Category: General

MANILA: The designated chairperson of the House of Representatives Quad Committee (Quadcom) on Friday assailed former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque for reneging on his promise to submit subpoenaed documents and taking to social media his response instead of attending the panel hearings. In a statement, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, the chairperson of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said Roque should be man enough to stand by his promise to comply and submit the documents requested of him by the panel, instead of criticizing and dishing out his frustrations against the panel via various social media platforms.

TACLOBAN: Calbayog City in Samar province is the first city in Eastern Visayas to be declared with Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) or completely free from threats of the New People’s Army (NPA). Mayor Raymund Uy said during the declaration on Friday the city’s status proves that insurgency is no longer part of the peace and order problem of the city. ‘We are lucky to be part of this momentous event. I am confident that we can sustain this and that we all have responsibility from the elected officials to the people in the community to maintain peace

The National Water Council meeting today agreed on the need to establish a working committee to look at the threat of water pollution in the country involving all stakeholders to ensure the issue is addressed promptly. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in a Facebook post, said it was part of the strategy to enhance the monitoring of river water and strengthen the management and research of new pollutants in Malaysia’s water resources. ‘There are many implications resulting from water pollution, and some of these effects are concerning. ‘Therefore, I emphasised the importance of enforcement based on regulations and laws

A total of 5,000 reusable bags will be distributed to the public in conjunction with the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the move is part of the ministry’s initiative to support the government’s efforts in reducing the use of single-use plastics. ‘This effort is to encourage the public to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags and cultivate the use of reusable bags when shopping,’ she said in a statement here today. Liew said it was also a government initiative to reduce the impact of pollution on the environment

Malaysia and Thailand are enhancing defence relations through the fourth Joint Combined Exercise (JCEX THAMAL), currently underway in Thailand. According to the Joint Forces Headquarters (JFHQ), the nine-day exercise that kicked off yesterday involves 118 participants from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. ‘This exercise, themed Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), focuses on HADR needs at the Malaysia-Thailand border, conducted as a Staff Exercise (STAFFEX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX). ‘Such preparations reflect Malaysia-Thailand cooperation that continues to be