Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. submits self to authorities
Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr. submitted himself to Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Jesus Dueza for an inquest proceeding in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.
At least 57 bodies, composed of two female lawyers, over 30 journalists and members of the Mangudadatu family were dug up at a mass grave at Barangay Salman in Ampatuan town the past several days.
According to reports, the victims were on their way to file the certificate of candidacy for Maguindanao governor of Buluan Vice Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu at the Commission on Elections provincial office in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, when stopped by some 100 armed men allegedly led by the mayor.
The mayor is being pitted by the Ampatuan clan against Mangudadatu for the provincial gubernatorial post in connection with the 2010 polls.
The mayor is the son of Maguindanao Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. and brother of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan.
The ARMM governor personally handed over his brother to Dureza at the grounds of the Maguindanao Provincial Capitol and was ferried by a helicopter towards the
DOJ files multiple murder raps vs. Mayor Ampatuan
In a teleconference at the Department of Justice (DOJ), DOJ Acting Secretary and concurrent Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera said that Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno led the inquest proceedings against Datu Unsay, Maguindanao Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.
Devanadera said that Mayor Ampatuan was charged with multiple murder in connection with the Maguindanao massacre.
Likewise, the DOJ on Thursday formed two teams of prosecutors to focus on Maguindanao massacre case.
Senior State Prosecutor Leo Dacera III will be the over-all head of the team.
The first group of prosecutors will handle the inquest proceedings and preliminary investigation of all the cases related to Maguindanao massacre.
Group 2 will prosecute the case initially filed before the General Santos City RTC.
PNP suspends permit to carry firearms in Maguindanao,
”Effective today, all permits to carry firearms outside of residence are hereby suspended indefinitely in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City,” said Verzosa. The move, according to the PNP chief, is being implemented in close coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Verzosa said he is also reiterating his earlier recommendation to limit the assignment of police officers to government officials to only two close-in security aides who should all be in proper uniform when on duty.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno said the government has quietly taken an array of forceful measures meant to bring to justice all those responsible for the massacre of at least 57 people in the town of
The group of Genalyn Mangudadatu, wife of Buluan town Vice Mayor Esmail Mangudadatu, were on their way to the capital town of Shariff Aguak on Monday morning when more or less 100 armed men, allegedly led by Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., stopped them along a checkpoint and brought them to a mountainous area of Barangay Salman,
Ampatuan town where they were massacred.
Aside from Genalyn Mangudadatu, also killed were Esmail’s sisters Farina Mangudadatu and Eden Mangudadatu, also the incumbent vice mayor of Mangudadatu town, and several relatives and supporters. The Mangudadatus were to file the certificate of candidacy of Esmail who is eyeing the governorship of Maguindanao province.
Given that national agencies like the DILG have no jurisdiction over government agencies in autonomous regions, Puno said he will ask permission from the Office of the President for the Department to investigate all local executives who will be implicated in the massacre and to place all of them under preventive suspension pending such a probe.
“Forceful measures have been taken quietly since Monday while not allowing armed groups, including the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) from taking control of the area,” Puno said.
Puno said it was the quick response by the military to secure the site of the crime and pursue these perpetrators actually prevented these assailants from burying all of the dead and their vehicles.
Verzosa also said he is recommending to the National Police Commission (Napolcom) the suspension of the deputation of local chief executives to oversee police functions and control.
“I will recommend to the CMC (Crisis Management Committee) to limit to two close-in security personnel of all personalities and all of them shall be in uniform and only in the performance of their official function.. All persons in civilian clothes and others impersonating legal authorities that are carrying firearms will be accosted and investigated,” said Verzosa.
At the same time, Verzosa said checkpoints and security inspections will be conducted to enforce these directives.
”There will be no let-up in the AFP/PNP operations and the combined PNP-CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and DOJ (Department of Justice) investigation shall proceed irrespective of whoever will be implicated by witnesses and evidence. Rule of law, rules of court and rules on evidence will be followed in all our law enforcement actions,” said Verzosa.
First DOE E10 Fuel Economy Run slated on Nov 27
By Bradley De
The Department of Energy has been conducting fuel economy runs since 2002 promoting fuel economy consciousness and consumer empowerment by obtaining data on actual fuel consumption of passenger vehicles based on the actual driving conditions employing fuel efficiency measures and techniques.
The DOE will conduct yet another fuel economy run on November 27 but this time it will be called the First DOE E10 Fuel Economy Run because this will have a good comparative study of the fuel economy rating of the latest different gasoline- fed vehicle models fueled byE10 blended 93 % octane gasoline with those of the gasoline- fueled entries of the previous fuel economy runs. The eco run route will be from DOE to
The objective of this event is to advocate the efficient utilization of fuel in the transport sector by applying fuel efficient driving techniques, demonstrate the important role the driver plays in achieving substantial reduction in fuel consumption and maintenance cost, provide vital information on the fuel economy the fuel economy rating performance of the different brand new vehicles, and make comparative analysis with the data obtained from the previous fuel economy runs.
The participants of the said activity are the existing stocks of different vehicle models of participating car manufacturers. They are divided into three categories. The Passenger Cars ( less than 1.3 L engine displacement, 1.3L-1.5L, 1.6L-1.8L, 2.0L and above), the SUVs and the APVs/ MPVs. All participants will be fueled by Total Premier Unleaded provided by our sponsor Total (
RP to receive H1N1 vaccines from WHO
The Philippine government will soon receive H1N1 vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) after the two parties signed an agreement yesterday and presented the document to Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier today.
The said agreement stipulates that the government will ensure its registration and authorize its use; commit to its appropriate and ethical use; handle its importation, customs clearance and distribution; and notify WHO of occurrence of any unexpected adverse events.
The endowment, according to WHO Director General Margaret Chan, is part of WHO’s pledge to make the distribution equitable and fair to developing countries and poor and vulnerable populations once it becomes available.
The WHO made this commitment during the 60th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in September this year where WHO said that its donations coming from more developed countries and pharmaceuticals will be enough to cover 10% of the population of the developing world.
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) disclosed that the first deliveries of the vaccines shall be given to health care providers.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said that these medical personnel are at higher risk of getting the disease than ordinary people due to the larger probability of exposure, plus they may also unknowingly transmit the infections to their families and other patients with other illnesses.
Duque said that the next in the priority list are pregnant women because they have 10x the risk of needing intensive care if infected compared to the general population; people aged 6 months to 59 years old with chronic medical conditions; children five years old and below and adults who are beyond 60 years old (healthy or otherwise) because they are considered to be at highest risk of severe infection; and lastly, the remainder of the population.
The health chief stressed that the vaccination is free of charge and will only be given to those who will volunteer to be immunized against the novel virus.
Duque said that the WHO estimates that it will be able to obtain donations and funding for procurement of at least 200 million vaccines in the first year, which will be enough to cover 10% of the population of the developing world.
“But of course, we cannot afford to just sit and wait for it.
Therefore, we are now making our best efforts to procure on our own,” the health chief said, emphasizing that the DOH has already allocated P100 million for it this year.
“We have to understand, however, the reality that because the global manufacturing capacity is limited, supplies may be initially inadequate and not readily be augmented,” Duque explained.
The government also expressed its gratefulness to the WHO for its continuous health assistance to the victims of the three consecutive typhoons and tropical storms that hit the country recently.
WHO also responded to the request of the DOH to send a team of experts from the WHO Global Outbreak and Alert Response Network (GOARN) to assess the leptospirosis outbreak in the country and to help improve the country’s post-disaster surveillance and disease outbreak control and response efforts.
“We laud the WHO for its steady collaborative partnership with the Philippine government in mounting a coordinated and integrated health sector response to many disease challenges in the country especially in times of disasters. Our country is grateful,” President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo said.
