MANILA, Philippines – Although it may seem late, the Philippines takes a step closer to digitizing its criminal data system that aims to address a string of problems for the justice system.

The project proponent Department of Justice (DOJ) signed on Friday, January 10, Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with other agencies in the justice sector such as the attached agencies to the DOJ, like Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) and Bureau of Immigration (BI); the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agency the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP); and the technology provider, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The NJIS will be a single portal that will have all data of prisoners and complaints against people under the jurisdiction of Philippine prosecutors,

The prisoners' data portal is called the Single Carpeta System that aims to solve what has proven to be problematic record-keeping by the corrections and penology agencies, evident in the crisis spurred by the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) that saw the DOJ scrambling for information on its own prisoners.

"The thinking behind the NJIS preceded the GCTA but because of the GCTA problem, refinements were made in the NJIS," said Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete, the undersecretary-in-charge of the NJIS.

Perete said the infrastructure is "up and ready but the data digitization and uploading will have to be completed still."

"My understanding is it’s immediately operational, but its full benefits will depend on complete data digitization and uploading," said Perete.

The Supreme Court has its own digitization efforts hampered by bureacuratic and political problems, highlighted during the impeachment of former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno who hired the consultant for the Court's Enterprise Information Systems Plan (EISP). The consultant, Helen Macasaet, has been asked by the en banc to return the excess of her salaries after finding she was overpaid.

Another feature is data sharing for immigration purposes so those with pending charges and Hold Departure Orders cannot slip past immigration officers because the portal will be easily accessed.

Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, in attendance on Friday, said the NJIS "is the first of its kind in the country." 

The Supreme Court is not part of the agreements.

Single carpeta

By having a unified online portal, all concerned agencies will have access to prisoner data, which will ideally compel authorities to make sure that those who need to be freed are freed, and those who should not be freed are not freed.

Perete said it will address the persisting problem of jail congestion.

"That would be one of the very perceptible and immediate impact of the better management of information because once you see that there are people languishing in jail who should be freed already then we'd be able to move faster to get them out of prisons," said Perete.

There are also instances when a prisoner with multiple charges secures an acquittal or bail in one of the charges, and is freed even though the other charges should still hold the person in detention. The problem arises due to lack of easy access to information.

"The single carpeta system is your ICT solution to the perceived fragmented institutional framework of penology and corrections. The very idea of real time information exchange across agencies through the DICT technology is also groundbreaking," said Peralta. (READ: In fractured justice system, a simple solution: Let's talk)

Digitization of data

As agencies digitize their data, they would also have to ensure that the data is clean and consistent in the first place.

In the GCTA crisis, BuCor was slammed for its flawed records that led to the release of an erroneous list of 1,914 heinous crime convicts who were hunted to return. The DOJ is still reviewing all the returns and apprehensions that were made on the basis of the erroneous list.

"The conciliation of the records would have to be resorted to meaning reconciliation of the physical records and the mechanism would be all the agencies would have to discuss all these differences in the data to be able to come up with the accurate information data relating to that subject matter," said Perete.

"Our job does not entail simply collecting information, our job is to make sure correct information and data promptly reach those entailed with the duty of dispensing justice," said Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

"As we have learned, data in the hands of those with ulterior motives can be manipulated and altered to the detriment of the public good," Guevarra added, referring to the aborted release of rapist and murderer Antonio Sanchez, one of the supposed beneficiaries of the GCTA.

The lack of correct data led to the blunders of the Duterte government in the GCTA crisis with at least 5 GCTA returnees dying inside New Bilibid Prison in the last months. – Rappler.com

LONDON, United Kingdom – Prince Harry's wife Meghan has returned to Canada following the couple's bombshell announcement that they were quitting their frontline royal duties, their spokeswoman said on Friday, January 10.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent an extended Christmas break in Canada with their baby son Archie, before returning to break the news that has rocked the royal family.

"I can confirm reports that the duchess is in Canada," the couple's spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse, without providing further details.

The Daily Mail newspaper reported that the royals left 8-month-old Archie with his nanny in Canada when they flew to Britain earlier this week.

It said Meghan, a former US television actress, headed back to rejoin him on Thursday, January 9, and "she may stay there for the foreseeable future."

An unnamed source was quoted as saying by the domestic Press Association news agency the duchess had travelled to the UK "to attend some meetings" before returning to Canada

Senior royals were caught off guard by the announcement on Wednesday, January 8, that the couple wanted to "step back" from their roles.

Queen Elizabeth II reportedly held crisis calls on Thursday involving Harry, his brother Prince William and their father Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.

William, Harry and their wives have been viewed as the modern face of the royal family, hailed for bringing fresh energy into the institution.

But Harry and Meghan last year admitted to struggling with the spotlight following their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 and Archie's birth a year later.

The couple have lashed out at negative news coverage – Harry calling some of it racist – and taken several papers to court.

The prince also confirmed he was growing apart from his brother, who is second in line to the throne.

The couple said they wanted to forge "a progressive new role," split their time between Britain and North America and become financially independent.

A palace source on Thursday said the queen had instructed aides to work "at pace" with Meghan and Harry and the government "to find workable solutions."

Key questions include whether they will keep their royal titles and how much of their funding – mostly from Prince Charles – they will maintain.

The couple's decision follows a turbulent year for the wider royal family.

Prince Andrew announced he was retiring from public duties after a disastrous TV interview about his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, January 10, announced a new round of voter registration will begin on January 20.

The poll body said the new registration period will run until September 30, 2021, and will cover the following:

• Applications for registration
• Transfer of registration records
• Change or correction of entries in the registration record
• Reactivation of registration record
• Reinstatement of name in the list of voters

Registration should be done personally at the city or municipality's office of the election officer from 8 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Saturdays, including holidays.

Who can register? Filipinos who are at least 18 years of age on or before Election Day on May 9, 2022, who have been a resident in the Philippines for at least one year, and have been living in the place where they intend to vote for at least 6 months on or before Election Day can register.

Voters who registered for the previous midterm elections last May 13, 2019, do not need to apply to vote again.

Important dates: The Comelec urged the public to take note of the following dates when there will be no registration of new voters:

• April 9 and 10, 2020 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday)
• December 25, 2020 (Christmas Day)
• April 1 and 2, 2021 (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday)

Prospective voters in Palawan were also advised there will be no registration on May 9, 2022, to make way for the plebiscite to split the province into 3 separate provinces.

The Comelec said it resumed this round of voter registration in light of the postponement of the May 2020 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to December 2022. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Slamming General Nolasco Bathan's "thug-like attitude," the Philippine National Police (PNP) Press Corps said the Southern Metro Manila top cop violated the police's own code when he snatched the phone of GMA reporter Jun Veneracion during coverage of a religious procession.

In a statement on Friday, January 10, the PNP Press Corps said: "We understand the stress and pressure brought by the long preparation and the situation on the ground during the incident, but General Bathan's thug-like attitude in front of his men is plain and simple conduct unbecoming of a PNP member, of a police general."

The PNP Press Corps is an organization of 30 journalists covering the national police's top command in its headquarters, Camp Crame.

To recall, Bathan snatched Veneracion's phone as he was recording how cops shoved a devotee of the Black Nazarene to the ground on Thursday, January 9. Bathan was then heard cursing Veneracion and ordering a cop to delete the video, which was recovered later in the "recently deleted" folder of Veneracion's phone.

What offense? Under the PNP Disciplinary Rules of Procedure, "conduct unbecoming of a police officer" means:

An act or behavior of a police officer, irrespective of rank, done in his official or private capacity which, in dishonoring or disgracing himself as a police officer, seriously compromises his character and standing in the PNP in such a manner as to indicate vitiated or corrupt state of moral character which shows his unworthiness to remain in the police service.

The PNP Press Corps added that Bathan's actions constituted "an attack on press freedom" and an assault to the human rights of Veneracion.

What now? Bathan has since apologized to the GMA reporter, floating the alibi that he thought Veneracion was a "threat." He could not explain, however, why he chose to take his phone, and when he was asked to comment on why his voice was heard in the recording cursing and ordering a cop to delete the video, he repeatedly said, "I don't know."

The PNP, under the instruction of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, has commenced a probe, but stopped short of suspending Bathan, which would have ensured an impartial investigation. 

Under the PNP's rules, a "serious offense" to the "conduct unbecoming of a police officer" rule can merit dismissal. Lower punishments include suspension from the service and demotion. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines –  Makati police raided early Friday morning, January 10, a KTV bar at the penthouse of a hotel which was allegedly used as a front for prostitution.

 Major Gideon Ines Jr., Makati Police Investigation Unit chief, said his team arrested the two Taiwanese operators of the bar, as well as, 14 Chinese nationals who were customers. 

The police report said the arrested customers were all employees of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) company.

The raiding team also rescued 13 Filipinas "employed" by the KTV bar during the 3:45 am operation. 

Ines said the rescued women told police that they were being trafficked to foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals.

Gines identified the operators of the KTV bar as Shih Fang Chen, 65, and Po Yi Chen, 55. The pair rented the penthouse of a 29-storey hotel along Burgos St,  Barangay Poblacion.

The KTV bar operators were just renting at the hotel, Ines said. “They were paying P400, 000 a month to the owner of the hotel,” Gines added.

The police report said the hotel owner denied he was involved in the operation of the prostitution den.  

"Nakuha rin namin tablet na ginagamit nila para mambugaw," he said, referring to the  online application used to by the prostitution ring.

Makati Police also recovered in the possession of some of the women packs of condoms. "May mga condom kaming nakuha. May mga taga-probinsya sa mga babae na kinakalakal nila," Gines said.

 (We confiscated packs of condoms from the women. Some of the girls "offered" by the suspects online came from the provinces.)

The rescued women were turned over to City Social Welfare and Development Department. The suspects, which include the POGO workers were hauled to the Makati police headquarters. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Another Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was issued against the implementation of the revised guidelines of the motorcycle taxi pilot run, specifically the cap on bikers per provider.

On Thursday, January 9, a Quezon City regional trial court issued a 20-day TRO against the implementation of the guidelines, upon posting a bond of P1 million. 

The latest TRO comes after a 72-hour TRO was issued against the guidelines by a Mandaluyong regional trial court on Monday, January 6.

In her decision, Quezon City Judge Catherine Manodon said the cap on motorcycle taxi bikers per provider – 10,000 for Metro Manila, and 3,000 for Metro Cebu – would cause "irreparable injury" if implemented. 

If the cap is imposed, each pilot run participant – Angkas, Joyride, and Move It – would then have a fleet of up to 13,000 bikers.

However, Angkas has been operating for over 6 months and had already acquired a fleet of 27,000 bikers. Thus, Angkas protested the cap, saying 17,000 of its bikers would be at risk of losing their jobs.

The technical working group (TWG) tasked to oversee the motorcycle taxi pilot run called Angkas "two-faced" for saying that it would cooperate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) while going to court and "challenging the government."

The deadline for each provider to meet the cap is on January 17. LTFRB board member and TWG chair Antonio Gardiola Jr said that any unfilled slots for each provider would be redistributed to Angkas, which had already met the 10,000-biker cap for Metro Manila.

The injunction hearing will be held on January 16. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, January 10, urged Filipinos in Lebanon to remain vigilant of security threats as tension lingers in the Middle East following the killing of Iran commander Major General Qasem Soleimani.

The DFA issued this order as it raised Alert Level 2 in the country, "in view of the current situation in Lebanon and recent developments in the region."

The DFA said Alert Level 2 is issued "if there are real threats to the life, security, and property of Filipinos arising from internal disturbance, instability, or external threat."

The agency said overseas Filipino workers who has existing employment contracts and were registered under the Balik Manggagawa Program may still return to Lebanon.

Filipinos in Lebanon were not covered by President Rodrigo Duterte's mandatory evacuation order, which applied to overseas workers in Iraq – the ground zero of the US-Iran tensions after Soleimani's killing.

In the meantime, the DFA advised Filipinos in Lebanon to remain alert and stay in close coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Beirut. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Participants in the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Thursday, January 9, left a trail of trash. Truckloads of it. 

The Manila city government on Friday, January 10, reported that 68 truckloads – or a total of 330 tons – of garbage were collected along the procession route, from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church. 

According to the Manila Public Information Office, the number was relatively lower compared to the 2019 procession, where 99 truckloads or 387.4 tons were collected. 

‘Trash-lacion’

On the day of the feast, the EcoWaste Coalition already lamented the garbage left in Luneta after the image of the Black Nazarene left Quirino Grandstand for Traslacion Thursday morning. (READ: ‘Trash-lacion’: EcoWaste blasts Black Nazarene devotees for littering at Luneta)

According to the group, devotees left their trash despite signages warning against littering at the park.

“The repeated call by various sectors for an environmentally-responsible expression of piety and devotion again fell on deaf ears,” the group said.

The EcoWaste coalition hopes that in the years to come devotees will listen to calls for ecological conversion.

An estimated 3.3 million Catholic devotees joined the 2020 procession, which lasted for 16 hours – the fastest since 2016. (READ: Traslacion 2020 ends in 16 hours) – Rappler.com

EDEN, Australia – Gale-force winds in Australia merged two enormous fires into a megablaze spanning an area 4 times the size of Greater London on Friday, January 10, while tens of thousands rallied to again demand action on climate change.

"The conditions are difficult today," said Shane Fitzsimmons, rural fire service commissioner for New South Wales state, after days of relative calm.

"It's the hot, dry winds that will prove once again to be the real challenge."

Temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of New South Wales and neighboring Victoria, where attention was focused on the two fires that linked to form yet another monster blaze of more than 600,000 hectares.

Fire service spokesman Anthony Bradstreet told Agence France-Presse (AFP) it is believed the blaze was sparked by dry lightning.

A "state of disaster" was extended 48 hours ahead of Friday's forecast of scorching temperatures, and evacuation orders were issued for areas around the New South Wales-Victoria border.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there were more than 130 fires burning in the state, with just over 50 not yet under control.

On Kangaroo Island off South Australia, the largest town was cut off as firefighters battled dangerous infernos, forcing some residents to flee to the local jetty.

The catastrophic bushfires have killed at least 26 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and scorched some ten million hectares (100,000 square kilometers) – an area larger than South Korea or Portugal.

University of Sydney scientists estimate one billion mammals, birds and reptiles have been killed in the fires.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated losses from the fires have so far totalled Aus$939 (US$645) million.

The severe conditions have been fuelled by a prolonged drought and worsened by climate change, with experts warning that such massive blazes were becoming more frequent and intense.

Australia experienced its driest and hottest year on record in 2019, with its highest average maximum temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius recorded in mid-December.

'Scott, take it personally'

In Sydney and Melbourne, thousands of people again took to the streets to demand Australia's conservative government do more to tackle global warming and reduce coal exports.

"Change the politics not the climate," read one sign, reflecting an increasingly charged argument over the cause of the fires.

Researchers say the bushfire emergency has sparked an online disinformation campaign "unprecedented" in the country's history, with bots deployed to shift blame for the blazes away from climate change.

One hashtag in particular, #arsonemergency, has gained traction rapidly and conservative-leaning newspapers, websites and politicians across the globe have promoted the theory that arson is largely to blame, rather than climate change, drought or record high temperatures.

Timothy Graham, a digital media expert at the Queensland University of Technology, told AFP his research showed half of the Twitter users deploying the hashtag displayed bot- and troll-like behavior.

"Our findings show a concerted effort aimed to misinform the public about the cause of the bushfires," Graham said.

"The campaign is nothing on the scale of what we have been seeing in other countries, such as the 2016 US election, but this amount of disinformation in Australia is unprecedented."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday tried to parry journalists' questions about whether climate change would make horrific bushfire seasons the norm.

"Look, we have covered that on a number of occasions now," Morrison said testily, adding that reviews will take place once the bushfire season is over.

Towamba volunteer firefighter Tony Larkings, 65, said battling the fires in recent weeks had been a "hot, dirty and dangerous" task.

"It's been horrendous. It's never been like this before," he told AFP.

He was deeply critical of Morrison's response to the bushfires, calling it mere "lip service" and slamming the leader's response to public criticism.

"His great statement was 'I don't take this personally'," Larkings said.

"Scott, take it personally." – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday, January 10, revealed its assistance plans for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who will be repatriated from the Middle East following rising tension in the region.

On January 3, top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike at Baghdad's international airport, causing tensions to flare in the Middle East.

The Philippine government on Wednesday, January 8, ordered the evacuation of more than 1,000 Filipino workers in Iraq due to security threats.  

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also raised Alert Level 4 in Iraq. Alert Level 4 is issued when there is "large-scale internal conflict or full-blown external attack." (READ: DFA urges Filipinos to cancel all travel to Iraq after U.S. killing of top Iran general)

The DSWD on Friday said it will set up repatriation desks in international airports around the country where OFWs and their families will be served upon their arrival.

The DSWD will also deploy social workers who will be on duty 7 days a week to assist the repatriates. They will also provide the repatriates with financial assistance.

The repatriated OFWs will be referred to the DSWD's regional offices where they may be provided additional interventions based on the assessment of the receiving social workers.

Repatriates may also be given livelihood assistance should they need it.

Aside from the local airport and field office assistance, the DSWD also deployed social welfare attachés (SWAtts) to Middle Eastern countries. The SWAtts are working with their respective Philippine embassies to prepare and provide social welfare services to affected OFWs who are still in the region.

What Filipinos in Iraq can do: The DFA said Filipinos in Iraq can contact the Philippine embassy at (+964) 781-606-6822, (+964) 751-616-7838, and (+964) 751-876-4665. It can also be reached via email at baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph, or through its Facebook page, Philippine Embassy in Iraq. 

The Department of Budget and Management gave its assurance that the government has enough funds to bring OFWs home, with at least P1.82 billion ready for repatriation efforts. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, January 10, took aim at property developer DM Consunji, saying it should focus on its "problem" of supposedly poorly-built buildings rather than commenting on the government's latest spat with water concessionaires.

"Noong isang araw nagsalita about concession sa water. Sabi ko ikaw – may problema ka. Unahin mo 'yung problema mo sa tao. Kung builder ka, Consunji ka man o hindi, 'pag naasar ako sa iyo, I will not grant you any permit to dig," Duterte said.

(The other day they spoke about water concessionaires. I said you – you have a problem. Focus on your problem with people. If you're a builder, Consunji or not, if I'm irked by you, I will not grant you any permit to dig.)

Duterte made the remarks during a speech at the ceremonial distribution of agricultural assistance to farmers in Pigcawayan, Cotabato. In his speech, Duterte claimed construction magnate DM Consunji Incorporated's (DMCI) buildings, unlike others in Davao City, had "huge cracks."

"Ang may problema dito sa Pilipinas ngayon 'yung mga mayaman. Lahat ng condo niya – apat – 'yung isa bumagsak. Sa karaming building sa Davao, kanya lang ang maraming crack. Huge cracks, hindi 'yung hairline," he said. 

(Those who have problems now in the Philippines are the rich. All their condos – [they have] 4 – one collapsed. Of all the buildings in Davao, only [Consunji's] had a lot of cracks. Huge cracks, not just hairline.)

Duterte was referring to the DMCI-owned condominium Ecoland 4000, which saw its Himeji building collapse following a magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Davao City last October 2019.

What comment? DMCI Holdings Inc chairman and Maynilad vice chair Isidro Consunji had earlier spoke out about Duterte's latest rant against Maynilad and Manila Water. The President doubled down on threats of a government takeover if the firms do not accept new contracts drafted on his terms.

Duterte earlier amped up his attacks against the water concessionaires, saying the firms' contracts with government drafted in 1997 supposedly has "onerous provisions."

"I don't know where the President is coming from because we participated in the bid.... It was government who drafted the contract... It (contract) was passed through NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority), passed through DOJ (Department of Justice)," Consunji is quoted as saying in a BusinessWorld report.

Duterte's beef with Manila Water and Maynilad started with the water shortage in March 2019, which prompted him to order a review of the firms' agreements with the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.

Duterte has since offered the firms new deals, though the companies have yet to respond to it. Experts earlier warned Duterte's actions could spook business and investors looking to enter into government agreements, emphasizing that the government's respect for the validity of contracts it enters into is an important factor in building investor confidence. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas made clarifications on Friday, January 10, regarding its new in-app "weight safety check" feature, saying a passenger's weight is not factored into bookings – at least not yet.

In a recent update of the app, Angkas asks users to provide their weight range, saying government guidelines require the provider to ensure that small bikers with small bikes do not get paired with passengers they may not be able to ferry.

The guidelines for the motorcycle taxi pilot run stipulate that participating riders must observe maximum payload of the motorcycle.

Why it matters: If a passenger's weight will significantly lessen the number of motorcycle taxis available to ferry them, motorcycle taxi firms will have to ensure that there are enough riders to serve passengers of any weight.

However, the technical working group tasked to oversee the motorcycle taxi pilot run also imposed a 10,000-biker cap for each provider for Metro Manila, and 3,000 for Metro Cebu.

In a statement, Angkas head of operations David Medrana said that the provision on weight was already referenced in passenger safety cards. In particular, the cards read: "Heavy passengers may be denied. We don't judge, [but] safety above all else."

"It's all about safety," Medrana said, adding that the weight check was based on discussions with the Department of Transportation when the initial motorcycle taxi pilot run started in June 2019.

Medrana then explained that Angkas is still in the data collection phase to "study implementation for a safer ride for all."

"Eventually, our goal is to ensure all bookings match you with the most appropriate bike and biker. For now, this should not impact anything from before, and rest assured we are treating this sensitive data with the utmost care," Medrana said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A Quezon City regional trial court denied the petition of motorcycle ride-hailing firm Angkas that sought to prevent new players JoyRide and Move It from participating in the motorcycle taxi pilot run.

Out of 7 applicants, the two providers were granted entry into the motorcycle taxi pilot run, which has been extended to March 2020.

In her decision, Quezon City Judge Catherine Manodon pointed out that the two providers have already started operating.

Citing the case of Primo co vs. The Philippine Canine Club, Manodon said, "When the acts sought to be prevented by injunction or prohibition have already been performed or completed prior to the filing of the injunction suit, nothing more can be enjoined or restrained."

The technical working group (TWG) tasked to oversee the motorcycle taxi pilot run earlier addressed this petition, saying Angkas is not ready to "release its monopolistic hold" on the motorcycle taxi industry.

"Gusto nila sila lang. Hindi ba pagkontra din ito sa dati nilang statement na wala silang problema sa kompetisyon? Ano 'yon, kasinungalingan lang?" said Department of Transportation communications director and TWG member Goddes Libiran.

(They want a monopoly. Doesn't this come in conflict with their earlier statement that they don't have a problem with competition? Was that just a lie?)

In the same decision, Manodon issued a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order against the implementation of the revised guidelines of the pilot run, specifically the cap on bikers per provider. – Rappler.com

KIEV, Ukraine – US officials have given Kiev "important" information about the crash of a Ukrainian airliner in Iran, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, January 10, after phone talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

All 176 people on board died when a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 went down near Tehran on Wednesday, January 8, shortly after Iran launched missiles at US forces in Iraq in response to the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone strike in Baghdad.

American, British and Canadian officials say intelligence sources indicate that Iran shot down the plane, perhaps unintentionally, but this has been denied by Tehran.

Zelensky said on Facebook that the possibility the plane had been shot down by a missile was not ruled out "but it has not yet been confirmed."

He asked for Ukraine to be given all the information needed to conduct a thorough investigation.

"Our goal is to establish the undeniable truth," he said. "The value of human life is above all political motives."

In a phone call with Pompeo, he thanked Washington for its support.

"We are grateful for the valuable support of the United States in investigating the causes of the crash," Zelensky told Pompeo, according to a statement released by his office.

He said he met chargée d'affaires Kristina Kvien and received important information which could help in the investigation."

Zelensky and Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko also met with other US officials including Kvien, the acting US ambassador to Ukraine.

Zelensky's office also said the Ukrainian leader and Pompeo discussed ways to normalize the situation in the Middle East.

Pompeo expressed his "deepest condolences for the lives lost" in the crash.

"We stand with #Ukraine and are ready to offer our support and assistance in the ongoing investigation," he said on Twitter.

Speaking on Fox News on Thursday, January 9, Pompeo had urged Iran to cooperate in the probe.

"I hope that the Iranians will cooperate with it completely," he said.

"We've got to get to the bottom of it, and it's important that we get to the bottom of it quickly."

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's national security and defense council, said Thursday that investigators were pursuing several leads, including a strike with a surface-to-air missile such as a Russian-made Tor, a collision with a drone, engine failure or a terror attack.

Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee, which investigates aircraft incidents, said Friday it was ready to assist in the probe but that Iran had not asked Moscow for help.

Zelensky's office said Pompeo, who was previously expected in Kiev on January 3, will travel to the ex-Soviet country at the end of the month. – Rappler.com

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The City of Pines won't be closed to tourists as it undergoes environmental rehabilitation, Cabinet officials assured Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong in a meeting on Friday morning, January 10.

The mayor met with Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, and Environment Assistant Secretary Jesus Enrico Moises Salazar at the Mansion House, where they discussed how to strike a balance between tourism and sustainable development in the city.

Salazar acknowledged that it would be impossible to close Baguio – as the national government did to Boracay island in Aklan in 2019 – since Baguio is the gateway to the Cordilleras.

He reiterated the commitment of the Deparment of Environement and Natural Resources (DENR) to improving the forest cover of Baguio. This includes the plan to stop cutting trees, particularly pine trees, for at least a year. (READ: DENR chief Cimatu fears Baguio 'may lose pine trees')

Salazar said that DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu (who was sent by President Rodrigo Duterte to help repatriate overseas Filipino workers from Iraq) ordered the inventory of the matured pine trees that remained in the city and needed to be protected. The inventory showed only 418,000 matured pine trees in the city, and the number should be increased.

Magalong said the city would be establishing tree farms and nurseries for this project. He also said they would draw up the regreening master plan from 2020 to 2030. (READ: Magalong wants 'aggressive' regreening of Baguio) 

Puyat said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has set aside P480 million for the rehabilitation of the Burnham Park, which is seen as the buffer zone for the central district.

A memorandum of agreement for the project was signed by Magalong and TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Pocholo Paragas and witnessed by secretaries Puyat and Año. (READ: Magalong prioritizes preservation of Baguio 'heirlooms') 

Also for the environment, Magalong cited the city sewerage system, solid waste management, air quality, and the city cemetery expansion as other main areas of concern.

Assistant City Planning and Development Coordinator Antonette Anaban presented the city land use situation and updates, and highlighted as major problems the poor air quality, pollution of rivers, traffic congestion, diminishing forest cover, and informal settlers and illegal structures within the hazard and protected areas.

The following projects are lined up:

• Rehabilitation of the existing sewerage treatment plant and construction of additional plants and upgrading of the sewer line system
• Conversion of the Irisan dumpsite into an eco-park
• Establishment of more materials recovery facilities in the barangays
• Waste-to-energy technology
• Drafting of the regreening master plan for 2020-2030
• Establishment of tree farms and nurseries
• Improvement and expansion of the city cemetery

As anyone who climbed up to Baguio during the holidays would attest, traffic is also a major headache. Among the solutions presented at Mansion House were:

• Setting up of integrated transport terminals
• Construction of parking building projects
• Improvement and construction of sidewalks
• Pursuit of the public utility vehicle modernization program
• Alternative transport systems, like a cable car and monorail system.
• Automated guideway transit and rehabilitation of the Loakan Airport

Magalong also highlighted his pet project, the smart city system, which addresses the security and safety, traffic management, no-contact apprehensions, smart lighting, environment monitoring, and calamity and disaster monitoring and response.

To alleviate the water problem of the mountain city, Baguio is pursuing the bulk water project, water retention, and water clarification facilities.

For tourism, other than the development of the Burnham Park, is the improvement of Mines View Park, Arboretum, Bayan Park, Botanical Garden, Government Service Insurance System Tree Park, Eco-Park and Wright Park, as well as the development of the Baguio City Market and the improvement of its heritage sites.

Other activities in the pipeline are the passage of legislative measures imposing environmental, congestion, traffic impact and other fees, strict enforcement of environmental laws, increase of fines for traffic violators, revision of designs of road islands, removal of waiting sheds from intersections, requiring commercial buildings to construct rain harvesting facilities and their own sewerage treatment plants for those with daily discharge of 12 cubic meters or more. – Rappler.com 

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Police in Talisay City arrested an 18-year-old high school student after the classmate he punched on Thursday, January 9, died.  

The parents of the victim, Nash Empaces of Sitio Cabugnaan, Barangay San Isidro, said they would file a homicide complaint against the suspect, Cigie Cristuta Galicia, 18, of Sitio Juana, Barangay Biasong, on Monday, January 13.  

Police Master Sergeant Reynaldo Tañica of Talisay City police office said Empaces and Galicia were classmates who would call each other names. Empaces would tease Galicia as “gay,” while Galicia would call Empaces “bald.”

The two reportedly agreed through text exchanges that they would settle the score at the basketball court of Deca Homes in Barangay Dumlog on Thursday.  

When Empaces arrived at the court and asked where the basketball was, Galicia responded by punching Empaces on the nape and rib area.  

Tañica said Empaces fell to the ground and complained of difficulty breathing. Instead of giving the first aid or bringing the victim to the hospital, the barangay tanods called the victim’s parents, who then brought their son to the Talisay City District Hospital. 

Empaces was declared dead on arrival.

Tañica said Galicia immediately confessed to the crime, but didn’t exhibit remorse. – Rappler.com 

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu province estimates that it will earn as much as P12 billion in 2020, primarily from real property taxes, quarry operations, and revenues from district and provincial hospitals and the Cebu South Bus Terminal. 

The amount is about 3 times higher than the provincial government’s projected income in 2019. 

Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre said real property tax collection is expected to increase after the market value of provincial properties were reappraised.  

The provincial board approved last December the proposed Schedule of Market Values (SMV), based on the provincial assessor’s 2019 general revision of real property assessments and classification. 

From quarry operations, Cebu is expecting to earn P200 million. It will also earn from the 16 district and provincial hospitals. – Rappler.com 

WASHINGTON, DC, USA – The United States piled new sanctions on Iran's already crippled economy on Friday, January 10, and defended the killing of a top Iranian leader, saying he had been planning an "imminent" attack on US embassies.

The sanctions, announced at the White House, marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general Qasem Soleimani, by some measures the second most influential person in Iran. (READ: U.S. House votes to curb Trump war power on Iran)

In response, Iran fired volleys of ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops, without causing casualties.

While President Donald Trump said he would not respond further militarily, Washington is intent on maintaining pressure.

The sanctions mean "we will cut off billions of dollars of support to the Iranian regime," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters at the White House.

The measures targeting Iran's steel industry and eight state officials came on top of massive sanctions already aimed at bringing the country's economy to its knees.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that sanctions so far "have deprived the regime of billions in revenue."

"Oil revenues (are) down by 80% and Iran cannot access roughly 90% of its foreign policy reserves," he said. "As long as Iran's outlaw ways continue we will continue to impose sanctions."

Among the senior Iranian officials targeted in the new measures were Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Iranian armed forces deputy chief of staff and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij militia, a volunteer force loyal to the regime.

Seventeen Iranian metals producers and mining companies were listed.

The sanctions also included a network of three entities that are based in China and the Seychelles as well as a vessel "involved in the purchase, sale, and transfer of Iranian metals products," the Treasury said in a statement.

'Imminent' threat questioned

Critics are questioning why Trump – who has been impeached and faces a Senate trial in the coming days – ordered Soleimani's killing last week.

The administration has pushed back against accusations that Trump acted recklessly, insisting that longtime US foe Soleimani was on the brink of launching an attack and had to be stopped.

On Thursday, Trump said that Soleimani had been planning to blow up the US embassy in Baghdad. However, officials did not back up that scenario.

On Friday, Trump shifted, saying "probably it was going to be the embassy in Baghdad."

"I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies," Trump added in an excerpt of an interview due to air later on Fox News. 

Earlier, Pompeo said the US had "specific information" on "imminent" attacks "against American facilities, including American embassies, military bases."

But "we don't know exactly which day it would've been executed," he said.

The United States has been at loggerheads with Iran, a fierce regional rival of US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia, for decades.

Soon after Trump came into office he withdrew from an international accord meant to give Iran the ability to develop civilian nuclear power while under supervision. Trump claimed that Tehran was cheating and trying to obtain a nuclear weapon.

At a reelection campaign rally in Ohio on Thursday, Trump referred to Soleimani as "the world's top terrorist."

"He was a bloodthirsty terror and he's no longer a terror. He's dead." – Rappler.com

TAIPEI, Taiwan (3rd UPDATE) – Taiwanese voters headed to the polls on Saturday, January 11, for a closely watched presidential and parliamentary election in which the island's fraught relationship with China is taking centre stage.

Long queues formed outside election stations before polls opened across the island at 8 am (0000 GMT) with initial results expected late in the evening.

The vote will reverberate far beyond Taiwan's borders, with the two main candidates laying out very different visions for its future -- in particular how close the self-ruled island should tack to its giant neighbour.

Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to retake the island one day, by force if necessary.

But China is also Taiwan's largest trade partner, leaving the island in a precariously dependent relationship.

President Tsai Ing-wen, who is seeking a second four-year term, has pitched herself as a defender of Taiwan's liberal values against the increasingly authoritarian shadow cast by Beijing under President Xi Jinping.

"We hope our citizens can come out to vote to exercise their rights and make Taiwan's democracy stronger," Tsai told reporters after casting her vote in the capital Taipei.

Her main competitor Han Kuo-yu, 62, favours much warmer ties with China – saying it would boost Taiwan's fortunes – and accuses the current administration of needlessly antagonizing Beijing.

He declined to speak to the media after voting in the southern city of Kaohsiung but has cast the election as a choice between "peace or crisis" with China, adopting the slogan "Taiwan safe, people rich".

Friend or foe?

The outcome looks set to infuriate Beijing, which has made no secret of wanting to see Tsai turfed out.

Taiwan bans the publishing of polls within 10 days of elections, but the 63-year-old former law professor has led comfortably throughout the campaign.

Her party currently has a parliamentary majority, which analysts expect it to retain.

"We need a president who can defend freedom and democracy," Vicky Hsiao, a 37-year-old housewife, told AFP, after voting in Taipei for Tsai.

"Taiwan is an independent country that doesn't belong to anyone," she added.

Others said they wanted a change.  

"I voted for Han because we already gave (Tsai's) government four years and it has done badly on the economy and cross-strait issues," a 60-year-old vegetable vendor, who gave his surname Kuo, told AFP.

The results of Saturday's vote will be closely watched by regional powers and in Washington, especially given the parlous state of US-China relations.

Taiwan has long been a potential flashpoint between Beijing and Washington, which remains the island's main military ally.

Pressure backfires

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party leans towards independence, and Tsai rejects Beijing's view that Taiwan is part of "one China".

In the four years since Tsai won a landslide victory, Beijing has tightened the screw, severing official communications with her administration while ramping up economic and military pressure.

It also poached seven of Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies, hopeful that its pressure would convince voters to punish Tsai at the ballot box.

But that campaign appears to have backfired, especially in the last year after Xi gave a particularly blunt speech stating Taiwan's absorption into the mainland was "inevitable".

Taiwanese voters have been increasingly rattled by China's hardline response to pro-democracy protests in neighbouring Hong Kong and the mass internment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Analysts say Tsai's ability to seize on the protests in Hong Kong, along with Taiwan's largely successful economic navigation of the US-China trade war, has boosted her fortunes.

Last year, her party also pushed ahead with legalising gay marriage -- a first for Asia. 

While the move infuriated conservatives and many older Taiwanese, it reinvigorated Tsai's youth base.

Her rival Han, from the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), has struggled on the campaign trail.

A plain-speaking populist, he stormed onto the political scene in 2018 when he won the mayoralty of the usually staunch DPP city of Kaohsiung, and then saw off party bigwigs to win the KMT primary.

But his political momentum slowed once he became the opposition candidate as he fought to shake off accusations he lacked experience and was too cosy with China.

Still, the KMT is not going down without a fight and has campaigned to the end – portraying Tsai as a dangerous leader pushing Taiwan towards conflict with Beijing and pressing ahead with divisive social change. – Rappler.com

HOUSTON, USA – Texas became the first US state on Friday, January 10, to declare it will not resettle refugees, responding to President Donald Trump's sustained crackdown on all immigration.

Governor Greg Abbott told the State Department that Texas has to dedicate its resources "to those who are already here, including refugees, migrants and the homeless – indeed, all Texans."

"Texas has carried more than its share in assisting the refugee resettlement process and appreciates that other states are vailable to help with these efforts," Abbott said in a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and published in US media.

The second-largest US state by population, Texas has resettled hundreds of thousands of refugees since the 1980s.

But the Trump administration has cracked down severely on accepting foreigners fleeing disasters and oppression, as well as other migrants and asylum-seekers, and Abbott has supported its tough policies. (READ: Migrant slits own throat on U.S.-Mexico border)

In September the State Department set a ceiling of accepting 18,000 refugees for the fiscal year that began on October 1, down from 30,000 the previous year and the lowest level in over three decades.

In fiscal 2016, the final year of the previous administration of President Barack Obama, the country accepted 85,000 refugees.

The same month Trump told states and localities they had to explicitly consent to resettling refugees, whom the administration claims frequently become a burden on social services. 

Ahead of a January 21 deadline to declare themselves, a State Department list showed Friday that 38 of the 50 states had announced they were open to resettling refugees.

According to World Relief, an organization which assists in refugee resettlement, 4 other states were also committed to resettlement, and more than 90 cities and counties had also declared themselves open.

Several refugee resettlement groups have sued to contest Trump's decision to give states and localities the ability to bar refugees, saying it violates the US Refugee Act of 1980.

Texas Democrats scolded Abbott for his decision.

Abbott "has completely submitted to bigotry and xenophobia," said Congressman Joaquin Castro.

"You're just doing Trump's racist and anti-immigrant bidding. I want all immigrants seeking refuge in America to know: Gov. Abbott doesn't speak for all Texans. You're welcome here" tweeted Representative Sylvia Garcia. – Rappler.com