ASEAN NOW Philippines

PNP: 'Odette' death toll hits 375 with 56 still missing

The death toll of Super Typhoon Odette (international name Rai) has climbed to 375 according to the Philippine National Police's monitoring across six of its regional offices, it disclosed Tuesday. The regional police office in Central Visayas recorded the highest number of deaths with 170 casualties in the region. Police Col. Rhoderick Alba, PNP spokesperson, was careful to point out that the fatality figures are still up for validation. As of Tuesday midnight, 56 remain missing while 515 have been listed as injured in the aftermath of the most destructive typhoon to hit the country after Yolanda in 2013.

Filipinos urged to be a hero like Andres Bonifacio

President Rodrigo Duterte called on Filipinos to emulate the heroism of Andres Bonifacio and use his bravery as a “guiding post” in overcoming the nation’s challenges. In a speech commemorating Bonifacio’s 158th birth anniversary, Duterte said the public should emulate the hero’s “strong sense of civic duty, courage and love of country in our daily lives, even in the simplest ways.” “The bravery and patriotism of Gat Andres Bonifacio and many of our forebears who fought against foreign dominators must serve as our guiding post in beating the odds that hinder our progress as a people and as a nation,” the president said.

Pacquiao says he was 'naive' drug user

Philippines presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao says he was "naive" and ignorant of the law when he took crystal meth in his youth, but argues offenders today know drugs are illegal and should be punished. Pacquiao, a retired world champion boxer, has been a high-profile backer of President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on drugs that has killed thousands of people. But in the lead up to the 2022 elections, Pacquiao has sought to distance himself from the outgoing Duterte, who is facing an international probe into his bloody crackdown, and now says offenders should have a "chance to defend themselves".

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In major ocean polluter Philippines, group turns plastic waste into planks

In major ocean polluter Philippines, group turns plastic waste into planks A group of recyclers in the Philippines is trying to ease the country's worsening plastic waste crisis by turning bottles, single-use sachets and snack food wrappers that clog rivers and spoil beaches into building materials. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Cf8jyN #Philippines #PH #plastic #waste

Philippines sets cash grants for public transport drivers as fuel prices soar

The Philippine government said on Monday it would provide 1 billion pesos ($19.7 million) in cash grants to tens of thousands of drivers of public utility vehicles to ease the burden of soaring fuel costs. The cash dole-out will benefit around 178,000 drivers, a government inter-agency panel said in a statement. It is the only measure approved so far in response to calls for financial relief for consumers from rising fuel prices. Calls are mounting for the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products, which the energy ministry supports. The finance ministry, however, has some reservations, with officials cautioning it could affect the government's COVID-19 recovery budget. The energy minister, Alfonso Cusi, has proposed his department be given authority to suspend the excise tax. Cusi last week said he had met with oil companies seeking their commitment to ensure supply, and asked if fuel price discounts could also be provided to consumers.

Foreigner and seven others arrested in Angeles City drug sting https://aseannow.com/

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Luzon have arrested eight drug suspects, including a Malaysian national, in an entrapment operation in Barangay Sto. Niño, Balibago, this city on Thursday night. In a report on Friday, PDEA-Central Luzon Regional Director Bryan Babang identified the arrested suspects as Stephanie Emaas, Jordan Dela Cruz, Milanio Leyva, Edmundo Monzor, Mark Anthony Pasukin, Jonel Salvador, Aurelio Naigui, and Malaysian national Misa Asen. Babang said the operation was conducted after authorities received information from a concerned citizen. He said the entrapment operation yielded some fifteen grams of shabu with an estimated street price of PHP102,000, assorted drug paraphernalia and the buy-bust money. Charges for violation of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, will be filed against the arrested suspects. (PNA)

Cyclone Kompasu strikes Philippines, kills 9

Cyclone Kompasu strikes Philippines, kills 9 https://bit.ly/3DCyL5Z

Philippines' Duterte says daughter running for president in 2022 elections

Philippines' Duterte says daughter running for president in 2022 elections - media https://bit.ly/3a3XjIe

Philippines' Duterte says he is retiring from politics

Philippines' Duterte says he is retiring from politics, but not everyone is convinced https://bit.ly/3owbDSo

Philippines divers clear plastic waste from corals for World Cleanup Day https://aseannow.com/

Divers in the Philippines pulled plastic bags, drinks bottles and fishing nets from a coral reef on Saturday, joining an annual cleanup that aims to highlight the impact of garbage on the world's oceans. About a dozen divers cleared rubbish from the reef and nearby beaches as they marked World Cleanup Day in Batangas province, a popular spot for snorkelling and diving south of the capital, Manila. "For every fishing line or net that you remove, you could actually prevent a turtle from dying or getting caught in it or eating a plastic bag," organiser Carmela Sevilla told Reuters, holding up a mesh bag full of garbage. The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands with nearly 36,300 km (22,555 miles) of coastline, is one of the world's most marine resource-rich countries. But campaigners say its marine resources are threatened by the neglect of local authorities and lax implementation of environmental laws. Another of the clean-up participants, Haley Osbourne, 35, a Canadian who has lived in the Philippines five years, said all divers should do their bit by picking up any rubbish they come across while underwater. Most of the plastic trash blighting the world's oceans comes from rivers and coastlines. Of the total, 81% percent is estimated to come from Asia, with a third of the Asian plastic originating in the Philippines, according to a 2021 report by Our World in Data, a scientific online publication. World Cleanup Day is held annually on the third Saturday of September.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippine president in 2022

Boxer Manny Pacquiao to run for Philippine president in 2022 https://bit.ly/3ko8YYf

Foreigners with expired visas can stay in Philippines – BI

Foreigners with expired visas can stay in Philippines – BI

Drone footage showed empty streets in the Philippines capital

Drone footage showed empty streets in the Philippines capital on Monday as a two-week hard lockdown imposed by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus got underway.

C-130 Aircrash

#Breaking*** Philippines Armed Forces C-130 crashes while attempting landing at Jolo Island, Sulu Province. 15 people have been rescued from the crash site. The military aircraft had 85 people on board. First responders and rescue crews have been mobilized. #Aircrash #Philippines More Updates to follow… ASEAN NOW 🇵🇭