There will be blood if Arroyo does not resign

Former President Joseph Estrada on Thursday warned of "bloodshed and violence" if President Arroyo does not bow to demands that she step down from office.

"Hopefully, she must be enlightened that the people are already restless," Estrada said, adding that Mrs. Arroyo should voluntarily resign to avoid "bloodshed and violence".

At a press conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Estrada said that with so many people getting hungry, violence may erupt "soon".

"We'll never know when (will people become violent) he said, adding that in 2001 he decided to step down after sensing that the political crisis could turn violent.

Estrada, who continued to insist he only went on leave in January 2001, was ousted through a people's revolt backed by top generals of the military and police. -abs-cbn interactive

Salary Increase for Filipino Nurses in Saudi

Starting March 19, Filipino nurses employed by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health will enjoy a 20-60 percent salary increase, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) said.

The present salary of nurses employed by the health ministry ranges from SR 2,500 to SR 4,000 (roughly equivalent to P25,000 to P44,000).

The Health ministry remains among the top employers of Filipino nurses in Saudi Arabia, providing employment opportunities to even those without work experience.

One of the nurses interviewed works at the National Guard hospital in Jeddah. Two of them work for the King Fahad University Hospital and the other in a remote clinic in the Eastern province.

The three also said another 10 percent increase will be given next year while the remaining 15 percent is due in 2010.

via abs-cbn interactive

Lacson was surprised for "The Surprise Witness"

Engineer Leo San Miguel was the "surprise witness" of Senator Ping Lacson, but...

It was Senator Panfilo Lacson who was surprised when his touted "surprise witness" denied in a marathon 12 hour Senate hearing having any direct knowledge on alleged KICKBACKS in the National Broadband Network Deal despite grilling by senators and statements to the contrary from other resource persons on the scrapped telecoms deal.

Who is Leo San Miguel

The career of "Cable TV" guy and Senate witness Leo San Miguel thrived at a time when the development of broadband technology and services was at it's infant stage. Those days have long been over come by newer and more efficient ways to offer broadband services.

Mr. San Miguel was today's surprise witness at the Senate's seven month - long investigation on the controversial National Broadband Network (NBN) project designed to reduce telecommunication and internet costs of government offices. He was a technical adviser of NBN supplier, ZTE Corp. of China.

Mr. San Miguel finished Engineering from FEATI University and took up Computer Studies in Priceton University.

He has long been involved in cabel TV services. He established Home Cable in 1990 and sold his stake in the firm in 1999.

The cancelled NBN project was supposed to use the WINMAX technology, a wireless platform, to connect government offices all over the country. -via abs-cbn interactive

New NBN Witness

In an unexpected twist, a new witness in the Senate hearing on the scrapped National Broadband Network (NBN) project denied he had first-hand, personal knowledge about the $41 million in alleged kickbacks given to the First Couple and other officials to secure the $329 million deal with China's ZTE Corp..

Cable television executive Leo San Miguel said he was hired by ZTE vice-president Yu Yong as a technical consultant for the broadband project.

But San Miguel denied any knowledge of the $41 million in alleged kickbacks given to the First Couple and other officials, although he said he overheard some officials discussing their commissions if the project pushed through.

He told the Senate joint panel inquiry that he would have earned at least $1.6 million or 0.5 percent of the total project cost, plus reimbursement of his expenses, had the project been pursued with ZTE.

He said businessman Ruben Reyes and former chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. of the Commission on Elections were among those who discussed commissions during one of the meetings on the NBN deal.

San Miguel belied the accusation of another witness, Dante Madriaga, that he is a member of the “Greedy Group”, which included Reyes, Abalos and retired police general Quirino dela Torre.

When asked by Lacson if he had knowledge of alleged commissions and kickbacks received by officials in the project, San Miguel merely replied: “I was not aware whatsoever. I am not confirming or denying anything. I don't have any direct knowledge."

San Miguel said he hired Madriaga as a consultant for the NBN-ZTE deal because of his knowledge of a rejected $130 million telecommunications project that was similar to the broadband project.

“I hired Mr. Madriaga on the basis that any engineer should be diligent in doing his work, that he would like to get all the possible combinations,” he said.

San Miguel also said he shelled out between P3 million to P4 million from his own pocket for the NBN project.

San Miguel was expected to provide first-hand information on the purported $41-million advance made by ZTE to the First Couple and other government officials and their cronies to secure the $329-million NBN project.

The Senate earlier issued subpoenas to seven persons, including the purported members of the "Greedy Group."

-via abs-cbn interactive

Pacquiao down from 150 to 133 lbs

LOS ANGELES – After seven weeks of hell – on the road and in the gym – Manny Pacquiao’s weight is, officially, down from 150 to 133 lbs.

And with a week left before the official weigh-in for his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas, meeting the 130-lbs limit poses no problem.

After a two-hour workout that included four rounds of sparring, Pacquiao was weighed before a WBC representative at the Wild Card Gym Saturday.

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Bb. Pilipinas 2008 Winners

MANILA, Philippines - Three among the 24 candidates of the Binibining Pilipinas Pageant 2008 won the crowns for Binibining Pilipinas Universe, Binibining Pilipinas International and Binibining Pilipinas World.

Jennifer Barrientos won the crown for Binibining Pilipinas Universe, Patricia Fernandez for International and Janina San Miguel World at the pageant’s coronation at the Araneta Coliseum late Saturday that was aired by GMA Network.

Barrientos will represent the country in the Miss Universe pageant, which will be held in Vietnam; Fernandez in the Miss International pageant, which will be in Japan and San Miguel in the Miss World pageant, which will be held in Ukraine.

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Fil-Am in American Idol faces cyberspace scandal

The latest season of the popular talent show American Idol is proving to be more than just singing and scornful Simon Cowell remarks.

Recently, it's also about scandals and stunning revelations on the background of its roster of contestants.

That includes Filipino-American Ramiele Malubay.

According to reports, controversial photos of Ramiele are currently popping up in cyberspace, showing the 20-year-old talent grabbing the breast of a co-worker in a sushi bar.

Fox News reported that there's another photo where, this time, the hand of Ramiele's friend was caught placed on her breast.

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Coup recruitment on - AFP

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – A brigade of troops tried to break camp and join the interfaith rally in Makati last Friday but they were stopped, the Armed Forces chief disclosed yesterday.

Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. did not identify the military unit and where it was based, or whether the soldiers were armed and in military trucks, tanks and armored personnel carriers.

Speaking at the closing ceremonies for the Balikatan military exercises at Clark Field in Pampanga, Esperon said junior officers were monitored “exchanging notes,” but no unauthorized troop movements were reported last Friday.

“I think there is one (destablization attempt) at the brigade level that I know of, but that was promptly reported by the officer. There were some exchanges of notes among junior officers that was also reported to us,” he said. “What is important is that in the meantime, they have not been successful at it.”

Esperon said military intelligence agents monitored some retired military officers at the anti-government rally in Makati last Friday.

“There was the flag of the Magdalo that was flying near the stage,” he said. “Two people were accosted for carrying arm bands that could have been used somewhere, so we are looking into that.”

Esperon warned retired military officers against recruiting active military personnel into joining anti-government activities.

“There are attempts by some retired military personnel to recruit active personnel, but they have not succeeded in that,” he said.

“They have not been successful at it because in the past, as in the case of Nov. 29 (the Peninsula hotel takeover), there were some calls to some commanders, who reported the matter to higher authorities,” he said.

“We want to get them (retired military officers) when they are in the act.”

Esperon said some of those involved in the Peninsula takeover are again taking part in plots against the administration.

“What we could draw from this is that we do not expect new faces or new people in the (present) destabilization activities,” he said. Esperon said Magdalo officers continue to engage in anti-government activities via cyberspace from their cells in military stockades.

“There have been calls for some of our elements to join the fray,” he said.

“Our stand is we’d rather remain as a constitutional organization following the chain of command, obeying the duly constituted authorities.

“Our stand is that the more the military intervenes in such political exercises, the more we weaken democracy which we gained for ourselves in 1986.

“We don’t even have to name names, but we can take care of that. But I must tell you that the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains solid.”

-the philippine star

Sta. Lucia Captures 1st All Filipino Title

Veteran Dennis Espino scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 5 rebounds and Kelly Williams registered his 22nd double-double of the conference as the Sta. Lucia Realtors claimed the first ever All-Filipino title in franchise history with a tough 100-88 win over the Purefoods TJ Giants in Game 7 of the Philippine Cup Finals in front of a conference record 18000-plus paying fans.

Back-to-back three pointers by James Yap early in the fourth period gave Purefoods their last taste of the lead 80-79.

Sta. Lucia coach Boyet Fernandez pulled out ace defensive stopper Denok Miranda in favor of Rookie Ryan Reyes after James Yap's second three pointer. That move seemed to be a stroke of genius as the 2006 MVP ws never a factor again and didn't score another point until the final two minutes of the game where the Realtors have already posted a double-digit lead.

"It’s beyond expectation and this All-Filipino championship means a lot to us," said Buddy Encarnado, the team’s Board representative since their entry in the league in 1993.

"We’re not here on sheer luck. We worked hard for this since day one. I take pride that we’re the league’s best defensive team and this carried us to victory," Encarnado added.

Espino's big night came from 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 11-of-14 from the line. Williams, the tourney's Best Player of the Conference played the entire 48 minutes.

Peter June Simon, who scored 13 points in the third quarter to keep pace with the Realtors, led Purefoods with 27 points. James Yap finished with 21. Kerby Raymundo, guarded mostly by Bitoy Omolon, struggled all night, scoring only 11 points.

Scores:

Sta. Lucia 100 – Espino 29, Williams 17, Reyes 12, Omolon 11, Aquino 11, Yeo 9, Gonzales 7, Miranda 4, Coronel 0, Daa 0.