News Briefs: March 12, 2019

Gasoline price up for 5th week by 90 centavos

Pump prices of gasoline went up by 90 centavos per liter. The increase was the fifth in as many weeks. Prices of diesel and kerosene did not move.

Shell, Caltex, Seaoil, PTT Philippines, Total Philippines, Eastern Petroleum, Phoenix Petroleum and Flying V announced the increase which became effective at 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

The Department of Energy said the latest increase placed the price of gasoline between P49.75 and P58.61 per liter in Metro Manila. —Ronnel W. Domingo

Rebels kill cop in ambush, wound female officer

A former intelligence operative of the Samar police was killed, while a policewoman was wounded in an ambush on Monday in the village of Malatogawe, Motiong town, Samar province.

Killed was PO3 Glenn Meniano, former operative of the provincial drug enforcement unit.

Supt. Bella Rentuaya, Eastern Visayas police spokesperson, said PO1 Jane Abejar was wounded in the ambush believed perpetrated by New People’s Army guerrillas.

The two were returning to the Motiong police station after fetching water in Paranas town when they were ambushed near the town’s cockpit arena. —Robert Dejon

Subic sets new record with 9.2M visitors

At least 9.2 million local and foreign tourists visited Subic Bay Freeport, according to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

The influx of foreign tourists was attributed to the arrival of cruise ships carrying mostly Asian travelers.

Wilma Eisma, SBMA chair and administrator, said the local tourism industry “continued with its impressive performance.”

The figure was 2.2 percent higher than the 8.5 million Subic visitors in 2017, SBMA records showed.

Eisma said key to the increase in the number of visitors was the arrival of 19 cruise ships in 2018 compared to only one in 2017. —Joanna Rose Aglibot

Sara Duterte differs with dad on medical marijuana

President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, appeared to take a stand on medical marijuana contradicting her father’s.

“If there is scientific basis that cannabis is a medicine, maybe we should not deprive patients in need of it,” said the mayor in an interview during a break at a campaign rally in Lipa City, Batangas.

At a campaign rally in Negros Occidental last Friday, the President said he would not support the legalization of medical marijuana, saying it would pave the way for substance abuse.

“Not in my time,” the President said. —Maricar Cinco