(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Wednesday, 09 October 2024) At 3:00 AM today, a Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated based on all available data at 165 km West Northwest of Coron, Palawan (12.3N, 118.7E) It is embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—˜π—”π—§π—›π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to ITCZ. Possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms. 𝗙𝗒π—₯π—˜π—–π—”π—¦π—§ π—ͺπ—œπ—‘π—— 𝗔𝗑𝗗 π—–π—’π—”π—¦π—§π—”π—Ÿ π—ͺπ—”π—§π—˜π—₯ π—–π—’π—‘π——π—œπ—§π—œπ—’π—‘: Light to moderate winds coming from Southwest to West will prevail with slight to moderate seas (0.6 to 2.5 meters).


TOP STORIES – Wednesday, 18 October 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)

18 October 2023, Wednesday, as of 5:00 p.m.

1. MAHARLIKA INVESTMENT FUND

Marcos suspends Maharlika fund implementation

-Maharlika IRR implementation suspended pending further study, says DBP head

-Suspension of Maharlika implementation a 'very good development,' says Pimentel

-Suspend Maharlika fund? Makabayan solon says it’s better to scrap it

-OSG ready to defend Maharlika fund’s validity in SC — Guevarra

-Salceda on Maharlika fund suspension: It's an IRR thing

-'I trust his instincts': Arroyo reacts to PBBM's suspension of Maharlika fund

[Rappler, Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, CNN Philippines, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, BusinessMirror, Manila Standard]

https://www.rappler.com/business/marcos-suspends-maharlika-fund-implementation-further-review-october-18-2023/

2. Marcos’ foreign visits yield P427-B investments, says DTI official

-5 more business pledges from PBBM trips to bear fruit soon

-Germany dominates pledges in Marcos foreign trips

[Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Daily Tribune, BusinessMirror, Abante, The Manila Times, Pilipino Star Ngayon, Pilipino Mirror]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1847367/marcos-foreign-visits-yield-p427-b-investments-says-dti-official

3. FILIPINOS IN ISRAEL

-Filipinos from Israel, Gaza begin arriving

-Filipinos in Gaza face difficult choice: Flee or leave behind Palestinian family

-Egypt may open border for foreigners’ exodus from Gaza ‘any day now’: DFA

-18 agri scholars stuck in Israel now back in PH

-Akbayan urges PH gov't to prioritize safety of Filipinos affected by Israel-Palestine crisis

-AFP readies aircraft to evacuate Filipinos in Gaza

[The Philippine Star, Rappler, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/10/18/2304632/filipinos-israel-gaza-begin-arriving

4. Marcos wants immediate implementation of anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing strategy

[GMA News, Rappler, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/885521/marcos-wants-immediate-implementation-of-anti-money-laundering-counter-terrorism-financing-strategy/story/?just_in

5. PCG ANNIVERSARY

-BBM honors PCG teams in encounters with China

-Marcos vows to beef up Coast Guard capability in securing WPS

-Phl now defense-capable — Marcos

-Coast Guard to get 40 new patrol boats

-PBBM says government boosting PCG’s capability to secure PHL territory

[The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Daily Tribune, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Times, ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, BusinessMirror, CNN Philippines]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/10/18/2304705/west-philippine-sea-defenders-honored-pcgs-122nd-anniversary

6. Defense chief Teodoro calls China a 'squatter' in West Philippine Sea

[ABS-CBN News, CNN Philippines, Inquirer, GMA News, Manila Bulletin]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/23/teodoro-china-a-squatter-in-west-philippine-sea

7. Marcos appoints new PSG head

[GMA News, ABS-CBN News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, The Manila Times, People’s Tonight]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/885461/marcos-names-jesus-morales-as-new-psg-chief/story/

8. HOUSE VS. EX-PRES. DUTERTE

-Party-list coalition backs Speaker Romualdez amid criticism over funds

-House defends confidential fund realignment

-Ex-president Duterte's tirades vs. House puzzling, says majority leader

-Duterte's statement on confidential, intelligence funds factual – Panelo

-No more immunity: Makabayan eyes legal action vs Duterte for death threat

-'Masama po ba yun?': Dalipe asks whats wrong with tapping confidential funds to protect PH interests in WPS

[GMA News, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, The Philippine Star]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/885501/party-list-coalition-backs-speaker-romualdez-amid-criticism-over-funds/story/

9. VP Duterte: Set budget issues aside, focus on hard times ahead

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, GMA News, CNN Philippines]

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/18/23/vp-duterte-set-budget-issues-aside-focus-on-hard-times-ahead

10. HACKING

-Websites of Senate, House under attack

-Senate on alert after attack on website

-Lessons on PhilHealth, PSA hacks: Time to level up care for critical infrastructure

[PhilStar, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News, Manila Standard]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/10/18/2304656/websites-senate-house-under-attack

11. DND to acquire three C-130

[Manila Times, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/10/18/news/national/dnd-to-acquire-three-c-130/1915219

12. Gov’t pressed to cooperate with ICC as Duterte admits using secret funds for EJK

[Inquirer, GMA News, CNN Philippines]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/10/18/makabayan-bloc-cooperate-icc.html

13.  PCC HAZING INCIDENT

- Police will sue 4 frat members for fatal hazing of criminology student

-QCPD chief condoles with family of hazing victim, vows to pursue all suspects

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, PhilStar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1847319/police-will-sue-4-fraternity-members-for-fatal-hazing-of-criminology-student

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit