ENVOY TO ARGENTINA RECALLED
[PHOTO - Francisco "Paqui"
Ortigas III]
MANILA,
FEBRUARY 16, 2012 (ABS-CBN)
Wealthy businessman and former Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Francisco "Paqui"
Ortigas III was arrested by authorities on Wednesday for charges of concubinage
filed by his wife Susana Madrigal Bayot.
Ortigas was arrested in his office by Pasig police before noon by virtue of a
warrant issued by Pasig Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Joy Nerves
Casihan-Dumlao.
Ortigas did not resist arrest but was surprised by the presence of police
personnel.
"Nagulat siya siyempre kasi kahapon lang in-issue ang warrant of arrest,"
said Chief Inspector Bernouli Abalos.
Bayot accused her husband of having extra-marital affairs during the course
of their 40-year marriage, including one with his private secretary and Bayot's
best friend Ma. Antonia Legarda.
"She has reached the point where she said she has had enough. All she wants
is adequate recompense under law, may na-violate na batas eh," said Bayot's
lawyer Thea Daep.
Ortigas posted bail of P10,000 hours after his arrest.
He declined to face the media and pleaded for privacy through a statement
given to his lawyer Elizabeth Loriega.
"This is a purely private matter, which refined and civilized individuals
avoid elucidating on," the statement said.
Both Ortigas and his wife are from powerful clans.
The former ambassador belongs to the Ortigas clan who owns Ortigas and
Company, the developer and owner of the Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan
and other properties in Mandaluyong and Ortigas.
Bayot, on the other hand, belongs to the Madrigal clan. -- Report from Atom Araullo, ABS-CBN News
FROM MANILA BULLETIN
ENVOY TO ARGENTINA RECALLED OVER BOXING MOB
[PHOTO - Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero has just been declared winner
against Argentinian boxer Jose Alberto Lazarte when angry fans started throwing
chairs and bottles at Casimero. Even the member of Casimero's entourage were
attacked by the angry mob when they all started climbing up the ring. Casimero
and his team sustained minor injuries from the attack of the angry mob but no
one was killed. Casimero bagged the IBF light flyweight in the match. (Materials based on Abs-cbnnews.com)]
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday directed the Department of
Foreign Affairs (DFA) to recall the Philippine ambassador to Argentina and
explain the mobbing of a Filipino boxer and his team after a boxing bout in Mar
del Plata, Argentina, last February 11.
Casimero, his trainer Christopher Tepor, and boxing manager and promoter,
Samson Gello-Aniwere attacked by fight fans after the Filipino won his fight
against local boy Luis Alberto Lazarte.
[PHOTO - Johnriel Casimero and Ramon Garcia]
The Philippine flag was also trampled on during the incident.
The ambassador, Rey Carandang, must explain what happened, Senate President
Juan Ponce Enrile said in a resolution.
Casimero went to Argentina "thinking that that country is a civilized
country," he said.
The resolution, which Enrile authored, was approved unanimously during the
Senate's plenary session presided by Sen. Loren Legarda, chairman of the Senate
foreign relations committee.
It also asked the DFA to summon the Argentine ambassador to Manila to explain
"this sordid, unfortunate incident," Enrile said.
During a privilege speech, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III showed a
video clip showing angry fans swarming into the ring and chasing Casimero.
Sotto's speech was referred to Legarda's committee and the Games and
Amusement Committee of Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid.
Standing up after the Enrile resolution was approved, Lapid cited a song
"Don't Cry for me Argentina," and said "paiyakin natin sila ngayon (we should
make that country cry.)"
Casimero won the junior flyweight championship fight by a technical
knockout in the 10th round.
Even before he was declared a winner, the partisan Argentine crowd started
throwing water bottles debris and finally chairs into the ring.
The Philippine embassy in Buenos Aires reported that the riot lasted for over
10 minutes.
Argentine police escorted Casimero and his team to their hotel and stood
guard until the following morning to ensure their safety.
Enrile said the recall of the Philippine ambassador to Argentina would show
the displeasure of the Philippine government over the conduct of the incident.
"I don't think we have any special reason to maintain a relationship with a
country that behaves like that... against citizens of this country. No matter
how low, no matter how humble, we must protect our citizens against mistreatment
committed by other nations otherwise they will trample on our flag, on our
honor, they will trample on our dignity as human beings in this planet,'' he
said.
In directing the DFA to recall Carandang, Enrile said it is the right of the
Senate as a treaty-ratifying body to exercise its power over ambassadors and
other DFA officials.
DFA Spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a statement Wednesday the Philippine
embassy in Buenos Aires has filed a protest with the Argentine Ministry of
Foreign Affairs over the incident.
"We are now waiting for their explanation and response," Hernandez said.
He said that on the same day when the riot took place, the deputy chief of
mission of the Argentine Embassy in Manila apologized to the DFA.
He confirmed that the ambassador of Argentina to Manila was summoned to the
DFA Wednesday afternoon.
Malacanang said on Wednesday the endorsement of the Senate resolution to
recall the Philippine ambassador to Argentina would have to be discussed with
the DFA.
"Let me reiterate that we are concerned with what happened," Deputy
presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
"However, with the passage of this resolution, we will defer to the action to
be taken by the DFA in light of the resolution passed by our senators," she
said. (Additional report from Madel R. Sabater)
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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