MANILA — Floyd Mayweather and several foreign athletes have sounded off on the latest controversy that has hit embattled boxing star and senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, who is gunning for a Senate seat in May, is under fire for describing couples in same-sex relationships as worse than animals.
The Filipino sportsman has since apologized for his statement, which drew strong condemnation from gay rights advocates, but maintained that he remains opposed to the idea of same-sex marriage.
“Ako po ay humihingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng mga nasaktan dahil sa aking pagkumpara ng tao sa hayop,” he said in a video posted on Facebook on late Tuesday.
“[Pero] hindi po nagbabago ang aking desisyon na against po ako sa same-sex marriage at iyan po ang paniniwala ko,” he stressed.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., who beat Pacquiao via unanimous decision last year, disagreed with his rival’s views.
“I feel like we should stay positive and we should let people live their lives the way they want to live their lives. To each his own,” the now retired boxing champion said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
“I don’t have nothing against anyone,” he said.
But other athletes were not as kind.
Retired NBA player Jason Collins, who used to play for the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets, gave a more blunt response to Pacquiao’s statements.
Collins, the first openly gay athlete in the NBA, said the former world champion should never hold public office.
“I lost all respect for you. Bigoted people like you (& yes you are one) should never hold an office in politics,” Collins said through his Twitter account.
Football stars Joey Barton and Lianne Sanderson also didn’t appreciate Pacquiao’s remarks.
Barton, who has made 240 appearances in the Premier League, openly supports gay rights.
“Pacquiao is a huge global star who transcended his sport. He is politically motivated to help less privileged people,” said Barton. “[But] his comments are absurd and show a lack of intellect. Someone in his position should keep his ignorant bigotry private. His source of knowledge?”
Sanderson, who plays for Apollon Limassol on loan from Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League, is engaged to her teammate Joanna Lohman.
“People are entitled to their opinions but @mannypacquiao you just lost a few fans, I would say. Its a disgrace what you said. #ignorant,” said Sanderson. – ABS CBN News
This July, Dulaang UP is bringing back to the stage last year’s hit musical, National Artist Felipe Padilla de Leon’s Noli Me Tangere: The Opera. In this operatic rendition of Rizal’s timeless novel, director Alexander Cortez successfully melds the classic and the fresh to create a theatrical feat that reaches out across all audiences.
Besides opening another exciting season for DUP, the restaging of Noli Me Tangere: The Opera is also DUP’s contribution to the celebration of the birth centennial of Padilla de Leon, and is a timely and relevant reimagining of one work whose importance transcends space and time.
With music direction and vocal coaching by renowned soprano, Camille Lopez Molina, Noli Me Tangere: The Opera features the collaboration of a talented set of both budding and seasoned opera singers, most of whom are reprising their roles from the first run. Ivan Nery who returns to the role which catapulted him to fame, Crisostomo Ibarra, comes fresh from a first place finish at the prestigious Jovita Fuentes Vocal Competition. Myramae Meneses who is once again essaying the role of Maria Clara claimed second place in the same competition. Fellow cast mates Aissa Guilatco (Tia Isabel) and Arman Ferrer (Crisostomo Ibarra alternate) are finalists in the said contest, too. Elainne Vibal who alternated as Maria Clara in the initial run now plays Sisa, alternating with Jean Judith Javier. Playing the role of Padre Damaso are Jonathan Velasco, Michael Bulaong and Chris Ong, who recently returned from the US for a series of performances.
The production design and costumes by distinguished designer Gino Gonzales are impressive. The remarkable 19th century Filipino atmosphere is the handiwork of the collective artistry of lighting designer Jon Jon Villareal, sound designer Jethro Joaquin, and choreographer Dexter Santos. Winter David provides the video support with special props designed and executed by John Gaerlan. Pow Santillan renders the graphics design with photos by Jojit Lorenzo and Dino Dimar.
Noli Me Tangere: The Opera is made possible by the UP Office of the President, UP Diliman Office of the Chancellor, Office of the Dean College of Arts and Letters, UP Office for Initiatives in Culture and the Arts, Sen. Edgardo Angara, Ms. Irene M. Araneta, Dr. Joven Cuanang, NCCA Chairman Jun de Leon, and Radyo 5 92.3 News FM.
Noli Me Tangere: The Opera runs July 18-22, 25-29; August 1 & 2, 8-12 (Wednesday to Friday, 7pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10 am and 3pm. Due to the UPCAT exams on Aug 4 & 5, there will be no performances from Aug 3 -5. Noli resumes Aug 8) at the Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero Theater, Palma Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman. For sponsorship and ticket inquiries, please contact the Dulaang UP Office at 926-1349, 981-8500 local 2449 or 433-7840.
At least 18 people want to run for senator under Vice President Jejomar Binay’s coalition in the 2013 elections, former senator Ernesto Maceda said Wednesday.
In an interview with ANC, Maceda said he may “possibly” make a comeback in the elections next year under Binay’s coalition.
In fact, there are already 18 on the list, he said. They include: incumbent senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Gregorio Honasan and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
The list also includes Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile’s son, Jackie Ponce Enrile, and businessman Joey de Venecia, son of former Speaker Jose de Venecia.
The list originally included Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara “but he might be induced to run under the Liberal Party,” Maceda said.
Angara is a spokesperson for the prosecution team against Chief Justice Renato Corona, who is being tried in the Senate.
Maceda gave a forecast that the results of next year’s elections would be a prelude to the 2016 Presidential elections, with Binay at the helm.
Of Binay’s running as president in 2016, Maceda said: “[There is] no doubt about that.”
He said there are 3 possibilities for Binay’s running mate: Senators Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and even Bong Revilla. (Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBN)
Two party-list lawmakers filed Wednesday a measure urging the government to declare November 23 of each year as “National Consciousness Day to End Impunity” to commemorate the massacre of 57 people (and another one still missing) in Maguindanao in 2009.
Bayan Muna party-list Reps. Teodoro Casiño and Neri Colmenaries filed House Bill 5529 during the second anniversary of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre “to instill awareness and spur action on the part of the government and for the people to do something about it.”
“The people’s clamor and demand for justice should become stronger to compel government and the authorities to take action and prosecute those who are blanketed with impunity,” the lawmakers said in the measure’s explanatory note.
Under the bill, the Commission of Human Rights (CHR) is tasked to create programs directed towards educating the people about human rights issues and the need to uphold these rights on November 23 of each year.
The measure also mandates the CHR to tap the assistance of civil society groups in this endeavor.
The lawmakers said marking the date as National Consciousness Day to End Impunity will remind Filipinos that “high crimes remain unpunished” and that “the fight against injustice in the country should continue to broaden and persist.”
The bill will have to undergo committee and plenary hearings, and will have to get approval of majority of House members before it can be passed by the House.
On November 23, 2009, 57 people, including members of the Mangudadatu clan along with several media personnel, were killed in Ampatuan town while on their way to file the candidacy papers of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, who was then Buluan vice mayor.
At least 198 people, including primary suspect Andal Ampatuan Jr., are currently being tried by a Quezon City court for multiple murder charges in relation to the massacre. — LBG, GMA News
NUSA DUA, Indonesia – President Barack Obama said on Friday he saw “flickers of progress” in Myanmar and dispatched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to visit the isolated country next month to explore new ties.
Obama, in Indonesia for a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, said he had spoken for the first time with Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who told him she supported more U.S. engagement with the country also known as Burma.
He said the release of political prisoners, relaxing of media restrictions and signs of legislative change in the past few weeks were “the most important steps toward reform in Burma that we’ve seen in years”.
“We want to seize what could be a historic opportunity for progress and make it clear that if Burma continues to travel down the road of democratic reform, it can forge a new relationship with the United States of America,” Obama said, also citing ongoing U.S. concerns about Myanmar’s stance with North Korea and human rights issues.
“If Burma fails to move down the path of reform, it will continue to face sanctions and isolation. But if it seizes this moment, then reconciliation can prevail,” he said.
Myanmar is now ruled by a civilian government after an election last year that was meant to hand over power after nearly five decades of military rule.
Many Western governments have expressed doubts that the new civilian authority is committed to democratic change and has embarked on a different path from its military predecessors.
Clinton’s visit will be the first by a U.S. secretary of state for more than 50 years. She will travel to Yangon and the capital Naypyitaw and “explore whether the United States can empower a positive transition in Burma and begin a new chapter between our countries”, Obama said.
Human rights
With sanctions preventing Western investment in Myanmar, China has long been its biggest ally on the international stage, also investing in Myanmar’s infrastructure, hydropower dams and twin oil and gas pipelines to help feed southern China’s growing energy needs.
But the relationship has often been strained, with a long history of resentment of China among the Burmese population and fierce public opposition to a Chinese-built dam at Myitsone that prompted Myanmar President Thein Sein to shelve the project last month, a move that stunned Beijing.
When he took office in 2009, Obama made reaching out to American adversaries a signature part of his foreign policy approach. That included an effort early to engage with Iran.
But the administration took a cautious approach on Myanmar because of U.S. concerns about human rights. Obama requested a policy review on Myanmar, which eventually set the stage for the effort to reach out now.
A U.S. official said Obama had spoken to Suu Kyi from Air Force One on his way to Indonesia Thursday evening.
They reviewed progress made in Myanmar since her release from house arrest last November. Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, had been detained 15 of the previous 21 years.
Obama is not scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Sein but is expected to see him during the East Asia Summit he is attending in Bali, as the first U.S. president to do so.
Myanmar is seeking to diversify its economy by courting other regional powers and India, which analysts say is aimed at boosting its economy and reducing its long, at times uneasy dependence on Beijing.
Southeast Asian nations endorsed Myanmar on Thursday for the chairmanship of its regional grouping in 2014, gambling that the isolated country can stick to reforms begun this year that could lead it out of half a century of isolation. — Reuters/ GMA News
NUSA DUA – US President Barack Obama on Friday told Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who is embroiled in a territorial spat with China, that the US was “looking out” for his country.
Manila, which has been in a security alliance with the US for 60 years, is caught up in a long-running dispute with Beijing over the strategically vital South China Sea, where the two countries are among six claimants.
Obama, in the Indonesian resort of Bali for the East Asia Summit, said the US-Philippines relationship ensured “we are looking out for each other when it comes to security”.
“This is an opportunity for us to discuss how we can further deepen that relationship; also, to discuss the topics of the East Asia Summit — issues like maritime security, nonproliferation, disaster and humanitarian relief,” he said.
He hailed Aquino has an “outstanding partner:” “I just want to commend President Aquino for his leadership, for his reform efforts.”
The Philippines has been seeking to build a united front against China over Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea in two days of Asian meetings in Bali, but has received lukewarm support from partners.
But Washington, while not commenting directly on Manila’s plans, has said regional summits are the right place to raise maritime security issues, even if they are not tribunals for deciding individual disputes.
Aquino hailed the long-running alliance and shared values and history between the US and the Philippines.
“We forward, in these turbulent times of ours, to really further strengthen our relationship,” he said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday on a visit to the Philippines, which along with Vietnam has complained China is staking its claims more aggressively, that threats over sea disputes were unacceptable.
“Any nation with a claim has a right to exert it, but they do not have a right to pursue it through intimidation or coercion,” she said.
“Let me say, the United States will always be in the corner of the Philippines and we will stand and fight with you.”
China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims in the region which is a conduit for more than one-third of the world’s seaborne trade and half its traffic in oil and gas.
Tensions have erupted anew in recent times, with the Philippines and Vietnam saying that Chinese vessels had harassed their ships and cut exploration cables.
US comments on the maritime disputes in the region are likely to rile China, which has already bristled about Obama’s complaints that Beijing does not play by the “rules of the road” in international economic relations. — AFP
Malacañang will defer to the Armed Forces of thePhilippinesthe task of threshing out the claim of Army chief Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s so-called Areas of Temporary Stay (ATS) no longer exist.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace is leaving it to the AFP and Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) on how to observe the ceasefire with the MILF.
“(From a) broader perspective, with respect to ATS and dealings with the MILF and lawless elements, we leave it with the AFP and the CCCH to operationalize those details. We will defer to the AFP,” Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio.
Besides, he said these issues will be discussed between the government and MILF peace panels inMalaysia.
Lacierda also said it is important that the government speak with only one voice on the matter to avoid any confusion.
“Since it’s an operation that requires the expertise of the AFP in conjunction with the CCCH in recognition of ceasefire agreement… mas maayos kung sila ang mag-uusap diyan,” he added.
Earlier, Ortiz was quoted as saying the ATS no longer exists, even as he instructed troops in Basilan to continue pursuit operations especially against the lawless elements behind the murder of 19 soldiers in Basilan’s Al-Barka town last October.
Ortiz said the ATS was established in 2007 as a result of the encounter in Basilan that resulted in the death of 14 Marines, 10 of whom were beheaded.
Because the 2007 operations had ended, he said the ATS should also have been terminated as well.
MILF should be frank
Lacierda also said the Palace expects the MILF to be “frank and forthright” with the government panel on the issue.
“We expect them to be at arm’s length with us in the peace panel negotiations. We’ve been very forthright and frank with them just as we expect them to be frank and forthright. We are hoping to move to more substantive issues of peace talks and that’s something we are looking forward to,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacierda said President Benigno Aquino III has yet to issue instructions to convene the National Security Council (NSC) to address the peace-and-order situation inMindanao, as suggested by Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“We have no word yet on the NSC meeting. that’s being worked on. But the security cluster is already meeting on it. And the president has called for a meeting of some military and Cabinet officials. We look at this as a law enforcement measure,” he said.
“I’m not sure if the president is set to convene the NSC. The security cluster is doing its job and the president is giving instructions to the appropriate security agencies,” he added.
When asked if the Palace sees no need for the NSC meet at this time, he said, “right now the president has not made mention of any instruction to that effect.” — LBG, GMA News
The Court of Appeals (CA) has overturned a ruling rendered by the Department of Health (DOH) junking the promotional applications of the tobacco industry in 2009.
In a 21-page decision penned by Associate Justice and Special 11th Division Chairperson Noel Tijam, the appeals court granted the petition filed by the Philip Morris Manufacturing Philippines, Inc. questioning DOH’s verdict against promotional activities.
“Wherefore, the petition is granted. The assailed consolidate decision, dated April 30, 2009, of the DOH is hereby nullified and set aside,” the ruling, concurred by Associate Justices Marlene Gonzales-Sision and Jane Aurora Lantion, stated.
Records show that on November 19, 2008, the cigar company through its ad agency applied for a sales promotion permit before the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
Included in the application were the mechanics for the activity, relevant promotional materials and the prescribed application fee.
In a separate application through another ad agency the Philip Morris applied for a promotional permit for its golden stick promotional activity.
The cigarette manufacturer in its applications invoked the provisions of the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The DOH, however, denied “all the appeals, petitions for review, and/ or motions for reconsideration filed by various tobacco companies, or those acting for and on their behalf, for being without merit.”
It consequently affirmed BFAD’s actions in not granting the promotional applications of the tobacco industry being in accordance with RA 9211 and in compliance with the treaty obligations under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
But the appellat court averred in its ruling that “although the intention of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) FCTC is too seek the gradual elemination of tobacco, public respondents DOH and the BFAD cannot speed up the process if, in so doing, they will deviate from or violate the express provisions of the law.”
“Until and unless there has been a change in the legal enviroment and technical means available, its is our bounden duty, as a court of law, to breathe life into the letters and spirit of the provisions of our applicable law, RA 9211,” the CA noted.
Cigarette products ads in the so-called “paid media”—television, radio, and newspapers are prohibited since 2003.
Tobacco companies, however, have found ways to vanquish the ban through crafty but potentially more effective promotional events which range from donating to community projects to influencing the content of movies or shows.
The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 stopped the elaborate marketing strategy of tobacco companies in the “paid media.”
However, the law has been unable to prevent the invasion of “free media”—the very content of news and entertainment media—by tobacco products and brands.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Friday blew her top on published reports describing her as “grandstanding”.
Reports had it that De Lima was allegedly “grandstanding” on her reaction in connection with the acquittal by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) of the two members of the so-called “Alabang Boys”.
It can be recalled that Muntinlupa City RTC Judge Juanita Guerrero acquitted Richard Brodett and Jorge Joseph of drug charges due to the break in the “chain of custody of evidence”.
De Lima had said that they are planning to file a motion for reconsideration seeking a reversal of the ruling of the Muntinlupa City RTC acquitting Brodett and Joseph of violation of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”.
De Lima said that it’s unfair that she was accused of “grandstanding” when in fact she was just replying on the questions of the members of the media.
“Kaya ako sumasagot dahil tinatanong n’yo ako,” De Lima told reporters in an ambush interview.
Every time that she opens her mouth, De Lima said, every thing that she speaks about are being used against her.
She said that it’s also wrong to say that the reason why she often times speaks to the media was due to her plans to run for senator in 2013.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a P240-million smuggling case against the consignees and brokers of missing 1,910 containers.
The 1,910 containers disappeared while being transshipped from Manila to the Port of Batangas (POB) between May and June 2011.
Charged for criminal conspiracy to defraud the government of P240 million in duties and taxes were Loida Jalimao, proprietress/manager of Sea Eagle Trading; Lolita C. Clarin, proprietress/manager of LCN Trading; and Cecille San Diego, proprietress/manager of Moncelian Entreprises.
BOC Commissioner Angelito Alvarez says that a total of 2,219 containers covered by transshipment permits were processed between January and May this year at both the Manila International Container Port (MICP) and the Port of Manila (POM) by three importers namely, LCN Trading, Sea Eagle Trading, and Marcelion Enterprises.
Also charged were licensed customs brokers Arceli Arellano; Merlyne G. Reyes; and Diosdado G. Bagon, who assisted in the processing and facilitation of the release of the missing transshipment cargoes.
Eight other employees of Bagon, who owns the D.G. Bagon Customs Services, were also charged.
They were identified as Mathew Ponce; Percival A. Santos; Antonio Vinaviles; Rogelio G. Remillo; Ariel S. Dionisio; Mark S. Aguinaldo; a certain Kristin; and a certain Sherly.
Of the 2,219 transshipped containers, the Batangas District Office acknowledged receipt of only 309, claiming that the signatures of POB employees on documents presented by officials of POM and MICP as proof of the containers actually made it to Batangas were fake.
“Transshipment which is also allowed by the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) refers to the movement under customs control of imported cargoes from their original port of discharge to their final port of destination. As practiced, the port of discharge allows the transshipment of containers to the port of destination where the consumption entry is filed and payment of duties and taxes is made,” Alvarez said.
Records of the case showed that sometime between January and May this year, the three consignees imported various goods into the Philippines with either the POM or the MICP as their port of discharge.
But instead of filing the regular consumption entry for the imported goods, the consignees and their brokers filed before the POM and the MICP accomplished transshipment permits effectively changing the port of destination to POB.
Alvarez said that there is reason to believe that the transshipped imported goods were diverted by the accused and their cohorts to evade payment of customs duties and taxes, in palpable violation of the TCCP and other related laws.
Alvarez said that the liability of customs officials and employees had already been established.
Administrative charges were recommended to be filed against 14 BOC officials, which included the Deputy Collector for Operations of both POM and MICP, Alvarez said.
Investigators, Alvarez said, were still in the process of building up a case of criminal conspiracy against the erring customs officials.
Alvarez expressed hope that the least guilty among the accused consignees, brokers and customs personnel would consider the idea of becoming state witnesses and provide the missing pieces of information that would lead to the identification of the brains and financier behind this scam. (ptr/pna)
PINOY SNIPER 