News Roundup 03 January 2024
Jan 03, 2024 • 4 min Read
Traslacion 2024: No fly zone over City of Manila; signal jamming eyed | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Authorities will implement a no-fly zone over the City of Manila during this year’s Traslacion or the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday, January 9, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. said signal jamming in areas within Quiapo Church is still being discussed with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and may be imposed on the day of the feast.
“No fly-zone, but of course tayo at yung mga authorities will be allowed. Kasama din sa contingencies yung [paglagay ng signal jammer] depende sa decision ng regional director because the overall supervisor because will be the NCRPO but we will be supporting them kung ano man ang requirements,” Acorda said in an ambush interview on Wednesday.
(No fly-zone will be implemented but authorities will be allowed. We are also discussing whether putting up a signal jammer will be included in the contingency plan, but the regional director of NCRPO will decide. We will just support them with whatever they need.)
Acorda added that based on their latest discussions, PNP will deploy about 15,200 police officers in Metro Manila to ensure public safety.
Full Story at: Traslacion 2024: No fly zone over City of Manila; signal jamming eyed | Inquirer News
Pimentel on info about ICC probers’ PH arrival: ‘What’s wrong with that?’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — “Anong masama [r]o’on? So what?”
This question was posed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to downplay reports on Wednesday that International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators have arrived in the Philippines.
In a briefing, reporters asked Pimentel if he had inside information on whether or not the story is true.
The minority leader responded that his information is just based on what former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
“Ang knowledge ko dyan, also coming from [former spokesperson] Harry Roque. ‘Yun lang ang nababasa ko lang at napapanood ko,” he told media.
(My knowledge about it also comes from former spokesperson Harry Roque. That’s all that I’ve read and watched.)
“But my point is: Anong masama [r]o’on? So what?” Pimentel wondered.
Full Story at: Pimentel on info about ICC probers’ PH arrival: ‘What’s wrong with that?’ | Inquirer News
P50 minimum jeepney fare ‘seen in 5 years’ under PUV modernization | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — An economic think tank estimates that minimum fares in public utility jeepneys could balloon anywhere from P45 to P50 in “five years or more” due to the corporatized setup of the controversial PUV modernization program.
IBON Foundation executive director Sonny Africa bared their estimates in a Tuesday interview with ANC, likening the scenario to the past privatization of the water industry.
“Not immediately. Our model is what happened with water privatization: water rates were kept low for a couple of years and we started jumping up after about three to five years,” said Africa today.
“We expect that same kind of dynamic right now: fares will be kept low at maybe P15, P25 maybe the first three to five years, But we fully expect in five years or more, it will hit P45 to P50.”
Traditional jeepneys currently have a minimum fare of P13 while modern minibuses charge P15.
Africa’s group earlier said that fares could rise from 300% to 400% due to the Department of Transportation’s push to modernize ang slowly phase out traditional jeeps and UV Express units.
Full Story at: P50 minimum jeepney fare ‘seen in 5 years’ under PUV modernization | Philstar.com
Baguio cop dies from alleged self-inflicted gun wound | PHILSTAR.COM – BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) in a press statement on Wednesday confirmed the death of one of its personnel.
The victim was identified as 25-year-old Patrolman Jumieko Potennec.
The police admission implied that the death of the cop was a self-inflicted gunshot.
“Accidents can be unavoidable in the handling of firearms,” Baguio City police director Colonel Francisco Bulwayan Jr. said as he emphasized the importance of adhering to safety principles when dealing with issued firearms to prevent such incidents.
The Baguio City police also ruled out foul play and stressed that the incident was “a tragic accident”.
The police vowed necessary assistance to the family of Potennec.
“Every member of our force will actively contribute to ease the financial burden faced by the family, following one of the best practices of BCPO,” the police said.
It also stressed that Potennec will be remembered for his dedicated service to his countrymen as a police officer.
“His contributions to the community will forever be etched in our hearts,” Bulwayan said.
Story at: Baguio cop dies from alleged self-inflicted gun wound | Philstar.com
