Day: March 2, 2024

MANILA: An informant received a PHP420,00 cash reward from the Philippine National Police (PNP) for providing information that led to the arrest of Bicol Region’s most wanted person.

PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr personally handed over the reward to the informant on Friday, according to a news release over the weekend.

The vital tips led to the capture of Gilbert Concepcion in Barangay San Martin De Porres, Parañaque City on Jan. 24.

The leader of the Concepcion Criminal Gang operating in the Bicol Region is wanted for kidnapping, murder, rape, and direct assault.

‘The informant’s invaluable information exemplifies the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the community and law enforcement,’ Acorda said.

He said the PNP remains steadfast in its commitment to acknowlede and reward individuals who contribute to the capture and surrender of most wanted criminals.

Acorda encouraged citizens to remain vigilant and report any information that could aid in the prompt apprehension of criminals.

LONDON: UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Friday called for an urgent investigation into the Israeli killing of civilians awaiting aid in Gaza.

“The deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy yesterday were horrific. There must be an urgent investigation and accountability. This must not happen again,” Cameron said in a statement.

He highlighted a stark decrease in the number of aid convoys, revealing that in February, only half the usual number of trucks crossed into Gaza compared to January.

This is “simply unacceptable,” he said.

“Israel has an obligation to ensure that significantly more humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza. We have identified a series of bottlenecks that need addressing: Israel must urgently open more crossings into

Gaza; eliminate bureaucratic obstacles; enable aid operations in Gaza; and ensure there is a robust de-confliction mechanism in place to protect ordinary Palestinians, NGOs, medics, and others providing aid.”

“This tragedy only serves to underscore th
e importance of securing an immediate humanitarian pause. A sustained pause in the fighting is the only way to get lifesaving aid at the scale needed and free the hostages cruelly held by Hamas,” he added.

On Thursday, Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid at the Al Nabulsi roundabout on Al Rashid Street, a major coastal road to the west of Gaza City in northern Gaza, leaving at least 112 Palestinians dead and 760 injured.

The Israeli military said an initial investigation found that Palestinians approached a military checkpoint overseeing the entry of the aid trucks when soldiers fired warning shots and shot at the legs of Palestinians who continued to move toward the troops.

Israel has launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

At least 30,035 Palestinians have since been killed and 70,457 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages
of necessities.

MANILA: National University outplayed University of the Philippines, 25-20, 25-23, 27-25, for its third straight win in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Saturday.

Jade Alex Disquitado and Angelo Nicolas Almendras finished with 16 and 14 points, respectively, for the Bulldogs, who trailed 7-13 and 18-22 in the third set.

Disquitado made two straight points to put NU ahead at 25-24 before UP’s Angelo Lagando answered with a crosscourt spike to tie.

Leo Aringo Jr. scored on a down-the-line spike while Jenngerard Diao blocked Lagando as the Bullogs wrapped up the match in one hour and 27 minutes.

NU improved to 3-1 and shares second place with De La Salle University.

Unbeaten leader Far Eastern University will go for 4-0 against No. 3 University of Santo Tomas (2-1) on Sunday.

Skipper captain Joshua Retamar had 12 points, six aces, three attacks and three blocks to go with 20 excellent sets and three digs, while Aringo contributed 12 points.

Louis Gaspar
Gamban had 12 spikes and one ace, while Jessie Roland Rubin added nine points and two blocks for UP, which remained winless in four outings.

‘Thankful pa rin kami na nanalo kami. Pagdating ng third set at least nakakuha kami ng momentum sa ganong sitwasyon, ‘yun ‘yung kinakailangan namin sa mga susunod na game na kahit down kami, nagawa pa rin namin i-manage (We are still thankful that we won. When the third set came, at least we gained momentum in that situation, that’s what we need in the next games that even though we were down, we were still able to manage),’ NU coach Dante Alinsunurin said.

La Salle rallied past Ateneo de Manila University, 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 21-25, 15-11, in the other game.

Ateneo is running fourth (2-2), followed by Adamson University (1-2) and University of the East (0-3).

NU’s next game will be against FEU on Wednesday at noon while UP will face La Salle on March 10.

CEBU: The Visayas Command (Viscom) said Saturday that military operations will now be focused on preventing the resurgence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in communities already cleared of insurgency.

Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo, Viscom chief, said in a statement that after the devastating blows against the CPP-NPA in February, the must ensure that insurgents could not take any foothold in areas where development is inevitable.

At least 30 rebels were neutralized during the February operations, 14 of whom died in encounters, 15 surrendered, and one apprehended.

‘Our mission is not yet over. We may have achieved significant gains in our campaign last month, but there is a lot to be done,” he said.

“Our forces are now focused on preventing the resurgence of the CPP-NPA in the Visayas by neutralizing the few remaining members of the terrorist group,’ he added.

He said three of the 30 rebels neutralized last month were classified high-value suspects.

Rolando Caballera (al
ias Chow/Brooks), a member of the NPA’s regional executive committee in Eastern Visayas, died during the encounter in Albuera, Leyte, on Feb. 10.

Domingo Compoc (alias Cobra/Silong), the top NPA leader in Bohol, was killed in Bilar town on Feb. 23.

Rena Rhea Camariosa (alias Kira/Sheena), second deputy secretary of the NPA’s Southern Panay Front, was left to die by his comrades following an encounter in San Joaquin, Iloilo.

‘The success of our campaign in its early stage this year is attributed to the active support of our people, having freed them from the clutches of the terrorist group last year. This is the reason why we cannot stop,’ Arevalo said.