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Only a few days before Christmas! Are you holiday-ready?
It was supposed to be a very merry Christmas for top-ranking police officials, but a promised Christmas cash gift was later denied by both the PNP chief and Malacañang. The gift theme continues with China giving the Philippine military a $14 million grant, and Metro Manila motorists are given a pre-Christmas gift through the partial opening of the NAIA Expressway.
These stories, and more, are in this Wednesday’s wRap, December 21, 2016.
A little over 24 hours after he first announced “cash gifts” for top police officials from no less than President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa said the money “did not come.” Even Malacañang denied knowing such giveaways for the country’s top cops. However, some officials say they did get fat bonuses.
Turkish authorities are holding 6 people over the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara by an off-duty policeman, as Russia urgently sought answers over the murder. Russian President Vladimir Putin declared “we have to know who directed the hand of the killer” and the Kremlin said a Russian investigative team were flying to Turkey to probe the murder.
The Islamic State (ISIS) group on Tuesday, December 20, claimed responsibility for a truck rampage through a Berlin Christmas market that killed 12 people, as German police hunted for the attacker. The claim came shortly after German prosecutors, saying they lacked evidence, released a Pakistani asylum seeker who was the sole suspect in the case, sparking fears of a killer at large.
Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua on Monday, December 19, turned over a list of defense equipment to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana where the military could choose items that are worth up to 100 million yuan ($14.4 million or P720 million*). Lorenzana, who joined the meeting between the ambassador and President Rodrigo Duterte, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines may get small arms, fast boats, and night vision goggles.
Starting today, December 21, motorists will be able to pass through one of the 4 lanes of the 12.65-kilometer expressway connecting the terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to a casino complex. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the NAIAX Christmas Lane is estimated to cut travel time by at least 40%. Toll fees for the first two years of operation are P45 (Class 1), P90 (Class 2), and P134 (Class 3). Under the concession agreement, rate adjustments are allowed every two years.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) through its Honor ?Awards Program recognized this year’s batch of outstanding public servants, composed of 15 individuals and 4 groups. They were feted on Monday, December 19, in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace. In conferring the awards, President Rodrigo Duterte thanked the exemplary government workers for going the extra mile in serving the public. Meet this year’s awardees of the 2016 Presidential Lingkod Bayan, Dangal ng Bayan, and CSC Pagasa awards.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova was injured after an attack by a knife-wielding burglar at her home in the eastern Czech town of Prostejov, her spokesman said on Tuesday, December 20. “She was injured with a knife during the attempted burglary. Her life is not in danger,” spokesman Karel Tejkal said. The burglary adds a sombre ending to a rather lackluster year for Kvitova, who slid from sixth in the world in January to 16th in August.
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