Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Transport strike to continue as Piston, LTFRB fail to reach agreement
Participants of the two-day transport strike have threatened to set up camp in front of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) central office until their demands have been met.
The transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) is in the middle of its nationwide transport strike beginning December 14 to 15 in protest of the December 31 deadline for franchise consolidation and phaseout of traditional jeepneys.
Hontiveros sets January 2024 probe into Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ
The Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros intends to conduct a probe into “Appointed Son of God” Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) in January 2024.
Hontiveros confirmed this in a letter sent to the Department of Justice on Thursday. The probe seeks to look into alleged crimes linked to Quiboloy-led KOJC.
PNP shows photos of 2 persons of interest behind MSU bombing
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday revealed the faces of two other “persons of interest” (POIs) who were caught on CCTV transporting a bag allegedly containing the bomb used inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) gym in Marawi City last December 3.
Apart from the first two suspects, Col. Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, said they were able to spot the two after the Special Investigation Task Group backtracked the CCTV footage within the area. She likewise specified that “POI 1” drove the motorcycle, while “POI 2” was the pillion rider carrying the bag.
Robin Padilla seeks expanded terms for president, vice president
Senator Robinhood Padilla has proposed amending the 1987 Constitution and allowing the president and vice president to serve for four years and two terms.
Under his Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 5, the president and vice president would be elected “joint candidates,” the Senate would grow to 54 members, with 24 of them serving for eight years, and the House of Representatives lawmakers would serve for four years.
US defense chief hails AFP’s professionalism amid China aggression
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III lauded the professionalism of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) despite China’s recent “unlawful behavior” in the West Philippine Sea.
Austin expressed this during his phone conversation with Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Manila Water, Maynilad users face higher rates in 2024
Households in Metro Manila and nearby provinces should brace for an increase in their water bills beginning next year as the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office has approved new tariff rates for two of the country’s biggest concessionaires.
MWSS chief regulator Patrick Ty announced on Wednesday that customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc., whose concession area covers the cities of Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Valenzuela, Navotas, Malabon, and parts of Makati, Quezon City, and Cavite province, would see an average increase of P7.87 per cubic meter in their monthly water bill.