PBBM directs 2 agencies to join forces, combat human trafficking

By Vince Lopez

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

THE oil spill from the sunken tanker M/T Princess Empress has spread to an area the equivalent of “around a thousand football fields,” the environmental group Greenpeace Philippines said.

“Based on our satellite imagery from our mapping team in Greenpeace International, we have seen as of March 8, around 6.2 kilometers worth of oil is continually being spilled,” Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Jefferson Chua told ANC in an interview.

“This is equivalent to around a thousand football fields. So, we can imagine how big that is,” Chua added. The tanker, which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil, sank on February 28 off the waters of Naujan in Oriental Mindoro.

“With their projection of around a thousand barrels a day being spilled, we will see all of that 800,000 liters spilled, on Monday directed the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) to harmonize government and private sector efforts in combating human trafficking.

The President said human trafficking could compromise the country’s economy and national security.

“The IACAT and the PAOCC must take the lead in harmonizing government initiatives, public private partnerships to thwart the business of human trafficking in its multifarious operations on the ground and now becoming more and more important online,” Mr. Marcos said during a briefing at Malacañang.

The President specifically directed the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to assist the IACAT in launching a communication campaign

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COMRADES IN ARMS.

Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Leodevic Guinid, US Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Vanantwerp, Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Commanding General of the US Army Corps Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, and Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Alvin Flores, Salaknib exercise control group director, link arms during the opening ceremony at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija (see story on A2). AFP

‘Everything Everywhere’ conquers Oscars with Asian stars Yeoh, Quan

HOLLYWOOD—Surreal sci-fi film

“Everything Everywhere All at Once” dominated the Oscars on Sunday, winning seven golden statuettes including best picture, Hollywood’s most coveted prize. The unorthodox but beloved movie

Sta. Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chairman of the House committee on public order and safety, said his panel has invited Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., and the PNP official responsible for the governor’s police escorts, five of whom did not report to duty on the day of the attack.

THE Department of Justice on Monday vowed to build a database of police officers or military personnel who were dismissed or went absent without leave.

“So that if ever they will be part of any security forces, they should have good identification and they will have