News Briefs

House leader bats for preshipment inspection for BOC

A senior House leader has called on Malacañang to consider turning over the day-to-day management of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to world-class customs inspection service providers so that corruption in the agency may be curbed. “Preshipment inspection, valuation, and appraisal of all imports before they are sent to the Philippines would be one effective way to clean up customs operations,” Assistant Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy said. Dy, chair of the committee on women and gender equality, recalled that the preshipment solution was “rejected by the BOC, importers, and smugglers” when Congress deliberated on the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. “When those three sectors agree to reject something that makes perfect sense as a solution, that already says a lot. There are world-class customs inspection service providers out there and we just have to find the right match for the Philippines,” she said.  —JEROME ANING

‘Undas’ police desks tally 7 ‘significant incidents’

The annual remembrance of the day of the dead proved to be generally peaceful as the Philippine National Police tallied just seven significant crimes in cemeteries across the country as of Friday. Reports from the PNP’s 4,672 assistance desks deployed in cemeteries and transport hubs nationwide showed only three violations of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, two violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and one direct assault, The PNP also confiscated 13,264 contrabands, including four firearms, 11,039 bladed or pointed weapons, 1,949 alcoholic drinks, 197 gambling paraphernalia and 72 videoke or karaoke machines, said PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Benigno Durana. —JAYMEE T. GAMIL

3 militiamen among 8 killed in Natonin landslide

The military confirmed on Friday that three of the people killed in the landslide that buried a building under construction in Natonin, Mountain Province, on Oct. 30 were off duty members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu) of the 77th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army. The three fatalities, who were identified as Leobel Orchilion, Linang Pallichang and Jonanthan Ngilin, were members of the Cafgu’s civilian auxiliary unit and only served the Army 15 days in a month. According to the military, eight bodies have been recovered from the Natonin landslide. Twenty other people are still missing. Meanwhile, two days after Typhoon “Rosita” (international name: Yutu) exited the Philippine area of responsibility, 247 families, or 840 people, remained in 21 evacuation centers in Cagayan Valley, the Cordilleras and Eastern Visayas. —JAYMEE T. GAMIL

Aquino, Gatchalian pitch for National Press Freedom Day

Two senators want Aug. 30 to be declared the day for press freedom to honor the birth of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, who’s known as the father of Philippine journalism for his work during the Philippine Revolution. But the lawmakers’ separate bills differ in one respect:  Sen. Bam Aquino’s proposal declares the date “National Press Freedom Day,” while Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian adds the qualifier “responsible,” so it shall read, “National Responsible Press Freedom Day.” The twin measures, Senate Bill Nos. 2040 and 2042, by Aquino and Gatchalian, respectively, shall complement the passage in February of a counterpart bill, House Bill No. 6922, in the House of Representatives. Both Aquino and Gatchalian recognized the role of “the Great Propagandist,” a prolific writer from Bulacan who used the pen name “Plaridel” in advocating for freedom in the country. —DJ YAP