There's a 'very, very strong case' against Albayalde, Gordon says

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 12) — Philippine National Police chief General Oscar Albayalde may face criminal and administrative charges for involvement in the irregular Pampanga raid when he was provincial police director in 2013.

Senator Richard Gordon, who leads the legislative inquiry into the "ninja" or drug-linked cops, said Saturday the testimonies of two former Central Luzon police chiefs are enough to pin the top cop down.

Chief drug buster Aaron Aquino earlier testified that Albayalde in 2016 asked him not to implement the dismissal of 13 Pampanga policemen over the flawed drug sting, where they allegedly got millions of pesos from recycling the seized shabu and extorting from the drug trafficker. Aquino was head of the Police Regional Office 3 when Albayalde called him. Albayalde was then acting regional police director of Metro Manila, a post he received after being placed under floating status for eight months because of the raid.

Aquino's predecessor, retired PCSupt. Rudy Lacadin, meanwhile revealed that Albayalde also called him to ask about the investigation he was conducting on the Pampanga cops. According to Lacadin, Albayalde supposedly said he got only "a little" from the raid. While Lacadin said this remark may have been made in jest, lawmakers, including Gordon, believe his statement was "damaging" to Albayalde's credibility.

Speaking at a media forum on Saturday, Gordon said, "We have the testimony of a general of the PDEA that he was approached and then another general came in, Lacadin, and then we have the circumstantial connection that if you put together you can really build up a very, very strong case criminally and administratively."

"He (Albayalde) really needs a strong lawyer," Gordon addded, saying there is enough circumstantial and testimonial evidence against the embattled PNP chief.

Albayalde has denied the allegations hurled against him and is now preparing to file charges against his accusers. He has asked veteran lawyer and and former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza for legal assistance.

'I don't care if you're retiring'

Gordon did not specify what charges can be filed against Albayalde, but said neglect of duty is one of them.

"Albayalde should really be held liable for negligence, neglect of duty. He did not reprimand his men," Gordon said.

"He kept quiet until he got up in the ranks and he started talking with Gen. Aquino and everybody else," Gordon added.

Albayalde has been grilled for claiming he had little to zero knowledge of his subordinates' anti-drug operation, despite being their leader. He said he did not get himself involved because he thought it was just a "simple" operation. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, former chief of the PNP's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, accused Albayalde of blocking the dismissal of his men and involvement in the raid.

Gordon said it is hard to believe Albayalde did not know what his men were doing. He said Albayalde should have been investigated along with the raiding team and not merely placed under preventive suspension.

Albayalde is retiring this month, but Gordon said nothing can stop anyone from filing a case against him.

"We have to lay the standard. I don’t care if you’re retiring. In the first place, that's wishful thinking. If he is really guilty, even if he retires, Magalong and the Secretary of Justice can still go after him," Gordon said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra has ordered a reinvestigation of the Pampanga cops' case. The National Police Commission, the body tasked to administer and control the 190,000-strong police force, is also reviewing the case, including Albayalde's possible liabilities.

President Rodrigo Duterte said he will wait for investigation results before taking action on Albayalde and his former subordinates. Albayalde's men, who are now called "ninja cops," were initially ordered dismissed. Four years after the raid, their punishment was downgraded to a one-rank demotion, something lawmakers have heavily criticized. Duterte previously said Albayalde’s “only link” to the erring cops was that he happened to be Pampanga’s provincial director when the questionable drug raid happened.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report.

Apple yanks Hong Kong map app after call-out from mainland

Hong Kong (AdChoiceTV News, Oct 10) - Apple on Thursday removed a Hong Kong map application used by pro-democracy protesters, saying it endangered police, after China warned the US tech giant to drop the app.

According to a statement published by the makers of HKmap.live, Apple said “your app has been used in ways that endanger law enforcement and residents in Hong Kong.”

The city has been gripped by protests for four months, and there have been regular clashes between hardcore demonstrators and police. The app had relied on crowdsourcing to pinpoint the location of police officers and violence incidents across the city.

Apple’s withdrawal of the application from its App Store followed an accusation from China’s state media that the app “obviously helps rioters.”

An opinion piece in the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, said on Wednesday: “Nobody wants to drag Apple into the lingering unrest in Hong Kong. But people have reason to assume that Apple is mixing business with politics, and even illegal acts.

“Apple has to think about the consequences of its unwise and reckless decision.”

HKmap.live published the App Store Review’s statement on its Telegram channel, which has more than 70,000 subscribers.

“The app displays police locations and we have verified with the Hong Kong Cybersecurity and Technology Crime Bureau that the app has been used to target and ambush police, threaten public safety, and criminals have used it to victimise residents in areas where they know there is no law enforcement,” the statement said.

“This use of your app has resulted in serious harm to these citizens.”

The developer did not comment further.

Apple — which has enormous business interests on the mainland — is just the latest Western company to fall over itself in a mad rush to appease China after drawing the ire of its media, both social and traditional.

In just the last week, the NBA, Tiffany & Co., and the shoe company Vans have all found themselves at the center of Hong Kong-related brouhahas.

AdChoiceTV News Hong Kong correspondent Robi Chan contributed to this report

Isetann Recto mall to reopen on Friday, management says

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 10)— The management of the Isetann Cinerama Complex has announced the Recto-based mall will be back in service on Friday—two days after the Manila City government shut down the establishment for lack of business permits.

“To our valued shoppers, employees, and partners, Isetann RECTO will again open tomorrow, October 11, 2019, to serve you,” the management wrote on their social media page, accompanying the post with the hashtag #WalangForever.

Reliable sources from the city government told AdChoiceTV News that the mall’s management has complied with certain requirements— including availing a lessor’s permit and correcting misdeclarations— allowing it to resume operations.

Isetann’s management has yet to announce a specific schedule for the reopening. City hall sources said the mall would have to wait for an order from the Business Permits and Licensing Office for it to resume operations.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Wednesday personally served the closure order on the mall, which is located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Quiapo.

The city’s Bureau of Permits and Licensing has recommended the mall’s closure for its violation of Section 118 of City Ordinance 8331 and misrepresentation in the application for a business permit.

The bureau has found that the mall is only allowed to do business as a shopping center with an area of 1,000 square meters with 10 employees. The bureau estimated that the mall has an area of 20,000 square meters, including the department store, supermarket, parking area and cinemas.

It added that the establishment did not have the permit to lease out stalls and spaces to tenants.

AdChoiceTV News Correspondent Robi Chan contributed to this report.

Philippine Police leadership shakeup

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 10) — The Philippine National Police on Thursday announced top-level changes happening over the weekend.

Central Visayas police chief BGen Debold Sinas will replace PMGen. Guillermo Eleazar as Metro Manila police chief.

Eleazar will be the next chief of the Directorial Staff, the third highest position in the PNP leadership.

PLtGen. Francisco Archie Gamboa will become Deputy Chief for Administration and PLtGen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan will become Deputy Chief for Operations. Their new positions are co-equal and second in line from the PNP chief.

The new officers will assume their posts on October 12, Saturday.

The new appointments come a few weeks before the retirement of PNP chief PGen. Oscar Albayalde, who will step down upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

'Yolanda housing fraud': Anti-corruption body recommends raps vs. NHA officials

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 9) — The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Wednesday recommended the filing of charges against 12 government officials responsible for alleged anomaly in the housing project for survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

PACC said that, after a six-month investigation, it found irregularities in the Yolanda Permanent Housing Program, which was tasked to build resettlement houses for the typhoon's victims.

PACC Chairman Dante Jimenez said in Eastern Samar — which was devastated by the super typhoon on November 8, 2018 — that the P741.53 million contract to build over 2,500 housing units was bagged by a sole contractor. He said that two years after the contract was awarded, only 36 housing units were completed.

"This means that J.C. Tayag Builders Inc. (JCTBI) had failed to perform its obligations in the contract despite receiving at least 15%, roughly P111.23 million," Jimenez said in a statement.

The contractor has denied being awarded majority of the contracts for the project.

PACC said 12 National Housing Authority officials should be charged by the Office of the Ombudsman for violating anti-graft laws, but did not disclose their names.

"The PACC Investigation Service found prima facie evidence against the respondents for giving unwarranted benefits, advantage, and preference to JCTBI, which was found to have fraudulently misrepresented its technical capacity into entering contracts with the government," it said.

Jimenez warned that the anti-corruption agency will continue its investigation into the housing mess until it finds the "brains" of the anomaly.

Super Typhoon Yolanda, known by the international name Haiyan, hit the Philippines on November 8, 2018 and killed at least 6,300 people.

AdChoiceTV News has been trying to reach J.C. Tayag Builders Inc but no response yet from the contractor.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan  contributed to this report.

Vans, Tiffany & Co. join NBA in tiptoeing around China on Hong Kong as ‘South Park’ takes censors head-on

Hong Kong (AdChoiceTV News, Oct 9) - Hongkongers took to social media over the weekend to show themselves dumping, torching, and even flushing Vans sneakers after the skateboarding apparel company removed a shoe alluding to the city’s anti-government protests from a design......

Alleged 'ninja cop' ordered arrested for snubbing Senate probe

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 9) — The Senate on Wednesday cited in contempt and ordered the arrest of Ronald Santos, one of the policemen involved in the controversial drug raid in Mexico, Pampanga in 2013 for failing to attend Senate hearings.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Richard Gordon announced the order at the resumption of their probe into the “ninja cops” controversy, wherein policemen allegedly recycle illegal drugs confiscated during operations.

Gordon noted that one of the officers from the Pampanga raid, which has been at the center of the controversy, has been repeatedly absent despite multiple subpoenas issued requiring the officers to attend the Senate inquiries.

Senator Panfilo Lacson also moved to cite Santos in contempt.

“Ronald Santos is very important in this case, we’ve been trying to get him,” Gordon said. “He is in contempt and we hereby order his arrest so that he could be brought here in person.”

The 13 policemen from the 2013 Pampanga operation were charged with grave misconduct for allegedly keeping 160 kilograms of shabu for themselves. The so-called “ninja cops” also supposedly received P50 million and new SUVs in exchange for the freedom of alleged Chinese drug trafficker Johnson Lee.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report

Gov't nurses must get higher basic pay, SC rules

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 9) — Government nurses secured a victory from the Supreme Court, which ruled on Tuesday that they are entitled to a higher basic pay.

In a statement, the high court said nurses working for public hospitals and health offices must be paid with the monthly rate for Salary Grade (SG) 15, four ranks higher than their current SG 11 category.

The SC en banc sided with the Ang Nars Party List, which sought clarification in 2015 regarding two conflicting provisions setting the minimum pay for nurses.

Then party-list Representative Leah Samaco-Paquiz initially wrote to the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Budget and Management to sort out the situation, but decided to run to the SC with a petition for certiorari when the matter was not resolved. Questioned before the court are provisions of the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002 and of Executive Order (EO) 811 issued by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009.

Under Section 32 of Republic Act 9173 or the Nursing Act — which was also signed into law by Arroyo — the minimum basic pay of state-employed nurses "shall not be lower than salary grade 15." However, the President's EO issued seven years later pegged the basic pay of a Nurse I to SG 11. The case went through oral arguments in February.

Based on the latest tranche of salary increases that took effect this year, a Nurse I receives just ₱20,754 to a maximum of ₱22,829 in a month under SG 11. The SC ruling will bring their basic bay to at least ₱30,531, and eligible for increases up to ₱33,279.

"In ruling in favor of the petitioners, the Court ruled that Joint Resolution No. 4, being a mere resolution, cannot amend or repeal a prior law such as RA 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act. The same applies to EO 811 which is also not a law, but an executive directive," the SC Public Information Office said.

Even though the high court said that government-employed nurses are eligible for the higher pay, it stopped short of ordering agencies to pay the difference.

The high cout said it cannot grant Ang Nars' request to compel the implementation of higher salaries, as it would "necessarily require a law passed by Congress providing the necessary funds for it."

Salaries for nurses and other government workers are covered by the yearly national budget, which is deliberated by Congress and referred to Malacañang for signing into law. It also prescribes how many job positions are available for each agency and at what rate the workers will be paid.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report.

Dormitorio family files charges vs. suspects in PMA cadet hazing-slay

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 9)— The family of late Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio on Tuesday formally filed charges against those linked to the fatal hazing of the plebe.

The Dormitorio family filed with the Baguio City court complaints of murder, torture, and hazing against PMA cadets supposedly involved in the hazing death of Darwin Dormitorio in September.

Respondents include 1st class cadet Axl Rey Sanopao, 2nd class cadet Christian Zacarias, and 3rd class cadets Shalimar Imperial Jr., Felix Lumbag Jr., Julius Carlo Tadena, Rey David John Volante, and John Vincent Manalo.

Apart from the seven cadets, the Dormitorio family also filed cases against two tactical officers and three medical doctors of the academy.

The cadets will face charges for violations of Republic Act 8049 or Anti-Hazing law and Republic Act 9745 or Anti-Torture Act. The doctors will face charges for "dereliction of duty."

This is my family's wish, as discussed last week it should be airtight, we are basing the charges based on evidences at hand," said Dexter Dormitorio, Darwin's brother, told AdChoiceTV News.

Republic Act 11053 or the "Anti-Hazing Act of 2018" bans all forms of hazing and orders the regulation of initiation rites — physical and psychological — of fraternities, sororities, and organizations to make it safer for recruits. The law also covers the citizens' military and army training.

It penalizes violators with up to 40 years imprisonment and a ₱3-million fine if a hazing rite leads to death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation

Dormitorio was a 20-year-old freshman cadet who died at the PMA hospital in Baguio City after he succumbed to fatal blows as a result of hazing.

After his hospitalization in August, he was brought back to the PMA Hospital on September 17. Dormitorio was diagnosed with urinary tract infection and discharged after a four-hour observation. Hours later, he was back at the barracks where he began vomiting. He was found unconscious early morning the next day. He was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Top PMA officials, including its superintendent, Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, resigned after the cadet's controversial death. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has also ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate probe on the incident.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report. 

GCTA scheme whistleblowers say their lives are in danger

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 8) — Witnesses who exposed the alleged “freedom for sale” scheme in the country’s prisons are fearing for their lives, saying they have received threats after testifying in the Senate.

We have children and siblings who receive unusual calls, so we are worried. "Yolanda Camilon told AdChoiceTV.

Camilon and her husband, Godfrey Gamboa, testified before the upper chamber’s Blue Ribbon committee during its probe on the expanded Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) law. They claimed that Bureau of Corrections officials asked for money in exchange for the early release of inmates through the GCTA policy.

Jean Runnstrom, the Filipino-Swedish lawyer who claims to have helped Camilon and Gamboa testify at the Senate, is also fearing for her life as she has supposedly received threats from BuCor officials.

“I was being warned through phone and text that my life is in danger and they're planning my liquidation,” Runnstrom told AdChoiceTV.

AdChoiceTV is still reaching out to BuCor employees whom Runnstrom has implicated for their comment.

As a member of the group Citizens Crime Watch, Runnstrom said she has helped several families of inmates in different facilities of the BuCor — among them, Camilon and Gamboa.

Runnstrom said Camilon even stayed at her house for a while. This was confirmed by Camilon, saying that she stayed at the lawyer’s house after she tried to retrieve her payment to BuCor officials.

Runnstrom is appealing to the Swedish government for help as she fears for her and her family’s safety. She said she will also seek the help of law enforcement agencies.

“This is really getting serious. And killing me isn't gonna stop this. Because I'll just (be) one of those who'll be eliminated,” Runnstrom said.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said they will protect and assist those who help them in finding the truth.

Currently, Camilon and Gamboa are under Senate custody.

Runnstrom said she is somewhat disappointed because the issues hounding the BuCor have not yet been resolved at the Senate Blue Ribbon committee probe.

However, she is optimistic that Senators will work to improve the situation in the BuCor.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will resume its hearing on the controversial implementation of GCTA and “ninja cops” on Wednesday.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report

Albayalde eyes swift dismissal of 13 'ninja cops'

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 7) — The 13 Pampanga policemen involved in a shady drug raid could be removed from service without notice, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde said Monday.

Six years after he reportedly blocked the sacking of these so-called "ninja cops," Albayalde announced that they could now be facing summary dismissal.

"I have directed the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management to take the lead in reviewing the administrative cases involving the so-called ninja cops in coordination with the PNP-Internal Affairs Service to initiate possible summary dismissal proceedings against these errant personnel," the top cop said in a media briefing.

The PNP's Directorate for Personnel and Records Management has also been tasked to keep the cops involved available to face the internal probe. This is alongside a decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reopen its investigation into the 2013 case, where these cops reportedly recycled drugs seized from a buy-bust operation in Mexico, Pampanga.

Albayalde has also instructed all PNP units to cooperate with the DOJ inquiry, and called upon those implicating him in the illicit scheme to show proof that he interfered in previous investigations. The group supposedly kept 160 kilograms of shabu for themselves and got ₱50 million and new sports utility vehicles in exchange for the freedom of Chinese drug trafficker Johnson Lee, who was allegedly arrested in the raid.

Albayalde, formerly the head of the Pampanga police, has admitted that he called then-Central Luzon regional police director Aaron Aquino in 2016, but only to ask about the status of his subordinates' case. However, Aquino said in a Senate hearing that Albayalde asked him to review the dismissal order for the 13 policemen.

The 13 Pampanga cops were found guilty of grave misconduct in 2014 for submitting falsified evidence for the drug sting, but their initial penalty of dismissal from service was downgraded to a one-rank demotion after they filed an appeal.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report

Duterte performance, trust ratings ease in Q3 2019

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 7) — Most Filipinos still approved and trusted the President but at a declining rate in the third quarter, according to a recent survey.

Pulse Asia said President Rodrigo Duterte lost a total of seven points in his overall performance rating — from 85 percent in June to 78 percent in September — but the score remained high. The drop in performance rating was due to the 13 percentage point lost in Balance Luzon. Only eight percent disapproved of Duterte’s performance while 14 percent were undecided.

The survey was conducted on September 16 to 22. During this time, several issues were raging in the country such as the removal of Nicanor Faeldon as Bureau of Corrections Director-General, the Senate probe on the good conduct law, the polio outbreak and the spread of the African Swine Fever, among others.

Meanwhile, half of the population continued to approve Vice President Leni Robredo’s performance. However, this was also lower than her 55 percent rating from the previous survey. She scored the highest approval rating in Visayas with 68 percent and the lowest in Metro Manila with 41 percent.

On the other hand, Senate President Tito Sotto also lost five points in his performance rating from 77 percent to 72 percent while House Speaker Peter Cayetano, who took office in July, has an approval rating of 64 percent.

For Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, his performance rating was “essentially unchanged,” Pulse Asia found. He gained only one point from 41 percent to 42 percent. Bersamin will retire on October 18.

More drops in trust...

Duterte also suffered a drop in his trust rating which registered at 74 percent, 11 points lower than his June score of 85 percent. Balance Luzon cost the President 19 trust points. However, he continued to enjoy the trust of a majority of Filipinos across geographic areas and socioeconomic classes, Pulse Asia noted.

Robredo also saw a drop in her trust ratings from 52 percent to 46 percent, a total of six points lost. The survey found that about 13 percent more of Filipinos from Metro Manila trust Robredo but this was offset by the 14 percent more from Balance Luzon who felt the opposite.

Pulse Asia said there were more Filipinos undecided on whether to trust the Vice President or not. Indecision ratings were seen at 29 percent, seven points higher than her previous score.

Sotto also suffered a drop of seven points in his trust score, from 73 percent to 66 percent. He lost 24 points from Balance Luzon and gained 16 points from Mindanao. About 22 percent more of Filipinos from Balance Luzon were undecided on whether to trust the Senate President or not.

Meanwhile, Cayetano had a trust rating of 62 percent and Bersamin only lost one point from 35 percent to 34 percent in his trust score.

Pulse Asia conducted the survey among 1,200 adult respondents. It has a 2.8% error margin at the 95% confidence level. For Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao it has a 5.7% error margin each at the 95% confidence level.

AdChoiceTV News, Robi Chan contributed to this report.

US senator: Duterte gov’t should be held accountable for jailing De Lima

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 5) — It is "right" for the United States to hold the Philippine government accountable for the "troubling" detention of Senator Leila de Lima, an American lawmaker said Friday.

Veteran US Senator Ed Markey backed colleagues who have been criticized by Philippine administration officials for proposing a ban on those involved in De Lima's imprisonment.

In a tweet, Markey said fellow Senators Dick Durbin and Patrick Leahy "are right to push for accountability in the Philippine government."

"America must continue to stand for human rights and good governance," Markey added, as he reiterated his call for De Lima's release.

"Sen. de Lima has been the target of very troubling partisan persecution. In an attempt to intimidate and silence voices critical of the government, de Lima has been jailed and not given the opportunity to defend herself," Markey said.

Markey was one of five senators who earlier filed a resolution at the US Senate calling on the Philippine government to immediately free De Lima. He was joined by fellow Democrats Chris Coons and Durbin, and Republicans Marco Rubio and Marsha Blackbur.

The resolution called De Lima a "prisoner of conscience," noting that the charges against her were filed because she repeatedly criticized President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs. Malacañang has denied going after De Lima for being a staunch critic.

De Lima has been detained since 2017 for allegedly abetting illegal drug trade in the national penitentiary during her term as Justice Secretary under the previous administration. She has maintained her innocence and accused the government of fabricating the cases against her.

A US Senate committee recently approved the proposal to deny entry to Philippine government officials behind De Lima's detention. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said it was an affront to Philippine sovereignty, and even called Leahy "ignorant"of the country's laws and justice system.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and colleague Christopher "Bong" Go suggested slapping US officials with a similar ban for interfering in the country's internal affairs.

Duterte said he will talk to American President Donald Trump if the controversial measure is passed prohibiting anti-De Lima officials from the US. - AdChoiceTV News

2019 ozone hole could be smallest in three decades

The ozone hole over Antarctica this year could be one of the smallest seen in three decades, say scientists.

Image provided by CAMS

Observations of the gas's depletion high in the atmosphere demonstrate that it hasn't opened up in 2019 in the way it normally does.

The EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) says it's currently well under half the area usually seen in mid-September.

The hole is also off-centre and far from the pole, the EU agency adds.

CAMS' experts, who are based in Reading, UK, are projecting stable levels of ozone or a modest increase in the coming days.

Ozone is a molecule that is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is responsible for filtering out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

The gas is constantly being made and destroyed in the stratosphere, about 20-30km above the Earth.

In an unpolluted atmosphere, this cycle of production and decomposition is in equilibrium. But chlorine and bromine-containing chemicals released by human activity have unbalanced the process, resulting in a loss of ozone that is at its greatest in the Antarctic spring in October/November.

The Montreal Protocol signed by governments in 1987 has sought to recover the situation by banning the production and use of the most damaging chemicals.

This past week has seen the area of deep thinning cover just over five million square km. This time last year it was beyond 20 million square km, although in 2017 it was just above 10 million sq km. In other words, there is a good degree of variability from year to year.

The conditions for thinning occur annually just as the Antarctic emerges from Winter. The reactions that work to destroy ozone in the cold stratosphere are initiated by the return of sunshine at high latitudes.

Scientists say that while losses started earlier than normal this year, they were truncated by a sudden warming event that lifted temperatures in the stratosphere by 20-30 degrees. This destabilised the ozone destroying process. 

Richard Engelen is the deputy head at CAMS. He says the small size seen so far this year is encouraging but warns against complacency.

"Right now I think we should view this as an interesting anomaly. We need to find out more about what caused it." he told BBC News..

"It's not really related to the Montreal Protocol where we've tried to reduce chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere because they're still there. It's much more related to a dynamical event. People will obviously ask questions related to climate change, but we simply can't answer that at this point."

CAMS is an EU service run by the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF).

It has access to a range of space-borne observations. Principal data sources include the European Metop weather satellites and the EU's own Sentinel-5P spacecraft. The four platforms all carry ozone sensors and routinely cross the pole. 

Their information is combined with models of atmospheric behaviour.

The World Metrological Organization-sponsored 2018 Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion said a recovery of the ozone layer to pre-1970 levels could be expected around 2060. - AdChoiceTV News

Duterte tags 2 generals in illegal drug trade, but no names mentioned

Metro Manila (AdChoiceTV News, October 4) — President Rodrigo 
Duterte said two generals are involved in the illegal drug trade, 
but did not name names or identify if they are from the military or police.

"Right now, even as I fly here and go back. 
There are about — again — two generals who are still playing 
with drugs," he said during the Valdai Discussion Club forum in Sochi, Russia 
on Thursday (Friday, Philippine time).

"And I said, 'Well, I told you do not destroy my country because 
it is being flooded with drugs,'" Duterte added.

Duterte also recalled that when he assumed the presidency in July 2016, 
he found out that nine generals were involved in drug trafficking.

During the think tank forum attended by other world leaders, 
Russian officials, and academicians, Duterte also defended his 
administration's bloody war on drugs. He lambasted his critics 
and rights advocates, adding he was surprised when even the 
United Nations Human Rights Commission "heavily criticized" 
his policy to kill drug suspects who refuse to surrender.

"I would post to the entire community of the world, 
'Is it wrong for a president to say do not destroy my country, 
especially the children, because I will kill you?' 
That was my order to the armed forces and the police," he said.

Government data show at least 6,600 people have been 
killed in anti-illegal drug operations since Duterte took office in 
July 2016. Local and international human rights groups say 
the anti-drug campaign has resulted in more than 20,000 
extrajudicial killings, a claim the government has denied.

Gov’t open to releasing full list of PH delegation to Russia amid junket allegations

Metro Manila — Malacañang said it is open to releasing the list of the entire delegation that accompanied President Rodrigo Duterte on his five-day trip to Russia.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo replied yes when asked by AdChoiceTV if the full list of the country’s delegation should be accessible to the public.

Panelo said the list can be requested from Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Eric Borje. The protocol office has not yet responded to AdChoiceTV’s request.

This comes amid speculation from netizens that some government officials — and even civilians — are on a junket paid for by the government. Duterte had sacked many executives before for excessive travels.

Aside from 16 Cabinet members who are part of Duterte’s official delegation, an accompanying delegation is also with the President during his five-day trip. While a list of the official delegation has been released, a list of the accompanying delegation has yet to be made public.

However, some individuals have posted on social media identifying themselves as part of Duterte’s accompanying delegation. They include newly-appointed Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Usec. Mocha Uson and Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone.

AdChoiceTV has asked Evardone about his role in the Russia trip, but he has not yet responded. On Instagram, he posted a video where he appeared to be strolling around Moscow's Red Square and photos of him eating caviar.

Evardone thanked former House Speaker Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. for the caviar. Belmonte, who no longer holds any government post, is also in Russia and appears to have boarded the same plane with Duterte and other officials.

It is not clear whether Belmonte is part of the country’s delegation. But his daughter, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, thanked Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus “Bong” Suntay on Facebook for “spending my Dad’s birthday with him today in Russia as part of [President Rodrigo Duterte’s] official party.”

Other officials in the accompanying delegation include House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, and Reps. Sheen Tan, Ria Christian Fariñas and Marlyn “Len” Alonte.

Social media posts indicate that the following government officials are also in Russia, but it is unclear whether they are part of the Philippine delegation:

- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

- Deputy Speaker Lord Allan Velasco

- Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez

- House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez

- Taguig-Pateros 1st District Rep. Lani Cayetano

- Cavite 7th DIstrict Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla

- Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo

- Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte

- Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez

- Bohol 2nd District Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado

- Valenzuela City 1st District Rep. Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian

- Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua

- Batangas Gov. Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas

The spouses of some government officials were also seen accompanying them in Russia.

Atty. Larry Gadon, a 2019 senatorial race loser, was also spotted in Russia, posing for photos with other government officials

Celebrities, including Philip Salvador, James Ronald Obeso of comedy duo Moymoy Palaboy, and Cesar Montano, were also seen in social media posts from officials in Russia.

Panelo said that as far as he knows, these celebrities are not paid for entertaining the Filipino community as they wait for Duterte’s arrival.

“They have been doing that during the presidential campaign. They just happen to be genuine and rabid fans of the PRRD,” Panelo said.

Meanwhile, some 150 businessmen are also part of Duterte’s business delegation. Among them are Arnold Mamaclay of Rensol Recruitment and Antonio Tiu of Agrinurture Inc.

Sources said businessmen paid their own way to Russia and boarded a Qatar Airways flight to the country.

AdChoiceTV News Joan Indang, Joey Castro, Robi Chan contributed to this report.