Latest news with #Domagoso
GMA Network
22-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Quezon City, Manila declare state of calamity due to Habagat
Members of the rescue team from the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion (525CEBn), the Philippine Army's main Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) unit, prepare to assist flood-affected residents in Quezon City and Marikina City on Monday, July 21, 2025. The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) brought heavy rains, flooding many areas. Photo courtesy: S7, 525CEBn Philippine Army The local governments of Quezon City and Manila on Tuesday declared a state of calamity amid the heavy downpour brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. The declaration in Quezon City was made during a special session by the city council led by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto. 'Yes, our city council declared a State of Calamity kaninang 2 p.m.,' Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte confirmed in a message to GMA Integrated News' James Agustin. Quezon City's emergency hotlines will remain open. For emergency or help, city residents may dial 122. Likewise, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso made a similar declaration to hasten the emergency response in the city. 'To those who are watching in their respective barangays, the day after tomorrow, you can now utilize your calamity fund to augment and address needs of your respective constituency,' said Domagoso in a live address. Further, Domagoso said that six city-run hospitals are ready to take in patients. 'Naka-high alert po ang ating anim na ospital,' he said. Work in government offices and classes at all levels in Metro Manila are still suspended on Wednesday due to the continuous heavy rainfall brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the Malacanang said. Meanwhile, the low pressure area located east of Aurora has developed into Tropical Depression Dante on Tuesday afternoon, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
14-07-2025
- GMA Network
Midwife behind botched circumcision on 10-year-old boy in Tondo arrested
The midwife who conducted a fatal circumcision operation on a 10-year-old in Tondo last May was arrested and was presented to the public on Monday alongside the most wanted suspects of Manila. Suspect Teresita Clarin was charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and illegal practice of medicine. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso presented Clarin and three other suspects for various cases. Clarin looked down when she was called forward by Domagoso. 'Sagutin mo na lang sa mata ng batas ha? I hope maging takdang aral sa'yo 'yan,' said Domagoso. (Just answer in the eyes of the law, okay? I hope this will be a lesson to you.) 'Hindi na po ako…Hindi na po ako….', she said. (I won't do it…I won't do it…) 'Naiintindihan kita, kaya lang ito yung pamilya,' Domagoso replied as he pointed to the 10-year-old victim's mother who was also present. (I understand you, but the family is here.) 'Kayo na ang bahala, basta ito ay arestado na. Kung gusto niyo makamit ang hustisya, nasa inyo na po 'yun,' the mayor told the victim's mother. (Now that she's arrested, it's now up to you what to do next. If you want to achieve justice, it's now up to you.) Domagoso went to the victim's mother to comfort her when she became upset after seeing the suspect. 'Nakakalungkot, siyempre alam mo, katulad nito, senior citizen. Mahal na mahal ko ang mga 'yan. But what can we do? Sana maging takdang aral 'yan sa iba. I feel bad also for the victim and the family,' said Domagoso. (It's saddening, because in this case the suspect is a senior citizen. My heart goes to the elderly people there. But what can we do? I hope this will serve as a lesson for others. I feel bas also for the victim and the family.) The suspect was taken to the Manila Police District but was immediately released amid the pending autopsy of the victim. The suspect was also arrested in 2023 by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group after using the name and license number of a legitimate doctor whom she had worked with over 20 years ago. But she was later released on bail. The barangay also said the suspect does not have any permit to operate her lying-in clinic where the circumcision was performed. It was also reported that the victim was administered anesthesia—reportedly in the amount of 20cc, as per the clinic staff. According to the police's autopsy report, a brain hemorrhage possibly resulting from anesthesia caused the boy's death. The other suspects arrested and presented were Florencio Flores for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Jonas Bayubay for crime of frustrated murder, and Eddie Boy Savellano for qualified rape and acts of lasciviousness. — RF, GMA Integrated News
Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Manila's mayor returns to office to face mountains of trash
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso declared a state of public health emergency amid piles of uncollected rubbish across his city. MANILA – Mr Francisco Domagoso returned to office as mayor of Manila, the Philippines, on June 30 to the news that the companies that collect the city's garbage were ending their services that day, citing unpaid bills. Weeks before, piles of garbage had started taking over the city, the Philippine capital. In some areas, roads became impassable for cars. Mountains of refuse lined crowded commercial areas, as well as the wide avenues leading to city hall and the country's Supreme Court. Trash bags and discarded crates floated down streets flooded by the monsoon rains. Litter is a fact of life in Manila, where grand colonial buildings are cramped by modern high-rises and dense shanty towns. But for weeks, the smell of rot has grown inescapable for nearly 2 million residents as uncollected waste stewed in the humid South-east Asian weather. 'It hurts the eyes, it hurts the nose, and it hurts public health,' Mr Domagoso said, speaking on a livestream on June 30, where he asked residents to store garbage in their homes until collection returned to normal. He declared a state of emergency in the city the next day. The mayor, a former actor known as Isko Moreno, worked as a garbage collector before beginning his acting career. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says countries to start paying tariffs on Aug 1, floats range of 10% to 70% Singapore Sengkang murder: Man accused of killing elderly mother escorted back to crime scene Singapore Multiple charges for man accused of damaging PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Jail for man who recruited 2 Japanese women for prostitution at MBS Asia Malaysia dismantles ISIS network involving workers from Bangladesh Asia Chinese national missing in Thailand rescued, embassy warns of shady job offers Business Central banks tweak US dollar reserves, with euro and gold gaining ground: UBS survey Singapore Seller's stamp duty rates for private homes raised; holding period increased from 3 years to 4 In a speech to the City Council on July 1, Mr Domagoso blamed the government of the previous mayor, Dr Honey Lacuna, for leaving the city in debt to the garbage collectors. Dr Lacuna did not respond to requests for comment. Trash collection and other public services tend to suffer when cities in metropolitan Manila change hands, a Philippine political observer said. 'In a way, this is a usual thing for transitions, so it feels like it's being used for political purposes by both sides,' said Mr Tony La Vina, director of the Klima Centre at the Manila Observatory, an environmental research centre. The two private companies that collect garbage for the city said in letters that they were ending their services. In the letters, which the mayor read on the livestream, they said they had begun working for the city in February and had not been paid since. Residents began complaining about trash on social media in mid-June. The city's unpaid bills were the equivalent of nearly US$17 million (S$22 million), Mr Domagoso said, an amount that was a fraction of the city's debt for service contracts, infrastructure projects and social benefits. 'The capital of the country is already in the financial ICU,' Mr Domagoso said in the speech. The mayor said he would investigate why the city's coffers were in dire straits. 'If they're in debt, it's completely unnecessary because it's one of the top five richest cities in the Philippines,' Mr La Vina said. Mr Domagoso leveraged his acting fame and clean-cut image to first become mayor of Manila in 2019, promising to clean up the densely populated capital. He set his sights on national office and ran for president in 2022 , finishing in fourth place. He won handily in the mayoral election against Dr Lacuna in May. Dr Lacuna had served as vice-mayor during Mr Domagoso's first term, and the two were allies until Mr Domagoso decided to return to Manila. On June 30, a new contractor worked through the night to pick up trash, free of charge as a favour to Mr Domagoso, he told local media, and water trucks followed the garbage collectors, hosing down the streets. On July 4, he posted photos of cars and motorcycles running unencumbered on two major thoroughfares finally clear of waste. NYTIMES
