GlobalPort gets boost from new recruits (Justin Harper) in upset against Meralco

GlobalPort gets boost from new recruits (Justin Harper) in upset against Meralco

The GlobalPort Batang Pier’s new recruits didn’t disappoint in their first game with the squad as they stunned the league-leading Meralco Bolts, 94-86, in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

New import Justin Harper, a former NBA D-League player who arrived in Manila just hours before the game, scored 30 points and nine boards in his PBA debut.

Sean Anthony, who along with Bradwyn Guinto and Jonathan Grey landed in GlobalPort via a four-team trade last weekend, made 18 points and eight boards. Guinto chipped in eight points and seven boards, while Grey had three points, four boards and three dimes.

Stanley Pringle also came up with 16 points, seven boards and eight assists as the Batang Pier (3-6) notched their win No.3 and dealt the Bolts (7-2) only their second defeat of the conference.

In a seesaw battle between the two squads, it was the Batang Pier who made big shots down the stretch. After an 81-all tie with 4:28 left, GlobalPort scored six unanswered points.

Jonathan Uyloan pulled Meralco closer with a triple, but Pringle fired four consecutive clutch points including a tough layup with 36 ticks left that handed GlobalPort a 91-86 lead with 36 seconds left and took the fight out of Meralco.

Alex Stepheson had a monster outing of 19 points and 27 boards in the defeat which snapped Meralco’s three-game winning streak.

Gina Lopez bids goodbye to DENR by singing the 2013 Disney hit 'Let It Go'

Gina Lopez bids goodbye to DENR by singing the 2013 Disney hit 'Let It Go'

Gina Lopez has let go of her post and even sang about it, the ousted Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary won’t really be gone. She will just be on the other side of the fence — in the private sector continuing her advocacy for the environment.

“I’m committing publicly. I will help you from the private sector, Lopez told Cimatu before capping her speech with the popular 2013 Disney song, “Let it Go.”

“It’s time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through,” belted out Lopez with two other female singers as Cimatu was sitting beside them on the stage.

Lopez was optimistic that Cimatu would be able to a good job at the DENR. “People who were with him say he’s good in logistics and I feel he’s a good man.” Cimatu was all praises to Lopez, saying he wished he could approximate her passion for the environment.

He described his predecessor as a “very passionate and ardent advocate of environmental protection and inclusive growth.”

Meanwhile, critics claim President Rodrigo Duterte erred in his decision to appoint Cimatu.

Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas secretary-general Antonio Flores said the newly appointed DENR chief “was among the pioneers and implementors of the counterinsurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya 1 during the Arroyo regime that killed hundreds of farmers, workers and activists including anti-mining advocates.”

“Cimatu will definitely defend and kill to protect the interests of large-scale local and foreign mining companies,” said Flores.

“Cimatu will only serve as the head guard of the internal defense force of large-scale mining firms. We do not want a DENR that will aid mining corporations in massive land grabbing of ancestral lands and the wanton destruction of the environment. His appointment should be blocked and rejected,” he added. Cimatu on Wednesday admitted that he was not yet familiar in his new job and asked that he be given time to fully understand the functions and responsibilities of a DENR secretary.

“Here I am wading in into a field far removed from soldiery. That is why you will please excuse me if I ask that I be given time to scan and study the terrain in an agency which impacts considerably on our very life as a people and the future of our beloved Philippines,” he said.

[source] interaksyon

President Duterte appoints AFP chief Año as next DILG Chief

President Duterte appoints AFP chief Año as next DILG Chief 

‘My junta is nearly complete’

The months-long guessing game on who will be the next secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Governments is over: he is Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo M. Año, who was introduced by President Duterte himself at departure rites before he flew to Cambodia Wednesday. At the same time, he justified packing his Cabinet with more ex-soldiers, joking that soon, he will have a complete “junta” on board.

Pressed by a reporter on whom among the May 9, 2016 losing candidates might land positions in his Cabinet with the lapse of the one-year ban on appointing also-runs, Duterte asked General Año to step in front and stand facing the reporter, and then said, “you are facing the next DILG secretary.”

The President gave an implied justification of his choice of the top soldier for DILG, saying “I have a problem with the police…” adding that a soldier might be better suited to help him discipline the PNP, which is under DILG supervision. Duterte said he is confident his choice of Año is as proper as his selection of another AFP chief, Gen. Roy Cimatu, whom he named Environment secretary on Monday, replacing Gina Lopez who was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

“You are now facing the next DILG Secretary,” the President told reporters while gesturing to Año, who was summoned to stand next to Duterte after a question about new Cabinet appointments was raised.

Duterte said he needs a military man at the DILG’s helm because he has “a problem with the police.”

“You need somebody who knows the police,” he said, after expressing disgust at the news of four Makati policemen who extorted money from a family they kidnapped.

Aside from dealing with errant cops, Duterte said a DILG chief with military background is necessary to deal with the country’s problem with terrorism.

“The problem with terrorism looms very big ahead. The IS (Islamic State) is coming in. May bakbakan sa Mindanao ngayon,” he said.

Año is set to retire in October.

Speculation was rife as to who would head the DILG after Duterte fired Ismael Sueno in April over corruption allegations. Among the names rumored to be considered for the post were former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

Before his appointment as AFP chief of staff, Año served as the 57th Commanding General of the Philippine Army from July 16, 2015 to December 7, 2016.[3][4] He was also the chief of Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) from 2012 to 2014.

He joked that with Cimatu and Año on his Cabinet, “dadagdagan ko pa ng isang military, kumpleto na ‘yung junta [I will add one more soldier and my junta will be complete].”

[source] interaksyon

GOOD NEWS: DUTERTE GOVERNMENT APPROVES 120 DAYS MATERNITY LEAVE WITH PAY FEMALE WORKERS 150 DAYS SOLO PARENTS!

DUTERTE GOVERNMENT APPROVES 120 DAYS MATERNITY LEAVE WITH PAY FEMALE WORKERS 150 DAYS SOLO PARENTS!

We overheard that the Senate approved the third and final reading which seeks the maternity keave to 120 days.

This is under Senate bill no 1305." Expanded Maternity Leave Law of 2017"

This states that  all female workers refardless of civil status or legitimacy of her child shall be granted 120days maternity leave with pay and another option to extenrend for another 20days without pay. 

For solo parents, they will be granted a total of 150 days maternity leave with pay.

Source: Manila Bulletin

Pinay OFW sa Hongkong, Napaiyak sa sobrang excited makita si Pangulong Duterte

Pinay OFW sa Hongkong, Napaiyak sa sobrang excited makita si Pangulong Duterte

Tila napaluha ang isang ofw na pinay nang mabalitaang pupunta si Pangulong Duterte para sa kanyang working visit sa Hongkong. Ayon sa isang nakapanayam na OFW, bihira na raw na presidente ang pupunta para sa kanila at bibisitahin. 

Nagpasalamat siya kay Pangulong Duterte at nanindigang hindi magsasawang susuporta kay Pangulong Duterte.

Bohol News: P1-Million reward shared 3 Abu tipsters

 Only P1-Million reward shared by 3 Abu tipsters 

Only P1 million was released by the Office of the President as reward for the tipsters who relayed information to authorities leading to the killing of four Abu Sayyaf bandits in Clarin last month, said an Army official.

According to Gen. Arnulfo Matanguihan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 402nd Infantry Brigade, the amount was shared among at least three informants including a habal-habal driver tipster.

The bounty released was only for the killing of militant Joselito Melloria who was pinpointed by the informants, said Matanguihan.

Melloria and three other Abu Sayyaf fighters were gunned down in Clarin town on April 22 following the reports made by the informants.

However, the Army general pointed out that the three other slain extremists were located through military intelligence.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials had been clarifying the reward system for informants since reports indicating that the habal-habal driver tipster in Clarin only received P450,000 surfaced.

For his part, AFP Central Command assistant chief of the unified staff for Civil Military Operations Col. Medel Aguilar said that there were several witnesses including government officials during the turnover of the reward to informants.

According to Aguilar, the awarding of the money was kept from the general public by barring media coverage for security purposes, particularly for the protection of the informants.

The information relayed by the tipsters were also quantified and money given for the valid reports were commensurate their importance to the capture of the Abu Sayyaf, he said.

Meanwhile, a formal request addressed to Malacañang for the release of funds for the supposed reward of the informant who directed authorities to the location of Abu Saad in Tubigon has been filed, said Matanguihan.

Kiram was arrested in Barangay Tan-awan, Tubigon on Thursday last week after he was spotted by residents asking for food in said village.

He was gunned by police authorities in Tagbilaran City during the next day after allegedly escaping as he was being transported to a jail facility and resisting arrest. 

Source: The Bohol Chronicle