The Department of Foreign Affairs advises Filipinos to postpone all non-essential travel to Thailand as militant groups there plan to stage anti-government rallies, particularly in the capital city of Bangkok, beginning Friday.

Those already in Thailand are advised to avoid areas that have been identified as meeting and staging areas for the rallyists, the DFA said.

“In view of protest rallies being planned in key areas of Bangkok starting Friday, 12 March 2010, and for the duration of the rallies, Filipinos are advised to postpone all non-eseential travel to Thailand ” the advisory said.

The rallies appear to be a show of strength for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was unceremoniously eased out of office and gone on exile in the Middle East but remains highly popular to many of his supporters to this day.

In late 2008, because of a series of street protests,Thai authorities closed Thailand’s new international airport, leaving thousands of foreign tourists stranded, among them Filipinos. (PNA)
RMA/GJB

A fire, believed caused by faulty electric wiring, gutted the bed factory of the Philippine Bed & Furniture Manufacturing Corp. (PhilBed) in Barangay Balong Bato, Novaliches, Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire that started at about 11 a.m. destroyed about P2-million worth of properties owned by the company.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-QC and Text Fire Philippines said the blaze was still raging past 1 p.m. Tuesday. The fire alarm reached Task Force Alpha.

“It could reach the general alarm due to flammable materials inside one of the warehouses,” said an unidentified volunteer firefighter of the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc. (APVFBI).

No one was hurt in the fire. Close to 100 fire trucks, mostly volunteers, responded to the incident.

PhilBed has been established in 1927. It is the maker of Salem and Ambassador brand beds. The firm is the leading supplier of bed in the country. (PNA)RMA/JCA

A military counter-terrorism expert welcomed the reported death of Dulmatin, a Jemaah Islamiyah bomb expert who, reports said, was slain by Indonesian authorities following a raid in Pamulang in South Tangerang.

“Its good if they killed him…It is good if they got him,” said Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Juancho Sabban, who once commanded the military’s Joint Task Force Comet in the Abu Sayyaf-infested Sulu province.

Sabban said their information as of last month was that Dulmatin, who masterminded the bloody Bali bombings in Indonesia years ago, was in Sulu, in the company of Abu Sayyaf terrorists.

He said it was possible that Dulmatin moved out of the country following the Feb. 21 killing of Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Albader Parad and five of his men after Marine soldiers raided a terrorist lair in Maimbung town.

“He is moving constantly….What we know is that they were scattered after the death of Parad and (they knew) we are tracking them,” he said.

However, Sabban said they have no definite information to say that Dulmatin indeed had left Sulu “but for one, we know that he is mobile and at times, he is crossing the border.” He said the military is sharing information with the Indonesians on this.(PNA)V3/VR

Operatives of the Manila Police District (MPD) arrested during a buy-bust operation on two suspected drug traffickers for allegedly selling P5-million worth of high-grade cocaine.

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and Supt. Ernesto Tendero, chief of the Manila Police District (MPD)-Station 2, identified the suspects as Jolly Sorinao, 36, married, of 16 Casoy , Zone 1 Signal Village, Taguig City and Leslie Nab Reyes, 27, bachelor, of Barangay Sta. Austina, Dasmarinas Cavite.

Tendero said the suspects were arrested at 9 a.m. in front of the Tutuban Mall on C.M. Recto Ave., Tondo, Manila.

Prior to the incident, an asset informed Tendero about a man who was looking for buyers of cocaine.

A buy-bust operation was planned and the asset managed to close a deal with the man who turned out to be with Reyes for the sale of cocaine.

The suspect and his woman companion had just handed the one kilo of cocaine to the poseur-buyer when policemen posted nearby approached them.

The two were placed under the police custody. They are facing drug charges.

Earlier, agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested an alleged member of a drug trafficking syndicate and seized one kilo of cocaine worth P4.5 million in an operation in Catarman, Samar.

NBI Director Nestor M. Mantaring identified the suspect as Dante Palando Ponio, 33, married and resident of 641 Gamban St., Riverside, Pasay City and Barangay Tunasan, Ladora Village, Muntinlupa City. He is a buy and sell agent.

Investigators said that Ponio had been engaged in the sale of cocaine, an illicit dangerous drug for quite sometime. He offered one kilo of cocaine worth P4.5 million to a buyer who turned out to be an NBI informant.

During a press conference, Deputy Director for Regional Operations Services lawyer Victor Bessat said the first pay-off, which was set in Binan, Laguna, was cancelled as the cocaine was still in the possession of Ponio’s uncle identified as Boy de Guia in Catarman, Samar.

The NBI also found out that large quantity of cocaine was abandoned by a passing ship off the coast of Samar. The cocaine was found by fishermen.

Instead of surrendering the cocaine, Ponio’s uncle and his group buried sacks of cocaine in an islet in Catarman, Samar to shield them from the public eye and authorities.

The one kilo of cocaine was supposed to be sold to a buyer who turned out to be NBI informant in Catarman. The informant made an alibi that his Korean female boss disallowed him bringing cash. He explained to the suspect that his boss opted for him to bring BPI manager’s check to be encashed upon arrival in Catarman.

On March 4, joint operatives from the NBI Calabarzon and Region VIII conducted an operation to arrest the suspect. The informant and Ponio proceeded to the parking area of Metro Bank in Catarman. Moments later, a Hyundai van carrying Ponio arrived.

Ponio alighted from the van. Sensing that he was being trailed by authorities, Ponio boarded again the vehicle and sped off.

Minutes later, Ponio returned holding a small bag containing the cocaine which he handed over to the asset. After inspecting the contents, the informant signaled the NBI agents posted nearby. The law enforcers arrested Ponio and brought him to NBI main office.

Ponio is facing illegal possession of dangerous drugs under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 1992 otherwise known as RA 9165. (PNA)
RMA/JES

DUMAGUETE CITY – A 14-year old boy has filed charges of kidnapping/serious illegal detention, grave coercion, and violation of R.A. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) against Negros Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Baldado, a certain Romeo Sablada and a “John Doe”, before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.

The boy, accompanied by his father and a lawyer, filed the complaint around 10 a.m. even before police authorities had completed their investigation into the case in the absence of a statement from the victim and witnesses.

However, Sr. Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. said that anybody can file a case directly in court even without the assistance of the police or other law enforcement agencies.

The three cases, docketed under NPS numbers 10C-00139, -00140 and -00141, are now on the desk of Provincial Prosecutor Diosdado Hermosa for review prior to raffling for preliminary investigation, a court employee who requested anonymity said.

Among the witnesses that the boy presented were his father and a couple with whom the boy had stayed during weekdays in the town proper where he was attending high school.

Last Friday, the complainant took his oath before Fiscal Vilmo Ampong while the two witnesses executed their affidavits and were subscribed by Fiscal Elizabeth Bayhon on Monday.

The complaint stems from the now celebrated purported kidnapping of the boy last Feb. 15, who alleged that while he was walking to school shortly before classes started, Sablada and the unidentified driver of a motorcycle allegedly snatched him off the road and brought him to the house of Baldado in Manjuyod town.

The boy had further alleged that upon arriving at the vice governor’s residence, the official had asked him to tell his father to withdraw the pending case against four policemen in Manjuyod.

The boy’s father had filed charges of illegal detention against the four policemen after he was also charged for frustrated murder for allegedly shooting Romeo Sablada, one of the respondents, a few years back.

Baldado has repeatedly denied involvement in the alleged kidnapping, saying he was in Dumaguete at the time when the supposed incident took place.

The vice governor told reporters that he was not aware of the charges filed against him as he has not received any official communication yet and only learned of it following a request for media interview late Tuesday afternoon.

He described the move as an overkill of the political attack launched against him by his political opponents who want to derail his campaign in the coming May elections.

Baldado is running for governor under the Nacionalista Party.

He said he is not afraid to face the charges as he has witnesses who can testify that he was at the boulevard doing his routine walking exercise when the “kidnapping” took place.

He also lamented what he perceives as sensationalism in the news considering that the media learned ahead of him of the filing of charges.

“As usual it is always the media (who gets the information first) as far as cases involving a political figure…and so I don’t know the implication. There’s something behind (this) to destroy one’s reputation and one’s name. Because, as a matter of fact, as you know, the accusation is baseless,” Baldado said.

The vice governor had earlier also accused some people at Capitol of distributing copies to the media of the police blotter entry of the kidnapping when the story first broke out about four days after the supposed incident. (PNA) V3/JFP

A Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge has ordered the abolition of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) after it ruled that its creation was illegal and unconstitutional.

Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. of the Manila RTC Branch 26, declared as illegal and unconstitutional Executive Order No. 624, which created the PASG.

In his nine-page decision, Pampilo granted the petition of British national Siu Ting Alpha Kwok, also known as Alpha Kwok, for declatory relief which sought to declare the Executive Order 624 invalid and unconstitutional.

“Wherefore, premises considered, the Petition for Declatory relief is hereby granted. Executive Order No. 624 is hereby declared illegal, invalid, unconstitutional and in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers, checks, and balances,” said Pampilo.

Kwok, a British national, who was earlier arrested and detained for allegedly smuggling jewelry and precious gems worth millions of pesos, sought the declaratory relief last Oct. 30.

“The PASG, likewise, fails to promote efficiency. The Alliance of Customs Brokers, Truckers, Importers and Organizations Nationwide (ACTION) submitted a manifesto demanding the abolition of PASG “to put an end to an abusive, unnecessary, redundant, red tape imposing presidential creation that has contributed more problems than the solutions of the anti-smuggling campaign,” the decision said.

Through her lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan, Siu Ting Alpha Kwok filed the petition for declaratory relief with application for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order against Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and PASG chief Antonio Villar Jr.

Kwok claimed EO 624 had become a source of excessive abuses and official lawlessness and that the creation of PASG grossly violated the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers.

The complainant, through Alentajan, said that the power and functions of the PASG duplicated those of the Bureau of Customs, particularly, those addressing the problem of smuggling.

“As such, it emasculates the powers and functions of the Bureau of Customs which is provided for by the law,” Alentajan said, adding that the operations of the PASG caused confusion to the public and weakens investor confidence due to the usurpation and duplication of the functions of the Bureau of Customs.

Pampilo, in resolving the constitutionality of Executive Order 624, agreed that the ordinance power of the President to issue executive orders was limited to the implementation or execution or statutory power and that the creation of PASG was not a product of simply reshaping or reorganizing the bureaucracy.

“The executive order created another instrumentality which is not allowed because it is tantamount to usurpation of legislative power and violation of the doctrine of separation of powers between the executive branch and legislative branch of the government,” Pampilo said.

“It cannot be said that the provisions of E.O No. 624 merely invested the PASG agents with additional duties because perusal of the records will reveal that the actions of PASG do not bear the conformity of the Bureau of Customs. They act independently,” he said.

Pampilo also said that the creation of PASG did not achieve simplicity, economy and efficiency since the agency’s function was already being performed by other agencies.

Instead of being achieving simplicity of performance, Pampilo said that the creation of PASG only resulted to the duplicity of functions.

Pampilo said there was no economy in the creation of PASG since the department, which does the same functions with other agency, received a huge allocation of budget, where in fact it could have likewise been saved by the government.

“The PASG has an initial allocation of P50 million which is a huge amount considering that the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, National Food Authority, Marina and other agencies have their respective budgets to conduct surveillance, intelligence activities for the purpose of preventing smuggling and other related illegal activities. Thus there is no economy,” he said.

As for its efficiency, the judge pointed out that it created more problems than solutions to the anti-smuggling campaign as he cited a manifesto submitted by the Alliance of Customs Brokers, Truckers, Importers, and Organizations Nationwide (ACTION) demanding the abolition of PASG.

“There being sufficient evidence to support the petitioner’s contention, the Petition for Declatory Relief is hereby Granted,” he said.

PASG agents staged a raid on Aug. 18 on Kwok’s residence on the 17th floor of Pacific Place in Ortigas, Pasig City, and arrested Kwok for allegedly selling precious gems illegally.

But the PASG officers never filed any criminal or administrative case against Kwok before any court, tribunal, or quasi-judicial body in the Philippines, the lawyer said.

“The PASG illegally arrested Kwok “without the benefit of any warrant to support the arrest, and on a mere suspicion of violating the Tariff and Customs Code. Clearly, she was not committing any offense at the time of her illegal arrest.”

He claimed there was “no pending case nor any deportation charge” against Kwok ordered by the immigration bureau.

Kwok was not allowed to post bail for her provisional liberty despite having filed a petition to post bail.

Kwok earlier filed graft, arbitrary detention, violation of domicile, maliciously obtaining search warrants, perjury and unlawful arrest charges against Villar and seven other PASG officers. (PNA)
RMA/JES

The Department of Health (DOH) warned the public against heat stroke and summer diseases as high temperatures continue to scorch the entire country.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that hotter days are ahead according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) as the summer season officially starts and the El Niño phenomenon brings an earlier dry spell to the country.

Cabral said that with hotter temperatures predicted this season, the public must be cautious of heat stroke to avoid dehydration.

She said heat stroke cases increase in hot and humid weather particularly with people staying outdoors and during vigorous exercise in hot weather.

Pagasa on Tuesday recorded the hottest day of the year so far in Metro Manila with temperatures rise through a scorching 36 degrees Celsius. The weather bureau said the heat wave is expected to continue.

The DOH said when afflicted by a heat stroke, the body is unable to ward off excessive heat through sweating because of dehydration and/or humid environment.

A person has warm and flushed skin, faintness, dizziness, weakness and headache when he has a heat stroke.

To avoid heat stroke, DOH advised the public to drink lots of water, wear light and comfortable clothes, avoid exposure to too much sunlight, use an umbrella or sunblock.

The DOH also warned the public against summer diseases like typhoid, diarrhea and skin diseases such as rashes and prickly heat.

It said high cases of water-borne diseases occur during summer due to contaminated pipes and low water pressure.

Cabral, for her part, said the public must observe environmental cleanliness and maintain regular physical hygiene.

For beach frolickers, the DOH advised the public to avoid too much exposure to heat as it can cause skin burn, heat exhaustion and worse, heat stroke. It will also be helpful to apply a sun block lotion or a sunscreen to those who will in recreation parks such as theme parks, pools and beaches. (PNA)
V3/FMB

President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo announced today the appointment of Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin N. Bangit as incoming chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, vice Gen. Victor Ibrado, who is retiring on Wednesday, his 56th birthday.

The President will preside over the turnover of the AFP command in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday.

Bangit is a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1978 and has held many sensitive and significant postings before he became Army chief. He also held the post of Group Commander of the Presidential Security Group and Commander of the unified Southern Luzon Command (Solcom). Prior to his post as Solcom chief, he was the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division, Philippine Army from September 2007 to May 2008; and Chief, Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines from August 2006 to September 2007.

He has also been the Chief of Staff, Intelligence and Security Group, Philippine Army from May 1997 to August 1998; Company Commander, Alpha Company, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, Philippine Army; Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G2), 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army; Area Command Staff for Intelligence, SOLCOM, AFP; Battalion Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, Philippine Army.

Bangit is a graduate of the Command and Staff Course at the Australian Army Command and Staff College; Pre-Commander Course for Battalion Commander and Infantry Officer Advance Course, both taken at the Combat Arms School, Training Command, Philippine Army; Anti-Urban Terrorist Patrol Training at the Louisiana State Police Academy; and the Foreign Officer Tactical Intelligence Course at the School for Military Intel in Australia. He finished his Master of Defense Studies from the University of Canberra, Australia in 2000.

He is a recipient of five Distinguished Service Stars, three Bronze Cross Medals, Silver Wing Medal, 15 Military Merit Medals, Mindanao-Sulu, Visayas and Luzon Campaign Medals and Ribbons and a US Military Commendation Medal among others.

Lieutenant General Bangit is married to Daisy Magdangal- Bangit. They are blessed with three children, Harold, Diane, and Hector. (PNA)
scs/OPS/ssc

The weather bureau said extremely high temperature poses threat of heatstroke, or worse, heatwave in the coming days as scorching season is just starting to gain momentum, and will further cause impact in the coming months.

Nathaniel Cruz, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) deputy director for operations and services, said that a weather as hot as this is normally experienced around April when summer is at its peak.

Cruz explained that the presence of high pressure area (HPA), aggravated by the prevailing El Nino, triggers the warm and humid weather.

These, and the early termination of northeast monsoon, will make climate unbearable in the next three to four months.

The Pagasa earlier announced that El Nino conditions could last up until months of June or July.

Heatwave is also possible, if sweltering heat continues for five consecutive days, hence the agency advises the public to prepare precautionary measures.

Cruz also advises the public to maintain proper ventilation in their homes, keeping sufficient drinking water and wearing summer clothes, to name a few.

He also alerted the health department of possible spread of summer illnesses and vector-borne diseases.

He said the months of April and May will even be hotter than what people are currently experiencing.

The Pagasa has warned of not just heat stroke to humans, because the increase in temperature could be detrimental to house pets and agricultural crops.

Already, over 25 provinces are experiencing drier than normal conditions due to absence of rains.

The Pagasa recorded the maximum temperature at 1:55 p.m. Monday at 35.6 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the 35.8 degrees Celsius recorded last Saturday, which was the hottest for the year so far.

The warmest temperature in record in Metro Manila was at 38.5 degrees Celsius, which hit the metropolis on May 14, 1987. (PNA)
DCT/MPC

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Monday announced that Presidential Assistant for Education Mona Valisno will be the new Department of Education (DepEd) chief.

President Arroyo made the announcement during her visit to the San Sebastian College (SSC) in C. M. Recto, Manila.

Mrs. Arroyo announced that Valisno will replace Secretary Jesli Lapus who was transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) replacing Secretary Peter Favila.

Earlier, President Arroyo designated Sec. Favila as the new member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

The President made the announcement during her message to the 2nd Go Negosyo Women Entrepreneurship held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City earlier this morning.

Mrs. Arroyo witnessed the military ceremonies of the Citizen Advancement Training (CAT) with the theme “The Challenge of Sebastinian Youth in 2010” held at the SSC quadrangle in C. M. Recto, Manila. (PNA)
FFC/rudyma