Category: General

CEBU CITY: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Central Visayas intensified its operations against public utility vehicles (PUVs) overcharging passengers during the Palarong Pambansa 2024 event this week.

Glen Galario, regional director of LTO-7, said in a statement Thursday that his office has received complaints from Palaro delegates falling victim to overcharging fares of taxis in Metro Cebu.

‘We received reports that these taxi drivers are taking advantage of this national event happening now in Cebu and overcharging our delegates. We cannot let this happen and rest assured that our personnel are also working very hard in catching these illegal activities,’ he said.

As this developed, two drivers were apprehended and issued with temporary operator’s permit (TOP) on Thursday.

The first incident reportedly overcharged passengers who rode from Cebu City to Carcar City. The driver charged them with a fixed rate of PHP3,000.

The second incident involved passengers from the pier area to Danao City who w
ere charged a fixed fare of PHP950.

Galario reminded passengers to immediately file a complaint against erring drivers and take photos or videos as proof of evidence.

‘Whether it’s unmetered or overcharging, that is still considered as a violation of their franchise. We cannot let our delegates be victims of these traps, especially in an annual multi-sport event like this,’ he said.

Drivers found guilty of overcharging will pay a fine of PHP5,000 for the first offense, PHP10,000 for the second offense, and PHP15,000 for the third offense.

They may also face a violation of franchise conditions and may be slapped with a PHP6,000 fine and a possible revocation of their franchise and driver’s license.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President To Lam and Lao Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith witnessed the exchanges of cooperation agreements between ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries after their talks in Vientiane on July 11.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Crew members and officers of the US Navy’s 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge and US Coast Guard Cutter Waesche have engaged in many cultural and community activities during a port call in the central province of Khanh Hoa from July 8 to 11. Visiting an orphanage in Cam Phuoc Dong commune in Cam Ranh city on July 11 morning, they talked to and joined over 70 children in various activities such as re-painting equipment at the playground, painting figurines, and performing music.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA: The Antique Provincial Board Committee on History and Cultural Heritage is being urged to pass an ordinance for the preservation and protection of the tombs of the Ati ancestors.

Engr. Jonathan de Gracia, who is a member of the Sibalom Municipal Committee on Tourism and Culture Affairs Committee, said in an interview Thursday that in their municipality there are around eight Ati tombs in different barangays that are being excavated by treasure hunters hoping to find antiques or even Chinese porcelains.

‘We need to preserve and protect the tombs of our Ati ancestors for they are part of our culture and history,’De Gracia said.

He said that these tombs had been neglected and now look like mounds of earth with grass growing on top of it.

It had been identified by the local people, however, because also of the narrations of their forebears.

These tombs are located in the remote barangays of Grasparil, Porras, Igparas, Indag-an, Villafont, and Calu-oy, all in Sibalom.

The two other to
mbs are in Barangay Bulalacao still of Sibalom.

‘The local people claim that these treasure hunters who try to excavate these Ati tombs come from other neighboring provinces of Antique,’he said.

De Gracia added that he was even informed by a resident that in one of the excavations, there were skeletons believed to be of a dead infant found inside a Chinese porcelain jar. The infant could have been placed inside the jar before he was buried.

De Gracia urged the provincial board to pass an ordinance for the preservation and protection of these tomb, believing there are also similar Ati tombs in other municipalities.

The provincial board Committee on History and Cultural Heritage chaired by Board Member Egidio Elio is also in the process of coming up with a related ordinance for the installation of markers on declared statues, landmarks and historic sites in the Province of Antique

The ordinance for the installation of markers, which now on second reading, if finally approved will have a penalty clause of P
HP5,000 and/or six months imprisonment at the discretion of the court on any person, group or corporation that will remove, damage, destroy or deface any declared historical site and marker.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine Navy’s first guided-missile frigate, BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), sailed for a sovereignty patrol on Tuesday to celebrate the seventh anniversary of the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise, highlighting the country’s claims on the vital maritime area.

In a news release Wednesday, Naval Forces Northern Luzon (NFNL) commander, Commodore Edward Ike de Sagon said the activity aims to sustain marine conservation and protection of the Philippine Rise, reaffirming sovereign rights and raising awareness of its strategic value.

He also highlighted the importance of marine conservation efforts in safeguarding the diverse marine life and ecosystems of the Philippine Rise for present and future generations.

“This event also commemorates the renaming of Benham Rise to Philippine Rise, signifying a pivotal historical moment and illustrating the government’s commitment to upholding territorial claims and conserving the natural heritage,” Sagon emphasized.

The observance commenced with a send-of
f ceremony for BRP Jose Rizal at PPIC Pier 1, Poro Point, La Union.

“FF-150 (subsequently) conducted a flag-raising ceremony on the Philippine Rise, symbolizing national pride, unity, and sovereignty. Subsequently, C-130 conducted a flyby, symbolizing national strength and showcasing the country’s aerospace security capabilities over the Philippine Rise,” NFNL added.

Benham Rise was renamed Philippine Rise pursuant to former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s signing of Executive Order 25 on May 16, 2017.

At the time, it also marked the eighth year after the then Benham Rise was awarded to the country and granted sovereign rights by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in April 2012.

Source: Philippines News Agency

ALEOSAN: A police officer and five armed men died during the serving of search warrants against a wanted person that turned violent at about 9 a.m. Wednesday in Barangay New Panay here.

Major Jennefer Amotan, Aleosan town police chief, said six other policemen, including two police officials, were wounded in the same incident.

In her report to Police Regional Office 12, Amotan said police personnel from various police units in Aleosan and in North Cotabato were about to serve a search warrant against Macabuat Salik alias ‘Iskoh,’ of Barangay New Panay, when the gunmen opened fire, triggering a brief encounter.

The police, backed by the Special Action Force (SAF), were armed with two search warrants for violating Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition) and RA 9165 issued by Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Midsayap, Cotabato, against Salik.

‘During the assault, occupants of the house sensed the presence of the operatives; they then fired upon the troops, prompting them to engage.
The firefight lasted about 30 minutes,’ Amotan said in her report.

Police said Salik and four of his armed followers were critically injured. They were rushed to the Aleosan District Hospital but declared dead on arrival.

Six police officers were also rushed to the same hospital for medication.

A member of the police SAF, identified as Corporal Jed Michael Gregorio, 33, was also killed.

Those wounded were Captains Marc Bryant Tamid-ay and Kirk John Kollin, Master Sgt. Alcher Dacula; Corporals Mark Joseph Galanta and Emonrick Sornillo Gadat; and Patrolman John Steven Luyun.

Amotan said police found assorted high-powered firearms, explosives, and a huge sachet of ‘shabu’ drugs at the encounter site.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The extradition of former congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. is now in the ‘last stages’ of the process, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday, two weeks since it announced the decision of Timor-Leste to grant the Philippines’ extradition request.

‘We are glad to confirm that we are already in the last stages of the extradition process,’ Justice Undersecretary Jesse Andres said in a Palace press briefing.

Andres said the camp of Teves has 30 days to file its appeal on the decision of Timor-Leste.

‘We are very confident and we are on top of the situation,’ he said.

Teves is facing 10 counts of murder, 12 counts of frustrated murder and four counts of attempted murder before the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 51 in relation to the March 4, 2023 shootings in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that led to the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and several others.

Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez, meanwhile, said the prosecution is preparing for the return of Teves to the country.

He also urged the Te
ves to face the charges against him and trust the country’s justice system.

‘At sana po, para ho malagyan na po ng tuldok itong issue na iyan – kung may kasalanan siya o wala siyang kasalanan – magpunta na lang siya dito at nandiyan naman ho iyong wheel of justice natin na gumugulong eh. Proof positive ay ang ating Senator de Lima – wala namang nangyari! (And hopefully, to put an end to all of this – if he is guilty or not guilty – he should just return and let the wheel of justice roll. Proof positive is our Senator de Lima – nothing happened to her),’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

President To Lam’s state visit to Laos on July 11-12, his first overseas trip since he took office, demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states and peoples which have been nurtured for a long time, Lao Minister of Technology and Communications and Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Boviengkham Vongdara told the Vietnam News Agency.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday dared embattled televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to show himself and face the charges against him.

In a media interview, Marcos defended the initiative of private citizens in putting a PHP10-million reward for anyone who can provide information that will lead to the arrest of the fugitive religious leader.

Quiboloy is wanted for sexual abuse and human trafficking.

‘They want to help us bring a fugitive to justice. He is a fugitive. He is hiding from the law. If there are private citizens who want to assist the government in that effort to bring him to justice, I don’t see why it is [an issue],’ Marcos told reporters.

‘He can question their motives as much as he wants pero magpakita siya (but show himself). I question his motives. Let me question his motive. Bakit kami laging kinukuwestyon? Sinusundan lang namin ang batas. Sundin din niya ang batas (Why they always question us? We’re just following the law. I suggest they follow the law as well),’ he adde
d.

Earlier this week, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced that citizens have pooled a PHP10-million reward for information that can help in the arrest of Quiboloy.

Quiboloy’s co-accused, Crisente, Paulene and Ingrid Canada, Sylvia Cemañes, and Jackielyn Roy each have a PHP1 million bounty.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader has standing arrest warrants for child and sexual abuse issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court, and human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court, which are non-bailable cases.

Source: Philippines News Agency