After tweeting game-fixing charges, PBA player slapped with record-setting fine

A despondent and apologetic Don Allado faced the media after meeting with PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Thursday. Mark Zambrano

As one of his fellow players tweeted after the deed, Don Allado forgot to think before he clicked. Receiving one of the harshest penalties ever imposed by the PBA, the Barako Bull Energy big man was fined P500,000 and banned for one conference from all PBA-related activities, after he accused the league of game-fixing in a series of tweets.

Allado met with PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Thursday to apologize. The sanctions are said to be final and unappealable.

The P500,000 fine was the largest ever imposed by the PBA on a player and his suspension was surpassed only by a season-long ban in 2009-2010 suffered by then-Burger King Whoppers guard Wynne Arboleda, who assaulted a courtside heckler in a game.

The harshness of the penalty reflects not only the league’s sensitivity to any charges of corruption but the power of Twitter in the hands of popular personalities like professional athletes. Allado’s tweets were treated by the league as if these were statements uttered to mass media.

After a season-ending loss to the Powerade Tigers last Tuesday, Allado tweeted that “#PBA games are fixed. They control who is in & who is out. It’s a disgrace to be in this league. I am bitter about losing. Not to Powerade, but to #PBA. In my opinion, this league has little credibility left.”

Allado later deleted the tweets and apologized for them. Then upon meeting the commissioner, he apologized once more.

“Inulit [niya] sa akin ang paghingi ng paumanhin sa buong PBA, sa players, governors. Yun daw ay resulta lang ng pagkatalo ng team niya. Burst of emotion sa Powerade,” said Salud in an interview on dzBB radio after the meeting.

Salud also reminded Allado of the power of Twitter and Facebook, chiding him, “Ang tweet, Facebook, maraming sumusunod diyan, delikado kung magsasalita ka ng kung anu-anong bagay.”

Twitter is a social media platform that enables users to send short messages to thousands of followers instantly. Twitter is often now the first source of news for media around the world. Allado’s tweets about alleged game-fixing were noticed almost immediately not only by fans but by mainstream media that monitor Twitter for such controversies.

Outburst of emotion

Salud said that when he asked Allado to substantiate his claims of game-fixing, Allado could not reply. The 13-year veteran said he had never gotten an offer to drop a game, nor did he know of other players who got such offers.

“I took the occasion na ipaalala sa kanya ang responsibilidad ng PBA player sa fans. Ang maturity, sportsmanship, kailangan at all times they observe that on and off the court,” Salud added.

The commissioner admitted that a referee in the Powerade-Barako Bull game did indeed make an egregious non-call, failing to whistle a three-second violation on the Tigers’ import Omar Sneed. But upon review, the league, and even Barako Bull head coach Junel Baculi and team management agreed they were “outplayed by Powerade even during that time that a non-call was made.”

“Clearly it [Allado’s tweets] was an outburst of emotion in the heat of competition,” Salud concluded.

Despite his apology, Salud still felt that the 33-year-old still needed to be punished.

“I laud his apology, it takes a man to admit his fault. I laud his passion for the game but I cannot condone this kind of behavior. There will be punishment,” he said.

Salud also added that Allado’s team “made it clear they are not tolerating the accusations of Allado and there will be internal sanctions meted out also.”

The former King Archer out of De La Salle University is a 13-year pro, and got his start with the Alaska Aces back in 1999. A three-time PBA All-Star and two-time PBA champion, the 6’6″ center/power forward is with his fifth team, and has career averages of 7.89 points, 5.86 rebounds and 1.29 assists. – AMD/HS, GMA News

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Jessica Sanchez has sore throat going into ‘Idol’ Top 3

MANILA, Philippines — A day before this week’s crucial “American Idol” performance night, which will determine the final two contestants, Jessica Sanchez has been struck with the sore throat.

In her official Twitter account, Sanchez said on Tuesday that she’s “drinking tea. Throat isnt feeling at its best.”

Her fans immediately showed their support for the Filipino-Mexican-American contestant using the hashtag #GetWellSoonJessica.

“I pray for your health and winning! I believe you go through Top 2 Jessica Sanchez,” said Twitter user Antonius Quinn.

“Try a little tenderness,” said Tom Janoski, referring to the Otis Redding song, which Sanchez performed on the hit US talent search.

“Sorry for flooding your timeline with #PrayforJessica #GetWellsoonJessica feeds. We’re just too worried about her for tomorrow’s show,” her fan club Worldwide BluJays wrote.

The remaining three “Idol” contestants are set to perform three songs on Wednesday night (Thursday morning in Manila) — judges’ choice, record producer and mentor Jimmy Iovine’s choice and contestant’s choice.

The Top 2 vote-getters will advance to the finals next week.

Last woman standing

Sanchez made the Top 3 along with Phillip Phillips and Joshua Ledet after Hollie Cavanagh was eliminated last week, making her the only female contestant left in the contest.

Since the start of the season, “Idol” has been constantly reminding viewers that there hasn’t been a female winner since Jordin Sparks won in Season 6.

But even before she made the Top 3, many “Idol” observers have been predicting that Sanchez could be the one to break the winning streak of the so-called “white guys with guitars.”

For four consecutive seasons, “Idol” has crowned guitar-playing male contestants starting with David Cook in Season 7, followed by Kris Allen, Lee Dewyze and last year’s winner Scotty McCreery.

On Tuesday night, national newspaper USA Today predicted Sanchez to come out on top on Wednesday’s performance night.

USA Today said it has come up with a formula based on song choice, performance order, judges’ verdicts and online buzz.

It said Sanchez could win if “she combines a crowd-pleasing ballad upon which to unleash all of her bounteous vocal gifts (think last week’s ‘And I Am Telling You’) with one of her rare but memorable re-imaginings (think Beyoncé’s ‘Sweet Dreams’).”

The newspaper also advised her to avoid songs by classic R&B singers “three times her age or more.”

“Tina Turner and Etta James should be off-limits, although Aretha Franklin could work. Better to play it safe with more contemporary material, though,” it said.

Parallels

Still, USA Today noted that the composition of the Top 3 can also favor Phillips, noting how Taylor Hicks won over Katharine McPhee and Elliot Yamin in Season 5.

Like that season, the newspaper also said this season’s Top 3 is “an unpredictable showdown between the two best pure singers and an eccentric stylist.”

Other “Idol” observers, however, believe that in terms of parallels, Season 11 shares more in common with Season 6, the year Sparks won.

That season’s Top 3 had Sparks, beat-boxer Blake Lewis and R&B singer Melinda Doolittle.

Like Lewis, Phillips has shown great creativity in terms of re-interpreting popular songs, while Ledet, like Doolittle, comes from a more classical R&B background.

Despite receiving generous praise from the judges all season long, Doolittle was eliminated during Top 3, leaving Lewis and Sparks to duke it out during the finals — which, many “Idol” followers, believe was a lop-sided contest between, what USA Today may call, a “pure singer” and an “eccentric stylist.”–ABS-CBN News

PRESS FREEDOM PARTY CRUSHES MEDIA REFORM MOVEMENT IN NPC ELECTIONS

THE Press Freedom Party formed by outgoing National Press Club (NPC) president, Jerry Yap and incoming president, Benny Antiporda, completely dominated the just concluded NPC elections with a 15 – 0 win against its opponent, the Media Reform Movement of block time broadcaster, Percy Lapid.

Antiporda, publisher and columnist of Remate; and his runningmate, Marlon Purificacion, columnist and Senate reporter of People’s Tonight; totally overwhelmed the tandem of Lapid, a block timer for DWIZ and Amor Virata, publisher of a weekly tabloid, with votes of 472 and 498, respectively, against 207 and 158 votes respectively for Lapid and Virata or a winning margin of over 100 percent.

Antiporda, NPC president from 2008 to 2010, decided to run anew in order to continue the many programs that he and Yap had started for the NPC since they formed the PFP in 2006.

Earlier during the club’s general assembly meeting, a heated argument ensued among those present after the group of Lapid tried to push for the postponement of the elections, claiming “lack of quorum” and “failure of elections.”

The general membership, however, immediately saw thru the ploy and voted to have the proposal trashed and for the elections to proceed as provided for in the club’s charter.

The NPC By-Laws mandates that the biennial elections for all executive positions and the 10-seats for the Board of Directors shall be held on the first Sunday of May.

The schedule can only be changed with the consent of the general assembly.

One irate member of the press described the effort of Lapid’s camp to cancel the elections as a “cheap ploy because they are already aware they simply don’t enjoy the support and the trust of the majority of the working press in the country.”

Completing the victory for the PFP is the domination made by its candidates of the ten seats for the NPC Board of Directors.

The 15 – 0 sweep by the PFP of all the contested positions is the first of its kind in the history of the NPC since the club’s first election was held 59 years ago.

Antiporda said with the elections over, they are now reaching out to their beaten opponents in order to promote unity among members of the press.

“The elections are over, our membership has spoken. The period of politicking is now over; it is time once again for all members of the press to unite for the common good,” Antiporda said. (Journal)

Malacañang says all systems go for May 2–5 ADB meet in Manila

All systems are go for the 45th Asian Development Bank Board of Governors meeting in Manila this coming week, Malacañang said Sunday.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said this will be a good opportunity for the Philippines to promote its progress as well as its tourism.

“Matagal na ito ino-organize ng various agencies and departments of government, including peace and order [concerns]… Maraming darating mga turista at maraming delegates darating, napaghandaan na ito,” he said on government-run dzRB radio.

The ADB meeting will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center from May 2 to 5.

Earlier, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority had announced a truck ban and courtesy lanes for the ADB delegates for the duration of the meeting.

On the other hand, Lacierda said that since the visitors will include “movers and shakers,” the eye of the financial world will be on the philippines.

“It’s our coming-out party,” he said, adding there will be a “bonus” for the Philippines to prove that ‘it’s more fun to be in the Philippines’.”

“We expect the Philippines to be in the eye of the financial world, ito showcase natin kung anong ginagawa ng pamahalaan sa taongbayan and good governance,” he said. — LBG, GMA News

US, ASEAN supports over maritime row ‘illusion’, says Sen. Santiago

The Philippines may not be able to count on quick support from the United States – or even from its fellow Southeast Asian nations – in resolving its standoff with China in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Sen. Miriam Santiago said Sunday.

Santiago made the claim as ranking Philippine officials prepare to meet with their US counterparts on April 30 in a “2+2” meeting in Washington D.C.

“Ilusyon ang iisiping kakampihan tayo laban sa pang-aaway ng China… It’s self-deception; I would say that is not how international relations work,” she said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Besides, she said the US owes China trillions of dollars even as China itself maintains close ties with the Philippines on other aspects.

“Hindi tayo makaaasa sa US. It is going to side with the Philippines or China depending on its own interests,” she added.

“Tumigil sila sa kaaasa sa US dahil may utang ito sa China,” she added.

Expected to represent the Philippines in the “2+2″ meet are secretaries Albert del Rosario (foreign affairs) and Voltaire Gazmin (defense).

Representing the US are State Secretary Hillary Clinton and US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Earlier reports said the meeting is expected to focus on cooperation in the economic, political, defense and security fronts.

Asked if she was optimistic about US support for the Philippines on the matter from the “2+2” meeting, she said, “No, I don’t think so.”

“Dahil noon pa man marginal player ang Pilipinas (The US considers the Philippines a marginal player),” she said.

Besides, she said developed countries like China and the US want a loose interpretation of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Southeast Asian region so their ships can navigate there.

PHL unsure about US position

Malacañang also admitted it is not sure about the US’ position on the Philippines’ present row with China in the Panatag Shoal.

“It’s really difficult to say at this point… As to what will be the result, it’s still up in the air. We have to wait for result and briefings after they arrive from the US,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on government-run dzRB radio.

Meanwhile, Santiago said the Philippines may not be able to garner instant support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), because of member-countries’ trading relations with China.

While she said ASEAN may realize the need for a binding code of conduct in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), ASEAN members may not be ready to risk losing trade with China.

“Hindi natin maasahan ASEAN will immediately respond to our call for a binding code of conduct, kahit alam nila na tama tayo at ‘yan ang tamang gagawin. Pero takot sila mawalan ng napakalaking pera,” she said.

Still, she said the Philippines should campaign among its ASEAN neighbors.

Presently, Santiago said there is a code of conduct in the Asia-Pacific region by underdeveloped states including the Philippines, composed of 205 guidelines for navigation and overflight in exclusive economic zones.

But such a code of conduct is non-binding, she lamented.

“Ngayon, sasabihin natin sa mga kapit-bansa sa ASEAN, ‘tingnan n’yo o ginagawan kami ng ganito ng China. Mamaya kayo rin gagawan ng ganyan, maghihintay pa ba kayo? Hindi ba dapat ngayon pa lang sama-sama tayo at manindigan?’ We should have a regional binding code of conduct,” she said.

Customary international law

Santiago also said China appears to be trying to claim the disputed area so it will be recognized as having sovereignty over the area due to customary international law.

Under customary international law, she said China may claim an area if it can show its nationals had been fishing in the area for a long time.

But she said China’s real goal appears to be exploiting the natural resources of Southeast Asia’s seas.

She said this could explain why China had been proposing “joint explorations” of natural resources in disputed areas.

“Only China has the technology to do that. ‘Pag handa na tayo na mag-exploit o kukuha ng (resources) diyan, naubos na ng China. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should not lose sight of the fact na gusto ng China na unahan tayo,” she said.

“The DFA should not lose track of the fact we are laggards in maritime underwater technology,” she added.

Santiago also advised the Philippine DFA and military to consider the possibility that China may use submarines in the disputed area. — LBG, GMA News

How rugby inspired the founder of the modern Olympics

LONDON – For spiritual inspiration Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, looked back to Olympia and the splendor of the ancient Greek Games.

Across the channel, a less obvious source provided a more immediate influence for the diminutive French aristocrat with the impressive handlebar moustache.

At the age of 12 de Coubertin read a French translation of “Tom Brown’s Schooldays,” the classic tale of Rugby School and its renowned headmaster Thomas Arnold, first published in 1857.

From that day on, Rugby School and Arnold helped nurture a vision which was to culminate in the 1896 Athens Games and the foundation of the modern Olympic movement.

De Coubertin was an educationalist obsessed by what he regarded as the degeneracy of the French educational system after the humiliating defeat in the 1870 Franco-Prussian war.

Visits to a series of English schools convinced him of the value of organized games as a means of developing character, courage and self-reliance.

They also led him in 1890 to the Wenlock Olympian Games in the medieval Shropshire village of Much Wenlock, a multi-sports festival largely founded by another remarkable Victorian, the local doctor and philanthropist William Penny Brookes.

The Wenlock Games have been called the bridge between the ancient and the modern Olympics and one of the London 2012 mascots is called Wenlock.

Arnold had been dead for more than 40 years when de Coubertin paid a visit to Rugby School in the 1880s and spent a night in the chapel holding vigil over his grave.

“My eyes fixed on the funeral slab on which, without epitaph, the great name of Thomas Arnold was inscribed,” de Coubertin wrote. “I dreamed that I saw before me the cornerstone of the British Empire.”

Muscular Christianity

That cornerstone included sports which were in themselves influenced by the 19th century “muscular Christianity” movement which emphasized moral certainty and physical strength.

Thomas Hughes, author of “Tom Brown’s Schooldays”, was a proponent of muscular Christianity and his book was intended as a moral tract rather than a novel.

The School-house match, a forerunner of the game named after the school, the cross-country run, the fight and the cricket game are the sporting highlights. Flashman, the bully expelled for drunkenness, was to become an acclaimed and libidinous anti-hero in a series of novels by George MacDonald Fraser.

Today the School Close, where Willian Webb Ellis reputedly started the game of rugby union when he ran with the ball in 1823, still hosts rugby and cricket matches. But in the year of the third London Olympics, the school is now co-educational and offers, in all, more than 30 sports.

“It’s a very important counter-balance to cerebral activity as I’m sure Dr Thomas Arnold knew,” languages master Jonathan Smith told Reuters amid the noise and bustle of a school sports afternoon on a dazzlingly bright, spring day.

“It’s where you learn solidarity with your teammates and the importance of collaboration in competition with another team.

“It teaches them the impossibility of instant gratification. It’s a combination of individual endeavor and team spirit and bringing those two virtues together. After all, we want excellence as much in games as we do in games results, no team is going to want any player who doesn’t play to the best of his ability and who is not playing to the top of his game.

“So it both encourages the individual to make the best of their talents and play, if not perish, for the team.”

Rugby School librarian and archivist Rusty MacLean said Arnold’s particular genius was to give the senior boys responsibility as well as power.

Amateurism battle

“He was very keen on physical exercise as a means to an end, to a higher purpose,” MacLean explained in the hush of the school library.

“He also felt that he wanted to get rid of the barbaric pursuits of hunting and shooting and fishing. The daily life at the school, even up to the 20th century was largely run by the senior boys.

“You got organized games. You got games where the rule of fair play were very important. The boys owned these games. Rugby football was their creation. Although there were lots of different varieties, the distinctive features of the game came from here.

“This evolution from games to sports did not happen in isolation. It was happening in a much wider environment of innovation and change. These ideas, those beliefs, self-governance that were helping to create the foundation of the British Empire.”

Arnold was a classical scholar at a time when education was strongly based on Greek mathematics and philosophy. Public interest in classical Greece had been fuelled by German explorations at Olympia and Heinrich Schliemann’s excavations in north-east Turkey which convinced him he had found Homer’s ancient Troy.

“The explorations that were going on, the rediscovery of classical civilization had a great deal of influence, whether directly or indirectly,” added MacLean.

Extraordinary epoch

The renewed interest in ancient Greece and the Olympic games was accompanied by a hunger for games generally which led to an extraordinary epoch in Victorian Britain during which most of the modern sports were either invented or formally codified.

Among them were three of the major sports to feature in the London Games starting on July 27. The British Amateur Swimming Association was founded in 1869 and the English Amateur Athletics Association formed in 1880, the same year as the British Amateur Boxing Association.

Amateur was a key word in British sport where the system was weighted in favor of wealthy aristocrats who could afford to play in their leisure time. Professionals were not welcome, particularly in rowing where the Leander club, extended the definition to tradesmen, artisans or laborers. A fierce and ultimately losing battle against professionalism in the Olympics was to be fought throughout much of the next century.

De Coubertin, although a social reformer who as Olympic historian David Wallechinsky notes “was well aware of the inequities of the amateur system” used the structure of the Henley Royal Regatta stewards as a model for the first International Olympic Committee.

“He was…alert to the social prejudices of the day, aware that the presence on the sporting committee he was about to create, of titled noblemen would enhance credibility, much as it does in the present day with charitable organizations,” wrote David Millar in his official history of the Olympic Games.

Only 14 countries attended the 1896 Games but its success was assured when Greek Spiridon Louis won the marathon, introduced to commemorate the legend of Pheidippides bringing the news of the victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490BC.

De Coubertin later left no doubts about the debt he owed to the British public schools and his admiration generally for a remarkable era in British history.

“Although we may criticize on many points the teaching which public schools afford in England, there can be no reasonable doubt about their providing a strong and vigorous education of body and character,” he said.

“To the merits of this education we may ascribe a large share in the prodigious and powerful extension of the British Empire in Queen Victoria’s reign.”

In 2009, the chairman of the London 2012 organizing committee Sebastian Coe, unveiled a plaque on the Doctor’s Wall at Rugby School to commemorate Thomas Arnold. He has no doubts about the role the school played in influencing de Coubertin’s magnificent obsession.

“Central, absolutely central. De Coubertin visited Britain primarily to understand the moral tenor and tone of people in this country,” Coe told Reuters.

“He looked across the channel at what he though we were doing. A lot he thought he recognized as an ethos in schools. He wanted to understand more about it.

“De Coubertin is often referred to as the founding father of the Olympic movement and I think we accept that that is probably the case. But much of his thinking was heavily impacted by both Arnold and Penny Brookes.” – Reuters via GMA News

Dawson dethrones veteran Hopkins for WBC light heavyweight title

ATLANTIC CITY – Chad Dawson took the World Boxing Council light heavyweight crown from veteran Bernard Hopkins with a majority decision on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) at the Boardwalk Hall arena.

Dawson improved to 31-1 with 17 knockouts as he won the rematch of their controversial clash in Los Angeles in October by scores of 117-111 on two of the judges’ scorecards. The third judge scored it even, 114-114.

“I feel great,” Dawson said. “I took a lot of head-butts. My head is hurting right now.

“He is a great fighter and he is going into the Hall of Fame. But I stepped my game up another notch.”

The biggest question now for the 47-year-old Hopkins is if this marked the final fight of his career.

Hopkins’ age began to show, starting from the sixth and seventh rounds as Dawson became the aggressor.

The early rounds were marked by a bad cut Dawson suffered in the fourth over his left eye as a result of an accidental head butt from Hopkins.

The cut brought Dawson’s corner into play as they battled successfully to stop the bleeding between each round.

Dawson said the head-butts were part of Hopkins’ game plan.

“He is a dirty fighter that old man,” Dawson said. “I knew the head-butts were coming.

“You could hear our heads clash together. The head-butts were blatant but I kept my composure.”

An incident at the end of the fifth round recalled the odd finish to their fight in October.

As the bell sounded to end the round, Dawson grabbed Hopkins with both hands around the waist and swung him across the ring and almost through the ropes.

Hopkins returned the favor with one minute left in the 11th round by wrestling Dawson to the floor as the fight deteriorated and the clinches started to outnumber the punches.

Hopkins, who fell to 52-6-2 with 32 knockouts, was seeking to defend his title against Dawson six months after their first title clash was cut short in round two as Dawson lifted Hopkins by the leg and tried to throw him to the canvas.

The fight was halted with Hopkins saying he suffered a left shoulder dislocation. Referee Pat Russell awarded the fight to Dawson, saying no foul was committed, but the result was overturned to a no-decision and the rematch ordered. – AFP via GMA News

China likely within focus at US-PHL security talks in Washington

China is likely to be high on the agenda at top level U.S.-Philippine security talks on Monday as Washington refocuses its foreign policy on Asia and Manila realises its limits in trying to solve territorial disputes with Beijing alone.

China has maritime spats with several countries in the South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas and crossed by important shipping lanes, and its neighbors fear its growing naval reach in staking claims.

Those disputes are pushing the Philippines to seek closer cooperation with the United States, which in turn has prompted China to warn Washington against getting involved, denouncing last week’s U.S.-Philippine military drills as bringing the risk of armed conflict closer.

“I’m sure we need to be diplomatic, but I don’t think we should tip-toe around the Chinese on this,” said Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center with the conservative Washington-based Heritage Foundation think tank.

“…There is nothing new about the U.S. exercising with the Philippines. We shouldn’t refrain because the Chinese don’t like it. In fact, I expect the (Washington meeting) will come up with some agreement on increasing the frequency and variety of exercises, ship visits. Also expect agreement on hardware, joint use of Philippines’ training facilities and bases.”

The talks also coincide with a potential new source of tension between Washington and Bejing after blind activist Chen Guangcheng was reported late last week to have sought U.S. protection in the Chinese capital after an audacious escape from 19 months under house arrest.

On Sunday, China said it had made “stern representations” to the Philippines about its proposal for international arbitration over Scarborough Shoal, site of the most recent stand-off between the two sides.

“China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and do nothing to expand or complicate matters,” the ministry cited Deng Zhonghua, head of its department of boundary and ocean affairs, as saying.

Manila’s moves to strengthen security ties with its former colonial master coincide with the U.S. foreign policy “pivot” towards Asia to concentrate on, among other things, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and China’s military buildup.

Twenty years after the Philippines voted to remove American bases, it now wants to give U.S. troops more access to its ports and airfields.

“We enjoy a really close military-to-military relationship with the Philippines and I think certainly coming out of this two plus two, we’ll be looking for ways to improve and enhance that relationship,” said Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby, referring to talks between the defense and foreign secretaries, the highest-level security talks yet between the two sides.

“But it is safe to say that … our relationship with the Philippines is part and parcel of the larger shift to focus on the Asia-Pacific.”

A Philippine general familiar with the discussions to be held in Washington said the United States had a list of airfields in the Philippines that it could use for routine deployment of tankers, fighters and transport planes.

“These are not new bases for the Americans, these are still our facilities,” said the general who declined to be identified. “They are only asking us if we can share some of our idle space with them.”

Kirby said the United States wanted to continue “a rotational and training” relationship. “We’re certainly not looking … for permanent basing there.”

This is nevertheless a sensitive area for Philippine President Benigno Aquino, some of whose political advisers are uncomfortable with an expanding U.S. role.

The U.S. plan to use Philippine airports is not new. At the height of U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, Manila allowed U.S. military planes to refuel at an airport in northernmost Batanes province, close to Taiwan.

“We don’t want them back, they create noise when most of us are already asleep,” Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said of U.S. transport planes landing at night in Basco airport.

Abad is one of Aquino’s closest political advisers. Another political adviser told Reuters Aquino would not allow a de facto basing arrangement.

“That’s a violation of our constitution,” he said.

Philippine foreign and defense officials, however, will use the Washington talks to try to get U.S. backing on its position in the South China Sea, invoking freedom of navigation.

“I think we would want all nations, including the U.S., to make a judgment as to what is happening there (in the South China Sea) and what the implications are to their own security,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has said.

A retired Philippine flag officer said Washington, which is shuffling and redeploying its forces around Asia, including in Japan and Australia, wanted to rebuild the “air bridge” between Northeast and Southeast Asia.

“They are trying to plug these holes when they left Clark in 1992,” he said, referring to a former U.S. air base in the northern Philippines. “They need airfields more than ports because most of their tactical aircraft are based too far from potential hotspots in Southeast Asia.”

Richard Jacobson, of Pacific Strategies and Assessments, cautioned both sides against playing the China card, saying he did not see naval standoffs in the South China Sea as dramatic enough to improve U.S.-Philippines relations.

“It appears more likely that any new strategic partnership will evolve gradually over time,” Jacobson told Reuters. (Additional Reporting By Paul Eckert and David Alexander in WASHINGTON, and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING) — Reuters via GMA News

CA indicts real estate developer Delfin Lee over anomalous housing projects

THE Court of Appeals (CA) on Wednesday turned down an order issued by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasig City restraining the resolution of the Department of Justice (DOJ) finding probable case to indict real estate developer Delfin Lee and several others before the court in connection with the alleged anomalous housing projects in Pampanga which is equivalent to economic sabotage.

In a 27-page decision penned by Associate Justice Franchito Diamante, the CA’s Seventh Division granted the petition for review filed by the DOJ assailing the writ of preliminary injunction issued by Judge Rolando Mislang.

According to the ruling which was concurred in by Associate Justices Miraflor Punzalan Castillo and Edwin Sorongon, the order was issued with grave abuse of discretion by the judge.

“The assailed order issued by public respondent judge [Sorongon]…for injunction is annulled and set aside for having been issued with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or in excess of jurisdiction,” the decision said.

“The writ of preliminary injunction is hereby lifted for lack of basis both in fact and in law.”

The Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG) reported accused Globe Asiatique of taking out P7.031 billion— several times over the single borrower’s limit of P500 million for accredited developers— for 9,951 housing loan accounts from Pag-IBIG from March 2008 to August 2010.

With no bail recommended, the DOJ had found probable cause to charge Lee and four others in Makati court in the first of four estafa complaint filed against the accused.

Under the Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code, syndicated estafa carries the penalty of life imprisonment once proven guilty.

Aside from Lee, also charged were his son, Dexter; GA officers Christina Sagun and Cristina Salagan; and Pag-Ibig Fund lawyer Alex Alvarez.

Ramon Palma Gil, former Pag-Ibig chief, and GA employees Lerma Vitug, Tintin Fonclara, Geraldine Fonclara, Revelyn Reyes, Rod Macaspac, Marvin Arevalo, Joan Borbon, Christian Cruz, Rodolfo Malabanan, Nannet Haguiling, and John Tungol were both cleared for lack of evidence.

Records showed that since August 2010 and until present, GA failed to remit to Pag-Ibig the monthly housing loan amortizations of its borrowers for GA’s Xevera projects in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

An amount of P6,653,546,000 was allegedly defrauded from the government by respondents‘ scheme of using “ghost borrowers” to secure loans from Pag-Ibig Fund.

The scheme started when GA entered into a Funding Commitment Agreement (FCA) with Pag-Ibig for its Xevera housing project in 2008.

However, an investigation by the NBI showed that some of the buyers were allegedly fake members of Pag-Ibig, and another group of buyers used spurious loan accounts, while others were ineligible for membership.

COA had issued a recommendation saying that Globe Asiatique should be blacklisted from any future availment or participation under Pag-IBIG lending programs, following the review of 277 Xevera loan holders that had a collective loan amount of nearly P194 million, resulting in fraudulent loan take outs.

The DOJ argued that the doctrine of prejudicial question does not find application in the said cases.

Based on Section 7 Rule III of the Revised Rules of Court, the DOJ through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) further said that Lee must prove that there was an instituted civil action involving the same criminal action.

As to the first DoJ case, the OSG said “element is wanting as the criminal complaint before the DoJ was filed by the NBI on Oct. 29, 2010 whereas Lee’s complaint for specific performance against Pag-Ibig Fund was filed before the Makati RTC on Nov. 15, 2010.”

It added that the Makati Civil case which Lee filed “aims to compel Pag-Ibig Fund, among others to accept replacement buyers which clearly are not determinative of the former’s innocence or guilt for the crime of syndicated estafa.”

In its ruling, the CA agreed with the DOJ’s contention that no prejudicial question exists with respect to the first DOJ case.

“After a thorough and judicious study of the attendant factual and legal milieu, this court has come to the conclusion that no prejudicial question exists that would justify the issuance by public respondent judge of the writ…as both cases before the DOJ can proceed independently of that with the Makati RTC,” the CA decision stated.

As to the second DOJ case, the CA said that “the properties bought by complainants were subjects of double sale.” (mtimes)

DOJ urges Pasay court to exonerate 2 poll execs

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has indeed planned for the exoneration of the two respondents in the electoral sabotage case against former Commission on Elections chair Benjamin Abalos in connection with the rigging of the results in the May 14, 2007 national and local elections in Mindanao.

In a motion filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasay City, the DOJ sought the dropping of lawyer Yogie Martirizar as accused in two counts of poll sabotage case as it also asked the court to make her a state witness in favor of the government.

“There is absolute necessity for the testimony of accused…Martirizar,” according to the DOJ.

The DOJ said “there is no other direct evidence available for the proper prosecution of the offense against the other accused as regards his exact participation, from the time he gave the order up to the actual execution of the offense which culminated in the canvassing of the votes during the said elections.”

“The testimony of…Martirizar as a state witness in favor of the prosecution had become indubitable that the other accused should be held liable for the crime charged because of his actual participation in preparation of electoral sabotage…” the DOJ pointed out.

The alleged plan by the Comelec to exonerate two co-accused had been bared by Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos.

Abalos said a resolution was being circulated among Comelec commissioners withdrawing the criminal information lodged against former poll supervisors Lilian Radam and Martirizar before the Pasay City RTC.

Radam and Martirizar both executed sworn statements pointing their fingers at the elder Abalos over poll fraud before a joint probe of Comelec and the DOJ.

However, Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes had denied the allegations saying there were no such moves being pushed in favor of the two accused.(mtimes)