ZAMBOANGA: Four children aged three to 12 were feared dead after a landslide struck the house where they had sought refuge during a rainstorm in the southern Philippines, police said yesterday. The disaster occurred in a remote part of the southern island of Mindanao on late Tuesday. The parents of the children, all cousins, were working in the fields when they heard a loud rumbling and watched in horror as part of the nearby mountain collapsed on the abandoned house. Residents tried to dig them out but could not bring in heavy equipment to the remote area and used hand tools. The bodies were yet to be found yesterday.
Law signed to modernise jails
MANILA: President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law a measure strengthening the correctional system under the Bureau of Corrections and protecting the basic rights of inmates. He signed Republic Act No 10575 or the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013 into law on May 24, joining House Bill 6887 and Senate Bill 3335 passed in February. Reformation programmes for inmates serving sentences of more than three years covering their moral and spiritual welfare, education, livelihood knowledge, physical wellbeing and psychological health are among the provisions in the law.
No threats in Zamboanga
MANILA: The Philippines respects the travel advisory issued by other governments to their nationals here, but security agencies did not monitor specific threats, particularly in the southern region of Zamboanga, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday. She was reacting to a warning issued by the US to its citizens against travelling in Zamboanga due to credible threat of kidnapping-for-ransom plot against foreigners. “We recognise the need of any country to warn its citizens of precautionary measures for their safety,” she said. However, upon consultation with security and law enforcement officials, she said, there were no specific threats monitored in the area.
Airline tickets probe set
MANILA: Officials found selling government-issued airline tickets to distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will face action. Administrator Carmelita Dimzon of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) asked Migrante to give details for probe into the alleged irregularity. “If accusations are found to be true, administrative sanctions will be imposed. It’s unfair to make a general statement so they have to name names and I assure them of swift action.” Migrante Vice Chairman John Leonard Monterona said distressed OFWs at the Filipino Workers Resource Centre in Amman were asked to pay for tickets issued by government.
Three die in Taguig blast
MANILA: Three people were reportedly killed in an explosion at a posh condominium building in Taguig City yesterday. Radio reports said the three died after a blast at Two Serendra around 8.30pm. Some vehicles were damaged when a wall collapsed during the blast in the fifth floor of the building.
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