October 9, 2009 Major News Stories

RP's 2010 rice imports may hit around 2M tons

The Philippine rice imports for 2010 may reach around 2.0 million tons after recent typhoons damaged portions of the country's rice-growing areas, a senior official said on Thursday.

6 dead as Pepeng returns to northern Philippines

Six people, including three children, were killed in landslides in the northern Philippines on Thursday as tropical storm Pepeng (international codename: Parma) hit the area for a second time, authorities said.

"Pepeng" death toll now 23 - NDCC

The death toll from tropical cyclone "Pepeng" (international name Parma) went up to 23 as of Thursday night, the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) said.

19 fishermen rescued off Palawan return to Lapu-Lapu City

by By Carine M. Asutilla, ABS-CBN News Central Visayas

CEBU CITY- 19 fishermen from Olango Island in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu province finally returned home after their fishing boat capsized in waters off Palawan island during Tropical Storm "Ondoy".  

30 houses in Talisay City smashed by big waves

by By Carine M. Asutilla, ABS-CBN Central Visayas

Thirty houses in Talisay City were destroyed by big waves Thursday dawn.  

Huge waves wash away 7 houses

POWERFUL waves spawned by southwest monsoon winds or the habagat destroyed seven wooden houses in the coastal sitio of Litmon, Barangay Dumlog, Talisay City last Wednesday night.

Big waves wash out houses, mosque in Zamboanga

by By Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN Zamboanga

More than a dozen houses and a mosque were washed out after big waves hit a coastal village of Patalon in Zamboanga City early Thursday.

Rescue volunteer in Negros Oriental drowns

by By Vera Leigh Lasam, ABS-CBN Central Visayas

In an effort to save an old man from drowning in one of the main rivers of Siaton town in Negros Oriental, the head of the municipal rescue volunteers died instead. 

BFAR confirms 'red tide' in Murcielagos Bay

by By Trini Velasco, ABS-CBN News Caraga

MURCIELAGOS BAY, Zamboanga del Norte- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 9 has confirmed on Thursday that it has found the presence of red tide toxins in Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte. 

10 houses lost in Punta Princesa Fire

At least ten residential houses were totally burned when a late afternoon fire struck Sitio Manggahan, Barangay Punta Princesa yesterday.

Fire eats up10 houses

AT least 10 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit the interior portion of Sitio Manggahan in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.

South Bus Terminal Issue: City to look into terminal books

by By Rene U. Borromeo

Cebu City treasurer Ofelia Oliva yesterday wrote the management of the Cebu South Bus Terminal to inform them that the city will inspect their books of accounts to find out how much they have earned for operating the terminal since 2001.

Open account books

CEBU City Hall will start collecting business, real estate and lessor's taxes from the Provincial Government for its operation of the Cebu South Bus Terminal, and may go to court if the taxes are not paid.

PB might name officials liable for violations in Balili lot purchase

AFTER the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) ad hoc committee hearing wraps up on Monday, the PB may come up with the names of officials who erred or employees who violated processes in the purchase of the Balili property.

Environmental lawyers to discuss coal ash dumping with Naga mayor

ENVIRONMENTAL lawyers said yesterday they will meet Naga City officials next week to discuss the formulation of rules on dumping coal ash in its jurisdiction.

Initial DENR study shows coal ash in Naga not toxic

Samples of coal ash taken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from two sites in Naga City, Cebu, have "apparently" been found to be non-hazardous and non-toxic based on studies conducted by the said government agency.

Carlo questions insistence of Jonas to use Paknaan lot

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna is questioning the move of Mayor Jonas Cortes, who insists to use the 6.5-hectare property in barangay Paknaan as a relocation site despite questions raised about the lot title.

Court cuts P6M from CICC debt

THE Regional Trial Court RTC) granted the Capitol's bid to reduce the amount previously fixed as its debt to WT Construction for added work on the Cebu International Convention Center, an official yesterday said.

City Hall to help residents facing eviction

Cebu City administrator Francisco "Bimbo" Fernandez has assured occupants of the lot at the back of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center that the city will provide them a lawyer in the eviction case they are presently facing.

Police seize assorted guns inside PUJ in Consolacion

Elements of the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the Police Regional Office-7 and the Consolacion Police Station have seized at least 10 assorted firearms that were supposed to be transported to Cebu City inside a public utility vehicle in Consolacion town last Wednesday afternoon.

PRO-7 chief orders probe of cops in alleged robbery

The Police Regional Office-7 director has ordered the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch to conduct an investigation on the incident involving PO2 Marvin Sanson and PO3 Reynaldo Solante and his wife Christine.

SC affirms Ombudsman ruling vs Estrada plunder rap

The Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss the plunder case against former president Joseph Ejercito Estrada, religious leader Mike Velarde, and several others.

DoJ panel ends preliminary probe of Lacson

A panel of Department of Justice prosecutors has concluded its preliminary investigation of Senator Panfilo Lacson in the Dacer-Corbito murder case without waiting for the senator to submit his counter-affidavit.

Neri plea on suspension over NBN row raffled off

The Court of Appeals on Thursday raffled off to the 10th division the petition filed by Social Security System (SSS) President Romulo Neri questioning his suspension over the botched national broadband deal.

House restores judiciary budget

The judiciary will get the same budget for 2010 as its current budget after the House of Representatives restored the cuts made on its proposed appropriation.

Comelec wants clearer rules on premature campaigning

by by Purple S. Romero, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak

MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will move for the amendment of the Omnibus Election Code to explicitly define premature campaigning as an act punishable even before the filing of candidacy.

Aquino, Roxas get pop star welcome in Negros

Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, who have announced their candidacies for president and vice president under the Liberal Party in next year's elections, got a pop star welcome from a sea of yellow crowds in three cities in Negros Occidental on Thursday.

Noynoy supporters start sortie

Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's presidential candidacy got a boost after officials signed to be volunteers in the "Tuloy pNOY! piNOY ako, MARangal ako" campaign at the Casino Español yesterday.

Vote for environment-friendly leaders—Ramos

After the devastation caused by tropical storm "Ondoy" and typhoon "Pepeng" and the threats of global warming, the country needs leaders who have a clear platform on environmental protection, former president Fidel Ramos said on Thursday.

In latest SWS survey, Arroyo's ratings near rock bottom

Already the least popular Philippine president since the dawn of political surveys in the 1980s, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo dropped even further in the latest satisfaction survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). The SWS noted that "dissatisfaction intensified in all classes," with men and women "equally dissatisfied" with the President.

Ebdane serious in 2010 presidential bid, son says

With the purported support of some administration officials, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane is "very serious" about his possible presidential bid in 2010, his son said Thursday.

Banker Cuisia elected as new Namfrel head

Banker Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. was elected to replace former Vatican ambassador Henrietta de Villa as national chairperson of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the organization said Thursday.

Police to simulate 2010 polls scenarios

Elite forces of the Philippine National Police are set to undergo "simulation exercises" ahead of the 2010 elections to prepare them for every possible scenario, a police official said on Thursday.

Arrest order vs ex-solon in House blast sought

The Department of Justice has asked a local court to issue a warrant of arrest against a former lawmaker who was linked to the bombing of the House of Representatives building in Quezon City two years ago.

Abu Sayyaf attacks Marines in Jolo camp

Abu Sayyaf bandits shelled Marine soldiers inside Camp Bautista in downtown Jolo on Wednesday evening but failed to inflict any casualty, the military said Thursday.

2 hurt in Basilan blast

(UPDATE) Two civilians were injured when an improvised explosive device went off in front of a store in Lamitan, Basilan around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, the military said Thursday.

EU to help RP tackle extra-judicial killings

(UPDATE) The European Union on Thursday said it would give 3.9 million euros (about $5.8 million or P270 million) to the Philippines to help the government stop extra-judicial killings and disappearances of activists.

Transmission tower bombed in Lanao Norte

Another transmission tower of the National Grid Corporation was bombed at 1:20 a.m. Thursday in the village of Purakan in Linamon town, Lanao del Norte, said a military official.

Father kills, eats son's rival

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

A vengeful father in Naawan town in Misamis Oriental killed his son's rival, carved out meat from his body and shared it with his drinking buddies.

Senior Inspector Carlos Oliveros, Naawan police station chief, said residents found the remains of 16-year-old Rey Dadoles in a grassy portion of Barangay Mat-i last Friday.

Oliveros said Dadoles died after suffering 22 hack wounds. He said flesh was carved out of the boy's ribs and some of the body parts were also missing.

He said Dadoles was brutally killed by Jovencio Tuyor and three other persons.

"They took some parts of the boy's body. Tuyor ate the victim's flesh," Oliveros told ABS-CBN Misamis Oriental.

Tuyor admitted in an interview that he killed the boy. He said he only retaliated for his son, who was hit by the victim before the killing.

He also confessed to taking some body parts of the victim and sharing it with his drinking buddies as "kinilaw," a local dish of raw meat slightly cooked with vinegar and ginger.

Police said the three other suspects in the killing are now under protective custody.

A case of murder has been filed against the suspect.

Pope to RP politicians: Be honest

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA -- Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to politicians and public officials in the Philippines to act with honesty, integrity and justice.

Pope 'might not live long enough' vs RP corruption—senator

Pope Benedict XVI "might not live long enough" if he wants to stop corruption in the Philippines, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said on Thursday.

Former PAL employees win case in SC

The Supreme Court has upheld with finality its July 22, 2008 ruling that declared as illegal Philippine Airlines' dismissal of more than 1,400 of its cabin personnel in 1998.

Two dead as powerful typhoon batters Japan

TOKYO – A powerful typhoon slammed into Japan's main island on Thursday, leaving two dead and dozens injured as strong winds ripped off roofs, uprooted trees and prompted fears of landslides.

Samoa tsunami toll rises to 184

The number of people confirmed dead after a devastating tsunami in Samoa and neighboring American Samoa and Tonga has risen to 184, officials said Wednesday.

Indian embassy blast kills 17 in Afghan capital

by Agence France-Presse

KABUL - A large bomb exploded outside the Indian embassy in central Kabul on Thursday, killing 17 people and wounding 76, in the latest of a series of militant attacks on diplomatic and government buildings in the capital.

Cambodian ex-king says he wants to die soon

Cambodia's elderly former king Norodom Sihanouk said he has lived too long and wishes to die as soon as possible, according to a personal handwritten note on his website Thursday.

DanceSport national tilt slated on Saturday

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – A grand ballroom showdown featuring samba, chachacha, tango, rumba, waltz, paso doble and jive routines is set to take place at the 13th DanceSport Council of the Philippines, Inc. (DSCPI) National DanceSport Championship on Saturday.

QC bettor wins P92.8-M MegaLotto jackpot

A lone bettor correctly guessed the winning combination in Wednesday night's 6/45 Mega Lotto draw and will be taking home the P92.8-million jackpot.

Imelda shoe collection survives Ondoy floods

A museum guard's quick thinking saved part of former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos's infamous shoe collection when huge floods devastated the nation's capital, a report said Thursday.  The 200-pair display was moved upstairs just before flood waters swamped the ground floor of the Marikina Shoe Museum on the eastern outskirts of the capital, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, citing the city mayor.

One of twin housemates leaves PBB

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – JP Lagumbay, one of the twin housemates of "Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) Double UP," made a voluntary exit merely two days after he joined the ABS-CBN's hit reality-based show.

Belo, Kho together again?

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - Famous cosmetic surgeon Vicki Belo has shot down speculations that she and Hayden Kho are back in each other's arms again.

Italians define 'Filippina' as 'cleaning woman'

by By Frankie Llaguno, Newsbreak

Their prime minister also makes fun of US President Obama's skin color In Italy, a cleaning woman is often called "Filippina," says an article in the October 1 issue of Time magazine, an indication of Italian society's backwardness when it comes to the issue of race, the writer says.

Herta Mueller wins Nobel Literature Prize

Herta Mueller, whose upbringing under Romania's oppressive communist regime inspired poetry and novels, on Thursday won the Nobel Literature Prize.

Want to live longer? Marry a smart woman

by Reuters

NEW YORK - Men wanting to enjoy a long life should marry a well educated woman, according to a Swedish study.

Charles de Gaulle  - "The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs."