PNP chief admits crowd control by police ‘not perfect’

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General Jesus Versoza admitted that they have not fully perfected crowd control in hostage crisis situations. During the hearing of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) on the tragic hostage-taking incident last August 23, Versoza said the command center…

Judge defers trial of Philippine massacre suspects

Manila – A Philippine judge on Wednesday delayed the resumption of the trial of a mayor and his co-accused for the massacre of 57 people last year. Judge Jocelyn Solis Reyes said the adjournment would allow the court to address motions from the counsel representing the suspects in the murders committed in…

DOE eyes system for proper disposal of light bulbs with mercury

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Energy is planning to issue rules and regulations as well as a system to ensure the proper disposal of compact fluorescent lamps that contain the hazardous chemical mercury. ‘True, we have switched from inefficient incandescent bulbs to efficient lighting systems such CFLs. But it comes with a price—mercury is an integral component of CFLs

Taal shows increased activity but remains at lowest alert level

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded increased activity in Taal Volcano in Tagaytay, Batangas in the last 24 hours, but said an eruption is not expected soon. In a bulletin issued Friday, the Phivolcs said there were 20…

PNP chief set to inspect bus in hostage crisis

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa is set to inspect this Friday morning the tourist bus used in the hostage-taking incident last Monday to ensure that all pieces of evidence are preserved.

Chinese tourists cancel trips to Philippines – video

“More than 500 tourists from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have canceled their bookings with the Philippine Airlines (PAL), after the hostage incident took place on Monday, the airline said on Thursday. “‘PAL is…

FEATURE : Historic Manila wants tourists to see past the decay

AFP , MANILA Tourists on a horse drawn carriage pass Manila Cathedral in Intramuros in the Philippine capital on Sunday. PHOTO: AFP In the shadows of an ancient cathedral in the Philippine capital, wilting horses attached to carriages shelter from the tropical sun as their drivers try to interest the few tourists milling around. Hawkers exhibit sombreros, fans and rosaries on the pavement nearby but few buyers are in sight — a depressingly familiar scenario for Manila’s historic tourist district centered on the colonial Spanish walled city of Intramuros.

Ayala bank exec named to head SSS

BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR –> PRESIDENT Aquino named banker Emilio de Quiros Jr. as president of the Social Security System and sugarcane plantation owner and farmer advocate Ma. Regina Bautista-Martin as administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA)

Aquino threatens PAL, union with ‘open skies’

MANILA, Philippines—Saying the interest of the greater riding public would be his top priority, President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday warned Philippine Airlines that the government would be forced to allot its flight schedules to other domestic and even foreign airlines in case a strike occurs in the flag carrier. The President told a news…

BJMP, PNP explain unliquidated expenses

MANILA, Philippines — Both the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police both clarified on Wednesday the purported unliquidated expenses of both agencies as earlier revealed by the Office of the Ombudsman. In a statement, Jail Director…

Aquino to allot PAL flights to other airlines, in case of strike

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino warned Philippine Airlines on Wednesday the government would allot its flights to other airlines in case of a strike by workers. The President told a news…

Ombudsman says ‘euro generals’ lied

MANILA, Philippines—The 12 retired and active police officials and three civilians involved in the case of the so-called ‘euro generals’ lied about the source of the money they were carrying in Moscow in 2008, according to initial findings of the Office of the Ombudsman. It was also found that the money comprised a private fund, contrary to the officials’ assertions at the Senate inquiry that the 105,000 euros (P6.9 million) seized from then Director Eliseo dela Paz at the Moscow international airport had come from the Philippine National Police’s contingency funds. In a press conference Thursday, Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr

More investors show interest in Pagcor

MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino businessman’s offer to acquire Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) for $10 billion has caught the attention of two groups of investors, the state-run gaming firm said Wednesday

PAL cabin crew airs strike threat over CBA

MANILA, Philippines—Flight attendants of Philippine Airlines (PAL) moved a step closer to holding a strike after they and the flag carrier failed to reach an agreement at the Department of Labor and Employment Monday. Andy Ortega, vice president of the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP), said a strike became more likely after PAL management insisted that the attendants’ main complaint about retirement age should be discussed only in the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations

More PAL pilots reportedly planning to quit

MANILA, Philippines—Despite government intervention and management assurance of job security, many more Philippine Airlines (PAL) pilots are preparing to resign in the coming weeks, threatening to once again cripple the flag carrier’s operations. A senior member of the airline’s Airbus A320 division, who asked not to be named since he still works for the company, said PAL pilots had lost faith in PAL management….

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