News Briefs: July 14, 2019

3 PH islands in list of Top 10 islands in Asia

MANILA, Philippines — Three Philippine islands made it into the list of the Top 10 Islands in Asia, according to a New York City-based travel magazine’s survey.

Palawan, Cebu and Boracay ranked 2nd, 7th and 9th, respectively,  in the list published on the website of the monthly Travel + Leisure magazine, which has about 4.8 million readers.

The three islands were described as “longtime favorites” and cited for their “top-notch reef and wreck diving, white-sand beaches, hiking trails with waterfalls, and welcoming locals,” as well as five-star lodgings and amenities.

Topping the list was Sri Lanka, followed by Indonesia’s Bali and Java, the Maldives, Thailand’s Koh Lanta and Koh Samui, and Japan’s Naoshima. —Jerome Aning

Dengue cases up 70% in Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) in Zamboanga del Sur on Friday reported a sharp rise in dengue cases, which killed 19 persons in the province this year.

The DOH here said dengue cases in the province from January to early July this year had reached 2,991, a 70-percent increase compared to the 684 cases recorded in the same period last year.

Epidemiology Surveillance Unit officer Wilfred Agtina said Pagadian City had the highest number of cases at 406, from only 164 cases in the same period in 2018. Agtina said majority of the dengue patients were aged one to 10.

Other towns  with high number of cases included Margosatubig, with 254 cases; Vincenzo Sagun, with 230; Dimataling, with 148; Labangan, 115; Midsalip, 111; and Kumalarang, 103. —Leah Agonoy

Ex-Philcomsat execs acquitted

MANILA, Philippines —Prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have appealed to a Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) to have former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo recommitted for supposedly violating the conditions of the bail granted to him by the Supreme Court years ago.

Kristina Conti, Ocampo’s legal counsel, said the motion was made verbally  during a June 10 hearing at Manila RTC Branch 32.

This was part of an ongoing multiple murder trial against Ocampo and other alleged communist leaders over the discovery of a mass grave in Inopacan, Leyte, in 2006.

They argued that Ocampo had violated the provisions of his bail by getting involved in trafficking charges in November 2018 in Tagum, Davao del Norte. —Krixia Subingsubing

PH, US to hold bilateral strategic dialogue

MANILA, Philippines — The Eighth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) between the Philippines and the United States will be held on July 15 and 16 in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Saturday.

The BSD will be co-chaired by Foreign Undersecretary  Enrique Manalo and Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano and newly confirmed US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver, for the Philippine and US sides, respectively. —Jerome Aning