The
Nation friday-saturday, october 20-21, 2017
#nationataglance
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: MANILA
DoJ junks Faeldons motion to dismiss drug smuggling charges
THE DEPARTMENT of Justice (DoJ) has denied the motion of former Customs
commissioner Nicanor E. Faeldon to drop the charges filed
against him by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) over a shipment of P6.4 billion worth of the il-
legal drug shabu (methamphetamine). In a four-page
resolution, the DoJ asserted that it has jurisdiction to
conduct preliminary investigation over drug cases in-
volving public officers and employees, including those in
high-ranking positions. Mr. Faeldon, who was appointed by
President Rodrigo R. Duterte to head the Bureau of Customs last year, resigned
in August 2017 at the height of the Senate investigations on the narcotics ship-
ment. Andrea Louise E. San Juan
RIZAL: RODRIGUEZ
DENR assessing waste disposal alternatives as Rodriguez landfill
expected to be full by 2022
ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY Roy
A. Cimatu yesterday said alterna-
tives are now being considered as
the landfill in Rodriguez, Rizal is
expected to be full by 2022. The
garbage generated in Quezon City
are now being delivered to the
Rodriguez landfill after the Payatas
landfill in the city was permanently closed last month. Yes, expected life (is)
2022 for Rodriguez, Mr. Cimatu said in a briefing in Malacaang, Yun nga ang
aming tinitingnan because dapat meron na tayong (That is what we are looking
at, we should already have an) alternative for this. Mr. Cimatu said a stricter
implementation of segregation and recycling of wastes could possibly extend
the Rodriguez landfills capacity, but they are also looking at waste-to-energy
options. Rosemarie A. Zamora
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION: MANILA
Lawyers involved in freshmans hazing death could be disbarred
LAWYERS who are involved in the death of hazing victim Horacio T. Castillo III
and the apparent attempt to cover up the crime may face disbarment, according to
Senator Francis Joseph G. Escudero. Ito ay nagko-constitute ng tinatawag nating
(This constitutes what we call) moral turpitude, Mr. Escudero, himself a lawyer, said
during yesterdays Kapihan sa Senado forum. On the same grounds, Mr. Escudero
added, student lawyers involved may not be allowed to take the Philippine Bar
Exam even if they pass [law school]. Mr. Castillo, a freshman law student at the
University of Sto. Tomas, was brought to a hospital where he was pronounced
dead on Sept. 17 after supposedly attending a welcome ceremony of the Aegis
Juris fraternity. At yesterdays hearing in the ongoing Senate investigation on the
incident, Supreme Court Deputy Clerk of Court Maria Cristina B. Layusa said there
are elements of obstruction of justice in the online conversation among Aegis Juris
members that manifestly pertain to Mr. Castillos death. Ms. Layusa also opined that
for lawyers involved in the incident, impartiality, immorality, violation of code of
conduct, and obstruction of justice are grounds for disbarment. Arjay L. Balinbin
TAGUM CITY PIO
DAVAO: TAGUM CITY, DAVAO DEL NORTE
Motorcycle thieves
Five members of the notorious Sukarap Gang, three of them
minors, have been caught and facing charges for alleged involvement
in a series of motorcycle thefts in Tagum City. O
ther members of the
Sukarap Ganghave also been recently arrested for other crimes,
including the midnight holdupof government employees.
EastMinCom on heightened border monitoring
for terrorist movements
THE MILITARYs Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) has
been put on heightened alert, particularly for border security, to pre-
vent possible movements and reprisals from members and sympa-
thizers of the Islamic State-inspired Maute group after their leaders
Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute were killed in Marawi City last Mon-
day. Lt. Gen. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, EastMinCom commander,
said in a statement that strengthening border security is a pro-
active measure to prevent the terrorists from using it as their mobil-
ity corridor. The directive includes closer monitoring of territorial
waters. Mr. Guerrero also called on the public to immediately report
suspicious activities in their areas. We recognize the importance
of the support coming from the populace. We therefore ask everyone
to be vigilant and to report to the authorities any suspicious activities
in their respective communities he said. Armed Forces Chief of Staff
Eduardo M. Ao, who went to the EastMinCom headquarters last
Tuesday after visiting Marawi City, underscored the role of the east-
ern troops in securing their area so that their western counterparts
are able to focus on the Marawi operations. EastMinCom covers the
regions of Davao, Northern Mindanao, Soccksargen and Caraga.
Mindanao Bureau
EASTMINCOM PIO
The Inter-Agency Border Security Coordinating Council, formally
established on Sept. 15, serves as a central group for joint
efforts in addressing threats of terrorism, illegal drugs, human
trafficking, smuggling, piracy, and robbery in the Davao Region.
Photo courtesy of Violeto Romano via interaksyon.com
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA: ZAMBOANGA CITY
CENTRAL VISAYAS: DUMAGUETE CITY, NEGROS ORIENTAL
Residents of Colon, Dumaguete City look at the tree trunks
washed down from the landslides in nearby Valencia town.
THE FREEMAN
A photo of a foreign-looking man believed to be responsible for
skimming operation victimizing several depositors of the Land Bank of the
Philippines is posted at the banks ATM booth in March 2017.
CENTRAL VISAYAS: CEBU CITY
Cebu bankers raise warning on ATM fraud as Christmas season nears
THE CEBU Bankers Club (CBC) has warned the public anew to be vigilant
against automated teller machine (ATM) fraud as the Christmas season nears
and bank withdrawals normally surge due to holiday-related spending. CBC
President Mario Fritz B. Palileo urged ATM card holders to shift to EMV-type
cards, which have more security features. With matters pertaining to ATM
fraud, ATM cardholders should make sure that their ATM cards now are
converted to EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) type of card to prevent ATM
skimming, Mr. Palileo said. In late 2016 and early this year, ATM skimming
incidents were reported across Metro Cebu. At least two Romanian nationals
suspected to be behind the scheme have since been arrested and charged in
court. Mr. Palileo also reminded the banking public not to divulge personal
information, especially passwords and card details, through e-mail or tele-
phone calls. The Freeman
EDITOR marifi s. jara
Rains from typhoon Paolo, low pressure area
cause landslides, flooding
NO STORM warning signals have been raised in any
part of the country but several days of rains from
typhoon Paolo in the east and the low pressure area
(LPA) in the west have been causing destruction
and displacement in different regions. Typhoon
Paolo, which is expected to be within the Philippine
area until early Sunday, has expanded its rainfall
diameter to 1,100 kilometers (km) from the center,
which was located 945 km east of Infanta, Quezon
as of 10 a.m. Thursday. The LPA, meanwhile, has
moved closer at 150 km northwest of Puerto Prince-
sa City, Palawan. Weather bureau PAGASA forecasts
scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms
over Palawan, Bicol, the Visayas, Caraga, Northern
Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Autonomous
Region in Muslim Mindanao.
ZCDRRMO PHOTO
At least seven people have been reported to have died due to the flooding in
Zamboanga City, while more than 3,000 families have been displaced. Farms,
aquaculture facilities and public infrastructure have also been damaged
DOTR PHOTO
The Iloilo airport was closed late evening of Oct. 13 and
reopened at 2 p.m. Oct. 16 after the Cebu Pacific aircraft
that figured in a runway excursion was finally pulled out.
WESTERN VISAYAS: Iloilo
Governor wants explanation on Iloilo airport incident
ILOILO GOVERNOR Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. said officials of
Cebu Air, Inc. and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philip-
pines (CAAP) owe it to the public to give an explanation on
the runway incident last Oct. 13 that kept the Iloilo Interna-
tional Airport closed for almost three days. They need to brief
the people of the city and province of Iloilo as to the reason for
the incident and why it took them longer time to extract the
plane, Mr. Defensor said. He added that such incidents affect
not just passengers due to cancellation of flights, but have an
adverse impact on business and tourism. CAAP Spokesperson
Eric B. Apolonio earlier said it took the technical team more
than two days to extract the plane due to lack of equipment
on site and the bad weather. An investigation on the incident,
the fourth involving a Cebu Pacific aircraft since 2013 in differ-
ent airports, is ongoing. Louine Hope U. Conserva
AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO:
DATU SALIBO, MAGUINDANAO
Suspected bomb expert, assassin arrested
AN ALLEGED bomb expert of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters
(BIFF), who is also accused of assassinating off-duty soldiers, was captured
during a joint operation by the military, police and Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) Wednesday afternoon. Mahadi Abdulla, alias Kumander Rok, was
arrested in Barangay Sambulawan, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao where he lives,
according to Captain Arvin John Encinas, spokesman of the Armys 6th Infantry
Division. Mr. Encinas said Mr. Abdulla was allegedly behind bomb attacks on
military convoys and hits on soldiers within the so-called SPMS box, the area
within the adjoining Maguindanao towns of Shariff Aguak, Pagatin (Datu Saudi
Ampatuan), Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona. A grenade and a sachet of
crystal meth were seized from the suspect. The BIFF is a breakaway group from
the MILF, which has signed an agreement and been working with the govern-
ment on the peace process. interaksyon.com
PHILSTAR FILE
Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters are shown in this
undated photo.
businessworld graphics: erka Capili Inciong