Category: General

People Power Party lawmaker Rep. Bae Hyun-jin sustained a head injury after she was hit in the head with a rock Thursday by a 15-year-old male, her office said.

The incident happened around 5 p.m. in the southern Seoul district of Gangnam.

According to Bae’s aide, a male pedestrian walked up to Bae and asked, “Are you the lawmaker Bae Hyun-jin?” and struck her in the back of the head with a rock the size of an adult man’s fist.

Bae was transported to Soonchunhyang University Hospital with her head bleeding. Bae remained conscious and her injury is not believed to be life-threatening.

The suspect was momentarily arrested by police in Gangnam and claimed to officers that he is 15-years-old.

Bae, 40, is a former television news anchor who was elected to her first term in the National Assembly in 2020. She briefly served as a spokesperson for then-President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022.

CCTV footage provided by Bae’s office showed that the suspect struck the lawmaker 15 times with the rock within a span of
some 10 seconds until nearby witnesses physically engaged the suspect.

Footage showed that the suspect, who wore a mask and a beanie while dressed in a hoodie, remained at the scene, observing the lawmaker until Bae’s aides apprehended him. He was later handed over to police.

Dr. Park Sukh-que, a neurosurgeon who treated Bae at Soonchunhyang, said the lawmaker was in stable condition after getting her wound stapled.

The attack on Bae comes some three weeks after Lee Jae-myung, leader of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), was stabbed in the neck during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on Friday reaffirmed its decision to suspend the television programs “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan”, and dismissed the motions for reconsideration (MR) filed by SMNI.

The MTRCB’s initial decision to suspend the two programs stemmed from multiple complaints regarding the alleged death threats and profane language by a host on “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” during its Oct. 10, 2023 episode.

Although initial complaints were dismissed, the MTRCB issued a stern warning to the network that any future similar infractions would be dealt with more severely, which shows the Board’s commitment to fairness and thoroughness.

More than a month after the MTRCB’s initial dismissal of the case, subsequent complaints were filed against the shows’ episodes.

On Dec. 13, 2023, following a comprehensive review of the cases and a careful examination of the position papers submitted by the respondents, the MTRCB unanimously decided to im
pose a preventive suspension of 14 days on both programs.

This decision was in alignment with the prior warning issued by the MTRCB and served as a proactive measure aimed at addressing concerns and fostering adherence to prescribed standards upheld by the Board.

Upon careful review and consideration of the complaints received by the Board, and following hearings conducted, the programs were deemed in violation of established guidelines and standards set by Presidential Decree No. 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations governing broadcasting content.

‘MTRCB’s mandate is to protect viewers from inappropriate content, more so on Television where viewers of all ages have unadulterated access. Grounded in the principles of due process and fairness, our resolve to enforce accountability in media content regulation is resolute,’ MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto said.

The Board, in exercising its adjudicative authority, also found the respondents’ assertions unconvincing and lacking persuasiveness.

Consequ
ently, the MTRCB extended the suspension to 28 days, including the initial 14-day preventive suspension.

On Jan. 11, the respondents submitted MRs. However, after a meticulous scrutiny of the matters raised in the respective motions, the MTRCB concluded that they merely reiterated points already raised in the position papers submitted earlier. As such, the MTRCB has decided to deny both MRs.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Most banks maintained their credit standards in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

Results of the Senior Bank Loan Officers’ Survey (SLOS) released on Friday showed that most of the respondent banks kept their credit standards generally unchanged for lending to businesses and consumers based on the modal approach.

The diffusion index (DI) method, on the other hand, showed varied results reflecting a net tightening of credit standards for firms and a net easing of loan standards for households.

The SLOS consists of questions on loan officers’ perceptions relating to the overall credit standards of their respective banks, as well as to factors affecting the supply of and demand for loans to both enterprises and households.

In the modal approach, the results of the survey are analyzed by looking at the option with the highest share of responses. The three options include tightening, easing, or unchanged credit standards for loans to enterprises and for loans to household
s.

In the DI approach, a positive DI for credit standards indicates that the proportion of respondent banks that have tightened their credit standards exceeds those that eased, whereas a negative DI for credit standards indicates that more respondent banks have eased their credit standards compared to those that tightened.

An unchanged credit standard in the DI approach indicates that the proportion of the respondent banks that have tightened their credit standards is equal to those that eased their credit standards.

Loans to enterprises

The BSP said that in the fourth quarter of 2023, 88 percent of the participant banks maintained credit standards for businesses based on the modal approach.

For the DI approach, survey results showed a net tightening of overall credit standards across all borrower firm sizes due to banks’ lower risk tolerance, deterioration of borrowers’ profiles and profitability of banks’ portfolios, along with stricter financial system regulations.

“Over the next quarter, both the mo
dal and DI methods indicated respondents’ expectations of generally unchanged credit standards for enterprises amid banks’ sustained tolerance for risk and stable outlook for the overall economy as well as for industries and firms, along with the steady profiles of borrowers,” the BSP said.

Loans to households

SLOS results further showed that about 70.6 percent of surveyed banks retained their lending standards for household loans.

The DI-based results, however, pointed to net easing credit standards for consumer loans mainly due to the improvement in profitability of banks’ portfolios, higher risk tolerance, and less uncertain economic outlook.

In the first quarter of this year, modal results showed a higher number of bank respondents anticipating maintained loan standards for households, while the DI approach indicated a continued net easing of credit standards driven by banks’ expectations of improved profitability of their portfolios, higher risk tolerance, and more favorable economic outlook.

Loan d
emand

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the majority of surveyed banks pointed to generally steady demand for credit from businesses based on the modal method.

However, the DI approach showed a net increase in loan demand from across all firm classifications driven by bank clients’ more optimistic economic outlook, increased customer inventory financing and accounts receivable needs, including lack of other sources of funds.

In the first quarter of 2024, most banks expect steady loan demand from businesses under the modal approach, while the DI method indicated that participating banks anticipate a net rise in credit demand from businesses driven by customers’ more positive economic prospects.

For households, more than half of the surveyed banks indicated generally steady loan demand from consumers in the fourth quarter of 2023 based on the modal approach.

For the DI method, a net increase in consumer loan demand was indicated across all major loan categories due to higher household consumption and banks’ m
ore attractive financing terms.

For the first quarter of 2024, about half of the bank respondents expect higher demand for credit from households.

“The DI approach also pointed to a net increase in consumer loan demand driven by expectations of higher household consumption and housing investment, banks’ more attractive financing terms, and lower income prospects,” said the BSP.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Gia Lai: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on January 26 presented Tet gifts to social policy beneficiaries, officers, soldiers, and disadvantaged labourers in Gia Lai as part of his visit to the Central Highlands province.

The Chairman lauded Gia Lai for its achievements in 2023, with its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanding by 3.02%, GRDP per capita reaching 59.08 million VND (2,400 USD), and budget collection over 5.55 trillion VND.

Notably, the locality has paid due attention to social policy beneficiaries and those who have rendered services to the nation, he said, adding that Gia Lai is working to mobilise more resources to support underprivileged households on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.

Hue asked the province to further facilitate production and business to generate more jobs for labourers and raise their income, pay more heed to the management and use of farming and forestry land, and well implement land-related policies towards ethnic minorities as
stipulated in the amended Land Law which will take effect from January 2025.

The province was requested to give more care to social policy beneficiaries, revolution contributors, poor households, Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims, and disadvantaged labourers.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) symbolically presented 200 houses worth about 10 billion VND to poor households in the locality.

Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Y Thanh Ha Nie KDam handed over 300 million VND from the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) to ethnic minorities and other needy residents in Gia Lai./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 12th Balay Silangan Reformation Center in the province of Pangasinan was inaugurated here Friday, with an initial 11 clients who will undergo rehabilitation program.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Pangasinan director Retchie Camacho, in an interview, said the establishment of the center, located in Barangay Poblacion Oeste, is one of the steps for the city to attain a drug-cleared status.

He said the center has a 24-bed capacity but only 11 initial clients have passed the screening for the first batch.

‘Only the street-level pushers will be catered in the center. The users and target-listed are not part of the program in the center,’ he said, noting that screening in the 31 villages of the city is ongoing to determine the number of clients for the succeeding batches.

Camacho said the center will not yet entertain clients from other towns or cities since the locality will be using it for its own anti-illegal drugs campaign because only four of the 31 villages here have received drug-cleared status
.

He said the center’s initial clients will undergo an in-house rehabilitation for a month and will have the second and third phases of their program outside of the center.

Mayor Belen Fernandez, in her speech during the inauguration program, said the clients will be given counseling sessions, health education, values formation, and personal and life skills training for drug reformists.

The city government has also provided food packs and PHP5,000 for each of the families of the 11 clients as an initial assistance.

Fernandez also sought the support of the city’s barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth) councils for the local government’s drive against illegal drugs.

She also asked the drug reformists to use the opportunity to change and make their lives better.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Laoag City’s famous Pamulinawen Festival will showcase vibrant culture and colorful traditions in February.

Laoag (lawag in Ilokano, meaning light) will have a month-long celebration of the unique culture and famous destinations of the Ilocos Norte city in order to attract more tourists and generate livelihood for the locals.

The events will officially kick-off 4 a.m. on Feb. 1 with a local marching band and its “tamburero” (bamboo flutists) greeting every home along the way.

Other activities are a civic-military parade, thanksgiving concert at Aurora Park and an exhibit of horse-drawn carriages (kalesa).

With the support of the local government, the kalesa remains visible around the city to attract tourists and even locals who wish to experience a ride around the city while providing livelihood to the dwindling number of aging “kutsero” (carriage driver).

A dragon dance will also be held during the Chinese New Year on Feb. 10.

The Pamulinawen Festival was originally held in honor of the city’s patron
saint, St. William, and for the staging of Comedia Ilocana, musical dramas about the wars between Christians and Muslims.

“It is a reminder that our relentless faith will always get us through even the darkest of times,’ Mayor Michael Keon said in an interview on Friday.

Source: Philippines News Agency

An argument over an absence without leave (AWOL) case resulted in the death of two soldiers in Labrador, Pangasinan on Friday.

Initial report from the Labrador Police Station stated that Technical Sgt. Marianito Bolante, 47, was shot dead by M/Sgt. Henry Malong Quiajado at the latter’s residence in Barangay Uyong.

Quiajado later killed himself during a standoff with responding cops.

Quiajado also fired at five other collegues who were with Bolante, who died on the spot, while the others were unhurt.

They are members of the First Scout Ranger Regiment-Philippine Army based in Camp Tecson, Barangay Tartaro, San Miguel, Bulacan.

In a phone interview, M/Sgt. Glenn Ancheta, investigator of the Labrador Police, said the police tried for about three hours to convince Quiajado to surrender after he locked himself in his house.

Recovered from the crime scene were one Glock 17 Gen4 9mm, 12 pieces of live ammunition owned by the suspect, 11 fired cartridge cases of caliber 9mm, and one fired cartridge case for 5.
56mm.

It was not clear yet what the argument about the AWOL case was all about.

Source: Philippines News Agency