by ace | Oct 24, 2011 | Headlines, National News
On Sunday, after the Oct. 18 event, two more different incidents, leaving a toll of five civilians and two soldiers dead, suspected action done by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF) rebels. Western Mindanao Command reported that Hassan Asnawi, a commander of the MILF’s 114th Base Command, led a 50-strong force surprisingly attacked the truck owned by a rubber cooperative in Basilan, leaving five civilians dead and eight others wounded. Maj. Harold Cabunoc, the acting Army spokesperson, said those killed and injured were on a truck owned by Tumahubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc. Development Cooperative that was used to haul rubber. Other incident transpired in Sultan Naga Dimaporo in Lanao del Norte, armed men ambushed troops led by Lt. Col. Bagnum Gaerlan of the 5th Infantry Battalion, killing two soldiers and wounding four others.
Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang, Wesmincom spokesperson,as he said had forwarded troops hounding the rebels in Basilan and Lanao del Norte. Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF chief negotiator, said the investigation of October 18 incident had been started by a Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team headed by Maj. Gen. Dato Mahdi Bin Yusof.The output of the said investigation would be discussed upon the resumption of peace talks next month in Kuala Lumpur. Despite the successive events, President Aquino III sustained to be it in a peace talks with the MILF. He conveyed hopes to the relatives of the casualties to hunt down those men behind the attacks.
by ace | Oct 5, 2011 | Announcements, National News
TAGBILARAN CITY, Oct. 04–Manghatag og ayuda ang Pag-IBIG, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) ug Social Security System (SSS) sa ilang mga miyembro nga grabeng naapektuhan sa milabay nga duha ka bagyo. Kinatibuk-ang 80 porsiyento sa kontribusyon ang mahimong i-calamity loan sa matag miyembro nga pagabayaran sulod sa duha ka tuig. Gawas sa calamity loan, mahimo usab makakuha og multi-purpose loan diin 80 porsiyento usab sa kontribusyon ang mahimong mahulam.
Modawat usab ang GSIS og aplikasyon alang sa emergency ug calamity loan nga P20,000 matag miyembro nga adunay 6 percent nga interes sulod sa tulo ka tuig ug mahimo usab mag policy ug salary loan ang matag miyembro sa GSIS. Walay calamity loan ang SSS, apan mahimong mag-salary loan nga mokabat ngadto sa P24,000. Kun ang usa ka miyembro nagub-an og balay, nagtanyag usab ang ahensiya og house repair o improvement loan nga mokabat ngadto sa P300,000. (PIA-Bohol/ecb)
by ace | Oct 5, 2011 | Headlines, National News
Malacañang condemned on Tuesday the attacks by suspected members of the New People’s Army on mining firms in Surigao del Sur vowing to use the full force of the law in prosecuting and bringing to justice those who perpetrated the crime. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters in a briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, however that the government would remain on track in its pursuit of peace with the rebel groups. “We condemn the atrocities. We condemn the violence. But peace is a better alternative to war that is why we are committed to the peace process,” Lacierda said. “We will continue our efforts to pursue the peace negotiations because that is, we believe, the better option,” he added. Lacierda said that upon learning of the incident at around noon on Monday, the President immediately convened a meeting with the Cabinet cluster concerned with security. He said the President ordered Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to conduct a threat assessment as well as a review on operational procedures “in order to identify vulnerable targets…by the CPP-NPA-NDF.”
“So that is one way of making sure that we are in touch with the community and we’ll be able to identify the different threat assessments. Nonetheless, having the threat assessment, we are going to make sure that will provide security to the vulnerable areas,” Lacierda said. He called on the leadership of the NPA to “exercise restraint” and work with government in order to attain peace. Suspected members of the NPA attacked three mining firms: Nickel Asia Corporation, Platinum Metals Group and THPAL Mining Company; all located in Claver, Surigao del Norte. According to reports, the rebels, numbering some 200, burned down a total of 10 dump trucks, eight backhoes, two barges and a guesthouse. They also seized several guns from private security guards and smashed computers in site offices. (PCOO)
by ace | Oct 3, 2011 | National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III has directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to look into how the government can provide subsistence to fisher folk as a deterrent to fishing during extremely hazardous weather conditions. The President gave his directions to DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman during a briefing on the effects of typhoons Pedring and Quiel held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo Sunday. “Can the DSWD study if the marginal fisher folk …if they will not be allowed to venture out (to fish), can we give them some subsistence for the days that are extremely hazardous?” the President asked, adding whether a mechanism could be determined and funds be made available for this purpose. The President has expressed concern over the country’s fishermen who, despite being warned in advance of an incoming weather disturbance, choose to take a chance and go out to earn their living. (PCOO)
by ace | Oct 3, 2011 | National News
THE Department of Agriculture assured Sunday the availability of rice and other agricultural products despite the pummeling the country’s plantation fields in Northern and Central Luzon got as a result of two weather disturbances passing through one after the other last week. In a report to the President presented at a briefing held at the National Risk Reduction and Management Council in Camp Aguinaldo, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that the staple could be sourced from Mindanao. He added that his agency was still in the process of estimating the damage wrought by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” on the country’s agricultural sector but assured he would have the numbers soon. “He said the DA was ready to extend any assistance to the farmers and their families whose plantations were affected by the typhoons. (PCOO)
