Solon files bill to extend term of president, other officials

Malacañang Palace: half-day work in government offices on October 31,2019

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Malacañang Palace announced today that work in government offices on Thursday, October 31, 2019, would only be half-day for Undas 2019 preparations.

The Palace released Memorandum Circular No. 69, issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

“To provide government employees full opportunity to properly observe All Saints Day (01 November 2019) and to allow them to travel to and from the different regions in the country, work in government offices on 31 October 2019 is hereby suspended from 12:00 noon onwards,” the circular read.

However, agencies working in health services, disaster preparedness and response, and other performance of other vital services would need to work the whole day tomorrow.

The Malacañang, however, did not announce any class and work suspension for the private sector.

“The suspension of classes in private schools and work in private companies and offices are left to the sound discretion of their respective heads or employees,” the circular read.

The circular takes effect immediately.

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All Saints', All Souls' Day Philippines

‘No work,no pay’ in All Saints, All Souls’ Day – DOLE

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Department of Labor and Employment clarified that November 1 (All Saints’ Day) and 2 (All Souls’ Day) are “no work, no pay,” as the President declared these as non-working days.

DOLE also provided a computation of workers’ wages if they would work on such days, according to Unang Balita.

According to DOLE, those working in the private sector would have an additional 30 percent in their salary during the first eight hours of work.

And if an employee would overtime, there is an extra 30 percent on his or her hourly rate.

The salaries will be higher if the employee’s rest day would fall on November 1 and 2.

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7 dead, 20 injured when truck hits a church

7 dead, 20 injured when truck hits a church

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Seven people have been confirmed dead, including a 2-year-old girl, while 20 others were injured after an Isuzu Forward truck hit a church while traveling to Brgy. Limonan, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, Sunday, late afternoon.

According to the report of P / Captain Roger Bartiana, chief of the town, three victims, Gerelyn Chavez, two years old, Jhon Brynt Albano, 19, at Boboy Cuesta, 34, residents of Brgy. Burawin, Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur were dead-on-the-spot. Four others Liza Abaño Berano, 40; Elizabeth Magallanes, 48; Reyan Salba, 20 and Leonardo Magallanes died at the hospital.

Twenty more people were treated in the hospital while no one inside the church was hurt.

According to the witnesses, the rain was heavy, and the asphalted roads were slippery, but the driver of the truck known as alias “Edgar” was not driving fast.

According to reports, 50 people came from a wedding Brgy. Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay, and on their way home to Tabina town were aboard the truck when the driver lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into a church past 4:00 pm.

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Magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits Mindanao areas

Magnitude 6.4 earthquake hits Mindanao areas

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A Magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolts different areas in Mindanao on Tuesday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PIVS).

The PIVS located the quake’s epicenter at Tulunan town in Cotabato province, which was also hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on October 16, where three people were killed.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at Magnitude 6.6.

“Mas malakas ito kumpara sa nakaraang lindol (This was stronger than the last one),” said Tulunan Mayor Reuel Limbungan.

Mayor Reuel Limbungan suspended all classes and work in all public and private offices in Tulunan today to allow authorities to check the damage the earthquake has done to all infrastructure in the town.

“Walang pasok sa school at munisipyo, kahit pribado wala muna. Mga ospital, we will check and get the patients out, nag iikot kami,” he told radio DZMM.

Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera also suspended classes in all levels in General Santos City.

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Woman used her baby to escape in prison Camarines Sur

Woman used her baby to escape prison Camarines Sur

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A 24-year-old woman used her baby to escape from prison in Goa Police Station, Goa, Camarines Sur, Saturday afternoon.

Authorities believe the suspect, Marcel Gimantog Marcial, a resident of Brgy. Hiwacloy is now hiding in the mountainous area.

According to the report, the suspect’s partner came with their (few months old) as the police were preparing to bring the suspect to the district jail of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at around 4:30 pm.

The suspect pleaded with the guards to remove her handcuffs for a while so that she could her and feed her baby.

Out of pity and consideration, the police removed the handcuffs and gave the female prisoner five minutes to feed her baby.

However, when the guards turned their backs, the woman suddenly handed the baby to her partner and quickly ran up the mountainous area near the police station.

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5 robbers kill grocery store employee, merchandiser

5 robbers kill grocery store employee, merchandiser

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Five robbers shot and killed an employee and a security guard of a grocery store after they failed to open its cash register in Quezon City last weekend.

The victims were first reported to be injured but were later declared dead, according to reports.

According to the report, the robbers entered a grocery store in Brgy. Holy Spirit in Quezon City this Sunday night.

In the CCTV footage, the cashier immediately hid while the male merchandiser resisted, prompting the suspects to push him away.

The footage also showed the other robbers went directly to the cash register and threw a backpack. They tried to open the box but failed.

The two injured victims were rushed to the hospital while five suspects fled on three motorcycles.

According to the investigation, four of the robbers entered the grocery store while another served as a lookout.

The backpack was left near the box, where the suspects were supposed to put the money.

This is not the first time the grocery store has been robbed.

The police continue to conduct follow up operations to find the suspects.

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2 containers of pork products from China seized

2 containers of pork products from China seized

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Two containers of pork products from China were seized in the Port of Manila, according to a report by the Department of Agriculture yesterday.

It was learned that the containers were all misdeclared, allegedly containing tomato paste, according to Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

The shipment is consigned to Jeniti International Trading in Binondo, Manila.

The Bureau of Customs further assesses the value of the shipment, while the Bureau of Animal Industry will also evaluate the products if they are ASF positive.

Pork products from China are banned from entering the country because the country was one of the countries affected by the African Swine Fever.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is coming to the Philippines

Russian President Vladimir Putin is coming to the Philippines

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit the Philippines after being invited by President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was what Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said yesterday in the news forum “In Focus.”

Khovaev said this was Putin’s first time traveling the country.

“President Duterte officially invited President Putin to visit the Philippines,” said Khovaev.

But Khovaev declined to provide further details on Putin’s upcoming visit to the Philippines.

Aside from Putin’s acceptance of the invitation, he also thanked Duterte.

“The invitation of President Duterte was accepted by President Putin with gratitude,” Khovaev said.

Khovaev hopes the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Philippines will happen soon.

Duterte has visited Russia twice since becoming President in 2016.

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Bulacan councilor's son dead while jet skiing in Pantabangan Dam

Bulacan councilor’s son dead while jet skiing in Pantabangan Dam

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A Bulacan councilor’s son, who was on vacation from the United States, was found dead three days after he was reported missing while jet skiing at Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija.

According to the report, the fishermen found the floating body of the victim Tyron Anthony Villano, 38, the son of a San Jose Del Monte City councilor at about 5:15 a.m.

Villano appeared to have just returned home from America and was last seen alive Tuesday afternoon while enjoying a jet ski in the dam. An eyewitness said the victim had been engulfed by a large current of water and had never floated again.

As a result, authorities immediately conducted a search and rescue operation to find the Bulacan councilor’s son but failed to find the latter.

Ramsey Manalo Reyes, a member of the Bulacan Rescue team, said they used an underwater surveillance camera to locate the victim but failed to detect him.

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2 Africans, 1 Nigerian arrested in drug buy-bust

2 Africans, 1 Nigerian arrested in drug buy-bust

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Authorities arrested a Nigerian national and two Africans in separate drug buy-bust operations in Cavite and Ifugao.

A joint force of Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested Nigerian national Leonard Ohaeri, 27, in Barangay Bayan Luma 4, Imus, Cavite, Wednesday morning. The suspect was from Lagos, Nigeria, and a resident of BF Resort, Las Piñas City.

Police confiscated 220 grams of shabu worth Php1,360,000.00 from Ohaeri.

Authorities arrested two North African nationals while transporting P700,000 worth of marijuana to a checkpoint in Lamut, Ifugao, yesterday.

Police identified the arrested suspects as Negash Abede Natnael, 24, and Saffi Mohamednur, 28, who were living in Pasay City and were all Eritrean nationals from Northeast, Africa.

According to the report, the suspects put the weeds inside a tubular package. The two came from Bontoc, Mountain Province, and were on the bus going to Cubao when an informant at the checkpoint reported them to the police.

It was learned that the Eritrean nationals were in the country to study. However, their student visas already expired.

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