SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016

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aittimes.net

02 03Manila ‘ R & B Prince’

performs in a full

house concert

Duterte death fears rise as PH

mayor offers bounties

MANILA: Boxing great Manny Pacquiao was proclaimedThursday as a winner of a Philippine Senate seat, bringing himcloser to a possible crack at the presidency. At the proclama-tion ceremony, an elections commissioner introducedPacquiao as the “people’s champion” and called out his namein the same slow style that he is introduced in his world-famous bouts, drawing cheers from the audience.

The Filipino slugger garnered more than 16 millionvotes, landing 7th among 12 new members of the Senate,a traditional springboard to the presidency. Earlier thisyear, he said that he planned to retire from boxing tobecome a full-time politician.

Asked by The Associated Press if his next target is the presi-dency, Pacquiao smiled, then said, “Nothing, nothing, nothing”as he rode into his black Cadillac SUV after his proclamation.

Continued on Page 3

MANILA: The Philippine economy grew faster than expected at 6.9percent in the first quarter from the same period a year ago, itshighest quarterly growth in almost three years, officials saidThursday as the government prepares to hand over leadership tothe incoming administration.

Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra said the robustperformance shows the economy’s continuing high-growth trajecto-ry and increases the likelihood of achieving the official full-year grossdomestic product growth target of 6.8 to 7.8 percent. “The nextadministration and indeed, the next generation, inherits a rapidlygrowing, vibrant Philippines cushioned by robust foundations builtover six years,” said Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima. The economygrew an average of 6.2 percent over the last six years. The previousquarter growth was 6.5 percent.

Brash-talking Davao city Mayor Rodrigo Duterte won the May 9 pres-

idential race by a landslide based on an unofficial count. The newadministration takes office on June 30. Esguerra said it is important notto miss the current wave of foreign investments in the region, where thePhilippines is now a destination of choice. Demonstrating the maturityof its democratic institutions, policy consistency and agreement on along-term vision are important for sustained business confidence, headded. First quarter growth was driven by the services sector, whichgrew 7.9 percent and industry, which recorded its highest growth in fiveconsecutive quarters at 8.7 percent, officials said. Investments alsosurged, with fixed capital posting 25.5 percent growth. Agriculture con-tracted 4.4 percent, the fourth consecutive quarter of decline.

The quarter’s growth was faster than 11 selected Asian economies,followed by China at 6.7 percent, Vietnam at 5.5 percent, and Indonesiaat 4.9 percent, Esguerra said. Purisima said it outpaces China’s growth forthe first time in 27 years. — AP

MANILA : Relatives of the crew of Philippine Navy’s BRP Tarlac (LD-601) welcome the arrival of the first ever StrategicSealift Vessel (SSV) at the South Harbor in Manila. The BRP Tarlac will serve as the Philippine Navy’s floating commandand control ship as the country modernises its fleet with tensions in the South China Sea — through which one-third ofthe world’s oil passes — mounting in recent years.—-AFP

Philippine economy grows faster

than expected at 6.9 percent

DAVAO CITY: The campaign spokesperson of presumptivePresident-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Friday apologized toevangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who had alleged beingsnubbed by the camp of the incoming chief executive.

“We extend our apologies,” Peter Lavina, now thespokesperson for Duterte’s transition team, told reportersat a press briefing here. “Hopefully, we can adjust accord-ingly.” Lavina said there was no “deliberate effort” to easeout Quiboloy from Duterte’s core group. “These are notintentional. We wanted to accommodate everyone and ofcourse we want to consult everyone. This is a continuingprocess,” he said. “Some were not entertained and wereceived this feedback and we are happy that we arereceiving this feedback so they can adjust.”On Friday,spokesperson Mike Abe said Quiboloy and Duterte had no“official communication” after the May 9 elections, and thepastor had not been consulted about the appointees of theincoming administration.

Duterte camp

apologizes

to Quiboloy

Pacquiao’s Senate

victory brings him

closer to presidency

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 2

KUWAIT: The theater of the American InternationalSchool of Kuwait was full of eager Filipinos whocame to attend the concert of Philippine’s Rhythmand Blues Prince JR Friday evening. The concert,which was produced by Al Mulla ExchangeCompany, showcased with JR contemporaryFilipino singers; acoustic artist Robin Nievera,hiphop vocalists QYork, singer and model MicaJavier. The two day concert invited PhilippineAmbassador to Kuwait Renato Villa and media per-sonality Ricky Laxa to grace the occasion. Al Mullaalso marked its 129 concerts production in Kuwaitfor Filipinos, Egyptians, Sri Lankans, Nepalis andIndians. The event kicked-off with welcomeremarks from Rakesh Joshi, General Manager of AlMulla Exchange Company. In his brief remarks heextended his greetings to the Filipinos for 118thIndependence Day celebration and that such eventwas in anticipation of the country’s celebration.Joshi also highlighted the varied services of AlMulla Exchange including its reward system alongwith free insurance, on line remittance, which OFWsprefer. On the other hand, the PhilippineAmbassador to Kuwait Renato Villa thanked the AlMulla giving back to the community via such enter-tainment. The Philippine envoy boasted on the suc-cess of the recent presidential elections andthanked everyone.

Manila ‘R & B Prince’ performs in a full house concert

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 3

Continued from Page 1

Considered a hero in the country, whichgrinds to a halt during his televised fights towatch him box, Pacquiao has indicated in thepast he would consider a run for the presidency.But he has often tried to ditch the topic, sayinghe was too young.

The Philippine Constitution requires presiden-tial candidates to be at least 40 years old. The 37-year-old boxer would be eligible to run in thenext presidential election in 2022.

Pacquiao’s Senate victory is the latest chapterin his stunning rags-to-riches story. He camefrom an impoverished rural family and hadworked odd jobs before lacing up the gloves atthe age of 12. He rose steadily and became achampion in eight boxing divisions to becomeone of the world’s most celebrated and wealthi-est athletes.

He has represented southern Saranganiprovince in the House of Representatives sinceMay 2010, though he has been criticized for sel-dom showing up for legislative duties due to hispreoccupation with boxing and is still regarded apolitical lightweight.

He told reporters he was still thinkingwhether to participate in the Olympics in Augustbecause he might be criticized again for beingabsent from the Senate. “I need to ask if theFilipino people will allow me to participate in the

Olympics,” he said.Pacquiao said he would support the proposal

by the crime-busting president-elect, RodrigoDuterte, to re-impose the death penalty. Thatcomment from the newly religious Pacquiao dif-fers from the opposition of the country’s domi-nant Roman Catholic church. He added he wouldoppose any proposed divorce bill.

In a populist stance, he said the first bill hewould file would grant free elementary-to-col-lege education for children from poor families, aproposal that has not been realized in the pastdue to the extensive costs it would entail. Morethan a fourth of the more than 100 millionFilipinos are considered poor.

Pacquiao ran for the Senate under the ticketof losing presidential candidate Jejomar Binay,but also was endorsed by Duterte.

During his senatorial campaign, Pacquiaobounced back impressively after a huge drop insupport from his remarks in February that peoplein same-sex relations are “worse than animals.” Heapologized to people hurt by his comments butmade clear he opposed same-sex marriage.

President Benigno Aquino III revealed in Aprilthat the brutal Abu Sayyaf militant group consid-ered abducting Pacquiao, along with the presi-dent’s sister, who is a wealthy and popularactress. Despite the warning, Pacquiao continuedto openly campaign in the south region wherethe militants are based.—AP

Pacquiao’s Senate victory brings...

MANILA: Philippine boxing icon and newly elected Senator Manny Pacquiao waves toreporters during a press conference after being proclaimed as senator by the Commissionon Elections in Manila on Thursday. Pacquiao, 37, whose rise from desperate street kid toboxing superstar has made him one of the nation’s biggest heroes, retired from boxinglast month to become a full-time politician. —AFP

MANILA: The incoming mayor of a majorPhilippine city said Friday he was offering policebounties to kill criminals, deepening fears ofextra-judicial deaths under the rule of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Reports of another official forcing three chil-dren to walk through the streets with signsdeclaring they were drug traffickers added tothe alarm of authorities being incited to act out-side of the law.

Tomas Osmena, the incoming mayor of cen-tral Cebu city, told AFP he would pay police50,000 pesos ($1,060) for each criminal theykilled and 5,000 pesos for wounding them. “If

you kill a criminal in the line of duty, (you’ll berewarded), no questions asked. I’m there toassist the police, not to prosecute them,”Osmena said by telephone.

“That is my purpose: to instil fear in thecriminals. If they want to commit crimes, theyget into war with me. I will see to it that therewill be casualties.”

Osmena’s pledge comes after Duterte, thelongtime mayor of southern Davao city, won theMay 9 presidential election in a landslide largelydue to an incendiary law-and-order platform.Duterte pledged to wipe out crime within sixmonths by unleashing security forces with

shoot-to-kill orders. He said 100,000 criminalswould die in his crackdown, and that so manybodies would be dumped in Manila Bay that thefish there would grow fat from feeding on them.He also vowed to forget human rights and

boasted that criminals would be butchered.Since winning the election, Duterteannounced he would bring back the deathpenalty, with hanging his preferred method ofexecution. — AFP

Duterte death fears rise as PH mayor offers bounties

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 4

Ni Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Muling nagsama-sama ang mga supportersni presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte saPhilippine Embassy sa Hateen Area noong Biyernes,upang ipamalas ang kanilang pagkakaisa at pag-mamahal sa kapwa sa pamamagitan ng isang progra-ma. Masaya at hindi malilimutang tagpo ang ginanapna Thanksgiving/Medical and Feeding Mission’ kungsaan dinaluhan ito ng tatlong Filipino doctors at isangArabong doktor; Dr Emilia Zapanta, Dr Cristina Cura,Dr Aileen Basuil at Dr Sameh Aziz na masayangnakipag-kuwentuhan, nagbigay ng mga payo at pre-scriptions sa halos 150 runaway housemaids.

Bago ang masyang programa, isang medical lec-ture muna ang pinangunahan ng mga nurses mula saAl-Sabah Region at mga staff nurses ng Central Jail.Ipinaliwag sa lecture kung ano ang mga dahilan kungbakit tinatamaan ng karamdaman/sakit ang isangtao. Nagdala rin ang grupo ng mga nurses ng mgahygienic kits na kanilang ipinamahagi sa mga run-away housemaids. Ang OFW Aguila Movement aynaghanda rin ng mga pagkaing pinagsaluhan bagonatapos ang limang oras programa. Sina RaymundRecamadas at Kathrina Perea ng TFC at Pinoy ArabiaFM ang nagsilbing hosts ng palabas kung saan ilanding parlour games at kantahan ang masayangpinagsaluhan ng mga naroroon sa embahada.

Nais magpasalamat ng grupo sa mga doktor atnurses na nakiisa sa ‘thanksgiving para kay Duterte’kasama ang grupong Rap Infantry, Tag Cargo, MariosRestaurant, Bluehour Cape & Bakeshop ( Roel ‘Lanz’Pintor), Miss Tina Barrios of Abbas Karam RecruitmentAgency, Maryam Macapudi at mga individual nanakibahagi sa programa tulad nina; NormalitaMillare, Chic Santos Guevarra, Liza Rio Ampatado,Jesse Bomediano at ang mga OPC Tropang Pinoy,OFW Survivor In Kuwait, OMK Movement Sa Kuwait.Salamat din sa mga nurses na kinabibilangan ninaMaryam Maricarl S. Jayme, Johnny Dorosan, JeflorDuhaylungsod, Argie Garcia, Melvyn Pertudo, GeraldGarret Guinto Gernee, Francisco Vic Olivar, JuliusPangan, Rommel Balicha, Jeremiah Guillen, RosalindaLizo, Eunice Lizo, Silang Emmanuel T. Elesis, DeoPagaragan, Carolynne B. Paggabao, Jane Basmayor, FeGerilene Apalla, Laarni Pahuyo at ang medtech nasina: Olive Bryan C. Padua Mina Gracia C. Padua at sa,lahat ng OFW Aguila Movement officers and admins!

(Also see Kuwait Times local page section)

‘Thanksgiving/Medical Mission and Feeding

Program’ alay kay Duterte, tagumpay

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 5

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 6

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 7

In celebration of the 118th PhilippineIndependence Day, Western Union,OSN, Kuwait Aiways and Alpha

Solutions present “Kalayaansa Kuwait2016”. A free concert featuring Miss World2013 Megan Young and to join the rosteror performers are singers andcomediennesTart Carlos (Doris) andVivieka Ravanes (Sabel) of Be Careful with

my Heart, plus a special performancefrom Tanya Dawood, soundtrack singer of“Be my Lady” and one of the fastest risingstar in the Philippine Showbiz. The cele-bration will be held at Qadsia Sports Club,Hawalli Kuwait, and the gates will open at7a.m and the main event will start at3p.m. This event is presented in coopera-tion with Philippine Embassy in Kuwait,

sponsored by ICE WATCH (Habchi andChalhoub), LBC, SMDC, Max’s Restaurant,Swiss-Belhotel, Echo Extreme Magic Sing,Dunkin Donuts, Bubble Mix, AIMGlobal.Our media partners TFM Magazine andPinoy Arabia FM. This is the grandest andbiggest event this year. Raffle draws, give-aways and special prizes awaits to all whowill join this celebration.

118th Philippine Independence Day Celebration sa Sabado na!

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016

Pages 4- 7

‘Thanksgiving-Medical

Mission and Feeding

Program’ alay kay

Duterte, tagumpay

KUWAIT: An intense winning moves were seen among all theparticipants during the FBC’s 70th tourney week 2 eliminationrounds held last Friday. All teams played with an attackinginterest and overpowering energy from the start off as they

rallied to the finals next Friday. Coupled with the exhilaratinggames is a homemade snacks birthday treat by Ms. JenniferDorado Torres which was relished and enjoyed by all players.

FBC is inviting all badminton fanatics to register in their

regular tournaments from 8 am to 1 pm and adults/kids bad-minton coaching/tutorial and court rental from 1 pm to 5 pm.For inquiries please call FBC hotline 66420529 or personallycome at the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally.

FBC 70th tourney: Week 2 elimination rounds