Aquino government releases fund for capability
upgrade of PNP
The Department of Budget and Management released
P2.86 billion to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for
the capability upgrade of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Malacanang
announced on Saturday.
In a radio interview over state-run dzRB Radyo
ng Bayan, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the money
released by the budget department is intended for the Philippine National
Police Operational Transformation Plan of DILG.
Among those to be funded under the upgrade plan
would be the purchase of 1,000 patrol jeeps, some 13,597 assault rifles and
4,997 mobile videos, according to Valte.
The release also covers the P344 million shelled
out for minor repairs and repainting of 810 police stations, as well as the
procurement of M4 magazines and kits for PNP Maneuver Units.
The DBM also allotted P655 million for the
creation of new positions and hiring of 7,439 non-uniformed personnel to be
assigned to PNP’s regional offices. These new personnel will be assigned to do
administrative works for the PNP, Valte said.
The government’s plan for the capability upgrade
of the PNP was mentioned by President Aquino during his state-of-the-nation
address (SONA) last month.
With the hiring of non-uniformed personnel to do
administrative tasks, PNP personnel working at the offices could go out and
help secure the public. PND (as)
Aquino wants immediate containment of Cavite oil
spill
President Benigno S. Aquino III wants government
agencies to step up recovery and clean up efforts on the oil spill that already
affects coastal communities in the Calabarzon region composed of Cavite,
Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.
“Ang directive ng Pangulo is to make sure that
we focus on the recovery and clean-up operations dahil maraming mga barangay na
maaapektuhan doon,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a
radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
Valte said the Philippine Coast Guard had a
meeting Saturday morning with the representatives of oil companies, local
government units (LGUs) and other stakeholders.
They agreed to dispatch additional tugboats and
marine environment personnel to assist the clean-up operations, Valte said.
The PCG is also forming an adjudication team to
handle the investigation after the clean-up efforts and to determine which
entity is accountable for the leak.
The Palace is also in touch with the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to know what possible assistance the
government could extend to coastal barangays affected by the oil spill, Valte
said. So far however, LGUs are already providing assistance to affected
communities, she added.
The Philippine Coast Guard reported that the
spill has affected at least four coastal towns in Cavite and it continues to
spread and threatens the livelihood of hundreds of fishermen in the Calabarzon.
The municipality of Rosario, Cavite, declared a
state of calamity Friday after officials said the spill damaged coral reefs in
its municipal waters.
The coast guard said samples taken from areas
hit by an oil spill matched that of the diesel being used by a fuel tanker that
had earlier unloaded fuel at the Petron Corp. terminal in Rosario, Cavite. PND
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Palace warns public about reports on possible
Metro bombings
Malacanang warned the public on believing and
spreading unconfirmed reports about Muslim rebels arriving in Metro Manila to
carry out test bombing missions.
“Let’s be careful about reports like this. Let’s
make sure that it comes from the correct sources because as it is, we don’t
want to be spreading incorrect information,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson
Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
“But suffice it to say that gumagalaw lahat ng
kawani ng pamahalaan para siguraduhin na matigil ang mga ganitong pangyayari
katulad ng sinabi ng Pangulo noong nakaraang araw,” she added.
It was reported that a group of young members of
the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) under Ameril Umbrakato are
reportedly in Metro Manila for their test missions similar to attacks carried
out in Mindanao recently.
Bombing attacks were reported in Cagayan De Oro,
Cotabato City, North Cotabato and Maguindanao resulting to several casualties.
Asked to comment on bombings in North Cotabato
and Maguindanao, Valte said it appears that the perpetrators are launching the
attacks randomly.
“Sa mga ganitong pagsabog, talagang random ang
ginagawa nilang targets. It’s not about religion, it’s not about your
affiliation but it’s being done randomly,” she said.
The operations of the government security forces
are on-going to fend off attacks and protect the public, Valte said, declining
to elaborate on the nature of the operations considering security concerns. PND
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