• Palace thanks ex-LTO chief Virginia Torres for 33 years of government service
• Military remains on alert after foiled NPA attack — Palace
• Palace on total ban of firecrackers: ‘It’s up to Congress’

Speaking over the state-run Radyo ng Bayan , Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. thanked Torres for her 33 years of uninterrupted service in government during her lifetime.

“Ipinaaabot natin ang ating pakikidalamhati at pakikiramay sa pamilya ni dating Assistant Secretary Virginia Torres… Kinikilala natin ang kanyang pag-alay ng 33 taong tuloy-tuloy na paglilingkod sa ating pamahalaan at mga mamamayan,” Coloma said.

Coloma said Torres began her career at the LTO as a cashier in 1980. She was appointed assistant secretary and later on as chief of the agency in July 2010. She retired in 2013.

Torres, according to reports, died at 2:00 a.m. Saturday at The Medical City in Clark, Pampanga where she had been confined since December 31 after complaining of dizziness and chest pain. She was 63. PND (hdc)

Malacañang issued the statement Sunday following reports that 10 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) broke the 12-day holiday truce and launched a deliberate yet unsuccessful attack against the military amid the New Year observance.

Citing an account from the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM), Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the rebels fired on at least eight soldiers and six members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) in Barangay Scout Fuentebella, Goa, Camarines Sur.

“Walang naiulat na nasaktan sa ating puwersa at ilang armas at gamit mula sa NPA ang iniulat na nakuha ng SOLCOM sa lugar na pinangyarihan,” the Palace official added in an interview over Radyo ng Bayan.

The AFP opted not to pursue any immediate offensive action in honor of the ceasefire proclamation, Coloma said, but the soldiers are keeping their eyes peeled to secure the public in light of the incident.

“Sa kabila ng engkuwentro patuloy na tumatalima ang buong hukbong sandatahan sa umiiral na unilateral declaration of Suspension of Military Operations na nakatakdang magtapos mamayang bago mag-hatinggabi (11:59 p.m. of January 3),” Coloma said.

“Patuloy na nakatutok at alerto ang ating Sandatahang Lakas dahil pangunahing layunin nila, kabilang na rin ang ating Pambansang Kapulisan, ang pangangalaga sa seguridad, katahimikan at kaayusan ng ating mga komunidad at mga mamamayan,” he added. PND (hdc)

This developed after the Department of Health (DOH) recorded over 400 firecracker-related injuries during the New Year revelry despite its relentless reminders to the public every year of the risks involved when using such dangerous objects.

In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan, Sunday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the DOH never failed in leading the government’s annual campaign against firecrackers for the health and safety of the public.

Health Secretary Janette Garin, Coloma added, also expressed hopes that all local government units would eventually take part in such anti-firecracker drive in the coming years.

“Nasa pagpapasya ng Kongreso kung kinakailangang magkaroon ng amyenda sa mga umiiral na batas na may kinalaman sa regulasyon sa paputok tulad ng Republic Act 7183: An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices,” Coloma said.

“Tulad ng ipinahayag ni Secretary Garin, ang mahalaga ay ito: ‘Walang buhay ang masasawi, walang daliri o kamay na mapuputol, at walang matang mabubulag dahil sa kawalan ng pag-iingat sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon,’” he added. PND (hdc)