Church can take part in state affairs—bishop

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/22/2013 - 23:12

MANILA, June 22, 2013—In an attempt to settle debates pertaining to the constitutional provision on the separation of the church and state, a Catholic prelate said that the church hierarchy is entitled to speak and express its opinion on public policies that could affect the welfare of the majority.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo cleared out debates on the controversial separation of the two institutions, saying that taking part in public discourse fulfills the social responsibility of church officials as citizens of the country.

RH oral arguments to test judiciary’s independence

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/22/2013 - 23:06
MANILA, June 21, 2013—The independence of the judiciary will be put to the test when it convenes for oral arguments early next month on the controversial reproductive health (RH) law.The High Tribunal is set to tackle on July 9 the controversial RH bill now known as Republic Act 10354 or “An Act providing for a National Policy on Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health."

Masbate rescuers now in retrieval mode

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Tue, 06/18/2013 - 01:54

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shifted yesterday its operations from rescue to retrieval as hopes dimmed for the recovery of the seven missing passengers of the ferry M/V Lady of Mt. Carmel that sank off Burias Island in Masbate last Friday.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said that as of 11 a.m. yesterday, they had shifted to retrieval operations. It had been 72 hours since any survivor had been located.

Farmers to Aquino: ‘Distribute the land due to us’

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 03:48

MANILA, June 13, 2013—A farmers’ group called on President Benigno Aquino III to distribute the land to landless peasants nationwide before the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law expires on June 14, 2014.

Task Force Mapalad (TFM) stressed that the president is mandated by law to complete the distribution of 1,209,236 hectares of land by the time he leaves from office in 2016.

Church seeks end to child labor

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 03:45

MANILA, June 13, 2013— A Catholic bishop from Eastern Samar province has appealed to all stakeholders to put an end to child labor.

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said child labor is a terrible phenomenon, as he called for an intensified crusade against it.

The 52-year old prelate particularly called on the government and the parents to be interested in the welfare of their children.

He observed that poverty and irresponsibility of some parents are among the leading causes of child labor in the country.

Environmentalists hit ceremonial burning of confiscated ivory tusks

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 03:41

QUEZON City, June 13, 2013—Environmentalists today called on authorities to stop the ceremonial burning of confiscated elephant tusks, saying the act would send a wrong message to the public.

Although they fully support the global effort to stop the illegal wildlife trade, the groups said, burning the seized ivory tusks is not acceptable due to its environmental impact.

12 still missing, 2 dead in Masbate ferry boat sinking

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 03:18

LEGAZPI CITY – (UPDATED) Two people drowned and at least 12 others remained missing last night after a passenger ferry sank in calm seas off Burias Island early yesterday.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director Raffy Alejandro said responding rescue workers and fishermen managed to initially pluck 55 people out of the water where the M/V Our Lady of Mt. Carmel sank off Barangay Peñafrancia in Burias.

The two fatalities were identified as Carlota Zena, 59, of Baleno town; and Erlinda Julbitado, 59, of Binangonan, Rizal.

Ferry boat sinks off Masbate, 2 dead

Submitted by Vox Bikol on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 11:21

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE 4) - A roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) vessel carrying at least 62 people sank in waters off Burias Island in Masbate province early Friday. Two passengers have been confirmed dead.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officials said that the ship M/V Lady of Mount Carmel left Pio Duran in Albay at 2 a.m. and was en route to Aroroy, Masbate when it sank at around 5:30 a.m.

The first fatality recovered by PCG personnel during search and rescue operations was identified as Perlita Senia, 50.