INQToday: Groups stage protest vs PUVMP; QCPD apologizes over leaked Ronaldo Valdez video

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Groups stage protest vs PUV modernization program

Over 3,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure public safety for the ongoing transport protest launched by Manibela and Piston groups.

The protest is to challenge the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Modern jeepney operators can’t raise fare without LTFRB approval, says exec

Operators of modern jeepneys cannot just raise or lower fares without approval by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Any fare adjustments — whether an increase or reduction — will have to pass through LTFRB. They cannot just decide it for themselves. We at the  LTFRB will set the minimum fare and the percentage of increase per succeeding kilometer,” Zona Russet Tamayo, director of the National Capital Region office of the LTRFB, said in a Palace briefing, speaking partly in Filipino, on Monday.

Gaza health ministry says war death toll at 24,100

Hamas appeared to show the dead bodies of two Israeli hostages on Monday after warning Israel they might be killed if it did not stop its bombardment of Gaza.

A new video released by the Palestinian militant group purportedly showed the bodies of Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38, who had appeared in an initial video on Sunday.

QCPD issues public apology over leaked Ronaldo Valdez video

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Monday issued a public apology to the family of singer-songwriter Janno Gibbs over the unauthorized circulation of a video showing the body of hisfather – veteran film and television actor Ronaldo Valdez, who died December 17 last year.

“The QCPD extends its sincere apologies to the Gibbs family regarding the recent incident where a member of our police force inappropriately took a video of the late Mr. Ronaldo Valdez. We acknowledge the gravity of this lapse in judgment of some of our personnel, and we deeply regret any distress this may have caused,” the police district said in a statement on Monday.