SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017

ww

w.kuw

aittimes.net

04 06IWOK celebrates ’versary with runaway

housemaids

Storm signals up in 9provinces as ‘Auring’intensifies slightly

NOTICE: Filipino Panorama will not be pub-lished in the next few weeks. We’ll be backsoon. Thank you for your continued readershipof Kuwait Times.

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertetoured one of the two Russian warships dockedin Manila on Friday in another gesture of warm-ing ties with Moscow as he shifts his country’sforeign policy away from long-time ally, theUnited States. Rear Adm. Eduard Mikhailov,deputy commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, andRussian Ambassador Igor Khovaev and escortedDuterte and several cabinet members aroundthe anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs.

At one point during the hourlong visit,Duterte looked out from the ship’s deck andpumped his fist in the air.

He was also shown equipment and weaponson board the ship and peered from binocularsfrom a chair. He took a group picture with the

Russians also posing in his trademark pose - witharm stretched out at chest-level and fists closed.

After signing a guest book, he said “Friends,long live!” He added: “That’s from the heart; Ihope you can come back more often.”

Russia is eyeing naval exercises with thePhilippines and deployed the Admiral Tributsand sea tanker Boris Butoma on a five-day good-will visit to Manila. Filipinos were allowed to tourthe huge ships and Russian marines demonstrat-ed their combat capabilities. Tobacco and beermagnate Lucio Tan, the 4th richest Filipinoaccording to Forbes magazine, was among civil-ians who toured the ship. Defense SecretaryDelfin Lorenzana, who accompanied Duterte onthe ship tour, expressed optimism about “the

start of a partnership” between the two coun-tries’ defense establishments when he met withRussian navy officials Thursday night.

“May our common aspirations for regionaland global peace and security enable us tobecome good partners, cooperating and coordi-nating towards tranquil and safe seas for all,”Lorenzana said on board the Admiral Tributs.

He said during his trip to Russia in earlyDecember, he agreed with Russian defense offi-cials to finalize a memorandum of understand-ing that will be the basis of future militaryengagements, including joint military exercises,so it can be signed during Duterte’s planned tripto Russia in April.

Continued on Page 2

IS group-inspiredFilipino militant

killed, reprisals fearedMANILA: A leader of suspected sympa-thizers of the Islamic State group wask i l l e d Th u r s d ay i n a c l a s h w i t hPhilippine police in the south, raisingfears that his brutal group may retaliateby attacking a huge Catholic processionin Manila next week.

Senior Supt. Leonardo Suan and otherofficials said Mohammad Jaafar Maguid,leader of a small but violent Islamic groupcalled Ansar Al Khilafah Philippines, diedin the shootout before dawn in southernSarangani Province’s Kiamba town.

Three of Maguid’s followers were arrest-ed in the shooting near a beach resort thathappened after police went to checkreports from civilians about the presenceof armed men, said Suan, deputy directorfor operations of the regional police.

National police chief Ronald Dela Rosasaid Maguid’s remaining followers and mil-itant allies may retaliate, possibly by tryingto attack the annual procession of a cen-turies-old black statue of Jesus Christ,called the Black Nazarene, in Manila onMonday.

As part of added security for the pro-cession, which is expected to draw mil-l ions of Fi l ipino devotees, Dela Rosaannounced a gun ban and ordered morepolicemen to be deployed to secure thehuge religious event.

“We haven’t monitored any (threat) sofar but we expect some retaliation comingfrom the ISIS-inspired groups,” Dela Rosasaid during a news conference. “With orwithout the threat, we have to make surethat nothing will happen. Let’s make surethat the celebration of the feast of theBlack Nazarene will be a hard target.” —AP

Duterte tours Russian warship amid warming ties

Russian Marines in smashing Philippine charm offensivePage 2

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, watches as Russian navy officers show the weapons on board the Russiananti-submarine Navy vessel Admiral Tributs in Manila, Philippines on Friday. Duterte toured one of two Russian warships dockedat Manila’s port in another gesture of warming ties with Moscow. —AP (See Page 2)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 2

Continued from Page 1

The visit by the Russian navy ships isthe third to the Philippines and the firstunder Duterte, who took office in June.Duterte has lashed out at outgoingPresident Barack Obama and his adminis-tration for criticizing Duterte’s deadly

crackdown on illegal drugs which is fearedto have left more than 6,000 suspecteddrug users and dealers dead.

Contrastingly, he has reached out toChina and Russia - whose leaders he hasmet recently - in a dramatic shift inPhilippine foreign policy that has putWashington in a dilemma.

The Philippines has depended heavilyon the U.S., its treaty ally, for weapons,ships and aircraft for years, although it hasturned to other countries for defenseequipment. After visiting Moscow lastmonth, Lorenzana said the Philippine mili-tary was considering purchasing sniperrifles from Russia.—AP

MANILA: Russian Marines shattered glassbott les with their heads and smashedburning wooden planks against each otherThursday as part of an eye-catching charmoffensive in the Philippines, a traditionalUS ally.

The camouflage-clad Marines showed offtheir pistol-shooting, knife-fighting and mar-tial arts skills to the Filipino public in Manila’scentral park as part of a “goodwill visit” spear-headed by two warships following PhilippinePresident Rodrigo Duterte’s announced pivotaway from the United States.

As bewildered passers-by watched, theRussians smashed boards with their fists, hadcinder blocks crushed on their stomachs andendured beatings from flaming planks.

The show culminated with them smashingglass bottles on their heads without any visi-ble effect.

After the display, eager Filipinos rushed totake “selfies” with the beret-wearing Russians.

“The performances were great, the stuntswere quite impressive,” gushed studentAntonio Chua.

Filipinos were also allowed to attend an

open house on the submarine -hunterAdmiral Tributs, one of the two ships makingwhat was only the Russian Navy’s third-everport call in the Philippines.

Duterte, who calls himself a socialist, haschampioned a move away from the UnitedStates and towards US rivals Russia andChina following American criticism of hisbloody war on crime that has claimed thou-sands of lives.

“America has lost,” Duterte said on a visitto China in October last year.

“I’ve realigned myself in your (Chinese)ideological flow and maybe I will also go toRussia to talk to (President Vladimir) Putinand tell him that there are three of us againstthe world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’sthe only way.”

Russia’s ambassador to the PhilippinesIgor Khovaev said Thursday he expected aplanned visit by Duterte to Russia in April orMay to be “a milestone”.

“It will be a very successful visit that willgive a powerful impetus (to our) cooperationin different fields,” Khovaev told reporters atthe Marines’ display.—AFP

Russian Marines in smashing Philippine charm offensive

MANILA: Russian marines attached to the anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs showtheir skills during a demonstration at a park in Manila, as part of their five-day port-of-call activities in the country’s capital. —AFP

MANILA: Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautistayesterday asked Congress to conduct a full-blown investigationinto the so-called Comeleak as he questioned the findings ofthe National Privacy Commission (NPC) on the hacking of theComelec’s voter database.

Bautista also suggested that aninquiry should be conducted on theNPC’s ruling that he claimed was basedon “misappreciated facts, legal princi-ples and contexts.”

“We are transparent in the way weoperate. We are open to investigation,but perhaps it’s also a good idea to havea hearing in aid of legislation so we canget to the bottom of this,” Bautista toldThe STAR.

In its Dec. 28 ruling, the NPC foundthe Comelec negligent in ensuring the

privacy of its database, violating Republic Act 10173 or theData Privacy Act of 2012.

This stemmed from the hacking of its website betweenMarch 20 and 27 last year or weeks before the May 9 polls.

The NPC had recommended the criminal prosecution ofBautista for the data breach.

Malacanang yesterday directed the Comelec to release itsown findings.

Presidential Communications Operations Secretary MartinAndanar said the data breach in the Comelec should be lookedinto because it casts doubt on the integrity of the agency andthe elections.

“The Comeleak has been described as one of the worstbreaches of a government-controlled database. Thus, it is anissue that simply cannot be swept under the rug,” Andanarsaid.

Andanar said the Comelec should be held liable for the databreach that affected millions of voters.

If Comelec conducted any investigation, the results shouldbe made public, Andanar stressed.

“We exhort that Comelec release a report of an investigationit conducted on the data leak, if any, to maintain the credibilityof the constitutional body and uphold the integrity of the elec-toral process,” Andanar said.

“Comelec should come clean and hold itself accountable forthe millions of data that became susceptible to risks such asidentity theft and fraud,” he added.

Andanar also welcomed the decision of the NPC, which rec-ommended the criminal prosecution of Bautista. —AFP

Poll body chief seeks deeper Comeleak probe

Bautista

Duterte tours ...

MANILA: Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte (4th L) gestures with Russia’s ambassador to the Philippines IgorKhovaev (3rd L) and Russia’s Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov (5th L) and other Philippine and Russian officials infront of the Ka-26 anti-submarine helicopter while onboard the Russian anti-submarine navy ship Admiral Tributsin Manila recently. The Russian Navy said they were planning to hold war games with the Philippines, as two of itsships made a rare stop in Manila following Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot from the United States. —AFP

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 3

LONDON: British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeransurprised fans by releasing two new songs onFriday, drawn from his forthcoming third album.He admitted that his biggest market in the worldis the Philippines.

The 25-year-old, who won the song of the yearGrammy award in 2016 for his ballad “Thinking

Out Loud”, had been on a year-long hiatus fromthe music scene and social media.

But he announced on New Year’s Day that hewould be unveiling some new sounds on Friday.

“Shape of You” and “Castle On The Hill” hadbeen played more than a million times onYouTube within hours of their release.

“Castle On The Hill” is described as a “love song

for Suffolk” in eastern England, where Sheerangrew up, while “Shape Of You” was originallyintended for Rihanna.

The guitar-playing star confirmed he recordedsome of the new album on a cruise ship, butjoked he went hungry because he did not have a“dinner suit”.

“My biggest market in the world is thePhilippines and every staff member on the boatwas Filipino so I just had a wave of people come tomy room every five minutes asking for selfies,” headded.

He spoke about the new scar on his face —reportedly caused by Princess Beatrice, a grand-daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, pretending toknight singer James Blunt with a ceremonialsword as Sheeran was standing nearby.

“I don’t know if I can talk about that,” he toldBBC radio.

“I have been telling people that it was JamesBlunt trying to get the pop career back. He’s beentelling me to say that.”

Sheeran became an international superstarthrough “Thinking Out Loud”, a ballad that turnedinto a wedding favourite. The song was the first toreach 500 million streams on Spotify and Sheeran’salbum “X” is one of the top-selling British albumsso far this century.—AFP

Sheeran back with two new singles‘My biggest market in the world is the Philippines’

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 4

KUWAIT: Ilokana Women’s Organization in Kuwait (IWOK) organized recently its 2nd Year Founding Anniversary with feeding and gift-giving programs held at the Philippine Embassy shelter inAl-Sideeque area in South Surrah. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa and acting Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)/Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA)Labor Attache Angelita Narvaez graced the occasion. Also at the venue was newly appointed Vice-Consul Charleson Hermosura and other embassy officials. The feeding and gift-giving wasshared to over 250 runaway housemaids temporarily sheltering at the POLO/OWWA. Games and other fund activities were also held during two-and-half hours program.

IWOK celebrates ’versary with runaway housemaids

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 5

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 6

MANILA: Storm signals were raised over moreprovinces yesterday afternoon as TropicalDepression “Auring” intensified slightly.

In its 5 p.m. Severe Weather Bulletin, PAGASAsaid Auring now has maximum winds up to 55kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph as it contin-ues to move west northwest. It was 185 km east

of Hinatuan Surigao del Norte as of 4 p.m.The state weather bureau said Tropical

Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 has been raisedover:

* Agusan del Sur* Agusan del Norte* Surigao del Sur

* Surigao del Norte* Dinagat Province* Misamis Oriental* Camiguin* Davao del Norte* Compostela ValleyIt said residents of those areas as well as those

in the Davao Region and the rest of NorthernMindanao should watch out for flash floods andlandslides. Auring is forecast to make landfallover the Surigao provinces between Sundayevening and early Monday morning. It canbring moderate to heavy rain within its 300-kmdiameter. —The Philippine Star

Storm signals up in 9 provinces as ‘Auring’ intensifies slightly

Villar’s group celebrates New Year, get-togetherKUWAIT: The real estate company owned by former senator Manny Villar organized a low key New Year’s presentation at its headquarters. Fun games and other programswere also enjoyed and shared by both attendees and prospective buyers. This year’s event showcased presentation from the group of Haide Somera.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 7

KUWAIT: FBC’s 78th tourney and 1st Winner Take AllRegular One-Day Tourney kicked into full throttle on Friday,January 6, 2017 at the Kuwait Disabled Sports Club. Day 1of elimination games saw the tournament get into fullswing with a number of opening and exciting matchesproving quite tight. Awarding of the 75th tourney winnerswas also held simultaneously. The 1st WTA tourney for

Advance & Intermediate categories was a success due toheavy turnouts of participants with the prize at stake at KD50 and KD30 for the champion and 1st runner-up respec-tively.

Congratulations to the winners of the 1st Winner-Take-All One-Day Tourney (Advance & Intermediate Category):

Champion : Liju Thomas and Shamoon Morawala

1st runner-up: Jay Juan and Srinivas VasuFBC is inviting all badminton addicts to join every Friday

in their regular tournaments from 8 am to 1 pm and 2ndWinner Take All for Novice 1 category as well as adults/kidsbadminton coaching/tutorial and court rental from 2 pm to5 pm. For inquiries please call FBC or personally come atthe Kuwait Disabled Sports Club in Hawally.

FBC begins 78th tournament, holds ‘Winner Take All’ one-day tourney

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017

Page 7

FBC begins 78thtournament,

holds ‘WinnerTake All’ one-day

tourney

By Maximo Zeus Euqor

KUWAIT: After three weeks’ absence on the broadsheet, there was a sud-den shock in the team standing that affected the second until tenth posi-tion in the eliminations round of the Philippine Bowling Association inKuwait - 30th Anniversary Cup Team Tournament 2016 held at Kheifan-COZMO Bowling Center. The second rank, COZMO team was overwhelmedby its closest stalker the Scavengers team while the fortress built by MDStrikers collapsed slowly and the Indian Bowling League had taken overand started the fortification and radiated to its suburb. Another formidableteam, the Fiery Dragons is going closer to the cliff hanger team, the MangafStrikers with just seven marks difference. Last Friday’s victorious teamswere Scavengers, All Star Strikers, Fiery Dragons, Asian Air Safari, IndianBowling League and COZMO. Meanwhile, in the Team’s best results, AsianAir Safari snatched the High Series (Scratch + Handicap), from Scavengers3023 - 3021; the High Game (Scratch + Handicap) grabbed from COZMO993 - 981 and the team of the week with 2918 points was the IndianBowling League.

The clash of the rated teams, Scavengers although started slow showedits supremacy against Original Pin Killers after the 3-game series, 3026-2786. In the first game the Original Pin Killers outscored the Scavengers992- 921 but the later retaliated in the second and third game 1036- 880,1044- 914 and won the match up. Ali Ashkanani (548) and MohammadNajem (547) piloted Scavengers to the win, assisted by Aji Varghese (516),Ali Arqoub (497) and Mohammad Othman (459) while Original Pin Killershave Farid Gabriel (573), Christopher Bush (506), Jun Husmillo (501), IshaaqWaahid (434) and Aris de Guzman (396). With four consecutive wins ofScavengers, they ranked second overall after snatching it from COZMOwho lost three successive games while Original Pin Killers although loss thegame still keep the fifth position.

With luck sided with the Indian Bowling League since six weeks of theelimination, from tenth place, this week it progresses and captured the sev-enth spot after shooting down the Swooping Eagles, the tail ender of theseason, 3018- 2625. The Indian team swept the Swooping Eagles on their 3-game series, 1030- 988, 994- 793, and 969- 844. Ali Jawli with his 213, 211,183 (607) was the top scorer assisted by Rudolph Castelino (499), JoeSimmons (491), Ulysses Menezes (455) and Iman Prdada (338) whileSwooping Eagles who continuously struggling despite of depleted line up,high scorer was Danilo Solis (551) followed by Alonzo Bush (441), JessicaBalagat (428), Jocelyn Borros (229) and Mona Corpus (193) who discontinuedtheir remaining game after their first two games.

Playing with a 4-man team was not an obstacle for a puny team likeMangaf Strikers when they won the third game, 989- 956 against Asian AirSafari one of the titans of the league. Asian Air Safari keep holding thefourth position after clipping the wings of the silent killers 2966- 2843. Topscorer of the victorious team was Waleed Al Gharib (553), supported byGani dela Cruz (510), Lito Michael (490), Hermie Saliba (462) RubenCervantes and Rose Saliba while Mangaf Strikers courageous bowlers wereJason Gamba (538), Ceddie Martin Faa (519), Robert Opena (438) andAdolfo Prena (432). But with three successive week losses Mangaf teamdrop from seventh to eight position and just nine marks advantage withhis staunches rival the Fiery Dragons.

All Star Strikers remain the top rank after crushing the NUSANTARA team(3035- 2885) who despite four week losing streak still hold the elite member-ship of the ‘magic 8.’ The two lady bowlers were the top scorers, HanadiMezaiel (582), Laras Nitikusumo (554), followed by Ibrahim Saeed Al Busaf(470), Abdul Aziz Al Aslawi (360), Fadel Al Qassem (335) and Hassan AlQassem (275) while NUSANTARA’S bowlers were Saleh Faraj (537), TatangRazak (499), Abel Nitikusumo (486), Ahmad Fahmi (455) Benyamin Hassan,Erlisa Kantosori and Gantosori. Fiery Dragons recorded five consecutive wins

when they subdued another tail ender Bowlersmate 2968- 2901 but still notenough to be out of the quick sand. Finally. COZMO subdued another slumdweller, the MD Strikers (2876- 2798) who was ejected from the elite groupand continuously sliding downward and now nursing in tenth place.

Meanwhile, the Executive Board through its president, Rudy de Limaextended his gratitude to Miss Sandra Smith - Sales and MarketingManager of Gulf Air a special thanks to Mr. Ahmed Ahmed, OperationsCountry Manager of Dunkin’ Doughnut who provided the snacks duringFriday’s tournament.

For Individual High scores:Category Name Individual High Name Individual High

Game AverageMen’s A Fadel Al Qassem 248 Ibrahim Jadi 200.46Men’s B Ali Ashkanani 242 Siddath Nair 199.62 Men’s C M Othman 235 Bader Malalah 172.41Ladies A Hanadi Mezail 236 Hanadi Mezail 184.33Ladies B Jenlyn Colegio 207 Erlisa Kontosori 142.13For Team High Game (Scratch) and Team High Series (Scratch): Team High Game (Scratch) Team High Series (Scratch) All Star Strikers - 993 All Star Strikers - 3023Weekly High Series:1. Asian Air Safari - 2931 5. Scavengers - 2909 9. Scavengers - 2945 2. Bowlersmate - 2968 6. All Star Strikers - 2971 10. IBL - 29183. MD Strikers - 2972 7. Scavengers - 30214. Bowlersmate - 2892 8. All Star Strikers - 3023Tenth round results: 1. All Star Strikers (29380.5); 2. Scavengers (29145); 3.COZMO (29076); 4. Asian Air Safari (28961); 5. Original Pin Killers (28618); 6.NUSANTARA (28520); 7. Indian Bowling League (28518); 8. Mangaf Strikers(28387.5); 9. Fiery Dragons (28319); 10. MD Strikers (28210); 11. Bowlersmate(28007) and 12. Swooping Eagles (27491).

Scavengers overwhelm COZMO, IndianBowling League expels MD Strikers

PBAK 30th Anniversary Cup Team Tournament 2016

MANILA: ONE Championship, Taiwan’s Jenny Huang, top, pins opponent FilipinaApril Osenio in the female Mixed Martial Arts tournament ONE: AGE OF DOMINA-TION in Manila, Philippines. Huang will be fighting Angela Lee in Bangkok onMarch 11, 2017, for ONE Championship’s women’s atomweight title. —AP