News Briefs: June 21, 2019

Nonworking holidays declared in 3 provinces

Malacañang has declared several days in June and July as nonworking holidays in three provinces to allow its residents to celebrate special days with appropriate ceremonies. June 24 is a holiday in Masbate on the occasion of its Bagat-Dagat Festival, while June 29 is a nonworking day in Koronadal City, South Cotabato, to enable it to mark its Tree Growing Festival. San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, meanwhile celebrates its charter anniversary on July 1, a nonworking day. —JULIE M. AURELIO

Kapa founder claims gunmen out to get him

KORONADAL CITY—In a message to Kapa (Kabus Padatuon) Community Ministry International, Kapa founder Joel Apolinario said “heavily armed gunmen from Manila had come down to General Santos to get me.” The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said they were hunting down Apolinario to arrest him “without an arrest warrant.”  The disc jockey turned pastor also lauded Kapa members for holding simultaneous prayer rallies on Thursday in General Santos City, Kidapawan, Tagum, Valencia, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Tacloban, Quezon City and other parts of Luzon. —EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ

President visits Army HQ in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY—President Duterte quietly flew to Samar on Wednesday night and visited the main headquarters of the Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas. Capt. Raul Aragones, spokesperson of the 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City, Samar, said the “brief visit” was not open to the media. With the President on this unscheduled visit was Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Mr. Duterte’s former aide and Senator-elect Bong Go. The President then proceeded to the Camp Lukban Station Hospital to posthumously award the Order of Lapu-Lapu to five soldiers killed in clashes with communist rebels and pin the Kampilan medals to nine soldiers wounded while battling the rebels. The website of the Presidential Communications Operations Office identified the recipients of the Order of Lapu-Lapu as Cpl. Roberto Bueno, Cpl. Alix Saliwan, Pfc. Danilo Constantino Jr., Pfc. Arthur Garcia and Pvt. Elben Lagrimas. Those who received the Kampilan medals were Cpl. Eduardo Vigilia Jr.,Cpl. Mark Lester Amparo, Pfc. Joseph Salinga, Pfc. Mark Louie Lantecsi, Pfc. Mark Kevin Frigillana, Pfc. Joemar Glenn Seligbon, Pvt. Delio Amaro, Pvt. Joseph Renel Gentalian and Pvt. Rex Español. The President also called on rebels operating in Eastern Visayas to surrender and return to the fold of the law. Eastern Visayas, composed of the provinces of Leyte, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, continues to grapple with the communist insurgency problem, which has been cited as among reasons why investors shy away. —JOEY GABIETA

BI to deport 35 Chinese men engaged in manual labor

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is set to deport the 35 Chinese men arrested on Wednesday for engaging in construction work, a violation of a BI policy disallowing aliens from doing manual labor. “We will initiate deportation proceedings against these illegal aliens for blatantly disobeying the law,” said Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. BI Intelligence Division chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. said at least two Philippine construction companies building projects in three different streets in a Paranaque village were involved in the hiring of the illegal aliens. In September, the BI also arrested 34 Chinese construction workers in a building along Macapagal Avenue. —TINA G. SANTOS