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Kershaw beats Blue Jays, moves up Dodgers’ win list

A.J. POLLOCK and Will Smith hit home runs to jump-start the offense, and Clayton Kershaw moved past Sandy Koufax on the Dodgers’ all-time win list as Los Angeles earned a 16-3 interleague victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Joc Pederson also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who have gone deep 30 times in their last eight games. Los Angeles improved to a major-league-best 49-16 at home this season.

Kershaw (13-2) went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts. It was his 166th career victory, moving him out of a tie with Koufax and into sole possession of fifth on the team’s all-time list.

Bo Bichette hit two home runs off Kershaw in his first matchup against the Los Angeles ace, giving him seven long balls on the year. His first multi-homer contest came in his 21st career game. He also became the first rookie to hit two home runs in a game against Kershaw.

Bichette’s first home run of the night came on Kershaw’s second pitch. Derek Fisher also hit a homer for the Blue Jays, with his solo shot in the third inning giving Toronto a 2-0 lead. It was Fisher’s fifth of the season.

The Dodgers unleashed their offense in the bottom of the third inning against right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (2-4), delivering a five-run rally with two outs. After Pederson lined out and Kershaw struck out, Pollock started the offensive outburst with a home run, his ninth.

Six consecutive Dodgers batters reached base, with Smith hitting a two-run home run in the stretch, his 11th. Corey Seager added a two-run double in the inning, one of his three hits.

Cody Bellinger increased the Dodgers’ lead to 8-2 in the fourth inning with a three-run double. He was out trying to stretch the hit into a triple, but he did reach 100 RBIs on the hit for the first time in his career.

In the sixth, after Bichette delivered his second home run of the game, Muncy hit his 32nd home run and Taylor hit his ninth in his first game back from the injured list. Taylor, who had been out since mid-July due to a fractured left forearm, had three hits and drove in four runs.

Pederson hit his 25th homer in the eighth. — Reuters

Los Angeles Lakers taking time to replace center DeMarcus Cousins

DEMARCUS COUSINS likely will miss the 2019-20 season with a torn ACL, leaving the Los Angeles Lakers with a big hole to fill alongside Anthony Davis and LeBron James.

But ESPN reported that Los Angeles Lakers is kicking the tires on several veteran centers, including Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah and Marreese Speights.

ESPN reported the Lakers will hold individual workouts and interviews with each player and also consider Marcin Gortat.

Howard, who would be set for a second tour with the Lakers, is a candidate for a buyout with the Grizzlies, per Adrian Wojnarowski. He added that the “Lakers want a window into physical condition and mindset of a potential addition.” — Reuters

Country’s future sports heroes to be honored

REIGNING GIRLS PGA champion Yuka Saso heads the cast of awardees when the Phoenix Petroleum Siklab Sports Youth Awards 2019 honors the future heroes of Philippine sports on Sept. 2 at the Market! Market! Activity Area in BGC, Taguig City.

The 18-year-old Asian Games gold medalist will share the stage with triathlete Andrew Kim Remolino, basketball’s Dave Ildefonso and 18 other athletes from various sports as Siklab Young Heroes along with fencer Maxine Esteban and junior cycling champ Marc Ryan Lago.

Paddlers Christine Mae Talledo and Lealyn Baligasa, members of the PH dragonboat team that won five gold medals in the ICF World Dragonboat Championships, will also be recognized in the event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Joining them during the gala for the most promising athletes 18 years and younger are International Masters Kylen Mordido and Marvin Miciano, speed skater Julian Kyle Silverio as well as pole vaulter Hokett Delos Santos and wrestler Cadel Evance Hualda.

Organized by the PSC-POC Media Group with Market! Market! and Ayala Malls as venue partners, the second edition of the Siklab Sports Youth Awards will also put the spotlight on Super Kids awardees led by gymnast Karl Eldrew Yulo and IM Daniel Quizon.

Bowlers Norel Nuevo and Grace Gella, who both captured bronze medals in the recent junior world championships, likewise got the recognition that they deserved along with promising skateboarder David Sebastian Chanco and taekwondo jin Ian Matthew Corton.

Receiving the Sports Idols accolade this year are track and field icon Elma Muros-Posadas and jiu-jitsu world champion Meggie Ochoa while PSC Chairman William Ramirez and Go For Gold head Jeremy Go have been named godfathers of the year.

The PSC Children’s Games for Peace Award is exclusive for the top performers of the 2019 Palarong Pambansa and the Batang Pinoy Games led by archer Naina Dominique Tagle and swimmers Xiandi Chua, Michaela Jasime Mojdeh and Marc Bryant Dula.

Completing the Young Heroes are shooting’s Denise Basila and Michael Angelo Fernandez, skater Diane Panlilio, Jannah Romero (table tennis), Janzeth Gajo (wushu), Joshua Glenn Bullo (sepak takraw), Lanz Zafra (badminton), Samantha Catantan (fencing) and Solomon Padiz Jr. (badminton).

Sandrex Gaisan (wushu), Patrick Coo (cycling), Mariel Abuan (athletics), Remond Lofranco (boxing), weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, swimmer Ivo Nikolai Enot and Dylan Valmores (jiu-jitsu) will also receive the elegant Super Kids trophy.

Philippine national women’s basketball team out to keep Division A status at FIBA Asia Cup 2019

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL women’s basketball team sees action at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 next month in India with an eye on doing well and keeping its Division A status.

Promoted to the top division of the Women’s Asia Cup in 2015, Gilas Pilipinas Women’s, formerly named Perlas Pilipinas, has since kept its position and looking to remain in the company of the top teams in the world when it plunges back into action in the Cup set for Sept. 24 to 29 in Bangalore.

The Philippines, 47th-ranked in the world, opens its bid in Group B along with world number 3 Australia, China (7th) and New Zealand (42nd).

Playing in Group A, meanwhile, are Japan (10th), South Korea (18th), Chinese Taipei (39th) and host India (45th).

Tournament format calls for the teams playing three games in each grouping in the opening round with the top teams advancing outright to the semifinals.

The next two teams from each group then play in a crossover quarterfinals for a spot in the semifinals.

Teams finishing last in their groups will go head to head with the winner maintaining their Division A status.

Heading into the tournament, Gilas Pilipinas Women’s coach Patrick Aquino said they are confident of doing well in the tournament armed with the lessons they got from international competitions they joined in recently, backed by steady practice sessions here at home.

“Our summer training in Taipei last May helped us benchmark where the team is on an international scale. We had several games with one of the strongest teams in Taiwan. We also have been practicing 5-6 times a week, and we’ve been having a series of tune-up games against different teams,” said Mr. Aquino, whose team also competed at the recent William Jones Cup also in Taipei.

Gilas Pilipinas Women’s is expected to be bannered by veterans Afril Bernardino and Jack Animam to be joined by a mix of old and new faces in the national team.

Mr. Aquino said the work continues for them from now till the tournament proper, enhancing their skills set to fashion out an effective game plan.

“The team needs to strengthen their offense and make sure they are also solid on the defensive end. The easy part will be to scout the players of the teams: know their individual tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. As a team, we need to trust the system and make sure we can execute. It will be challenging for us especially the super teams we are up against but we will prepare and win every possession as much as we can,” the national team coach said.

The Philippines opens its bid in the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019 against Australia on Sept. 24. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Saint Louis Rapid/Blitz (2)

Saint Louis Leg, Grand Chess Tour
Saint Louis, USA
Aug. 10-15, 2019

Final Standings, Rapid

1-2 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Levon Aronian, 6.5/9, 3-4 Yu Yangyi, Ding Liren 5.0/9, 5-8 Sergey Karjakin, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Richard Rapport 4.0/9, 9 Leinier Dominguez-Perez, 3.5/9, 10 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, 2.5/9

Time Control: 25 minutes play-to-finish with a 10 second delay (not increment) starting move 1

Final Standings, Blitz

1-3 Yu Yangyi, Ding Liren, Sergey Karjakin, 11.5/18, 4-5 Levon Aronian, Magnus Carlsen, 9.0/18, 6-7 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport, 8.5/18, 8-9 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Fabiano Caruana, 7.0/18, 10 Leinier Dominguez-Perez, 6.5/18

Time Control: 5 minutes play-to-finish with a 3 second delay (not increment) starting move 1

Combined Overall Standings (Rapid results count double)

1 Levon Aronian, 22.0/36

2-4 Yu Yangyi, Ding Liren, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 21.5/36

5 Sergey Karjakin, 19.5/36

6 Magnus Carlsen, 17.0/36

7 Richard Rapport, 16.5/36

8 Fabiano Caruana, 15.0/36

9 Leinier Dominguez, 13.5/36

10 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, 12.0/36

Last July Maxime Vachier-Lagrave surpassed Magnus Carlsen in the blitz ratings list after defeating him three times in that format during the first semester of the year.

Then came the Paris Rapid/Blitz leg of the Grand Chess Tour. After finishing the rapid section of the Paris event in clear first place he could not keep up the pace and crawled to the end after losing four games in both days of the Blitz portion. It was fortunate that the blitz competition was too tight and nobody scored enough points to overtake MVL’s lead. The Paris event therefore was fittingly won by a Frenchman although along the way Vachier-Lagrave lost 102 rating points and fell to the third spot in the Blitz ratings list.

Here in Saint Louis Rapid/Blitz we almost had a repeat performance. MVL once more did well in the Rapid but deteriorated in the Blitz, with the difference that this time his negative score in the five-minute games left him just half a point short of tying for 1st place in the overall standings. Combined with his poor performance in the Paris blitz Maxime has lost a total of 185.2 rating points from the events and has plunged from no. 1 to no. 20 on the live blitz rating list.

Anyway, as a consolation prize Vachier-Lagrave got to play this beautiful game in the Rapid portion.

Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2778) — Rapport, Richard (2747) [C02]
GCT Saint Louis Rapid 2019
Saint Louis (3.5), 10.08.2019

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4 7.Nbd2

GM Moskalenko, one of the world’s greatest authorities on the French, explains here that: “After the obligatory 7.Nbd2 White has two main plans: 1) 8.Be2 and 9.0–0, playing for the center or on the queenside with b2–b3, and 2) The setup g3–h4–Bh3/Bg2, preparing action in the center and on the kingside.”

7…Na5

This move is obligatory as well, keeping an eye on b3. A bad mistake would be 7…Nge7? which is refuted by 8.Bxc4! dxc4 9.Nxc4 Qa6 10.Nd6+ Kd7 11.Nxf7 Rg8 12.Qc2 h6 13.Nd6 b5 14.0–0 Rb8 15.Be3 White has 3 pawns for the bishop and Black’s king is exposed in the center. I do not believe Black can survive this. Sveshnikov, E. (2450)-Milos, G. (2510) Budapest 1988 1–0 40.

8.g3 Bd7 9.h4 0–0–0 10.Bh3 Kb8

The main lines here are either 10…f5 or 10…h6.

11.0–0 h6 12.Re1 Ne7 13.Rb1 Nc8 14.Nf1 Qc7 15.h5 Nb6 16.Be3 Ba4 17.Qe2 Be7 18.N3h2 Qd7 19.f4 g6 20.Bf2 Rdg8 21.Ne3 Nc6 22.Kh1 Bd8

Making way for his knight to go to f5 via e7.

23.hxg6 fxg6!?

MVL was expecting 23…Rxg6 24.f5 with a lot of complications.

24.Qg4

Now Black’s e6–pawn falls but apparently Rapport had something planned against this.

24…Qh7!! <D>

Position after 24…Ah7

After the game MVL admitted in an interview that he had completely underestimated this move, but to his credit he reoriented himself and found a brilliant way to continue by giving up his queen.

25.b3!

After 25.Qxe6 comes the shock refutation 25…Nxd4! 26.cxd4 Bd7! The whole point behind Qd7–h7 is this ambush. Black regains the piece and has excellent play on the light squares after: 27.Qd6+ Bc7 Black will recover his piece by taking the “free” bishop on h3 and he will be launching a deadly attack against the white king.

25…cxb3 26.Qxe6 Nxd4 27.cxd4 Bd7 Same as in the previous line? Well, it turns out that MVL had another thing in mind …

28.Qxd7!!

MVL gives up his queen for two pieces but then he gets a lot of open lines and his pieces can easily be coordinated.

28…Nxd7 29.Rxb3 Nb6 30.a4! Nxa4 31.Nxd5

Now it is clear that White’s two bishops will hold sway along the g1–a7 and h1–b7 diagonals and the center pawns will start rolling. It is hard to defend positions like this where White has a clear plan of attack and you have to keep finding ways to counter it, especially in fast time control games.

31…g5 32.f5 g4 33.Bg2 Nb6

Not 33…Qxf5? 34.Rxb7+! Kxb7 35.Ne3+ Qf3 36.Nxf3 gxf3 37.Bxf3+ Kb8 38.e6

White’s two passed center pawns and active bishops will prevail.

34.Ne3 h5 35.f6 h4 36.Kg1 Bc7 37.Rc1 Qd7 38.Rd1 hxg3 39.Bxg3 Rh3!? 40.Nhf1!

Not 40.Bxh3?! gxh3 41.Nhf1 h2+! 42.Kxh2 Nd5 Black has a dangerous counterattack going.

40…Rh5 41.Rc3

Threatening Rxc7!

41…Rc8 42.Rdc1 Qxd4 43.Rxc7! Rxc7 44.e6 Rhc5 45.Rxc5 Qxc5 46.e7 Qh5 47.Nf5?

A slip. The correct way to win was through 47.Bd5! Nxd5 48.Nxd5.

47…Nc8

Rapport could have held with 47…Nd7!! 48.Bxc7+ Kxc7 49.Ng7 Qc5+ 50.Kh1 Nxf6 51.Ne6+ Kd6 52.Nxc5 Kxc5 53.Bxb7 Kd6 but it was virtually impossible to calculate all that with seconds to go on your clock.

48.N1e3!!

Stopping all the possible quee checks.

48…Qg6 49.Nd5 Qxf5 50.Bxc7+ 1–0

The best game of the tournament.

Richard Rapport distinguished himself in this tournament by losing to two consecutive queen sacrifices. The game with MVL was the second, here is the first.

Rapport, Richard (2735) — Carlsen, Magnus (2872) [A11]
GCT Saint Louis Rapid 2019
Saint Louis (2.4), 10.08.2019

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 c6 5.0–0 Nf6 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7.Bxf3 cxd5 8.d4 Nc6 9.e3 Be7 10.Nc3 0–0 11.Qe2 Rc8 12.Rd1 Qd7 13.Bd2 Rfd8 14.Be1 Ne8 15.Rac1 f5 16.Bg2 Nf6 17.Na4 b6 18.Nc3 Na5 19.Nb1

Hereabouts Rapport goes on some weird contortions on the queenside and meanwhile Carlsen manages to get in a kingside pawn advance.

19…Nc4 20.Rc2 g5 21.Rdc1 g4 22.Bf1 Ne4 23.b3 Ncd6 24.Qa6 Rxc2 25.Rxc2 Kf7 26.a4 h5 27.a5 Rb8!

Now black gets the advantage in the kingside AND queenside.

28.axb6 Rxb6 29.Qa2 Qb7 30.Ba5 Rxb3! 31.Rc7? Qb8 32.Nd2 Rb2 33.Qa4

Clearly Rapport is trying to get to Black’s king, but Magnus’ position is just too strong.

33…Nxd2 34.Qd7

Threatening Qxe7 and Qxd6.

34…Nf3+ 35.Kh1 Qxc7! 0–1

Rapport resigns. After 35…Qxc7 36.Qxc7 (36.Bxc7 Ne4 37.Kg2 Rxf2+ 38.Kh1 Rxh2#) 36…Ne4 37.Qc1 Nxf2+ 38.Kg2 Nd1+ 39.Qxb2 Nxb2 his end game is completely lost.

No rest for the weary. After a break of a few days the next big event, the Sinquefield Cup (not a rapid/blitz event but a full-blown classical round robin) started last Saturday with Wesley So, Anish Giri, Vishy Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura joining in. It is the last big classical tournament of the Grand Chess Tour so everybody wants to win this.

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant, he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Critical addition

There can be no downplaying the significance of Tyrone Lue signing with the Clippers as an assistant on the bench. The news, coming via a tweet from The Athletic’s Shams Charania yesterday, caps a week-long negotiation that solidifies head coach Doc Rivers’ staff and further underscores the franchise’s intent to go all in through the coming season. He joins Sam Cassell, Casey Hill, Armond Hill, Rex Kalamian, Brendan O’Connor, and John Welch in the sidelines. And while he may be the last on board, he figures to be an integral component of their projected march to the top.

That Rivers wanted Lue to be part of his inner circle was to be expected, and not simply because the development highlights yet another instance in which the Clippers managed to put one over their fellow Staples Center tenants. He and the former Cavaliers assistant have a relationship that goes way back to 2003, when the latter was on the Magic roster he coached to a 1-10 slate prior to being fired. More significantly, their new arrangement picks up from where they left off when they steered the Celtics’ direction together between 2011 and 2013.

And make no mistake: Lue is a critical addition to the Clippers. He hasn’t quite received enough recognition for engineering the only 1-3 comeback in Finals history if only because he had LeBron James to lean on. Yet, it’s precisely due to his experience dealing with the all-time great on an everyday basis — and under constant pressure to deliver — that he becomes invaluable to the cause of Los Angeles’ other NBA franchise. If they want to win the hearts and minds of denizens of La-La Land, they need to be better than the Lakers — and he’s key to them meeting their objective.

The irony, of course, is that the Lakers could have been Lue’s to direct. They went back and forth on terms of a deal they thought was all but done save for the dots on the Is and crosses on the Ts. Instead, they wound up breaking off talks after an impasse on the value and duration of his planned stint. The knowledge he could have shared in leading the Cavaliers to three straight Finals appearances and a title now becomes the Clippers.’ He’s back with the franchise he was part of five years ago, doing essentially the same thing, but, with ample reason, sporting far more ambitious goals.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Duterte’s media critic hires US lobbyists for cases

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter

A US LAW firm has offered free lobby services to Maria Ressa, who heads Rappler, Inc. — a news website critical of President Rodrigo R. Duterte — to “build awareness and concern” about her criminal cases in the Philippines, according to twin filings in both Houses of the US Congress.

Lobbying disclosure reports show that Ms. Ressa, who is out on bail for a cyber-libel case, is using Covington & Burling partners Peter Lichtenbaum and Kurt Wimmer to act as her lobbyists in the US.

Her criminal cases should matter to the US because there is a “global erosion of freedom that is guaranteed in any democracy around the world,” the Filipino journalist yesterday said by telephone.

“It starts with the weaponization of the social media. When a journalist is under attack, democracy is under attack,” she said.

The Justice department in February indicted Ms. Ressa for cyber-libel based on a complaint by a businessman over an article published in 2012, months before the cyber-crime law was passed. The journalist has said the allegations were unfounded.

A month later, she got arrested again for allegedly violating the ban on foreign ownership in media.

Local and international media watchdogs and human rights groups have condemned her arrest. New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Mr. Duterte’s government “to cease and desist this campaign of intimidation aimed at silencing Rappler.”

Ms. Ressa, a former CNN investigative reporter, said Philippine authorities have managed to “twerk” the cases against her and Rappler. “So I am making sure that I am using all of the available options to us.”

Ms. Ressa, who is also facing tax evasion cases, said “lobbying is a legal and transparent practice in the United States.” “Yes they may lobby, but the main reason why Covington is working for Rappler is to protect our rights,” she said.

Lobbying is a highly regulated practice in the US, which requires the disclosure of activities seeking to influence the federal government.

Maria Ela L. Atienza, a political science professor from the University of the Philippines, noted that while Mr. Duterte and US President Donald Trump seem to like each other, this does not influence both countries’ foreign policies.

“Besides, there are a number of republicans in the US Senate who are also reluctant to support the Philippines under Duterte,” she added.

“Maria Ressa does have high-profile organizations and personalities as allies or supporters outside the country,” Ms. Atienza said. “They can lobby their governments to exert pressure on the Philippine government in terms of economic aid and military assistance.”

Ms. Ressa said the Covington partners will look at the news website’s options under international law. The US law firm is doing the lobbying work for free, the journalist said, adding that Mr. Lichtenbaum is a former classmate.

CNBC first reported that Ms. Ressa had hired the law firm “to take on President Duterte.”

Rappler, which Mr. Duterte has called a “fake news outlet,” is also appealing last year’s order by the Securities and Exchange Commission to close its operations for violating foreign-equity restrictions in mass media.

The Supreme Court last month ordered the government to comment on the petition by Rappler, which was banned from covering Mr. Duterte.

In a notice dated July 30, the court gave the Office of the President, Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Media Accreditation Registration Office and Presidential Security Group 10 days to submit the pleading.

The ban stays in the absence of a court injunction.

Spokesman denies hand in Sanchez’s early release plan

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte’s spokesman yesterday said he had nothing to do with the impending release of former Calauan Mayor Antonio Sanchez, a convicted rapist and murderer who was his former client.

“Definitely not, I have withdrawn as his counsel years ago,” presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo said.

Mr. Panelo was one of Mr. Sanchez’s defense lawyers for the rape and murder of two University of the Philippines students in 1993.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra also allayed concerns that Mr. Panelo may have had a hand in the early release of Mr. Sanchez, who was sentenced to seven life terms in 1995.

Mr. Guevarra said the presidential spokesman had not interfered in Mr. Sanchez’s case.

The Justice chief on Tuesday said Mr. Sanchez might be released along with thousands of other inmates for good conduct. Their release cannot be appealed.

The Supreme Court in June allowed the retroactive application of time allowance for good conduct of inmates.

The Office of the Ombudsman in 2018 recovered alleged ill-gotten assets of Mr. Sanchez and his wife, getting transfer certificates of title for 19 properties that were forwarded to the Treasury bureau. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Task force eyes year-end ruling on slain media

THE Presidential Task Force on Media Security expects a court ruling on the case of slain journalists in Maguindanao province in 2009 by year-end.

In a telephone interview, Executive Director Joel Sy Egco said the task force had expected a ruling by the first quarter, but the camp of the accused has allegedly been delaying the case through technicalities.

He said some of the accused have been seeking extensions to file their memoranda in court.

Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra earlier said the Maguindanao massacre case was completed on July 17 and the parties were given until Aug. 15 to submit their final pleadings.

On Nov. 23, 2009, family members and associates of then gubernatorial candidate Esmael G. Mangudadatu, accompanied by members of the media, were massacred on Masalay hills in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao province, by henchmen associated with his political rival.

The party was accompanying Mr. Mangudadatu who was filing his certificate of candidacy against former Datu Unsay Mayor Andal U. Ampatuan, Jr., son of former Maguindanao Governor Andal S. Ampatuan, Sr.

Mr. Egco said 108 accused are waiting for the court’s verdict. The prosecution presented 195 witnesses, while defense lawyers presented 134, he said.

The case is being heard by Quezon City Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes. — Arjay L. Balinbin

DoJ summons party-list groups over ‘kidnapping’

GOVERNMENT prosecutors have summoned officials of leftist party-lists over the alleged abduction and recruitment of students to their causes.

Summoned were Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago, former Bayan Muna Party-list representative Neri J. Colmenares, Anakbayan National President Vencer Crisostomo and General Secretary Einstein Recedes, and Akbayan Rep. Tom S. Villarin.

They are ordered to appear before the Justice department starting on Aug. 27.

“Failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered as your waiver to present your defense in this preliminary investigation,” according to the summons issued by Assistant State Prosecutor Christine T. Perolino.

Police earlier filed a complaint against them for kidnapping and human trafficking.

Complainant Relissa S. Lucena, the mother of senior high school student Alicia Jasper, reported that her daughter had gone missing after joining Anakbayan. The student has denied being kidnapped.

The Senate public order committee is also investigating the case. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Duterte calls on gov’t workers, youth to follow Ninoy’s values

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte on Wednesday joined the nation in commemorating the 36th anniversary of the assassination of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., reminding the public to follow his example in protecting freedom, democracy and the rule of law. “I also hope that Ninoy’s remarkable life as a public servant will move my fellow government workers to serve with honor, integrity and purpose as well as inspire our youth to be of service to their country and fellowmen,” Mr. Duterte said. The President also recognized Mr. Aquino’s role in restoring democratic institutions. “His sacrifice altered the course of our nation’s history and still continues to ignite the spirit of heroism among our people,” he said. Mr. Aquino, who was jailed and exiled to the United States during the Martial Law period under dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, was shot upon his return to the country at the airport that is now named in his honor. “Despite our gains in these past three years, there is still a lot that needs to be done if we are going to completely eradicate the poverty, corruption, and injustice that had plagued our nation even during Ninoy’s time,” Mr. Duterte said in his message. “Let his example guide us as we strive to uplift and protect the most vulnerable in our society and ensure that all Filipinos will enjoy the blessings of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.” — Arjay L. Balinbin

Ineng expected to intensify into a tropical storm today, but no landfall seen

TROPICAL DEPRESSION Ineng is expected to intensify into a tropical storm today, bringing moderate and intermittent heavy rains over the region of Bicol and Eastern Visayas. Weather bureau PAGASA’s Benison Estareja, in an 11 a.m. live-streamed update on Wednesday, said there is “no landfall scenario” for Ineng based on its current track. Other areas that may be affected by rains in the coming days are Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, the rest of the Visayas, and MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan). Ineng is forecasted to be out of the Philippine area by Sunday. As of yesterday morning, the tropical depression was located 1,155 kilometers (km) east of Infanta, Quezon, moving northwest with winds of up to 55 km per hour. Meanwhile, the “trough of a shallow Low Pressure Area (LPA) off the southwestern coast of Taiwan,” while outside the Philippine area, will bring light to moderate with intermittent heavy rains over Batanes and the Babuyan Group of Islands, according to PAGASA’s 11 a.m. bulletin.

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