Metro: PSA: Inflation for poorest Filipinos surges to 8% in August
Metro: Police catch 5 most wanted men in 4 Metro Manila cities
Metro: Expect more cops deployed in Metro Manila on All Saints’ Day
Metro: Crime rate in the country down – PNP
Metro: Valenzuela passengers stranded as jeepney drivers go on strike
Region: Maute recruitment has ‘significantly slowed down’ — AFP
Crimes: ‘Ipit sukli’ modus caught on CCTV
Health: Dengue cases rise to 138,444 — DOH
IT: Facebook removes ‘spam network’ in Philippines
Labor: Petition seeks to stop jeepney, bus fare hikes
Labor: Labor group seeks P334 hike in daily basic pay in Metro Manila
Expats: 2 cops face raps for illegally escorting Korean, hitting taxi cab
Expats: US citizen held at NAIA over tooter
Expats: 8 Chinese wanted for cyber fraud arrested by Immigration
Expats: Malaysian, Vietnamese stabbed

 

Metro: PSA: Inflation for poorest Filipinos surges to 8% in August

Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

The poorest Filipinos continue to suffer a faster rise in prices of basic goods and commodities in August, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Monday.

Inflation for the poorest 30 percent households accelerated to 8 percent in August, marking the eighth consecutive month consumer prices rose this year.

“The indices of all the commodity groups posted higher annual rates during the month, except for fuel, light and water index,” the PSA said in a report posted on its website.

Broken down, poor Filipinos living in National Capital Region experienced a faster uptick in prices at 8.3 percent, while those outside the capital felt inflation at 8 percent. Inflation for poorest families is computed using 2000 as the base year, and is therefore not comparable with that of overall inflation, which averaged 6.4 percent in August using year 2012 as base.

That said, the data showed that the poor are the most vulnerable to accelerating inflation, which government officials are struggling to temper this year.

In Metro Manila alone, food prices rose 7.3 percent for the poor, faster than July’s 6.4 percent.

The bulk of the poor’s earnings are spent for food.

Broken down, figures showed rice prices rose 3.6 percent, while that of meat and fruits and vegetables increased a faster 7.2 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

Outside the capital, meanwhile, food inflation reached a higher 7.8 percent.

 

Metro: Police catch 5 most wanted men in 4 Metro Manila cities

Suspect facing 99 counts of rape in Makati City among those arrested

By Dexter Cabalza, Jhesset O. Enano | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Five men who were at the top of the Metro Manila police’s wanted lists in four cities have been arrested.

One of them was facing 99 counts of rape in Makati, making him the most wanted man in the city.

Louie Guevarra was arrested by policemen inside his house on Rodil Street, Barangay Carmona, on Friday night.

The arrest of the 47-year-old Guevarra was ordered last month by Judge Rico Sebastian Liwanag of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 136 where he was facing the multiple rape charges.

Chief Insp. Gideon Ines, assistant Makati police chief, said that the 99 rape complaints were filed by just one person.

Sex slave

“The victim became a sex slave of Guevarra, but she was able to record every instance [in which] she was raped. It was only later on that she filed charges with the Makati police, which endorsed them to the city prosecutor for direct filing,” Ines added.

A crime of rape has a reglementary period of 36 hours, during which the police can arrest a suspect without a warrant from the courts.

 The Makati police also arrested on Friday the city’s second most wanted man, 62-year-old Renato Cipriano, in his house on Zapote Street.

 Judge Robert Victor Marcon of the Makati RTC Branch 3 ordered Cipriano’s arrest on Sept. 28, for two counts of rape.

 The two suspects were detained at the Makati police headquarters with no bail recommended for their release. 

A tricycle driver who became San Juan City’s most wanted man after he killed his mother-in-law’s housemaid in November 2017, was arrested at Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, on Saturday night. 

San Juan policemen caught up with Jerry Bulalaque, 34, after they followed his live-in partner to the house where he was hiding. 

Argument over ‘bagoong’ 

Senior Supt. Dindo Reyes, San Juan police chief, said the suspect and the victim, identified as Yolanda Macasinag, had long been at odds with each other after the suspect threw away the 55-year-old victim’s “bagoong” (fermented fish sauce). 

An argument broke out between the two, and Bulalaque stabbed the victim dead. 

The suspect was arrested based on the warrant issued by Judge Caesar Buenagua of the San Juan City RTC Branch 160 in February. 

In Marikina City, the police arrested the suspect accused of shooting two men dead in June 2017.

 Marvin Neri, ranked as the city’s second most wanted man, was being sought for killing Ramil Gonzales, 28, and Jessie de Leon, 61, at Barangay Concepcion Dos last year.

 Senior Supt. Roger Quesada, Marikina City police chief, said that Neri was identified as the gunman. Three more suspects remain at large.

 Quesada said the victims had just come from a court hearing involving drug charges when four men on two motorcycles blocked the taxi cab they were riding in.

 Neri then reportedly shot the pair, who were reportedly on the drug watchlist.

 The cabdriver was unhurt, but the victims were killed outright, according to the police.

 Neri was arrested at 9:25 p.m. on Saturday at Minahan St., Barangay Malanday, based on the arrest warrant issued in February by Judge Felix Reyes of the Marikina RTC Branch 272.

 Hired killer?

 Quesada said that they were still trying to determine if the suspect was a hired killer.

 In Mandaluyong City, authorities finally caught the city’s most wanted man who had evaded them for almost eight years.

 Jonas delos Santos, 36, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday at Barangay Addition Hills for the murder of Rolando Marciano on June 26, 2010.

 Judge Carlos Valenzuela of the Mandaluyong RTC Branch 213 had issued the warrant for his arrest.

 

Metro: Expect more cops deployed in Metro Manila on All Saints’ Day

By Matthew Reysio-Cruz | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

A total of 3,409 policemen will be deployed as thousands of people are expected to head home to their provinces or go to cemeteries in Metro Manila for the observance of All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1. 

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Sunday that it would step up police visibility between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, deploying its men to cemeteries, bus terminals, train stations, seaports and airports, among others. 

According to the NCRPO, the deployment was “to ensure public safety and protection in the whole [of] Metro Manila.” 

The police will be augmented by other personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Bureau of Fire Protection and local governments. 

NCRPO chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar, said that he had instructed Metro Manila’s five police district directors to [monitor] “all [their] resources from personnel, mobility and other logistical requirements” to ensure that the massive police deployment would run smoothly.

  

Metro: Crime rate in the country down – PNP

By Emmanuel Tupas | Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

The total crime volume in the country during the first half of the year dropped by 17.39 percent, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported yesterday. 

In a news briefing at Camp Crame, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said a total of 227,757 crimes were recorded from January to June, lower by 47,945 compared to 275,702 crimes during the same period last year. 

“The drop in crimes during the first six months of 2018 and onward until the end of September is expected to become the trend for the remaining months of the year when petty crimes are usually on the rise during the holiday season,” Albayalde said. 

He said the volume of index and non-index crimes decreased by 33.05 percent and 13.20 percent, respectively.

 The PNP said among the index crimes are murder, homicide, physical injury and rape. The non-index crimes are violations of ordinances and special laws.

 Citing data from the PNP Unit Crime Periodic Report, Albayalde said eight crimes posted a significant decrease.

 These are murder, which went down by 29.54 percent, homicide by 9.47 percent, physical injury by 33.80 percent, rape by 24.82 percent, robbery by 34.40 percent, theft by 36.90 percent, car theft involving four-wheeled vehicles by 36.30 percent and motorcycle theft by 26.61 percent.

 Albayalde did not discount the possibility that the number of crimes may increase when the campaign for the midterm elections goes into full swing next year.

 

Metro: Valenzuela passengers stranded as jeepney drivers go on strike

Source: GMA News | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Dozens of passengers in Valenzuela City, especially those going to Bulacan province, were stranded on Wednesday morning after jeepney drivers and operators went on strike. 

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Lauro Zyan Caiña, city public information officer, said the drivers and operators involved belong to six “JODAs” or jeepney operators and drivers associations. 

The jeepneys have a route of Monumento to three Bulacan areas namely Meycauayan, Sta. Maria and Marilao, and vice versa. 

Caiña said the drivers and operators were protesting the local government unit’s crackdown on jeepneys that are “cutting trips.”

 “Nagkahulihan, naghigpit ang Traffic Management Office natin dito,” he said.

 Caiña said the drivers are insisting on their practice to end their routes in Valenzuela instead of Bulacan, which he said is a violation of their franchises.

 “Kailangan i-impose din ng pamahalaang lungsod kung ano ang nakalagay sa prangkisa nila,” Caiña said in justifying the crackdown.

 Caiña said city officials will meet on Thursday to discuss how to address the issue.

 

Region: Maute recruitment has ‘significantly slowed down’ — AFP

By Frances Mangosing | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Recruitment by the IS-inspired Maute group has significantly slowed down after some of its members have surrendered, the military claimed on Wednesday. 

“Certain conditions indicate that the enemy’s recruitment has significantly slowed down following the surrender of Maute-IS remnants,” said Col. Roeo Brawner Jr, spokesperson of Joint Task Force Ranao in a statement.

 “According to surrenderers, most of the remnants have been isolated and have lost their will to fight following the series of military operations conducted by the 103rd Brigade in Lanao del Sur,” he added.

 The military claimed early this year that the Maute group continued to recruit new members in parts of Mindanao in preparation for another siege.

 But despite the new developments, Brawner said the security forces remain postured to thwart any possible attack and protect communities.

 Around October last year, Marawi City was liberated from terrorists after five months of clashes that killed more than 1,000 people. The whole of Mindanao was then placed under martial law when the fighting broke out on May 23.

  

Crimes: ‘Ipit sukli’ modus caught on CCTV

By Daphne Galvez | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

As the Christmas season nears, some people are getting creative in gaining some quick cash like using the so-called “ipit-sukli” scam.

 A CCTV footage circulating on social media shows how a woman tried to pull a fast one on a fast food cashier by pretending she received insufficient change.

 In the video uploaded on Oct. 17 by a certain Nica Coralde Acayen, the woman could be seen giving the cashier a P1000 bill to pay for an order. 

The cashier examined the bill, put it in the cash register before taking a number of bills to give to the woman as change.

 When the cashier handed her the change, the woman quickly hid a P500 bill in her purse then complained to the cashier that she didn’t get the right change.

 The cashier could then be seen seeking assistance from a manager, which prompted the woman to put back the P500 bill she earlier took.

 It was unclear from the video how the issue was resolved but the woman was able to take her purchase home.

 Acayen then urged vigilance from netizens, especially those who handle money like cashiers, telling them to be careful when customers claim they received insufficient change.

 “Guys be aware lalo na sa mga kapwa kong pera ang hinahawakan… Lalo na ngaun ber months marami na ang manloloko . . . Wag bsta basta mgbibigay ng sukli if sabhin ni customer na kulang …” she wrote on her Facebook post.

 The post has garnered over 15,000 shares, 800 reactions and 800 comments as of posting.

 

Health: Dengue cases rise to 138,444 — DOH

By Mayen Jaymalin | Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Dengue cases nationwide soared to over 138,000, including over 700 deaths in the past nine months, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

 

The DOH Dengue Surveillance showed a 21 percent increase in the number of potentially deadly infection recorded in various government hospitals nationwide compared to the same period last year.?  From Jan. 1 to Oct. 6, DOH recorded a total of 138,444 dengue cases, up from the 114,878 cases during the same period in 2017.? The DOH said the number of deaths due to dengue also rose from 581 in 2017 to 708 this year.? Central Luzon posted the biggest number of cases with 22,077, followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) with 18,831 and Calabarzon with 16,177.?Other regions with high cases of dengue include Ilocos region with 11,109 and Western Visayas with 11,036. 

While Central Luzon had the most number of cases, NCR recorded the highest number of deaths with 106 followed by Calabarzon with 98 and Western Visayas with 69.? Central Luzon recorded 61 deaths and Northern Mindanao, 53.?A high 22 percent or 29,874 of the total cases belong to the 10 to 14 years age group.? More than half or 73,017 of the cases were males while females accounted for 65,427 or 47 percent of the dengue cases nationwide.

 

IT: Facebook removes ‘spam network’ in Philippines

By Janvic Mateo | Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Social media company Facebook has taken down over 100 pages and accounts belonging to a “spam network” discovered to have been making money by taking advantage of Filipino users. 

A total of 95 pages and 39 accounts with political and entertainment content were removed from the social media platform yesterday morning “for encouraging people to visit low quality websites that contain little substantive content and are full of disruptive ads.”

 Facebook said the accounts that were removed belong to a spam network that is likely a coordinated behavior of an individual or individuals working as a group.

 The full list of removed accounts was not released, but included those of apparent supporters of President Duterte and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, including Duterte Media, Duterte sa Pagbabago Bukas, DDS, Duterte Phenomenon and Manang Imee.

 Also removed were accounts using names and images of popular celebrities, as well as more generic “news” pages such as News Media Trends and Pilipinas Daily News.

 “These pages ranged from political to entertainment content, but all were sharing links to the same advertising click farms off Facebook,” said the company.

 “We’re monitoring for a range of abuses on Facebook, including spam behavior, and will remove any account or page that breaks our rules,” it added.

 Malacañang was unfazed by Facebook’s decision to purge pro-Duterte pages that violated its policies.

 “Facebook must have its rules and regulations. If they are implementing that, then that’s their own rule,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at a press briefing yesterday.

 “Now, if the concern is, there will be no more avenues, there are so many avenues. We have Twitter, Instagram and many others where the advocates can express themselves in support of this administration,” he added.

 Some 4.8 million users followed at least one of the removed pages, according to Facebook.

 “We don’t want this kind of behavior on Facebook and we’re investing heavily in both people and technology to keep bad content off our services,” it said.

 “This is some of the most important work being done at Facebook. This takedown is a small step in the right direction, and we will continue working to find and remove more bad content,” it added.

 Monetizing politics

The takedown of Philippine pages follows a similar move of Facebook in the United States.

 Earlier this month, the company said it had removed 559 pages and 251 accounts for consistently violating rules against spam and coordinated inauthentic behavior.

 It discovered that the spam networks were using sensational political content to earn money by building an audience and driving traffic to their websites.

 “The people behind the activity also post the same click bait posts in dozens of Facebook groups, often hundreds of times in a short period, to drum up traffic for their websites. And they often use their fake accounts to generate fake likes and shares,” said Facebook’s head of cyber security policy Nathaniel Gleicher and product manager Oscar Rodriguez in a joint post about the purge.

 “This artificially inflates engagement for their inauthentic pages and the posts they share, misleading people about their popularity and improving their ranking in News Feed,” they added.

 The Facebook executives noted a shift in generating traffic to “ad farms” from using natural disasters or celebrity gossip to using sensational political content.

 “Like the politically motivated activity we’ve seen, the ‘news’ stories or opinions these accounts and pages share are often indistinguishable from legitimate political debate,” said Gleicher and Rodriguez.

 “This is why it’s so important we look at these actors’ behavior – such as whether they’re using fake accounts or repeatedly posting spam – rather than their content when deciding which of these accounts, pages or groups to remove,” they added.

 Facebook said it has doubled the number of people working on safety and security on the social media platform, reaching over 20,000 people around the world this year.

 “We use reports from our community and technology like machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect bad behavior and take action more quickly,” added the company.

 

Labor: Petition seeks to stop jeepney, bus fare hikes

By Krixia Subingsubing | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

The recently approved increases in jeepney and bus fares, which are expected to roll out on Nov. 3, face a legal roadblock after a commuters’ group on Tuesday petitioned the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspend their implementation. 

LTFRB officials set last week the new P10 minimum fare for jeepneys plying routes in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Central Luzon and P11 minimum fare for city buses. 

It remains unclear whether the increases might be suspended pending the resolution of the petition filed by citizen Arlis Acao and the United Filipino Consumers and Commuters through its representative, Rodolfo Javellana. 

LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra III said the board would have to hear the motion. 

The lone dissenter to the fare increases, board member Aileen Lizada, earlier said these could be stayed if someone filed an appeal within the next 15 days after publication. 

In their appeal, Acao and Javellana argued that the adjustments were “unfair and unjust” to the millions of Filipinos already buckling under the weight of soaring prices of basic goods. 

They said jeepney and bus drivers were already earning more than the basic pay of P512 in Metro Manila.

 Zeny Maranan, president of Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, earlier estimated the net earnings of drivers at only P300 a day.

 Maranan is one of the four transport leaders who filed the original petition to increase jeepney minimum fares to P12.

 Most riders jobless, students

 “It’s not right to pass on the buck to the riding public,” Javellana said in an interview. “It is clear that [the decision to approve the fare hikes] was merely reactionary to the volley of oil price increases for nine consecutive weeks.”

 Most of the riders, he said, were either jobless or financially dependent students, senior citizens and people with disabilities.

 Javellana criticized the “lack of economic direction” by both Congress and the National Economic and Development Authority to protect consumers from runaway inflation, which led to a “domino effect” of price increases. Inflation reached 6.7 percent in September.

 “When (the Palace) tells its people to just bear with it,” he said, “what they don’t understand is that the public can no longer take it.”

 He was referring to Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s recent comment for the public to simply “bear the brunt” of the fare increases.

 

Labor: Labor group seeks P334 hike in daily basic pay in Metro Manila

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Citing high inflation, a labor group is demanding a P334 increase in the daily minimum wage for workers in Metro Manila in an amended petition it plans to file on Monday. 

The Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) said on Saturday that the wage increase, adjusted from P320, would enable the workers to cope with the third-quarter inflation of 6.2 percent. 

“Prices of food and costs of services continued to rise since June. So we are crunching the numbers to faithfully reflect the needs of workers and their families to cope with current 6.2 percent inflation rate,” said ALU-TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay.

 The group filed a petition in June, demanding a basic pay increase based on the first quarter inflation rate of 5.2 percent.

 First public hearing

 On Monday, the Regional Tripartite Productivity and Wages Board for Metro Manila will hold the first of its three sectoral consultations and public hearing to determine how much the increase would be.

 The daily minimum wage in Metro Manila is currently pegged at P512, the highest in the country.

 Purchasing power, however, fell to P340 in September, when inflation soared to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent, according to ALU-TUCP.

 If the labor group’s petition is approved, the minimum wage in the metropolis will reach P846.

 Tanjusay urged employers to view the wage adjustment as an investment rather than as an expense. “Employer groups have been saying that a substantial wage increase may be inflationary with businesses passing on the wage increase in the prices of their goods and services,” he said.

 The ALU-TUCP urged businesses and employers not to transfer the inflation burden to consumers but rather invest in workers by raising their wages. 

“Only a portion of their profits shall be affected by the wage increase,” Tanjusay said. 

Earlier, research group Ibon Foundation said a pay increase of at least P238 would help the country’s poorest 14 million households, which already lost at most P4,725 in purchasing power in the first nine months of the year due to inflation. 

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Ibon said companies in Metro Manila had “more than enough profits” for the wage adjustment. 

14 percent of 2015 profit 

The increase is estimated to cost firms a total of P132 billion, or 14 percent of their combined 2015 profit of P903 billion. 

Those in Metro Manila could pay the P750 minimum wage “and not have to pass this on to consumers as higher prices if they accept a slight cut in their profits,” Ibon said. 

“In these times of economic crisis, it is urgent to ensure the poorest working class Filipinos do not suffer needlessly,” it said.

  

Expats: 2 cops face raps for illegally escorting Korean, hitting taxi cab

By Matthew Reysio-Cruz | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said on Tuesday that it would file formal complaints against two policemen found to be illegally moonlighting as escorts for a Korean national after one of them sideswiped a taxi cab. 

At the same time, NCRPO chief, Director Guillermo Eleazar, announced an investigation into allegations that some travel agencies were offering police escorts to foreigners who wanted to avoid being caught in heavy traffic. 

“We received information that motorcycle riders trained by the Philippine National Police are part of advertisements promoting local destinations,” Eleazar said in an interview. 

The two policemen, however, were not hired by one of these travel agencies, he added. 

According to Eleazar, PO2 Jay Templonuevo and PO2 Ralp Tumanguil, stationed at Parañaque City Police Community Precinct 7 and NCRPO, respectively, were hired by a retired officer who acts as a middleman between unauthorized police escorts and tourists. 

The pair was escorting the Korean businessman and his companions on Friday from a hotel in Parañaque City to the Subic Air Hangar in Pasay City when Tumanguil’s motorcycle hit a taxi cab and broke off its side mirror.

 The incident was captured by cab driver Joseph Barreno on his dashboard camera.

 At the video’s 30-second mark, sirens can be heard in the distance as he drives on Andrews Avenue. The policemen who are driving separate motorcycles are shown shortly.

 Although the ramming of the cab was not seen in the video, an audible thud could be heard in the background followed by Tumanguil’s appearance.

 The two policemen, however, did not stop and entered the gate of the hangar followed by four black vans.

 “It’s like they see taxi drivers as being beneath them,” Barreno told reporters on Tuesday. “Like they’re so high and mighty.”

 Eleazar said that both policemen admitted in a sworn statement that they acted as unauthorized escorts although they denied being paid for their services.

 This meant the NCRPO could file only administrative cases of grave misconduct for escorting against them, rather than graft and corruption.

 If found liable, the two could face a maximum two-month suspension. Tumanguil would also be slapped with an administrative case of malicious mischief for damaging the cab.

 

Expats: US citizen held at NAIA over tooter

By Rudy Santos | Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

A United States citizen bound for Legazpi was detained after screeners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA-3) found a tooter hidden in his waistband yesterday. 

Hawkins Mariner Augustus, 40, was about to board the flight for Legazpi, Albay when he triggered the metal detector at the airport’s final security checkpoint, according to Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-NAIA head Gerald Javier.

 Office of Transportation Security personnel manning the checkpoint frisked Augustus and found the tooter, which tested positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, Javier said.

 Augustus – who kept mum following his arrest – was supposed to attend a wedding in Legazpi, Javier said.

 Expats: 8 Chinese wanted for cyber fraud arrested by Immigration

By Evelyn Macairan | Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently apprehended eight Chinese wanted for cyber fraud. 

Li You, Chen Huapeng, Sun Bin, Lu Changren, Li Zigou, Li Lei, Fu Chen and Wu Sile were arrested by operatives of the BI Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) in their office along Alabang-Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City on Oct. 18. 

“They are undocumented as their passports have been canceled by the Chinese government,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said.

 Morente said the foreigners would be placed in the bureau’s blacklist to prevent them from returning to the country.

 Bobby Raquepo, chief of the BI FSU, said the Chinese were caught in the act of conducting cybercrime operations, which victimized their fellow Chinese.

 “The Chinese embassy in Manila sought our assistance in capturing these fugitives so they can be deported to China and face trial,” Raquepo said.

 The arrest of the suspects was part of the bureau’s intensified campaign against illegal aliens, including fugitives and foreigners who are illegally working in the country.

 

 Expats: Malaysian, Vietnamese stabbed

By Edd Reyes | Source: People’s Tonight | Date: October 24, 2018

 

A Malaysian and  two foreigners — Vietnamese — were injured after they were attacked and stabbed repeatedly in the body by still unidentified suspect Friday evening in Pasay City.

Pasay City Rescue Team rushed the victims, identified as Tan Rui Kai, a Malaysian national and Nhan Khoang Lan, a Vietnamese, to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment.

 Pasay city police chief Sr. Supt. Noel Flores said the incident happened along Macapagal Boulevard at around 7:10 p.m.

 The victims were chatting while waiting for a ride in front of Filinvest Cyberzone, where they are working as call center agents, when the suspect came from behind and treacherously stabbed them repeatedly.

 After the incident, the lone suspect fled on foot towards an unknown direction while witnesses called the attention of security guard of the cyberzone who sought the assistance of rescue team in bringing the victims to the nearest hospital.

 Pasay Police Station Investigation and Detective Management Branch (SIDMB) head Chief Insp. Wilfredo Sangel said they are still conducting a follow-up investigation for possible identification and arrest of the suspect while the motive behind the incident is yet to be determined.

 

Weather: Typhoon Yutu unlikely to make landfall

Source: The Philippine Star | Date: October 24, 2018

 

Typhoon Yutu (international name) is moving closer to the Philippines but is unlikely to make landfall, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday morning.

 At 3 a.m., the typhoon was located 2,555 kilometers of Visayas packing maximum sustained winds of 160 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 195 kph.

 The weather disturbance is forecasted to move west northwest at 20 kph.

 PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas said the typhoon is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility between Saturday and Sunday.

 The typhoon will be called “Rosita” once it enters the country’s jurisdiction.

 “Based on our weather model outputs, Yutu will not make landfall in the country but it is still possible that it will change its direction,” Rojas said in Filipino.

 Meanwhile, an intertropical convergence zone continues to affect Mindanao while Visayas, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro will experience partyly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

 “Light to moderate winds blowing from the Northeast to East will prevail over Palawan and Occidental Mindoro and from the Northeast to Northwest over Visayas with slight to moderate seas,” PAGASA said.

  

Weather:

 

Synopsis: Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao.Synopsis: Easterlies affecting the eastern sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

 

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Traffic: Part of Roxas Boulevard to close on Saturday

By Cathrine Gonzales, Faye Orellana | Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer | Date: October 24, 2018

 

A portion of Roxas Boulevard in the City of Manila will be closed to traffic on Saturday, October 27, for the 40th anniversary of Jesus is Lord (JIL) Church at the Rizal Park. 

Three lanes from Kalaw to P. Burgos going southbound will be closed to motorists starting 12:01 am for some technical operations, according to an advisory from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday. 

Remaining lanes on the said portion of the road will be totally closed from 10 am until 12 midnight, the advisory added. 

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the JIL would use the Quirino Grandstand as venue for the event. Around 100,000 participants are expected to attend the anniversary celebration. 

“We advise the public to stay away from the area if you have no important business there,” Garcia said.

 Traffic enforcers will also be working with the local government authorities to manage traffic in the area and ensure safety of participants.

 A lane on Kalaw, Bonifacio Drive, and P. Burgos will serve as drop-off points of buses carrying the attendees of the event, according to MMDA.

 Meanwhile, designated parking areas are placed near Intramuros, Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the Philippine International Convention Center.