

1:14 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 The heirs of the Sultan of Sulu: (seated from left) Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, Sultan Bantilan Esmail Kiram II and (standing from left) Datu Alianapia Kiram, Datu Phugdal Kiram and Datu Baduruddin Kiram. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO LAHAD DATU, Sabah, Malaysia—Malaysian authorities said Wednesday Sulu “royal army” leader Agbimuddin Kiram remains in Malaysia, practically confirming that the brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III is alive. “Malaysian security forces are highly confident he is still here because as a leader [he] must not run. He will not run and leave his people by themselves here. He must lead them,” Sabah State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said at a news conference on Wednesday. Hamza said those killed and captured in target areas in the week-long assault on followers of the Sultanate of Sulu were considered “terrorists.” “I cannot positively say if they are foreigners. To me they are terrorists because they are within the target area,” Hamza said when asked about the identity of the teenager who was shot dead in a village in Felda Sahabat over the weekend. Hamza said these people’s lack of documents prevented the authorities from establishing their identities and nationalities. He said operations were continuing in Kampung Tanduo although security forces have already cleared the area of Agbimuddin’s men. The clearing operations have expanded to Sungai Nyamuk, Kampung Tanjung Batu, and Sungai Bilis where security forces were to be sent to retrieve the bodies of the Read More …

Misuari faces NBI grilling over alleged involvement in Sabah dispute

News

Mar 122013

Misuari faces NBI grilling over alleged involvement in Sabah dispute

By Tetch Torres-TupasINQUIRER.net 12:47 pm | Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will send agents in Mindanao to question former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Nur Misuari on his alleged involvement in the Sabah dispute. Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari AP Misuari, along with former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Pastor Boy Saycon and Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III and his family have been summoned by the NBI. The NBI, along with the Philippine National Police, is determining possible liability of the Kirams for sending their “royal army” to Sabah. The NBI is also identifying alleged financiers and conspirators of the Kiram family. Misuari already said he cannot go to Manila because he is busy preparing for the 45th anniversary of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). NBI deputy director Reynaldo Esmeralda said it is important that the NBI talk to Misuari. The NBI had already sent subpoena to the MNLF chair. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Features , Global Nation , Norberto Gonzales , Nur Misuari , Pastor Boy Saycon , Sabah claim , Sabah standoff , Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Read More …

AFP confirms scheduled release of Filipino peacekeepers

News

Mar 082013

By Tetch Torres-Tupas INQUIRER.net; Radyo Inquirer 2:42 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed Friday a CNN report saying the 21 UN Filipino peacekeepers were set to be freed by the Syrian rebels on Friday. Armed Forces spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos confirmed the television report when interviewed by Radio Inquirer 990AM. The soldiers, part of a 333-strong Filipino peacekeeping unit, were detained at a rebel observation point on Wednesday by gunmen who said the troops would be held until Syrian regime forces pulled back from a Golan village. “If ever they will be released within the day, they will be turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Burgos said, citing reports from their personnel in Golan Heights. He said the rebels agreed to that arrangement. A UN Disengagement Force has been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974. The United Nations has reported a growing number of incidents in the Golan over the past year. It has sent extra armored vehicles and communications equipment to reinforce security for the mission. Up to the end of February there were about 1,000 troops from Austria, Croatia, India and the Philippines operating in the ceasefire force. With Agence France-Presse

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

News

Mar 082013

Philippines says Syrian rebels firm on hostage demands

Agence France-Presse 2:14 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday that rebels who are holding 21 Filipino peacekeepers hostage in the Golan Heights are insisting Syrian troops leave the area before releasing their captives. The refusal by the Syrian rebels to compromise had dampened hopes of the UN peacekeepers being released quickly, and forced the government to step up its negotiation efforts, foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said. “The demand of the rebels for the re-positioning of Syrian forces in the area of Jamla is still outstanding so this is still being worked out,” he said on ABS-CBN television. The rebels want the Syrian troops to move 20 kilometers (12 miles) back from Jamla, an area in the Golan’s ceasefire zone, before they will free the Filipinos, he said. “That is the main demand of the rebel group,” he told AFP, adding he did not know of any other conditions. The Philippine government had previously received information that raised hopes the 21 would be released on Friday morning, Philippine time, and the government now did not know if or when they would be freed, Hernandez said. “We are trying to intensify our negotiations with the rebel groups,” he said. However he said the Filipino peacekeepers were still being treated well. “(They are) being treated as guests and are unharmed,” Hernandez said. The 21 Filipino troops, members of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) observing a 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel, were abducted Read More …

Ferdinand Marcos’ mortician offers to embalm Chavez

News

Mar 072013

Ferdinand Marcos’ mortician offers to embalm Chavez

Agence France-Presse 1:25 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The mortician famous for putting dead dictator Ferdinand Marcos into a glass display case offered his services Friday to the deceased Hugo Chavez, whom Venezuela wants embalmed “like Lenin”. Manila-based embalmer to the stars Frank Malabed stressed experts must act quickly if they wanted to successfully preserve the Venezuelan president, who died on Tuesday from cancer. “I have not been contacted for it but I am always expecting a call. I will process anyone, anywhere,” Malabed, 62, told AFP. He said the methods employed would depend on the condition of the corpse of Chavez, who his successor said on Thursday would be preserved “for eternity”. “What is important is they must not delay (choosing an embalmer). The longer they delay it, the more difficult it would be,” Malabed said. While Venezuelan authorities said they wanted Chavez embalmed “like Lenin”, Malabed said he would not use the same techniques as those employed for the Soviet revolutionary leader. “I was told they preserved Lenin using resin. It’s like making a block of ice. You have a box, you pour water on it and freeze it. If I were asked to do it (embalm Chavez), I would do it differently,” he said. Malabed detailed some chemicals that would need to be used. “You need to inject fluid into the arteries after draining blood from the veins. You use a hypodermic needle for that. Then you replenish it regularly. It has to be checked Read More …

Navy intercepts 2 boats from Sabah

News

Mar 072013

By Julie S. AlipalaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 12:24 pm | Friday, March 8th, 2013 ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Navy Capt. Rene Yongque of Task Force 62 in Tawi-Tawi confirmed to the Inquirer that a Navy patrol boat has intercepted two motorboats loaded with some 80 people entering the Philippine waters from Sabah. Yongque said Navy personnel aboard patrol ship Auxiliary Transport AT 291 spotted the two moto rlaunches around 9 a.m. Friday and were now escorting the boats to Bongao in Tawi-Tawi. Yongque said those intercepted were Filipinos fleeing the Sabah violence and were not followers of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. “They will immediately be turned over to the Task Force Basulta on Sabah Crisis for processing. I repeat, they are not armed nor they are followers of Kiram.They are just ordinary people.” he said. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: navy , Navy Capt. Rene Yongque , Sabah Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94

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