Remains of Pinoy tour guide brought down from Mayon

The remains of one of five people who died in the wake of Mayon Volcano's steam-driven eruption last Tuesday were brought down from the volcano early Thursday.

A report on "Unang Hirit" said the remains of Filipino tour guide Jerome Berin were brought by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Tactical Operations Group.

Berin died in Tuesday's incident along with two German men and a German woman, and a Germany-based Spanish national.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also said a Thai climber previously reported as missing was rescued but with injuries.

Boonchai Jattupornpong, 35, suffered burns and a broken right arm when he was found at 3:07 p.m.,the NDRRMC said.

A report on dzBB radio said Jattupornpong was to be brought down from Mayon on Thursday, along with the remains of the five fatalities.

The NDRRMC said eight other injured were brought to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital. They were identified as:

- Kenneth Jesalva, Filipino tour guide, 21
- Bernard Hernandez, Filipino, 25
- Calixto Balunso, 30
- Nicanor Mabao
- Udomkiat Taweebhurut, Thai, 45
- Tanut Ruchipiyrak, Thai, 26
- Nithi Ruangpisit, Thai, 26
- Benjama Sansuk, Thai, 40

Unharmed were an Austrian woman, Filipino tour guide Jorge Cordovilla, and Filipinos Arvin Bellen, Ruel Llarena, 28; Marlon Bunao, 25; Alfredo Baio, 30; and Bonifacio Deeluis, 25.

The NDRRMC said the Austrian was off to Manila while Bellen, Llarena, Bunao, Baio and Deeluis were "found unharmed and went home safe." — LBG, GMA News

Alaska overcomes 16-pt deficit to snatch Game 3 By Calvin D. Cordova Cebu Daily News

Not a few fingers would have pointed at RJ Razul had the Alaska Aces lost this one.

Jazul missed a layup that could have given the Aces the win in regulation but the second stringer guard more than made up for the crucial miss by coming alive in the overtime period to lead Alaska to a wild, 89-82 win over the San Mig Coffee Mixers last night in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal round of the 38th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the jam-packed Araneta Coliseum.

Behind Jazul, the Aces dominated the overtime period where it limited the Mixers to just two points to salvage the victory that gave them a crucial 2-1 series lead.

Alaska, which lost the series-opener, needs just one more win to advance to the finals for the first time in the post-Tim Cone era.

Blown out in Game 2, 67-86, San Mig seemed headed for a big bounce back victory when they led by as many as 16 points in the first half and took a fat, 45-32 lead into the final two quarters of play.

The Mixers still had their way early in the third until rookie Calvin Abueva willed the Aces back into the game.

The energetic rookie scored nine straight points in 15-4 run as Alaska started to chip away at the deficit and went into the fourth down by just five points, 54-59.

In the fourth, Alaska turned to Jvee Casio to run the show as the diminutive point guard uncorked 10 straight points in a big rally that saw the Aces forcing only the second deadlock of the game at 70-all with 6:48 left.

Alaska finally stole the lead when Cyrus Baguio completed a fastbreak layup but San Mig tied the contest anew at 75-all with 1:29 left.

Alaska surged ahead again on a basket by Sonny Thoss but Joe De Vance canned a booming triple to hand the lead back to San Mig, 78-77, 54.2 seconds remaining.

Alaska import Robert Dozier threw the ball over in the next play and fouled James Yap seconds later.

Normally a deadshot from the free throw line, Yap could only make one of his two free throws for a 79-77 lead with 21.3 seconds to go.

Already out of timeout, Alaska was forced to inbound the ball at the other end of the court. Casio dribbled the length of the court before flipping a pass to Thoss, who scored underneath while being fouled by Marc Pingris.

Thoss made the bonus free throw and Alaska seemed just 13.2 seconds away from icing the big comeback win after taking an 80-79 edge.

San Mig, however, got a huge break in the next play when Casio was called for a foul while trying to stand his ground over the shooting Bowles.

Time and time again, Bowles saved the Mixers with his late-game heroics but caved in this time as he missed his first free throw before making the next, tying the count at 80-apiece with 4.9 seconds left.

Alaska hurriedly inbounded the ball and Abueva quickly attacked the basket before dropping a pass to a wide-open Jazul, who missed the layup, much to the chagrin of the Alaska bench.

Jazul, however, didn’t let his team down in the overtime, opening the period with a three-point play before burying a triple as the Aces surged to an 86-80 lead.

PJ Simon converted a floater in the 3:31 mark but San Mig wouldn’t score from that point on.

Abueva took the Best Player of the Game honors with 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block with no turnover.

BOX SCORES

ALASKA (89)- Abueva 24, Baguio 13, Casio 12, Dozier 11, Thoss 11, Jazul 6, Belasco 5, Hontiveros 3, Espinas 2, Dela Cruz 2.

SAN MIG (82)- Bowles 19, Barroca 15, Pingris 15, Mallari 7, Devance 7, Yap 7, Simon 6, Najorda 2, Reavis 2, De Ocampo 2.

Corpse that looks like mysterious 'sea monster' discovered on Pukehina Beach, New Zealand

A mysterious corpse that resembles a prehistoric 'sea monster' washed ashore in New Zealand. Picture: YouTube Source:Supplied

STUNNED beachgoers in New Zealand stumbled over what looks like the carcass of a mysterious marine animal.

The bizarre-looking corpse washed ashore last week, fuelling speculation that it is the remains of a prehistoric sea monster washed up ashore from the deep, Sun Live reports. The 9-metre-long corpse has basic flippers and a gaping jaw with long, sharp teeth.

A video posted to YouTube showed the 9-metre long corpse on Pukehina Beach in the Bay of Plenty. Calling it a “strange marine creature”, the narrator added: “can anyone help us identify it?”.

The video sparked a flurry of speculation that the carcass was some prehistoric ‘sea monster’.

Discovery News said the latest “monster” carcass find in New Zealand was part of a long history of discoveries of mysterious sea creatures. The bizarre, rotting corpses are often mistakenly identified as sea monsters or dinosaurs, or even just mysterious “blobsters”.

In 1896, a 2-metre tall sea creature corpse washed ashore in St Augustine, Florida. Scientists eventually determined it was a new type of giant octopus.

In 2003, the bizarre 12-metre, 13-tonne “Chilean blob” shocked the world when it washed ashore on Los Muermos beach, BBC News reports. Puzzled marine biologists speculated the blob could be a type of giant squid, but DNA tests on the blubbery mass eventually determined it was the remains of a sperm whale.

Marine mammal expert Anton Van Heldon examined the latest ‘monster’ carcass in New Zealand and believes it is a killer whale, based on the fin structure. Killer whales, or orcas, are sometimes spotted in the Bay of Plenty.

What’s wrong with Kris Aquino tipping a cabbie? Plenty, says Comelec By Philip C. Tubeza, TJ Burgonio Philippine Daily Inquirer

What’s wrong with giving a cab driver a fat tip during an election campaign?

Plenty, in the view of Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes who said popular television host Kris Aquino could be liable for vote-buying.

“It looks like you’re campaigning, you’re making an appeal and then you give a prize,” commented Brillantes.

“Anyone could ride a taxi, go campaigning and then give out cash,” he said.

The Comelec chief was actually reacting to media reports of a story that Aquino gave reporters, about how when she was campaigning in Cebu City last week, she let the taxi driver keep the change from the P1,000 bill she handed him after he agreed to vote for three senatorial candidates she was endorsing—Sen. Francis Escudero, Grace Poe Llamanzares and her cousin, Bam Aquino.

Palace defends Kris

Not surprisingly, Malacañang on Wednesday said it disagreed with the Comelec chief and defended President Aquino’s celebrity sister.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it was apparent that Aquino “decided to let the taxi driver keep the change after he made it known to her that he was voting for the three candidates.”

The taxi driver “needed no persuasion nor was the money given in exchange for his vote as defined by the law,” she said.

“We respect Chairman Brilliantes’ opinion but disagree with it,” she said.

Brillantes said, however, that it would not be easy to charge Aquino. For one thing, there would have to be a complainant, he said.

“It’s not that easy. Who will be the complainant? She can always deny it. I don’t know if she would admit that under oath. I will not make any conclusion,” he said.

Vote-buying is an election offense and violators could face up to six years of imprisonment, the loss of the right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.

Brillantes said Aquino’s narration of what happened showed that she gave the driver money “in good faith.”

“As far as she is concerned, she does not find anything wrong with it. It was like she was happy because she campaigned (for her candidates) and the driver said, ‘okay,’” he said.

‘In good faith’

“I think it was done in good faith. I’m making statements here… I might be jailed,” he added in jest.

Aquino, who has disclosed that she intends to run for governor of Tarlac in 2016, took time out from her busy schedule to pitch for Escudero, Llamanzares and her cousin in a two-day swing through General Santos, Davao, Cebu and Tacloban cities last week.

Talking with reporters while campaigning in Cebu City, Aquino said she took a taxi from the airport to her hotel and gave the driver a fat tip after the latter agreed to vote for her three candidates.

“I reminded him that apart from Chiz, and Grace, don’t forget Bam Aquino. When he said yes, I doubled my payment. I gave him P1,000 and told him keep the change,” she said.

6 senatorial candidates slugging it out for last 3 slots Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nine administration and three opposition candidates are leading the race for the Senate, according to the final preelection poll taken by the Social Weather Stations on May 2 and 3.

But those in the last three spots are not sure of still being there next Monday, Election Day.

One administration candidate and five opposition candidates are slugging it out for these last three spots.

The nine administration candidates are Team PNoy’s reelectionist Senators Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV, Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and political newcomers Grace Poe and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino.

The three opposition candidates are United Nationalist Alliance’s Nancy Binay, San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito and reelectionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan.

Fighting to wrest the last three spots from Angara, Trillanes and Honasan are Cagayan Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. (UNA), former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (LP/Team PNoy) and former Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri (UNA).

Legarda still tops

Controversy swirling around Legarda (NPC/Team PNoy) involving underdeclaration of assets failed to dislodge her from the first place in the Top 12 of the latest SWS poll.

On May 2, self-styled public interest advocate Louis Biraogo accused Legarda of not declaring real property on Park Avenue, New York City, for four years.

Legarda denied the accusation, calling it “black propaganda” intended to pull her down from the top in the preelection polls.

Results of the latest SWS poll showed Legarda with 57 percent, 2 percentage points down from her April rating.

Legarda’s rating could be virtually unchanged from last month, considering the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Biggest gainer

Poe (Independent/Team PNoy), former chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, posted the most gain, with 45 percent, 6 percentage points up from her April rating.

Poe, who ranked fifth in the latest SWS poll, previously occupied the 10th to 11th spot.

Villar (Nacionalista Party/Team PNoy) suffered the biggest decline, garnering 44 percent, 5 percentage points down from her rating last month.

Villar slid from third to fourth place in April to sixth to seventh place in the latest poll.

The rest in the top nine spots saw minor changes from their April ratings, considering the poll’s error margin.

Trailing Legarda was Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (NP/Team PNoy, 50 percent), who also shed 2 percentage points from the April poll.

Newcomer

Political newcomer Nancy Binay (UNA) retained the third to fourth spot, with 48 percent, down by 1 percentage point from last month.

Tied with Binay in third to fourth spot was Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero (Independent/Team PNoy, 48 percent), up by 1 percentage point from his April rating that put him in the fifth place.

Along with Villar in sixth to seventh spot was San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito (UNA, 44 percent), up by 1 percentage point from the previous poll, where he ranked seventh to eighth.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III (PDP-Laban/Team PNoy) secured the eighth place with 43 percent, unchanged from his previous rating. His previous ranking, however, was seventh to eighth.

In ninth place was Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV (LP/Team PNoy), first cousin of President Aquino, who slid from sixth place last month, garnering 41 percent, down 3 percentage points from the previous poll.

Both in 10th to 11th place were Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (LDP/Team PNoy, 38 percent) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV (NP/Team PNoy, 38 percent).

The rear

At the tailend of the list of probable winners was Sen. Gringo Honasan (UNA), whose 37 percent rating was unchanged from last month’s poll, in which he placed 12th to 13th.

Although they failed to make it to the top 12, three candidates could still statistically figure in the top 12: Enrile Jr. (35 percent, 13th place), former Senator Magsaysay (33 percent, 14th to 15th place) and Zubiri (33 percent, 14th to 15th place).

Noncommissioned poll

For the noncommissioned poll, SWS asked 2,400 registered voters nationwide the question, “If the elections were held today, whom would you most probably vote for senator of the Philippines?”

Twelve of the 24 seats in Senate are at stake in midterm elections next Monday.

SWS said 44 percent of respondents chose a full slate of 12 candidates; 3 percent were either undecided or did not have an answer; another 3 percent had invalid ballots.—Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research

Power interruptions continue in NCR as NGCP maintains power supply back to normal

A day after a massive power outage hit Luzon, some areas in Metro Manila were still experiencing power interruptions early Thursday morning. 
 

The affected areas include parts of Quezon City where power was restored Wednesday night but went out again before dawn Thursday, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

 

However, the Department of Energy maintained power had been restored as of Wednesday night, and the Thursday morning outages could be "localized."

 

"Baka 'yan ay localized. Baka within the distribution system," DOE Electric Power Industry Management Bureau Director Mylene Capongcol said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

She said that as of 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, power had been restored and the yellow notice reflecting a deficiency in reserve power had been lifted.

 

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said that as of 6 a.m., there was a reserve of 262 megawatts for Luzon, whose system capacity outlook for Thursday was at 8,567 megawatts.

 

For Visayas, it said the system capacity outlook was at 1,803 megawatts, with reserves of 359 megawatts.

 

Investigation

 

Capongcol said their initial investigation showed a failure in the special protection system of the Calaca Unit 2 and the Calaca Biñan line that eventually cascaded and resulted in the loss of 3,500 megawatts.

 

She said the DOE has tasked the NGCP to complete its evaluation.

 

Also, she said the DOE asked the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association to submit logs of the generation facilities involved. —KG, GMA News

Malaysia elections: Pasir Gudang MCA members quit council posts

By Chuah Bee Kim and Teoh Pei Ying
New Straits Times
Tuesday, May 07, 2013

JOHOR BARU - Thirteen Pasir Gudang MCA division members resigned from their state government posts yesterday in line with the MCA president's call for the party not to hold office in state and central governments if they win in less than 15 parliamentary seats in the 13th General Election.

Pasir Gudang MCA branch secretary Ang Ah Ngo said the 13 members tendered their resignation at noon yesterday. He said their letters would be handed over to the respective departments.

Those who resigned were members of the Johor Baru City Council, Johor Baru Central municipal council, Pasir Gudang municipal council, two community leaders from the MCA branches in Plentong and Masai, and a hospital visitors' board.

"We came to this decision following the results of the 13th General Election, which we fared worse than the 2008 general election.

"All the members are honouring the promise made by party president (Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek) who said that no member will hold a federal or state government post if the party secured less than 15 parliamentary seats," said Ang.

He said the decision was not made because of the defeat of its candidate, Tan Cher Pu, in the Johor Jaya state seat.

"We will still continue to serve the community through the party. As MCA members, we have to honour the word of our president.

"We also want to thank the state government and all those who have given us their support. We hope the state government will accept our resignation," he said.

Dr Chua had tweeted after the results of the election that he would not take up any posts in the government. He also said MCA members would do likewise and respect the voters' decision.

In Alor Star, Kedah MCA chief Datuk Chong Itt Chew said they, too, would not accept any political appointments or state government posts.