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U.S. aircraft carrier strike group arrives in Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high

EDGARDO HERNAL
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U.S. aircraft carrier strike group arrives in Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, accompanied by three guided-missile destroyers, has arrived in the Middle East, reinforcing American military presence in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran and ongoing unrest inside the country.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Monday that the carrier strike group “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” noting that the vessels are operating in the Indian Ocean rather than the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. The deployment brings thousands of additional U.S. service members into the region.

The Middle East had not hosted a U.S. aircraft carrier since October, when the USS Gerald R. Ford was redirected to the Caribbean as part of a pressure campaign against then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

President Donald Trump said last week that the ships were sent to the area “just in case,” adding, “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it.”

The deployment follows Trump’s earlier warnings of possible military action if Iran carried out mass executions of detainees or killed peaceful protesters during a crackdown on demonstrations that began in late December. Activist groups estimate that at least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, while Iran’s official figures place the death toll at 3,117.

More recently, Trump suggested that Iran had halted the planned execution of hundreds of detained protesters, a claim he did not source and which Iran’s top prosecutor dismissed as “completely false.” Despite this, the president indicated that military options remain on the table, saying aboard Air Force One last week that any potential U.S. response would make last year’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites “look like peanuts” if executions proceeded.

The USS Abraham Lincoln carries multiple air squadrons, including F-35 Lightning II and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. The accompanying destroyers are equipped with hundreds of missiles, potentially including Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles.

The U.S. military also confirmed the deployment of F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets to the region. Analysts tracking flight data have reported an increase in U.S. military cargo aircraft movements toward the Middle East, signaling a broader buildup.

The current activity mirrors last year’s U.S. reinforcement of regional air defenses, including the deployment of a Patriot missile system, ahead of a potential Iranian response following U.S. strikes on three nuclear-related sites. Days later, Iran launched more than a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base.

U.S. officials said the latest deployment is intended to deter further escalation while maintaining readiness amid the evolving security situation in the region.

Idiniklara ng ICC na “fit to take part” si Duterte sa pre-trial proceedings sa kaso ng crimes against humanity

Venus L Peñaflor
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Idiniklara ng ICC na “fit to take part” si Duterte sa pre-trial proceedings sa kaso ng crimes against humanity

MAYNILA — Ipinahayag ng International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber 1 na “fit to take part” si dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa pre-trial proceedings kaugnay ng mga kasong crimes against humanity na isinampa laban sa kanya dahil sa mga pinatay na iniuugnay sa kanyang kampanya kontra droga noong siya ay alkalde ng Davao City at Pangulo ng Pilipinas.

Sa isang 25-page decision, tinanggihan din ng ICC ang hiling ng kampo ni Duterte para sa indefinite adjournment ng mga pagdinig.

“Read holistically, and in light of the cognitive abilities that Professor [REDACTED] is of the opinion that Mr. Duterte possesses, the Chamber is satisfied that Mr. Duterte does have the ability to understand the charges against him and is able to effectively exercise his procedural rights,” pahayag ng Chamber.

Itinakda ng hukuman ang pagsisimula ng confirmation of charges hearing sa Pebrero 23, 2026.

Noong Agosto 2025, humiling ang kampo ni Duterte ng indefinite adjournment, iginiit na siya ay “not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment.” Ang pagdinig ay orihinal na nakatakda noong Setyembre 23.

Humiling din ang panig ng dating pangulo ng isang pagsusuri sa kanyang fitness for trial sa pamamagitan ng isang panel ng mga independent expert. Ayon sa ICC, ang tatlong miyembrong panel ay binubuo ng isang eksperto sa forensic psychiatry, isang eksperto sa geriatric and behavioural neurology na may karanasan sa pagsusuri ng fitness for trial ng mga nakatatanda, at isang eksperto sa neuropsychology.

Sinabi ng Chamber na personal na ininterbyu, sinuri, at in-assess ng bawat eksperto si Duterte. Isinaalang-alang din ang kanyang personal at medical history, nagsagawa ng mental state at physical examinations, at nagpatupad ng cognitive testing.

Ayon sa hukuman, malinaw sa dalawang eksperto na may sapat na mental capacity si Duterte upang maunawaan ang mga charges, ang ebidensiya, ang proseso, at ang layunin ng kanyang pre-trial proceedings. Nilinaw ng Chamber na hindi kinakailangang nasa “highest level” ang mga kakayahan ng isang akusado; ang kailangan lamang ay isang “broad understanding” ng mga nagaganap.

“Having regard to the relevant legal principles, and to the medical assessment of the independent experts… the Chamber is satisfied, in law, that Mr. Duterte is able effectively to exercise his procedural rights and is therefore fit to take part in the pre-trial proceedings,” saad ng desisyon.

Tinukoy rin ng Chamber na malinaw ang konklusyon ng isang eksperto na walang dahilan upang sabihing kulang si Duterte sa functional mental capacity upang maunawaan ang mga charges. Dagdag pa, “Professor [REDACTED] and Professor [REDACTED] are unambiguous that Mr. Duterte has the mental capacities to understand the charges, the evidence and the conduct, purpose and possible consequences of the pre-trial proceedings, and to instruct Counsel for the preparation of his defence at the pre-trial stage.”

Tinanggihan din ng ICC ang argumento ng kampo ni Duterte na hindi maaaring maging dispositive ang ulat ng panel dahil umano sa magkakaibang opinyon ng mga eksperto. Ayon sa hukuman, ang fitness to stand trial ay hindi nakabatay sa pagkakaroon ng medical condition, kundi sa kakayahan ng akusado na epektibong maipagpatuloy at magamit ang kanyang mga karapatan.

Pinuna rin ng Chamber ang pagsusumite ng Defence na umano’y inilalabas sa konteksto ang mga natuklasan ng panel at ginagamit ang ilang resulta ng mga test upang igiit na may malubhang kapansanan sa memorya si Duterte. Giit ng hukuman, bagama’t may pagkakaiba ng pananaw ang mga eksperto sa ilang aspeto, nagkakaisa sila sa konklusyon na may sapat na kakayahan ang dating pangulo upang makabuluhang magamit ang kanyang procedural and fair trial rights.

Hindi rin pinagbigyan ng ICC ang kahilingan ng legal team ni Duterte na magdaos ng hiwalay na pagdinig kasama ang mga medical expert, sinabing hindi na kinakailangan pang linawin ang mga konklusyon at metodolohiyang ginamit. Ayon sa desisyon, ang prosesong isinagawa ng Chamber ay “abundantly fair” at kailangan ding magpatuloy ang kaso nang may angkop na bilis alinsunod sa pamantayan ng katarungan.

Inaasahang maglalabas ang ICC ng hiwalay na utos na magtatakda ng iskedyul at mga direksyon para sa confirmation of charges hearing, kabilang ang mga hakbang na inirerekomenda ng mga medical report para kay Duterte.

Ang desisyon ay nilagdaan nina Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc at mga Hukom Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou at María del Socorro Flores Liera.

Samantala, tinanggap ng Duterte Panagutin Network Europe ang desisyon ng ICC bilang isang “significant step forward” tungo sa pananagutan. Ayon kay Icai Enriquez, convenor ng grupo, ang pagtatakda ng pagdinig sa Pebrero 23 ay malinaw na mensahe na ang katarungan ay hindi maaaring ipagpaliban nang walang hanggan.

Dagdag ni Enriquez, patuloy ang kanilang inaasahang “continued engagement” sa pamamagitan ng mga solidarity action, public events, information sessions, at peaceful assemblies upang palakasin ang boses ng mga biktima at labanan ang disinformation, habang pinatitibay ang suporta para sa international justice at accountability.

Ayon sa ICC Prosecutor, kinasuhan si Duterte ng 49 insidente ng murder at attempted murder sa panahon ng kanyang panunungkulan bilang alkalde ng Davao City at bilang Pangulo ng Pilipinas, bagama’t iginiit na “significantly greater” ang aktuwal na lawak ng mga biktima sa nasabing panahon.

Batay sa government records, humigit-kumulang 6,200 drug suspects ang napatay sa mga anti-drug operations ng administrasyong Duterte. Ayon naman sa mga human rights organization, maaaring umabot sa 30,000 ang bilang kapag isinama ang mga hindi naiulat na kaugnay na pagpatay.

18 patay, 24 nawawala sa lumubog na RoRo Vessel sa Basilan

Arman B. Cambe
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18 patay, 24 nawawala sa lumubog na RoRo Vessel sa Basilan

MAYNILA — Umakyat na sa 18 ang kumpirmadong nasawi habang 24 pa ang iniulat na nawawala matapos lumubog ang isang roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel sa dagat na sakop ng Basilan nitong Lunes ng madaling araw, ayon sa Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Sa paunang ulat ng PCG, 317 pasahero at tripulante ang nasagip mula sa M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, pag-aari ng Aleson Shipping Lines, na bumiyahe mula sa Port of Zamboanga City patungong Jolo, Sulu.

Batay sa awtoridad, naganap ang insidente dakong alas-1:50 ng madaling araw, humigit-kumulang 2.75 nautical miles o limang kilometro sa hilagang-silangan ng Baluk-Baluk Island sa Basilan. Agad namang naglunsad ng malawakang search and rescue operation ang Coast Guard, katuwang ang lokal na pamahalaan at iba pang rescue units, upang hanapin ang mga nawawala at magbigay ng tulong sa mga nasagip.

Ayon sa PCG, hindi overloaded ang barko nang umalis ito sa Zamboanga City dakong alas-9:20 ng gabi noong Linggo. May lulan umano itong 332 pasahero at 27 crew members, na pasok sa itinakdang authorized maximum capacity.

Lumitaw rin sa mga salaysay ng ilang survivor na kalmado ang kondisyon ng dagat at walang malalakas na alon sa oras na naganap ang trahedya, dahilan upang isaalang-alang ng mga awtoridad ang iba pang posibleng sanhi ng pagkalubog.

Samantala, nagbukas na ang Coast Guard Station Western Sulu ng isang information desk upang magsilbing sentrong tanggapan para sa beripikadong updates, koordinasyon, at pagtugon sa mga katanungan ng mga pamilya ng biktima at iba pang concerned parties.

“The help desk serves as a centralized point for verified updates, coordination, and inquiries related to the incident,” ayon sa PCG.

Patuloy pa ang imbestigasyon ng mga awtoridad upang matukoy ang eksaktong sanhi ng insidente.

Recovery of final hostage’s remains in Gaza paves way for next phase of ceasefire

Venus L Peñaflor
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Recovery of final hostage’s remains in Gaza paves way for next phase of ceasefire

JERUSALEM — Israel’s military announced Monday that it has recovered and identified the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, a development that clears a major hurdle in advancing to the next phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and reopening talks on Gaza’s future governance and the group’s disarmament.

The remains were confirmed to be those of police officer Ran Gvili, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked the nearly four-year conflict. Gvili was among the first individuals taken into Gaza during the assault, according to Israeli officials.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the recovery as “an incredible achievement,” telling Israeli media, “I promised we would bring everyone home and we have brought everyone home.” His office said the military had conducted a large-scale operation in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate the remains.

Gvili’s family had urged the government not to proceed to the ceasefire’s second phase until his remains were recovered and returned. Hamas said Monday it remains committed to all terms of the truce’s first phase.

Netanyahu’s office said Sunday that Israel would move to reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt once the search operation concluded. The crossing, widely viewed by Palestinians as a vital link to the outside world, has been largely closed since May 2024, with only a brief reopening in early 2025.

Residents in Gaza expressed hope that the recovery would lead to greater freedom of movement and expanded humanitarian access.

“We hope this will close off Israel’s pretexts and open the crossing,” said Abdel-Rahman Radwan, a Gaza City resident whose mother requires cancer treatment outside the enclave.

In the Nuseirat refugee camp, Ahmed Ruqab, who lives in a tent with his family of six, called on mediators and the United States to pressure Israel to allow more aid and housing caravans into Gaza. “We need to turn this page and restart,” he said by phone.

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, and mediators, including Washington, have urged both sides to transition into a second phase. That stage is expected to address more contentious issues, including establishing a new governance framework for Gaza and disarming Hamas, which has ruled the territory for nearly two decades.

Israel had accused Hamas of delaying the recovery of the final hostage, while Hamas said it had provided all available information and blamed Israel for blocking access to areas under Israeli military control. The military said its search focused on an area near the so-called “Yellow Line” dividing parts of the territory.

Before Gvili’s remains were recovered, Israel said 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others had been returned since the ceasefire began, most recently in early December. In exchange, Israel released the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians to Gaza.

Despite the truce, deadly incidents were reported Monday. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City said Israeli forces fatally shot a man in the Tuffah neighborhood near the search area. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital reported another man killed in eastern Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, though details were unclear.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 71,400 Palestinians have been killed since 2023, including over 480 since the latest ceasefire began. The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains casualty records that U.N. agencies and independent experts generally consider reliable.

Separately, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday to allow journalists to enter Gaza independently. The FPA, representing dozens of international news organizations, has sought broader access for more than two years, arguing that tightly controlled military-escorted visits are no substitute for independent reporting. The court is expected to rule in the coming days.

As negotiations move toward the next phase, residents and international observers alike are watching closely to see whether the recovery of the final hostage’s remains will translate into tangible improvements in humanitarian access, security, and prospects for a lasting settlement.

DOH at PhilHealth hinimok na palawakin ang benepisyo para sa middle class

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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DOH at PhilHealth hinimok na palawakin ang benepisyo para sa middle class

MAYNILA — Nanawagan si Executive Secretary Ralph Recto sa Department of Health (DOH) at sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) na palawakin ang mga benepisyo at serbisyong pangkalusugan, partikular para sa mga indibidwal na kabilang sa middle class, na patuloy na nagbabayad ng buwis at kontribusyon sa pambansang sistema ng kalusugan.

Inihayag ni Recto ang panawagan matapos ang kanyang pakikipagpulong kina DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa at PhilHealth President at Chief Executive Officer Edwin Mercado, kung saan tinalakay ang pagpapahusay ng mga benefit packages at ang mas malawak na saklaw ng serbisyong medikal para sa mga miyembro.

Binigyang-diin ni Recto na nararapat lamang na maramdaman ng mga nag-aambag sa sistema ang kongkretong benepisyo mula sa kanilang mga kontribusyon, lalo na ang mga pamilyang nasa middle class na kadalasang hindi kwalipikado sa libreng serbisyong para sa mahihirap ngunit nahihirapan pa ring tugunan ang mataas na gastos sa pagpapagamot.

Sa panig ng DOH, iniulat ng ahensya na nasa huling yugto na ang pagkumpleto ng DOH–Local Government Unit Healthcare Provider Network (HCPN), isang inisyatiba na layong palakasin ang koordinasyon at kapasidad ng mga lokal na yunit ng pamahalaan sa paghahatid ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga komunidad.

Bukod sa pagpapalawak ng benepisyo, tinalakay din ng mga opisyal ang mga hakbang upang matiyak na mas mararamdaman ng publiko ang implementasyon ng zero balance billing, isang polisiya na naglalayong bawasan o tuluyang alisin ang direktang gastos ng pasyente sa mga pampublikong ospital.

Matatandaan na kamakailan ay nagsampa ng reklamo ang isang koalisyon ng mga doktor, tagapagtaguyod ng kalusugan, at mga miyembro ng PhilHealth laban kay Recto at kay dating PhilHealth President at CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. kaugnay ng paglipat ng humigit-kumulang P60 bilyong sobrang pondo ng PhilHealth sa National Treasury.

Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Recto na ang usapin ay napagpasyahan na ng Korte Suprema at iginiit na ganap na sinunod ng pamahalaan ang naging desisyon ng mataas na hukuman.

Rescuers recover more bodies in Indonesia landslide; 72 still missing

Venus L Peñaflor
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Rescuers recover more bodies in Indonesia landslide; 72 still missing

BANDUNG, Indonesia — Rescuers took advantage of improved weather on Sunday to continue digging through mud and debris in West Java, following a landslide that killed more than two dozen villagers and left 72 people still missing.

The landslide struck the slopes of Mount Burangrang in Pasir Langu village in the early hours of Saturday, burying approximately 34 houses under mud, rocks, and uprooted trees. About 230 residents living nearby were evacuated to government-managed shelters due to the ongoing risk of further collapse.

According to Ade Dian Permana, head of the local search and rescue office, a 250-member team recovered victims’ remains, including body parts, placing them in 14 body bags, bringing the total number recovered to 25. All remains will undergo forensic identification before being returned to their families.

Videos released by the search agency showed rescuers using farm tools and their bare hands to extract bodies from thick mud. Permana noted that heavy equipment could not be deployed due to unstable terrain, with mud piles estimated to reach five meters high, requiring teams to “move carefully.”

Mohammad Syafii, head of the National Search and Rescue Agency, said drones and K-9 units were also being used to locate victims along the over 2-kilometer stretch of the landslide.

Visiting the area, Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka pledged that authorities would implement measures to prevent similar disasters. He urged local officials in West Bandung district to address issues of land conversion in disaster-prone areas, including ways to reduce risk.

Environmental groups have stressed that the deadly landslide was not purely a natural disaster triggered by heavy rain, but a result of years of environmental degradation and violations of land-use rules. According to Wahyudin Iwang of Walhi West Java, Saturday’s landslide reflected longstanding neglect of spatial-planning regulations in the North Bandung Area (KBU), a conservation zone spanning roughly 38,543 hectares that functions as a critical water-catchment area and environmental buffer for the densely populated Bandung Basin.

At makeshift relief centers, villagers gathered to check updated lists of the missing and await news about relatives. Rescue officials warned that further rainfall could destabilize the slope, but assured that operations would continue as long as conditions allowed.

Seasonal rains and high tides from October to April frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or fertile lowlands.

Massive winter storm sweeps across US, freezing millions, causing widespread power outages

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Massive winter storm sweeps across US, freezing millions, causing widespread power outages

UNITED STATES — A massive winter storm continued to pummel large swaths of the United States Sunday, bringing sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snowfall from the South all the way to New England, leaving millions facing frigid temperatures, treacherous roads, and widespread power outages.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that ice and snow would persist through Monday in much of the country, followed by dangerously low temperatures that could prolong travel hazards and infrastructure disruptions for several days. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli described the storm as “unique in its widespread reach,” spanning approximately 2,000 miles from New Mexico and Texas to the Northeast.

As of Sunday morning, roughly 213 million Americans were under winter weather warnings. Power outages approached 800,000 customers, with Tennessee hardest hit at more than 250,000 without electricity. Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi also reported outages affecting over 100,000 each.

Air travel has been severely disrupted, with more than 10,000 flights canceled and an additional 8,000 delayed, particularly at major hubs in Philadelphia, Washington, Raleigh-Durham, New York, and New Jersey.

Even after the storm passes, Santorelli warned that bitterly cold temperatures across much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation could slow ice and snow melt, complicating restoration of power and infrastructure.

President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states by Saturday, with more expected. FEMA has pre-positioned resources, staff, and search-and-rescue teams, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Local conditions were severe. In Nashville, ice accumulation exceeded half an inch, snapping tree limbs and power lines. Police and utility crews in Oxford, Mississippi advised residents to stay home, suspending repair operations due to dangerous conditions. The “Waffle House Index”, an informal measure of weather severity in the South, indicated extreme disruption as many locations closed due to icy roads, including northern Georgia.

Santorelli noted that half an inch of ice typically triggers widespread power outages, underscoring the storm’s severity. Authorities continue to urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain vigilant as recovery operations proceed across affected states.

Tinanggap ng PCG ang 15 survivors at mga labi ng 2 tripulante ng M/V Devon Bay mula sa China Coast Guard

Venus L Peñaflor
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Tinanggap ng PCG ang 15 survivors at mga labi ng 2 tripulante ng M/V Devon Bay mula sa China Coast Guard

MAYNILA — Tinanggap ng Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) noong Linggo ang 15 survivors at ang mga labi ng dalawang tripulante ng cargo vessel na M/V Devon Bay na tumaob malapit sa Scarborough Shoal sa West Philippine Sea noong nakaraang linggo.

Isinagawa ang turn-over operation humigit-kumulang 168 nautical miles sa kanluran ng Tambobong, Pangasinan, kung saan pormal na inilipat ng China Coast Guard (CCG) sa PCG ang mga tripulanteng kanilang nasagip.

Naunang iniulat ng PCG na ang Singaporean-flagged na general cargo vessel ay nagkaroon ng maritime incident habang patungo sa Yangjiang, China mula sa Gutalac, Zamboanga del Sur, habang may kargang iron ore.

Sa hiwalay na pahayag, sinabi ng Chinese Embassy na 17 tripulante ang nasagip ng CCG, kung saan “14 ang nasa maayos na kalagayan, 2 ang kumpirmadong nasawi, at 1 ang nananatiling nasa emergency medical treatment.”

May kabuuang 21 tripulanteng pawang Pilipino ang sakay ng Devon Bay. Sa kasalukuyan, 15 ang nakaligtas at dalawang bangkay ang tinanggap ng PCG, habang apat na tripulante pa ang nawawala.

Inaasahang darating sa Maynila ngayong araw ng Lunes ang barkong naglululan ng mga nakaligtas at mga labi ng nasawi.
“BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) is scheduled to arrive at Pier 13, Port Area, Manila in the early morning of January 26, 2026,” ayon kay PCG spokesperson Captain Noemie Cayabyab.

Nagpasalamat din si Cayabyab sa China Coast Guard sa ibinigay nitong humanitarian assistance sa pagsagip at ligtas na pag-turnover ng mga tripulante.

Samantala, patuloy ang search and rescue operations ng PCG para sa apat pang nawawalang crew sa tulong ng BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) at isang PCG Islander aircraft, habang nakikipag-ugnayan din sa mga dumaraang barko sa lugar alinsunod sa international maritime protocols. Iniulat ng PCG na ang huling lokasyon ng barko ay nasa loob ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas, bagaman malapit sa isang lugar na inaangkin ng parehong Pilipinas at China.

Landslide in West Java leaves at least 8 dead, over 80 missing

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Landslide in West Java leaves at least 8 dead, over 80 missing

JAKARTA, Indonesia — At least eight people have died and around 82 remain missing after a massive landslide struck Pasirlangu Village in West Bandung District, West Java Province, early Saturday morning, Indonesian disaster officials said as search and rescue operations continued under difficult conditions.

The predawn landslide, triggered by days of torrential rain and flooding, sent mud, rocks and uprooted trees cascading down the slopes of Mount Burangrang, burying homes and farmland and leaving entire hamlets under thick debris.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed that eight bodies have been recovered so far, while dozens more victims are feared buried beneath the mud and rubble. He said 24 residents have been rescued and treated, but search teams are still working to locate the missing.

West Java Provincial Secretary Herman Suryatman said emergency responders from regional disaster mitigation units, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), police and military are involved in the ongoing operations. He noted that 113 residents were affected, with 82 still unaccounted for as of the latest update.

The Indonesian Siliwangi Military Command is also investigating reports that up to 23 army personnel may be among those missing, although this has not been confirmed and remains under verification, officials said.

Unfavorable weather continues to hamper recovery efforts. Bambang Imanudin, head of the West Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, said prolonged heavy rains, soft soil and unstable terrain have made it difficult for rescuers to deploy heavy machinery safely. Evacuations are still underway, with some 400 residents displaced and taking shelter in temporary evacuation centers.

The landslide ripped through approximately 34 homes and forced the evacuation of families living within 100 meters of the slide zone due to fears of further slope failures, disaster officials said.

Indonesia’s rainy season, typically from October to April, often brings increased risk of landslides and floods, especially in mountainous and densely populated areas. Last December, catastrophic flooding and landslides in Sumatra Province killed more than 1,200 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, highlighting the growing vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events.

The government has pledged relief and support for affected families. West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi announced plans to provide emergency assistance of 10 million rupiah per displaced household to cover temporary housing and daily needs over the coming months.

Officials continue to urge residents in landslide‑prone areas to stay vigilant, evacuate at the first sign of danger and follow local authorities’ instructions as search and rescue operations press on.

Mariing kinondena ng DND ang ‘pay the price’ na pahayag ng opisyal ng China

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Mariing kinondena ng DND ang ‘pay the price’ na pahayag ng opisyal ng China

MANILA, Philippines — Mariing tinuligsa ng Department of National Defense (DND) noong Sabado ang pahayag ng tagapagsalita ng Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs na nagsabing maaaring “managot” ang ilang opisyal ng Pilipinas na umano’y nagpapakalat ng disinformation.

Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni DND spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong: “The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines strongly condemn such an affront to any of its members and reiterates that it shall not be cowed by any official of the PROC (People’s Republic of China) whether in their homeland or as guests here.”

Dagdag pa niya: “We shall continue to speak against their lies and malign actions when such are committed.”

Ang pahayag ng DND ay tugon sa sinabi ng Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson na si Guo Jiakun, na nagbigay umano ng “a word of advice” sa mga tinawag niyang “relevant individuals in the Philippines.”

“Immediately stop making provocations and stop confusing right and wrong, or they will pay the price for what they did,” ayon kay Guo.

Bilang sagot, sinabi ng DND na ang naturang pahayag ay “proves the unflinching and twisted attempt by the PROC to spread distorted narratives and pursue its ineffective and distasteful campaign to bully smaller countries.”

Idinagdag pa ni Andolong: “The WPS (West Philippine Sea) and any of its features have never been part of the PROC and we shall continue to perform our duty to stop the PROC’s malign influence and illegal activities in our areas of jurisdiction.”

Noong nakaraang linggo, naghain ang Tsina ng diplomatic protests laban kay Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela kaugnay ng mga social media post nito laban sa mga lider ng Beijing. Ipinanindigan naman ni Tarriela na ang kanyang mga pahayag ay batay sa “factual accounts.”

Patuloy ang tensyon sa rehiyon habang inaangkin ng Beijing ang halos kabuuan ng South China Sea, isang pangunahing ruta ng mahigit $3 trilyon na taunang shipborne commerce, kabilang ang mga bahaging inaangkin din ng Pilipinas, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, at Brunei.

Ang mga bahagi ng South China Sea na nasa loob ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas ay tinatawag ng pamahalaan bilang West Philippine Sea upang patatagin ang soberanyang pag-angkin ng bansa.

Ang West Philippine Sea ay tumutukoy sa mga karagatang bahagi sa kanlurang panig ng kapuluan ng Pilipinas, kabilang ang Luzon Sea at ang mga katubigan sa paligid, loob, at katabi ng Kalayaan Island Group at Bajo de Masinloc.

Noong 2016, nagpasya ang Permanent Court of Arbitration sa The Hague pabor sa Pilipinas laban sa mga pag-angkin ng Tsina sa South China Sea, na nagsabing wala itong “no legal basis.” Tumanggi ang Beijing na kilalanin ang naturang desisyon.

Wala pang tugon hang Chinese Embassy hanggang sa oras ng paglalathala.

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