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DPWH execs sa Davao Occidental, pinagpapaliwanag sa ghost project; ICI, naglatag ng panuntunan

Venus L Peñaflor
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DPWH execs sa Davao Occidental, pinagpapaliwanag sa ghost project; ICI, naglatag ng panuntunan

MAYNILA — Inatasan ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang mga opisyal ng ahensiya sa Davao Occidental na magpaliwanag kaugnay ng umano’y ghost project na nagkakahalaga ng P96.5 milyon.

Naglabas ng magkahiwalay na show-cause orders si DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon laban kay Juby Cordon, regional director ng DPWH-Davao, at kay Rodrigo Larete, district engineer ng Davao Occidental engineering office. Pinagpapaliwanag sila tungkol sa Culaman Bridge flood control project sa bayan ng Jose Abad Santos, na naideklara nang nakumpleto at bayad na noong 2022, ngunit tatlong linggo pa lamang umano ang totoong pagsisimula.

Matatandaang personal na ininspeksiyon nina Dizon at dating Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) special adviser at kasalukuyang Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ang proyekto. Sa kanilang pagbisita, nagpakita ng matinding galit si Dizon nang madiskubre ang naturang iregularidad.

Natukoy rin na ang proyekto ay in-award sa St. Timothy Construction Company, na pagmamay-ari ng mag-asawang Sarah at Curlee Discaya. Ang mag-asawa ay iniimbestigahan na rin dahil sa pagkakasangkot sa iba pang maanomalyang flood control projects sa bansa.

Binigyan ni Dizon ng limang araw sina Cordon at Larete upang magsumite ng nakasulat na paliwanag kung bakit hindi sila dapat sampahan ng kasong administratibo dahil sa posibleng paglabag sa umiiral na mga batas at regulasyon.

ICI: Walang livestream sa mga pagdinig, tiniyak na balanse sa transparency at karapatan

Samantala, sinabi ng Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) na kasalukuyan itong hindi nagla-livestream ng kanilang mga pagdinig, sa kabila ng panawagan ng publiko para sa mas malawak na transparency.

“The initial hearings, so far, are for purposes of case buildup for criminal, civil, and administrative action. These cases will then be eventually referred to the appropriate agency for action, such as the ombudsman,” ayon kay ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka.

Paliwanag niya, iniiwasan ng komisyon ang “trial by publicity” at hindi nito papayagang magamit ang imbestigasyon para sa anumang pampulitikang interes. Dagdag pa ni Hosaka, tatalakayin ng komisyon ang posibilidad ng livestream upang makahanap ng “solution that will both balance the request for more transparency and the protection of individual rights.”

Tiniyak din niya na ang gawain ng ICI ay magiging “surgical and deliberate,” at ang tunay na may pananagutan ay ihaharap sa hustisya gamit ang matibay na ebidensya at alinsunod sa batas.

Itinatag ang ICI sa pamamagitan ng Executive Order No. 94 na nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. noong Setyembre 11. Layunin nitong imbestigahan ang mga anomalya sa flood control at iba pang proyektong pang-imprastraktura sa nakalipas na sampung taon.

Pinamumunuan ito ni retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., kasama ang dating DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” Singson at SGV & Co. country managing partner Rossana Fajardo. Si Hosaka, na kasalukuyang komisyoner sa Governance Commission para sa GOCCs, ang nagsisilbing executive director ng ICI.

Four killed, eight injured in Michigan church shooting and fire

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Four killed, eight injured in Michigan church shooting and fire

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service, killing at least four people and wounding eight others before setting the building on fire. Police shot and killed the suspect, authorities confirmed.

Hundreds of worshippers were inside the church when the attacker rammed a pickup truck through the front entrance and began shooting, according to Police Chief William Renye. He said investigators believe the suspect also “deliberately” set the church ablaze.

Officers responded within 30 seconds of a 911 call and fatally shot the gunman about eight minutes later, Renye said. Flames and smoke engulfed the building for hours before firefighters managed to contain the blaze. Two of the victims’ bodies were recovered from the debris, and authorities warned the death toll could rise as the search continued.

The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a nearby city. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive and are investigating whether Sanford had ties to the congregation. Police also searched his residence, though details remain limited.

The incident is the latest in a series of deadly shootings at U.S. houses of worship in recent decades. President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the attack and praised the FBI’s swift response. “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote on social media. Local officials confirmed that the FBI was deploying 100 agents to assist in the investigation.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, saying in a statement: “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”

Church spokesperson Doug Anderson said leaders were coordinating with law enforcement and monitoring the conditions of the wounded. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved,” he said.

Nearby residents and congregants expressed shock. Brad Schneemann, who lives close to the chapel, said he heard “two rounds of four to five shots” before seeing smoke pour from the building. Timothy Jones, a member of a nearby ward, described the fear among families trying to confirm the safety of loved ones. “Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and reflection,” he said. “A shooting feels inevitable, and all the more tragic because of that.”

The attack came a day after Russell M. Nelson, president of the Utah-based church, died at age 101. His successor, under church protocol, is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks.

The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) said hearings would not be livestreamed as part of ongoing investigations into related projects but pledged to uphold transparency while protecting individual rights.

Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey said the tragedy struck the entire community. “Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community. This sort of thing is painful for our entire community,” he said.

P100 bilyon isiningit ng mga senador sa 2025 budget, ayon kay Lacson

Venus L Peñaflor
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P100 bilyon isiningit ng mga senador sa 2025 budget, ayon kay Lacson

MAYNILA — Umabot sa mahigit P100 bilyon ang mga individual insertions na isinama ng halos lahat ng senador ng 19th Congress sa panukalang 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson nitong Linggo.

Sa panayam sa DZMM, sinabi ni Lacson na lumalabas sa mga dokumentong kanyang nakuha na ang mga isiningit na pondo ay naka-tag bilang “For Later Release (FLR).” Ani niya, “Sa Senate pa lang, at least P100 bilyon. Nagulat nga ako, sa individual insertions ito, ‘yon ang bawat individual insertion. Ito naka-FLR ngayon.”

Dagdag pa niya, “Pagkalalaki. Never pa ako nakakita kasi noong araw ‘di pa declared unconstitutional ang PDAF, nandoon lang sa hundreds of millions. Eh ngayon nakita ko ang total, kabuuan at least P100 billion.”

Nilinaw ni Lacson na hindi pa niya nakikita ang buong listahan ng insertions ng mga miyembro ng House of Representatives ngunit aniya, “ang haba ng listahan din.” Dahil dito, posibleng hingin niya ang paliwanag ng mga kaukulang ahensya sa darating na budget deliberations kung bakit pinayagan ang ganitong uri ng pagsingit.

Bagama’t hindi awtomatikong ilegal ang insertions o amendments, iginiit ni Lacson na nagiging kuwestiyonable ito kung aabot sa P5 bilyon hanggang P9 bilyon para lamang sa iisang distrito o probinsya. Babala niya, maaaring magdulot ito ng banta sa ekonomiya dahil ang mga pondong nailihis o naantala ay sana’y nakalaan para sa mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura na pinag-aralan mula barangay hanggang rehiyonal na antas.

Muli ring nanawagan si Lacson sa kanyang mga kapwa mambabatas na pairalin ang pagpipigil sa sarili sa paggawa ng mga insertion para sa mga locally funded infrastructure projects. Hinikayat din niya na iwasan ang paggamit ng tinatawag na “leadership fund” sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na nagbubukas ng pagkakataon sa mga legislator na magsingit ng proyekto sa antas ng National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Trump eyes Gaza peace deal, Hamas reports loss of contact with two hostages

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Trump eyes Gaza peace deal, Hamas reports loss of contact with two hostages

CAIRO/WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said he hopes to finalize a Gaza peace plan in his upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, even as Israeli tanks pressed deeper into Gaza City and Hamas claimed it had lost contact with two hostages held there.

The fate of the two captives, which resonates strongly in Israel, could weigh heavily on Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu in Washington. Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, urged Israel to pull troops back and suspend airstrikes on Gaza City for 24 hours to allow its fighters to locate and retrieve the hostages.

In a phone interview with Reuters on Sunday, Trump said he had received a “very good response” to his 21-point peace plan proposal from both Israeli and Arab leaders, adding, “everybody wants to make a deal.” Hamas, however, said it had not received any proposal from Trump or international mediators.

Israel has intensified its ground assault on Gaza City, demolishing entire districts and ordering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee to makeshift camps. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the offensive is aimed at destroying Hamas. Despite the ongoing fighting, discussions on a possible diplomatic resolution to the nearly two-year-old war have gained traction in recent days.

Trump’s plan includes the return of all Israeli hostages, both living and dead, an end to Israeli strikes on Qatar, and renewed dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians for “peaceful coexistence.” Netanyahu has reiterated that Hamas must disarm or face defeat, though he told Fox News that a ceasefire agreement could potentially allow for amnesty and the escorting of Hamas leaders out of Gaza. Hamas has rejected both disarmament and the idea of its leaders’ expulsion, vowing never to give up its weapons while Palestinians continue to fight for statehood.

On Sunday, the Al-Qassam Brigades called on Israel to withdraw troops from the Sabra and Tel Al-Hawa districts and suspend flights over the area from 1500 GMT to allow them to reach the two hostages. The Israeli military did not directly respond to the request but reaffirmed its operations would continue, ordering residents in Sabra and nearby areas to evacuate ahead of imminent strikes on Hamas targets.

Residents and medics reported Israeli tanks pushing further into Sabra, Tel Al-Hawa, Sheikh Radwan, and Al-Naser, edging closer to central and western Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands are sheltering. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 77 people were killed in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours. Civil Emergency Service officials reported that Israel denied 73 rescue requests for the evacuation of wounded Palestinians, despite pleas routed through international organizations.

The two hostages’ families have asked that their identities not be disclosed. According to Israeli figures, the war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli territory in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages. Forty-eight remain in Gaza, including 20 who are believed to be alive.

Palestinian health authorities report that more than 66,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Nearly all homes have been damaged or destroyed, and 2.3 million residents are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military says Hamas has been reduced to a guerrilla force and no longer has governing capacity.

Israel launched its long-anticipated ground offensive on Gaza City on September 16 after weeks of escalating airstrikes. In the past 24 hours alone, the Israeli air force said it had struck 140 military targets, including militants and what it described as military infrastructure.

The World Food Programme estimates that between 350,000 and 400,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since last month, though hundreds of thousands remain. The Israeli military previously estimated the city’s population at about one million in August.

Posibilidad ng 2–4 bagyo sa Oktubre, babala ng PAGASA

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Posibilidad ng 2–4 bagyo sa Oktubre, babala ng PAGASA

MAYNILA — Inihayag ng PAGASA na inaasahang may dalawa hanggang apat na bagyo ang papasok o mabubuo sa loob ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) sa Oktubre. Ayon sa DOST-PAGASA weather specialist na si Obet Badrina, “Papunta na tayo sa buwan ng Oktubre at ang inaasahan natin na dami ng bagyo na maaaring mabuo o papasok ng Philippine Area of Responsibility, mga dalawa o apat na bagyo.” Binigyang-diin niya na posibleng umabot sa apat ang mabubuong tropical cyclone sa loob ng nasabing panahon.

Sa kasalukuyan, naitala nang may 15 bagyo na tumama sa bansa ngayong taon. Inaasahan pa rin na maaari pang pumasok o mabuo ang lima hanggang siyam na bagyo bago matapos ang taon. Ayon sa datos ng PAGASA, ang karaniwang bilang ng tropical cyclone na pumapasok sa PAR kada taon ay nasa 20, at humigit-kumulang walo hanggang siyam sa mga ito ang direktang tumatawid sa kalupaan ng bansa.

Batay sa climate outlook ng ahensya, mula Oktubre 2025 hanggang Enero 2026 ay posibleng makaranas ang bansa ng near to above normal na dami ng ulan sa maraming bahagi ng Pilipinas, habang ang ilang rehiyon naman ay maaari pang makaranas ng way above normal na pag-ulan. Kaugnay nito, tinukoy din ng PAGASA na mas mataas ang posibilidad ng pagbuo ng bagyo sa Oktubre, bagay na sinusuportahan ng mga nakaraang tala at forecast na nagpapakitang mas aktibo ang bagyong nabubuo sa nasabing buwan.

Samantala, sa ulat ng DOST-PAGASA, inaasahan na mula Hulyo hanggang Disyembre 2025 ay aabot sa 11 hanggang 19 na tropical cyclone ang papasok sa PAR. Sa forecast na inilabas ng PAGASA, tinukoy rin na hanggang 17 pang bagyo ang posibleng pumasok hanggang Enero 2026. Kamakailan ay naranasan ng bansa ang epekto ng Bagyong Nando (international name: Ragasa) na nagdulot ng malakas na ulan at hangin sa hilagang bahagi ng Luzon at karatig na mga rehiyon.

Dahil sa posibilidad ng dalawa hanggang apat na bagyo sa Oktubre, muling ipinaalala ng PAGASA sa publiko ang kahalagahan ng pagiging mapagmatyag at handa sa panahon ng kalamidad. Pinayuhan ng ahensya ang mga nakatira sa mabababang lugar at bulubunduking komunidad na bantayan ang mga update sa panahon at mga babala mula sa lokal na pamahalaan. Aasahan ding magpapatupad ng mas pinaigting na kahandaan ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno, lalo na hinggil sa mga panganib ng pagbaha, landslide at storm surge.

Egyptian strongman pulls 700-ton ship with his teeth, aims for new world record

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Egyptian strongman pulls 700-ton ship with his teeth, aims for new world record

HURGHADA, Egypt — Ashraf Mahrous, a popular Egyptian wrestler known as “Kabonga,” stunned crowds in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada on Saturday as he pulled a 700-ton ship across the water using only a rope clamped between his teeth.

“Today, I have come to break the world record,” Mahrous said after the attempt, which drew widespread attention in Egypt.

Mahrous, 44, from the port city of Ismalia, is no stranger to such extraordinary feats. Earlier this year, he pulled a train, and in the past, he has moved a locomotive and even a truck. His reputation has made him a local celebrity, with children often running after him in the streets, calling him simply the “strong man.”

On Saturday, he went beyond the single ship challenge, managing to pull two ships together weighing approximately 1,150 tons. “I pulled them both, thanks to God, to prove to my friends and the whole world that God blessed me by being the strongest man in the world,” he said.

The current Guinness World Record stands at 614 tons, set in 2018. Mahrous said he plans to send video and photo documentation of his latest attempt to Guinness World Records for evaluation.

His training routine is as intense as his challenges. To prepare, Mahrous consumed a protein- and iron-rich diet that included a dozen eggs, two whole chickens, and 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of fish daily. He also trained for two hours, three times a day.

It was not his first time attempting to pull a ship. Six years ago, he hauled a 4,000-ton vessel for about 30 meters using a rope strapped to his shoulders. He said that speaking to the objects he pulls helps him succeed. “It’s important for me to treat the object that I will pull as part of my body that moves along with my heart beat,” he explained.

Standing 190 centimeters (6 feet 3 inches) tall and weighing 155 kilograms (341 pounds), Mahrous has displayed unusual strength since childhood. As a boy, he carried heavy loads to support his family after his father lost his job in Iraq. His feats, from lifting multiple gas cylinders to pushing cars with a finger, eventually inspired him to chase world records.

In March, Guinness World Records recognized him for pulling a 279-ton train nearly 10 meters using only his teeth. He has also received certificates for pulling a 15,730-kilogram truck and for the fastest 100-meter pull of a road vehicle. In February 2024, Guinness honored him for cracking and eating 11 raw eggs in 30 seconds.

Mahrous, who heads the Egyptian Federation for Professional Wrestlers, insists he relies on natural strength rather than supplements. He wears a mouthguard during events but avoids dentists, instead cleaning his teeth with miswak, a traditional twig with antibacterial properties.

His ambitions continue to grow. He said he hopes to gain presidential approval to attempt pulling a 263,000-ton submarine and dreams of one day pulling a plane using only his eyelids.

Lacson: Halos lahat ng senador sa 19th Congress may budget insertion; P255B flood control funds ililipat sa ibang programa

Venus L Peñaflor
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Lacson: Halos lahat ng senador sa 19th Congress may budget insertion; P255B flood control funds ililipat sa ibang programa

MAYNILA — Ibinunyag ni dating Senador Panfilo Lacson na halos lahat ng senador sa ika-19 na Kongreso ay may inilagay na malalaking “insertions” o dagdag na alokasyon sa 2025 national budget, na umabot umano sa daan bilyong piso.

Ayon kay Lacson, nakita na niya ang listahan ng mga senador na may malalaking “singit-budget” na tinawag niyang “unprecedented.” Mabuti na lamang aniya at nakalagay ang mga ito sa kategoryang for later release (FLR) o hindi pa nailalabas ang pondo.

Bagama’t walang partikular na pinangalanan, iniulat na ni Lacson kay Senate President Tito Sotto ang naturang listahan at patuloy pa rin umano itong kanyang pinag-aaralan.

Naniniwala si Lacson na “divine intervention” ang pagkakasunud-sunod ng mga bagyong Crising, Dante at Emong, dahil nagbunsod ito sa pagbubunyag ng umano’y anomalya sa mga flood control project na kalaunan ay binanggit ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Hindi na rin aniya sana nangyari ang mga ganitong anomalya kung mismong ang mga mambabatas ay nag-self restraint o nabawasan ang kanilang ‘greed’ dahil tila nawili na rin umano sila,” ayon kay Lacson.

Samantala, ipinag-utos naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang paglilipat ng P255.5 bilyong pondo na orihinal na nakalaan para sa flood control projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) patungo sa mga prayoridad na programa ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan.

“Kaya’t itinigil ko lahat ‘yan para matiyak natin na tama naman ang paggamit ng pera ninyo dahil pera ninyo ito,” ani Marcos sa kanyang pagbisita sa San Fernando City, La Union. “Hindi pera ng gobyerno ito, pera ng taong-bayan ito. Kaya’t tinitiyak natin na tama ang gawa.”

Naitala na bumaba ang proposed 2026 budget ng DPWH sa P625 bilyon mula sa P881 bilyon matapos alisin ang P255 bilyong nakalaan para sa flood control.

Batay sa ulat ng Presidential Communications Office (PCO), ang naturang pondo ay ililipat sa mga sumusunod na programa:

  • P36 bilyon sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) para sa 4Ps, AICS, PAMANA at SLP;
  • P26.55 bilyon sa Department of Education (DepEd) para sa konstruksiyon at rehabilitasyon ng mga silid-aralan, feeding programs at ARAL program;
  • P39.37 bilyon sa Department of Agriculture (DA) para sa post-harvest facilities, tulong sa mangingisda at magsasaka, crop insurance at fishport construction;
  • P29.28 bilyon sa Department of Health (DOH) para sa Medical Assistance Program, legacy hospitals at gamutan sa cancer sa mga bata;
  • P60 bilyon sa PhilHealth para sa Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), BUCAS Centers at outpatient medication;
  • P9.3 bilyon sa Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
  • P1 bilyon sa TESDA;
  • P450 milyon para sa Philippine Science High School System;
  • P1 bilyon sa Department of Transportation (DOTr) para sa rehabilitasyon ng MRT;
  • P18 bilyon sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) para sa TUPAD at iba pang employment programs; at
  • P600 milyon sa Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) para sa development at land tenure security programs.

Marcos: Tuloy ang P300B flood control projects, may mahigpit na safeguards

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Marcos: Tuloy ang P300B flood control projects, may mahigpit na safeguards

GONZAGA, Cagayan — Tiniyak ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na magpapatuloy ang P300 bilyong nakalaan ngayong taon para sa mga flood control project hanggang 2026, ngunit may ipatutupad na mas mahigpit na hakbang upang matiyak ang maayos na pagpapatupad.

“So, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang magiging flood control project hanggang sa susunod na taon at mayroon naman tayo na ia-approve na flood control project. Basta’t nakita natin ay maayos ang proposal, maayos ang program of work, maayos ang completion, may acceptance ng local government. That’s the new factor that we put in,” pahayag ni Marcos nitong Sabado sa kanyang pagbisita sa Gonzaga, Cagayan, kung saan pinangunahan niya ang pamamahagi ng tulong sa mga residente at magsasakang naapektuhan ng Super Typhoon Nando.

Dagdag ng Pangulo, titiyakin ng administrasyon na ang pondo ng taumbayan ay magagamit nang tama at para sa kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino, at hindi na mauulit ang mga dating abuso sa pagpapatupad ng malalaking flood control at iba pang proyektong pang-imprastruktura.

“Titiyakin po natin na hindi na po mauulit ‘yung ating nakita. Titiyakin po natin na bawat sentimo na pera ninyo – hindi namin pera ito, pera ninyo na ibinahagi ninyo sa mga opisyal ng pamahalaan,” ani Marcos.

Binigyang-diin din niya na ang pamahalaan ay tagapag-ingat lamang ng buwis ng taumbayan.
“Kami po ay kung tawagin ay ‘custodian’ lang, tiga-bantay lang kami sa pera ninyo. Hindi amin ‘yan. Sa inyo pa rin ‘yan,” dagdag niya.

Matatandaang inilipat ni Marcos ang P255.5 bilyong orihinal na nakalaan para sa flood control projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) patungo sa mga prayoridad na programa ng iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan.

Nauna nang iniutos ng Pangulo sa lahat ng kagawaran at ahensya ng pamahalaan ang pagbabalik ng proseso ng “acceptance” ng mga lokal na pamahalaan bago maituring na kumpleto ang anumang proyektong pambansa. Aniya, layon nitong matiyak na ganap na natatapos ang mga proyekto bago ito ipasa sa lokal na pamahalaan.

Hamas says no Trump plan received as Israel intensifies Gaza City assault

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Hamas says no Trump plan received as Israel intensifies Gaza City assault

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Hamas said on Saturday it has not received any Gaza ceasefire plan from U.S. President Donald Trump, as Israeli forces widened their offensive in Gaza City amid mounting casualties and international pressure for a truce.

The statement followed a report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz claiming that Hamas had agreed in principle to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops, under a proposal linked to Trump. The report also said the plan included ending Hamas rule in Gaza and an Israeli commitment not to annex the territory or expel its Palestinian residents.

“Hamas has not been presented with any plan,” a Hamas official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters.

Trump, speaking to reporters on Friday, said “it’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza,” but provided no details or timeline. Israel has yet to publicly respond. Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Netanyahu, who leads a hard-right coalition, has repeatedly vowed that the Gaza war will not end until Hamas is destroyed.

Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. president had shared proposals this week with leaders of several Muslim-majority nations as part of a broader 21-point Middle East peace plan. Trump said negotiations would continue “as long as required.”

Meanwhile, fighting in Gaza escalated. The Israeli military reported striking 120 targets across the enclave in the past 24 hours, as troops advanced deeper into Gaza City. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 74 people were killed in the same period.

In a post on X, the military’s Arabic-language spokesman again urged Gaza City residents to evacuate. The U.N. World Food Programme estimates that 350,000 to 400,000 people have already fled the city since Israel launched its expanded ground offensive two weeks ago, though hundreds of thousands remain.

Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) announced Friday it was suspending operations in Gaza City after its facilities were encircled by Israeli forces. The group described the decision as the “last thing” it wanted, warning that vulnerable patients, including premature infants and those with life-threatening illnesses, could not be moved and faced extreme danger.

The World Health Organization said four health facilities in Gaza City have closed this month, and U.N. agencies reported that several malnutrition centers have also shut down.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive nearly two years ago, launched in response to a Hamas-led attack that killed about 1,200 people and left 251 taken hostage, by Israeli tallies. The war has displaced Gaza’s entire population and devastated its health system. International monitors warn that famine has already taken hold in parts of the enclave.

Israel rejects accusations from rights groups and U.N. experts that its campaign amounts to genocide, insisting it is acting in self-defense.

On Saturday, health officials reported at least 59 more Palestinian deaths from Israeli strikes and gunfire across Gaza. In the Nuseirat refugee camp, nine members of one family were killed in a house strike, followed later by another attack that killed 15, including women and children, according to staff at al-Awda Hospital. Five others died when a strike hit a tent sheltering displaced families, Nasser Hospital said.

The Israeli army said it was not aware of gunfire-related deaths in southern Gaza on Saturday, nor of an airstrike in the Nuseirat area at the reported time and location.

At Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, director Dr. Mohamed Abu Selmiya told The Associated Press that Israeli tanks were approaching the facility, severely restricting access. “The bombardment has not stopped for a single moment,” he said.

Dr. Nasser Bulbul, head of neonatal intensive care at Helou Hospital, reported that 14 premature babies remained in incubators, but the facility’s main gate had been closed due to drones circling overhead.

Magalong nagbitiw bilang adviser ng ICI

Venus L Peñaflor
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Magalong nagbitiw bilang adviser ng ICI

MAYNILA – Nagbitiw nitong Biyernes si Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong bilang special adviser ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), ang komisyong nilikha ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. upang imbestigahan ang mga maanomalyang proyekto sa imprastraktura.

Sa kanyang liham sa Pangulo, sinabi ni Magalong: “The Palace’s pronouncements concerning my designation, which run contrary to the terms of my appointment, have undermined the role and mandate entrusted to me.”

Dagdag pa niya: “Combined with circumstances that already cast doubt on the independence of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, it has become clear that my continued service is no longer tenable.”

Hindi na binanggit ng alkalde kung aling mga pahayag mula sa Palasyo ang naging dahilan ng kanyang pagbibitiw.

Samantala, sinabi ni Palace press officer Claire Castro nitong Biyernes na ipapa-review ng Pangulo sa kanyang legal team ang pagtatalaga kay Magalong sa ICI upang matiyak na maiiwasan ang conflict of interest.

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