Fake cop with illegal firearm held in Quezon
LUCENA CITY —- Authorities arrested a “fake” policeman who also yielded an illegal firearm in Real town in Quezon province on Tuesday. Acting on a tip from a concerned citizen, policemen caught Jomar Alayon, 37, in Barangay Ungos at 7:55 p.m., the Quezon police said in a report. When accosted, the suspect who lives in… Keep Reading
DILG welcomes House move to convene into a Con-Ass
Published February 19, 2020, 10:53 AM By Chito Chavez The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) welcomed on Wednesday the resolution filed by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda which called the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene into a constituent assembly and consider amendments in the political, economic, and social provisions of the… Keep Reading
DILG to strictly enforce ban on tricycles plying highways, major roads
Published February 19, 2020, 10:51 AM By Chito Chavez Department of interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año has ordered local government units (LGUs) to form their respective “Trike Task Force” to ban tricycles from plying national highways and major thoroughfares. DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año(DILG / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Año also… Keep Reading
Gov’t withholds release of at least P80B in congressional realignments — Lacson
MANILA, Philippines — After supposedly learning that at least P80 billion in congressional realignments were taken from some of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” projects, Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that the government had decided to withhold the release of the said funds. Citing a reliable source, Lacson told INQUIRER.net in a message that… Keep Reading
Passengers begin leaving after ship’s virus quarantine ends
YOKOHAMA, Japan — Hundreds of passengers began leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship Wednesday after the end of a much-criticized, two-week quarantine that failed to stop the spread of a new virus among passengers and crew. Officials still were continuing tests for the coronavirus that has infected tens of thousands of people in… Keep Reading
Metro Pacific, Dusit ink P1.6B PH hospitality venture
Infrastructure holding firm Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is diversifying into the hospitality business in the Philippines in partnership with Thai hotel and development firm Dusit International. MPIC, which is led by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, signed a P1.6-billion investment agreement with Dusit to develop and manage jointly hospitality and residential properties in the Philippines,… Keep Reading
South Korea coronavirus cases jump by half
Published February 19, 2020, 10:31 AM By Agence France-Presse South Korea reported 15 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday — increasing its total by nearly 50 percent — including a cluster of at least 11 centered on the southern city of Daegu. South Korea has been hit hard by the economic fallout… Keep Reading
Suspected Abu Sayyaf member nabbed in QC
A suspected Abu Sayyaf member was arrested in Culiat, Quezon City for illegal possession of firearms on Tuesday morning. Read More Keep Reading
UP moves 17 notches in 2020 Emerging Economic University Rankings
Updated February 19, 2020, 10:33 AM By Noreen Jazul The University of the Philippines (UP) moved 17 notches up in the 2020 “Emerging Economies University Rankings” of London-based publication, Times Higher Education (THE). (KJ ROSALES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) With an overall score of 37.5, UP placed 70th in THE’s latest list of top… Keep Reading
DOTr in talks with QC gov’t on suspension of above-ground construction of MRT-7
Published February 19, 2020, 10:25 AM By Alexandria Dennise San Juan The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it will coordinate with the Quezon City local government following its order to delay the above-ground construction of the MRT-7 Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) station in a bid to “preserve the park’s integrity.” “We understand that the concern… Keep Reading
Immigration detains Chinese man who spat on Manila cop
The Bureau of Immigration has detained the Chinese man who recently plowed through vehicles in an attempt to escape apprehension for a traffic violation and spat on a police officer in Manila. Read More Keep Reading
OFWS to Hong Kong to be given travel kits
Published February 19, 2020, 10:19 AM By Leslie Ann Aquino The Society of Hong Recruiters Accredited to the Philippines (SHARP) on Wednesday said it will distribute travel kits to newly hired Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) bound for Hong Kong following the partial lifting by the government of the travel ban on OFWs to the special… Keep Reading
3 ‘shabu’ peddlers fall in Lucena drug stings
LUCENA CITY —- Police arrested three suspected bigtime shabu (crystal meth) peddlers here in two buy-bust operations on Tuesday, police said. Anti-illegal drugs operatives collared Eduardo Saavedra, 31, after he sold shabu to an undercover police officer and an informant in Barangay 9 at 7:15 p.m., Lieutenant Colonel Romulo Albacea, Lucena police chief, said in… Keep Reading
7 jeepney drivers test positive for drug use in Makati City
Updated February 19, 2020, 10:16 AM By Jel Santos Seven jeepney drivers tested positive for illegal drug use during a surprise drug test conducted by authorities in Makati City on Wednesday morning, Makati Police Investigation Unit chief, Major Gideon Ines Jr. said. Seven jeepney drivers tested positive for illegal drug use during a surprise drug… Keep Reading
Feast of Saints Jacinta and Francisco
Published February 19, 2020, 10:08 AM By Christina Hermoso The feast day of two of the three shepherd children of Fatima – Saints Jacinta and Francisco Marto, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared at the Cova de Ira in Fatima, Portugal in the year 1917, will be celebrated on Thursday, February 20. (PIXABAY / MANILA… Keep Reading
DJ Chacha to ‘Bato’: Resign, apply as Duterte’s bodyguard instead
MANILA, Philippines – Radio jock Czarina Balba, popularly known as DJ Chacha, recently took a swipe at Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa suggesting he should just resign and apply as President Rodrigo Duterte’s bodyguard. The radio jock was among those who criticized the senator and former police chief after he reaffirmed alliance to the… Keep Reading
In Caloocan churches, blessing by priests now not by hand but verbal due to COVID-19 threat
Published February 19, 2020, 10:00 AM By Leslie Ann Aquino Instead of taking the hand of a priest for a blessing, the faithful in the Diocese of Caloocan may just ask for the blessing verbally to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David(JAY GANZON / MANILA BULLETIN) Caloocan Bishop… Keep Reading
Exempt medicines from VAT, lawmaker urges government
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos on Wednesday called on the government to go the extra mile in lowering the prices of medicines by exempting its sale and importation from value-added tax (VAT). Marcos, chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, issued the statement a day after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a price ceiling… Keep Reading
Año to cops in drugs watchlist: Prove your innocence
MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Ao on Wednesday urged the 356 police officers included in the illegal drug watchlist of President Rodrigo Duterte to prove their innocence. “Patunayan nilang wala silang kaugnayan sa iligal na droga. Nasa kanila ang burden of proof, iprisinta nila ang mga ebidensya na magpapatunay na wala silang kinalaman at… Keep Reading
Mayon Volcano watch: 5 volcanic quakes recorded
LEGAZPI CITY — Mayon Volcano’s seismic monitoring network has monitored and recorded five volcanic earthquakes in the past 24-hour observation period, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. In its latest bulletin released Wednesday morning, Phivolcs said that aside from the seismic activities, the sulfur dioxide emission was measured at an average… Keep Reading
Andanar: Medicine EO proof of Duterte’s commitment to give comfortable life to Filipinos
Published February 19, 2020, 9:51 AM By Argyll Cyrus Geducos Communications Secretary Martin Andanar lauded President Duterte’s signing of Executive Order No. 104 which sets a maximum price on priority drugs, saying it is proof of the Chief Executive’s commitment to give every Filipino a comfortable life. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar(ALBERT… Keep Reading
Over 100 Filipino crewmen of quarantined cruise ship nix repatriation
MANILA, Philippines — Around 100 Filipinos crewmen of the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan have opted to remain on board despite government efforts to repatriate them. This was revealed by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday as the 14-day isolation of the passengers and crew of the vessel ends Wednesday.… Keep Reading
Vatican police make new raid in investigation of London property deal
Published February 19, 2020, 9:38 AM By Reuters VATICAN CITY – Vatican police raided the home and office of a senior Catholic Church official on Tuesday, seizing documents and computers in the latest phase of an investigation into the purchase of luxury London real estate. Saint Peter’s Square in seen from top of the basilica at… Keep Reading
DILG: Burden of proof now on 357 cops in narco list
Published February 19, 2020, 9:37 AM By Chito Chavez Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año said on Wednesday that the “burden of proof” is on the 357 cops included in the narco list to exonerate them and have their names removed from the list. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (Photo… Keep Reading
Food vendor shot, badly wounded in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — An ambulant food vendor is in critical condition after he was shot in the neck by a robber in Port Area, Manila before dawn on Tuesday, police said Wednesday. A report from Ermita police station identified the victim as Samson Bautista, 41, a vendor in Baseco Compound in Barangay 649 in… Keep Reading
3 drug suspects nabbed in Camarines Sur
LEGAZPI CITY – Anti-narcotics operatives arrested three drug suspects in separate buy-bust operations in Camarines Sur on Tuesday. Col. Roderico Roy Jr., director of Camarines Sur police, said Ariel Nayles, 29, who is in the database of drug suspects in the province, was arrested in Barangay Santiago in Pili town at around 6:15 p.m.… Keep Reading
‘Amihan’ to bring light rains Wednesday
MANILA — The northeast monsoon (amihan) prevailing in the country will bring light rains in some areas on Wednesday. In its 4 a.m. forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Visayas; the regions of Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, and Bicol; and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro… Keep Reading
Trump commutes corrupt former politician’s sentence
Published February 19, 2020, 9:14 AM By Agence France-Presse President Donald Trump on Tuesday commuted the sentence of a former Illinois governor jailed for corruption, as well as pardoning a New York City police chief imprisoned for tax fraud. Pardons were also handed out to Edward DeBartolo Jr, a former owner of the San Francisco… Keep Reading
Virus-hit cruise ship passengers to start disembarking in Japan
Published February 19, 2020, 9:13 AM By Reuters TOKYO – Around 500 passengers on the virus-hit cruise ship quarantined off Yokohama near Tokyo were set to disembark on Wednesday, although those sharing a room with people testing positive would have to stay on board longer, media and officials said. A worker in protective gear is seen… Keep Reading
SpaceX announces partnership to send four tourists into deep orbit
Published February 19, 2020, 9:12 AM By Agence France-Presse SpaceX announced a new partnership Tuesday to send four tourists deeper into orbit than any private citizen before them, in a mission that could take place by 2022 and easily cost more than $100 million. Tourists are to be carried on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon capsule, which… Keep Reading