Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 10471

Freed murderers and rapists face re-arrest without warrant

POLICE will re-arrest without a warrant more than 1,000 felons who were illegally released for good conduct if they fail to surrender by Sept. 19, according to the Justice department.

The prisoners, who were convicted of various heinous crimes, are effectively evading sentence, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said at a briefing yesterday.

“Each minute, each hour, each day that you refuse to turn yourselves in is a commission — it’s a continuing commission of an offense,” he said. “And for that reason law enforcement agencies may arrest you without a warrant.”

Mr. Guevarra issued the statement during the signing of the revised rules implementing the law on the early release of inmates for good conduct. The law disqualifies convicts of heinous crimes from early release, but the prisoners were freed in the absence of a counterpart provision in the old implementing rules.

Under the new rules, all recidivists, escapees, habitual delinquents and convicts of heinous crimes are excluded from the program. Heinous crimes include murder, rape, destructive arson, parricide, kidnapping and serious illegal detention, and violations of certain provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte fired Bureau of Corrections chief Nicanor E. Faeldon after he allowed the illegal release of the felons. The president also ordered an investigation of prison officials by the Ombudsman for corruption.

The Ombudsman has ordered the suspension of about 30 jail officials in connection with the botched release of ineligible prisoners.

Mr. Faeldon headed the Bureau of Customs but was forced to resign at the height of a controversy involving the shipment of billions of pesos worth of crystal meth from China. He was reappointed to the Office of Civil Defense before heading the BuCor in 2018.

Opposition Senator Franklin M. Drilon earlier said Mr. Faeldon was not only incompetent but also lied under oath to evade accountability for the planned early release of ex-Calauan Mayor Antonio L. Sanchez.

The release of the former politician, who was sentenced to seven life terms in 1995 for the rape and murder of two University of the Philippines students in 1993, was suspended after a public outcry and a Senate investigation of the plan.

Mr. Guevarra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the reported sale of hospital passes to inmates at the Bureau of Corrections.

The Justice chief had also ordered a separate probe of corruption at the bureau after reports that parole grants have become for sale.

During a Senate hearing early this month, a witness accused some prison officials of promising families of convicts to release them earlier for a fee. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Chongqing seeks sisterhood deal with Davao

ANOTHER Chinese city has proposed a sisterhood agreement with President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s hometown of Davao City, which the latter expects to spur investments from China.

The planned sisterhood deal with Chongqing, a major manufacturing hub in China, may attract Chinese manufacturers who want to expand their markets, April Marie C. Dayap, head of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center, said at the weekend.

Chongqing is known for car manufacturing and other technology products such as mobile phones.

Chen Min’Er, Communist Party secretary of Chongqing, an interior region governed as a municipality, headed the delegation of Chinese politicians and traders who visited Mr. Duterte’s hometown.

“We are ready to accept them and look for possibilities for more cooperation,” Ms. Dayap said. “This is for the mutual benefit of Davao and Chongqing.”

Davao will also invite the Chinese to invest in tourism and agriculture, she said.

The city government will push for direct flights between Davao and Chongqing once the sisterhood deal is signed, Ms. Dayap said. Davao City has sisterhood deals with Jinjiang and Nanning. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Mindanao agency pushes organic rice

THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will partner with a seed company and a farmers’ cooperative to push a shift to organic premium rice production.

In a statement, the agency cited the benefits of organic brown and black rice and premium quality rice varieties for export.

MinDA Chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol wants to support farmers who have been affected by declining local prices due to the Rice Liberalization Law.

Mr. Piñol earlier said one way to mitigate the impact of low rice prices is for farmers to find alternatives to increase their income such as growing premium varieties that foreign markets are looking for.

Mr. Piñol earlier this month went to Papua New Guinea to sign a memorandum of understanding for agricultural cooperation between Mindanao and the country, which would pave the way for more premium rice exports from the Philippines.

Under the deal, MinDA will help Mindanao rice farmers in exporting about 5,000 metric tons of rice. Local farmers will also help their counterparts develop their agricultural sector.

MinDA is also looking at other markets such as the US and Middle East for its premium rice varieties. — Carmelito Q. Francisco

Green group asks salary for forest rangers

AN environmental group wants Davao City to absorb as employees farmers who volunteer as forest rangers and pay them with a monthly salary instead of just an honorarium.

Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) said guarding forests is an important job that few people are willing to do, the group said. So-called “Bantay Bukid” volunteers are a critical human resource needed to protect the city’s natural resources, it added.

The P2,500 allowance that volunteers get monthly is not enough, IDIS Executive Director Chinkee P. Golle said in an interview.

Seventy-one volunteers conducted biodiversity monitoring in the first quarter, resulting in an increased number of species recorded from a year earlier.

Forest rangers planted more than 800 seedlings in the riverbanks and monitored previously planted areas to replace seedling mortality due to El Niño. They also collected as many as 110 kilos of garbage from the rivers, according to the environmental group. — Maya M. Padillo

Nationwide round-up

New BuCor chief named

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has designated Gerald Quitaleg Bantag as the new director-general of the Bureau of Corrections, replacing fired former prison chief Nicanor E. Faeldon, Malacañang said yesterday.

Mr. Bantag’s designation was “based on his professional competence and honesty,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said.

“The Palace is behind the President’s decision and is confident that DG Bantag will continue the administration’s campaign against corruption as he spearheads reform initiatives in the Bureau,” he said. — ALB

Duterte meets with Chinese leaders

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte met with officials of the Communist Party of China in a courtesy call at the presidential palace on Monday, Malacañang said.

The president received Chongqing party chief Chen Min’Er, a protégé of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and other members of the party, the palace said in a statement late Monday.

“The President welcomed Chen and the CPC members in a tête-à-tête at the Palace’s music room,” it said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Court rejects Yasay plea

THE Court of Appeals (CA) denied the motion for reconsideration of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. seeking to lift the arrest warrant issued against him for violation of banking laws.

In a three-page resolution, the court said Mr. Yasay should wait for a Manila regional trial court’s decision on a similar motion that he filed. That court had ordered his arrest on March 8.

“The premature invocation of the intervention of the court while said motions are still unresolved is fatal to the instant petition,” the appellate court said.

Police arrested Mr. Yasay on Aug. 22 based on a charge that he conspired with five other officials of the shuttered Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank to get an anomalous loan worth P350 million for a company. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DoH to finish universal health care rules

THE Department of Health will finish the guidelines on universal health care next month even if it has insufficient funds to fully enforce the program next year, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said at a Senate hearing yesterday.

The law mandates that all Filipinos become members of the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. It was enacted on Feb. 20 and the agency was given six months to complete the implementing rules.

Mr. Duque said the DoH’s proposed budget of P160 billion for next year would not be enough, noting that enforcing universal health care would cost about P287 billion. — Gillian M. Cortez

TWG on OFW dep’t to be formed

SPEAKER Alan Peter S. Cayetano on Tuesday said that there is a proposal to form a joint technical working group by both chambers of Congress in the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Mr. Cayetano said he met with Senate officials on Monday. He expects the bill to be passed on final reading by December.

AFP defends telecom deal

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said it had not bypassed Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in the signing of an agreement allowing a China-linked local telecommunication company to set up towers inside military camps.

“The MOAs have to be approved by the secretary of defense but before the secretary of the defense signs the MOA, I have to sign it,” AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal told reporters yesterday.

He said that Mr. Lorenzana can revoke the deal with Mislatel consortium’s Dito Telecommunity Corp. (DTC) if needed. Mr. Lorenzana earlier said that he was traveling when the deal between AFP and Dito was signed. — MWCP

Duterte meets with Chinese Maoist leaders

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte met with officials of the Communist Party of China in a courtesy call at the presidential palace on Monday, Malacañang said.

The president received Chongqing party chief Chen Min’Er, a protégé of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and other members of the party, the palace said in a statement late Monday.

“The President welcomed Chen and the CPC members in a tête-à-tête at the Palace’s music room,” it said.

Mr. Chen is seen as a “rising political star” in China, and he became the Communist Party Secretary of Chongqing two years ago and joined the 25-member Politburo, the CPC’s top decision-making body, according to the palace.

Chongqing is one of China’s leading cities and is typically lead by a party secretary from the Chinese Politburo, it said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

Court rejects Yasay plea

THE Court of Appeals (CA) denied the motion for reconsideration of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr. seeking to lift the arrest warrant issued against him for violation of banking laws.

In a three-page resolution, the court said Mr. Yasay should wait for a Manila regional trial court’s decision on a similar motion that he filed. That court had ordered his arrest on March 8.

“The premature invocation of the intervention of the court while said motions are still unresolved is fatal to the instant petition,” the appellate court said.

Police arrested Mr. Yasay on Aug. 22 based on a charge that he conspired with five other officials of the shuttered Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank to get an anomalous loan worth P350 million for a company, according to a police report. He posted a P300,000 bail the next day. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

DoH to finish universal health care rules

THE Department of Health will finish the guidelines on universal health care next month even if it has insufficient funds to fully enforce the program next year, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said at a Senate hearing yesterday.

The law mandates that all Filipinos become members of the state-owned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. It was enacted on Feb. 20 and the agency was given six months to complete the implementing rules.

Mr. Duque said the DoH’s proposed budget of P160 billion for next year would not be enough, noting that enforcing universal health care would cost about P287 billion. — Gillian M. Cortez

TWG on OFW dep’t to be formed

SPEAKER Alan Peter S. Cayetano on Tuesday said that there is a proposal to form a joint technical working group by both chambers of Congress in the creation of a Department of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Mr. Cayetano said he met with Senate officials on Monday. He expects the bill to be passed on final reading by December.

AFP defends telecom deal

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines said it had not bypassed Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in the signing of an agreement allowing a China-linked local telecommunication company to set up towers inside military camps.

“The MOAs have to be approved by the secretary of defense but before the secretary of the defense signs the MOA, I have to sign it,” AFP Chief of Staff General Benjamin Madrigal told reporters yesterday.

He said that Mr. Lorenzana can revoke the deal with Mislatel consortium’s Dito Telecommunity Corp. (DTC) if needed.

Mr. Lorenzana earlier said that he was traveling when the deal between AFP and Dito was signed. — MWCP

New BuCor chief named

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Gerald Quitaleg Bantag as the new director-general of the Bureau of Corrections, replacing fired former prison chief Nicanor E. Faeldon, Malacañang said yesterday.

Mr. Bantag’s appointment was “based on his professional competence and honesty,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said

“The Palace is behind the President’s decision and is confident that DG Bantag will continue the administration’s campaign against corruption as he spearheads reform initiatives in the Bureau,” he said. — ALB

NHA resettlement subsidy out

THE Budget department has released P212.9 million worth of subsidy to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for its resettlement program.

“The NHA resettlement program provides new settlements for families occupying danger areas such as waterways/riverbanks, railroad tracks, sidewalks, etc., and those displaced from sites earmarked for government infrastructure projects,” it said in a statement.

The agency also released P55.9 million for the program last July 30. — BML

Peso inches higher on US-Japan deal, FOMC

THE PESO rose slightly on Tuesday amid optimism on the United States and Japan’s trade pact and ahead of the policy meeting of the US Federal Reserve.

The local unit ended at P52.26 against the greenback on Tuesday, appreciating by two centavos from its P52.28-to-a-dollar close on Monday.

The peso opened at P52.33 versus the dollar. It traded sideways, with its weakest point recorded at P52.395, while its intraday best was at P52.23 against the greenback.

Dollars traded on Tuesday grew to $1.140 billion against the $1.325 billion seen on Monday.

“The peso’s performance could be attributed to the optimism arising from the US-Japan initial agreement on tariffs. The market is also preparing for the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) which would trigger a somehow weaker dollar,” one trader said, noting the market is positive that the Fed will cut rates.

Another trader said the FOMC meeting also boosted the peso.

“Market participants anticipate dovish guidance from the US Federal Reserve policy meeting this week,” the trader said.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday Washington had struck trade agreements with Tokyo that could be implemented without congressional approval, but stopped short of assuring Japan that new tariffs would not be slapped on vital auto exports.

In a letter to the US Congress released by the White House, Mr. Trump said that he intends to enter into the agreements on tariff barriers and digital trade “in the coming weeks” and was notifying lawmakers that the tariff deal would be made under a trade law provision allowing the US president to make reciprocal tariff reductions by proclamation.

On a critical issue to Japan, Mr. Trump’s announcement left unclear whether he has agreed not to impose threatened national security tariffs on Japanese vehicles and auto parts. Avoiding the “Section 232” tariffs of up to 25% was a major motivating factor for Tokyo in negotiating with Washington on trade.

“At the finishing stage, we plan to reconfirm that 232 won’t be imposed,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s lead negotiator, told a regular news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Taro Aso said the deal won’t contain any provision on currencies — another worry for Tokyo. Japan wants to avoid any agreement hindering its ability to intervene in the foreign-exchange markets in the event of a spike in the yen, or to expand the Bank of Japan’s massive monetary stimulus.

For today, the first trader expects the peso to move at around P52.00 to P52.35 against the dollar.

“The local currency might appreciate further prior to the Fed policy meeting and on expectations that the August Eurozone inflation reports are expected to remain firm from earlier estimates. Exchange rates might move within the P51.15 and P51.35 range,” the second trader said. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters

Shares yield to fear over Saudi attack’s impact

LOCAL SHARES fell on Tuesday, as the attack on key Saudi oil facilities last Saturday is now expected to prod Philippine inflation through higher oil prices.

The 30-member Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) plunged 0.81% or 64.67 points to close at 7,932.23, ending back-to-back gains since Friday. The broader all shares index similarly lost 0.59% or 28.85 points to finish at 4,794.20.

“Geopolitical risks related to the recent attack on Saudi Aramco, which also led to US markets closing in the red last night, prevented the PSEi from inching past the 8,000 mark today,” Papa Securities Corp. Sales Associate Gabriel Jose F. Perez said in an e-mail.

Two major oil facilities of Saudi Arabian firm Aramco were attacked on Saturday morning, halving output of the world’s biggest oil producer and knocking out about 5.7 million barrels a day or five percent of global output.

Oil prices have since soared to their highest levels in more than three decades.

“The Saudi attacks have resulted in a drastic drop in oil supply and consequently pushed oil prices up. As a heavy importer of oil, the Philippines will have to bear the brunt of these higher prices which will push our CPI (consumer price index) up,” PNB Securities, Inc. President Manuel Antonio G. Lisbona said via text.

Bloomberg reported that Aramco believes less than half of the plant’s capacity can be restored quickly, but analysts say full resumption could be “weeks or even months away.”

The PSEi joined overall negativity abroad in the wake of the Saudi attacks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 index and the Nasdaq Composite index lost 0.52%, 0.31% and 0.28%, respectively.

In Asia, the Shanghai SE Composite, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng and India’s S&P BSE Sensex index gave up 1.74%, 1.23% and 1.57%, respectively.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Topix indices, however, climbed 0.06% and 0.29%, respectively, while South Korea’s Kospi added 0.01%.

Back home, the industrial counter was the lone sectoral index that gained, adding 0.08% or 9.72 points to close 11,061.65.

The rest declined, led by financials which dumped 2.27% or 41.7 points to 1,787.87. Mining and oil dropped 2.17% or 208.23 points to 9,385.40, services went down 0.94% or 15.37 points to 1,606.90, holding firms shed 0.64% or 51.33 points to 7,855.57, while property slipped 0.29% or 12.06 points to 4,056.10.

Turnover remained thin at 720.068 million shares worth P5.21 billion, compared to the previous session’s 942.23 million worth P4.97 billion.

Stocks that lost trumped those that gained 126 to 73, while 45 names ended flat. Foreign investors turned net sellers at P214.15 million, against Monday’s net purchases of P130.40 million.

Fourteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in negative territory, including Phinma Energy, Corp. (down 6.69%), Nickel Asia Corp. (down 4.43%) and BDO Unibank, Inc. (down 3.51%). — Arra B. Francia

UST Growling Tigers go for back-to-back wins anew

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

HAD THEIR University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 82 win streak halted in two games early on, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers seek to win back-to-back games anew when they return to action today at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Currently second-running in the race with a 3-1 record, the Tigers are coming off a gutsy 87-74 overtime victory over the National University Bulldogs last time around and are looking to build on it when they face off with the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the scheduled 12:30 p.m. contest.

Also seeing action today are the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (2-1) against NU (0-3) at 10:30 a.m. and Far Eastern University Tamaraws (1-2) versus the De La Salle Green Archers (1-2) at 4 p.m.

In its last game, UST had a dogfight with NU, eventually outlasting the latter in extra period to swing back to winning in the ongoing season of the UAAP.

Rookie sensation Rhenz Abando exploded for the Tigers in the dying seconds of regulation and in OT, including draining two triples in extra time to help his team build enough cushion on their way to the hard-earned victory.

The high-flying forward finished with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists in the win.

Soulemane Chabi Yo top-scored for UST with 23 points to go along with 20 rebounds and four assists while Sherwin Concepcion had 13 points and six boards.

Making a good account of themselves in four games so far in the season, UST coach Aldin Ayo said he is happy with where they are right now but underscored the need for them to continue working and improving.

“We are still in the learning process. We still have to learn to a lot of things to be where we want to be,” said Mr. Ayo, who is in his second year of coaching the Tigers.

Against Adamson, Mr. Ayo said they are expecting a grind of a match since the Falcons are very competitive.

“They may have changed players but it is the same tough Adamson team with their system in place. They would continue to compete,” the UST coach said.

On the part of Adamson, the team is looking to bounce back after finishing on the raw end of an 83-82 overtime match against UP on Sept. 15.

The Falcons had their chances to book their third straight win in the season but just could not hold off a ferocious charge back by the Maroons in overtime to slump to the defeat.

Val Chauca led Adamson with 21 markers while AP Manlapaz added 17 points in a losing cause.

WARRIORS’ SUERTE
Meanwhile, University of the East one-and-done Rey Suerte is the UAAP player of the week for stepping up big for the Red Warriors in their 89-88 breakthrough win over La Salle on Sept. 14.

Suerte, a three-time champion and two-time most valuable player back in Cebu while playing for the University of the Visayas, dropped a UAAP career-high 31 points, including what turned out to be the game-winning triple in the dying seconds of the match.

In winning the weekly award, handed out by media covering the league, Suerte bested UST’s Abando and Chabi Yo, Ateneo’s Angelo Kouame and UP’s Kobe Paras.

Beckham, Garrett lead Browns’ 23-3 victory over New York Jets

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr. had a career-long, 89-yard touchdown reception, and Myles Garrett recorded three sacks as the Cleveland Browns posted a 23-3 victory over the New York Jets on Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 35 passes for 325 yards with one interception and the touchdown to Beckham, who had six catches for 161 yards. Beckham’s big showing came at MetLife Stadium, the venue he called home for five seasons with the New York Giants before being traded to the Browns during the offseason.

Nick Chubb added a rushing touchdown, and Austin Seibert kicked three field goals for Cleveland (1-1), which impressively rebounded from a season-opening 43-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

New York (0-2) totaled 262 offensive yards without starting quarterback Sam Darnold (mononucleosis) and also lost fill-in Trevor Siemian to an injured left ankle with 7:47 left in the second quarter. Siemian completed 3 of 6 passes for 3 yards before exiting.

Luke Falk finished the game and went 20 of 25 for 198 yards. Le’Veon Bell rushed for 68 yards on 21 carries and caught 10 passes for 61 more as New York absorbed its seventh straight home setback.

The Browns, who had 375 offensive yards, scored the game’s first 13 points while quickly taking control.

Seibert kicked field goals of 23 and 48 yards in the first quarter, and Chubb scored on a 19-yard run through the left side to make it 13-0 with 10:16 left in the half.

Siemian was injured about 2 1/2 minutes later when he was hit by Garrett after throwing a deep incompletion. Siemian’s toes pressed into the turf and his left leg twisted as he felt the brunt of the weight of his lower body plus Garrett’s body weight falling on him.

Falk entered and drove the Jets to Sam Ficken’s 46-yard field goal with 2:56 left in the half.

Seibert booted a 43-yard field out as time expired to give Cleveland a 16-3 halftime lead.

The big play by Beckham all but assured the Browns’ victory. Cleveland was at its own 11-yard line when Mayfield hit a wide-open Beckham with a short throw at the 22. Beckham headed upfield and outran four New York secondary players with 3:32 left in the third quarter.

Beckham also made an acrobatic one-handed, 33-yard reception in the opening quarter to set up Seibert’s first field goal. — Reuters

Bad weather, suspension of classes force postponement of NCAA games

BAD WEATHER caused by monsoon rains and the subsequent cancellation of classes in the metro forced the National Collegiate Athletic Association to postpone scheduled Season 95 games at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City on Tuesday.

In a statement, NCAA Management Committee chairman Peter Cayco of season host Arellano University said that with the inclement weather the games had to be postponed, to ensure safety of both the teams and spectators, and rescheduled to a later date.

Affected games were those of the San Sebastian Stags (7-3) against the Perpetual Help Altas (3-7) at 12 noon, Mapua Cardinals (4-6) versus the College of Saint Benilde Blazers (6-4) at 2 p.m., and the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers (4-7) against Arellano (2-9) at 4 p.m.

San Sebastian was looking to extend its winning streak to six games and fortify its push for a top-two finish in the elimination round of the ongoing season of the country’s oldest collegiate league.

Perpetual Help, for its part, has lost back-to-back games and was angling to wiggle out of the skid.

Mapua and JRU, meanwhile, were out to build on their victories last time around and pad their respective thrusts towards the top half of the standings against opponents which are having it rough of late.

Next NCAA action is set for Thursday, Sept. 19. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Top PFL teams Ceres-Negros, Kaya-FC Iloilo collide in Biñan

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE MARQUEE collision of top Philippines Football League teams Ceres-Negros FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo headlines the league’s midweek offering.

Set for 3:30 p.m. today at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna, league-leading Ceres (14-1-0) and second-running Kaya (12-1-2) seek to advance their respective causes and fan their push to the top with a victory in their encounter, the third this season.

Ceres, at the top of the heap with 43 points, has been on a massive roll, winning 14 straight matches and its only blemish a draw on its opening game.

The latest of the wins of the “Busmen” came on Sept. 14, a 7-0 shellacking of Philippine Air Force FC.

Ceres was led by the hat trick of Robert Lopez Mendy with Bienvenido Maranon, OJ Porteria, Mike Ott ad Dennis Villanueva contributing a goal each.

The Busmen had it slow at the beginning but once they got their rhythm collectively they were simply unstoppable.

Ceres has had the number of Kaya this season so far, taking their first two matches.

It came from behind to clinch a 2-1 win last July 10 at the PFF National Training Center before securing a 1-0 victory with mostly 10 men last Aug. 3 at the Aboitiz Pitch.

But despite having beaten Kaya in previous occasions this season, Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic said there is no resting against a team like Kaya, which he describes as “special.”

“Kaya is a special team, they are our strongest opponent in the league. I think the players will give everything in this game because it is crucial to win the league again,” said Mr. Vidakovic, whose wards are the two-time defending PFL champions.

Kaya, for its part, is second with 37 points and is on a five-game winning streak.

It defeated Global Cebu FC, 5-1, on Sept. 7 with Jordan Mintah’s hat trick and goals from Darryl Roberts and Alfred Osei accounting for its game tally.

The Ceres-Kaya match will be shown live on pfltv.ph and on Facebook Live via the PFL page.

Meanwhile, also seeing action today are Stallion Laguna FC (8-4-4) and Mendiola FC 1991 (3-3-10) at 4 p.m. at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa City, Batangas.

Smile Train’s Team Empower championing runs for a cause

FINDING much success and willing partners for its Team Empower fund-raising platform, Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, is extending the program in the country for a third straight year with a new set of athletes championing the impact that runs for a cause have.

In line with Smile Train’s thrust to create more smiles, new beginnings, and the opportunity for children with clefts to live full and productive lives, Team Empower, brought in the Philippines in 2017, is an endurance fundraizing platform that allows athletes to create an online fundraising page and encourage their friends and family to show support by donating to the cause.

Smile Train Team Empower currently has charity slots soldout to marathons and multi-sport races, such as the London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City marathons and a number of Ironman races around the world.

Since being organized here, the program has been received well in the local setting, something Smile Train officials hope to sustain moving forward.

“As Smile Train celebrates its 20th year, we continue to recognize people who want to contribute their time and talent for a good cause,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Area Director for Southeast Asia.

“Smile Train Team EMPOWER is the perfect avenue for athletes to pursue their personal fitness goals while still creating a brighter future for babies born with clefts,” she added.

For this year, the Team Empower athletes include founder and president of People Ignite and a cancer survivor, Joy Wong; Pound Fitness pro, Marge Camacho; triathlete coach, Coach Norman Pascual; and Joyette Jopson, triathlete coach and the First Filipino Finisher of the FWD 78° North Marathon.

They were recently introduced to media in a gathering held at The Rudy Project Lifestyle Store in Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City, where they participated in an open discussion and shared some fitness tips.

“In the Philippines, there is an estimate of 5,000 babies with clefts born every year. We are grateful for our Smile Train Team Empower athletes who help us raise funds and awareness for children in need. Having their support helps us reach more patients all over the country,” said Ms. Coseteng-Flaviano of their organization and partners.

To learn more about Smile Train Team Empower and the races, visit smiletrain.org/get-involved/team-empower or e-mail philippines@smiletrain.org. For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, visit smiletrain.org. — — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

1...10,47010,47110,472...14,236Page 10,471 of 14,236
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube