TOP STORIES - Friday, January 20, 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online news monitoring)

20 January 2023, Friday, as of 5PM

1. BuCor jail guards file torture, coercion complaint vs. Bantag, 11 others

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/858057/bucor-jail-guards-file-torture-coercion-complaint-vs-bantag-11-others/story/

2. Agricultural woes

-Salceda: Onion prices to go down to P50 a kilo

-DA officials inspect onion farms in Bongabon, Nueva Ecija

-Onion farmer who appeared at Senate inquiry confirms police visits

-Onion farmer laments losing potential income as imported onions are about to enter PH

-Ilocos PNP orders probe on cops’ ‘harassment’ of widowed onion farmer

-Hontiveros to DA: Stop egg shortage too; Urges PBBM to appoint DA Secretary

 [ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, DZBB, Manila Bulletin, Inquirer]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/858062/salceda-sees-onion-prices-going-down-to-p50-kilo-soon/story/

3. Pinoys abroad

-Up to 102 distressed OFWs arrive at NAIA-3, accompanied by OWWA head Ignacio

-9 OFWs rescued in Cambodia

-Hontiveros: Informer tags BI officers at Clark airport in Filipino trafficking to Cambodia

[News5, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, DZBB, ABS-CBN News, Inquirer]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/dispatch/858085/102-distressed-ofws-repatriated-from-kuwait/story/?just_in

4. Maharlika fund update

-After swiftly passing House, Maharlika fund gets quietly revamped

-BSP dividends dropped as Maharlika fund source in 'reengineered' version, says Salceda

- Salceda says 'reengineered' Maharlika fund drops BSP as funding source; eyes IPO

[GMA News, Philstar, Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News]

https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/01/20/2239003/after-swiftly-passing-house-maharlika-fund-gets-quietly-revamped

5. AFP-NPA clash

-Hundreds flee AFP-NPA clash in Sipalay, Negros Occidental

-AFP-NPA clashes cause class suspensions in 3 Negros Occidental schools

-2 NPA leaders slain in Sarangani

-93 communists surrender in Leyte

-29 NPA fighters surrender in Oriental Mindoro

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Rappler]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1718997/afp-npa-clashes-cause-class-suspensions-in-3-negros-occidental-schools

6. COVID-19 update

-NCR’s COVID-19 positivity rate down to 2.9% — OCTA

-South Korea to drop most indoor mask restrictions

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/858067/ncr-s-covid-19-positivity-rate-down-to-2-9-octa/story/?just_in

7. De Lima camp studying Gigi Reyes’ release, sees bail grant by March

[CNN PHL, Inquirer, Philstar, Rappler]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/20/De-Lima-camp-studying-Gigi-Reyes-SC-decision-release.html

8. SIM registration

NTC: 45 remote areas identified for assisted SIM registration

20% of total existing SIMs now registered — NTC

Free SIM Registration assistance now up in MIMAROPA Tech4Ed centers

[CNN PHL, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/01/20/13-20-of-total-existing-sims-now-registered-ntc/

9. PH-US mutual defense treaty ‘flexible’ to address modern challenges; Make your own decisions and free from coercion — official

[Rappler, CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/20/mutual-defense-treaty-flexible-.html

 © Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit