MANILA: The world’s most powerful typhoon this year gained strength yesterday as it swirled towards the Philippines, forcing mass evacuations across a vast swathe of the disaster-weary nation. Authorities warned more than 12m people were at risk from Typhoon Haiyan, which was generating wind gusts exceeding 330km an hour and set to hit this morning.
“This is a very dangerous typhoon, local officials know where the vulnerable areas are and have given instructions on evacuations,” state weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar said.
“There are not too many mountains on its path to deflect the force of impact, making it more dangerous.”
Haiyan was expected to make landfall on Samar Island, about 600km southeast of Manila, then cut across the central and southern Philippines before exiting into the South China Sea tomorrow.
Escullar said Haiyan, which was advancing with a giant, 600km front, was expected to hit areas still recovering from a devastating 2011 storm and a 7.1-magnitude quake last month. They include the central island of Bohol, the epicentre of the earthquake that killed 222 people, where at least 5,000 survivors are still living in tents.
Court junks Arroyo’s plea
MANILA: The Sandiganbayan yesterday denied a petition for bail of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the P365.9m plunder case filed against her for the misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds from 2008 to 2010.
The anti-graft court rejected Arroyo’s request for temporary liberty, citing evidence of alleged conspiracy between her and former PCSO general manager Rosario Uriarte, a co-accused in the plunder case who has yet to be arrested. The charges against Arroyo stemmed from her approval of repeated requests for additional PCSO confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) during the last three years of her administration.
The Sandiganbayan said there is strong evidence of conspiracy as the former president approved the requests despite the absence of details on the purpose of the additional funds.
“The purposes stated in Uriarte’s letter-requests were basically the same for three years,” the ruling said, noting the oft-repeated reasons of unwarranted or unofficial use of ambulances, lotto and sweepstakes scams, and illegal gambling problems.
“Arroyo did not question Uriarte’s repetitive and simplistic bases for the requests, as she approved it unconditionally,” the Sandiganbayan said.
Agencies
