PRRD distributes lands to North Cotabato farmers

KIDAPAWAN CITY - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the distribution here of the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) of North Cotabato province on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 29, 2018), telling beneficiaries to use the land so they could get out of poverty.

Public Attorney's Office won't use PNP autopsy report on Santillan case

MANILA - The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) will not use the autopsy report conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) over the slain security aide of former Biliran representative, Atty. Glenn Chong, once it files a complaint against policemen involved in the slay.

Iliganon family remembers tragedy 7 years after 'Sendong'

ILIGAN CITY - Seven years after surviving the tragedy that killed his three children, Andres Lasquite is now serving as a lay minister in San Roque Parish in Barangay Hinaplanon here, one of the 33 villages that were badly hit by tropical storm "Sendong" (Washi) on December 17, 2011.

China firm to invest $4.4-billion in Mindanao steel plant

Photo shows the officials of the project proponents after the MOU signing: (Seated from left) are HBIS chairman Yu Yong, Huili Investment Fund chairman Meng Xiaosu, Trade Undersecretary for Industry Development and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Steel Asia chairman and CEO Bejamin Yao.  Winessing the signing are: (Standing from left) Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (center), China Embassy of the Philippines counselor Jin Yuan (fourth from right) and Hebei Provincial Government of Chine vice governor Li Qian (fourth from left).

MANILA, Philippines (15 Dec. 2018) - One of the world's largest steel makers from China, HBIS Group Co. Ltd., is set to invest $4.4-billion to build an integrated steel complex in Mindanao.

During the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday for the implementation of the project, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the amount to be spent by HBIS would be the biggest industrial investment from China to the Philippines.

The MOU was signed by HBIS Chairman Yu Yong, Huili Investment Fund Co. Ltd., Chairman Meng Xiaosu, Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp., Chairman and chief Executive Officer Benjamin Yao, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo.

HBIS, a whole-state-owned company in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, is the second largest steelmaker in China and third largest in the world, producing appliance grade and automotive grade steel products.

Huili Fund, meanwhile, is a private equity firm based in Beijing, China, specializing in investing in real estate, finance and industries with a competitive edge.


Steel Asia, a top rebar producer in the Philippines, has six production units located in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The project to be implemented by the parties, will occupy a 305-hectare land inside the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Mindanao, with Atty. Franklin M. Quijano, as Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, at its helm.

It will have facilities related to port operation, sintering, coking, pelletizing, iron-making, steel-making, and steel rolling.

Phase 1 of the project covers the production of 4.5 million tons of hot rolled coils (HRC) and 600,000 tons of slabs with $3-billion worth of investments, while Phase 2 involves increasing the steel manufacuring capacity to eight-million metric tons.

Construction and ramp-up period of the project is expected to take three to five years.

Lopez said the project would create 10,000 jobs in the first phase, and about 40,000 jobs in the next phase.


"This project is very important to our industrial development and will allow us to pursue President Duterte's vision of having a globally competitive integrated iron and steel industry to support the growing economy, alleviate poverty, and to create jobs for every Filipino," Lopez said.

He said the project would also help reduce the trade deficit by as much $2.3 billion in Phase 1 and up to $4.4-billion in succeeding phases.

"With this integrated steelmaking facility, the country will be able to capture a large part of the value [chain] for the manufacture and assembly of appliances, automotive assembly, construction materials, shipbuilding, heavy equipment manufacturing, among others," he said.  [Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star]

Congress grants extension of martial law in Mindanao until Dec 31, 2019

QUEZON CITY - For the third time, Congress on Wednesday approved the request of President Rodrigo Duterte to further extend the implementation of martial law and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus in the island of Mindanao for one more year.

Balangiga Bells now in Japan, en route to Manila

MANILA - All three Balangiga Bells are now in Japan on the eve of its official return to the Philippines on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, the United States embassy in Manila said Monday.

Duterte asks Congress for martial law extension in Mindanao

Metro Manila - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has asked Congress to extend martial law in Mindanao for another year upon the recommendation of the military, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed on Friday.

Lanao Norte residents to get most jobs for P7.3-B bridge

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte - Residents of this province will be the first to take advantage of job opportunities resulting from the PhP7.3-billion Panguil Bay Bridge (PBB) project.

Tubod Mayor Leoncio Bagol made the assurance as he and local and national officials attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the bridge project on Wednesday.

"We have been waiting for this for so long.  We consider this bridge a big help to our farmers in bringing their products to Ozamiz where they market their products," Bagol said.

President Rodrigo Duterte led the ground-breaking ceremony for the bridge, which would connect this town and the rest of Lanao del Norte to the Misamis Occidental and the City of Ozamiz.

Funded by the Korean Economic Development Cooperation Agreement through the Korean Export-Import Bank, the Panguil Bay bridge will be the longest bridge in the country at a length of 2.360 km.

It will have approach roads of 1.412 km, and two lanes each measuring 15 meters.  Construction is set to begin in January.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said manpower accounts for at least 30 percent of the bridge's total budget. 

"Mag-recruit talaga (ng mga workers) from the area, malaki ang employment na ma-generate ng project na ito (We will recruit workers from the area, and the project will generate a lot of jobs)," Villar said.

He added that event the employees of the shipping lines plying the Tangub-Ozamiz route will be prioritized for work in the PBB construction.

In his speech, Duterte thanked the Republic of Korea for funding the project, saying he considers it as Korea's gift to the Filipinos.


"Korea has a special attachment to the Filipino people.  You know why?  We fought in the Korean war and a lot of Filipinos died," he said. 

The President noted that the bridge will shorten trips from Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City to the cities of Ozamiz, Oroquieta, Dipolog, and Dapitan.

The faster flow of goods, he said, will undoutedly improve both the local and regional economies. [Divina Suson, Ercel Maandig and Richel Umel, PNA]

Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. to invest Php800-M for steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Another Chinese firm is planning to put up an P800-million steel manufacturing plant in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

PHILIPPINE SANJIA STEEL CORPORATION, which is engaged in processing of raw materials into steel products including construction steel, industrial steel, angle iron and beam channel products, is eyeing a 47-hectare area in Barangay Baluarte, of which 22.6 hectares is within PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate.

PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority administrator and CEO Atty. Franklin M. Quijano led the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and witnessed by the Sanjia executives and other Phividec officials.

Quijano said the project will require only some 150 employees for the first-three years of operation.  After three years of its operation, however, employment is expected to rise to 300 personnel, Quijano elaborated.

The term of the contract will run for 25 years, renewable for another 25 years at the option of the parties.

Atty. Franklin M. Quijano clarified that Sanjia Steel Corp. is different from Panhua Group's plant, which is an Integrated Steel Mill which produces steel slabs from the raw materials.  Sanjia, meanwhile, processes the slabs into steel beams. 

The Panhua Group's plant is a $3.5-billion investment which consists of a port, a 10-million ton capacity integrated steel mill, an industrial park and other downstream industries which will be implemented in three phases and would generate some 50,000 jobs. [CDODev.Com]

Iligan to answer call of China steel plant's labor needs

ILIGAN CITY - Iligan City Lone District Representative Frederick Siao committed on Friday to mobilize his constituents for the provision of skilled and technical manpower needed for the $3.5 billion integrated steel plant Chinese investors intend to build near his district.

Panhua Group Co. Ltd. to invest $3.5 billion in Mindanao steel factory

MANILA - Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Panhua Group Co. Ltd., of China will set up a 305-hectare integrated steel manufacturing plant at the Phividec Industrial Estate of the Misamis Oriental-Special Economic Zone in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

Iligan mayor files complaint vs Region 10 police director

Regencia and the city council withdrew its support for the city police office, and took back all the patrol cars that the local government had "entrusted" to them for their use.

ILIGAN CITY - City Mayor Celso Gomera Regencia bared plans to file a complaint against Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 10 Director Chief Supt. Timoteo G. Pacleb before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave abuse of authority for ordering the relief of former Iligan City Police Director Sr. Supt. Manuel Sukarno Alvarez.  

Fire claims 5 dead, 3 injured in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY - Five members of a family were killed and three others hurt in a fire that gutted at least 12 houses in Iligan City, Monday, October 29, 2018. 

Iligan City Fire Officer 1 Janica Kissey Acain identified the fatalities as Elizabeth Baricuatro and her four sons Francis, Jethan, Nathaniel, and Xander.

Fire investigators revealed that the fire broke out at about 3:29 a.m. at a residential compound in Barangay Maria Cristina, this city.


Those injured during the fire were identified as Rowela Noro (with first-degree burns), JieJie Tiongco (first-degree burns), and Philam dela Cerna (second-degree burns).

Acain said that the estimated damage caused by fire was at P250,000.00.

Firefighters placed the fire that reached the third alarm under control at about 4:21 a.m., she added.

Fire investigators said that the father of the family, who is a seaman, was in Manila during the fire for his scheduled deployment flight.

The investigation into the cause of fire, was believed to be caused by an unattended gadget. [Mariz Revales, GMA News Online]

Chinese steel firm seeks cheaper rent in Phividec

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (25 Oct 2018) - Chinese steel conglomerate Panhua Group is asking the government for better lease terms on a 300-hectare property within the Phividec Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental for a proposed $3.5-billion integrated steel manufacturing plant.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority director-general Charito Plaza said Panhua was one of the Chinese companies seeking to relocate to the Philippines to escape the high tariff imposed by the US on China-made products.

Plaza said locators in China and Vietnam were enjoying incentives, such as the low lease for the first 25 years on top of affordable power cost and other subsidies.

She said to make up for the high power rates in the Philippines, Panhua was asking for lower rental rates.

PEZA already reduced Panhua's rent to P40 per square meters from P150, but the Chinese firm wanted a further reduction.

Panhua proposed to produce ten types of steel products in its Mindanao plant for the local and export markets.

Plaza said PEZA was also reviewing the proposals of three Chinese investors who were interested to relocate to the Philippines.

"This is due in part to the trade war between China and the US with soaring tariffs for products traded between these nations," she said.

PEZA expressed concern that the proposed Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-Quality Opportunities, or 'Trabaho bill', might affect the companies' desire to relocate to the Philippines.


She said the Trabaho bill would dramatically alter the current set of incentives given to foreign investors. [Othel V. Campos, Manila Standard.net]

President Duterte addresses his fellow ASEAN leaders in Indonesia

BALI, Indonesia - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte addresses his fellow Heads of State/Government in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders' Gathering at the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, October 11, 2018.

Gov't nabs rice hoarders in Iligan City; 40,000 bags of rice seized

ILIGAN CITY - Two Iligan City-based rice traders, one of them a Taiwanese national, were arrested yesterday by a composite government team for alleged hoarding of 40,000 bags of rice and charged with hoarding, involvement in cartel operations and profiteering.

Ozamiz City RTC executive judge gunned down in ambush

[Ozamiz City RTC Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac slumped on driver's seat. PHOTOS: WENDELL TALIBONG]  

OZAMIZ CITY - Executive Judge Edmundo Pintac of Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 15, in Ozamiz City was killed by still unidentified riding-in-tandem assailants Monday afternoon while driving on his way home, the police said.

DOE to donate 200 e-trike units for Boracay drivers

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan - The Department of Energy (DOE) will be donating at least 200 electric tricycles for Boracay in preparation for the phase-out of all gasoline-powered units on the island.

President Duterte spends time off with family in Hong Kong, bought yellow jacket for himself

President Rodrigo Duterte took a rest from politics and managing the country by traveling to Hong Kong together with his family and his Special Assistant Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go.

5 PDEA agents, 1 cop killed in Lanao Sur ambush

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Five operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and a non-uniformed police personnel were killed while two other policemen were wounded in an ambush staged by still unidentified gunmen in Kapai town in Lanao del Sur on Friday.

PDEA Region 10 Director Wilkins Villanueva said the PDEA operatives had just come from a drug symposium for drug surrenderees in the Lanao del Sur town of Tagoloan II when waylaid.

He said that on their way back to Marawi City, armed men positioned along the road ambushed the white Toyota van filled with PDEA operatives in Barangay Malna, Kapai around noontime.

Killed on the spot were four PDEA agents and a non-uniformed police personnel of the Kapai municipal police station who hitched a ride in the van, Villanueva said.   

A fifth PDEA operative identified as Diobel Pacinio died on the way to the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Marawi City.

Villanueva identified the PDEA operatives who died on the spot as Kenneth  Tabulo, Kristine Mae Torlao, Joy Amar, and Binzo Dipollo.

Two others - PDEA operative Rachel Gentapanan and non-uniformed police personnel Normina Dicay - are now undergoing treatment at the Amai Pakpak Medical Center. 

Villanueva said the policemen who escorted the victims were able to return fire.  Pursuit operations are still ongoing against the perpetrators.

PDEA Chief Condemns Attack

Meanwhile, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino denounced the ambush.

"We strongly condemn to the highest sense the cowardly and atrocious killing of our six agents in Lanao.  This is unacceptable to the government and to the PDEA leadership," Aquino said in a statement.

He assured the families of the slain agents that PDEA will do a full investigation to identify the perpetrators behind the killing.

"This act of inhumanity and cowardice, taking the lives of our comrades in a surprise attack, will not just pass as another common incident in our day-to-day operations on the fight against illegal drugs.  We will use all our resources to put these animals in jail and we will intensify our campaign against their illegal operations.  Their death will not go in vain.  We will fight even more with fierce commitment and determination," he said.

The PDEA chief said the incident has given the agency more strength to continue its crusade to go after illegal drug syndicates.

"Kami po ay taos-pusong nakikiramay sa pamilya ng mga kasamahan nating nabiktima ng karahasang ito. (We are sending our heartfelt condolences to the families of our people who fell victims to this violence)," he added.
[Froilan Gallardo, MindaNews and Noel Punzalan, Divina Suson and Jigger Jerusalem, PNA]

Hundreds flee NorthCot village as armed lumads avenge kin's death

[PHOTO: Brigada News Davao]

KIDAPAWAN CITY - Hundreds of residents from both settlers and Lumads left their homes in a remote area in the hinterland of Arakan town in North Cotabato after a group of armed indigenous people on Monday entered their village to avenge the death of a kin, reports said.

Authorities have assured the public that the tribal war, or "Pangayaw" in Kitaotao, Bukidnon, would not escalate into a full-blown conflict.

Mocha Uson resigns, House approves PCOO budget in minutes

MANILA - The House of Representatives on Wednesday finally terminated the plenary deliberation of the PhP1.474-billion budget of the Presidential Communications Office (PCOO) for 2019.

President Duterte checks landslide victims in Tinaan, Naga City in Cebu

NAGA CITY, CEBU - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, 21 September 2018, checks the condition of the victims of a landslide that ravaged a village in Naga City, Cebu on Thursday (September 20, 2018) as relief operations continue.

Duterte returns NFA to DA; reorganizes NFA Council

MANILA - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has returned the National Food Authority (NFA) and two other agencies to the Department of Agriculture (DA) after floating the idea last April.

Lanao del Sur Board Member, 3 others nabbed in Iligan City over P3.4-M illegal drugs

ILIGAN CITY - Joint operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 10 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have seized an estimated PhP 3.4 worth of "shabu" (crystal meth) from an incumbent provincial board member of Lanao del Sur on Wednesday, 19 September 2018. 

Curfew for minors reimplemented in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY (18 Sept 2018) - Mayor Celso Gomera Regencia announced the reimplementation of curfew hours for young people after it was lifted last week so that residents could more freely celebrate the city fiesta.

The curfew hours which was effected after the proclamation of Martial Law brought about by the crisis in Marawi City last year was temporarily suspended in celebration of the month-long 2018 Diyandi Festival and the city fiesta.

The month-long Diyandi Festival is in celebration of the feast of Patron Saint Michael Archangel started September 1 to October 7.




"There is a need to relax the implementation of the curfew hours to give way to the celebration," said Regencia last Monday in a bid to promote the tourism in Iligan City during its weeklong festivities.

The curfew hours was lifted starting September 10 and was supposed to be in effect until October 7.

However, Regencia reimplemented the curfew hours covering citizens aged 18 years old and below from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. effective September 17 following rumbles involving youth groups in different parts of the city.

"We will not wait until lives will be wasted," he said.

Exceptions will cover minors with their parents in tow and students traveling home from school provided they have proper IDs. [Bonita Ermac, Manila Bulletin]

'The Butcher' gets life sentence

MALOLOS, Bulacan - The Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Bulacan on Monday found retired Army Major General Jovito Palparan Jr. guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in connection with the disappearance of two University of the Philippines (UP) students in 2006.

Gazmin's approval voids Trillanes' amnesty -- Panelo

Salvador Panelo

MANILA - The amnesty granted to Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was invalid from the start since it was signed by former Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and not by former president Benigno Aquino III, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said on Monday.

Former 'hanging judge' to preside over Trillanes amnesty case in SC

A FORMER  'hanging judge' will handle the petition, which Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th filed before the Supreme Court, to stop President Rodrigo Duterte from revoking his amnesty and consequently ordering his arrest.

Duterte to soldiers: "Kill terrorists"

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to destroy and kill extremists as he slammed anew the ideology of terrorists.

Teresita Leonardo de Castro is new Chief Justice

METRO MANILA - Teresita Leonardo de Castro is the new Chief Justice.

Improve your performance in your 'own republic,' PRRD tells mayors

CEBU CITY - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has urged the local leaders to improve their performance, reminding them of their responsibility to address social ills like illegal drugs and corruption "as president of your own republic."

Son of ex-lawmaker nabbed in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY - Members of the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao arrested the son of former Lanao del Norte's First District Rep. Alipio Badelles in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Palao on Friday.

Erik Dominique Badelles, also known as Boji, was caught after PDEA's asset bought a sachet of a substance believed to be shabu amounting to P1,000.

PDEA said for a year now, the younger Badelles had been a "target drug personality" after the agency confirmed his "re-engagement" in the illegal drugs trade.

The same PDEA team, who nabbed him in Cagayan de Oro in 2014, arrested Badelles last night.  The case was dismissed then due to technical reasons.

"He was in the list 4 years ago until he was arrested.  He is again on the list this year for the second time.  Any person on the list had been considered high-value target," PDEA said.

Agent Wax, however, clarified that Badelles was just a user.  He sold his personal supplies occasionally only to "trusted friends."

PDEA members recovered two big and two small sachets of a substance believed to be shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia, and P1,000.

Badelles, who is now in the custody of PDEA 10, will face charges of violation of Article 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Badelles is the second personality in Iligan arrested after the Iligan City Police Station changed leadership.

On July 28, PDEA arrested Antonio Anduyan, Jr., brother of Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan, now chief of the Manila Police District. [Divina M. Suson, Inquirerdotnet]

Manila police chief hands off on brother's arrest in drug buy bust in Iligan City

MANILA - Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan said on Tuesday that he would not condone the illegal acts of his brother who was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in Iligan over the weekend.

READ: PDEA-Lanao del Norte busts a sibling of a PNP general & brgy chair

Operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) arrested Antonio Quiros Anduyan, 3rd, a.k.a. "Suye," who was No. 2 on its watchlist in Region 10 and therefore, considered a high-value target. 

In a statement, Chief Anduyan said he would not interfere with the case of the suspect, a half-brother, especially since there was enough evidence to prove that he broke the law.




According to the report by PDEA Region 10, six heat-sealed sachets of suspected crystal meth or "shabu," estimated at P70,000, were confiscated from the suspect.

Suye Anduyan is expected to face charges for violating the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.  [Kim Malait, The Manila Times]

Trade Secretary beacons Japanese shipbuilder to expand operations to Iligan City

MANILA - The Philippines has specifically invited Japenese shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. to expand its existing operation in Cebu to Iligan City to create more jobs near the Marawi area.

PDEA-Lanao del Norte busts a sibling of a PNP general & brgy chair

ILIGAN CITY - The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 10-Lanao del Norte Special Enforcement Team arrested, early evening on July 28, a brother of a barangay chair and of a police general in a drug buy-bust operation in Purok 8, Barangay Saray, Iligan City.

PDEA 10 Regional Director Wilkins Villanueva said the target, identified as Antonio Quiros Anduyan Jr., also known as Soye, was listed as number two target drug personality in Iligan City and considered a high-value target by the drug agency.

NBI busts P300-k worth of marijuana in Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) seized Monday (30 July 2018) some P300,000 worth of marijuana in sealed plastic sachets from a dealer at dawn in Barangay Tibanga, this city.

President Duterte vows to provide Jolo with additional fire trucks

JOLO, Sulu - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Friday, July 27, extended relief assistance to victims of a huge blaze that razed around 13 hectares of lands in two villages here.

President Duterte distributes aid to fire victims in Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA City - President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the distribution Thursday of relief assistance to the survivors of a blaze here, promising them to rebuild their houses soon.