RORO Vessels Sinks Off Near Leyte-Surigao

A Roll-on, Roll-off (RORO) ferry boat, MV Maharlika-2, sank between Southern Leyte and Surigao after it was battered by big waves. All its passengers abandoned the ship and were rescued by sister vessel, Maharlika 4, and a foreign vessel.
MV Maharlika-2 was manned by Capt. Juan B. Cayago. According to the ship's manifest, it carried 58 passengers (56 adults and two children), 26 crew members, and 13 rolling cargoes. These figures were cited in the initial incident report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
However, in a phone interview with ANC on Saturday, Southern Leyte Governor Roger Mercado said they were checking out reports that said the ship actually had over 100 passengers. Mercado later said that at least 23 people were not recorded in the ship's manifest.
Deputy presidential Spokesman Abigail Valte revealed that Cayago had told the Coast Guard there were actually 116 people on board when the vessel went down. The figure is in contrast with earlier reports that there were only 84 passengers and crew on the manifest.
"They are trying to get a more precise number of the people who were on the vessel," Valte said.
As of 12:30 p.m., there were 113 people reported rescued. The authorities also said that three people had died.
Ship's route
At around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, MV Maharlika-2—a vessel of Archipelago Ferries Corporation—departed from Lipata Port. It was bound for the Liloan Port.
The ship was six nautical miles northwest of Binit Point, Panaoan Island, it experienced steering problems due to the big waves and strong current.
Search and rescue efforts
The Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas (CGDEV), Coast Guard Station (CGS) Maasin, Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS), and CGSS Liloan were immediately directed to provide assistance to the ship.
At around 9:20 p.m., the passengers and crew abandoned MV Maharlika-2.
At around 11 p.m., the responding ship, MV Maharlika-4, arrived at the Lipata Port carrying 32 survivors.
Meanwhile, foreign vessel MV Lara Venture rescued 18 people, while MT St. Martin rescued five people. MV Orient King was also in the area to help in the search and rescue efforts.
As of early Sunday morning, September 13, at least 29 people were still missing.
Search and rescue operation continue to be conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Emergency Response Services of Surigao City.
CGS Surigao and MV Maharlika-2's manager are now assisting survivors for processing and proper disposition.

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Miguel Cotto Wins Against Sergio Martinez

Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win world championships in four weight divisions, stopping Sergio Martinez in their WBC world middleweight title fight Saturday night.

Sergio Martinez, Miguel Cotto easily make weight for title fight Yahoo Sports
Cotto seeks Puerto Rico first in title bout vs Martinez Reuters
Can Sergio Martinez's body hold up against an improved Miguel Cotto? Yahoo Sports
Cotto-Martinez gamesmanship shows fighters will still do anything for an edge Yahoo Sports
Bad blood in Martinez-Cotto matchup The Associated Press
Martinez didn't get off the stool when the bell rang for the 10th round.

Cotto improved to 39-4 and is 8-1 at Madison Square Garden. Martinez fell to 51-3-2.

In the week leading up to the fight, Cotto's trainer, Freddie Roach, said his pupil would be able to use his footwork to control the fight, and still possessed power even though he moved up in weight class.

Cotto proved Roach right from the opening bell, knocking down Martinez twice in the first round with a flurry of body shots. As the fight progressed, Cotto pressured Martinez around the ring, and attacked when openings were presented.

Martinez forced Cotto to fight in the middle of the ring instead of on the ropes or in the corners. But Cotto was able to land a variety of jabs and hooks. By the end of the eighth round, Martinez had swelling around his right eye.

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May 2014 Civil Engineering Board Exam Results

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,862 out of 4,289 passed the Civil Engineer Licensure Examination given by the Board of Civil Engineering in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi and Lucena this May 2014.

The results were released in two (2) working days after the last day of examination.

The members of the Board of Civil Engineering are Engr. Apollo S. Enriquez, Chairman and Engr. Praxedes P. Bernardo, Member.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on May 19, 2014 but not later than May 21, 2014. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2014-2017. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremonies of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.

May 2014 Civil Engineering Board Exam Results

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Fort Bonifacio Explosion

A Fort Bonifacio explosion news has raised fears to residents living in one of the country’s premier financial community. The Fort Bonifacio explosion reportedly occurred in the Philippine Army ammunitions depot on Wednesday, May 7, 2014.Reports say that 25 people were injured with at least two in critical condition.

According to witnesses, a fire initially broke out of the Army Support Command(ASC). Firefighters immediately arrived in the area but a huge explosion sent bullets, debris and shrapnels flying into the surrounding.

Witnesses say that black smoke has engulfed the area and several victims were seen scattered on the ground after the explosion.

The victims were immediately taken to the army hospital. Identities of the victims are still being withheld by authorities.

Philippine Army spokesman Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said that authorities are now looking into the cause of the blaze. Detoyato assured that civilians living near the ASC are safe and need not worry.

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Deniece Cornejo Surrenders

Model Deniece Cornejo, one of five people charged with serious illegal detention in connection with the January 22 mauling of actor Vhong Navarro, surrendered on Monday afternoon to authorities.

Cornejo arrived at Camp Crame in Quezon City at around 4 p.m., PNP Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac said.

Cornejo was accompanied by her immediate family, including granduncle Rod, and the senior Cornejo's legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio.

According to Sindac, Cornejo was brought to the office of PNP chief Alan Purisima to discuss her surrender.

"Siya ay nagprisinta ng sarili niya and she appeared before the chief PNP (Purisima) and had a short talk [with him]," Sindac told ANC. "It was a short conversation. [Purisima] has emphasized that she will be treated fairly and will be given the proper treatment."

Cornejo was then transported via a coaster to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) building, where she was processed under the Women and Children Protection Desk.
Cornejo's co-accused, Cedric Lee and Simeon Raz were arrested for the same non-bailable offense in Oras, Eastern Samar last April 25 after weeks in hiding.

Sindac said they have yet to verify whether Cornejo was hiding with Lee and Raz, following evidence that the two had a female companion in Samar. However, Topacio denied that Cornejo was ever in the area with her co-accused.

"I'm not at liberty to tell you where she was but I believe that there's no harm in saying that... she was never there," Topacio told ANC.

Cornejo will be brought to the Taguig Regional Trial Court on Tuesday, CIDG head Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong told DZMM.

'Confident of innocence'

Topacio, who was tapped by Rod Cornejo to help Deniece "a few weeks ago," said his client had been wanting to surface as she was always confident of her innocence in the controversy involving Navarro.

"I think she really wanted to give up and face the accusations against her being very confident of her innocence," Topacio said. "Of course, she is young and being accused of these things, she was [making up her] mind about it, and because of the uncertainty as to what will happen."

Topacio added: "I think having received good counsel from her lawyers, and also from her relatives, she finally decided to turn herself in and face the charges."

The lawyer said Cornejo was also encouraged to surrender after learning of her granduncle Rod's plea for her to face the charges against her.

While Topacio did not disclose details of the surrender, ABS-CBN News learned that Cornejo's family contacted PNP Human Rights Affairs Office head Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Banas, with whom they are acquainted, to express Deniece's intention to surrender.

Aside from Cornejo, Lee, and Raz, arrest warrants for serious illegal detention were issued against Ferdinand Guerrero and Jed Fernandez -- who remain at large.

All five, plus Lee's sister Bernice and Jose Paolo Calma, were issued separate arrest warrants for grave coercion.

Bernice, Cornejo and Fernandez earlier posted P12,000 bail each for the criminal offense. Calma, meanwhile, left the Philippines last April 10 despite a lookout bulletin order mentioning his name.

Lee and his co-accused have claimed that they had to attack Navarro to supposedly rescue Cornejo, who alleged that she was raped by the actor when he visited her last January 22 at her condominium unit at Forbeswood Heights in Taguig.

Navarro denied raping Cornejo and alleged that he was blindfolded, tied up and mauled by Lee's group. The "It's Showtime" co-host claimed that Lee's group forced him to say on camera that he raped Cornejo, and that they used the video and a police blotter detailing the alleged rape to threaten him against reporting the incident.

The Department of Justice has since dismissed Cornejo's rape complaint against Navarro.

Meanwhile, Navarro's manager, film director Chito Rono said the timing of Cornejo's surrender of "suspicious," and advised the actor and his legal team "to be ver cautious for any drama."

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