TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Romans 12:15

¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Bill to outlaw POGOs

By Nidz Godino

“Republic Act No. 11590, otherwise known as ‘Act Taxing Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations… is hereby repealed,” Senate Bill 2689 filed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian read,  bill was filed in Senate seeking to outrightly ban  operations of offshore gaming hubs following  series of raids on those involved in crimes.

Gatchalian said this would effectively ban POGOs by repealing the only law that legitimized  offshore gaming hub.

Bill was filed following inaction from Malacañang on Senate’s recommendation to ban POGOs because of its involvement in human trafficking and scams and its minimal contribution to  economy.

“Main goal is ultimately to outlaw and prohibit offshore gaming operations in the country,” Gatchalian said.

In his bill, Gatchalian cited  raids on following POGO hubs for criminal activities , Colorful and Leap Group in Clark Freeport Zone; Xinchuang Network Technology in Las Piñas; Smart Web Technology in Pasay and Zun Yuan Technology in Bamban, Tarlac, where its mayor, Alice Guo was allegedly involved in its operation.

Gatchalian also cited  cost-benefit analysis of  Department of Finance in 2022 that POGO operations generated economic benefits worth P133.7 billion against P144.5 billion lost annually due to foregone potential investments and tourism revenues, with costs to enforcement and immigration.

This resulted in  net cost of P3.3 billion to P14 billion annually, equivalent to 0.01 percent to 0.06 percent of gross domestic product, respectively, Gatchalian added.“This means  POGO operations have brought more harm than good, as  economic costs greatly outweigh  benefits derived from such operations,” Gatchalian concluded

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

House drug war probe highlights PNP inaction faced by EJK victims

By Nidz Godino

“Wala kaming nakuhang kahit anong info…they never showed us  evidence…possible din na isa sa mga evidence noon makakapaglink talaga na police ang gumawa… pero hindi sila nakipagcooperate sa amin,” victim Ephraim  Escudero’s sister Sheerah Escudero said  House of Representatives began its first hearing into  extra-judicial killings  resulted from  Duterte administration’s drug war, allowing select relatives of victims and human rights lawyers to testify for  first time in  lower chamber about  scale of government inaction during  former president’s brutal six-year campaign against illegal drugs.

Victims’ families told House lawmakers that for years, they have borne  brunt of authorities’ inaction and apparent reluctance to fully cooperate in their quest for justice, pushing them to bring their case to  International Criminal Court (ICC), also known as  court of last resort.

Sheerah Escudero, whose brother, Ephraim, was found dead in Pampanga with his head wrapped in tape in 2017,  recalled approaching police officers who refused to provide them with information or evidence about Ephraim’s demise. 

 Llore Pasco,  mother of two drug war victims and  volunteer for human rights group Rise Up for Life and for Rights, also recounted difficulties she faced in trying to retrieve her sons’ bodies with little cooperation from authorities.

“Pinagpasa-pasahan kami bago ko nakita ang labi ng aking mga anak… noong nagdown kami ng P50,000, halos nabubulok na ang katawan ng aking mga anak dahil sa di maayos na pagkakalagay ng formaline sa kanilang mga katawan,” Pasco said.

Lawyer Neri Colmenares, co-counsel of  families of extra-judicial killings victims in ICC case, said  among evidence they will present if  ICC goes to trial is  pattern of evidence that indicate  killings were state-sponsored.

Colmenares said  not only public villification of  victims, but  killings were also “so brazen that they took place in public, as if perpetrators were not afraid of being caught or accosted by authorities.” 

Bayan Muna chairman also pointed out government’s apparent lack of interest to seriously investigate drug war killings, citing data that shows only 52 out of over 6,000 killings admitted by  police have been so far investigated. 

Citing  rule in  Philippine National Police’s manual, Colmenares pointed out that if someone dies in the course of  police operation, there should always be an inquest or investigation.

This is regardless if suspect had fought back, Colmenares said, citing notorious “nanlaban” argument wielded by cops during violent anti-illegal drug operations. 

Among several recommendations to more effectively investigate drug war-related deaths, Commission on Human Rights Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc said  committee should consider enacting  law that will require mandatory autopsies to be conducted. 

Lawyer Kristina Conti, another co-counsel for drug war victims, supported this suggestion, saying that these should also be conducted by independent expert. 

“We are talking about killings committed by police themselves… in some cases,  very same policemen will be investigating  same crimes…terrifying to victims to see  perpetrators as investigators,” Conti added.

Palpal-latoc added PNP has often refused to provide rights body with official documents related to its drug war probe, which CHR chair said was part of their mandate to conduct investigations.

CHR chair said PNP officers invoke data privacy law.

While Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. (Manila, 6th District), chair of  House human rights panel, made sure to clarify  committee will not “in any way” work with  ICC, both Pasco and Escudero appealed to  government to work with  international tribunal,  they both said gave them their best hope for  fair trial.

“I’ve been going to places in search of justice and hope for Ephraim’s two little boys…  been almost seven years now and there is still no justice…kanino pa kami lalapit? ” Escudero said, adding that this was why her family had hopes when ICC announced its drug war probe in 2018.

“Ang hirap mag-imbestiga sa Pilipinas lalo na kung may agam-agam o paniniwalang pulis din ang may gawa,” she added.

Escudero asked Congress and the president to work with  ICC, saying that their clamor is for “investigations and trials that are fair, thorough and comprehensive.”

“We want truth and accountability…please help our family heal,” Escudero added.

Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of  House public order and safety committee, asked Pasco if she no longer had any trust in  justice system

“Nawalan na kami ng tiwala…seven years na mula noong namatay mga anak ko… hanggang ngayon wala pa kaming hustisyang nakamit…kailan kami kakamit ng hustisya…kaya kami dumulog sa inyong committee para tulungan kami na ipursue ang case na finile namin sa ICC kasama ng lahat ng biktimang tinanggalan ng karapatang pantao,” Pasco said.

Escudero said that just months before Pasco’s brother was killed allegedly during police’s anti-illegal drugs operations, she wrote for her school paper about the case of 17-year-old Kian de los Santos, another drug war victim, whose death was caught on CCTV.

“I was  aspiring journalist writing about social issues, then  month after we were also in  newspaper, similar to what happened to Kian.”

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

 ‘Judas’ cop detailed further

By Nidz Godino

SEN. RONALD DELA ROSA

“So sad of my upper classman…when PRRD, Duterte was about to remove you from your post because you are PNoy appointee, I moved heaven and earth to dissuade him,” Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa in  Facebook post  gave more details about  unnamed ranking police official allegedly convincing cops to testify against him in his drug war crimes case before  International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa said  unnamed “upper classman” who betrayed him is in  powerful position under  present administration.

Unnamed  official was  appointee of the late president Benigno Simeon Aquino III and was supposed to get  ax under former president Rodrigo Duterte, but got to retain his post with Dela Rosa’s help.

 “You finished  whole six-year term…now, you are busy convincing PNP officers to testify against us in  ICC… God bless you, sir,” he added.

Dela Rosa  would identify the official “in proper time.”

“I just posted that on Facebook to express my frustrations and ill feelings toward this person, whom I trusted and even helped… I wasted that trust on him as my upper classman, only for him to turn his back on me,” he said.

Dela Rosa said this schoolmate of his is of impressive record and influence that he was able to keep his post up to the administration of President Marcos…he refused to confirm if the official is part of  Cabinet.

“But it is not  question of skills… question of values… I am not one to believe in one’s debt of gratitude…but his character is questionable for taking advantage of me, only to turn his back on me to be used as  pawn of the enemy,” Dela Rosa said.

Pressed for more details, Dela Rosa said  former friend is allegedly “following up” on police officers to pin down Dela Rosa in  crimes against humanity case against him as  top drug war enforcer of Duterte.

Brutal  narcotics crackdown led by police in  previous administration killed thousands of mostly poor drug users.

Dela Rosa alleged there is also “bagman” who carries cash to entice cops to testify against him. He also did not name alleged financier.

“He won’t be able to convince cops against me if he is not in  position of power… financier is also  prominent person,” Dela Rosa said without giving any more details.

Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged  he has information that  ICC would order Duterte and Dela Rosa’s arrest this year. He also claimed at least 50 active and former police officers were implicated in drug war probe.
Dela Rosa, however, is still banking on Marcos’ word of not cooperating with  ICC, even as there are signs from legal briefer preparations of  Department of Justice that  administration seems open to rejoining  ICC.

Duterte unilaterally withdrew from  Rome Statute that created ICC after  complaint was filed against him for his drug war.

“I have no doubt 100 percent that the President will keep his word… I grew up in family of Marcos loyalists… I wanted to be  soldier when I saw that his father took care of the military,” Dela Rosa said, referring to the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

“I believe in the President… people around him that I don’t trust anymore,” he added.

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Quo Warranto vs. Guo

By Nidz Godino

“This is blatant already, this Bamban Mayor Alice Guo…based on her answers, we must look if she is really  Filipino. ..she should not be mayor if she cannot prove her Filipino citizenship… only proper that she be removed as mayor,” Reps. Bienvenido Abante Jr.  said plan  of  Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to file  quo warranto case against Mayor Alice Guo of Bamban town in Tarlac got  backing of two members of House of Representatives.

Quo  warranto is  legal remedy that is used to challenge  person’s rights to hold  public or corporate office.

At  briefing  Abante . of Manila and Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur declared  imperative to ensure  public servants fulfill all  requirements for holding public office.

According to Abante, Guo should be stripped of mayorship if it is proven that she is not  Filipino.

Guo is facing investigation at  Senate for her alleged involvement in  illegal operation of POGOs in the province.

Her identity as  Filipino is being questioned as her responses concerning her birth and family background were vague.

Abante noted  important to verify Guo’s Filipino citizenship as he expressed concerns over her “potential foreign influence.”

“China does not only want to control  West Philippine Sea, but  entire Philippines and even universities,” he maintained, apparently referring to  influx of Chinese students near  Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in Cagayan province.

For his part, Adiong underscored  importance of preserving  integrity of  electoral process and protecting  rights of natural-born Filipinos. “OSG just wanted to protect our electoral processes which should be for … Filipinos,” he said.

Adiong raised personal concerns regarding  citizenship acquisition process, particularly its apparent inconsistencies and inefficiencies. He sought  comprehensive review of local registry procedures.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has been conducting  probe on Guo in connection with both  issue on her citizenship, as well as  controversial POGO hub in her town.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos as early as April 5,  had ordered creation of  task force to probe any possible administrative misconduct or neglect by LGU officials in connection with  illegal POGO hub in Bamban, Tarlac.

Benjamin Zaballa, chief operations audit division of  Internal Audit Service, was tasked to lead task force.

Task force was ordered last May 10 to also conduct fact-finding on concerns regarding  citizenship and eligibility for public office of Guo.

“We already created task force way back in April…anytime, everything will come out…this is recommendatory for  ombudsman…all actions, very comprehensive what happened..on  permits and second on citizenship,” he said.

He said all findings are recommendatory and will be forwarded to Office of the President and Office of the Ombudsman as soon as they are available.

Abalos said they do not have any power to suspend or dismiss Guo as only  two offices have that authority.

President Ferdinand  Marcos Jr.backed further investigation on Guo, citing  ongoing Senate probe, as he added that Tarlac politicians do not know her.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said  they are also gathering information to determine if Guo is illegally “holding or exercising  public office.”

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

happy Birthday Andrea Mae Sebugan, more birthdays to come

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

PSA flags irregularities in Guo’s birth certificate

By Nidz Godino

“We can believe that there are several irregularities in this birth certificate,”  lawyer Eliezer Ambatali, director of  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) legal service. confirmed they found several discrepancies in  birth certificate of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, including  absence of any government record that proves her mother’s existence and her parents’ marriage.

During  Senate women committee hearing, Sen. Loren Legarda also flagged  possibility that based on Guo’s case,  operations of  so-called “syndicate” that allowed dozens of foreigners obtain Philippine passports using fake birth certificates,  being probed by blue ribbon committee, is “all rooted in  PSA.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of  Senate women committee, said during  hearing that no existing PSA documents prove  marriage and identity of  parents listed in her birth certificate: Angelito Guo and Amelia Leal.

While Guo’s birth certificate states that her father’s nationality was Filipino, Guo herself said her father was Chinese and  Chinese passport holder.
 
Based on these details,  PSA said  there is  “high possibility” that Guo’s father,  person who provided  information used to belatedly register Guo’s birth provided false information.

Based on their fact-finding investigation, PSA Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande said Guo’s mother, Amelia Leal, “is not existing” as she does not have any birth, marriage or death certificate.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian asked Ambatali if it is possible that Amelia Leal is not  real person,  PSA official answered  affirmative. 

With three “critical irregularities” marring Guo’s birth certificate, namely her parents’ marriage, her father’s nationality and her mother’s identity, Gatchalian clarified whether  Bamban mayor’s birth certificate could still be used as  primary document to obtain other IDs and records.

“Birth certificate that is registered may be used as  basis for other documents, but it is not  absolute basis for  existence of a person,” Ambatali said. 

PSA official explained case can be filed to cancel  individual’s birth certificate if it does not meet  minimum requirements needed to declare  birth certificate as valid.
 
PSA’s investigation found  Guo’s birth did not have any supporting documents except for “negative certification” that basically proves Guo does not have any record prior to her birth. 

Guo’s birth certificate appeared to be purely based on information provided by her father, Gatchalian pointed out.

“It appears there is an irregularity in  registration because there are no supporting documents,” Grande said.

Citing PSA records, Grande added  contrary to Guo’s earlier testimony that she is  only child,  certain “Shiela Leal Guo” and “Seimen Leal Guo” also listed Amelia and Angelito as their parents.
 
PSA also found that in total, Amelia and Angelito had four children, two of which are registered in Tarlac City, while  other two are registered in Caloocan City.

Gatchalian said  irregularities in Guo’s birth certificate points to even more evidence of how non-Filipinos have abused PSA’s late birth registration policy to obtain government documents, findings that were previously established by  powerful blue ribbon committee.

Besides endorsing the case to  Office of Solicitor General for  filing of  petition to cancel  documents,  PSA may also block  birth certificate to prevent it from being used in official transactions. 

Ambatali said  PSA revised its guidelines on registration of late births in October 2021 after receiving several reports of inividuals “abusing delayed registration to get  legal identity.”

Legarda, who flagged  issue of foreigners obtaining real Philippine passports during last year’s budget hearing, said that  problem proves that  “syndicate” in government is aiding the practice.

“If there is  syndicate in government agencies… for sure there is, because how will you obtain  birth certificate and  authentic passport except through syndicates working in government?” Legarda said.

She said that not only are  non-Filipinos competing with legitimate Filipino citizens in governments’ financial aid programs, but they can also run for public office.

“If they can fake their birth certificate, what more for other IDs emanating from that?” Legarda also said. 

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

Economic growth rests on hitting targets

By J.Lo

HOUSE SPEAKER FERDINAND MARTIN ROMUALDEZ

“Year on year, BIR’s revenue collections grew by 17 percent this year… welcome news, and I credit  BIR for that,” Speaker Martin Romualdez urged Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to ensure tax agency hits its targets this year, emphasizing  “hitting revenue targets means  government can fund its spending program,  will enable growth.”

 “But 17 percent growth from total collections last year will mean  BIR will fall short of  P3.05-trillion target set by  economic managers,” the Speaker stressed.

BIR collected P2.516 trillion in 2023.  Increase  of 17 percent will bring total collections this year to P2.944 trillion, still slightly below  target.

“It’s high bar to clear…that’s why Congress has given  BIR  tools to collect more effectively from taxpayers,” Romualdez said.

“We enacted  Ease of Paying Taxes, effective this year, to digitalize most of BIR’s transactions and encourage taxpayers to comply voluntarily… law will also broaden  base of taxpayers, since we made registering as taxpayer simpler, more convenient and above all free.”

Romualdez pointed out country’s economic growth this year “depends in large part on government carrying out  budget President Marcos proposed and Congress authorized…of course, the sooner the BIR can collect the cash, the faster  government can fund its programs.”

“Government final expenditure grew by only 1.7 percent during first quarter, so I’m hoping that  BIR will be able to collect more in  second quarter so government spending can also catch up…we need to fund both programmed spending and as much of  unprogrammed appropriations as possible to meet our growth targets this year, tax is  lifeblood of government, and  vitality of economic growth this year depends on whether  BIR can supply that lifeblood,” Romualdez said.

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

NPA member convicted of rebellion got 17 yrs

By J.Lo

“Our immediate course of action is to file motion for reconsideration before  Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 266, we maintain  Sally Ujano is innocent…we will seek justice through all legal avenues,” counsel Finella Jocom said  Taguig court convicted  woman accused of being  New People’s Army (NPA) technical staff member of rebellion.

Sally Ujano, who was charged in 2006, was sentenced to 10 to 17 years in prison.

Police had said as  member of  NPA, Ujano had participated in  execution of NPA rebels suspected to be government spies.

She was on Philippine National Police’s most wanted list for 15 years.

Jocom said Ujano was found guilty of rebellion as  “mere participant” and not as  leader of  NPA.

Jocom said her client’s bail was canceled and Ujano would be brought to  Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Ujano, described by rights groups as  child rights advocate, would appeal  decision, Jocom said.

Ujano was arrested in November 2021 for alleged acts of rebellion committed in Lucena City in 2006.

27 Mayo 2024, Lunes

Happy 48th Anniversary Mariveles Baptist Church, Mariveles, Bataan

City of Makati, France in June

supports World Press Freedom Day, May 3

Register now and vote in midterm polls

supports International Nurses’ Day

Aspirants file your certificate of candidacy on October 1-8,2024

Substitute candidates must be with same surname and political party

Partylist must file Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance

supports May, Cardiac Illness Prevention Month 

No to Divorce!!!

Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez

PM for any hospital discharge problem

HEADLINES

Aghon, makes 8 landfalls

By J.Lo

“By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be 415 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan and then to move northeastward, and by Wednesday morning, it will already be 1,000 kilometers east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon,” Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) senior weather specialist Benison Estareja  said severe Tropical Storm Aghon is expected to intensify into  typhoon before it leaves  Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by midweek after having made eight landfalls since Friday.

As of 4 in the afternoon yesterday, Aghon (international name Ewiniar) had intensified into  severe tropical storm.

Based on  latest track of PAGASA, Aghon is expected to develop into  typhoon when it reaches  coastal waters of Casiguran, Aurora and before it exits PAR on Wednesday, Estareja said at  press conference.

Estareja added that by noon of May 29, Aghon is expected to be outside PAR.

He said  Aghon slightly intensified over Sariaya, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near  center, gustiness of up to 125 km/h, as it is moving northwestward at 10 km/h.

First  landfall of Aghon was at 11:20 in the evening on May 24 in Homonhon Island, Eastern Samar; followed by Giporlos, Eastern Samar at 12:40 in the morning on May 25; Basiao Island in Catbalogan, Samar at 4 in the morning; Cagduyong Island, Catbalogan at 5 in the morning; Batuan, Masbate at 10:20 in the morning ,Masbate City at 10:45 in the morning ,Torrijos, Marinduque at 10 in the evening and Lucena City, Quezon at 4 in the morning on May 26.

Based on  latest bulletin issued at 5 in the afternoon. yesterday, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 3 was hoisted in  eastern section of Quezon including Polillo Islands.

Tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2 was raised in Aurora,  northern and central portions of Quezon, Laguna, eastern portion of Batangas, eastern and central portions of Rizal, and northern portion of Camarines Norte.

Meanwhile, tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 was hoisted in  eastern portion of Isabela, eastern portion of Quirino, southern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, eastern and southern portions of Nueva Ecija, southern portion of Bataan, eastern portion of Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila,  rest of Quezon, rest of Rizal, rest of Batangas, northern and central portions of Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, extreme northern portion of Romblon,  rest of Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

Estareja added that PAGASA does not discount  possibility that Aghon will pass Laguna, Rizal, and eastern side of Bulacan, Aurora and Polillo islands.

He said  Aghon could bring 100 to 200 millimeters of rain over Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Metro Manila, Camarines Norte until noon today.

Meanwhile, 50 to 100 millimeters of rains are expected in eastern Isabela, Nueva Ecija, rest of Bulacan, eastern Pampanga, Batangas,  Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Burias Island, Masbate, western Camarines Sur, Cuyo island, Palawan, Aklan and Antique.

Estareja warned of possible flooding and rain-induced landslides in affected areas.

‘These include those areas in Pasig and Marikina as  Marikina River may overflow… next 24 hours will be crucial in terms of rains brought by Aghon,” he said.

He said gale warning is hoisted over  coastal waters of Aurora, Quezon and Marinduque,  southern coastal waters of Batangas, and northern coastal waters of Camarines Norte.

At least four people were injured while around 513 families or 2,734 persons were affected by Aghon,  Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

Four  injured were in Legazpi City, Albay, including 30-year-old male  hit when  tree fell on him while  three others were children, according to OCD spokesman Edgar Posadas.

Of the affected, 2,669 are currently in evacuation centers.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 18 barangays in Bicol region and Eastern Visayas were affected by Aghon.

In addition, 5,969 passengers, 40 vessels, 10 motor bancas, and 987 rolling cargoes, were stranded in  ports of Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas, according to NDRRMC.

NDRRMC also reported that Aghon has affected three airports in Bicol and 48 seaports across the country.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman Eric Apolonio confirmed several flights were cancelled including CEBGO DG 6031/6032 Manila-San Jose-Manila in San Jose Airport, 5J 821/822 Manila-Virac-Manila in Virac Airport, CEBGO DG 6113/6114 Manila-Naga-Manila and DG 6117/6118 Naga-Manila-Naga in Naga airport.

Meanwhile,  number of patients in San Juan District Hospital in Batangas were evacuated after  flash flood hit Barangay Talahiban due to continuous rain.

Flooding  came from  overflowing river along  Laiya-San Juan national road prompting  authorities to close it to traffic.

On May 24,  Philippine Coast Guard rescued 48 passengers and crew of motorized boat capsized in Masbate because of strong waves triggered by Aghon.

All of the passengers and crew were declared to be “in good condition” upon rescue.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has put on standby shelter clusters nationwide as  proactive measure to cushion impact of Aghon.

Human Settlements Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar placed  DHSUD’s regional offices on standby in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Davao region and Caraga effective immediately.

DHSUD regional offices were instructed to closely monitor their respective areas of jurisdiction and facilitate emergency response and humanitarian assistance as needed.

Acuzar also cited DHSUD’s partnership with  International Organization for Migration,  provides shelter-grade tarpaulins thru DHSUD for deployment to affected local government units.

Water  levels of at least five dams in Luzon recovered while  drop in elevation of Angat Dam slowed down amid  rains brought by Aghon, according to  latest monitoring of PAGASA.

As of 8 in the morning on Sunday,  water level of Binga Dam in Benguet increased by 0.73 meters as it reached 566.94 meters compared to its previous level of 566.21 meters.

Ipo Dam in Bulacan also improved by 0.18 meters from its previous level of 99.62 meters; La Mesa Dam in Quezon City was up by 0.02 meters from its previous level of 75.09 meters; and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija also went up by 0.09 meters from its previous level of 174.41 meters.

Meanwhile, decrease in  water level of Angat Dam was only at 0.09 meters after it reached 178.90 meters compared to its previous level of 178.89. On Saturday,  decrease was recorded at 0.38 meters.

Angat Dam was 33.11 meters below its normal high water level of 212 meters and 1.11 meters below its minimum operating level of 180 meters.

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage and System engineer Patrick Dizon of  water and sewerage management department said  MWSS started to reduce release of water from Angat Dam to Ipo Dam.

“Since  rainfall in  watershed is high right now, we will start to reduce Sunday Angat releases to Ipo so we can maximize  watershed inflows and mitigate  spilling,” Dizon said.

Dizon added  there will be no release of water for irrigation until today as agreed with  National Irrigation Administration amid  rains being experienced in Bulacan and Pampanga.

Angat Dam supplies more than 90 percent of Metro Manila’s potable water needs and provides for  irrigation needs of 25,000 hectares of farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga. 

TODAY’S GOD’S MESSAGE

Acts 20:24

²⁴ However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.