Dev Flores

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. conferred a 4-star rank on newly promoted PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

After the rank conferment ceremony and oath-taking in Malacañang, PNP Chief Nartatez Jr. proceeded to Camp Crame to receive arrival honors and was welcomed by high-ranking police officials.

Following his promotion, PNP Chief Nartatez Jr. identified crime reduction in the Philippines as one of his primary objectives.

“Well, ang bilin ng ating Pangulo is continue ‘yung trabaho ng Philippine National Police. Ensure that the community is safe. Ensure na mapababa natin ang krimen.” he said

[“Well, the instruction of the President is to continue the work of the Philippine National Police. Ensure that the community is safe. Ensure to lessen the crime.”]

He also noted that to make crime reduction feasible, it is important to ensure high police morale, salary increases, quality training, and sufficient funding.

With reports from Lea Ylagan

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The Bacolod City Local Government Unit (LGU) has implemented a ₱500.00 penalty for individuals caught giving money to beggars.

This enforcement is part of a safety measure aiming to lessen the number of beggars and the possibility of using their money for vices. 

Beyond that, there have been reported incidents of violent actions and behaviors exhibited by beggars toward individuals who decline to provide monetary alms. 

The LGU clarifies that non-monetary assistance, such as food, is allowed.

With reports from Lalaine Morenno. 

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has released the hearing schedules for the Confirmation of Charges of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his case, crimes against humanity. 

There will be three sessions for each day of hearings. 

Hearing schedules will start on February 23, 24, 26, and 27, 2026. 

On March 11, 2025, FPRRD was brought to the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, to face the case filed against him. 

The ICC noted earlier that Duterte is eligible to proceed to the pre-trial stage.

After the COC hearing, the judges will decide whether the process will proceed to the trial stage.

“After hearing the Prosecution, the Defence, and the Legal representative of victims, the judges decide (usually within 60 days) if there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial,” according to the statement of the ICC.

With reports from JP

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Have you ever wondered how the blind read and write?

There is no hindrance for those who want to learn to read and write through Braille.

Braille is an instrument for reading and writing for visually impaired individuals. 

This literacy instrument is composed of dots that can be read with fingers. It’s a touch reading instrument.

The American Foundation for the Blind clarifies that this is not a language, but it’s a code, which allows the visually impaired individuals to read and write using different languages across the globe.  

The commemoration of Braille Literacy happens every January, as this is the birth month of its inventor, Louis Braille, who was born in France on January 4, 1809.

He wasn’t born blind. His right eye was accidentally punctured by a tool in his father’s workshop, according to the narrative of the Alachua County Library District.

Soon after, his left eye lost vision, making him totally blind. 

Braille was invented in 1824. He was just 15 when he started to utilize night writing using his own code when he was a student at the National Institute for Blind Children in Paris. 

The night writing is a touch reading system invented by a French Army Charles Barbier, which allows to read military messages at night without using light to keep them safe from being killed at night.

Upon adapting his own code, he found it easier than the night writing.

The New England College of Optometry noted the claim of Perkins School for the Blind about the evolving versions of Braille in a digital world. 

“According to Perkins School for the Blind, technology now includes interactive electronic braille displays. These devices connect to computers and tablets to deliver braille outputs that can refresh on screens,” they mentioned.

National Bible Month is an annual celebration in January that promotes the essence of reading the Bible and its application to daily life.

For this year’s celebration, the Philippine Bible Society (PBS) has announced the theme:

"God's Word brings LIFE to our hearts and our homes.”

LIFE stands for Love, Integrity, Faith, and Engagement.

The annual celebration of National Bible Week and Bible Sunday started in 1982 under the Presidential Proclamation No. 2242 signed by the late President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. The PBS noted that the commemoration intends to “promote moral values and personal discipline among Filipinos.”

In the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino, the celebration was moved from November to January. The shift was intended to encourage Filipinos to start the year by focusing on God’s word.

Later, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Presidential Proclamation No. 124 in 2017, declaring the month of January as the National Bible Month, and the National Bible Week in the 4th week of the month.

Along with the executive mandates, educational institution like La Verdad Christian College actively participates in that celebration through its monthly event, the Christian Living Month.

The institution dedicates the first three weeks to preliminary activities and to prepare for the main event that usually happens during the last week of January.