DASMARINAS, Cavite — Carl Santos-Ocampo birdied No. 16 for the second straight time to fire a second straight 68 to catch red-hot Tony Lascuna at the helm and two shots ahead of a charging Michael Bibat halfway through the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Orchard Golf Championship at the Palmer Course here yesterday.
Santos-Ocampo made a late charge of three birdies in the last eight holes to wrap up another 35-33 card in sweltering heat, then immediately left the clubhouse after securing a stint with Lascuna and Bibat in the featured flight in today’s third round action in the P2.5 million event serving as the fourth leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
While Santos-Ocampo leaned on a strong finish to remain on top, Lascuna used a strong start of 31 in one of the early flights to shoot a six-under 66 to gain a share of the lead at eight-under 136, setting in motion his bid for a second straight championship after romping off with a four-shot win at ICTSI Calatagan two weeks ago.
The reigning ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion highlighted his fiery start with three straight birdies from No. 7. Although he stumbled with a bogey on the 10th, the ace Davaoeño shotmaker birdied two of the last six holes for that 66.
Santos-Ocampo rolled in a long birdie on No. 2 and made a tap-in on the fourth to resume his bid but fell back with a flubbed par-saving putt from eight feet on No. 5. He, however, bounced back with back-to-back birdies from No. 11 from 15 feet then hit another from nine feet on the 16th for that 68.

It’s exactly 10 days after the elections but some teachers and other personnel who served as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) and support staff in the polling precincts have yet to receive their honorarium.
This was disclosed by the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) monitoring showing that as of Wednesday, May 22, teachers from many areas are still waiting for their honorarium despite the assurance from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the payment shall be released immediately to the concerned personnel.
“Two days after the elections, there were reports that Malabon and Valenzuela teachers have received their honorarium which was announced by the Comelec on May 14,” said Emmalyn Policarpio, the group’s secretary general.
Policarpio appreciates the Comelec action which according to her was agreed by the poll body and her group in a dialog in September last year. “The early release of honorarium in some cities is a proof that the Comelec live out to its commitment,” Policarpio added.
However, more than a week after the elections, the TDC has been receiving complaints from teachers about the delay.
“The Comelec office in Intramuros may have nothing to do with the delay, but they have to look into the matter. The declaration from the Comelec chairman himself that they have released the payment for all those who served in the elections contradicts the real scenario in the field,” Policarpio explained.
During their September dialog, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes was quoted “I really can’t understand why the payment is always delayed.”                By Alvin Murcia

LEGAPI CITY — The ruling Liberal Party (LP) won majority of the congressional and mayoral posts in Bicol in the recent mid-term elections.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, LP regional chairman in Bicol, said this indicates that Bicolanos want President Aquino to accomplish his agenda by giving him more allies on the ground. “This means Bicolanos are pinning their high hopes for a more progressive region under the stewardship of President Aquino,” he added.
Salceda ran unopposed for his third term as Albay governor which helped LP candidates to win 12 of the 18 (67 percent) mayoralty positions (15 towns and three cities) in the province. He was among the first local officials proclaimed by the Comelec in Bicol.
Comelec results also indicate that of the 114 mayoral posts in Bicol’s six provinces — 107 towns and seven cities — LP bets won 44 (38.6 percent), followed 27 by Nationalist People’s Coalition with 27 (23.6 percent). The rest are shared by UNA-PMP, Lakas-CMD, NP and four independents.
Of Bicol’s 16 legislative districts, LP bagged seven seats; Lakas-CMD, three; NPC, two; NUP, two; and UNA and NP, one seat each. Of the six gubernatorial posts, LP won two (Albay and Camarines Norte); independents, two (Catanduanes and Sorsogon); NP in Camarines Sur, and NPC in Masbate.
LP won 12 mayoralty posts in Albay, nine in Catanduanes, nine in Camarines Sur, six in Camarines Norte, five in Sorsogon and three in Masbate.
“This also means that government development projects can be implemented and pursued smoothly in the region, more so for projects already started or continued in the first half of President Aquino’s six-year term,” Salceda noted.