“Don’t believe the ceasefire offer by Jamalul Kiram. In the interest of Sabahans and all Malaysians, wipe out all the militants first,” Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on his Tweeter feed.

Kiram had declared a unilateral ceasefire at 12:30 p.m., calling for reciprocation from Malaysia, whose armed forces are hunting his armed followers.

Kiram sent his followers – mostly Tausugs – from their homes across the Sulu Sea to assert an ancestral claim to Sabah. A major Malaysian offensive last Tuesday left dozens dead.

Clashes between the sultan’s followers and Malaysian forces have left 60 people dead as of last night, according to Malaysian police chief Ismail Omar.

By 3 p.m. Wednesday, he said 32 Filipinos were killed in two confrontations. Eight Malaysian policemen died in earlier skirmishes last week.

Jamalul’s ceasefire call came after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged a peaceful resolution to the standoff, considered as Malaysia’s biggest security crisis in years.

The ceasefire call also coincided with a sudden visit to Sabah by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to inspect security operations.

Najib’s government had tried for three weeks to persuade the Filipinos to leave, but launched a military assault Tuesday after they continually refused and engaged security forces in a pair of deadly shootouts.

Cessation of hostilities

To Malaysia’s rejection of his ceasefire offer, Kiram’s response was to declare a “cessation of hostilities.”

“We are going to declare a cessation of hostilities in positive response to the call of the United Nations and to the reaction of the government of the Federation of Malaysia rejecting the unilateral ceasefire declared by the sultanate of Sulu unless what the Malaysian government said, the militants in Lahad Datu, referring to the Sulu royal forces, will surrender,” said his spokesman Abraham Idjirani.

“The Malaysian government, in complete rejection of the UN call, demanded that prior to its recognition of this unilateral ceasefire made by the Sultanate of Sulu must surrender the militants to them,” he added.

“In response to that, the Sultanate of Sulu is now declaring unilaterally a cessation of hostilities.”

He said a ceasefire should convince Malaysia to stop its assault and sit down for negotiation with the sultanate as encouraged by the UN.

“What we are doing is in compliance with the call of the United Nations,” Idjirani said, adding that he informed the sultan’s brother Agbimuddin of the declaration of “cessation of hostilities” at past 4 p.m. yesterday.

Should Malaysia’s rejection of the ceasefire offer result in more deaths, the UN would have to take action, Idjirani said.

He also said the sultanate is willing to swap captives with the Malaysian security forces who are in custody of 10 members of the so-called royal sultanate army.

Kiram’s civilian supporters, according to Idjirani, are in custody of four Malaysian officials.

Idjirani said a prisoner swap should be made in the presence of media as well as representatives of international humanitarian organizations.

“We will ask them (civilians holding Malaysians), we will compel them to follow the mandate of the United Nations,” he said. “I would like to emphasize that this will be done with the intercession of the Philippine government.”

He also said Malaysia’s rejection of their ceasefire offer could still be considered a “positive development” because it showed that Kuala Lumpur “is also listening to the Sultanate of Sulu.” Such gesture is no sign of weakness on the part of Malaysia, he stressed.  With Mike Frialde, Jaime Laude

“Siguro kaya di ko siya makakalimutan agad-agad dahil yung naging samahan namin sa trabaho. Naging love team kami ng sobrang tagal tapos ngayon naman okay kaming magkaibigan,” explained Mark.

Mark and Jennylyn fans also know about their roller-coaster romance which ended after almost two years. The two have worked in different TV and movie projects like “Paano Ba Ang Mangarap,” “Encantadia,” “Let The Love Begin” and “Ikaw Sana,” among others.

Jennylyn may be his unforgettable past, but his relationship with Ynna Asistio is his unforgettable present. He is proud that she is his longest relationship. They’ve been on for five years already.

“Unforgettable” – the TV series

To log in 10 years in showbiz is an unforgettable feat for Mark Herras. Even if his career hit some snags along the way, he still didn’t expect he’d still be active in the business to this day.

For his 10th year in showbiz, Mark, again, plays lead in the afternoon primetime drama “Unforgettable” with Kylie Padilla. A romantic comedy, Mark plays Ed, the boyfriend of Anna (Kylie) who was murdered. Anna became the immediate suspect and was then imprisoned. The untimely death of Ed made him a “wandering spirit” who vowed to clear Anna’s name for being suspected for his murder.

For the 26-year old actor, playing a ghost for the first time was awkward.

“Mahirap kasi parang nagsasalita kang mag-isa. Usually talaga pag may dialogue ako may sumasagot. May mga eksena po kami pero dahil patay na po ako hindi nila ako pinapansin. Meron pang scene na nag-uusap lahat silang pamilya pero si nila ako pinapansin. Sanay ako na may kabatuhan ako lagi. Ngayon nagbabato ako pero hindi nila ako naririnig at all,” shared Mark.

He said that his role can be likened to that played by Patrick Swaze in the movie “Ghost.” Similarly, he said that there will also come a time in the series that he would be able to let the people around him feel his presence.

“Later on sa week one namin magpapatulong na ako sa mga patay din na nakikita ko at nakikita ako kung papaano magpagalaw ng mga bagay o magparamdam sa tao,” he related.

Directed by Gina Alajar, “Unforgettable” also casts Pauleen Luna, Benjamin Alves, Chariz Solomon, Polo Ravales, Carmi Martin, Roy Alvarez, Kevin Santos, Glydel Mercado, Pancho Magno, Timmy Cruz and Phillip Salvador

Looking back, Mark is proud to have put his career back on track with consecutive TV projects. He remembered that after “Langit Sa Piling Mo,” he didn’t have a drama series for nine months. His next teleserye  was “Time of My Life,” “Pahiram na Puso” and he was part of the 3rd Season of “Luna Blanca.”

Note that following the recent misunderstanding of the couple that stemmed from Robin’s love scenes with his “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” leading lady and former girlfriend, Kris Aquino, reports have it that Mariel is gearing to have a baby soon.

The Kapamilya actor, however, dismissed the idea. “Hindi pa nga tapos (ang) honeymoon (namin). Huwag muna siya magbuntis,” Robin told Bulletin Entertainment in an interview during MEGA magazine’s MEGA Gone Digital event and 21st anniversary at the Resorts World Manila Thursday night. The Bad Boy of Philippine Movies is the magazine’s second male cover dubbed as MEGAMan.

On Feb. 21, Mariel posted a photo of a pregnancy test showing a negative result on her Instagram account. It has the caption: “No baby!!! False alarm!!! hahhaahhaha.”

The “Wowowillie” host, who’s now 28, added in a separate post, “I want to have a baby after I’m 30 years old. I want to enjoy being a wife first then mother after.”

Incidentally, Robin happened to work with another ex, Ruffa Gutierrez as they are both cover stars for the latest issue of MEGA.

Asked if Mariel could get jealous again, Robin stressed: “Hindi naman ganun kababaw ang asawa ko.”

Ruffa, who was beside Robin during the interview, butted in, “Friend ko naman si Mariel. Hindi siya ganun.”

Robin maintained that he and wife Mariel are now okay and that “hindi naman siya lagi nagseselos. Tapos na ‘yun. Ayos na kami.”

He explained, “Mahirap lang talaga kapag ang lalaki ay may reputasyon na hiwalay (sa asawa). Kaya nga minsan, kailangan dapat mong ipinaglalaban ang pag-ibig.”

Meanwhile, the action star confirmed that “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw” is about to finish its run.

“Ay talagang sandali lang ‘yun. Hindi siya talaga pangmatagalan. Kasi ‘yung mga schedule namin… Biruin mo isang taon nga ginawa ‘yan. Nag-umpisa kami February 2012, ganun talaga katagal.

“Ang naikahon lang namin ay limang linggo lang doon sa isang taon na ‘yun kasi sa schedule namin, medyo hindi magkatagpo-tagpo. Siyempre nandiyan ang reyna ng media Kris Aquino, ang ‘superstar’ na si Anne Curtis, kaya napaka-imposible (na magtagal). Gustuhin man namin, hindi kayang magkatagpo-tagpo ang mga schedule namin,” he related.

Robin added that in the span of a year, they are now on their seventh week. The ABS-CBN primetime series will reportedly end in April “or earlier,” as announced recently by Kris herself.

The undertaking increased PLDT’s bandwidth capacity by more than half, enabling 250Gbps (Gigabits per second) of seamless connection to Hong Kong.

The addition of Hong Kong completes the 7,800-kilometer ASE system which spans across Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong and links the Philippines through PLDT’s new third landing station in Daet, Camarines Norte.

The ASE system can still be expanded to other Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It also provides interconnection to other major cable systems connecting Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

PLDT partnered with Asia’s biggest telecoms firms – Japan’s NTTCom, Malaysia’s Telekom Malaysia and Singapore’s StarHub – to form the ASE consortium and invested about $55 million in the ASE project.

“Our partnership in the ASE cable system increased our network’s capacity in meeting the growing demand for bandwidth capacity with the increase of data-capable devices,” PLDT President and CEO Napoleon L. Nazareno explained.

Furthermore, “The project gives our subscribers the fastest and most reliable connections to their loved ones in Hong Kong,” he added.

The technology can be upgraded as the demand for bandwidth increases or as needed.

“The ASE project addresses the fast growing demand for bandwidth as well as network resiliency of enterprises and consumers in the country,” reiterated PLDT VP and International Network Group Head Genaro Sanchez.

Hence, “It is positioned, to support future bandwidth-intensive applications and next-generation technologies for the PLDT Group.”

Before they were shortchanged, however, 14 men snatched from Cavite jail guards and freed three convicted Chinese drug traffickers.

Four of the 14, including a barangay chairman of Trece Martires City, have been arrested by Cavite police for the “rescue” of drug dealers Li Lan Yan, alias Jackson Dy, his wife Wang Li Na and Li Tian Hu.

The three Chinese remain at large, prompting an alert by the Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Coast Guard to prevent the convicts from leaving the country.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered yesterday an investigation into the escape of the three convicts last Wednesday, including the possible liability of the jail guards.

A receipt from an LBC money transfer outlet in Imus, Cavite, found in the L-300 van used by the suspects and convicts in their getaway, led police to Rodel Cambongga, who was apprehended at a police checkpoint for driving without a license shortly after the incident.

Senior Superintendent Alexander Rafael, Cavite provincial police chief, said employees at the LBC outlet identified Cambongga as the one who sent money and got the receipt several days before the drug traffickers escaped.

Rafael said Cambongga admitted acting as the lookout when the three Chinese were snatched from their jailers.

Cambongga led police to his alleged cohorts, Emiliano Quilicol, Rene Bersales, and chairman Leovino Fontanilla of Barangay Bayan Luma in Trece Martires.

Quilicol and Bersales were nabbed at dawn on Feb. 21 when they went to Cambongga’s house to collect their payment for the caper.

The jail guards identified Quilicol and Bersales as the ones who took the guards’ service firearms, according to Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, Calabarzon police commander.

Cambongga allegedly tagged Fontanilla as their recruiter for the caper.

Upon questioning, however, the barangay captain appeared to be unaware of the criminal activities of the group with links to Ozamis City.

A raid on Fontanilla’s house yielded a caliber .45 pistol with three magazines, three hand grenades, and a 9mm automatic that police said belonged to one of the jail guards.

Police said Cambongga admitted that on Feb. 16, he and another cohort from Ozamis identified as Ariel Bondaon, alias Bokbok, visited Li Lan Yan or Jackson Dy at the Cavite provincial jail. There, the gang was promised P150,000 each if the three Chinese could be freed.

De Lima is meeting on Tuesday with officials of the National Bureau of Investigation and Chief Superintendent Federico Laciste, deputy chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon, to kick off the probe on the escape.

Laciste said that as early as August 2011, he had sent a letter to the Department of Justice, warning of a plot to spring the notorious drug traffickers from the Cavite provincial jail. The three faced life terms for drug offenses.

“We want to determine what happened and, if warranted, file charges against those found to be liable,” De Lima said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government, which has supervision over the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police, has launched its own investigation.

In 2003, lawmen had seized shabu valued at P500 million from Li Lan Yan. At the time of his arrest, he owned a shabu laboratory in Barangay Kapipisa in Tanza, Cavite, and shabu warehouses in Quezon City, Pasay and Parañaque.

He and his companions were convicted of drug charges by the Parañaque Regional Trial Court on April 29, 2009.

They were on their way to attend a court hearing on a separate drug case in Trece Martires when 14 armed men blocked their path and freed them from their four jail guards. With Edu Punay, Evelyn Macairan

Director Chris Martinez announced this via Twitter on Friday, although he did not share details on the matter.

The Far East Film Festival, on the other hand, is yet to publish the official list of participating films for its 15th edition, which will take place from April 19 to 27.

 This could be the second international festival stint for the musical.

Prior, it was announced that it would compete at the Osaka Asian Film Festival to be held in Japan next month.

At this year’s PMPC Star Awards for Movies,  “I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila” is nominated for Movie of the Year. It also garnered several other nominations for its cast and crew including Movie Director of the Year (Chris Martinez), Movie Supporting Actor of the Year and New Movie Actor of the Year (Neil Coleta), New Movie Actress of the Year (Tippy Dos Santos), Movie Screenwriter of the Year (Chris Martinez), Movie Cinematographer of the Year (Larry Manda), among others.

Based on some of the most of popular tunes of veritable local pop group, Apo Hiking Society, “I Do Bidoo Bidoo: Heto nAPO Sila” has garnered favorable reviews from critics. The New York Times, for one, has described it as “exuberant.” GMA News has deemed it “enjoyable” while Yahoo! has said it is “contagious” and “uplifting.”

According to festival website, The Far East Film Festival serves as a platform for the commercial distribution of Asian films across Europe and Italy. It aims to “encourage and develop the understanding and appreciation of East Asian films amongst European and Italian audiences.”

Sultan Jamalul Kiram III of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo stressed this when asked if his men will yield to pressures from Malaysia during a press conference at the Blue Mosque in Taguig yesterday.

He was asked by the Manila Bulletin on his “final, final, final stand” on Malaysia’s pressure to let his younger brother Rajah Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the crown prince, to stand down and leave Lahad Datu, Sabah.

The crown prince and hundreds of his men, including members of the sultan’s royal security forces, occupied a village in Tanduao, Lahad Datu, more than 10 days ago.

Mounting pressures from the Malaysian and Philippine governments have not deterred the Moros from their stand to stay on in their “homeland.”

“My final, final, final stand, which does not only come from me, but from those who are there (Sabah), they said, do or die,” Kiram III said.

Sultan Bantilan Kiram, another younger brother of the sultan, echoed his sibling’s statements about the group’s determination not to withdraw.

Kiram III said his brother and his companions are in their homeland, so why should they leave.

He said that he made it clear to his followers who have guns to point them toward the ground to that they did not go there to provoke violence.

Sultan Bantilan Kiram said they are going to hold a consultation shortly with other members of ruling family to discuss more urgent matters regarding the issue.

Madam Hadja Celia Kiram III said the next step is to bring the Sulu sultanate’s Sabah claim to the international community – the United Nations or the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Also in the press conference were Almarin Tillah, former governor of Tawi-Tawi and policy adviser of Sultan Esmail Kiram; Dr. Abdurahman Amin, who is with the convenors of the Friday consultation at the Blue Mosque.

Amin read the convenors’ three-page statement, saying the Muslim communities in Metro Manila, in Luzon, and in Mindanao were hurt by Malacañang’s stand on the Sabah standoff.

While the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III “is too proud” of its good governance policy, it is “complacent to the sentiments of the constituency as if they are not part of the Philippines,” the convenors said.

They accused the administration of taking Malaysia’s side and made “wild allegations” about sabotaging the government negotiation with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

On the other hand, Madam Kiram III said the royal family is thankful to the President for forming a group to look deeply into the Sabah claim of the sultanate.

She confirmed that Aquino had already sent emissaries to the family to discuss the crisis.

The convenors’ statement also called attention to the administration for what they described as “chilling effect” on the Moro tribes living in Sabah, such as Tausug, Sama, Badjao, Yakan, and Mapun, who have become Malaysian citizens as well as those “economic” refugees on the island.

They called for restraint from the sultanate and Malaysia, saying the entire Muslim community in the Philippines are “deeply concerned.”

“We are calling for ‘direct dialogue’ between the opposing sides without prior conditions” to be held in a neutral ground.

They also urged the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Indonesia’s Muhammadiyah, “to intervene peacefully and find a win-win solution that shall be sustainable.”

MNLF Seeks UN Help

As this developed, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) appealed to the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Sabah to prevent bloodshed.

News reports had it that Malaysia had handed down a Feb. 22 deadline for the men of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo to stand down and leave.

Malaysian security forces have also imposed a food embargo on the Moros from Mindanao, cutting off their food supply since Wednesday.

As the high-tension drama continues to unravel, MNLF Central Committee Chairman and founder Prof. Dr. Nur P. Misuari convened “over 2,000 (MNLF) leaders” from around the country at the “MNLF Leadership Meeting” last Feb. 21.

After the meeting the participants issued Resolutions Nos. 01, 02, 03.

Prof. Mashur Ghalib bin Jundam, who chairs the MNLF’s education committee, sent copies of the documents to the Manila Bulletin.

Jundam, a close ally of Misuari, said “Maas” (an endearing term meaning “Old Man” for Misuari) conducted the meeting to discuss and address issues and concerns facing the Bangsamoro people.

He said the first resolution is called “Resolution on the Sabah Stand-off between the Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and the Malaysian Armed Forces.”

In the document, the MNLF leaders expressed a series of appeals to the United Nations, Malaysian government, and the Malaysian prime minister.

At the same time, the participants called on the Malaysian government to settle the Sabah “problem in a fraternal way” to prevent hostility and bloodshed.

Another appeal was also issued to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak of Malaysia, asking him to deal with the problem calmly and insure full respect for the human rights.

Meanwhile, talks involving the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu are now underway in hopes of putting a peaceful resolution to the ongoing standoff in the state of Borneo, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario revealed.

The standoff is now on its second week after group of Filipinos claiming ties with the Royal Army of Sulu arrived in the town of Lahad Datu in Sabah (formerly Borneo) last February 12 to reclaim their ancestral territory. (With a report from Ellson A. Quismorio)

The examination was held in Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Laoag, Legazpi, Lucena, Nueva Ecija, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga last December.

Topnotcher Glicyl Alvero got a grade of 85.80 percent, followed by Phyllis Glee Guting of Mountain View College, Alfa Cresia Nilo of Saint Mary’s University and Billy Rabago of New Era University, who all got a score of 85.40 percent.

Father Saturnino Urios University graduate Margeaux Jen Samonte ranked third with a grade of 85.20 percent, followed by Regalado Aguhayon of Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Mary Grace Daguman of Christ the King of Calbayog, Ralph de los Santos of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Danthea Ivy Fuente of University of Iloilo and Jethro Rivera also of PLM with a score of 85 percent.

San Pedro College-Davao City graduate Airen Belarmino garnered a score of 84.80 percent. Maricar Miras, College of Maasin, Jan Francine Pernito of San Agustin-Bacolod City and Fritz Sustino of San Pedro College-Davao City came in fifth.

Sixth placers were Cybel Banaag of Manila Tytana Colleges Inc., Rhojoesa Bingayen of Northern Christian College, Mary Rose Carumba of Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod City, Elizer Montemayor of PLM, Joy Ann Villanueva of First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities and Jacklyn Yao of PLM, who all got a grade of 84.60 percent.

Manila Adventist Medical Center and School of Medical Arts Inc. graduate Wilma Cleo Dapog, Paola Gracielle Perucho of PLM, Nikki Ann Portiz of Pilar College, John Christopher Sanchez of Southern Luzon State University and Ma. Ella Muriel Valdevieso of Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology placed seventh with a grade of 84.40 percent.

In eighth place are Debbie Marie Bais of Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, Ireka Marie Ballano of Central Philippine University, Johmaima Ruby Bulan of Saint Paul University-Tuguegarao, Agatha Christie Cabrera of San Beda College, Mary Cris Davo of Saint Anthony’s College-Antique, Maria Lourdes Isabelle Fernandez of San Pedro College-Davao City, Kristiana Gomez of St. Dominic College of Asia, Jinky Guilonsod of San Pedro College, Hazel Blanche Lara of Central Philippine University, Guinevere Las-Ang of PLT College Inc., Christine Lua of San Pedro College-Davao City, Neyza Frances Mangahas of Saint Paul University-Tuguegarao, Shiela Marie Mirabuna of Bicol University, Sharimayne Edelweiss Natividad of Mountain View College,  Mary Grace Ramiso of Mountain View College, Verna Joycee Rima of Bicol University, Herman Suresca Jr. of Central Philippine University and Ysabel Marie Zubiri of Xavier University, who all obtained a score of 85.20 percent.

Tenth placers were Monique Gabrielle Aala of PLM, Louise Valerie Abano of University of Negros Occidental, Farrah Adap, of Xavier University, Aileen Ajeas of Father Saturnino Urios University, Mae Therese Alabot of University of San Agustin, Jobelle Marie Balisi of Saint Paul University Tuguegarao, Aubrey Rose Bejar of Saint Jude College, Maria Angelica Capanay of Medical College of Northern Philippines, Grazalle Cawaling of Colegio San Agustin, Jenny Espia of Central Philippine University, Ma. Ellen Gabrido of West Negros College, Kaitleen Garingo of Saint Mary’s University, Alvin John Gustilo of Central Philippine University, Kenneth Jun Logrono of Xavier University, Katrina Gracia Mangubat of Xavier University, Christine Orozco of PLM, Cathy Ranuja of Father Saturnino Urios University and Nerry Cleofe Veimen of Palawan Polytechnic College, who all got a score of 83.80 percent.

The Department of Labor and Employment earlier reported that a number of nursing schools are closing down this year as they obtained a low passing rate in the licensure examination.