Category: General

The reward for the arrest of the elusive New People’s Army (NPA) hitman Roger Fabillar, the primary suspect in three murder cases in northern Negros, was raised from PHP500,000 to PHP900,000 on Thursday night. ‘Several concerned stakeholders and private individuals offered additional cash reward amounting to PHP400,000 to hasten the manhunt against Fabillar and his group. Such amount shall be given to anyone who could provide information that could lead to the arrest and/or neutralization of Fabillar,’ announced the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) based in Sagay City, Negros Occidental province. Also known as ‘Arnel Tapang’, ‘Jhong’ and ‘Nono,’ the suspect, who is about 31 years old, is facing criminal charges for the series of killings in Calatrava town since last year. The victims included village chief Benjamin Javoc of Barangay Lalong as well as Renato Estrebillo and Rodel Nobleza, of Barangay Marcelo, who were all gunned down last August. In February this year, Fabillar was also tagged in the killing of councilman Benito Hubahib of Barangay Cambayobo. The initial cash reward was set at PHP100,000 in August, and was increased to PHP300,000 then PHP500,000 in September. Lt. Col. J-jay Javines, commanding officer of 79IB, had earlier said Fabillar is assigned to carry out special operations for the remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front. The bounty was raised following an encounter between the troops of 79IB and communist rebels in Sitio Siraje, Barangay San Isidro in the adjacent Toboso town on Thursday. In September last year, soldiers installed ‘wanted’ posters with the photograph and personal information of Fabillar in various barangays of Calatrava and Toboso. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Fabillar may contact the 79IB through hotline numbers (0963)8739989 (Smart) and (0927)3392481 (Globe).

Source: Philippines News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Chairperson of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Arsjad Rasjid gladly welcomed the ratification of the Job Creation Law, as he believed it would help broaden job opportunities and reduce the poverty rate.”To eradicate poverty, we need to draw a lot of bigger investments, as they will create vast job opportunities,” Rasjid noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday. Rasjid deemed the ratification of the Job Creation law as crucial in determining the future of the investment climate in Indonesia. “The law presents legal certainty to potential investors that in turn will help to create job opportunities and reduce the poverty rate,” Rasjid remarked. baca-jugaRelated news: Job creation law aims to improve quality of workforce: Ministry By drawing attention to Indonesia’s low rank in the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Index, economist Rosdiana Sijabat stated that the Job Creation Law would be a tool to fix this shortcoming by establishing a favorable climate for foreign investors. “Creating vast job opportunities is paramount for Indonesia’s economic growth, and the law addresses that matter. Moreover, Indonesia is one of the most populated countries in the world,” Sijabat explained. In line with that statement, law expert Nindyo Pramono affirmed that prior to the passing of the law, Indonesia’s EODB ranking had been trailing behind that of several ASEAN countries. He believed that the law would provide benefits in terms of improving Indonesia’s ranking in the index. “The Job Creation Law will accommodate the need for economic growth and investment flows in Indonesia,” Pramono stated.

Source:Antara News Agency

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – An alert has been raised in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, with the emergence of Tropical Cyclone 98S seeds (weak vortices) in the Arafuru waters.”Kupang city is on alert status because of the heavy rainfall impact triggered by the Tropical Cyclone 98S seeds that appeared in the Arafuru waters,” Kupang acting mayor George Melkianus Hadjoh said here on Saturday. The TC 98S seeds could indirectly trigger moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds in the region, he added. The Kupang city government has issued an early warning to all villages, sub-districts, and community units regarding the growth of TC 98S seeds. ccording to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Kupang, the TC 98S seeds could cause strong winds with speeds of 20 knots or 37 km/h and air pressure of 1,004 millibars. The condition has been predicted to last until April 11, 2023. “These conditions can trigger hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, flash floods, landslides, lightning strikes, and strong winds that cause trees to fall,” Hadjoh said. He further said he expected all heads of villages, sub-districts, and community units to convey the BMKG’s early warnings to all communities in order to anticipate the risk of disasters early. “So that the public does not panic. Together with the communities, we increase alertness and mitigation measures such as cleaning water channels to prevent water inundation,” he added. Residents of Kupang City have been advised to cut down fragile trees before strong wind occurrences as such winds could cause trees to fall on homes or buildings. He said he expected that the city residents would refrain from traveling during heavy rainfall to avoid unfavorable incidents. Rainfall of moderate intensity, accompanied by wind and lightning, was recorded in Kupang City and Kupang District from 2:303:30 p.m. local time on Saturday. BMKG on Saturday advised residents in East Nusa Tenggara to Papua regions to watch out for extreme weather potential due to the increasing intensity of TC 98S seeds around the Timor Sea.

Source:Antara News Agency

At least 14 passengers were injured when a Ceres bus fell on its side while evading a motorcycle along the highway in Barangay Purisima, Manapla town in northern Negros Occidental at about 5 a.m. on Saturday. In a report, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the passengers, who sustained minor wounds, were brought to the Dr. Ramon B. Gustilo Hospital. The bus driver was identified as Albert Baloran Villarias, 48, a resident of Manapla, and the motorcycle rider, as Jembo Deita Pogosa, 37, of Bago City, according to a police report. Initial information showed both the passenger bus and the motorcycle were bound for this capital city when the motorcycle rider hit a bump and veered towards the lane of the bus. The bus driver tried to avoid the motorcycle, leading the bus to fall on its side in a grassy area. ‘The Ceres bus was traveling at a slow speed and no life was lost,’ the MDRRMO said in a Facebook post. Meanwhile, Pogosa abandoned his motorcycle and could not yet be located while Villarias was placed in the custody of the Manapla municipal police station for further investigation.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA) – East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor emphasized that the province is a strategic partner for supporting development of the new capital (IKN) Nusantara.”We have the spirit that East Kalimantan is a strategic partner for the Nusantara capital,” Noor remarked during the meeting of the Regional Development Plan (RPD) for 2024-2026 here on Friday. The provincial government also uses the tagline “Building East Kalimantan for Nusantara” in the development plan. With that tagline, he believes the province is ready to synergize and partner with IKN Nusantara in preparing competitive human resources and striving to realize inclusive and sustainable economic growth. East Kalimantan is also committed to improving the environmental quality, considering its huge potential for natural resources, he affirmed. “Which is based on the IKN development that carries the green and forest city (concept),” he said. He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to realizing a responsive government that is oriented toward public services. The RPD for 2024-2026 also encompasses the plan for strengthening access to education and health services and strategies for expediting the reduction of stunting prevalence. The governor accentuated that the eradication of poverty, including extreme poverty, is still a priority in the RPD. In addition, Noor said, the RPD includes gender empowerment and equality that is based on women’s participation in decision-making processes. He highlighted that in East Kalimantan, 22 high-ranking officials are women, along with other official positions, such as secretary, district head, and office head, held by that gender. Noor emphasized that the provincial government continues to encourage the acceleration of inclusive economic transformation to realize regional economic resilience. To support regional economic resilience, he elaborated that the development plan encompasses equitable distribution of community welfare and improving basic infrastructure, such as the quality of water, air, and land, to reduce carbon emissions. “We have been recognized by the world. If we get World Bank incentives, it is because of our hard work in managing the environment wisely, so that we can reduce carbon emissions and benefit the world,” he explained.

Source:Antara News Agency

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Directorate General of Immigration of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has affirmed its commitment to quickly serving passport applicants in urgent need of a passport by continuing to provide services during the weekend.Immigration Director General Slimy Karim visited Passport Acceleration Service Units (UP3s) located at several malls here on Saturday to ensure the provision of the special service. In a statement issued the same day, he said that he examined three locations at once, namely the Immigration Office UP3 in Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, and West Jakarta. The passport service has been made available for applicants in urgent need of a passport, such as those requiring medical treatment or going on government assignment overseas, he informed. The applicants can come, get their picture taken, and take their passport within a single day, he added. “We are making sure that the flow is clear and quick,” he said. ccording to Karim, the weekend accelerated passport service has become one of his priority programs, especially at immigration offices facing high demand, such as in Jakarta. It is being provided to fulfill the demand from passport applicants’ who did not get a service quota on the weekdays. Though the service has been made faster, the document examination flow is still prioritizing elements of monitoring and security of Indonesian citizens applying for a passport, he underlined. Moreover, applicants who do not get a service quota on the weekdays can also immediately come to avail passport services on the weekends. “We are open at several strategic locations such as malls, shopping centers that the people can easily access. We have provided supporting facilities and infrastructures so that people can be served comfortably,” he said. The UP3s are currently only available at the Immigration Office in Jakarta, namely at Lippo Mall Puri, Mangga Dua Morning Market, Lippo Mall Kemang, Soekarno Hatta Airport’s Terminal 3, Plaza Semanggi, and Cibubur Junction Mall.

Source:Antara News Agency