FORMER Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr. on Monday denied seeing a drug watch list in 2012 that allegedly included President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and other celebrities, contrary to the claim of a former drug enforcement agent who said he had ordered PDEA to halt its probe back then.
At a Senate public order hearing, Mr. Ochoa said he had never met former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales, who told senators earlier Mr. Ochoa had halted the investigation.
“I don’t even know him, and I don’t recall any occasion that we met or talked,” he said. “I completely deny that I had made those instructions as alleged.”
PDEA earlier denied including Mr. Marcos, who was a senator at the time, in its drug watch list.
Senator Francis N. Tolentino earlier filed a bill that seeks to impose a life term and a fine of at least P2 million on people who leak top state secrets. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
REPRESENTATIVES from several Philippine government agencies on Monday said they were unaware of a supposed deal between ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping that could have compromised national sovereignty.
Representatives from the Foreign Affairs, Justice and Defense departments, the National Security Council and Philippine Coast Guard said they did not know about the deal.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs has no record of a gentleman’s agreement… with regard to Ayungin Shoal, as it is being referred to by the Chinese embassy,” Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau told congressmen at a hearing.
“The Philippines has not entered into any agreement abandoning its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf,” she added.— Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) on Monday said it had released P2.88 billion so the government could buy more firetrucks and emergency medical equipment.
The fund would cover the purchase of 154 firetrucks, three collapsed structures and rescue trucks and 132 ambulances, the agency said in a statement.
“We understand how crucial the Bureau of Fire Protection’s responsibilities are during emergency response and fire incidents,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said.— Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
SENATOR Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos on Monday called on her brother, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to fast-track the release of a proclamation reserving 171 hectares of land in Taytay, Rizal as affordable housing for poor Filipinos.
“Tens of thousands of informal settlers’ households await a conclusive presidential proclamation on Lupang Arenda (in Taytay),” she said in a statement.
“It would bring the government closer to its of building one million housing units each year, as promised.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez
A GROUP on Monday urged the Environment department to rescind its resolutions allowing the construction of a resort on the foothills of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol province in central Philippines.
During a House of Representatives hearing, Tagbilaran Baywatch said the agency’s Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB) could have misinterpreted a presidential proclamation disallowing the construction of structures 20 meters from the hills, which are a protected area.
“It’s very clear in Proclamation No. 333 that the hill itself and the drawback, which is at 20 meters, should have been a no-build zone,” Tagbilaran Baywatch spokesperson Esther Gertrude Biliran told the House committee on natural resources.
Instead, the PAMP allowed Captain’s Peak Resort to build on 20% of the hill, “so they may have misinterpreted [the proclamation],” she added. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
In the first quarter of 2024, Pag-IBIG Fund members collectively saved a record P28.75 billion, setting the highest amount ever saved in the agency’s history during a first quarter, according to top officials. This represents a 36% increase — roughly P7.66 billion more than the P21.09 billion saved during the same period in 2023.
Part of the total savings collections is the agency’s Pag-IBIG Regular Savings, which saw a 25% increase from P10.58 billion in the first quarter of 2023 to P13.19 billion this year.
“Our strong savings collections reflect the trust and confidence our members place in us, along with our ability to prudently manage their savings. Pag-IBIG Fund’s strong financial position enables it to offer low interest rates and support the financing side of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program, a flagship program of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.,” said Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar, who heads the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and the 11-member Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees.
In February, Pag-IBIG Fund implemented the new mandatory monthly savings rates of P200 for both the employees and the employers’ share. The increase was the first-ever increase that Pag-IBIG Fund implemented since it was established in 1986.
Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta, meanwhile, noted that the agency’s popular MP2 Savings continues to drive the growth of its members’ savings. The voluntary savings program maintained its growth, with members saving a record-high P15.56 billion, which accounted for 54% of the total savings collected in the quarter.
Ms. Acosta further highlighted the continued trust and confidence of their members, as shown in the consecutive years of record-highs in savings collections.
“With the implementation of the new mandatory monthly contribution rates of P200 from both members and employers, Pag-IBIG members can expect substantial savings in the future and access to higher cash loans. Our goal remains the same – to maximize the growth of our members’ savings and keep home loan interest rates low,” Ms. Acosta said.
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TAIWAN’s new president Lai Ching-te waves on stage during the inauguration ceremony outside the Presidential office building in Taipei, Taiwan on May 20, 2024. — REUTERS
TAIPEI — Taiwan President Lai Ching-te asked China on Monday to stop its military and political threats, saying in his inauguration speech that peace is the only choice and that Beijing had to respect the choice of the Taiwanese people.
Mr. Lai, addressing the crowd outside the Japanese-colonial-era presidential office in central Taipei, repeated a call for talks with China, which views the proudly democratic island as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under Beijing’s control.
“I also want to urge China to stop intimidating Taiwan politically and militarily, and to take on the global responsibility with Taiwan to work hard on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region, to ensure the world is without the fear of war breaking out,” he said. “We also want to declare this to the world: Taiwan makes no concessions on democracy and freedom. Peace is the only option and prosperity is our goal for long-term peace and stability.”
There was no immediate reaction from China, which repeatedly called Mr. Lai a “separatist” risking war in the run-up to his election in January.
Taiwan has faced pressure from China, including regular air force and navy activities near the island, since the election victory by Mr. Lai, 64, who is widely known by his English name, William.
Mr. Lai, who took over from Tsai Ing-wen having served as her vice president for the past four years, said people must be realistic about the threat and Taiwan must show its determination to defend itself.
“Fellow citizens, we have the ideal to pursue peace, but we must not have illusions,” he said. “Before China gives up using force to invade Taiwan, citizens must understand this: Even if we accept all of China’s claims and give up our sovereignty, China’s ambition to annex Taiwan will not disappear.”
Mr. Lai received loud applause after reiterating that the Republic of China — Taiwan’s formal name — and the People’s Republic of China are “not subordinate to each other,” a line Ms. Tsai also took.
Taiwan’s defense ministry, in its daily report on Monday about Chinese military activities in the previous 24 hours, said six Chinese aircraft had crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, which previously served as an unofficial boundary but that China says it does not recognize.
At least one of the aircraft got within 43 nautical miles (80 km) of the northern Taiwanese port city of Keelung, according to a map provided by the ministry.
In attendance at the ceremony are former US officials dispatched by President Joseph R. Biden, lawmakers from countries including Japan, Germany and Canada, and leaders from some of the 12 countries that still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, such as Paraguay President Santiago Peña.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Mr. Lai, saying the United States looked forward to working with him “to advance our shared interests and values, deepen our longstanding unofficial relationship, and maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
FIGHTER JETS AND SING-ALONGS Taiwanese fighter jets flew in formation over Taipei after Mr. Lai’s speech.
At the end of the ceremony, Mr. Lai and Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, formerly Taiwan’s de facto ambassador to the United States, led the crowd in a sing-along to pop songs as they danced onstage with the other performers.
Mr. Lai wore a purple tie, representing a butterfly native to Taiwan, and a yellow pin on his lapel of mustard flowers, a common plant in fields across the island.
He received seals symbolizing his presidential power from the parliament speaker, including the seal of Republic of China and the seal of honor, both brought to Taiwan after the Republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war to Mao Zedong’s Communists.
Late Sunday, widely read state-backed Chinese newspaper the Global Times said Mr. Lai could become “more and more provocative” once he takes office.
“So in the long term, the state of cross-straits relations will not be optimistic,” it said in an online commentary.
Mr. Lai’s domestic challenges loom large too, given his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lost its parliamentary majority in the January election.
On Friday, lawmakers punched, shoved and screamed at each other in a bitter dispute over parliamentary reforms the opposition is pushing. There could be more fighting on Tuesday when lawmakers resume their discussions. — Reuters
IRANIAN PRESIDENT EBRAHIM RAISI — EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG
DUBAI — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner long seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.
The charred wreckage of the helicopter which crashed on Sunday carrying Mr. Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.
“President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Raisi’s death was later confirmed in a statement on social media by Vice President Mohsen Mansouri and on state television. State TV reported that images from the site showed the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.
State news agency IRNA said Mr. Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
Mr. Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program, had earlier sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.
PRAYERS, SEARCHES Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in the early hours of Monday.
“With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter’s passengers,” the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, told state TV.
Earlier, the national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Mr. Raisi across the country.
Video showed a rescue team, wearing bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot in a blizzard.
Several countries had expressed concern and offered assistance.
The White House said US President Joseph R. Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. China said it was deeply concerned. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
HARDLINER, POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO KHAMENEI The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran’s clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran’s ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, provoking Israel’s assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.
In Iran’s dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Mr. Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Mr. Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who holds decision-making power on all major policies. For years many have seen Mr. Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Mr. Khamenei, who has endorsed Mr. Raisi’s main policies.
Mr. Raisi’s victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with powers including Washington.
However, Mr. Raisi’s standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran’s economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Mr. Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a “friendly farewell” to Mr. Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue. — Reuters
A view of traffic during sunrise in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 5, 2024. _ REUTERS
BANGKOK — Thailand trimmed its economic growth forecast for 2024 on Monday despite a better-than-expected expansion in the January-March quarter, saying exports were projected to increase at a slower pace than previously thought due to external risks.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy grew 1.5% in the first quarter (Q1) from a year earlier, data from the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) showed, beating analysts’ expectations for a 0.8% expansion in a Reuters poll.
In the final quarter of 2023, gross domestic product (GDP) expanded an annual 1.7%.
On a quarterly basis, GDP grew a seasonally adjusted 1.1% after a revised 0.4% contraction in the final quarter of 2023, avoiding a technical recession. Economists had forecast a 0.6% expansion from the previous three months.
Growth was driven by exports and private consumption and investment, but public investment and government expenditure contracted, the state planning agency NESDC said in a statement.
“Thailand’s economy rebounded in Q1 and we expect steady, if unspectacular, growth this year driven by a further rebound in tourism and strong government spending,” Capital Economics said in a note.
The NESDC now expects GDP growth of between 2.0% and 3.0% for 2024, slightly lower than its previous forecast of 2.2% to 3.2%. Last year’s growth was 1.9%.
The downgrade is due to high external risks, especially trade protectionism that is intensifying, geopolitical conflicts and volatility in the global economy, NESDC Secretary-General Danucha Pichayanan told a press conference.
Thailand’s economy has lagged regional peers as it confronts high household debt and borrowing costs as well as weak exports amid an uneven recovery in top trading partner China.
The strong first-quarter GDP numbers could weaken the government’s case for an interest rate cut, although new Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has said he is more worried about people’s access to finance than the level of interest rates.
For months, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has pushed for a rate cut, saying it would help the economy. The central bank has not bowed to the pressure, holding its key rate at a more than decade-high of 2.50%. The next rate review is on June 12.
The agency predicted exports in 2024 would rise 2.0%, lower than the 2.9% increase seen earlier.
Headline inflation was seen at 0.1% to 1.1%, lower than a previous forecast, and compared with the Bank of Thailand’s target range of 1% to 3%.
The NESDC forecast 36.5 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, up from the 35 million projected earlier.
Thailand received 13.16 million foreign tourists from Jan. 1 to May 12, up 39% year-on-year, with Chinese visitors topping the list at about 2.6 million. In pre-pandemic 2019, there were record numbers of nearly 40 million foreign tourists.
Last month, the finance ministry lowered its 2024 growth forecast to 2.4% from 2.8%, but said it might reach 3.3% if the government’s flagship 500 billion baht ($13.8 billion) household stimulus scheme is deployed in the fourth quarter as planned. — Reuters
LISBON – A bright comet fragment lit up the skies over parts of Spain and Portugal late on Saturday, according to the European Space Agency (ESA), with one Lisbon resident saying the dazzling display “felt like a movie”.
On Sunday morning, the ESA shared on X a video captured by its “fireball camera” of what it described as a “stunning meteor” over the skies of the western Spanish city of Caceres, near the Portuguese border.
But it later said it appeared to be a “small piece of a comet” and not a meteor, estimating it flew over Spain and Portugal at a speed of 45 km (28 miles) per second before burning up over the Atlantic.
“The likelihood of any meteorites being found is very low,” the ESA said.
In both countries, videos shot in several cities and towns went viral on social media, showing the object crossing the night sky at high speed and illuminating it in bright tones of blue and green.
The Spanish Calar Alto astronomical observatory also said a preliminary analysis by Andalusia’s Institute of Astrophysics revealed the object had a “cometary origin”.
During a concert in the Portuguese city of Barcelos, the object was filmed streaking across the sky as the singer performed. Another video showed the skies of Porto, Portugal’s second biggest city, turning bright for a few seconds.
Many contacted emergency services to report what happened. A spokesperson for the Spanish Emergency service 112, in Madrid, told Europa Press news agency it had received several calls.
Lisbon resident Bernardo Taborda, 31, told Reuters he was walking around the city with friends when the sky suddenly turned bright green: “It almost looked like daylight … we all looked back and saw it.”
“It felt like a movie, we all looked at each other and we were stunned,” Taborda said. “It was amazing.” — Reuters
A Saudi flag flutters atop Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 20, 2018. — REUTERS
DUBAI — Saudi King Salman will undergo treatment at Al Salam Palace in Jeddah for a lung inflammation, the state news agency said on Sunday, hours after he underwent medical tests.
Citing the royal court, the state news agency said the 88-year-old king would be treated with antibiotics until the inflammation subsides.
Due to King Salman’s health issue, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, postponed a visit to Japan that had been scheduled to begin on Monday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
“Saudi Arabia informed the Japanese government that due to the health condition of King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed’s visit to Japan, which had been scheduled to begin on the 20th, had to be postponed,” Hayashi said at a news conference in Tokyo.
Earlier on Sunday, King Salman underwent medical tests at the royal clinics at Al Salam Palace due to “high temperature and joint pain”, the Saudi state news agency said.
The king was last admitted to hospital in April for a routine checkup, state TV reported then.
King Salman, the custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, became ruler of the world’s top oil exporter in 2015 after spending more than 2-1/2 years as the crown prince and deputy premier.
His illness struck just as the crown prince met with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in the kingdom for talks on a strategic agreement between Washington and Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the crown prince’s cancelled trip. He had been set to meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the trip scheduled from May 20-23. — Reuters
The Observatory breaks ground with residential Sora Tower
Federal Land NRE Global Inc. (FNG), a joint venture between Federal Land, Inc. and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd., is set to combine decades of experience in real estate development to build The Observatory.
Last May 3, FNG marked a significant milestone in its journey with the groundbreaking ceremony of The Observatory Sora Tower in Mandaluyong City. The event was attended by esteemed guests, including key officials from both FNG and the Mandaluyong City government.
Strategically located at the intersection of three major central business districts: Makati, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and Ortigas Center, The Observatory provides residents with unparalleled access to prime locations.
The 4.5-hectare township features a neighborhood of residential towers, sprawling retail facilities, and an office building, all seamlessly connected through walkable and open spaces. This integrated approach to urban living ensures that residents, workers, and visitors can enjoy a well-rounded experience with easy access to various amenities and services within the complex.
Carefully curated first tower
Derived from the Japanese word meaning “sky,” Sora Tower, the first residential tower rising at The Observatory, is envisioned to soar over the city, offering its residents a prime location at the heart of urban culture and fast-paced lifestyles in Metro Manila.
The Observatory Sora Tower (Artist’s Perspective)
The Observatory Sora Tower will feature a total of 650 units, each meticulously designed to offer a diverse range of unit types, from studio units to penthouses, ranging in size from 28 square meters to 205 square meters.
Each unit is designed with functionality and practicality in mind, incorporating Japanese elements and features that enhance the overall living experience. For instance, the tower’s design and amenities are inspired by the distinct identities of remarkable districts in the regions and cities of Japan, such as Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyoto, and Osaka. Sora Tower’s amenities take inspiration from the Shibuya district of Tokyo.
The Observatory Sora Tower provides a diverse range of amenities to cater to the needs and preferences of its residents. Indoors, residents can enjoy the garden lobby, children’s playroom, co-working and business center, yoga studio, fitness gym, entertainment room, and function room. These indoor facilities provide spaces for relaxation, work, exercise, and social gatherings, enhancing the overall living experience within the tower.
For outdoor activities, residents have access to a swimming pool and pool deck, children’s pool, children’s play area, pet park, garden, and outdoor lounge.
The Sora Tower has a user-friendly approach to storage, which aims to maximize the use of space in each unit while maintaining a clean and organized environment.
For instance, the Genkan, a traditional Japanese entryway area, is incorporated into the design of the units of Sora Tower. This space is designed to accommodate outdoor items such as shoes and other footwear, keeping them organized and out of the way. The feature not only adds a touch of Japanese identity to the unit but also helps maintain a clean and clutter-free living space.
The project also incorporates modular elements that can be adjusted to suit the residents’ preferences.
The kitchen storage solutions in the Sora Tower are also designed to optimize the use of space. Unlike traditional kitchen cabinets that often have wasted space, the units feature adjustable shelves that allow for more items to be stored.
In addition, the modular wardrobe design is another example of the project’s focus on storage solutions. With adjustable shelves that can be relocated according to changing needs, these closets are designed to accommodate the evolving lifestyle of the residents while remaining functional and efficient.
Most importantly, the tower features protected spaces within and around the units, providing a secure environment for city living. Residents can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with the elevator and main door key card access, which restricts unauthorized entry and enhances the overall security of the building.
For added convenience, the tower offers three passenger elevators, one passenger or service elevator, and five levels of residential parking, making daily routines effortless.
Residents can also benefit from direct access to retail through shuttle elevators, with lobbies conveniently located at the ground and amenity floors.
The tower’s commitment to convenience is further exemplified by amenities like pressurized fire escape stairs, key card access, and drop-off points at the ground floor and parking level 1, ensuring a seamless and comfortable living experience for all.
Built from collaboration among experts
The Observatory Cybergate Entrance (Artist’s Perspective)
The partnership between Federal Land, Inc. and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. aims to create vibrant, sustainable, and innovative communities that meet the diverse needs of modern urban residents.
Federal Land, Inc., with over five decades of experience, has been a driving force in shaping the urban landscape of the Philippines.
On the other hand, Nomura Real Estate Group, with its roots dating back to the 1950s, is a prominent figure in Japan’s real estate sector. Its extensive experience in developing condominiums and detached houses centered in the greater Tokyo area has earned it a reputation for quality and attention to detail.
The Observatory is the culmination of the collaborative work of a team of seasoned experts and internationally-recognized professionals. The master plan and concept design of the residential towers were developed by Nikken Sekkei Ltd., while Garde Co., Ltd. was responsible for the interior and landscape design of the commercial component. Magnusson Klemencic Associates handled the structural engineering design, and Pimentel, Rodriguez, Simbulan & Partners served as the architect of record.
Sora Tower of The Observatory is set to be completed by 2030, and the groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of a new era of vibrant city living in Metro Manila.
To discover more about FNG and its projects, visit www.fng.ph.
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