Arroyo Approves retirement of Bangit

MANILA, Philippines – Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Delfin Bangit will retire from the military effective Tuesday.

President Macapagal-Arroyo approved on Monday Bangit’s request for early retirement from the service, her spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said.

"As recommended by the AFP Board of Generals, the President has designated Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as Acting Chief of Staff after Gen. Bangit retires,'' Saludo said in a text message to reporters.

Bangit filed for early retirement last week after President-elect Benigno "Noynoy'' Aquino III made it very clear he did not wish to have him as his AFP chief.

The AFP chief had asked for his retirement to take effect on June 22 or ahead of his benefactor, Ms Arroyo, who steps down from power at noon of June 30.

Aquino and his camp had questioned earlier the appointment of Bangit which was made by Ms Arroyo on March 9, or a day before the ban on appointments.

Congress failed to act on the ad interim appointment of Bangit when it closed last month.

Bangit was supposed to retire in July next year.

partners cup badminton gets going

OVER 200 PLAYERS WILL SLUG IT OUT FOR top honors and cash prizes in the seventh Partners Cup Invitational Badminton tournament which gets under way June 12 at the Yonex Badminton courts at the Liberty Center in Mandaluyong City.

The event, held to promote fitness and health and at the same time foster camaraderie among the management and staff members of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) and its business partners, will use the 21-point rally system.

Cash prizes and fabulous items will be up for grabs in various divisions, including Class Elite, and Classes A, B, C, D and E.

Highlighting the one-day tournament is the simultaneous staging of the FDG Cup, held in honor of Frederick Go, president of Robinsons Land, which features two foreign players from Taiwan going up against some of the country’s top shuttlers, headed by veteran internationalist Kennevic Asuncion.

Also invited to the event are some of the leading varsity players from various colleges and universities.