News Briefs: Oil firms raise pump prices
Pump prices of oil products went up today following three straight weeks of reduction. Local oil firms raised prices as early as midnight on Tuesday, with that of gasoline rising by 65 centavos a liter and of diesel by 60 centavos a liter.
As of press time, companies that gave notice of price hikes included Pilipinas Shell Petroleum, Seaoil Philippines, Flying V, Eastern Petroleum, PTT Philippines, Phoenix Petroleum and Petron.
Shell, Seaoil, Flying V and Petron also raised kerosene prices by 70 centavos a liter.
The latest price changes will bring prices of diesel to the range of P27.30 to P32.51 a liter.
Gasoline prices will now range from P38.30 to P50.45 a liter. Kerosene prices will be at P32.10 to P41.13 a liter. —Ronnel W. Domingo
Age of criminal liability won’t be lowered
The chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice on Monday admitted the likelihood that the minimum age of criminal responsibility would no longer be reduced to nine years old, and that the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act might just be “enhanced.”
“I do not want to preempt what the committee will say but as early as now, I was briefed by my [committee secretary] and there are various options now being pursued,” Mindoro Oriental Rep. Reynaldo Umali told a press conference.
One of them is the enhancement of the existing law, Umali said, referring to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, which mandates that the minimum age of criminal liability of youth offenders is 15.
Asked if the minimum age would no longer be reduced to nine years old, Umali replied: “That is the possibility.
But I do not want to preempt the decision of the committee.” —Nikko Dizon
Shortlist of Año’s possible successors drawn up
The Armed Forces of the Philippines Board of Generals has already come up with a shortlist of the possible successors of AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año, a military spokesperson said on Monday.
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, said the Board of Generals drew up the list after President Duterte said he wanted Año to take over the Department of the Interior and Local Government by June 2.
Thus, Año will have to retire before he turns 56 on Oct. 26. “In view of the announced early retirement of Gen. Año, the Board of Generals has already met to meet on the possible candidates who will be recommended as the next chief of staff,” Padilla said. —Philip C. Tubeza
PNP to submit findings on cop linked to Abus
The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service (IAS) will submit to PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa its resolution on the case of the female police officer accused of conniving with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Bohol.
IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said they would submit to Dela Rosa in 15 days their findings and recommendations on the charges against Supt. Ma. Cristina Nobleza.
“We will start weighing the evidence and in 15 days, we will submit the resolution to the PNP chief,” Triambulo said.
He said Nobleza was given 10 days to submit her “position paper” explaining her side on the charges against her.
Nobleza, Davao PNP Crime Laboratory deputy chief, was caught on April 22 in Bohol together with Abu Sayyaf bomb expert Renren Dongon. —Philip C. Tubeza
