Boracay in the State of Calamity

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Rodrigo Duterte said he will declare a condition of calamity in one of the country's most famous travel destinations.

"Sabi ko na, "Sir, inutusan kita six months. Tapusin mo 'yang problema sa Boracay," [I said, "Sir, you have six months. Finish the problem in Boracay."]" Duterte said in a Tuesday speech in Malacañang, pertaining to his marching orders to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año.

The state of calamity would allow the quick release of funds for those individuals who might be financially displaced by the island's clean-up, Duterte said.

The DILG declared a six-month state of calamity to accelerate rehabilitation endeavors, in spite of the fact that the President did not specify a particular period.

On Feb. 10, Duterte called Boracay a "cesspool" and requested the DENR to clean up the island within six months.

On Feb. 20, the DENR distribute a "mission team" to address the island's environmental issues, with no less than 81 establishments accepting notices of violation.

Meanwhile, the DILG said that more than 800 establishments in Boracay are facing different violations.

"In the meantime, if I were from Boracay or you guys there, the best thing for you to do is to cooperate with the government and hasten the cleanup," Duterte said. "For as long as there are s*** coming out of those pipes draining to the sea, I will never give you the time of the day na bumalik diyan [to return there]."

Duterte likewise cautioned the judiciary not to interfere in the rehabilitation endeavors.

"I would caution the courts not to interfere by issuing TRO (temporary restraining order) because you would just exacerbate the situation," he said.

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Briton and German arrested for smuggling illegal drugs in Bali airport

BALI: Indonesian customs officials said they have captured two foreigners accused of attempting to smuggle drugs onto the tourist island of Bali.

A German man is escorted by customs officers in Bali 

Customs chief Himawan Indarjono said British resident Adam Scott and German Siegfried Karl Achim Ruckel were arrested before the end of last month at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport.

He said officers seized a jug with 655 Diazepam tablets, otherwise called Valium, from Mr Scott, a computer analyst who arrived from Bangkok on Jan 24. The amount, which was not reported on his customs declaration, was judged to be more than he needed for personal use.

He said Mr Scott is suspected with damaging the Customs and Psychotropic laws, under which he could face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of $22,000 if discovered guilty.

Another customs official, Husni Syaiful, said Mr Ruckel arrived two days later from Doha and had 7g of heroin, 0.2g of amphetamine and 15.3g of morphine.

In the event that discovered guilty, Mr Ruckel could face up to a death sentence and a fine of up to $730,000.

Indonesia has extremely strict drug laws and convicted smugglers are some of the time executed.

Eighteen convicts, mostly foreigners, have been executed under President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who took office in October 2014 and declared a war on illegal drugs.

More than 150 individuals are currently on death row, for the most part for drug crimes. Around one-third of them are foreigners.

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Philippines can develop ships to ensure the military capability

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines can build its own shipbuilding industry to guarantee the military will have the ability to secure the country and its territorial waters from piracy, terrorism and encroachment, Sen. Richard Gordon said.

Gordon noted some global giants in shipbuilding – like Hanjin Heavy Industries in Subic, Zambales – have set up tremendous shipyards in different parts of the country in acknowledgment of Filipinos' abilities.

“We are an archipelagic country; we should be able to build ships. We should have ships made in the Philippines – in Cebu, in Hanjin in Subic,” the senator said in a statement.

“We should really make an effort to strengthen our military, because we are facing both internal and external threats. At the same time, we should consistently assert our national territory, which includes Scarborough Shoal and Benham Rise, in no uncertain terms,” he said.

He said the current launching by Hanjin of the first-ever Subic-made 20,600-TEU (twenty-foot equal unit) class compartment vessel shows that Filipinos have the ability to assemble ships.

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TAT: Tourist flocking to Pattaya

Around 8 million visitors went to Pattaya in the first half of this year, putting the resort city to top last year's total, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). 

Russian tourist in Pattaya

Suladda Sarutilavan, the TAT Pattaya office executive said, the number of guests was up 5% on last year during the first six months, at around 8 million. 

Visitor spending during a similar period was 110 billion baht, 15% more than in the first two quarters last year, she said. 

Ms Suladda expected the number of vacationers and their spending in 2017 will surpass a year ago's figures. "The mid-year figures were an encouraging trend," she said. 

A year ago, 13.7 million visitors went to Pattaya, spending 200 billion baht for accommodation and different activities during their stay.

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Foreigners represented 65% of all travelers a year ago and localS 35%. China guests dominated at 2.54 million, followed by 800,000 Russians, 600,000 Koreans, 400,000 Indians and 400,000 Germans. 

The number of travelers gather to Pattaya should keep on increasing as transport networks promote the city in years to come, according to the tourism official. 

The government is promoting U-tapao airport as another entryway toward the eastern areas and will build a rail link between U-tapao and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports. 

A ferry service has been launched, linkiing it over the Gulf with Cha-am in Phetchaburi, and another sea link will join Sattahip in Chon Buri and Koh Chang in Trat.

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in-thailand/1324275/tat-tourists-flocking-to-pattaya-outlook-is-good

DOT collaborates with Lego to promote Intramuros

Manila, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has collaborated with popular international toy brand Lego to promote Intramuros among the youth and "deepen their appreciation" of the walled city's rich history, culture and legacy. 

Through the "iMake History Fortress Architecture" competition, the DOT wants to "stir the imagination" of around 200 college students as they make scale models of iconic landmarks found in Intramuros. 

“This activity aims to encourage youthful Filipino visionaries, particularly architecture and engineering students, to deepen their appreciation of our diversely rich history,” Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.

The 12 groups who are part of the project, cosponsored by the Royal Danish Embassy and Lego Education’s local partner Felta Multimedia Inc., have until Sept. 30 to present their work. 

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Their scale display plans, 70 percent made of Lego blocks, will be turned over to the Intramuros Administration and later housed at Baluarte de Santa Barbara Chamber. 

The 12 schools competing for the best prize of P50, 000 are Polytechnic University of the Philippines (San Ignacio Church), Don Bosco Technical College Mandaluyong (Recoletos Church), University of Baguio (Ayuntamiento de Manila), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (Palacio del Gobernador), National University (Santo Domingo Church) and Kalinga State University (San Agustin Church), University of Sto. Tomas (Lourdes Church), Surigao State College of Technology (San Francisco Church) and De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (Intendencia), Columban College Olongapo. Technological Institute of the Philippines and New Era University will be making variations of Manila Cathedral.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/921089/tourism-team-up-with-lego-to-promote-intramuros

Resorts World Manila attack: Not a terror attack police insist

Thirty-six individuals suffocated from smoke after a shooter raged a casino-hotel in the Philippines and set fire to gambling tables, police have said.

Metropolitan Manila police Chief Oscar Albayalde said none of the bodies had shot injuries. 

Authorities said before they believed robbery was the motive in the assault at the Resorts World Manila, which sent people escaping into the streets amid the night, with handfuls suffering minor wounds amid the stampede. 

The suspect was discovered dead early on Friday, having evidently committed suicide, and betting chips were also recovered.

The assault incited a claim of responsibility from the Isis terror group, but police emphasize on they had no evidence to support it. 

The violence unfolded as government forces were engaged in a battling against Muslim militants aligned with Isis in the southern city of Marawi.

"He would have shot all the people gambling there" if it had been terrorism, national police chief Ronald dela Rosa said. "But he did not hurt anyone."

"It's either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts," Mr Albayalde said, adding he saw no connection to the fighting in Marawi.

Mr dela Rosa said security footage demonstrated the shooter ignoring a guard who attempted to question him at the entrance to the complex. 

He didn't hurt the guard however went straight to the gambling area. 

The shooter stole gambling chips, shot up television screens and set gambling tables on fire by pouring petroleum on them, Mr dela Rosa said. 

It was not clear how the shooter smuggled petroleum and an assault rifle into the crowded casino, however he didn't fire at people he encountered. 

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The only gunshot wound was to a guard at the complex, who shot himself accidentally when the suspect went into the room, authorities said.

Ronald Romualdo, a maintenance laborer at Resorts World, said he and his colleagues heard shots and saw people smashing the windows on the second floor and third floor to get away. 

"We took out a ladder to save them. We were able to save many of them," he said.

"But one woman I was trying to save fell from the second floor. I could not carry her."

He said the woman was not moving afterwards, but he didn't realize what happened to her. 

Around a hour and a half after the assault started, Resorts World Manila said on its Facebook page that it was on lockdown taking after reports of gunfire and was attempting to guarantee the security of guests and workers. 

Mr dela Rosa said the shooter clearly barged into a room on the fifth floor of the Maxims hotel associated with the mall and casino, where he set himself on fire.

A bag of gambling chips worth 113 million pesos (£176,500) was found in a can. 

The suspect was English-talking yet had no identification cards. 

Mr dela Rosa portrayed him as "white, with a mustache" and around 6ft. 

He said the man's car in the complex car park was being analyzed.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/resorts-world-manila-casino-shooting-attack-philippines-gunman-isis-police-terrorism-robbery-a7768331.html

Pinay businesswoman died during cosmetic surgery

Shiryl Saturnino a 29-year-old Filipina businesswoman died during a cosmetic surgery at a clinic in Mandaluyong City. 

 On Sunday (March 26, 2017), Saturnino was pronounced dead around 3:21 am while undergoing a liposuction, butt, and breast surgery at a clinic. The doctors attempted to revive and save the patient, yet they failed to do so.

The parents of Shiryl requested the Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula of Eastern Police District (EPD) to lead an investigation regarding to the death of their daughter last Sunday.

“We should determine whether there is negligence during the operation and file necessary charges,” said by Sapitulan in his directive to Senior Superintendent Joaquin Alva, city police chief quoted by Philstar.

Saturnino together with Shiela Mae Anabe Deinla a relative arrived at the Icon Clinic in Mandaluyong City around 5 pm last Saturday (March 25, 2017). She was set to undergo a liposuction, butt surgery, and breast augmentation, as indicated to the result of the initial investigation. 

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The doctors Jose Jovito Mendiola and Samuel Eric Yapjuangco performed the cosmetic surgery, which lasted until around 2:40 am on Sunday. The doctors saw that their patient's heart was no longer beating.

The doctors attempted to revive the patient through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, yet it didn't work. So they look for assistance from Makati Medical Center, however Dr. Kristel Marie del Rosario declared Saturnino already dead around 3:21 am.

Alva said that the doctors have promised that they would fully cooperate with the police investigators on investigating the incident. Yapjuangco and Mendiola likewise promised to give their statement as prepared by their lawyers. 

The police chief also said that they still waiting for the autopsy result before filing charges against the doctors who performed the surgery, which caused Saturnino's demise.

Source: https://philnews.ph/2017/03/28/29-year-old-businesswoman-shiryl-saturnino-died-cosmetic-surgery/