Palace says sorry to thousands affected by EDSA road closure, but militants say Aquino paranoid

Part of the "EDSA parking lot" that had people ranting all day on social media. BERNARD TESTA, INTERAKSYON.COM

MANILA - To those stuck in hours of traffic, or forced to walk several kilometers to work on account of the the closure of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue during Wednesday's 29th EDSA revolt anniversary, sorry. That's Malacanang Palace apologizing to the public, a day after thousands of people were inconvenienced by the closure of EDSA's northbound side stretching from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, practically all day. Two events - a wreath-laying at EDSA People Power monument and Mass at EDSA Shrine,  both attended by the President - occasioned the closure of the historic highway, Metro Manila's main artery.

"We apologize to our countrymen who were stuck in traffic as a result of yesterday's road closure," Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at Thursday's Palace press briefing,

President Aquino offered a wreath at  the People Power Monument in Quezon City in the morning, then proceeded to the Shrine of Mary Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA in Ortigas for the holy mass celebrated by Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.

Coloma said he heard Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metro Manila Development Authority explain earlier that they had issued an advisory about the road closure two weeks ago, but acknowledged that perhaps the advice for motorists to take alternate routes had not been disseminated well enough.

Govt simply paranoid - activists

Militant groups, however, saw something more sinister than a mere problem of MMDA communicating the traffic advisories.

Anakpawis party list said the police and the Aquino administration were out to prevent "the peaceful EDSA 1 People Power commemoration by different progressive groups" who had announced earlier plans to organize human chains and marches on EDSA.

Many of the groups were calling on the President to either resign or at least come clean on the Mamasapano debacle, where 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members sent to Maguindanao to get Malaysian terrorist Marwan ended up engaging in battle the Moro rebels, despite the ongoing peace process.

Lamenting the "paranoia" of the government setting up obstacles to blunt the EDSA Day protests, the group Anakpawis said in a statement Thursday: “In February 1986 thousands upon thousands of ordinary masses from different walks of life trooped to EDSA calling for Ferdinand Marcos to step down. But yesterday; people who wanted to participate in the EDSA 1 commemoration were blocked by flanks of police force in Boni Serrano Street near Camp Crame. It also set up another blockade near the EDSA shrine in Ortigas."

President Aquino "obviously is in paranoia state, taking yesterday’s simple activity as threat to his administration,” said Anakpawis party list Rep. Fernando Hicap.

Hicap also said that the "lowest turnout "of yesterday’s EDSA crowd in Ortigas "only shows the exclusivity and elite character of the exercise led by Aquino. His celebration of EDSA 1 was a farce and totally shameful to all those who fought against martial law and genuine democracy.”

After 29 years farmers are still denied of their right to land, workers’ salary did not significantly raise while the number of jobless Filipinos rose to 12 million under his term, Hicap claimed.

Compounding Aquino’s shortcomings were "his criminal neglect of calamity victims and the botched Mamasapano encounter that led to the death of his 44 PNP-SAF men and civilians,” the party-list lawmaker said.

"As an EDSA 1 beneficiary; Aquino failed to use its inspiration to come up with essential reforms in the government that will serve the interest and welfare of the ordinary masses,” said Hicap.
He reminded the Cojuangcos and Aquinos - two political clans that have seen two members ascend to the presidency and several others elected or appointed to key posts since 1986 - that the EDSA 1 uprising "is not all about the Aquinos and other players of the said historical event in the country. Rather, it is all about the collective effort of the ordinary people who defy and fought martial law."

'Early close, late open' weekend sked for MRT

Graphic by 9News

The Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3) will carry out an "early close, late open" this coming weekend to make way for rail replacement, which has been long overdue.

Operations on Saturday (February 28) will still start at 4:30 a.m. but will end at 9 p.m. instead of the usual 11 p.m. closing.

Opening time on Sunday (March 1) will be adjusted to 12 noon instead of the usual 4:30 a.m., but trains will service commuters until the standard 11 p.m. closing.

The stretch of rails to be replaced will be from the Taft and Magallanes stations.

Maintenance provider Global APT started pre-welding the new rails on Tuesday (February 24) to hasten the entire process.

The replacement rails used for this weekend's repair will be taken from the area where the MRT trains are parked. They were previously used as stabling rails, according to Bob Sobrepeña, chairman of MRT Holdings II Inc.

While the MRT's private owners expressed disappointment over the management's failure to attain proper permission in using the stabling rails for the repairs, MRT General Manager Roman Buenafe said that commuter safety is their top priority.

"Kaligtasan ng tao ang aking inuuna dito - public safety, public welfare," Beunafe said.

Meanwhile, 6,000 meters of MRT rails have been declared in critical condition.

Buenafe admitted that the only remedy would be total rail replacement. The new rails are expected to arrive in June.

Replacing the rails will improve MRT-3 services in terms of safety and speed.

With the current tracks, trains are only made to run 40kph, as opposed to the ideal speed, 65kph.

Bing Zaide, Global APT spokesperson, also mentioned the acquisition of new welding kits, which would help them carry out repairs faster.

Rehabilitation of the MRT comfort rooms, on the other hand, will begin on Thursday (February 26).

Comfort rooms located at the North Avenue station will be on top of the list.

The schedule changes in MRT-3 operations will only take effect this weekend.

Announcements regarding future rails replacement have not been made. -9News Online from a report by Patricia de Leon

Marijuana legal na sa Washington D.C

 

     By   Jovino Galang | BomboRadyo & Google

 

Inaprubahan ng Washington DC ang legal paggamit ng maliit na piraso ng marijuana.

Ang nasabing pagsasaligal ay nagdulot pa ng matinding debate sa pagitan ng alkalde ng lungsod at mga kongreso hanggang nagkasundo sila sa bandang huli.

Napapaloob sa batas na pinapayagan ang mga residente na may edad na 21 pataas at hanggang 56 na gramo lamang ng marijuana ganun din ang pagpayag na magtanim sa kanilang tahanan basta wag lamang itong marami.

Pinagbabawal din sa batas ang pagbebenta at pamimili ng nasabing droga ganun din ang pagsindi sa pampublikong lugar.

Kasama na ng Washington DC ang ibang estado na legal na ang Marijuana gaya ng Alaska at Colorado.

DILG dumipensa sa pag-relieve sa bantay ni Bong

 

By  Analy Soberano | BomboRadyo & Google

 

Ni-relieve sa kanilang pwesto ang ilang opisyal ng Custodial Center ng PNP Headquarters Support Service sa pamumuno ni Chief Supt. Alberto Supapo matapos payagan nito ang nakakulong na si Senator Bong Revilla na dumalo sa 91st birthday ni Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile noong February 14 sa Kampo Crame.

Tiniyak naman ni Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas na sasampahan ng kaukulang kaso ang mga sinibak na opisyal.

Sinabi ni Roxas na batay sa imbestigasyon may mga hindi na nasunod na patakaran at dahil sa mga lapses sasampahan ng kaso ang nasabing mga opisyal.

Panawagan ng kalihim sa mga nakakulong na mga matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan na huwag impluwensiyahan ang mga kapulisan dahil ang mga ito ang nalalagay sa alanganin.

Paglilinaw naman ni Roxas na ang pagkakasibak kay Supapo at sa iba pang opisyal ay batay sa isinagawang imbestigasyon ng Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

Samantala, ayon naman kay PNP OIC chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina sasampahan ng administrative case si Gen. Supapo at iba pang opisyal.

NBA Roundup: Fil-Am Laker drops career-high 22 points

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Lakers Facebook page -  By ABS-CBN Sports

TIMBERWOLVES 97, WIZARDS 77
Kevin Garnett was showered with thundering cheers and applause in his triumphant return to the team that drafted him. The future Hall of Famer then returned the favor by helping the Minnesota Timberwolves upend the Washington Wizards, 97-77, on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines) in Minneapolis’ Target Center.

Garnett ended with five points, eight rebounds, and two blocks and provided an inspiring boost that claimed the Timberwolves’ 13th victory in 56 tries. Future face of the franchise Andrew Wiggins added 19 markers to hand Washington its fifth straight loss coming from a 33-20 record.

LAKERS 100, JAZZ 97
Jordan Clarkson finished with a career-high 22 points in the Los Angeles Lakers 100-97 victory versus the Utah Jazz at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.

The Filipino-American second round pick shot an impressive 62.5 percent from the field and captained a late 10-0 blast that cemented the Lakers’ 15th victory in 56 tries. The Jazz dropped to 21-35 with the loss.

HAWKS 104, MAVERICKS 87
With his lookalike – both physically and athletically – suspended, Dennis Schroeder took the stage for himself and shined in the Atlanta Hawks’ 104-87 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

The Mavericks team management suspended starting pointman Rajon Rondo, Schroeder’s lookalike, for figuring in a shouting match with coach Rick Carlisle in their previous game. Schroeder and the Hawks took advantage of Rondo’s absence and exploited a disoriented Dallas squad for their 45th win out of 57.

Schroeder’s 17 points and four assists proved to be enough to beat Dallas, who fell to 39-21 with the loss.

ROCKETS 110, CLIPPERS 105
Corey Brewer came off the bench to provide the game-clinching boost in the Houston Rockets’ 110-105 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers in Houston’s Toyota Center.

Brewer scored 13 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to put the game away for now 39-18 Houston. On the other hand, the Clippers wasted a strong 22-point, 19-rebound double-double from Deandre Jordan to fall for the 21st time in 58 contests.

BLAZERS 111, SPURS 95
Wesley Matthews scorched the nets to lead the Portland Trail Blazers against the San Antonio Spurs, 111-95, in Portland’s Moda Center.

Matthews ended with 31 points to give Portland its 37th victory out of 55. Tim Duncan’s 20 markers led San Antonio, who continued their slide at 34-23.

KINGS 102, GRIZZLIES 90
The Sacramento Kings out-grinded the Memphis Grizzlies, 102-90, in Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena.

Demarcus Cousins led a 10-0 charge that opened the first quarter and built the lead that captured the Kings’ 20th win out of 55 attempts. On the other hand, the Grizzlies dropped only their fourth in the last 20 matches coming from a 21-11 record.

HORNETS 98, BULLS 86
The Chicago Bulls did not look prepared to cope with the loss of Derrick Rose as they fell to the Charlotte Hornets, 98-86, at the United Center in Chicago.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist impressed with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Charlotte to its 23rd win out of 55. Losing in their first game after the announcement that Rose’s knee will need surgery yet again, Chicago slipped to 36-22.

BUCKS 104, 76ERS 88
Michael Carter-Williams played inspired ball in leading his new team, the Milwaukee Bucks, past his old team, the Philadelphia 76ers, 104-88, in Milwaukee’s BMO Harris Bradley Center.

The new starting pointman shone in his debut with seven points and eight assists to push the Bucks to 32-25. MCW’s old team, the 76ers, missed that sort of production from their court general and dropped their 45th in 57 games.

PELICANS 102, NETS 96
Quincy Pondexter scored a career-high 25 points to help the New Orleans Pelicans clinch their third straight win, this time versus the Brooklyn Nets, 102-96, in New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center.
Without Anthony Davis, Pondexter and the rest of the Pelicans stepped up to advance to 30-27. Joe Johnson’s double-double of 21 markers an 10 rebounds were not enough for the Nets to avoid their 32nd defeat in 55 contests.

HEAT 93, MAGIC 90
The Miami Heat rallied for their 25th win in 56 games at the expense of the Orlando Magic, 93-90, at the Amway Center in Orlando.

Luol Deng and Dwyane Wade teamed-up to erase an eight-point deficit with less than a minute remaining and sent the Magic to 19-40 in the season.

CELTICS 115, KNICKS 94
Evan Turner’s triple-double fronted the Boston Celtics’ 115-94 rout of the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

The former second overall pick ended with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to lift Boston to 22-33 and trip New York to 10-46.

SUNS 110, NUGGETS 96
The Phoenix Suns snapped their two-game skid by defeating the Denver Nuggets, 110-96, at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Brandon Knight drilled two late triples and scored 19 total to lead Phoenix to their 30th win in 58 games. New Nugget Will Barton had 22 markers in the losing effort that stumbled their team to 20-37.

15,000 people displaced by clashes in Central Mindanao

 (philstar.com & Google) 

 

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine military's all-out offensive against Muslim militants in Central Mindanao has displaced at least 3,000 families or 15,000 people, a senior government official said today.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said this was a report from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which has launched operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Liberation Front (BIFF), a splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country.

He said the government has been doing everything to provide the necessary assistance to the displaced population.

Central Mindanao is the stronghold of the MILF. The government considers the BIFF as a lawless group, which was allegedly involved in the tragic death of 44 police commandos in Mamasapano town, southern province of Maguindanao last month. 

Aquino, Hollande launch Manila call to action on climate change

 

 By Louis Bacani (philstar.com) 

 

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III and visiting French President Francois Hollande on Thursday called on the rest of the world to act on climate change.

Aquino and Hollande launched the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change following their bilateral meeting in Malacañang.

"Our Manila Call to Action on Climate Change represents solidarity in action. We are hopeful that this joint call will help us gain momentum for a truly global initiative to address climate change," Aquino said.

"This statement, thus, is a welcome call to action: No longer can we be paralyzed by debates over the obligations of individual countries; all of us must do everything we can, in the quickest and most impactful way possible," he added.

Aquino said nations can unite to overcome the problem or together reap the consequences of apathy.
Citing the destructive typhoons in recent years such as Yolanda, Aquino lamented that the Philippines has found itself at the forefront of climate change.

Aquino said the Philippines intends to attend and utilize every forum to voice the sentiments of those who are at the receiving end of global climate change.

"We will try to strive a consensus with every entity so that they can contribute the most at the quickest possible time," he said.

Aquino believes that the effort against climate change is being enhanced currently since first world countries are no longer spared by weather patterns changing dramatically.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to (have) a consensus to push a lot of other countries to maximize their contributions in the effort to combat global climate change," Aquino said.

The Palace said earlier that Hollande is expected to seek Aquino's support on the issue of climate change in light of preparations being made for the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties, or COP21, to the United Nations Framework Convention Climate Changein December this year.
French ambassador to Manila Nicolas Hulot said Hollande sees his visit to give a human face to climate change, as the Philippines bears the brunt of dozens of deadly storms such as Typhoon Yolanda.

On Friday, Hollande will visit Guiuan, Samar, one of the areas most devastated by Yolanda in 2013.