Morales Knocked-out by Pacquiao

Pacquiao was simply devastating in dealing Erik Morales of Mexico a savage third-round knockout before a record-setting crowd of 18,276 at the Thomas and Mack Center.

With Philippine flags, banners and streamers being displayed by countless die-hard Pacquiao fans, the Filipino gunner got the job done with three seconds remaining before the end of the third round with Morales unable to beat the count of referee Vic Drakulich.

"I was faster and bigger than him. I could tell in the second round that he was surprised with my right hook so I kept on throwing it," said Pacquiao, 27, minutes after scoring his 43rd victory in 48 fights.

"I was prepared to fight the best of Morales. And that’s how I trained with Freddie Roach," said Pacquiao.

Morales admitted Pacquiao was too much to handle.

"He is too fast and strong. It wasn’t my night," said Morales, 30, who was a heavy underdog in the scheduled 12-rounder.

"For the first time in my career, I felt the power of my opponent. Maybe it’s getting to that time," Morales said.

Trembling Saddam Hussein in Courtroom

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad on Sunday sentenced a combative Saddam Hussein and two other defendants to death by hanging for a brutal crackdown in 1982 in the Shiite town of Dujail.

Despite a curfew, Iraqis in Baghdad spilled out into the streets to celebrate the verdict. But protests were held in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit.

The case will be automatically appealed to the Appellate Chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal. The defense has 30 days to file any motions. (Full story)

The appeals process was likely to take three to four weeks once the formal paperwork was submitted, a court official told The Associated Press.

However, there is no limit to how long the appeals process can take.

If the Appellate Chamber upholds the conviction and sentence, Hussein must be executed within 30 days.

"The Saddam Hussein era is in the past now, as was the era of Hitler and Mussolini," said Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, calling Hussein the worst ruler ever in Iraq.

"We want an Iraq where all Iraqis are equal before the law," he said. "The policy of discrimination and persecution is over."

Barhim Salih, the Kurdish deputy prime minister of Iraq, called this a "historic day."

Many Iraqis wanted "swift" and "summary" justice, Salih told CNN, but Iraq "abided by the legality of the process."

Cause-oriented Groups against Charter Change - By Aubrey Makilan

The Black & White Movement lauds the Supreme Court for strengthening our faith in the rule of law by junking Sigaw ng Bayan’s petition regarding a People’s Initiative. The majority opinion confirmed our longstanding charge that the Lambino petition is a bogus people's initiative of which the people were never apprised.

Enteng Romano, B&W lead convenor was elated, saying, “We commend the Court for this momentous decision, most especially the women Justices of the Supreme Court, whose dedication to the preservation of the Court’s independence of thought and judgment led the way to agree on an informed and rightful ruling.”

B&W convenor, Atty. Edwin Lacierda says, “The people were never made to read the proposed changes to the 1987 Constitution when asked to sign the petition. The Court was right, this endeavor was never a people's initiative from the get go.”

But the war is far from won, much work is left to be done. This renewed confidence in the third bastion of government should be viewed with restrained joy, as the decision was far from unanimous.

All Saints Day in the Philippines

By E.T. SUAREZ - Manila Bulletin

The exodus to the provinces starts today for millions of commuters desiring to observe All Saints’ Day on Wednesday, Nov. 1, and on All Souls’ Day on Thursday, Nov. 2, in line with strong religious tradition of the country’s predominantly Catholic population to visit the graves of their dead relatives and loved ones and pray for the eternal repose of their souls.

Although only Nov. 1 was declared official nonworking holiday by Malacañang, commuters, mostly government and private sector workers, are expected to troop today to various bus terminals, airports and ports for the long trip to the provinces in time for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Many government and private workers have reportedly made arrangements with their employers so they won’t have to report to work on Oct. 30 and 31 as well as on Nov. 2 and miss the religious tradition of remembering and praying for the souls of their dead relatives.

Various government agencies, particularly the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units, set up respective programs to assist motorists and commuters trooping to the provinces for the religious tradition.

MALACAÑANG yesterday suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado and 16 councilors yesterday for 60 days pending the outcome of a graft case filed against them by former vice mayor Roberto Brillante last August for allegedly hiring ghost employees.

Binay said he would not follow the "illegal order."

"They might as well kill me here but I will never run away from this fight," said Binay, who wore the jacket of a full colonel in the Marine reserves.

Thai Military Guarding Government Headquarters

BANGKOK, Thailand - In the dead of night and without firing a shot, Thailand’s military overthrew popularly elected Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday amid mounting criticism that he had undermined democracy.

The sudden, well-orchestrated coup — the first in 15 years and a throwback to an unsettled era in Thailand — was likely to spark both enthusiasm and criticism at home and abroad. The military said it would soon return power to a democratic government but did not say when.

Striking when Thaksin was in New York at the U.N. General Assembly, army commander Gen. Sondhi Boonyaratkalin sent tanks and troops into the drizzly, nighttime streets of Bangkok. The military ringed Thaksin’s offices, seized control of television stations and declared a provisional authority loyal to the king.

Overseas Foreign Workers Sharing Light Moments with the President

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) national chairperson Loida Nicolas-Lewis said Filipinos who are dual citizens should be represented in a unicameral parliament to address the needs of the Filipino global community.

NaFFAA is advocating a representation of the Filipino global community in the legislative assembly to uphold the rights of Filipinos holding dual citizenships.

In a press conference in Makati City, Lewis said about eight million Filipinos are working abroad and are helping boost the fiscal status of the Philippines through remittances.

She stressed: "We want to be the voice in the government of Filipino-Americans and other Filipinos who have acquired citizenship in other countries since we know how to address the needs of this sector."