wednesday, august 18, 2010 vol. 4 no. 54 • 8 pages www...

Vol. 4 No. 54 • 8 pages www.commuterexpress.phWEDNESDay, August 18, 2010

25

7 1 0

36 46 23 9 47 41

28

P16 million

DOTC TO CRACKWHIP ON COLORUM

BUSES, PUVS

SENATE TO PUSH AfP, PNP RETIREMENT

AgE TO 60Page 3Page 3

P.NOY aNd the PCSO exeCSPresident Aquino swears into office lawyers Jose Ferdinand Rojas II (right) and Francisco Joaquin III as general manager and member of the board of directors of the Philippine Charity Sweeptakes Office, respectively, at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang. JOSEPH MUEGO

Wednesday, August 18, 20102

Chairman, Editorial Board ARKHON A. ANTOLIN Executive Editor JONATHAN p. VIceNTe News Editor LeA G. BOTONeS Overall Creative Director STepHeN SALVATORe Chief of Photographers ReVOLI S. cORTez Chief Layout Artist HecTOR L. LOzANO

President and CEO VIcTOR A. cALUAG EVP, Sales & Marketing TONeTTe R. HeNSON Accounting Manager MARIO L. AdeLANTe Credit & Collection Manager RAUL B. peRez Distribution Manager edISON B. cAMARINeS Production Manager edwIN A. cO Advertising Traffic Supervisor eRIc R. JUTIc

Published Monday to Friday by Silverstream Publishing Corp.Suite 2111 Cityland Herrera Tower, Valero Street,

Salcedo Village, Makati City Telephone Nos. 8873433 • 8451653 • 8873435

Email: [email protected]: www.commuterexpress.ph

Prangkisa para sa smugglingBUKOD kay Rotoni Aurinto, tatlo

pa ring dating empleyadong Pilipino ng mga kumpanyang Mega System Enterprises, Solid Tone Enterprises, Manila Solid Enterprises at EPSON Enterprises, na pag-aari ng mga mag-kakamag-anak na sina Vicente Chua, Teresita Chua Chiong, Antonio Chua at Marcela Dy, ang dumulog sa WANTED SA RADYO (WSR).

Ang tatlo ay mga sales representa-tive ng nabanggit na mga kumpanya. Ayon sa kanila, sila’y umalis doon dahil di nila makayanan ang hindi makatar-ungan at makataong pagturing sa ka-nila ng kanilang mga among Chinoy.

Isang halimbawa raw dito ay ang paglalagay ng kanilang mesa sa tabi mismo ng kulungan ng alagang tigre ng kanilang mga amo. Isang malaking payong lang daw ang nagsisilbing si-lungan nila para di mainitan at maul-anan.

Pero ang pinakamasaklap daw sa lahat ay nang sila ay makalipat ng bagong kumpanyang pagtatrabahu-han. Pinapadalhan umano ng liham ng mga kumpanya ng Chua ang mga bago nilang amo upang sila ay siraan. Sa na-sabing liham na ipinakita sa WSR, na-kasaad doon na binabalaan ang lahat laban sa tatlo, dahil ang mga ito daw ay may mga kaso sa mga korte sa Maynila na isinampa ng mga Chua.

Ngunit nang magberepika ang WSR sa Chief Prosecutor’s Office ng Manila, walang nakabinbin na kaso ang tatlo sa mga korte doon.

Dahil sa ginagawang harassment umano ng mga Chua sa tatlo, nagd-esisyon silang isumbong ang mga kumpanya ng Chua sa Bureau of In-ternal Revenue at National Bureau of Investigation. Nagpakita sila ng mga dokumento at iba pang ebidensya na nandaraya umano sa buwis ang nasa-bing mga kumpanya at nagbebenta ng mga pekeng produkto.

* * *Noon pa man, makailang ulit nang

nasabi ng inyong SHOOTER na si Pres-ident Noynoy, tulad ng kanyang inang si Tita Cory, ay hindi korap na tao at hindi siya kukulimbat ni isang kusing sa kaban ng bayan.

Ngunit sinabi din ng inyong SHOOTER na magkakaroon pa rin ng malawakang corruption o katiwalian sa administrasyon ni P.Noy at ito ay dahil sa mga taong ipinuwesto niya.

Ang mga taong ito ang siyang gagawa ng mga kawalanghiyaan na wala siyang kinalaman.

Isang halimbawa na lang ay itong nangyayari ngayon sa loob ng Bureau of Customs (BOC). Isang alyas David Ong ang napapabalitang nabigyan um-ano ng “prangkisa” ng isang opisyal ng BOC upang makapag-smuggle.

Tanging si Ong lamang daw ang pinahihintulutang makapagtrabaho sa mga pier nang hindi ginagambala ang mga kargamento. Isang alyas Christian naman ang napapabalita na kumukuha ng malaking weekly “franchise fee” mula kay Ong at ibinibigay naman um-ano ang perang ito sa nasabing opisyal ng bureau.

Kamakailan, bumili daw ng malak-ing lote ang naturang opisyal sa isang exclusive subdivision sa Metro Manila para pagpatayuan ng malaking is-traktura na kung saan doon titira ang kanyang mga security at doon din daw igagarahe ang kanyang magagarbong SUV. Ang nasabing lote ay katabi lang daw mismo ng bahay na tinitirahan niya ngayon.

* * *Para sa inyong mga sumbong at re-

klamo, magtext sa 0917-7WANTED. Ang WANTED SA RADYO ay mapa-pakinggan Lunes hanggang Biyernes sa 558 khz, DZXL, tuwing 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Gamot ba ang abolisyon ng SK?

GINAGAMIT daw sa korapsyon ang mga miyembro ng Sang-guniang Kabataan (SK) kaya may mga nagsusu-long na maalis ito.

Kung ganun, sina-sabi ba natin na ang korapsyon sa sistema ng ating pulitika ay nagsisimula sa ibaba, kung nasaan ang mga batang lider ng ating pama-halaan? Mali. Kapag inalis natin ang SK, maaalis ba ang korapsyon?

Hindi ako naniniwala na nawalan na ng halaga ang mga lider- kabataan.

Malakas pa rin ang aking paniniwala na sila ang tunay na kinatawan ng mga kabataan lalo mula sa lokal na pa-mahalaan. Kung ang isyu natin ay pigilan ang korapsyon eh di ang mga nagsasamantala sa mga kabataan ang una nating tanggalin. At sinu-sino ang mga ito? Ang ibig sabihin ba tatanggalin ang mga ang mga konsehal, ang mayor, ang mga congressman para mawala ang kora-psyon kung susundin natin ang konseptong isinusulong ng mga nagpatanggal ng SK?

Sa palagay ko hindi sapat ang dahilan na ibinibigay ng ilan para tanggalin ang SK. Saan ba nag-uumpisa ang mga Sanggunian ng kabataaan? Sa elementary at sa high school, sa college, may mga organisasyon na ganito.

May korapsyon ba doon? Palagay ko ay wala dahil walang perang kasali sa usapan. Kadalasan, kapag may pondo o budget may mga temptasyon o tukso.

Kaya nga rin minsan ay pinagsasamantalahan ang SK officers sa mga komunidad dahil may perang kasali sa usapin sapagkat ayon sa batas may porsyento o bahagi sa pondo ng siyudad ang SK.

Ang aking kinokontra ay ang edad ng pwedeng mag-ing SK leaders. Paano magkakaroon ng bisa ang pirma sa isang legal na dokumento ng isang menor de edad o edad na kailangan pa ang patnubay ng mga magulang o adult consent. Kung may isyu sa SK, ito ang mas may silbing silipin at amyendahan.

Imbes na pag-initan ang SK at ipilit ang pag-abolish dito, mas karapatdapat na patindihin ang kampanya para lumakas ang SK at malinis ang kanilang reputasyon. Imbes tanggalin, bakit hindi natin sila bigyan ng inspira-syon na magsulong ng isang malinis na pamamahala mula sa kanilang hanay, mula sa ibaba, mula sa umpisa ng kanilang karera sa pulitika? .

Maganda ang pinagmulan ng ideya ng SK, kung na-sira man ang reputasyong ito ay dahil na rin sa mga tradi-syonal na mga pulitiko na nagsamantala sa pagiging bata ng mga nasa posisyon ng SK. Kaya imbes na parusahan ang mga kabataan at tanggalan sila ng kinatawan sa Kon-seho, bakit hindi gamutin ang pinagmumulan ng pagka-sira ng kanilang katapatan, katatagan at ng pagwasak ng kanilang potensyal bilang pag-asa ng bayan?

Mag-text po kayo sa akin tungkol sa usaping ito sa 09215186724. O kaya ay email sa: [email protected].

A new Mindanao is comingstreet smart

Ni Jonathan Vicente

HERE’S a piece of good news.

The National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (Namria) is imple-menting a digital topographic mapping project for Mind-anao to bring about socio-economic and peace development in the region.

This is according to Environment and Natural Resourc-es Secretary Ramon Paje, who said the project will develop Mindanao as part of the government’s promise to uplift the economy in the south said.

Namria is an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Re-sources (DENR).

Paje said the project is not only expected to result in socio-economic and peace develop-ment in the region but also serves as a commitment for the first 100 days of President Aquino.

Dubbed “Topographic Mapping for Peace and Devel-opment in Mindanao,” the undertaking is a two-year joint project of the Philippines and Japan, through a grant of One Billion Yen (about P300 million) from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Paje said the project aims to update the 205 topographic base maps covering Mindanao at 1:50,000 scale.

The project also aims to provide base data necessary for development planning, infrastructure development, risk reduction and management, and environmental pro-tection.

Under the project’s implementation agreement signed in January 2010, JICA shall dispatch a project team and trans-fer technology to the Philippines while Namria and Mindan-ao Development Authority (MinDA) will facilitate the proj-ect involvement of other government and non-government organizations.

Paje said that under the project, JICA, which has now set up an office in Mindanao, will subcontract the survey activi-ties to private contractors while Namria will monitor the ac-tivities.

q q qThe DENR chief asked field officials of the agency and

local government units (LGUs) to go after chainsaw owners operating without proper permit as part of the agency’s drive against illegal loggers.

Paje told reporters that the regional and provincial envi-ronment offices as well as LGU officials should strictly imple-ment Republic Act 9175, or the act better known as Chain Saw Act of 2002.

RA 9175 regulates the ownership, possession, sale, im-portation and use of chainsaws, penalizing violations thereof and for other purposes.

Under RA 9175, all chainsaw owners are required to register their equipment and get permits for the use of this equipment in cutting of trees, timber, and other forest or agro-forest products.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 3

FORMER police official Cesar Mancao III yesterday disclosed that he was offered a hefty “eight-figure sum” in exchange for recanting his earlier court testimonies link-ing his former boss, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case.

Despite being accompanied by his law-yer Ferdinand Topacio while on his way out of the office of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Mancao still refused to disclose from whom the offer came.

He, however, said the amount was “dangled over his face” by emissaries from common friends. But, the offer has been rejected by Mancao as he vowed to stand by his testimonies.

Mancao did not identify the emissar-ies but hinted that they are his common friends with Lacson, his former boss when the double murder was committed in No-vember 2000.

“Mayroong mga emissaries, alam mo na, marami kaming common friends. I'd still like to say that I will stand [by] what-ever I said in the court. Be assured na lala-ban tayo,” Mancao said.

Mancao is set to stand as a state witness against Lacson who was tagged as one of the masterminds in the grisly kidnap-slay case of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

He made the statement after he and his laywer met with de Lima to discuss the al-leged harassment by the National Bureau of Investigation last week.

De Lima, for her part, said the matter should be looked into. “Apparently there are sectors trying to jeopardize the main criminal cases,” she said at a news briefing yesterday.

Topacio confirmed that his client has been receiving pressures and even mon-

etary considerations for him to retract and even to point other parties as mastermind in the double murder case.

“Seven to eight figures was being of-fered to my client because it would ap-pear that Mancao is the remaining direct link between the double murders and Sen. Panfilo Lacson,” Topacio stressed.

He added that the NBI's supposed harassment of Mancao last Friday — an allegation the NBI has already denied — was part of the alleged pattern to pressure Mancao to withdraw his testimony against Lacson.

In his February 2009 affidavit, Mancao implicated Lacson as the brains behind Dacer's and Corbito's deaths. He stood by his testimony in the earlier hearings of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18, which handles the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Ampie Galpo

Mancao nixes monetary offer of Lacson ‘emissaries’

INTERIOR and Local Gov-ernment (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo has committed not to abolish the Sangguni-ang Kabataan (SK) and instead empower it through reform measures, Akbayan revealed yesterday.

Akbayan Youth president Machris Cabreros said repre-sentatives from the SK Reform Coalition and the DILG agreed during a dialogue yesterday to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 particularly the one creating the Sangguniang Kabataan, Katipunan ng mga Kabataan and its powers and

duties.“The coalition appreciates

the fact that the DILG provided time for this dialogue and to finally settle confusion on the issue of the SK abolition,” Ca-breros said.

One of the most important points which the youth repre-sentatives and Robredo agreed upon was the increasing of the age bracket of youth partici-pants from 15-17 to 15-25. The two groups agreed to this in order to broaden participation and representation of the sec-tor.

Also agreed during the con-

sultation was the creation of a Youth Consultative Body or Youth Development Council, which will be composed of lo-cal youth organizations in the barangay. This body will act as the youth development arm of the barangays.

These agreements are in-cluded in the SK Reform and Empowerment Bill (House Bill no. 468) of Akbayan Party filed by its representative Arlene Bag-ao and Walden Bello last July 1, which will be enhanced with the agreed amendments submitted in a draft bill by the DILG to Malacanang.

RETIRING at 56 years of age is way too early.

This was the opinion of Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as he poised to file a bill that would in-crease the retirement age for officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the members of the Philippine Na-tional Police (PNP) from 56 to 60.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, for his part, said they will look into the possibil-ity of increasing the retirement of

PNP and AFP officers to 60 since the PNP, as early as 2002, was not ame-nable to 65 as the retirement age.

Escudero has asked Defense Sec-retary Voltaire Gazmin, a retired Army general, to submit a position paper regarding the retirement age within the week.

Escudero also asked the defense chief to comment on the proposals to prescribe a fixed term for the chief of staff and major service command-ers and increase the quarters’ allow-ance and combat pay of the AFP.

DILG promises not to abolish, but invigorate, SK

AT least two personnel of the Metropolitan Ma-nila Development Authority (MMDA) were caught sleeping while on duty for their new night shift op-erations.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said the agency will deal with the two personnel who were found sleeping in their patrol vehicle (SKE-556) with the car’s air-conditioning unit on along Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City near the Ka-tipunan flyover.

He also said the two will be ordered to report to the general manager’s office to explain.

On the other hand, the night shift operations went off to a peaceful start on Monday.

According to Nacianceno, some 300 traffic en-forcers started implementing MMDA's “Oplan 24/7” wherein at least 10 critical areas were moni-tored.

THE Department of Transportation and Com-munications (DOTC) will intensify its crackdown operations on colorum buses and other out-of-line public utility vehicles along Edsa and in other ma-jor roads in Metro Manila.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose de Jesus said surprise inspections shall be con-ducted in various terminals for stricter campaign against colorum buses which have been clogging the metropolis’ thoroughfares.

Meanwhile, buses with legal operations will be marked for identification purposes, they will be the ones allowed by MMDA traffic enforcers.

The DOTC is eyeing the inventory of 13,000 buses, at least until the end of October this year.

So far, only 20 were found to have illegal opera-tions, but de Jesus said they are expecting to dis-cover more with intensified campaigns in the com-ing months.

Earlier, 50 colorum buses were plucked out of Edsa as part of the initiative to decongest the usual heavy traffic along Edsa.

DOTC to crack whip on colorum buses, PUVs

Two MMDA personnel caught sleeping on duty

SOME 700 kilos of “double dead” meat were confiscated by members of the Veterinary Inspection Board of Manila during a raid in Tondo, Manila yes-terday morning.

The “hot meat,” ac-cording to authorities, was supposed to be brought to Divisoria to be sold at P60 per kilo.

The appearance of the seized meat was said to be already greenish and some of which showed signs of disease.

Members of the Vet-erinary Board said the hot meat is usually mixed with fresh meat to deceive the customers.

They also noted that the selling of hot meat is prevalent along Lacson St. because of its proxim-ity to the Vitas slaughter-house.

The seized meat will be kept and later on in-cinerated.

Angelie Escandor

Manila gov’tseizes 700kgs

of double dead meat

Senate wants to push AFP, PNP retirement age to 60

eScuDero

54 Wednesday, August 18, 2010

T OTOO nga kayang madalas na

makita sa bahay ni Robin Padilla si Mariel Rodriguez?

Madalas daw na makita ng mga kapitbahay ni Robin si Mariel sa bahay ng actor sa Fairview. Parang araw-araw ay naroroon daw ang dalagang TV host.

Hindi nga ba’t sinasabi noon na madalas ding makita si Robin sa condo ni Mariel. Natsismis pa ngang live-in na raw ang dalawa.

Anyway, ngayon ay hindi makikita si Mariel sa bahay ni Robin dahil wala ang actor. Nasa India kasi si Robin para sa Ramadan.

Ang feeling ng mga nakakakilala sa dalawa ay magsyota na sila. Obvious naman kasi sa mga ginagawa nila na may relasyon na talaga sila.

* * *Inamin ni Jana

Roxas na buntis siya.

Hindi niya itinago ang kanyang kalagayan at talagang pinan-indi-gan ang kan-yang ginawa.

Sabi ni Jana, na dating StarStruck avenger, nagpa-in-ject siya ng cervical cancer vaccine at kasabay na noon ang pregnancy test.

“Tinanong ako ng OB (gynecologist) ko doon kung nagka-roon na ako, sabi ko hindi pa. Ipina-preg test ako by the blood. So, ayun, kinabukasan umuwi kami ng Tarlac. Biglang nag-text ang OB ko: ‘Hi! positive siya’,” kuwento ni Janna.

Planado naman pala ni Jana ang kanyang pagbubun-tis. Iyon rin pala ang kagustuhan ng kan-yang non-showbiz boyfriend.

“From the start ng relasyon namin, gusto talaga nam-ing magkaanak. Ako talaga, excited na akong makita ‘yung anak ko. Gusto kong

makita kung ano ang hitsura niya,

kung magan-da ba ang lahi ko.”

Mahal na mahal ni Jana ang kanyang boyfriend kahit na mas matanda ito sa kanya ng anim na taon.

“Siya ‘yong taong alam kong mapag-kakatiwalaan ko, na hindi ako paba-bayaan. So, alam kong kung sino ‘yong mga mahal ko sa buhay, mahal niya din. Ako ‘yung laging binibigyan niya ng chance na mag-decide para sa aming dalawa.”

Dapat pala ay magpapakasal na sila kaya lang ay bigla siyang nabun-tis.

“Magpa-church wedding kami sa December 8 so hindi ko pa alam na buntis pa ako noon. Siguro after I give birth na,” Janna explained.

* * *Naintriga ang pa-

hayag ni Andi Eigen-mann na mas close

siya kay Jason Abalos kaysa kay Mateo

Guidecelli.Nag-re-

act kasi si Mateo at na-hurt ito

sa pahayag ni Andi.

“Pareho ko naman silang

close. Pareho lang ‘yung level ng friend-ship. Pero ‘yung sinasabi ko na mas close ako kay Jason, makulit kami pareho at mas madalas kami magkasama,” paliwanag ng isa sa tampok sa ‘Mama-razzi’.

“He knows na-man what I meant. Si Mateo, simple lang ‘yan,” sabi pa ni Andi.

Kasama ni Andi si Carla Abellana sa ‘Mamarazzi’ and they share many things in common. Pareho nilang unang pelikula ang Regal fi lm. Pareho silang may kamag-anak sa showbiz, si Carla ay anak ni Rey PJ Abellana at apo ni Delia Razon. Si Andi naman ay parehong artista ang magu-lang, sina Jaclyn Jose at Mark Gil.

Tanggap ni Andi si Carla kung magkakatuluyan sila ng pinsan niyang si Geoff Eigenmann.

“Carla and I are friends. She’s a woman of grace. You can see that by the way she carries her-self. Why wouldn’t I like her for Kuya’s girlfriend?” sabi ni Andi.

T OTOO nga Sabi ni Jana, na

Jana Roxas umaming buntis sa non-showbiz BF

By Alex Brosas

ACTION star Sylvester Stallone has climbed to the top of the box-offi ce as the actor’s new action movie ‘The Expend-ables’ debuted with $35 million takings at the weekend.

The movie, starring Sly alongside Jet Li and Jason Statham, and also features cam-eos from action icons Bruce Willis and Ar-nold Schwarzenegger, kicked Julia Roberts’ ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ to number two.

Roberts’ feel-good fi lm, based on Eliza-beth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir of the same name, opened with $23.7 million.

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg kept cin-emagoers laughing with ‘The Other Guys’, which followed at three after raking in $18 million.

Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller ‘Inception’, starring Leonardo Di-Caprio, added $11.3 million to its fi ve-week total, which has climbed to an impressive $248.5 million.

New action/adventure movie ‘Scott Pil-grim vs. the World,’ with Michael Cera in the title role, rounds out the top fi ve with earnings of $10.5 million.

* * *Courteney Cox wonders how she got so

old, so fast.

HOLLYWOOD TATTLETHE soft-spoken

basketball star James Yap fi nally issued his sentiment on a different chal-lenge he is facing outside the basket-ball court.

James broke his silence on his initiative to fi ght for the rights on his son Baby James after his marriage breakup with TV host-actress Kris Aquino.

James said he will fi ght for his rights to visit their three-year old son James, Jr.

In a report re-leased by gmanews.tv, James said he decided to speak out as he would like to spend time with his son, whom he has not seen for two straight weeks.

This was after Kris, the youngest

sister of President Aquino, allegedly for-bade him to see their son, James Yap, Jr. or Baby James, until the matter of the nul-lity of their marriage is resolved by the court.

“Last ko siyang nakita nung kararat-ing lang nila, July 30. Then nanood siya ng game ko. Hindi

kami masyadong nakapagbonding kasi may jet lag siya,” James said in an intreview with 24 Oras.

“Nung hinatid ko siya sa bahay, ‘yun ‘yung last ko siyang nakita. After that, naka-receive na ako ng text ni Kris na hindi (ko) muna pwe-deng makita si Baby

James hangga’t ‘di natatapos ang kaso natin,” he added.

James said he nevertheless tried to get in touch with his son through his nannies, but he was likewise unsuccess-ful.

“Kasi doon talaga ako tumatawag sa yaya. Akala ko baka walang signal lang. Tinatawagan ko parati, off na ‘yung phones,” he said.

James, through his lawyers, fi led a petition asking that he be allowed to visit his son.

In his motion, James declared he would like to be with his son twice a week, and that Baby James be allowed to spend a night with him and come with him to Negros Occi-dental to visit James’

parents.“Although we are

told by James that he received a text message from Kris saying that she is open to a visitation, it cannot be under her terms. You can-not set a schedule, a deadline and a venue. The father

ROBIN AT MARIEL

should be allowed to freely visit a child,” said James’ lawyer Lorna Kapunan.

James was un-able to tell whether he would still want to fi ght for his marriage with Kris, but main-tained he will not agree to Kris’s peti-tion for Baby James

to cease from using Yap as his surname.

“Gusto niyang ibahin ‘yung name ni Baby James, tang-galin niya ang Yap. Gusto niyang palitan ng Aquino. As a father, talagang hindi pwede ‘yun dahil siyempre, anak ko ‘yun,” he said.

JAMES YAP

BA

BY

JA

ME

S A

T K

RIS

AQ

UIN

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JAN

A R

OX

AS

ACTION star Sylvester Stallone has

Kris Aquino.James said he will

fi ght for his rights to visit their three-year old son James, Jr.

In a report re-leased by gmanews.

‘THE EXPENDABLES’ BLASTSITS WAY ON TOP SPOT

ROBERTS STALLONE

The 46-year-old explains, “One second ago, I was the youngest person on the set, and now I’m the oldest. I’m so old, my joints hurt when I keep my legs crossed a certain way for too long. I need glasses to see a movie, to see the computer and to read a book. I was like, really?”

Courteney stars in the upcoming fi lm ‘Scream 4’. Other original stars Neve Campbell and David Arquette will also reprise their roles alongside new additions including Hayden Panettiere and Emma Roberts.

The new season of her hit TV series ‘Cougar Town’ starts Sept. 22.

* * *Tila Tequila is taking legal action after

she was allegedly hit with beer bottles and fi re crackers while performing onstage at a music festival in Illinois.

The 28-year-old, real name Tila Nguyen, claims she was injured during a prolonged attack when she was rapping at the Gather-ing of the Juggalos event, which began on Thursday.

Police are investigating the incident, which is said to have left the reality TV star’s face bruised and bloodied - and now Tequila has consulted lawyers to take ac-tion against the perpetrators of the attack.

In a post on her personal Twitter.com page, she writes: “Thank you everyone for your support. The people at Juggalos be-havior was disgusting and I am fi ling a suit against them now. Thanks 4 ur luv.”

* * *Lady Gaga wants to make herself a

movie star as she’s working on a ‘Moon-walker’ inspired music video that will be as long as a feature fi lm and will be shown in theaters.

It can be recalled that the late King of Pop Michael Jackson made the ‘Moonwalker’ and a lot of fans enjoyed it in the big screen. Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson are under the same label and with the passing of the “moonwalker” the record company is mak-ing Lady Gaga the “next best thing.”TILA TEQUILA


Complete the grid so every row, column and 3 x 3 box contains every digit

from 1 to 9 inclusively.

Previous puzzle solution

Ni McJoe PALAISIPAN Thelma Onego

sagot sa nakaraan

PAHALANG

1. Isama 7. Panglasa11. Kahoy12. Tanda ng mali13. Sangkap ng tinapay14. Iabrigo15. Bagsak16. Sigawan17. Panda18. Aawit19. Mang-inis21. apayan22. Hahamak

26. Ihimatong29. Tigas; Pabalbal30. Natatanging dilag31. Hero 32. Putahe33. Kahoy34. Balik35. Elementong metal

PABABA

1. Ipakyaw 2. Pahirap

3. Inimpok 4. Aling tao 5. Marahil 6. Pang-ukol 7. Paliwanag 8. Ilamon 9. Salin10. Kahoy14. Iikod16. Puswelo18. Balat20. Isda23. Patong24. Unlapi25. Iluto sa mantika26. Bayan sa Cavite27. Patak28. Bulong29. Gagapas31. Pamalo ng bola

ONLY five months after its inception, the PhilZoos Association (PhilZoos) joined hands with the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) in organizing the First National Zoo-logical Conference with the theme, “Zoological Parks: Moving Towards the 21st Century.”

Scheduled on August 23 and 24, the confer-ence aims to gather zoo owners and operators to share notable insights and invaluable knowl-edge that will revolve on three-pronged objec-tives: Promotion of responsible zoological park operations; enhancing awareness of zoological park owners/managers/staff on existing poli-cies and other basic considerations in zoologi-cal park establishment and operation; orienta-tion about PhilZoos and to obtain the latter’s support on the agency’s endeavors.

PhilZoos president-designate and CEO of Lombija Park and Wildlife Heritage Resort, Henry Babiera, pointed out: “Now is the right time for the Philippines to make a footprint in the zoological industry.”

“Zoos have become must-see destinations for tourists – both local and foreign. We at PhilZoos work hand-in-hand with the govern-ment to tap the commercial value of exhibiting our animal collections while promoting preser-vation and conservation, through educational activities while strictly adhering to the prin-ciples of conservation and environmental pro-tection.”

PhilZoos, PAWB and conference organizers have laid out the following topics for discussion: Basic Policies on Zoological Park Development and Operations; Animal Welfare and Ethics; Welfare Evaluation of Non-Human Animals in Philippine Zoos; Role of Zoological Parks in Wildlife conservation; Developing Wildlife Park Operators into a Responsible Organiza-tion: The SEAZA Experience.

Talks will be given by South East Asia Zoo-logical Association (SEAZA) president, Dr. Jansen Manansang; PAWB Director, Dr. Mun-dita Lim; author of International Animal Wel-fare and Ethics, Dr. G. Agoramoorthy; P2Lt Ronnel Almazan of PMA, Baguio City; Mr. Den-nis Salvador of Philippine Eagle Foundation.

The conference will be held at the Aguila Hall, Bulwagang Buhay-ilang, Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center at Quezon Avenue in Quezon City.

It will be participated in by zoo owners and operators and their staff, the indefatigable working committee including Dr. Antonio Ma-nila (Asst. Dir., PAWB) and Ms. Josie de Leon (OIC, PAWB), DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje and Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri (author RA 9147 - Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act) and PhilZoos incorporators. A tour guide to Avilon Zoo in Rodriguez, Rizal is scheduled on Day 2.

PhilZoos is a non-governmental organiza-tion, a manifestation of adherence to President Aquino’s advocacy of private-public organiza-tions partnership. It was formed with the pri-mary purpose of enhancing capabilities of zoos to conserve wildlife, educate publics and pro-vide recreational venue and activities that will impart awareness and appreciation of wildlife and its importance for environmental protec-tion.

First wildlife event set to save animals

CHARGES will be filed against barangay officials once caught aiding abetting or not monitoring their jurisdiction while informal settlers begin setting up illegally their shanties in Quezon City.

Mayor Herbert Bautista made the warning dur-ing his first State of the City Address (SOCA) where-in he reminded barangay officials that under the Urban Development and Housing Act or Republic Act 7279, they are directly accountable if they aid, abet or simply look the other way while informal settles are setting up illegally their dwelling places in their areas of jurisdiction.

According to the local chief executive, the city has a large shelter backlog since there are already more than 200,000 informal settlers in the city.

“We must have a significant and sustainable housing program. But the city must not become a doormat for informal settlers. We, officials, must work together to prevent new intrusions,” Bautista stressed.

“All of us must make it our responsibility to pre-vent illegal structures, because it compromises the rest of our constituents and puts these informal settlers at risk of their own lives as well,” Bautista added.

To address the problem in housing, Bautista dis-closed that he created a special task force to focus and facilitate the efforts of the city government on socialized housing and the development of blighted areas.

NO TO BARANGAY POLLSSenator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (second from left) receives from Liga ng mga Ba-rangay sa Pilipinas President and Caloocan City Councilor Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri (fourth from left) the voluminous manifestos from different barangays seeking for the deferment of the barangay elections slated this October. Marcos and Echiverri are one in calling for the postponement of the barangay polls, citing its closeness from last May’s national elec-tions, among other reasons.

Bistek wants officials be held accountable for squatters

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) posted another record breaking non-audited revenue of P15.54 billion from Janu-ary to June 2010, exceeding its P14.6 billion income for the same period last year by 6.43 percent.

Pagcor said they attribute much of its financial success this year to the increase in winnings of its 13 casino branches na-tionwide, fueled by the commitment of its 12,000-strong workforce, the imple-

mentation of sound marketing strate-gies and the economy’s recovery from the global financial crisis.

But while a big chunk of its total revenue comes from casino opera-tions, almost one-third also comes from other sources such as share from business franchises and licenses, hotel operations, rent from proponents and entertainment – such as paid perfor-mances within the gaming premises, among others.

Pagcor posts P15-B income in first half of 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7

Our Daily BreadSummer is my favorite season. I love the lei-

surely days when I can set aside some of my rou-tines without feeling guilty. Doing new things, seeing new places, and allowing myself the time to take “the scenic route” revive my spirit and renew my enthusiasm for life and work.

But summer can also be a dangerous time of breaking good habits. Certain routines are good. They increase our efficiency and ensure that im-portant things get done. After all, we need to have fixed times and places for certain things or the world would be chaotic. Creation is designed to operate on schedule, and, as part of it, so are we. We need food and sleep at regular intervals.

We sometimes hear legitimate warnings about allowing routines to turn into ruts. But the Bible indicates that having set times for certain things is good. David indicated that morning was the right time for him to praise God and ask for His di-rection (Ps. 5:3; 143:8). And Daniel prayed three times a day, and not even the threat of death made him change his routine (Dan. 6:10).

While enjoying carefree days, we must not become careless about spending time with God. Savoring spiritual sustenance is a routine for all seasons.

You’ll go forth a little stronger With a fresh supply of grace, If each day you meet the Savior In a secret, quiet place. — Adams

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A NAVY helicopter crashed off the waters of Zamboanga City after docu-menting a naval exercise before noon yesterday.

Navy officials said they fear that the two pilots who remained unac-counted for were still strapped on their seat when the helicopter went down the ocean water.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the three passengers of the twin-engine Belkow helicop-ter managed to swim away from the wreckage as the helicopter sank into the sea.

Arevalo identified the survivors as Petty Officer 2 Rodolfo Pataueg and passengers PO2 Noel Ridad and PO2 Abdon Martinez.

Arevalo said the helicopter took off from the headquarters of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Zam-boanga City around 9 a.m. yesterday to document through video and photo the in-shore combat tactic training in-volving Navy forces.

At around 11 a.m. after the culmi-nation of the training exercise, Are-valo said the helicopter shifted to all power to pick up altitude over Great Sta. Cruz and Little Sta. Cruz islands on its way back to their headquarters.

Quoting the survivors, Arevalo said an explosion was heard from one of the engines.

“They shifted to all power because they have to pick up altitude on their way to Naval Forces Western Mind-anao where they went off.

That was the time when an explo-sion was heard. With only one engine and all power taking off, the other en-gine quit so the chopper dove into the water,” he said.

Arevalo said all the five occupants of the chopper sank but since the he-licopter’s doors at the passenger were removed before the flight for the con-venience of the crew and passengers documenting the exercise, three of them were able to swim out.

Ronnie Santos

SEN. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. said the Aquino admin-istration has no right to sell seques-tered television stations RPN-9 and IBC-13 as only the courts can order such sale.

Marcos explained that seques-tered assets and properties do not really belong to the government.

“The courts have always had the duty to decide what to do with se-questered assets,” Marcos said in an interview with reporters.

Most of the shares and assets of RPN-9 and IBC-13 were under the name of businessman Roberto S. Benedicto, a close crony of the for-mer strongman Ferdinand Marcos.

Thus, the state networks were sequestered by the Presidential Commission on Good Government more than 20 years ago as part of the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

Marcos said the status of these sequestered assets have been “in limbo” for many years.

If the courts finally determine that they are not ill-gotten wealth, Marcos said RPN-9 and IBC-13 should be returned to their respec-tive owners.

“We've always wanted to negoti-ate, it's the government that never wanted to negotiate with us,” he said.

Senate President Juan Ponce

Enrile, for his part, was willing to support the administration's plan to sell the state networks.

“Why don't you sell it as is and let the buyer buy the kind of equip-ment he wants to modernize the station,” he told reporters in a sepa-rate interview.

Senator Joker Arroyo, however, said that the plan to sell the two government stations is already an “old story.”

He said that many administra-tions have attempted to do it and none succeeded.

“It has never been sold [be-cause] the liabilities are more than the assets,” he said.

Arroyo explained that the two stations are so debt-ridden that even if you sell off all its assets, it would not be enough to pay for the debts.

“That's why there are no tak-ers... even if you give it to anyone, nobody will get it,” he said.

Senator Franklin Drilon added that IBC-13 had entered a “disad-vantageous” joint venture agree-ment with a certain R-II Builders, Inc./Primestate Ventures, Inc. without the review of concerned state agencies.

Under the deal, IBC-13 will transfer the ownership of 3.64 hectares of its 4.14-hectare prop-erty to R-II Builders/Primestate.

Only courts can order sale of gov’t TV stations – Bongbong

Navy helicopter crashes in Zamboanga

THE Manila Prosecutor’s Office has recommended no bail for a company driver who allegedly stole P500,000 worth of mosquito coils or “katol.”

The inquest prosecutor found probable cause to in-dict Romeo Ocon for quali-fied theft. The case was filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).

His alleged cohort, Dindo Baniquid, working as helper for another company, was charged with theft.

Records showed that Ocom was tagged as the culprit be-hind the theft of 72 boxes of Lion Katol worth more than P500,000 from his employer Edward Dy Lim, of KQ Market-ing on March 6, 2006.

Investigation showed that Ocom and Guani, along with Rodel Ticson, another KQ employee, picked up the Lion Katol cases from Pier 16 at the North Harbor. They were supposed to deliver the mer-chandise to Perfect Circle in Libis, Quezon City.

Upon reaching the area near the Smokey Mountain, Ocom ordered the two help-ers to alight from the van be-fore he drove toward Navo-tas. Angelie Escandor

No bail for‘katol‘ thief


SANDWICH DEFENSE?Teammates Maek Sumera and Arnold Daganan, of Perpetual Help, look like sandwich buns when they setup a tight defense against Carlo Lastimosa, nephew of former Philippine Basketball Association star Jojo Lastimosa, of St. Benilde. Carlo poured in 21 points and help power his St. Benilde team to a 79-70 victory.

TUNYING PENAREDONDO

ULTIMATE Fighting Champion-ship (UFC) hall of famer Randy “The Natural” Couture will be returning to the Octagon on August 28, to face future boxing hall of famer James “Lights Out” Toney in what is dubbed to be “boxing versus mixed martial arts” at the UFC 118 in Boston.

Toney said he will knock Couture

out of his senses to bring across the message that boxing has a place in a world of MMA.

A lot of fight fans expected the UFC 118 at the Boston Garden will be exciting as Toney expressed his in-tention to dominate the fight against the wrestling-based MMA fighter like Couture.

SAN Sebastian and San Beda stake their un-blemished slate as the two collide today in what could be a sneak preview of this year’s finals in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament before an expected huge crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags and the Lions, last year’s champi-onship protagonists with the former sweeping the latter in two games, are currently unscathed after seven games and the winner in their much-anticipated 4 p.m. encounter would complete a first round sweep.

“We’re expecting a tough, very intense game,” said San Sebastian coach Ato Agustin.

“Excited to play San Sebastian. We should play with a lot of heart and determination to beat them. I told my boys that it will never be easy beating them,” San Beda mentor Frankie Lim, for his part, said.

“Just leave everything on the floor and good things will happen,” he added.

The league is anticipating a big turnout, prob-ably the biggest to date this season.

So big that NCAA Management Commit-tee chair Frank Gusi of host San Sebastian an-nounced last week they’re selling separate tick-ets for the San Sebastian-San Beda duel as well as the Mapua-Jose Rizal match at 10 a.m.

ASPIRANTS for this year’s Philip-pine Basketball Association Annual Draft get a glimpse of what awaits them in the pro league and, more importantly, make a good account of their potentials as they go through the annual Rookie Camp starting August 20.

Scheduled for six days, the ex-panded Rookie Camp serves as a showroom for draft applicants who will be under the watchful eyes of the league’s coaches.

There were 75 aspirants as of noontime Monday, final day of appli-cation for the Annual Draft.

Activities for Day One will be held at the Club 650 Gym in Libis, Quezon City and will dwell mainly on physical test and drills. The rest of the sched-ule will focus on the playing ability of the aspirants, who will be divided into four teams and play scrimmages from Aug. 21-26 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

The first day of camp helps deter-mine the strength and athleticism of all rookie aspirants through physical measurement (height, weights, wing span) and strength test (push ups, sit ups, sprint, bench press and pull

ups).They will then undergo different

drills such as agility, shooting and dribbling.

Their playing skills take center stage on Day 2.

After three elimination games comes the crossover semifinals on Aug. 24, with the top seeded team taking on no. 4 squad and no. 2 facing no. 3. The two teams to survive then play each other in the final day of the camp.

Those who have made themselves available for the Draft include former UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rabeh Al-Hussaini, NCAA counter-part John Wilson, Nonoy Baclao, Ford Arao, Jai Reyes, slam dunk king Elmer Espiritu, Jimbo Aquino, Mar-vin Hayes, Khazim Mirza, Rey Gue-varra and RJ Jazul.

Twenty Fil-foreign players are also aspiring to make it to Asia’s first play-for-pay league, although only Josh Vanlandingham of Everett Commu-nity College, Sean Michael Anthony of McGill University and Hyram Bagatsing of La Salle have completed their respective documents with five hours to go till the cutoff.

ARAW-ARAW na kung mag-meeting ang mga bossing ng San Miguel Corporation.

At siyempre pa, madalas nilang agenda ang tungkol sa komposisyon ng tatlo nilang basketball teams sa PBA.

At kung ano ang gagawin nila sa kanilang coaching staff.

Tiyak na may mapapalitan, tiyak na may mawawala, at tiyak na may papasok na mga bagong head coaches.

Dahil maraming rookies na papasok sa drafting, tiyak din na maraming players ang mawawalan ng kontrata.

Kaya tiyak ‘yan, suwertihan na lang kasi nga matindi na ang competition.

Kung sino ang may dalang suwerte, siyang mananatili sa liga.

* * *Nakausap namin si Mr. Robert Non ng San Miguel Corpora-

tion noong Linggo.Sinabi niya sa amin na hindi na nila gagamitin ang panga-

lang Petron para sa dating Purefoods team na naging Derby Ace.

Tsaka kasi, sa tingin ko, mas suwerte sila sa pangalang Pure-

foods.* * *

San Beda Red Lions vs. San Sebastian Stags ngayon sa NCAA.

Pareho silang 7-0 at pareho sllang mag-nanais na maka 9-0.

Pero isa lang ang puwedeng makatapos ng first round na walang talo.

Kahit siguro sa Araneta Coliseum pa ga-gawin ang laban na ito, tiyak na maso-sold out ang tickets.

Kaya mamaya sa The Arena, asahan ninyong hindi lang ang Stags at Red Lions ang mainit.

Kailangan din na bantayan ang audience nila dahil sila ang mas mainit at mas pikon.

* * *Lumala na ang hiwalayang James Yap at Kris Aquino.Pati apelyido ni James, ayaw na ipagamit kay Baby James.Pati ang palayaw na Baby James, papalitan na din.Pati nanay ni James napasama na sa mga intriga.Noong unang umalingasaw ang usapan tungkol sa hiwa-

layang ito, walang naniwala na hind ito maaayos.Pero hayan, mukhang wala na ngang solusyon ito. Sayang.

San Sebastian Stags vs San Beda Red Lions mabenta sa Arena

PBA hopefuls to showcase talent in rookie camp

NCAA shows glimpse of final match at The Arena

Games today(The Arena, San Juan City)

8:30 a.m. - Mapua vs Jose Rizal (jrs)10 a.m. - Mapua vs Jose Rizal (srs)

2 p.m. - San Sebastian vs San Beda (jrs)4 p.m. - San Sebastian vs San Beda (srs)

‘Lights Out’ Toney to box his way on top of UFC

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wednesday, august 18, 2010 vol. 4 no. 54 • 8 pages www...

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