Showing posts with label Trending. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trending. Show all posts
What are the odds you get a kiss from Pope Francis when you’re standing in the middle of thousands of people?
The family of 8-month baby girl Sabrielle La Salette Rosete would agree if you answered it’s highly improbable.
Stephen Janssen and Jona May, the baby’s parents, told the CBCP News even they were not expecting the sudden encounter would ever happen.
“We feel very blessed, very, very lucky,” Jona related to the religious website after this rare chance of a lifetime. Stephen answered, “I just raised her very, very high.”
“It was my prayer, as grandma. Sinabi ko na we have to go and baka makita (ni Pope Francis si Sabrielle). Sobrang answered prayer,” Lina Rosete, the baby’s grandmother said, as quoted in a report by CBCP News.
The Rosetes were just one of the thousands of families who trooped outside the Mall of Asia Arena to catch a glimpse of the Pope. The usual concert and sports venue was transformed into a religious place on Friday, January 16, where 17,000 pre-selected audience waited for the visiting pope.
The little less than 2-hour event saw Francis hearing three Filipino families’ stories on what they have to say about forming a family in this largely Catholic country.
Addressing families in attendance, the Argentinian pope emphasized “the gift of the family."
"It is important to dream in the family. All mothers and fathers dream of their sons and daughters in the womb for 9 months. They dream of how they will be. It isn’t possible to have a family without such dreams. When you lose this capacity to dream you lose the capacity to love, the capacity to love is lost,” he said.
The Pope is known to pull out kids from the crowd wherever he goes. He either blesses or kisses children during his trips.
His fondness of kids prompted Filipinos to call him “Lolo Kiko”—lolo being the Tagalog word for grandfather and Kiko, the usual nickname of Filipinos named Francis.
Filipino healing priest Joey Faller said the pope loves his local name in the Philippines, he related to ABS-CBN News last December. The priest was at a general audience in the Vatican last November when he shouted “Lolo Kiko! Lolo Kiko!” while Pope Francis was riding a popemobile. A smiling pope looked back, indicating he liked his new nickname.
The family of 8-month baby girl Sabrielle La Salette Rosete would agree if you answered it’s highly improbable.
Stephen Janssen and Jona May, the baby’s parents, told the CBCP News even they were not expecting the sudden encounter would ever happen.
“We feel very blessed, very, very lucky,” Jona related to the religious website after this rare chance of a lifetime. Stephen answered, “I just raised her very, very high.”
“It was my prayer, as grandma. Sinabi ko na we have to go and baka makita (ni Pope Francis si Sabrielle). Sobrang answered prayer,” Lina Rosete, the baby’s grandmother said, as quoted in a report by CBCP News.
The Rosetes were just one of the thousands of families who trooped outside the Mall of Asia Arena to catch a glimpse of the Pope. The usual concert and sports venue was transformed into a religious place on Friday, January 16, where 17,000 pre-selected audience waited for the visiting pope.
The little less than 2-hour event saw Francis hearing three Filipino families’ stories on what they have to say about forming a family in this largely Catholic country.
Addressing families in attendance, the Argentinian pope emphasized “the gift of the family."
"It is important to dream in the family. All mothers and fathers dream of their sons and daughters in the womb for 9 months. They dream of how they will be. It isn’t possible to have a family without such dreams. When you lose this capacity to dream you lose the capacity to love, the capacity to love is lost,” he said.
The Pope is known to pull out kids from the crowd wherever he goes. He either blesses or kisses children during his trips.
His fondness of kids prompted Filipinos to call him “Lolo Kiko”—lolo being the Tagalog word for grandfather and Kiko, the usual nickname of Filipinos named Francis.
Filipino healing priest Joey Faller said the pope loves his local name in the Philippines, he related to ABS-CBN News last December. The priest was at a general audience in the Vatican last November when he shouted “Lolo Kiko! Lolo Kiko!” while Pope Francis was riding a popemobile. A smiling pope looked back, indicating he liked his new nickname.
On Friday, the pope of many surprises deviated from itinerary and sneaked from the Manila Cathedral upon concluding his first mass in the country to meet some street children.
An Australian ranger has captured the moment a python swallowed a wallaby at a national park in a giant feast that could keep it full for three months.
Ranger Paul O'Neill was patrolling Nitmiluk National Park in the Northern Territory when he heard numerous birds making alarm calls and came across the feeding frenzy.
"I saw at first a snake, an olive python, but then on closer inspection I realised it had just... killed a young joey and was just about to start to devour it," O'Neill told AFP of his discovery Monday.
He said the medium-build python, a constrictor, was between 2.5 to three metres (8.2 to 9.8 feet) long.
"That would be the largest-size prey that a snake of that size could take," O'Neill, who documented the digesting process in a series of photographs, said.
"And whilst I watched it devouring it, which took about 40 minutes, it really did struggle until it got over the hump of the belly and then it slid down, so that feed is going to last that snake for a good two to three months.
"That lump will take roughly 24 hours, maybe a bit more, to disappear so it breaks that food down quite quickly, but then it will just be virtually hibernating for a month," he said.
The python would have most likely caught its prey by lunging at and then coiling around the wallaby while it was eating fruits that had fallen from a plum tree, before squeezing it to death, he added.
The olive python is one of Australia's largest snakes and can grow to 4.5 metres and weigh up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds). It is a non-venomous, mostly nocturnal reptile found in arid to sub-humid areas of northern Australia.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday indicted 14 members of the
Tau Gamma Phi fraternity for the death of De La Salle-College of Saint
Benilde student Guillo Cesar Servando after initiation rites last June.
A non-bailable case for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the
Anti-Hazing Law was filed before the Makati City regional trial court
against the respondents led by Cody Errol Morales, head of the
fraternity’s De La Salle University chapter.Also charged were Daniel Paul Martin Bautista, Kurt Michael Almazan, Esmerson Nathaniel Calupas, Hans Killia Tatlonghari, Eleazar Pablico III, John Kevin Navoa, Vic Angelo Dy, Mark Andrew Ramos, Michael David Castañeda, Justin Francis Reyes and three other unidentified persons.
The DOJ filed the case after prosecutors established probable cause on the charges in preliminary investigation.
The DOJ concluded that all 14 accused were present during the initiation rites of Servando and three other neophytes – John Paul Raval, Lorenze Anthony Agustin and Levin Roland Flores – held last June 28 in a house on Calatagan St., Barangay Palanan in Makati City.
It stressed that the fraternity conducted the initiation rites without notice to and authority from school authorities concerned – in violation of the provisions of RA 8049.
“The positive identification of the fraternity members of Tau Gamma Phi by the three neophytes Raval, Agustin and Flores, who survived the hazing, as well as their vivid recollection of what really transpired on June 28, 2014, which at least were not rebutted by the respondents, who either resorted to flight or disappeared to parts unknown, more than swayed our minds to morally conclude that they were telling the truth, and that their testimonies were in fact credible, true and straightforward,” the DOJ said in a 26-page resolution.
The sworn statements of the maintenance and security personnel of One Archers Place Condominium, where the neophytes were staying, also corroborated the testimonies of the three neophytes.
The DOJ noted that the condominium personnel had first-hand interaction with the neophytes and respondents Tatlonghari and Pablico when they returned to the condo unit where Servando died.
“The other pieces of evidence, that is, the closed circuit TV (CCTV) footage recorded at One Archers Place that fateful day... as well as the photographs submitted by complainants, have more than morally convinced the undersigned panel of prosecutors to accord credence to the veritable testimonies of the victims and the other witnesses,” it further explained.
The DOJ, however, recommended the dismissal of the complaint against six other respondents identified as Jemar Pajarito, Luis Solomon Arevalo, Carl Francis Loresca, Steven Jorge Penano, Ma. Teresa Dayanghirang and Alyssa Federique Valbuena for insufficiency of evidence.
The resolution was signed by a panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano, Arnold Magpantay and Alejandro Daguiso, and approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
The family of Servando welcomed the DOJ findings.
“We are thankful to Secretary (Leila) de Lima and Prosecutor General (Arellano) for coming out with the resolution. Hopefully, we will see arrests soon,” the victim’s father Aurelio said in a text message.
It was, however, found in earlier hearings that respondents Navoa, Calupas, Tatlonghari, Pablico and Valbuena have fled the country.
PAF hazing probe
Twenty-two Philippine Air Force candidate officers and their training
instructor have been grounded and placed under investigation for
reportedly subjecting to hazing their underclassmen at the PAF’s
training school in Lipa City, Batangas.Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya, PAF spokesman, said nine of the candidate officers have been recommended for separation from the service while an ongoing probe is being conducted over the participation of the rest of their colleagues for the physical maltreatment of their underclassmen.
“Nine members… belonging to OC Class 2014 were recommended for separation while 13 others from the same class were recommended for further investigation including a military instructor with a rank of 2Lt.
All 22 are held in a custodial facility at Villamor Air Base to ensure their availability during processing of the case,” Canaya said.
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President Aquino is expected to certify as urgent the proposed joint
resolution granting him emergency powers to ensure stable power supply
in Luzon this summer.
The proposed Joint Resolution 21 seeks to grant Aquino the authority to
tap into the huge generators of commercial establishments under the
Interruptible Load Program (ILP) to ensure stable power supply this
summer when demand is high and power plants tend to break down.The measure was filed by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales Jr., Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Deputy Speaker Henedina Abad, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, 1-Care party-list Rep. Edgardo Masongsong, and Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali on Thursday.
Umali, chairman of the energy committee, said the panel aims to vote on the measure on Tuesday or at least by Wednesday, and present the final version to the plenary of the House of Representatives the following week.
He noted that the certification from Aquino is necessary to allow the House to approve the resolution on second and third reading in one plenary session.
Normally, there is at least a three-session day gap between a bill’s approval on second and third reading.
“I don’t think there will be much of a debate both in the committee and in plenary, especially since we’ve removed the very costly proposal from Malacañang to lease or buy gensets (generator sets) which saved us as much as P12 billion that would have been passed on to consumers,” said Umali, who also co-chairs the Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC).
“The certification will allow us to meet our deadline of enacting the resolution before December,” he added.
Umali said Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla found the draft resolution “OK” when he asked Petilla during the founding anniversary of Oriental Mindoro yesterday, where the secretary was guest of honor.
Petilla had been insisting on leasing or buying power barges that the House leadership shot down for being too expensive and prone to corruption.
He said Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, chairman of the Senate energy committee and of the JCPC, is also finalizing his own version of the resolution that is expected to have very little conflicting provisions with the House draft.
He said Osmeña was initially very reluctant to approve the measure, especially after officials from the Department of Energy (DOE) admitted before lawmakers that were will be no actual power shortage in Luzon during the hot months but only thin or zero reserves.
‘Carrot and stick’ in ILP
Under the ILP, large private firms and establishments, such as malls,
are asked to disconnect from the grid and run their own generators
during peak demand periods to free up power for use of household and
others users, preventing a rotating blackout.
After five years of making people laugh in ABS-CBN’s
”It’s Showtime,” is host-comedian Vice Ganda bidding the noontime show
farewell?
An unusually subdued Vice Ganda admitted in an interview with ABS-CBN’s
Gretchen Fullido on Friday, October 24 that he’s taking a rest from the
show because of health issues – a throat problem, to be exact.Voice rest
“Kapag hindi napaayos ang sitwasyon, nakakatakot … After ng procedure, two weeks total rest ng voice.”
After two weeks, Vice Ganda added that he will have to take a long rest to fully recover.
The comedian-host admits feeling down and out because he doesn’t want to stop working and he loves his job. Vice Ganda, known for his energetic ways on stage, explained that he has to restrain himself since he can no longer do what he used to do –“sigaw ng sigaw.”
“Masusunog ang lalamunan ko.”
‘Hindi ako baklang showbiz’
Meantime, Vice Ganda denied talks that his decision to take a break from “It’s Showtime” stems from a misunderstanding with ABS-CBN management.
He turned emotional as he thanked everyone who supported him in the noontime show and pledged his unending love to the “madlang pipol’ who always watch him.
A tearful Vice Ganda sat beside his equally emotional “It’s Showtime” co-hosts last Saturday, October 25, and promised fans that he will never fake his actions.
“Isa akong baklang artista, hindi ako baklang showbiz.”
Heart-tugging song
He also said that he doesn’t know the exact date he will take a leave from “Showtime.”
Speculations that Vice Ganda is quitting "Showtime” first surfaced when he told viewers last Thursday, October 23, that his heart-tugging song number with the children on stage could be his last.
“Isang awit na maaaring mag-iwan ng isang mensahe. Mawala man ako sa mundong ito, hindi n'yo man ulit ako mapanuod sa “Showtime,” maging huli man ang performance na ito, mawala man ang imahe na nagawa ko, meron akong maiiwan na malalim na mensahe,."
Vice Ganda was confined for a few days at St. Luke’s Hospital, Quezon City middle of October.
Penelope Cruz is Esquire's "sexiest woman alive."
Cruz is the 11th woman to be given the title by the magazine. Previous honorees include Angelina Jolie, Halle Berry, Rihanna, Charlize Theron and Scarlett Johansson.
The "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Vanilla Sky" actress tells Esquire that she had "an attraction to drama" in her teens and 20s but "could not be less interested now."
Cruz is keeping quiet about her personal life. She declined to comment to the magazine about her actor husband, Javier Bardem, as well as their two children. She says, "That is for us."
The actress will next be seen in the Spanish-language film "Ma Ma" and in "Grimsby" with Sacha Baron Cohen.
The November issue of Esquire will be on newsstands Oct. 21.
An enormous storm in the Western Pacific rapidly strengthened overnight into the year's most powerful super typhoon.
Super Typhoon
Vongfong reached sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) this morning
(Oct. 7), with gusts of up to 190 mph (306 km/h), according to the U.S
Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.Satellite estimates from the Japan Meteorological Agency suggest the massive storm's central pressure dropped to 905 millibars, making it the most intense storm of any kind this year, according to The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang blog. (The average sea level pressure is 1,013 millibars. Typically, storms with a big pressure gradient, or difference in pressure, have stronger winds.)
Vongfong is the fifth super typhoon to threaten the Pacific this year. There were also five super typhoons in 2012 and five in 2013, including the deadly Super Typhoon Haiyan, which was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. Late July through October is peak typhoon season in the Western Pacific.
Super Typhoon Vongfong is currently a Category 4 tropical cyclone but could grow into an even more powerful Category 5 storm by Wednesday as it lumbers over warm water, which will fuel its powerful spin. In the Western Pacific, tropical storms become super typhoons when their winds top 150 mph (241 km/h). Super typhoons are equivalent to Category 4 or 5 hurricanes.
Vongfong is expected to sharply turn and head north by Thursday, weakening before it nears Japan, according to current forecasts. The storm is following a similar track to Typhoon Phanfone, which lashed central and eastern Japan with fierce winds and torrential rain last week.
The National University Bulldogs ended their 44-year
UAAP Finals drought as they overcame a twice-to-win disadvantage by
beating the Ateneo Blue Eagles 65-63 in their second Final Four game,
Wednesday afternoon at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Gelo Alolino scored the game’s final five points as they remained perfect against the Blue Eagles in four meetings this season.
Ateneo had one last shot at winning the game or forcing overtime in the last play but, as always, NU's defense held when it mattered most as Alfred Aroga blocked a layup attempt from Kiefer Ravena.
The ball stayed loose as the buzzer sounded. The Bulldogs and their legions of fans exploded in celebration soon after. Gelo Alolino scored the game’s final five points as they remained perfect against the Blue Eagles in four meetings this season.
Ateneo had one last shot at winning the game or forcing overtime in the last play but, as always, NU's defense held when it mattered most as Alfred Aroga blocked a layup attempt from Kiefer Ravena.
All season long, the question for NU was who would take over when push came to shove. Without their star Rayray Parks, UAAP pundits were doubtful if they could win close games without a closer. In their breakthrough win, a new closer emerged for the hungry Bulldogs.
Down 63-60, Alolino stepped back after a pick-and-roll play to drill a cold-blooded three point shot.
He faced NU’s crowd and shook his head as if to say ‘I’m here, don’t look for who’s not.” Ateneo came up empty in their next two possessions as all they managed to put up were two difficult jumpers from Kiefer Ravena.
Alolino swung the tide to NU’s favor as he sank two free throws after being fouled by Nico Elorde with nine seconds left in the game.
During the timeout, the electricity in the arena fluctuated causing some of the lights to stay off. The two teams decided to wait out for the arena lights to warm up again before proceeding with the final play.
Aroga led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Alolino added 12 points and five rebounds.
Chris Newsome ended his UAAP career with 22 points on 10 of 15 shooting from the field. Ravena added 18 points but he struggled from the field once again as he only made 25% of his 24 shots.
After a tight first quarter for both teams, it was NU that grabbed a 12-8 advantage.
The Bulldogs built a double-digit lead at 23-13 early into the second quarter, an advantage that has seemed inevitable in all their games against Ateneo. This time, however, the Blue Eagles quickly fought back thanks to the shooting of Newsome.
A buzzer-beating triple from the graduating forward sliced their deficit down to five points, 32-27, at the half.
Newsome led all scorers after the first 20 minutes with 15 points on an efficient 7 of 9 shooting from the field. Ravena added five points for Ateneo but he struggled, making only 2 of 10 field goal attempts.
Aroga led the Bulldogs’ charge with eight points at the half as he attacked relentlessly. Troy Rosario added six to their case.
NU outrebounded Ateneo 24-15 in the first quarter. The Bulldogs’ bench also outperformed the Blue Eagles as they scored 17 points against only three points for Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles finally got their offense going in the third quarter as they connected on three triples. Von Pessumal scored Ateneo’s last five points of the penultimate quarter to give the blue and white a 47-46 lead heading into the fourth.
The Main Man: Alolino changed the outcome of the game with two fearless attacks; one was a three point shot and the other resulting to two free throws.
Honorable Mention: Aroga was a rock on defense once again, helping the Bulldogs outrebound the Eagles, 45-31.
Game Turning Point: Ateneo went to their bread and butter play in the last possession. Ravena was able to shake off his initial defender but Aroga met him on the paint to block the King Eagle’s game-tying attempt.
They Said It:
NU head coach Eric Altamirano: It was favorable for us kasi defense naman kami. Napahinga sila e. It was like starting from scratch. Natuyuan sila ng pawis. We knew where they were going to go and we stopped it so I thank Alfred Aroga again for saving us again.
Gelo Alolino: Sinabi ni coach kanina sa floor “You’re the best point guard of the season. You’re our leader.” Happy ako na na-lead ko yung team sa finals pero team effort kami throughout.
The scores:
NU 65: Aroga 14, Alolino 12, Khobuntin 11, Rosario 9, Javelona 8, Neypes 4, Diputado 3, Alejandro 2, Perez 2, Betayene 0, Atangan 0.
Ateneo 63: Newsome 22, Ravena 18, Elorde 8, Pessumal 8, Babilonia 4, V. Tolentino 2, Gotladera 1, Capacio 0, A. Tolentino 0, Apacible 0.
Quarters: 8-12, 32-27, 46-47, 65-63.
Tropical storm “Mario” slowed down but has maintained its strength while moving over the Luzon Strait, the state weather bureau said.
In its 11 pm update, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said “Mario” maintained its maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour. Its center, as of 10 pm Friday, was spotted 91 kilometers northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos norte.
“Mario” is moving slow at 17 kilometers per hour and is forecast to be near Southern Taiwan on Saturday night, and completely outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Sunday evening.
Public storm warning signals remain in the following areas:
Signal number 2:
Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Batanes Group of Islands, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte
Signal number 1:
Cagayan, Kalinga, Abra and Ilocos Sur
As "Mario" moves, several areas have been placed under state of calamity as tropical storm "Mario" pounds parts of Luzon.
Officials have declared a state of calamity
in Cainta, Rizal and Dagupan, Pangasinan; and in Marikina City where
heavy flooding has been reported.
Class suspensions for Saturday:
Two dams are above spilling level as of
4:00 pm, according to Manila Water. Ipo dam water level at Norzagaray,
Bulacan is at least 1.73 meters above spilling level while La Mesa dam
water level in Quezon City is above spilling level of 80.15 meters.
"Ang La Mesa Dam ay walang gates tulad ng
Angat at Ipo na pwedeng buksan kung puno na. Kusa itong umaapaw sa lebel
na 80.15m," Manila Water said.
Meanwhile, rainfall warning has been lowered in Metro Manila, said Pagasa.
In its 9 pm update, the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued the highest rainfall warning for Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Tarlac.
Orange rainfall warning (flooding is threatening) over Bataan while the lowest rainfall warning (Yellow warning) is up for Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, and Pampanga.
In its 9 pm update, the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued the highest rainfall warning for Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Tarlac.
Orange rainfall warning (flooding is threatening) over Bataan while the lowest rainfall warning (Yellow warning) is up for Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, and Pampanga.
Two policewomen have accepted the apology of TV host Billy Crawford, who went berserk at Taguig City Police Precinct Station 7 at around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. The two admit that while they were shaken by the incident.
PO1 Rodelma Canao and PO1 Jasmine Zipagan said they were surprised when Crawford came in and told them he wanted to be taken to the Taguig City Police headquarters.
It wasn’t clear why Crawford was making such a request, so they tried to calm him down. However, Crawford was agitated.
Canao said they decided to call for a police mobile car to fetch Crawford.
At this point, Crawford reportedly declared that if the police car didn’t arrive within five seconds, then he would cause damage to the police station.
Crawford then started pushing the station’s sliding glass door. The glass ended up shattering.
Canao and Zipagan however said Crawford didn’t hurt anyone.
They added that he kept saying sorry for what he did. Even the woman who was with him also kept apologizing for the incident.
Meantime, Police Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte, District Director of the Southern Police District, said that cases like Crawford’s are quite common. He pointed out that many people get lose their composure when they are drunk.
Dozens of Filipino UN peacekeepers performed the
"greatest escape" from besieging Syrian rebels, slipping away under the
cover of night after rebels rammed their Golan Heights outpost with
armed trucks, the Philippine military said Sunday.
All 75 soldiers serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force in
the Middle East flashpoint zone reached safety after the rebels, some
linked to Al-Qaeda, surrounded them and demanded their weapons on
Thursday, military chief General Gregorio Catapang said.Catapang called it "the greatest escape" and praised the soldiers.
"Although they were surrounded and outnumbered they held their ground," he told reporters.
However the fate of 44 UN peacekeepers from Fiji remained unknown. The Fijians were taken captive by rebels just before the Filipinos were besieged.
The troops are part of a UN peacekeeping force which has been stationed in the Golan Heights since 1974 to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Syria.
"Everyone is in a safe position. We left our (old) position but we brought all our arms," said Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala.
President Benigno Aquino's spokesman Herminio Coloma issued a statement thanking the UN force as well as Syria, Israel, Qatar and the United States for their assistance in the crisis.
"It is in our nation's interest to give priority to (the soldiers') safety but we will not turn our backs on our commitment to global security particularly in the Golan Heights and the Middle East," Coloma said.
He did not elaborate on the help provided by the other countries although the head of peacekeeping operations, Colonel Roberto Ancan said separately that the Syrians had provided "indirect fire support" that took the pressure off the besieged Filipinos.
- From siege to safety -
An initial group of 35 Filipino troops were picked up from their position by Irish UN soldiers in armoured vehicles on Saturday after Syrian rebels attacked their comrades positioned about four kilometres (two-and-a-half miles) away, said the Philippine military.
The remaining 40 soldiers engaged in a "seven-hour firefight" with rebels who tried to ram the gates with pick-up trucks carrying anti-aircraft guns.
The soldiers, who were armed only with machine-guns and rifles, held off the rebels who even used a mortar to shell their positions, Ancan said.
The troops later walked to safety to a UN position just over two kilometres away.
In a statement, the UN said the 40 Filipino peacekeepers withdrew shortly after midnight "during a ceasefire agreed with the armed elements".
They later moved to Camp Ziouani behind UN lines.
"There is no more standoff. All are safe," Zagala told AFP.
The troops, burdened by their equipment and the cold weather, walked for about an hour and 40 minutes in the dark to reach safety, he said in Manila.
The peacekeepers were besieged on Thursday by rebels who demanded they give up their weapons.
The rebels, including some linked to Al-Qaeda's Syria affiliate, Al-Nusra Front, had earlier taken hostage 44 Fijian peacekeepers and even used an English-speaking Fijian hostage to relay their demand to the Filipino peacekeepers, the military earlier said.
However the Filipinos refused to surrender their weapons and remained in their fortified positions.
Asked what the Filipino peacekeepers would do now, Zagala said "we continue our mission. Our commitment is still there".
On August 23, the Philippine Defence Department announced that it would withdraw the 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights at the end of their tour of duty in October due to the worsening security situation.
In March 2013, Syrian rebels held 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers for four days and then in May held four Filipino peacekeepers for five days before releasing them.
A Filipino peacekeeper was wounded by shrapnel on June 6, 2013 amid fighting between the rebels and Syrian forces.
Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan Heights during the 1967 Six-Day War, then annexed it in a move never recognised by the international community.
The UN peacekeeping force is there to monitor the ceasefir
A defective Metro Rail Transit train has crashed into a barrier at the Taft Station Wednesday, injuring dozens of passengers, reports said.
The incident has also caused a stampede in the usually crowded train station, while train operations have been halted for the rest of the MRT line.
“We are currently undergoing necessary intervention for the technical problem encountered. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the MRT management said via Twitter.
In an interview over dzBB, MRT spokesperson Hernando Cabrera said the train came to a halt between the Magallanes and Taft stations due to technical problems.
It had to be pushed by another train as it had no power, Cabrera said, adding that passengers were trapped in the troubled train as there was no safe exit for them.
“Ang naging problema po natin, nakalas po iyong cable na nakakabit dun sa tren,” Cabrera said. The uncontrolled train, he added, continued to move until it hit the barrier at Taft.
Regina Santos, one of the passengers, said passengers thought they heard a loud explosion after the south-bound train left Magallanes station.
“Sabi namin bababa na lang kami pero hindi kami pinababa. Nag stampede na sa loob,” said Santos. Passengers scrambled to the first coach, which is reserved for the elderly and pregnant women.
The train hit an electric post outside the Taft Station. Robert Granado of Pasay police said it would have been a bigger accident if the electric post wasn’t able to stop the train.
At least 20 passengers hurt in the accident have been reportedly been rushed to the Pasay City General Hospital while another 10 passengers have been brought to the San Juan De Dios Hospital.
Passengers hurt in the accident have reportedly been rushed to the San Juan De Dios Hospital and the Pasay City General Hospital.
Commuters have meanwhile been advised to avoid the area. “Derailed MRT train at Pasay-Taft Station. MMDA Rescue and enforcers on location. Expect heavy traffic,” MMDA said via Twitter.
In a tweet at around 5:15 p.m., the MRT management said, “We are running SB and NB but expect delay approaching Taft Ave. because we are utilizing single tract in reversing.”
Five ladies emerged victorious at the Mutya ng
Pilipinas 2014 Grand Coronation Night held August 8, Friday, at the
Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Resort and Casino in Pasay City.
(See the 30 candidates in their national costumes here.)They were:
- Mutya Asia Pacific: 22 - Mutya ng Cebu City Eva Psychee Patalinjug
- Mutya Tourism: 26 - Mutya ng Cordilleras Glennifer Perido
- Mutya Overseas: 25 - Mutya ng Milan Patrizia Lucia Bosco
- 1st Runner-Up: 9 - Mutya ng Olongapo City Cristine Racel
- 2nd Runner-Up: 21 - Mutya ng Australia Kim Fyfe
- 2 - Mutya ng Tagbilaran City Dorina Losenada Doerr
- 4 - Mutya ng Nueva Ecija Jackielyn Dulay
- 7 - Mutya ng Zambales Alexandra Faith Garcia
- 16 - Mutya ng Toronto Christina De Vries
- 29 - Mutya ng Melbourne, Australia Pauline Edralin
- People's Choice: 16 - Mutya ng Toronto Christina De Vries
- Mutya Solaire: 22 - Mutya ng Cebu City Eva Psychee Patalinjug
- Mutya Viva Discovery: 22 - Mutya ng Cebu City Eva Psychee Patalinjug
- Best in Evening Gown: 26 - Mutya ng Cordilleras Glennifer Perido
- Best in Swimwear: 22 - Mutya ng Cebu City Eva Psychee Patalinjug
- Miss Photogenic: 2 - Mutya ng Tagbilaran City Dorina Losenada Doerr
Paul George is still in the hospital, recovering from a
successful operation, but his spirits were lifted by a visit from
undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In a post on his Instagram account, George wrote, “Appreciate the
champ @floydmayweather visiting me in the hospital.. Gave me some great
advice and kept my spirits high!! Appreciate you once again big bro!
#TBE #TMT”Mayweather Jr. is a frequent courtside seats viewer of NBA games, all the better for him to keep tabs on the huge bets he places. And while he’ll always be Public Enemy #1 in the eyes of Filipinos and Pacquiao fans, it’s a good gesture towards George.
George got injured during a Team USA scrimmage last week. NBA Commissioner recently released a statement about the incident.
Amidst a chorus of boos, the NBA stars and members of Gilas Pilipinas continued to run drills. One by one, people started walking out of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Those who got their tickets for free presumably left first. The ones who paid for theirs remained as they wanted to get their money back as soon as possible.
It was an ugly scene it what was supposed to be another landmark night in Philippine basketball. The Ultimate All-Star Weekend sponsored by Manny V. Pangilinan, which featured the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and other NBA stars, remains one of the best basketball events the country has ever seen.
The Last Home Stand of Gilas Pilipinas was supposed to be even more than that. The Smart-Gilas squad that competed in 2011 was preparing for an Asian tournament. Gilas Pilipinas is now gearing up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
However, all the fans got was a practice session involving the two teams. The basketball loving Filipinos booed NBA players and their own national team in an event never before seen by the country.
As a result, Pangilinan could do nothing else but apologize.
"We wish to apologize to our Filipino basketball fans for the sudden and disappointing turn of events today. We ourselves are extremely disappointed by this unexpected development. All we wanted was to give our Filipino basketball fans a real treat while at the same time, through this benefit event, help our countrymen who are still recovering from Super Typhoon Yolanda and more recently Typhoon Glenda," Pangilinan said.
PLDT Executive Vice President Ariel Fermin assured ticket holders for events today and tomorrow will be refunded in full in an expeditious manner.
Fermin said that the agreement with the event organizer, IGW, whose role it was to arrange the participation of the NBA players -- provided for a format involving a basketball clinic followed by a 5-on-5 game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Fibr All-Stars. However, PLDT was informed by IGW a few hours before the event on July 22, that the 5-on-5 game was not allowed by the NBA.
An interesting, humorous, witty and thought provoking collection of Fathers Day Inspirational Quotes by some of the most celebrated and revered personalities of our times. Read these Fathers Day Quotes for an insight into the lives of fathers at various stages of fatherhood. You will acknowledge and appreciate the ups and downs in a fathers life with these words of wisdom on fathers and fatherhood. When you read these motivational quotes on Fathers Day notice how the life of the father can be both beautiful, interesting and at the same time be extremely challenging and difficult. Quote these Fathers Day one liners in the Fathers Day Card you made for Papa and express your gratitude for all the pains he took to bring you up. Tell father how much he deserves to be appreciated and applauded for being the most wonderful person in your life.
Any fool can be a Father, but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!!
Fathers Day Quote by: Philip Whitmore Snr
"The most important thing a father can do
for his children is to love their mother."
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
Fathers are angels sent from heaven.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
Fathers, be good to your daughters. You are the god and the weight of her world.
Fathers Day Quote by: John Mayor
"Father I will always be
that same boy who stood by the sea
and watched you tower over me
now I'm older I wanna be the same as you"
Fathers Day Quote by: Yellowcard
A father is someone that
holds your hand at the fair
makes sure you do what your mother says
holds back your hair when you are sick
brushes that hair when it is tangled because mother is too busy
lets you eat ice cream for breakfast
but only when mother is away
he walks you down the aisle
and tells you everythings gonna be ok
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.
Fathers Day Quote by: Jim Valvano
I've had a hard life, but my hardships are nothing against the hardships that my father went through in order to get me to where I started.
Fathers Day Quote by: Bartrand Hubbard
He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
Fathers Day Quote by: Clarence Budington Kelland
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say,
"You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising
boys." Fathers Day Quote by: Harmon Killebrew
One father is more than a hundred Schoolmasters.
Fathers Day Quote by: George Herbert, Outlandish Proverbs, 1640
Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.
Fathers Day Quote by: Bill Cosby
Henry James once defined life as that predicament which precedes death, and certainly nobody owes you a debt of honor or gratitude for getting him into that predicament. But a child does owe his father a debt, if Dad, having gotten him into this peck of trouble, takes off his coat and buckles down to the job of showing his son how best to crash through it.
Fathers Day Quote by: Clarence Budington Kelland
A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again.
Fathers Day Quote by: Enid Bagnold
It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.
Fathers Day Quote by: Johann Schiller
A father carries pictures where his money used to be.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!
Fathers Day Quote by: Lydia M. Child, Philothea: A Romance, 1836
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.
Fathers Day Quote by: Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi" Atlantic Monthly, 1874
Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes.
Fathers Day Quote by: Gloria Naylor
It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't.
Fathers Day Quote by: Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams
It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day
should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge.
Fathers Day Quote by: Phyllis Diller
Are we not like two volumes of one book?
Fathers Day Quote by: Marceline Desbordes-Valmore
Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.
Fathers Day Quote by: Red Buttons
I don't care how poor a man is; if he has family, he's rich.
Fathers Day Quote by: M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter
Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away.
Fathers Day Quote by: Dinah Craik
Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again.
Fathers Day Quote by: Jimmy Piersal, on how to diaper a baby, 1968
He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
Fathers Day Quote by: Clarence Budington Kelland
A man knows when he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.
Fathers Day Quote by: Gabriel Garcia Marquez
As fathers commonly go, it is seldom a misfortune to be fatherless; and considering the general run of sons, as seldom a misfortune to be childless.
Fathers Day Quote by: Lord Chesterfield
Don't make a baby if you can't be a father.
Fathers Day Quote by: National Urban League Slogan
Sons have always a rebellious wish to be disillusioned by that which charmed their fathers.
Fathers Day Quote by: Aldous Huxley
A man's desire for a son is usually nothing but the wish to duplicate himself in order that such a remarkable pattern may not be lost to the world.
Fathers Day Quote by: Helen Rowland
The worst misfortune that can happen to an ordinary man is to have an extraordinary father.
Fathers Day Quote by: Austin O'Malley
The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.
Fathers Day Quote by: Confucius
He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father's wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father's care.
Fathers Day Quote by: William Penn
By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.
Fathers Day Quote by: Charles Wadworth
Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
Sherman made the terrible discovery that men make about their fathers sooner or later...
Fathers Day Quote by: Tom Wolfe, The Bonfire of the Vanities
When Charles first saw our child Mary, he said all the proper things for a new father. He looked upon the poor little red thing and blurted, "She's more beautiful than the Brooklyn Bridge."
Fathers Day Quote by: Helen Hayes
It is a wise father that knows his own child.
Fathers Day Quote by: William Shakespeare
The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them.
Fathers Day Quote by: Confucius
Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.
Fathers Day Quote by: David Gottesman
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.
Fathers Day Quote by: Sigmund Freud
When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.
Fathers Day Quote by: Jewish Proverb
I have never been a material girl. My father always told me never to love anything that cannot love you back.
Fathers Day Quote by: Imelda Marcos
You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. She looks up to you. You're her oracle. You're her hero. And then the day comes when she gets her first permanent wave and goes to her first real party, and from that day on, you're in a constant state of panic.
Fathers Day Quote by: Stanley T. Banks in the movie 'Father of the Bride'
There must always be a struggle between a father and son, while one aims at power and the other at independence.
Fathers Day Quote by: Samuel Johnson
My son, a perfect little boy of five years and three months, had ended his earthly life. You can never sympathize with me; you can never know how much of me such a young child can take away. A few weeks ago I accounted myself a very rich man, and now the poorest of all.
Fathers Day Quote by: Ralph Waldo Emerson, on the death of his son
A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
Fathers Day Quote by: Knights of Pythagoras
----------------------------------------------------------------
"When a child is born, a father is born. A mother is born, too of course, but at least for her it's a gradual process. Body and soul, she has nine months to get used to what's happening. She becomes what's happening. But for even the best-prepared father, it happens all at once. On the other side of a plate-glass window, a nurse is holding up something roughly the size of a loaf of bread for him to see for the first time.
Fathers Day Quote by: Frederick Buechner, 'Whistling in the Dark'
I watched a small man with thick calluses on both hands work fifteen and sixteen hours a day. I saw him once literally bleed from the bottoms of his feet, a man who came here uneducated, alone, unable to speak the language, who taught me all I needed to know about faith and hard work by the simple eloquence of his example.
Fathers Day Quote by: Mario Cuomo
My father was a statesman, I'm a political woman.
My father was a saint. I'm not.
Fathers Day Quote by: Indira Gandhi
My father was frightened of his mother. I was frightened of my father and I am damned well going to see to it that my children are frightened of me.
Fathers Day Quote by: King George V
4 years: My Daddy can do anything!
7 years: My Dad knows a lot…a whole lot.
8 years: My father does not know quite everything.
12 years: Oh well, naturally Father does not know that either.
14 years: Oh, Father? He is hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man-he is out of date!
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: I must find out what Dad thinks about it.
35 years: Before we decide, we will get Dad's idea first.
50 years: What would Dad have thought about that?
60 years: My Dad knew literally everything!
65 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad once more.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
My father always used to say that when you die, if you've got five real friends, then you've had a great life.
Fathers Day Quote by: Lee Iacocca
It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.
Fathers Day Quote by: Pope John XXIII
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys."
Fathers Day Quote by: Harmon Killebrew
Father, whom I murdered every night but one,
That one, when your death murdered me.
Fathers Day Quote by: Howard Moss, Elegy for My Father (l. 1-2)
Noble fathers have noble children.
Fathers Day Quote by: Euripides
Better to be driven out from among men than to be disliked of children.
Fathers Day Quote by: Richard Henry Dana
One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.
Fathers Day Quote by: Unknown
If a son is uneducated, his dad is to blame.
Fathers Day Quote by: Chinese Proverb
When I was a kid, my father told me every day, 'You're the most wonderful boy in the world, and you can do anything you want to.'
Fathers Day Quote by: Jan Hutchins
I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week.
Fathers Day Quote by: Mario Cuomo
My father died many years ago, and yet when something special happens to me, I talk to him secretly not really knowing whether he hears, but it makes me feel better to half believe it.
Fathers Day Quote by: Josefowitz
"Train up a child in the way which he should go
and when he is old he will not depart from it"
Fathers Day Quote by: Proverbs 22:6
According to veteran journalist Tony Calvento, model Deniece Cornejo has written a letter to President Benigno Aquino III to discuss how she celebrated her 23rd birthday behind bars last June 1. Apparently, she wanted to make it clear that she was not treated like a "VIP inmate."
In a Facebook post on Monday night, Calvento shared a photo he took of Cornejo's letter to the President.
Birthday behind bars
Cornejo wrote, "Dear Mr. President... By way of this humble representation, I wish to present my side regarding the simple celebration of my 23rd birthday last June 1, 2014 around 2-5pm held in the CIDG where I am currently detained up to this point."
Indeed, Cornejo, who is detained at the Anti-Transnational Crime Unit (ATCU) of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame, managed to celebrate her birthday earlier this month with her family. She reportedly cooked kaldereta, her favorite dish.
Cornejo, who is in jail due to the serious illegal detention charge filed by actor Vhong Navarro shares a single cell with 14 other female inmates.
During her brithday in detention, she had also been visited by Roxanne Cabanero, another woman who accused Navarro of rape.
Cornejo herself has also filed a rape case against Navarro, but it was junked by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Instead, Cornejo along with Cedric Lee, Bernice Lee, Jed Fernandez, Zimmer Raz, Ferdinand Guerrero, and Jose Paolo Calma were charged for the mauling of Navarro.
Innocence highlighted
In her letter to the President, Cornejo said, "I'm still an innocent person, even as I have been charged of serious illegal detention, as guaranteed by our Constitution."
"I feel I'm entitled to marking these important youthful dates of my life with my family, friends, and relatives who came all the way from America and provinces especially that I'm experiencing difficult times," she added.
No special treament
In light on the crackdown against VIP prisoners, Cornejo pointed out in her letter, "With all due respect I didn't asked (sic) for any special treatment or privilege. [A]ll that I wanted was to hold a Sunday worship and thanksgiving since its [sic] Sunday and its (sic) family day."
Cornejo had invited a pastor of a Christian ministry where she belongs "to spread the Word of God and spiritual enrichment of our lives."
She explained that she had "no control" over her guest and other well-wishers, who brought birthday balloons and soft drinks to her detention cell.
"I'm aware of my limitations and in fact I did not leave the premises of the CIDG," she said in the letter.
The undated letter was signed "Deniece Milinette Cornejo."
The Palace has yet to comment on the letter.
A lawyer of businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles yesterday said his client is willing to return P2 billion of what she earned from the P10-billion pork barrel scam to the government.
It was not immediately known whether this is one of the conditions set for Napoles, the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind, to be admitted to the government Witness Protection Program (WPP). But this new twist developed as immunity talks between Napoles, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are now underway.
Lawyer Stephen David, one of Napoles’ lawyers, said his client is willing to give back what she reaped from the multi-billion-peso racket involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel funds of lawmakers, which she started during the Arroyo administration.
Based on their calculations, David claimed that Napoles only gained P2 billion from the scam even though news reports said that P10 billion worth of PDAF was lost to the bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) of Napoles.
“Dapat talagang ibalik iyon. Willing naman si Mrs. Napoles na ibalik iyon,” David said.
He also noted that while his client is willing to return the amount, Napoles would not be able to pay in cash as her assets are currently frozen. “Wala siyang pera,” he said.
But the lawyer of whistleblower Benhur Luy, Atty. Reji Mendoza, belied David’s claim, saying Napoles has other assets that have yet to be frozen.
Bringing out the lists
Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Senator TG Guingona said, "I think it's time already. In the spirit of transparency, the list should be brought out—and it's not only the list in the hands of Secretary De Lima, but also the list of former Senator Lacson, so there's point of comparison if you want."
De Lima, who had previously said that they were still validating the names listed by Napoles, said that she would comply with the Blue Ribbon Committee's mandate.
Lacson, for his part, said he is ready to hand over the Napoles list to the Senate. However, he warned that "the Senate may collapse if the list is made public." Lacson had revealed earlier that there were 16 senators named in the list that's in his possession.
Meanwhile, Senate President Franklin Drilon claims he is confident that the so-called Napoles list won't damage the Senate. He pointed out, "Politicians come and go but the institution stays. I am sure once this process is finished, once the guilty are punished and the innocents are cleared, the institution will remain stronger than what it was before."
Miriam bets on Benhur Luy's list
Amid the debacle about the Napoles lists, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said the Senate should receive whistleblower Benhur Luy’s list to settle the conflicting claims of Napoles, Lacson, and Whistleblowers Association of the Philippines president Sandra Cam.
Santiago says that she believes Luy's list is more “definitive and substantiated” compared to the “spurious documents that are inadmissible in evidence” claimed by three.
Santiago then referred to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report, which claimed that Luy has back-up files of the names with links to Napoles.
The Inquirer, citing Luy's copy of the Napoles list, "discovered that close to 200 people, including lawmakers, department heads, a former Supreme Court justice, popular media personalities, heads of government-owned and -controlled corporations, government employees of various agencies, local government officials, lawyers, military officials, show-biz personalities, employees of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and private individuals received money from Napoles."
Luy supposedly copied the file from a laptop of Napoles.
Santiago, in a letter to Sen. Guingona, said: “It appears to me, as a former RTC judge, that each person claiming to have a list might be acting in concert as attack dogs, for one or all three senators indicted for plunder.”
Deniece Cornejo ended her brief stint as a fugitive on Monday afternoon, May 5, as she surrendered to Philippine National Police Director-General Alan L. Purisima. The model reportedly showed up at Camp Crame at around 4 p.m. and proceeded to Purisima's office.
Cornejo was reportedly accompanied by her granduncle, Rod, whose statement had been read on Buzz ng Bayan on Sunday, May 4. It was he who had appealed to her to surrender.
Rape allegations
Cornejo first went public in January, when she accused actor Vhong Navarro of raping her at the Forbeswood Heights condo unit in Taguig.
Cornejo later said that her friends—businessman Cedric Lee, his sister Benice Lee, Ferdinand Guerrero, Jed Fernandez, Zimmer Raz, and JP Calma—had rescued her from Navarro.
The group later said they roughed up Navarro in their efforts to keep him away from Cornejo. Navarro, on the other hand, claimed that the group had attacked him despite the lack of provocation and that they had even attempted to blackmail him.
The Department of Justice has since junked the rape case Cornejo filed against Navarro. In a 42-page resolution dated April 4, 2014, the DOJ stated that "it was very difficult to comprehend how Navarro could have raped Cornejo, noting that there was not even a single scratch on the model."
Navarro later filed grave coercion and serious illegal detention cases against Cornejo and the rest of her group.
Arrests, confusion, and brief escapes
On April 10, Judge Bernard Pineda Bernal of Taguig Municipal Trial Court (MTC) Branch 74 issued arrest warrants for the grave coercion charge against Cornejo and the rest of their group. Bail was set at P12,000. The NBI was informed of the warrant on April 14.
Cornejo and Fernandez posted bail shortly after the warrant was issued.
Calma, due to the confusion over his name, managed to leave the country for Singapore on April 10.
Guerrero, on other hand, was prevented by immigration officers from getting on a flight to Hong Kong on April 14.
For his part, Lee had reportedly booked an April 12 flight to Dubai, but the booking was subsequently cancelled.
On April 21, the arrest warrants for the serious illegal detention charge were issued by Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes of the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 271 against Lee, Raz, and three others in connection with the serious illegal detention case filed by Navarro. Calma and Cedric's sister, Bernice, were excluded from this charge, which is a non-bailable offense.
Bernice was arrested for the grave coercion charge on the evening of April 21 at her home in San Juan City. She spent the night in detention at the NBI headquarters. She posted bail on April 22.
Lee and Raz, who were arrested on April 26 in a remote town in Samar, were brought back to Manila on April 27.
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