US Asian Post June 3, 2016

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ENTERT

INMENT

Annabelle believes Duterte can slash crime in 6 months See Page 5

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Vol. 5 No. 35

A BALITA MEDIA PUBLICATION

LOS ANGELES

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Cayetano: Increasing police, military pay a ‘leap of faith’ DAVAO CITY, May 28 (Mabuhay) – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday admitted that prioritizing the salary increase of policemen and military personnel over those of other government workers is a “leap of faith” for the incoming administration of Rodrigo Duterte.

Cayetano, who arrived here yesterday to meet with the incoming president, said significantly increasing the salaries of law enforcement personnel is necessary in efficiently fighting crimes.

He also acknowledged that prioritizing the salaries of policemen

and soldiers would distort the pay scale of government, but “we realized that solving the problem will not be problem-less also, will not be seamless.”

“Hindi mo maitataas ang pulis, then the police will be the syndicates of crime itself... So we’re going to take the leap of faith na magbubusina muna sa ibang government offices na ‘pasensya kayo ‘di muna natin masasabay-sabay,’” Cayetano told reporters. “[Duterte] has a framework already in his mind – how many generals [ang involved sa corruption], See CAYETANO, page 7

Lt. Col. Randolph G. Cabangbang, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 80th Infantry (STEADFAST) Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, briefs media members on the parts of some of the newly-acquired weapons of the military under the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the “Media Funshoot 2016” at the 80th Infantry (STEADFAST) Battalion Headquarters on Saturday (May 28, 2016) in Barangay Pinugay, Baras, Rizal. (PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan)

Return of ROTC urged Bill author says Reserved Officers Training Corps needed amid West PHL sea row

By Sammy F. Martin

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Senator-elect Win Gatchalian sought on Tuesday for incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement of his House bill that would bring back the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in tertiary-level schools amid the continuing territorial conflict with China.

CONGRESS PROCLAIMS NEW VICE PRESIDENT: Senate President Franklin M. Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. raise the hands of Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Leni Robredo, proclaiming her as the country’s duly elected Vice President, Monday, May 30, 2016. Robredo is joined by her children, Jessica Marie, Janine Patricia, and Jillian Therese. (MNS photo)

Robredo to Marcos: Stop the lies, time to move on MANILA, May 30 (Mabuhay) – Set to be proclaimed vice president, Liberal Party’s Leni Robredo has urged her closest rival, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “move on” and stop the lies on supposed poll cheating.

“Sa akin, pakiusap ko lang, tama na iyung pagsisinungaling, tama na iyung mind-conditioning kasi naapektuhan lahat,” Robredo said, hours ahead of her proclamation at the House of Represen-

Ex-seminarian, retired cops, ex-Army man, farmers from Region 12 in Duterte’s Cabinet

Senators seek review of automated election law

presidential elections.

Robredo, incumbent congresswoman of Camarines Sur, was officially proclaimed as the winning vice-presidential candidate by the National Board of Canvassers Monday afternoon. She is to formally assume her post on June 30.

Robredo earlier shunned the idea of holding office at the Coconut Palace, which she said costs the government almost half a million a month for rent.

Hernandez said spending P500,000 for rent is “not practical.”

See TRANSITION, page 7

See CABINET, page 7

See ROBREDO, page 7

Leni Robredo eyes transition meeting with VP Binay MANILA, May 31 (Mabuhay) – Vice President-elect Leni Robredo is eyeing a transition meeting with outgoing Vice President Jejomar Binay a month before she formally assumes office, her spokesperson said Tuesday.

“There has been no plans, but I know she would like to have transition meeting with the VP. I believe there will be no problem to have that meeting but it is not yet discussed,” Robredo’s spokesperson, Georgina Hernandez, said in a television interview.

Binay ran and lost in the May

aware na puwedeng mangyaring lusubin tayo o ano pa man,” the newly elected senator said in an interview.

President Duterte himself said in a previous statement that the ROTC can instill “discipline, nationalism, and the patriotic duty,” which will prepare the youth in case China becomes more aggres-

KORONADAL CITY, June 1 (PNA) – Four leaders from the provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and South Cotabato were among the alter-egos of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Foremost among the four was incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol who, after his appointment was made public, immediately embarked on “Biyaheng Bukid” across the archipelago.

The “Biyaheng Bukid” aims to solicit insights from farmers on how the government can best serve them, Piñol said.

Former South Cotabato Gov. Esmael “Mike” Sueno will head the Department of Interior and Local Government, one of the most important Cabinet posts because it has direct supervision over local government units and the Philippine National Police and its attached agencies.

Named Defense Secretary is retired Army Scout Ranger Gen. Miguel Delfin Lorenzana, and Ricardo Jalad who was named chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), are both from Parang, Maguindanao.

tative.

“Hindi lang naman ako iyung biktima ng ginagawa nila, hindi lang iyung 14 million na bumoto sa amin, kundi buong sambayanan.

Sana mag-move on na tayo,” said Robredo.

Robredo said that instead of making “unfair” accusations through the media, the Marcos camp may take their complaint to the proper forum, where they will

sive in its activities related to the territorial conflict.

“While we expect the United States to come to our aid if we are attacked by a foreign force, the country must also be self-reliant. And to build up a credible self-defense force, the country must restore the ROTC that was

“With President Duterte’s endorsement of our proposed ROTC bill as a priority measure, the measure would immediately be taken up in the 17th Congress to ensure its swift passage given our ongoing territorial dispute with China,” Gatchalian said.

“It teaches discipline and nationalism... Dapat lahat tayo

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Several senators on Tuesday said the country’s Automated Election System Law should be reviewed in the light of the allegations of vote-shaving in the last May 9 elections. ”The Fair Elections Act, has to be reviewed, especially the Automation Law. We have to invite these people to shed light on what they know and we will be able to test the veracity of their allega-

See ROTC, page 7

tions,” Senate deputy minority leader Vicente Sotto III said in a media interview.

Sotto said the allegations of the three whistleblowers that they were ordered to manipulate the elections results in Quezon province in favor of the Liberal Party (LP) national candidates deserved investigation. ”It’s worth looking into because if that allegedly happened in 2013 and this time in 2016, so that’s See SENATORS, page 7

Aquino signs Customs modernization bill into law

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – President Benigno Aquino III has signed into law the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) which will also increase the tax-exempt value of items sent by overseas Filipino workers to their families back home.

Aquino signed last May 30 the CMTA or Republic Act No. 10863 which generally aims to simplify, modernize and align with global best practices the country’s customs procedures including import clearances and valuations, making the release of goods much faster, regardless of whether you are an individual entrepreneur or a large multinational.

The new law also mandates the use of information and communications technology and other appropriate applications that speed up not only the inner-workings of Customs, but also make it more transparent.

The CMTA reinforces Bureau of Customs’ functions as trade See CUSTOMS, page 7

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Megaworld to build more office towers in Davao to provide 100,000 jobs

By Leslie D. Venzon

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Megaworld, the country’s largest office developer, will build two more office towers in the 11-hectare Davao Park District in Lanang, Davao City.

To be named ‘One Republic Plaza’ and ‘Emperador House’, the office towers will provide an additional 30,000 square meters of office spaces, bringing the total office inventory in Davao Park District to around 50,000 square meters to date.

“This is just the start of our expansion of office offerings. Being one of the top BPO (business process outsourcing) destinations in the country, we see an upward tick in the demand for office spaces in Davao City in the next three years.

Megaworld is committed to respond to this demand so companies will not think twice of locating here,” said Megaworld senior vice president Jericho P. Go. Megaworld is the country’s biggest lessor of office spaces today, with an inventory of around 800,000 square meters all over the country.

The company also has the most number of companies in its roster of existing clients for office spaces at 130, most of which are information technology and business process outsourcing (ITBPO) companies.

By 2020, total direct and indirect jobs that will be generated in the township alone will reach 100,000.

Aside from the expansion of its office portfolio, Mega-

world is also building a retail row and shophouses around the township. A plan to put up a hospital and a school is also underway.

At present, three towers of the residential condominium cluster, One Lakeshore Drive, are almost sold out. Another two towers are scheduled for launch

by Megaworld’s subsidiary brand, Suntrust Properties, Inc., within the year.

“Megaworld’s commitment to nation building and spreading the economic prosperity to the provinces remains. In the next five years, we hope to see more and more people coming home to the provinces because they find more opportunities here. This way, we also help decongest Metro Manila,” said Go. (PNA)

Exclusive passport center for OFWs to be opened soon: DFA

By Michaela del Callar

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Department of Foreign Affairs will soon open an exclusive passport application establishment for overseas Filipino workers in Ortigas.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose on Tuesday said the new center will be situated in its existing consular office in Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas, which is just across the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, where Filipino workers process their application for work abroad.

“This shows that we are giving importance to our OFWs and the contribution that they give to the country’s economy,” Jose said in a news conference.

The center will be dedicated to only OFWs, who can

just walk in to apply.

“They don’t need to apply online to get an appointment,” Jose said.

While waiting for the center to become fully operational Jose said existing courtesy lanes for OFWs in DFA consular offices nationwide will remain open to process their applications.

The Philippines has more than 8 million Filipino workers employed in the skilled and unskilled sectors across the world.

Their remittance keep the Philippine economy afloat as they send home over billion annually.

In the same press briefing, Jose said that starting this June, all no-show passport applicants on the date of their appointment will be banned from securing a new slot for 30 days.

The practice of disregarding their scheduled appointments, Jose said, has caused a two-month waiting period for hundreds of applicants.

He said 47 percent of people who applied for appointment do not show up on the date of their appointment.

The DFA receives at least 15,000 passport applications daily.

“This policy will be enforced this month and we expect a smooth flow of application by September as soon as the backlogs have been addressed,” Jose said.

(PNA)

Workers of D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) install the steel components of the ultimate or end-post of the 3.9-kilometer elevated guideway or viaduct for the extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 System eastward from the existing Santolan Station along the Marcos Highway in Pasig City to Masinag, Antipolo City, Rizal on Friday (May 27, 2016). The current LRT Line 2 begins at Recto Ave. in Manila and ends at Santolan, Pasig City. (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

Leni Robredo finds Coconut Palace too expensive for OVP MANILA, May 30 (Mabuhay) – Incoming vice president Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo has no plans of holding office at the Coconut Palace because she found it too expensive.

Robredo said she had started scouting for cheaper office space.

The P500,000 rent for the Coconut Palace is apparently too steep for Robredo.

“Actively maghahanap [ako] ng ibang options dahil

nakita ko masyadong mataas ang arkila. Almost half a million ang arkila sa Coconut Palace,” Robredo said.

“Naisip ko, bakit gagastos ng ganoon? Kung ganoon kalaki ang gastos, igagastos ko nalang iyon sa satellite offices, sa mga probinsya,” she added.

Robredo said she had yet to enter into any negotiation for a venue for the Office of the Vice President under her term.

“Siguro mag-rerequest rin kami sa isang transition team ng office of the vice president para i-lead din kami kung ano ang dapat,” the lawmaker said.

Robredo said she wanted to save money whenever possible.

“Titingnan kung ano ang mga areas na puwedeng makatipid, para mailipat ang gastos sa mas makabuluhang bagay,” she said.

(MNS)

Palace welcomes PHL ranking in latest World Competitiveness Yearbook

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the latest World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY) rankings of the International Institute of Management Development, which showed the Philippines at 42nd place among 61 economies and 12th among 14 Asia-Pacific countries. The report was based on 342 criteria clustered under four broad categories — economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement.

“We note the WCY report stated the Philippines registered marked improvements in business efficiency and infrastructure and remained

stable in government efficiency, while the country’s workforce emerged as the economy’s most attractive feature. The country’s ranking remains stable and resilient in the face of a general decline among most Asian economies, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and mainland China,” Coloma said.

The Palace official added that during the past six years, the Philippines has made “significant gains in its WCY, surging by more than 43 places from 85th place in 2010, buoyed largely by the social and economic reforms anchored on good governance that President Aquino has instituted during his term”.

“And as the Aquino ad-

ministration prepares to step down from power, we prepare to step down, we shall pass on a stronger, more competitive and broadbased and inclusive economy to the next administration,” Coloma said.

Hong Kong topped the rankings (from second in 2015), followed by Switzerland (from fourth in 2015), and the United States, which dropped from first place.

The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook is the leading annual report on the competitiveness of nations and has been published by IMD since 1989. It benchmarks the performance of 61 countries based on more than 340 criteria measuring different facets of competitiveness. (PNA)

Cross-check luggage to avoid mix-up, airline passengers urged MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Airport authorities urged Tuesday passengers to crosscheck their luggage to avoid mix-ups.

This was after a passenger unintentionally claimed the wrong bag at the baggage carousel of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 last March 30.

Fortunately, the passenger who traveled via Cebu Pacific was eventually able to identify and claim the correct bag with the assistance

of ground agents.

“To avoid inconvenience, CEB reminds passengers to cross-check the tag number printed on their baggage claim stub upon getting their checked bags from the carousel,” Cebu Pacific said in a statement.

“They may also verify the name and tag number posted on each checked bag for easier identification,” it added.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) echoed the airline’s state-

ment, noting that passengers should cross-check tag numbers to avoid inconveniences.

MIAA also suggested passengers to use personal bag tags to make luggage easier to set apart.

The authority meanwhile advised passengers with concerns regarding their baggage to approach their airline right away.

It also noted that only airline personnel handle passenger baggage from departure to arrival. (PNA)

DepEd ready to implement K to 12 program on June 13, official says MANILA, May 28 (Mabuhay) – Amid criticisms and questions on the Department of Education’s preparedness, an official on Saturday insisted that the agency is ready to implement the K to 12 program.

DepEd Undersecretary Tonisito Umali said: “’Pag sinabi po nating handa ... sa isang malaking plano katulad po nitong (K-12) program, mayroon po tayong timeline or mga milestones bawat buwan, bawat linggo ng buwan ay dapat meron tayong nakikita na nangyayari.”

Particularly, he said DepEd is equipped for the opening on June 13 of Grade

11, the first of two additional levels of senior high school under the new education curriculum.

“We are on the right track ... with respect to hiring our teachers. As we speak, we are training them,” he added.

But Umali noted that as of the moment the teachers’ training is ongoing and it is expected to be completed exactly on June 13.

As for the backlog of classrooms for the additional levels in basic education, the DepEd official said, “We are trying to construct more or less 23,000 classrooms para po sa darating na pasukan, sa Grade 11 lamang yan.”

“Ang malaking bilang po niyan, halos lahat po ay tapos [na],” Umali said.

However, some classrooms that are under construction and are expected to be finished one, two, or three weeks after the opening of the school year 2016-2017.

But, DepEd has already designated temporary classrooms, he added. “...Natukoy namin po kung saan dadalhin ang mga bata pansamantala habang ginagawa pa itong mga silid aralan na ito at yan ay ‘exception rather than the rule’ like so in that context handa na po ang DepEd, he said.” (MNS)

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Leni Robredo on winning VP race: Jesse never left us MANILA, May 30 (Mabuhay) – Reflecting on her journey to the vice presidency, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo said hours before her proclamation on Monday that her life took on a different turn after her husband, the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, passed away in 2012.

“Ibang iba ang buhay ko noong buhay pa siya (Jesse) at tsaka noong nawala na siya. Pero alam niyo, mula noong nawala ang asawa ko, parang ang mga nangyayari, providential na.

Parati kong sinasabi na hindi ko ito (pagiging pangalawang pangulo) inambisyon, hindi ko ito binalak mula noong naging congresswoman ako,” she said after the thanksgiving Mass at the St. Peter Parish in

Quezon City.

A proof of divine providence, she said, is that the end of the canvassing of votes in Congress last Friday coincided with her husband’s birthday.

She said she was informed of her victory in the vice presidential race after Jesse’s tomb was blessed.

Recalling the experience, Robredo said: “Kung mayroong nagduda na hindi kami iniwan ng asawa ko, siguro napatunayan na ito nong Biyernes.”

The lawmaker waxed nostalgic about hearing Mass at the St. Peter Parish before her proclamation because it was also where she sought guidance last December, when she had already thrown her hat into the vice presidential race.

“Noong ako ay masasabak na sa ganitong laban, dito rin ako unang sumangguni at itong mga pari na kasama namin, sila rin ang sumalubong sa amin at nagsabing nandito kami para gumabay sa iyo at umalalay,” she said.

Robredo said the St. Peter Parish was also the where her late husband’s collaborative initiative for good governance, the Ugnayan ng Baranggay at Simbahan (UBAS), was signed in 2011.

She recalled that Fr. Tony Labiao, who gave the homily at the thanksgiving Mass, was among those who responded to Jesse’s call for a partnership between barangays and parishes.

In his homily, Labiao urged the public to support the newly-elected leaders of the country.

Church firms up disaster preparedness and response plans MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Catholic Church, through its social action arm, the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Philippines together with 30 dioceses previously hit by disasters, gathered in Legazpi City to discuss and firm up its disaster preparedness and response plans in preparation for the typhoon season.

NASSA/Caritas Philippines Executive Secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez said the first National Caritas Humanitarian Response Summit, which would run from May 30 to June 1, would present the roadmap on disaster preparedness and response of the Philippine Catholic Church to the participating dioceses.

“This activity is very timely as the typhoon season in just around the corner. It is very important that we at the Catholic Church should start unifying our efforts in responding to natural calamities,” Fr. Gariguez said.

The priest added that the three-day summit, which was organized in partnership with Caritas Manila, Radio Veritas and the Diocese of Legazpi, would also showcase and replicate the best practices of the dioceses and other organizations implementing emergency preparedness and response.

There will also be sharing of experiences by the diocese of Cagayan de Oro, which suffered heavy flash floods during Typhoon Sendong in 2011, the diocese of Pampanga on the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, and the Archdiocese of Palo on Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

There will also be representatives from in-country Caritas Internationalis Member Organizations, local church groups, and government agencies.

As the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), NASSA/Caritas Philippines currently leads

the church’s largest threeyear rehabilitation program called REACH Philippines for survivors of typhoon Yolanda in nine worst-hit provinces.

It also represents the country to Caritas Internationalis, a 165-member global Catholic charity worldwide based in Vatican, which is currently being headed by its first Asian President Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

Experiencing at least 20 typhoons a year, the Philippines ranked second with the greatest risk to disaster worldwide in terms of climate change vulnerability based on the 2014 World Risk Report.

Recently, the country also experienced one of its worst droughts in years, which caused NASSA/Caritas Philippines to call for the immediate release of disaster funds to farmers suffering from the El Niño phenomenon. (PNA)

CORON, Palawan (PNA) – Seventeen participants of the 4th batch of Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) Training warm up before the final water rescue tests during the fifth and final day of the training held at CYC Island in Coron, Palawan on May 27, 2016. The training program is a partnership of the Department of Health (DOH)-MIMAROPA, Palawan Local Government Unit (LGU) and Provincial Department of Tourism as part of ensuring the safety of travellers in the tourist-frequented municipalities of Palawan. MIMAROPA Region is composed of the island provinces of Mindoro Occidental/Oriental, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. (PNA photo by Leilani S. Junio)

GSIS launches members’ online records facility MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – On its 79th anniversary, state pension fund Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has launched the Electronic GSIS Member Online (eGSISMO), a web-based facility that now allows GSIS members to view their membership profile, service records, premium payments, status of loan application and loan repayments and balances.

Without going to GSIS offices anymore, members

may access eGSISMO any time via their personal computer or tablet equipped with Internet connectivity.

Members may go to http:// egsismo.gsis.gov.ph/ and register prior to accessing the facility. When registering, members’ business partner number and date of birth are required.

As of this date, members born 1982 and later may initially register and access eGSISMO until the system becomes fully operational to

include all members belonging to earlier birth years.

“This facility will empower our members by giving them direct access to their records. eGSISMO will also minimize their inquiries and concerns on the state of their records,” President and General Manager Robert Vergara said. For inquiries, members may visit any GSIS office nationwide, call the GSIS Contact Center at 847-4747, or email gsiscares@gsis.gov.ph. (PNA)

PN to formally commission BRP Tarlac Wednesday MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Philippine Navy (PN)’s largest and first ever strategic sealift vessel (SSV), the 7,300-gross ton BRP Tarlac (LD-601), will be formally commissioned at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor on Wednesday morning.

Incidentally, the PN is also celebrating its 118th founding anniversary on that day with the theme of “Protecting the Seas, Securing Our Future”.

President Benigno S.

Aquino III will be the occasion’s guest-of-honor and speaker, PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said.

BRP Tarlac arrived in the Philippines last May 14 after a five-day journey from PT PAL (Persero)’s shipyard in Surabaya which started on May 9. The Philippines has a two SSV order with the Indonesian shipbuilder worth PHP3.8 billion.

She was formally presented to the public at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor

last May 16.

BRP Tarlac will be assigned to the Philippine Fleet’s Sealift Amphibious Force.

BRP Tarlac has an overall length of 120 meters,breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and carry a payload of 2,800 tons.

She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots.

The ship has minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles.

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Vice president-elect Leni Robredo leads a Holy Mass in commemoration of her late husband Sec. Jesse Robredo’s 58th birthday Friday at Eternal Gardens in Naga City, hours before Congress finished canvassing of votes for president and vice president. Robredo’s victory was affirmed when she garnered 14,418,817 votes, 263,473 votes ahead of closest rival Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who got 14,155,344.(MNS photo)

Pacquiao eyed Filipina marathoner qualifies as international in 2016 Rio Olympics ambassador MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – A Filipina MILO marathon of goodwill champion has earned ticket to the prestigious Olympic

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, May 31 (Mabuhay) – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said there is a possibility for Senator-Elect Manny Pacquiao to be an international ambassador of goodwill.

In an interview, Cayetano said Pacquiao’s international acclaim as a boxer could be very well of use when it comes to foreign affairs.

“To be fair kay Manny, napakaraming pinag-usapan and one of the things we are proud of is that he can really be the international ambassador of goodwill,” Cayetano said.

Regarding Pacquiao’s interest in heading the Senate Public Works Committee, Cayetano said they have yet to finalize the lineup.

“There are discussions pero we will come up with the complete lineup para makita lahat,” he said.

Earlier, Pacquiao was reportedly seen signing a document pledging his support for Cayetano’s bid for the Senate presidency.

Before winning during this year’s Senate race, Pacquiao served two terms in Congress as Representative of Saranggani. (MNS)

Games in Rio de Jainero in August this year after beating the Olympic qualifying time in the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon in Canada last Sunday.

According to the press statement of MILO Philippines, Mary Joy Tabal clocked in with the time of 2 hours, 43 minutes and 29 seconds to surpass the 2:45:00 Olympic qualifying time for the women’s marathon. ”We’d like to share the good news with you that reigning MILO Marathon Queen Mary Joy Tabal just secured a slot to play in the Rio Olympics when she finished the race in the recently concluded Ottawa Marathon in Canada,” said Andrea Alido, account executive of Strategic Edge, Inc., MILO Philippines’ PR partner.

After falling short in her stint at the Boston Marathon last April, Tabal unleashed an impressive comeback in Ottawa’s prestigious footrace.

Known as the Great White North’s largest and fastest marathon, the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon is one of two International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Gold Label races in Canada, attracting a world contingent of about 7,000 runners every year because of its flat and fast race course.

The 26-year-old Cebuana gained a substantial lead against other competitors, and was able to rank 5th in the female age group, 8th in the overall elite female category and 38th in the overall elite male and female category, out of a total of 4,416 elite participants.

The unusually hot and humid weather prompted the organizers to implement route and time changes before the event but Tabal was able to deliver a strong performance at the start of the race.

As she neared the finish line, she was troubled by intense leg pains which caused her to slow down. Despite this, the Filipina frontrunner still willed herself to overcome the challenge.

“My body felt heavier when I reached the 35km mark and my pacing got slower and slower as I went farther,” Tabal shared.

“When I checked, I was only 7 km shy to the end of the race. I decided to carry on forcefully and ignore the pain. It was very difficult to preserve my stride especially in the last 200 meters. I kept on telling myself that if I stop now, I won’t be able to make it here again so I ran like it was the last my race of my life. I was so happy to be able to hit my goal I broke down in tears as I ran past the finish line,” she added.

Now with another feather on her cap, Tabal, with the help of her coach Philip Duenas, will be embarking on a new journey to prepare for the Rio Olympics.

“I couldn’t believe this is happening! I often ask myself if this is real or not. To play in the Olympics was once a dream but now it’s finally in my hands,” she said. “I hope this will inspire more Filipino athletes who dreamt like I did. It may seem impossible at first, but all it really takes is a lot of effort and willpower in overcoming trials to be able to achieve your goals.”

Tabal added that the support of MILO and the Filipinos helped her to keep going.

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Duterte: Dead or alive, PHP3M bounty for drug lords

By Lilian C. Mellejor DAVAO CITY, June 1 (PNA) – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has announced he would reward PHP3 million to police and military officials who can get big-time illegal drug pushers, dead or alive.

“I am not saying you kill them but the order is dead or alive,” Duterte told reporters in a press conference at the Presidential Guest House, also called the Malacañang of the South at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) depot in Panacan here.

He said he has the money for the reward that came from people who donated funds for his campaign. He said he has the unspent money ready for the drug pushers. “I don’t want to get (of the money) for too long. Hindi ‘yan kasali sa sinabi ni Trillanes (That is not included in what (Sen. Antonio) Trillanes has said).”

Duterte said the amount of reward money would depend on how influential the drug trafficker is—PHP1 million for supervisor and PHP50,000 for small-time drug peddlers.

This developed as Duterte vowed to cleanse the country of illegal drugs in three months as promised during the election campaign.

Getting the country of illegal drugs is one of his campaign agenda – the other two are solving criminality and stopping corruption.

Duterte even plans to use the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the fight against illegal drugs.

Duterte however said the operation versus illegal drugs must be done within the bounds of the law, emphasizing that law enforcers know when an operation becomes unlawful. According to him, a police officer does not kill a man who surrenders, but shoots those who fight back.

“I don’t want to see a police dead,” he added.

Duterte also wants his incoming National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran to kill any of his agents involved in illegal drugs.

He will also ask Congress to amend the probation law to exempt drug cases. He said many drug pushers who were able to avail of the probation law have jumped bail and continued with their illegal activities.

“Ganun lang ang paraan para mahinto ang droga (That’s the only way to stop drugs). Do not destroy our country, do not destroy our children because I will kill you,” Duterte said. (PNA)

Malacañang defends implementation of Executive Order 203 MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Palace has defended the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 203, saying it is a product of an extensive study by the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) in the past few years.

“The government remains steadfast in its commitment to improve the salaries and benefits of all government workers, including those in the Government-Owned or –Controlled Corporation (GOCC) Sector, pursuant to the objective of formulating a ‘competitive compensation and remuneration system which shall attract and retain talent’, while ensuring the financial soundness and sustainability of the GOCCs,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Contrary to the allegation of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, the implementation of Executive Order No. 203 (s. 2016) [Adopting a Compensation and Position Classification System and A General Index of Occupational Services (IOS)] is a product of an extensive and rigorous study by the Governance Commission for GOCCs since 2012.”

He noted that the development of the CPCS and IOS is part of the GCG’s primary responsibilities, as mandated by Republic Act No. 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011.

Executive Order 203 acts as the counterpart measure of EO 201, which implemented a modified salary schedule for civilian government personnel and authorized the grant of additional benefits for both civilian and military uniformed personnel, he said.

The TUCP has questioned the implementation of the President’s order, arguing that it favors only top executives of GOCCs and neglects ordinary workers.

The labor group is urging President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to stop the implementation of the CPCS, and instead order a review and amendment of the provision on the compensation system. (PNA)

THE US ASIAN POST

OPINION

Fulfillment of duties not aimed at ‘impressing’ Duterte: PNP

By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Philippine National Police (PNP) defended its personnel on Tuesday against allegations saying it aims to impress President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“Let us always give chance to people who perform and let us not judge our organization,” PNP Spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

Mayor explained that there is nothing wrong in enforcing the law.

“When we invigorate our operation, there is nothing wrong with it,” he noted.

According to Mayor, they sometimes get questioned whenever they pursue important operations.

The PNP continuously conducting operations against drugs since the May 9 elections, he noted. ”Because of the intensive intelligence operations ng ating mga kasama is nagkakaroon ng mga gani-

tong resulta but its just part and parcel of the PNP. However, because of that particular pronouncement naeeganyo at boost ang morale ng ating mga kasamahan para mag operate pa ng tuloy tuloy pa lalo na sa droga,” Mayor explained.

He said that what they are doing are just pronouncements but assured that it will be a policy when President-elect Rodrigo Duterte assumes the presidency.

“Why will you wait for that particular period if you can do it as early as possible?” he told reporters.

Because of that particular pronouncement, the police force are encouraged to work harder in their drug operations he said.

Mayor clarified that all the works of they have accomplished does not seek to impress the incoming president. (PNA)

Palace respects Duterte’s decision not to give Robredo cabinet post

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Malacañang on Tuesday said the decision of newly-proclaimed President Rodrigo Duterte not to give Vice President-elect Leni Robredo a Cabinet position should be respected. ”We should respect his decision, even that pertaining to VP-elect Robredo,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to the Malacanang Press Corps.

Duterte reportedly said his priority is to give the Cabinet posts to the people whom he can trust and can help his administration.

The incumbent Davao City mayor said it never crossed to his mind that he will give Robredo “any position in the Cabinet.” ”It is President-elect Duterte’s right to choose who will compose his Cabinet,” Coloma said.

Last Monday, the Congress, sitting as the national

board of canvassers, proclaimed Duterte and Robredo as winners of the presidential and vice presidential elections last May 9.

After her proclamation, Robredo promised to work harder even without a Cabinet post. ”I understand him because a Cabinet secretary is the President’s alter ego. He has no obligation to appoint me to any Cabinet position. Although that is always an option,” the Camarines Sur congresswoman told the media.

Robredo, a widow of former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash in August 2012, was the candidate of the ruling Liberal Party but her running mate president Mar Roxas lost in the presidential race.

Duterte and Robredo who edged Senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos by only more than 200,000 votes, will assume their six-year term starting July 1. (PNA)

GPH, MILF peace panels affirm partnership for continuity of Bangsamoro peace process KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Mabuhay) -- The Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels concluded their May 29-30 special meeting in the Malaysian capital with the signing of the Declaration of Continuity of the Partnership of the GPH and MILF in the Bangsamoro Peace Process.

In a joint statement, the peace panels asserted that the signing of the declaration “seeks to ensure the full implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in the next administration.”

The Parties likewise signed two documents, the “Terms of Reference for the Establishment of the Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF), a multi-donor trust fund envisioned in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Annex on Normalization” as well as the Terms of Reference for the Project Board of the Mindanao Trust Fund for the Six Previously Acknowledged MILF Camps (MTF-RDP Camps Project). The peace panels also congratulated President-elect Rodrigo Roa Duterte, expressing their “optimism that the roadmap provided for in the CAB will be fully accomplished” within the term of the new President.

Continuity assured The incoming Peace Adviser of the President-elect lauded the affirmation of the GPH and MILF partnership while vowing to continue the momentum of the Bangsamoro peace process once the new administration takes over on June 30.

“In my capacity as Presidential Peace Adviser-Nominee to President-Elect Rodrigo R. Duterte, allow me to welcome with positive note the forging in Malaysia of the declaration of continuity in the search for sustainable peace between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,” Jesus G. Dureza said in a statement which was read

during the special meeting of the GPH and MILF negotiating panels.

“We intend to continue with the gains and build on those already done and achieved. The roadmap that we will traverse hereon will take policy guidance and direction from the new President when he assumes office on June 30, 2016,” the statement continued.

Current GPH chief negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer and MILF peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal welcomed Dureza’s statement. “We are very optimistic of the peace process going on a smooth transition to the next administration… It’s very clear that the Bangsamoro peace process and the overall agenda to resolve all armed conflicts that have divided the country would remain a very important national agenda,” said Ferrer.

Outgoing Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, also welcomed the statement of her successor who, like herself, will be holding the position of peace adviser twice. “The gesture is much appreciated, and in keeping with what incoming Secretary Dureza has said during our meeting last week,” said Deles, clarifying that she and Dureza have already met to discuss turnover and transition matters, which included the Bangsamoro peace process, among others.

Major successes in Bangsamoro peace process under Aquino admin The Bangsamoro peace process under the Aquino administration was jump-started by the meeting of President Aquino and MILF Chairman Al-Haj Murad Ebrahim in Tokyo, Japan in August 2011.

The first major document signed under the current administration was the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) in 2012. This was followed by a series of signing of annexes, which culminated with the forging of the CAB.

Electoral fraud woes ‘came in too late,’ says Bautista

By Ferdinand G. Patinio

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opined that the accusations of whistleblowers on the alleged irregularities in the May 9 polls came in too late as they only went out the day the winning president and vice president were about to be proclaimed by Congress.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista also questioned the timing of the three individuals, which were brought by Pastor Boy Saycon of the Council of Philippine Affairs (COPA) on Monday at the Senate, hours before the scheduled proclamation of the newly elected top officials of the country.

“What immediately entered my mind is that they are like too late the hero. Why only now? If they really have evidence of fraud, why did they come out only now? It has been three weeks since the elections.

They should have come out immediately,” he said in a radio interview.

On the other hand, Bautista downplayed the claims of electoral fraud by the whistleblowers noting the safeguards they have placed in the automated election system (AES).

“There are many checks and balances, several safeguards. That’s why I cannot believe these kinds of accusations and claims,” he noted.

The poll body chief particularly cited the presence of the public website showing all the Election Returns (ERs) from the 92,509 clustered precincts as being a counter-checking measure available to everybody as well as the issuance of voting receipts on Election Day and the ongoing random manual audit (RMA).

Bautista said that several individuals have also claimed electoral fraud in previous elections, but there has yet to be any solid evidence presented.

“Since 2010, there has been no case that has progressed in any court that would concretize such claims of poll frauds,” he added.

But, he assured that they will accept any election fraud cases that may be filed before them.

“We are open to them if they have evidence and proof. It is easy to make accusations. It is easy to throw mud. It happens all the time. The problem is in the evidence. We should be responsible. If we have accusations, we should be able to support it with enough evidence,” Bautista said.

On Monday, the whistleblowers claimed to have participation in the supposed rigging of election results in Quezon, benefiting candidates of the Liberal Party, particularly standard bearers Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo, who has been declared as the country’s Vice President-elect. (PNA)

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Meet the fan who captured Jovit Baldivino’s heart A fan whose only wish was to score a selfie with her idol is now dating the man of her dreams.

On Facebook, superfan Shara Chavez shared her and singer Jovit Baldivino’s love story. She said it all began when she first heard him sing on the first season of “Pilipinas Got Talent.”

“Way back when I’m just an avid fan of yours – actually 2010 pa talaga nagsimula, dugyot days pa nga natin parehas – ay crush na kita.

Nagtataka sila pero dedma.

Basta ikaw ang gusto ko,” Chavez admitted.

The smitten teen then enrolled in the same college as Baldivino just for a chance to meet the singer. To her dismay, however, Baldivino did not continue his studies.

“Umasa lang ako,” she said.

Chavez did not give up, though. And around three years later, she finally got her photo taken with

Baldivino. She said that they were both in a relationship at the time, but it didn’t matter. “Sobrang saya ko noong time na iyon,” she gushed.

In 2015, their paths would meet once more. She was one of the judges for a local singing competition and Baldivino was the guest performer. They sang Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” during the intermission.

“Nag-selfie pa tayong dalawa right after. Sorry, sobrang saya ko nanaman.

After noong show, nakita ko iyong secretary mo. Tinatawag niya ako at sabi niya ay hinahanap mo daw ako at hintayin daw kita,” Chavez recalled.

She didn’t believe Baldivino’s secretary and left—a decision she deeply regrets.

But as fate would have it, she would meet Baldivino again less than a month

after their duet. At her boss’ birthday party, she finally gathered all her courage to ask if she and Baldivino could add each other on Facebook and Instagram.

Baldivino did.

The two then exchanged contact details and began having long conversations over the phone. “Kinakantahan mo pa ako. Ang tagal tagal din natin noon magkausap. Init na init iyong tenga ko at [low battery] na iyong cellphone ko pero ewan, nakikinig lang ako sa iyo,” she said.

A few months later and they soon became lovers.

Now, they are nearing their ninth month as a couple.

“Sobrang dami na natin napagdaanan. Away bati man, tipong maghihiwalay na lagi pero hindi lumalagpas sa dalawang araw, okay na ulit.”

“Kahit ako iyong may kasalanan, ikaw iyong

Annabelle believes Duterte can slash crime in 6 months “Para sa akin, kaya niya,” feisty talent manager Annabelle Rama said when asked about whether she believes presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte can suppress criminality in the country in just six months.

“Kaya niya ‘yung sinasabi niya na three to six months na wala nang krimen, kayang-kaya niya iyan,” insisted the 63-yearold Rama, a supporter of the tough-talking Davao City mayor who has been vocal about his promise during the campaign period.

Rama also voiced out her support for Duterte’s plan to impose a curfew on minors as well as a nationwide liquor ban as part of efforts to curb crime.

“Okay rin sa akin para maiba naman, pagbabago. Kailangan natin iyon eh,” Rama reasoned. “Kasi marami diyan ‘yung mga corrupt. ‘Yung mga drug pusher, dealer dapat diyan, mga killer, mga kidnapper, dapat matapos na talaga ‘yan. Kailangan natin ng matapang na presidente.”

The liquor ban was imposed in Davao after the

Jessy shuts down body shaming haters mayor saw a correlation between drunkenness and crime as well as road accidents. The ordinance prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m. The curfew, on the other hand, will start at 10 p.m. but it will only affect unaccompanied minors.

Asked about whether she met Duterte for a government position, she replied: “Ayaw ko naman na basta ka na lang magkaroon ka ng position na wala ka namang ginagawa. Eh ‘di titirahin ka pa diyan, hindi ba? Wala akong hiningi.”(MNS)

Kris Aquino congratulates Leni, calls VP fight ‘personal’ Television host and actress Kris Aquino on Friday congratulated Liberal Party bet Leni Robredo for winning the tight vice presidential race, finishing ahead of closest rival Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., according to official tallies.

In the vice presidential count, Robredo got 14,418,817 votes against Marcos’s 14,155,344 votes.

She was declared the winner coincidentally on the birthday of her late husband, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“A friend told me, ‘Kris, wag mo naman itaya ang lahat.

Paano kung matalo si Leni?’ I smiled in reply and said marami kaming kakampi sa langit. Happy Birthday Sec. Jesse!” wrote Aquino as the caption to a short clip that featured photos of her with Robredo.

Aquino is the youngest daughter of the late Corazon Aquino, who became president after the 1986 People Power Revolution toppled the authoritarian rule of Marcos Jr.’s father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and restored democracy to the Philippines.

To continue, Aquino narrated

the first time she met Robredo. “[Leni] said in her speeches that Sec. Jesse was my friend. We [I and Leni] only met later. I asked her for a pic for Instagram during PNoy’s birthday. I called my cousin [Bam Aquino] and volunteered to shoot an endorsement for Leni. We shot March 15 at their home.”

“How heartwarming to have gotten to know Aika, Tricia and Jillian. Apart from my mom, [Leni] is my IDOL when it comes to being the BEST MOM. In her I saw calm intelligence with sincere humility, a sense of humor, and a life’s purpose of true public service.

“May 3 was my last sortie with her in Quezon City. She was [number one] that day in surveys and I asked, ‘Did she feel like a winner?’ She said the surveys were the sign she prayed for. Thank you to 14,418,817 Filipinos who voted LENI! “Yes, for me this fight was personal. IT WAS FOR MY MOM’s MEMORY. Kaya binigay ko ang lahat for VP Leni. Ganoon ako pinalaki, nakikipaglaban ng buo ang puso! Thank you God for answered prayers! CONGRATULATIONS to my VP, my inspiration!” she concluded. (MNS)

Jovit Baldivino and superfan GF Shara Chavez

Coleen: Billy is ‘worth fighting for’

Jessy Mendiola

Annabelle Rama

magpapakumbaba, at pag ikaw ang may kasalanan ay walang sawa kang manunuyo sa akin. Kumbaga may fear pero mas nangibabaw pa din iyong love,” she said.

“Sobrang kontento na ako sa iyo. Hindi ko na kailangan maghanap pa ng iba kasi ibinigay mo na ang lahat ng oras, pag-unawa at pagmamahal sa akin despite being a celebrity.

Hindi ka na nga nag-Manila simula nang naging tayo kahit may show ka kinabukasan, nagagawa mong mag-uwian. Hanga ako sa iyo. Ang tatag mo!”

“Lagi mong tatandaan na mahal na mahal kita simula noon pa. Ooops sa post kong ito wag lalaki ang ulo ha.

Tangos na tangos kananaman sa ilong mo niyan! Joke lang. I love you, Babbah.

My forever idol, my forever love,” Chavez concluded.

(MNS)

“My body may not be perfect but that will not stop me from being confident with myself,” wrote actress Jessy Mendiola as she posted a photo of her in a bikini to make a point against body shaming in her Instagram account.

“I’ve had my fair share of body shaming comments,” the 23-year-old Mendiola admitted. “So I know how it feels like to be called ‘FAT’ or ‘TUMABA.’ Well, just to inform some of you ‘PERFECT’ people. We all come in different sizes and shapes but that shouldn’t stop us from being happy with our own bodies.”

She continued: “There are times that you will gain weight and there are times that you will lose it. It’s normal. It just shows that you are a human being.”

“So whether you are curvy, malaman, skinny, too skinny, on the plus size or even on the plus plus size, you have ALL the right to be confident with yourself because that is who and what YOU are.

“If you don’t love yourself enough, who else will?

Think about it. So go ahead girl, wear that bikini and FLAUNT it. After all, it’s YOUR body. Not theirs.

Sabi nga ni Demi Lovato, What’s wrong with being confident?”

Mendiola caught the attention of fans after she posted a photo of her in a red bikini as she prepares to bid farewell to the summer season.

It prompted “You’re My Home” co-star JC de Vera to urge his followers to vote for the actress as the sexiest woman in the country in the ongoing FHM Philippines poll.(MNS)

“I can’t even imagine what it would’ve been like.

I don’t know where I would be right now,” said actress Coleen Garcia when asked about her relationship with television host and singer Billy Crawford.

Garcia, whose relationship with Crawford faced early criticisms partly because of their age gap, said her boyfriend is “worth the fight.”

“I don’t know what life

would be like cause I’m so inspired,” she added.

“I guess it translates also in everything I do. I don’t think I’ll be doing as well as I am right now if I weren’t with him.”

Garcia, who is 10 years younger than Crawford, first admitted their relationship back in July 2014.

The two have been together since, with Crawford openly saying that he is willing to marry his girlfriend.

Prior to Garcia, Crawford dated host-singer Nikki Gil for four and a half years.

He denied rumors claiming that there was a “third party” involved in the split, saying “it all boils down” to him.

Garcia was one of the mainstays of “It’s Showtime” with Crawford up until January. She decided to exit the noontime show to focus on her career as an actress. (MNS)

6

Friday - Thursday, June 3 - 9, 2016

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UTREACH

PHL humanitarian coalition vows to continue Bayanihan at Pakikipagkapwa-Tao WASHINGTON, D.C. – Member organizations of the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition (PHC) gathered at the Manor Country Club in Rockville, Maryland on the evening of Friday, 20 May 2016, for a special appreciation dinner.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and his wife, Madame Maria Victoria, graced the event as special guests of honor.

Since its inception in February 2014, PHC as a volunteer organization

has been committed to its mission of assisting in the rebuilding and recovery of communities affected by natural disasters.

Several months after super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda struck the Philippines, PHC devoted time and resources to the disaster relief and rehabilitation efforts directed to Philippine communities devastated by the calamity.

Together with its member organizations, all of which are Filipino-American community groups, PHC has

been a strong partner of the Philippine Embassy in projects for the Yolanda cause such as the After the Storm benefit concert in 2014 and Reflection Forums held in 2014 and 2015.

In his remarks, Ambassador Cuisia expressed his appreciation for, and at the same time, commended the individual member organizations of PHC for their hard work and dedication to help disaster-stricken communities not only in the Philippines but also in Nepal following the earth-

quake in April 2015. He likewise recognized the PHC for accomplishing the feat of uniting diverse groups into one effective coalition.

“With Dr. Jun Rasul and Vicky Navarro, representing the innovative and noble medical and nursing professions, at the helm, the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition succeeded in bringing individual organizations together to work not only on providing immediate relief but also on the longterm rehabilitation of Haiyan-affected communities,”

Ambassador Cuisia said.

In view of the emerging concerns posed by climate change not only in the United States but all over the world, Ambassador Cuisia encouraged PHC to take on the new challenge of climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“Instead of intervening after a calamity, the PHC can initiate projects in the pre-calamity phase. Establishing a proactive posture requires cooperation with Philippine and US agencies.

I therefore urge the PHC to

broaden its network to include governmental institutions,” Ambassador Cuisia exhorted the Coalition.

PHC’s member organizations have implemented numerous projects on Yolanda rebuilding efforts in the past two years, including building repairs, evacuation center construction, maternal and child health promotion and protection, human trafficking prevention, capacity building activities, scholarship fund drives, medical missions, and educational seminars.

Bigger, better now tour 2016 announces new dates, fun-filled program for next-gen Fil-Ams

Felipe V. Manalo shows off birthday greetings from L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti. Other photo shows the Centennial man with his sister and members of their family.

Centennial man continues to touch lives LOS ANGELES – On May 1, 2016, Felipe V. Manalo, former Mayor of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, celebrated his 100th

birthday with family and friends at the Secret Garden Restaurant on West Olympic. He was born in 1916, a very significant year in the

Philippines: the U.S. government promised to give the country greater autonomy, leading to our independence in 1946. The centen-

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nial man has five children, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. In his centennial birthday greetings, Mayor Garcetti wrote: “As Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, and on behalf of its residents, I am honored to join with family and friends as you celebrate your centennial birthday. You continue to touch the lives of others in countless ways. May your special day be surrounded by happiness, filled with laughter and remembered with joy.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Next generation Filipino-Americans aged 18 to 44 looking for excitement and adventure in the Philippines may now sign up for the “Now Philippines Tour” or simply, NOW Tour 2016, to be held on new dates 26 August – 3 September 2016 in Manila, Cebu, and Dumaguete.

The NOW Tour 2016 is organized by The Travel Outlet, with the support and cooperation of the Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States, the Department of Tourism, US-Philippines Society, and Philippines-based Resort 4 U. The organizers are also pleased to announce that the Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the official airline of choice for the NOW Tour 2016. PAL arranged a special package for interested participants of the tour, as indicated below: If you pay in full by June 10: From Los Angeles (LAX) - $2,545 From New York (JFK) $2,845 If you don’t pay in full until July 1: From Los Angeles Full package Air/Land - $2,695/ per person From New York Full Package Air/Land - US $2,995/per person The special package above is subject to inventory

availability and has limited number of seats. Prices are good until 01 July 2016 andincludes international and Philippine domestic air and land package.

For international and domestic air packages only, PAL has the following rates which includes 2 pieces of baggage free on ALL legs: West Coast Price of $900: LAX - Manila plus bonus Domestic Air Manila - Dumaguete and Cebu – Manila East Coast Price of $1,200: JFK - Manila plus bonus Domestic Air Manila - Dumaguete and Cebu – Manila “NOW Tour 2016 offers a unique experience to the young Filipino-Americans who are eager to learn more about their country of heritage and reconnect with their Filipino roots. It is a great opportunity for self discovery and self awareness. It is my hope that this inaugural tour will serve as an avenue for young Filipino-Americans to remain connected with their Filipino roots and rekindle in them a desire to give back to their country of heritage”, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia said.

The nine-day tour program includes church and historical site visits, island hopping, coral reef planting, interaction with local communities and experiencing local Filipino practices among others.

Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders urged to vote in California’s June 7 Primary Asian Americans Advancing Justice releases “Get-Out-TheVote” video with APIAVote LOS ANGELES - As Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) drew to a close last Tuesday, a new video was released by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and APIAVote urges Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) to go vote in this important election year. The video features George Takei, John Cho, Constance Wu, Vincent Rodriguez III, Sonal Shah, and Joey “Q” Quenga.

This video ties together both the importance of Asian Pacific American History Month, where we as a community reflect on our history in this country, and the upcoming elections, where we can envision the future and our role in shaping it,” said Karin Wang, Vice-President of Programs and Communications at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles. “We are grateful for the Asian American and Pacific Islander actors and

activists who contributed their time to send this critical message about the power of the vote in this particularly important election year.”

Advancing Justice also extends special thank yous to APIAVote, Imprenta Communications Group, The Great Company, and Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation for making the video possible.

In California in particular, AANHPIs have an opportunity to make a difference in many races, given the community’s rapidly growing numbers. In 2012, Asian American voters exceeded the margin of victory in 38 legislative districts across California. In 2016, AANHPI voters will comprise 11 percent of the state’s voters (1.7 million voters) and are poised to make a significant impact.

With only one week left, California voters must already be registered to vote to participate on June 7.

Voter registration status can be checked online at the Secretary of State’s website.

Registered voters should remember that political parties do not allow everyone to

vote for their presidential candidates and all California voters should be familiar with the rules of the party they intend to vote for before casting a ballot.

Although most attention has focused on the Presidential primaries, the June 7 election will also help choose finalists for key races like California’s first open U.S. Senate seat in 24 years and decide local races and ballot measures. For voters wanting to understand what is on their ballot, an online tool that shows local ballots based on address is available at votersedge.org/ca.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The affiliation’s members are: Advancing Justice-AAJC (Washington, D.C.), Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Advancing Justice-Chicago, and Advancing Justice-Los Angeles.

THE US ASIAN POST Friday - Thursday, June 3 - 9, 2016

SENATORS From page 1

too dangerous in 2019. We need not to hold surveys or elections. We just have to ask Smartmatic if who they want to win,” Sotto said.

Senator Cynthia Villar agreed with Sotto that the allegations should be looked into, saying the present automation law is not transparent. ”I think it would be important for us to be guided

in the future. We should correct if there are things that are wrong in this election for the next elections,” Villar said. Villar said she was in favor of hybrid election where manual counting of votes should be done at the precinct level and then it will be transmitted electronically to the municipal level. ”If it is full automation,

we have no basis if you want to make a complaint. So I’m in favor of hybrid. It is very important that people are convinced that our system of election is reliable,” Villar said.

Senator Serge Osmena III, who failed in his re-election bid, said the vote-rigging allegations are part of the bigger effort to ma-

CABINET From page 1

Ex-seminarians from the Cotabato Archdiocesan Seminary and priests of the Archdiocese of Cotabato should be proud because one of them is among Duterte’s Cabinet members. Jalad is an ex-seminarian of the Archdiocese of Cotabato seminary.

The people of Midsayap in North Cotabato should also be proud because one of their own was named Bureau of Immigration chief, retired Police Chief Supt.

Jaime Morente. Morente was acting PNP Director for Personnel and Records Management before he retired.

Retired police Director Isidro Lapeña, who served as Cotabato City police director in early 1990s, was named Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director.

However, no Muslim or member of Indigenous Peoples has been named in Duterte’s Cabinet as of yet.

Sueno, PDP-Laban national chairperson, said he did not expect the incoming President would name him

to lead DILG. “I was on vacation with my family in Talikud islands when I received a call from Duterte’s staff telling me to be present in a meeting in Panacan, Davao City,” Sueno said Wednesday.

“I obliged and went there Monday,” the former South Cotabato governor who campaigned hard for Duterte prior to May 9 polls.

“Then, as I entered the so-called Malacanang of the South, I was asked to sign in an attendance sheet, then I saw my name beside the word DILG,” Sueno told DXOM-AM Radyo Bida.

“At first I was reluctant but Duterte told me ‘Mike, I will help you,’” Sueno added.

After Duterte emerged as the winner in last month’s polls, Sueno thought he will be given a Cabinet portfolio.

“If I had my way, I wanted to be named agriculture secretary but Duterte appointed Manny Piñol,” he said, adding that since DA has been filled, he aspired to be appointed as National Irrigation Administrator chief.

“Big challenge for me, his marching orders for me to cleanse the police ranks, change is indeed coming,” Sueno said. He added Duterte also named an undersecretary who will focus on the PNP. Duterte designated retired Special Action Force Chief Catalino Cuy who will supervise the national police.

As DILG secretary, Sueno said Duterte has “three specific marching orders for me.”

He said the President wanted to put a stop to local government officials’ practice of holding seminars, conferences and the like outside the province they belonged.

“Duterte also wanted a total stop to ‘Lakbay-Aral’ and study how to solve the problem of misuse of intelligence funds of LGUs. (PNA)

improve. The top diplomat also said China is “glad” that the incoming President welcomes “direct bilateral negotiation.”

Gatchalian, who himself signed up for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force last year, pointed out that making ROTC mandatory would help build a stronger reservist force, which he deems “is important in strengthening our national defense and in countering China’s aggressive actions” in the West Philippine Sea. “The revival of the ROTC would help drive the point that although we are a small nation in economic and military terms, we will never back down from our fight for sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea,” he pointed out.

“It is worthy of note that prior to its being an optional requirement of the National Service Training Program (NSTP), the ROTC constituted roughly about 75 percent of the AFP officer corps, and has been the breeding ground for prominent graduates who became the coun-

try’s AFP chiefs-of-staff,” he added. Under House Bill No. 2338, ROTC shall form part of the curriculum of all college degree courses as well as technical or vocational courses. It shall be a prerequisite for graduation.

Students shall be required to complete the ROTC for an academic period for two years.

Male students will be required to undergo military training while female students will have to take civic training on basic rescue operations and health services.

The veteran lawmaker noted that his proposed law is in line with the constitutional provision that allows the government to call upon the people to defend the state and require citizens to render personal, military or civil service.

“Laws are replete with policies on service to countrymen, and these callings must now be instilled in our consciousness to be active in our civic duty, to prepare ourselves in case of a projected or actual need,” he stressed. (PNA)

nipulate the results of the elections. ”What they said, I think, have credibility and it will deserve a deeper investigation,” Osmena said.

Osmena, however, clarified that he has no plan to file electoral protest, saying “I just wanted to amend the law because the process is

7

not transparent.” ”You have to trust the voting machine that your vote will be counted. Ngayon, hindi mo nakita, di ba? At kung na-intercept iyan or sila ba ay may control ng SD card, ng flash card, wala na, tapos ka na,” Osmena said. ”Never mind me. What I want is future elections will

be credible,” he added.

The senators said any review or investigation of the election fraud allegations should be done in the next 17th Congress which will open in the last Monday of July.

The present 16th Congress is set to adjourn sine die next week. (PNA)

duty-free balikbayan boxes, Filipinos, who have stayed in a foreign country for at least 10 years and are returning to the Philippines, will also be granted tax exemption for the personal and household effects, not exceeding PHP350,000, they will be bringing with them when they return to the country. As for Filipinos who have lived overseas for at least five years, they will be entitled to tax and duty

free personal and household effects amounting to PHP250,000, while those who have stayed abroad for less than five years can enjoy PHP150,000 tax-free ceiling. The CMTA also raises the de minimis value, which refers to the value of tax and duty free goods and the minimum cost of goods required to undergo formal Customs entry, from the present PHP10 to PHP10,000. (PNA)

ing different options, we are looking for the past offices of vice presidents as options,” she added.

Meanwhile, Robredo is also preparing to pay a courtesy call to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“We had to wait so right now we would like to explore possibilities to meet

with Duterte, to pay a courtesy call and VP Leni want to inform Duterte that he has her support,” Hernandez said.

Duterte, who skipped his proclamation, has been meeting personalities in Davao City since he was presumed winner of the presidential election.(MNS)

canvassing of the undervotes in the vice-presidential race, which he said was about 3.2 million undervotes, could be part of their protest.

Aside from the undervotes, Garcia said they will also raise the issues of Marcos’ receipt of zero votes in certain areas, and the malfunction of some vote-counting machines. The Marcos camp has assured that they will respect the proclamation of Robredo as vice-president-elect.

Earlier on Monday, Robredo attended a thanksgiving mass with her family and supporters before heading to House of Representatives for the proclamation.

Robredo will be also busy after the proclamation with

preparations for assuming office on June 30.

“Siguro after ngayong araw, iyung halos isang buwan na natitira, gugulin na sa paghahanda, siguro pag-aaralan kung ano iyung status ng opisinang papasukin, kung mayroong mga pagbabagong gagawin,” she said Monday in a chance interview.

The incoming vice president also called on her critics to give her a chance to prove herself.

“Iyung mga nagba-bash sa social media, naiintindihan ko iyun. It will take time bago nila matanggap na ako ang nanalo noong eleksyon.

Pero sana, bigyan tayo ng pagkakataon na i-prove ang ating sarili,” she said. (MNS)

we are looking at now, kung ‘di mo mataas ang sweldo paano mo itataas ang benefits,” he said. One such benefit is improving the healthcare coverage of government workers through Philhealth and giving full tertiary education scholarships to their children. “It’s not easy to do but it’s doable. Kasi kung sasabihin mo, plus P10,000 ka a month, tatlo naman ang nasa college mo, pero yung tatlong nasa college mo scholar ng gobyerno,” he said.

Duterte, who won on a platform of crushing criminality in the Philippines, has repeatedly stressed that having well-payed police and military force is vital to maintaining peace order.

“These are the guys we send to the mouths of hell.

If there’s a breakout of hostilities, are they prepared to be commissioned there and fight until they die?” Duterte said of other government workers who will be sidelined by the salary increase.

(MNS)

CUSTOMS From page 1

facilitator rather than just being a revenue-generating agency, and imposes higher penalties against smuggling.

Under CMTA which as Senate Bill No. 2968 was sponsored by Senator Sonny Angara, the tax exemption ceiling that the OFWs will be enjoy on their balikbayan boxes will be increased from the present PHP10,000 to PHP150,000 in a year.

On top of the tax and

TRANSITION From page 1

“She saw the cost of having to rent the Coconut Palace and it is about half a million, she says it is too much, she prefers to have satellite offices in provinces.

She is pushing for rural development so she said renting that place is not practical,” Hernandez said.

“Currently she is study-

ROBREDO From page 1

ROTC From page 1

once part of the college curriculum,” Duterte said. “Our young men are presently too preoccupied with texting, Facebook, and other social media diversions that they don’t even know how to handle a rifle like we used to during our time.”

He emphasized that the ROTC would strengthen the military by supplementing the ranks of reserved officers, which has dwindled to around 150,000 in 2011 from as many as 800,000 before 2001. The Congress abolished the mandatory basic ROTC in 2002.

“The ROTC program will bolster confidence in our military preparedness and capability while at the same time provide our country with the support of our student-cadet reservists and potential commissioned officers.”

The rookie senator made the appeal to President Duterte as China’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua, reportedly expressed confidence that relations between the Philippines and his country will

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be forced to provide evidence of alleged irregularities in the elections. “Mas mabuti ngang ihain niya nang pormal iyung reklamo kaysa idinadaan sa media. Kasi tingin ko unfair, hindi lang sa akin, pero pati sa taumbayan na binibilog iyung paniniwala, binibilog iyung kaisipan sa mga bagay na wala namang pruweba,” she said. Final vote tally on Friday showed that Marcos lost the vice presidential contest to neophyte rival Robredo by just over 263,000 votes.

Marcos insisted Saturday he was was gathering evidence for a potential “election protest.”

Marcos’ lawyer, George Garcia, said their repeated manifestation during the

CAYETANO From page 1

bakit corrupt ang generals.

Part of that framework are the two kinds of corruption — corruption by greed and corruption by need. Iyung ‘need’ ang gusto niyang tanggalin.” Cayetano, who was tasked by Duterte to craft a legislative plan for the salary increase, said that in the meantime, the Duterte administration will work on improving the benefits of other government workers so they would not feel left behind.

“That’s why one of things

8

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UN chief urges plain packaging of tobacco products UNITED NATIONS, June 1 (PNA/ Xinhua) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged the plain packaging of tobacco products, saying it is a “simple measure with proven effectiveness in reducing demand.”

In his message to World No Tobacco Day, the secretary-general said, “Cigarettes and other tobacco products kill almost 6 million people every year.”

“On World No Tobacco Day 2016, the United Nations is lending its support to one simple measure with proven effectiveness in reducing demand: the plain packaging of tobacco products,” Ban said.

“As laid out in the UN tobacco control treaty, this entails restricting or prohibiting the use of logos, colors, brand images or any promotional information other than brand and product names displayed in a standard color and font.”

“Tobacco use is one of the largest causes of preventable noncommunicable diseases, including cancers, heart and lung disease,” he said. “It also diverts valuable household income.”

“Plain packaging reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading labeling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings,” he said.

“On this World No Tobacco Day, I call on governments around the world to get ready for plain packaging,” said the secretary-general.

Sustainable Development Goal 3 aims to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” he said.

“As part of that approach, governments have committed to strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries to reduce the proportion of people who use tobacco.”

Tobacco-related illness is one of the

In celebration of the “World No Tobacco Day” on Tuesday (May 31, 2016), members of civil society organizations dressed as zombies (in right photo) hand out flyers and posters to Metro Rail Transit (MRT) commuters at the Quezon Avenue Station in Quezon City to inform the public of the deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use. The event, called “The Smoking Dead,” also reminded the people on the need for the full implementation of the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) Law in all cigarette packs. (PNA photos by Johnny D. Guevarra)

biggest public health threats the world has ever faced. Approximately one person dies from a tobacco-caused disease every six seconds, equivalent to almost 6 million people a year.

This is forecast to rise to more than 8 million people a year by 2030, with more than 80 percent of these preventable deaths occurring among people living in low- and middle-income countries.

On May 15, 1987, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed a resolution, calling for April 7, 1988, to be the first World No Smoking Day. This date was chosen because it was the 40th anniversary of the World Health Organization.

On May 17, 1989, the WHO passed a resolution calling for May 31 to be annually known as World No Tobacco Day. This event has been observed each year since 1989. (PNA/Xinhua)

Health care spending could consume half of provincial budgets in Canada by 2030: study VANCOUVER, June 1 (PNA/Xinhua) – Canada’s provincial governments have to spend much more on health care over the next 20 years, triggering higher taxes, larger deficits, and reduced spending on other services, said a new study released on Tuesday.

In every province, health care spending is expected to consume an increasing portion of total provincial government program spending – growing to an average of 47.6 percent in 2030 from 40.6 percent in 2015 and 34.4 percent in 1998, said the study, released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. “Given historical trends, expectations regarding inflation in the future, and an aging population, the status quo on health care spending is not sustainable,” said Bacchus Barua, study co-author and senior economist at the Fraser Institute’s Center for Health Policy Studies.

In Canada, provincial governments shoulder significant financial responsibility for funding health care services along with

other public programs such as education and social services.

Of these, health care is, by far, the single largest budget item for every province in Canada, ranging from 34.5 percent of total program spending in Quebec to 44.6 percent in Nova Scotia in 2015, the report showed.

The study estimates that by 2030, five provinces will see health spending grow close to or exceed 50 percent of total program spending.

“The rate of increase expected in health care spending is clearly unsustainable. If governments continue down this path, it will necessitate changes in other policies - either reductions in other spending to accommodate the increases in health care spending, or higher taxation, higher deficits and debt, or some combination of these three,” Barua said.

“Changes are clearly needed in Canada’s health care system in order to ensure the sustainability of not only health care, but also other priority areas of spending,” Barua said. (PNA/Xinhua)

FDA warns against fake Hepatitis C medicines MANILA, May 31 (Mabuhay) – The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against a fake Hepatitis C medicines circulating in Southeast Asia.

The FDA said the fake medicine brands include: Sofosbuvir + Ledipasvir (Ledso) 400 mg/ 90 mg capsule Daclatasvir (Dakavir) 60 mg capsule It said that based on an advisory from the World Health Organization (WHO) the fake medicines have been circulating around South East Asia and “may reach the Philippine market.”

The FDA also warned those who will be caught selling the falsified medicine.

“The presence of these identified products pose potential danger or injury to the consuming public and the importation, selling or offering for sale of such is in direct violation of Republic Act No. 9711 or the Food

and Drug Administration Act of 2009,” the agency added.

Pursuant to the warning first issued by WHO, the FDA said that the fake medicines were labeled as manufactured by Pharco Corporation based in Alexandria, Egypt.

Pharco released a statement denying the company produces such products.

The FDA said it has deployed its Officers of the Field Regulatory Operations Office to inspect drug stores and similar establishments.

“All establishments and outlets are hereby warned against selling and/or dispensing the identified products. Anyone found selling the said products will be penalized...

Likewise, all local government units and law enforcement agencies are requested to ensure that these products are not sold or offered for sale in their localities or area of jurisdiction,” FDA said.(MNS)

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PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short GLDORJXH ZDQW WR WKDQN <RX IRU HYHU\WKLQJ DQG FRQÂżUP RQFH PRUH WKDW , QHYHU want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After WKH UG GD\ WKH ZLVK ZLOO EH JUDQWHG QR PDWWHU KRZ GLá&#x201A;&#x2C6;FXOW LW PD\ EH 3URPLVH to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Sixto

PRAYERS PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Spirit Thou who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal, You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short GLDORJXH ZDQW WR WKDQN <RX IRU HYHU\WKLQJ DQG FRQÂżUP RQFH PRUH WKDW , QHYHU want to be separated from You no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with You and my loved ones in Your perpetual glory. Amen. A person must pray this for three consecutive days without stating his wish. After WKH UG GD\ WKH ZLVK ZLOO EH JUDQWHG QR PDWWHU KRZ GLá&#x201A;&#x2C6;FXOW LW PD\ EH 3URPLVH to publish this as soon as your favor has been granted. Grace

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MOTORING New study confirms link between air pollution and increased cancer risk According to a study by the University of Birmingham and the University of Hong Kong, long-term exposure to environmental pollutants, and more specifically, to ambient fine particulate matter, is associated with an increased risk of mortality for many types of cancer. The study followed 65,000 people in Hong Kong over 13 years.

For women, there was an 80% increased risk of mortality from breast cancer, and for men the risk of dying from lung cancer increased by 36%.

The air that we breathe exposes us to an increased risk of cancer, particularly cancers of the lungs and digestive organs. A new UK study supports the 2013 decision by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer to classify outdoor air pollution as a whole, as well as the particulate matter contained in outdoor air pollution, as carcinogenic to humans.

The cancer risk is caused by the hydrocarbons and heavy metals produced by transportation and power generation which are diffused in the atmo-

sphere. This fine particulate matter, which has a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), finds its way into the body via the respiratory tract.

The study recruited 66,280 people aged 65 or over between 1998 and 2011. Smoker status was adjusted for, and deaths that were possibly due to competing diseases were excluded. In terms of the environment, annual concentrations of PM2.5 were estimated at the subjects’ homes using satellite data and fixedsite monitors.

The findings were published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

They indicated that the risk of dying from any cancer rose by 22% for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in exposure to PM2.5.

This 10 microgram per cubic meter increase was associated with a 42% increased risk of dying of cancer in the upper digestive tract. And the risk of mortality from cancer in the accessory digestive organs—the liver, bile ducts, gall bladder and pancreas—increased by 35%.

Women were the most affected The most alarming result was for women.

Every 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an 80% rise in the risk of dying from breast cancer. And for men, the figure was 36% for lung cancer.

The researchers put forward a number of explanations for this phenomenon: defects in DNA repair, an impaired immune response and inflammation that triggers angiogenesis which enables tumors to spread. In the case of the digestive organs, pollution could affect gut microbiota and therefore facilitate the development of cancer.

This work will lead to further research in other countries to establish whether there is a similar association between particulate air pollutants and cancer deaths.

The scientists concluded that while pollution is a risk factor for cancer, it is just one among numerous such factors. They added that diet and exercise could be more significant risk factors and are more easily modifiable.

The study’s findings indicate that the risk of dying from any cancer rises by 22% for every 10 microgram per cubic meter increase in exposure to fine particles found in the air.© omepl1/Istock.com

Jaguar Land Rover production passes half million mark LONDON, May 31 (PNA/Xinhua) – Coventry-based Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) consolidated its position as Britain’s largest car builder Tuesday by announcing it produced more than half a million vehicles for the first time in the past year.

In its annual report, JLR said in the full year to March 31, 2016, it built a record 521,571 vehicles, a 13 percent rise over the previous year.

JLR’s CEO Dr Ralf Speth said: “Jaguar Land Rover has produced and sold more cars than at any time in our history.

We are now the largest automotive manufactur-

er in the United Kingdom and our vehicles have received more than 140 awards across the range for design, technology, safety and environmental sustainability.”

“During this fiscal year, we have delivered sustainable, profitable growth and introduced new models—such as the Discovery Sport, Jaguar XE and XF – that have redefined their market segments,” he added.

JLR says it plans to invest 3.75 billion pounds (USD 5.49 billion) during 2016-17.

The company said solid growth in markets including Europe, North

America and Britain helped support full-year financial revenues of 22.2 billion pounds, up 342 million pounds on the previous 12-month period.

Profit before tax was 1.56 billion pounds after an exceptional charge for the Tianjin Port explosion of 157 million pounds.

The report says the generally positive outlook for the global premium automotive market and the forthcoming launches of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are expected to support the growth of the company in the future.

(PNA/Xinhua)

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11

KITCHENOMICS

FAMILY FEATURES

At

your next gathering, indulge in Mexican-inspired dishes, dips and drinks. It’s simple to put a tangy twist on your festive favorites with a refreshing new flavor.

Watermelon is a versatile fruit with a flavor profile that pairs perfectly with many of the ingredients in traditional Mexican dishes. Sweet and juicy watermelon is a great way to cut the heat of spicier foods, and its texture lends an unexpected, satisfying crunch in dips such as chunky salsas.

Whether you’re hosting a Mexican themed party or simply looking forward to an inspired meal at home, get an early jump on summer and let watermelon be your star ingredient.

For more recipes featuring low-calorie, no-fat watermelon, visit www.watermelon.org.

Baja Fish Tacos with Watermelon Guacamole Servings: 12–16 tacos 2 medium avocados, peeled and chopped 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 teaspoons diced jalapeno pepper (or to taste) 1/3 cup chopped cilantro 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 can (4 ounces) diced green chilies, drained 2 1/2 cups diced watermelon, divided Salt, to taste Cooking spray 1 1/2 pounds cod Chili powder 12–16 corn tortillas 3–4 cups commercial coleslaw mix (shredded cabbage and carrots) 1/2–1 cup commercial salsa For guacamole, mash avocados to mix of smooth and chunky in medium bowl. Add lime, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic and chilies and mix thoroughly. Add 1 1/2 cups diced watermelon and salt (if desired) and toss. Cover and refrigerate to let flavors blend.

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.

Place cod on sheet and sprinkle with chili powder and salt.

Bake for 12–20 minutes (depending on thickness of fish) or until cooked through. Remove from oven and cut into pieces.

Heat tortillas on grill or griddle. Top each with few pieces of fish, 1/4 cup coleslaw mix, heaping spoonful of guacamole, tablespoon of salsa and few pieces of remaining diced watermelon.

Watermelon Margarita

Southwest Salsa Bowl

Servings: 1 1 1/2 ounces tequila 3/4 ounce Triple Sec 3/4 ounce Midori 2 ounces sour mix 6 ounces cubed, seeded watermelon 8 ounces ice Blend all ingredients. Serve in 14-ounce glass. Garnish with lime and watermelon wedge.

Materials: 1 round, seedless watermelon Dry erase marker Utility knife or carving knife Ice cream scoop or other large spoon Fire and Ice Salsa Chips, jalapenos, cilantro and lime, for garnish 1. Choose round seedless watermelon.

2. Wash watermelon and pat dry.

3. Use dry erase marker to trace design around middle of watermelon.

4. Use utility knife to carve design (copy design in photo).

5. Split watermelon in half, and use scoop to carve out flesh.

6. Choose flat area of rind on other watermelon half to trace and carve out lizard design (copy from image in photo).

7. Fill bowl with salsa.

8. Garnish with lizard, chips, jalapenos, cilantro and lime.

Watermelon Cilantro Salsa Tropical Servings: 8–12 2 cups chopped seedless watermelon 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple 1 cup chopped fresh mango 4 limes (juice only) 1 cup trimmed and chopped scallions 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro Salt and pepper, to taste Toss all ingredients in mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper just before serving.

Fiesta-Worthy Facts

Fire and Ice Salsa

Impress guests at your next celebration with these mouthwatering morsels: Although about 200–300 varieties of watermelon are grown in the United States and Mexico, there are about 50 varieties that are most popular.

The five best-known types of watermelon include: seeded, seedless, mini, yellow and orange.

Watermelon is the most-consumed melon in the United States, followed by cantaloupe and honeydew.

Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.

Watermelon is 92 percent water, which makes it a good option for hydrating your body.

Servings: 3 cups 3 cups seeded and chopped watermelon 1/2 cup green peppers 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon green onion 1–2 tablespoons jalapeno peppers Combine ingredients; mix well and cover. Refrigerate 1 hour or more.

12

Friday - Thursday, June 3 - 9, 2016

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Sotto finds muscle pain killer spray as ‘unusual suspect’ in deaths in Pasay concert

By Jelly F. Musico

MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – Senator Vicente Sotto III said on Tuesday a muscle pain killer spray could be the “unusual suspect” in the death of some of the five persons who collapsed and died of heart attack during the CloseUp Forever Summer concert in Pasay City last May 21. ”Teenagers and young adults are not usually victims of sudden heart attacks. Who or what is the villain in this tragedy? The usual suspects are drug pushers; and ingestion of illegal drugs and substances as causes of their deaths,” Sotto said in a privilege speech.

Sotto said topping the list of abused substances is methylennedioxymethamphetamine, otherwise known as “ecstasy” but “there is a newcomer in the list of suspected killer substances.”

The former chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DBB) is referring to “WariActiv,” a wellknown muscle pain killer that is

being sold even via the internet for Php750 up to Php1,500. ”It is promoted at the internet for people who go to rave parties and just want to be happy. I therefore endorse for scrutiny and test, to the DBB, PDEA, the Food and Drug Administration this item to determine the need for some protocol for its purchase,” Sotto said.

Sotto said the “WariActiv” is billed as laughing gas and “internet news reveal deaths in its misuse in other parts of the world.” ”This could well be one of the drugs or substances used by some of the victims in the concert,” the reelected senator in the last May 9 elections said.

Sotto called on his colleagues to act immediately on the abused substances, proposing investigations in the next 17th Congress. ”If we do not act immediately, we might be facing the drug problem with catastrophic proportions.

Even if we remove all the pushers, we will be defeated if we do not em-

NBI probes into 2 synthetic drugs sold in Pasay concert MANILA, May 31 (PNA) – The National Bureau of Investigation-Anti Illegal Drugs Division (NBI-AIDD) is now investigating whether the two new synthethic drugs were sold to the party-goers in a concert in Pasay City last May 21.

The two synthethic drugs are MDMA methylene homolog or ecstacy which were mixed with laboratory chemical and synthetic cathinones with a street name of bath salts which were seized by the NBI from Joshua Habalo during their buy-bust operation.

Habalo was one of the suspects who sold the illegal drugs in the concert in Pasay City.

NBI-Anti Drugs Division Chief Joel Tuvera on Tuesday said that they are now investigating whether the two deadly synthetc drugs were among those sold in the concert-goers.

Tuvera said they were now also locating the whereabouts of the four persons whom Habalo claimed were the suppliers also of the drugs in the Pasay concert.

Tuvera noted that Habalo was already charged with a complaint before the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office after he turned positive of cocaine, the white powder seized from him in the buy-bust operation.

However, Tuvera clarified that because the two synthetic drugs were still not included in the list of prohibited drugs by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), the same were not among the basis of the complaint against Habalo.

Senator Vicente Sotto III delivers his privilege speech on the recent Pasay City concert tragedy at the Plenary Hall of the Senate Building in Pasay City on Tuesday (May 31, 2016). Looking on are Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

bark on a serious nationwide rehabilitation program and a massive prevention program nationwide,” he said.

The five party goers who died

in the Pasay concert were identified as Bianca Fontejon, 18; Ken Migawa, 18; Ariel Leal, 22; Eric Anthony Miller, 33; and Lance Garcia, 36.

Since the 16th Congress is set to adjourn sine die next week, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano referred the privilege speech of Sotto to the DDB.

PHP1.1-B liquid shabu seized at Pampanga lab ANGELES CITY, May 31 (PNA) – Police operatives on Tuesday seized at least PHP1.1 billion worth of liquid shabu at Don Vicente Street, Villa Dolores Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Domingo here.

According to newly-installed Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, the liquid shabu, stored inside 47 plastic gallons, when processed could

generate at least PHP1.1 billion of the finished product.

Aside from the liquid shabu, police also recovered precursors and ephedrine in powder form.

Aquino said the house is owned

by Lawyer Orlando Pangilinan and rented by a certain Gin Shigi, a student from Shandong, China as stated in a recovered photocopied passport. Found at the house of the

Chinese nationals was the contract for the house rental between Pangilinan and Shigi from June 10, 2015 to July 9, 2016.

Aquino also said that the raid is considered as a major haul in Central Luzon as the shabu laboratory is regarded as a mega laboratory, not just a kitchen lab, which could produce 50 kilos shabu per cycle (3-4 days).

Women’s group asks gov’t to save stranded workers in Malaysia

By Jigger J. Jerusalem

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, May 31 (PNA) – A women’s group here on Tuesday asked the government to rescue 13 stranded Filipino workers in Malaysia whose lives were in danger of being caught and arrested.

Rhodora Bulosan, the spokesperson of Gabriela, a militant women’s group in Northern Mindanao, said that the workers have contacted relatives here about their precarious situation.

She said that the workers were in hiding and moving from place to place to avoid detection for fear of being arrested by Malaysian police.

Bulosan said that the Overseas Foreign Workers (OFW) have reported that the Malaysian authorities were cracking down on foreign workers in their country.

Bulosan said that the victims were fresh graduates from the Philippine School of Science and Technology (PSST), a local tech-

nical school whose management promised them works in foreign countries with competitive salaries after graduation. The graduates were promised that they would be sent to Japan, Korea, Australia and Malaysia, she said. Bulosan said that some fresh graduates actually arrived in Malaysia, some months back, but they were made to work in deplorable conditions and receiving measly wages not even enough for their needs.