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PH, SoKor to continue working together vs. Covid-19, terrorism
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Philippines and South Korea will continue working together in responding to various challenges and threats, Philippine Army (PA) commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said on Wednesday. “Our love for our countries, families, ways of life, and democracy will keep the lessons of the Korean War contemporary. Against Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), terrorism, or even calamities, our great veterans will remind us to be resilient, and win together with other members of the community of nations,” Sobejana said during the commemoration of the 21st Korean War Veterans of the Philippines Memorial Day and the 46th anniversary of the Philippine Expeditionary Forc e to Korea (PEFTOK) Veterans' Association, Inc. T he o c casion was obser ved through a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial Pylon, Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Army spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said in a statement. Sobejana led the commemoration honoring the PEFTOK's gallantry and service in the Korean War in 1950 where five battalion combat teams fought in a foreign land alongside United Nations forces to aid South Korea against invading communist forces. Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man expressed Seoul's gratitude to the contribution and sacrifices of the Filipino veterans whose service led to the freedom of the Republic of Korea. “Korea will not enjoy democracy without the contribution and sacrifice of Filipino and Korean veterans. Today, on Remembrance Day, we remember their sacrifice, valor, dedication, devotion, and contribution for the freedom of Korea and the world,” he said. Han also shared the message of President Rodrigo Duterte to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, saying the Philippines will forever stand with Korea to defend freedom. Sobejana also acknowledged and extended his gratitude to the Filipino veterans of the Korean War for their bravery that led to their victory in the battles of Yultong and Eerie Hill. “Today, we are again given the privilege to honor the deeds of our predecessors, savor their continuing tradition of valor, and celebrate freedom with our South Korean ally. To our veterans, your courage earned not only the admiration of many nations but raised the pride of our own. Your triumph in the Battle of Yultong somehow reminds us that we have already been a world-class Army all along," he added. (MNS)
global NEWS
Saturday-Friday | September 12 - 18, 2020
DNA confirms bombers in Jolo twin blasts were Asians — police MANILA (Mabuhay) — The suicide bombers who had caused the August 24 deadly explosions in Jolo, Sulu were two female Asians, a police official said on Thursday. Police Lieutenant Colonel Kris Conrad Gutierrez, spokesperson of the special investigation task group looking into the blasts, said that the results of the DNA tests did not determine whether the bombers were Filipinos. "'Yung result po ng DNA doon sa dalawang accordingly na suicide bombers ay both Asian female. Ang DNA po kasi ay nagbabased sa evidence, 'yung evidence po na nakalap natin based on the Crime Lab ay sila po ay Asian female," Gutierrez said in a phone interview. "Hindi po madetermine ng Crime Lab natin kasi race lang po ang puwede nating madetermine. It's either Asian o Caucasian, 'yun ang puwede nating madetermine," he added. Gutierrez further said the age of the suicide bombers were also not determined by the Crime Laboratory. It was also found out that the bombers in the recent explosions have no blood relation with the perpetrators of the Jolo Cathedral bombing last January 27, 2019, the police official noted. "According din naman po sa kanila, mayroon silang standard, 'yung nangyari doon sa Cathedral, there is no blood relation between doon sa nangyari sa recent bombing and doon sa Cathedral bombers. Ibig sabihin, hindi po sila magkamag-anak o magkapatid," Gutierrez said. Earlier, Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Corleto Vinluan Jr. said the suicide bombers were Tausugs
based on the accounts of witnesses. Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said one of the suspected suicide bombers was the wife of Norman Lasuca, the first Filipino suicide bomber, while the other one was possibly the wife of Abu Talha, an ISIS liaison to the Abu Sayyaf Group. Meanwhile, Gutierrez said pipe bombs were used in the explosions that claimed the lives of 15 individuals and wounded more than 70 others. "Based on the statement na binigay naman po ng mga investigator at 'yun pong sa Crime Lab, we found out na ang composition na may IED o improvised explosive device is ammonium nitrate fuel oil... 'yung type po ng IED is pipe bomb..." Gutierrez said. Raps filed According to Gutierrez, crim-
inal complaints have already been lodged against at least 20 individuals for supposedly perpetrating the two bomb attacks. He, however, refused to disclose their names as operations are still ongoing to locate the suspects. "We filed cases [before] the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor last September 4. We filed 15 cases sa first blast and then 14 cases sa second blast. Unfortunately, we cannot divulge the names of the suspects because of the ongoing follow-up operations against them," Gutierrez said. Without naming the suspects, Gutierrez said most of those slapped with raps are members of the Abu Sayyaf Group while for the others, police are still checking their affiliations. "Definitely, some of them are ASG members pero tinitingnan pa rin po natin 'yung affiliation ng ibang personalities," Gutier-
rez said. "Kung ganito kadami, hindi lang namin malaman, baka iisa rin lang naman 'to. Sila-sila lang din ang nagplano, maybe 15 personality, sila lang 'yung nagplano ng una, ng pangalawa," he added. Gutierrez also said a tricycle driver, who allegedly transported one of the suicide bombers to the site of explosion, is now being considered as a person of interest. "Nagvoluntary surrender po itong ating tricycle driver at iniimbestigahan na po ng Jolo MPS. Inaalam pa po natin kung siya ba ay wala talagang kinalaman..." Gutierrez said. The military had said Mundi Sawadjaan was the mastermind of the twin bombings as well as the previous attacks in Sulu province. Contrary to reports that he is in Zamboanga province, Vinluan has said he is still in Patikul. (MNS)
DOJ reopens probe on Pimentel quarantine breach case
MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department
of Justice (DOJ) has reopened the case against Senator Aquino "Koko" Pimentel III arising from an alleged violation of quarantine rules in March. In an order dated Sept. 9 and released on Thursday, Assistant State Prosecutor Wendell Bendoval asked Pimentel and the complainant in the case, lawyer Rico Paolo R. Quicho to submit a comment on the report of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on the incident by Sept. 21. The NBI memorandum report dated August 24 was received by prosecutors on Sept. 4 and included a copy of the incident report by Dr. Saturnino Javier of the Makati Medical Center (MMC). Bendoval, in reopening the case, said it was needed in line with the DOJ's "policy
of admitting all evidence that could assist in the judicious resolution of complaints." Last July, the case against Pimentel was already up for resolution by prosecutors after the parties completed the submission of their respective pleadings. In his counter-affidavit, Pimentel said the complaint against him "is fatally defective" and "is based principally on news reports. "Considering (complainant) Atty. (Rico) Quicho's lack of personal knowledge, I am being charged based on mere hearsay," the lawmaker added, referring to the copies of online news reports attached by Quicho in his complaint. The DOJ is evaluating the complaint filed by Quicho against Pimentel for alleged violation of Republic Act 11332 or
the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act and three Department of Health issuances -- Memorandum Circular No. 2020-0090, Advisory No. 2 and DOH Circular No. 2020-0080, concerning quarantine measures implemented due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The MMC earlier said Pimentel breached its infection and containment protocols when he went to the hospital with his wife who was about to give birth through cesarean section. The hospital said Pimentel's visit "unduly exposed healthcare workers to possible infection" after it was found out that he tested positive for Covid-19 on March 25. (MNS)
HONTIVEROS... from Page 1 encourage them to stay for local employment. Citing data from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Hontiveros said the salary for entry level nurses in the Philippines ranges from P8,000 to P13,500. "Hindi pwedeng pipigilan natin silang umalis, pero hindi natin sila bibigyan ng dahilan para mag-stay," Hontiveros said. "Kung naaalagaan ang kapakanan nila, hindi na kailangan ng deployment ban sa mga susunod na taon. Mas mapapalakas din natin ang ating
pampublikong kalusugan dahil mas maraming health workers ang pipiliing manatili sa bansa," she added. Last July 17, the DBM issued Budget Circular 2020-4, upgrading the entry level salaries of government nurses from Salary Grade 11 to Salary Grade 15—amounting to around P32,000. Hontiveros further said that the P13.5 billion allocated for the hiring of additional health workers and provision of additional benefits for them under the Bayanihan 2 bill shall not
be used as a justification for the Philippine government to hinder the deployment of those who opt to work abroad. Earlier this month, seven nurses bound for UK had reportedly been prevented from leaving the country because their visas were issued after March 8, though their contracts were signed before that date. The Bureau of Immigration later cleared them for departure after consulting with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) over an "ambiguity" in its advisory on
exemptions to a deployment ban of overseas healthcare workers. According to POEA's Advisory No. 47-A issued June 2, the following healthcare workers are allowed to leave for their overseas employment: returning workers with OEC exemption certificates, new hires with contracts signed before March 8 and with OECs, and seafarers who were previously hired as doctors and nurses and will be deployed by the same licensed manning agency. Senator Joel Villanueva, chairperson of the Senate
committee on labor, said misunderstandings like this should immediately be clarified by the DOLE. Like Senator Nancy Binay, he is also for the lifting of the deployment ban on healthcare workers, stressing the need to balance the regulation with realities on the ground. On Tuesday, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said he is looking on the possibility of also exempting nurses who have completed their requirements as of August 21 from the overseas deployment ban. (MNS)
