News Roundup 20 June 2023
Jun 20, 2023 • 4 min Read
3 dead as MILF infighting erupts in Maguindanao del Sur town | INQUIRER.NET – COTABATO CITY – Fighting erupted anew within members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in remote villages of Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday morning, the Army said.
“We are validating this report, but initial reports showed three were reported killed in the on-going skirmishes,” said Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, commander of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade based here.
Pangcog said the skirmishes that started at 9 a.m. Tuesday, occurred in the adjoining Barangay Dapiawan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan and Barangay Pamalian, Shariff Saydona.
“This infighting, the fourth this year, has sent villagers fleeing to safer grounds, mostly coming from Barangay Dapiawan,” Pangcog added.
He said the skirmishes erupted between leaders of the MILF’s 118th and 105th base commands who have been locked in a long standing family feud or rido.
Full Story at: 3 dead as MILF infighting erupts in Maguindanao del Sur town | Inquirer News
6 companies, 30 individuals face raps for abusive loan collection scheme | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Six companies, including three lending firms, and more than 30 individuals are facing complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for reported abusive ways of collecting payments from borrowers.
Atty. Oliver Leonardo, Director of the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department of the SEC, said the companies and the individuals are facing complaints for violation of Republic Act 9474 or the Lending Company Regulation Act, and RA 11765, or the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act.
“Ang set up mayroon silang office, maraming ahente na tumatawag, kumukuntak sa pamamagitan ng software, na pag ikaw hindi nagbayad may mga death threats, may pagmumura, pagbalandra ng mukha sa social media nung mga nangutang,” Leonardo told reporters after filing the complaints.
(They have a setup with an office, numerous agents making calls, reaching out through software, and if you don’t pay, they send death threats, curse at you, and publicly shame those who borrowed money on social media.)
He said Business Process Outsourcing companies included in the complaint were also doing activities that only the duly registered lending companies are allowed to do.
“Yung pagpa-process ng utang at pangongolekta part and parcel yan ng isang registered lending company kaya kinasuhan din natin sila ng paglabag sa Lending Company Regulation Act,” Leonardo explained.
(The processing of loans and debt collection is an integral part of a registered lending company, which is why we also filed a lawsuit against them for violating the Lending Company Regulation Act.)
Of the more than 30 individuals included in the complaint, five are Chinese.
Full Story at: 6 companies, 30 individuals face raps for abusive loan collection scheme | Inquirer News
DOH urged: Prioritize new board passers amid nursing shortage | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — An association of nurses has called on the Department of Health to prioritize tapping the thousands of unemployed nurses who passed recent board exams instead of hiring unlicensed nurses in government hospitals.
This was after Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Monday that the DOH will allow nursing graduates who failed their board exam with scores between 70 to 74% to be given temporary licenses to work in understaffed state hospitals.
Filipino Nurses United Secretary General Jocelyn Andamo questioned the decision, citing the number of nurses who passed recent licensure exams and are still in the Philippines.
“How can we encourage them to serve their own country? That should be the most immediate concern and point of action,” Andamo said in Filipino in a TeleRadyo interview.
Andamo said that there were at least 18,000 nurses who passed the December 2022 nursing board exam.
“Has the DOH located and found out whether all of these (board passers) have found jobs? Our stand is to prioritize first those who passed the board so that they can be given jobs and encouraged to work in the country,” Andamo said in Filipino.
Andamo added that if the DOH wants to retain nurses in the Philippines, it should also first address issues with nurses’ pay, job security and benefits.
Full Story at: DOH urged: Prioritize new board passers amid nursing shortage | Philstar.com
A soldier has come home: Biazon laid to rest at Libingan ng mga Bayani | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The late former senator and soldier Rodolfo Biazon was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Tuesday.
“Rodolfo G. Biazon, the Marine, has gone home,” his son Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon said.
Full military funeral honors were also granted to Biazon, who served as chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Marine Corps Commandant.
The Philippine Marine Corps also paid their last respects to Biazon on Monday. Biazon is remembered as the first member of the Philippine Marine Corps to become chief of the AFP.
Full Story at: A soldier has come home: Biazon laid to rest at Libingan ng mga Bayani | Philstar.com
