Rovilson Fernandez reveals identity of latest “girlfriend.”
Feb 142015
Feb 142015
Malacañang on Saturday asked the Moro Islamic Liberation Front to help the government track down wanted bomber Basit Usman, who is reportedly wounded and is believed to be hiding in Maguindanao. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said doing so could be considered a demonstration of the MILF’s sincerity towards the peace process. “(N)i-request po natin sa kanila na help us find si Usman and yun po ang isang ni-request natin sa kanila,” he said on government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. On Friday, Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu told dzBB radio that Usman is wounded and is likely hiding in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao. Usman, with a $1-million bounty on his head, was one of the targets of a Jan. 25 operation in Barangay Tukanalipao in Mamasapano town. The other target, Malaysian bomb maker Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan, has been declared dead by the government and the MILF. The operation and the firefight that followed are now the subject of parallel investigations by government agencies and by an MILF panel. The clash left 44 PNP Special Action Force troopers, 18 MILF members, and seven civilians dead. Lacierda said the MILF already showed signs of sincerity when it committed to return the firearms and personal effects of the fallen SAF commandos and when MILF peace panel chairman Mohagher Iqbal appeared before a Senate investigation on the Jan. 25 incident. When asked if the MILF could be a big help in capturing Usman, Lacierda said he would defer to the PNP but Read More …
Feb 132015
Malacañang on Saturday downplayed anew calls by some groups for President Benigno Aquino III to resign from office following the Jan. 25 Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 Special Action Force troopers. Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said that while the Palace will respect the sentiments of groups critical of Aquino, it will still wait for the Board of Inquiry findings on the Jan. 25 incident. “I suppose all these are demonstrations of free expression, and it’s something that is respect(ed). Again, we are in the midst of several inquiries. While we respect their choice to express themselves in those manners, we will wait for the results of the Board of Inquiry kasi dapat malaman ang katotohanan,” Lacierda said on government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan. Lacierda’s statement was in response to a question regarding a group’s plan to hold protests on Feb 22. to call for Aquino’s resignation. At least one group – EDSA dos bente dos Coalition – has threatened to stage protests starting Feb. 22. It hinted at a “nationwide simultaneous event” involving motorcades and an “ecumenical Mass” in Metro Manila on that date. The Jan. 25 incident had triggered an outpouring of sympathy from Filipinos for the slain 44 and their families. It also triggered outrage and calls for accountability. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
Feb 132015
Despite the bloody clash between government troops with Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters and other armed groups in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao last January 25, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende assured Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario that Norway remains fully committed to the peace process in Mindanao. In a press statement on Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Brende expressed his condolences to the families of the victims in the Mamasapano clash, which left 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force troopers and 18 MILF fighters dead. The DFA said Brende expressed hopes that the pursuit of peace in Mindanao would continue despite the recent tragedy. For his part, Del Rosario thanked Brende for expressing sympathy to the victims of the Mamasapano bloodbath. The DFA chief also expressed appreciation for Norway’s role in the International Monitoring Team (IMT). Norway is a member of the IMT for the Philippine Government-MILF peace talks and sits as vice-chair of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) in charge of the decommissioning process of the MILF forces and arms. It is also the third-party facilitator for the peace talks between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. Del Rosario assured the Norweigan official that the Philippines will continue its efforts to fully implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, while “being fully committed to finding justice for the slain police officers.” Maritime sector Meanwhile, Del Rosario also relayed the government’s appreciation for Norway’s technical assistance in ensuring the Read More …
Feb 132015
popular Cristine Reyes gives birth to baby girl—report Resignation at what cost? Aquino upset when he flew to Zamboanga on day of SAF-MILF clash – source PBA chair Chito Salud stepping down after current season Carpio, Brion want Aquino, Abad held liable for DAP Pacman confident Floyd fight a go Appealing portrayals boost appalling romance 4 Syrians, one Yemeni hosted by BIFF, says security expert videos Flowers are good, but for romantics, love’s not just about that Manila students decry violence against women Inquirer Road to Cannes: Winners of Young Marketers Competition announced 2015 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta kicks off in Clark What did Mohagher Iqbal tell Leonardo Espina? MANILA, Philippines – Deciding where to settle down after your retirement? Foreigners might want to consider the Philippines after it bagged a spot in Forbes magazine’s “20 Best Foreign Retirement Havens for 2015.” “For U.S. retirees the principal appeal of the Philippines is a low cost of living in a tropical environment full of English speakers and outdoor beauty,” Forbes said in its website. The business magazine, which often comes out with lists and rankings of countries and personalities, further noted that foreign income is also untaxed in the Philippines. A foreign national can easily obtain permanent residency by showing their retirement income, it said. “Popular locations include Tagaytay, a suburb of Manila, the capital, that is elevated and therefore cooler, and Subic Bay, with an infrastructure from the old U.S. Navy base. Non-stop flights between Manila and the US average Read More …
Feb 132015
MANILA, Philippines—A watchdog on the Bangsamoro peace process on Friday warned that there would be consequences if peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) failed during the Aquino administration. “We do believe the current peace process offers very good opportunity to establish peace in Mindanao. Should this opportunity fail, there will be many disappointed people in Mindanao,” Steven Rood, one of the five members of the Third Party Monitoring Team, which was tasked to monitor, review, and assess the implementation of the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in March last year. Former European Union ambassador to the Philippines Alistair MacDonald. AFP FILE PHOTO The team, headed by Alistair MacDonald, former European Union ambassador to the Philippines, on Friday presented its second annual public report, detailing the initial progress of the agreements on normalization, socioeconomic development and transition from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. Justice for those killed The team members admitted that the Jan. 25 clash between police commandos and Moro guerrillas in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, has affected the peace process. They said it would be necessary for both sides to exert efforts to attain justice for those killed and wounded in the incident. Forty-four officers from the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF), 18 MILF guerrillas and five civilians were killed in the 12-hour gun battle that ended a police operation to get international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Read More …
Feb 132015
How we’d like celeb couples celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Feb 132015
(Conclusion) We can be emotionally healthy individually, but an organization, a community and an entire nation can also manifest collective emotional health. Needless to say, that depends highly on the emotional health or emotional intelligence of the leader of the organization, the community, or a country. A leader must have high emotional intelligence to develop a high level of collective emotional health in his or her people. One cannot give or develop something which one does not have or only have a meager supply of. A highly emotionally intelligent leader is likely to be successful in leading his/her organization through whatever crisis they may be confronted with. From executing an organizational plan to attaining a nation’s agenda and vision, leaders in all walks of life are able to inspire hope in their people that no matter what the setbacks are, together as a united team and not as disunited fragments, they will be able to weather all the “storms” and achieve their collective dreams and aspirations. Hence, an emotionally healthy leader must possess all the qualities that will enable him/her to inspire hope in his or her people. And no challenge or setback can be strong enough to push the organization’s members, a community’s constituents, or the country’s citizens to a state of hopelessness and despair. Qualities leaders must have Integrity, character, intelligence, competence and facility for effective communication are all important qualities exemplary leaders must have. But without emotional intelligence, leaders are standing on shaky grounds and a tumult Read More …
Feb 132015
LAOAG, Ilocos Norte — Three generation companies were fined by the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) administrator for withholding power plant capacity, which could have contributed to the spikes in the market prices over a year ago.
Feb 132015
THE Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) has declared its readiness to accommodate more renewable energy (RE) capacities on the country’s electricity trading platform.