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Greta Thunberg alleges torture in Israeli custody after Gaza flotilla detention

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Greta Thunberg alleges torture in Israeli custody after Gaza flotilla detention

STOCKHOLM — Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has accused Israeli authorities of subjecting her and other detainees to torture following their arrest during a Gaza flotilla mission aimed at delivering aid to the blockaded enclave.

Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm on Tuesday, Thunberg claimed she and other activists were “kidnapped and tortured” by the Israeli military after being intercepted at sea.

“Personally, I don’t want to share what I was subjected to because I don’t want it to make headlines and ‘Greta has been tortured’, because that’s not the story here,” she said. “What we went through is nothing compared to what people in Gaza experience every day.”

The Israeli foreign ministry has repeatedly denied accusations of mistreatment. “All detainees … were given access to water, food, and restrooms; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully upheld,” a spokesperson told Reuters last week. The ministry did not immediately respond to new requests for comment on Tuesday.

Thunberg was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of vessels carrying aid supplies and calling attention to Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis, where the United Nations reports that hunger and displacement remain widespread among the 2.2 million residents.

According to Israeli officials, Thunberg was among 478 people detained during the flotilla operation and was expelled from Israel on Monday. The Israeli government has dismissed the mission as a “publicity stunt” that benefits Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization.

Swedish activists who took part in the flotilla claimed that Thunberg had been shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention, though she did not mention this incident during her press conference.

Thunberg and other participants also criticized the Swedish government for what they described as insufficient support during their detention. In response, Sweden’s foreign ministry said it had “repeatedly advised against all travel to Gaza” but confirmed that consular assistance had been provided. The ministry added that it had “stressed to Israeli authorities the importance of treating Swedish citizens in accordance with international law.”

The 21-year-old activist, known globally for her environmental campaigns, has increasingly spoken out on the Gaza conflict in recent months, calling for an immediate ceasefire and international accountability for human rights abuses.

Dubai chocolate craze spreads beyond bars, making waves globally

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Dubai chocolate craze spreads beyond bars, making waves globally

MELBOURNE — What began as a novelty bar in Dubai is now transforming the confectionery landscape worldwide. The “Dubai chocolate” phenomenon, characterised by its indulgent milk chocolate shell, pistachio-tahini cream filling and crispy kadayif strands, is evolving beyond bars into milkshakes, croissants, ice cream and more.

First launched by Fix Dessert Chocolatier in 2021, the original bar gained viral fame by 2023 and has since inspired countless spin-offs. Global brands and small bakeries alike are experimenting with the format, offering fillings that range from peanut butter and jelly to matcha.

“I don’t call this a ‘trend’ anymore, it’s a whole new thing,” said Din Allall of The Nuts Factory, which now carries 12 flavours of Dubai chocolate alongside dates, coated nuts, parfaits and even a 24-karat gold edition.

The craze has also triggered tangible supply effects. Iranian producers have cited the “explosive surge in demand fueled by the viral ‘Dubai chocolate’ TikTok trend” as a driver of a pistachio shortage. Meanwhile, Google search interest in “Dubai chocolate” surged early this year and has remained elevated.

Retailers from Trader Joe’s to Lindt have jumped into the fray. Lindt released a Dubai-style bar in Australia earlier this year, featuring 45 percent pistachio filling, kadayif pastry, and nut brittle. Some Australian stores reported no supply shortages so far, despite strong consumer demand.

Observers say what sets Dubai chocolate apart is not just flavor but texture. “The chocolate is soft and melty, and the filling is creamy, and then the crunch of the kadayif. It’s all about the texture,” said Erica Lefkowits in Dublin.

Still, questions remain about long-term sustainability. Can such richly layered products scale economically? Who will control branding and authenticity as imitators proliferate? In Australia, the launch of Lindt’s version marks one of the earliest local entries into the trend.

As Dubai chocolate branches into confections beyond its original bar form, its influence is resonating from Dubai to Melbourne and beyond.

The pistachio and kadaifi filling in Dubai chocolate has helped to create a global sensation © Beata Zawrzel/Reuters Connect

Hamas signals readiness for Gaza deal, key mediators arrive in Egypt

Venus L Peñaflor
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Hamas signals readiness for Gaza deal, key mediators arrive in Egypt

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — Hamas said on Tuesday it was prepared to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza under a framework based on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan, but maintained that several conditions must still be met.

The announcement came as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and senior U.S. mediators, including Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, traveled to Egypt to join indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel.

On the second anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war, Trump expressed optimism about prospects for peace. “I think there’s a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East beyond just Gaza,” he told reporters at the White House.

Negotiations resumed in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with sources describing Tuesday’s discussions as more positive than those held the previous day. Talks on Wednesday are expected to be crucial, as senior mediators arrive to push for a breakthrough.

Qatar, a key intermediary throughout the conflict, aims to advance both the Gaza ceasefire plan and the hostage release agreement, an official familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Top Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya said in an interview with Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV that the group had come “to engage in serious and responsible negotiations,” stressing that Hamas sought a “guarantee” to ensure the war would end and “not be repeated.”

According to Gaza authorities, around 67,000 people have been killed since the 2023 assault, which left much of the territory in ruins. Israel says 1,200 of its citizens were killed and 251 taken hostage during the initial attack.

While officials described the talks as the most promising since the war began, they also urged caution, noting that major political and security challenges remain. Questions persist over who would govern Gaza after the conflict, how reconstruction would be funded, and whether Hamas would retain any role in postwar governance, something both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have rejected.

“The (Hamas) movement’s delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza,” senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said in a televised statement.

Barhoum reiterated that Hamas would only agree to a deal that ensures an end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the start of a comprehensive reconstruction process overseen by a Palestinian “national technocratic body.” Israel, however, insists on Hamas’ disarmament as a condition the group refuses.

Netanyahu, for his part, said Israelis were in “fateful days of decision.” In a statement on X, he reaffirmed Israel’s goals: “We will continue to act to achieve all the war’s objectives — the return of all the hostages, the elimination of Hamas’s rule, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”

U.S. officials indicated that the immediate focus of talks would be on securing a temporary halt to the fighting and working out the logistics of exchanging hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

As negotiations continued, Israel pressed ahead with its military operations in Gaza, deepening its diplomatic isolation. Protests condemning Israel’s actions took place in Sydney and several European cities on the anniversary of the 2023 attack, despite criticism from some officials who said such demonstrations risked glorifying violence.

In Israel, families of victims marked the grim anniversary with memorial visits. Orit Baron, whose daughter Yuval and her fiancé were among the 364 people killed at the Nova music festival, said, “They were supposed to get married on February 14th, Valentine’s Day. They are buried next to each other because they were never separated.”

Meanwhile, 43-year-old Israeli Hilda Weisthal said the unresolved hostage crisis remains “an open wound,” adding, “I can’t believe it’s been two years and they are still not home.”

In Gaza, 49-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Dib expressed hope that the talks would bring an end to the suffering. “It’s been two years that we are living in fear, horror, displacement and destruction,” he said.

PAGASA: Habagat Season tapos na, Amihan papasok na

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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PAGASA: Habagat Season tapos na, Amihan papasok na

MAYNILA — Inanunsyo kahapon ng Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) ang opisyal na pagtatapos ng southwest monsoon o Habagat season sa bansa.

Ayon sa PAGASA, humina ang Habagat sa mga nagdaang araw at nagkaroon ng gradual change sa weather pattern bunsod ng paglakas ng high-pressure system sa silangang Asya at ng southward migration ng Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Ipinahayag ng weather bureau na batay sa kanilang forecast models, mananatili ang ganitong kondisyon sa mga susunod na araw. Dahil dito, opisyal na tinapos ng PAGASA ang Habagat season at nagsimula na ang transition period patungo sa Northeast Monsoon o Amihan season.

Ang pagpasok ng Amihan ay karaniwang nagdadala ng malamig at tuyong hangin mula hilaga-silangan, na nagpapahiwatig na malapit na ang panahon ng Kapaskuhan.

Ayon sa historical climate data ng PAGASA, ang Habagat ay karaniwang nagdudulot ng wet season o tag-ulan mula Hunyo hanggang Oktubre, habang ang Amihan naman ay nagdadala ng dry season mula Disyembre hanggang Mayo.

Sa kabila ng pagtatapos ng Habagat, nagbabala rin ang PAGASA na may posibilidad ng mas mataas na pag-ulan sa ilang bahagi ng bansa sa mga darating na buwan dahil sa epekto ng La Niña.

Ang pagbabago sa wind pattern ay may malaking epekto sa agrikultura, turismo, at paghahanda ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa pagbabago ng klima. Sa mga susunod na linggo, inaasahang mas madarama ang malamig at tuyong simoy ng hangin bilang hudyat ng bagong yugto sa seasonal cycle ng bansa

Bagong Ombudsman Remulla: Asahan ang mabilis na aksyon sa flood control probe

Venus L Peñaflor
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Bagong Ombudsman Remulla: Asahan ang mabilis na aksyon sa flood control probe

MAYNILA – Nangako ang incoming Ombudsman at kasalukuyang Justice Secretary na si Jesus Crispin Remulla ng agarang aksyon sa mga kasong may kaugnayan sa imbestigasyon ng korapsyon sa flood control projects sa kanyang pagtanggap sa bagong posisyon.

Sinabi ni Remulla sa mga interview nitong Martes na asahan ng publiko ang mabilis na kilos mula sa kanyang tanggapan hinggil sa mga proyekto sa flood control matapos siyang italaga bilang Ombudsman ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“Sa rules ng Ombudsman, may fact-finding. Iva-validate namin lahat ng data na isa-submit. ‘Yung mga finile na ng ICI, ‘yung ifa-file ng DOJ (Department of Justice) na with regards to those… Salary Grade 27 and above,” ani Remulla, hinggil sa Marcos-created Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Inirekomenda na ng nasabing independent commission ang posibleng paghahain ng kaso ng graft, malversation, at falsification laban kay dating Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co at iba pang opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) kaugnay sa P289.5-milyong road dike project sa Mag-Asawang Tubig River sa Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Kasama rin sa imbestigasyon ng Ombudsman si Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana dahil sa umano’y koneksyon niya sa anomalous flood control projects.

“Maaasahan na gagalaw ‘yan nang mabilis. At susubukan nating pabilisin ang proseso. Kasi nga, hindi naman ito lihim na sa atin. Alam na natin ang nangyari kaya bibilisan natin nang kaunti ito,” dagdag ni Remulla.

Itinalaga si Remulla bilang bagong Ombudsman noong Martes, isang araw matapos ilabas ng Judicial and Bar Council ang shortlist para sa posisyon. Papalitan niya si dating Ombudsman Samuel Martires, na nag-expire ang termino noong Hulyo 27. Maglilingkod siya sa isang fixed term na pitong taon nang walang reappointment.

Ayon kay Remulla, sisiyasatin din ng Ombudsman ang mga reklamo laban kay Bise Presidente Sara Duterte kaugnay ng umano’y maling paggamit ng confidential funds na nagkakahalaga ng P500 milyon sa Office of the Vice President (OVP) at P112.5 milyon sa Department of Education (DepEd) mula 2022 hanggang 2024.

“Bubuklatin natin. Pag-aaralan at tatanungin natin ‘yung mga may hawak na ngayon, mga may hawak at ‘yung may tungkulin na hawakan ‘yung mga kasong iyon,” ani Remulla.

Ang reklamo ay nagmula sa rekomendasyon ng House committee on good governance and public accountability na maghain ng kaso laban sa bise presidente. Noong Hunyo, iniutos ng Ombudsman kay Duterte at sa siyam na opisyal mula sa DepEd at OVP na tumugon sa mga paratang, at nagsumite na siya ng counter-affidavit bilang tugon.

Samantala, inihayag ni Senadora Imee Marcos, kapatid ng Pangulo, na ang pagtatalaga kay Remulla bilang Ombudsman ay pinaniniwalaang may layuning maparusahan si Bise Presidente Sara Duterte at ang kanyang mga kakampi pagsapit ng 2028.

Immune system discovery wins Nobel Prize in medicine

Venus L Peñaflor
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Immune system discovery wins Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM — The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on Monday to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi for their groundbreaking discoveries that explain how the immune system distinguishes harmful invaders from the body’s own cells.

Their independent yet complementary research revealed a key mechanism known as peripheral immune tolerance, which prevents the immune system from attacking the body’s own tissues. The discovery has advanced understanding of autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus, and has opened new possibilities for improving organ transplants and cancer therapies.

“Their discoveries have been decisive for our understanding of how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune diseases,” said Olle Kämpe, chair of the Nobel Committee.

Brunkow, 64, is currently a senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Ramsdell, also 64, serves as a scientific adviser for Sonoma Biotherapeutics in San Francisco. Sakaguchi, 74, is a distinguished professor at the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University in Japan.

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm announced the prize, the first of the 2025 Nobel awards. The physics prize will follow on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday, literature on Thursday, and the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics will be announced on October 13.

Sakaguchi’s experiments in mice during the 1990s revealed that immune regulation involved more than the thymus pathway previously known to eliminate rogue immune cells. In 1995, he identified a new type of T cell, now known as regulatory T cells, or T-regs, which suppress overactive immune responses.

In 2001, Brunkow and Ramsdell discovered that a mutation in the Foxp3 gene was responsible for autoimmune disorders in mice, linking the gene to immune system regulation. Two years later, Sakaguchi demonstrated that Foxp3 controls the development of regulatory T cells, establishing the connection between the gene and immune tolerance.

“From a DNA level, it was a really small alteration that caused this massive change to how the immune system works,” Brunkow told the Associated Press.

Back in Japan, Sakaguchi noted that “it was getting a lot of attention as one gene that can explain multiple autoimmune diseases, but still, why the gene causes the diseases was a mystery.”

Experts have hailed the trio’s work as foundational. “The winners’ work has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of immune balance,” said the American Association of Immunologists.

Dr. Jonathan Schneck of Johns Hopkins University added that while the discoveries have yet to yield new therapies, they are paving the way for future breakthroughs. “It’s incredibly important to emphasize, this work started back in 1995, and we’re reaping the benefits but yet have many more benefits we can reap,” he said.

At a press conference following the announcement, Sakaguchi described his award as “a happy surprise.” He added, “There are many illnesses that need further research and treatment, and I hope there will be further progress in those areas so that findings will lead to the prevention of diseases. That’s what our research is for.”

Brunkow said she initially ignored a call from the Nobel Committee, assuming it was spam. “My phone rang and I saw a number from Sweden and thought: ‘That’s just, that’s spam of some sort,’” she recounted with a laugh.

Ramsdell, known for his humility, had not yet been reached as of the announcement. “It’s going to be great for us to toot his horn for him,” said Jeff Bluestone, CEO of Sonoma Biotherapeutics.

The three laureates will share a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (nearly $1.2 million). The official award ceremony will be held on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.

Egypt reopens tomb of Amenhotep III after two decades of restoration

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Egypt reopens tomb of Amenhotep III after two decades of restoration

LUXOR, Egypt — Egypt has reopened the grand tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III to visitors after more than 20 years of restoration, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to revive its tourism industry ahead of the Grand Egyptian Museum’s much-anticipated opening in Cairo next month.

The massive tomb, located on the western side of Luxor’s famed Valley of the Kings, belonged to Amenhotep III, who ruled ancient Egypt from 1390 BCE to 1350 BCE. It was first discovered in 1799, although most of its original contents, including the sarcophagus, were looted long ago, according to the Egyptian Antiquities Authority.

The restoration project, led by a Japanese archaeological team, took place in three phases over two decades. It involved stabilizing the structure, restoring the wall paintings of the pharaoh and his wife, and preserving key architectural features.

“It’s a very fascinating tomb,” said Mohamed Ismail, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, in an interview with The Associated Press. He noted that the site still contains the frame of the sarcophagus box, with its lid positioned where it once lay.

The tomb features a 36-meter (118-foot) downward-sloping passageway leading 14 meters (45 feet) underground. It includes a main burial chamber for the king and two additional chambers for his wives, Queens Tiye and Sitamun.

Unlike other royal tombs in the valley, Amenhotep III’s burial site is not fully decorated. The existing paintings depict the pharaoh alongside ancient Egyptian gods, while inscriptions inside the burial chamber display passages from the Book of the Dead — a collection of spells meant to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

Amenhotep III’s mummy was later transferred by ancient priests to the tomb of his grandfather, Amenhotep II, also in the Valley of the Kings. The damaged mummy is now exhibited at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo, along with the remains of 16 other rulers from Egypt’s 18th Dynasty.

Known as “Amenhotep the Great,” the pharaoh ascended the throne as a teenager and reigned for nearly 38 years during one of Egypt’s most prosperous eras.

The reopening comes just weeks before the official inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Giza Pyramids, scheduled for November 1. Both events form part of Egypt’s broader initiative to draw more international tourists and strengthen a sector that has struggled since the 2011 uprising.

Maduro seeks Pope Leo XIV’s help to preserve peace in Venezuela

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Maduro seeks Pope Leo XIV’s help to preserve peace in Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Monday that he has asked Pope Leo XIV to help maintain peace and stability in Venezuela amid ongoing U.S. military operations targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats off the country’s coast.

“I have great faith that Pope Leo, as I stated in the letter I sent him, will help Venezuela preserve and achieve peace and stability,” Maduro said during his weekly television program on state media.

The Venezuelan leader stated that he had written to the Pope to request the Vatican’s support, but did not disclose the contents of the letter. The government’s press office has not yet released a copy or further details.

Maduro’s appeal comes as tensions continue to rise following a series of U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, which Washington claims are part of an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. Since last month, four such strikes have been carried out, with the most recent on Friday reportedly killing four people.

The Trump administration has informed U.S. lawmakers that it considers drug traffickers “unlawful combatants,” justifying the use of military force without formal congressional approval. The move has raised questions over the extent of presidential war powers and the potential for broader military engagement in the region.

Maduro has repeatedly accused the United States of using anti-narcotics operations as a pretext to destabilize his government and push for his removal.

Seguridad para sa San Pablo City agri-industrial zone inilatag, Sampalok lake sasailalim sa ecorest period

Venus L Peñaflor
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Seguridad para sa San Pablo City agri-industrial zone inilatag, Sampalok lake sasailalim sa ecorest period

SAN PABLO CITY — Bumisita kamakailan kay San Pablo City Mayor Najie B. Gapangada Jr. ang mga pinakamataas na opisyal militar sa rehiyon ng CALABARZON upang talakayin ang mga hakbang sa seguridad bilang paghahanda sa pagpapaunlad ng lungsod bilang ligtas na destinasyon para sa mga mamumuhunan.

Pinangunahan ni Lieutenant General Cirilo C. Balaoro Jr., Commander ng Armed Forces of the Philippines–Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), ang pagbisita. Sinasaklaw ng SOLCOM ang mga rehiyon ng Southern Tagalog at Bicol. Kasama rin niya si Brigadier General Ernest John C. Cadloc, Commander ng 202nd Brigade ng Philippine Army, na nakatalaga sa mga lalawigan ng Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, at bahagi ng rehiyon ng Bicol.

Sina General Balaoro at Mayor Najie ay kapwa nagtapos ng Masteral Degree in National Security Administration mula sa National Defense College of the Philippines.

Ayon kay General Balaoro, ang kanilang pagbisita ay bahagi ng proaktibong hakbang upang matiyak ang seguridad ng mga inaasahang pamumuhunan sa itatayong agri-industrial economic zone ng San Pablo City.

Binigyang-diin niya na, “Ang seguridad ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng pag-unlad ng ekonomiya,” at kailangang magkaroon ng maayos na plano upang maprotektahan ang mga dayuhan at lokal na kumpanyang magtatayo ng negosyo sa lungsod.

Sampalok Lake sasailalim sa ecorest

Samantala, naglabas ng abiso ang Pamahalaang Lungsod kaugnay ng pansamantalang pahinga ng Sampalok Lake bunsod ng isinasagawang road at slope protection project ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Batay sa konsultasyon at apela ng mga samahan ng mga vendor, inaprubahan ni Mayor Najie ang mga sumusunod na iskedyul at patakaran:

Oktubre 7–12:
• Papayagan ang mga vendor na magtinda mula 5:00 ng hapon hanggang 10:00 ng gabi.
• Nangako ang mga vendor na sila mismo ang magpapatupad ng kaayusan at titiyaking hindi makahahadlang ang kanilang mga puwesto sa operasyon ng DPWH o sa daloy ng trapiko.
• Papayagan din ang publiko na bumisita sa Sampalok Lake, alinsunod sa mga ipatutupad na safety protocols.

Oktubre 13–19:
• Magsisimula ang DPWH ng pag-aaspalto sa mga kalsadang nakapalibot sa lawa.
• Pansamantalang ititigil ang operasyon ng mga vendor at aalisin muna ang kanilang mga puwesto upang hindi maantala ang proyekto.
• Pinapayuhan ang publiko na iwasang bumisita sa lawa para sa kaligtasan ng lahat.

Nagpahayag ng pasasalamat ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng San Pablo sa pang-unawa at kooperasyon ng publiko habang isinasagawa ang mga hakbangin para sa kaligtasan at pagpapaganda ng paligid ng Sampalok Lake.

Ayon kay Mayor Najie, ang mga proyektong ito ay bahagi ng layunin ng pamahalaang lokal na gawing world-class tourist destination ang San Pablo City.

Bumisita kamakailan kay San Pablo City Mayor Najie B. Gapangada Jr. ang mga pinakamataas na opisyal militar sa rehiyon ng CALABARZON upang talakayin ang mga hakbang sa seguridad bilang paghahanda sa pagpapaunlad ng lungsod bilang ligtas na destinasyon para sa mga mamumuhunan.

With reports from Rolando Inciong, City Information Officer, San Pablo City

Sotto, pinangalanan ang posibleng kapalit ni Lacson sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Sotto, pinangalanan ang posibleng kapalit ni Lacson sa Senate Blue Ribbon Committee

MAYNILA — Pinangalanan ni Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III ang mga senador na posibleng pumalit bilang bagong chairperson ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee matapos magbitiw si Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson sa puwesto.

Sa panayam ng Unang Balita ng GMA Integrated News, sinabi ni Sotto na kabilang sa mga maaaring pagpilian para sa posisyon sina Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Senator Raffy Tulfo, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, at Senator Risa Hontiveros.

“Sigurado, para sa akin, kung sino ang rekomendasyon ni Senator Lacson would have a very strong edge over anybody else,” ani Sotto.

Dagdag pa niya, “So pag-uusapan namin. As a matter of fact, I called a caucus bukas ng tanghali, kaming mga members ng majority, para pag-usapan itong nangyari sa resignation ni Senator Lacson.”

Matatandaang nagbitiw si Lacson nitong Lunes bilang chairman ng Blue Ribbon Committee sa gitna ng imbestigasyon ng komite hinggil sa umano’y katiwalian sa mga proyekto sa flood control.

Sa kanyang liham kay Sotto, ipinaliwanag ni Lacson na nagbitiw siya dahil sa pagkadismaya ng ilang senador sa “direction” ng imbestigasyon ng komite tungkol sa nasabing isyu.

“In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which this representation chairs,” ayon kay Lacson.

“Furthermore, some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,” dagdag pa niya.

Ayon kay Sotto, tatalakayin ng majority bloc sa kanilang caucus ang magiging kapalit ni Lacson sa Blue Ribbon Committee upang masiguro ang maayos na pagpapatuloy ng imbestigasyon ng Senado.

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