Year: 2024

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A crime syndicate leader associated with the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) terror group and four of his followers were killed in a clash with government troops in Lanao del Norte, the military said Thursday. The encounter occurred in Barangay Banko, Sultan Naga Dimaporo Wednesday as troops attempted to serve arrest warrants. The group, led by Uya Dama, opened fire, triggering a 30-minute firefight. One wounded suspect was captured and three M-16 rifles, two grenades, and other weapons were recovered. ‘Our troops exhaust their effort to decapacitate armed groups,’ said Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez, commander of the Western Mindanao

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol) has provided PHP30.2 million worth of relief assistance to the families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) as of Thursday morning. In an interview, DSWD-5 disaster response and management division chief Claudio Villareal Jr. said they continue to provide family food packs and non-food items to households in the region’s six provinces. The DSWD-5 recorded 345,548 families or 1,669,507 persons affected by “Kristine” in the region. “We already distributed 45,182 family food packs to the affected families, or a total of PHP30,069,315 worth; 710

Manila: The baggage delays at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 are unacceptable and should be addressed immediately, Senator Grace Poe said on Thursday. “It’s unacceptable that hundreds of luggage are stuck at the airport due to a technical glitch. A delayed flight is a bad thing; a mishandled or delayed luggage is equally disappointing,” Poe said in a statement. “Whoever is responsible must address the matter urgently as what’s piling up in the airport are valuable belongings of passengers.” Poe said a week is too long for the problem to be remedied and called for a refund

Manila: The National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) on Thursday assured the public, especially those living in low-lying areas, of a measured and gradual release of dam water to prevent massive flooding as Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) continues to dampen most of Luzon and parts of Visayas. NAPOCOR Flood Operation Manager Maria Teresa Sierra explained that under their previous protocol, the release of water will only be carried out when the dam reaches spilling level which in the past has exacerbated flood woes in some areas. NAPOCOR manages 12 dams all over the country, including five major dams in

Manila: Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Thursday said all airports in the Bicol Region — one of the areas hardest hit by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) — are operational. Daraga, Virac, Masbate and Naga airports may be used for air transport of relief goods. “We have CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) personnel available to assist if ever there will be flights in these airports,” Bautista said. On Wednesday, the CAAP reported that the Bicol International Airport (BIA) was operational. However, the CAAP said no personnel of Cebu Pacific (CEB) and Philippine Airlines was able to