ZAMBOANGA CITY: At least 130 families have been evacuated in two villages in Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte due to floods caused by incessant rain spawned by tropical depression “Auring,” according to a local disaster official.
Director Adriano Fuego, regional chief of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), said two houses made of light materials built near the river bank in Roxas town, also in Zamboanga Del Norte, were destroyed by floodwaters.
“There was no reported casualty so far. The wind was slight and was not that strong,” Fuego said.
He said the river in Barangay Torno swelled prompting the evacuation of 40 families.
Fuego said the affected residents were temporarily sheltered in Torno Elementary School.
At least 90 families have also been prepared for evacuation in Barangay San Jose.
Leftist rebels extend truce with authorities
MANILA: The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) decided yesterday to extend its ceasefire declaration until January 15 after the Philippine government has announced of honouring the suspension of military and police operations up to the same date.
With the extension of the truce, the CPP Central Committee (CC) advised all commands and units of the New People’s Army, the leftist group’s armed wing, and the people’s militias that the end of the ceasefire declared on Dec 20, 2012 has been “re-extended to 2359H (hour) of Jan 15.”
“Specifics of the Dec 20 order will remain valid for the duration of this order. This declaration overrides an earlier order by the CPP CC abbreviating the ceasefire to 2359H of Jan 2, “ the group said.
The CPP said the declaration was issued upon the recommendation of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), the political wing of the CPP-NPA. This developed being belatedly informed of the formal order by President Benigno S Aquino III extending the suspension of offensive military and police operations. The CPP said that the re-extension of the ceasefire order may help in advancing peace process.
The Philippine star
