Director General Arturo C. Lomibao, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), yesterday ordered an investigation on the death of an American in his rented apartment in Boracay in Malay, Aklan over the weekend.
Reports reaching Camp Crame in Quezon City identified the fatality as Lawrence Robert Fuller, 50, who was staying at Room 1 of the La Playa Blanca Resort in Sitio Mangayao, Barangay Balabag, Boracay, Malay, Aklan.
The reports said elements of the Boracay Special Protection Unit (BSPU) based in Malay, Aklan received a report from a resident that a foreigner was found dead inside his rented room at 2 a.m. last Saturday.
The fatality was immediately rushed to the Boracay Medical Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival by doctors.
The reports also added that officials of the BSPU exerted efforts to recover the passport and other travel documents of Fuller to notify the United States Embassy in Manila regarding the incident.
Lomibao said police probers are determining if there was foul play in the death of Fuller. (Aris R. Ilagan)
‘Araw ng Kagitingan’ is a regular holiday
The Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said yesterday that April 9 (Saturday) is a regular holiday nationwide in commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) which celebrates the Filipino valor, gallantry, and heroism in Bataan and Corregidor against Japanese invaders during World War 2.
Pursuant to DoLE Secretary Patricia A. Sto. Tomas’s Memorandum Circular No. 01 issued to the country’s private sector employers, the following regular holiday rules will apply on April 9:
1. If the day is an employee’s regular workday and the day is unworked, he or she should be paid 100 percent of his or her regular salary for that day.
2. If the day is worked, 200 percent shall apply on the first eight hours, and in excess of eight hours, 30 percent of the hourly rate on the day.
3. If the day falls on an employee’s rest day and is unworked, 100 percent shall apply but if worked, plus 30 percent of 200 percent shall apply, and in excess of eight hours, plus 30 percent of the hourly rate on the day. (Raul V. Gonzales)
Anti-corruption song’s first salvo at meeting
Singer-painter George Sison Tagle will sing the winning anti-corruption song "Kurakot" of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) during the National AntiPoverty Commission (NAPC) en banc meeting and birth anniversary luncheon of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today in Malacañang.
Tagle had performed in various concerts and shows, including the benefit "Salute!" concert series. For these, he was nominated in the Aliw Awards Best New Artist category last year.
The official public launching of the song by Alex J. Socorro, who won the grand prize in the NCCA Songwriting Contest held last February in celebration of the 15th National Arts Month, was deemed auspicious to coincide with the President’s birth anniversary, knowing her commitment in undertaking stringent measures to curb graft and corruption in her administration, said Presidential Adviser on Culture and NCCA Executive Director Cecile Guidote Alvarez.
The winning song was arranged by prize-winning composer Leo Quinito with a dance interpretation by the Earthsavers Dreams Ensemble joined by Katribo and the Kalahi Baseco Boys and choreography by Gigi Velarde David.
SSS bares new schedule
The Social Security System (SSS) is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, but its teller windows will operate up to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to receive payments from members, a top official said yesterday.
SSS spokesman Joel Palacios said the new schedule was mandated by Administrative Order 117 directing all government agencies to adopt a four-day work week schedule during the summer months of April and May.
"The tellers are operational in 20 branch offices around the country," Palacios said. "We want to give uninterrupted service to members who wish to pay their contributions directly to the institution."
The adjusted work hours was intended to generate savings for the government. The business days were cut by one day, but the daily work time was extended by two hours.
