Latest news with #Fajardo
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PNP to tap newly elected local officials in campaign vs street-level drug pushers
The PNP says government agencies should work together to address the drug problem. File photo The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday that it would coordinate with the newly elected officials in local government units to augment efforts in the anti-drug operations against small-scale drug dealers. This, as President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. said he wants law enforcers to also go after small drug offenders without resorting to killings. 'Kakatapos lang ng national and local elections. May mga bagong halal tayo na mga mayor, mga councilor. Ika-capacitate natin sila para maintindihan nila na itong laban natin sa droga ay hindi lamang dapat tinitignan sa law enforcement perspective. Kailangan pagtulungan ito ng lahat ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, lalong lalo na ng ating komunidad,' PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (We just finished our national and local elections, so we have newly elected mayors, councilors, etc. We will capacitate them so that they wil understand that our fight against drugs should not only be viewed from a law enforcement perspective. We need the cooperation of all government agencies, especially our communities.) Fajardo said that PNP personnel will participate in the meetings of the peace and order councils in provinces, municipalities, and cities to make the government officials better understand the state of drug problem in their respective communities. The police would also orient them on how to properly approach drug users and pushers, as well as on how to detect drug facilities and laboratories in their areas. 'Isa pa sa gusto rin nating isulong ang pagpapasa ng mga barangay ordinances. Siguro sa iba, maliit na bagay ito. Gusto natin, pati sa barangay level pa lang ay nakakapagpasa sila ng mga anti-illegal drugs initiatives and programs, pati na 'yung simple lang, 'yung mga curfew hours,' she added. (Another thing we want to promote is the passing of barangay ordinances. Maybe for others, this is nothing. But we want them to be able to pass anti-illegal drugs initiatives and programs even at the barangay level, including even simple ones, like implementing curfew hours.) Fajardo explained that barangay officials know their residents better, so they should be alert when it comes to what's happening in their communities. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Sunday also committed to adhere to Marcos' call against small-scale drug dealers while still upholding the due process of law. According to Fajardo, the PNP has confiscated P43.3 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first three years of the Marcos administration. This was three times higher than the P14.3 billion worth of drugs seized during the first half of the Duterte administration, where the controversial war on drugs was launched. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
25-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
PNP: Over P43-B worth of illegal drugs seized under Marcos admin
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday it has confiscated P43.3 billion worth of illegal drugs in the first three years of the Marcos administration— three times higher than the record of the Duterte administration over the same period. This was according to PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo, who noted that in the first half of the Duterte administration, where the controversial war on drugs was launched, there were P14.3 billion worth of drugs seized. 'So talagang napakalaki ng diperensya dahil talagang nag-focus tayo doon sa mga high impact operation. Hindi lang ang Philippine National Police, kasama na diyan ang PDEA at NBI, dahil ang gusto natin talagang tumbukin--- sino ba? saan ba dumadaan 'yang mga malalaking shipment ng drugs?,' Fajardo said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (So there is a huge difference because we really focused on the high impact operations. It's not just the Philippine National Police, but also the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and National Bureau of Investigation because we really want to find out who are behind the big shipments of drugs and where do they enter the country.) Aside from big time syndicates, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. earlier said he wants law enforcers to also go after small-scale drug dealers while strictly upholding due process in its anti-drug operations. Marcos also stressed that his administration would carry out the anti-drug campaign without resorting to killings—-a different approach from his predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte is now detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during his administration's war on drugs. Fajardo said the PNP will comply with the President's order and will focus again on street-level drug pushers and users. The police official said the PNP will also implement maximum police visibility on the streets. 'Ngayon, pagtutuunan natin ng parehong focus itong mga tinatawag nating mga street-level pushers and users kasi sila 'yung nasa mga komunidad natin, sila 'yung nandoon sa mga bara-barangay na maaaring direct sources nitong mga user natin,' Fajardo added. (Now, we will also focus on street-level pushers and users because they are the ones in our communities, in our barangays who can be direct sources of drug users.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Ultra competitor' Davis Alexander calm under pressure as Alouettes' No. 1 QB
SAINT-JÉRÔME - Davis Alexander's off-season looked a little different. The Montreal Alouettes quarterback went about his usual business — time in the gym, watching film, on the practice field — despite knowing he would head into training camp as the CFL team's starter. The one difference? He didn't need a second job as a waiter. 'I didn't work this off-season,' Alexander said. 'Usually in past off-seasons, I've worked in a restaurant. I served tables.' No longer needing to pick up shifts at an Arizona sports bar during the winter illustrates how much has changed in the past 12 months. Life, as Alexander has learned, moves fast. A year ago, he was entering his third Alouettes training camp as their third-string quarterback. Now the 26-year-old American is the new face of the franchise. He's armed with a lucrative three-year extension and trusted to lead a team with legitimate championship aspirations after management chose him over 2023 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo. Alexander isn't feeling the weight of the heightened expectations that come with his new role, at least not yet. 'I honestly would feel more pressure coming in as a 2-3-4 fringe guy than I would as the (No.) 1,' he said this week at centre sportif Claude-Beaulieu. 'It's been awesome. Not that I treat it this way, but it is kind of your room, the rules that you want in the playbook. 'I don't feel that much pressure. Maybe I'm supposed to, maybe I'm not. Right now, I'm good. I feel great, I feel confident. We've got an amazing team.' The lack of a second job gave Alexander more time for 'extra stuff like cold tubs and saunas. He also paid more attention to his diet, which appears to have paid off. Alexander put on roughly seven pounds in 'true muscle mass,' and head coach Jason Maas has taken notice. 'You can tell he's lifted a lot of weights,' Maas said. 'He's in great shape … I know he's a competitor, so I knew he would be prepared, and you can just see it.' 'Adding armour for the season, right?' added Alexander. 'It's a long season, 18 games. The goal is to play all 18 plus two or three more.' Alexander only played in five last season, but won them all. The five-foot-11, 195-pound strong-armed quarterback turned heads by leading Montreal to four straight victories — including a comeback off the bench against Saskatchewan on July 25 — while Fajardo recovered from a hamstring injury. In total, the Portland State product went 105-for-151 passing for 1,347 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 166 yards and three TDs on 24 carries. All this while grieving the loss of his father, Matt — for whom he wears No. 10 — who died from lung cancer at only 56 in August. The small sample size was big enough to convince general manager Danny Maciocia that Alexander could replace Fajardo. After extending Alexander, Montreal traded Fajardo to Edmonton for fellow veteran QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The 33-year-old Fajardo carried his Grey Cup momentum into the 2024 season before injuries hit and his play took a dip, culminating in a 30-28 East Division final loss to Toronto. 'If you always want to take the safe route, well, you're going to get the results to come with it,' Maciocia said of the quarterback decision. 'Scared money doesn't win at the casino, and this is a calculated risk based on the data we had before us.' Wide receiver Tyson Philpot is bursting with excitement about the 'gunslinger' under centre for the Alouettes this season. 'Every time he gets on the field man, he brings the juice,' said Philpot, who expects to be ready for Week 1 after his season-ending foot injury last year. 'As receivers, you love a quarterback who can throw that deep ball 70 yards.' Philpot, who also said he was blessed to play with Fajardo, highlighted Alexander's leadership despite his lack of experience. 'Feels like he's a five-year vet the way he commands the offence,' he said. 'Everybody can relate to him … Sometimes you get those quarterbacks that are the stars and they kind of separate themselves from the rest of the team, but he's dapping up the D-linemen, the O-linemen. 'Super down to earth.' In Alexander's first camp as the starter, Maas says the young quarterback is embracing his role as a communicator and offensive leader. Bethel-Thompson, who led Toronto to a Grey Cup in 2022, is waiting in the wings for his opportunity. But although Maas has built a culture of internal competition in Montreal, Alexander will be given a long runway to grow into the starting job. 'He's earned respect from our football team,' Maas said. 'He'll be given quite a big leash to play. 'There's nothing quite like having the pressure of a starter, you don't understand what that's like until you're in those people's shoes, but most people feel pressure when they're not prepared.' Alexander said he felt prepared for years before finally getting his shot last season. He's quietly confident he can handle the challenge ahead. 'Part of just my DNA,' he said. 'I really am an ultra competitor.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Ultra competitor' Davis Alexander calm under pressure as Alouettes' No. 1 QB
SAINT-JÉRÔME – Davis Alexander's off-season looked a little different. The Montreal Alouettes quarterback went about his usual business — time in the gym, watching film, on the practice field — despite knowing he would head into training camp as the CFL team's starter. The one difference? He didn't need a second job as a waiter. 'I didn't work this off-season,' Alexander said. 'Usually in past off-seasons, I've worked in a restaurant. I served tables.' No longer needing to pick up shifts at an Arizona sports bar during the winter illustrates how much has changed in the past 12 months. Life, as Alexander has learned, moves fast. A year ago, he was entering his third Alouettes training camp as their third-string quarterback. Now the 26-year-old American is the new face of the franchise. He's armed with a lucrative three-year extension and trusted to lead a team with legitimate championship aspirations after management chose him over 2023 Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo. Alexander isn't feeling the weight of the heightened expectations that come with his new role, at least not yet. 'I honestly would feel more pressure coming in as a 2-3-4 fringe guy than I would as the (No.) 1,' he said this week at centre sportif Claude-Beaulieu. 'It's been awesome. Not that I treat it this way, but it is kind of your room, the rules that you want in the playbook. 'I don't feel that much pressure. Maybe I'm supposed to, maybe I'm not. Right now, I'm good. I feel great, I feel confident. We've got an amazing team.' The lack of a second job gave Alexander more time for 'extra stuff like cold tubs and saunas. He also paid more attention to his diet, which appears to have paid off. Alexander put on roughly seven pounds in 'true muscle mass,' and head coach Jason Maas has taken notice. 'You can tell he's lifted a lot of weights,' Maas said. 'He's in great shape … I know he's a competitor, so I knew he would be prepared, and you can just see it.' 'Adding armour for the season, right?' added Alexander. 'It's a long season, 18 games. The goal is to play all 18 plus two or three more.' Alexander only played in five last season, but won them all. The five-foot-11, 195-pound strong-armed quarterback turned heads by leading Montreal to four straight victories — including a comeback off the bench against Saskatchewan on July 25 — while Fajardo recovered from a hamstring injury. In total, the Portland State product went 105-for-151 passing for 1,347 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 166 yards and three TDs on 24 carries. All this while grieving the loss of his father, Matt — for whom he wears No. 10 — who died from lung cancer at only 56 in August. The small sample size was big enough to convince general manager Danny Maciocia that Alexander could replace Fajardo. After extending Alexander, Montreal traded Fajardo to Edmonton for fellow veteran QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The 33-year-old Fajardo carried his Grey Cup momentum into the 2024 season before injuries hit and his play took a dip, culminating in a 30-28 East Division final loss to Toronto. 'If you always want to take the safe route, well, you're going to get the results to come with it,' Maciocia said of the quarterback decision. 'Scared money doesn't win at the casino, and this is a calculated risk based on the data we had before us.' Wide receiver Tyson Philpot is bursting with excitement about the 'gunslinger' under centre for the Alouettes this season. 'Every time he gets on the field man, he brings the juice,' said Philpot, who expects to be ready for Week 1 after his season-ending foot injury last year. 'As receivers, you love a quarterback who can throw that deep ball 70 yards.' Philpot, who also said he was blessed to play with Fajardo, highlighted Alexander's leadership despite his lack of experience. 'Feels like he's a five-year vet the way he commands the offence,' he said. 'Everybody can relate to him … Sometimes you get those quarterbacks that are the stars and they kind of separate themselves from the rest of the team, but he's dapping up the D-linemen, the O-linemen. 'Super down to earth.' In Alexander's first camp as the starter, Maas says the young quarterback is embracing his role as a communicator and offensive leader. Bethel-Thompson, who led Toronto to a Grey Cup in 2022, is waiting in the wings for his opportunity. But although Maas has built a culture of internal competition in Montreal, Alexander will be given a long runway to grow into the starting job. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'He's earned respect from our football team,' Maas said. 'He'll be given quite a big leash to play. 'There's nothing quite like having the pressure of a starter, you don't understand what that's like until you're in those people's shoes, but most people feel pressure when they're not prepared.' Alexander said he felt prepared for years before finally getting his shot last season. He's quietly confident he can handle the challenge ahead. 'Part of just my DNA,' he said. 'I really am an ultra competitor.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.
Global News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Cody Fajardo excited to be part of Edmonton Elks camp: ‘I feel like a rookie again'
Listening to Cody Fajardo speak several days into the Edmonton Elks' training camp, one would not know he has two Grey Cup championships and a Cup most valuable player award on his resume. Instead, the 33-year-old, eleven-year CFL veteran quarterback sounds a lot like a rookie eager to kick off his career. Obtained in the off-season to provide veteran backup experience to Tre Ford, Fajardo is pumped. 'It's been exciting, the juice is up, energy's up,' he says of his 11th CFL training camp. 'Any time you're part of a new program, new organization, there's always some things you don't know what to expect. 'And it's keeping me young. I feel like a rookie again, coming out here, learning a new system. I've been with (Jason) Mass for five years, learning a new system with a new coach. It's keeping me young, keeping my mind fresh. Lot of fun to be around these guys.' Story continues below advertisement When the Elks traded for Fajardo, Ed Hervey, new vice-president of football operations and general manager, said the veteran would be a key piece in the team going forward. 'We believe in the importance of depth at the quarterback position and having two dependable options behind centre in the Canadian Football League,' Hervey said. 'Cody is an accomplished CFL quarterback who will bring valuable experience to our locker room and organization.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'We believe Cody can help this team and push Tre Ford to be the most successful quarterback he can be.' 2:42 Tre Ford speaks at news conference after re-signing with the Elks Fajardo, who won Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 and the Montreal Alouettes in 2023 — the year he was named the game's MVP — welcomes his role. 'For me it's a veteran presence,' he said. 'The biggest thing is you have to have two quarterbacks to win in this league. It's so hard to stay healthy for 18 games. Story continues below advertisement 'I've been in this league for 11 years and I haven't seen a starter go 18 games healthy. It's better to have too much depth rather than not enough depth.' Although he is with a team that hasn't had a winning record since 2017 and has missed the playoffs the last four seasons, the native of Brea, Calif., sees a club full of hope for 2025. 'The energy is very high, the bonding of the team is very close already, which is real surprising for how much turnover there is.' he said. 'Guys care about each other; you can see that, and that's what wins football games at the end of the day, how fast can we come together as a team, especially with how much turnover there's been on this team.' The excitement has been evident the last several days in practice, and Fajardo says he and the players are determined to get the Elks back into the playoffs. 'We want to do everything we can to bring Edmonton back to the top so I think we have the right guys in the locker room and we're excited. The Elks play pre-season games May 24 in Calgary against the Stampeders and May 30 at home against the B.C. Lions. They open their regular season June 7 in Vancouver against the Lions Story continues below advertisement
