Zambales mayor hurt, 2 killed in bus collision

The wreckage of the Mitsubishi Estrada pickup that carried Mayor Elvis Soria of San Marcelino, Zambales. The pickup collided head-on with a Daewoo passenger bus that traversed the opposite lane along the national highway in Barangay Pamatawan in Subic town at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. Soria survived the accident but two of his companions died on the spot. ALLAN MACATUNO/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

SUBIC, Zambales–The mayor of San Marcelino town in Zambales province was seriously injured while two others were killed when their vehicle was struck by a bus here on Wednesday, police said. The black Mitsubishi Estrada pick-up truck that carried Mayor Elvis Soria, 52, collided head-on with an approaching Daewoo passenger bus along the national highway in Barangay (village) Pamatawan here 2 a.m., said PO3 Felix Laron, investigator in Subic police station.

The south-bound bus driven by Noly Ebidag Jr., 36, crossed into the opposite lane, and was the reason for the collision, Laron said. Arlan Pascasio, the truck driver, and another passenger, Manuel Rodriguez, were killed on the spot. Soria and his security aide, Ernesto Cudia, survived. According to Soria’s relatives, the mayor was admitted to the intensive care unit of Baypointe Hospital and Medical Center in Subic Bay Freeport but is already in stable condition.

Police arrested the bus driver who admitted he was drunk. Ebidag is now facing charges of multiple homicide, serious physical injuries and damage to property. CDG

‘Floating shabu lab’ intercepted in Subic waters

SUBIC, Zambales – Authorities on Monday (July 11) night intercepted a foreign vessel suspected of being used to manufacture and ship shabu (methamphetamine hydrocloride) into the country. Agents from the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP), who led the operation, boarded the vessel off the coastline of this town at about 9 p.m. to search for shabu. Four Chinese nationals from Hong Kong on board the ship and suspected of being involved in drug smuggling were arrested. Police found a plastic bag containing suspected shabu weighing about 500 grams from one of the Chinese.

Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chief of Philippine National Police, arrived here at around midnight to check on the operation.

 “We received an intelligence report that this vessel is being used to transport shabu coming from overseas,” Dela Rosa told reporters. He said the ship could have also been used as a laboratory to produce shabu. Police found a plastic bag containing suspected shabu weighing about 500 grams from one of the Chinese who were arrested in a foreign vessel that was suspected of being used to produce and transport shabu into the country.

According to Dela Rosa, they will check if the seized vessel is connected to the recovered 180 kilograms of suspected shabu in Claveria town in Cagayan province.

Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7 July 11, 2016

Now on its 7th season, Pinoy Big Brother Lucky Season 7 will be full of bigger challenges and even bigger prizes! Sa muling pagbubukas ng Bahay ni Kuya, anong supresa ang naghihintay para sa mga bagong housemates? Don’t miss the drama, excitement and memorable moments that PBB Lucky Season 7 has to offer! Hosted by Toni Gonzaga‐Soriano, Mariel Rodriguez‐Padilla, Bianca Gonzales‐Intal and Robi Domingo. Available in Europe (except the UK), the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific (except Philippines).

Two firms lose license to mine in Zambales

Environment Sec. Gina Lopez warns there could be more suspensions in the future for mining companies that would violate the law.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The government has suspended the licenses of two mining companies after finding several violations in their Zambales operations. Gina Lopez, the new Environment Secretary and a well-known anti mining advocate, said there could be more such suspensions in the future.

Operations of BenguetCorp Nickel Mines, Inc. and Zambales Diversified Metals Corp., were suspended in Sta. Cruz, Zambales on Friday. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said the joint suspension order was needed to "ensure that the environment, particularly the communities, farmlands and water bodies, are not in any way compromised as a result of the mining operations."
Based on its audit, the MGB said the miners had to rehabilitate the farms, fish ponds and bodies of water contaminated by the mine. Their owners must be compensated for the damage.

BenguetCorp Nickel Mines and Zambales Diversified Metals must also address issues with their tree-cutting and earth-balling operations. Moreover, their mined-out areas need to be rehabilitated and closed properly. They must set aside funds with the government as an assurance they will carry out the decommissioning of the mines as planned.

Lastly, BenguetCorp Nickel Mines and Zambales Diversified Metals were accused of leaving roads damaged and unfinished. Their mine haul road must be completed, and all other roads around their hauling operations must be fully repaired, the MGB said. The suspension order was based on a Writ of Kalakasan issued by the Supreme Court, as well as an Executive Order issued by the provincial
government of Zambales. They were prompted by repeated complaints of environmental degradation from various groups.

The parent firm of BenguetCorp Nickel Mines is listed on the stock exchange. Benguet Corp.'s share prices dove 5.47% onFriday, after the suspension was announced. The audit on BenguetCorp Nickel Mines and Zambales Diversified Metals began long before Lopez was appointed the new Environment Secretary. But the suspensions come at a time when the industry is feeling jittery
amid sweeping, anti-mining statements Lopez has made immediately upon assuming her post.

Lopez told CNN Philippines there would be more audits coming. She has signed an order to review all operating and suspended mines this month. "The audit is in line with [President Rodrigo Duterte's] pronouncement to review mining concessions, and in the interest of the common good, and to address the concerns of impoverished communities," she said in a text message on Friday. She assured, \] though, that the audits will be "done under the rule of law," following due process.

Mining shares fell another 1.7% on Friday.

Cebu-born animator co-directs 'Ice Age: Collision Course'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippines once again swells with pride as a Cebu-born animator co-directs the latest installment of one of the most popular animated movie franchises today, Ice Age.
Galen Tan Chu co-directed with Mike Thurmeier Ice Age: Collision Course, the fifth installment of the Ice Age series. He also worked in the animation department of several movies like Horton Hears a Who! and Rio.
“It’s a really phenomenal experience,” Chu said in an interview with CNN Philippines last Friday. “You get to be involved in the process – writing, the creation of the animation, the story of the movie. It’s really great to be able to have that much creative input in the process.”
The animator said that the latest installment is the biggest one yet, drawing inspiration from a scene from the first movie in the series.
“There was a moment in the first Ice Age where they walk past an ice museum, and they come upon a spaceship that’s encased in ice. And so at the beginning of this movie, Scrat’s going to find that very same ship,” added Chu.
Scrat, the saber-toothed squirrel, who is a staple in the series, is usually responsible for triggering cataclysmic events that lead to the adventures of the main characters.
The director said that animation has always been his passion and is thankful that his parents supported his decision to pursue it.
“I decided to go into art school, thinking I would be a 2D animator. This was right around the time when they were able to make full-feature animation films like Toy Storyor Jurassic Park,” explained Chu.
After graduating, Chu began looking for a job. At the same time, Blue Sky Studios, the producer of the film, was searching for animators.
“So they hired me, knowing that I don’t really have that much computer animation experience,” he said. “But it didn’t really matter because as long as you know how to animate, it’s kind of the same thing.”
Chu said he keeps in touch with his relatives and talks to them regularly. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to visit anytime soon.
"I just had a child. She's one year-old now and it's a little hard to travel. I'll probably visit in a little bit, but not just yet," added Chu.
Having spent the first 10 years of his life here, the 40-year-old said he still has a lot of vivid memories of the Philippines. Among the things he said he misses the most about his home country are the beaches.
“The beautiful beaches – my family really loved going to the beach on weekends,” said Chu. “I really miss lechon because you really just can’t get good lechon anywhere else here. I tried, trust me.”
The director also said that he misses the Sinulog Festival which was a big event for Cebuanos like him.
“I really miss seeing the dancers and the costumes,” Chu said. And whether this will be the last movie of the franchise: “We’ll see how this one does. If the audience really embraces it, if they love the characters like
they have in this franchise, we’re open to creating new ones.”
Ice Age: Collision Course opens in theaters Wednesday, July 6.

PNP Chief: 23 mayors on Duterte’s list of officials linked to illegal drugs

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — After naming five active and retired police officers as protectors of drug syndicates and three drug lords, President Rodrigo Duterte may soon identify 23 mayors also allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, the national police chief said Friday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Ronald Dela Rosa said the information is from verified intelligence reports received by the President.

“I hope na yung mga mayor na yan ngayon, nag-aarmas na ng husto,” Dela Rosa said. “Gerahin natin yun.”

[Translation: I hope these mayors are now arming themselves well. We will be waging a war against them.]

In his first trip outside Manila as PNP chief, Dela Rosa visited Central Luzon (Region 3), one of the focus areas of the PNP’s anti-drug war.

Central Luzon accounted for the second highest number of suspected drug dealers killed. From June 27 to July 3, PNP figures show 31 have been killed by the police in the region.

Calabarzon and Mimaropa together account for 43 killed, the biggest number.

With 124 taken into custody in the region, Central Luzon also ranked third with the most number of individuals arrested for links to drugs.

Dela Rosa said illegal drugs pass through both seaports and airports in Central Luzon.

“Yung mga private plane na direkta pumapasok dito sa Clark – I don't know how properly ang pagche-check ng mga Customs diyan,” Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: Those private planes that directly fly into Clark – I don’t know how properly the Customs checks them.]

He also said the ships that dock in Subic could be used to smuggle illegal drugs. “We do not know how clean are these ships,” he said. Dela Rosa met and had lunch with more than 600 drug dependents in Bataan who voluntarily turned themselves in. He thanked them for deciding to turn a new leaf but he said he will be tough against those who continue using and dealing drugs.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, regional PNP officer-in-charge, said there are at least a hundred policemen in Central Luzon who could be involved in drug trafficking.

“Yun nga minsan, mahirap mag-operate dahil hindi mo alam kung sino ang kakampi mo o hindi. Yun ang problema namin. So minsan, mag-ooperate kami, biglang magli-leak,” Aquino said.

[Translation: Sometimes it is hard to conduct an operation because you do not know who are with you and who are not. That is our problem. So sometimes, when we conduct an operation, suddenly there is a leak.]

Dela Rosa told Aquino to gather evidence against these officers to pin them down.

WATCH: Liza Soberano shows skin for magazine

MANILA – “This is how Liza Soberano will leave you breathless.” Women’s magazine Cosmopolitan Philippines used this statement as the title of a video showing the photo shoot of its July 2016 cover girl.

“Dolce Amore” star Liza Soberano is seen showing some skin as she posed for the camera, departing from her usual sweet image on television. The 18-year-old actress showed off her slimmer figure in mostly black outfits, with the camera focusing on her back and shoulders. Soberano has been featured in several fashion and beauty publications, but this is the first time that she appeared on Cosmo, a magazine that features sex and beauty tips for modern women.