1. SWINE RAISERS AFFECTED BY PORK BARREL ISSUE
Senators have given “pork” a bad name. The National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc (NFHFI) said the industry is suffering from “pork backlash” as sales continue to dip amid the controversy. NFHFI chair Daniel Javellana Jr. said they are “hurting from the negative association of our industry to the pork barrel fund mess, which has absolutely nothing to do with the swine industry.”
2. BINAY-CAYETANO TALK PEACE
The turf war between Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay and Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano was called off on Monday as the two agreed to “keep the peace” around Fort Bonifacio. Binay paid Cayetano a visit at Taguig City Hall to diffuse tension between warring camps and avert further violence from erupting. The two called for a press briefing and announced a ceasefire on the word wars and altercations between Makati and Taguig employees. The legal battle over which city Bonfiacio Global City belongs to is still on, however.
3. DFA STEPS UP OFW REPATRIATION FROM SYRIA
Foreign affairs officials are working double time to bring home the remaining overseas Filipino workers in Syria amid deteriorating security. Another batch of 41 OFWs will arrive on Tuesday, bringing the head count of Filipino repatriates from Syria up to 4,728. The agency is also urging remaining Filipinos in the country to get in touch with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus or the Honorary Consul in Aleppo for immediate repatriation arrangements.
4. MISUARI CAMP IN STANDOFF WITH GOV’T TROOPS
Tension gripped Zamboanga City on Monday as 200 to 300 members of the Moro National Liberation Front killed six people and took at least 20 people hostage in six coastal villages in the city outskirts. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala said the rebels wanted to march to City Hall and declare independence from the government. President Benigno Aquino III said the attack was aimed at crippling ongoing peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
5. MILF APPEALS TO MNLF BROTHERS
The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, a breakaway group of the Moro National Liberation, has appealed to their Muslim brothers “to take the path of peace” after the Monday morning attack on coastal villages in Zamboanga City. MILF political affairs vice chair Ghadzali Jaafar also reminded its members to stay “neutral” amid the current conflict as they are pushing to renew peace talks with the Aquino administration.
[Image: GMA News]
