Shell to slash oil prices
Pilipinas Shell vice president for communications Roberto Kanapi said that their price adjustment will take effect at 12:01 a.m..
Likewise, Chevron will implement its adjustment at 12:01 a.m. while Petron will adjust prices at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
Witness tags Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity in DLSU blast
Fraternity war behind bar exams blast -- police
This was how the Manila Police District (MPD) described late Sunday afternoon's blast, which marred street festivities marking the end of the Bar examinations at the De La Salle University, as police officials confirmed that the explosion had been triggered by a clash between warring fraternities.
At a press conference on Monday, Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla, the MPD officer-in-charge, confirmed that the trajectory of the explosive launched by a still unidentified person, fell short of its target, the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, and instead landed on a festive crowd of San Beda College law students, particularly members of the Alpha Phi Beta fraternity and sorority.
The blast, apparently caused by an MK2 fragmentation grenade, and the subsequent stampede wounded 44 persons, mostly women. Of the casualties, San Beda College law student Joanna Ledda, was reported to be in critical condition.
Rongavilla admitted that the only clue MPD investigators had to identify the bomber was the shirt he wore bearing the Greek letter emblem of the Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO).
"We have something to start on. While it is true that a member of the fraternity (AKRHO) may be a suspect, it is also possible that the bomber only wore the shirt to mislead investigators. But it is still something to start on," the MPD-OIC said.
He explained that several men who were near the site of the explosion had chased the man after the blast and noticed the shirt he wore. A witness, Rongavilla pointed out, has come forward to provide information on the suspect's features for an artist's sketch.
Rongavilla ordered the creation of special investigation task group "Bar Operations 2010" to focus on the investigation and summon for questioning members and officials of the AKRHO as well as the Tau Gamma Phi fraternities in connection with the blast.
"The time frame for the result of the investigation is ASAP (as soon as possible)," he emphasized.
When asked what type of explosives was used in the blast, Chief Inspector Oliver Navales, the head of the MPD Explosives and Ordnance Division (EOD), said the blast could have been caused by a pillbox, Molotov cocktail or a hand grenade.
"We have to wait for the results of the chemical analysis of the Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO). We cannot make a conclusion without the result of the chemical analysis on the fragments recovered at the site," Navales explained.
He further said that it would be too soon to speculate on what type of explosives was used. The chemical analysis, SOCO officials said, would take at least five days to complete.
However, a source requesting anonymity, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it was possible that the explosive device was an MK2 fragmentation grenade based on the power of the blast.
Asked how a fraternity could have obtained such a weapon, the source remarked it was fairly easy for the groups to get hold of the grenade and cited other instances where previous incidents of fraternity wars involved grenades. "They have long been using those (grenades)," he stressed.
Law students were celebrating the last day of the month-long Bar examinations when at around 5:15 pm, Sunday, a blast rocked the southbound lane of Taft Avenue near the DLSU.
The 44 casualties in the explosion were taken to six hospitals around Manila: the Philippine General Hospital; the Manila Doctor's Hospital; the Medical Center Manila; the Manila Adventist Medical Center; the Ospital ng Maynila; and the San Juan de Dios Hospital.
SC condemns Bar exam bombing
Chief Justice Renato Corona said he has ordered the Supreme Court Security, the Manila Police District and the National Bureau of Investigation to look at all possible angles "to identify the perpetrators of this senseless act of cowardice, and bring them to the bar of justice."
"The Chief Justice sympathizes with the victims of the explosion and has directed Court Officials to attend to the victims' medical needs," he said.
The Supreme Court Public Information Office and Security Division have turned over to the investigators a video of the incident, and statements of eyewitnesses.
The High Court encouraged other witnesses to come forward and shed light on the incident for a more comprehensive investigation.
The Chief Justice has also called for a review of the security protocol, not only within the venue of the bar examinations where everything went on smoothly, but also in its periphery to prevent the occurrence of similar accidents.
Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, chairperson of the 2010 Bar Examinations, has assured everyone that the unfortunate incident will not in any way hamper or delay the checking of the examination booklets and the release of the results.
Grenade may have caused clash
Police said a member of a fraternity may have thrown a grenade at a rival group during Sunday's closing of the 2010 Bar exams.
At least 44 were reported hurt when a melee erupted near the De La Salle University campus in Manila, where thousands have convened for the traditional Bar operations.
In an interview with ANC, Manila Police District officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said "an unofficial information (I got), there is a sketch account of a male person wearing a t-shirt with Greek letter emblem 'AKRHO' who then threw the suspected bomb at [the] Tau Gamma fraternity."
Police earlier ruled out terrorism, saying a fraternity war may likely be the case behind the incident.
Rongavilla said "theoretically, we really thought it was a pillbox. On the other hand, we also thought it was a Molotov bomb. It could also be a grenade. This will be revealed later."
He said they are now coordinating with hospital officials to confirm this theory.
"Last night, we gave instructions [to the police] to coordinate with the hospitals. That if there's shrapnel found in the victims, it should be preserved," he said.
The injured were brought to the Ospital ng Maynila and the Manila Adventist Hospital.
He said the police are still in the thick of threshing out the events that happened on Sunday.
A taskforce has already been created to specifically focus on the matter, called the "Task Force Bar Operations 2010."
The taskforce intends to release the investigation results late Monday or Tuesday.
Law students in Cebu condemn Manila blast
The Association of Law Students of the Philippines-Visayas had denounced the "bombing" that occurred along Taft Avenue in Manila that injured at least 40 bar examinees.
DepEd backs proposal to make students' bags lighter
Private schools also want homework ban, says DepEd chief
Instead of buying handbooks: School board told to put up buildings
The Commission on Audit has reminded the local school board of Mandaue City to construct more school buildings, provide facilities, and equipment rather than prioritize the procurement of instructional materials and handbooks for students.
Green groups urge tax on plastic bags
Senate bills vs plastic bags gain support
Shellfish from 5 RP areas unsafe for eating - gov't
The warning is based on the latest laboratory results of the BFAR, conducted with the help of local government units.
All types of shellfish and members of the acetes species (shrimp/prawns) gathered from the listed sites were tested. The results showed that they were unsafe for eating, according to the bureau.
However, "fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe for human consumption provided they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking," the BFAR said.
Due to fat content: PB member wants chicharon warning
The crunchy chicharon, crispy fried pork rind, has taken centerstage with the proposal of Cebu Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy to require those who make the delicacy for commercial consumption to reflect the nutritional component and to place appropriate health warnings on the product packaging.
PB passes ordinance vs. lingam massage
The Cebu Provincial Board yesterday passed the ordinance banning lingam massage service in the province without further debates even in the absence of six PB members.
"Anomalous" barangay projects: Faelnar's help welcomed
Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña welcomed the move of Guadalupe barangay captain Eugenio "Jingjing" Faelnar to help reveal the persons involved in the reported anomalous barangay projects worth more than P100 million.
Durano starts move to defer Comelec budget
Cebu 5th district Rep. Ramon "Red" Durano IV yesterday started to move on his threat to have the budget of the Commission on Elections deferred for next year pending resolution of the election dispute in the municipality of Compostela in his district.
Crame orders all-out war vs masiao
The Philippine National Police has declared an all-out war against all forms of illegal gambling in Cebu and the rest of the Central Visayas effective today.
Sept 13 proceedings stir PB discussion
Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy has questioned the status of the board's proceedings last September 13 when it approved the P114-million supplemental budget, which covered the allowances of Capitol employees.
During the board's session yesterday, Sitoy pointed out that the proceedings on that day may be null and void because Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr. was not supposed to preside over the session.
Sitoy said that if Governor Gwendolyn Garcia already left for Vietnam when the session commenced, Sanchez, technically, was supposed to be acting governor and should not have presided over the session.
City releases financial aid to PWDs
The Cebu City government yesterday started distributing P2,000 financial assistance to each of the over 4,000 differently-abled residents of the city.
Aquino back from US visit
Global P-Noy: Townhall sa TFC
President Aquino called on Filipinos overseas to unite and push for better conditions, wherever they are in the world. Speaking at an ABS-CBN townhall meeting in California, his first as the Philippine's chief executive, Aquino also said his administration remains a work in progress.
Aquino won't ban birth control, risks church's ire
Mar didn't use fake ID: Palace
AFP: 'Kill' plot vs President not true
Senate to resume hearings on 'jueteng' on Thursday
New STL guidelines eyed to curb 'jueteng'
PCSO directors got luxury cars from 'jueteng' operators—whistleblower
Cruz: Jueteng grew under Aquino admin
Rocamora is new anti-poverty commission head
GMA proclamation on Mindanao U land nullified
Comelec wants P2.5-B for ARMM polls
Aquino: US trip secures $2.8B investments for RP
PDIC files biggest case vs Legacy's De Los Angeles
De los Angeles and 21 officers and employees of Dynamic Bank supposedly created fictitious loans, including motorcycle loans, and remitted the proceeds to accounts under Legacy Motors Inc. and OneCard Co., both allegedly owned by De los Angeles, the deposits insurer noted.
The mishandling of depositors' money ended only when the PDIC placed all Legacy-affiliated units under receivership in December 2008, according to PDIC.
Auditors of PDIC and audit firm Punongbayan &Araullo (P&A) established that De los Angeles and Dynamic Bank officers withdrew a total of P5.37 billion from the savings accounts, the PDIC said.
Charged with De Los Angeles were Germiniano Noche Jr., Ampere Elman, Flora Bulasag, Danmilo Consul, Teofila Garcia, Bartolome Quintana, Emilio Quintana, Vicente Quintana Analea Galban, Cleofas Ordonia, Brenda Sombillio, Leny Yanoria, Jocelyn Arroyo, Rafael Cueto, Grace Delgado, Emylyn Geli, Carmela Illenberger, Sherwin Masusi, Arnel Ligan, Rizalina Alvaez, and Geraldine Palo.
Some P14 billion worth of deposits in 48 banks across the country were allegedly scammed by De los Angeles and his cohorts before the government stepped in and put a stop to the scheme in 2008.
The PDIC earlier filed three other cases — one for syndicated estafa and two for large scale estafa — against De los Angeles and Legacy officers and employees before the Justice Department.
The insurer said more cases are being prepared against Legacy officials as the forensic audit of P&A comes to a close.
The PDIC had announced it had settled more than half of the almost P14 billion claims from depositors of the 13 affiliated banks of the Legacy Group.
It said that it paid 74,779 claims equivalent to P7.8 billion or 56 percent of the total claims that cover 121,354 accounts amounting to P13.83 billion.
Claims approved by the PDIC as of June 18 amounted to P8.9 billion covering 80,448 depositors, while the remaining P4.93 billion involving 40,866 deposit accounts of Legacy banks were still being verified.
Regional disputes testing China's regional ambitions
Japan demands China pull back boats from disputed islands
North Korea military appears to back Kim succession
Chavez wins Venezuela parliament, opposition takes a third
Pacquiao starts training camp in Baguio
MTRCB loses appeal vs 'Showtime'
No need for First Lady: PNoy taps Kris' friends
What's on PNoy's iPod?
Speaking before the Global P-Noy Town Hall sa TFC meeting in California, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III bared that he likes listening to different kinds of music on his iPod -- from broadway to disco.
"[I listen to] OPM, broadway, disco, trance [and] house, except rap," he said.
Aquino has a soft spot for OPM (Original Pilipino Music). A local newspaper earlier reported that Aquino enjoys original songs by Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, APO Hiking Society, Noel Cabangon, Jose Mari Chan, and Mitch Valdez, saying that their compositions "reflect his moods."
Alcasid, Velasquez, Cabangon, APO, and other big names in the local music scene performed at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila during Aquino's inaugural, causing many to call the event a "musical show."
Pacquiao's mother-in-law robbed of P250,000 in valuables
Rosalina Jamora, mother of Pacquiao's wife Jinkee, said that she was hearing mass at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish here when robbers smashed thewindshield of her car parked on Beatiles Street, beside the church.
Taken were P50,000 worth of earrings; three Louie Vuitton wallets worth P150,000; P10,000 cash and other valuables.
The Pendatun Police Precinct nabbed Ali Kirana, a "car watch" boy, but he denied any hand in the robbery.
Senior Police Officer 4 George Orbista of Pendatun Police Precinct warned churchgoers against leaving valuables inside their vehicle.
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