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UP Open University offers 28 free online courses for first half of 2026

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Los Baños, Laguna — The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has unveiled its Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) schedule for January to June 2026, offering 28 free self-paced courses through its UPOU MODeL platform.

The lineup includes four new courses covering topics such as child behavior management, data annotation for BPO professionals, climate information services, and practical support for children at home.

Courses are open to anyone interested in learning, and participants can earn 16-hour e-certificates upon completion.

Full Course Schedule (January–June 2026):

January

  • Basics of Resilience
  • Hazard and Risk Assessment Fundamentals

February

  • Practical Home Behavior Management for Children with Special Needs (NEW)
  • Data Annotation for Aspiring BPO Professionals (NEW)
  • Climate Information Services (NEW)
  • Intercultural Communication Japan I: A Digitally Enhanced Approach

March

  • Introduction to Technology for Teaching and Learning
  • Introduction to Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
  • Risk Analysis for Project Management
  • Introduction to Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture in the ASEAN Region
  • Strategies and Best Practices on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture
  • Policy Development and Governance Supporting Biodiversity in Agriculture
  • Identifying the Red Flags of Developmental Delays
  • Understanding the Child Better

April

  • Strategic Planning in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
  • Teaching and Learning with Modern ICTs
  • Legal Instruments for the Protection of Children
  • Overview of Policies and Strategies for Climate and Disaster Resilience
  • Resilience Strategies Across the Four Pillars

May

  • Quality Assurance in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
  • Blended Teaching and Learning Using OERs
  • Online Mothers’ Class

June

  • Introduction to Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
  • Institutional Mechanism Towards Child Rights Protection and Promotion
  • What Makes an Entrepreneur?
  • Business Concepts, Ideation & the Business Plan
  • Learner Support in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
  • Internalizing Behaviors among Children and Practical Home Support (NEW)

Interested learners can sign up on the UPOU MODeL platform and self-enroll once registration opens, usually two weeks before each course begins.

UPOU noted that course dates are subject to change without prior notice, and the schedule for July to December 2026 will be announced at a later date.

Khamenei blames U.S. for deadly Iran protests, calls Trump a “criminal”

Tehran — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday accused the United States of fueling deadly unrest in the country and branded U.S. President Donald Trump a “criminal” for publicly backing protesters, as he acknowledged for the first time that “several thousand” people had been killed during the wave of demonstrations.

In a speech broadcast on state television, Khamenei said the protests that began on Dec. 28 and were followed by a harsh security crackdown resulted in widespread casualties, marking the first public admission by a senior Iranian leader of the scale of the deaths.

“In this revolt, the U.S. president made remarks in person, encouraged seditious people to go ahead and said: ‘We do support you, we do support you militarily,’” Khamenei said. He reiterated long-standing accusations that Washington seeks to dominate Iran’s economic and political resources.

“We do consider the U.S. president a criminal, because of casualties and damages, because of accusations against the Iranian nation,” he added, describing protesters as “foot soldiers” of the United States and accusing them of destroying mosques and educational institutions. He also claimed some “rioters” were armed with live ammunition imported from abroad, without naming specific countries.

Khamenei’s remarks followed a more conciliatory tone from Trump a day earlier, when the U.S. president said, “Iran canceled the hanging of over 800 people,” and added, “I greatly respect the fact that they canceled,” without clarifying how he verified the claim. In recent days, Trump had told Iranian protesters that “help is on the way” and warned that his administration would “act accordingly” if the killing of demonstrators continued or if authorities carried out executions.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 3,090 people have been killed in the crackdown, making it the deadliest episode of unrest in Iran in decades and drawing comparisons to the turmoil surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The group said it relies on a network of activists inside Iran to confirm reported fatalities. The Associated Press has not independently verified the toll.

Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of fomenting the unrest. On Friday, President Masoud Pezeshkian told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call that Washington and Israel were interfering in Iran’s internal affairs.

In Tehran, there were no visible signs of protests in recent days, with shopping and daily life returning to outward normality, according to state media.

Authorities had cut off nearly all internet access on Jan. 8. On Saturday, witnesses reported that text messaging and limited internet services briefly resumed in parts of the country. Users were able to access local websites through a domestic network, and some reported limited access to international services using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Internet monitoring service Cloudflare and advocacy group NetBlocks recorded slight increases in connectivity, while the semiofficial Mehr news agency also reported limited access without providing an explanation.

A call by Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for renewed street protests from Saturday to Monday appeared to go largely unheeded. Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, maintains support among monarchists in the diaspora but has struggled to gain broader traction inside Iran, even as he presents himself as a potential transitional leader should the current government fall.

DILG: 4 retired PNP generals kunukupkop si Atong Ang, ‘Wag sumuko’ payo ng abogado

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MAYNILA — Handang sampahan ng criminal case ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) ang apat na retired generals na pinaniniwalaang tumutulong para itago ang negosyanteng si Charlie “Atong” Ang, ayon kay DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Sinabi ni Remulla na may matagal nang access sa mga awtoridad si Ang dahil ang kanyang mga bodyguards ay galing sa NBI o dating NBI mula 1988 hanggang 2022. Aniya, ginamit umano ang mga dating PNP at bodyguards ni Ang sa pagpatay sa mga “missing sabungeros,” dahilan para ituring siyang armed and dangerous habang hindi pa siya nahuhuli.

Iniimbestigahan na ng DILG ang apat na retired generals na malapit kay Ang noong kasagsagan ng kanyang sabong at e-sabong operations, na kasama rin nito sa sabong, palabas, at mga kainan. Ayon kay Remulla, may sapat na resources si Ang para bumili ng armas at armadong bodyguards, ngunit may hangganan ang loyalty ng mga nagtatago sa kanya dahil may pamilya rin sila.

‘Wag Kang Sumuko!’

Pinayuhan ng abogado ni Ang na si Atty. Gabriel Villareal, ang kanyang kliyente na huwag munang sumuko sa mga awtoridad habang hindi pa nagagamit ang lahat ng available legal remedies sa hukuman. Aniya, hindi dapat ilagay sa panganib si Ang sa pamamagitan ng pagsuko, at hindi pa rin siya dapat ikonsiderang kriminal dahil wala pang trial o declaration of guilt laban sa kanya.

“Bakit naman niya ipag­sasapalaran ang sarili niya sa pagsuko? Marami pa siyang natitirang judicial remedies. Hindi naman dapat siyang tinutugis na parang isang kriminal. Wala pa naman tayong trial at declaration of guilt para kay Mr. Ang,” paliwanag ni Villareal sa radyo.

Nauna rito, inisyuhan ng hukuman ng warrant of arrest si Ang at 17 iba pa kaugnay sa kasong kidnapping with homicide na may kinalaman sa “missing sabungeros.” Nabigo ang mga awtoridad na maaresto si Ang, kaya nag-alok ang DILG ng P10 milyong reward para sa sinumang makapagbibigay ng impormasyon sa kanyang kinaroroonan.

Signal No. 2 itinaas sa 7 lugar habang lalong lumalakas si Ada

MAYNILA — Lalong lumakas si Tropical Storm Ada (international name: Nokaen) habang nasa silangan ng Bicol Region, ayon sa huling bulletin ng state weather bureau na PAGASA nitong Sabado ng umaga.

Itinaas ang Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 sa mga sumusunod na lugar: silangang bahagi ng Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Ocampo, Baao, Nabua, Bato, Iriga City, Buhi, Sagñay, Tigaon, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Milaor, Camaligan, Pili, Magarao, Minalabac, Balatan, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Bula, Canaman, Gainza), Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, hilagang bahagi ng Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche), hilagang-silangan ng Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan), silangang bahagi ng Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Lopez, Calauag, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Mulanay, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Atimonan, Plaridel, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Quezon, Alabat, Perez) kabilang ang Polillo Islands, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, natitirang bahagi ng Camarines Sur, Masbate kabilang ang Ticao at Burias Islands, natitirang bahagi ng Eastern Samar at Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, at hilagang bahagi ng Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Tabogon) kabilang ang Camotes at Bantayan Islands.

“Dahil hindi pa rin maalis ang posibilidad na lumakas pa si Ada at maging severe tropical storm, posible ring itaas ang Wind Signal No. 3,” ayon sa 5 a.m. bulletin ng PAGASA nitong Sabado.

Kaninang 4 a.m., ang sentro ni Ada ay nasa 120 km silangan-kanluran ng Catarman, Northern Samar o 175 km silangan ng Juban, Sorsogon. May maximum sustained winds na 85 km/h sa paligid ng sentro at pumutok na hangin hanggang 105 km/h.

Papuntang west northwestward si Ada sa bilis na 20 km/h at inaasahang dumaan malapit sa Catanduanes mula Sabado hapon hanggang Linggo ng umaga.

“Ang mas malawak na paggalaw patungong kanluran sa forecast track ay maaaring magdulot ng posibleng landfall sa Bicol Region,” dagdag ng PAGASA.

Nagbabala rin ang PAGASA ng minimal hanggang moderate na panganib ng storm surge na maaaring umabot sa 2.0 metro sa mga mabababang baybaying komunidad sa Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, at Leyte sa susunod na 48 oras.

Dahil sa Northeast Monsoon at periphery ni Ada, inaasahang magdadala rin ito ng malalakas hanggang gale-force na hangin sa Batanes, Babuyan Islands, hilaga at silangang bahagi ng mainland Cagayan, silangang Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Aurora, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, at Surigao del Norte ngayong Sabado.

“Inaasahang mananatiling tropical storm si Ada habang nasa dagat sa silangan ng Visayas at Southern Luzon,” ayon sa PAGASA. “Maaaring humina ito at maging tropical depression pagsapit ng Martes (Enero 20) dahil sa epekto ng pag-igting ng Northeast Monsoon.”

Dahil sa bagyo, sinuspinde ang klase sa lahat ng antas sa Naga City, Camarines Sur ngayong Sabado. Kanselado rin ang ilang domestic flights at naapektuhan ang biyahe sa dagat sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

Ayon sa Office of Civil Defense, kailangan ng mas maingat na paghahanda sa Albay dahil sa patuloy na aktibidad ng Bulkang Mayon kasabay ng pagdaan ni Ada.

Sa CALABARZON region at Metro Manila, inaasahan ang maulap na may kalat-kalat na pag-ulan, may pagkakataong uulan ng malakas, at lalakas ang hangin sa ilang lugar ngayong Sabado.

Mother of Musk’s child sues xAI over alleged Grok deepfakes

NEW YORK — The mother of one of Elon Musk’s children has filed a lawsuit against the billionaire’s artificial intelligence company, alleging that its Grok chatbot enabled users to generate sexually exploitative deepfake images of her, causing humiliation and emotional distress.

Ashley St. Clair, 27, who describes herself as a writer and political strategist, filed the case Thursday in New York City state Supreme Court against xAI, the company behind Grok, which operates on Musk’s social media platform X.

In her complaint, St. Clair claims that users were able to manipulate a photograph of her taken when she was 14 years old, altering the fully dressed image to depict her in a bikini. She also alleges that other images portrayed her as an adult in sexualized poses and in a bikini bearing swastikas. St. Clair is Jewish.

Lawyers for xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. In an email to The Associated Press, xAI replied only, “Legacy Media Lies,” when asked about the lawsuit and its allegations.

St. Clair said she began reporting the deepfake images to X last year and requested their removal. She alleged that the platform initially told her the images did not violate its policies, later promising not to allow her images to be used or altered without her consent. She further claimed that X subsequently removed her premium subscription and verification badge, prevented her from monetizing her account, which has about one million followers, and continued to allow what she described as degrading fake images of her to circulate.

“I have suffered and continue to suffer serious pain and mental distress as a result of xAI’s role in creating and distributing these digitally altered images of me,” St. Clair said in a statement attached to the lawsuit. “I am humiliated and feel like this nightmare will never stop so long as Grok continues to generate these images of me.”

She added that she lives in fear of people who view the deepfakes.

St. Clair is the mother of Musk’s 16-month-old son, Romulus, and resides in New York City. She is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages for alleged infliction of emotional distress and other claims, as well as court orders barring xAI from allowing further deepfakes of her.

Later Thursday, xAI moved to transfer the case to federal court in Manhattan. The company also filed a countersuit the same day in federal court in the Northern District of Texas, alleging that St. Clair violated the terms of her xAI user agreement, which it says requires lawsuits against the company to be filed in federal court in Texas. xAI is seeking an undisclosed monetary judgment.

X is based in Texas, where Musk maintains a residence and where Tesla is headquartered in Austin.

Carrie Goldberg, St. Clair’s lawyer, criticized the countersuit as an unprecedented tactic.

“Ms. St. Clair will be vigorously defending her forum in New York,” Goldberg said in a statement. “But frankly, any jurisdiction will recognize the gravamen of Ms. St. Clair’s claims — that by manufacturing nonconsensual sexually explicit images of girls and women, xAI is a public nuisance and a not reasonably safe product.”

The lawsuit follows an announcement by X earlier this week that Grok would no longer be able to edit photos to portray real people in revealing clothing in jurisdictions where such actions are illegal, after a global backlash over sexualized images of women and children.

X also said it is implementing additional safeguards, including limiting image creation and editing to paid accounts to improve accountability. The company reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for child sexual exploitation, nonconsensual nudity, and unwanted sexual content, stating that such material would be removed immediately and accounts involved in child sex abuse materials reported to law enforcement.

Social media platforms remove 4.7 million child accounts following Australia’s under-16 ban

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Social media companies have removed or restricted about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children in Australia since the country enforced a nationwide ban on platform use by those under 16, government officials said, marking the first major assessment of the law’s impact.

The figures were submitted to Australian regulators by 10 major platforms after the law took effect in December, amid concerns over the effects of harmful online environments on young people. The ban has triggered intense national debate over technology use, privacy, child safety, and mental health, while also drawing interest from governments abroad considering similar measures.

“We stared down everybody who said it couldn’t be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters,” Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters on Friday. “Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back.”

Under the law, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and Twitch can face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.2 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts held by children under 16. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are exempt.

Platforms are allowed to verify users’ ages through several methods, including requesting identification documents, using third-party age-estimation technology based on facial analysis, or inferring age from existing account data, such as how long an account has been active.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said about 2.5 million Australians are between the ages of 8 and 15, and previous estimates suggested 84% of children aged 8 to 12 had social media accounts. While the total number of accounts across the 10 platforms was not disclosed, she described the reported figure of 4.7 million accounts “deactivated or restricted” as encouraging.

“We’re preventing predatory social media companies from accessing our children,” Inman Grant said.

The commissioner added that all 10 major companies covered by the ban had complied with reporting requirements and submitted their figures on time. She said enforcement efforts are now expected to shift toward preventing children from creating new accounts or bypassing the restrictions.

Officials did not provide a platform-by-platform breakdown. However, Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, said in a blog post this week that it had removed nearly 550,000 underage accounts by the day after the ban took effect.

In the same post, Meta criticized the legislation, warning that smaller platforms not covered by the ban might not prioritize child safety. The company also noted that children can still be exposed to algorithm-driven content while browsing platforms, a concern that helped drive the law’s passage.

The ban has been widely supported by parents and child safety advocates. However, online privacy groups and some youth organizations have opposed it, arguing that vulnerable or geographically isolated teenagers often rely on online communities for support. Some young users have also said they were able to bypass age checks or received help from parents or older siblings to retain access.

Since Australia began debating the policy in 2024, other countries have explored similar approaches. Denmark’s government said in November it plans to introduce a social media ban for children under 15.

“The fact that in spite of some skepticism out there, it’s working and being replicated now around the world, is something that is a source of Australian pride,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Opposition lawmakers have questioned the effectiveness of the measures, suggesting young people may be migrating to less regulated apps. Inman Grant said her office observed a spike in downloads of alternative platforms when the ban was introduced, but not a sustained increase in usage.

“There is no real long-term trends yet that we can say but we’re engaging,” she said.

The eSafety Commissioner also said her office plans to introduce what she described as “world-leading AI companion and chatbot restrictions” in March, though further details were not disclosed.

Naghain ang Ombudsman ng kasong malversation, graft laban Kay Bong Revilla at 6 na iba pa

MAYNILA — Naghain ang Office of the Ombudsman nitong Biyernes ng kasong malversation through falsification of documents at graft laban sa dating Senador Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., dating DPWH Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez, at iba pang limang opisyal kaugnay ng umano’y P92.8-milyong ghost flood control project sa Purok 5, Barangay Bunsuran, Pandi, Bulacan.

“Ang Ombudsman ay ipagpapatuloy ang mga kasong ito nang matatag, independyente, at walang kinikilingan,” ani Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano sa isang press conference matapos ihain ang mga kaso sa Sandiganbayan anti-graft court.

Ayon sa inilabas na impormasyon, nagkasundo ang mga nasasakdal na padaliin ang pagpapalabas ng humigit-kumulang P76 milyon para sa proyekto na base sa opisyal na inspeksyon at testimonya ng mga saksi, ay hindi kailanman naisakatuparan.

Kasama sa listahan ng mga kinasuhan sina:

  • Engr. Jaypee Mendoza
  • Engr. Arjay Domasig
  • Engr. Emelita Juat
  • Juanito Mendoza, finance section chief ng DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office
  • Christina Pineda, cashier ng DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office

“Sa kabila ng kawalan ng aktwal na konstruksyon, idineklarang natapos ang proyekto ng mga nasasakdal. Upang padaliin ang pagpapalabas ng kabuuang halaga ng proyekto, pinalabas ng mga nasasakdal ang pekeng accomplishment reports, nag-isyu ng fraudulent billing documents, at nag-endorso ng disbursement vouchers,” dagdag pa ni Clavano.

Ayon sa Assistant Ombudsman, ang P92.8-milyong proyekto ay na-award sa kontratista noong Marso 28, 2025.

Dahil sa paghahain ng kaso laban kay Revilla at sa anim pang iba, naghain din ang Ombudsman prosecutors ng urgent motion para sa special raffle ng mga kasong ito, na magsasaayos kung aling dibisyon ng Sandiganbayan ang hahawak sa mga kaso. Kasama rin sa motion ang kahilingan na agad maglabas ng warrant for arrest at hold departure order laban sa lahat ng pitong akusado.

“Ang Office of the Ombudsman ay nananatiling matatag sa pagpapatupad ng pananagutan sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan. Ang paghahain ng kasong ito ay malinaw na mensahe: ang sinumang mang-abuso sa public funds ay pananagutin ayon sa batas,” ani Clavano.

Ito na ang pangalawang batch ng flood control-related criminal cases na inihain ng Ombudsman prosecutors laban sa mga public officials sa Sandiganbayan. Ayon sa batas, ang mga kaso laban sa public officials na nasa Salary Grade 27 pataas ay inihahain sa Sandiganbayan; si Revilla, bilang senador noon, ay nasa Salary Grade 31.

Noong Disyembre 2025, naghain ang Ombudsman prosecutors ng malversation at graft charges laban kay dating Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co at 16 iba pa kaugnay ng P289-milyong substandard road dike project sa Oriental Mindoro.

Iran cleric demands executions of protesters, warns Trump as unrest escalates

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A senior hard-line cleric leading Friday prayers in Iran’s capital called for the execution of protesters detained in a nationwide crackdown and issued a direct warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the hardening stance of the Islamic Republic following weeks of unrest.

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, speaking in a sermon broadcast by Iranian state radio, drew chants from worshippers, including calls for the death of what he described as “armed hypocrites.” Executions and the killing of peaceful demonstrators have previously been cited by Trump as “red lines” that could prompt possible U.S. military action against Iran.

Khatami, who was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and serves on both the Assembly of Experts and the Guardian Council, accused protesters of acting as agents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “Trump’s soldiers,” alleging they sought to “disintegrate the country.”

“They should wait for hard revenge from the system,” Khatami said, referring to Netanyahu and Trump. “Americans and Zionists should not expect peace.”

The cleric also presented what he said were nationwide figures detailing damage caused during the demonstrations, which began on Dec. 28 over Iran’s struggling economy and later expanded into direct challenges to the country’s theocratic leadership.

According to Khatami, 350 mosques, 126 prayer halls, and 20 other holy sites were damaged, along with 80 homes belonging to Friday prayer leaders. He said the unrest also affected critical services, claiming damage to 400 hospitals, 106 ambulances, 71 fire department vehicles, and 50 other emergency vehicles.

Iran cut off internet access on Jan. 8 and intensified its crackdown on dissent. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 2,677 people have been killed, though The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the figure and Iranian authorities have not released official casualty totals.

“They want you to withdraw from religion,” Khatami told the congregation. “They planned these crimes from a long time ago.”

Khatami, known for his uncompromising rhetoric, has previously drawn international attention, including a 2007 statement asserting that a fatwa calling for the death of author Salman Rushdie remained in effect, and a 2018 speech in which he threatened that Iran could “raze Tel Aviv and Haifa to the ground” with its missile arsenal.

In his latest remarks, he also urged the arrest of anyone he said had supported the protests “in any way,” signaling continued pressure on dissent as Iran’s leadership confronts one of its most significant internal challenges in years.

Most Wanted si Atong Ang; may ₱10-M reward

MAYNILA — Itinuturing na isa sa Most Wanted sa bansa si negosyanteng Charlie “Atong” Ang, na may ₱10 million reward para sa sinumang makapagbibigay ng impormasyon na hahantong sa kanyang pag-aresto, ayon sa mga awtoridad ngayong linggo. Ang anunsiyo ay kasunod ng inilabas na arrest warrant ng hukuman sa Laguna laban kay Ang dahil sa umano’y pagkakasangkot niya sa pagkawala ng mga sabungero o cockfighting enthusiasts.

Sinabi ni Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla na pinapalakas na ng mga awtoridad ang paghahanap kay Ang, na nananatiling nagtatago, at hinihikayat siyang sumuko nang kusa. “Ang kusang pagsuko ang pinakamainam na hakbang kung naniniwala siyang inosente,” ani Remulla, na binanggit na kinansela na rin ang lahat ng firearms na nakapangalan sa kanya at nagpadala ng mga tauhan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa upang subaybayan ang kanyang galaw.

Hindi pa rin sumusuko si Ang. Ayon sa kanyang legal na kinatawan, kasalukuyang ginagawa niya ang lahat ng legal na paraan upang labanan ang arrest warrant, na kanilang tinuturing na posibleng may procedural na depekto. “Pinag-aaralan niya ang bawat legal na hakbang bago magdesisyon na sumuko,” ayon sa kanyang abogado, na nagsabing layunin ni Ang na ipagtanggol ang sarili sa pamamagitan ng tamang proseso ng batas.

Kinumpirma rin ng National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) na mayroong mga kredibleng lead tungkol sa kinaroroonan ni Ang, ngunit nananatili siyang nagtatago. Pinayuhan siya ng mga opisyal na makipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad, na binigyang-diin na ang kusang pagsuko ay makakatulong sa maayos na paglutas ng kaso at pagbibigay ng pagkakataon na ipakita ang kanyang depensa sa hukuman.

Binigyang-diin naman ni Acting Philippine National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. na determinado ang PNP na ipatupad ang utos ng hukuman at ipagpapatuloy ang paghahanap. Nakikipag-coordinate rin ang mga awtoridad sa Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) upang suriin ang mga posibleng opsyon, kabilang ang paghiling ng Interpol Red Notice, para matiyak na mahuhuli si Ang.

Ada Gumagalaw papuntang hilaga-kanluran; 15 lugar nasa Signal No. 1

MAYNILA — Ang Tropical Storm Ada ay patuloy na gumagalaw nang mabagal papuntang north northwest habang nasa Philippine Sea, sa silangan ng Eastern Visayas, habang 15 lugar ang nananatiling nasa ilalim ng Signal No. 1, ayon sa pinakabagong Tropical Cyclone Bulletin ng PAGASA.

Ang sentro ng Tropical Storm Ada ay tinatayang nasa 370 kilometro silangan ng Surigao City, Surigao del Norte o 430 kilometro silangan ng Maasin City, Southern Leyte, na may maximum sustained winds na 65 kilometro kada oras malapit sa sentro, may gusts na umaabot hanggang 80 km/h, at central pressure na 998 hPa.

Ayon sa PAGASA, ang bagyo ay mabagal na gumagalaw papuntang north northwest, na may malalakas hanggang gale-force na hangin na umaabot nang hanggang 400 kilometro mula sa sentro.

Nanatili ang Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 sa mga sumusunod na lugar: sa Luzon, ang silangang bahagi ng Camarines Norte (Mercedes, Basud, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Daet, Talisay, Vinzons), Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, at silangang bahagi ng mainland Masbate (Pio V. Corpuz, Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, City of Masbate, Baleno, Aroroy) kabilang ang Ticao at Burias Islands; sa Visayas, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, hilaga at gitnang bahagi ng Leyte (Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Santa Fe, Palo, Dagami, Pastrana, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Julita, Dulag, Tolosa, La Paz, Mayorga, Macarthur, Javier, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Kananga, Capoocan, Leyte, Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Burauen, Ormoc City, Matag-Ob, Villaba, Albuera, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, City of Baybay), at silangang bahagi ng Southern Leyte (Silago, Sogod, Libagon, Saint Bernard, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Anahawan, San Juan, Liloan, San Ricardo, San Francisco, Pintuyan); sa Mindanao, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, at Surigao del Sur.

Tinatayang ang mabigat na pag-ulan ay aabot mula 100 hanggang 200 mm sa Northern Samar at Eastern Samar, at 50 hanggang 100 mm naman sa Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, at Agusan del Norte.

Magdudulot din ang Northeast Monsoon at periphery ni Ada ng malalakas hanggang gale-force na hangin sa Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, silangang Isabela, Aurora, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Cuyo Islands, Bicol Region, Visayas, at Caraga, lalo na sa mga baybaying dagat at upland areas na direktang tinatamaan ng hangin.

Sa mga baybaying tubig, inaasahang magkakaroon ng rough seas hanggang 4.0 metro sa hilaga at silangang baybaying dagat ng Catanduanes at Northern Samar, silangang baybaying dagat ng Albay, Sorsogon, at Eastern Samar, hilagang baybaying dagat ng Camarines Sur, at baybaying dagat ng Camarines Norte. Aabot naman sa 3.5 metro ang alon sa hilaga at silangang baybaying dagat ng Siargao-Bucas Grande at Polillo Islands, silangang baybaying dagat ng Dinagat Islands at Surigao del Sur, at baybaying dagat ng Aurora at hilagang mainland Quezon, habang aabot sa 3.0 metro sa baybaying dagat ng Isabela at silangang baybaying dagat ng mainland Cagayan at Babuyan Islands. Pinapayuhan ang mga mariners ng maliliit na sasakyang pandagat, kabilang ang motorbanca, na huwag lumabas sa dagat lalo na kung walang karanasan o kulang sa kagamitan.

Ang moderate seas naman ay aabot sa 2.5 metro sa baybaying dagat ng Batanes, Ilocos Norte, at Davao Oriental, hilagang baybaying dagat ng mainland Cagayan, silangang baybaying dagat ng Camarines Sur, at natitirang bahagi ng baybaying dagat ng Catanduanes at Babuyan Islands, at hanggang 2.0 metro sa silangang baybaying dagat ng Davao Occidental. Pinapayuhan ang mga manlalayag ng motorbanca at katulad na sasakyang pandagat na mag-ingat at kung maaari, iwasang lumayag sa ilalim ng ganitong kondisyon. Ang iba pang baybaying tubig ay may alon na mas mababa sa 2.0 metro.

Ayon sa PAGASA, inaasahang gagalaw nang northwestward si Ada mula ngayong araw hanggang bukas (17 January) bago unti-unting lumiko papuntang north northwest hanggang northeast sa Linggo (18 January). “Simula Martes (20 January) ng gabi, inaasahang gagalaw si Ada papuntang southeast habang nasa dagat silangan ng Bicol Region,” ani PAGASA. Sa forecast track, maaaring dumaan ang sentro ni Ada malapit sa Eastern Samar at Northern Samar bukas at Catanduanes sa Linggo. Idinagdag ng PAGASA na ang karagdagang paglipat pakanluran sa forecast track ay maaaring magresulta sa posibleng landfall sa Eastern Visayas at Bicol Region.

Bagama’t maaaring magbago pa ang forecast track sa Sabado o Linggo, inaasahang mananatili sa kategoryang tropical storm si Ada habang nasa dagat silangan ng Visayas at Southern Luzon at posibleng humina sa kategoryang tropical depression pagsapit ng Martes.