Nation

At least 150 homes in Tawi-Tawi lost to 'Marilyn' John Unson (Philstar.com) - September 17, 2019 - 12:02pm COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Officials are moving to provide relief services to hundreds of Tawi-Tawi residents who lost their homes last week to Tropical Depression Marilyn. The Tawi-Tawi provincial disaster risk reduction and management council reported Tuesday that no fewer than 150 houses in Bongao, Simunul and Tandubas towns were destroyed by big waves and strong winds during the two days of bad weather last week. Worst hit were coastal villages in Bongao, capital town of Tawi-Tawi, where 143 houses were damaged, according to the PDRRMC. Provincial officials said the office of Tawi-Tawi’s governor is now attending to the needs of hundreds of displaced residents. The provincial government has been distributing rice and other food provisions to residents who have been staying in makeshift shelters. Lawyer … [Read more...] about At least 150 homes in Tawi-Tawi lost to ‘Marilyn’

BJMP: Jail congestion rate drops Emmanuel Tupas (The Philippine Star) - September 16, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has recorded a congestion rate of 394 percent following the release of 58,000 inmates with minor criminal offenses under the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. As of yesterday, around 134,549 persons deprived of liberty are detained in 476 jails nationwide for a congestion rate of 394 percent, lower compared to the 439 percent congestion rate in 2018, according to BJMP spokesman Maj. Xavier Solda. Cebu City jail is the most populated detention facility with 5,805 inmates followed by the Manila City jail with 5,441 and Quezon City Jail with 3,627 detainees. Solda cited the release of 58,000 inmates since 2013 as among the significant factors in easing jail congestion.  “Nakatulong naman ang GCTA  BJMP pagdating sa … [Read more...] about BJMP: Jail congestion rate drops

Yanson matriarch hit on social media Gilbert Bayoran (The Philippine Star) - September 16, 2019 - 12:00am BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The family feud over the control of the largest transportation firm in the Visayas and Mindanao is far from over after social media trolls attacked the matriarch of the Yanson family yesterday. Leo Rey Yanson, president of the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) based in Negros Occidental, urged his siblings to stop hiring trolls to attack their mother Olivia. The Yansons are squabbling over the control of the VTI and other subsidiaries of the Yanson Group of Bus Companies with Leo Rey, his mother Olivia and sister Ginnette in one camp, and siblings Roy, Ricardo Jr., Emily and Celina in another. Leo Rey said he was referring to some bogus Facebook accounts that were created or hired to spread lies and muddle the issue. He challenged his siblings to stop creating or sponsoring social media trolls to … [Read more...] about Yanson matriarch hit on social media

Drug courier slain; P27-million shabu seized Non Alquitran (The Philippine Star) - September 16, 2019 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — A suspected courier for a drug ring operating in Metro Manila was killed in what police said was a shootout during a sting in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday that yielded around four kilos of shabu worth P27.2 million. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said they were validating reports that slain suspect Edgardo Alfonso, 50, was working for a drug convict at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa. “We received information that Alfonso was the courier or operator of a drug lord outside the NBP,” Eleazar said. Police said Alfonso, of Barangay Tramo in Pasig City, had been placed under surveillance by the NCRPO Regional Drug Enforcement Unit amid reports that he was behind the distribution of drugs in the metropolis. Anti-narcotics … [Read more...] about Drug courier slain; P27-million shabu seized

Sandigan affirms ex- Quezon City execs’ conviction Elizabeth Marcelo (The Philippine Star) - September 15, 2019 - 12:00am Manor Hotel fire MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has upheld its decision sentencing two former Quezon City government officials to serve up to 30 years in prison in connection with the 2011 Manor Hotel fire that took the lives of 74 persons. The court’s Seventh Division, in a 46-page resolution promulgated on Sept. 3, said it found no merit in the arguments raised by former city engineer and city building official Alfredo Macapugay and former electrical division chief Romeo Montellana in their respective motions seeking the reversal of their March 29 conviction for graft. The cases stemmed from their alleged act of allowing the ill-fated hotel to operate from 1999 until the fire on Aug. 18, 2001 despite several violations of Fire and Building Codes. The anti-graft court also denied … [Read more...] about Sandigan affirms ex- Quezon City execs’ conviction