OFWs dream for Thai PM to Aquino: a crim02e-free PH You sp 03eak so fast www.kuwaittimes.net SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 Mall tycoon Henry Sy tops Philippines’ rich list Page 07 Philippine economy grew 5.6 pct in the second quarter MANILA: The Philippine economy grew by 5.6 percent in the second quarter from a year ago, slightly below the government’s target, officials said Thursday. The fig- ure brings growth in the first six months to 5.3 percent, down from 6.2 percent for the same period a year ago. The economy grew 5 percent in first quarter. Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the govern- ment is now likely to miss its 2015 full-year growth tar- get of 7 to 8 percent, with 6 to 6.5 percent growth look- ing more realistic. He called the second-quarter figure “respectable,” saying it reflects a boost in government spending, espe- cially public construction, which grew 20 percent from a 24 percent contraction in the first quarter after efforts to address spending bottlenecks. Private investment, robust exports, and household consumption also con- tributed to growth. “Despite the GDP number hitting slightly below the government’s target, we recognize that it is much more important to ensure that the growth momentum is sustained,” Balisacan said. —AP Three militants MANILA: Members of the religious sect Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) shout slogans during a protest against the Justice Department, yesterday in the suburban Mandaluyong city east of Manila, Philippines. The sect members, who earlier camped out killed in Philippine for two days in Manila, are accusing Justice Secretary Leila De Lima of harassing the congregation by ordering an investigation into military clash what it said false allegations by its expelled members. —AP MANILA: Three Islamic militants were killed after the Philippine military on Friday launched a second attempt in two weeks to rescue hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf Philippines seeks US ‘assistance’ in South China Sea rebels, the army said. About 300 Abu Sayyaf fighters MANILA: The Philippines has asked the US to pro- term for the South China Sea. Harris, who oversees ground and which may hold vast mineral retreated after the hour-long firefight in the jungles of the vide military “assistance” in resupplying and rotat- American forces across Asia, met Wednesday with resources. In asking for US assistance, Padilla said remote southern island of Jolo, said Brigadier-General ing Manila’s forces in the South China Sea because Philippine President Benigno Aquino. On Thursday, the Philippines had faced Chinese harassment, par- Alan Arrojado, the military commander in the area. they face harassment from regional power China, a he visited the Philippine military command on the ticularly when resupplying and rotating troops However the military did not say if any of the military spokesman said Thursday. western island of Palawan, the closest landmass to based on a grounded WWII-era ship on a remote hostages were freed or injured in the clashes, or how The request was made the previous day by the South China Sea. A Philippine military state- shoal in the Spratly islands. many hostage were believed to have been held at the Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in a ment said his visit was to familiarise himself with China has also recently turned isolated rocky rebel camp. Ten Philippine soldiers were wounded in meeting with Admiral Harry Harris, head of US “the situation on the ground”. outcroppings in the South China Sea into artificial the fighting, Arrojado added. “The bandits positioned Pacific Command, according to Colonel Restituto In his meetings, Harris had outlined a freshly islands that can host military facilities. The their hostages in the back (of the rebel camp), they don’t Padilla. “It was a specific request on the part of the drafted Pentagon report highlighting issues in the Philippines fears these artificial islands will be used want another escape,” Captain Antonio Bulao, a military secretary of national defence to Admiral Harris to South China Sea, Padilla said earlier. Tensions have to isolate Filipino outposts in the Spratlys. Padilla spokesman in Jolo, told AFP. Last week two Philippine get their assistance in... resupplying and rotating risen in recent years between the Philippines and conceded the Philippines, which has one of the coast guard men, who were among 11 hostages held by troops,” Padilla told AFP. “They just took our China due to conflicting territorial claims over weakest militaries in the region, lacked the Abu Sayyaf, escaped during fierce clashes which erupt- requests and the details still have to be discussed,” these waters, including the Spratly islands located resources to fully protect its own vessels in the area. ed after elite military forces launched a risky rescue Padilla said, adding that the American officer made there. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also The Philippines has been seeking to improve its operation, leaving 15 Abu Sayyaf men dead on Jolo. no commitment. Padilla said the request pertained have claims to parts or all of the South China Sea, defence relations with the United States and other Continued on Page 3 in particular to the “West Philippine Sea”, Manila’s which is a vital maritime route, a rich fishing countries to counterbalance China’s forces.—AFP SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 2 OFWs dream for a crime-free PH Calls for Duterte to run as president By Ben Garcia message of support and convince Mayor Tough guy liant Mayor,” Eric added. Duterte to run in the May 2016 presidential “We want the tough guy to take the The group stated they want Duterte to KUWAIT: Filipinos in Kuwait displayed their race. helm because he has no records of corrup- once and for all declare his candidacy in the support to the shy, but most sought after “We are here to assure our support to tion. In fact, Davao is enjoying ‘The Safest upcoming elections, as the campaign peri- politician from Davao City, Mayor Rodrigo Mayor Duterte and call for his candidacy. We City on Earth’ title (fifth in the world in od nears and set to start after filing certifi- Duterte. want him to know that we are one and united terms of peace and order) because Mayor cate of candidacy in October. However, until The group supporting Duterte gathered at here in Kuwait and we want him to be our Duterte worked hard for it and we want to now, Duterte is yet to announce his deci- the seaside at the back of the Holy Family next leader!” said Eric Cajes, who is the acting see that style executed in the whole archi- sion despite the growing and strong clamor Cathedral in Kuwait City to send a strong spokesperson and organizer for the group. pelago. We want the workaholic and bril- from supporters all over the world!” SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 3 Thailand PM to Aquino: You speak so fast MANILA: Others have noticed it, but none has dared draw gation. when many areas of Thailand were ravaged by severe flooding President Aquino’s attention to it. For his part, the President said he hoped he did not mispro- in 2011, the Philippines also extended financial assistance to Until yesterday, when visiting Thai Prime Minister Prayut nounce anything when he acknowledged the Thai officials the victims,” Aquino said. Chan-o-cha, in a state luncheon at Malacanang, told his host, who were with Chan-o-cha. to laughter from the crowd, “You speak so fast.” “I’m trying to practice a little,” he said. Same same Journalists who heard the comment agreed and said finally, Aquino recognized the Thai prime minister for coming to “These expressions of support are but contemporary mani- after five years, someone had the guts to tell the President that the country in December of 2012 as chief of the Royal Thai festations of the long history between our peoples. I am told, indeed he was delivering his public speeches and statements Army, leading a delegation of officials who expressed willing- for instance, that lively trade between our countries predates too fast. ness to lend assistance to recovery operations in the aftermath the 1600s,” Aquino said. Earlier, the Thai leader said “sorry for taking time” in deliver- of Typhoon Pablo. “Today, Thais and Filipinos are often mistaken for each oth- ing his speech, referring to his statement after the bilateral and This came just a few days after Chan-o-cha personally er. In the streets of Bangkok, our people are often told, expanded bilateral meetings with the President and his offi- turned over $30,000 to Philippine embassy representatives in ‘Philippine-Thai same-same.’ We see this even in our cultures. cials, respectively. Thailand as assistance to the typhoon victims. Our people are known for their friendly and cheerful natures, The prime minister was here for a two-day official visit. He “We would feel your country’s generosity and solidarity and their hospitality,” he said. arrived Thursday night and left yesterday afternoon. He was again, in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and of the oth- The President said Filipinos and Thais even have similar accompanied by his wife, Naraporn Chan-o-cha, and his dele- er calamities we have had to overcome. In the same vein, preferences in terms of cuisine. —The Philippine Star Three militants ... Continued from Page 1 The militants have since split into smaller groups, each holding some hostages, Bulao added. The military rescue attempt came after the decapitated remains of a 12th hostage, Rodolfo Boligao, were found on a deserted Jolo highway. Impoverished Jolo is a known stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf, a loose band of several hundred armed men set up in the 1990s with seed money from the Al-Qaeda network of Osama Bin Laden.