MISCEPY

DFA to appeal Espino slay case

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said it will assist Bienvenido "Benjie" Espino Jr., the Filipino worker who was sentenced to death for stabbing to death a Filipina, up to the highest court in Kuwait.

"The embassy has given an instruction to Espino's lawyer to appeal his case," DFA spokesman Claro Cristobal told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."

Kuwait's Court of First Instance sentenced Espino to death for killing Jhias Gumapac, who was working as a barista in a coffee shop in Salmiya, Kuwait on Oct. 30, 2007.

Reports said Espino stabbed Gumapac 33 times over a laptop computer. The laptop was allegedly given by Espino to Gumapac as collateral for his debt.

Cristobal said Espino's case will be elevated by the Philippine embassy in Kuwait to the emirate's Court of Appeals.

Cristobal said if ever the appellate court will uphold the sentence, the case will be elevated to the Court of Cassation, Kuwait's high court.

The DFA spokesman admitted that the case is unusual because it involves two Filipinos. Despite this, he said the Philippine government is bound by law to assist Espino.

"Just like what we do in other cases, we will not let this go easily to save a Filipino's life... It's the government's responsibility to save the life of a Filipino," Cristobal said.

In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News, Gumapac's father, Joel, said he has no plans to write a letter of forgiveness to save Espino from execution.

"The sentence, maximum penalty, should push through. As of now, I don't have plans to write a letter of forgiveness," Joel said.

Malaysia ban on anti-govt Web site draws outcry

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has pulled the plug on a popular news portal often critical of the government, sparking protests from a resurgent opposition.

Malaysia's telecoms watchdog ordered internet providers to block access to Malaysia Today Web site because it posted comments that could incite the country's multi-racial society, a government official said on Friday.

Home Minister Syed Hamid said Malaysia Today's editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin had ignored warnings from the watchdog to abide by the law.

We do not intend to curtail people's freedom or right to express themselves. Everyone is subjected to the law, even Web sites and blogs, the Star newspaper on Friday quoted him as saying.

It is believed to be the first time such curbs have been used against a non-pornographic Web site. Malaysians have been flocking to the Internet for independent news as an alternative to tightly controlled mainstream media.

The ruling came as Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in on Thursday as a member of parliament and took his seat as the new opposition leader.

His return following an enforced 10-year absence could curtail the government's ability to form policy as well as step up confrontations between the government and the opposition.

The opposition derided the Web site ban as another example of power abuse by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government.

It also ran contrary to the government's pledge to keep cyberspace uncensored, said Lim Kit Siang, leader of the Democratic Action Party, part of Anwar's opposition alliance.

This is merely the first step in a comprehensive and reprehensible attempt to curb the access of conscientious Malaysians to the Internet, Anwar's Parti Keadilan Rakyat said.

Raja Petra said the move came as a surprise to him.

I didn't think that they would go ahead because their own charter guarantees no-censorship, he said. This is the first time they officially blocked my Web site.

Raja Petra has drawn a huge fan base as well as lawsuits for publishing articles and sensitive documents on his Web site.

Last week, police raided his house and seized a laptop, a scanner and some documents, domestic media said.

The Web site was not available in Malaysia on Friday, but a message directed readers to a mirrored site which could be accessed.

African models, designers promote peace in Kenya

NAIROBI - Scores of top African designers and models held a show in Nairobi National Park at the weekend to raise money for victims of Kenya's post-election violence and show a different face to their continent.
The "Fashion for Peace" event drew mainly West and East African models onto a catwalk in a marquee under the moonlight on savannah usually known for its lions and rhinos.
"Fashion for Peace will not change the world, although it does aim at changing people's negative perceptions of Kenya and Africa in other countries," organizers said in a statement.
"And it is a call for peace."
Proceeds from the show were to go to some of the roughly 300,000 Kenyans uprooted from their homes in fighting after a disputed December election. More than 1,300 people died.
Kenyan former model and fashion commentator Waridi Schrobsdroff took to the stage in white for peace.
"Kenyans can really make things happen when they put their hands together," she told Reuters before the show started.
After cocktails at sunset on Saturday, the catwalk shows took place during a gala dinner for about 1,000 guests.
For some, the show of opulence grated.
"I don't know how this will connect to someone who lives down in the slums," said young Kenyan musician Benson Mutua, sipping a glass of champagne next to his Danish wife.
"But if the money accumulated from the people who attended the fashion is taken to the people in the slums, and something relating to peace is done, then it's ok."
Most victims of the violence in January and February were poor Kenyans, living in Nairobi slums -- some just a couple of kilometers from the park -- and impoverished rural areas.
Most people at the show were delighted that a positive image of Kenya was being shown again at last.
"It is great that fashion can be held in the name of peace. Fashion is always a good thing that brings people together and this show has really demonstrated that," said model Lisa Pitkin.
"The fact international designers came here is a good sign, definitely a move forward from where we were two months ago."
Most models wore traditional African dress on the catwalk.
The two-hour show was one of a series of high-profile events -- including a photo-shoot by British businessmen in the Masai Mara game park -- intended to restore Kenya's image after one of the most traumatic episodes in its post-independence history.
Kenyans were horrified after the election when images of machete-wielding mobs and gun-toting policemen were beamed around the world, scaring off tourists and worrying investors.

KC and Luis are lovers in Yes, Sir!

What happens when the son of the "Star for all Seasons" Vilma Santos and the daughter of the "Megastar" Sharon Cuneta share the screen together?

Surely sparks will fly as model and actress KC Concepcion is paired with host-actor Luis Manzano in the second episode of ABS-CBN's "I AM KC" entitled "Yes, Sir!"

"Yes, Sir!" is the second episode of the "I AM KC" specials and is directed by Andoy Ranay. It is a light romantic story that will surely touch viewers' hearts and funny bones.

"It's a double charmer...you will see a differnt KC here," said Enrico Santos, Business Unit Head of the program.

According to Ranay, "Yes, Sir" tells the story of Kate , the sweetheart of Budoy and the very loving and caring grandchild of her ailing grandmother . Kate works as a secretary to a very demanding boss, Ed , a hotel chain executive.

Kate's relationship with Budoy suffers because of the pressures of her job. Meanwhile, Kate grows closer to her boss Ed after she "saves" him during a crucial business meeting.

What impact will Kate's newfound closeness with her boss have on her relationship with Budoy?

Watch "I AM KC" on ABS-CBN on Saturday, April 5, at 7:00 p.m. after "1 versus 100".

Raikkonen, Hamilton renew rivalry in season opener

Agence France-Presse
MELBOURNE - World champion Kimi Raikkonen and title runner-up Lewis Hamilton are expected to fight out Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix as Ferrari and McLaren reignite their fierce rivalry.
The taciturn Finn, known as "The Iceman", swept to the F1 title in his first season as Ferrari's No.1 driver in the last race in Brazil, pipping Hamilton by one point in a controversial 2007 season dominated by the "Spygate" scandal.
Hamilton was on track to land the drivers crown in his first season in Formula One for McLaren, before he faltered in the last two GPs for Raikkonen to seize Ferrari's 15th drivers and constructors title.
Pre-season testing indicates that Ferrari and McLaren are superior on times and set to dominate early practice sessions ahead of Sunday's opener over 305 kilometers around the Albert Park street circuit.
Ferrari have won six of the last nine Australian GPs, while Raikkonen posted three of the fastest laps in the race driving previously for McLaren in an era that was dominated by Ferrari's Michael Schumacher.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher believes this season will once again be dominated by either his old team Ferrari or McLaren.
McLaren are still paying for the ramifications of the "Spygate" scandal, with inquiries ongoing into how a 780-page Ferrari dossier was discovered at the home of McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan last season.
McLaren were fined 50 million pounds and stripped of all their points in the constructors championship by the sport's governing body, FIA, after they were found guilty of being in possession of leaked technical information.
In the fall-out at McLaren, dual world champion Fernando Alonso returned to Renault after a fractious relationship with Hamilton -- while Ferrari surged from behind for an unexpected title win.
"I believe we are going to Melbourne with a competitive car," Raikkonen said this week. "The tests in the winter went really well and we did everything possible.
"The F2008 is a step forward from the car we had last year. The team has done a great job, especially in the areas where we weren't strong, like the behavior through slow corners and over the curbs.
"We should be strong in every situation, although you never know for sure."
Hamilton, who won four GPs and was on the podium in eight other races last season, says he is more determined to take this year's championship after his stellar debut season.
"I want to win even more," he said this week. "I think I'm more confident, and the team I have behind me are stronger and I know what I want."
"There were many, many lessons from last season. But a major lesson was learning to deal with the pressure, learning to deal with being consistent, the importance of finishing high up and scoring points every race."
Alonso has admitted his Renault team is likely to be in for a long wait before it becomes competitive again.
The Spaniard, who won his two world titles with Renault in 2005/06, said the French outfit was too far behind to make up much ground this year.
"The team was far behind in 2007 and it would have been impossible to overcome that gap this winter," Alonso said.
"The other teams have also progressed and so it will certainly take a little time to reach a higher level, but I am convinced that we have the potential to get there.
"The team has shown in the past that they know how to produce a winning car. We just need to continue our efforts and to make sure we don't lose ground."
The Australian GP is also having problems of its own, with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone threatening to take the race offshore after 2010 if organizers don't agree to night racing in order to suit television viewing hours in Europe.