August 16, 2010 Major News Stories

Cost to parents of 2 more years in basic educ may be known in October

Extra expenses that parents may have to shoulder for a two-year extension of the basic education cycle may be known in October, Malacañang said over the weekend.

Ouano pushes for local colleges

by By Ria Mae Y. Booc/FPL

Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano is urging all Local Government Units in Cebu province to establish their own local college to ensure equal access to quality tertiary education for the less fortunate families who cannot afford to send their children to colleges and universities in Cebu City.

Army Reserve starts accepting POTC applicants

by By Ellenie Irine Apuya, PIT Intern/JMO

The Army Reserve Command in Camp Lapu-Lapu is now accepting applicants for the Probationary Officer Training Corps (POTC) Class 31-2010.

Comelec rejects automated barangay polls in 2012

by By Mayen Jaymalin

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled out the possibility of holding automated Barangay and Sanggnuiang Kabataan (SK) elections even in 2012.

Youth councils no longer working, must go – Coloma

As it no longer responds to the needs of the Filipino youth, the Sangguniang Kabataan has no choice but to go.

Malacañang's communications chief Herminio Coloma made this observation following concerns that the SK's abolition could contribute to apathy among the youth.

Bongbong calls for study on 'abolish-SK' proposal

SEN. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. favors the postponement of the barangay elections in October, but disagrees with some Malacañang officials that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) should be abolished.

Senate holds hearing today

by By Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon Staff Member

The Senate Committee on Local Government headed by neophyte senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will conduct a hearing today to get the consensus of different local officials whether to postpone or proceed with the conduct of the barangay elections this October 25.

Some 800 Filipinos still stranded in Jeddah - OWWA

Around 800 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) remain stranded in Jeddah despite government efforts to repatriate them, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA). OWWA administrator Carmelita Dimzon said these OFWs are waiting to be cleared by their foreign employers before they can return to the Philippines.

Sitoy wants to summon police, fire chiefs

by By Ria Mae Y. Booc/FPL

Provincial Board member Arleigh Jay Sitoy wants the police and the fire department to apprise the members of the board on the recent spate of killings in the province as well as the capabilities of the local fire fighting units in the different municipalities.

Housing units to rise in Lorega cemetery

by By Jessica Ann R. Pareja/FPL

The Cebu City government will soon start clearing Barangay Lorega Cemetery to give way for the construction of a three-storey housing project that will benefit the urban poor residents of the city.

Tribute to fishers wins Pasigarbo prize

A RITUAL dance that shows how fishermen work in Bantayan won for the town the Pasigarbo sa Sugbo "festival of festivals" grand prize for the third straight year.

Estrada OK after being rushed to hospital due to nosebleed

(UPDATE) Former President Joseph Estrada was discharged about three hours after he was hospitalized for nose bleeding Sunday afternoon, his son Sen. Jinggoy Estrada told the Inquirer on the phone Sunday night.

Mancao wants speedy trial of Dacer-Corbito case - lawyer

CHICAGO - Retired police officer Cezar Mancao II wants a speedy trial for the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, where he is a witness, for justice's sake and so that he could return to his normal life, his US-based lawyer said.

DoJ: Mancao still under witness protection program

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Former police officer Cezar Mancao is still covered by the government's witness protection program (WPP), Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

Arrest warrant for ex-deputy speaker for '07 Batasan blast

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has ordered the arrest of former House of Representatives deputy speaker Gerry Salapuddin for the bombing at the Batasan complex that killed a fellow lawmaker from Mindanao three years ago. The unprecedented attack on Congress led to a tightening of security and less public access to elected representatives.

Aquino promoting ties of dependency with U.S.?

by By CenPEG

Those who are watching the first 100 days of the new administration can now start focusing their lens on President Benigno S. Aquino III's coming visit to the United States in September - his first major official foreign trip.

Overhaul of sequestered TV networks in the offing -- Coloma

Heads would subsequently roll when Malacañang puts sequestered television stations RPN-9 and IBC-13 up for sale.

Palace: Sereno at SC a pledge to good governance

President Aquino's appointment of Ma. Lourdes Aranal-Sereno as new Supreme Court associate justice shows his commitment to good governance, Malacañang said over the weekend.

Fr. Bernas, law professors oppose call for SC justice to resign

by By Edu Punay

More legal luminaries have defended Supreme Court Associate Justice Mariano Del Castillo against calls for his resignation amid allegation of plagiarism in the unanimous ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) that he wrote last April junking the bid to compel the government to support demands for official apology and other reparations from Tokyo in the comfort women case.

Japanese firm donated rice to gov't, not PAGCOR -- reports

The rice dole intended for typhoon victims in 2008 allegedly diverted to bolster the candidacies in the May elections of two sons of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) chair Efraim Genuino was donated by the Japanese Aruze Corp. to the Philippine government.

Flooding hits Zamboanga City

by by Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least a hundred houses in Zamboanga City were affected by flooding on Sunday morning.

Moro rebels upbeat on state peace panel

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is upbeat on pushing the peace process forward with the newest appointees to the government peace panel.

BI continues to rid agency of 'inept, corrupt' personnel

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Immigration has dismissed 39 employees and suspended 23 others in an ongoing effort to rid the agency of allegedly corrupt and inept personnel.

AFP denies controversial general was demoted

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday justified the assignment of controversial officer, National Capital Region Command (NCRCom) chief Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, to what is widely perceived in the military organization as a lower position.

Angue, who exposed alleged politicking by senior military officers during the May 10 elections, has been designated as commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Westmincom) Command based in Zamboanga City.

China holds national mourning for mudslide victims

by Agence France-Presse

BEIJING – Flags were flying at half mast and public entertainment was on hold Sunday as China marked a national day of mourning for the more than 1,200 people killed by massive mudslides in the northwest.

UN says no aid yet for 6 million flood victims in Pakistan

by Reuters

SUKKUR, Pakistan – United Nations aid agencies have provided assistance to hundreds of thousands of victims of Pakistan's worst floods in decades but relief operations have yet to reach an estimated 6 million people.

4 killed in Baghdad attacks – security officials

BAGHDAD – A series of roadside bombs killed four people, including an off-duty police officer, and wounded 11 others in Baghdad on Sunday, said interior and defense ministry officials.

Japan PM apologizes at WWII rites, shuns shrine

Japan's new liberal prime minister shunned a visit to a shrine that has outraged Asian neighbors for honoring war criminals, breaking from past governments' tradition and instead apologizing Sunday for the suffering World War II caused.

Arum: Pacquiao-Margarito bout will happen

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank, Inc. CEO Bob Arum assured boxing fans that the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito will take place on November 13 even if the bout does not have a venue yet.

Nietes keeps WBO minimum weight belt

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino Donnie "Ahas" Nietes kept his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight title after overcoming his Mexican opponent by unanimous decision on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

'Boom Boom' Bautista headlines 'Philippines vs World'

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Resurgent Filipino featherweight Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista will go head-to-head against the cousin of Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera when he returns to ring action in "Philippines vs. The World" on August 28.

Beermen nip Aces in Game 5 to stay alive

Heart of a champion? The San Miguel Beermen certainly have tons of it.  Their season – and title – on the line, the Beermen dug deeper into their star-studded bench and got enough help in pulling off a gripping 96-94 win over Alaska Sunday night to stay alive in the PBA Fiesta Cup Finals at the Araneta Coliseum.

Patrombon, Barbosa knocked out from Youth Olympics

Tennis ace Jeson Patrombon and taekwondo-jin Kirk Barbosa suffered stinging defeats on the first day of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Sunday.

President's website gets new domain, to go online Monday

Preparations peaked Sunday for the new website of the Office of the President, with a new domain name and a clock counting down the hours to its formal launching.

Government to launch presidential portal website to interact with public

President Benigno Aquino III's website will be launched at noontime tomorrow, which features a feedback mechanism that will allow the public to directly vent their sentiments to the Chief Executive, a high- ranking official said today.

James Yap wants visitation rights for son Baby James

Basketball star James Yap will seek visitation rights for his son, James Yap Jr. or Baby James, following the petition for the declaration of the nullity of marriage filed by his wife, TV host-actress Kris Aquino.

Krista Ranillo expecting first baby

by abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Controversial sexy actress Krista Ranillo has announced that she is going to be a mom soon.

'Expendables' seizes No. 1 spot with $35M debut

LOS ANGELES - Sylvester Stallone has proven that he's not quite expendable yet at the box office after his pumped-up pals lifted the 1980s-style action romp "The Expendables" to a No. 1 debut with $35 million.