Survivor of Limo Fire 5 Describes What Happened

One of the survivors of a limousine fire that killed five people on a San Francisco Bay bridge is describing the terrifying moments — and disputing the driver's version of events of what happened when the limo burst into flames.

With a cut visible on her face, an emotional Nelia Arellano told San Francisco's KGO-TV that she yelled at the driver to stop the car, but he "didn't want to listen."

When the driver, Orville Brown, did finally stop, Arellano says he did nothing to help the women get out of the burning car after he exited.

Brown has said that, at first, he misunderstood what one of the passengers in the back was saying when she knocked on the partition between the passenger area and the driver and complained about smelling smoke.

Brown says he helped the survivors escape through the partition.

———

Information from: KGO-TV.

File SALN before April 30, govt officials, employees reminded April 28, 2013 2:07pm

Malacañang on Sunday issued a last-minute reminder to public servants to file their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) on or before Tuesday, April 30.

Filing the SALNs on time is the “personal responsibility” of each government employee," she said on government-run dzRB radio.

Also, Valte said that in the case of the Office of the President, employees had been given a deadline of April 15, so a review committee can check how they filed their SALNs.

Review committees set up by individual government agencies and departments will check if the employees complied with the new guidelines of the Civil Service Commission in filing the SALNs.

“Dapat naibigay na sa review committee bago dumating ang deadline para matingnan nila (The employees should submit their SALNs to the review committees before the April 30 deadline),” she said.

Earlier, the Office of the Ombudsman reminded public servants to file their SALNs by April 30.

Government officials and employees are to file SALNs within 30 days after assuming office, and on or before April 30, and within 30 days after their separation from government service.

Failure to do so may carry a suspension of up to six months for the first offense, and dismissal from the service for the second offense. — LBG, GMA News

Palace to NPA: Go ahead make our day

Wednesday, April 24, 2013
By:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

MANILA -- "You wanna challenge us? Go ahead, make our day."

This was the challenge raised by Malacañang, through presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, to the communist New People's Army (NPA) who reportedly belittled the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to enforce President Benigno Aquino III's order to crush the rebels' "checkpoints," which the government calls as roadblocks.

Lacierda said that the government forces have intensified their operations against the illegal activities of the NPA, including the setting up of roadblocks to extort money from local candidates.

Aquino has ordered the dismantling of NPA roadblocks after the rebels' ambush on the convoy of Gingoog Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona who was hurt in the incident. The mayor's police escort was also injured while her two civilian supporters were killed when her convoy did not stop at the guerrillas’ roadblock in the city.

Lacierda said that the AFP has moved a Marine battalion to Misamis Oriental to pursue the perpetrators in the attack.

He said that the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is now considered a bandit group.

"The CPP-NPA was borne out of legitimate grievances in the past. They have now been reduced to a bandit group," he said.

Since it is now election season, he also said that the rebels are now engaged on "attention grabbing," because "this is the time for them to earn money" through the permit to campaign.

Lacierda said that the Aquino administration is always committed to hold peace negotiation with the rebels. But it is the Maoist group which shut its door to pursue the peace process.

"There is no ongoing peace process. We have committed to talk to them, they have refused to talk to us," he said.

Those rebels who just went to the mountains because of the disillusionment on the past administrations could now return to the folds of law because the current government has changed, he said.

"This administration is committed to making --- ensuring that you will have a better life. And so come down from the mountains. Who doesn't want peace?" Lacierda said. (SDR/Sunnex)

Gordon banks on experience in Senate bid

By Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) 
Updated April 16, 2013 - 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines - Former senator Richard Gordon is making a political comeback by seeking a seat in the Senate under the United Nationalist Alliance.

Gordon’s history on executive, legislative and humanitarian works spans more than three decades.

A lawyer by profession, Gordon started early in public service. He was in his mid-20s when he became the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention (ConCon).

As mayor of Olongapo City from 1980 to 1986, he made waves by turning Olongapo into a highly urbanized city. He introduced volunteerism, color-coding of vehicles, and proper waste disposal long before they were adopted by other localities.

In 1987, Gordon became governor of the Philippine Red Cross and he is now serving his fourth term as chairman of the humanitarian agency.

He rose to national prominence even more when he got Olongapo City back to its feet after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the pullout of American bases in early ‘90s.

Gordon also became secretary of the Department of Tourism from 2001-2004, during which he launched the world-renowned “WOW Philippines” campaign to attract foreign tourists into the country.

This year, Gordon is gunning for a Senate seat on May 13. And he is banking on his accomplishments as a senator from 2004 to 2010 and his long experience in public service.

“I have experienced the Senate... I’ve passed important laws - the automated (election) law, tourism law, international humanitarian law, and the economics,” Gordon said.

“I have the wisdom that comes from being a lawyer; being a ConCon delegate, the youngest at that in 1971; being a mayor, a local government official for 13 years; handling business conglomerates at the SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority); being a secretary of tourism and chairman of Red Cross. That experience you cannot get anywhere,” he added.

Gordon promised that if again elected as senator, he would initiate laws that would improve the country’s education system and uplift the lives of teachers who are earning much lower salary compared to their counterparts in Asia.

He also expressed concern over the country’s “weak” defense and its lack of functional air force and navy amid the territorial disputes with other nations.

Gordon admitted that he sometimes longs for the “intelligent discourse” that he had at the Senate.

“It’s not only making laws... You have to make sure, why tourism law is not being enforced. Why is there so little employment despite the high income, despite the Gross Domestic Product going up, why power (program) is not implemented in Mindanao,” he said.

“It’s not talking for the sake of talking. It’s talking for your country. Senators are after all elected to discuss policies... That’s why there are senators who cannot do anything.  They cannot communicate, they don’t attend meetings,” he added.

Gordon lamented that even though Filipinos have elected leaders since 1946, “it seems that every time we elect, we have not really grown like the other countries in Asia.”

“We’ve gone down and everybody has overtaken us. Every time there is an election, we are supposed to improve. There’s been no improvement. It seems we are not voting for the right people,” he observed.

Maribago Bluewater's My BlueARTh: Keeping the World Blue

Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort successfully celebrated its second year of creating awareness of the annual Earth Day event last April 21, 2013, the “My BlueARTh” – a festival of arts, food and music. A day of environmental service and awareness.

Families and friends celebrated and witnessed everything eco-fabulous, easy-going and eco-savvy with Bluewater Resorts’ activities such as the Inter-departmental Chime Making Competition, Recycled-To-Wear Fashion Show and Competition.

Many of us also learned new things especially kids and we were all encouraged to be bold and creative to make our lives a little greener and more artistic such as doing craft out of recycled items, Outdoor Art and other Earth day treats. There was also the fabulous ‘Bamboo House of Chimes dubbed Huni sa Hangin’, Humanitree wherein you can write your pledge for the environment, Tibetan Stretch, A Talk on Natural Farming and the ever fantastic cooking demonstration and the food was really delicious!

They also featured the electrifying and relaxing live performances of Cebu local band Bethany , Martina San Diego, Percussion Duo and Pohaku. The ‘My BlueARTh’ festival continues through the day with University of San Carlos-Talamban Campus Fashion Design students who showed off their creative and artistic flair of designing clothes made of recycled materials. Sky lanterns were perfectly released into the night.

Project BLUE (Bluewater Loves the Underwater Environment) Divers also conducted simultaneous SCUBASURERO dives earlier in the morning in the waters of Maribago for a coastal clean-up activity which was in line with the ‘My BlueARTh’ festival joined by Maritime Police 7, BFP divers and by yours truly and my fellow iSTORYAn. As I was following the other divers holding a full bag of garbage from the sea, a thought came to my mind, that it is really important to keep this kind of idea alive and that Bluewater Resorts has it. We can take care of our planet by keeping it clean and by following the rule of ‘REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE’ - doing these things every day, not just every April 22.

My Sunday was filled with fun activities--an experience I'd always be so proud to be a part of. I hope you celebrated Earth Day in your own way as long as your art reflects what really means to you and if you have yet to decide how you are going to celebrate this particular day, get involved, come and join the ‘My BlueARTh’ festival next year because it’s more fun in BLUEWATER RESORTS!

Maan B. Cajipe iSTORYAn League of Writers Lifestyle- Fashion and Events

Female Catholic priests ‘not likely’

By: Christine McConville

Local Catholic observers aren’t expecting the church to loosen its ban on women priests any time soon, even though a former Kentucky nun has just become the newest member of this controversial but growing group.

“The church in many ways has declared that priesthood is reserved exclusively for men,” said Boston College theology and religious education professor Thomas Groome. “The church has said this is the design of Jesus Christ. Many theologians have challenged this, but nonetheless, that’s the church’s official position, and it’s not likely to change soon.”

This weekend, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, a dissident group that operates outside official Roman Catholic Church authority, ordained Rosemarie Smead, 70. Smead told The Associated Press that church law against women priests is “a medieval bullying stick the bishops used to keep control over people and to keep the voices of women silent.”

“I am way beyond letting octogenarian men tell us how to live our lives,” she told reporters.

Massachusetts advocates for ordaining women as Catholic priests could not be reached for comment yesterday. The modern woman priest movement began in Austria in 2002. About 150 women have been ordained since then.

Catholic Action League of Massachusetts Executive Director C.J. Doyle called Smead’s move “a sacrilegious parody of holy orders, conducted by a group of non-Catholics.” Doyle said there’s no way Smead can be a Catholic priest, or her supporters Catholic, because her ordination violated church law.

H pushes for Middle East conference

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines pushed for the convening of a conference in the Middle East that will create a nuclear weapon-free zone in the region.

Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, said the conference is a crucial first step towards achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.

Cabactulan made the statement at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which opened in Geneva, Monday.

Over three million Filipinos live and work in the Middle East, who will be affected by a possible nuclear attack or accident.

Last year, the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and All Other Weapons of Mass Destruction was not convened, as called for in the 2010 NPT Review Conference Outcome Document.

The Philippines presided over the 2010 NPT Review Conference. The NPT is a landmark international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

"The Philippines reiterates its encouragements for the United Nations Secretary-General and the three co-sponsors of the 1995 Resolution on the Middle East, as well as the Facilitator and the countries in the region, to continue to exert their utmost efforts for the referenced conference to be held at the soonest time possible," Cabactulan said in a statement delivered at the General Debate.

He added that with continued failure to implement the NPT's provisions and subsequent agreements such as the 13 practical steps agreed in the 2000 NPT Review Conference, and the action plan adopted by consensus in the 2010 NPT Review Conference, "we are thereby weakening seriously the Treaty itself while we amass worrying concerns of not achieving the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons."

Cabactulan expressed deep concern over persistent aggressive stance by North Korea to launch its nuclear arsenals.

"We call for sobriety among all stakeholders and for the easing of tension in the region to avoid the loss of innocent lives. We also join calls on the DPRK to desist from continuing such provocative actions and to abandon all nuclear weapons and programs," he said.

He said that recent developments in the Middle East and in the Korean Peninsula not only pose threats to international peace and security, but to the credibility and effectiveness of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well.

He maintained the Philippine position that that nuclear weapons are illegal under international law, including the international humanitarian law.

"Of all the weapons ever conceived, nuclear weapons are inherently indiscriminate, far beyond proportionality, unimaginable in unnecessary suffering, and inescapably and grievously harmful to the environment. It is a weapon where the notion of control is meaningless and the idea of military necessity absurd," he said.

With the disarmament agenda showing little progress, Cabactulan said now may be the time to set in motion negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention (NWC). Article 6 of the NPT calls for such a convention which will provide a comprehensive, universal and non-discriminatory direction towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

"We welcome the statement of delegations informing us of their actions to have signed or acceded, or yet to sign and accede to international instruments relating to nuclear security or nuclear materials. The international rules-based regime and the rule of law are very close to the hearts of the Philippine Delegation and to the Philippines," he said.

ABS-CBNnews.com Posted at 04/26/2013 10:09 AM | Updated as of 04/26/2013 10:09 AM

2 supporters of Bacoor mayor shot dead

Unidentifed attackers shot dead two supporters of incumbent Bacoor, Cavite Mayor Strike Revilla and wounded one Thursday night.

Queen’s Row Central Barangay Captain Catherine Palabrica was wounded, while her brother-in-law Bobby Palabrica and Reynaldo Premero died when four unidentified assailants riding on two motorcycles blocked the barangay service vehicle they were riding and shot at them.

The assailants reportedly fled towards Molino, Cavite.

Investigators suspect politics to be the motive behind the attack.

- Umagang Kay Ganda, 26 April 2013

Namfrel raises 'red flag' over PCOS

MANILA – The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) on Thursday expressed concern over the reliability of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines, citing reports from its volunteers.

In a letter to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sixto Brillantes dated April 23, Namfrel’s chair Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo brought to Comelec’s attention their concern on PCOS machines’ capability to “initialize, operate and transmit the results on election day.”

“We are receiving reports from our provincial chapters about the preparations for the coming elections and this is one of the areas that we feel we have to raise a red flag on,” said Bernardo.

Bernardo enumerated several instances wherein PCOS machines rejected ballots or failed to transmit.

Most of the incidents were observed by Namfrel volunteers during the mock elections held on February 2, she said.

Bernardo also said there were problems in the Comelec "demo centers" in Cubao and Davao, as well as in the absentee overseas voting in Hong Kong.

She requested the Comelec to share with Namfrel and other citizens' arms the poll body’s contingency plan if problems arise on election day.

“We know that the Comelec is trying its best to ensure that the preparations for the May 13 elections include the operation-worthiness of the PCOS machines. We enjoin you to have your technical staff double check the capability of the PCOS so that the elections will run smoothly from voting to transmission,” she said.

The Comelec, meanwhile, is scheduled to do a final transmission test on May 2, while the final testing and sealing of the PCOS machines at the precincts will be on May 6.

Brillantes earlier said the poll body has laid out contingency measures to address problems that may come up on May 13.

reliability ABS-CBNnews.com

100 houses razed in Bacolod

At least 4,000 people lost their homes after a fire razed some 100 houses in a residential area in Bacolod City Wednesday noon.

The fire hit six sub-villages in Barangay Banago in Bacolod even as arson investigators verify information that a mentally challenged person started the fire.

The displaced residents were relocated to the Domingo Lacson National High School, according to a report on Visayas-based news site The Daily Guardian.

It took firefighters some two hours to place the fire under control.

The fire spread quickly since many of the houses were made of light materials

Fire Officer 3 Cornelio Silva said many residents claimed a mentally challenged resident of Purok Katilingban Zone 1 may have started the fire.

He said the residents saw the resident setting fire to a curtain in her house, after dancing and shouting that she would burn her house. —KG, GMA News

By: www.gmanetwork.com

ARMM needs 13,000 cops on May 13; only 7,000 available

By Lore Mae Andong, 

ABS-CBN News Central Mindanao 

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanaothe (PNP-ARMM) is already ironing out its security preparations for the May 13 polls.

Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Noel Delos Reyes told ABS-CBN News Wednesday that they have determined a need for 13,000 personnel to be deployed on election day.

However, there are only 7,000 policemen available in the region.

The official said the issue was already brought up to  higher authorities.

Other than the deficit in the police force, another problem is the inaccessibility of some polling centers such as those in far-flung barangays, where election paraphernalia need to be transported much earlier due to poor road conditions.

Delos Reyes said worst are those areas which need choppers just to deliver the election paraphernalia, including the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.

The PNP-ARMM is now identifying which polling centers might be confronted with this problem.

Poor communication signal in other areas is also being looked into, according to the official.

They are set to conduct a simulation exercise days before the election to find out how fast their response will be and what areas they have to improve on.

The PNP-ARMM will also be in close coordination with the Coordinating Committees on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH). The latter will be tapped if there is a need for coordination, since policemen will be deployed in polling centers in areas controlled by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Delos Reyes said they have prepared 300 police personnel in case they need to serve in the elections as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs).

He said they have received information that some BEIs may decline to serve due to their past experiences of threats and intimidation.

"We are just anticipating that there might be a need but they still have to undergo training," he said.

He explained, however, that this will still be the call of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), adding the PNP is just showing its willingness to serve as BEIs if needed.

A joint monitoring center will also be set up in the  compound of PRO-ARMM at Camp Bgen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Parang town in Maguindanao to watch and monitor election activities all over the region.

Delos Reyes said all of these will be a challenge to the police force.

He said that while they are preparing for a worse-case scenario, they are still hopeful that the midterm polls will be peaceful and fair.

He added the mid-terms polls will serve as a gauge of what may happen in the 2016 elections.

Aquino taps local leaders to help 3 Team PNoy bets

By Willard Cheng

ABS-CBN News 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI—President Aquino is enlisting the help of his allies in the local level to help boost the winning chances of three administration senatorial candidates lagging behind in surveys.

“Well, there’s extra help. Parang ‘pag nakikiusap tayo sa ating mga leaders, baka pwedeng diinan ‘yung tatlo na mas maalala; dagdagan ‘yung awareness at ‘yung recall at sana naman may conversion. So ‘yung where we have… the organizational structure, where we have allies… We are trying to make extra efforts on all of them. But, at the same time, parang heartening na rin: nine out of 12,” he told reporters at the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

Aquino believes that even candidates from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) that look secure in their rankings may still be vulnerable.

"Naka-una pero may habulan din," he added.

Nine Team PNoy members have landed in the Top 12 senatorial candidates in the May polls, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey conducted April 13-15. [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/04/22/13/nancy-cynthia-tied-3rd-4th-senate-race-sws]

Three more candidates - Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr. (14-15), Jamby Madrigal (16) and Risa Hontiveros (17) - have failed to make it to the Top 12.

Earlier, Team PNoy campaign manager Sen. Franklin Drilon said the coalition has plans to boost the candidacy of the three candidates.

"We will keep on working hard. Of the three, Sen. Magsaysay is nearing the top 12," he told reporters.

KOKO PIMENTEL, NUMBER 2 SA MOCK POLLS

Nakuha ni reelectionist senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III ang number 2 sa Mock Polls para sa mga senador na isinagawa ng Movement for Good Governance (MGG) na ginanap sa Ateneo Professional Schools sa Rockwell Makati, kamakailan.

Nanguna sa mock polls si dating senador Ramon Magsaysay, Jr., pumangalawa si Pimentel at pangatlo si Riza Hontiveros. Silang tatlo ay pawang kasapi sa team P-Noy.

Ang mga katangian at kapintasan ng mga kandidatong senador ay binusising mabuti ng panel of experts batay sa scoreboard na inihanda ng MGG.

Ang mga kandidato ay binigyan ng grado kung sila ay pumasa o bumagsak batay sa sumusunod na criteria - competence, track record effectiveness, integrity, stewardship at reform.

"Ang scoreboard ay makatutulong sa mga Filipino anuman ang antas ng kanilang buhay para pag-aralan ang katangian ng mga kandidato kung sila ay karapat-dapat manungkulan sa public office," ani Winnie Monsod, chair ng MGG.

Sa ibang de kalidad na pag susuri sa katangian ng mga kandidatong senador, isa sa mga nangunguna si Pimentel.

by:www.senate.gov.ph

UNA hits new Comelec commissioner, cites alleged ties with LP

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Saturday hit the appointment of lawyer Al Parreño as Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner because of his alleged ties with the ruling Liberal Party (LP).

In a statement, UNA secretary general and campaign manager, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco said the appointment of Parreño "is another attempt by the administration party to ensure its influence in the Comelec as part of its obsession with the presidency in 2016."

Tiangco said Parreño's appointment "is another glaring move by LP to place its associates in key positions within the Comelec, exposing the poll body to charges that it is losing its independence and is becoming a "Liberal-ized" institution."

The opposition coalition also questioned the Parreño's ties with LP President, Interior Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II.

"We can clearly see the Liberal-ization of Comelec. Everyone knows that Parreño is another Mar Roxas-guy. They got busted with the backdoor appointment of Macabangkit Lanto, and now have another guy to fulfill LP's agenda for 2016," Tiangco said.

Lanto, a former representative of Lanao del Norte in Congress earlier declined his appointment as Comelec commissioner after it was discovered that he was involved in poll fraud in 2007.

Tiangco said Parreño was appointed by Roxas in July 2012 at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, when he was still secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication.

"The Palace is saying Parreno was not appointed because of his legal background, but mainly because of his experience in information technology (IT). So we have a Roxas loyalist as the Comelec's IT expert. With Grace Padaca around, LP has a strong leverage in the Comelec. This is LP's plan-B after Lanto," Tiangco said. JC Bello

Over 10,500 jobs available in Labor Day fairs -- DOLE 12

By Danilo E. Doguiles

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, April 22 (PIA) -- At least 10,596 jobs will be available to job seekers in Soccksargen Region in fairs in line with the celebration of the Labor celebration Day on May 1, according the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 12. 

DOLE 12 regional director Ofelia B. Domingo said the number of vacancies was based on the report of jobs available submitted by employers who have signified participation in the fairs being organized by the agency. 

These job opportunities will be available to applicants in five job fairs, which will start late this week, she said. 

Individuals seeking employment could start the search at the fair on Friday , April 26, inside Gaisano Grand Mall in Koronadal City; they may also prefer to go to four job fairs scheduled on May 1. 

Applicants in Cotabato City and neighboring areas may proceed to the South Seas Mall in Cotabato City. Another job fair will be held at the Kidapawan City Gym for applicants in North Cotabato area while those in Sultan Kudarat area and nearby places may go Tacurong City Gym. 

Expecting bulk of job seekers in SocSargen (South Cotabato – Sarangani – General Santos City) area, DOLE decide to hold the jobs fair in two locations, namely: KCC Mall and SM. 

Over 200 companies offering jobs for local and overseas employment will participate in Labor Day events, she added. 

Domingo advised applicants to bring multiple copies of résumé, certificates of trainings, and certifications of employment. She explained applicants who would bring more copies of these documents could apply for jobs in several companies. 

She also advised fresh graduates to seek for positions that would fit their qualifications. 

Besides vacant jobs, job fairs across the region will also feature skills demonstration and free certification assessment by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 12 for those who have undergone National Certification (NC) 2 trainings. 

Domingo also announced that the Labor Day celebration on May 1 will kick off with an opening ceremony at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center along Alunan Avenue, this city where employee groups and labor unions are invited. 

The ceremony will be highlighted by the awarding of livelihood to beneficiaries as well as the launching of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Advocacy Center 

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) in Sultan Kudarat province will also participate in the Labor Day celebration with a cleanup drive called “Operation Tinlo.” 

This year, the country celebrates the 111th Labor Day as a tribute to the nation’s workers and to their significant contribution to the country’s development and to highlight their achievement as a major socio-economic pillar of the Philippine society. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with CDMLadot-DOLE 12) 

Teachers in autonomous region demand P5,000 in poll duty pay

By Charlie C. Señase

COTABATO CITY—Teachers, particularly those assigned to volatile and fraud-prone areas in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are demanding higher pay for election duty.

Speaking for the 800-strong Teachers Alliance for Change (TEACH), Abunawas Solaiman said the government must “look into the plight of our teachers by not only ensuring their security but by giving them just compensation for a delicate job.”

“The P3,000 election pay for each public school teacher is not enough to compensate for the threats and trauma” of teachers performing election tasks, said Solaiman, who heads TEACH. The teachers are demanding at least P5,000 in election duty pay.

Noor Saada, education assistant secretary in the ARMM, said she supports the teachers’ demand for higher election duty pay and insurance coverage.

Samira Gutoc-Tomawis, Regional Legislative Assembly member, said many teachers are exposed to intimidation and harassment by politicians with private armies.

Reports of election violence in the past showed that teachers assigned to conflict areas are “exposed to danger in their attempt to expose election anomalies,” said Tomawis.

Considered the backbone of the nation’s electoral process, “the teachers run and supervise voting centers and often form part of the board of election inspectors, only to bear the brunt of election violence and intimidation before, during and after the political exercise,” Tomawis added.

Solaiman said that if some teachers are not performing well in their election duties, it is because they are under threat and lacked ample government protection—economic and security-wise.

JV gets 9 notices for unlawful campaign posters

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported yesterday that the poll body had sent notices of violation over unlawful campaign posters to 23 senatorial candidates and 36 party-list groups.

Based on the report of Esmeralda Ladra, director of the Comelec Law Department, San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito of the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) topped the list among Senate bets and got nine notices of violation of campaign posters rules.

The Comelec sent seven notices of violation to Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara of the administration coalition Team PNoy.

Included in the list of candidates who got notices of violation is the entire slate of Team PNoy led by Sen. Loren Legarda (4 notices), Benigno “Bam” Aquino (4), Risa Hontiveros (3), Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (3), Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III (2), Jamby Madrigal (1), Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (1), Cynthia Villar (2), Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (2), Sen. Francis Escudero (2), and Grace Poe (1).

Others in the list are Bangon Pilipinas Party’s senatorial bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva (5); independent candidate Edward Hagedorn (3), and Makabayan’s Teddy Casiño (2).

UNA’s senatorial bets Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (4), Sen. Gregorio Honasan (4), Ernesto Maceda (4), Richard Gordon (3), Juan Miguel Zubiri (2), Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco (2), and Nancy Binay (two) were also cited.

The Comelec report also showed that 36 party-list organizations were found to have illegal campaign posters.

Leading the list is Buhay party-list with nine notices of violation.

It is followed by LPGMA (8); Kabataan, Akbayan (4) and ACT-CIS (4); PBA, Sanlakas, Katribu, Anakpawis and Gabriela (all with 3 notices); Piston, 1JMG, Anak Mindanao, A Teacher; ABROAD; 1 BRO-PGBI; ALE; Akap-Bata and TUCP (all with 2 violations).

The groups that got one notice each were: Magdalo, Binhi, Bagong Henerasyon, An Waray, Diwa, Ave, 1 Aalalay, Angkla, 1-Lambat, Agap, Umalab Ka, 1-BAP, Alay Buhay, Abakada Guro, Ating Koop, ABS and Bayan Muna.

Under Comelec Resolution 9615, campaign posters shall measure only two feet by three feet and placed in common poster areas designated by election officer.

The resolution contains the implementing guidelines of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act.

The Provincial Joint Security Command Center (PJSCC) of Pampanga has started removing over-sized campaign posters outside common poster areas in the province under Operation Baklas.

Fernando Cot-om, PJSCC chairman, said Operation Baklas was launched over the weekend.

Senior Superintendent R’Win Pagkalinawan, Pampanga police provincial director, said the activity is part of the PJSCC’s effort to ensure fair elections by removing unlawful campaign propaganda printed on tarpaulins, which were an eye sore and distracts motorists along the roads. – With Ric Sapnu

US to pay Tubbataha damage in cash

MANILA -- The United States government has promised to pay in cash the compensation for the damage caused by its stalled Navy ship on the Tubbataha reef, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday.

"The US government will pay [the] appropriate compensation to the Philippines for the damage caused by [the grounding of the] USS Guardian [on the Tubbataha Reef]," Raul Hernandez, Foreign Affairs spokesman, said in a press briefing.

In addition to the payment of compensation, which is about P58 million for the 2,300-square meter damage on Tubbataha, the US government will also be providing "service program" for the protection of the reef and the marine environment, Hernandez said.

"The US government will cooperate with the Philippine government to ensure navigational safety is enhanced in the area," he said.

"The Philippine government officials, the US Embassy and officials from the US government agreed to pay the compensation," Hernandez said, downplaying reports that the US has offered to compensate the damages by providing a "second hand" aircraft that it used during the war in Afghanistan.

"The commitment is they will pay [to] compensate the Philippines because of the damage caused by USS Guardian," he added.

Although the US Navy has already spent more than P1 billion on salvage operations, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Act of 2009 requires them to pay about P12,000 per square meter of damaged reef and another P12,000 per square meter for the rehabilitation.

Hernandez, however, refused to comment if the same payment will be required from the Chinese vessel that also recently ran aground in the Tubbataha Reef.

"That is being undertaken by the port in Puerto Princesa," the official said.

Meantime, the Philippine Maritime Casualty Investigation Team (MCIT) will finalize and soon release the findings of its separate inquiry into the grounding of the USS Guardian on the Tubbataha Reef in January.

The DFA said the team will finish the investigation after the second and last meeting with the US Navy investigators last April 18 at the Operations Center of the US 7th Fleet Coordination Group at its naval base in Yokosuka, Japan.

During the meeting, the six-member MCIT received additional documents from the US Navy investigators.

The MCIT is formed under the auspices of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to determine the cause of the grounding of the USS Guardian on the north side of the reef's south shoal on January 17.

It took almost three months before the salvage operations team was able to remove the ship from the Unesco World Heritage Site. But by then, the damage has already spread to about 2,300 square meters.

"The inquiry also aims to identify new measures that may be undertaken by the Philippines and the US to prevent such grounding from happening again on the Tubbataha Reefs," the Foreign Affairs department said.

The US Navy officials also informed the MCIT that the final report on their investigation of the grounding of the USS Guardian will be released soon. (CVB/Sunnex)

 By:www.sunstar.com.ph

'Be Careful With My Heart' to stay on air 'forever'

By: ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines - "It will be there forever," joked ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Charo Santos-Concio, when asked if the hit morning series "Be Careful With My Heart" will be extended once again.

But Santos-Concio quickly said the top-rating show, starring Richard Yap and Jodi Sta. Maria, will be on the air as long as the audience wants it.

"It will be there forever (laughs). Hanggang magkaroon ng apo (laughs). That's always a challenge for our content creators. The challenge is always for the next big hit... but for the meantime, as long as the public is supporting 'Be Careful With My Heart,' it will be there," Santos-Concio said in a press conference after the ABS-CBN Corp. annual stockholders' meeting on Tuesday.

Yap and Sta. Maria thrilled ABS-CBN stockholders by appearing on stage to sing a duet of the classic "Please Be Careful With My Heart."

In a previous interview, the show's star Yap hinted that the hit daytime soap has been extended again.

It was earlier reported that "Be Careful With My Heart" has been extended until mid-2013, but Yap said the series is "going to be more than the June date."

"They haven't really told us yet kung hanggang kailan, but we feel that it's going to be, the story will go a long way," Yap said.

"Hindi pa namin [alam] exactly when, but for now, I think it's going to be more than the June date," he added. - With report from Kathleen A. Martin, ABS-CBNnews.com

Boston bombers tossed from one country to another

TOKMOK, Kyrgyzstan – The two brothers accused of blowing up homemade bombs at the Boston Marathon came from a Chechen family that for decades had been tossed from one country to another by war and persecution.

Their father and former neighbors from Kyrgyzstan – home to many Chechens who were deported from their native villages by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin – tell of a family often on the move in search of safety and a better life.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, who was killed in a shootout, and his 19-year-old brother Dzhokhar, who was captured alive, had moved to the United States about a decade ago with their parents and two sisters. By all accounts, the younger brother had many friends, but his older brother felt alienated from American society and in recent years had turned increasingly to Islam.

Although neither spent much time in Chechnya, a province in southern Russia that has been torn apart by war and an Islamic insurgency, both strongly identified themselves as Chechens. They took up boxing and wrestling, two of the most popular sports in Chechnya, where people are proud of their warrior traditions.

The brothers’ story begins in Tokmok, a town about 60 kilometers (35 miles) from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a country in Central Asia that was once part of the Soviet Union. Stalin rounded up the Chechens and shipped them east during World War II, seeing them as potentially disloyal. Their father, Anzor Tsarnaev, was born in Kyrgyzstan.

“This was a very good family,” Badrudi Tsokoev, a fellow Chechen who lived next door to the Tsarnaevs, said Saturday. “They all strove to get a higher education, to somehow set themselves up in life.”

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The brothers’ grandfather had died tragically when a shell exploded as he was scavenging for metal that could be sold as scrap, neighbors said.

After the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the family moved to Chechnya, only to have war break out in 1994 between Russian troops and Chechen separatists fighting for an independent homeland. Dzhokhar was born in 1993 and shares the name of Chechnya’s first separatist leader.

The fierce battles, which reduced much of Chechnya to rubble, sent the Tsarnaevs fleeing back to Kyrgyzstan with their two young sons, a daughter and another one on the way.

“As soon as the war started they came back,” said Nadezhda Nazarenko, another former neighbor in Tokmok. The children’s mother “described how they were in clothes they would wear only around the house and fled the bombing, managing only to grab their documents and a few things.”

Neighbors said Anzor Tsarnaev, who had studied law and previously served in the prosecutor’s office, worked hard to provide for his family.

“Soon they began to live well and renovated their home,” Nazarenko said. “The children did well in school and were well behaved.”

Russian troops rolled into Chechnya again in 1999 and took it under Moscow’s control. The same year, the Tsarnaev family moved back to Russia, according to Anzor Tsarnaev, settling briefly in Dagestan, which like neighboring Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim republic. They left from there in 2002 for the United States, joining relatives who had emigrated earlier.

Anzor Tsarnaev told The Associated Press that the move to the US was motivated in part by a desire to escape discrimination against Chechens in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

He returned about a year ago to Dagestan, which has become the epicenter of the Islamic insurgency that spilled over from Chechnya to spread throughout the North Caucasus region.

His elder son visited him last year, according to neighbors in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.

No evidence has emerged to connect Tamerlan Tsarnaev with the insurgents, who have carried out a series of terrorist attacks in Russia. The FBI said it interviewed him in 2011 at the request of an unspecified foreign government and found nothing of concern at the time.

Anzor Tsarnaev visited his hometown in Kyrgyzstan last year, according to Tsokoev, the former neighbor.

“He was very happy and proud of his sons’ success in the US,” Tsokoev said. “We also were happy for him. He worked hard to give his children a good education.”

Tsarnaev, who worked as an auto mechanic in the US, seems unable to comprehend that his sons could have been involved in such a gruesome bombing.

“These children were brought up with kindness,” Tsarnaev said in an interview shown Saturday on Russian television.

“We’re a family of lawyers, and everyone who knows us knows that.” 

By AP (The Philippine Star) | Updated April 23, 2013 - 12:00am