<p>2013 Battle BeginsTeam PNoy Launches Campaign In Plaza Miranda; UNA In CebuBy LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO</p><p>Expect all sorts of mudslinging, bickering, as well as self-aggrandizement among candidates and their supporters to intensify as the 90-day campaign period for the May, 2013, elections for national and party-list candidates starts today. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) had earlier set the campaign period for those running for senator and party-list groups in the May 13 polls from February</p><p>VOL. 482</p><p>No. 12</p><p>TUESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2013</p><p>54 PAGES</p><p>R18.00</p><p>IN METRO MANILA</p><p>(Turn to page 5)</p><p>Peace Within Reach AquinoBy GENALYN D. KABILING</p><p>A just and lasting peace in Mindanao is now finally within reach so concerned parties must not give up and instead triumph over the Heartbreak Hill, the most daunting stretch in the peace process, President Benigno S. Aquino III declared yesterday.</p><p>The President voiced optimism that the government will finally forge a comprehensive peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at least earlier than the end of March in his visit to Maguindanao yesterday. Defying security concerns, Aquino went to the MILF stronghold in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, to launch(Turn to page 5)</p><p>Batas Kasambahay Fosters Employer-Employee Relations(Conclusion)By CARLOS DAVE B. GARCIA</p><p>Even if I have to adjust a lot from my own fund or from my family fund, I will ensure that my household helper</p><p>will have the social protection that she needs. They (household helpers) are also people, said Pauline Sophia Rampola, a kasambahay employer. During pre-employment, a con(Turn to page 7)</p><p>SAJAHATRA BANGSAMORO LAUNCHING President Benigno S. Aquino III (right) speaks with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao during yesterdays launching of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro, a comprehensive program to promote peace and development in Moro communities in Mindanao. (Alexander D. Lopez)</p><p>PSEi Pierces 6,500 MarkBy FIL C. SIONIL and JAMES LOYOLA</p><p>DOH Gets P21-B Budget For Population ConcernsBy MARIO B. CASAYURAN</p><p>The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) hit the 6,500 mark for the first time in its history as local share prices advanced in anticipation of the announcement of better corporate(Turn to page 7)</p><p>The government has allocated a whopping P21 billion in the Department of Health (DOH) budget that seeks to address population, maternal, and infant health concerns. Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III pointed this out as a rebut-</p><p>tal to the claim of Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman that the RH law would suffer if the lawmakers who pushed for its approval in the House of Representatives do not get a fresh term in the forthcoming May, 2013, mid-term elections. Sotto said there is a huge amount of money for reproductive, maternal,(Turn to page 5)</p><p>LOZADA SURRENDER A teary-eyed NBN-ZTE whistleblower Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr. surrenders himself to the police at Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday after an arrest warrant was issued against him by the Sandiganbayan. He was later ordered release after he and his brother posted a P90,000 bail for two graft cases. (KJ Rosales)</p><p>Ombudsman Holding On To First Resolution On GMA Plunder CaseBy BEN R. ROSARIO</p><p>The camp of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lamented the refusal of Office of the Ombudsman to release the first resolution of the plunder case</p><p>against her. A lawyer for the former Chief Executive said the Sandiganbayan must now assert its authority to demand the release of the resolution in the interest of justice and fairness. Lawyer Larry Gadon called on(Turn to page 5)</p><p>ELECTION NEWS COMELEC SETS PCOS MACHINES DEMO The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to organize Precinct MON.- FRI. 3:30 P.M.-5:00 P.M. Count Optical Scan (PCOS) Machines PTV4 AND RADYO Demo Centers nationwide to cater to NG BAYAN 738kHz the publics desire to be informed and educated on the voting machines that will be used in the May, 2013, polls.</p><p>PAGHAHANDA PARA SA HATOL NG BAYAN</p><p>LOLONGS CARCASS Residents use their outstretched arms to measure a sedated Lolong in this file photo taken on Sept. 4, 2011 after the 6.4-meter saltwater crocodile was captured in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. The worlds largest crocodile held in captivity died Sunday night. At right, Lolongs carcass is covered with ice at the conservation park in Bunawan.</p><p>BUSINESS</p><p>B-1</p><p>ENTERTAINMENT LQ With Mariel Wont Stop Robin From Doing Love Scenes</p><p>F-1Luzon Visayas Mindanao ManilaTides: High: 0:00 Low: 0:00mostly sunny partly cloudy to at times cloudy w/ isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms partly cloudy to at times cloudy w/ isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly sunny</p><p> 40 WESTERN VISAYAS HOTSPOTS IDENTIFIED Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr., Director of Police Regional Ofce (PRO) 6, dislosed there are 40 areas in Western Visayas identied as election watchlist areas (EWAs), and ve inactive partisan armed groups (PAGs).Read more about these articles and other poll-related stories on B-7 Election Page</p><p> Motor Vehicles Sales Speed Away With 51% Increase In January Scant Ethanol Lifting Pump Prices Lighting Solutions Cut Power Usage</p><p>Temperature Range:</p><p>21.0oC - 31.0oC 0.00 0.00 Sunrise: 6:21 a.m. Sunset: 5:59 p.m.</p><p>http://www.mb.com.ph</p><p>www.facebook.com/pages/MANILA-BULLETIN/139149407984</p><p>twitter.com/manila_bulletin</p><p>TO HELP YOU FIND A JOB OR BUY ANYTHING, ETC., READ MANILA BULLETIN ADVERTISEMENTS AND CLASSIFIED ADS</p><p>2</p><p>Local News</p><p>Tuesday, February 12, 2013</p><p>INTERESTED TO BUY CORNER LAND OR WITH BUILDING IN METRO MANILA AND PROVINCES SUITABLE FOR MANILA BULLETIN BRANCHES. PLEASE SEND OFFER TO MANILA BULLETIN P.O. BOX 769, MANILA</p><p>MUTUAL PROMOTION Ambassador Philippe J. Lhuillier (right) receives a coffee table book entitled Portugal: The Best Fish in the World from President of Turismo de Portugal Federico Costa during a recent courtesy call.</p><p>Portugal, Philippines Boost Tourism TiesPhilippine Ambassador to Portugal Philippe J. Lhuillier recently paid a courtesy call to President of Turismo de Portugal Federico Costa. The two officials agreed to cooperate and engage in mutual promotion of Philippines and Portugals tourism through sharing of information and possible exchange visits. Traveling to the Philippines has been made easier with the opening of the Emirates flights connecting Lisbon to Manila via Dubai, and Ambassador Lhuillier hopes to capitalize on this development. During the meeting, Costa shared their unique system in Portugal of establishing tourism schools and training centers, which cater to the personnel requirements of hotels, resorts, and other tourism-oriented establishments. He further expressed his appreciation of the Its more fun in the Philippines campaign while admitting that the Portuguese has still much to learn about the Philippines. By exchanging news, feature articles, and advertisements, the Philippines can project a better image of its culture and various tourism destinations, Ambassador Lhuillier said. He also offered the Philippines as a potential gateway for the promotion of Portugals tourism in Southeast Asian Region. Integrated within the Ministry of the Economy, Innovation and Development, Turismo de Portugal is the National Tourism Authority responsible for the promotion, enhancement and sustainability of tourism activities. It has 16 overseas promotion teams but only one in Asia, which is in Japan.</p><p>Wildlife Professionals To Examine LolongBy LELLALYN B. DE VERA and MIKE U. CRISMUNDO</p><p>A team of wildlife experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was deployed to Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, on Monday to determine the cause of death of Lolong the worlds largest crocodile in captivity. DENRs Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim said that so far, they still have no report on the exact cause of death of the saltwater crocodile but a veterinary team is going there (Bunawan) to check on the crocodile carcass. Likewise, the team will be joined by representatives from the National Museum, who will make sure that Lolongs skin will be preserved later on, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said. The team will help ensure that the necropsy would be carried out in a manner that would make it possible to contribute Lolongs remains to taxidermy, he said.</p><p>Paje said the PAWB has been in close coordination with Bunawan Mayor Edwin Elorde and representatives from the National Geographic Channel (NGC) on the necropsy. NGCs crocodile specialist Dr. Adam Britton had been the one to officially measure Lolong at 6.17 meters or 20.24 feet. Lolong was held captive for 18 months in an Eco-tourism Park in Bunawan town since its capture in September, 2011. It was caught in the Magsagangsang River, which is a part of the Agusan Marsh. It was also known for its attack to livestock and killing of a 12-year-old girl in Lake Mihaba in 2009. The adult male crocodile, which was estimated to be about 50 years old, was declared as the worlds largest living crocodile in captivity by the Guinness World Records in 2012. People coming from the various places in the Caraga Region and Davao provinces strated to troop to Consuelo in Bunawan, Agusand del Sur, just to have a last glimpse of Lolong. I am saddened after hearing the death of Lolong, said a 62-year-old man from nearby Bislig City, who frequently visited the giant crocodile in captivity. The previous largest crocodile on record was Cassius Clay that measured 5.48 meters or 17.97 feet long, and captured in Australia.</p><p>It was named Lolong after one of its captors Ernesto Lolong Conate, a Palawan-based crocodile hunter who was part of the team that helped in capturing the gigantic crocodile, but died from heart attack at the course of their mission in 2011. Reacting to Lolongs death, animal advocates People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said studies have shown that captive animals die younger than their wild counterparts. Lolong suffered and died because people wanted to make money off his captivity. Lolong spent his last 18 months alone in a concrete pen, instead of in the Agusan Marsh, where he belongs, it said. No zoo can come close to providing what even small crocodiles need, much less a crocodile the size of Lolong. Crocodiles are hardwired to roam freely, seek out mates, and hunt for food. These genetic imperatives are compelling, and the way that they are fulfilled in the wild cannot be replicated in captivity. When you consider the immense size and strength of Lolong, there is no doubt that being contained in a cramped enclosure caused him extreme distress and misery, it added. PETA expressed hope that the incident will serve as a signal for the government to prevent locking wild animals in cages, citing the case of an elephant named Mali being kept inside the Manila Zoo.</p><p>READ AND SUBSCRIBE</p><p>ANG NANGUNGUNANG PAHAYAGANG TAGALOG SA BANSA</p><p>READ AND SUBSCRIBE</p><p>Local News</p><p>Tuesday, February 12, 2013</p><p>3</p><p>DepEd Urged To Ban Field Trips After Freak Accident Kills CoedBy INA HERNANDO-MALIPOT</p><p>the students. We dont think its wise to ban them totally, Luistro said. We may again issue clearer guidelines on what types of trips may be allowed and strictly implement guidelines on safety and adult supervision, he added. Based on the existing Order, places to visit during field trips should be educational places such as cultural and historical sites or science exhibits in museums which complement or supplement classroom lessons. Field trips, as stated in the DepEd Order,</p><p>should be well planned ahead of time with the students so they will know exactly what to look for in the field trip and safety measures should be discussed before the field trip. In September last year, two international school students of Cebu International School (CIS) reportedly drowned at a waterfall in Bataan during an outreach program. Some parents have been appealing to ban field trips, particularly those that are conducted out-of-town, to ease their financial burden and to ensure the safety of their children.</p><p>The tragic incident in Tanay has devastated not just the family of Ramirez but the school community and the whole province of Bulacan. The victims father said he had always accompanied his daughter, whom he fondly calls Cacai, in her field trips except this one. After his daughters burial scheduled tomorrow, he said he plans to</p><p>press charges. Senior Police Officer 1 Miguel Catapusan of the Tanay Police said the bus has been impounded and the driver, Carlos Villanueva, 32, remains locked up. Catapusan said relatives of the victims have not pressed charges against the bus driver. (With a report from Nel B. Andrade)</p><p>RIO BIANCA RAMIREZ in better times. (Victims self portrait on Facebook)</p><p>The Department of Education (DepEd) was once again urged to ban educational field trips in both public and private elementary and secondary schools after another high school student died during a field trip last week. Ray Ramirez, the father of 14-yearold Rio Bianca who was declared dead on arrival at Capitol Medical Center after a bus ran over her, said that DepEd should consider banning the conduct of educational field trip, especially if its not part the curriculum. Reports said that aside from Ramirez, 15-year-old Pamela Enriquez was injured when a bus ran over them during a field trip at Camp Mateo Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, last Friday. Both were students of Holy Spirit Academy of Malolos in Bulacan. DepEd has reiterated that while educational field trips are allowed, it not compulsory. In an earlier statement, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said DepEd said that it is conducting a study when it comes to its policy under DepEd Order No. 52 series of 2003 to ensure the safety of</p><p>4</p><p>Metro News DOJ: Malaysia Not Blocking ExtraditionBy LEONARD D. POSTRADO</p><p>Tuesday, February 12, 2013</p><p>METRO NEWSBITSMISSING BLOTTERA security guard is in hot water for wounding a fellow security guard during a shooting incident in Pasig City Sunday night, a police official disclosed. Initial reports reaching the Pasig City Police Station identified the suspect as R.F. Espino, a security guard assigned under the MadjaAz Security Agency. Senior Inspector Rodrigo De Dios, chief of the Pasig City Police Station - Investigation Unit, disclosed that police are hunting down the suspect after he allegedly shot and wounded fellow security guard Adonis Labordo inside their boarding house located at 96-C Cuevas St., Barangay Kalawaan, Pasig City. De Dios said the reported shooting incident stemmed over the whereabouts of their blotter which the suspect was reportedly looking for. (Francis T. Wakefield)</p><p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday denied reports that the Malaysian authorities have been blocking the extradition of Aman Futures G..</p>