Day: June 23, 2023

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is at loggerheads with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran here, after declaring the latter as persona non grata for supposedly making his city a dumping ground of Badjaos from Bacolod. ‘As the chief executive of Iloilo City, I abhor this kind of behavior. He should be accountable (for) his actions. Therefore, I am declaring Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran persona non grata effective immediately. An executive order (EO) will be issued,’ Treñas said in a statement Friday noon. Later in the afternoon, Treñas signed EO 83, stating that Familiaran be declared ‘undesirable and unwelcome in the City of Iloilo for his role in the uncoordinated and poorly planned transfer of the Badjaos to their respective domiciles’. ‘As the prime duty of the government to serve and protect the people, and maintain peace an order, VM Familiaran facilitated for the Badjaos to be sent in their hometowns and ‘stop loitering around and leave the city [Bacolod City] which led to 80 Badjaos arriving in Dumangas Port which are not residents of the metro,’ he said. ‘Although we do not discriminate, I strongly abhor the act of the vice mayor to order their transfer in the metro due to the lack of coordination and communication,’ he added. On Wednesday night, 84 Badjaos traveled from Bredco port in Bacolod on board a roll-on, roll-off vessel bound for the port of Dumangas, Iloilo. They were sent off by personnel of the Department of Social Services and Development and officials of various barangays here back home to Mindanao via Panay Island, but it turned out they proceeded to Iloilo City and stayed there instead. In a statement, Treñas said he is ‘very disappointed for the lack of proper coordination on the part of Familiaran regarding this matter’. ‘As a leader himself, he is expected to observe proper measures as a sign of respect to other local government units,’ he added. Aside from the statement he posted on social media, the Iloilo City mayor was also quoted by the Iloilo media as saying, ‘I cannot think of how stupid a local government can become, they must resolve this issue themselves. The stupidity of a government official is shown by his actions. I cannot imagine how stupid these officials have become’. On Friday morning, Familiaran, who sits as acting mayor since Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is out of the country, already apologized to Treñas for what happened when the Badjaos arrived in Iloilo. However, the vice mayor later reacted to the subsequent statement of Treñas. ‘I have high respect for Mayor Treñas, but I lost (that respect). Respect begets respect,’ Familiaran said, adding that the mayor could have investigated first before jumping the gun on blaming him for what happened. Familiaran told reporters here the destination of the vessel boarded by the Badjaos was not Iloilo City therefore, Bacolod is not dumping them there. ‘They promised to go home. It’s not our intention that these individuals will proceed to Iloilo City. They docked in Dumangas port and we expected them to go home directly to their homeland in Mindanao,’ he added. In recent weeks, Badjaos, both adults and children, came to this city anew, causing concerns as they were roaming and begging for alms on the streets.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Fresh guidelines, like relaxing rules on bail and improved access to counsels of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) are among the solutions initiated to address the congestion of the country’s jails, a senior official said Friday. Newly completed facilities in Quezon City and Taguig City and in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur are likewise expected to alleviate the situation, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Chief Insp. Jayrex Joseph Bustinera said during the Laging Handa press briefing. The BJMP runs 478 jails nationwide, mostly housing PDLs who have cases pending before the courts. “(P)inipilit din po ng BJMP na matapos na mga project para malipatan na po at makapag-contribute sa decongestion [program] natin (The BJMP is working overtime to complete projects so it can be occupied and contribute to addressing the decongestion problem in jails),” Bustinera said. In the case of the Quezon City jail in Payatas which is projected to house up to 6,000 inmates, the BJMP said the Covid-19 pandemic converted it into a temporary medical facility but it is now in the final stages of completion, including installation of perimeter fences. Similarly, the Metro Manila District Jail in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City has been completed. Bustinera said that for the Marawi jail, the Maute rebellion six years ago temporarily stalled its use and turnover. As per the Department of Justice order, he said provisional liberty may be granted by posting bail even before a trial starts. There are paralegal officers who can assist the Public Attorney’s Office for bail reduction or processing involving certain cases. ‘Para sila po ay makalaya kahit nililitis pa ang kanilang kaso (So they may be set free while their cases remain pending),” Bustinero said. He said the BJMP lauds the continuation of the government’s grassroots campaign against illegal drug use, pointing out that up to 70 percent of PDLs face drug-related charges.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Troops of the Philippine Army’s 52nd Infantry Battalion discovered an arms cache consisting of four high-powered firearms and four banned anti-personnel mines buried in Agsaman village in Jipapad, Eastern Samar, the military reported on Friday. Following the revelation of the alias Artem, 25, former political instructor of the New People’s Army (NPA) front committee 3 who recently surrendered, soldiers found on Thursday an arms cache with two AK47 rifles, an M14 rifle, a shotgun, banned explosives, two magazines of AK47 and M14, 140 rounds ammunition of AK47, and 75 cartridges of 7.62mm ball for M14. The series of local peace engagements by the different government agencies and the continuing delivery of basic services and socio-economic development in the community prompted alias Artem to surrender on June 18, 2023. Major General Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division commended Artem for his surrender and cooperation with the government’s anti-insurgency campaign. ‘We welcome the surrender of alias Artem, and we are hoping that the other members of NPA will also do the same. It is not too late to surrender, return to the folds of the law and make use of the different government assistances as you start your life anew,’ Maj. Gen. Ligayo said. The official believes that rebels buried their firearms since they don’t have enough men to carry them. Alias Artem will receive government financial assistance under the local social integration program and an enhanced comprehensive local integration program. He will also undergo livelihood training as part of his reintegration process.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The U.S. Coast Guard announced on Thursday that a debris field found by searchers near the Titanic earlier in the day is wreckage from the missing Titan submersible.

In a press briefing Thursday afternoon, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger said a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) discovered the tail cone of the Titan submersible about half a kilometer from the bow of the Titanic on the sea floor.

“The ROV subsequently found additional debris. In consultation with experts from within the unified command, the debris is consistent with the catastrophic loss of the pressure chamber,” Mauger said.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the families,” he said.

Shortly before the announcement, OceanGate Expeditions, the U.S.-based company that owned and operated the submersible, said in a statement that it believed the five passengers of the Titanic-bound submersible have “sadly been lost.”

The five passengers included Hamish Harding, a billionaire and explorer; Paul-Henry Nargeolet, a French explorer; Shahzada Dawood and his son, Suleman Dawood, members of a prominent Pakistani family; and OceanGate Expeditions CEO and Titan pilot Stockton Rush.

The submersible went missing more than 600 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland in eastern Canada early Sunday morning during a dive to the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic.

An international search effort led by the U.S. Coast Guard had been racing against the clock to locate the missing submersible which was estimated to have a 96-hour supply of oxygen and its air supply was expected to run out Thursday morning.

There were reports saying that the underwater sonar devices picked up banging noises on Tuesday and Wednesday in the area where the submersible vanished.

Mauger said there didn’t appear to be any connection between the noises and the location of the submersible on the seafloor.

OceanGate Expeditions used the five-person submersible to reach the wreckage 3,800 meters below the ocean surface. On its website, the company advertises a seven-night voyage to the Titanic for 250,000 U.S. dollars per person with the money raised by tourists going toward Titanic research.

Source: Lao News Agency

A ceremony took place in the northern Lao province of Oudomxay on June 22 to repatriate remains of 10 Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in the neighbouring country.

The remains were found by a search team from Military Region 2 in Luang Prabang, Luang Namtha and Phongsaly provinces during the second phase of the 2022-2023 dry season. Remains of the four identified will be handed over to Vietnamese localities involved for funeral rituals following local customs and wishes of their families on June 23, while those of the rest will be buried on the same day at Tong Khao cemetery in Dien Bien Phu city, the northern province of Dien Bien.

At the handover ceremony, Oudomxay Deputy Mayor Somchith Panyasak called on those living in the six northern provinces of Laos to assist and collaborate with the search team in their work.

On behalf of the authorities and people of the six localities, Somchith expressed deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Government and people for their valuable support for Laos in its past struggle for national liberation and current endeavor of national construction and defence.

He affirmed that the Lao provinces will continue to make utmost efforts to nurture the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and the peoples for generations to come.

Major General Dinh Manh Phac, Deputy Commander of Military Region 2, emphasised that the search, collection, and repatriation of the remains from various wartime periods are a significant policy of the Vietnamese Party and State, showing respect to and honouring the immense contributions of the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for national independence and fulfilled their noble international duties.

Since 1994, the search team has repatriated remains of a total of 1,812 fallen soldiers, with 142 fully identified.

Source: Lao News Agency

Almost 200 photos shot by Lao and Vietnamese professional photographers that highlight UNESCO’s world cultural and natural heritage of Laos and Vietnam are being displayed at an exhibition held at the Vietnamese Cultural Centre, Vientiane.

Co-organized by the National Institute of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MoICT) of Laos and the Department of Fines Arts, Photography and Exhibition of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Vientiane, the exhibition was opened this morning in the presence of Attaché of Vietnamese Embassy to Laos Pham Minh Trian, Director General of the Department of Culture and Arts of the MoICT Bouakhay Phengphachanh, representatives of Cambodian, Thai, Philippine and Singaporean embassies to the Lao PDR, and departments under the umbrella of MoICT and media.

“Laos and Vietnam boast beautiful landscapes and have many cultural, historic and natural heritage sites listed as local, national, regional and world heritage,” said Director of the National Institute of Fine Arts Khamsouk Keovongxay.

The exhibition “World Heritage of Laos and Vietnam” is a meaningful activity, promotes exchange and cooperation on arts and cultures between the two countries, according to Mr. Khamsouk.

Exhibited at the event include 160 photos portraying 26 UNESCO-registered World Heritage sites of Vietnam including Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and Hu? royal court music, and 20 photos of World Cultural Heritage sites of Laos including Luang Prabang, Vat Phu and Plain of Jars.

“These photos record beauty, values and great meaningfulness of heritage in modern days. They are photos that portray livable cultures, beauty of natural scenery, nature related to poems, creator’s masterpieces, and ancient architectural works. They are records of history, culture, spirits, wisdoms, customs, believes and beauty of Lao and Vietnamese people,” said Mr. Khamsouk.

“Laos and Vietnamese photographers will have a meeting this evening to discuss a joint visit to northern Laos to photograph ancient places in Luang Prabang and Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang. The photography tour will be conducted between Jun 24-29,” Mr. Khamsouk added.

Source: Lao News Agency