Limit protocol plates — lawmaker

April 15, 2024 | 8:35 pm

ONLY the highest ranked government officials — specifically the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the House Speaker, and the Chief Justice — should be allowed to use protocol license plates, a congressman said on Monday.

“(I) could not understand why many officials, including undersecretaries, judges, and prosecutors, are using low-numbered plates,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said in a statement.

Recently, traffic enforcers have apprehended government vehicles, including some with protocol license plates “7” for senators and “8” for congressmen, for using the exclusive bus lane on EDSA only to avoid heavy traffic.

Last month, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed an executive order reducing the number of officials eligible for protocol license plates to 14 from the previous list of 16.

He also urged all government officials not to use police escorts and emergency sirens just to avoid traffic, echoing an earlier order by Mr. Marcos outlawing the use of sirens. “Let us have a level playing field in suffering the terrible traffic situation,” he said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DoE gets new facilities from USAID

April 15, 2024 | 8:35 pm

THE UNITED States Agency for International Development (USAID) turned over eight solar-powered mobile systems (MES) and an energy sector emergency operations center (ESEOC) to the Department of Energy (DoE) on Monday.

“Together, the Energy Sector Emergency Operations Center and the Mobile Energy System represent a holistic approach to building a more resilient energy future,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said in his speech at the inauguration of the facilities. “They are a testament to our collective determination to confront the challenges our time head-on.”

The two projects, which have a funding of $1 million, are designed to address the need for “resilient energy infrastructure and response capabilities” in times of crisis.

He said that the 50-kilowatt-hour MES units will be distributed across the various government agencies and local government units. Two of which are stationed in the DoE.

Meanwhile, the ESEOC will serve as a centralized energy command hub to monitor, assess, and coordinate responses to various energy-related emergencies, including natural disasters, grid failures, and cyber security threats.

The facility will enable “proactive decision-making and rapid deployment of resources to mitigate disruptions and safeguard critical infrastructure,” the DoE said.

These are part of the USAID’s $34-million “Energy Secure Philippines” activity with the Philippine government through the DoE.

“Our sincere appreciation to USAID for this enduring partnership that resulted in this significant breakthrough, including your work on institutionalizing energy regulatory reforms for greater private investments and promoting consumer interests,” Mr. Lotilla said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Births, deaths, marriages fall

April 15, 2024 | 8:35 pm

newly born baby — PATRICIA PRUDENTE-UNSPLASH

THE NUMBER of registered births and deaths from January to November 2023 declined by 19.9% and 14.5%, respectively, compared with the previous year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday.

For marriages, the PSA data in the same period also reflected a decline by 16.8% with only 327,471 couples tying the knot compared to 393,829 in the previous year.

Over the 11-month period last year, a total of 1,062,112 were born, fewer than the 1,325,683 births in the same period in 2022. The death statistics last year were also down to 531,065 from 621,298 in 2022.

In a separate report, the PSA said ischemic heart diseases remained the leading cause of death in the country with 100,848 cases. This is equivalent to 19% of the 531,065 total deaths listed from January to November 2023.

Neoplasms diseases were the second-highest cause of death with 56,736 (10.7% share), followed by cerebrovascular diseases with 53,577 (10.1% share).

Completing the top five causes of deaths were diabetes mellitus with 33,699 (6.3% share) and pneumonia with 32,113 (6% share). — Abigail Marie P. Yraola

Ex-mayor’s dismissal plea denied

April 15, 2024 | 8:34 pm

THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has denied a motion to dismiss corruption charges against the former mayor of Capalonga, Camarines Norte — Senandro M. Jalgalado — over alleged irregularities in programs implemented through the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) over a decade ago.

The former mayor faces criminal charges for graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents concerning alleged irregularities in the disbursement of P14.5 million from PDAF for the purchase of medicines intended for the Lone District of Camarines Norte.

In a 13-page resolution dated April 5, 2024, the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division denied due to lack of merit Mr. Jalgalado’s motion for dismissal of the proceedings based on the Ombudsman’s alleged violation of his right to a speedy disposition of the cases.

The prosecution noted that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered all functions related to the case, delaying them from acting on the graft raps in a timely manner.

The Sandiganbayan agreed with the prosecution, saying the circumstances amid the peak of the pandemic led to the closure of the court and its offices.

“The right to speedy disposition of cases is different from the right to speedy trial,” Associate Justice Georgina D. Hidalgo penned in the resolution posted on Sandiganbayan’s website.

Mr. Jalgalado did not reply to a Facebook Messenger chat seeking comment on the court’s decision junking his dismissal plea.

Associate Justices Ma. Theresa Dolores C. Gomez-Estoesta and Zaldy V. Trespeses concurred with the order, scheduling a pre-trial conference on April 23, Tuesday. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Head-on collision in CdO kills retired judge, hurts 7 others

April 15, 2024 | 8:30 pm

car-Accident — THE site of the head-on collision in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday, where a retired judge was killed and seven others were injured. — PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN FELIX M. UNSON

COTABATO CITY — A retired judge died while seven others were injured in a head-on collision between two vehicles in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday morning.

Police confirmed on Monday the death of 72-year-old Gael P. Paderangga, a former trial court judge in Cagayan de Oro City, in the accident that involved his black Kia Sorrento and the blue Toyota Revo, driven by Joshua M. Dequiña, 46.

Mr. Dequiña and his six companions in the vehicle were also badly hurt in the collision that happened along the highway near the old airport in the city.

Traffic investigators have not yet released the results of their investigation to media as of Monday afternoon. — John Felix M. Unson

Senator to PNP: Revoke Quiboloy’s gun licenses

April 15, 2024 | 8:29 pm

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy — PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

SENATOR Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday to revoke the gun licenses covering at least 19 of wanted televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy’s firearms.

“Quiboloy is armed and dangerous. His armed soldiers are very much alive and ready to die for him. The PNP should confiscate these firearms at once,” she said in a statement.

Ephraim B. Cortez, president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, told BusinessWorld in a Viber message that Quiboloy’s firearms licenses must be revoked “for consistency.”

“While it will not facilitate his arrest, it will help neutralize his firepower imagine him having 19 firearms,” Mr. Cortez explained. “It is quite dangerous for one man with such organization to [have] such arsenal at his disposal, given the gravity of the charges he is facing.”

Mr. Quiboloy’s legal counsel, Ferdinand S. Topacio, did not immediately reply to a request for comment on this matter.

“I urge the new PNP chief, Police General Rommel Marbil, to step up. There could be a failure of intelligence if it takes this long to locate Quiboloy’s whereabouts. Two warrants of arrest have been issued but he has not been arrested yet. Along with his private army, he is a threat to peace and order in the country,” Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said.

She stressed that Mr. Quiboloy is charged with sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense.

The PNP said in a press briefing last week that Mr. Quiboloy is not being considered dangerous because he has no history of violent brushes with the law. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Farmers enjoying higher selling prices of tobacco — NTA

April 15, 2024 | 8:28 pm

BAGUIO CITY — Farmers, producing flue-cured Virginia tobacco and air-cured Burley and Native tobacco, are selling at high prices at buying stations, according to data gathered by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

Freddie Lazaro, NTA public relations officer, said the buying price per kilogram of the prime class of tobacco or Class AA of the flue-cured Virginia tobacco has reached as high as P113, higher than the approved floor price of P97.00.

The buying price on the prime class of both air-cured Burley-type tobacco and Native–type tobacco is expected to reach up to P100 per kilogram, which is higher than the approved P81.00 floor price, Mr. Lazaro said.

Considering the increasing trend in the actual buying price of tobacco, NTA Administrator Belinda S. Sanchez said “tobacco farmers will earn a lucrative income this season.”

“The tobacco buying price increase reflects market demand and crop quality as well as the presence of good weather and the increase of floor prices,” she said. “The more income the farmers earn will boost their purchasing power to buy their foods and other basic needs in their household.”

The trading for flue-cured Virginia tobacco started last February and is expected to run until June this year.

Tobacco traders such as Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc (ULPI), Trans Manila Incorporated (TMI), and ConLeaf have opened buying stations in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Abra.

Aside from the tobacco traders, there are also NTA-accredited field canvassers, who are reaching out to farmers to buy their produce.

For the air-cured Burley and Native tobacco leaves, trading operations of NTA-accredited field canvassers started on the last week of March and will end on July in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Pangasinan, Isabela, and Cagayan.

The NTA is committed “to supervising and managing the implementation of farming technologies and capability enhancement of the farmers for the production of high-quality tobacco leaves,” said Ms. Sanchez. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Laguna logs highest GVA of Industry among provinces

April 15, 2024 | 8:27 pm

LAGUNA logged the largest share in terms of gross value added (GVA) of Industry in 2022 among provinces and highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA published on Monday the results of the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) of the 16 pilot regions outside Metro Manila which covered 82 provinces and 17 HUCs from November to December 2023.

Laguna had the largest share of GVA at 10.4%, followed by Cavite at 6%, and then Batangas at 5.8%.

Meanwhile, the PPA also showed that in 2022, the province of Nueva Vizcaya recorded the fastest annual growth in GVA of Industry at 27.3%, higher than the national growth rate of 6.5%.

This was followed by Sorsogon, 18.7%; Zambales, 17.3%; and Masbate, 16.6%, the PSA said. — Paolo D. Mendoza

SC to expand legal aid services for underprivileged

April 15, 2024 | 8:26 pm

Supreme_Court_of_the_Philippines — PHOTO BY MIKE GONZALEZ

THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court’s (SC) Unified Legal Aid Service (ULAS) Regional Consultations goes Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, April 18, to firm up the rules on requiring covered lawyers to render 60 hours of pro bono work for indigent Filipinos.

The technical working group (TWG) headed by Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa kicked off the four-leg ULAS Regional Consultation last April 12 in Baguio City.

The event is “for stakeholders to discuss the proposed Rules, deliberate on its salient provisions, and provide feedback and insights that will be taken into consideration in drafting the final rules,” the SC said in a statement on Monday.

Participants consist of lawyers from small-sized firms, lawyers from medium/large-sized firms, solo practitioners, in-house counsels, lawyers employed by NGOs/NPOs (non-government organizations/non-profit organizations), and members of the academe, it said.

Following the Cagayan de Oro leg, the regional consultations will proceed to Makati City on May 17, and then Iloilo City at a still unspecified date.

The highlight of each ULAS Regional Consultation is the breakout session, where participants can “discuss the proposed Rules, review its provisions, and voice out their suggestions.”

Eventually, the aims is to implement how covered practitioners would provide at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid services to underprivileged Filipinos and members of marginalized communities each for a compliance period of three years. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Terrorists kill 4 MILFs in Maguindanao del Sur ambush

April 15, 2024 | 8:25 pm

COTABATO CITY — Local terrorists have killed four members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in an ambush on Sunday in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, authorities said.

Local leaders, members of different municipal peace and order councils in Maguindanao del Sur and officials of the Army’s 6^th Infantry Division told reporters on Monday morning that Mhoni S. Kamid, Khar D. Anding, Tapurih M. Anding, and Ahmed B. Mansur died on the spot due to bullet wounds in different parts of the bodies.

The victims, all residents of Barangay Dapiawan in Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur, were riding motorcycles, maneuvering through a stretch of a highway in Shariff Aguak town, when gunmen positioned along the route opened fire with assault rifles.

These MILF members who died instantly had actively supported the police and military’s anti-terror campaign in the province.

Colonel Roel R. Sermese, Maguindanao del Sur police director, said the four were on their way to Barangay Limpongo in Datu Hoffer town when they were attacked.

The group of Kagui Katatang, who is identified with both the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), is suspected to be behind the atrocity, according to some local leaders. — John Felix M. Unson

Hot PLDT clashes with dangerous Chery Tiggo in critical PVL match

April 15, 2024 | 7:36 pm

Games Tuesday
(PhilSports Arena)
4 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs Cignal
6 p.m. — Chery Tiggo vs PLDT

A LOT has been said about how far the PLDT High Speed Hitters could go and survive in a loaded Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference minus two of their big guns — injured former captain Mika Reyes and blue-chip free agency recruit Kianna Dy.

Their answer: The league’s second-best record and a chance to reclaim a spot at the helm.

“Team’s core maturity is doing good,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort, whose charges tackle an equally resurgent and dangerous Chery Tiggo in Tuesday’s critical elimination round duel at the PhilSports Arena.

The 6 p.m. showdown pits two clubs that own the league’s hottest streak thus far with the High Speed Hitters on a five-game streak that hiked its record to 7-1 and the Crossovers on a four-game rampage that improve its mark to 6-2.

A win for PLDT would catapult it back to the top alongside Choco Mucho (8-1) while a Chery Tiggo triumph would propel it at joint No. 2 with league powerhouse Creamline (7-2).

And it was because of players, the old guns and new ones like Kim Fajardo and Keisha Bedonia, have melded together to form a competitive team minus Mmess. Reyes and Dy.

Mr. Ricafort, however, stressed they packed enough win and confidence to enter that match in high spirits.

For Chery Tiggo mentor Kungfu Reyes, every win is a step towards their desired destination — the semifinals.

“Every game parang turning point is ours, whether it will turn out good or turn bad,” said Mr. Reyes. Also jostling for semifinal positions are Petro Gazz (6-2) and Cignal (5-3), who collide at 4 p.m. — Joey Villar

Lauren Hoffman resets nat’l records in athletics

April 15, 2024 | 7:35 pm

OLYMPIC aspirant Lauren Hoffman has made a habit of rearranging national records lately.

On a fair-weathered Sunday in Durham, North Carolina, Ms. Hoffman, seeking a ticket to this July’s Paris Games, shattered a Philippine mark anew, this time in the women’s 100-meter hurdles where she clocked 13.41 seconds in the Duke Invitational.

The reigning Asian 400m hurdles champion smashed the 17-year-old standard set by Sheena Atilano in Pune, India.

It came just a little over two weeks after she set a national record in the 400m hurdles in the Hurricane Collegiate Invitational in Coral Gables, Florida, US where she timed in 56.39 seconds.

She destroyed the old mark of 56.44 clocked by Robyn Brown two years before in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games.

Ms. Hoffman also reset the indoor 400m mark twice, the first in Clemson, South Carolina in January when she clocked 53.91 and shattered the six-year-old record of 59.94 owned by Kayla Richardson and the other in South Carolina when she clocked 53.71 the next month in the same event.

While Ms. Hoffman is still far from the Olympic standard in 100m hurdles (12.77), 400m hurdles (54.85) and 400m (50.95), she isn’t giving up on her hope of making the quadrennial event alongside pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, John Febuar Ceniza and Elreen Ando. — Joey Villar