Major developments for March 29
Wayne Johns
GMA lauds DOST-WVCST MOA says it would open new vistas for the region's youth
ILOILO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today cited the importance
of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST) and the West Visayas College of Science and
Technology (WVCST) as it would open "many and diverse" windows particularly
for the region,s youth. In summarizing the highlights of her visit here, the
President stressed that the MOA between the two agencies not only shrinks
the distance between the seat of power in Manila and the Visayas, but would
also enable the young to avail themselves of the technological marvels
enjoyed by their counterparts even in the most developed countries.
"Technology has made a quantum leap in the past few years. And E-mail and
Internet have done wonders. There will be a new wonder for the users
especially the youth. And the wonders never cease," the President said. The
MOA was signed by
DOST Secretary Estrella Alabastro and WVCST President Renato Alba.
-----
GMA says GRP-MILF accord in KL to jumpstart Mindanao peace process
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hailed the signing of an
agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, describing it as a major breakthrough that
will jumpstart the Mindanao peace process. In her statement at a press
conference in Malacanang this afternoon, the President also said the General
Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks lays the ground for a working
developmental partnership with the MILF that bypasses, in the meantime, the
contentious issues of negotiations such as the status of camps and military
emplacements. "In announcing the breakthrough, let me say this: never again
shall our Muslim brethren find reason to rebel or to seek independence or
secession. Let us weld our hearts and minds together in search of genuine
unity and solidarity based on mutual respect, trust, sincere understanding
and a common vision for the upliftment and empowerment of our people," the
President pointed out. The agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur by
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Eduardo Ermita and MILF
Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Al Hadj Murad, who bore the written
authority of MILF Chairman Hashim Salamat.
-----
GMA to BHRAOs: Be partners in development
ILOILO CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today urged the Barangay
Human Rights Action Officers (BHRAOs) all over the country to be partners of
the government in the development of the country. She made the call in her
keynote speech this afternoon at the Fifth National Capability Building and
Convention of Barangay Human Rights Action Officers in Punta Villa Resort
here. The President, noting the theme of this year's convention,"Development
as Human Right," stressed that total development in the country can only be
achieved through ushering proper respect and protection to the human rights
of the citizens. She said that people empowerment, which is the key to
development and which is the thrust of her administration, can only be had
once the people enjoy their human rights.
-----
GMA taps Singson as Presidential Consultant on Banking Foreign Loans
MANILA - Gabriel Singson has been designated by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo as Presidential Consultant on Banking and Foreign Loans.
Singson, who served at the Central Bank of the Philippines (CB) and the
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for 45 years, was the first Governor of
the BSP in 1993 after serving as the CB,s Senior Deputy Governor for 12
years. He was also the first Chairman of its Monetary Board. He likewise
served as the Governor of the International Monetary Fund for the
Philippines and Alternate Governor of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the Asian Development Bank
of the Philippines from 1993 to 1999. In 1999, he was Chairman of the South
East Asian Central Banks Board of Governors. He was conferred the Golden
Heart Presidential Award on June 29, 1998 in appreciation for his
outstanding contributions to Philippine
development, particularly for his sound and timely decisions pertaining to
management of the monetary and financial sectors.
-----
Dollar - Peso
MANILA - The reference rate of a Philippine peso to one U.S. dollar today
depreciated to P49.208 from Tuesday's P49.120 on a turnover volume of
$107.50 million dollars transacted at the Philippine Dealing System. (PNA)
-----
MILF sets requests before start of talks with government
COTABATO CITY - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has called anew on
the national government to grant their organization's three-point request
before formally starting their long-stalled peace talk. Ghadzali Jaafar,
MILF vice-chairman for political affairs, said that though their group is
ready to talk peace, they are still awaiting for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's response to the three salient points that have to be
considered before negotiations push through. The MILF request include the
holding of the formal talks abroad; the recognition of all signed
government-MILF agreement in the past; and the assigning of a country
belonging to the powerful 56-Arab nation Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC) to act as mediator.
-----
DILG to pursue jueteng case vs. Pineda
CABANATUAN CITY -- The government will pursue its case against suspected
Central Luzon "jueteng" lord Rodolfo "Bong" Pineda and will use the sworn
testimony of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson in the aborted Senate
impeachment trial. Police Region 3 Director, Chief Supt. Enrique Galang made
this disclosure here recently. He said the Department of Interior and Local
Governments (DILG) is bent on pursuing the case. Galang said the DILG and
the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now reviewing the testimonies of
Singson to ferret out data that will help build a solid case against Pineda,
long suspected as the foremost jueteng lord in Central Luzon. "Both the DILG
and the PNP are seriously considering using the testimonies during the
impeachment trial because these were made under oath and his (Pineda's) name
was mentioned," he said.
-----
Power summit participants urged to discuss PPA and salaries
TACLOBAN CITY -- Participants in the power summit called here by the Office
of the President were urged today not only to discuss the power purchase
adjustment (PPA), but also the very high salaries of the people in the
National Power Corporation, Energy Regulatory Board, and Philippine National
Oil Company. Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas (PAEV) Victor
Domingo and former Leyte Vice Gov. Aurelio Menzon are the two key bridges to
the Office of the President regarding the problem of the people of Eastern
Visayas on the high cost of electricity in the region because of the PPA
imposition. The power summit reeled off today at the SMED Center beside the
Leyte Capitol.
-----
Candao urges probe on ally killing
COTABATO CITY - Reelectionist Maguindanao Governor Zacaria Candao has urged
law enforcement agencies here to conduct a full dress investigation on the
recent shooting of a close aide in Barangay Kauran, Datu Piang town. Candao
made the request after Ludovinco BaÑaga, his staunch supporter in Datu
Piang, was shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men last March 24 along Kauran
highway. The governor, who will once more run for office on the May 14 local
and national elections, said BaÑaga, also a provincial campaign coordinator
of opposition senatorial candidate Ricardo Puno, had received several death
threats in the past from armed group operating in the area.
-----
Return of Manero in Cotabato feared
COTABATO CITY - Several quarters here, particularly those that had a hand in
the imprisonment of priest-killer Norberto Manero alias Commander Bucay, are
now living in fear in anticipation of possible reprisals against them by the
fugitive. Manero escaped last week from his prison cell at the Sarangani
Provincial Jail and had not been seen eversince by pursuing lawmen except
for emissaries relaying several of his demands prior to his negotiated
surrender. He is believed to have been kept by a vilgilante group, which are
his former comrades in the Mindanao pacification campaign in the 80s',
operating in the South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos City
border. Manero, then a leader of the government militia force fighting
communist and Moro rebels in Central Mindanao, figured prominently in the
slaying of Italian priest Tulio Favali at the farming
town of Tulunan, Cotabato in 1985.
-----
SSS to adopt cost-saving scheme
MANILA - - The number one state pension fund agency is set to implement
cost-saving measures to cut down expenditure as part of the austerity
program of the Arroyo administration. The Social Security System (SSS) is
dead set to implement this new measures that will improve the institution's
financial position for this year. Under the cost-saving scheme, outlays for
new property acquisitions and renovations of offices would be reduced by at
least 10 per cent as part of the austerity program of the government.
-----
Abalos signs collective negotiations agreement with Sakamay
MANILA - Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos
signed today the first-ever collective negotiations agreement (CNA) of the
agency with its 5,350-strong rank-and-file employees' union, SAKAMAY
(Sandigan ng mga Kawani't Manggagawa sa Kamaynilaan). Abalos signed the
document with SAKAMAY overall president Ruby M. Sierra, MMDA Assistant
General Manager for Finance & Administration and Management Negotiating
Panel chairman Eduardo D. Mejos, SAKAMAY Negotiating Panel chairman Danilo
C. Rina and 12 members of both panels, witnessed by Civil Service Commission
Region III Director Anicia Marasigan-de Lima and MMDA General Manager Jaime
Z. Paz. The MMDA chairman hailed the signing of the CNA as a "significant
development" that will foster and enhance harmony between management and its
workers and promote their mutual interest.
-----
GMA distributes P5.5-M to LGUs Co-ops for livelihood projects on Panay Island
ROXAS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today distributed a total of
P5.5 million to local government units (LGUs) and cooperatives here to be
used for financing and improving livelihood programs. The President also
launched here the "health passport" program, a project aimed at helping
residents of the province cope with their medical expenses. The President
likewise distributed certificates of land ownership, fulfilling the dream of
owning land for 95 individuals.
-----
GMA suspends charging of power purchase adjustment in electric bills
ROXAS CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today ordered the National
Power Corporation (Napocor) to suspend temporarily the charging of the power
purchase adjustment (PPA) in the electric bills of consumers nationwide. The
President, who made the announcement at the Roxas Memorial Provincial
Hospital here during a multi-sectoral dialogue, noted that her order would
spell a total loss of P400 million a month in government revenues. "I hope
that if you really don't want this PPA to be so abrupt and so large, help
the government, support the government in our important law which is the
Power Sector Reform bill," the President said.
-----
Cebu is RP's 2nd top carrot producer
CEBU CITY, March 28 (PNA)--Cebu province ranks second in the entire country
in the volume of carrot production. Speaking before the Regional
Agricultural and Fishery Council at DA-7 recently, Cebu's acting Provincial
Statistics Officer Melchor Bautista said that the province produced a total
of 3,450 metric tons of carrots last year. Bautista also cited Bureau of
Agricultural Statistics (BAS) data that Cebu has been number three in the
production of cabbage. It produced a total of 5.164 metric tons of cabbage
from a total of 552 hectares in the year 2000.
-----
SC says Demetria has not filed motion for reconsideration
BAGUIO CITY - - The assistant clerk of court of the Supreme Court (SC)today
said they still have not received any Motion for Reconsideration from Court
of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Demetrio G. Demetrio G. Demetria who was
dismissed Tuesday after having been found guilty of violating the Code of
Judicial Conduct. SC Assistant Clerk of Court Ma. Luisa Valderama said that
whatever legal move Demetria would take is "his constitutional right" after
SC became cognizant of a press conference to be held by the ousted
magistrate to air his side. Records show that in the Administrative Matter
No. 00-7-09-CA (In re: Deregatory News Items charging Court of Appeals
Associate Justice Demetrio Demetria with Interference on Behalf of Suspected
Drug Queen"), 14 SC justices, including Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr.,
voted affirmatively to an 18-page decision finding Demetria guilty of the
charge and ordered his dismissal from the service with forfeiture of all
benefits with prejudice to his appointment or reappointment to any
government office.
-----
Technology assessment protocol for promotion developed
MANILA -- The government has developed the technology assessment protocol
(TAP) designed at ensuring the promotion and commercialization of
technologies generated by the National Agriculture and Resources Research
and Development Network (NARRDN). The NARRDN, established by the Los
Banos-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural
Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), implements research and development (R&D) programs. It is
composed of national multi-commodity R&D centers, regional R&D centers and
consortia, various cooperating stations and specialized agencies.
-----
GMA to visit Kana-speaking towns in Eastern Visayas
TACLOBAN CITY - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit the towns of
San Francisco in Southern Leyte, the City of Ormoc, and probably the town of
Tabango or Maripipi next week, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Visayas
Victor Domingo said today. He informed the Philippines News Agency that the
Presidential visit to eastern Visayas is set either on Monday or Tuesday,
and she is to inaugurate the flood mitigation project in Ormoc City, which
is funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Domingo
said her first stop will be in Ormoc, which was ravaged by a typhoon in
November 1991 that caused heavy flooding, killing more than 3,000 people
along the rivers of Anilao.
-----
SC suspends judge for alleged extortion
BAGUIO CITY - The Supreme Court in an en banc resolution issued here Tuesday
the suspension of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Jaime Bautista of
Valenzuela City due to pending administrative case. The case against the
judge is docked as Administrative Matter No. 01-3-183 RTC (In re: NBI
entrapment of Judge Jaime Bautista of the Regional Trial Court of Valenzuela
City). The opening statement of the resolution reads: "In the 22 March 2001
issue of various newspapers, it was reported that judge Jaime Bautista of
the Regional Trail Court of Valenzuela City was caught in flagrante delicto
in an entrapment operation set by the NBI, allegedly receiving the balance
of 5,000 pesos of the 10,000 pesos he demanded from a litigant, for which he
was arrested by the NBI and charged with robbery and extortion before the
Ombudsman.
-----
Mactan airport income rises 45%
CEBU CITY - The net income of the Mactan Cebu International Airport
Authority (MCIAA) last year rose 45 percent from its P28.98 million income
in 1999. According to its income statement for the fiscal year ending Dec.
31, 2001 MCIAA posted over P42 million in net income for the period. MCIAA's
total gross income, excluding non-operating income, reached P457.85 million.
-----
GMA witnesses signing of MOAs on housing facilities for OFWs employees
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday witnessed in
Malacanang the signing of two Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) on the provision
of housing loan facilities for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and end-user
financing to qualified employees of Team Pacific Corporation. The first MOA
was signed by the heads of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council (HUDCC), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund), Magsaysay
Maritime Corporation and Filmal Realty Corporation. The object of this
agreement is to speed up the provision of end-user financing under the
Contract-to-Sell Scheme for the sale of housing units or lots from the St.
Monique Valais, a middle-income housing project in Binagonan, Rizal, to be
used as collateral for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan for employees of the
Magsaysay Maritime Corporation.
-----
Strike clash injures 10 Clark workers in scuffle
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga -- An open clash between striking workers and security
guards of Kita Corporation at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) here
Tuesday injured at least 10 from the ranks of the picketing workers. The
scuffle ensued when the strikers tried to block two cargo trucks of the
company from entering the firm's premises, forcing security guards of the
Vicam Security Agency to intervene. Darsy Pacio, president of the Kapisanan
ng mga Manggagawa sa Kita Corp. (KMKC), said the two cargo trucks will be
used to transport Aiwa brand television sets outside the factory. Pacio said
the workers who formed the blockade were allegedly shoved by six security
guards carrying shotguns and pistols. The security guards, he added, were
not wearing nameplates.
-----
GMA declares Cebu IT Park as export-free zone
CEBU CITY, March 28 (PNA)- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared
the Cebu Civic and Trade Center (CCTC) in Lahug, Cebu City as an export free
zone for information technology (IT) under the Philippine Export Zone
Administration (PEZA). This was bared by Cebu City Mayor Alvin Garcia who
met with the President Tuesday in Malacanang, together with Ayala Land Inc.
chairman Francisco Licuanan and Cebu Holdings Inc. president Rex Drilon II.
Garcia said the President gave them copies of the proclamation during a
press conference. Garcia said that while CCTC will be supervised by Mactan
Export Processing Zone (Mepz), the employment level is high because locators
of the Ayala group's IT Park will hire programmers, not workers.
-----
GMA awards P6-M checks for rural electrification project in Occidental Mindoro
STA. CRUZ, Occidental Mindoro -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today led
the awarding of more than P6 million worth of checks for the energization of
six barangays in this province. On her arrival, the President was warmly
greeted by hundreds of school children and local residents who lined up
along the road leading to the Sta. Cruz covered court where the awarding
ceremony took place. Those who benefited from the said project, spearheaded
by the National Electrification Administration (NEA), were Barangay Aguas
with some 2.9 kilometers of lines servicing a potential total number of 776
households;
-----
First Gentleman shoulders cost of surgery of 4-month old girl sick with
hydrocephalus
MANILA -- As part of his outreach program for the poor, First Gentleman
lawyer Jose Miguel "Mike" T. Arroyo on Tuesday committed to shoulder the
medical operation and medicines of a four-month-old baby girl, Wendy
Mercado, after reading about her case in a newspaper on March 26. The First
Gentleman personally visited the sick girl, diagnosed for enlargement of the
head or hydrocephalus, at her hospital bed at the Philippine General
Hospital (PGH) on Tuesday. Arroyo's office also arranged for the transport
of Wendy's parents, Edwin and Jamaica, from Anabu F1, Imus, Cavite to PGH
for their meeting.
-----
Clark girds to host 2005 SEAG
CLARK FIELD, Pampanga -- The Philippines will most likely host the 2005
Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) here
where plans are now being laid out to construct an Olympic Village. Newly-
installed Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president and chief executive
officer Emmanuel Angeles said the plan will entail the rehabilitation and
upgrading of the sports facilities left behind by the Americans and building
new ones. The facilities were abandoned when the US Air Force left Clark
after the Senate voted down a treaty draft renewing and extending by 10
years their military bases in the country. The US troops pullout was
hastened by the eruption of nearby Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991 which rendered
Clark Field airport runways unusable for US military aircraft.
-----
Local exporters cut jobs amid US Japan slowdown
CEBU CITY, March 28 (PNA)- The effects of the speculated slowing down of the
economies of Japan, the United States and Europe have trickled down to the
employes of Cebu-based exporters. According to the Confederation of
Philippine Exporters foundation-Cebu (Phil-export) president Allan Suarez,
most exporters have either reduced working days or laid off employes to
offset the losses they would incur in the economic recession of these
economic superpowers. There are an estimated 44,332 workers employed at
export-manufacturers based at the Mactan Export Processing zones 1 and 2
alone. The US and Japan are the two top markets, taking up 24.80 percent and
17.01 percent, respectively, of the $1.291-billion exports of Central
Visayas in the first half of last year.
-----
Manero resurrects Ilaga?
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - - Police officials have said they will look into
reports that fugitive Norberto Manero,Jr is now leading a group of Christian
vigilantes. Supt. Cesar Daquil,Sarangani provicial police director, said
their intelligence people are now verifying reports about the formation of
Manero's vigilante group. Manero's vigilante group,the Ilaga,a local term
for rat, was the name of Manero's dreaded vigilante group. Region 12 police
Director Chief Supt. Manuel Raval said there is a remote possibility that
Manero can form again the Ilaga,adding they will seriously look into the
matter.
-----
Gerochi warns of possible entry of hazardous waste
MANILA -- Environment and Natural Resources officer-in-charge Joemari
Gerochi today called on the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),
Philippine Navy (PN), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the
Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to keep a close watch on all entry points
of the country following reports that a Korean vessel carrying some 8,000
metric tons of sulfuric acid will arrive. Based on the report, the vessel is
scheduled to arrive in Leyte on or around April 2 to 10 without proper
authorization and necessary permits from the DENR. Gerochi said that such
shipments must comply with the requirements of Republic Act No. 6969,
otherwise known as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes
Control Act.
-----
Economic planners optimistic to achieve economic growth inflation targets
this year
MANILA - Government economic planners remained optimistic the economy will
grow from 3.8 to 4.3 percent, while inflation rate ranging 6 to 7 percent
this year despite factors expected to hamper growth. "Some danger signs,
however, are up. There is the slowdown of the US economy and the heightened
uncertainty about the Japanese economy," National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) Director General Dante Canlas said in a recent economic
forum. Canlas said the expected re-occurrence of the El Nino drought in the
last quarter of the year and non-performing loan ratios of some large
commercial banks may likewise affect growth prospects. He said high interest
rate in the last months of 2000 and instability of crude oil prices in the
world market, on the other hand, are seen to trigger higher prices.
-----
GMA says GRP-MILF accord in KL to jumpstart Mindanao peace process
MANILA - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today hailed the signing of an
agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) in Kuala Lumpur, describing it as a major breakthrough that
will jumpstart the Mindanao peace process. In her statement at a press
conference in Malacanang this afternoon, the President also said the General
Framework for the Resumption of Peace Talks lays the ground for a working
developmental partnership with the MILF that bypasses, in the meantime, the
contentious issues of negotiations such as the status of camps and military
emplacements. "In announcing the breakthrough, let me say this: never again
shall our Muslim brethren find reason to rebel or to seek independence or
secession. Let us weld our hearts and minds together in search of genuine
unity and solidarity based on mutual respect, trust, sincere
understanding and a common vision for the upliftment and empowerment of our
people," the President pointed out. The agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur
by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Eduardo Ermita and
MILF Vice Chairman for Military Affairs Al Hadj Murad, who bore the written
authority of MILF Chairman Hashim Salamat.
-----
Gerochi orders probe of Manila Bay garbage dumping
MANILA -- Environment and Natural Resources officer-in-charge Joemari
Gerochi today directed the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) to
investigate the alleged dumping of garbage in Manila Bay following the
complaint of the Kalipunan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda sa Manila Bay
(KALMADA). He also ordered the EMB to undertake an aerial surveillance of
Manila Bay to determine and pinpoint the alleged dumping sites. Gerochi also
ordered the EMB to investigate the former transfer station at Pier 18 North
Harbor because it was the loading site of Metro Manila's garbage for
shipment to Semirara Island last December. He also called on the Philippine
Coast Guard to look into the complaints of KALMADA due to their lead role in
marine pollution.
-----
SPORTS: POC asks BAP to conduct election using its existing charter
MANILA - The four-month old Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
leadership squabble will soon be over after the Philippine Olympic Committee
(POC) has asked the BAP to hold another election before June 30 using the
existing BAP charter and the same electorate that voted beleaguered
president Freddie Jalasco five years ago. The POC decision was made in a
special executive board meeting this morning and was reaffirmed during the
general assembly meeting held this afternoon at the Philippine Columbian
Association (PCA) in Paco. "We should always be fair. The same electorate
that voted Jalasco should be respected by him. If this electorate no longer
supports him, Mr. Jalasco should respect that and that is our position,"
said POC chairman Robert Aventajado.
-----
SPORTS: SEABA tourney open to public
MANILA - As the Basketball Association of the Philippines' gift to the
public, the 4th South East Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) men's
championships slated on April 2 to 7 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum will be
free of charge. Quinteliano "Tiny" Literal, head of the BAP splinter group,
said that opening the tournament to the public is their means of exposing
basketball to the best players of the region. "Everybody is invited to watch
the games. The tournament is our best way of educating Filipino basketball
fans how our Southeast Asian brothers fare against our national team and
vice versa," said Literal, an Ateneo sports hall of famer. Coached by Dave
Zamar and bannered by the best players from the Metropolitan Basketball
Association, the Philippine national team, debuts in the weeklong,
six-nation championship against Singapore on April 2.
-----
SPORTS: Datu cops solo lead
MANILA -- Candidate International Master Ildefonso Datu has a lot to thank
Czech player Richard Reti for. This was after the Filipino Armyman baffled
National Master Allan Sayson breaking the tie between the two protagonists
and becoming the first solo leader in the seven rounds of the 2001 National
Chess Open men's eliminations held at the Greenhills Shopping Complex in San
Juan today. Utilizing the Reti (Nf3) opening for the fourth time this week,
Datu deposited his seventh point and copped the solo lead after five days of
rigorously scheduled-matches. "Allan's a solid player, but I was able to
prepare well the night before. I just had to be alert in detecting any early
sign of positional weakness on his side of the board," said Datu, who copped
his first two IM norms last year's Istanbul Olympiad and at the Kolkata
Goodricke Open held a month ago in India.
-----
SPORTS: Alaska repeats Mobiline for sixth win
MANILA -- Alaska Milk proved that its first meeting win over Mobiline was no
fluke as it beat anew the Phone Pals, 74-63, tonight in the ongoing PBA
All-Filipino Cup eliminations at the Philsports arena in Pasig City. Ali
Peek was adjudged best player of the game after scoring 18 points but most
importantly hauled down 22 rebounds as Aces repeated their 73-71 victory in
their first meeting on March 7. The Aces scored only eight points against 17
markers of the Phone Pals but rallied in the fourth period behind Peek and
rookie John Arigo to nail their sixth win in 12 games. The Phone Pals lost
their 51-45 margin in the third period when the Aces opened the fourth canto
with seven straight points, including a triple shot from Arigo.