Day: April 21, 2023

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Eid al-Fitr momentum to strengthen bonds among families: House Speaker

Jakarta (ANTARA) – House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani congratulated Muslims on the occasion of 2023 Eid al-Fitr and invited people to use the holiday as a momentum to strengthen silaturahmi (bonds) with families and fellow citizens.”After one month of fasting, Inshallah (if God wills), it will make us into individuals, who are takwa (pious), patient, and tawakal (trust in God’s plan). Now, the day of victory has arrived, the holy day of Eid al-Fitr,” she noted in a statement received on Friday. Maharani invited Indonesians to unite in the spirit of silaturahmi and cooperation. She assessed that Eid al-Fitr is the right momentum to maintain the bond so as to strengthen the unity of people and the nation. “Implement the values of Ramadan worship activities in daily life. Do not forget to help those in need,” she told the people. In addition, she invited people to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with joy, especially since Indonesia no longer applies the public activity restrictions (PPKM) policy. She also said that gathering with families during Eid al-Fitr is a culture that has been embedded among people in the country. This proved that religion and culture are two aspects that are interconnected. To this end, she expressed hope that the culture would continue to be preserved. “The halal bihalal or Eid al-Fitr gathering has existed since a long time ago in Indonesia and was Bung Karno’s (nickname of Soekarno, Indonesia’s first president) idea. Through Bung Karno’s initiation, elites gathered to strengthen bonds and apologize to each other at Eid al-Fitr,” she stated. Nevertheless, the community is still urged to continue to comply with health protocols while conducting their activities during Eid. She reminded people that the recent increase in COVID-19 cases caused by the new variant Arcturus should be watched out for. She also reminded the central and regional governments to prepare the best strategies if crowds occur at several points during the 2023 Eid al-Fitr holiday period. baca-jugaRelated news: Istiqlal Mosque to accommodate 250 thousand Muslims during Eid prayerRelated news: Muhammadiyah lauds govt for embracing Muslims amid Eid date difference

Source: Antara News Agency

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P1.9-M reward distributed to PNP informants

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it has provided PHP1.9 million worth of cash rewards to confidential informants who have provided key information that led to the arrest of 12 most wanted persons in the country. The awarding took place at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on April 18., with the incentive being handed to the informants by PNP director for intelligence Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda. “These claimants provided vital information that led to the arrest of 12 fugitives from justice listed as most wanted persons and were wanted for heinous crimes such as murder, rape, and multiple attempted murder, and had outstanding warrants for their arrest,” Acorda said. The PNP Reward Program grants monetary rewards to individuals who were instrumental in the successful capture, surrender, or death of most wanted persons. Acorda also encouraged the public to continue supporting and helping the PNP by providing necessary information on criminals and wanted persons for their immediate arrests. Last visit As this developed, outgoing PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., visited on April 16 the Police Regional Office 10 (PRO 10) and expressed his gratitude to the officers and personnel for their dedicated service to the people of Northern Mindanao. The visit was the last on his schedule before his 56th birthday on April 24 which is his retirement date. Azurin commended the exceptional work of the men and women of PRO 10 in making their area of responsibility safer and more secure. Azurin also identified three areas for the PNP’s enhancement: community-based policing and engagement, the development and utilization of technology and data, and the welfare and professional development of officers. He said these priorities are directly related to several activities during his visit, including the induction of officers of the life coaches and faith-based groups, the Kontra Boga program, and the blessing of several new facilities. Fixer Meanwhile, police have arrested an alleged fixer after he was monitored to be selling a fake police license during an operation of agents of the Civil Security Group (CSG) in Quezon City on Wednesday. Nabbed was June Reyes Geminiano who was collared after delivering a fake License to Exercise Security Profession (LESP) to a poseur buyer who pretended to be a security guard. CSG agents transacted with him and later convinced him to deliver the fake license to a house in Quezon City. Seized from him were a security officer LESP and a security guard LESP. ‘Geminiano was later found as a Security Officer and was also pinpointed by the other two of his victims (as the one who) processed their LESP which later found to be fake during the records verification at the Security Licensing Division,’ said CSG acting director, Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo. Appropriate criminal charges are now being readied against Geminiano.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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Manhunt on for killers of off-duty cop in GenSan

Police authorities in General Santos City and South Cotabato province have launched a manhunt against two men who shot dead an off-duty police officer Thursday evening. Col. Jomar Alexis Yap, General Santos City police director, strongly condemned the murder of Cpl. Razul Alongan, an intelligence officer of GenSan City Police Station 5. ‘We condemn the senseless and brutal killing of Police Officer Alongan who left two children and a grieving wife,’ Yap said. The gunmen, posing as customers of a roadside eatery in Barangay Fatima of the city, shot dead Alongan, 48, at about 10:30 p.m. ‘The perpetrators sped off onboard their motorcycle towards the direction of Purok Placida, Barangay Calumpang,’ Yap said. Alongan was rushed to the General Santos Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival by attending physicians.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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Pangasinan town stages Karabasa Festival

The Karabasa (squash) Festival of this town has returned after a hiatus due to the pandemic. In an interview on Thursday, Mayor Michael Caleone Cruz said the festival, which runs from April 16 to 24, highlights the town’s products made of karabasa, an Ilocano term for squash. ‘May karabasa noodles, powder, pandesal, at catsup. Maraming taniman ng karabasa sa mountainous areas (We have karabasa noodles, powder, pandesal, and even catsup. We have a lot of karabasa plantations in the mountainous areas of our town),’ he said. The town is also looking for new products made of squash hence the “101 Ways to Cook Karabasa” for dessert and pastry edition was held on Thursday with 30 participants. Senator Imee Marcos attended the karabasa cooking activity during her visit to the province as she led the ceremonial distribution of financial assistance to different beneficiaries from the national government through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. The beneficiaries came from Urdaneta City, and the towns of Umingan and Pozorrubio, and each received PHP3,000. To also encourage tourism and economic activity in the town, the grand float parade and street dance competition was held on April 16. Cruz said among the highlights of their festival this year is the launching of the Umingan Abel (cloth) made by the indigenous people’s (IPs) tribes of the town. ‘This the first Abel made by IPs in the province of Pangasinan,’ he said. The Abel products of the town such as bags are available at the Pasalubong Center of the town, he added. Cruz said the Abel was also used in the costumes or wardrobes of the Mutya Ti Umingan (Jewel of Umingan) beauty pageant. Through an executive order, Cruz has declared April 24 as a special non-working day in the locality to celebrate the last day of the festival through cultural presentations and fun activities. Other activities include Bonsai Exhibit, Ginoong Umingan, Duathlon, Zumbarangay, Variety Show, and the coronation for the Mutya Ti Umingan 2023 on April 24.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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Senator wants BSKE deferred to defuse tension in Negros Oriental

Senator Francis Tolentino on Friday said he is determined to push for the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Negros Oriental amid reports of threats and violence in the province after the killing of the late Governor Roel Degamo. “My purpose here is one, to have a breathing space; two, to really allow the parties to cool off; and three, to have a focus on maintenance of peace and order for the forthcoming barangay elections in Negros Oriental. This was concurred in by several local officials present during the Senate hearings,” Tolentino said in an interview aired over ANC’s Rundown. The lawmaker was referring to the hearings conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs on the Degamo killing, as well as other political assassinations that recently happened in different parts of the province. Tolentino however clarified that Negros Oriental is capable to push through with the BSKE but said it is better to take the available precautions. “It’s not really an admission [that Negros Oriental’s peace and order situation is unsuitable to the conduct of any elections at this point] but we don’t want to take the risk. We don’t want to have both parties coming up with something that would later on provide a means to threats and violence, and would later on blame this to the PNP (Philippine National Police), the Army, and even the government,” he said. In response to Tolentino’s proposal, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) noted that there are “stringent” requirements under the law to postpone the BSKE, and any other postponement, which can only last for 30 days. Comelec chairperson George Garcia admitted that the poll body can hold off the BSKE in a certain area. “Although admittedly, we have the power to postpone the election in an area,” Garcia said assuring that Comelec will study the proposal. Tolentino thinks the said requirements can be complied with and the 30-day postponement of BSKE in Negros Oriental is enough.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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PNP completes vetting of ranking officers

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday bared that the five-man advisory group tasked to look into the records and documents of 953 police officers in the service has already completed the evaluation of these officials. The group met for the last time on April 20, said PNP acting public information chief, Col. Redrico Maranan. He added that all these officers submitted individual letters of resignation in support of the massive internal cleansing program initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-PNP leadership. “The advisory body convened yesterday, April 20, for the eighth time since it was constituted to determine the fitness of all the senior officials to continue serving the PNP,” he added. Maranan said the advisory group has already wrapped up work and drafted its report containing findings and recommendations. “The final report of the five-member body will be formally endorsed to Napolcom (National Police Commission) chairman and DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. for final review and subsequent presentation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for approval,” he added. Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. expressed gratitude to his co-members and support staff for the successful culmination of the evaluation and screening process of all 953 third level police commissioned officers. “This report is the result of painstaking hard work that speaks well of the objectivity, fairness and integrity of the entire process. The whole exercise is founded on the common aspiration of an effective and trustworthy police organization that deserves the trust and respect of the people,” he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency