Voter registration at GSIS today

February 21, 2024 | 8:44 pm

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) is opening today, Feb. 22, a voter registration site at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) head office in Pasay City.

The GSIS Gymnasium will serve as the venue for voter registration and will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the Comelec’s Register Anywhere Project (RAP).

In a statement, the GSIS said the Comelec operations will provide two key services: initial voter registration and the transfer of existing voter credentials within any locality in the Philippines.

Applicants interested in casting their ballots in the 2025 national and local elections must personally appear at the GSIS head office to submit their application forms along with a photocopy of a valid government-issued identification (ID) card. The original ID must be presented.

Biometric data will be collected from applicants taken on the scheduled date. — Nate C. Barretto

BARMM shares disaster response expertise with Bangladesh

February 21, 2024 | 8:42 pm

COTABATO CITY — Officials from Bangladesh were briefed by experts from the Bangsamoro government on “best practices” in calamity and disaster response operations as part of an activity facilitated by the World Food Program.

Bangladesh’s Cabinet Secretary on Coordination and Reforms Mahmudul H. Khan sat with officials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as representatives of the Bangsamoro Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READi), led by lawyer Hamad M. Abas, discussed rapid emergency response procedures.

Mr. Khan and his delegation from Bangladesh were given a thorough briefing on various strategies related to disasters, like mitigation thrusts; the deployment and mobilization of ambulances and high-speed rescue boats; the identification of potential disaster and calamity hazards; and social protection programs. — John Felix M. Unson

Kuwaiti appeals court upholds prison term of Filipina’s killer

February 21, 2024 | 8:41 pm

THE APPEALS Court of Kuwait has upheld the 16-year prison sentence meted out on a 17-year-old local citizen convicted of killing a Filipina domestic worker, whose charred remains were found in the desert in January last year.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the appeals court had affirmed the 15-year jail sentence it imposed on the accused for the murder of 35-year-old Jullebee Ranara in September, 2023. He was also ordered imprisoned for one year for driving without a license.

“I have issued instructions to our Migrant Workers Office in Kuwait (MWO-Kuwait) to work with our retained legal counsel in filing a civil action for damages against the father of the convicted perpetrator,” DMW Office-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac said, noting that the killer is a son of Ms. Ranara’s employer.

“We have informed the Ranara family of the Court’s ruling and have assured them of our continued utmost support and assistance, as directed by the President,” he added.

There are about 268,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, 195,000 of whom are working as domestic workers, according to DMW records.

It was Ranara’s case that prompted the DMW, then led by the late former secretary Maria Susana “Toots” V. Ople, to revisit the labor agreement between the two countries. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Gilas Pilipinas battles Hong Kong in Group B of Asia Cup Qualifiers

February 21, 2024 | 7:39 pm

FIBA-Gilas Pilipinas — GILAS PILIPINAS — FIBA.BASKETBALL

Game Thursday
(Tsuen Wan Stadium, Hong Kong)
8 p.m. — Hong Kong vs Philippines

THIS may not have the high stakes offered in Gilas Pilipinas’ last international outing. But even then, Nationals are treating tonight’s away showdown with lightweight Hong Kong with as much importance as their Asian Games gold medal tussle with Jordan last October in Hangzhou, China.

For coach Tim Cone, the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers Group B opening game set at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Tsuen Wan Stadium figures well in the grand scheme of things for it serves as a starting block for the four-year Gilas program aimed at ultimately making the Olympics.

“Our goal is to do that (crack the 2028 Olympiad) but we’re not thinking about that or talking about that as a group. Our focus is what it’s going to take to get us there,” said Mr. Cone, who assembled a 12-man squad that will be on call for every international window, beginning this one, all the way to 2027.

He said the Asia Cup Qualifiers will be the gateway to the Continental meet, which in turn will be the entryway to the next FIBA World Cup, which will then be the doorway to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“We keep telling our guys, we’re not going to shortcut or jump around; we’re going to build consistently forward. That’s why this (Asia Cup Qualifiers opening window) is important,” he said.

“Yes, it’s important that we win. But it’s even more important that we build a foundation from which we can bring to the next window and from which we can go on to the next one and the next one after that.”

First order of business: Get the Gilas machine off to a good start versus Hong Kong.

Justin Brownlee takes the leadership mantle for Gilas 139 days after sparking the Nationals to Asiad gold at the expense of Jordan in China.

Mr. Brownlee returns after serving his three-month suspension for anti-doping violation and can’t wait to join forces with the likes of Scottie Thompson, Kai Sotto, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos, last-minute replacement Japeth Aguilar and young guns Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao.

“I’m definitely ready to get the suspension past me and just looking forward to moving forward,” said Mr. Brownlee, who spent his time in the freezer recovering from his ankle injury and working out.

“Of course, I don’t expect to be at my best (yet) but in due time I can get to that level. I’m a little bit older but I think I have a lot left in the tank. Against Hong Kong, I hope there’s no rust,” he added.

Mr. Brownlee and Co. battles a Hong Kong side that features a familiar face in Duncan Reid. The Hong Kong veteran guard suited up for the powerhouse Bay Area Dragons crew that Ginebra beat in seven gruelling games for the Season 47 PBA Commissioner’s Cup crown last year. — Olmin Leyba

Rusty EJ Obiena captures gold medal in Croatia event

February 21, 2024 | 7:37 pm

PARIS Olympics-bound Filipino pole-vaulter EJ Obiena showed some expected rust but did just enough to capture the gold in the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Osijek, Croatia Tuesday.

The World Championships silver medalist and World No. 2 used his experience to shake off some jitters and cleared 5.83 meters in besting nine other rivals and claiming his first triumph of the year.

“Indoor season finally kicked off,” said Mr. Obiena via his Facebook page.

While his performance wasn’t his best, he still eclipsed the meet record of 5.72m set by Greek Olympian Emmanouil Karalis a year ago.

Portuguese Pedro Buaro took the silver with a 5.73m while American Olen Tray the bronze with a 5.61m.

And he’s just warming up.

Mr. Obiena is expected to perform better in the next event — the ISTAF Indoor slated tomorrow (Feb. 23) at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Then he’ll proceed to Glasgow, Scotland for the World Indoor Championships on March 3.

All this for one goal — a medal, possibly a gold, in the Paris Olympics this July. — Joey Villar

UPHSD, Mapua post win no. 4 to share NCAA lead

February 21, 2024 | 7:36 pm

Games Thursday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
8 a.m. — Mapua vs Letran
10 a.m. — CSB vs San Beda
12 p.m. — LPU vs EAC
2:30 p.m. — UPHSD vs AU
4:30 p.m. — SSC-R vs JRU

UNIVERSITY of Perpetual Help (UPHSD) continued its hot pursuit of a breakthrough National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship after it routed traditional powerhouse San Beda University, 78-56, yesterday to stay unbeaten in Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The UPHSD Junior Altas relied on defense when their league-best offense went bonkers in seizing their four straight win and fortifiying their group of the lead alongside the Mapua University Red Robins, who posted win No. 4 with a 72-57 win over the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Light Bombers. It was the biggest win by UPHSD yet as it hurdled a San Beda team that owned a league-best 23 high school crowns and responsible for handing defending champion Letran’s first and only defeat of the season thus far.

Jan Pagulayan was at his attacking best by firing a team-high 19 points while Mark Gojo Cruz had 15 points and 12 rebounds and the high-leaping, slam-dunking Lebron Jhames Daep with 10 points, six caroms, three steals and a block.

While UPHSD’s defensive genius was incidental, Mapua has thrived on it from the start as it continued to own the league’s stingiest defense.

San Beda dropped to 2-2 while JRU 1-3.

The Junior Blazers, coached by Ren Ren Ritualo, turned back the Arellano University (AU) Braves, 85-81, for their first win after suffering three straight defeats to start the season. — Joey Villar

The scores:

First Game

Mapua 72 — Mangubat 25, Salvador 9, Malaga 8, Mulingtapang 5, Gragasin 5, Masiglat 4, Palis 4, Mananquil 4, Rodriguez 2, Valina 2, Duque 2, Coronel 2, Bagro 0, Bernabe 0, Go 0

JRU 57 — Castillo 11, Satparam 10, Pineda 7, Marin 6, Taparan 5, Rivera 3, Guarino 3, To 3, Natividad 3, Abequibel 2, Almario 2, Capistrano 2, Ferrer 0, Pinzon 0, Rico 0

Quarterscores: 19-10; 37-29; 52-37; 72-57

Second Game

CSB 85 – Quines 22, Muyuela 16, Podador 10, Sharma 10, Ison 7, Osis 6, Gomez 5, Natividad 2, Abad 2, Nonoy 2, Peralta 0, Tud 0, Hachuela 0

AU 81 — Reqguera 23, Espinosa 18, Franco 11, Yu 9, Javier 9, Novilla 4, Montesclaros 4, Austria 3, Pangilinan 0, Tanudtanod, Llantos, Distrito, Vergara, Mendoza 0, Pascual 0

Quarterscores: 22-19; 39-37; 66-59; 85-81

Third Game

UPHSD 78 — Pagulayan 19, Gojo Cruz 15, Daep 10, Acido 9, Callangan 9, Ayon 6, Baldoria 4, Cristino 3, Valencia 2, Asuncion 1, Diaz 0, Panelo 0, Bernaldez 0

San Beda 56 – Vailoces 13, Lorenzo 10, Canete 9, Sollano 6, Medroso 5, Batong Bakal 4, Dollente 3, Wagan 3, Mondigo 2, San Juan 1, Feliciano 0, Garcia 0

Quarterscores: 18-16; 40-37; 60-50; 78-56

Choco Mucho and PLDT open PVL bid against Nxled and Galeries Tower

February 21, 2024 | 7:35 pm

Games Thursday
(Filoil EcoOil Arena)
3 p.m. — Galeries Tower vs PLDT
5 p.m. — Nxled vs Choco Mucho

CHOCO Mucho and PLDT get a chance to launch their championship bids as they battle Nxled and Galeries Tower, respectively, today in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

The High Speed Hitters will parade their brand new star acquisitions in Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron and Kim Fajardo and the ascension to the team captaincy of talented libero Kath Arado as they face off with the Highrisers at 3 p.m.

For the Flying Titans, they would break in their fresh catches in Mars Alba, Royse Tubino, Mean Mendrez and Bia General with hopes of contending for the one hardware that got away last December when it lost to sister team Creamline in the finals — a title.

“We still need to work harder to achieve what we in the team have all strived for,” said Choco Mucho Dante Alinsunurin.

Already, Choco Mucho has been installed as one of the serious contenders to challenge Creamline for the crown again.

That is because it has kept almost the same core that got them to a runner-up finish—the franchise’s best effort in the league thus far — in reigning MVP Sisi Rondina, Deanna Wong, Maddi Madayag, Isa Molde, Kat Tolentino and Thang Ponce.

The arrival of Mmess. Dy, Baron and Fajardo, who have all won Most Valuable Player awards, for PLDT should help plug the gaping hole left by former skipper Mika Reyes, who will be out of the season due to a shoulder injury.

“We just hope to stay healthy,” said PLDT mentor Rald Ricafort. — Joey Villar

Luisita looms as an underdog as the 75^th PAL Senior Interclub kicks off

February 21, 2024 | 7:34 pm

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Marty Ilagan of Luisita nearly aced the signature par-3 13^th hole at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club, the ball bouncing off the pin during the final practice round in the 75^th Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships on Wednesday.

Instead of lining up for his short birdie putt, Mr. Ilagan practiced from a different spot.

“The greens at Pueblo have a lot of undulations. It is important to know where to place your approach,” said Mr. Ilagan who was among seven Luisita players who played the course.

Luisita is defending the title it won last year in Cebu City.

With only five holdovers from last year’s championship squad, the Tarlac-based squad is facing a tough title defense against the souped-up Canlubang and Manila Southwoods and a dangerous crew from Del Monte.

“Will be tough to retain the championship but players are ready and excited for the tournament to start,” said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova. “Luisita will be the underdog this year.”

Canlubang looms as the biggest threat to Luisita’s title-retention bid.

With the addition of John Paul Reyes and Jess Hernandez, Canlubang skipper Tony Olives said they have a good chance of regaining the crown.

“We have two scorers coming in to replace our two stoppers,” Mr. Olives said. “We can say we have a deep bench.”

Manila Southwoods added many-time Alabang Country Club champion Jorge Gallent to its lineup, making a serious bid to end the Luisita-Canlubang stranglehold of the championship division.

With Mr. Gallent teaming up with Junjun Plana, the Carmona-based squad and Del Monte are expected to make the event a four-horse race.

The first round in the championship division will be held at the Pueblo Golf and Country Club.

The next two rounds will be played at Del Monte before it returns to Pueblo for the finale.

Hostilities also kick off in the Founders, Aviator, Sportswriters, and Friendship divisions.

The event is celebrating its diamond anniversary at Cagayan de Oro which last hosted the tournament in 2011.

The 75^th staging of the PAL Interclub is supported by diamond sponsors Mastercard and Asian Journal.

Platinum sponsors include Airbus, Primax Broadcasting Network and Araw Hospitality while gold sponsors are Tanduay and Asia Brewery.

Joining the event as silver sponsors are ABS-CBN Global, Radio Mindanao Network and Philippine National Bank.

VISA is a minor sponsor while Must Glow is joining as a donor.

British Ratcliffe acquisition of Manchester United minority stake completed

February 21, 2024 | 7:34 pm

Sir_Jim_Ratcliffe — JIM RATCLIFFE — MANUTD.COM

MANCHESTER, England — British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in Premier League club Manchester United has been completed, putting an end to a 15-month saga.

The $1.25-billion deal, in which the INEOS chairman will also invest $300 million into the club’s infrastructure and take charge of their soccer operations, was struck in December and its final approval was mainly a formality.

“To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honor and comes with great responsibility,” Mr. Ratcliffe said in a statement on Tuesday.

“This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans.

“Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today.”

The ownership deal had to clear regulatory hurdles, including Premier League and Football Association approval which were both given last week.

Mr. Ratcliffe’s purchase ended more than a year of uncertainty after majority owners, the Glazer family, said in November 2022 that they were looking at strategic options for investment into the club they took control of in 2005. — Reuters

US blocks ceasefire call with 3^rd UN veto in Israel-Hamas war

February 21, 2024 | 7:07 pm

United Nations Security Council — THE UNITED NATIONS Security Council voted on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas war, demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The resolution was not adopted due to the veto by the United States, one of the permanent members of the Security Council. — UN PHOTO/ESKINDER DEBEBE

UNITED NATIONS — The United States on Tuesday again vetoed a draft United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution on the Israel-Hamas war, blocking a demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire as it instead pushes the 15-member body to call for a temporary ceasefire linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Thirteen council members voted in favor of the Algerian-drafted text, while Britain abstained. It was the third US veto of a draft resolution since the start of the fighting on Oct. 7. Washington has also used its veto to block an amendment to the draft resolution in December.

“A vote in favor of this draft resolution is support to the Palestinians’ right to life. Conversely, voting against it implies an endorsement of the brutal violence and collective punishment inflicted upon them,” Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council before the vote.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield signaled on Saturday that the US would veto the draft resolution over concerns it could jeopardize talks between the US, Egypt, Israel and Qatar that seek to broker a pause in the war and the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Demanding an immediate, unconditional ceasefire without an agreement requiring Hamas to release the hostages will not bring about a durable peace. Instead, it could extend the fighting between Hamas and Israel,” Thomas-Greenfield told the council ahead of the vote.

The Algerian-drafted resolution vetoed by the US did not link a cease-fire to the release of hostages. It separately demanded an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

“The message given today to Israel with this veto is that it can continue to get away with murder,” Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour told the council.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said the word ceasefire was being mentioned “as if it is a silver bullet, a magical solution to all of the region’s problems.”

“A ceasefire achieves one thing and one thing only — the survival of Hamas,” Mr. Erdan told the council. “A ceasefire is a death sentence for many more Israelis and Gazans.”

TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE
The US has now proposed a rival draft resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and opposing a major ground offensive by its ally Israel in Rafah, according to the text seen by Reuters on Monday. It said it plans to allow time for negotiations and will not rush to a vote.

Until now, Washington has been averse to the word cease-fire in any UN action on the Israel-Hamas war, but the US text echoes language that President Joseph R. Biden said he used last week in conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The US draft resolution would see the Security Council “underscore its support for a temporary cease-fire in Gaza as soon as practicable, based on the formula of all hostages being released, and calls for lifting all barriers to the provision of humanitarian assistance at scale.” This is the second time since Oct. 7 that Washington has proposed a Security Council resolution on Gaza. Russia and China vetoed its first attempt in late October.

Washington traditionally shields Israel from UN action. But it has also abstained twice, allowing the council to adopt resolutions that aimed to boost aid to Gaza and called for extended pauses in fighting.

The war began when fighters from the Hamas militant group that runs Gaza attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. In retaliation, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza that health authorities say has killed nearly 29,000 Palestinians with thousands more bodies feared lost amid the ruins.

In December, more than three-quarters of the 193-member UN General Assembly voted to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. General Assembly resolutions are not binding but carry political weight, reflecting a global view on the war. — Reuters

Taiwan has not increased military deployments on frontline islands — ministry

February 21, 2024 | 7:01 pm

China-Taiwan-flags — A NAVY miniature is seen in front of displayed Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustration taken April 11, 2023. — REUTERS

TAIPEI/KINMEN, Taiwan — Taiwan has not increased military deployments on frontline islands facing China and there is nothing unusual in the military situation around Taiwan, the defense ministry said on Wednesday amid a rise in tensions with Beijing.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the island’s rejection, has been wary of efforts by Beijing to ramp up pressure on Taipei following last month’s election of Lai Ching-te as president, a man Beijing considers a dangerous separatist.

China’s coast guard on Sunday began regular patrols around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands after two Chinese nationals died trying to flee Taiwan’s coast guard after their boat entered prohibited waters.

On Monday, China’s coast guard boarded a Taiwanese tourist boat in waters close to Kinmen, a move Taiwan denounced as causing “panic.”

Speaking at a regular news briefing in Taipei, Taiwan defense ministry intelligence office Huang Ming-chieh said there was currently “nothing abnormal” in China’s military movements around Taiwan.

Lee Chang-fu, deputy head of the ministry’s joint operations planning department, added that there was no increase in Taiwan’s deployments on the offshore islands, which also includes the Matsu archipelago further up the Chinese coast from Kinmen.

The ministry reiterated it will not intervene in the situation around Kinmen to avoid further escalation in tensions, but is making plans with the coast guard for possible “new scenarios.”

“Our navy and the defense forces of the offshore islands will conduct exercises and preparations in response to the situation,” said ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang.

“The purpose is to hope that in the face of the overall threat situation, it can be effectively and properly handled.”

The US State Department on Tuesday said it was closely monitoring Beijing’s actions, urging restraint and no unilateral change to the status quo.

NEXT TO CHINA
Kinmen is a short boat ride from the Chinese cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou and has been controlled by Taipei since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists, who set up the People’s Republic of China.

Kinmen, where there was fierce fighting during the height of the Cold War but is now a popular tourist destination, is home to a large Taiwanese military garrison, but it is Taiwan’s coast guard which patrols its waters.

In Kinmen, home to around 100,000 people and where signs of previous fighting with China including old bunkers and the odd bullet-pocked buildings are plain to see, there have been no obvious signs of alarm.

“I think it’s an accidental occurrence, it’s not the norm, and it also should not become the norm,” said tourist Chen Yung-hung, 52.

Security sources in Taiwan have told Reuters they do not expect China to escalate the situation around Kinmen, but that it was likely part of Beijing’s increased pressure campaign ahead of president-elect Lai taking office in May.

Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwan’s top military think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said China’s use of the coast guard was an act of “relatively low intensity”.

“They have a two-handed strategy — on the one hand, putting political pressure on Taiwan, while on the other hand trying to avoid escalation,” he said.

Taiwan’s government rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. — Reuters

HK population rises to 7.5 million in 2^nd year of post-COVID growth

February 21, 2024 | 6:58 pm

China-Hong Kong-Choi Hung estate — People take photo in front of Choi Hung estate in Hong Kong, China, June 23, 2019. — REUTERS

HONG KONG — Hong Kong’s (HK) population rose 0.4% to 7.50 million in 2023, boosted by a net inflow of returning residents and people on residential schemes, the government said, as the financial hub marked its second year of population growth since the pandemic.

The increase of 30,500 people from 7.47 million in 2022 comes as the Chinese special administrative region is trying to bolster its economy and international appeal after three years of strict COVID rules.

Anti-government protests in 2019, followed by Beijing’s swift imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020 have also taken a toll on its reputation and economy.

The government said the population increase was the second year since “normalcy resumed” in the former British colony.

“Many Hong Kong residents who stayed abroad during the epidemic have returned to Hong Kong throughout 2023. In the second half of 2023, there was still considerable inflow of Hong Kong Permanent Residents.”

The government said also attributable was the “successive admission of mainland and overseas persons through various schemes into Hong Kong.”

There was a net inflow of 51,700 Hong Kong residents recorded during the period, it said, with 79% holding a ‘One-way permit’ a document issued by mainland China to allow them to reside in the city.

Over the same period, a natural decrease of 21,200 was recorded, with 33,200 births and 54,400 deaths.

Hong Kong’s population rise comes after China’s population fell for a second consecutive year in 2023, due to a record low birth rate and a wave of COVID-19 deaths. — Reuters