Sunday, May 24, 2026


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Tinatanggal ng LTO ang ₱100 fee sa motorcycle top boxes

Venus L Peñaflor
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Tinatanggal ng LTO ang ₱100 fee sa motorcycle top boxes

MAYNILA — Inalis ng Land Transportation Office (LTO) ang ₱100 registration fee para sa mga custom-made top box at saddle bag na ikinakabit sa mga motorsiklo, bilang hakbang na magbigay-ginhawa sa mga rider.

Ayon sa memorandum na pirmado ni LTO Chief Markus Lacanilao noong Disyembre 15, 2025, epektibo mula Enero 2026, mawawala na ang nasabing bayad kada top box o saddle bag.

Ayon kay Lacanilao, isinagawa ang pagbabago alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez upang mapagaan ang gastusin ng mga rider na umaasa sa kanilang motorsiklo sa pang-araw-araw na kabuhayan.

“Ito ay malaking tulong sa mga rider na umaasa sa kanilang motorsiklo sa kanilang paghahanapbuhay para maalis na ang dagdag na gastusin,” pahayag ni Lacanilao sa isang post sa Facebook.

Dagdag pa niya, “Ang patakarang ito ay nakaayon sa 7-Point Policy Agenda ng LTO na nakatutok sa pag-alis ng mga hindi kinakailangang bayarin at pagpapagaan ng pasanin sa pananalapi ng mga mamamayang umaasa sa motorsiklo, na nagbibigay ng ginhawa sa badyet habang pinapanatili pa rin ang mga pamantayan para sa kaligtasan sa kalsada.”

Ayon sa opisyal, mananatiling kinakailangan ang pagrerehistro upang matiyak ang kaligtasan at pagsunod sa pamantayan ng LTO. Sa halip na resibo, makatatanggap ang mga rider ng certification bilang patunay ng rehistrasyon. Lahat ng naunang alituntunin na salungat sa bagong direktiba ay aamyendahan o tatanggalin.

Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s year-opening fish auction

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Bluefin tuna fetches record $3.2 million at Tokyo’s year-opening fish auction

TOKYO — A massive Pacific bluefin tuna weighing 243 kilograms (535 pounds) sold for a record 510 million yen, or about $3.2 million, at the first auction of 2026 held Monday at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

The winning bid came from Kiyomura Corp., operator of the popular Sushi Zanmai restaurant chain, led by owner Kiyoshi Kimura. The purchase shattered the previous auction record of 334 million yen ($2.1 million), also set by Kimura in 2019.

Speaking to reporters after the predawn auction, Kimura said he had hoped to secure the tuna at a lower price but was quickly outpaced as bidding intensified. “The price shot up before you knew it,” he said.

The highly anticipated auction began with the ringing of a bell, signaling bidders to inspect rows of torpedo-shaped tuna laid across the market floor. The fish, with tails partially cut, were examined closely for meat quality, including color, texture, and fat content.

The record-setting tuna was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region renowned for producing some of the country’s finest bluefin tuna. The fish fetched roughly 2.1 million yen ($13,360) per kilogram, or about $6,060 per pound.

Kimura said the purchase was partly symbolic. “It’s in part for good luck,” he said, adding that the tuna’s appearance made it irresistible. “I haven’t sampled it yet, but it’s got to be delicious.”

While hundreds of tuna are traded daily at Toyosu’s early-morning auctions, prices at the traditional New Year sale are typically far higher, particularly for premium catches from Oma.

Pacific bluefin tuna, a staple of sushi and sashimi, was previously classified as a threatened species due to overfishing and climate pressures. Stocks, however, have shown signs of recovery in recent years following international conservation and management efforts.

Finland’s fight against fake news begins in preschool classrooms

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Finland’s fight against fake news begins in preschool classrooms

HELSINKI — Finland’s long-running battle against fake news and disinformation begins as early as preschool, with media literacy embedded in the national curriculum for children as young as three years old.

For decades, the Nordic country has treated media literacy as the ability to analyze information, assess sources, and recognize false or misleading content as a core civic skill. The approach is designed to strengthen public resilience against propaganda and misinformation, particularly narratives crossing Finland’s 1,340-kilometer border with Russia.

As disinformation campaigns across Europe have intensified following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, Finnish educators are now expanding the curriculum to include artificial intelligence literacy. Finland’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2023 further heightened concerns over hybrid threats, though Moscow has repeatedly denied interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

“We think that having good media literacy skills is a very big civic skill,” said Kiia Hakkala, a pedagogical specialist for the City of Helsinki. “It’s very important to the nation’s safety and to the safety of our democracy.”

AI literacy as a growing priority

At Tapanila Primary School, in a residential area north of Helsinki, teacher Ville Vanhanen recently guided fourth-grade students through a lesson on identifying fake news. Facing a classroom screen labeled “Fact or Fiction?”, students were asked to evaluate the credibility of online claims.

“It is a little bit hard,” admitted Ilo Lindgren, 10.

Vanhanen said students are introduced to the basics of detecting misinformation from an early age, starting with simple exercises such as analyzing headlines and short texts. As they progress, lessons become more complex, focusing on source verification, intent, and reliability.

Now, the curriculum is evolving to address artificial intelligence.

“We’ve been studying how to recognize if a picture or a video is made by AI,” said Vanhanen, who also serves as the school’s vice principal. “AI literacy is quickly becoming a vital skill.”

Role of the media and public engagement

Finnish news organizations also play a role in strengthening media literacy. Each year, the country marks “Newspaper Week,” during which newspapers and other news materials are distributed to young people to encourage informed media consumption.

In 2024, Helsinki-based daily Helsingin Sanomat helped develop the “ABC Book of Media Literacy,” which was distributed to every 15-year-old student nationwide as they entered upper secondary school.

“It’s really important for us to be seen as a place where you can get information that’s been verified, that you can trust, and that’s done by people you know in a transparent way,” said Jussi Pullinen, the paper’s managing editor.

Defending democracy through education

Media literacy has been part of Finland’s education system since the 1990s, with additional training programs available for adults, who are often considered more vulnerable to online misinformation.

These efforts have helped Finland consistently rank at the top of the European Media Literacy Index, compiled by the Open Society Institute in Sofia, Bulgaria, between 2017 and 2023.

Finnish Education Minister Anders Adlercreutz said the scale of today’s disinformation challenges was not fully anticipated decades ago.

“I don’t think we envisioned that the world would look like this,” he said. “That we would be bombarded with disinformation, that our institutions are challenged, our democracy really challenged through disinformation.”

Experts warn that the rapid development of AI tools could further complicate efforts to distinguish fact from fiction.

“It already is much harder in the information space to spot what’s real and what’s not real,” said Martha Turnbull, director of hybrid influence at the Helsinki-based European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. While current AI-generated content can still be identified with some effort, she cautioned that future advances could make detection far more difficult.

“As that technology develops, and particularly as we move toward things like agentic AI,” Turnbull said, “that’s when it could become much more difficult for us to spot.”

For Finland, educators say the answer lies in starting early and treating media literacy not just as a classroom subject, but as a cornerstone of democratic resilience.

Ex-general arestado sa kasong inciting to sedition

Arman B. Cambe
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Ex-general arestado sa kasong inciting to sedition

MAYNILA — Inaresto ng mga awtoridad si retired Air Force major general Romeo Poquiz sa bisa ng warrant of arrest sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) sa Pasay City nitong Lunes, Enero 5.

Kagagaling lamang ni Poquiz mula sa bakasyon sa Bangkok, Thailand nang arestuhin siya ng mga tauhan ng Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region (PNP-CIDG-NCR), sa pangunguna ni Chief P/Colonel John Guiagui, bandang alas-8 ng umaga.

Ang pag-aresto ay kaugnay ng kasong inciting to sedition, na iniuugnay sa umano’y partisipasyon ni Poquiz sa mga kilos-protesta na ginanap sa People Power Monument sa Quezon City noong Nobyembre 16 at 17, 2025. Binanggit din sa kaso ang ilang post niya sa social media na nananawagan ng pagtalikod o pagbawi ng suporta sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Ang warrant of arrest ay inisyu noong Disyembre 5, 2025, na may inirekomendang piyansa na P48,000.

Si Poquiz ay kilala bilang convenor ng United People’s Initiative (UPI), isang grupo ng mga retiradong opisyal ng militar.

Matapos ang pag-aresto, dinala si Poquiz sa Camp Crame para sa kaukulang processing bago iprisinta sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77.

Samantala, iginiit ni Poquiz na ang mga kasong isinampa laban sa kanya ay panggigipit at pananakot.

“Ang mga nagnakaw ng bilyon at trilyon ay libre at hindi napanagot, pero ang mga nagprotesta at nagpapahayag ng galit sa pandarambong ng pera ng bayan, na tulad ko, ay kinakasakuhan,” pahayag ni Poquiz.

Agad namang nagpiyansa si Poquiz para sa kanyang pansamantalang paglaya.

Pinirmahan ni Marcos ang P6.793-trilyong 2026 national budget

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Pinirmahan ni Marcos ang P6.793-trilyong 2026 national budget

MAYNILA — Matapos ang isang linggong masusing pagsusuri sa lahat ng alokasyon at probisyon, pinirmahan ni Pangulo Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. nitong Lunes ang iminungkahing pambansang badyet para sa fiscal year 2026.

Ang seremonya ng pagpirma sa P6.793-trilyong badyet ay ginanap sa Ceremonial Hall ng Malacañang Palace at dinaluhan ng mga pangunahing opisyal ng pamahalaan, senador, at kongresista.

“With the signing of Republic Act No. 12314 or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for fiscal year 2026, we are committing to implement a budget that serves the people. Totaling P6.793 trillion, the national budget is aligned with our medium- and long-term development plans and vision, reflecting our investment in the Filipino,” ani Marcos.

“The passage of the national budget is only the beginning. Because today, we commence with the most difficult tasks—to ensure the proper execution and instituting true accountability.”

Ayon sa Pangulo, patuloy na susuportahan ng 2026 budget ang reporma sa edukasyon, proteksyon sa kalusugan, seguridad sa pagkain, social security, at paglikha ng trabaho.

Edukasyon at Kalusugan: Pinakamalaking Alokasyon sa Kasaysayan

Bilang itinakda ng Konstitusyon, nakatanggap ang edukasyon ng pinakamalaking pondo, na umaabot sa higit P1.34 trilyon. Ilan sa pondong ito ay ilalaan sa paglikha ng teaching at non-teaching plantilla positions, promosyon at reclassification ng mga guro, at konstruksyon ng mga silid-aralan sa buong bansa.

Samantala, ang kalusugan ay nakatanggap ng pinakamalaking alokasyon sa kasaysayan ng bansa, na umaabot sa P448.125 bilyon, kabilang ang P1 bilyong pondo para sa zero balance billing program sa mga lokal na ospital, pati na rin sa surveillance ng sakit, rapid response mechanisms, at sustainable health financing.

Nakakuha rin ang PhilHealth ng halos P130 bilyon, kabilang ang P60 bilyong ipinalabas ayon sa kautusan ng Korte Suprema.

“These funds shall support preventive healthcare and the improvement of PhilHealth benefit packages, lowering the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipino families,” ani Marcos.

Agrikultura at Social Services

Ang sektor ng agrikultura ay nakatanggap ng higit P297 bilyon para sa modernisasyon ng supply systems at suporta sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, kabilang ang pagtatayo ng farm-to-market roads.

Ang sektor ng social services naman ay binigyan ng higit P270 bilyon, upang mapabuti ang kalidad ng buhay ng mga Pilipino at mapalakas ang human capital development.

Sa pamamagitan ng mga pangunahing programa, layunin ng Pangulo na maabot ang single-digit poverty rate pagsapit ng 2028.

Military at Uniformed Personnel

Suportado rin ng 2026 GAA ang implementasyon ng updated base pay at increased subsistence allowance para sa mga sundalo at uniformed personnel.

Ayon kay Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, tiniyak ng Ehekutibo na ang 2026 GAA ay makatutugon hindi lamang sa legal at teknikal na pamantayan kundi sa aktwal na pangangailangan ng mamamayan.

Veto sa Unprogrammed Appropriations

Ipinahayag ni Marcos na binawi niya ang halos P92.5 bilyon sa unprogrammed appropriations upang matiyak na malinaw at makatarungan ang paggamit ng pondo publiko.

“Let me be clear—the unprogrammed appropriations are not blank checks. We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a backdoor for discretionary spending,” ani Marcos.

Ayon kay Deputy House Minority Leader Edgar Erice, pinaplano niyang kwestyunin ang 2026 national budget sa Korte Suprema dahil sa unprogrammed funds.

“Pinag-aaralan pa lang namin pero just the same, ang aking position, all unprogrammed funds in any form are unconstitutional. So I will have to challenge it before the Supreme Court,” ani Erice.

Reenacted Budget

Pinagtibay ni Marcos na sa pagpirma ng 2026 GAA, ang 2025 GAA ay deemed reenacted at nananatiling epektibo hanggang Enero 4, 2026.

“In this regard, the DBM shall consider the expenditures lawfully incurred under the reenacted budget in formulating its fund release for the guidelines of fiscal year 2026,” ani Marcos.

Pokus sa Pagpapatupad at Responsableng Paggastos

Ayon sa Pangulo:

“Sa national budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan, magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan.”

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan, lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan. Magtatrabaho ang administrasyong ito upang mapabuti ang sistema, mapalakas ang pananagutan, at matuldukan ang katiwalian.”

Sinabi rin ni Recto na ang pagpirma ng budget ay simula pa lamang, at ang tunay na pagsusuri ay nasa implementasyon.

“The signing of this budget is only the beginning. Its true test is in its implementation. At dito na papasok ang Ehekutibo. Kaya ang pangako namin ay simple, sisiguraduhin naming totoong makikinabang ang taumbayan,” ani Recto.

Pinakamalaking Badyet para sa Edukasyon

Ayon kay Education Secretary Sonny Angara, ang 2026 budget ay ang pinakamalaki para sa DepEd sa mga nagdaang taon. Saklaw nito ang konstruksyon ng silid-aralan, pasilidad sa paaralan, learner subsidies, textbooks, feeding programs, digital equipment, at pag-hire at training ng mga kawani.

  • P85.3 bilyon para sa 165,000-classroom backlog, kabilang ang P65 bilyon para sa 24,964 bagong silid-aralan at P7.7 bilyon para sa repair at rehabilitation ng umiiral na gusali.
  • P19.5 bilyon para sa produksyon ng textbooks at learning materials.
  • P10.6 bilyon para sa DepEd Computerization Program, para sa laptops, digital tools, at internet connectivity.
  • P4.6 bilyon para sa teacher training at P42.4 bilyon para sa bagong plantilla positions, kabilang ang 32,916 teaching items, 6,000 Principal I posts, at 10,000 School Counselor Associate positions.

Para sa nutrisyon at feeding programs, nakatanggap ang Expanded School-Based Feeding Program ng P25.6 bilyon, na makikinabang sa humigit-kumulang 4.6 milyong mag-aaral.

“We are looking at a very promising 2026 for the education sector,” ani Angara.

Sa kabila ng selektibong patakaran tulad ng “no cellphone” policy sa seremonya ng pagpirma, tiniyak ng pamahalaan na malinaw ang direksyon ng 2026 GAA sa responsableng paggastos at benepisyo para sa taumbayan.

Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. drug charges, denounces capture as ‘abduction’

Venus L Peñaflor
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Maduro pleads not guilty to U.S. drug charges, denounces capture as ‘abduction’

NEW YORK — Deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to federal drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges in his first appearance before a United States court, forcefully protesting what he described as his unlawful capture by U.S. forces in Caracas.

“I was captured,” Maduro told the court in Spanish, speaking through an interpreter, before being interrupted by the judge. When formally asked for his plea, he said: “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country.” His wife, Cilia Flores, who appeared alongside him, also entered a plea of not guilty.

Maduro’s appearance before the U.S. District Court in Manhattan marked the opening of one of the most consequential prosecutions of a foreign leader in modern U.S. history. The case stems from charges the Trump administration cited to justify a surprise military operation over the weekend that resulted in the seizure of Maduro and Flores from their residence inside a Venezuelan military base.

Brought to court under heavy security, Maduro, 63, was flown by helicopter from a detention facility in Brooklyn and transported to the courthouse in an armored vehicle. Both he and Flores wore jail-issued clothing and leg restraints and used headsets to follow the proceedings, which were conducted in English and translated into Spanish.

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, 92, curtailed Maduro’s repeated attempts to argue that he had been kidnapped, telling him there would be “a time and place” for such claims. The judge first confirmed the defendant’s identity, to which Maduro responded, “I am Nicolás Maduro Moros.”

Maduro’s lawyer, Barry Pollack, said the defense would challenge the legality of what he called a “military abduction” and argue that Maduro, as head of a sovereign state, is entitled to immunity from U.S. criminal jurisdiction. The United States, however, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, particularly following his widely disputed 2024 reelection.

A similar immunity defense was unsuccessfully raised by former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega after his capture during the 1990 U.S. invasion of Panama.

Flores identified herself in court as the “first lady of the Republic of Venezuela.” Her lawyer, Mark Donnelly, said she sustained “significant injuries” during her capture, noting visible bandages on her forehead and right temple.

A 25-page indictment unsealed by U.S. prosecutors accuses Maduro, Flores, and other associates of conspiring with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. If convicted, they could face life imprisonment. The indictment further alleges that the defendants ordered kidnappings, assaults, and killings to enforce drug debts and silence rivals, including the murder of a local drug boss in Caracas.

Outside the courthouse, police separated protesters opposing the U.S. military action from those supporting it. Inside the courtroom, a man in the gallery shouted that Maduro was an “illegitimate” president as proceedings concluded. As he was led away by deputy U.S. marshals, Maduro responded in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”

The criminal case is unfolding amid heightened geopolitical tensions following President Donald Trump’s declaration that the United States would temporarily “run” Venezuela. Trump reiterated over the weekend that Washington was “in charge” and would “fix” the country, remarks that drew international criticism. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later adopted a more cautious tone, saying the U.S. would not govern Venezuela day to day, apart from enforcing an existing “oil quarantine.”

Trump has suggested that Maduro’s removal could allow increased Venezuelan oil production, though oil prices rose 1.7% on Monday amid uncertainty over governance and the state of the country’s neglected energy sector.

Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, demanded Maduro’s return and condemned what she described as an illegitimate military aggression. Sworn in on Monday by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez, she expressed “sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes,” while also signaling openness to “respectful relations” with Washington.

Maduro’s son, Venezuelan lawmaker Nicolás Maduro Guerra, warned that his father’s capture could set a dangerous global precedent. “If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe,” he said.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday, with senior U.N. officials warning that the unilateral U.S. action may have violated international law and underscoring Venezuela’s deep humanitarian crisis.

Legal experts say the case will test the limits of U.S. jurisdiction over foreign leaders, as courts weigh domestic criminal statutes against principles of sovereignty and head-of-state immunity under international law.

Shear line, Amihan at easterlies magpapa-ulan sa buong kapuluan

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Shear line, Amihan at easterlies magpapa-ulan sa buong kapuluan

MAYNILA — Ayon sa Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), magpapatuloy ang pag-ulan at maulap na kalangitan sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao ngayong Lunes, Enero 5, 2026, dulot ng shear line na patuloy na nakaapekto sa lagay ng panahon sa bansa.

Sa pinakahuling ulat ng PAGASA, ang shear line sa pagitan ng magkaibang hangin ay nakakaapekto sa silangang bahagi ng Southern Luzon at sa Visayas, na nagdudulot ng makulimlim na kalangitan na may pag-ulan at isolated thunderstorms. Ayon sa PAGASA, may posibilidad ng flash flood at landslide sa ilang lalawigan, partikular sa Bicol Region, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, at Romblon.

Dahil sa shear line, inaasahan din ang tuloy-tuloy pag-ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Visayas. Ang forecast ng PAGASA ay nagpapakita ng mahina hanggang katamtamang pag-ulan at thunderstorms na may kasamang malakas na hangin sa mga lalawigan tulad ng Palawan, Capiz, Aklan, at Negros Occidental.

Kasabay nito, ang Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) ay nakakaapekto sa ibang bahagi ng Luzon, na nagdadala ng maulap na kalangitan na may kaunting pag-ulan sa mga rehiyon tulad ng Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Laguna, at Batangas. Sa Metro Manila at karatig na lugar, inaasahan ang partly cloudy hanggang cloudy na kalangitan na may isolated light rains.

Sa Mindanao, ang easterlies ay nagdudulot ng maulap na kalangitan na may scattered rains at thunderstorms sa mga rehiyon tulad ng Zamboanga Peninsula, Basilan, Sulu, at Tawi-Tawi. Pinapayuhan ang mga residente na maging maingat sa posibleng flash flood at landslide, lalo na sa mga low-lying at flood-prone na lugar.

Ayon sa PAGASA, walang aktibong tropical cyclone o low-pressure area sa loob o labas ng Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) sa ngayon, kaya’t ang kasalukuyang pag-ulan ay pangunahing dulot ng shear line, amihan, at easterlies.

Pinapayuhan ang publiko na manatiling alerto sa mga weather advisory at posibleng panganib. Maaaring makaranas ang mga baybaying-dagat ng moderate hanggang rough seas, lalo na sa silangang baybayin, dahil sa umiiral na hangin.

Pope urges peace and protection of Venezuela’s sovereignty

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Pope urges peace and protection of Venezuela’s sovereignty

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged the international community and Venezuelans to prioritize peace, justice, and the country’s sovereignty following the U.S. capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.

Speaking at the midday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff called for the human and civil rights of all Venezuelans to be respected, while emphasizing the importance of protecting the rule of law enshrined in Venezuela’s constitution.

“The good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead us to overcome violence and to undertake paths of justice and peace, safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, ensuring the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution, respecting the human and civil rights of each person and of all, and working to build together a serene future of collaboration, stability, and concord, with special attention to the poorest who suffer because of the difficult economic situation,” Pope Leo XIV said.

The pontiff invited the faithful to pray for the Venezuelan people and entrusted them to the intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto, Patroness of Venezuela, St. José Gregorio Hernández, and St. Carmen Rendiles. He concluded his appeals by encouraging continued faith in God as a source of peace.

“Let us continue to have faith in the God of peace,” he said. “Let us pray and stand in solidarity with the peoples who suffer because of wars.”

The Pope’s remarks followed the early Saturday operation in which U.S. special forces entered Caracas, striking several military areas and capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at their residence. The couple was transported to New York, where they are facing multiple felony charges.

In response to the events, the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference issued a message expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people. The bishops called for serenity, wisdom, and strength, particularly for those injured or affected by the crisis, while urging society to reject violence.

“In view of the events that our country is experiencing today, let us ask God to grant all Venezuelans serenity, wisdom, and strength,” the statement read. “We stand in solidarity with those who were injured and with the families of those who died. Let us persevere in prayer for the unity of our people.”

The Bishops’ Conference emphasized that all decisions should be guided by the common good. “We make an appeal to the people of God to live more intensely hope and fervent prayer for peace in our hearts and in society; we reject any kind of violence,” they said. “May our hands open to encounter and mutual help, and may the decisions that are made be made always for the good of our people.”

Pope Leo XIV’s call underscores the Vatican’s longstanding concern for Venezuela, urging diplomacy, prayer, and human rights protection as tensions continue to rise following the U.S. military operation.

Naka-Code White Alert ang mga ospital sa MM sa Traslacion 2026

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Naka-Code White Alert ang mga ospital sa MM sa Traslacion 2026

MAYNILA — Itataas ng Department of Health (DOH) ang Code White Alert sa mga pagamutan sa Metro Manila at mga karatig-lugar bilang paghahanda sa idaraos na Traslacion 2026 sa Biyernes, Enero 9.

Ayon kay Health Assistant Secretary at DOH Spokesperson Dr. Albert Domingo, layon ng naturang alerto na matiyak ang kahandaan ng mga ospital na pinatatakbo ng ahensya sa anumang uri ng emerhensiyang maaaring mangyari sa kasagsagan ng tradisyunal na prusisyon para sa pista ng Poong Nazareno.

Magpapakalat ang DOH ng humigit-kumulang 200 miyembro ng health emergency response teams na ide-deploy sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng ruta ng Traslacion sa oras ng pinakamasidhing aktibidad. Nilinaw ni Domingo na maaari pang madagdagan ang bilang ng mga health responder depende sa magiging pangangailangan sa araw ng prusisyon.

Mahigpit ding pinaalalahanan ng DOH ang mga debotong may karamdaman sa puso at paghinga, mga buntis, matatanda, at mga bata na iwasan ang pakikilahok sa Traslacion upang maiwasan ang posibleng panganib sa kalusugan.

Pinayuhan naman ang mga debotong lalahok sa prusisyon na magdala ng mga identification card, sapat na tubig, at maintenance medication, gayundin ang pagsusuot ng maluluwag at komportableng kasuotan.

Inirekomenda rin ni Domingo ang pagsusuot ng face mask at pagdadala ng alcohol at hand sanitizer bilang proteksyon laban sa posibleng pagkalat ng sakit. Dagdag pa niya, mas mainam na iwasan ang pagdadala ng mahahalagang gamit na maaaring mawala sa gitna ng siksikan sa prusisyon.

Maduro captured, held in Brooklyn jail as Trump claims U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela

Venus L Peñaflor
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Maduro captured, held in Brooklyn jail as Trump claims U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela

CARACAS, Venezuela — Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro arrived in the United States late Saturday to face criminal charges after being captured in a surprise nighttime military operation that President Donald Trump said would allow Washington to temporarily “run” Venezuela and exploit its vast oil resources.

Maduro landed at a small airport in New York hours after U.S. forces extracted him and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence inside a military base in Caracas. Venezuelan authorities denounced the operation as an “imperialist attack,” while U.S. officials said the couple faces charges linked to a narco‑terrorism conspiracy.

The operation followed months of secret planning and an intensified U.S. pressure campaign against Maduro, marking the most aggressive American effort to force regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Legal experts immediately questioned the lawfulness of the action, which was carried out without congressional authorization.

Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, demanded Maduro’s release and declared him the country’s legitimate leader, even as Venezuela’s high court later ordered her to assume the role of interim president under the country’s constitution. Rodríguez earlier said she had no intention of taking power.

Rodríguez said some Venezuelan civilians and military personnel were killed during the operation, though she did not provide figures. Trump said several U.S. troops were injured but none were killed.

Speaking hours after the capture, Trump said the United States would move quickly to stabilize Venezuela, repair its oil infrastructure, and sell “large amounts” of oil to other countries. The administration framed the operation as part of its campaign to curb drug trafficking into the United States, while Trump openly highlighted potential gains in oil access and geopolitical influence.

“We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said at a news conference at Mar‑a‑Lago. He described the raid as an “extremely successful operation” and warned it should serve as a deterrent to those who threaten U.S. interests.

Maduro and senior members of his administration were first indicted in 2020 on narco‑terrorism conspiracy charges. On Saturday, the U.S. Justice Department released a new indictment against Maduro and Flores, portraying his government as a “corrupt, illegitimate” regime sustained by drug trafficking that allegedly funneled cocaine into the United States. Washington does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s president.

In recent months, the U.S. military expanded its presence in the region and targeted vessels suspected of transporting narcotics in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Last week, the CIA carried out a drone strike on a docking area believed to be used by Venezuelan drug cartels, the first known direct U.S. strike on Venezuelan territory since the campaign began in September.

The raid took place 36 years to the day after U.S. forces captured Panamanian leader Manuel Antonio Noriega in 1990. Trump said U.S. forces disabled much of Caracas’ power grid as they moved in to seize Maduro.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said U.S. forces had rehearsed the operation for months, studying Maduro’s routines in detail. “We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse,” Caine said. “Not to get it right, but to ensure we cannot get it wrong.”

Residents reported at least seven explosions in Caracas early Saturday as aircraft flew low over the city. Maduro’s government accused the United States of striking civilian and military facilities and urged citizens to protest. Venezuelan state television broadcast pro‑Maduro messaging and images of supporters rallying in the capital.

U.S. restrictions on airspace around Venezuela and parts of the Caribbean expired early Sunday, a sign that further immediate large‑scale military action was unlikely, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Under Venezuelan law, Rodríguez would succeed Maduro, but she insisted on state television that Maduro remained president. “There is only one president in Venezuela,” she said, “and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros.”

Maduro has ruled since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chávez. His 2018 reelection was widely criticized after opposition parties were barred from participating. In the 2024 election, authorities loyal to the ruling party declared Maduro the winner, though opposition groups said evidence showed he lost by a wide margin.

Reactions in Venezuela were sharply divided. Some residents protested Maduro’s capture, while others celebrated. In Caracas, Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined demonstrators calling for Maduro’s return. Elsewhere in the city, streets remained largely empty.

“How do I feel? Scared, like everyone,” said Caracas resident Noris Prada. “Venezuelans woke up scared. Many families couldn’t sleep.”

In Doral, Florida, home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States, crowds waved Venezuelan flags, ate street food, and chanted “Liberty” in celebration.

International concern mounted over the legality of the operation. “There are a number of international legal concepts which the United States might have broken by capturing Maduro,” said Ilan Katz, an international law analyst.

Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.‑born pontiff, called for an end to violence and urged respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty during his Sunday blessing. The United Nations Security Council, acting on an emergency request from Colombia, scheduled a meeting Monday to discuss the U.S. operation.

In Washington, lawmakers from both parties raised objections, noting that Congress had not authorized the use of military force. Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said he had seen no evidence justifying the action and demanded an immediate briefing on the administration’s legal rationale and plans for regional stability.Maduro Now Held at Brooklyn Jail

After landing in New York, Maduro and Flores were taken into federal custody and transported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal jail where they are awaiting court proceedings on the narco‑terrorism and related charges they face in the Southern District of New York. MDC Brooklyn has held numerous high‑profile inmates and has drawn attention for its troubled reputation, including past reports of violence, poor conditions, and internal criticism, though authorities say recent improvements have been made.

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