News Briefs: June 30, 2019

School girl falls off Kidapawan school building

MANILA, Philippines — A 14-year-old Grade 7 student of Kidapawan City National High School was hospitalized on Friday after she fell from the third floor of the four-story school building.

City Schools Division Superintendent Romelito Flores said the girl broke her legs and arms and had bruises in various parts of her body.

Flores said the authorities were still investigating the cause of the girl’s fall. —Williamor Magbanua

Former PCOO execs blamed for unliquidated aid

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has blamed former officials of the Aquino administration for failing to liquidate P1.37 million in assistance funds for 20 PCOO employees who were victims of the 2013 supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

In a statement, the PCOO said the 20 PCOO employees were only given P1.37 million in financial assistance by the Office of the President two years after Yolanda struck. —Julie M. Aurelio

SC issues writ of habeas data in favor of Veloso

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has issued a writ of habeas data in favor of Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, who was branded  a “narcopolitician” by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The high court’s Third Division issued the writ on June 17. Veloso had sought the “rectification, suppression or destruction of the database, information or files” kept on him by the government which, according to him, lists him “erroneously” as a narcopolitican.

The congressman  denied being involved in illegal drug activities. —Jerome Aning