月別: 2024年11月

OFW returning to country after spared from Indon death row

/ Manila Shimbun

Overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso will soon return to the country after more than a decade of Philippine diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday.

“After over a decade of diplomacy and consultations with the Indonesian government, we managed to delay her execution long enough to reach an agreement to finally bring her back to the Philippines,” Marcos said on his social media page.

Marcos expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill.

He said this reflects the strengthened partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia.

The President also noted the two nations’ shared commitment to justice and compassion.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian government for their goodwill. This outcome is a reflection of the depth [of] our nation’s partnership with Indonesia—united in a shared commitment to justice and compassion,” Marcos said.

“Thank you, Indonesia. We look forward to welcoming Mary Jane home,” he added.

During the 42nd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Indonesia in May 2023, Marcos emphasized the Philippine government had consistently appealed to Indonesia for Veloso’s pardon, commutation of sentence, and extradition so she could serve her sentence in the Philippines.

Veloso has been detained in Indonesia since 2010 after being arrested on drug trafficking charges.

Rhe Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally requested clemency for Veloso on September 6, 2022. She was arrested in Yogyakarta in 2010 after she was found carrying a suitcase containing over 2.6 kilograms of heroin. She was sentenced to death in the same year. Presidential News Desk

Pagasa declares start of Amihan

/ Manila Shimbun

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has formally declared the start of the northeast monsoon or Amihan on Tuesday.

In a statement, Pagasa said that for several days, the high pressure area over Siberia has strengthened, causing a strong surge of northeasterly winds which is expected to affect the eastern parts of Luzon Tuesday and on Wednesday, after the passage of Super Typhoon “Pepito”.

“Furthermore, successive surges of northeasterly winds are expected over the next two weeks, leading to an increase in atmospheric pressure and cooling of surface air temperature over the northern portion of Luzon,” Pagasa said.

It also said that northeasterly wind flow is expected to be more dominant in
most parts of the country, bringing cold and dry air.

“Episodes of wind and cold temperature surges, as well as increasing prevalence of rough sea conditions, especially over the seaboards of Luzon are also expected in the coming months,” Pagasa said.

In a separate advisory, Pagasa said that as of 2 pm, no low pressure areas or tropical cyclones are being monitored for tropical cyclone formation. Jaspearl Tan/DMS