PH ISSUES ‘RADIO CHALLENGES’ VS. CHINESE VESSEL

The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Sunday said that one of its transport vessels, BRP Benguet, issued “consecutive radio challenges” to a Chinese naval vessel for shadowing while near the Pag-asa Island on Friday.

“The Philippine Navy (PN)’s BRP Benguet warned off and issued consecutive radio challenges to China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy 621 (PLAN 621) after it shadowed the former at an 80-yard distance and attempted to cross LS-507’s bow with a CPA (closest point of approach) of 350 yards at 5.8 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa Island on Friday, October 13,” AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Enrico Ileto said yesterday.

BRP Benguet was en route to Rizal Reef Station for its regular rotation and resupply mission when the tailing occurred between 1:40 p.m. and 5:04 p.m. Friday, Ileto said.

“The PN crew cited the violation of the collision regulations in its radio challenges, and demanded that the Chinese vessel steer clear of the BRP Benguet,” he added.

Instead of changing its course, BRP Benguet received a counter-response from PLAN 621 using its “ten-dash line” narrative.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., for his part, asked China to cease such dangerous maneuvers and aggressive actions toward Philippine vessels.

He added the potential for collision and accident at sea further highlights the urgency for China to uphold maritime safety standards.

“These dangerous and offensive maneuvers by China’s PLAN not only risk collision but also directly endanger the lives of maritime personnel from both sides. The AFP remains committed to ensuring the safety of its personnel during RoRe missions and asserts that it will continue to adhere to the rules-based international order,” Brawner said.

DFA: FILIPINOS LEAVE GAZA CITY, HEAD SOUTH TO BORDER WITH EGYPT

MANILA — All Filipinos in Gaza City have left the area, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday, adding all 131 Filipinos in the Gaza Strip are accounted for.

The DFA ordered the mandatory repatriation of Gaza City as Israel prepares to launch a massive ground offensive in Gaza after an October 7 attack on Israeli villages by militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza.

"Merong 23 na Pilipino — itong huling batch — na umalis sa Gaza City, ayon sa ating embassy," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said on TeleRadyo Serbisyo on Monday morning.

He said that not all Filipinos who fled Gaza City want to come home to the Philippines, with some saying they will look for somewhere else to stay in Gaza.

[Video/IVS from Tele 6:32 a.m. from "Lumikas lahat ng Pilipino doon..." to 6:33 "...somewhere in southern Gaza."

De Vega added that of the 131 Filipinos in Gaza, only around half are from the Philippines. The rest are their children with their Palestinian spouses.

"Meron nang 78 ang nasa border. Meron pang mga 30 na nasa ibang part ng southern Gaza. Wala nang panganib ang southern Gaza kumpara sa north," De Vega also said.

The Filipinos at the border will wait for an announcement of an international crossing into Egypt, where they will be met by Philippine government officials who will work to get them back to the Philippines.

He said some are hesitant to leave because there is no guarantee that Israel or Egypt will allow their Palestinian spouses to cross the security border.

"Unfortunately, both Israel and Egypt do not seem to be of the position that Palestinians can leave. Kasi yung Egypt, nag-aalala sila baka may makapasok na terrorist," De Vega also said.

PALACE NAMES 'WALANG GUTOM 2027' AS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM

MANILA - Executive Order No. 44, issued by Malacañang, declares the "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program" as a flagship initiative under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This program is designed to reduce voluntary hunger among low-income households.

The "Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program" will offer monetary-based assistance through Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for purchasing select food items from eligible partner merchant stores. It aligns with the Philippines' commitment to achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 2, which focuses on ending hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030.

The EO mandates the DSWD to collaborate with national government agencies and local government units for implementation. The DSWD will establish staffing patterns and qualification standards and submit these to the budget department for review. The DSWD will craft the program's implementing rules within 30 days.

The initial pilot program targets 3,000 families nationwide over six months, with plans to expand to one million families belonging to the food-poor bracket (monthly income below P8,000) in the future, based on positive results.

The program's implementation will be funded by the DSWD's appropriations and partner agencies, working towards reducing hunger and improving food security in the Philippines.

'YOU'VE BEEN HACKED': HOUSE WEBSITE DEFACED, GOES OFFLINE

MANILA — The official website of the Philippine House of Representatives was hacked and defaced on Sunday, marking another cybersecurity incident involving a government entity. A message "You've been hacked" alongside a troll face comic meme appeared on the landing page with the text "Happy April Fullz kahit October pa lang!" A hacker identified as 3MUSKETEERZ claimed responsibility.

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed the unauthorized access, announcing that they are cooperating with the Department of Information and Communications Technology's cybercrime division and law enforcement agencies to address the situation. As a result, the House website was temporarily inaccessible.

Velasco urged the public to remain vigilant regarding suspicious emails or communications claiming to be from the House of Representatives. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is investigating the extent of the incident.

This breach adds to a string of recent cybersecurity issues involving government systems in the Philippines, including data leaks from the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as well as a cyberattack on the Philippine Statistics Authority.

HOUSE WEBSITE BACK 'WITHIN THE DAY', PROBE INTO HACKING CONTINUES

MANILA — The Philippine House of Representatives website is set to be back online within the day, according to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco. He assured the public that the recent cyberattack vandalized the website's front page but did not compromise personal data of lawmakers or their staff.

Velasco mentioned that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Bureau of Investigation are actively working on tracing the hacker responsible for defacing the site with the Trollface meme. He stated that their IT team has identified and resolved the issue, with the website configuration in progress to restore it to full functionality.

The House website primarily contains public information regarding House members and legislative data related to bill and resolution progress, with no sensitive data at risk.

DICT spokesperson Renato "Aboy" Paraiso, in a separate interview, emphasized that the hacking should not cause panic among the public. He noted that the government is actively addressing cybersecurity matters and some of the recent data breaches were historical issues.

Paraiso revealed that the DICT's National Computer Emergency Response Team conducts assessments and tests for reported cyberattacks, with a majority of incidents turning out to be non-threatening. Of the 3,000 reported incidents, fewer than a hundred were considered legitimate threats.

He emphasized the importance of individual government agencies taking responsibility for the procurement and maintenance of their websites and systems.

TRANSPORT STRIKE VS JEEPNEY MODERNIZATION CAUSES 'MINIMAL' DISRUPTION: MMDA

MANILA — A transport strike opposing the implementation of the jeepney modernization program caused "minimal" disruption on traffic and commuters on Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

Only around 25 jeeps joined a Quezon City motorcade that signaled the start of transport group Manibela's strike, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said.

"So far naman po, very minimal yung epekto sa traffic at ganoon din po sa ating mga commuters," Artes told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

"Mangilan-ngilan lamang ang nakita nating nagkaroon ng buildup ng pasahero. Ang tingin nga po namin, ito yung usual na morning traffic lamang ng mga kababayan nating papasok sa kanilang trabaho. Kakaunti lang din po ang sumama sa tigil-pasada," he said.

Some local governments and schools suspended in-person classes on Monday in anticipation of the transport strike.

To assist commuters, several agencies and local governments offered free rides, which the MMDA deployed "only as needed."

"Dini-dispatch natin according to need para hindi makaagaw sa mga hindi sumama sa tigil-pasada kasi sila’y mawawalan ng kita," Artes said.

"Kami naman po ay nakahanda buong araw kung saan magkakaroon ng buildup mamayang hapon… Wala naman pong magiging problema kung ang plano nila (transport groups) ay ihatid muna [ang mga pasahero], then istranded pag-uwi," he continued.

The MMDA will not suspend the number coding scheme due to Manibela's protest.

"Sa amin pong konsutlasyon sa mga transport group, ‘pag nagsuspende po tayo ng number coding, sumisikip po yung daloy ng traffic at mas bumabagal po ang turnaround time ng mga pampublikong transportasyon," Artes said.

Drivers who joined the transport strike could face suspension or cancellation of their franchise, LTFRB technical working group head Joel Bolano said.

UN BRIEFED ON WOMEN RIGHTS IN PH

The Philippines judiciary recently presented its efforts to enhance and protect women's rights before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland during the 2004th Constructive Dialogue on UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (UN-CEDAW). CEDAW is an international treaty considered an "international bill of rights for women."

The presentation highlighted the progress and initiatives undertaken by the Philippine justice system, specifically through the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC), to uphold the core objectives of UN-CEDAW. The JSCC, established in 2010 and composed of the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, serves as a platform for dialogues on shared concerns and coordination among justice sector institutions.

Key initiatives discussed during the presentation included the establishment of 11 Justice Zones throughout the country to address delays and improve accountability in the justice system. Additionally, the Philippine justice system conducts comprehensive training and seminars to reinforce women's rights protection, enhances the Justice on Wheels project to provide access to justice in remote areas, and ensures the expeditious resolution of criminal cases.

Furthermore, the judiciary's Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 includes studies on Feminism in the Judiciary and Gender Representation and Mobility in the Judiciary, aiming to identify gender-based issues in the legal system and promote gender-responsive remedies. The Philippines also enforces the Implementing Rules and Regulations related to the Social Aspects of the Family Courts Act of 1997 to address family-related matters.

MAYON SHOWS INCREASED ABNORMALITY ANEW

LEGAZPI CITY — After several days of silence, Mayon Volcano in Albay again showed increased abnormal behavior during the weekend, logging at least 30 tremor events that lasted 92 seconds and accompanied by 34 volcanic earthquakes, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported yesterday.

Paul Alanis, Phivolcs resident volcanologist at the Lignon Hill Observatory in this city, said these revived abnormal parameters indicated that Mayon’s prevailing alert level should not be lowered yet.

“These recurring abnormal signs tell us that Mayon is still in a high level of unrest. There is no way for us to lower the volcano’s alert status from Level 3 to 2,” Alanis said.

Phivolcs is unfazed by reports about some people calling for the lowering of Mayon’s alert level amid supposed waning abnormal activities in the past few days.

“Mayon’s restive status is still within the alert Level 3 parameters. Sometimes these signs are increasing, but also at times decreasing. Meaning, its overall status is still in a high level of unrest,” Alanis said.

Phivolcs recorded 34 volcanic earthquakes, 30 tremor events with durations of one to 32 minutes, a pyroclastic density current (PDC) event, 105 rockfall events and 1,018 tons of sulfur dioxide emisions in the past 24 hours.

Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over Mayon, which means the volcano is currently in a relatively high level of unrest, and hazardous eruption within weeks or days is possible.

“The six-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone should remain unoccupied due to risks brought by PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls and other volcanic hazards,” Phivolcs said.

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GASOLINE PRICES UP; KEROSENE, DIESEL DOWN ON OCTOBER 17

MANILA — Gasoline prices will go up slightly on Tuesday, October 17, as the prices of kerosene and diesel dip by nearly P1.

Oil companies on Monday announced the following price adjustments:

PILIPINAS SHELL, SEAOIL (from 6 a.m.)

Gasoline - P0.55/L increase

Kerosene - P0.95/L decrease

Diesel - P0.95/L decrease

CLEANFUEL (from 12:01 a.m.)

Gasoline - P0.55/L increase

Diesel - P0.95/L decrease

PETROGAZZ (from 6 a.m.)

Gasoline - P0.55/L increase

Diesel - P0.95/L decrease

CALTEX (from 12:01 a.m.)

Gasoline - P0.55/L increase

Kerosene - P0.95/L decrease

Diesel - P0.95/L decrease

GOVERNMENT ALLOWS PARTIAL OFW DEPLOYMENT TO PAKISTAN

MANILA — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is now allowing partial deployment of Filipino household service workers (HSWs) to Pakistan.

In an advisory, the DMW announced the lifting of the suspension on the deployment of returning or Balik Manggagawa HSWs bound for Pakistan.

DMW opted for the resumption of deployment of returning HSWs upon the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

DMW, however, stressed that the suspension of deployment of new-hire HSWs bound for Pakistan is still in force “pending the outcome of a consultation meeting between this Department and the DFA on the matter.”

DMW previously announced that the Philippines would not resume the deployment of HSWs to Pakistan until a bilateral agreement is signed between the two countries.

According to DMW, the bilateral agreement will ensure the protection of domestic workers to be deployed in Pakistan.

The Philippines suspended the deployment of HSWs to Pakistan in 2018 upon the recommendation of the Philippine embassy in Islamabad.

SOLON CITES PBBM’S ‘BLOODLESS’ ANTI-DRUG WAR

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers commended the President's non-violent approach to the drug problem. He referred to it as a "bloodless war" that demonstrates the possibility of combating the drug menace without loss of life. Barbers, who chairs the House committee on dangerous drugs, mentioned that this strategy has gained the support and trust of the people and resulted in more reports from relatives of drug dependents, leading to the successful apprehension and rehabilitation of users, arrests of drug lords, and drug seizures.

He emphasized the importance of avoiding violence in law enforcement operations, as it can reduce anger, resentment, and the desire for vengeance among the public while preventing condemnation from international watchdog groups. Barbers urged law enforcement agencies to maintain a peaceful, non-violent approach in the administration's anti-drug campaign.

Barbers also applauded various agencies for their successful confiscation of illegal drugs, emphasizing the need for local government officials and barangay officers to actively participate in the anti-drug campaign.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LIZA SOBERANO'S HOLLYWOOD DEBUT FILM 'LISA FRANKENSTEIN' TO BE RELEASED ON FEB. 9, 2024

The Hollywood debut film of Liza Soberano titled "Lisa Frankenstein" is set to be released in theaters next year.

In an announcement on its official social networking sites, it was revealed that the movie will be released on February 9, 2024.

"It's giving unliving," "the Lisa Frankenstein" Instagram post said in its 20-second teaser.

Starring in Lisa Frankenstein are Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Henry Eikenberry and Joey Harris, among others.

Soberano’s casting in “Lisa Frankenstein” was announced in August last year. She portrays Taffy, step-sister to Newton’s character.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Set in 1989, Lisa Frankenstein follows an unpopular high school student (Newton) who accidentally re-animates a handsome Victorian corpse (Sprouse) during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams, using the broken tanning bed in her garage.”

SPORTS

PBA 3X3 SEASON 3 GETS GOING

MANILA — After a two-month break, it’s back to the PBA 3x3 half-court wars for multi-titled TNT and 10 equally determined opponents.

The Triple Giga, winners of four straight conference championships, look to sustain the charge as they vie for the Season 3 Leg 1 honors beginning today at the Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati.

TNT, however, won’t have reliable big man Lervin Flores, who was called up by the injury-hit Tropang Giga in 5-on-5, as well as top gun Almond Vosotros, who was listed as a reserve, for the opening leg.

Tasked to carry the fight for the Triple Giga are veterans Ping Exciminiano, Samboy de Leon and Gryann Mendoza, who will join forces this time with Matt Salem.

Seeded second in the conference-opener, TNT leads Pool B with Ken Bono-led San Miguel Beer, NorthPort and debuting guest team MCFASolver providing early challenge.

Top-seed Cavitex, represented by the tested core of Tonino Gonzaga, Jorey Napoles and Bong Galanza plus big man Marion Magat, headlines Pool A and dukes it out with Pioneer Elastoseal and Blackwater.

No. 3 Barangay Ginebra, parading a new-look squad composed of holdovers Ralph Salcedo and JJ Espanola in combo with newbies Nichole John Ubalde and Lean Vincent Martel, competes in Pool C with No. 4 Meralco, which retained its tested cast of Alfred Batino Joseph Sedurifa and Jeff Manday with JJ Manlangit, and darkhorses Terrafirma and Purefoods.

Games start at 10:30 a.m. with the teams racing for tickets to tomorrow’s quarterfinal stage.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. Wright Mills