March 16, 2009 Major News Stories

'Help workers of 4 US drug firms'

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) on Sunday to help medical representatives and production workers facing retrenchment as a result of the merger of four multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Dengue takes life of girl

The dreaded dengue disease took the life of another child in Cebu City last week making her the sixth fatality this year.  The child was the first dengue victim in barangay Sudlon II this year.  The five other dengue casualties in Cebu City since January came from barangays Labangon, Lorega-San Miguel, Binaliw, Guadalupe and Camputhaw.

Drivers to rally vs. traffic fines

Members of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo-Pinagkakaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (NADSU-PISTON) will stage a protest rally this morning against the increase in fines for traffic violations imposed by the Land Transportation Office.

City orders 100 families to vacate lot 

The Cebu City government has already decided to compel the close to 100 urban poor families occupying the lot owned by the Ortega family in barangay Hipodromo to vacate the place because the city will no longer pursue its earlier intention to expropriate the lot.

'Tell us how to spend your taxes'

EXTRA services like police cars patrolling their office buildings and road repairs were promised to Cebu City's top taxpayers last night, with the mayor assuring that taxpayers can dictate where they want their taxes to go.

Nephew of Lapu VM, 3 others nabbed 

A buy-bust operation last Saturday evening in Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City, saw the arrest of four persons, including an alleged nephew of the city's vice mayor.  Arrested was Victor Amores, 42, reportedly a nephew of Lapu-Lapu City Vice Mayor Mario Amores, and a Level 2 drug pusher in the watchlist of the PDEA.  The others arrested were Josephine Borbon, 42, and siblings Lala Dumatumao, 19 and Mila Dumatumao, 20, all residents of Bulacao, Cebu City.

Pirma ni Glo sa poll automation budget

Nakatakdang lagdaan na rin ni Pangulong Arroyo ang Tourism bill gayundin ang supplemental budget para sa poll automation ng 2010 elections.

Lakas bares list of presidential candidates

THE LAKAS-CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM-DEMOCRATS will announce in June its presidential bet for the 2010 elections.  Initially chosen were Senators Manuel B. Villar, Jr. of the Nacionalista Party, Loren B. Legarda of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) and Richard J. Gordon (independent), Vice-President Manuel "Noli" L. de Castro, Jr. (independent) and Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. (NPC), considered a "dark horse" because of his clean track record.

Bong shelves VP plan on dad's advice

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. has decided to shelve his plan to run for vice president in the 2010 elections following the advice of his father.

Edu, Willie can win in 2010 polls

Television host-actor Edu Manzano and Wowowee host Willie Revillame could win seats in the Senate if elections were held today, according to the latest opinion poll of Pulse Asia.

CBCP wary of 100 more congressmen

The head of the influential Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is not too keen on having the House of Representatives have 100 more members as proposed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

GMA's son to get new House district

The House of Representatives has created a congressional district in Camarines Sur that is  intended for President Arroyo's youngest son, incumbent first district Rep. Diosdado Arroyo.

RP taking China ship in Spratlys 'seriously'

China's dispatch of a state-of-the-art patrol ship in the South China Sea does not necessarily smack of gunboat diplomacy, but Malacanang has admitted it was taking this action seriously.  China has dispatched its most modern patrol ship to the South China Sea, state press said yesterday, after an incident with a US naval vessel and a fresh claim by the Philippines to a disputed territory.  China has deployed a large fisheries patrol boat to a group of disputed islands in the South China Sea.

VFA opponents hit Obama-Glo phone talk

Opponents of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States criticized and belittled the phone conversation between President Arroyo and US President Barack Obama and said the campaign to abrogate the agreement will continue.

Arroyo, Obama didn't discuss Smith--DFA

United States President Barack Obama and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in their telephone conversation on Saturday night, did not speak specifically about the fate of American soldier and rape convict Daniel Smith, a Department of Foreign Affairs official said on Sunday.

Glo, giddy with Obama, disappoints solons

Solons were unimpressed by the telephone call of US President Barack Obama to Pres. Arroyo as she failed to assert or raise the issue of the Philippines' sovereignty in the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), particularly in the custody of rape convict, US Lance Corporal Daniel Smith.

Rebels warn of peace 'spoilers'

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has warned of elements that could "spoil" the Mindanao peace process consultations and may derail the decision of stakeholders in addressing the struggle of Moros for self-determination in Mindanao.

DND, DILG directed to solve abductions 

PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo has ordered the Defense and Interior departments to investigate the kidnapping of three government schoolteachers in Zamboanga Sibugay province on Friday.

MILF to search for kidnapped teachers

A top Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) official has promised to assist the government to locate and recover three public school teachers recently kidnapped in Zamboanga Peninsula.

Govt approach vs kidnappings 'weak'

President Arroyo"s security adviser on Sunday admitted that the government"s approach in dealing with the spate of kidnappings in southern Philippines is "weak."  "We create task forces or panels to negotiate for the release. In the long run it would be damaging to the communities. We should be more forceful in combating kidnapping. We should reassess and possibly change our policy," said National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

2 rebels killed, soldier wounded in Samar 

Two New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed and a government soldier was wounded following two simultaneous clashes in the eastern Philippines, the military said on Sunday.

Let ax fall on people behind Dacer-Corbito 

Malacañang vowed to let the ax of justice fall on anyone who would be proved to have been involved in the killing of publicist Salvador "Bubby" Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito, in 2000 regardless of political stature.

Utos ni Ping - Mancao

Si Senador Panfilo Lacson na noo'y hepe ng Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force ang nag-utos umano para iligpit ang kilalang PR man na si Salvador "Bubby" Dacer na iki namatay din ng driver nitong si Manuel Corbito.  Ito ang laman ng affidavit na nasa Department of Justice at nilagdaan ni dating Police Sr. Supt. Cesar Mancao.  Ayon kay Mancao, naroroon siya nang ibigay ni Lacson ang kautusan kay Michael Ray Aquino na noo'y pinuno ng ope­rasyon ng PAOCTF.  Si Mancao noon ang hepe ng Task Force Luzon ng PAOCTF.

Filipinos among kidnapped off Cameroon

Gunmen attacked an oil supply vessel contracted to Royal Dutch Shell off Cameroon near the border with Nigeria on Saturday, kidnapping one Ukrainian and three Filipino crew.

Chato files bill seeking to merge BIR, BOC

Former Internal Revenue Commissioner Liwayway Vinzons-Chato wants to dissolve the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and create a single revenue authority to improve the government's revenue stream.

OPEC keeps current oil production level

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided yesterday at its 152nd Oil Ministerial Conference in Vienna to maintain the current crude oil production quota.

Myanmar PM visits Indonesia, Singapore 

Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein left Nay Pyi Taw Sunday afternoon to pay official visits to Indonesia and Singapore, member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Ellis delivers Aces to breakthrough win

There's nothing like having good old, reliable Rosell Ellis around. The ageing but graceful import returned for another tour of duty for Alaska and finished with a double-double in his first game back as the Aces humbled the Purefoods Giants, 94-84, and handed out Tim Cone his 602nd win - the most in Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) history.

Pacquiao ditching TV partner?

The next time Manny Pacquiao's fans get to watch the Filipino boxing superstar fight live on local television screens, it will be most likely no longer courtesy of Solar Sports.

Hatton? No big deal - Pacman

Manny Pacquiao has faced bigger opponents before, someone as big, as tall as Oscar dela Hoya, that's why he said he'd have no problem against Ricky Hatton.

Mosley eyes fight with Pacquiao

Shane Mosley is keen on fighting the winner of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown for the International Boxing Organization welterweight crown on May 2 in Las Vegas.

What's next for ALA Boys?

After scoring "statement" victories the other night, Z (the Dream) Gorres and Milan Melindo of Cebu's fabled ALA (Antonio Lopez Aldeguer) stable are looking forward to bigger game as they come closer to clinching world title shots.

Visayan pugs show wares in ABAP meet

Aspiring boxers from the Visayas get to show their wares when compete in the 1st Smart/ABAP Area Boxing Tournament on March 22-27 in Ormoc City and Kananga town in Leyte.

Khan beats Barrera via technical decision

Seven-time world boxing champion Marco Antonio Barrera was outclassed by up and coming boxer Amir Khan Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Manchester MEN Arena in England.

Sanchez is RP"s 11th Grandmaster

Add the name of 39-year-old Cebuano wood pusher Joseph Sanchez to the growing roster of Filipino chess Grandmasters.

Rains fail to dampen Soli-Soli Festival

The uncooperative weather yesterday afternoon failed to dampen the spirits of thousands of residents and tourists who flocked to San Francisco town in Camotes Island to witness the celebration of the town's eighth Soli-Soli Festival.

'Giant' wants to visit Tomas

ONE of the tallest men in the world is in Cebu as part of a tour to raise funds for surgery he needs on his right leg. Ijaz Ahmed, 26, stands 8'4" and wears 22-inch shoes. He weighs 287 pounds.  The Pakistani national plans to visit Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña today to seek permission to set up photo booths in the local malls, where he can ask for donations from those who want to have a picture taken with him.

Kristine reacts to Diether's "wedding"

Actress Kristine Hermosa admitted being affected by the rumor that Diether Ocampo is to tie the knot with his new love interest.  The wedding rumor circulated after Ocampo introduced his new love interest to the public, Rima Ostwani.

No competition with John Lloyd - Piolo

Heartthrob Piolo Pascual had set the record straight regarding the alleged rivalry with another Kapamilya actor John Lloyd Cruz.

Nur's son wants to marry Queenie 

Sinabi ni Robin Padilla na hiningi na ng anak ni Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari ang kamay ng kanyang panganay na si Queenie.

California court issues warrant for Lindsay 

An arrest warrant has been issued for actress Lindsay Lohan, possibly in connection with a 2007 drunken driving arrest after she crashed her Mercedes-Benz into a tree, police said Saturday.

Light quake jolts Mindanao

An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale jolted Mindanao Sunday afternoon, the United States Geological Service reported.

1 2 3 4 Total Indiana 26 24 19 18 87 Final  Toronto 24 29 37 20 110   IND: T. Murphy 16 Pts, 10 Reb, 1 Ast  TOR: A. Bargnani 27 Pts, 9 Reb, 4 Ast  Box Score - Recap		1 2 3 4 Total Boston 25 16 22 14 77 Final  Milwaukee 22 19 24 21 86   BOS: K. Perkins 26 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast  MIL: C. Villanueva 19 Pts, 7 Reb, 1 Ast  Box Score - Recap
1 2 3 4 Total Portland 18 21 22 19 80 Final  Atlanta 21 21 30 26 98   POR: B. Roy 29 Pts, 4 Reb, 5 Ast  ATL: J. Johnson 35 Pts, 7 Reb, 6 Ast  Box Score - Recap		1 2 3 4 Total Miami 22 21 25 9 77 Final  Philadelphia 29 17 15 24 85   MIA: J. O'Neal 20 Pts, 6 Reb, 4 Ast  PHI: A. Iguodala 21 Pts, 6 Reb, 5 Ast  Box Score - Recap
1 2 3 4 Total Memphis 26 31 16 16 89 Final  Detroit 20 20 26 18 84   MEM: D. Milicic 12 Pts, 11 Reb, 3 Ast  DET: A. McDyess 19 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast  Box Score - Recap		1 2 3 4 Total Dallas 28 26 4   58 10:45  LA Lakers 37 29 2   68 3rd  DAL: D. Nowitzki16 Pts, 3 Reb, 1 Ast  LAL: P. Gasol 20 Pts, 5 Reb, 0 Ast  TV: ABC Box Score Live: GameChannel

Synopsis:
Tail-end of a cold front affecting Luzon. Easterly wave affecting Eastern Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan.
Forecast:
Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered light rains, while Eastern Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.  Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Northern and Eastern Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the east and northeast with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.