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Global logistics giant United Parcel Service Co. (UPS) is doubling down on its bid to launch cargo flights to Clark, this time even signaling that it is willing to give up existing services to Poland and Vietnam just to secure a slot at the Central Luzon gateway.

In a July 31 application filed with the US Department of Transportation, UPS asked regulators to allow it to transfer six Hong Kong fifth freedom all-cargo frequencies currently assigned to the Hong Kong-Warsaw and Hong Kong-Hanoi routes for use on new Hong Kong-Clark cargo services. Specifically, the Atlanta-based company wants to reassign all four weekly frequencies it operates between Hong Kong and Warsaw and two of its three weekly frequencies serving Hanoi to the Hong Kong-Clark route.

UPS said all six frequencies are already in full use.

This latest filing comes even as UPS awaits a decision on its separate application for an entirely new allocation of six Hong Kong fifth freedom frequencies for Clark. Should additional frequencies become available and be awarded later, the company said it intends to restore the Warsaw and Hanoi services.

UPS said the transfer would allow it to immediately launch year-round cargo services between Hong Kong and Clark using Boeing 767 freighters already in its fleet.

Fifth freedom refers to the right that allows airlines from one country to carry cargo or passengers between two foreign countries.

Currently, the Hong Kong-Clark route is served only by rival Federal Express Corp. INQ

Classes and government work in 14 Zambales towns were suspended on Monday (Aug. 3) as Tropical Depression ‘Luis’ and the enhanced southwest monsoon continued to bring rains over Luzon.

The municipal governments of Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, Iba, Palauig, Candelaria and Sta. Cruz suspended classes in all levels of both public and private schools.

In Masinloc town, Mayor Hazel Lim ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in public and private schools as well as work in government offices to ensure public safety. However, personnel from the Engineering Department, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), Municipal Health Office (MHO), and other key personnel are reporting for duty to maintain emergency response operations and ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.

As of its 5:00 a.m. advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said ‘Luis’ remained stationary over the sea east of Aurora province while continuing to enhance the southwest monsoon that is affecting parts of Luzon.

Luis will move generally northwestward and may make landfall or pass close to Northern Luzon tonight (Aug. 3) or early morning tomorrow (Aug. 4) before it will sharply turn east northeastward while moving away from the Philippine landmass. /apl

Impeachment prosecutors plan to fast-track its presentation of evidence by requesting to allow its state auditor witness to validate documents by batches in a bid to hasten proceedings, its spokesman said on Monday.

In a media briefing, prosecution legal spokesman Benjamin Tolosa, Jr. said prosecutors want to finish questioning Roderick Wamil, a former state auditor of the Commission on Audit’s secret fund division, even as hundreds of documents are set to be examined during Monday’s trial.

Wamil is expected to inspect around 800 documents tied to audit observations issued over Vice President Sara Duterte’s liquidation of P612.5 million in secret funds in 2022 and 2023. ‘The goal is to try to finish everything today for this witness,’ Tolosa said. ‘We’ll see if we could be allowed to just identify them in batches,’ he added, referring to audit documents.

Prosecutors last week opened their case on Duterte’s second impeachment charge, which alleges she misused confidential funds under her office: an accusation that has fueled ouster efforts and criticism against her. /mr

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan appeared to poke fun at the unusual names signed on acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for the confidential fund (CF) expenditures made by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday.

During the resumption of the trial, Kapunan went through some of the ARs for the OVP’s confidential expenditures attached to its 2022 audit report, including those bearing the names Andy Lim and Alejandro Pikit.

Kapunan said she could not initially read the names because it was ‘ang dilim’ (it’s dark) and because someone’s eyes were closed, or ‘pikit.’ ‘P-1-8-545, in the name of Andy C. Lim, for P50,000. Ah, Andy Lim, that’s why I couldn’t read it because it’s dark. If there’s an Andy Lim, maybe it’s because of Pikit?’ she said in Filipino.

Defense counsel Michael Poa objected to Kapunan’s line of questioning.

‘Objection, Your Honor. I’m sorry, but I’ve been giving leeway to opposing counsel, but I think she’s been coloring, you know, the contents of the documents more than what is shown in the documentary (evidence),’ Poa said.

Kapunan countered, saying she was merely stating the Filipino meaning of the names mentioned.

Poa fired back: ‘No, I think you know my point, Your Honor.’

Kapunan joked again.

‘It’s like Patty Ting, it’s the way it’s spelled, and the next one, maybe you will object again; it’s Alejandro A. Pikit. I was going to say maybe the reason why it’s dark is because someone’s eyes are closed,’ she said in Filipino.

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero asked Kapunan to move forward ‘accordingly.’

Kapunan’s questioning brought a light moment to the 11th day of the impeachment trial, but the prosecution also flagged serious issues with the OVP’s ARs.

Aside from Andy Lim and Alejandro Pikit, the name Mary Grace Piattos also surfaced. Lawmakers previously believed Piattos was a fictitious personality who used the names of a well-known coffee shop and potato chip brand.

It seems Piattos has a relative who also received CF payouts from the OVP, although their surnames differ slightly. Kapunan also presented an AR signed by a certain Renan Piatos.

‘I will show you another document, marked for the prosecution, P-1-8-619, another Piatos, named Renan Piatos. The amount is P110,000 and the date is 12-27-2023 […] What observation can you make or have you made as regards this acknowledgment receipt?’ Kapunan asked prosecution witness and Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Roderick Wamil.

Wamil explained the AR signed by Renan Piatos was not allowed because the document showed the payment was made on Dec. 27, 2023. Since the ARs were attached to the OVP’s confidential expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2022, Wamil said the payment should have been made between Dec. 21 and Dec. 31, 2022.

‘I cannot determine the correct date based on this document, but the right thing was that it should have been paid within the coverage of their cash advance based on the documents submitted to ICFAO (Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office),’ he added.

Escudero clarified with Wamil whether he meant that everything attached to the CF expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2022 that was supposedly paid after Dec. 31, 2022, was not allowed.

Wamil then confirmed this before Kapunan presented more ARs with unusual names.

Regarding Mary Grace Piattos, Wamil said the P70,000 worth of medicines provided by the OVP as a reward was not allowed because there was no attached document evidencing success in information-gathering.

According to Wamil, the payments to Andy Lim and Alejandro Pikit were also not allowed because they were made outside the cash advance coverage, similar to Renan Piatos’ case.

The following AR recipients and their corresponding rewards and issues were also mentioned:

Nova Santos (P85,000) – lack of document evidencing success in information-gathering

Mico Harina (P295,000) – lack of document evidencing success in information-gathering/payment outside coverage of cash advance

Janice Marie Revilla (P70,000) – no observation

Patty Ting (P150,000) – no observation

Feonna Biong (P80,000) – no observation

Sisfrunio Balsac (P70,000) – no observation

Gabriel Bisaya (P70,000) – payment outside coverage of cash advance

Early on the 11th day of the trial, Wamil said the OVP used P40 million in CF to buy medicines, but COA disallowed the expense because it was not among the purposes specified in Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued by the Commission on Audit, Department of Budget and Management, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Governance Commission for GOCCs, and Department of National Defense.

Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01, CFs may be used only for the following purposes:

Purchase of information necessary for the formulation and implementation of program, activities and projects relevant to the national security and peace and order

Rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities

Rentals and the incidental expenses related to the maintenance of safehouses

Purchase or rental of supplies, materials and equipment for confidential operations that cannot be done through regular procedures without compromising the information gathering activity concerned

Payment of rewards to informers (non-employee of concerned government agency) subject to the following conditions

Uncover/Prevent illegal activities that pose a clear and present danger to agency personnel/property, or other facilities and resources under the agency protection, done in coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agencies

Others that may be authorized by the GAA or other special law/s

Former Commission on Audit (COA) Confidential Funds Unit auditor Roderick Wamil tells the Senate impeachment court that Vice President Sara Duterte was the only vice president whose confidential funds were audited during his tenure from 2014 to 2024 because previous vice presidents did not receive confidential funds.

Wamil adds that Department of Education (DepEd) had no confidential fund allocation before Duterte assumed office as education secretary.

A 25-year-old man was killed in a self-accident after his motorcycle rammed into a metal warning sign at an ongoing bridge construction site in Barangay Bulanit, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, early Monday morning.

The victim’s older sister, Analyn Banagan-Baguara, identified the fatality as Christian Banagan, a resident of Barangay Diana Countryside, Tigbao town.

Capt. Derf Jay Maquinta, spokesperson of the Zamboanga del Sur Police Provincial Office, disclosed that the incident occurred at 12:38 a.m. near Botel Bridge, Purok Malipayon, Barangay Bulanit, Labangan when Banagan, riding a red Motoposh motorcycle from Pagadian City toward Labangan, allegedly failed to notice a metal warning sign installed near a bridge under construction. The rider collided with the signage, resulting in his being thrown onto the roadway.

He sustained severe head injuries, including a fractured skull, and was declared dead on the spot by the municipal health doctor.

Authorities said the victim’s remains were brought to a funeral home in Pagadian City while the motorcycle was taken to the Labangan Municipal Police Station for proper disposition.

Analyn said her brother had just attended a birthday celebration in Tigbao before the accident.

She presumed he was on his way to their house in Barangay Upper Pulacan in Labangan but noted that the family did not get any message from him.

Analyn described Christian as the sibling who remained unmarried and lived with their parents, providing for their mother’s maintenance medicines. ‘Whenever he was short of cash, he would come to me to ask for help,’ she said.

Authorities reminded motorists to exercise caution when passing through construction zones, stressing that warning signs and barriers are installed to prevent accidents./coa

Manila Mayor Francisco ‘Isko’ Moreno Domagoso on Monday directed Meralco to clear more than 12,000 damaged and leaning electric poles across the city after a mapping initiative identified thousands of unserviceable posts that could pose safety risks.

During a consultative meeting on ‘systems loss’ charges, Domagoso said the city government had mapped more than 33,000 electric poles using its ArcGIS system and found more than 6,000 damaged poles and more than 6,000 leaning poles.

Domagoso instructed Meralco to remove all identified unserviceable poles, stressing that no district should be prioritized over another. Meralco representatives committed to speeding up the removal of idle poles and said they would provide the city government with a timeline for completing the work.

‘There may be some shortcomings in the past, but we try to correct them today and in the future. You have a friend in the City,’ Domagoso told Meralco representatives.

The mayor also assured Meralco that the city government would help ensure the safety of utility personnel conducting anti-electricity pilferage operations through the Manila Police District.

‘These people are simply doing their job. They should not be put in harm’s way,’ he said in Filipino.

According to the Manila Public Information Office, Meralco representatives also informed the city government that some barangay officials allegedly use illegal electrical connections in their homes and that some anti-pilferage operations have been delayed or obstructed.

The city government said it would coordinate directly with the concerned barangays before enforcement operations to help address access refusals and right-of-way concerns raised by Meralco.

Domagoso also ordered the creation of a real-time coordination channel among the city government, the Manila Police District, and Meralco to facilitate communication during anti-pilferage operations.

The city government said the measures are intended to expedite the removal of unserviceable poles and improve coordination between the local government and the power distributor during field operations. /mcm

Tropical Depression Luis may make landfall or pass close to the coast between Cagayan and Isabela on Monday evening before curving away from the Philippine landmass, the state weather bureau said.

In its 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Luis was last spotted over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela at 4 p.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph), gusts of up to 60 kph, and moving northwestward at 20 kph.

During the agency’s 5 p.m. weather briefing, Pagasa weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said the tropical depression had slightly accelerated while moving along the waters east of Isabela. ‘Based on our latest forecast track and the expected increase in the speed of Tropical Depression Luis, it may make a close approach or landfall in the area between Cagayan and Isabela this afternoon or tonight,’ Varilla said in Filipino.

Pagasa said Luis is forecast to remain a tropical depression as it begins to recurve toward the northeast on Tuesday, moving away from the country before weakening into a low-pressure area (LPA) by Wednesday while exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

The weather bureau, however, noted that changes in the forecast track remain possible.

Signal No. 1 remained in effect over the central and eastern portions of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands; Isabela; Quirino; eastern and southern Apayao; eastern Kalinga; eastern Mountain Province; eastern Ifugao; and the northern portion of Aurora, where winds of 39 to 61 kph may pose a minimal to minor threat to life and property.

Varilla said Signal No. 1 had been expanded to cover additional areas in Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao and Aurora as Luis accelerated.

She also warned that heavy rainfall remains the primary concern as Luis interacts with the southwest monsoon.

‘Aside from the winds, we will continue to closely monitor the rainfall that Luis will bring,’ she said.

Pagasa placed Pangasinan under its red rainfall warning, where more than 200 millimeters of rain may fall from Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon. La Union, Benguet, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan were placed under the orange rainfall warning, with 100 to 200 mm of rainfall forecast during the same period.

Varilla warned that these provinces face a higher risk of flooding and landslides.

‘Again, the areas or provinces marked in orange and red are those that may experience widespread flooding and landslides,’ she said.

Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecast over Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Cavite and Batangas, where localized flooding and landslides remain possible, particularly in areas highly susceptible to these hazards.

Pagasa said the combined effects of Luis and the southwest monsoon are expected to continue bringing significant rainfall over parts of Luzon and some areas of the Visayas through Tuesday.

The weather bureau also warned of strong to gale-force gusts over much of Luzon and the Visayas, including areas outside tropical cyclone wind signal coverage, due to the combined effects of Luis and the southwest monsoon.

Pagasa is also monitoring Typhoon Dolphin, which remains outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. While it is not expected to directly affect the country, the weather bureau said the typhoon could influence weather conditions by enhancing the southwest monsoon.

‘Although it is not expected to directly affect the country, it is expected to further enhance and strengthen the southwest monsoon,’ she said.

Pagasa advised the public, especially those in flood- and landslide-prone areas, as well as local disaster risk reduction and management offices, to continue monitoring official weather bulletins and follow evacuation and safety advisories issued by local authorities. /jpv

A critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle was rescued by a fisherman in Capiz as he quickly alerted authorities upon finding the marine reptile trapped in a fishing net, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Local fisherman Arnold Bongalonta found the young hawksbill sea turtle trapped in a fishing net off the coast of Barangay Talon, Roxas City, and he promptly notified the authorities.

‘By immediately reporting this entanglement, he saved a critically endangered life and proved that our local fishers are indispensable partners in conservation,’ Environment Secretary Juan Miguel ‘Mitch’ Cuna said in a statement on Monday. Following the report, which was relayed through the Philippine Coast Guard, the DENR Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Capiz immediately dispatched its Conservation and Development Section personnel to carry out the continuation of the rescue.

‘Coordinated action saves lives, and we strongly encourage the public to follow his lead,’ Cuna said, referring to Bongalonta.

‘Please report any stranded or trapped marine wildlife to the DENR or local authorities immediately so we can ensure our seas remain safe sanctuaries for these vulnerable species,’ he added.

The rescued turtle is a juvenile hawksbill listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

The species measured 31 centimeters in curved carapace (upper hard shell) length and 29 centimeters in width.

An assessment by DENR personnel found no visible injuries or signs of distress, allowing the turtle to be released back into its natural habitat at around 2 p.m. the same day.

The hawksbill sea turtle is protected under Republic Act No. 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act. /apl

depending on how one sees it, of course-gave Rain or Shine some luck after disrupting action for a few seconds on Sunday night.

The Elasto Painters welcomed the short break caused by the stray cat’s presence on the floor, forcing a big defensive play that led to Aaron Fuller hitting the marginal basket with 39 seconds left as Rain or Shine won for the fourth straight time in the PBA Governors’ Cup, an 85-83 nipping of Meralco at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Cats are said to have nine lives, and Rain or Shine seems to have the same good omen despite a sluggish start and trailing, 81-76, with six minutes to go as the Painters pulled out the win and sustained a hot streak that has all but made them forget a pathetic 0-2 start to the conference.

‘Anything is lucky as long as you win,’ Yeng Guiao said while the cat was also inside the media room where the Rain or Shine coach and Fuller did their customary postgame press conference. Turns out, before finding its way to the floor, the feline spent most of the game bugging some reporters, even terrifying one member of the press corps.

Rain or Shine took whatever advantage it could get, and the win had the Painters climbing to second in Group B to start off the second round while avenging its 122-114 loss to Meralco during their first meeting.

Fuller finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds, while Adrian Nocum, who rifled the pass to Fuller that led to the game-winner, had eight assists despite being held to six points and getting hurt in the knee during a collision with Meralco’s Cliff Hodge in the fourth quarter.

Nocum came into the game fresh off a career-high 31-point night that led the Painters to a similar high-wire victory last week, a 98-97 nipping of Magnolia on Friday.

That incident that hurt Nocum didn’t sit well with Guiao, who later called Hodge ‘the dirtiest player in the league,’ opening old wounds between the two.

It wasn’t just the Hidge-Nocum incident that marred the contest as Rain or Shine captain Caelan Tiongson and Meralco’s Diego Lozano, who acts as a strength and conditioning coach, had to be separated after the two got into an exchange of words.

Tiongson later described the trash talk as a ‘friendly banter.’

The stinging loss extended the woes of Meralco, which fell to 2-4 after a third straight defeat.

Meralco played minus CJ Cansino due to an injured hip flexor, while Bong Quinto, back from a case of vertigo, missed two free throws late that prevented the Bolts from sending the game to overtime. INQ