“Second, of course, is outfit I’m using as platform for violation for press freedom…in my view, suppression of your right to exercise this freedom cannot be subject to preliminary or permanent status… that shouldn’t be allowed… right to free expression is absolute to me…that is how I understood it,” former president Rodrigo Duterte spoke out against Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB)’s preventive suspension of two Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) shows, saying it was violation of his “right to free expression.”
MTRCB imposed 14-day suspension last Dec. 18 on Duterte’s “Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa” talk show, hosted by pastor Apollo Quiboloy, which tackles politics, economics and other matters.
Same two-week suspension was meted out to SMNI talk show “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” hosted by Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celis.
Duterte stressed MTRCB’s action is gross violation of his constitutional right to free expression.
MTRCB issued suspensions after “thorough review and investigation” of violations on programs’ aired content, based on “complaints received by board.”
These include apparent death threats made on “Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa” and unverified reporting on “Laban Kasama ang Bayan.”
PINAGSUSUMITE kasambahay ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) ang tsuper na sumuro sa bangko kamakailan at nakamatay ng dalawang katao ng depensa o pnaig nito sa insidente, tingnan natin kung paano magsisinungaling ang damuho. Shout out muna Sagguniang Barangay Binang First Bocaue, Bulacan member Alexander Malvar, Michelle Bautista, Mark Del Rosario, Esperanza Benedicto, Rorielou Cando, Acemond Pineda, Pablo De Guzman, Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson Rachel Bianca Cruz. Pero tatlong buwang suspendido ang lisensya sa pagmamaneho ng respondent. Nahaharap ang motorista sa pinakamabigat na parusang pagbawi sa lisensiya nito at kailanma’y hindi na makapagmamaneho dahil ‘ improper person to operate motor vehicle”, mayroon pala nito Kiwal, bulati kong kikiwal-kiwal. Lumalabas na nakareverse ang kambiyo ng suv pero bigla itong umandar at nabangga ang nakahimpil na sasaakyan at sinuro pa ang bangko, ikinasawi ng bank teller at ikinasugat ng anim pa. kapwa haharap sa LTO at may ari ng suv sa petsa 01 nitong Enero. May hiwalay ding imbestigasyon ang pulisya sa insidente. Pinagmamaskara pansamantala ang publiko dahil sa usok na sanhi ng paputok at pailaw sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon. Thermal inversion ang tawag doon, iba kaysa usok mula sa bulkan. Ang thermal inversion ay pollutant na hindi makataas dahil sa malamig na hangin habang ang volcanic smog ay mula sa asupre mula sa bulkan. Happy birthdate Servants of God in Christ Jesus Christian Ministries Incorporated Moderator Rev. Nestor Sadim, more birthdays to come. Welcome to the Philippines Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Capica. Ididiskwento ng Meralco nang hanggang syento porsyento sa singil sa koryente ang mga benepisyaryo ng 4ps. Kwalipikadong aplikante ay kailangang hindi kumukunsumo ng 100 kw.hr. DSWD, huwag naman nyong pahirapan mga aplikante. Dalawang buwan na lang at Marked Men for Christ sa Baguio na. Jonathan Fernandez, muzta na, nagkakalimutan na tayo a. Problema ba, pag-usapan natin, ndgodino@yahoo.com.
17 Pinoy seafarers kept by Houthi rebels safe – DMW
By Nidz Godino
“We know that 17 seafarers have contacted and were allowed to contact their families and they are safe on board ship,” Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said all 17 Filipino seafarers taken hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen are safe and have contacted their families.
Cacdac said DMW is regularly coordinating with families of seafarers.
Latest information received by DMW indicated vessel is still anchored off coast of Yemen.
Cacdac said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is working with other governments for safe release and return of seafarers.
The 17 were among 25 crewmembers of cargo vessel Galaxy Leader, which was seized by rebels following helicopter-borne attack in southern Red Sea on Nov. 19.
Cacdac said DMW welcomes recent designation of Red Sea’s southern section and Bab El-Mandeb Strait leading to Gulf of Aden as high-risk areas.
He said expansion of identified high-risk areas in Red Sea would provide additional protection to Filipino seafarers.
Meanwhile, Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong will receive salary increase next year, DMW reported.
All foreign domestic helpers (FDH), including Filipinos in former British colony, will benefit from wage legislation set by Hong Kong’s labor department.
“According to information we gathered from our Filipino communities in affected areas, some have already moved to evacuation centers, while others have gone to city hall as a precautionary measure to avoid possible tsunamis,” Philippines’ Ambassador to Japan Mylene Albano said no Filipino has been reported injured in magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck western Japan during New Year festivities.
Albano said Filipino communities there have not reported any casualties among them following massive earthquake triggered major tsunami warnings in the country for the first time since 2011.
7.6 magnitude earthquake was immediately followed by over 50 strong aftershocks off coast of Ishikawa and surrounding area, according to Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).
JMA issued and later downgraded high-level tsunami warning, cautioning public against leaving their homes due to risk of deadly waves and aftershocks in the next few days.
At least 1,000 Filipinos reside in Ishikawa Prefecture, Albano said.
Japan is one of most earthquake-prone countries in the world due to its location and has had long history of dealing with devastating earthquakes, with strongest one on record being the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck on March 11, 2011.
2011 earthquake caused massive tsunamis that resulted in widespread destruction, loss of life, and injuries in Japan, and led its government to beef up its established systems for disaster mitigation.
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
“Failure to appear and submit notarized affidavit will be construed as waiver to be heard and controvert allegations against you, leaving this office to resolve case administratively based on available records,” Land Transportation Office (LTO) show-cause order read . Land Transportation Office (LTO) ordered a 90-day preventive suspension on driver’s license of motorist whose sport utility vehicle (SUV) crashed into bank in Quezon City, leaving one person dead and six others injured on Dec. 28.
According to LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II, both driver and registered owner of SUV have been summoned to explain circumstances led to fatal accident.
Mendoza expressed his condolences to the family of a bank client who died in the accident.
LTO National Capital Region officer-in-charge Hanzley Lim issued show-cause order against driver, who resides in Baliuag, Bulacan.
Mendoza said driver faces possible violations of Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 for reckless driving and Republic Act 4136, otherwise known as Land Transportation and Traffic Code.
Motorist also faces maximum penalty of cancellation of driver’s license for being improper person to operate motor vehicle.
Based on initial investigation, motorist put SUV in reverse, but it suddenly accelerated and hit vehicle parked nearby before crashing into bank along Quirino Highway in Barangay Pasong Putik.
Female bank customer died and six others suffered injuries following accident.
Both driver and registered owner of SUV were ordered to appear before LTO NCR office on Jan. 10.
Mendoza added LTO’s investigation is independent from probe being conducted by Philippine National Police.
“It was black year full of tragedies,” said 37-year-old evacuee fled city with his wife and three children to UN shelter in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Fireworks illuminated skies over Paris, Rio and Sydney to celebrate entry to 2024, while in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine, rockets and strikes marked year’s earliest hours.
Much of the world’s population now more than eight billion is hoping to shake off high living costs and global tumult in 2024, which will bring elections concerning half of the world’s population and Paris Olympics.
But with new year barely started, there were already ominous signs: at stroke of midnight in Gaza barrage of rockets was fired towards Israel twisted reflection of fireworks lighting up night skies elsewhere around the world.
In New York City, thousands of visitors lined up for chance to see annual dropping of giant illuminated ball in Times Square.
Nearby stallholders hawked vuvuzelas and 2024-branded hats as police fanned out across central Manhattan, towing suspicious cars, closing roads and manning ring of steel screening would-be revelers.
Hours earlier, more than million partygoers had packed in around harbor in Sydney, self-proclaimed “New Year’s capital of the world,” to watch eight tons of fireworks.
Pyrotechnics also illuminated skies in Auckland, Hong Kong, Manila and Jakarta.
Nudist bathers wearing Santa hats waded into mild waters of southern France, while revelers danced in streets in Greece’s Thessaloniki.
In Denmark, popular Queen Margrethe II, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, chose her New Year’s Eve address to announce her coming abdication.
83-year-old monarch will step down in favor of her son, Crown Prince Frederik, after 52 years on throne.
Last 12 months brought “Barbenheimer” to box office, proliferation of human-seeming artificial intelligence tools, and world-first whole-eye transplant.
India outgrew China as the world’s most populous country, and then became first nation to land unmanned craft on Moon’s south pole.
It was also hottest year since records began in 1880, with spate of climate-fuelled disasters striking across the world.
Fans bade adieu to “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Tina Turner, “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, hell-raising Anglo-Irish songsmith Shane MacGowan and master dystopian novelist Cormac McCarthy.
2023 will be remembered for war in Middle East, after Hamas’ unprecedented Oct. 7 raids on southern Israel and Israel’s ferocious reprisals on Gaza.
United Nations estimates almost two million Gazans have been displaced since Israel’s siege began, or about 85 percent of peacetime population.
With once-bustling Gaza City neighborhoods reduced to rubble, there were few places left to mark new year and fewer loved ones to celebrate with.
“God willing this war will end, new year will be better one, and we will be able to return to our homes and rebuild them, or even live in tent on rubble,” he told media.
“Minute I start dancing, sadness and mourning come back,” said elderly man whose friend died at trance music festival during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
Some in Vladimir Putin’s Russia were also weary of conflict, in Ukraine.
“In the new year I would like war to end, new president and return to normal life,” said 55-year-old theatre decorator and Moscow resident.
But Putin himself remained bullish in his New Year’s Eve address, vowing Russia “will never back down.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s New Year’s Eve address, after nearly two years of war, was defiant.
Ukrainian pilots were mastering F-16 warplanes supplied by their allies, he said. In 2024, “we will definitely see them in our skies…so that our enemies can certainly see what our real wrath is.”
Russia would also feel full force of Ukraine’s domestic arms production, he added, including at least a million drones.
In Rome, Pope Francis prayed for victims of conflicts around globe, including people of Sudan and “martyred Rohingya” of Myanmar.
“At the end of year, have courage to ask how many lives have been torn apart in armed conflicts, how many deaths?” 87-year-old pontiff said after his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square.
“And how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty,,,those who have interest in these conflicts, listen to voice of conscience.”
Several pivotal elections are scheduled in 2024, with political fate of more than four billion people to be decided in contests that will shape Russia, Britain, European Union, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Venezuela and host of other nations.
But one election in particular promises global consequences.
In United States, Democrat Joe Biden, 81, and Republican Donald Trump, 77, appear set for November rerun of their divisive 2020 presidential contest.
Biden marked new year by proclaiming optimism for US economy and his well-known love for chocolate-chip ice cream.
In televised appearance ahead of New York celebrations, he touted his country’s resilience after pandemic, announcing that American people “are back.”
As incumbent, Biden has at times appeared to show his age and even supporters worry about toll of another bruising four years in office.
There are at least as many concerns about Trump return.
He faces prosecution on several counts, and 2024 could determine whether bombastic self-proclaimed billionaire goes to Oval Office or jail.
Philippine National Police (PNP) has reported significant increase in number of firecracker-related incidents during New Year’s Eve celebration.
Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP public information chief, said in a phone interview with reporters total of 509 cases were reported on first day of 2024.
“This number is expected to rise as additional reports from hospitals are processed,” Fajardo said.
PNP report is higher than 231 cases of fireworks-related injuries (FWRI) reported by Department of Health as of 5:59 in the morning although Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said DOH figure might also go up.
“It is possible that number of (FWRI) cases would still go up since there could be delay in reporting from some of our sentinel sites and hospitals… but I can tell you, number is higher than last year,” Herbosa said in online briefing.
He also said 231 cases included youngest, 11-month-old boy, and the oldest, 76-year-old man.
“It is first New Year without any restrictions on movement due to pandemic, only community fireworks displays were allowed…this time, people started using firecrackers again… cases went up,” Herbosa pointed out.
Ninety-three percent of new cases occurred at home and in streets, with seven out of 10 or 71 percent of injured being males.
National Capital Region reported most number of cases, followed by Central Luzon with 27 cases and Ilocos Region with 24.
Regions with lowest number of cases are Davao Region and Mimaropa with one case each; Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Cordillera Autonomous Region with three cases each.
Bureau of Fire Protection also reported zero firecracker-related fires from Dec. 24 to 31 last year.
Fire Superintendent Annalee Carbajal-Atienza, BFP spokesperson, attributed zero cases to information campaign BFP launched to prevent incident and visibility of firetrucks in many areas in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported fireworks during New Year’s celebration caused thermal inversion, with smog enveloping Metro Manila skies.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Rhea Torres said pollutants from firecrackers accumulated during that time, causing reduced visibility in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
“We examined our data and we saw we experienced thermal inversion…these are smokes from firecrackers and accumulated below, resulting in reduced visibility compared to normal days… thermal inversion will disperse once hot wind will go up and pollutants from firecrackers will be dispersed,” Torres said.
She advised those with respiratory problems to wear masks amid threat of pollutants from thermal inversion. “It is harmful especially to those with respiratory problems like asthma, so as much as possible if you will go out, it is better to wear mask.”
Torres explained thermal inversion was different from volcanic smog from Taal Volcano.
“Volcanic smog was caused by sulfur dioxide from volcano while thermal inversion was caused mostly by pollutants or particulates in atmosphere that cannot go up… pollutants are trapped because of cold wind above land,” Torres added. Smog was experienced in Metro Manila on Sept. 22, 2023 due to excessive emission of heavy traffic, especially during rush hour.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources has set normal air quality at 35 micrograms per normal cubic meter.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) seized 11,101 assorted illegal firecrackers with estimated value of nearly P400,000 during New Year revelry.
NCRPO said 5,947 illegal firecrackers were confiscated by Quezon City Police District.
Northern Police District seized 1,228 banned firecrackers, followed by Eastern Police District with 1,103; Manila Police District, 292; Southern Police District, 225, and Regional Special Operations Group with 2,381.
NCRPO said 13 people have been arrested for illegal use, sale and possession of fireworks.
Police have recorded over 30 firecracker-related injuries across metropolis.
Nearly 4,000 police personnel were deployed in Metro Manila to ensure safe and peaceful New Year’s celebration.
BABY boy, first-time mother bore as clock struck midnight on first day of 2024.
Rhona Lyn Concepcion, 23, gave birth to her baby son five seconds after 12 midnight on Jan. 1,2024 at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Manila, known for its expertise in newborn, mother-and-child and pediatric care.
Concepcion and her partner John Michael Dizon, 22, will name their first-born Jhaiden Railey.
Concepcion “struggled” during her delivery started upon arrival at the hospital from town of General Mariano Alvarez in Cavite at 7 in the evening Sunday.
Dizon teared up upon learning the good news, saying they waited long time, three years, according to Concepcion to have child.
Couple expressed hope their first-born would grow up healthy, courteous and God-fearing, while Dizon vowed he would give his best for his family.
Hospitall received fewer than average 20 to 30 pregnant women expecting delivery in first hours of 2024, according to its high-risk pregnancy specialist Dr. Brenan Ian Capuno.
Capuno said while hospital no longer requires COVID-19 testing on pregnant women before delivery, it continues to isolate those who manifest COVID-19 symptoms.
He added hospital also gave new clothes for newborn babies and other needs to mothers.
“For the past six months, we’ve been reiterating our decision not to extend deadline is final… affirmed by President…unfortunately, there are those PUJs who can no longer be covered by consolidation,” Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Andy Ortega said.deadline for consolidation given to traditional jeepneys ended at 5 in the afternoon despite one-month extension to operate in selected routes until Jan. 31, 2024,
Ortega said in December 2023 alone, at least 100 transport groups filed application for government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
“We are pleased that they were able to join the program before deadline of consolidation,” Ortega said.
He added that final number of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) covered by PUVM will be known days after deadline.
According to Ortega, PUJs were only asked to submit undertaking on their intention to form cooperative.
“This includes names of members and their signatures, their routes and name of cooperative as there is still process of accreditation…whether partial or full, we will do that later…what is important is for them to be covered by the program,” he said.
Meanwhile, transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) president Mody Floranda asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reverse his decision on no extension for PUVMP.
Floranda added that Piston and Manibela are still awaiting decision of Supreme Court after it failed to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
Supreme Court has ordered Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to comment on petition to block PUVMP after Piston filed petition for certiorari and injunction on Dec. 20, seeking issuance of TRO to prevent DOTr and LTFRB from enforcing the program, especially mandatory franchise consolidation, until petition is resolved.
“Based on data, almost 73.5 percent of traditional jeepneys have yet to consolidate, particularly in Marikina, Cogeo, Antipolo, majority are still traditional jeepneys, that is why we cannot see that at least 70 percent of traditional jeepneys were able to comply with modernization program,” Floranda said.
ISKUP! 