Massive flooding in Arteche town, Eastern Samar
CPP-NPA units in Bicol crumbling: Parlade
MANILA – Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) terrorist units in Bicol continue to crumble due to sustained community support program (CSP) and combat operations being conducted by the Army’s 9th Infantry Division.
This, according to Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) chief, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., in a statement forwarded to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Sunday.
“The CPP NPA is hurt badly with the sustained CSP and combat operations of 9th Infantry Division in Bicol which (led) to the surrender of 11 NPAs in Castilla, Sorsogon including Danilo Guray y Golem alias ‘JR’, Vice company officer of Platoon 1, Larangan 2, KP3, BRPC (Bicol Regional Party Committee) turning in 11 M-16 rifles,” Parlade said.
Another batch of nine NPAs belonging to Sentro De Grabidad, L2, KP3 under alias ‘Alas’ surrendered in Bulan, all with high powered firearms, also yesterday (Saturday) This trend of NPAs surrendering in droves has been observed in Bicol, particularly Sorsogon-Albay and Masbate, he added.
Chinese envoy confirms donation of 500K Covid-19 vaccines to PH
MANILA – Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday confirmed that half a million doses of vaccine for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will be donated to the Philippines by the Chinese government.
This, after China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged that China would donate 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the Philippines in support of its immunization program in a statement on Saturday.
In a virtual presser, Huang said the vaccines to be donated are yet to be discussed with officials of the Philippine government, with no decision yet on the particular brand of vaccine to be given.
AMLA amendments approved on 3rd and final reading
MANILA — Sen. Grace Poe urged fellow lawmakers to give the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) amendment a big, final push to bolster the existing law crucial to the Philippines’ economic comeback in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Poe said that Senate Bill No. 1945, or the proposed Strengthening the Anti-Money Laundering Act authored by her, was approved on third and final reading with 21 affirmative votes on Monday, Jan. 18.
The measure will be finalized when the Senate and the House of Representatives meet in the bicameral conference committee meeting. The ratified version will then be sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature.
The bill pitches for amendments to the law to curb money laundering and terrorist financing activities.
PhilHealth-12 raises alert over fraudulent ‘wellness programs’
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has raised an alert over the proliferation of “fraudulent” wellness programs that prompt residents to undergo unnecessary confinement in hospitals to collect health insurance claims.
Dr. Hector Zenon Leonardo Malate, PhilHealth-12 acting regional vice president, said in an advisory on Monday the questionable activities were reportedly being conducted in parts of the region by several hospitals.
Citing reports received by their office, he said the involved hospitals would hold free medical consultations and make it appear that a PhilHealth member or dependent has an illness or condition that requires hospitalization.
Floods damage over 1.6K hectares agri farms in NegOcc
BACOLOD CITY – At least 1,646 hectares of agricultural farms have been damaged by massive floods in Negros Occidental in the past two weeks.
A report issued on Monday from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) covering the period Jan. 8 to 11 showed that combined rice areas of 1,574.49 hectares in 65 barangays were flooded.
This brings the total damage and production losses to the province’s rice sector to PHP37.5 million.
The affected 1,642 farmers have ricefields in Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, Talisay City, Silay City, Bago City, Valladolid and Pontevedra.
For the high-value crops (HVC) sector, some 24.44 hectares of farms in nine barangays in the cities of Escalante, Cadiz, Talisay and Silay were also flooded.
DSWD sends 3K food packs to flood-hit Eastern Samar
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun the relief operations for families affected by last week’s flooding in Eastern Samar.
Joshua Kempis, DSWD Eastern Visayas disaster response management division information officer, said it initially delivered over the weekend a total of 3,000 family food packs from its warehouse here through the assistance of the Office of the Civil Defense.
“This was turned over to local government units (LGU) who requested augmentation from the regional office. As of now, our repacking of relief items is ongoing in preparation for augmentation requests from other affected areas,” he said in a phone interview on Monday.
Kempis did not disclose the name of recipient LGUs as part of its standard security practice.
NBI eyes phones of ‘persons of interest’ in Dacera death
MANILA – Digital forensic team of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will be scrutinizing data in the mobile phones of the “persons of interest” in the death of 23-year-old Christine Anjelica Dacera last New Year’s Day.
“The NBI has completed its forensic examination of tissues obtained from the subject’s remains. It is currently coordinating with the Makati Medical Center on related issues. The NBI digital forensic team will now proceed to examine the data in the mobile phones of the persons of interest,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told reporters Monday.
The Makati City Prosecutor’s Office set a second hearing on Jan. 27 as the Philippine National Police is still awaiting the results of forensics tests on Dacera’s body such as DNA analysis, toxicology/chemical analysis, histopathology examination, and laboratory results from the Makati Medical Center. (AI/MTVN)
