MANILA: The massive flight delays that affected about 65,000 passengers on New Year’s Day Sunday are matters of national concern that should not happen again, according to Senator Grace Poe on Monday. The chair of the Committee on Public Services said they will launch an inquiry to determine liability and find ways to avoid a repeat of such. “Thousands of lives depend on the efficiency and competence of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). There needs to be transparency and accountability from CAAP,” Poe said in a statement. After the Manila Electric Company clarified in
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga: Minimum wage earners in Central Luzon will receive the second tranche of the daily wage increase effective Jan. 1, this year. The second tranche of the daily pay hike amounting to PHP10 was pursuant to Wage Order No. RBIII-23 issued by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) last June 2022. Wage Order No. RBIII-23 mandates a PHP40 increase in the daily minimum wage of workers in private establishments in the region. The first tranche of PHP30 daily pay increase took effect on June 20, 2022. Geraldine Panlilio, regional director
BUTUAN CITY: The Police Regional Office in the Caraga (PRO-13) on Monday reported the surrender of a supply officer of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) on Jan. 1. In a statement, PRO-13 director Brig. Gen. Pablo Labra II identified the surrenderer as alias “Oliver,” 36, allged supply officer of Squad 1, Platoon 1 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA. “Alias Oliver surrendered to the operatives of the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-13 on Jan. 1,” Labra said. The surrender, he noted, is the result of the reinforced efforts and call of PRO-13
MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday relieved a member of the Special Action Force (SAF) from his post including his commanding officer due to alleged indiscriminate firing in Nueva Vizcaya during the Christmas holiday. Col. Red Maranan, PNP Public Information Office chief, identified the police officer as Pat. Loreto Abrio, assigned at the 145th Special Action Company, 14th Special Action Battalion, PNP SAF. He will be facing administrative raps and is now under investigation due to indiscriminate firing at Barangay Tuao North, Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya last Dec. 30. Maranan said that his commanding officer, Capt. John
CEBU CITY: The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) on Monday said two individuals from Cebu were injured by stray bullets on New Year’s eve. Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, cluster head of DOH-7’s Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, said the stray bullet injuries were reported in Lapu-Lapu City and the other one from a locality in Cebu province. Meanwhile, Cañal said the RESU-7 has recorded a total of 35 firecracker-related injuries in Region 7. According to the data, 16 of the injured individuals are from Cebu province, five from Lapu-Lapu City, four each from this capital city,
ZAMBOANGA CITY: At least 10 houses were destroyed by heavy downpour and strong winds Sunday night on an island village of this city, an official reported Monday. Usnaira Abunawas, barangay information officer of Tumalutab, an island village 30 kilometers east of the city hall, said the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Sunday due to inclement weather. Abunawas said all of the affected houses, which were partially destroyed, were located in Sitios Look and Pitas. “No one was either killed or injured during the incident,” Abunawas said. On Sunday, the city government warned the residents to be
