18 Filipinos, captured in Somalia

NAIROBI, Kenya – EU anti-piracy task force confirmed today the hijacking of a chemical tanker in the Red Sea.

Involving eighteen (18) Filipino seamen on board of the said tanker.

The MT Motivator was attacked by the pirates and showered bullets in the north portion of Bab-Al-Mandeb area.

“After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail. The hijack was confirmed early on 5 July,” EU NAVFOR said.

The ship was almost loaded with 13,065 tons of lubricating oil.

Today, Authorities are working on a step to ensure the safety of the crew.

As remembered, many Filipinos were captured by Somali pirates and their ships have accidentally passed by the ocean which they entrenched.

Suspect of Filipino nurse murder in UK, guilty

A South African national was sentenced today by the London court for thirty (30) years imprisonment for murdering a Filipino nurse from Ilocos Norte, Philippines last year.

Based from the letter which was issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the court sentenced the suspect Clinton Bailey, an information technology specialist, for murdering his Filipino girlfriend Leah Questin.

A jury trial was done to the case and it only lasted for two (2) weeks.

The thirty-seven (37) year old victim was working as a caregiver in North London district of Cricklewood.

The decayed body was naked and discovered inside a luggage last September 24, 2009 in the suspect’s garage.

Based from the court’s record, Bailey killed Leah after he exhausted her bank account.

Bailey lived in Malpas Road, Lewisham, South London where he had a financial problem.

The prosecutor Peter Wright QC, have mentioned it earlier that the victim only desires love and a permanent relationship.

“Leah Questin was searching for affection, a relationship, and possibly marriage – some form of permanent relationship. The defendant was also looking for a relationship. He already had a relationship with a girlfriend called Debra Jooste. But he also had another matter that was affecting his life. He had serious money problems at this time.”

Before the crime happened, Bailey posted an advertisement in Gumtree website saying that he is “very intelligent 33-year-old living in south London,” and he was seeking for a female from the Philippines.

According to Wright, Ms. Questin immediately contacted Bailey on that day and afterwards their relationship became regular.

Leah has withdrawn £900 in her bank account and sent a text message that she loves him.

The suspect answered through an email to pretend that he is in South Africa.

In the court record, during September 12, 2009 in the Oyster card records, it shows that Ms. Questin was traveling towards Bailey’s flat.

And on that night, her card was used to withdraw £180 in South London, but on that day according to the prosecutors, the victim was already dead.

In the next nine (9) days, it was also discovered that Leah’s account was systematically drained by the suspect over £2,000 everyday.

Journalist killing, just a personal fight

(Update) TUGUEGARAO CITY – The motive of killing a former radio broadcaster in Tabuk, Kalinga was strengthened today in the angle of a personal fight.

According to Supt. Virgilio Laya, Kalinga Police Director, it came out in their investigation that the victim Jose Daguio was involved in a physical injury case.

The victim was a former anchorman and reporter of Radyo Natin-Kalinga.

But according to his former co-employee, Daguio retired last year due to a health problem.

“So far we have a good lead and Tabuk police investigators learned that Daguio had a misunderstanding with a village mate involving a physical injury case that has not been settled,” Laya said.

Based from the initial interview, the victim was having dinner in his residence in Tuga, town of Tabuk where an unknown suspect entered and shot him.

Dagio was rushed to the hospital but he was declared dead on arrival.

It was known that a shotgun was used by the suspect and quickly escaped after the crime.

Daguio was the second journalist that was shot in Tabuk City this year and the first case of journalist killing under the Aquino administration.

Fireworks display, featured in the US Independence Day celebration

NEW YORK – Besides the problem experienced today by America because of the oil spill crisis, the Independence Day celebration in the United States still continues.

The New York City was the center of the celebration wherein the largest fireworks display was featured this year.

The largest fireworks display was held near the Manhattan Westside and gave the Hudson River a colorful background.

It was broadcasted from the cruise ship Norwegian epic and together with the performance of a teen sensation Justin Bieber.

While the other states has chosen a simple celebration due to budget crisis.

In Brooklyn, New York, Joey Chestnut won for the fourth time in this year’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

In Philadelphia wherein the Declaration of Independence was adopted, have concerts and parades meantime 40 fireworks display were also featured in every portion of Los Angeles while the largest fireworks was held in Rose Bowl Pasadena.

In Chicago, the giant fireworks display was canceled, instead three (3) small fireworks shows were done.

In Seattle and Colorado, the fireworks display continued with the help of the local businesses who donated the fireworks.

Aquino gambling policy, reviewed

Currently, the new Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) leadership reviews the gambling policy which was left by former chairman Efraim Genuino.

This was requested by Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz that as of now, the Aquino administration should present their prevailing gambling policy.

Last Friday, Cristino Naguiat took oath as the new Pagcor chairman, classmate of President Noynoy Aquino and former chief financial officer of Pagcor.

It was known that it was too early today for Naguiat to announce the gambling policy while he is still reviewing the midnight deals which was entered by Genuino few days before he steps down from the position.

Archbishop Cruz was considerably anxious with the attention given by Aquino to Pagcor wherein he immediately appointed a new chairman while vacant positions like the DILG is still not yet occupied.

Cruz said that the government must sell Pagcor to a private businessman and use the income for the education sector and other country’s need.

President Noy to media: We should apologize

Today, President Benigno Aquino III personally asks for an apology when two (2) of his cabinet officials dealt wrongfully to the members of the media.

As remembered, few media had ill feelings regarding Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro’s announcement, wherein he blamed the media on the issue of teaching sex education.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda tasted criticism for being rude when he faced the members of Malacanang Press Corp. who were asking for an explanation in connection with the controversial memorandum circular of the Aquino administration.

“We should apologize,” Aquino said.

According to the president, his cabinet officials will undergo in a seminar on how to address the media correctly.

“All of those basics will be tackled in a seminar,” Aquino added.

Aquino said that the group who are holding his image in his campaign during the last election will be the one who will give tips for his cabinet officials.

Grand Ayatollah of Lebanon dies at 75

BEIRUT, Lebanon – The first spiritual leader of Lebanon Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah dies at the age of seventy-five (75).

Fadlallah was the leader of Hezbollah, an Islamist political and paramilitary organization in Lebanon.

At first, the spiritual leader was hospitalized then his condition became critical.

Fadlallah was born on 1935 in Shiite, holy city of Najaf, Iraq. But started to reside in Lebanon during 1960 wherein he was chosen to become a leader.

The role of women in the world was included in Hussein’s concentration.

“The size of support and cover-up provided by your country for the Zionist entity has become known. This entity was established on the land whose people were uprooted by the power of iron and fire. The subsequent American policies have contributed to the loss of the Palestinian cause, despite the ratification of many Security Council resolutions,” content of Fadlallah’s letter to US President Barack Obama.

It was known that the United States reconsidered the Hezbollah that there exists a relationship between terrorist organization in Iran and Syria.

Meanwhile, the employees in the office of Fadlallah will have a meeting for the funeral and other plans.