February 6, 2009 Major News Stories

Bayan backs calls for LPG regulation

The leftwing Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan, New Patriotic Alliance) said on Thursday it supported the bid of small liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) marketers for industry regulation, since the government declared itself as "helpless in curbing abuses" in the sector.

Oil hovers near $40 on inventories data

Oil prices floated just above $40 a barrel Thursday as investors eyed a growing surplus in US crude inventories and worried about rising jobless claims and other disheartening economic news.

NGO to Arroyo: Keep off OWWA funds

A migrants' advocacy group on Thursday questioned President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's authority to source a P1-billion livelihood fund for overseas Filipino workers' (OFWs) who lose their jobs because of the world financial crisis from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

RP may lift ban on OFWs in Iraq

The Philippine government is to send a delegation to Iraq next week to evaluate whether to lift a ban on Filipinos working there.

NGOs look after Filipinos in Taiwan

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (Meco) has linked up with several nongovernment organizations to better look after the welfare of some 90,000 Filipinos in Taiwan through the recently inaugurated Philippine Ugnayan Migrant and Immigrant Center (Pumic) in Taipei.

DFA: Not true green passports until 2009

The Department of Foreign Affairs announced that green passports are valid until their expiration date.

Identification of "Frank" victims continues

Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the National Disaster Coordinating Council will continue to provide assistance to families of the victims of "Frank", especially in identifying the bodies of passengers that perished in the sinking of the M/V Princess of the Stars last year.

Pamilyang Osorio wala matagbaw sa CCPO

Pamilya ni Piskal Patrick Ian Osorio wala matagbaw sa dagan sa imbestigasyon sa pagbanhig sa piskal tungod kay hangtud karon bisan motibo ug mamumuno wala pa mahibaw-i sa kapolisan.

Osorio, Aminian cases 80% solved: CCPO

THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) assured that they are on the "right track" and will soon be able to solve the killings of Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Patrick Osorio.

Mandaue officials look into alleged coverup 

The Mandaue city council will be inviting Police Regional Office-7 director Ronald Roderos and OIC Mandaue City Police Office director Orlando Ualat to shed light in the attempted coverup of the suspect in the killing of a call center employee two weeks ago.  Chief Insp. Recamara was relieved from his post as IDMB chief effective last Wednesday and he now heads the Casuntingan Police station.  He was replaced by Supt. Jason Capoy.

Three children die of dengue in city

The dreaded dengue virus that claimed the lives of 53 people in Cebu City last year has again struck in 25 of the city's 80 barangays, killing three children.

Dog pound sa Talisay gipahunong ni Soc

Gipahunong ni Mayor Socrates Fernandez ang gitrabahong dog pound sulod sa compound sa ihawan sa siyudad sa Talisay sa barangay Pook tungod sa mga reklamong baho nga hangin.

Estafa raps vs. Joy Ouano

The Cebu City Prosecutors' Office has filed two counts of criminal cases for estafa against former Mandaue City Councilor Jovita "Joy" Ouano for allegedly issuing checks amounting to almost P300,000 without sufficient funds in the bank.

PDIC to pay rural bank depositors

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) said it would start paying out claims on insured deposits of closed rural banks in Bohol on February 13.

BSP barred P7-B infusion in Legacy 

Investors were ready to infuse up to P7 billion in the Legacy Group in early 2008, but were prevented from doing so by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Celso de los Angeles, Legacy group owner, said.

Palace to get copy of WB report on FG

Malacañang will ask for a copy of the World Bank report that implicated First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to the alleged irregularities surrounding the Bank-funded road project in the country.

Lacson: Resume WB road mess probe 

Senator Panfilo Lacson urged Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago to resume the investigation of the alleged corruption in World Bank-funded projects so she can order the Office of the Ombudsman to release a copy of a report that allegedly implicates First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo.

Pichay dares Lacson to show proof

Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chairman Prospero Pichay dared Senator Panfilo Lacson to make public evidence supposedly linking him, First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo and former Negros Oriental representative Jacinto Paras to corruption in World Bank-funded projects.

Lozada on Mike Arroyo: 'Only 5%?'

First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo's alleged involvement in the alleged corruption surrounding World Bank-funded road construction projects did not come as a surprise to Rodolfo Noel "Jun" Lozada Jr.

First Lakas-Kampi meet a success--Pichay

The two main parties in administration coalition have begun formal unification talks, initially agreeing "in principle" to a merger and to refrain from looking for a presidential candidate until the process is completed.

Nograles sees hope for Charter change

Speaker Prospero Nograles said he is upbeat the Senate might agree to his proposal to amend the 1987 Constitution after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile said he was keeping an open mind so long as changes to the Charter are confined to its economic provisions.

Palace: Arroyo still for Charter change

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo continues to "advocate" Charter change but is leaving it to lawmakers to decide how and when it should be done, a Malacañang official said Thursday.

Cleric to negotiate ICRC staff release

A Muslim cleric has been asked to mediate in talks to free three Red Cross workers being held in the southern Philippine province of Sulu by Moro extremists, an official said Thursday.

Abducted RC workers appeal for help 

Three abducted workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) today spoke on local radio station, appealing to authorities to take actions to free them from Abu Sayyaf militants.

Army refrains from using force for rescue 

The military will refrain from the use of force to rescue the workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC) being held captive by Abu Sayyaf militants in the jungles of Sulu.

Army beefs up presence in Basilan, Sulu

The military has dispatched thousands of troops to Basilan and Sulu provinces to exert pressure on outlaws currently holding 13 captives.

Jap envoy helps conflict-torn Mindanao

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Makoto Katsura visited Filipino evacuees displaced by a chronic state of conflicts in Muslim Mindanao and pledged assistance valued at around $9 million.

NPA attack vs Davao Sur mayor foiled

KIBLAWAN, Davao del Sur -- Suspected communist rebels stormed the residential compound of Mayor Jaime Caminero of this town but were unable to get past the guardhouse as soldiers inside the sprawling property fought them off.

NPA wounded in North Cotabato clash

About a thousand villagers have fled from their homes after  New People's Army guerrillas ambushed  a platoon of patrolling soldiers in Tulunan, North Cotabato yesterday, precipitating a firefight that triggered panic in the area.

'Be on your toes for drug tests'

Policemen have been warned to be on their toes for random drug tests expected to begin "soon," Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said.

Drug testing every three years — DepEd

RANDOM DRUG TESTING for secondary school students would be implemented every three years in an effort to crack down on narcotics use among the youth.

DepEd reviews P2B uniform policy

After hearing many complaints from teachers, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has ordered the review of a new Department of Education (DepEd) policy requiring that a portion of the clothing allowance of the country's public school teachers this year would be paid in kind rather than in cash.

Suicide bomber kills 12 in Iraq's north

Iraqi officials say 12 people have been killed in a suicide bombing in a Kurdish city near the Iranian border where tensions have been high since last weekend's elections.

18 Pinoy hostages in Somalia cry for help

The 18 Filipino seamen on MV Chemstar Venus, which Somali pirates hijacked last November 18, have made an appeal to the Philippine government to negotiate for their release immediately as "time is running out" for them.

Somali pirates make off with $3.2 million

Somali pirates freed a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks and other heavy weapons yesterday after receiving a $3.2 million ransom.

Roach denies beating up Pacquiao"s pal

Manny Pacquiao"s trainer Freddie Roach has denied laying a hand on Gregg Asuncion, an associate of the Filipino boxing star, saying that any damages being claimed by Asuncion could have been instigated by "third parties."

Hatton 'brutal' foe for Manny

IBO (International Boxing Organization) lightwelterweight champion Ricky Hatton was described as "brutal" by Indonesian promoter Temuzin Rambing but if Manny Pacquiao fights the Englishman like Sugar Shane Mosley fought Antonio Margarito, there's no way the "Hitman" from Manchester will win their May 2 bout in Las Vegas.

Vidal celebrates 78th birthday today

Cebu's well-loved archbishop, Ricardo J. Vidal, celebrates his 78th birthday today, joyful and in high spirit as he adds one more year to serve the Lord.

Kimberley speaks up; mom doubts probe

IF RESULTS of the inquiry support her, Kimberley Therese Burden wants Miss Cebu pageant organizers and Cebu City officials to admit that the fiasco was not just an honest mistake.

Inmates sa City Jail magpakasal

Gitakda nang ipahigayon karong umaabot adlaw nga Domingo ang labing una nga Mass Wedding sa mga binilanggo diha sa Cebu City Jail.

'Mommy Seiko' passes away

Aurora Tan, one of the pillars of Seiko Films and mother of the film studio's producer Robbie Tan, succumbed to pneumonia on Thursday.

Jolie asks Thailand to help Burmese 

Angelina Jolie has called on Thailand's government to give more freedom to tens of thousands of Burmese refugees it has kept locked inside camps for up to 20 years.

SKorean has failed written exam 771 times

A woman in South Korea who has taken the written exam required for a driver's license nearly every day since 2005 has failed again - but is hoping attempt No. 772 will be the charm.

Mystery man gives away cash in New York

He won't say his name, hides his face, and hands cash to anyone who asks in the middle of New York. The mystery benefactor known only as Bailout Bill sat Wednesday behind a counter in the heart of Times Square giving money to hundreds of people waiting in temperatures well below freezing.

Video for 'world's best job' stars bin Laden

More than 10,000 people have jumped at the chance to become the caretaker of a tropical Australian island — including a prankster identifying himself as terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.