A Repost From The Philippine Star

Ping surfaces
(The Philippine Star) Updated March 27, 2011 12:00 AM Comments (33)

Photo taken in 2003 shows Sen. Panfilo Lacson raising his fist after announcing his bid to run for president in the 2004 general election.
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MANILA, Philippines - After more than a year in hiding, Sen. Panfilo Lacson resurfaced before noon yesterday at the Mactan Cebu International Airport where he disembarked from a commercial flight from Hong Kong.

Passengers of Cathay Pacific flight CX 921 that arrived at the Mactan Airport from Hong Kong at 11:42 a.m. said Lacson had taken a window seat.

A text message from the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup) said Lacson boarded a twin engine Baron-type aircraft with tail number RPC 2711 in Cebu bound for Manila at about 4:30 p.m. and arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 6:30 p.m.

Lacson left the country on Jan. 5, 2010, two days before he was charged with the murders of Dacer and Corbito.

It was not clear where he had been since his disappearance in January last year. There had been reports that Lacson had never left the country.

Avsegroup said Lacson arrived with four unnamed individuals. The plane that took Lacson to Manila was piloted by Capt. Kito Allay and one Capt. Bedayo.

Lacson went into hiding after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with the murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito in November 2000.

It was the Court of Appeal’s voiding of the arrest warrant that apparently convinced the senator to resurface.

It was also believed that Lacson made his return to the country through Cebu to avoid massive media coverage.

Based on initial information gathered by Manila-based media, Lacson was to leave Mactan for Manila at 8 p.m. on Philippine Air Lines flight PR 864.

Police authorities in Cebu did not have enough information regarding the arrival of Lacson, although it was confirmed by Philippine National Police spokesman Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr.

Lacson was reportedly among the first to come out of the aircraft.

Lacson, who served Cebu for more than three years as chief of the defunct Cebu Metrodisco, did not appear to conceal his identity when he arrived. He was reportedly in his usual checkered shirt.

A person in civilian attire met Lacson at the lobby of the airport.

Cruz said there are no more restrictions to Lacson’s movement in view of the CA order.

The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) dropped Lacson’s name from its red list following the CA’s voiding of the arrest warrant on him.

Lacson’s son and chief of staff Ronald Jay Lacson said the senator declined to grant interviews upon his arrival because he wanted to spend time with his family first.

But he said his father is set to hold a press conference on Monday.

Looking good

Lacson “looked good” when he arrived at the Cebu

Mactan International Airport, according to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Alien Registration Division (ARD) chief Danny Almeda, who is Lacson’s friend.

Almeda welcomed Lacson upon his arrival from Hong Kong.

“He is a very sound, healthy guy, healthy person,” Almeda said when asked for his observation of Lacson.

“This is his home. He is a Filipino,” he said, adding that there was no time for him and the senator to talk lengthily yesterday.

No family member welcomed Lacson.

Almeda claimed he only learned of Lacson’s return yesterday morning and that he was in Cebu only by coincidence. He clarified that he has not been in contact with Lacson since his disappearance.

“It just so happened that I was in Cebu… I think it (return) is above board. I am not the spokesman of Sen. Lacson. I cannot speak for him,” he said when pressed for more details by reporters.

“He (Lacson) is a free man, based on the newspaper reports. He is a regular Filipino,” he said.

Lacson reportedly queued together with the other passengers to have his travel documents checked. He was also cleared by the officer-of-the-day and given no special treatment.

Colleagues’ welcome

Sen. Gregorio Honasan, who had been a fugitive himself for leading several coup attempts against the first Aquino administration, said he felt relieved by Lacson’s resurfacing.

“I am glad that he will be able to go back to the Senate and perform his duties, including that as a judge in the impeachment trial of Ombudsman Gutierrez,” Honasan said in an interview.

Honasan said Lacson would now be able to openly face his accusers and defend himself if ever they decide to appeal the case against him before the Supreme Court.

He said that he expects to see Lacson when the Senate resumes session on May 9.

In the meantime, the Senator would be spending time with his family and adjust to normal life.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, whose family had a falling out with Lacson, also welcomed the return of a colleague.

“I will welcome him. In fact I miss him,” Estrada said.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday ordered that Lacson’s Senate office be reactivated.

Enrile ordered the closure of Lacson’s office last October after the Commission on Audit questioned its continuous operation even with the indefinite absence of the senator.

But Enrile directed the Senate secretary to absorb the staff of Lacson temporarily so that they would remain employed while waiting for his return.

“He is about ready to come back,” Enrile said explaining his decision to allow Lacson’s office to reopen.

Sen. Manuel Villar also said Lacson “will be at the Senate when it resumes regular session on May 9.”

Chance to defend self

National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula said that with Lacson’s resurfacing, the NBI can now focus on other cases.

“We welcome his coming home. The NBI can now focus on other cases and he can now concentrate on his duty as legislator,” said Gatdula.

For her part, Justice Secretry Leila De Lima said she had been expecting Lacson’s reappearance after the CA’s order.

“His surfacing was expected, given the Court of Appeals ruling. I can only hope that whatever option the DOJ (Department of Justice) takes or decides on from the Court of Appeals action, Sen.Lacson will respect,” De Lima said in a text message to The STAR.

Earlier, NBI Foreign Liaison Division chief Claro de Castro said it was the agency which sought the inclusion of Lacson’s name in Interpol’s red list and later its removal following the CA’s issuance of its order.

“If the name of Sen. Lacson is searched in the Interpol website, which is open to public, his name would no longer appear there. He is no longer included in the automated search facilities of the Interpol,” De Castro said. Marvin Sy, Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, Sandy Araneta, Rudy Santos, and The Freeman

Reposted From The Philippine Star

A Repost From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

Dawn Zulueta makes a comeback to the boob tube in Mula sa Puso; signs two-year contract with ABS-CBN

PEP – Fri, Mar 25, 2011 7:55 PM PHT

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Dalawang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang naging parte siya ng isang teleserye, at ngayon ay nagbabalik ang magaling na aktres na si Dawn Zulueta sa teleserye bilang Magda sa remake ng Mula sa Puso (1997).

BEING IN ABS-CBN. "I am very excited to be part of a project as big as this and also with the Kapamilya network. I love working here in ABS-CBN," ang masayang pagbati ni Dawn sa mga miyembro ng press na dumalo ng press conference ng Mula Sa Puso kahapon, March 24, sa 14th floor ng ELJ Bldg, sa ABS-CBN Compound, Quezon City.

Dagdag pa niya, "Natuwa ako na inanyayahan nila ako na sumali sa network nila and then meron pa akong teleserye.

"Coming from pahinga, getting pregnant, giving birth, and then getting back into shape. It is good to be working again!" bulalas ni Dawn.

Ang ABS-CBN series na Lastikman, topbilled by Vhong Navarro, ang huling project ni Dawn bago siya nagpahinga.

Kaugnay ng paggawa niya ng teleseryeng ito ay ang pagpirma niya ng two-year contract sa Kapamilya network.

"Well, maganda yung in-offer nila sa akin. And I want, and I can see myself busy, for the next two years, so why not with the Kapamilya network?" sabi ni Dawn.

Pagkatapos niyang gawin ang Mula Sa Puso, sinabi ni Dawn na meron siyang iba pang mga balak na gawin.

"Sa teleserye pahinga muna [ako after this]. Kasi ang hirap ng trabaho. That's why I do look forward to resting after this. Tapos, hopefully maiba naman ang gagawin ko—either I host a show or maybe I go back to the stage or do a movie," saad ng beteranang aktres.

Isa din sa mga naobserbahan ni Dawn ay ang magagandang facilities ng Kapamilya network.

"If you compare— and I do 'cause I switch channels—makikita mo naman yung brilyo. Iba ang brilyo 'pag nanonood ka sa ABS-CBN. Yun ang napansin ko. It is nice to work in a company na alam mo yung facilities nila, improved. Everything is hi-tech...cameras. Siyempre, para sa aming mga artista, teknikal kami, naa-appreciate namin na, 'Parang dito mas maganda ako!"

Ngunit diniin ni Dawn na wala siyang anumang masamang tinapay sa ibang mga TV networks.

"In this industry naman kasi there are only permanent interests. So hindi mo naman pwede sabihin na forever nandito ka," sabi ni Dawn.

ON NEW BREED OF ACTORS. Bukod sa Mula Sa Puso ay kasama din si Dawn sa Star Cinema movie na Catch Me...I'm In Love, na pinagbibidahan nila Gerald Anderson at Sarah Geronimo. Ginampanan niya dito ang role ng nanay ni Gerarld at First Lady ng bansa.

Nagbigay naman ito ng papuri sa mga nakasamang young actor at actress.

"I only have compliments for the two children. They are very professionals. I must say I am impressed because they are very hardworking, and they are very good performers. Hindi ako at all nahirapan working with them, they are joy to work with," paglalarawan ni Dawn.

Pinuna din niya ang mga maliliit na bagay na masasabi niyang professional sa mga batang artistang kanyang nakatrabaho.

"Nakakakilig sila. Tahimik lang sila sa set. Most of them, natutuwa ako sa kanila kasi ang gagaling nila. Nakita ko na yung training nila dito sa ABS-CBN. Magaling sa mga baguhan kasi nakikita ko habang nagtratrabaho kami na they come prepared, they know their lines, fresh ang mind nila. So that's good when you are starting," sabi ni Dawn.

WITH HUSBAND'S NOD. Hindi naman din daw naging problema ang basbas ng kanyang asawa na si Davao Del Norte Representative Antonio Lagdameo.

"Okay lang naman. Kasi part of the deal is that I would only be working three days a week and meron din naman akong cut-off time, so okay lang 'yon sa kanya. He only made sure sure na meron akong time for the kids at hindi ako masyadong napapagod. So okay lang naman," ang malumanay na pahayag ni Dawn.

Ang cut-off time ni Dawn para sa proyektong ito ay alas-dos ng madaling araw.

Paliwanag ni Dawn," Because I already know how my body works and that I can only function well until that time. Beyond that, yung quality of work ko naman ang magsa-suffer, and I don't want that to happen," aniya.

Sa kasalukuyan ay meron nang dalawang anak si Dawn at ang kanyang asawa. Ito ay sina Jacobo, 5, at si Ayisha, 1 year and 9 months.

ON HER KIDS. Ayon kay dawn, kuntento na silang mag-asawa sa dalawang anak.

"Ako kasi I'm happy with Jacobo and Ayeesha and mahirap na ako magbuntis. In as much as I would like to have more children, I really would like to but mahirap na," sabi ni Dawn.

Dagdag pa niya, "Ayaw na din niya [Rep. Lagdameo]. Actually kasi nahihirapan na siya para sa akin. So siya na yung unang nagsabi na... habang pinagbubuntis ko pa lang yung pangalawa ko, sabi niya, 'Siguro last na ito tutal may babae na tayo at may boy and girl na kasi nahihirapan na ako watching you.'"

Tinanong si Dawn kung papayagan ba niyang pasukin din ng dalawang anak niya ang showbiz.

Mabilis ang naging sagot ni Dawn, "I will allow them if that is what they really want and only after they have finished their schooling. Other than that, hindi, hindi talaga pwede. Pero you know, once they have done well with school, nag-graduate na sila ng college, what they want to do is their decision, hindi naman kami pwede mag-dictate."

Nakikitaan ba niya ng inters o hilig ang mga ito sa showbiz?

"It's not siguro that, but because they are kids, they are very personable. So, lahat gusto nilang gayahin. May talent siguro, but I'm not sure about hilig. Pero marunong nang manloko, marunong nang magdrama," pagbibiro ni Dawn.

Ngunit sa ngayon daw hangga't maari ay ayaw niyang makita ng kanyang mga anak ang pagganap niya, lalo na papel na Magda.

"Actually, I gave specific instructions to the yayas na once umere ito 'wag ipapanood sa mga bata, because they will not understand watching me na inaapi na pinapahirapan ako. I don't want them to see me like that because hindi pa nila mage-gets yun, e," paliwanag ni Dawn.

Balak nilang pamilya na magbakasyon sa States this coming April for three weeks kung kaya't nag-advanced taping na siya ng mga scenes niya sa Mula Sa Puso.

"Cause I want my kids to meet my dad, hindi pa nila name-meet yung dad ko," saad ni Dawn.

ON HANDLING INTRIGUES. Napunta din ang usapan sa mga experiences niya sa pag-handle ng mga intriga.

"Kasi may pagka deadmatic din ako, e!" bulalas ni Dawn.

Paliwanag ng batikang aktres, "It's not naman kasi also good as a public figure and personality, you try to also bear in mind that people are watching you. And siyempre, you have fans so there are also those who would emulate you and admire you. Siyempre, iingatan mo din yung galaw, iingatan mo din magsalita. Ayaw mo makasakit ng tao so you have to be careful also of what you say, how you behave in public."

Ngunit hindi naman ibig sabihin nito ay hindi siya nawawalan ng pasensya.

"You have to ask my family and friends about that. Siyempre, lahat naman tayo we have our own quirks. I'm very consistent with the way I treat people. But there are some things I do reserve to myself. It doesn't mean that if I am thinking of something, I have to share it," sabi ni Dawn.

Bilang pagtatapos, ngumiti si Dawn at nag-iwan ng words of wisdom na, "Like I said, you choose your battles, hindi na lang lahat ng mga laban dapat mong patulan."

Reposted From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

A Repost From Mark Meruenas of GMA News.TV

Guingona wants Ligots detained at Senate for 'faking illness'

MARK MERUEÑAS, GMA News

03/24/2011 | 01:31 PM

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Sen. Teofisto Guingona III says ex-military comptroller Jacinto Ligot and his wife should be detained at the Senate unless they cooperate with the inquiry on an alleged military fund scam. Mark Merueñas

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, on Thursday said he wants retired Lt. Gen. Jacinto Ligot and his wife to be detained at the Senate for evading an inquiry by allegedly claiming to have "fake illnesses."

Guingona also wanted the Ligots to be cited for contempt after snubbing Thursday's hearing on military corruption.

Mr. Ligot earlier said he and his wife could not attend the blue ribbon inquiry because he was suffering from flu while Erlinda was having palpitations and gastroenteritis.

This prompted the Senate to send a doctor to validate the Ligots' health claims.

After examining the couple, Dr. Mariano Blancia Jr. told senators that Mrs. Ligot's blood pressure was at 120/80 while her pulse rate was 80 per minute, both "normal."

Blancia said when he arrived at the Ligots' residence, Mrs. Ligot showed a certification from a family physician that she was suffering from diarrhea and palpitations the previous night (Wednesday).

"It's difficult to say whether she was faking her illness," Blancia said.

As for the former military comptroller, Blancia said Gen. Ligot "has no fever."

Nine votes needed

Upon learning the physician's findings, Guingona said he was recommending that the Ligot couple be cited for contempt.

Guingona said nine votes from the committee members are needed for the Ligots to be cited for contempt.

Asked until when the Ligots could be detained inside Senate grounds, Guingona said "until they show remorse."

Was sick but got better

Blancia said Mr. Ligot told him he also had fever on Wednesday and had just gotten better on Thursday.

The doctor said apart from an "increased" blood pressure of 160/90 and "nasal congestion," Mr. Ligot was fine.

Blancia was accompanied by another Senate doctor, Renato Sison, when he visited the Ligot residence.

"Mukhang kinakabahan, umiyak kung minsan at may anxiety," Blancia said, referring to Mrs. Ligot's condition during the check-up.

"[However] both could have attended [the senate hearing]," Blancia said.

Senate warning

The Senate blue ribbon committee warned the Ligots on Wednesday that they should answer the senators inquiries on military corruption or they would be cited for contempt.

In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said they have already signed the minutes of the meeting where they decided to give the Ligots another chance to answer questions related to corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Estrada said the committee will cite the Ligots in contempt if they will again keep invoking their right against self incrimination as they did in during the senate inquiry on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, the Senate failed to get any information from Mrs. Ligot who repeatedly refused to answer questions and often invoked her right against self incrimination.

She answered questions on her age, her college degree, her job, her children, their ages, the date of their marriage.

However, for security reasons, she did not answer the question on where they are staying as they were reportedly receiving death threats.

When Estrada asked Mrs. Ligot if she went to the United States, the latter invoked her right against self incrimination.

On inquiries about the Ligots' supposed properties in Cabernet and Stanton, California, Mrs. Ligot invoked her right against self incrimination.

She also refused to confirm that it was her signature that appeared in the documents on the two properties.

She also refused to give a specimen signature to compare with the one on the documents. – VVP, GMA News

Reposted From Mark Meruenas of GMA News.TV

A Repost From Reuters

Gaddafi shells towns, rebels pinned down in east

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By Maria Golovnina and Michael Georgy Maria Golovnina And Michael Georgy – Tue Mar 22, 2:38 pm ET

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacked two west Libyan towns, killing dozens, while rebels were pinned down in the east and NATO tried to resolve a dispute over who should lead the Western air campaign.

With anti-Gaddafi rebels struggling to create a command structure that could capitalize on the air strikes against Libyan tanks and air defenses, Western countries had still to decide who would take over command once Washington pulled back in a few days.

In the latest fighting on Tuesday, Gaddafi's tanks shelled the rebel-held western town of Misrata and casualties included four children killed when their car was hit, residents said, adding the death toll for Monday alone had reached 40.

Residents painted a grim picture of the situation in Misrata, under siege by Gaddafi loyalists for weeks, with tanks in the city center and doctors operating on people with bullet and shrapnel wounds in hospital corridors.

"The situation here is very bad. Tanks started shelling the town this morning," a resident called Mohammed told Reuters by telephone from outside the city's hospital, adding: "Snipers are taking part in the operation too. A civilian car was destroyed killing four children on board, the oldest is aged 13 years."

In the first apparent air force casualty of the campaign, a U.S. F-15E crashed in Libya overnight and its two crew members were rescued, the U.S. military said. The crash was likely caused by mechanical failure and not hostile fire, it said.

Explosions and anti-aircraft fire rang out around Tripoli for a third night and state television said several sites in the capital had been attacked by the "crusader enemy."

A Reuters correspondent taken to a naval facility in east Tripoli by Libyan officials saw four Soviet-made missile carrier trucks which were destroyed. They were parked inside a building whose roof had collapsed, leaving piles of smoldering rubble.

"Yesterday six missiles and one bomb from a warplane hit this facility," said Captain Fathi al-Rabti, an officer at the facility. "It was a massive explosion."

REBELS PINNED DOWN IN EAST

Gaddafi forces were trying to seize the western rebel-held town of Zintan near the Tunisian border in an attack using heavy weapons. One resident said 10 people were killed on Tuesday. People fled to seek shelter in mountain caves.

Security analysts say it is unclear what will happen if the Libyan leader digs in, especially since Western powers have made it clear they would be unwilling to see Libya partitioned between a rebel-held east and Gaddafi-controlled west.

Rebels in east Libya were stuck just outside Ajdabiyah on Tuesday, making no advance on the strategic town despite three nights of Western air strikes on the oil-producing state.

At the front line in the desert scrub about 5 km (3 miles) outside the town, gateway to the rebel-held east, fighters said air strikes were helping to cripple Gaddafi's heavy armor.

When asked why rebel units had not advanced toward their objective, which is the eventual taking of Tripoli, Ahmed al-Aroufi, a rebel fighter at the front line, told Reuters: "Gaddafi has tanks and trucks with missiles."

Commenting on the air campaign to protect civilians in this uprising against Gaddafi's 41-year rule, Aroufi said:

"We don't depend on anyone but God, not France or America. We started this revolution without them through the sweat of our own brow, and that is how we will finish it."

Washington, wary of being drawn into another war after long campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, has ruled out specific action to overthrow Gaddafi, although France said on Monday it hoped the Libyan government would collapse from within.

Facing questions at home about the U.S. military getting bogged down in a third Muslim country and the future of Libya, the U.S. administration has been keen to say the aim of the resolution was to protect civilians.

Commenting on the mission, former U.S. diplomat Nicholas Burns said: "We have to recognize this situation for what it really is -- the first time in American history when we have used our military power to prop up and possibly put in power a group of people we literally do not know."

The United States expects to hand over command of the air campaign in "a matter of days" but has not said which country or organization would take charge.

Britain and France took a lead role in pushing for air strikes which have destroyed much of Libya's air defenses.

COORDINATING ROLE

President Barack Obama said on Monday the United States would cede operational control within days and NATO would have a coordinating role.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the intention was to transfer command to NATO but France said Arab countries did not want the U.S.-led alliance in charge of the operation.

NATO ambassadors in Brussels completed plans to help enforce a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone "if needed," but French and Turkish objections again prevented it being put under NATO command.

A NATO role would require political support from all the 28 states. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is a NATO member, said on Tuesday that the United Nations should be the umbrella for a solely humanitarian operation in Libya.

Diplomats said France had argued that the coalition led by France, Britain and the United States should retain political control of the mission, with NATO providing operational support, including command-and-control capabilities.

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told parliament France and Britain had agreed to put together a "political steering body" of foreign ministers of countries participating in the coalition and the Arab League which would meet in the next few days in Brussels, London or Paris and hold regular meetings.

Two Qatari fighters and two 17 transport aircraft landed in Crete on Tuesday and the U.S. military said the aircraft would be "up and flying" over Libya by the weekend. That will be the first direct outside Arab involvement in the operation.

Four more Qatari aircraft and 24 UAE warplanes were also expected in Crete on their way to a forward base in Sicily.

"GADDAFI'S LIES"

Rifts were growing internationally over the U.N. resolution, with Russia saying the U.N. Security Council would discuss on Thursday whether Western countries were going beyond the bounds of their authority for intervention. China and Brazil urged a ceasefire amid fears of civilian casualties.

Algeria called on Tuesday for an immediate end to military intervention in Libya, calling the action "disproportionate."

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said those responsible for civilian deaths in Libya should pray for their souls.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday during a visit to Moscow some people in Russia seemed to believe what he termed Gaddafi's "lies" about civilian casualties in Libya.

Libyan officials have said air strikes have killed dozens of civilians. They say the rebels are al Qaeda militants assisted by Western powers who are trying to steal Libya's oil.

In Tripoli, Reuters correspondents said some residents, emboldened by a third night of air strikes, dropped their customary praise of Gaddafi and said they wanted him gone.

"My children are afraid but I know it's changing," one man said. "This is the end. The government has no control any more."

Reposted From Reuters

A Repost From AFP

Mayweather set to fight Pacquiao - in court

AFP News – Tue, Mar 22, 2011 11:52 AM PHT

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  Unbeaten US boxer Floyd Mayweather, seen here, will fight Filipino star Manny Pacquiao …

Unbeaten US boxer Floyd Mayweather will fight Filipino star Manny Pacquiao after all, although it will be a legal dispute after a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the case.

Pacquiao filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, among others, that US District Judge Larry Hicks ruled can proceed because there is sufficient evidence of malicious acts in accusing Pacquiao of being a dope cheat.

"The truth did not stop Mayweather and the others," Pacquiao's lawsuit contends. "That is because they are motivated by ill will, spite, malice, revenge and envy."

"Mayweather and the others set out on a course designed to destroy Pacquiao's career, reputation, honor and legacy and jeopardize his ability to earn the highest levels of compensation."

Pacquiao has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) but in the 2009 lawsuit he claims that Mayweather, his father Floyd Snr and uncle Roger, promoter Oscar de la Hoya and his employee, Richard Schaefer conducted a campaign in a set of interviews to make people think he used them.

"Defendants argue that Pacquiao has failed to sufficiently allege malice because defendants could not have known one way or the other whether Pacquiao had actually taken PEDs when they made the alleged defamatory statements," Hicks wrote in the order upholding the lawsuit.

"However, the court finds that Pacquiao has sufficiently pled malice in the amended complaint."

Unbeaten Mayweather and Pacquiao were in talks to stage a megafight between two of boxing's biggest stars but negotiations collapsed over demands by Mayweather that both fighters have blood and urine tests up to 14 days before the bout.

Pacquiao said he would feel weakened by blood tests within 24 days of the fight and would not agree to tests any closer to a bout.

Mayweather Promotions attorney Mark Tratos said he would continue to push for dismissal of the case, saying comments at the time were made about Pacquiao's hesitancy regarding blood tests and did not claim he was a dope cheat.

Pacquiao attorney Dan Petrocelli said his client's career would suffer major damage if fans believed he used banned substances.

"Manny has an unblemished reputation and has earned all of his achievements through hard work and his natural-born talent and to call him a cheater is something he cannot and will not tolerate," Petrocelli said.

"None of these defendants have had any evidence to back up the assertion that he has taken performance-enhancing drugs because he didn't."

Mayweather, 34, faces an April 25 trial date on a battery charge over an altercation with a security guard for his homeowners association, who claims Mayweather poked him during a November argument regarding cars parking outside Mayweather's home.

Mayweather also faces a court hearing on April 28 on domestic violence charges that could send the fighter to prison for up to 34 years in prison if convicted of all charges, which include felony counts of grand larceny, coercion and robbery.

Mayweather is accused of striking and threatening former girlfriend Josie Harris, stealing her mobile phone and threatening two of their children in an incident on September 9.

Boxing fans have hoped that Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 career knockouts, would fight Pacquiao but Mayweather's legal woes have put such talk on hold.

Pacquiao, 52-3 with two draws and 38 knockouts and a winner of 13 fights in a row in the past six years, is set to face 39-year-old US fighter Shane Mosley, 46-6 with one draw and 39 knockouts, on May 7 in Las Vegas.

Reposted From AFP

A Repost From Gerry Plaza of OMG! Philippines News Blog

Sarah reveals all is well with Cristine

By Gerry Plaza | omg! Philippines News Blog – Sun, Mar 20, 2011 5:05 PM PHT

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Sarah Geronimo (Courtesy of ABS-CBN)

Sarah Geronimo revealed on Sunday, March 20 that all is well between her and Cristine Reyes.

Sarah told ABS-CBN's "The Buzz" that she approached Cristine in a dressing room after "ASAP Rocks" on Sunday. She related that the encounter was emotional and touching.

"Nag-sorry ako sa kanya...Inakap ko siya. Di ko na binitawan," Sarah said, saying she wanted to end all conflict between her and Cristine and move on.

She said she also made peace with Rayver Cruz, Cristine's present boyfriend and her rumored former partner.

Sarah said Cristine had also said sorry to her and mother Divine for the hurtful tweets she made late last year over a remark the singer made in a rehearsal for the same show. Sarah said she had wanted to approach Cristine for a long time that she never meant anything when she said the remark.

Reposted From OMG! Philippines News Blog

A Repost From Chuck Smith

Actor John Apacible shot dead

By Chuck Smith | omg! Philippines News Blog – 11 hours ago

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John Apacible (Courtesy of ABS-CBN)

(UPDATE) Actor John Apacible died Sunday, March 20 after he was shot twice in the chest in Cainta, Rizal. He was 38.

Media reports say Apacible was shot dead at Primerose Street, Cainta, Rizal early Sunday morning, around 3 a.m.

Media reports identified his uncle, Armand Rustia, 61, as his assailant. Rustia allegedly shot the actor while he was drinking with some friends. He was declared dead on arrival at the Metro Rizal Doctors Hospital.

John's mother, Aurora Apacible, told GMA News that Armand is planning to surrender to authorities soon.

"Susuko siya, kukuha lang ng makasama. Hindi ko alam ano dahilan.[ng pag-aaway] Sa sobrang lasing nila di ko alam ano kinagalitan nila," explained Aurora, John's mother in an interview with the GMA Network radio station, dzBB.

John Apacible, or Enrique Rustia Apacible in real life, is a character actor who first entered show business through the 1996 movie "Nights of Serafina." He was recognized for his sexy roles in the 1990s. John recently appeared in movies such as "Shake, Rattle, and Roll 12" and "Mamarazzi." His last project was the ABS-CBN primetime series "Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin," wherein he portrayed the role of Lt. Col. Santiago.

Reposted From Chuck Smith