Severe Tropical Storm Paeng made landfall in Camarines Sur on Saturday after crossing the southern tip of Catanduanes. In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Paeng was estimated in the vicinity of Siruma, Camarines Sur, and was moving west-northwestward at 30 kph. It has maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center, gustiness of up to 160 kph, a central pressure of 985 hectopascals (hPa), and strong storm-force winds extending outwards up to 560 km. from the center. By 11 a.m., PAGASA forecast the
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday it is validating reports that about 72 people have died due to the effects of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, which has battered a large part of the country. According to its latest update, the NDRRMC said under validation are two deaths reported in Western Visayas, three in Soccsksargen; and 67 at the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Earlier, Maguindanao officials reported 31 deaths in the province due to flashfloods. Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior minister, said 16 of the fatalities are from Datu Odin
Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. (Metrobank) listed at the Philippine Dealings and Exchange Corp. (PDEx) on Friday its PHP23.7 billion 1.5-year fixed rate bond, which has a coupon rate of 5 percent. In a press release, the bank said it raised the issue size from the PHP10 billion offering due to strong demand and even shortened the offer period to October 17 instead of October 19. “The demand from both retail and corporate clients prompted us to increase our initial bond offering by more than two times beyond the PHP10 billion we announced to meet the very strong
Immigration authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) have rescued four human trafficking victims recruited to illegally work in Thailand, Laos, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to a Bureau of Immigration (BI) media release on Friday, the four passengers, whose names were withheld for their protection, were intercepted at NAIA Terminal 1 after they attempted to board a Tiger Air flight to Singapore on October 17. Three of the victims had connecting flights to Bangkok, claiming they were going on a seven-day vacation. “The intercepted Bangkok-bound passengers initially presented themselves on primary inspection as
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has offered his condolences to the families of flood victims, as Severe Tropical Storm Paeng brought heavy rains and drenched some parts of the country, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “Our prayers go to the lives lost in the Aklan, Capiz, and BARMM flash floods, and to those who continue to be gravely affected by this calamity,” Marcos said in a Twitter post late Friday night. About 72 people died in the aftermath of Paeng, which prompted floods and landslides in the southern part of the country, National Disaster
Joint personnel of various law enforcement agencies seized a total of PHP24,727,000 worth of marijuana from three suspects who attempted to smuggle the drugs out of Kalinga on Friday evening. Brig. Gen. Mafelino Bazar, director of the Police Regional Office – Cordillera, said in a statement on Saturday that 204 marijuana bricks, two in tubular form, and two small bottles containing alleged marijuana oil were seized by operatives of different police units in the region and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. Bazar said the arrest was the result of information that led to the setting up of a
