By Junex Doronio

ACKNOWLEDGING THE HURT of having lost a loved one who was the breadwinner, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has extended financial assistance to the family of slain broadcaster Juan “DJ Johnny Walker” Jumalon in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez personally handed over the P250,000 worth of assistance given by Romualdez to the Jumalon family.

“After suddenly losing a breadwinner, it’s really difficult for a family to pick up the pieces and carry on with their lives,” Romualdez said.

Earlier, Romualdez strongly condemned the dastardly slaying of Jumalon.

The victim was shot dead in his radio station booth at home in Misamis Occidental while he was live streaming on Facebook last November 5.

“No matter what the motive is behind this killing, the Philippine media lost another one of its members, and we don’t want this to keep on happening,” Romualdez stressed.

The House Speaker also promised that Congress will take measures to protect journalists or the members of the reputed Fourth Estate of a democratic society.

“We in Congress will take concrete steps to ensure that every member of the fourth estate is protected from these senseless killings. They must not live in fear just because of their chosen profession,” Romualdez vowed.

(AI/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

STRESSING THAT THE ARMED FORCES of the Philippines will be professional and remain loyal to the Constitution, AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar on Sunday said they are validating reports of efforts to “upset” the Marcos Jr. administration.

Aguilar stood firm that AFP chief Romeo Brawner, Jr was only “misquoted” regarding alleged destabilization efforts against the government that the latter later retracted.

“These are just efforts to upset. Kumbaga, we don’t see any threats on these efforts,” Aguilar said.

He added: “I will not go into details about this because sa sinabi ng mga kuwan, these are reported efforts. So we’ll just leave it at that muna because… these will be further validated and verified.”

However, he declined to mention names behind these alleged efforts to “upset” the PBBM administration.

“All I can say is we don’t have a threat. There is no plot to speak of and the AFP will be professional and will remain loyal to its Constitution,” Aguilar pointed out.

Under Article VII, Section 18, of the 1987 Constitution: “The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces of the Philippines to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion.”

(ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio & Liezelle Soriano

CLAIMING THAT SOME CORRUPT INSIDERS in Malacañang don’t want to resolve the issues facing the transportation sector, the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) on Sunday suddenly canceled its supposed meeting in Malacañang and vowed to push through with the planned transport strike on Monday, October 16.

MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said he personally requested to cancel the meeting due to issues with certain “corrupt people” whom he did not identify.

“May mga taong ayaw maayos ito at baka mabuking ang kanilang mga kalokohan. Tsaka ko na sasabihin [kung sino sila], malapit na. Mga corrupt talaga ito,” he said when interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB.

The planned jeepney strike on Monday, October 16, is in protest against the “phasing out” of jeepneys and alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

MANIBELA’s transport strike intends to hit about 600 routes throughout Luzon, with 150 jeepneys affected per route.

However, seven transport groups, including Pasang Masda and PISTON, have agreed with the government not to participate in the strike.

Valbuena claimed that their supposed Sunday meeting in Malacañang was “sabotaged”.

“‘Yun lang ang nabalitaan na may meeting, hinarang na. Sangkot siguro ‘to sa anomalya. Kilala ko sila, binanggit sa’kin. Pero hindi ko muna sasabihin… Ako na nag-request na mag-cancel kung ganoon ang isyu nila,” he said.

As this developed, some local government units (LGUs) and schools in Metro Manila have already announced Sunday the suspension of face-to-face classes on Monday due to the impending nationwide transtrike.

The list of LGUs:

Cabuyao, Laguna
Calamba, Laguna
Santa Rosa, Laguna
Pampanga

Universities and colleges

Adamson University
De La Salle University – Manila campus
Far Eastern University Manila and Makati campuses
FEU High School
National University – Manila: shift to synchronous learning
National University-Nazareth School
San Beda University – Rizal and Manila campuses: Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) to shift to online classes
San Sebastian College – Recoletos Manila:
University of the East – Caloocan and Manila campuses
University of Santo Tomas

(ai/mnm)