News Roundup 09 February 2024
Feb 09, 2024 • 4 min Read
DFA ordered to cancel expelled solon Arnie Teves’ passport | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — A Manila court ordered the immediate suspension of the passport of expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr.
In a resolution dated February 8, Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 51 ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to cancel Teves’ passport, citing the former lawmaker’s “designation” by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC), which served as grounds for the revocation of his documents.
“WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is ordered to cancel the passport of Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr,” the resolution read.
The Manila court also ordered the DFA and the National Bureau of Investigation to “take proper steps” to facilitate Teves’ return to the country.
Teves, who was expelled from the House of Representatives in August 2023, reportedly sought asylum in East Timor which the country denied.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Dec. 3, 2023 then asked the expelled solon’s passport to be revoked so he “will be unable to travel from country to country.”
In August 2023, the ATC designated Teves as a terrorist, alleging his leadership of an armed group involved in orchestrating killings and a series of harassments in Negros Oriental.
Full Story at: DFA ordered to cancel expelled solon Arnie Teves’ passport | Philstar.com
‘Miracle’ rescue nearly 60 hours after Davao de Oro landslide | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:30 p.m.) — The rescue of a child on Friday nearly 60 hours after a landslide hit a gold-mining village in the southern Philippines has been hailed as a “miracle” after searchers had given up hope of finding more survivors.
The girl, who the Philippine Red Cross said was three years old, had been among the more than 100 people missing after the rain-induced landslide hit the village, killing at least 15 people.
She was found as rescuers used their bare hands and shovels to look for survivors in Masara village on southern Mindanao island, disaster agency official Edward Macapili of Davao de Oro province told AFP.
“It’s a miracle,” Macapili said, adding that searchers had believed those missing were probably dead.
“That gives hope to the rescuers. A child’s resilience is usually less than that of adults, yet the child survived.”
Video of a rescuer carrying the crying, mud-caked child in his arms was shared on Facebook.
“We can see in the social media posts that the child did not have any visible injuries,” Macapili said.
He said the girl’s father saw his child before she was taken to a medical facility for a check-up.
Full Story at: ‘Miracle’ rescue nearly 60 hours after Davao de Oro landslide | Philstar.com
Chinese New Year celebration in QC pushes Banawe Street as tourism hub | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — As part of efforts to promote Banawe Street as a tourism destination, the Quezon City government has lined up a three-dazy series of activities, from Feb. 9 to 11, to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
“These festivities signify our commitment to promoting Banawe as a place to enjoy our unique Filipino-Chinese heritage through a variety of cultural attractions. Local and foreign tourists can take part in many delightful activities during the three-day celebration,” Belmonte said.
Through City Ordinance No. 2453-2015, Banawe Street and its environs have been declared as the city’s very own Chinatown district, which is the largest in the world with an area of 5,919 square kilometers.
On Feb. 9, a QC Chinatown Heritage Tour for the press and social media influencers will be led by noted Chinese tour guide Stanley Chi. The tour will explore landmarks in the area such as Sheng Lian Temple, the Buddhist Humanitarian Organization headquarters of the Tzu Chi Foundation, the Filipino-Chinese Friendship arcs called “Paifangs,” and the Wow Toy Museum, among others.
Full Story at: CNY in QC pushes Banawe Street as tourism hub | Inquirer News
BARMM execs say ‘milestone’ regional elections in 2025 a go | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Bangsamoro Parliament said on Friday (Feb. 9) that elections for the autonomous region’s parliament will proceed in 2025 — a “milestone” for being the first-ever regular elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Amir Mawalil, a Bangsamoro parliament member, said the elections would further advance the “self-determination and self-governance” of the Bangsamoro people.
“The upcoming elections in 2025 mark another milestone in our journey towards genuine autonomy and empowerment,” Mawallil said.
MP Rasol Mitmug Jr. said the political exercise would also showcase “unity and cooperation” among BARMM leaders, democratic rights in the region, and credible and transparent elections.
Full Story at: BARMM execs say ‘milestone’ 2025 elections a go | Inquirer News
