INQToday: 17 dead in Cotabato road accident; Half-day work for gov’t employees on March 27 — Palace

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

17 dead in Cotabato road accident

At least 17 people were burned to death when a cargo truck rammed a passenger van along the national highway in the town of Antipas in Cotabato province past noon Monday.

Police Maj. Godofredo Tupas II, Antipas municipal police station chief, said the accident occurred in Purok 2, Barangay Luhong, Antipas at 12:48 p.m., killing about 15 passengers and the driver of the Toyota Hiace van when it caught fire during the accident.

China accuses PH of trespassing in Ayungin Shoal

The Chinese Embassy in Manila insisted on Monday its claim on the West Philippine Sea, alleging that the Philippines is “trespassing” into the waters of Ayungin Shoal, which it refers to as Ren’ai Jiao.

“On March 25, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines lodged representations with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines over the recent illegal trespassing by Philippine resupply vessels into waters adjacent to Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal),” said the embassy.

Half-day work for gov’t employees on March 27 — Palace

Malacañang on Monday announced a half day work schedule for government employees on Wednesday, March 27.

In a memorandum circular posted by the Official Gazette on Monday, the Palace said it is allotting time for employees to travel to their Holy Week destinations.