News Roundup 15 April 2023
Apr 15, 2023 • 4 min Read
Manhunt on for Bantag, Zulueta | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday said it has launched a manhunt operation against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and his deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta.
This developed after a Muntinlupa City court ordered their arrest for the murder of an inmate of the New Bilibid Prison, Cristito “Jun Villamor” Palaña.
Bantag and Zulueta were also linked to the assassination of radioman Percival “Percy Lapid” Mabasa in October last year. Palaña was the alleged middleman in the plot to kill Mabasa.
“Sa bisa ng warrant of arrest na aming nakuha ay agaran kong ipinag-utos ang isang malawakang manhunt operation upang madakip ang mga nasabing mastermind sa pagpatay kina Percy Lapid at Villamor (Palaña),” CIDG Police Brigadier General Romeo Caramat Jr. said in a statement. He ordered the intensive search on Thursday.
(Under the arrest warrant we obtained, I immediately ordered a massive manhunt operation to arrest the said masterminds in the murder of Percy Lapid and Villamor Palaña.)
Full Story at: Manhunt on for Bantag, Zulueta | Inquirer News
Anti-mining protesters in Brooke’s Point allegedly arrested by police | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Residents of Brooke’s Point, Palawan were detained by police after they protested mining operations that were previously ordered to stop by the municipal mayor, according to Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) on Saturday.
Brooke’s Point residents have been protesting the Ipilan Nickel Corporation’s (INC) operations since February. They had even set up a barricade in an effort to block off mining trucks.
According to the ATM, INC’s security forces allegedly dismantled the barricade on Friday. In response, residents went to the broken down barriers to protest the demolition.
In footage released to the media, men in uniform labeled with “security” apprehended several residents. The ATM said that a total of six protesters were allegedly harassed, detained and arrested.
“This is a blatant disrespect of the law and the Mayor’s orders as well as a grave insult to the people of Brooke’s Point…Clearly, INC has no qualms violating the law as it bullies the local government and residents with its security forces and heavy equipment,” said Marlon Tamsi of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center.
Full Story at: Anti-mining protesters in Brooke’s Point allegedly arrested by police | Inquirer News
Puerto Galera, other areas declared unsafe for swimming after oil spill incident | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Popular tourist destination Puerto Galera and nearby areas failed four of its recent consecutive water quality tests, deeming the places unsafe for swimming and other water activities. This comes more than a month after the sinking of a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of fuel near Oriental Mindoro.
Oriental Mindoro Gov. Bonz Dolor made the announcement on Saturday, just three days after Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco went scuba diving in Puerto Galera “in a show of support to the tropical paradise which remains 100% open for tourism.”
“As far as water quality is concerned, salt water, from Puerto Galera to Bulalacao, failed,” said Dolor in a mix of Filipino and English to reporters on Saturday.
“The results came out last night. Puerto Galera failed in water quality in fourth consecutive tests. This means, prior to Holy Week, there were already findings of its failure on the level of oil or grease.”
Experts from the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) earlier warned of the possibility of the oil spill reaching Puerto Galera and Batangas, alerting local government officials to prepare in advance.
Full Story at: Puerto Galera, other areas declared unsafe for swimming after oil spill incident | Philstar.com
‘Don’t give up’: First visually-impaired Bar passer inspires aspiring lawyers | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Anthony Mark Emocling from the University of Baguio is no ordinary Bar passer. He is literally the first of his kind among aspiring Filipino lawyers to triumph over the law licensure exams who is blind.
Emocling is one of the 3,992 examinees who are blessed to pass the 2022 Bar exams, the second one held in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court released the results last Friday revealing the country’s new generation of lawyers.
“They [law students] shouldn’t give up reaching for their dreams,” said Emocling in Filipino during an interview by News5 on Saturday.
“We all know that’s it’s very hard to study law. But once you pass, you’ll be very happy.”
“They should stay focused with their goal to finish [law school] until they take the Bar exams and pass.”
Full Story at: ‘Don’t give up’: First visually-impaired Bar passer inspires aspiring lawyers | Philstar.com
