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Immediate resignation after medical leave: May obligasyon ba ang employee na mag‑submit ng medical certificate?

Crude oil prices have increased to 100 USD per barrel amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The price hike follows the intensified US strikes against Iran and a recent attack by Houthi rebels on an oil tanker in the Red Sea.

In line with this, affected businesses were concerned about the disruptions due to global oil supply and the threats in the key export routes used by the oil-producing countries in the Gulf Region.

Gasoline and diesel prices also continue to climb in some countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. 

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Barbaric and acts of piracy, this is how Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela described the harassment by the Chinese Coast Guard against the two members of the Philippine Navy stationed in the BRP Sierra Madre.

“I've used a lot of different adjective to describe their actions. For me, this is an act of barbarism. This is an act of a pirate,” he said

Two soldiers were wounded after they repelled the CCG who approached them.

Rear Admiral Tarriela also answered statements by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines and insisted that neither the presence of BRP Sierra Madre nor the construction is the cause of the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

This is the PCG's response after the Chinese ambassador said they deployed a rigid-hulled boat to allegedly observe the construction on the BRP Sierra Madre.

Tarriela emphasized the need to clearly identify who is actually driving up tensions in the region.

“Alam mo para sa akin, ang Chinese Embassy, laging nalilito. Nalilito sila kung sino nagpapataas ng tensyon. If there's one country who's driving tension not just in the West Philippine Sea but the entire South China Sea, that will be the Chinese government,” he said

[“You know, for me, the Chinese Embassy is always confused. They are confused about who is truly escalating tension. If there’s one country  who's driving tension not just in the West Philippine Sea but the entire South China Sea, that will be the Chinese government.”]

The PCG likewise refuted China’s claim that it allegedly granted permission to conduct medical evacuation for the injured Filipino soldiers. They emphasized that they don’t need any permission from other countries to execute the mentioned operations in Ayungin Shoal, as it lies well within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“We don't need any permission from anybody because this is being conducted within our exclusive economic zone and it is in accordance with UNCLOS in the 2016 Arbitral Award which is final and binding,” Tarriela said

Tarriela also noted that PCG Vessel 9702 made regular radio announcements to inform all nearby vessels about the ongoing medical evacuation.

He stressed that the operation is in accordance with the UNCLOS in 2016 Arbitral Award, and it is the duty of the deployed vessels to assist and not block this kind of humanitarian mission.

Despite this, the CCG vessels still executed blocking maneuvers against the medical evacuation team.

“So that is how weird the Chinese government is, noh. Parang ang ambulansya kailangan pa raw magpaalam sa kanila. And the weirdest part of this radio message is that they claim that they have indisputable sovereignty over this entire body of water. And that they do not recognize the 2016 arbitral award because for them it is invalid. And para sa akin itong radio challenge ng China na ganito, this just goes to show that China thinks that they are above the international law and they do not care about the preservation of life ng ating mga ng mga tao,”

[“So that is how weird the Chinese government is, right? It’s like saying an ambulance still needs to ask them for permission. And the weirdest part of this radio message is that claim that they have indisputable sovereignty over this entire body of water. And  that they do not recognize the 2016 arbitral award because for them it is invalid. For me, this radio challenge from China just goes to show that China thinks that they are above the international law and they do not care about the preservation of life our humans.”]

The two PCG vessels that conducted medical evacuation have arrived at Oyster Bay in Palawan, while the two injured soldiers were already turned over to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

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Amid the clarificatory questions of Senator-judge Robinhood Padilla to House Lead Prosecutor and Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro on the 9th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, the Senator appealed to the prosecution panel to refrain from being one-sided.

“Alam niyo po napakaganda po ng inyong sagot. Sana hindi one-sided ang ating persekusyon,” he said

[“You know, your answer was very well put. I just hope our prosecution won’t be one-sided.”]

Padilla’s remark drew reactions on the trial. Luistro asserted that the nature of the prosecution is one-sided during the proceedings.

“Kaya merong prosecution is to establish the case. Kaya may defense is to defend the innocence of the respondent. So it is very much anticipated that the prosecution is biased towards presenting the case, presenting the evidence. Siguro mas nakakapagtaka pag naging neutral ang prosecution at lalong nakakapagtaka kung ide-defend namin yung respondent,” she explained

[“The reason there is a prosecution is to establish the case, while the defense is there to defend the innocence of the respondent. So it is very much anticipated that the prosecution is biased towards presenting the case, presenting the evidence. Perhaps it would be more surprising if the prosecution became neutral and we defended the respondent.”]

Private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan apologized after admitting she was among those who couldn’t help but react upon hearing Senator-judge Padilla’s comment.

“There was no intent to disrespect him, noh? Kaya lang syempre pag lawyer ka at nasa litigation ka, i-emote ka eh,” she said

[“There was no intent to disrespect him, right? But of course, when you are a lawyer, and you’re in a litigation, you’ll get emotional.”]

“Hindi naman emote na drama pero it is an instinctive reaction. There was really no intent to disrespect him,” she added

[“Not to the extent of dramatic emotion, but an instinctive reaction. There was really no intent to disrespect him.”]

“Senator Robin, sabi mo kaibigan tayo. Forgive na lang. Hindi na kami uulit diyan,” she said on presscon, dedicated to Senator-judge

[“Senator Robin, as you said, ‘we’re friends’. Just forgive. We won’t do it again.”]

However, Kapunan emphasized that both sides must fulfill their respective roles.

“Prosecution really is for the prosecution and the defense is for the defense,” she said

The Lead Public Prosecutor stressed that it is the Senator-judges who are expected to maintain neutrality throughout the trial.

“I am hopeful na political neutrality ang mananaig sapagkat napakaliwanag niyan sa Senate Rules on Impeachment,” she said

[“I am hopeful that political neutrality will prevail because that is clear in the Senate Rules on Impeachment.”]

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In just a single scan, your money and personal information can be taken from you; that is the warning issued by the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG) against “quishing,” or QR Code phishing.

According to ACG Director PMGen. Wilson Asueta, they have already received reports regarding the use of QR codes in scam schemes. These include the fake QR codes in online selling, payment transactions, and acquiring personal information.

“We have received reports pertaining to this QR code scam. So quishing ang tawag natin,” Asueta said

The PNP ACG reminded the public not to scan QR codes from unknown or suspicious sources. They stressed that it is important to verify the website or URL that will appear before entering any personal or financial information.

The authorities also warned against sharing One-Time Passwords (OTPs), passwords, and other sensitive details. According to Asueta, the modus of cybercriminals is continuously changing and evolving; that’s why the public needs to always be updated on the new fraudulent schemes.

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