Maniolas

On the eve of the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday renewed its call for the group and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, to end armed struggle, saying they have been harmful to the very communities they purportedly wish to help. “The senseless attacks perpetrated by the NPA against peaceful communities and infrastructure projects have caused more suffering and denied the people of development in the countryside. We must reflect why we have allowed ourselves and our communities to endure forty six years of bloody violence and senseless deaths among fellow Filipinos,” military information chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said in a press release. The CPP-NPA is still waging a protracted war in the Philippines, which is considered as the longest running insurgency in Asia. The military estimates the CPP-NPA membership at about 4,000. But Cabunoc enjoined the CPP to lay down their arms to foster peace in the country. “We can have the choice between a better life for ourselves and our children by embracing peace or continued violence and poverty through bloody armed conflict. The door for reconciliation and healing remains open to all our misguided brothers who want to embrace peace,” he said. “It has been proven that nobody is a real winner in bloody armed conflicts. We are witness to the endless misery experienced by our own people who are caught in the crossfire,” Cabunoc added. The AFP, as well as the Read More …

Some inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) are puzzled because the holding area or kubol of convicted kidnapper Jaybee Sebastian was not raided by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). NBP chaplain Msgr. Roberto Olaguer said some inmates have raised questions on why Sebastian’s kubol was not included during last week’s raid, according to GMA News “24 Oras” report on Wednesday. Sebastian was convicted of kidnap for ransom and hijacking and is the leader of the Sigue Sigue Commando. He was jailed at Manila City Jail and Bicutan before being transferred to the NBP maximum security compound. Olaguer said the maximum security compound is divided into two sides and the portion where Sebastian stays has yet to be inspected. “Yung carcel side, ito laging napupuntirya, ito ‘yung lugar nila (Herbert) Colangco.. ito ‘yung ni-raid; yung side ng presidio na nandun si JB (Sebastian), ang tanong ng mga tao bakit hindi pinuntahan ‘yan?” Olaguer said. Luxury items were found in Colangco’s kubol during the raid, including music equipment in a recording studio. According to the lawyer of the inmates who were transferred to NBI, Sebastian’s kubol should be inspected because there are also luxury items inside his holding area.   Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered the transfer of 20 high-profile inmates to NBI after their luxurious lifestyle was revealed during the surprise inspection. Sebastian is reputedly one of the influential inmates at the NBP. He was among those who faced the media when former Batangas Gov. Tony Leviste’s Read More …

As it feted them for overcoming threats this year, the Department of Education at Christmas urged teachers and students to “rekindle” the goodness amid the darkness of uncertainty. DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro said many in the academic community had given much of themselves, even going beyond the call of duty. “This Christmas, I wish for all of you to rekindle that goodness inside and magnify it. Remind others, by way of gratefulness, that they too have been beacons of good in your lives.  Find peace knowing that in your own little way, you have contributed a great deal of good in a world bereft of it,” he said. Luistro said Christmas should remind people of the “goodness that comes into the world even as it is challenged by the darkness of uncertainty.” This year, he said people have seen examples of this throughout the year in the persons of those within the Department “who have given much of themselves so that our work may continue.” “Our teachers have gone beyond their call to do remarkable things like deflect gunmen and protect their students. Administrators and officials from local offices have been outstanding in shepherding their people, in always being quick to offer a word of care and thanks,” he said. “Our donors too have been on call, ready to engage us, for what little or big needs we might have. Even our students have been good citizens,” he added. “It is very difficult to lose hope in the company of Read More …

popular Pangasinan execs axed over black sand Viber goes public North Korean websites back online after shutdown Liberal Party eyes Roxas-Poe tandem Slain Lucena cop hailed as hero 2 kidnap-slay suspects found guilty Gay cure scam: Beijing court orders apology Azkals to get $300,000 Fifa aid next year videos Simbang Gabi at the Gesu ( Day 9 – Dec. 23, 2014 ) Baldwin wants Olympics stint, Fiba Asia gold for Gilas ‘Parade of Stars’ opens 40th Metro Manila Film Festival Homebody: Boots Anson-Roa New coach says Gilas program in ‘good shape’ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine National Police will be deploying 25,000 policemen for the much-awaited visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines in January next year. The policemen will be securing the immediate vicinity of the venues Pope Francis will be visiting during his stay in the country. Others will be deployed for perimeter and route security detail, according to PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor. “The PNP is preparing for elaborate security measures for the papal visit as we will provide operational support to the Presidential Security Group and close-in security services to Pope Francis’ entourage,” the police official said. The papal visit will be from Jan. 15 to 19, 2015, with Pope Francis visiting Tacloban City, the area hardest hit during Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in 2013. The PNP is part of the committee on security, peace and order, which is made up of 18 government agencies involved in security preparations for the papal visit. Mayor said the Read More …

By Tim Dahlberg — LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. built a career – and made a fortune – by using deception to confuse and outwit his opponents. Playing the same game outside the ring has also paid off for Money May. Mayweather has, for the most part, been able to fight who he wants, where he wants and when he wants. He sells enough pay-per-views that he has been able to avoid a fight with Manny Pacquiao that should have taken place five years ago. But the game has gotten old, even if Mayweather’s many yes men haven’t had the courage to let him know. His latest attempt to twist the story line about a possible fight next year with Pacquiao was so dated and absurd that even the sycophants in his sizeable entourage had to be rolling their eyes. The wizard of defense has finally been boxed into a corner. The charade is over, whether Mayweather realizes it or not. He must fight Pacquiao next, if his career is to have any legitimacy. And he must to do it on terms that reflect he won’t be the only superstar in the ring. Mayweather didn’t seem to grasp that last Dec. 13 when he broke his silence and tried to make it seem as if he were challenging Pacquiao to a fight, not the other way around. In an “’interview”’ with the Showtime network that employs him, Mayweather not only declared he wanted Pacquiao, but set a May Read More …