Day: June 28, 2024

MANILA: Johnny Arcilla and Eric Jed Olivarez registered straight-set victories to reach the semifinals of the Gov. Imelda Dimaporo National Open Tennis Championships at the Mindanao Civic Center Sports Complex in Lanao del Norte.

The second-ranked Arcilla defeated Eric Tangub, 6-1, 7-5, to advance against No. 7 Nilo Ledama on Friday.

Ledama pulled off a 7-6(1), 2-6, 6-4, win over fourth-seed Fritz Verdad in the two-week tournament hosted by Dimaporo and organized by Provincial Sports Coordinator Nelson Lasola.

Top-seeded Olivarez stamped his class over Mcleen Gomera, 6-0, 6-3, to arrange a semifinal showdown with Alexis Acabo, who advanced after a 6-1, 3-1 (ret.) win over third-ranked Jose Maria Pague.

In the junior division, Anna Ragpala downed Shandy Cailing, 7-5, 6-0, in the girls’ 16-and-under final, and beat the same opponent, 6-4, 6-3, in the 18-and-under final.

Nathan Cortez outplayed John Paul Albano, 6-4, 7-5, to capture the boys’ 14-and-under title.

Other winners were Cebu City’s Denise Quiday
(girls’ 14-and-under); Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte’s Princessgwen Tabanao (12-and-under); Kapatagan’s AJ Vinz Bering (boys’ 18-and-under); Iligan City’s Crislance Iglupas (boys’ 16-and-under); Oroquieta City’s Yuree Yvan Madrona (boys’ 12-and-under); and Tangub City’s Zakari Obenza (10-and-under unisex).

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: A Chinese national believed to be one of the “big bosses” of the illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) facility in Porac, Pampanga was arrested in an operation at a resort inside the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat town.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City on Friday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco said the foreigner, whose name was withheld, was arrested on Thursday night, during the service of the search warrant by the CIDG and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) covering five villas inside the Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino.

The operation stemmed from information that several foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, who escaped from the raid at the Lucky South 99 Corporation are hiding at the resort.

“He is now being questioned for investigation by the PAOCC and CIDG. We are still applying for a warrant for the opening of these vaults. So that we can know what are inside of these vaults,’ Francisco
said in Filipino.

He said they have yet to determine the specific role of the Chinese national in the Porac POGO hub’s operations, whom he only described as a “manager”.

Francisco, meanwhile, said they have yet to validate reports that a former police officer was also nabbed during the raid.

“We are not at liberty to disclose to you now but rest assured the PNP through the CIDG and PAOCC is continuously doing surveillance, follow-up operations with regards to these POGOs or scamming hubs in Bamban and Porac,’ he said.

On June 5, the PAOCC and the CIDG raided Lucky South 99 in Porac, which resulted in the arrest of at least 186 foreign and Filipino workers.

Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was earlier suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman over charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for her alleged links to the POGO hub Zun Yuan Technology Inc., which was raided by authorities in March.

Source: Philippines News A
gency

MANILA: Local government units (LGUs) are set to receive a greater share of funds for next year.

With the upcoming increase, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president and Quirino Governor Dax Cua reminded his fellow local leaders to ensure that the funds are spent on programs that would benefit their communities.

“Mas mataas ang matatanggap ng mga LGU sa 2025. Huwag sana natin sayangin ang pagkakataong ipini-presenta ng dagdag na pondong ito para pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga social services para sa mga kababayan natin (LGUs will receive more in 2025. Let’s not waste the opportunity presented by this additional fund to focus on social services for our constituents),” Cua said in a news release on Friday.

The Department of Budget and Management recently announced that the national tax allocation (NTA) for LGUs next year will be PHP1.03 trillion, up 18.7 percent from this year’s PHP871.38 billion.

The higher share comes as a result of the country’s economic recovery, as the NTA is based o
n the revenue collection in 2022.

The DBM said that in computing the NTA, it uses as base period the third year prior to the distribution.

Cua said with the infusion of funds, it is up to LGUs to ensure that the country’s economic recovery is felt on the ground.

“Let’s use these funds so that our constituents can truly feel the progress that is indicated in our macroeconomic gains,’ Cua said.

“We need programs that will translate these gains to something concrete for our constituents,” he added.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Trkiye beat Gilas Pilipinas, 84-73, in a tune-up game in Istanbul on Friday, part of the Filipinos’ preparation for their final Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

Justin Brownlee scored 21 points while June Mar Fajardo had 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Carl Tamayo and Kai Sotto contributed seven points apiece. Dwight Ramos only had four points, but produced eight rebounds and seven assists.

EuroLeague veteran and 2023 NBA Draftee Tarik Biberovic led Trkiye with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range.

Turkiye, which took a 42-40 halftime lead, made 18 of 22 free throws with Fajardo and Sotto combining for nine personal fouls.

Gilas only had seven free throw attempts.

Turkiye also produced 14 triples, one coming from Biberovic, to post an 81-73 advantage in the closing minutes.

‘It was a tough loss against Turkey. We had our first taste of the type of opposition we will be facing in the OQT,’ Gilas team manager Richard Del Rosario said.

‘While others may see it as a satisfying first
game, our team mindset is — almost is not enough. We only have one shot at make it to the Olympics and we cannot be satisfied with almost winning. We move on to the next game with a firmer belief that we can hold our own against higher ranked teams with a real chance of reaching our mission of making it to Paris,’ he added.

Next up for Gilas is another tune-up match against a fellow Latvia OQT-bound team Poland on Saturday.

The Philippines opens its OQT campaign against the host nation on July 4.

Source: Philippines News Agency