Other News

Harvey forces ExxonMobil to close Baytown refining complex

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US petroleum giant ExxonMobil said Sunday it was temporarily closing its enormous refinery in Baytown, Texas, after flooding caused by monster storm Harvey had led to “operational issues.” “We are in the process of a safe and systematic shutdown of operations,” a company statement said. ExxonMobil said it was “taking all precautions” to ensure workers’ safety and minimize the impact of the closure on employees and the local community. The […]

President Duterte commends agri dep’t, N. Ecija and Pampanga officials for “swift response” to bird flu outbreak

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday commended the Department of Agriculture for its “immediate response” to the bird flu outbreak. In his speech on National Heroes Day in Pampanga, Duterte also commended the “solidarity” of the province and of Nueva Ecija, where the bird flu outbreak was reported. “The efforts you do (are not in vain). They are part of the food chain,” he said. He said the “goal” was to help the […]

President Duterte tells Faeldon to ‘take a few days off”

  (Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte had asked former Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon to take a “a few days off” as both the Senate and the House of Representatives probe the controversial P6.4 billion shabu shipment from China that had put the bureau in hot water. Faeldon, who had already been replaced by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Isidro Lapeña, had also been accused by senator Panfilo Lacson of being eaten […]

Houston floods spark chaos, much more rain to come

  by Brendan Smialowski/ and Antoni Belchi Agence France Presse HOUSTON, United States (AFP) Massive flooding unleashed by deadly monster storm Harvey left Houston — the fourth-largest city in the United States — increasingly isolated Sunday as its airports and highways shut down and residents were rescued from their inundated homes by boat. The city’s two main airports suspended all commercial flights and two hospitals were forced to evacuate patients. A local television station also […]

President Duterte assigns Espenido to Iloilo City

(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has assigned Chief Insp. Jovie Espenido to Iloilo, a place he earlier tagged as the “bedrock” of illegal drugs in the Visayas. Duterte made the announcement in his speech on National Heroes’ Day. “Your next assignment is Iloilo,” he said. The President also awarded Espenido with the Magalong medal for his “extraordinary service..pursuant to an advocacy of the President” during the event in Taguig. Espenido led the raid that […]

BJMP spokesperson: Cayamora Maute cause of death still “unknown”

(Eagle News) — Authorities have yet to determine the cause of death of Cayamora Maute, the father of the two brothers believed responsible for the Marawi siege. In a radio interview on Monday, Senior Insp. Xavier Solda, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesperson, said this was according to the medical abstract signed by the doctor. “Unknown po yung cause ng death niya,” Solda said. He said as such, the doctor recommended that the 67-year-old […]

August 28 is National Heroes Day

QUEZON City, Philippines (August 28) (Eagle News) – Did you know that Jose Rizal, known all over the world as the National Hero of the Philippines, has never been expressedly declared by our government as our official national hero? Just something to ponder on this National Heroes Day. Every last Monday of August has been declared National Heroes Day to commemorate the men and women who made great contributions to our country’s history. The lives […]

Death toll from Spain attacks rises to 16: local officials

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — The number of people killed in twin vehicle attacks in Spain last week rose to 16 on Sunday, local authorities in Barcelona said. “This morning a 51-year-old German woman died after being treated in a critical condition in hospital,” said a statement from the region’s civil defense. The attacks on Las Ramblas boulevard in Barcelona and in the seaside resort of Cambrils left around 120 wounded. The woman who died on […]

BJMP spokesperson: Maute patriarch dead

(Eagle News) — The father of the Maute brothers believed responsible for the terrorist attack in Marawi that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in Mindanao is dead. According to Senior Insp. Xavier Solda,  Bureau of Jail Management and Penology spokesperson, Cayamora Maute passed away in the Taguig-Pateros hospital today. He said the Maute group patriarch, who was detained for criminal charges in Camp Bagong Diwa, had been rushed to the hospital past […]

Finland police confirm identity of suspect in stabbing attack

HELSINKI, Finland (AFP) — The identity of the main suspect in the stabbing attack this month in the Finnish city of Turku has been confirmed, police said Sunday. Investigators have determined that Abderrahman Mechkah, an asylum seeker whose name had previously been released by police, is a Moroccan  born in 1994. “The police have interviewed the main suspect, and he is willing to communicate with the interviewing police officer,” the National Bureau of Investigation said […]

Second man arrested after Buckingham Palace sword attack

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British police investigating Friday’s sword attack outside Buckingham Palace in London arrested a second man on Sunday, as authorities in Belgium, Finland and Spain probed their own terror attacks. “The man was arrested on suspicion of being involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism at 10:15 hours (0915 GMT) today and he has been taken into custody,” a police statement said. It came hours after Islamic State jihadists […]

President Duterte urges Filipinos to “uphold law, protect nation, foster goodwill” in Nat’l Heroes Day message

(Eagle News) — Uphold the law, protect the nation, and foster goodwill. This was the message of President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, as he enjoined Filipinos to commemorate the “life and works” of the country’s national heroes on the eve of National Heroes Day. President Duterte said their “courage, leadership and wisdom,” after all, “paved the way for us to enjoy the blessings of freedom, independence and democracy.” “They have dedicated their lives to ensure […]