News Briefs: July 31, 2019

DFA tells Pinoys in Hong Kong to avoid protest areas

MANILA, Philippines — In the light of the ongoing mass protest actions in Hong Kong, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday advised Filipinos in or travelling to the Chinese territory to avoid areas where such protests were being held and to take all necessary precautions for their safety.

“The department encourages the public to monitor the pronouncements of the Hong Kong government and to heed the advice and instructions of local authorities,” the DFA said in an advisory.

“The public is encouraged as well to monitor developments and in doing so, to rely on legitimate media entities and news sources, and to be discerning with respect to information obtained through social media,” it added.

The Philippine consulate general in Hong Kong continues “to maintain open communication lines with the Hong Kong government regarding the situation and will provide the corresponding notification to the public, as necessary,” the DFA said. —Jerome Aning

Sandiganbayan: Evidence vs ex-NIA exec strong

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division has denied the separate motions for reconsideration filed by former National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Carlos Somblingo Salazar and his coaccused, Ricardo Khan Jr., who both earlier sought to file a demurrer to evidence.

Salazar and Khan, along with authorized representative Greg Tupaz Jr. of A.M. Oreta & Co. Inc., were earlier charged with graft over the reportedly anomalous construction of the P98-million Libmanan-Cabusao Diversion Dam.

In a June 13 resolution, the antigraft court denied Salazar and Khan’s motions for leave of court to file a demurrer to evidence.

A leave of court to file a demurrer to evidence asks permission from the court to submit a demurrer to evidence, which in turn asks the court to evaluate the evidence presented by the prosecution, to determine if there is enough basis to proceed.

A granted demurrer is tantamount to a dismissal of the case.

Both Khan and Salazar then filed motions for reconsideration, which were also denied in a July 25 resolution. —Patricia Denise M. Chiu

DILG chief condemns attack on Bicol airport project

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año condemned on Tuesday the communist rebels’ alleged bombing attack last week at the construction site of Bicol International Airport.

In a statement on Tuesday,  Año said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army proved they were “ordinary bandits” with the attack at the airport in Daraga, Albay province.

“If the communist rebels really want the country’s development, they would not destroy a project that will greatly benefit Filipinos,” the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary pointed out.

Police said a dump truck of airport contractor EM Cuerpo Inc. was rigged with an improvised explosive device, which exploded around 10 a.m. last Friday at the construction site in Daraga, Albay. —Jeannette I. Andrade

PNP chief says no ‘jueteng’ activities observed

MANILA, Philippines –”Gen. Oscar Albayalde, chief of the  maintained on Tuesday that he had not observed a resurgence of the illegal numbers game “jueteng,” following the shutdown of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) gaming outlets.

“As of this time we have not monitored a resurgence of the kangaroo-type of illegal numbers game, particularly jueteng,” he said.

He said that following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to shut down all PCSO gaming operations, the PNP chief told reporters that he directed all police regional directors to monitor jueteng activities in their areas.

“We have a standing directive, what we call the one-strike policy. If jueteng operations are monitored in their area, the police station commanders will be held responsible,” the PNP chief pointed out. —Jeannette I. Andrade