Peoples tonight tabloid

29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 peoplestonight SPORTS

LADY FALCONS BEAT LADY ALTAS in 4 SETS

Games Thursday: (Filoil Flying V Arena)

2 p.m. – AdU vs SSC-R
4 p.m. – AU vs ADMU

ADAMSON survived a four-setter against University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 25-11, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, while La Salle-Dasma banked on its blocking prowess to wear down San Sebastian 25-20, 25-17, 29-27, at the close of the elimination round of the Shakey’s V-League First Conference yesterday.

The Lady Falcons picked up their third win in four outings to finish No. 2 in Group behind unbeaten National University (4-0), while the Lady Patriots wound up third in Group A on 2-2 slate.

More importantly, the Lady Falcons avoided being bracketed with defending champion Ateneo, which topped Group A, and the Lady Bulldogs in the quarterfinals starting Thursday.

In the next round, Adamson will be with University of Santo Tomas, San Sebastian and Perpetual Help in Group II.

Sheila Pineda played her best game of the tournament with 18 points, including two service aces, and had nine digs, while guest player Angela Benting had 15 points and 11 digs for the Lady Falcons, who also drew 15 hits from Pau Soriano.

Iari Yongco unloaded 14 hits while Mariel Desengano and Monique Tiangco each fired 10 points as they negated Jeng Bualee’s 22-hit effort for La Salle-Dasma to join Ateneo, NU and Arellano University in Group I in the quarterfinal round.

The Lady Patriots wound up with a 2-2 card but will carry a 0-1 slate in the next round owing to their setback to the Lady Eagles in the elims of the event sponsored by Shakey’s and backed by Mikasa and Accel.

“We did study Bualee and Sue (Roces) moves, especially Bualee’s jump-serve and hard balls and I told them to keep their composure and play with a lot of hustle,” said La Salle-Dasma coach Darwin Campana.

The Lady Stags closed out with a 1-3 mark, winning just once, over ousted Letran.

29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 peoplestonight SPORTS

TNT TIES SERIES

Game today (Mall of Asia Arena)

6:45 p.m. -- Alaska vs. San Mig Coffee

TALK N Text put its horrible Game 1 loss behind and posted a thrilling 85-79 victory over Barangay Ginebra in Game 2 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals showdown at the Araneta Coliseum last night.

The Tropang Texters relied on the solid offensive plays of their locals, led by Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag to tie the best-of-five series at 1-1.

Undermanned but not demoralized, Talk N Text exploded in the fourth quarter with a 12-0 run after trailing 59-68 at the end of the third, all thanks to the heroics of Castro, Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo to take a 71-78 lead with four minutes left.

The Texters are missing the services of Ali Peek and Jared Dillinger -- Peek with an injury while Dillinger figured out in a vehicular accident Saturday -- but the resiliency they lacked in Game 1 was evidently present last night.

Castro led the Talk N Text locals with 22 points and four assists, but more importantly, helped the Texters avoid a 0-2 hole and raised the morale of his teammates going into Game 3.

“Ginawa ko lang yung best ko, and teamwork talaga ang ginawa namin,” said Castro, who was named best player of the game. “Naging maayos ang defense namin.”

Ginebra actually mounted a rally after a sluggish first half performance, erecting a 64-57 lead courtesy of Josh Urbiztondo’s trey with a minute remaining in the third, while import Vernon Macklin and Jayjay Helterbrand scored back-to-back baskets for a 68-59 lead.

But Talk N Text got its second wind in the payoff period, with Ranidel de Ocampo sparking the telling 12-0 run to erase the Gin Kings’ lead and went on to defend much better than it did in Game 1 to seal the victory in front of the 17,272 fans in attendance.

“We’re really happy that we decided to play defense tonight,” said Texters coach Norman Black. “Today we came out with more intensity, more focus, and the locals stepped up.”

Black also commended the Gin Kings’s defense, but he added that they will be more prepared in Game 3.

“They (Ginebra) have developed into a defensive team. Other say that we’re a ddep team, so now is the time to show it,” said Black. “The long rest will benefit both teams, but we’ll make sure that we’re more prepared.”

Alapag, De Ocampo and import Jerome Jordan all finished in double figures, with Alapag scoring 17 points, while De Ocampo and Jordan added 16 and 14 points, respectively.

The Texters’ win also spoiled Kerby Raymundo’s performance of 17 points to lead the Gin Kings’ scoring, while Macklin and Urbiztondo each added 15 points apiece.

Action in the semifinals resumes today with Alaska seeking to bounce back from its heartbreaking loss against San Mig Coffee as Game 2 of their best-of-five showdown commence at 6:45 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With the way Game 1 was decided on Saturday night, coaches Luigi Trillo and Tim Cone both agree the best-of-five showdown could go the distance.

The scores:

Talk N Text (85) -- Castro 22, Alapag 17, De Ocampo 16, Jordan 14, Carey 6, Al-Hussaini 5, Reyes 4, Aban 1, Fonacier 0, Ferriols 0.

Ginebra (79) -- Raymundo 17, Macklin 15, Urbiztondo 15, Helterbrand 12, Tenorio 8, Ellis 6, Taha 2, Baracael 2, Maierhofer 2.

Quarterscores: 22-20, 47-44, 59-68, 85-79

29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 peoplestonight METRO NEWS

VELOSO rumesbak sa paninira ni Erap ,Isko kay Lim

Binasag na rin ni Manila vice mayoral candidate Lou Veloso ang kanyang pananahimik sa gitna ng umano ay walang tigil na paninira ng kampo nina dating Pangulong Erap Estrada at katiket nitong si Isko Moreno laban sa administrasyon ni Mayor Alfredo S. Lim.

Sa ginawang pamamahagi ng pedicab units sa mahihirap subalit karapat-dapat na drivers sa ikalimang distrito ng Maynila, binuweltahan din ni Veloso ang mga naninira kay Lim na umano ay ni hindi pa napapatunayan kung ano na ang nagawa nila o magagawa para sa mga taga-Maynila, lalo na sa mahihirap na residente nito.

Ikinalungkot din ni Veloso ang mga tangka na sirain ang kanyang kandidatura sa pamamagitan ng pakalat na siya ay umatras na.

“Bakit ako magwi-withdraw? Ngayon pa na ang ganda-ganda ng takbo ng kampanya namin ni mayor? Kahit saan kami magpunta, nakikita ko ang napakainit na pagtanggap sa amin at ang paniniyak mismo ng mga taga-Maynila na iboboto kami,” ani Veloso.

Gayunman, naging konsolasyon na umano kay Veloso ang sinasabi ng kanyang mga kapartido na dahil galing sa kalaban niya ang mga pakalat na siya ay umatras na, ito ay isang palatandaan na siya ay isang malaking banta at maganda ang itinatakbo ng kanyang kampanya.

Sa kanyang maikling pananalita sa harap ng pedicab drivers, binatikos din ni Veloso sina Estrada at Moreno na wala umanong alam gawin kundi siraan ang administrasyon ni Lim sa kanilang mga caucus, sa halip na ilatag ang kanilang mga programa para sa lungsod o mga nagawa para sa Maynila, kung meron man.

“Puro lang sila paninira, wala namang maipakitang nagawa para sa mga taga-Maynila. Madaling mangako kaya mas maganda pag-usapan ’yung mga nagawa na. Nakakalungkot malaman, lalo na sa ating mga Pilipino na pinalaki sa kultura ng paggalang sa nakatatanda sa atin, na may mga nakababata na dinadaan ang kampanya sa pagsasalita ng mga kabastusan sa nakatatanda. Kayo na ang humusga kung anong pag-uugali meron ang mga taong ganyan, kung paano sila pinalaki” ani Veloso.

“Hindi ko alam kung saan kumukuha ng lakas ng loob ang mga naninira kay Mayor Lim. Eh, sa totoo lang, ni sa kaling-kingan ay wala naman sila sa uri ng paninilbihan na ibinigay na ni Mayor Lim sa Maynila, sa dami ng mga nagawa nito sa lungsod,” dagdag pa ni Veloso, na siyang topnotcher councilor sa lungsod noong nakaraaang halalan.

Binanggit pa ni Veloso na sa ilalim ng pamamahala ni Lim, ’di maikakaila na meron ngayon ang Maynila ng anim na ospital na nagbibigay ng libreng serbisyo medikal para sa anim na distrito nito, dalawang libreng kolehiyo, 485 day-care centers, 59 barangay health centers, 12 lying-in clinics o libreng paanakan at 97 karagdagang public elementary at high school buildings at marami pang iba.

report by : Itchie Cabayan ( People's tonight)
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Repoer

29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 MONDAY Peoplestonight

REJECT NPA MONETARY DEMANDS - Purisima



PHILIPPINE National Police chief Director General Alan LM Purisima yesterday reiterated his call to candidates in the May 13 election to reject monetary demands from the New People’s Army as he assured them of adequate protection provided they coordinate their campaign sorties with security troops.

“I don’t see any reason why a candidate campaigning to be elected in a government post will give protection money in the guise of the so-called ‘permit-to-campaign’ fees or even weapons to enemies of the State,”Purisima said in the wake of reports that NPA guerrillas continue to ask politicians to seek their permission first and ask them cough up huge cash and even weapons before campaigning in areas where they are known to have a considerable presence.

Although the Aquino government said it cannot guarantee absolute protection for all candidates, PNP said the citizenry could help stop the NPA’s extortion activities by quickly reporting suspicious armed movements in their areas. The appeal was made in the aftermath of the April 20 NPA attack in Gingoog, Misamis Oriental that wounded Mayor Ruth Guingona, wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and killed her two aides and injured two others.

He said they are also further enhancing their partnership with the Armed Forces and the community in their campaign to stop New People’s Armyguerrillas from putting up “checkpoints” in far-flung areas of the country where they threaten candidates campaigning for elective posts in the May 13 election.

Purisima called on candidates not to heed the NPA’s demand for “permit-to-campaign” fees and instead seek the help of the police and the military should they decide to campaign in the countryside.

The PNP and the AFP consider the NPA as the biggest major threat to the holding of a secure and fair May 13 election as it continues to wield a strong influence in at least 60 of the country’s 72 provinces.

Purisima clarified that NPA guerrillas are known for putting up “checkpoints” which are very different with that of the AFP and the PNP.

He said that the rebels hastily-put up “checkpoints” as soon as they monitor the arrival of candidates and their men and stop them at gunpoint before making their demands from them, usually money.

These NPA “checkpoints” usually last only for 5 to 15 minutes as the guerrillas know that they can’t stay in area for so long without alarming the police and the military.

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29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 MONDAY Peoplestonight top stories

Bird Flu Aired '

WASHINGTON — There is no evidence that the deadly H7N9 bird flu has yet spread between humans in China but health authorities must be ready for the virus to mutate at any time, a top US virologist has warned.

Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), said officials in China had studied more than 1,000 close contacts of confirmed cases and not found any evidence of human-to-human transmission.

”That is powerful evidence because if you had a thousand contacts with someone with the flu you would be pretty sure some of them would have been infected,” Fauci said in an interview with AFP.Nevertheless, Fauci cautioned that authorities needed to be ready for the possibility of the virus mutating and spreading between humans.

“It’s unpredictable as are all the influenza. One of the things we need to be concerned about is this might gain the capability of going human-to-human which up to this point has not happened and is somewhat encouraging news,” Fauci said.”But we still need to be very prepared for the eventuality of that happening.

”Researchers are already developing a diagnostic test to identify H7N9, along with a vaccine, with clinical trials due in July or August.”Work is under way on making a diagnostic test to be able to pick it up quickly,” Fauci said.

”We have already started on an early development of a vaccine as we did with H5N1 years ago... Hopefully, we will never have to use it.”More than 110 people in mainland China have been confirmed to be infected with H7N9, with 23 deaths, since Beijing announced on March 31 that the virus had been found in humans.

Most of the cases have been located in eastern China, although Taiwan has reported one case. Another case has been found in southern China, while Chinese officials confirmed a further outbreak in the central province of Hunan.

Chinese authorities have identified poultry as the source of the virus and have confirmed that patients became sick from contact with infected live fowl.

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29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 MONDAY Peoplestonight Top Stories

Tax Exemption for workers' bonuses pushed

SENATOR Ralph Recto reiterated his proposal to tax-exempt Christmas and 13th month bonuses and overtime pay of private and government workers that would effectively bring down income taxes as part of government’s Labor Day surprise for May 1.

“I really don’t expect them to announce a wage increase on Labor Day or sooner. I hope my proposal will make up for the lack of wage hike order this coming May 1 celebrations,” Recto, senior member of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said.

He added: “If the working Juan de La Cruz can’t expect a raft of wage-related benefits on his special day, exempting their bonuses and overtime pay from taxes would be a welcome relief.”

The labor department has in fact announced that workers won’t be receiving any wage increase on May 1.

But Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said a non-wage benefits package may be unveiled during Labor Day by President Aquino, including tax exemption for workers.

Recto stressed his proposal to tax-exempt Christmas and other bonuses could be integrated with the non-wage benefits that the Palace may have in mind.

He said the tax-exemption could be announced as part of government’s Labor Day package for all workers.

The senator is also proposing that employees who are earning P300,000 and below per annum should be exempted from income tax.

Currently, only minimum wage earners are tax-exempt.

According to his proposal, Christmas and 13th month bonuses amounting to P60,000 and below should be free from tax as against the current ceiling of P30,000.

Presently, 13th month pay and Christmas bonuses that exceed P30,000 are subject to income tax.

The proposal is contained in Recto’s Senate Bill 2879, which has already reached the committee level in the Senate.

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29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 MONDAY Peoplestonight Top Stories

El Shaddai endorses 32 UNA Bets '

El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde has endorsed the candidacy of three United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) candidates -- Richard Gordon, Nancy Binay and Juan Miguel Zubiri -- in a prayer meeting in Parañaque Saturday evening.

During a prayer meeting Velarde called on Gordon, Binay and Zubiri to the stage and speak to members of the El Shaddai, reportedly the biggest Catholic Charismatic movement in the country with a a base of five to six million voters.

The endorsement was through the “White Vote Movement,” a coalition of Catholic groups which attempts to influence votes of Catholic families.

Velarde said the candidates the group had endorsed were “carefully chosen” and that have “the competence and heart to back the Catholic faithful in pushing for their advocacies.”

The El Shaddai and other Catholic organizations had banded together to support the “Team Buhay” campaign launched by the Diocese of Bacolod City to supportcandidates who junked the Reproductive Health law.

“Ang sabi ng Diyos, huwag tayong magdesisyon ng ayon lang sa kagustuhan natin. Huwag lang ’yung kung sino ang gusto natin. Isantabi natin ang ating pansariling kagustuhan. Piliin natin ang naaayon sa Kanya. Hindi puwede ang puwede na. Huwag n’yong sasabihing puwede na ito, kailangan puwede talaga. Itong mga nais na maglingkod na ito na tatawagin ko ang mga makakatulong sa atin na labanan ang mga batas na papatay sa buhay at sa pamilya,” Velarde told his followers.

For his part, Gordon thanked the El Shaddai, the White Vote Movement and the other Catholic organizations who had banded together “to deliver a solid Catholic vote to fight measures that go against the laws of God, as he urged members of the group to be discerning in choosing the leaders they will elect.”

“Salamat sa El Shaddai, sa White Vote Movement at sa iba’t ibang Catholic organisasyon sa pangunguna ni Bro. Mike nang sa ganoon ay matulungan tayo sa pagdesisyon para sa ating bansa. Tuwing eleksyon na lang ay niloloko ang ating bansa at ang nanloloko ay tayo mismo kaya tayo ay napag-iwanan ng ating mga karatig-bansa and we have to find our future in foreign shores,” Gordon said.

“Ang gobyerno ay hindi hanapbuhay, ito ay bigay-buhay. Dapat ang piliin natin ay ’yung makakatulong hindi lamang sa buhay, kungdi pati sa kabuhayan ng tao, para umangat tayo. Huwag n’yong ibenta ang boto n’yo. Pumili tayo ng iboboto, ’yung may values at kakayahan na maaasahan natin na makakapagpa-angat ng kabuhayan natin at hindi tayo gagawing pala-asa. Kung mahina ang boto nyo, mahina ang bansa,” he said.

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29/04/2013

APRIL 29, 2013 MONDAY Peoplestonight Banner

WORKERS won’t get the good news about a wage hike they want to hear on Labor Day. But Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte yesterday said workers should not shut the door to the non-wage benefits to be presented by the government in a dialogue with leaders of the labor sector.

Valte said that labor groups should keep an open mind on the package of non-wage benefits that will be laid on the table by President Benigno Aquino in a dialogue with labor leaders in Malacanang this week.

The Palace official is hopeful that representatives of labor groups will not reject outright the government’s proposed non-wage benefits.

“The President is going to sit down with them in the usual dialogue with the labor sector and to also help (Labor) Secretary (Rosalinda) Baldoz appeal to the workers’ sector, to wait for the non-wage benefits package,” Valte said.

The Labor department earlier announced that the President’s dialogue with the labor leaders will be held on the eve of Labor Day in the Palace.

Among the issues that will be discussed in tomorrow’s dialogue are the observance of constitutional guarantees to security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining; tax exemptions for minimum wage earners; and, institutionalization of Consultative Council on overseas Filipino workers as a dialogue platform.

Labor groups have repeatedly called for a P125 legislated wage hike while others sought salary adjustments before the regional wage boards.

But the labor department said no wage hike may be announced on May 1 since petitions for adjustments can only be entertained by the regional wage board a year after the last wage order was issued. In the National Capital Region, the last wage order was made on May 17, 2012.

The non-wage benefits reportedly include scholarship grants from the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System.

Valte downplayed concerns about rising unemployment rate, pointing out that it actually has gone down.

Among the highlights of the May 1 celebration, Valte said, is the holding of several job fairs to provide employment opportunities for Filipinos across the country.

“So there are over 400,000 jobs that will be available. Both local and overseas job opportunities that will be available in 70 job fairs and we encourage everybody to go to those job fairs and see what they have in store,” Valte said.

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Philippine news compilation from the country's oldest and leading dailies.

26/04/2013

APRil 26 , 2013 FRIDAY peoplestonight METRO NEWS

Sigaw ng R**E VICTIM ni Along Malapitan : HUSTISYA

Tumatakbo naman ngayon bilang alkalde ng Caloocan si Rep. Malapitan.

Kasama ni “Mila” na humarap sa media ang kanyang abogado na si Atty. Trixie Angeles Cruz at mga miyembro ng ‘Women’s Advocacy for Gender Equality’ (WAGE), kung saan isiniwalat din nito ang detalye ng kanyang masaklap na karanasan sa kamay umano ng suspect noong siya ay 16-anyos pa lamang.

Mistulan umanong masamang bangungot na bumalik sa kanya ang lahat nang sa paglabas niya ng kanilang bahay sa Bagong Barrio noong isang araw ay makita niya ang nakababatang Malapitan habang abala ito sa pangangampanya sa kanilang lugar.

“Pinilit ko sanang makalimutan ang lahat ngunit kamakailan, nasa labas ako ng bahay namin at may dumaan na mga kandidato.

“Nakita ko ang isa sa mga gumahasa sa akin. Tumatakbo siya bilang Congressman. Si Along Malapitan, ’yung nang-rape sa akin, ’yung bumaboy sa akin, gustong maging Congressman,” pahayag pa ni Mila.

Sa kanyang salaysay, sinabi nito na madaling araw ng Abril 12, 2008, hinuli siya at isa niyang pinsan dahil umano sa paglabag sa “curfew” ng mga tauhan ng Bgy. 137, Bagong Barrio at iniharap sa kanilang barangay chairman.

“Imbes na pangaralan ako o pagalitan o ikulong, pinainom ako ng alak. Pinaupo sa tabi nila. Sinabihan ako na sumunod lang sa utos ni Kapitan. Dinala nya ako sa kwarto, pinapasok sa banyo. At duon ginahasa ako.

“Matapos nun, kinuha naman ako ng tiyo niya na alyas “Congressman.” Dinala ako at ng pinsan ko sa motel. Duon ginahasa ako uli,” kuwento pa ng biktima.

Dahil menor-de-edad, inilagay umano siya sa pangangalaga ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) habang nililitis ang kanyang isinampang kaso kung saan umabot ng higit tatlong taon ang usapin sa Family Court ng Caloocan Regional Trial Court.

“Matapos ang tatlo’t kalahating taon, bigla na lang akong sinabihan. Dismissed na raw ang kaso ko. Hindi ko man lang alam kung anong nangyari. Naiyak ako... sana mabigyan po ako ng katarungan. Humihingi po ako ng tulong sa inyong lahat,” dagdag pa ng biktima.

Ayon naman kay Atty. Angeles Cruz, naghain na muli sila ng panibagong kaso sa Caloocan Regional Trial (RTC) Court Branch 131 upang buhayin ang kaso. Humingi na rin umano sila ng kopya ng desisyon ng kaso upang mapag-aralan kung bakit nakalusot si Along sa kaso.

“Ang katotohanan ay na-rape ang batang ito. At maliwanag na may probable cause kasi sinampa ng Caloocan Prosecutors Office ang kasong ito laban sa mga Malapitan at kanilang mga kasamahan,” sabi ni Angeles.

Ibinunyag ni Atty. Cruz na may mga pananakot nang natatanggap ang kanyang kliyente at alok na bayad sa ’di nabanggit na halaga.

Sumaklolo naman ang WAGE upang magbigay ng tulong moral sa biktima.

26/04/2013

APRIL 26 , 2013 Peoplestonight METRO

2 Patay sa Riot sa Bilibid

Sa nakarating na impormasyon sa tanggapan ni Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, nangyari ang insidente ng riot dakong ala-1:05 ng hapon nang lusubin umano ng isang Leo dela Victori na miyembro ng “Batang Cebu” ang mga kalabang preso sa loob ng Calvary Church.

Namatay matapos magtamo ng mga saksak sa katawan ang mga bilanggong sina Arturo Osperana at Ramil Cuasito habang isinugod naman sa NBP Hospital sina Felicito Moralla at Pablito Rabosa na kapwa nagtamo rin ng mga saksak sa katawan.

Tumanggi naman si Bureau of Correction (BuCor) Franklin Bucayu na magbigay ng kumpletong detalye sa nangyaring riot at nais muna umano nilang ipabatid sa pamilya ng mga biktima ang naganap na insidente ng patayan.

Idinugtong pa ni Bucayu na “isolated case” lamang umano ang naturang pangyayari at naglatag na sila ng kaukulang hakbang upang hindi na maulit ang sagupaan.

26/04/2013

APRIL 26, 2013 peoplestonight

4th DISTRICT SOLID KAY LIM

“SOLID Lim country.”
By : Itchie Cabayan

Ganito idineklara ng mga barangay leaders at residente ng ikaa-pat na distrito ng Maynila ang kanilang lugar kasabay ng mainit na pagsalubong sa ‘kalesa-cade’ na isinagawa ni Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim sa kanilang lugar.

Ang mga kilalang resi-dente at barangay leaders mula sa Sampaloc ang mismong nanguna sa ’di mabilang na taong sumalubong kay Lim sa isinagawa nitong pagkampanya sa ikaapat na distrito, kung saan kapuna-puna din ang pangunguna ng mga mahigpit na kaalyado ni dating Mayor Lito Atienza na kelan lamang ay nagtatag ng samahang tina-wag nilang ‘Maynila Para sa Manilenyo’ at pinamumunuan nina dating Liga ng mgaBarangay vice president Naning Ponce at Jason Valencia, na humawak ng mga sensitibong posis-yon nu’ng panahon ni Atienza.

Ayon kina Ponce at Valencia, kapwa residente din ng Sampa-loc, ang istilong gina-gamit ng mga kalaban ni Lim na paninira at maruming uri ng pulitika ay lalo lamang nagpapatingkad sa kandidatura ni Lim at nakakalikha ng simpatiya para sa alkalde.

“Matatalino at bukas ang mga mata ng mga taga-Maynila sa kung sino ang tunay na taga-Maynila, sino ang may nagawa para sa Maynila at sino ang may magagawa pa, kaya hindi na ubra ’yung puro paninira tapos wala namang maipakitang nagawa o gagawin pa para sa mga taga-Maynila,” ani Ponce.

“Ang gustong marinig ng mga tao ay kung ano ang nagawa at gagawin mo para sa taga-Maynila, hindi ’yung puro paninira lang,” dagdag pa nito.

Bilang sagot ay tini-yak naman ni Lim na ’di niya bibiguin ang mga taga-Maynila at sinabing magpapatuloy ang mga libreng serbisyo na alay ng lungsod lalo na para sa mahihirap, sa ilalim ng kanyang programang ‘womb to tomb’ o ‘sina-pupunan hanggang kamatayan’, kung saan ang mga libreng serbisyo ay nagmumula habang ang isang taga-Maynila ay ipinagbubuntis pa lamang hanggang sa kamata-yan at libingan.

Matatandaan na ang grupong ‘Maynila Para sa Manilenyo’ ay naninindigan laban sa kandidatura ni dating Pangulong Erap Estrada.

“Maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na taga-San Juan si Erap. Alam ’yan hindi lang ng mga taga-Maynila kundi maging ng buong Pilipinas. Du’n siya lumaki, yumaman at nagsilbi sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Sabi nga niya, 17 years si-yang mayor du’n. Tapos ngayon, mahal daw niya ang Maynila?” ani Ponce.

“Ilang taon siyang na-ging senador, vice president at president. Nasa kamay niya ang pera ng buong bansa pero ni isang eskuwela obarangay health center man lang ba e may ipinatayo siya sa Maynila?” pahayag pa nito.

26/04/2013

APRIL 26,2013 FRIDAY

SHOOTOUT REVELATION '
SOLDIERS involved in the infamous Atimonan bloodbath have dropped a bombshell.

The members of the Armed Forces yesterday said evidence in the Atimonan incident were tampered with and manipulated.

In a 58-page joint counter-affidavit, military officers and soldiers revealed for the first time that policemen under the command of controversial police officer Hansel Marantan “fired the fi****ms of the victims who were already dead” to show that there was a shootout.

They added some policemen who took part in the fatal operation also shot one of the victims despite a soldier’s plea to take the wounded to the hospital.

No police-military conspiracy

With this new twist, the military effectively belied the charges of the NBI that there was conspiracy among the soldiers and policemen in “silencing” alleged jueteng operator Vic Siman and 12 others in Atimonan, Quezon on January 6.

They stressed that they have revealed this information to the National Bureau of Investigation during the NBI probe, and yet they were still included in the charge sheet much to their surprise.

“We would not have disclosed what we saw, taking into consideration that the police actions may be considered as our own act. Without the statement of the undersigned respondents that we witnessed police operatives tampering the evidence, by firing the guns of the occupants of the SUV in the air, the NBI would have not learned of this fact,” they lamented.

Another Marantan setback

The Department of Justice junked the plea of Marantan for transfer to the Ombudsman of the preliminary investigation of multiple murder charges against him and other police officers tagged in the killings.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the investigating panel handling the case has denied the plea of Marantan.

“I remember that the counsel of Supt. Marantan wrote to me asking the DoJ not to assume jurisdiction of the case and refer it to the Ombudsman because of perceived lack of impartiality on my part because of certain pronouncements. I referred that letter to the chair of the panel and I understand the chair denied that request,” she told reporters in an interview yesterday.

In asking for the transfer, Marantan cited as basis De Lima’s reported statement during the reenactment in Atimonan that the incident was “definitely no shootout,” which he said was a “prejudgment of the case.”

Also, De Lima said the panel would also proceed with the preliminary investigation despite the petition filed by Marantan before the Supreme Court questioning the legality of the NBI probe.

“As of this very moment there is no TRO (temporary restraining order). I hope there will be none. So the preliminary investigation will push through. It is the mandate of the panel to proceed with the preliminary investigation without any order from the court saying otherwise,” she stressed.

Marantan and his superior and fellow respondent, former Region IV-A police director Chief Supt. James Andres Melad, have both denied the multiple murder charges filed against them in their respective counter-affidavits to the DoJ panel.

26/04/2013

APRIL 26, 2013 FRIDAY peoplestonight

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wrapped up a two-day summit in Brunei with a chairman’s statement in which they emphasized the importance of “peace, stability and maritime security in the region.” Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the host of the talks, told reporters after the summit that the leaders wanted to “urgently work on a code of conduct” with China aimed at defusing tensions in the strategically vital body of water.

The other key focus at the summit was pushing forward plans to create a single market for Southeast Asia and its 600 million people — known as the ASEAN Economic Community — by 2015.

However the flashpoint South China Sea issue dominated the meeting, amid growing concern among some Southeast Asian countries over China’s increasing aggression in laying claim to the waters.

China says it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the South China Sea, which is believed to sit atop huge deposits of oil and gas. It is also home to some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and richest fishing grounds.

ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, also claim parts of the sea.The competing claims have for decades made the area one of Asia’s potential powder kegs for military conflict. China and Vietnam fought battles in 1974 and 1988 for control of islands that left dozens of soldiers dead.

Tensions have risen again in recent years as China has used increasingly aggressive diplomatic and military tactics to assert its authority.

Among the actions that have caused alarm were China’s occupation of a shoal close to the Philippines’ main island last year, and the deployment last month of Chinese naval ships to within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of Malaysia’s coast.ASEAN endured unprecedented infighting last year as the Philippines and Vietnam failed to persuade the bloc to send a united message of concern to China.

Cambodia, a close China ally that held the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2012, blocked the efforts of the Philippines and Vietnam. Southeast Asian leaders said this week’s summit had successfully led to a regained sense of unity within ASEAN on the issue, with Philippine President Benigno Aquino praising his Brunei host for deft diplomacy that helped build a consensus.

”Everybody is interested in having a peaceful resolution and also in voicing... concern that there have been increasing disputes,” Aquino told reporters.

Nevertheless, analysts said ASEAN’s calls for China to agree on a legally binding code of conduct for the sea would likely lead nowhereASEAN and China first agreed to work on a code in 2002, but the Asian superpower has since refused to discuss it further.

”China was never enthusiastic about a code of conduct, as it does not want to sign an agreement that will constrain its sovereignty-building activities,” Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, told AFP.

However Aquino said he was happy that ASEAN leaders had at least united in trying to ensure the disputes over the South China Sea did not “become bloody.” ”So there is unity of purpose and one can always be hopeful that that will lead to something more concrete,” he said.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said ASEAN foreign ministers would hold talks with China on the issue during a scheduled event in Beijing later in the year.But officials gave no indication of whether there could be any meetings before then.

Bolkiah and other Southeast Asian leaders said progress had been made this week on the ASEAN Economic Community, and more than three-quarters of its framework had been agreed upon.But they also cautioned the hardest phases of the negotiations had just begun.