The Supreme Court (SC) has cleared a suspected drug trader after another case of mishandled evidence. The SC acquitted Jalsam Bambang and set aside his 2018 conviction by the lower courts as the handling of evidence was deemed “not acceptable”. “Keeping seized items in one’s pockets is a doubtful and suspicious way of ensuring the integrity of seized items,” the SC said in its recent decision. Bambang was arrested in a buy-bust on the morning of Jan. 21, 2017 in Barangay Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales, yielding six packets of shabu with a total weight of 0.53 grams.
Classes will resume on Oct. 19 in two villages of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental that were earlier suspended due to a series of armed encounters between government troops and communist rebels since Oct. 6. Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson Jr. declared the resumption of classes this coming Wednesday through an executive order issued on Sunday night after some of the displaced residents were allowed to return to their respective homes. “On consultation with Department of Education Schools Division Superintendent Gladys Amylaine Sales, the former recommended the resumption of classes in Barangays Cabadiangan and Carabalan,” the mayor said. However,
At least 30 former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao Oriental have learned meat processing for more opportunities in earning a decent income. In a statement Monday, the Davao Oriental provincial government said members of the Davao Oriental Former Rebels Association (DOFRA) have undergone a daylong skills training on meat processing on Oct. 13 as hosted by the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11). The DA-11, in partnership with the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office, trained the participants on making pork by-products such as siomai, embotido, skinless longganisa, and chicken ham at the Happy Home
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Joint Task Force (JTF Sulu) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have vowed to work closely in combatting terrorism and pursuing peace and development in Sulu and nearby areas, officials said Monday. Joint Task Force (JTF-Sulu) commander Brig. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division met with BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim over the weekend here, where they tackled the peace and security situation in Sulu. During the meeting, Ebrahim acknowledged JTF Sulu’s contribution to sustaining the gains of the peace process. “The
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Monday issued two warrants of seizure and detention (WSD) against a shipment of an estimated PHP228 million worth of imported refined sugar from Thailand. In a statement, the bureau said the warrants were issued after the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) denied the request to amend the manifest changing the name of the consignee, who was not identified as the case is still under investigation. It also recommended that a WSD be issued against the shipment “due to lack of the requisite Clearance for Release of Imported Sugar
Now that the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has started the process of resetting transmission wheeling rates that may result in reduced rates, a senator said it would be more beneficial if customers would also get refunds. In a news release on Monday, Senator Risa Hontiveros said the ERC must refund consumers after it overcharged the weighted average cost capital (WACC) during the fourth regulatory reset period. WACC is the return a company expects on the money it has put into a business. “Ilang taon nang sinisingil ang mga power consumer ng higit pa sa kung magkano lang
