Latest news with #VonneAquino
GMA Network
20-07-2025
- GMA Network
Taal Lake search for missing sabungeros resumes; local fishers take hit
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has resumed its search for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake after operations were suspended due to inclement weather. According to Vonne Aquino's '24 Oras' report, PCG technical divers continued with the operations early Sunday but were forced to halt due to sudden downpour. They used a remotely-operating vehicle and an aerial drone to further inspect the search area but yielded no suspicious objects. The local government of Agoncillo, Batangas said the discovery of human remains in the lake—after whistleblower Julie "Dondon" Patidongan pointed to it as the site where the missing sabungeros' bodies were dumped—is affecting the small-scale fisherfolk in the municipality, with public fear driving down demand for tawilis. 'Halos 40% ang binaba ng harvest ng tawilis. Kung konti ang demand, konti rin ang magiging supply,' said Mayor Cinderella Reyes. (The harvest went down by almost 40%. If there is less supply, then there is less demand.) In the town of Talisay, Batangas, fewer fish vendors are selling tawilis, increasing the prices from P80 per kilo to P100 per kilo. Municipal administrator Alfredo Anciato said they are mulling declaring a state of calamity to extend assistance to the affected fishers. 'Sa ngayon, kinukuha namin ang lahat ng data through our municipal agriculture office. Tinatanong namin ang stakeholders kung ano ang epekto sa aming maliliit na mangingisda,' Anciato added. (We are now gathering all data through our municipal agriculture office. We are also asking our stakeholders of the effect to the fisherfolks.) Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, for her part, took to social media to allay fears and to show the public it is safe to consume tawilis. 'Tawilis. Okay. Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Ang Tawilis ay non-carnivorous. Di kumakain ng laman, usually halaman ang kinakain nito,' said Santos. (Nothing to worry. With all these issues about our Taal, nothing to worry. Tawilis are non-carnivorous and they eat plants.) Meanwhile, the Agoncillo municipal government said it is also eyeing the declaration of a state of calamity to repair roads affected by the recent typhoons. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13-07-2025
- GMA Network
PCG assures meticulous search and retrieval ops in Taal Lake, as divers at risk
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) over the weekend assured that the search and retrieval operations for the missing sabungeros in Taal Lake are being done meticulously, as the lives of the divers are at risk for every descent they take. According to PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemi Cayabyab, the operations team is maximizing every dive to ensure that it would be productive, given the risks taken by the divers. 'Masusi po ang ginagamit nating mga search pattern and search strategy. Talagang we always want to maximize (The search pattern and search strategy we use is very meticulous. We really want to maximize),' she said in a report by Vonne Aquino on GMA's '24 Oras Weekend' on Sunday. 'Bawat baba po ng ating mga divers ay meron po tayong makikita (We see something in every descent of our divers) as much as possible kasi (because) again, we are compromising the lives of our divers here,' she added. Given the risks, hyperbaric doctors are at the scene to attend to the divers before and after their descent. The PCG earlier on Sunday released underwater footage of the operations in the Taal Lake, with divers facing conditions such as murky water, strong underwater currents, and the depth of the lake, among others. Technical divers also attended mass on the shores of the lake prior to the operations. The teams retrieved sacks from the lake as part of the search for the missing sabungeros that contain what appeared to be bones, which the PCG has denied as being planted in the area as alleged by some critics. According to Southern Tagalog Coast Guard District Commander Commodore Geronimo Tuvilla, divers are thoroughly inspecting sacks found at the bottom of the lake, which are frisked and reported to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) before these are brought to land. 'That's normal. Sabi nga nila, we cannot please everyone. Basta kami, 'yung inyong PCG, katuwang 'yung Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Justice, tuloy tuloy namin gagawin 'yung aming trabaho professionally, diligently, and properly, as much as possible… Until such time na matapos namin 'yung area na i-search,' he said in the same report. (That's normal. As they say, we cannot please everyone. For us, the PCG, in line with the PNP and the DOJ, we will continue doing our job professionally, diligently, and properly, as much as possible… Until such time that we finish searching the area.) 'Merong mga talagang sacks doon sa bottom, probably from (animal) feeds no, pero 'yun 'yung iniisa isa na i-check natin 'yung mga laman, kinakapa ng ating mga divers para to really help,' he added. (There are really sacks at the bottom, probably from [animal] feeds, but the contents are being checked one by one, the divers frisk them to really help.) Tuvilla said the divers are using the jackstay search method, which involves using a line as a guide to ensure thorough coverage of the search area. 'Nag-move tayo ng northeast, 10 meters northeast using the jackstay search method na tinatawag, which is a straight line then going back,' he said. 'Initially dun sa area na 'yun, negative 'yung nakuha natin, so we will be adjusting to another part, no, we will move again, so hangga't ma-cover natin 'yung buong kumbaga circumference ng buong search area natin,' he added. (We moved 10 meters northeast using the so-called jackstay search method, which is a straight line then going back. Initially, in that area, we yielded negative results, so we will be adjusting to another part, no, we will move again, until we cover the whole circumference of the whole search area.) The PCG is also set to start using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) on Monday during its search and retrieval operations moving forward, which will have a capacity to see up to 1,000 feet underwater. For its part, the National Bureau of Investigation Forensic and Scientific Service said they have yet to receive any samples from the content of the sacks retrieved from the lake. Should these be confirmed to be human bones, these will then be tested for DNA and compared with living relatives of the missing sabungeros. Meanwhile, forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun said authorities should handle the retrieved sacks and their contents with care, as she observed that one of the sacks was opened, and its contents scattered on the ground. 'Medyo dismayado ako dun sa unang picture na inilabas nila, na apparently, bakit ang linis ng sako eh naggaling sa tubig. Apparently, inilipat nila sa ibang sako. For you to do that at the scene, alanganin 'yun,' she said. (I was somewhat dismayed with the first photo they released. The sack looked so clean despite coming from the water. Apparently, they transferred the contents to another sack. Doing that at the scene raises questions. It's questionable.) This comes as at least 34 cockfighting enthusiasts or sabungeros were reported missing from various areas in Luzon — including Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Manila, and Rizal — from April 2021 to January 2022. One of the accused in the disappearances, known as Totoy, earlier claimed that the bodies were thrown into the Taal Lake after the sabungeros caught for allegedly cheating by weakening their own roosters and betting on those of their opponents. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-06-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Nearly 400 participants join yoga class for International Yoga Day
Nearly 400 participants joined a yoga class in a university in Las Piñas as part of the celebration of International Yoga Day. As reported by Vonne Aquino on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, participants in the yoga session held at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA included the Ambassador of India to the Philippines, Shri Harsh Kumar Jain, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Philippines, Arnaud Peral. "This year's theme, 'Yoga for one Earth, one health' reminds us that well-being is not just an individual pursuit but a collective responsibility," Jain said in his speech. "It shows how much yoga has become central to the lives of millions and millions of people all around the globe and how the government is also recognizing its importance," Peral added. Yoga is a mind and body practice that originated in India which helps us build strength and flexibility. Among the many benefits of yoga which include physical vitality, mental clarity and emotional stability. "It is not just a practice, it is an attitude. The attitude towards nature, the attitude towards your own life," yoga teacher Anindh Kansal said. "You team with your body, with your breath and with your mind," yoga teacher Namisa Singh added. Aside from the different positions, yoga also teaches meditation and proper breathing exercises. "Nakakarelax talaga siya ng isip," participant Larra Faye Ramos said. After the event, meditation and chakra yoga sessions incorporating sound and breathing exercises were held. "It's an emo-energy balancing exercise so we use sound and breathe to connect with our emotional and energy body," Yoga Sound Healing practitioner Ally Apple Allison said. —Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- GMA Network
Motorist may be fined P150k for using EDSA busway 309 times — MMDA
A motorist may be fined up to P150,000 for the unauthorized use of the EDSA busway 309 times, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). In Vonne Aquino's Wednesday report on 'Saksi,' MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the motorist kept using the EDSA busway at night, where it is dark and no traffic enforcers were deployed from August 2024 to last Friday. 'Irereklamo na po namin siya sa LTO for suspension ng license [at] kung ano pa pwedeng penalty ipataw sa kanya,' Artes said. (We will file a complaint before the LTO (Land Transportation Office) for the suspension of his license and other penalties.) The MMDA showed CCTV footage of the motorist to underscore the importance of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) to discipline motorists even without the presence of traffic enforcers. The MMDA is also looking into endorsing to the Metro Manila Council the move to oblige NCAP violators engage in community services as a penalty. 'Sinsabi po kasi na negosyo ang NCAP. Hindi po. Ito po ay para disiplinahin ang tao at bantayan ang kalsada. Tamang tama po may mga programa kami gaya ng paglilinis ng estero at kanal para malabanan ang pagbaha, maalis ng mga basura,' Artes said. (Some say NCAP is a business. It's not true. The policy is implemented to discipline motorists and monitor the road. We have programs like cleaning drive of drainages and canals to combat flood and dispose garbage.) Some motorists approved the idea since they don't have to pay a fine, while others said paying a fine is better since the process is faster. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
09-06-2025
- GMA Network
Indigenous handwoven textiles, ceramic art, more take centerstage at Likha 4
Indigenous and traditional handicrafts and artworks created by Filipino artisans and designers across the country took centerstage at Likha 4 at Foro de Intramuros in Manila over the weekend. According to Vonne Aquino's report in "Saksi" on June 6, the artisanal exhibit was led by First Lady Liza Marcos, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, Trade and Industry Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, and former Housing Secretary Jose Acuzar. The annual Likha celebrates the rich artistry and cultural heritage of the Philippines by fostering collaboration among designers and artisans, and sharing traditional indigenous knowledge through the promotion of Filipino handicrafts from various regions of the country. Janeth Hanapi, a weaver of the Jama Mapun indigenous group from Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, was among the artisans who exhibited her handwoven mats at Likha 4. These mats or banig featured designs unique to their indigenous community. "Isang malaking oportunidad po na dumating po sa buhay naming bilang mgamanlilikha, isa po itong tulong din sa aming karagdagang pangangailangan po," said Janeth. Siegrid Bangyay, a potter from Sagada, Mountain Province, also showcased her ceramic artworks that reflect the traditions and beliefs of the Igorots. "I based my inspirations in my pieces on our local symbols, like 'yung Pinagtago for us is a guardian, for Ifugao it's Bulul," said Siegrid. Per Likha organizer Al Valenciano, they collaborated with various sectors for exhibit and to ensure the crafts are passed down and sustained through the years. "We try to partner din with fellow artisans, we partner din with designers, we partner din with entrepreneurs who could help them achieve a certain sustainability to make sure that the craft is passed on and will live on through generations," he said. National Commission for Culture and the Arts executive director Eric Zerrudo also said that Likha has become "an annual pilgrimate site" for creatives and craft-lovers. Aside from handwoven mats and ceramic art, other handicrafts such as clothing, textiles, and jewelry also featured at Likha 4. Sparkle artists Althea Ablan, Brent Valdez, and Cheska Fausto attended the event and expressed their support for Filipino products. "Meron ako nakitang bag made of bamboo siya. Ang ganda niya. Katulad nga ng sabi nila, we support locals 'di ba, kaya as Pinoy, tayo, we support each other," said Althea. "Kailangan naming gamitin 'yung platform namin para ibahagi namin sa mga Pilipino na meron tayong ganitong ka rich na culture and heritage na pwede nating maipagmalaki sa buong mundo," added Brent. —CDC, GMA Integrated News
