Day: October 14, 2024

TACLOBAN CITY – Two more towns in Southern Leyte have been formally declared as completely free from the threats of the New People’s Army (NPA), the Philippine Army said on Monday. Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the declaration led by the town mayors of San Ricardo and Pintuyan marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability. ‘With no sightings of armed rebels for several years now, these towns have achieved insurgency-free status and officially, stable internal peace and security conditions (SIPSC),’ Vestuir said in a phone interview.

Manila: The Greenfield interchange in Calamba City, Laguna will help ease traffic in the area and provide another convenient access to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) once completed, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Monday. During the groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the Ayala Greenfield Interchange, DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport Jesus Ortega said the interchange would provide another convenient access for motorists to SLEX. ‘[It] will help ease traffic congestion in the area, pave the way for more opportunities, and enhance the life of every resident not just in Calamba but also in the Calabarzon area,’ Ortega said.

Manila: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday suspended three more driving schools in Metro Manila and Cavite for alleged fraudulent issuance of theoretical (TDC) and practical driving course (PDC) certificates. In a statement, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said a driving school in Las Piñas City, another in Caloocan City, and one in Silang, Cavite have been issued 30-day suspensions based on intelligence reports that they issued certificates despite non-completion of the courses. Both TDCs and PDCs are major requirements in the application for a driver’s license. ‘May nakumpirma tayong impormasyon sa maling gawain ng mga driving

CEBU CITY – A high-value suspect was arrested in an anti-drug buy-bust operation inside a Chinese cemetery here and seized from him PHP2.3 million worth of suspected shabu. Police Lt. Christopher Irwin Sanchez Jr. identified the 22-year-old suspect as one ‘Dugong’, a resident of Barangay Mabolo. Dugong was apprehended by the operatives of the City Drug Enforcement Unit inside the cemetery in Barangay Carreta after he transacted to a poseur buyer on Sunday night. The 350 grams of drugs seized was submitted to the Crime Laboratory while drug charges have been filed against the suspect. Source: Philippines News Agency

DAVAO CITY – The Malingin family from Maragusan, Davao de Oro, was honored as this year’s ‘Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya’ by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 in an awarding ceremony on Monday. The Malingins, beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) since 2011, emerged as the grand winners, besting five other families in the region. They were awarded a plaque and a PHP15,000 cash prize for their exemplary values and contributions to their community. The annual search for Huwarang Pantawid Pamilya celebrates families who exemplify qualities that inspire other 4Ps beneficiaries, showcasing how strong family bonds

Manila: The Philippines will not return to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Malacañang said Monday, amid calls for the government to submit to the tribunal the sworn statements made before the House of Representatives probe on the supposed drug-related extra judicial killings under the previous administration. Retired police officer Royina Garma and self-confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa testified before the House quad committee probe last week that so-called extrajudicial killings had the sanctions of former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is under ICC probe for the infamous anti-narcotics crackdown. ‘The Philippines will not return to ICC,’ Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin told