The Philippine army was due to briefly put on hold its battle against insurgents while political squabbling is also suspended as the country prepared to cheer on boxer Manny Pacquiao in a world title fight in Las Vegas, reports said yesterday.
Military chief General Hermogenes Esperon told the Philippine Star newspaper that the armed forces would have a unilateral ceasefire against the communist rebel New People's Army (NPA) from 8am today to the end of Pacquiao's fight.
"We will have a suspension of military operations with the NPA except when you have to act against [the] enemy," Esperon said.
He expressed hope that the NPA would reciprocate.
"They shouldn't make trouble. Everybody wants to witness another win of Pacquiao," the Star quoted Esperon as saying.
The nation was expected to come to a standstill as Pacquiao tried to wrest the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight title from Mexico's Juan Miguel Marquez in Las Vegas.
Prominent officials and showbiz stars were on their way to the US for the fight, which was be aired live on television in the Philippines.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said she was extending her full support for Pacquiao, recalling that during his past bouts traffic and crime virtually ceased.
Arroyo's chief aide, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that "there will be a ceasefire for a day."
Ermita added that this "might help reduce the tension gripping the country today," referring to the protracted opposition campaign to unseat Arroyo who has been accused of corruption and vote fraud.
FRUSTRATION: Alcaraz made several unforced errors over four sets against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, who had never made it past the third round in a major competition Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the fourth round of the French Open after laboring past Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Friday night session. The second-seeded Spaniard had never before played Dzumhur, a 33-year-old Bosnian who had never been past the third round at any major tournament. “I suffered quite a lot today,” Alcaraz said. “The first two sets was under control, then he started to play more deeply and more aggressively. It was really difficult for me.” Dzumhur hurt his left knee in a fall in the second round, and had treatment on Friday on his right leg during the
‘DREAM’: The 5-0 victory was PSG’s first Champions League title, and the biggest final win by any team in the 70-year history of the top-flight European competition Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League for the first time as Luis Enrique’s brilliant young side outclassed Inter on Saturday in the most one-sided final ever with teenager Desire Doue scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory. Doue supplied the pass for Achraf Hakimi to give PSG an early lead and the 19-year-old went from provider to finisher as his deflected shot doubled the advantage in the 20th minute. Doue scored again just after the hour mark, ending any doubt about the outcome before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ran away to get the fourth and substitute Senny Mayulu, another teenager, made it five. Inter were
The Greek basketball league finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were suspended by the government on Monday following on-court scuffles involving rival security teams. The best-of-five series is at 1-1. The third game, scheduled for today, has been postponed. The owners of both clubs were summoned to meet with the country’s sports minister. They “will be asked to provide explicit guarantees that this situation will be brought to an end. If not, this year’s championship will be definitively canceled,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said. “There can be no tolerance for such pathological phenomena of violence and delinquency.” In online posts, the owners of Panathinaikos and
Defender Steph Catley says her UEFA Women’s Champions League title win with Arsenal last week will act as motivation to secure continental glory with Australia when the country hosts the Women’s Asian Cup next year. Catley and compatriots Caitlin Foord and Kyra Cooney-Cross were part of the Arsenal squad that defeated Barcelona in Lisbon on Sunday last week, before flying to Melbourne to feature in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Argentina on Friday. The game was the first in a two-match series against the South Americans as the Australians continue preparations for the continental championship in March next year, when they would
RSS