Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday said he is inclined to endorse to the next defense chief the contract for the offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) which is worth PHP30 billion to avoid midnight deal allegations. “Six yan (OPVs), kung maayos natin yan yung mga papeles I might also endorse it to the next Secretary of Defense para makita naman nya kung ano ang mangyari, kasi kung pirmihan ko yan baka sabihin midnight (deal) [That project consists of six (OPVs) and if we are able to complete all the documents, I might endorse it to the next

The Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO-6) on Wednesday reported the arrest of 184 violators of the election gun ban from Jan. 9 to April 25 this year. PRO-6 spokesperson Lt. Col. Arnel Solis, in an interview, said the 173 incidents police responded to regionwide during the more than three-month period have led to the confiscation of 104 assorted firearms and 91 deadly weapons. PRO-6 will continue to intensify the conduct of checkpoints after noting an increasing number of apprehended gun ban violators. “In every municipality we have at least one checkpoint per day. Sometimes it can reach up

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metro Rail Transit Line-3 are extending the “Libreng Sakay” program, allowing the commuting public to enjoy the free rides until May 30. In an announcement Wednesday the DOTr and MRT-3 said the program would “continue helping our commuters ease their financial burden amid inflation and rising fuel prices.” The free ride program – meant to celebrate the completion of the MRT-3’s rehabilitation and ease the burden of rising fuel prices on the public – began on March 28 and was initially set to end on April 30. All passengers are eligible to receive

A party-list lawmaker on Wednesday urged social media giant Facebook to exercise “greater restraint” in disabling the accounts of individuals actively involved in the political campaign activities of candidates for the upcoming May 9 polls. Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor made the statement after the Facebook account of lawyer Vic Rodriguez, the spokesperson of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was temporarily suspended, then later restored, for allegedly violating community standards. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, said Rodriguez’s account had been “incorrectly flagged as an imposter account.” Defensor said a foreign company like Facebook may be accused of “meddling” in

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday said it recognized the local government units (LGUs), as well as other national government agencies and the private sector for properly using the Resettlement Governance Assistance Fund (RGAF) for those affected by the relocation from danger areas and waterways in Metro Manila. The DILG said this include the proper use of the RGAF 2017 and 2019 in the establishment of community facilities and for the implementation of projects and activities on peace and order, disaster risk reduction, community development, sustainable livelihood development and capacity building in resettlement sites. “Binibigyan

The local government of Parang town in Maguindanao province has offered a PHP50,000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect in Sunday’s bus bombing that injured six passengers. Parang Mayor Cahar Ibay said Wednesday the reward will immediately be released “without question” to anyone who can identify and help arrest the bomber, whose facial composite and a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage were earlier released by the police. “Hopefully, the bounty will help hasten the identification and eventual arrest of the suspect,” Ibay told reporters in a phone interview. Lt. Colonel Cristio Lagyop, speaking for