Phone of Ronald Llamas still cannot be reached

MANILA, Philippines – Even the Malacanang communications team can’t get hold of Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Ronald Llamas after getting embroiled anew in a controversy.

In an interview with radio dzRB, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said they have already tried to contact Llamas to get his side of the matter. “No, he did not [take the calls]. Ako, I coordinated with his staff because I could not personally reach him. But I coordinated with his staff…”

She also does not know if President Benigno Aquino III has already talked to Llamas. “Well, una, hindi pa naman po kasi namin din naitatanong sa Pangulong Aquino, dahil marami rin po kasing iniintindi ang Pangulo. And pangalawa, dahil nai-utos naman na po ‘yung  imbestigasyon, ‘yun na po ‘yung hinihintay din namin,” she said.

Llamas came under fire after Bandera Associate Editor Dona Policar released on Wednesday pictures of him buying P2,000 worth of pirated DVDs at the Circle C Mall along Congressional Avenue in Quezon City last Monday.

Some quarters are already calling for his resignation, saying he is not a good example to government officials.

The media have also tried to contact Llamas, to no avail.

“At para maitanong niyo na po lahat ng tinatanong niyo sa amin ni Secretary Lacierda na hindi naman po kami nasa posisyon para sagutin,” Valte said.

She said, however, that an investigation is already being done to check into the administrative liabilities of Llamas.

“Naiintindihan po natin na marami ngang sector ang nanawagan para doon sa resignation o sa pag-alis ni Secretary Llamas, dahil nga po doon sa nakaraang insidente doon sa DVD. Gumugulong na po ‘yung imbestigasyon at hintayin na lang po muna natin ‘yung magiging resulta,” she said.

She asked the public to just wait for the results of the investigation.

She said the President is also dealing with bigger problems. “Yung personal decision ni Secretary Llamas will pale in comparison to the other bigger problems that the President is dealing with,” she said.–ABS-CBN News

Number of witnesses vs Corona a cause for concern – Kiko

MANILA, Philippines – Senator-judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Saturday expressed concern over the number of witnesses that the prosecution plans to present for the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The senator said it could take 10 months for the prosecution to present a hundred witnesses excluding defense witnesses.

“We have had six witnesses in the last two weeks. If we maintain this pace, 100 witnesses will require 10 months of trial. This doesn’t include the witnesses for the defense,” Pangilinan said in a press statement.

He also said that a lengthy trial could affect their other duties as lawmakers.

“Going by this lengthy route is pushing to the limit our ability to effectively govern the nation,” he said.

Pangilinan added that although the Senate impeachment court is open to giving both sides enough leeway to present their case, it is also the duty of the court “to strike a healthy balance between the demands of the trial and that of the national interest.”

The prosecution panel submitted to the Senate on Friday a list of possible witnesses, which include several journalists and members of the Supreme Court.–ABS-CBN News

Malacañang is engaging in overkill, fishing expedition vs Chief Justice Corona

Malacañang on Sunday deflected claims by its critics that it is engaging in “overkill” and a “fishing expedition” to dig up dirt on impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona as his trial before the Senate continues.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte contested Sen. Joker Arroyo’s claim that the Aquino administration is using the entire government machinery to pin down Corona.

“Doon sa makinarya ng gobyerno, tandaan natin lahat na myembro ng ehekutibo na pinatawag ay pumunta doon dahil sa subpoena na ipinadala ng [Senate],” she said on government-run dzRB radio.

These officials included Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares and the register of deeds.

All of them testified not because they volunteered. “Subpoenaed sila… Sumusunod lang tayo sa compulsion ng impeachment court, that was manifested via subpoena,” she said.

As to Joker Arroyo’s claims of an overkill, Valte said, “we will leave that to the judgment of Sen. Arroyo … We do it because we were subpoenaed, it is a courtesy and sign of respect to the impeachment court.”

Sen. Arroyo was earlier quoted as saying President Benigno Aquino III was using the House of Representatives, the Senate and now the Bureau of Internal Revenue to expose Corona’s alleged ill-gotten wealth after Henares said her bureau would investigate the chief justice for possible tax violations. — LBG, GMA News

Peñalosa Jr. kayoes Singmanasak in one round

Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. did a quick job in disposing Thai opponent Superjames Singmanasak as he sent him to the canvas with a quick left hook and finishing him off with a left straight in the very first round.

The undefeated Peñalosa showcased his power and speed as he circled around his opponent before releasing his power shots. He improves his record to W8 KO8 L0 D0.

In the co-featured bout, Marvin Mabait snatched the Philippine GAB Superflyweight Championship Belt from defending champion Rey Perez.

Mabait used his ring intelligence in outpointing the equally experienced Perez. The fighters had an accidental clash of heads in the mid rounds thus opening a not so serious cut on the head of Perez while another non-intentional head-butt in the later rounds opened a cut on the left eyebrow of Mabait. The Zamboanga native dominated almost all rounds of the fight gaining the nod of all judges and giving him a unanimous decision victory.

In another highlighted match-up, IBF Pan Pacific Flyweight Champion Sonny Boy Jaro knocked out Samuel Apuya midway in the very first round.

Jaro came in with strong wild hooks knocking down Apuya once before finishing him with a power left hook to the face throwing Apuya out of the ropes to the GAB table and prompting referee Virgilio Garcia to stop the fight. Jaro will now prepare for his WBC championship fight with Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand.

In a very exciting match up, flyweights Carlo Maquinto of Shape Up Boxing Gym traded an all out ring war against Jaro Stable Warrior Mark Joseph Costa. The boxers traded power shots absorbing each other’s punishment. Maquinto was knocked down twice in the first round bout recovered and engaged with the very game Costa. Costa was deducted one point for intentional spitting of mouth guard but went on bringing in Maquinto to his game. The crowd went wild in appreciation of the action packed fight up to the very last round. In the end, the judges scored it even with a Majority Draw.

In the undercard, Dave Peñalosa showed much improvement from his debut fight as he showcased poise and new pack of power on the ring against Raymond Colambot of Caloocan. Dave showed excellent defense in evading the strong shots of Colambot while hitting his opponent with clean and sharp straights and uppercuts. A solid left uppercut to the chin caught Colambot for good in 0:28 of the second round giving Peñalosa a new W2 KO1 L0 record.

In the other match-ups, Ren-Ren Tesorio versus Roy Albaera ended in a technical draw after Albaera suffered a deep cut caused by an accidental headbutt in the third round. Derek Rabang of Planet Jupiter Stable versus Gerald Cortez ended in a Majority Draw. Sonny Katiangdagho of Wakee Salud Stable knocked out Albert Gonzales of the Tiger City Gym in the third round.

Cebu City’s Raymond Empic won via unanimous decision against Jonathan Caguiran. Rex Tso of Hong Kong dominated Mabert Paulino and took home a unanimous decision victory. Larry Abarra of Shape Up Boxing knocked out Llaminado Bismanos in the very first round. Jason Barleo won via unanimous decision against Gerry Pateno.

The Recom Dome in Amparo Subdivision, Brgy. 179, Caloocan City was jampacked and not a single seat was vacant. In attendance were Mayor Recom and RJ Echiverri, City Administrator Russel Ramirez, Brgy. Officials of the different Barangays of Caloocan and other City Officials. Also in the crowd were Congressman Erbie Fabian of Zamboanga and comedian Bayani Agbayani.–Chito Yu Katangkatang, PhilBoxing

Pinoy boxer Melindo stops Mexican Esquer

WBO #1 flyweight Milan “El Metodico” Melindo of the Philippines kept his Intercontinental crown via a 7th round TKO over a game but outclassed Mexican Juan “Panterita” Esquer Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu.

Melindo, 23, peppered Esquer with stiff jabs, uppercuts and punishing 4 to 5-punch combinations, all in precision manner. In round five Esquer got floored with a low blow that saw the Mexican wince in pain and rolled around the ring.

Esquer tried to stand up at least six times but fell each time. After a few minutes Esquer continued fighting and survived the round.

In the 7th canto Esquer trapped Melindo in the neutral corner but threw a clear low blow. Referee Danrex Tapdasan came in for a momentary halt but Esquer surprisingly fell down and claimed he was hit by a low blow.

Replays through a wide screen inside the venue however showed Esquer not being hit by any punch. Tapdasan waived off the fight after Esquer refused to stand up. Official time was 2:16.

With the win Melindo improves to 26-0 with 10 knockouts while Esquer drops to 27-10-2 with 21 KO’s.

In other bouts of this fight card dubbed “Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs. The World”, WBO #5 Lorenzo “Thunderbolt” Villanueva floored Mexican Diego Ledesma twice with thundering left straights en route to a first round stoppage. Villanueva ups his record to 23-0, 22 KO’s.

Super flyweight Mar Jhun Macahilig kayoed Kaichon Sor Vorapin in the second round while OPBF minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo scored a hard-earned 8-round verdict over Sofyan Effendi of Indonesia.

Super featherweight Joseph Von Minoza completed a 5-0 shutout for Team Philippines as he decisioned Yoo Shim Kim of Korea in their own 8-round battle.–Dennis Principe, Fight News
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