SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016

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aittimes.net

02 03Ambassador: US to

continue South China

Sea flights, sail-bys

Page 04FIL-ASEAK distributes award, cheers basketball team

Dubai hosts regional

final dance competition

MANILA: Dahil sa kaniyang sakit, umatras na siOFW Party-list Rep. Roy Seneres sa pagtakbobilang pangulo. Ayon sa kampo ni Se?eres ay maydiabetes ang kongresista kaya naman nag desisy-on siyang iatras ang kandidatura. Sa kabila nito ayhindi naman tinanggap ng Comelec Law

Department ang kaniyangwithdrawal dahil dapat aysiya mismo ang maghahainnito. Kabilang si Seneres sacertified at final list ng mgakandidato sa eleksyon saMayo 9. Dahil sa kaniyangpag-atras ay limang kan-didato na lamang ang

mag-aagawan sa pwestong iiwanan ni PangulongBenigno Aquino III. Samantala, anim pa rin angkandidato sa pagkabise presidente.—PSN

Seneres umatras na

sa presidential race

MANILA: A shop assistant displays lucky charm ornaments and decorations including monkey figurines ahead of Lunar New Year cele-brations in the Chinatown district in Manila yesterday. Millions of Chinese around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year, the Yearof the Monkey, which fall on the eve of February 8. —AFP

ARBIL: A fire at a hotel in the capital ofIraq’s autonomous Kurdish region killed19 people and injured dozens more onFriday, officials said.

Fourteen of the dead were from thePhilippines, while three Iraqis, aPalestinian and another person ofunknown nationality also died, saidSaman Barzanji, director general of theArbil health department. Dozens morewere injured and taken to hospital inArbil, said Fakher Harki, the depart-ment’s spokesman.

Nawzad Hadi, the governor of Arbilprovince, said preliminary informationindicated that the cause of the fire wasan electrical problem in a sauna.

The fire took place at the four-starCapitol Hotel where rooms cost from$100-$240 per night. The hotel’s web-

site says it has a 740-square-metre(2,580-square-foot) spa that includessaunas and a pool.

Photos and video posted on socialmedia showed dark grey smoke pour-ing from windows on the top floor ofthe building. The Kurdistan region innorth Iraq has largely been spared thedeadly violence that plagues otherparts of the country.

The region is frequently visited bytourists from other areas of Iraq and var-ious countries in the region. A hotel firein Sulaimaniyah, another city in IraqiKurdistan, killed 30 people in July 2010.The city’s hospital said people from 12different nations died in that fire, includ-ing some who jumped to their deathsfrom upper-floor windows while tryingto escape the flames.—AFP

Hotel fire in Iraqi Kurdish region kills 14 Filipinos

ERBIL, IRAQ: Iraqi firemen work at four-star Capitol Hotel inArbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region of north-ern Iraq, on Friday.—AFP

Roy Seneres

MANILA: Isang taon makalipas ang madugongbakbakan, muling kinasuhan ang nasipangPhilippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima sapagkasawi ng 44 miyembro ng Special ActionForce SAF.

Naghain ng usurpation of authority angVolunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC)laban kay Purisima dahil sa umano’y pagmamandosa SAF sa habang siya ang suspendido sa pwesto.

Nagbabala naman si VACC Chair Dante Jimenezat sinabing ang reklamo nila kay Purisima aymasusundan pa ng iba pang kaso laban kayPangulong Benigno Aquino III.

Nakatakda rin anilang sampahan ng kasongreckless imprudence resulting to homicide siAquino sa Hulyo, pagkatapos ng kaniyang terminobilang pangulo.

Nitong Hulyo 2015 ay kinasuhan na ng Office ofthe Ombudsman ng neglect of duty si Purisima,gayundin sina dating SAF director Getulio Nape?asat walo pang ibang opisyal ng PNP. Nahaharap dinsa kasong graft and grave misconduct sinaPurisima, Napenas at Chief SuperintendentFernando Mendez Jr.—PSN

Purisima muling

kinasuhan sa

Mamasapano clash

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 2MANILA: The U.S. ambassador saidWednesday joint patrols with the Philippinesare possible in the South China Sea, where theUnited States has asserted its freedom to navi-gate by sending planes and ships into China-claimed areas.

Manila protested when a commercialChinese aircraft landed recently on one of sev-eral artificial islands Beijing has built in theSpratlys, and officials say China has essentiallydeclared an air defense identification zoneover the sea by issuing “provocative” chal-lenges to Philippine military flights in the area.Ambassador Philip Goldberg said the U.S. andthe Philippines both have deep interest inensuring freedom of navigation and he is notdiscarding the possibility of joint patrols in thearea.

Two U.S. warships have sailed by China-claimed islands in the Spratly and Paracelisland chains since October.

“I am not going to announce beforehandwhat we do in terms of freedom of navigation,but suffice it to say that the United States willfollow international law, will continue to enjoyour rights under international law to sailthrough international waters or fly to interna-tional air space,” Goldberg told a media forum.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert delRosario said last week the officials discussingpossible joint patrols were looking at an areawithin the Philippines’ exclusive economiczone. “I am not going to prejudge what we are

going to do and when we are going to do it,whether we are going to do it with thePhilippines or with others, but we do discussthat principle with the Philippines and so I amnot discarding that possibility,” Goldbergadded when asked if a proposal for U.S. jointpatrols with the Philippines has beenapproved.

Tensions have risen in the last two years

after China built islands on disputed reefs inthe Spratly Islands chain that China’s neigh-bors fear could be used to threaten their ter-ritories. China and Taiwan have nearly identi-cal claims to almost the entire South ChinaSea while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysiaand Brunei say parts of the sea belong tothem. The United States does not claim partof the territory but says it has interest in the

peaceful settlement of the disputes and infreedom of navigation in waters that are criti-cal for world trade. “We seek the best possiblerelationship with China but we would alsolike to see the engagement of the entireregion on solutions that are rules-based andnot unilateral,” Goldberg said. Forging of acode of conduct in the area “to us is the wayto go,” he added.—AP

Ambassador: US to continue

South China Sea flights, sail-bys

MANILA: Protesters are pushed back by police as the former try to force their way closerto the gates of the U.S. Embassy for a rally in commemoration of the 117th anniversary ofthe Philippine-American war Thursday in Manila, Philippines. The protesters are demand-ing the abolition of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, or EDCA following thePhilippine Supreme Court’s decision upholding its constitutionality and effectively allowsAmerican forces, ships and planes to temporarily station in local military camps. —AP

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines PhilipGoldberg answers questions from themedia during a forum Wednesday, at sub-urban Quezon city, northeast of Manila,Philippines.

MANILA: The Philippine Congress ended itslast regular session of its term Wednesdaywithout passing a Muslim autonomy bill thataims to peacefully settle a decades-longMuslim rebellion in the south, sparking con-cerns the setback may ignite new fighting.

Lawmakers had until Wednesday to delib-erate on the bill before they start a three-month break at the end of the week. Thelong-delayed legislation is at the heart of apeace deal signed by the largest Muslimrebel group and the government of PresidentBenigno Aquino III, whose term ends in June.

The killing of 44 police commandos infighting that involved some guerrillas fromthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front early lastyear scuttled the early passage of the Muslimautonomy bill outlined in the 2014 peacedeal. The separatist conflict has left 150,000people dead and stunted development inthe country’s poorest region.

The peace deal, which seeks to provide amore power ful and potential ly largerautonomous region to minority Muslims inthe south of the predominantly RomanCatholic nation, should have been a majorlegacy of Aquino’s presidency.

While the Malaysian-brokered peaceaccord remains effective, a new autonomybill will have to be presented to the newCongress under Aquino’s successor. The pres-idential election is May 9.

“This delays the final settlement,” saidTeresita Deles, the presidential adviser on thetalks. “There will be elements that will com-pletely lose hope that this can really bedone.”

Government peace negotiator MiriamCoronel-Ferrer said hard-line groups like the

Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, whichopposed peace talks and vowed to continuefighting for a separate Muslim homeland inthe south, could exploit the setback.

“They will be emboldened to renew theircourse in the hope that they will harvest thediscontent,” Ferrer said.

She blamed “the sheer indifference andchronic absenteeism of a majority of the leg-islators” in part for the failure to pass the bill,adding, “at this low point, we call for sobrietyand perseverance.”

Mohagher Iqbal, a senior rebel leader, hassaid that delays in the passage of the autono-my bill and efforts to water it down havesparked frustration among guerrillas andMuslims in the south. Residents have stagedrallies to protest the delays in two predomi-nantly Muslim cities.

U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg said it iscrucial for peacemaking efforts to continueand for people to remain vigilant to ensurethat extremist groups like the Islamic Stategroup can’t spread their influence in thecountry’s south.

About 200 Muslim protesters rallied at thegates of the House of Representatives onWednesday, calling lawmakers “anti-Muslimand anti-peace” for not working on theautonomy bill with urgency over the past 17months.

The bill “has been butchered and is nowdead. But we’re calling on everybody toremain calm,” said a protest leader, KashimCandido.

In 2008, three Muslim rebel commandersled attacks on Christian communities after apreliminary peace pact was not signed andwas struck down by the Supreme Court as

Philippines fears new fighting with stalled Muslim autonomy

MANILA: Filipino Muslims join a protest at the Philippine Congress, Wednesday, at subur-ban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. The Philippine Congress has run out oftime to pass under the current president’s term a Muslim autonomy bill that aims topeacefully settle a decades-long Muslim rebellion in the south, sparking concerns the set-back may ignite new fighting, officials said. —AP

unconstitutional. The attacks sparked a majormilitary offensive, with the clashes leavingscores of villagers and combatants dead anddisplacing tens of thousands of people.

Despite the delays, the 2014 peace dealremains valid and will serve as a roadmap forthe next administration to finally end theMuslim unrest in the south, Deles said.—AP

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 3

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Five Filipinos from Kuwait will compete in the finals ofa dance competition to be held in Dubai on Feb 11, 2016.Kuwait Team is headed by the ‘Next Episode Crew (KUWAIT

CREW) namely: Charlane, Sherlyn, Reggie, Argel and Kurt. “Weare very happy to be selected and be part of the Team Kuwait.We are aiming for gold and huge cash prize,” said Sherlyn GarciaCasul, a member of the Team Kuwait. The showdown is organ-ized by CLOSE-UP Unilever under ‘SYNCDin Crew 2016’ one of

the biggest dance competition being held in Dubai annually.Team Kuwait will be competing against the dance groups fromOman, Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain. The crew would like to thankTIK-TOK for sponsoring their dance costume. To Team KuwaitDance crew members: Chase dreams and not the competition!

Dubai hosts regional final dance competition

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 4

KUWAIT: The Filipino Association of Secretaries of Employment Agencies in Kuwait (FIL-ASEAK) distributed certificates of appreciation to J-Team for its valuable and continuous sup-port to FIL-ASEAK especially during 2015 events which they organized. The distribution of certificates was led by FIL-ASEAK President Maripol Abdulla. Also last Friday, the FIL-ASEAKBasketball Team started their first game on the on-going 2nd FILCOM-Coalition Sports fest, being held at the Biligual School in Reggae, every Friday.

FIL-ASEAK distributes award, cheers basketball team

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 6By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Pinoy Arabia FM, an online mobileapps radio operating under Marina FM 88.8,launched its newest radio programs for theyear 2016, disclosed station manager HermyGernale. New programs are distributed to newand old anchors/announcers/DJs headed byveteran Filipino journalists Michelle Santiago,Randy Mendoza and Ben Garcia. The new pro-grams include non-stop music, top 20 count-downs, talk-shows, news and information andlots more from your favorite radio DJs DarlingDude (Jec Pascaran), DJ Red (MyersonPersingcula), DJ Spark (Mark Anthony LopezFernandez) DJ Mika (Kathrina Perea) and DJRaymund (Raymund Recamadas). Here’s thelist of newest radio programs/shows: 7am-9am ‘Gandang Umaga Arabia’ with Ben Garcia,Maxxy Santiago and Randy Mendoza, 9am-11am will be alternate programs ‘BenTalk andLab2DMax’, 12pm-2pm Darling Dude Show(Iksena Mo Share Mo) with Jec Pascaran, 3pm-5pm The Red Hotlist and the top 20 count-down with Myerson Persingcula and at 5pm-7pm DJ Spark (Mark Anthony LopezFernandez) will turn the listeners wild with hismix of Pinoy rock songs/Reggae musicRakRakan with DJ Spark. DJ Mika (KathrinaPerea) and DJ Raymund (RaymundRecamadas) will treat the listeners withenough supplies of laughter and humor asthey talk current and social/relevant issueswithin the community and life in general asOFWs. To listen, please download apps onyour mobile phones Pinoy Arabia FM.

Pinoy Arabia FM launches 2016 programs

Philippine Airlines executives headed by its Vice Presidentfor Sales Ryan Uy recently visited Pinoy Arabia FM.

KUWAIT: Mohammad Yousef, Country Manager (Giordano-Kuwait) receiv-ing here plaque of appreciation from Pinoy Arabia FM General ManagerHermy Gernale on their valuable support to a singing competitionlaunched by Pinoy Arabia.

KUWAIT: The Gym Team announced its first fitness masterclassof the year with presenters Viktor Keranovic from Serbia andmember of Philippine’s sensational dance group G-Force ChrisBalingit. Both presenters will share the stage with body chal-lenge and contemporary free style and hiphop. Masterclass isscheduled on the 19th of February at Failaka Hall of TheRadisson Blu Hotel. Chris Balingit in his interview commentedthat he has done several dance shows in the past but present-

ing before instructors is a totally different experience. “I am veryexcited but at the same time nervous as these are for real certi-fied and licensed instructors about to take my class. I just hopethat I can somehow contribute to make their classes differentincorporating contemporary dance moves to their cardio pro-grams. To add, Balingit said that he is preparing for the master-class and preparing routines that will be very interesting for theparticipants. Keranovic from Serbia known for his mixed work-

outs of both cardio and body blast will introduce a twist to fit-ness regimen with Body Challenge. “I am looking forward forthe masterclass and hope that they benefit from my presenta-tions” commented Keranovic. The masterclass: Body Challengeand Hip Hop comprise of interval workout between hip hoproutines and weights. Registration will start at 8 AM and master-class will run from 9 AM till 11 PM. Certificates of attendance willbe given at the end of the class and refreshment is included.

The Gym team announces first fitness masterclass of the year

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016 7

By Ricardo DL. Dalisay

KUWAIT: After a week respite, the inaugural round ofthe Philippine Bowling Association in Kuwait 1stSeason Team Tournament 2016 at the Cozmo BowlingCenter in Kheifan kicked off on Friday. Fourteen teamsparticipated including the Indonesian team whoalways supported and joined all events, family daysand fun games that PBAK initiated. IndonesianAmbassador Tatang Razak was the guest speaker andunveiled the 4-month tourney. The different teamswho posted victories were Asian Air Safari, Cozmo,Lady Keglers, Magnificent 7, Nusantara, Scavengers,and Swooping Eagles.

The tournament started with the presentation ofthe participating bowlers from the 14 vying teams andspeeches from Ambassador Razak and PBAK vice presi-dent Hermie Saliba, it was followed by an invocationfrom Lito Michael and Ahmed Fahmi. The oath ofsportsmanship was led by Marjorie Mercado, declara-tion of Tournament Open by Roque Gamba and theceremonial ball rolling headed by the AmbassadorRazak and team captains of the participating teams.Aris de Guzman was the master of ceremony.

The fourteen teams with their members were LadyKeglers - Sonia Mathews, Blanca Sambajon, MejorieMercado, Aris de Guzman, Alma Turley and MichelleAvila; Thunder Dragons - Camilo Baker lll, MarEvangelista, Eddie Pena, Joel Tizon, Mandy Manalo,Moises Amahan, Agnes Noble, Eden Evangelista, MariaPerly Virly and Laras Nitikusumo; Scavengers- AnthonyKing, Aji Varghese, Ali Arquob, Saleh Hajras, WaleedGharib, Ali Ashkanani, Samantha Fernandez, Feroz AlHahareb and Nasha King; Kuwait Stars- Mohammad AlOthman, Abdulaziz Ashkanani, Abdulaziz Al Ali,Ahmad Al Matrouk, Abdul Rahman Al Ali, Khalid AlTattan, Bima Nitikusumo and Hussain Al Majed;Mangaf Strikers- Tony Zuleta, Roque Gamba, Medz

PBAK 1st Season Team Tourney kicks off, Lady Keglers lead

Nicdao, Jhun Janoras, Ceddie Martin Faa, RobertOpena, Adolfo Prena, Leila Cervantes, Ron Fabor andPinky Pardillo; LEAF- Rene Marzan, Rocky Castil, CrisCarungay, Lito Mercado, Joe Presenta, Reygan Percy,Krestylle Andaya and Imelda Daguio; Magnificent 7-Rudy de Lima, Abdul Aziz Al Aslawi, Renato Pante, JangJong Lak, Rani Sheik, Myra Manalo and Hanadi Mezail;Asian Air Safari- Mousa Abdullah, Fadel Al Qassem, LitoMichael, Norlan Balasan, Vernie Villaruel, Gani dela Cruz,Norlan Conde, Hermie Saliba and Jeanette Angeles.

ASC Warriors - Kiko Andaya, Alex Cervantes, FerdieSaliba, Ronnel Valencia, Kevin Andaya, Mina Andaya,Neng Cervantes, and Rose Saliba; NUSANTARA - SalehAl Faraj, Ahmad Fahmi, Benyamin Hasan, TatangRazak, Abdul Rahman, Abel Nitikusumo and Yusuf

Ghadanfar; Original Pin Killers- Christopher Bush, GregMelancon, Ishaaq Al Wahid, Jelyn Colegio, JunHusmillo, Rashid Aker Ali,Amy Kerr, Megan Summer,Keiran Pawley and Ahmad Fadel Karam; SwoopingEagles- John Caldwell, Riz Roque, Danny Solis, AlonzoBush, Darrell Sullivan, Jessica Balagat, Angie Bush,Benjie Roque, Bill Stiles, Jocelyn Ty and Glenn Corbitt;COZMO - Fahad Abul, Noe Mahayag, Farid Gabriel,Jacky Guitang, Mike Gonzales, Cris Tirona, NeveenWassil and Nasser Hajras; and Bowlersmate - JessTolentino, Norlan Balasan, Fe Ferrer, Josie Lorino,Tristan Jonathan, Malaluan, Arnold Mendoza andJeremy Roque.

Competing teams are playing with handicappingsystem and after the 7-week elimination round, the

top eight teams will be playing for a two-week roundrobin. The tourney now returned he masters’ event forthe ladies and men’s categories. Special awards will bepresented to teams and bowlers with high averagesand high scores. After the first round play Lady Keglerssnatched the Team of the Week (2821), Team HighGame Scratch (918) and Team High Series (2821).

First round results: 1. Lady Keglers (2810); 2.NUSANTARA (2803); 3. Magnificent 7 (2698); 4.Swooping Eagles (2633); 5. Asian Air Safari (2630);6. Scavengers (2620); 7. COZMO (2593); 8. ASCWarriors (2556); 9. Mangaf Strikers (2539); 10.Bowlersmate (2514); 11. Original Pin Killers (2510;12. Thunder Dragons (2413); 13. LEAF (2386) and14. Kuwait Stars (bye).

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Page 7

PBAK 1st Season

Team Tourney

kicks off, Lady

Keglers lead

KUWAIT: FBC Badminton enthusiasts onceagain smashed their rackets as they reachedtheir last elimination rounds for the scheduledfinals next week. Led by Level D category play-ers, participants swayed and grooved to anoth-er dance exercise as part of their health & fit-ness awareness program. Everybody is nowexcited to see what’s in store for next weekpresentation of the higher level category.

Once again, FBC is inviting all badmintonaddicts to join every Friday in their regular tour-naments from 8 am to 1 pm and adults/kidsbadminton coaching/tutorial and court rentalfrom 1 pm to 5 pm. For inquiries please callFBC hotline 66420529 or personally come atthe Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally.

FBC continues ‘66th badminton tourney’