2 THE BIG NEWS Mayor’s bodyguards not armed By Jade C. Zaldivar n But DCPO director
disagrees
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AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio proved enthusiastic in following her orders for a gun ban, saying her own bodyguards do not carry firearms. Duterte-Carpio said this in answer to whether her escorts have applied for an exception from the gun ban which is effective until March 31. “Wala sila nagdala ug baril (They’re not carrying guns)” Duterte-Carpio said in an interview March 9 during the city’s Athletes Appreciation Night held at Garden Oasis. The city mayor downplayed her position, saying she does not feel there’s a threat to her life.
“Wala may interesado sa akoa. Kinsa may interesado sa akoa? (No one’s interested in me. Who’s interested in me?)” Duterte-Carpio said. The Philippine National Police (PNP) approved the City Peace and Order Council’s (CPOC) resolution dated February 28 requesting PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to declare a month-long gun ban in Davao City as a security measure during the celebrations of the 75th Araw ng Dabaw. The reply approving the gun ban declaration was received March 7 by the local government. Cop chief disagrees Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, however, did not share the same opinion as the city chief executive.
Dela Rosa said he respects the mayor’s decision regarding her unarmed bodyguards, but would rather have it otherwise. “I’d rather that nga naa silay baril. Siya gud ang mayor sa Davao. Unsay pagdepensa sa iyang mga tao kung walay baril. Pero kung mao na iyang gusto wala koy mahimo,” dela Rosa said in an interview March 10 at the Philippine Women’s College where he escorted PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome. Asked if he’s willing to give the Mayor an unsolicited advice, dela Rosa said he would. “Dapat magdala ug armas iyang mga body guards. Mao akong advice (Her bodyguards should arm themselves. That’s my unsolicited advice)” dela Rosa said.
Also a factor is some 16,000 Filipinos living in Singapore, which encourages visits from family and friends. Overall, Singapore found 13.2 million tourists who spent over USD 22 million in tourism receipts. ”This is an indication that Filipinos enjoy Singapore because they keep coming back,” Chan told reporters at a recent briefing. Chan and tourism players in Singapore held a media briefing to announce new tourism developments in 2012 and to entice Filipinos looking forward to summer break with their tourist attractions. Among the must-sees in Singapore are the integrated resorts Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, which Chan said has changed the landscape of the island state. At the Sands, Chan said
the 150-meter infinity pool at the top of the three towers, the new Louis Vuitton Island and the Art Science Museum should be worthwhile sights. At the Resorts World, the Universal Studios began its Hollywood Parade and opened its Transformers ride last December. She said that new hotels are being put up around Singapore, which range from P1,925 to P13,200 to suit all budgets. Chan said their busy events calendar makes for an interesting visit to Singapore, with the production of the play Wicked scheduled to run until April, the World Gourmet Summit, Great Singapore Sale, Asia Fashion Exchange, Singapore Food Festival, National Day festivities, Formula 1 Grand Prix and cultural festivals spread out through the year. [PNA]
Filipinos among top visitors to Singapore: Tourism board
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ILIPINOS ranked sixth in the number of tourists who visited Singapore last year, figures from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) showed. With the country’s economy faring better than other countries, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) Philippines and Brunei area director Sherina Chan said it was no surprise that Filipinos are also the third largest growing tourist market for Singapore, after China and Taiwan. STB reported 678,000 Filipino visitors to Singapore last year, up 24 percent from the 544,000 who visited in 2010. Aside from positive economic sentiments in the Philippines, Chan also credited the increasing number of flights between the Philippines and Singapore, especially by low-cost carriers.
CHARITY. Members of the Notre Dame Alumni Association of Davao Inc. headed by Philippine Airlines vice president for sales in Mindanao Domingo Duerme
It figures
P2trillion
EXPECTED value of the country’s exports this year, according to a positive forecast of the Manila unit of the global lender HSBC. The bank anticipates exports to grow by 5 percent to around $48 billion (P2.055 trillion).
share their blessings by donating goods and financial support to the Co Su Gian Home for the Aged in Davao on Friday. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]
VOL.5 ISSUE 6 • MARCH 11-12, 2012
EDGEDAVAO
Rody cold to airport autonomy
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ICE Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is pessimistic of the Davao International Airport (DIA) being granted its own autonomous body. When it was pointed out that Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) are governed by authorities separate from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the vice mayor said he doubts if the DIA can stand on its own. “We cannot afford it, much as we would like to. We cannot, cannot afford it,” Duterte said during the recent live airing of Ato ni Bay at the City Council conference room. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) was created through Republic Act No. 6958 in 1990, while Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), which oversees the NAIA, was created through Executive Order No. 778, series of 1982. Both MCIAA and the MIAA are attached agencies of Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Duterte said that “it is not easy to maintain a structure such as an airport.” “Walay tay enough traffic ug cargo,” Duterte said, specifically citing the DIA’s source of income from terminal fees, accommodation of cargo and landing fee. When informed that the DIA earns P400 million annually according to the Regionbal Development Council (RDC), the vice mayor expressed his doubt. “It is all talk. Dili na kaabot. Storya lang na,” Duterte said. Meanwhile, City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she would look into the possibility of the DIA getting an autonomy. Duterte-Carpio said she favors the idea of giving DIA its own governing body but pointed out that because the process involves legislation, the mayor said she would be requesting the City Council to endorse a resolution to the House of Representatives. “I will ask the (City Council) Committee of Finance if they can come up with an endorsement to the Congress,” she said. [JAde C.
PEACE. The country’s crime rate dropped by 23 percent in 2011 compared to stats in 2010 according to Philippine National Police chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome who made a quick visit in the city as a guest speaker to the Rotary International 2012 District Conference being a rotarian himself. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]
Groups want PNoy to promulgate new mining policy
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network of churchbased groups and non-government organizations has called on President Benigno Aquino III to “promulgate a new mining policy now,” even as they also rebuffed the responsible mining mantra of largescale mining corporations. The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) issued the statement in anticipation of a new mining policy that would be issued by the administration anytime this month. PMPI pointed out that responsible mining is not possible in the present context due to regulatory capture, foreign ownership of mineral extraction, gross disregard for the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) for the indigenous peoples, unchecked environmental crimes and disrespect for the socio-economic, cultural and political rights of mining-affected communities, among others. Fr. Edwin Gariguez, PMPI
Quips
co-convenor and executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (CBCPNASSA), said there is a need for greater accountability of mining corporations and access to justice by victims of corporate abuses. Gariguez said “the respect, protect and remedy framework of the UN principle on business and human rights, to which the Philippine Government was one of the signatories, is very clear on this.” PMPI, a network of 284 NGOs, people’s organizations and Church groups in the Philippines, also called on Aquino to rethink the current mining policy, which it has inherited from the previous administration that aggressively promoted mining as a key economic driver. [KeIth BACONGCO / MINdANewS]
‘HE’S a man reared up in an environment of hostility and adverse condition so we will see. It’s not a matter of me wanting him to testify or not.’ --Former Justice Serafin Cuevas, lead defense counsel of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
ZALdIvAR]
P21billion P8.5billion P1.3 billion $198million 11.2percent NET income in 2011 of SM Investments Corp., he listed holding company of billionaire Henry Sy, showing an increase 15 percent. SMI said revenues during the period rose 13 percent to P200.7 billion.
NET income in 2011 posted by Petron Corp.,one of the country’s refiners. The company’s net income grew by about 8 percent to P8.5 billion last year from P7.9 billion in 2010.
AMOUNT set aside by the government for clothing or uniform allowance of government employees this year. Each employee will now receive P5,000, compared to just P4,000 last year.
AMOUNT that Japanese carmaker Nissan said it investing to build the new Invitation compact car at its British factory. “If you have a competitive currency, if you have a good production system and you have the right selection of cars, yes, you can produce in Europe, said Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn.
THE rate of increase in China’s defense spending in 2012, compared to its budget last year. This is the latest in a nearly two-decade string of double-digit increase. This is perceived to be China’s reaction to moves of the Obama administration to increase US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.