November 25, 2009 Major News Stories

'Urduja' changes direction

(UPDATE) Tropical depression "Urduja" has changed direction and is now moving east.

Urduja causes flashflood, landslide; no one hurt

The rains caused by tropical depression Urduja has resulted in a minor flashflood and a landslide in Liloan town, Southern Lyete, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD).

LPG price to rise by P40 in December

The price of cooking gas may rise by P3.50 a kilogram on Tuesday next week due to the expected increase in the international contract price of liquefied petroleum gas next month.

Oil prices dip, stay above $77

Oil prices fell slightly on Tuesday amid lingering concerns about weak energy demand, analysts said.

PRC: 2,257 new civil engineers

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA (11/24/2009 11:35 PM) - The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced Tuesday that 2,257 out of 4,878 passed the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination given this November 2009.

2 more fiscals for Vidal libel case

Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba is adding two more prosecutors to the panel that handles the libel case against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and five other church officials who were accused by a former Marian monk of maligning him.

City to relocate Lahug health center

Mayor Tomas Osmeña has ordered the transfer of venue of the Lahug barangay health center from its present location in the barangay hall to a place near the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, but still within the barangay's territorial jurisdiction.

Roxas pledges to support City in fight over UP lot in Lahug

SENATOR Manuel "Mar" Roxas II has promised to support the Cebu City Government in whatever action it would take regarding the controversy over the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College's (UPVCC) property in Barangay Lahug.

Hearing on ban of minors in Internet cafés set today

The Cebu City Council will hold a public hearing this afternoon to discuss the proposed amendment of an existing ordinance which seeks to ban children in Internet cafés here in the city after 9 p.m.

Maguindanao massacre death toll rises to 46—police

(UPDATE 5) Bullet-ridden bodies were pulled out from shallow graves on Tuesday as troops hunted down the gunmen who massacred, according to the Philippine National Police, at least 46 people in one of the Philippines' most brutal explosions of political violence.

Those killed were Bai Farina Mangudadatu, Bai Eden Mangudadatu, lawyers Cynthia Oquindo and Connie Brizuela, councilor Rasul Daud, Ferriday Sabdula, Rowena Mangudadatu, Ayos Sudlang, Abdula Dodong, Divina dela Cruz, a certain Chito, Henry Araneta, a radio reporter; Jimmy Cabello, Jonto, Juanita Dalim, Mary Ann Calimbol, Ralda Sapalon, Pinky Sulaim, Rahima Palawan, Wahid Sabdula, Lilia del Macio, Patrika Palapay, Victor Munuz and a certain Mamot. 

Maguindanao massacre: 47 bodies so far (Part 2)

Umabot na sa 47 ang mga narekober na bangkay ng mga biktima ng masaker sa Maguindanao kahapon. Karamihan sa mga pinatay ay kamag-anak at taga-suporta ng angkan ng Mangudadatu at ilang miyembro ng local media.

Kinordonan na ng militar ang lugar para matiyak na hindi makakatakas ang mga salarin. Sinibak na rin ni PNP chief, Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa, si Maguindanao OIC Provincial Director Abusana Maguid, at 3 pang opisyal ng PNP.

A victim studied in Cebu

ONE of the fatalities in what is now being called the Maguindanao massacre used to call Cebu her home. Atty. Cynthia Oquendo "was a courageous lawyer, a loving mom, a pianist and equestrian," recalls artist Radel Paredes in a note uploaded on facebook.com.

Arroyo declares state of emergency in Maguindanao

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo placed under a state of emergency, on Tuesday, the provinces of Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City, following the massacre of journalists and supporters of a gubernatorial aspirant in Maguindanao.

Elite police units take control of Maguindanao

The Philippine National Police on Tuesday took control of the entire Maguindanao to prevent a possible escalation of hostilities following Monday's massacre of a group of local politicians, their supporters and journalists.

PNP can ask disqualification of bets on Maguindanao deaths

The Philippine National Police can recommend to the Commission on Elections the disqualification of any electoral candidate found to be connected to the gruesome killing of over 20 people in Maguindanao province, consisting mainly of women and journalists, a ranking official said on Tuesday.

Bets linked to Maguindanao killings to be disqualified

Stunned by the scale of election-related violence in Maguindanao, the Commission on Elections condemned the killings and warned that it would not hesitate to disqualify the mastermind of the massacre from public office.

Arroyo dared to act vs political allies in Maguindanao

Senator Panfilo Lacson dared President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday to go after "and shoot to immobilize" her political allies, the Ampatuans, who had been linked to the gruesome massacre of their political enemies in Maguindanao.

Speaker: Drop 'political considerations' in Maguindanao

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said on Tuesday Malacañang should "drop all political considerations" in its probe of the Maguindanao massacre to determine the culprit behind the killing of civilians and journalists.

Gibo to Arroyo: Look beyond political alliances in solving massacre

No less than administration standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday urged President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to look beyond political alliances and punish the perpetrators of Monday"s gruesome massacre of 22 people, including several journalists, in Maguindanao.

Teodoro asks gov't to disarm private armies immediately

Presidential aspirant and former defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. appealed to the government on Tuesday to reinforce the police and military forces in Maguindanao and begin disarming the local politicians' private armies.

Dureza says warring clans to cooperate with probe

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - Presidential Adviser on Mindanao Affairs Jesus Dureza on Tuesday said he has received assurances from two warring clans in Maguindanao that they will cooperate with a government investigation on Monday's massace of some 46 people including journalists in Ampatuan town.

NBI ordered to probe Maguindanao carnage

Acting Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct its own investigation into the massacre of politicians' relatives and journalists in Maguindanao.

Kin of massacre victims seek refuge in Davao City

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday one of the clans involved in the bloody carnage in Maguindanao Monday has sought the protection of Davao authorities for their children studying in the city.

'Maguindanao aspirants can file COCs in Sultan Kudarat'

by By Lilita Balane, Newsbreak

Comelec ready to disqualify candidates who will be found responsible for massacre The poll-related massacre that killed 46 people as of last count in Maguindanao prompted the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday to allow threatened aspirants for provincial posts to file their certificates of candidacy (COCs) with the provincial election supervisor of Sultan Kudarat, the neighboring province of Maguindanao.

PPCRV: Place Maguindanao under Comelec control

The chair of the election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to immediately place Maguindanao under its control to prevent the further escalation of violence.

No Comelec control yet for Maguindanao - Melo

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is not yet keen on putting the entire Maguindanao province under its control despite Monday"s massacre that killed dozens of people, including several journalists.

Media groups to probe death of peers in Maguindanao

Major media alliances will embark on a fact-finding mission in Maguindanao province to look into the massacre of at least 13 colleagues.

Ebdane donates P500,000 to families of slain reporters in Maguindanao

by By Dennis Carcamo

MANILA, Philippines – Former defense secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. donated P500,000 from his own pocket to the National Union of Journalist of the Philippines (NUJP) as assistance to the families of media men who were killed in yesterday's election-related massacre in Maguindanao.

China condemns hostage killing in Maguindanao

BEIJING (Xinhua) - China on Tuesday condemned the hostage killing in southern Philippines which left at least 37 people dead.

EU condemns 'barbaric' Maguindanao massacre

The European Union's External Relations Commissioner on Tuesday strongly condemned a barbaric massacre in the south of the Philippines in which at least 46 people died.

Comelec can't remove poll materials: SC

A BARRAGE of campaign materials and politicians' advertisements can be expected starting today, and local poll officials will no longer remove or tear them down.

25 presidential wannabes...and counting

by By Lilita Balane, Newsbreak

More party-list contenders lining up MANILA - The fifth day for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) saw the number of presidential aspirants rising to a total of 25, the vice presidential to only 2, and senatorial to 13.

Noynoy wants Chiz in LP

by By Dennis Carcamo

MANILA, Philippines – Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said he would convince Sen. Francis Escudero to join the LP, now that the latter has abandoned his 2010 presidential bid.

Leftwing solons withdraw support for Villar

Bayan Muna Reprehensive Satur Ocampo and Gabriela Representative Liza Maza have announced that they will not join the senatorial slate of presidential aspirant and Senator Manuel Villar and would just run as independents.

Imelda Marcos eyeing congressional seat, says gov

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos is eyeing a return to politics by running for the congressional seat of the 2nd District of Ilocos Norte, Gov. Michael Keon said Tuesday.

Arroyo schedules 50th visit to Pampanga

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will visit Pampanga province Wednesday - the 50th time so far this year - this time to inspect a dredging project.

Cebu eyed as haven for retirees

Cebu City is now being promoted as one of the country's havens for both local and foreign retirees through a memorandum of understanding signed between the Cebu City government, the Philippine Retirement Authority and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Customs sees 2009 revenue P36-B short

The Bureau of Customs (BoC) is likely to fall about P36 billion ($764 million) short of its goal to collect P273.3 billion this year on account of lower import volumes, Commissioner Napoleon Morales said on Tuesday.

Indonesia demos demand Yudhoyono quit

by Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesian protesters burned photos of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and demanded his resignation on Tuesday over what they see as his complicity in a series of major corruption scandals.

Former Thai PM sacked over cooking shows dies at 74

by Agence France-Presse

BANGKOK - Former Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej, who was forced from office in 2008 for starring in television cooking shows, died of liver cancer Tuesday at the age of 74, associates said.

HIV claims 25 million lives, infects 60 million: UNAIDS

by Agence France-Presse

GENEVA - Almost 60 million people have been infected by HIV and 25 million people killed by causes related to the virus since the epidemic started, according to new data published by UNAIDS on Tuesday.

China executes two over melamine-laced milk scandal

BEIJING—China executed two men on Tuesday for their roles in a contaminated milk powder scandal last year that led to the deaths of at least six infants and sickened up to 300,000, state media reported.

Talks for Pacquiao-Mayweather fight on

Formal negotiations for a possible mega showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. by next year are now being slowly laid down.

Pacman tells SEAG athletes: Keep the faith

by by Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA -- Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao has one advice to Filipino bets who will compete in the upcoming SEAG in Vientiane, Laos: believe in the power of faith.

Bill seeks to make arnis national sport

Arnis, the Filipino martial art which uses rattan sticks as weapons, is on the verge of being formally declared the Philippines' national sport.

No Intl Emmy plum for RP

by by Reyma Buan-Deveza, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - The country's 3 nominees at the 37th International Emmy Awards were unsuccessful in their bid to bring home the prizes during the gala event at Hilton New York Hotel Monday night (US time).

Richard Gomez, Marjorie Barretto lead oath-taking of new LP members

More than a hundred local candidates led by local celebrities took oath as new members of the Liberal Party on Tuesday, as presidential aspirant Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III vowed anew to restore good governance in the country.

Noynoy kisses Shalani in LP oathtaking

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III gave his girlfriend Shalani Soledad a handshake and a kiss on the cheek after taking her oath as a new member of the Liberal Party (LP) on Tuesday.

Krista's camp thanks Manny

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA -- The camp of Krista Ranillo thanked world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao for being "a true gentleman" by denying the alleged affair with the young sexy actress.

Johnny Delgado finally laid to rest

Inihatid na sa kanyang huling hantungan ang beterano at multi-awarded actor na si Johnny Delgado nitong Martes sa Loyola Memorial Park sa Marikina City.

1 out of 4 Pinoy adults fat - survey

by by Kristine Servando, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA - The number of overweight Filipinos are increasing, according to a nationwide survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Foundation (FNRI).