Filipino Peacekeepers in Haiti Assist Rescue Efforts in Earthquake Aftermath

Filipino peacekeepers were the first to rush to the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and take part in rescue efforts after the seven-story building was levelled by magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on Tuesday night.

In its report to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Mission to the United Nations said that it was informed by the UN that members of the 10th Philippine Peacekeeping Contingent under Lt. Col. Lope Dagoy are assisting in the search for an undetermined number of UN personnel who were in the building when it collapsed.




The Philippine Mission said it could not determine at this point if there were any casualties among members of the Philippine military and police contingents as well as UN civilian staff members serving with MINUSTAH as power and communications line have been cut off. It said it could not account for all of Filipino peacekeeping personnel as its only source of information was UN Headquarters in New York which was only able to establish contact with MINUSTAH officials via satellite phones.

However, it said that Lieutenant Colonel Dagoy was able to contact his wife via satellite phone and asked her to relay to the Peacekeeping Operations Center of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that he was trying to account for all members of the contingent. While he did not mention any casualties or damage to the Philippine headquarters, he said contingent members were forced to vacate the building after the area was hit by a series of aftershocks.

The Philippine Mission said Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Fuentes, commander of the Philippine police contingent, was also able to establish contact through internet and said he and several other peacekeepers were safe in the UN Logistics Base near the Port-au-Prince International Airport.

Based on newspaper reports, the Philippine Mission was able to determine that at least three other areas in the capital where Filipino peacekeepers are assigned sustained serious damage from the earthquake.

There are 157 officers and enlisted personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and 15 officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP) serving with MINUSTAH. There are also an undetermined number of Filipino civilian staff working with the UN.

Aside from the peacekeepers, there are some 447 Filipinos working in the garments, telecommunication and power sectors in the country, mostly in middle and upper management levels. There are also Filipino nuns and priests in Haiti.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has sent instructions to the Philippine Mission in New York, as well as the Philippine Embassy in Havana, Cuba, to check on the conditions of the members of the Filipino community in Haiti.

The Philippine Mission in New York will coordinate with the United Nations on the extension of assistance to them, as well as to the Haiti Government and people.

source: Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines
Pic Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c1abe49a-0032-11df-8626-00144feabdc0.html

Showtime on Preventive Suspension - Osang Axe as Judge

All time controversial actress Rosanna Roces was dissappointed over the decision of MTRCB 20 day preventive suspension of "Showtime" because of remarks she made againsts teachers. Before the decision of MTRCB was issued, ABS-CBN has already axed Rosanna Roces from being the judge of the said show.

However Roces further argued that she is not criticizing the teachers in general and further added that she has the liberty “to say whatever I want to say.”

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa ABS-CBN dahil binigyan nila ako ng pagkakataong humingi ng paumanhin sa aking naging pahayag sa ‘Showtime.’ Naramdaman kong nakahanap ako ng tunay na kapamilya sa ABS-CBN dahil hindi nila ako iniwan sa ere. Kung sa ibang network, gaya ng naranasan ko noon, ay iniwan ako at pinabayaang magpaliwanag ng mag-isa," she said.

Like Roces, the show’s hosts - Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro and Kim Atienza - and judge Vice Ganda were disappointed by the MTRCB’s decision.

The Kapamilya network has already taken action to make sure that the popular show will come back on air soon.

According to lawyer Mona Manalo of ABS-CBN legal department, the network filed on Tuesday an appeal before the Court of Appeals.

In its petition, Manalo said the network has asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a writ of preliminary injunction to restrain the MTRCB from enforcing its January 11 suspension order.

The network also asked the appellate court to issue a writ of certiorari to set aside the order and to make permanent preliminary injunction.

Here is TV Patrol's full report on Osangs' statements.