Ai Ai delas Alas and Jed Salang (MNS photo)

MANILA, May 20 (Mabuhay) — Comedienne Ai Ai delas Alas broke down on “The Buzz” on Sunday as she confirmed that she and her husband for a month, businessman Jed Salang, have already separated.

In an exclusive interview with host Boy Abunda, delas Alas revealed Salang physically abused her that made her decide to leave him last May 2.

Delas Alas said Salang changed since they got married in Las Vegas last April 3.

“Nung May 2, ang pinag-awayan talaga namin, gusto niya mag-monthsary kami sa casino. Ayaw ko na mag-casino siya kasi hindi naman healthy para sa kanya and hindi rin maganda para sa akin na nakikita ako sa casino. Sabi ko sa kanya doon na lang kami sa bahay or any hotel, huwag lang doon kasi may casino doon,” she said.

According to delas Alas, this disagreement prompted Salang to physically hurt her.

“Hinahagis ako sa kama, sampalan, bunuan. Noong araw na iyon, feeling ko ‘yung time na hinila niya ako sa sahig at kinaladkad niya ako, doon ko na-realize na hindi ko na ito kaya. Kasi parang feeling ko kabibigay ko pa lang ng dream niya, binigay ko sa iyo ang makapagpapaligaya sa iyo, binigyan ko siya ng kotse. Nung araw na iyon, kinaladkad mo ako sa sahig. Parang pakiramdam ko, ano pa ba ang magagawa mo sa akin habang ako lahat naibigay ko na sa iyo,” she told “The Buzz” host Boy Abunda in the interview, which was taped early morning on Sunday.

Delas Alas said her decision to leave her husband was also prompted by confirmations of Salang’s alleged real intentions in marrying her.

“Kasi mayroon siyang friend dati, siguro mga three months pa lang kami, siguro naawa siya sa akin or nakunsensya. Sinabi niya sa akin na may balak si Jed na papatulan lang ako and later on — hindi ko masabi ang word pero kapag nagawa na niya iyon, iiwan na niya ako and may kakasamahin siyang iba,” she said.

“Noon ko nalaman iyon and ngayon ko na-confirm. Alam ko dahil from the very beginning ramdam ko naman iyon. Kaya lang natatakot ako sa totoo and natatakot ako dahil alam ko kapag nalaman ko ‘yung totoo, sobrang sakit,” she added.

Delas Alas said she still loves Salang but it is not enough to compensate all the pain that he has caused her.

“Alam ko naman ide-deny lahat iyon pero alam ko kahit i-deny niya sa akin, sa buong mundo, hindi nila puwede i-deny sa [Diyos] iyon. Alam ni God kung anong pinagdaanan ko at alam niya kung anong ginawa niya sa akin,” she said.

Delas Alas also tearfully said she believes Salang never loved her.

“Sa lahat ng nalaman ko, tingin ko hindi. Kahit kailan hindi [niya ako minahal],” she said as she broke down in tears.

Delas Alas said she will leave it up to her lawyers to take all the legal steps, including a possible divorce. (MNS)

(OPAPP logo)

More local government units (LGUs) from various municipalities are set to be trained this year on mainstreaming conflict sensitivity and peace promoting approaches to their planning processes, Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said today.

“We are hoping that more LGUs particularly in conflict-affected areas will be able to implement initiatives that will address the root causes of conflict in their respective localities,” she stated.

The peace adviser said that through the Mainstreaming Peace and Development in Local Governance Project (MPDLGP), LGUs will be equipped to effectively and efficiently manage conflict and implement peace and development initiatives that will be funded under the government’s PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) program.

The MPDLGP, which started in 2011, is a collaborative effort of OPAPP, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Local Government Academy, and Bureau of Local Government Development. It is funded by the Government of Spain through the “Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID).

Deles announced that OPAPP and AECID are slated to sign the Administrative Protocol of Aid Management today at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City. She will be leading the signing, together with AECID Coordinator General Vicente Sellés Zaragozí. Spanish Ambassador Jorge Domecq and DILG USec. Austere Panadero will witness the signing along with guests from the donor community.

“We are expanding the reach of our partnership to capacitate more LGUs across the country and continue our work in strengthening their capacities in mainstreaming peace and development in local governance,” explained Deles.

“Our peace-building experiences, whether local or international, have taught us that we cannot just bring development as usual in conflict-affected areas,” she said. “Any project that will be implemented in conflict-affected areas need to be carefully designed and implemented so that it does not exacerbate existing conditions that drive the conflict in that area but more importantly, create more peace impacts,” she added stressing the need to enhance relationships and the communities’ capacities for peace.

In 2011, AECID committed to provide the Philippine government a grant amounting to € 1,500,000 (P 80.0 million).

“The Spanish Government is pleased to work hand in hand with the Government of the Philippines in its commitment to work towards development as an effective way to achieve peace,” Domecq said.

“The Philippines is a priority country for the Spanish Cooperation and the only one remaining in Asia. Spain considers the Philippines a very close and unique partner, since both countries share many values and principles through a common history and cultural heritage,” he added.

According to Deles, since the MPDLGP began in 2011, AECID has funded several projects implemented by OPAPP and DILG. MPDLGP workshops conducted last year have enabled 25 provinces to come up with a list of interventions that are now listed for funding for FY 2013. There were also 293 PAMANA or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayaan (Peaceful and Resilient Communities) projects that were reviewed and assessed through the MPDLGP.

AECID also supported a project aimed at strengthening monitoring capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) with the creation of the “Development of Livelihoods Monitoring Handbook for Third-Party Monitors.” The system was developed by a renowned Spanish institution (Autónoma of Barcelona University – UNESCO Chairmanship – Escola de Pau – ECP) together with OPAPP. It will now allow CSOs to carry out the monitoring of livelihood projects implemented under the Pillar 3 of the PAMANA program.

Further, AECID helped fund the expenses of the 25-member delegation led by Deles and joined by the government peace panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and local government officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in their study visit to Spain last 2012 to learn from existing Spanish autonomous regions. The visit aimed to orient delegates on the Spanish territorial division model as well as best practices and lessons learned from the public and territorial organization of the Spanish Government. During the visit, the participants had the opportunity to exchange views with the members of the Spanish Constitutional Court, the institution responsible for resolving any potential territorial conflict. Likewise, they had the opportunity to visit different regional parliaments as well as the regional police corps.

Jacinto Ng (L), Asia United Bank (AUB) Corp chairman, leads the ceremonial ringing of the bell at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), as Anita Ng (2nd L), PSE Chairman Jose Pardo (2nd R) and PSE official Vivian Yuchengco look on, in a financial district of Makati city, metro Manila May 17, 2013. Philippine lender Asia United Bank Corp jumped as much as 9.5 percent on its market debut on Friday after an oversubscribed public offer, the first listing since the country won investment rating upgrades from two agencies this year. (MNS photo)

In a bid to boost the country’s competitiveness ranking in the world and improve the business climate in the country, President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed an administrative order for the creation of an inter-agency task force that will implement reforms making it easier to do business in the Philippines.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. on Tuesday said President Aquino signed Administrative Order No. 38 for the creation of Task Force on Ease of Doing Business (EODB Task Force) in order to implement an action plan, which was drafted by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), to enhance the business competitiveness of the country.

“The EODB Task Force is seen to significantly help improve our ranking in the survey since it is tasked to ensure the full implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness designed by the NCC and endorsed by the Economic Development Cluster,” Ochoa said.

Currently the Philippines ranks 138th out of 185 countries in the world, and is 8th out of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Doing Business Survey (DBS) of the World Bank International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The Gameplan for Competitiveness is a strategy which sets reform targets for concerned government agencies based on 10 indicators that determine the country’s world ranking in the DBS. It also identifies key areas for public and private sector participation to boost the global business competitiveness ranking of the Philippines.

The business survey of the IFC measures and tracks business regulations across 10 indicators, namely: starting businesses, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

Under AO No. 38, the task force will be led by the Secretary of Trade and Industry (DTI). Its members include representatives of the NCC; the Departments of Finance (DOF), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Justice (DOJ); Bureaus of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Customs (BoC); Land Registration Authority (LRA); Credit Information Corp. (CIC); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Social Security System (SSS); Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF); and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC).

President Aquino calls for the participation and assistance of concerned local government units, as well private and public institutions, including government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), in the implementation and accomplishment of targets provided in the Gameplan for Competitiveness.

Among others, AO No. 38 specifically directs the task force to review and develop policies, programs and guidelines to ensure appropriate implementation of the Gameplan for Competitiveness, re-evaluate and adopt measures to achieve goals set for 2013 and finalize the goals for 2014 onwards, and coordinate with the proper agencies for the inclusion of the targets in the performance goals of concerned departments in their respective performance-based incentive systems.

The EODB Task Force is likewise to recommend to the President the issuance of proper measures to promote transparency and efficiency in business practices in the country.

It is also directed to submit a report to the Office of the President through the Economic Development Cluster within 60 days from the issuance of the AO and every six months thereafter.

The funding requirements of the task force will be taken from the respective budgets of member-agencies, with subsequent funding requirements to be incorporated in the annual budget proposals of each of the member-agencies.

AO No. 38 takes effect immediately.

Kathryn Bernardo (MNS Photo)

MANILA, May 17 (Mabuhay) -– Teen actress Kathryn Bernardo is both excited and nervous for her upcoming television series with Daniel Padilla titled “Got to Believe.”

Bernardo said she is looking forward to taping the show’s first episodes but she is also a little nervous to work with box-office director Cathy Garcia Molina.

“Hindi pa kami nag-start mag-taping. Ang nagawa pa lang naming with direk Cathy was ‘yung teaser for the trade launch. Siguro nanibago lang ako sa start kasi ang atake ni direk Cathy more on sa movie. Nakakapanibago pero excited ako talaga kasi isa siya sa magagaling na director natin,” she said.

Bernardo describes Molina as a “very vocal” person about what she wants to achieve in a scene, adding that she is also one of the coolest directors she has ever met.

Meanwhile, Bernardo revealed that she wants to explore other things other apart from acting.

“Singing. Gusto ko lang ma-explore ‘yung ibang talents. Kasi hindi naman puwedeng acting ka lang, magsasawa ang tao. So open ako to explore other things na puwede ko ma-discover,” she said.

Asked if she also wants to have her own album just like Padilla, she said: “Hindi ko alam pero tignan natin in the future. Open ako sa [workshops]. Gusto ko rin matuto ng iba eh.”

Bernardo said she just makes sure that she will set an example to her younger fans in everything that she does.

“Thankful lang kami na inspiration nila kami. Basta be simple lang. Hindi rin naman naming nilalagay sa ulo namin na kami ang idol nila. Normal lang din kami na nagkaka-problem. Happy lang kami na inspiration nila kami,” she said. (MNS)

Antonio Basilio, the Philippines’ representative to Taiwan, speaks during a joint news conference with Taiwan Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taipei May 15, 2013. Chairman of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Amadeo R. Perez will arrive in Taiwan on May 15 to visit the family of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-cheng, who was shot dead by Filipino coast guards in disputed waters in the South China Sea last week, according to local media. (MNS photo)

The Taiwan government intends to provide additional security to protect Filipinos in Taiwan amid reports of assault and discrimination against Filipino nationals staying there, a Palace official said on Monday.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing in Malacanang that the Philippine government remains optimistic that the harassment and assaults against Filipinos in Taiwan will be stopped after Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou vowed last week to protect the Filipinos there.

Last Friday, the Taiwan’s leader called for calm and promised to protect Filipinos residing and working in the island.

“I understand, that their leadership has already expressed intent to provide additional security and we’re hoping that the reported incidents will not be repeated,” Valte said.

The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) had already organized a team that will document reports of harassment and assaults against Filipinos in Taiwan and relay it to Taiwan’s foreign ministry.

“Our counterparts there are already working with the relevant ministries in Taiwan for the investigation of these attacks,” Valte said.

Valte said the Philippine government is calling on the Taiwanese people not to harass the Filipinos there because they have nothing to do with the shooting death of a Taiwanese fisherman last May 9 off Batanes.

The Philippine government assured that contingencies are now in place in case there is an exodus of Filipinos from Taiwan. The Department of Labor said it is looking at other markets such as South Korea, the Middle East and Malaysia that could absorb Filipino workers affected by the current diplomatic row with Taiwan.

Sea Trials. The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF16) of the Philippine Navy leaves the pier at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, to undergo three days of sea trials in preparation for its departure for the Philippines next month. (Photo by the United States Coast Guard)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) began its much-awaited sea trials as part of preparations for its journey to the Philippines.

In a statement, the Philippine Embassy said the Alcaraz left at 8:30 a.m. Monday, from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, where it has been undergoing refurbishment since it was turned over to the Philippines last year.

Navy Capt. Elson Aguilar, Defense and Naval Attaché of the Embassy, said the Alcaraz will stay out at sea for three days to test its propulsion and other systems before returning to port on Thursday.

“We want to make sure everything is in place before the Alcaraz finally sets sail for the Philippines before the middle of next month,” Captain Aguilar said.

The Alcaraz has been undergoing refurbishment since it was acquired by the Philippines in May 2012.

The vessel’s 14 officers and 74 crew members led by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino have also been undergoing training since the turnover.

The 378-foot-long Alcaraz was commissioned in 1968 and served with the US Coast Guard as the USCGC Dallas until it was decommissioned and turned over to the Philippines in May. It is being refurbished and refitted at a cost of $15.15 million.

The Alcaraz is the second Hamilton-class cutter that was acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Article and Military Assistance Program. The first, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF15), was turned over to the Philippine Navy in May 2011.

According to Captain Aguilar, both the Alcaraz and the Del Pilar are capable of conducting patrols for long periods of time and withstanding heavy weather and rough sea conditions.

The Alcaraz was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy officer, who distinguished himself during the Second World War when the patrol boat he commanded was credited for shooting down three Japanese aircraft. ###

(DOJ building)

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) is not amenable to Taiwan’s request for a joint investigation of the recent shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman off the Bashi Strait in Northern Philippines.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said on Friday that Taiwan sent a letter to the DOJ on Wednesday formalizing its request for a joint probe into the incident which resulted in the death of Taiwanese fisherman Hung Shih-Cheng.

De Lima said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is almost done with its investigation and bringing in a Taiwanese contingent may be an “interference” in the bureau’s probe. She said the two countries may cooperate with each other in their individual investigations.

“Titingnan namin kung up to what extent yung cooperation ng dalawang team of investigators but it’s not going to be joint. Pinag-usapan rin namin kanina na pwede sila (Taiwan) mag-inspect sa PCG/BFAR vessel then payagan din nila tayo na iinspect yung Taiwanese vessel. Simultaneous. Yun ang naiisip namin but at this point, hindi talaga pwede joint investigation lalo na na patapos na [NBI investigation]. To ask that is an interference dun sa investigation natin kung bigla natin sila iinvolve,” she said.

The NBI will still push for an inspection of the fishing vessel in Taiwan, De Lima said. All other aspects of the probe are almost complete, she added.

“The NBI has informed me patapos na sila. Malapit na matapos. Yun naman ang instruction ng pangulo to do it as expeditiously as possible. Ang hindi na lang nagagawa ay yung pagpunta ng team sa Taiwan para mag-occular inspection din sa vessel and hopefully to talk to the survivors.’

“Pero in so far as the evidence found within the country, patapos na yun. As a matter of fact, kanina daw nandoon sa NBI mga personnel ng PCG for questioning. Tapos na rin na-question BFAR personnel na nag-execute na ng [sworn] statements. Tapos nandoon na sa kanila (NBI) yung firearms, ini-examine na,” De Lima said.

Clearance from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) is needed, she said, for the inspection of the Taiwanese shipping vessel by the NBI team. (MNS)

Local and foreign observers gather at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City Tuesday to witness the official canvassing of votes prepared by Commission On Elections with the National Board of Canvassers. (MNS photo)

MANILA, May 17 (Mabuhay) — Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday that he will resign form his post if it will be proven that the six senatorial candidates proclaimed Thursday night will be bumped off the top 12.

Brillantes issued such remarks amid criticisms on the legality of the partial proclamation. The proclamation of the six leading candidates was done without mentioning the number of votes obtained by the six.

Thiose proclaimed Thursday evening were Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Nancy BInay and Sonny Angara. Except for Binay, all were from Team PNoy. Binay also failed to show up in the ceremony, as she was represented by lawyer Donna Camitan.

“Now prove to me that any of the first six matatanggal sa 12. Ilalaban ko, magreresign ako pag natanggal yung anim anywhere, pag natanggal yung anim doon sa 12,” Brillantes told reporters.

“Wala naman kaming nilagay na ranking (doon sa proclamation), kaya nga alphabetical e, kasi sigurado na kami na hindi na matatalo [ang] mga ito maski ano ang mangyari,” he added.

It marked the second time that Brillantes threatened to quit his post.

In April, Brillantes mulled resigning from his post when the Supreme Court ruled to stop the Comelec from imposing new airtime limits on political advertisements.

Local proclamations

In the same interview, Brillantes also noted that no one questions proclamations in local areas if the results there will not affect the winners.

“‘Di ba nagpoproclaim tayo if the results will no longer be adversely affected, we can already proclaim even in the local area, why can we not do it in the senatorial?” Brillantes said.

The partial and official tally as of Thursday evening covered 87 certificates of canvass and over 19 million votes.

The official vote tally for those proclaimed is as follows:

POE, GRACE 10,049,795

LEGARDA, LOREN 9,175,488

ESCUDERO, CHIZ 8,652,216

CAYETANO, ALAN PETER 8,597,603

BINAY, NANCY 8,329,945

ANGARA, EDGARDO 7,919,081

During the partial proclamation ceremonies on Thursday, the Comelec commissioners took turns giving to the six candidates their respective certificates of proclamation, arranged by alphabetical order.

At the time, Brillantes said that “we don’t have votes as yet,” thus the arrangement of names.

Brillantes said the NBOC will discuss how many of the remaining six senatorial candidates in the top 12 will be proclaimed Friday night.

The Comelec sitting as the NBOC resumed its session on Friday morning at around 9:45 a.m. (MNS)