The Standard - 2015 May 09 - Saturday

VOL. XXIX  NO. 81  2 Sections  24 Pages  P18  SATURDAY, MAY 9, 2015  www.manilastandardtoday.com  editorial@thestandard.com.ph

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‘Dodong’ gaining strength

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Comelec’s Abas is Iqbal kin

TALIBAN KILL PH, NORWAY ENVOYS Page 3

Mother’s Day. Mothers breastfeed their newborn babies at the Fabella Hospital in Manila on May 8, ahead of Mother’s Day which will be celebrated on May 10. AFP

Ang: SMC may sell beer unit

Betting on real estate, gambling

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Marcos balks, says BBL may miss deadline

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

In support of the BBL. Hundreds of balloons are released by the family members and supporters of the Royal House of the Sultanate of Buayan Darussalam, Sultanate of Kabuntalan Darussalam, Sultanate of Barongis Darussalam, and Sultanate of Madanding in support of the passage of the original version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The event was held at the Grand Mosque in Kalanganan, Cotabato City. MARk NAVALeS

I’m Iqbal’s nephew, Sheriff Abas admits

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan NEWLY appointed elections commissioner Sheriff Abas has admitted he is the nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal, also known as Datukan Abas, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista confirmed Friday.

In an interview with radio dzMM, Bautista said Abas himself made the admission when he showed up at the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila on Wednesday evening to explain that he could not yet fully assume his duties at the poll body because he was attending to documentary requirements.

“He told me, yes. They’re related. He is a nephew,” Bautista said, adding that he himself did not know Abas before he was appointed to the position and that he only knew that Abas was a lawyer from Ateneo de Davao University and he was currently with the Civil Service Commission in Cotabato City.

Iqbal was evasive when was asked of his relationship with the new Comelec commissioner.

“In my view, it’s not an issue whether he is my nephew,’’ Iqbal told reporters at the House of Representatives. ‘’I don’t want to answer that because it would lead to something. Pardon me for not answering questions regarding this.”

But a co-convenor of the Citizens for Clean and Credible Elections, Melchor Magdamo, on Friday rejected the appointment of Abas, saying the decision of President Benigno Aquino III was “unethical.”

In an interview, Magdamo said he believed that the appointment of Iqbal’s nephew to

the Comeelc was in preparation of the plebiscite to be held soon on the Bangsamoro.

“Since a nephew occupies a key position in Comelec which will count the votes, then that is unethical,” Magdamo said.

He said Abas’ appointment could also give the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party an edge as a regional party running for Congress in 2016.

Because of this, he said, Abas should inhibit himself from deliberations on who are qualified to be political parties or party-list groups.

“He must inhibit himself on all questions involving MILF,” he added.

Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions and C3E co-convenor Eleuterio Tuazon said Aquino was now under pressure from his allies to appoint friendly faces to the Comelec.

He said Bautista was a close ally of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, while newly appointed commissioner Rowena Guanzon was allied with Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II. He said Roxas, who intends to run for president in 2016, clearly wanted control of the Comelec.

National Labor Union President Dave Diwa disagreed with Magdamo and Tuazon, however, saying the appointments were “a whiff of fresh air copared to the foul smelling [retired Comelec comissioner Sixto] Brillantes-led Comelec.”

Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, a former mutineer, said Malacañang should explain why it appointed Abas.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III said Abas’ lack of experience, not his relation to Iqbal, was the problem.

“His being a nephew of MILF chair [Iqbal] is no cause for concern, but his lack of knowledge and experience of elections laws and procedures are,” Bello said.

On Friday, the MILF filed its petition to participate in the 2016 national and local

elections, and expressed its intent to run as a regional political party.

IIn its petition for the registration and accreditation as a regional political party, the MILF’s United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) said it would like to legitimize the cause of Bangsamoro people and recognize the democratic process by registering with the Comelec.

“The creation of a political party would allow the Bangsamoro to participate in a democratic and peaceful process to advance their legitimate causes,” UBJP president Yesser Ebrahim, who signed the petition filed before the Comelec, said.

“Political exclusion has been one of the causes of the Mindanao conflict that stymied the progress and development, not only of the Bangsamoro but also of the Philippines,” Ebrahim said in the petition.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the petition showed that there was a “very obvious... effort [on the part of the MILF] to go mainstream” and to choose ballots rather than bullets.

He said any organizations opposed to the UBJP should file a petition contesting its application.

“If there are those that are against it, they should come forward,” Jimenez said.

The Omnibus Election Code says “any organized group of persons seeking registration as a national or regional political party may file with the commission a verified petition attaching its constitution and by-laws, platform or program of government and such other relevant information as may be required by the Commission”.

However, “no religious sect or a political party that seeks to achieve its goal through violence shall be entitled to accreditation as a political party.”

The MILF filing comes amid the appointment of Iqbal’s nephew, Abas, as an elections commissioner.

SENATOR Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday he is unsure if his committee will be able to submit an amended version of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before the end of the regular session of Congress on June 11, as Senate President Franklin Drilon wants.

Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on local government, has scheduled hearings on the BBL in Jolo, Sulu and Zamboanga City on May 13 and 14.

Drilon had earlier said he expects the committee to wrap up its hearings in the next two weeks, so that the Senate as a whole can begin debates on the Palaceproposed bill to create a new autonomous entity in Mindanao called the Bangsamoro.

But Marcos said it was more important that his committee submit an improved and amended version of the law, rather than to hew to the Palace timetable.

“Our decision is we will do everything.

We will not rush. What is more important is to come out with a right version rather than meet the deadline,” Marcos said.

He added that the timetale of the legislative process would depend on how the plenary debates go.

“The question there is what will happen at the plenary level? Although we finish it before June, if the debates are long, that will determine exactly when we would finish.”

Hearings on the BBL resumed May 5, when the committee discussed the findings of the Palace-supported Peace Council.

The Council, created upon President Benigno Aquino III’s suggestion, said the BBL needed “refinement and fine tuning” but described the draft law as a way to correct injustices of the past.

The BBL stalled in Congress after the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident in which 44 police commandos were killed by Muslim rebels, including those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which the government is in peace talks.

In the House, an opposition leader said congressional leaders were uncertain if they had enough lawmakers to secure approval of the BBL. House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares expressed hope that House members would vote on the BBL based on their conscience and merits of the bill, and not because of the Palace’s influence over them.

The 75-man ad hoc committee, chaired

by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, is scheduled to vote on House Bill 4994, or the measure that seeks to create a Bangsamoro autonomous region, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao next week.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. earlier said that the House would only pass a version of the BBL that is compliant to the Constitution.

“We do not want to be a party to a legally flawed measure,” Belmonte said.

Colmenares also said he is hopeful Malacanang will leave lawmakers alone and not intervene in the deliberation and voting of the BBL. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio said Malacanang and other peace advocates should be prepared to see amendments to the BBL, noting what the Palace wants for Congress is to approve the measure as is.

1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III dismissed fears that the peace process would end if the BBL is not passed.

Bello, a House deputy minority leader, said the fate of the BBL would not affect the peace agreement.

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PH envoy dies in Taliban attack GILGIT, Pakistan—A Pakistani military helicopter crashed Friday, killing six people including the Norwegian and Philippine envoys, with the Taliban claiming they downed it as part of a plot to kill Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Pakistani Taliban’s spokesman said the group had struck the aircraft with a ground-to-air missile hoping to assassinate Sharif— who officials said had been travelling to the same region in a plane.

“A special group of Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan had prepared a special plan to target Nawaz Sharif during his visit but he survived because he was travelling in another helicopter,” militant spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said.

It was not immediately possible to verify the Taliban claim and the northern region where the chopper came down, Gilgit-Baltistan, is not known as a stronghold of the militant organization.

The ministry of defense said it was investigating what caused the crash, in which the helicopter fell onto a school and set the building ablaze. Officials clarified the school was shut at the time.

The helicopter was one of three carrying a delegation of ambassadors to inspect projects on a three-day trip to GilgitBaltistan where they were set to meet with Sharif.

A statement by Sharif ’s office had said he was on a plane – not helicopter – en route to the Gilgit area at the time of the incident, but turned back to Islamabad after news of the crash broke.

He was set to inaugurate a chair-lift at a ski resort, one of the region’s top administrative officials told AFP. Leif H. Larsen, the Norwegian envoy, and Domingo D. Lucenario Jr of the Philippines were killed along with the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors, as well as the helicopter’s two pilots, according to official tweets by the army.

Sharif “expressed deep grief and sorrow” and announced a day of mourning, according to his office.

Polish ambassador Andrzej Ananiczolish and Dutch ambassador Marcel de Vink were also injured, the army said.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Vink’s injury.

It was Pakistan’s worst air crash since 2012 when a Boeing 737 passenger plane went down in Islamabad, killing 130 people.

In 1988, a plane crash killed Pakistan’s then military-ruler General Zia-ul-Haq as well as the US ambassador at the time, Arnold Raphel.

A senior local administration official said the crash set the school building on fire, but that no children were in class at the time. AFP

Danger. Mount Bulusan is shown still spewing steam on Friday, prompting disaster officials to ask the residents at the foot of the volcano to leave immediately. DANNY PATA

‘Dodong’ gains strength; typhoon signal up DISASTER officials on Friday warned people against sailing in the waters off the eastern seaboard, which have been placed under storm signal No. 1 following the arrival of Typhoon “Dodong.”

The weather bureau said the danger areas were Polillo Island, Northern Samar, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.

“Moderate to rough seas are expected in those areas,” weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said.

The weather bureau said Dodong had maintained its strength while moving in a west-north-

west direction at 17 kilometers per hour.

In Bulusan, Sorsogon, hundreds of people fled their homes on the slopes of Mt. Bulusan on Friday as authorities warned of rain-driven mud flows as a result of Dodong’s approach.

Around 500 residents of farming villages around Bulusan Volcano, many of them children and elderly women, boarded Army trucks clutching sleeping mats and bags of clothes as Dodong bore down on the area.

“I have no choice but to evacuate. I may not be strong enough to outrun the mud

flows, 66-year-old housewife Dolores Guela said.

Officials said she and her meningitis-stricken nine-year-old granddaughter would be among the about 1,000 people taken to temporary shelters to wait out the wrath of Dodong, which was forecast to bring heavy rain in the region from late Friday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said winds of 30 to 60 kilometers per hour could be expected from Dodong in 36 hours. Such winds could damage houses made of very light materials.

Weathermen said Dodong was packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

“The estimated rainfall amount is from heavy to intense within the typhoon’s 300-kilometer diameter,” the weather bureau said.

The agency said it was not discounting the possibility of eventually raising storm signal No. 1 over Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Rizal, Quezon and Nueva Ecija as Dodong moved closer to Eastern Luzon. It said Dodong would likely be 250 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, by Saturday morning. PNA and AFP

Hanoi ramps up reclamation

No to K-12. Against the Women urge the immediate

suspension of the K-12 Program before the school year starts in a signature campaign in San Andres, Manila, on Friday.

LiNo SANToS

HANOI – Vietnam has carried out significant land reclamation at two sites in disputed South China Sea waters, recent satellite pictures show, but analysts say the scale of the work is dwarfed by that of China.

The images, taken late last month

by DigitalGlobe and shown on the website of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), show land expansions at Sand Cay and West London Reef, both part of the Spratly Islands.

“Between August 2011 and February 2015 significant upgrades were made to (Sand Cay),” CSIS said, noting the island’s land mass had expanded from 41,690 to 62,970 square meters.

Vietnam also appears to have added “defensive structures,” including trenches and gun emplacements, it said.

At West Reef—which is part of the London Reefs group of western Spratly Islands—some 65,000 meters of land have been reclaimed with new structures, including a harbour, being

added, it said.

The work appears to have begun in August 2012, CSIS said, long before Beijing launched a flurry of reclamation projects last year.

The Spratlys are considered a potential Asian flashpoint, and the United States and claimant nations have expressed alarm as China has embarked on massive and speedy reclamation activity.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, locking it into disputes with several Southeast Asian neighbours.

Its claims overlap those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China has undertaken major reclamation work on seven Spratly features in the last year.

“Chinese activity is clearly on an entirely different scale,” said Vietnam expert Jonathan London of Hong Kong’s City University.

“Vietnam appears to be now trying to strengthen its position with added urgency,” London said. AFP

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Aquino begins Canada state visit

By Sandy Araneta PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III arrived in Canada for a three-day state visit and met with Canada Governor-General David Johnston, who expressed interest in the possible participation of Canadian companies in public-private partnerships.

“President Aquino and Governor General Johnston held a cordial meeting at Rideau Hall (May 8).

Governor-General Johnston expressed admiration on the great strides made by the Aquino administration in terms of placing the Philippine economy on a high growth trajectory,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. “President Aquino said that good governance and pursuing the righteous path were largely instrumental in enabling the Philippines to achieve a turn-around,” said Coloma.

The Governor General also expressed interest in the further development of the Philippines as a center for off-shoring of communication services and for business process outsourcing.

Aquino thanked the Canadian people through the Governor-General for their significant assistance during the aftermath of super-typhoon Haiyan and cited Canada’s contribution to the advancement of the peace process in Mindanao.

Aquino lauded Canada’s National Research Council for its scientific and technological breakthroughs including those in acoustics and sound technology, that he himself has seen being a music-oriented person.

State visit. President Benigno S. Aquino III exchanges pleasantries with Canadian officials at the Tent Room of the Rideau Hall during the dinner reception for his state visit. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

MJ recruiters dispute raps

By Rey E. Requejo

THE camp of alleged recruiters of Mary Jane Veloso denied on Friday that they had executed a confession that they were part of an international drug syndicate.

Senior public attorney Howard Areza disputed the claim of Department of Justice prosecutors that his clients – Ma. Kristina Sergio and her livein partner Julius Lacanilao – made the confession after surrendering to the authorities last week.

“They don’t have such confession. We don’t know why it was included in the resolution and where they got that,” Areza said, when interviewed after the preliminary investigation hearing at the DOJ. The public lawyer stressed that Sergio and Lacanilao executed no confession, which DOJ Prosecutor Mark Roland Estepa cited as the supposed basis in recommending their indictment for illegal recruitment.

“There was no confession. If they have it, they should have released it and it should have been

attached to the complaint. But there’s none,” the lawyer from Public Attorneys Office said.

Areza added that if Sergio and Lacanilao indeed made the confession during tactical interrogation, it would be invalid since there was no presence of a lawyer as required by law.

According to him, they are considering legal actions on this issue, which arose from the warrantless arrest of his clients and the inquest proceedings conducted against them.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima earlier revealed that authorities gathered information that Sergio was once a drug courier herself before becoming a recruiter and that she has possible West African drug syndicate.

She stressed the link between the cases of illegal recruitment and human trafficking against Sergio and Lacanilao here and the drug smuggling case of Veloso in Indonesia could be crucial to permanently save the latter from being executed.

In its 18-page resolution approving the indictment of Sergio and Lacanilao for largescale illegal recruitment, the investigating fiscal said the two had admitted their connection with a drug syndicate operating within and outside the Philippines.

“Respondent Sergio narrated that the drug

operations conducted by the international drug syndicate that she is connected with operated within and outside the Philippines, as she had several co-conspirators in Manila, Hong Kong and Malaysia,” the resolution stated.

The DOJ mentioned this supposed confession in the resolution pertaining to the charges of illegal recruitment, human trafficking and estafa filed by three alleged victims apart from Veloso – Lorna Valino, Ana Maries Gonzales and Jenalyn Paraiso.

The case for illegal recruitment against Sergio and Lacanilao was already filed yesterday afternoon before the Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija regional trial court. The charges for human trafficking and estafa, on the other hand, were recommended for further preliminary investigation along with similar charges of other alleged victims.

Meanwhile, one of the victims of suspected international drug courier-turned recruiter Ma. Kristina Sergio is reportedly missing after being deployed to Bahrain last April 28.

NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division chief Czar Eric Nuqui yesterday disclosed that the family and relatives of Rosalie Pascual, who was recruited by Sergio to work in Bahrain, had not yet heard of from her since she left country.

Palace names 12 new judges IN two separate transmittal letters to Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. announced that President Bengino Aquino III has signed the appointments of new judges for Quezon City, Pasay City, Manila, Las Pinas, Pasig City, La Union, Agusan Del Sur and Isabela.

“I am pleased to transmit herewith the appointment letters of the following signed by His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino III,” Ochoa said, in his letter dated May 6, 2015.

The new appointees for Quezon City include Judge Lyn C. Ebora-Cacha for Regional Trial, Branch 82, Judge Marilou D. Runes – Tamang, RTC Branch 98; Judge Mitushealla R. Manzanero-Casino, RTC Branch 228; and Judge Cleto R. Villacorta and Maria Gilda T. Loja-Pangilinan, RTC Branch 229.

In a separate transmittal letter dated April 8, 2015, new appointees are Pasig City RTC Judge Elma Mendoza Rafallo-Lingan, Pasay City RTC Judge Rowena Nieves Adena Tan, Manila RTC Judge Ana Marie Train Mas, Las Pinas RTC Judge Phoeve CAstillo Meer.

Judges appointed for provincial courts were Judge Kimal Mustapha Salacop for Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur RTC Branch 6; Judge Debbie Gamotin Dulas-Del Val for Naguillan Municipal Trial Court, La Union; Judge Norbert Bong Sabio Obedoza of MCTC Cordon-Dinapigue, Isabela.

The Judicial and Bar Council earlier recommended their appointments.

The JBC, which is constitutionally mandated to screen and vet nominees for vacant posts in the judiciary and the Offices of the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman, is headed by Chief Justice Sereno, with ex-officio members Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Retired SC Justice Angelina SandovalGutierrez is the head of the Executive Committee and Represents the Retired SC Justice Sector; Lawyer Jose Mejia representing the Academe, retired Court of Appeals Justice Aurora Santiago-Lagman representing the private sector, lawyer Milagros Fernan-Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines are the other regular members of the JBC.

No confession. Suspected illegal recruiter Ma. Cristina Sergio gets off the police vehicle

that brought her and her boyfriend Julius Lacanilao to the Department of Justice on Friday for a hearing of the charges against her. LINO SANTOS

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DOJ hit anew for pork cases

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATOR Teofisto Guingona III joined the growing number of people who have criticized Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for claiming that there is no longer any time to pursue the third batch of pork barrel scam cases against officials.

Guingona rejected the claim of De Lima and said she should just do her job and pursue the cases with the same vigor as that of the first and second batches.

“There’s still (time) up to May next year, ” Guingona said. “While she’s still there she has to do her best.”

When told De Lima is expected to file her certificate of candidacy for senator under the Liberal Party in October, Guingona said she must do the decent thing and resign.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada criticized De Lima for using the issue of the P10-billion pork barrel scam to pursue her political dream of joining the senatorial race in the 2016 elections.

“Apparently and regrettably, it would seem that Secretary de Lima just rode on the issue

and used it as publicity stunt in pursuit of her dreams of joining the Senate,” said Estrada.

Estrada said De Lima’s statements where she practically admitted to abandoning other pending cases on the pork barrel scam only proves she is really just after the Senators Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla three senators.

“Even from the start, there were only three whom she intended to malign the reputation, send to jail and destroy in their desire to weaken the opposition. And now that they got what they wanted, she’s saying it is no longer their priority to run after the other personalities who might be involved in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund ) scam,” said Estrada.

The three senators were accused of funnelling their pork barrel funds to fake non-government organizations put up by pork barrel scam brains Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for huge kickbacks.

“So what would happen now to the other legislators and to the other foundations/nongovernment organizations identified by the COA in its special audit who were also alleged to have committed irregularities and questionable transactions,” asked Estrada.

Estrada and Revilla have remained in jail at the PNP Custodian Center in Camp Crame.

Enrile is at the PNP General Hospital, also inside Camp Crame.

Estrada noted that even the investigation and prosecution of those behind the multibillion Malamapaya scam has been deliberately neglected and discarded for good.

“Why? Doesn’t the public deserve to know the truth and attain justice? Are they shelving the investigation because they are protecting the allies of the administration?” he further questioned.

De Lima earlier said she is not sure of sure about prioritizing the filing of charges against the third batch of former and current lawmakers linked to the pork barrel anomaly and the second batch of lawmakers implicated in the misuse of the P900-million Malampaya funds.

She said main issue with the third batch of pork barrel cases, being investigated by the National Bureau of Investigation, referred to the different signatures from the supposed real signatures of those involved.

On the Malampaya fund scam, De Lima said she was unable to personally monitor developments because she had more urgent cases that she was handling.

The Malampaya fund mess, intended for typhoon victims, pertains to the misuse of the proceeds from the state-owned gas field off Palawan that were diverted to the projects of elected officials.

Enduring relations. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. (left) confers, through a translator, with Speaker Ali Ardashir Larijani (right) of the Islamic Consultative Assembly during a brief visit to Tehran. Philippine-Iranian relations has endured various global challenges for over 50 years since 1964.

Power rates down in May

By Alena Mae S. Flores CONSUMERS of Manila Electric Co. will experience lower over-all power rates by P0.70 per kilowatt-hour this month due to lower generation costs from its power suppliers.

Meralco said in a statement that the electricity bill of a typical household consuming 200 kWh will go down by P140.

Meralco said generation charge decreased by P0.60 per kWh to P4.81 per kWh in May from P5.41 per kWh in April.

“The reduction was mainly driven by lower charges from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market and Independent Power Producers, as well as a reduction in the National Power Corp.’s Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism collections,” it said.

The cost of power obtained from the WESM declined by P4.19 per kWh due to less occurrences and shorter duration of power plant outages. The Luzon Grid remained on “normal” state throughout the 30-day Malampaya shutdown.

Average cost of the Independent Power Producers was lower by P0.75 per kWh due to the improved utilization level of the Quezon Power Ltd. power plant and cheaper fuel prices obtained by the First Gas plants.

Meralco said the effect of the Malampaya shutdown was moderated by lower prices of condensate and natural gas in the April supply month versus March.

UP clarifies DAP fund audit THE University of the Philippines System clarified the claim of the Commission on Audit that as much as P928 million of Disbursement Acceleration Funds that was released to the state university were not used properly.

In a statement, Dr. J. Prospero E. de Vera III, UP vice president for public affairs, said the DAP funds given to UP were efficiently used and resulted in the upgrading and improvement of university facilities and programs.

The UP received P1.29 billion in DAP funds from the Commission of Higher Education on September 13, 2012 and the funds were earmarked for infrastructure projects which would take two to three years to complete, De Vera said.

He said In the normal budgeting process, government agencies are given up to two years to obligate budgeted funds, plus additional time to complete the construction.

The COA report used in the news reports had December 31, 2013 as the cut-off date – only one year and three months from the date the university received the DAP funds.

But the 2013 COA Report, which was issued

in January 2015, did not cover the implementation of UP projects from January 2014 up to the present month.

As of 7 May 2015, the utilization of the P1.29 billion DAP funds in UP are as follows: • 44 of the 46 DAP-funded projects are either completed or undergoing various stages of completion • Two projects were discontinued because of failed bidding. These projects are the structured cabling of various National Science Complex buildings in UP Diliman (P1.8 million) and the UP Los Banos Integrated Analytical Services Laboratory building (P30 million).

• The unused funds for these two projects (P31.8 million) represent a mere 2.5% of the total DAP funds given to UP. Out of the 44 projects that have been funded, 33 projects are now 100% completed. Among the major projects completed to date are: • Renovation of dormitories (Ilang-ilang, Ipil, Sampaguita, Molave, Kamagong, Kalayaan, Sanggumay, Yakal and Kamia) in UP Diliman – P49.5 million.

Still seeking bail. Suspected

pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles arrived at the Sandiganbayan courthouse in Quezon City on Friday for a bail hearing before the anti-graft court’s Third Division which is hearing the plunder charges against her.

MANNY PALMERO

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House to look into UN report saying country remains poor

By Maricel V. Cruz

A lAwmAker has urged the House Committee on Poverty Alleviation to look into a United Nations report that ranks the Philippines as 117th among 187 countries in the world and determine why the country is still included in the list despite government claims of an improved economy.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who filed House Resolution 2010, said while the Philippines moved up one notch in the “Sustaining Human Progress, Reducing Vulnerability and Building Resilience” report, “it still ranked very low.”

In the said report, the Philippines is ranked among Egypt, Paraguay, Gabon, Bolivia, El Salvador, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Syria, and Iraq.

The country’s neighbors, Malaysia and Thailand, ranked 62nd and 89th respectively, placing

them in the “high” human development bracket. The Philippines belonged to the medium bracket.

According to Rodriguez, the report also cited the Philippines as one of the countries where the connection between social exclusion and conflict can be illustrated. “It means that these are places where a significant part of the population become vulnerable due to conflict situations such as insurgencies, rebellions or separatist movements.”

“The report states that consumption is one of the drivers of Philippine economic expansion in terms of gross national

product which slowed to 5.7 percent in 2014 compared to 6.3 and 7.7 percent in 2013,” Rodriguez added.

Rodriguez said the report pushes for wider access to basic social service like education, health care, water supply and sanitation and public safety, insurance, labor regulations, pension and welfare programs, employment, disaster risk reduction and responsive government institutions.

The report, Rodriguez said, highlights the need to promote the people’s choices and protect human development achievement.

It takes the view that vul-

nerability threatens human development.

“Unless it is systematically addressed by changing policies and social norms, progress will be neither equitable nor sustainable,” Rodriguez said citing the report.

The Un Human Development Report is an annual report that measures income, education, and life expectancy.

It includes the human development index, which measures the average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living.

Bakwit. These young girls and their families living near the Bulusan volcano carry their belongings as they are evacuated to a safer place in Irosin, Sorsogon. AFP

Pasay fire leaves 90 families homeless

By Joel E. Zurbano MORE than 90 families were left homeless when a fire of still- unknown origin razed a densely populated barangay in Pasay City early Friday morning. no one was hurt in the four-hour blaze but the fire gutted at least 50 houses, mostly built with light materials, police said.

Arson investigators said the blaze started from the house of a certain Tomas Gezmundo of Barangay 186 Lower Maricaban around 2:40 a.m. They added the fire reached fourth alarm.

Fire officials have not yet determined the cause of the blaze but residents claimed an unattended candle may have cause the fire, adding that there is no electricity in the area.

Responding firemen and volunteers coming from different stations in Pasay and cities of Makati and Paranaque City had difficulty entering the area as the streets in the barangay were narrow. They declared the fire under control before 6 a.m.

This is the fifth fire in Pasay City since January this year.

The Metro Manila Development Authority said more than 600 fires were recorded in the first two months in the national Capital Region.

“In 2013, we recorded 12, 301 fire incidents and this number increased in 2014 by 40 percent,” said MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino.

Most of the fires happened mostly due to faulty electrical lines, unattended gas lamps and cooking stoves and overheating appliances.

Boracay to host Apec senior officials’ and trade meetings

By Sandy Araneta PREPARATIOnS are in full swing for the Second AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation Senior Officials’ Meeting and Related Meetings and the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting which will be held back-to-back in Boracay, Aklan, from May 10 to 21, and May 23 to 24, respectively, said Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Charles Jose.

At Friday’s press briefing in Malacanang, Jose said the world-famous Boracay Island will play host to around 1,500 delegates from the 21 Apec economies.

“For this second round of the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM), APEC delegates will continue the discussions that began last December at the Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting in Manila, which launched the APEC 2015 theme of ‘Building Inclusive Economies, Building a Better World’, and which defined the APEC substantive agenda for the year ahead,” said Jose.

The SOM2 series of meetings begin with 37 different technical working group-level meetings that tackle trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic cooperation in the fields of Oceans and Fisher-

ies; Food Security; Science Technology and Innovation; Higher Education; Human Resource Development; Emergency Preparedness; Internet Economy; Connectivity; Economic and Technical Cooperation; S`tructural Reform; Counter-Terrorism, Telecommunication; Tourism; and Trade in Services.

These technical meetings will culminate in the Senior Officials’ Meeting proper from May 20 to 21 in which Senior Officials will review and build on working groups’ initiatives and recommendations. Senior Officials will then report to the APEC Trade Ministers at the MRT meeting from May 23 to 24.

Lechon love. Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Rep. Francisco Calalay join La Loma Lechoneros president William Chua in a press conference for the conduct of the Lechon Festival on May 17. MANNY PALMERO

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news

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Wonderful. The inaugural ceremony of Vigan as one of the New 7 Wonder Cities of the World is held at St. Paul Cathedral. CHRISTINE JUNIO

Vigan is one of New Seven Wonder Cities

By Vito Barcelo

The city of Vigan has been named one of the New Seven Wonder Cities by the New7Wonders Foundation following online voting, and has been described as “the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia.”

It joins other cities such as Beirut in Lebanon, Doha in Qatar, Durban in South Africa, Havana in Cuba, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and La Paz in Bolivia as those that “best represent the

achievements and aspirations of our global urban civilization,” according to the foundation.

Vice President Jejomar Binay, who attended the inauguration, said prosperity is not always mea-

sured by skylines or big malls but in preservation of cultural heritage.

In our quest to become strong competitors in the ASeAN and global economies, we cannot be too quick to tear down the old to build the new without serious deliberation and debate,” Binay said.

He added that “preservation is a conscious act” and that people should make an effort in preserving their culture and their environment.

“Billions of dollars have been spent in cultural preservation and

restoration. These costs would not have been incurred if peoples— past and present—had been mindful of their actions, if they had had more respect for their own and other peoples’ cultural legacies and for our own earth,” he added.

Binay also urged the people of Vigan to remain committed to preserving their culture and share their best practices to other local governments.

Binay said conservationists are now racing against time to preserve what remains of the structures.

Butuan City cops rescue girl from drugged hostage taker

By Alvin T. Guanzon BUTUAN CITY—Members of the Butuan City Police and SWAT team rescued an eight-year-old girl taken hostage in a convenience store here on Monday after subduing and arresting the 22-year-old drug-crazed hostage-taker.

Butuan City Police Director Senior Supt. Nerio Bermudo identified the suspect as Dacnel Nabua Signapan, single and resident of Purok-8, Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City.

Investigators said Signapan, who hails from Medina town in Misamis Oriental, was a former worker of DYU Agri Farm but was fired from his job after a surprise drug test among employees found him positive of illegal drugs shabu use.

At around 10:30 am on Monday,

Signapan allegedly entered a convenience store and grabbed a 10-inch knife and ordered the owner to close the store. He said somebody was following him and wants him killed.

The storeowner, businessman Danilo Abuso, called the police hotline and asked for police assistance. Policemen arrived at the scene moments later.

The incident shocked city residents here who have been alarmed and worried that government alone could no longer stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in the city and other parts of Caraga Region.

Philippine Drug enforcement Agency Director General Arturo Cacdac in a recent visit here claimed Caraga Region ranked number three in the country behind NCR and Region 7 in terms of proliferation of illegal drugs.

Sweltering. A worker harvests sugar cane under the heat of the summer sun in Bogo, Cebu City. RALPH PIEZAS

Albay province rolls out digital tourism program THe Albay provincial government recently launched its digital tourism program in partnership with Smart Communications, journalism startup InnoPub Media and several other stakeholders, rolling it out in other areas like Cebu, Iloilo and Baguo City.

The digital tourism program, the first such initiative in Luzon, seeks to harness technology to deliver tourism, cultural and historical information.

The project has several components—a mobile app and eGuide called The Albay Guide and interactive tourism markers, incorporating digital technologies.

These digital tourism services serve as handy reference and navigation guide, making for a more convenient and informative tourist experience.

All these tips and bits of information can be easily accessed through The Albay Guide mobile app and eGuide. The comprehensive travel app can be downloaded from iStore, Google Play and Windows store. Users can still access the information online but connecting to the mobile Internet will provide information updates and announcements.

Travelers can download the app even prior to the trip to Albay to help in planning out itineraries based on destinations or activities.

Visitors are provided with a curated list of Department of Tourism accredited hotels, restaurants and tour operators. Accessibility features such as direct-to-phone dial from the app allows users to easily call establishments. All locations are also integrated with Google Maps for direction assistance via the mobile phone.

The Albay provincial government will also be using the app to push for announcements regarding tourism events and activities.

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OPINION [ EDI TORI A L ]

ON THE WRONG TRACK

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has been quoted as saying that fixing the country’s ailing rail system is not one of his administration’s priorities.

Perhaps it is because Mr. Aquino himself has not taken the so-called train challenge. Last year, a few officials of the government braved public transportation for their own purposes: to gain media mileage, to gather input for an investigation, to be able to say they went ahead and did it, or to sincerely know and feel the dehumanizing inconvenience, and sometimes the danger, that ordinary Filipinos have to go through every day.

But to what ends? Nothing has changed at the Metro Rail Transit 3, aside from a few days’ shutdown during the Holy Week supposedly for the fixing of a few bolts, here and there.

Since then, the train has encountered, again and again, “technical problems.”

They say when something bad happens once or twice, it might be misfortune.

Anything more than that is a symptom of neglect.

And what utter neglect has this national leadership committed. Sure, only a percentage of the entire population takes the city trains on a regular basis. This does not make their plight any less serious. This is the capital, the flagship of the nation, the area where most Filipinos toil every day to generate output for the economy.

The repair of a section of the railway track of the Philippine National Railways also supports the President’s statement of priority. If not for an accident that injured several commuters – thankfully, nobody died – there would not have been any attempt to fix the dilapidated system.

Increasingly, the sorry state of public transport in Metro Manila is becoming a gut issue. The glitches have been happening more frequently. We understand Mr. Aquino has other things to worry about in his last year of office – hammering down a bill to hand to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front despite its being patently unconditional, for instance, or choosing the right people who can make sure he stays out of jail after he steps down from office. Worse, given that the completion of such improvements, if started now, would be well beyond his term, he may not be able to reap the credit for whatever benefit it may bring the nation. We are all familiar with the man’s fondness for credit.

Despite these, Mr. Aquino could still try and do something actually meaningful in his last year of office. The question is whether he is still willing to do it.

Given the President’s lethargy and his immediate dismissal of valid criticism as the handiwork of enemies, however, we are not too optimistic that commuters can ever expect a smoother ride anytime soon. Even if the President took the challenge and boarded a crowded train today, he would not be able to grasp how important the matter is, because what is a daily, inescapable reality for millions is to him, a mere day’s adventure or haughty response to a clamor.

This is, after all, a person who has taken us all for a ride in the past five years.

WHEN A FATHER TURNS AGAINST HIS OWN SON BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO

WHEN newspaper ads come out involving a family feud over business ownership or a contested inheritance, it can only mean the dispute has gone past amicable settlement to an acrimo-

nious stage which can get downright nasty. And so it was with the Dizon family fighting over ownership of a mining firm, and the Ilusorios over inheritance to name two other family feuds in recent memory.

The latest family feud making business news headlines and grist of gossip in Manila’s upper crust is the fight between

father Reghis Romero II and son, Michael. What manner of man would want to send his own son to jail by filing five non-bailable qualified theft cases in five different cities against his own flesh and blood? Clearly seeing the charges totally baseless, all the cases were thrown out by five different prosecutors.

The controversial

What manner of man would want to send his own son to jail by filing five nonbailable qualified theft cases in five different cities?

Reghis Romero II through press release and paid newspaper ad-

vertisements, claimed ownership of the family flagship business, the Harbor Centre Port Terminals, Inc. To set the record straight, the younger Romero came out with his own paid newspaper ad in which he said Reghis Romero II is neither owner nor shareholder of HCPTI. Michael Romero presented documents that showed as early as March 2, 2011 under two separate deeds of assignments, the father through his companies,

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OPINION OPINION

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ADELLECHUA CHUA ADELLE CHUA ADELLE EDITOR EDITOR

lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph M O N D AY, A P R I L 2 7, 2 0 1 5 lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

OPINION

EDITOR

POWER VIEW FROM POINT MALCOM

ELIZABETH

ATTY. HARRY ANGSIOCO ROQUE JR.

DISTORTED HAS OUR PINOY COMMISSION ONPRIDE? HUMAN

[ EDI TORI A L ]

SEVILLA’S GENIE

MANY times I have been perplexed by our penchant for identifying celebrities who happen to have some EMBLEMATIC of the hypocrisy and mismanagement Filpino lineage, no matter how mithat have become the hallmarks of this administration, nuscule, as Filipinos. It does not the chief of the Bureau of Customs, John Phillip matter to us if they were not born Sevilla, resigned last week with disturbing allegations of political pressure and attempts to turn his agency here, are not Filipino citizens, or do into a milking cow to raise campaign funds for favored not identify as one of us. Basta, Picandidates in the 2016 elections. noy sila! And that makes us proud.

Sevilla was the third Customs commissioner HANOI, Vietnam—I am in the capital of Remember how excited were to leave the agency under the administration of Vietnam as a resource person inwe a semiwith American Idol’s Jessica Sanchez President Benigno Aquino III, who has made the fight nar on “National Human Rights Combecause Experiences her motherfrom is Filipina?

We against corruption the touchstone of his leadership. missions: the Region” Sevilla’s two predecessors had left the bureau amid sponsored by the Konrad Adenaersquad Stifinstantly became her cheering allegations of corruption, tarnishing Mr. Aquino’s claims tung. accepted invitation because and Imade herthe a celebrity.

Jessica ofis of good governance. Sevilla took over in December 2013 aquite long desire to evaluate the affectivity of talented, no question about with the promise of cleaning up what is widely perceived our own Commission of Human Rights that.its But the countrythrough would the not 1987 have as the most corrupt agency in the bureaucracy. since establishment been as engaged if she turned out to That promise came crashing down less than two Constitution 28 years ago. This invitation be half something else and not Filiyears later with Sevilla’s resignation. finally gave me to the opportunity to finalIn announcing his resignation, Sevilla said he was lypino. conduct long-delayed To this a lesser degree,study. we also did being pressured to appoint certain people to “very The starting point has to be theTrias. very this to Honolulu-born Jasmine sensitive” positions ahead of the 2016 elections, and high expectations of the people that the When one Pinoy hit it big interadmitted that he could not finish the job of ending CHR will help promote and protect hunationally, in whatever field, we are corruption at the bureau. man rights in the country when they also quick them asitself.

“Pinoy “I don’t compromise on morality,” the resigning created it in to theclaim Constitution Its pride” no matter if they do what they Customs chief said. “The law is clear on what is first head, Chairperson Mary Bautista, do purely for personal gain and the has allowed and [what is] not.” should be credited for safeguarding In its first statement following the resignation, the independence the constitutional body no positive ofimpact whatsoever on Palace conspicuously ignored Sevilla’s allegations, from political interference.

Congress then our country and our people. and simply announced his replacement, a person took the appointmentthat of the Chair and is disturbing national comments on FB posts—manythe ofItCommissioners BBL, underscored theour moral right from the private sector with extensive interests of the Commission prideofisbe on cethem betray the pathetic ignorance a almost State to always its integrity.

None of in several brokerage-related companies. A Palace should submitted for hinged conformation PENSÉES lebrities, and mostly, pursuits behind them. But again, they to are these points of social justice theory spokesman assured the public that there would be the Commission on whose Appointments. have nothing toSupreme do with being Filired flags that invite close scrutiny,Rightfully if and moral theology were addressed no conflict of interest, as the new Customs chief, so, the Court ruled FR. RANHILIO only because, in their sheer irratioby the posted comments.

The Alberto D. Lina, would divest himself of his interest that Chairperson Bautista and her compino.

CALLANGAN nality, they sound the alarm to the in his brokerage company—but said nothing of his reminded missioners notrather among those public Webishops needwere towere rethink this and be athat bit AQUINO holdings in at least 10 other corporations. intellectual bankruptcy that makes officers whose appointments needed conpriests were pedophiles.

They moresome discriminating in our choice of The announcement did little to engender firmation Congress.

Thisit insulated the werebyalso told that was shame“heroes”.

We have to go beyond beFIRST, a disclaimer.

One national confidence. chair ful andformembers thebeen Commission them to of have involved daily, through an online post, ating satisfied withscandal. It personalities havAre we expected to believe that Sevilla’s replacement from political interference. in the Pajero would be tributed to me the statement that ingTheless Pinoy blood enumerates ormerely thosetowho sucwould truly divest himself of all his lucrative Constitution the powbothersome laugh off the Chief Justice had, in effect, prebusiness interests to take a job in the government ceed andCommission. thus, have put the country ers ofsuch the These include the obvious illogicality, but if this judged the Binay case by her line of We can and oughtpower in an administration with only a year left? Or is his investigate, the to power issue is to how our countrymen, ortoahigher good in the map.

We have have questioning at the oral argument. appointment part of efforts that Sevilla resisted to cite in contempt and power to part of them, reason (or, fail to raise the bar ofsummons, standards when it comes tobetter, bestowI made no such statement. Somemake sure the ruling party stays in power after 2016? ask assistance from any branch of governto do so!), that demonstration of ing the label “Pinoy pride”. one did call me up however for public discourse and Aquino’s first Customs commissioner, who ment.aHere, we have a serious obstacle in dreadful want in thoughtfulness Surely, there arethe those who truly an interview on the subject. I gave resigned under a cloud of suspicion when 2,000 task evaluating performance set more stringentthe andofreasonability should make of us him onIy curt replies though he give the country honor because of container vans vanished from the bureau in 2011, the Commission.

For while the courts and fearful of democracy’s future instandards for did attempt, by leading questions, their achievements.

For was a close associate of Lina. the DOJ whose performance mayinstance, be meadeed.

When irrationality prevails, to make me agree with him on Lina was also Customs chief during the previous sured inbestowed terms of case disposal and/ or its those international awards exchange in public anything frightful is possible! this assessment—an enticement I administration, before he left abruptly as part of the conviction rate, the CHR can only investiin the Tracing fields of development work, in broad strokes the hisspaces. steadfastly resisted. I made clear: “Hyatt 10” Cabinet members who abandoned the gate but to prosecute. toryhas ofno thepower condonation doctrine in science, public service.

Students who I did not think it was right for me Arroyo government over an election-related scandal In this the case of Carino Ivs.pointed Commission of jurisdiction, out that represent the country in internato comment on on-going proceedin 2005, and who now hold considerable influence in Human Rights, Court defined it has beenthe inSupreme our jurisprudence for tional competitions,and others who ings. What I did, however, was the Aquino administration. the full extent of the Commissions’ some time now—carried overinvesfrom write a Facebook post on the doccarryAmerican our flag“The in other fields.

Administration allies in the Senate have been fulsome tigative powers: function ofand receiving it impossible for a genuine democjurisprudence, that it trine of condonation. Justice Adolf in their praise for Sevilla, but have shown none of their evidence and ascertaining therefrom the Our choice of “national pride” and racy to long endure.

When Archactually has roots in our democratic R-II Holdings and R-II Buildsent 68.11 percent of the total ments that Reghis Romero II surveys show that Aquino’s poll offinvestigation survey data Azcuna with was dismissive elections the first to comment: usualremains eagernessundiminished. to launch a congressional facts of a controversy is not a judicial functhe convictions. way we spoil them bishop Soc Villegas issued a state I was not sometimes advocating He thattoI had captured numbers areinment continuing to plumb statements about justthought continuing Theinto reality, as survey after allegations of corruption in the Bureau of Customs, tion, speaking. be piece considered issued and outstanding capital admitted audited ers, Inc. divested and survey relinworkproperly against our own well-being on thestatements draft BBL, an almost the perpetuation ofTo this ofand juthe doctrine He agreed particularly since Aquino such aand probe might such, the faculty of receiving evidence and unfamiliar depthscomment despite his do the“friendly work governance, Com- new, has shown, is that is conjust expose stock duly of assigned and succinctly. transthat R-II common Builders, Inc. and quished ownership was: “Bakit risprudence. I was however arguing interests. with my Herminio analysis that efforts, the doctrine ratherhis than political opponents. making factual conclusions in a controverI expect the to ang simSecretary barelyforces” keeping head above the munications nakikiaalam na naman it was not unreasonable and ferred bybethe father in favor ofunderstanding R-II Holdings, Inccampaign have sold A that case in point is Manny trol of HCPTI after having has its roots in our But there can be no doubt that Sevilla must sy must be accompanied by thePacquiao. authority waters of negative acceptability and Coloma now says that “there is further intensify. bahan dito?”.

Nowhere was there had in fact been consistently apHis is a very inspiring Harbor Holdings, Inc.sovereignty. a cor- That and divested all their shares compelled—to names and popular note of of applying the law to thoserags-to-riches, factual conclufullyencouraged—or transferred and There is no room offor improvement popularity.

And there isconveyed nothingnamesignificant any other serious option analysisfor of the arguplied by the High Court.

The comprovideshares a detailed account of what he knows.

His failure nobody-to-big-time sions to the end that the celebrity controversystory. may I conconsider poration under the directascerinpriceless!

HCPTI to Harbor 403,799 and to289,450 Aquino, really.

But historyHoldings and the ment advanced, no serious exami- ments I got labeled me a lackey of [a] need to concurrence, continually that he can do, it seems, reverse and... to do so would be a betrayal of the morality he claims be decided or determined authoritatively, The next day, I wrote an extended His grit and determination to hone trolthe of needs son, Michael L. Romero which is owned controlled nation and and rebuttal of the reasons the Binays, a fraud, a charlatan— “stickiness” tain of our people. ” paper—and the trend. shares, forthe a total led torespectively, his resignation, and public service he vowed finally and definitively, subject to such aparticle for this earned a of the popular percephis boxing skills are indeed admiadduced.

Nothing an pathetic actually, ifas hilarious, betion thatthe he is aThe failure as President What Aquino seems hell-bent istosignificant Malacanang who has not since then bymind the son.

Deeds of more As- than peals ofIt689,258,653 shares in atfavor uphold whenthat he took office the Bureau of Customs. or modes of review may be prolot of flak for transit. on I do not rable.

His success in the boxing ring attack on bishops and priests.

The cause they were attacks on me, not are against doing is to continue making seems toInhave abandoned theHoldstratopening his Port mouth about corruption and vided by law. This function, to repeat, the criticism, butpublic I am in alarmed that thehim. ferred nor sold any shares signments were signed both capacity, of Harbor Centre Archbishop, in abypersonal on my argument.

In” stark And contrast is nothing short stellar. his I see no reason why Aquino’s numappearances to prove that he is still egy ofinfluence pretending to ignore re- Mr. peddling in thethe bureau, Sevilla has Commission does notof have. kind I got is symptomatic of a more the company. parties in discussed each other’s presings, Inc. the necessity of inclusivewere the posts of Prof.

Jemy Gatmany years of hard work have been let the genie out of the bottle, and no amount of It is this lack of prosecutorial powers would in control andthatbers sults of the surveys which show an working, very much insidious malady is lethal to improve in the coming ness, warned against equating peace dula of the University of Asia and his case, MiThe shares divested by employers doubletalk from in him his former nowproving democracy: intolerance theFurther possessor of game-changing en- for dissent! in Mindanao with the passage of irreversible decline hisorpopularContinued on A11 Continuedon onA11 A11 Continued can put it back chael Romero presented docuReghis M. Romero repre- dorsement There is good reason to ignore Continued on A10 powers.

If subsequent ity.

Where once thein. palace II shrugged

RIGHTS MADE A DIFFERENCE?

THE REAL THREAT

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OPINION

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ODD ROLE PLAYED

BY PNOY BACK­ BENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

THERE were three things that transpired this week, perhaps by coincidence but definitely intended to convince the people to accept the shame-

EAGLE EYES DEAN TONY LA VIÑA

EXCELLENT APPOINTMENTS

BY AQUINO

WHILE I sometimes take positions critical of the current administration, I have to say that I only have unqualified praise for recent appointments by President Aquino. By this, I mean the choices he made the last few weeks for the Commission on Audit, the Commission on Elections, and the Bureau of Customs.

The appointment of lawyer Michael Aguinaldo as COA Chairman, Andres Bautista as Comelec Chairman, and Rowena Guanzon as Comelec commissioner are critical appointments for the future of our country. They will serve seven-year terms in these important constitutional commissions. The fact all these three, are very well qualified and known for their integrity and independence augurs well for the country’s accountability and election systems.

While saddened by the sudden departure of Customs Commissioner John Philip Sevilla, who certainly was a breath of fresh air in that controversial bureau, my disappointment was softened by the return of businessman Alberto Lina to it. Aside from his competence and intimate knowledge of the customs and tariff process, Commissioner Lina brings with him a genuine commitment to reform and dedication to public service. Time and again, he has said that this is pay-it-forward time for him; he is going back to government because he wants to leave a legacy of public service, as a way of return to the country that has made him and his family prosper. Commissioner Lina has committed to divest himself of all his business interests that could be in conflict in interest with his position. I believe him.

Comelec Chairman Bautista has a solid academic background. His first degrees come from Ateneo de Manila: a Bachelor of Science in Legal management degree from in 1986 and a Bachelor of Laws four years later in 1990 from Ateneo Law School where he was the class valedictorian. He obtained a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1993.

Professionally, Chairman Bautista’s career can only be described as stellar. Before joining government in 2010 as the Chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), he was Professor of Constitutional Law at the Ateneo Law School and Dean of the Institute of Law at Far Eastern University and the Master of Business Administration-Juris Doctor dual degree program of De La Salle Graduate School of Business and Far Eastern University. He was also concurrently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Makati Shangri-la Plaza Hotel.

In addition to his academic and private sector positions, and even before he took on the PCGG portfolio, Chairman Bautista was an active and influential voice in legal and governance circles. He was the President of the Philippine Association of Law Schools. a Trustee of the Philippine Judicial Academy, member of the Supreme Court Committee on Legal Education and Bar Matters, a Member of the

ful Bangsamoro Basic Law. First was the killing of terrorist Abdul Basit Usman allegedly by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Second, the result of an alleged survey conducted by the Social Weather Station from March 20 to 23 claiming that 45 percent or that the majority still favors peaceful negotiations with the MILF. And third, the statement made by President Aquino that he wants the BBL approved by Congress without any amendment. It seems all are meant to condition the people that they will have to live with the possibility that this country will finally be partitioned not at the behest of our enemy, but by the very people who made their political orgy at Edsa claiming it was they who restored democracy and freedom to the land of the heathens.

First, on the killing of Usman, there are three versions of what happened. One version is that he was killed in a “chance” encounter with the men of Commander Barok of the MILF’s 118 Base Command stationed in Sitio Takeneken in Barangay Muti, Guindalangan, Maguindanao Province. The second version was that he and five of his bodyguards were killed in a shootout with fellow members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). And the third version was that he was gunned down by his own bodyguard who has become a government asset while he was listening to a radio broadcast of the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. All versions have yet to be verified, while the MILF said it cannot give any statement, they being “restrained by the communications protocol governing dissemination of accomplishments in the “bilateral” activities in areas covered by the July 1997 Agreement of General Cessation of Hostilities under the Government-MILF Ceasefire Agreement.”

Whatever is the truth, the thing that is certain is that Usman was operating within the MILF’s controlled areas, and mingling with them but only to present himself and his followers as alleged members of the BIFF if exigency would require. Whether it was the MILF, BIFF or the undercover operatives of the military who killed him is of no moment because they all have their interest in wanting to get him. Usman was “ripe” for the killing, and those who want him dead expected to hit two birds with one stone – that is, getting rid of him to save the floundering peace agreement and in getting the bounty of $1 million offered by the US and the P6.3 million offered by the government. Nonetheless, many are inclined to believe he was killed for the money, and that made them no different from their hated Christian infidels.

Immediately after going through with their sacrificial lamb, our government officials almost unanimously praised the killing as “a step towards the right direction.” It was as if having Usman alive will pose as hindrance to the passage of the BBL, and that getting ed peaceful negotiations as in favor of peace, and those rid of him would remove the unconstitutional provi- that favor peace would have no reason to reject the BBL, sions that were blindly accepted by our stupid panel. which ipso facto does not follow. As lawyers would With or without Usman, just the same the controversial put it, the question framed by the SWS is equivalent to provisions will remain, unless deleted or amended by laying the predicate that he cannot contradict himself Congress. In fact, the MILF is particular in specifying by retracting even after realizing he would be losing his the use of such term as “bilateral” and “consent,” indi- own pants. cate their insistence of being treated Finally, President Aquino then came as co-equal with the government. In out with a statement saying he wants that, the statement made by Senate the BBL ratified without any amendPresident Franklin Drilon that the ment. Then, why did he convene the The conduct of the so-called “Peace Council” made up of rubout of Usman cleared the way for the ratification of the BBL makes no President is strange a select group of hypocrites and selfsense. righteous to study the contentious On the survey conducted by the because his interest provisions in the BBL seen by many as SWS, noticeable is that the quesunconstitutional? Notably, they are tion was framed in such a way that is to go along with the the men who have been styling themthe person is likely to give a positive wishes of the people. selves as the guardians of what is good or bad for the country. The statement answer. It was misleading because read by his Presidential Communicanobody would be against any peacetion Operations Secretary Herminio ful negotiations. In fact, if the same Coloma, Jr. that PNoy would not acpeople favoring a peaceful negotiation had the knowledge that it would result in the par- cept any amendment or a “watered down” version of titioning of the Republic to create a Bangsamoro state, the proposed law, just rendered the role of the Peace they would have answered negatively. The 45 percent Council redundant. In effect, PNoy appointed highly who favored peaceful negotiations as against the 20 paid people to do a sinecure job of just inserting their percent who favored a military operation (not a solu- signatures, as if to vouch it is enough to convince our tion as it should be), and the 35 percent who favored people that the BBL will be good for them.

Finally, the demand made by PNoy is a betrayal of both as equally effective was a deception. They equat-

Governing Board of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office, a Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Philippine Constitution Association, as well as Director and Corporate Secretary of the British Chamber of Commerce. Finally, Chairman Bautista was in the core group of the Moral Force Movement (MFM) that was led by retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno. I worked with him in the MFM as I was the head of the Technical Working Group of that initiative.

Like Chairman Bautista, COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo taught at the Ateneo Law School, teaching Obligations and Contracts, Credit Transactions, Legal Forms, and Negotiation Seminar. He has also taught Labor Relations and Labor Standards Law, lectured in Mandatory Continuing Legal Education seminars and the Philippine Mediation Foundation, and was a law professor at the Far Eastern University-De La Salle University J.D.-M.B.A. Joint Degree Program.

Chairman Aguinaldo obtained his AB Philosophy degree from De La Salle University in 1987 and his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila Law School in 1992. His Master of Laws degree is from the University of Michigan in 1997, with special concentration in international economic law. He was a topnotcher in the 1993 bar exams where he, placed 7th.

Before joining the Aquino administration as Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, Chairman Aquinaldo was a prominent private lawyer, being a partner of the Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles law firm. Before that, he was an associate of De Borja Medialdea Ata Bello Guevara and Serapio law firm from 1992 to 1994.

As for Commissioner Guanzon, she comes to the position after a stint as Commissioner in the Commission on Audit, the UP Law Center where she headed the Institute for the Administration of Justice, and as Mayor of Cadiz City. Commissioner Guanzon is a well-known litigation lawyer, specializing in gender discrimination and violence against women. She obtained her Bachelor of Law degree in 1984 from the University of the Philippines College of Law and has a degree in Economics also from the University of the Philippines. She also has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

I know all these three gentlemen and one lady personally. I have worked with Andy and Mike as fellow professors at the Ateneo School of Law, and in the case of Andy, in the Moral Force Movement. Bing Guanzon and I were colleagues at the University of the Philippines College of Law while Bert Lina has worked with us at the Ateneo School of Government.

I welcome their appointments, pledged my support for them, and congratulate President Aquino for these excellent choices.

Facebook page: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs public trust because he is not supposed to pre-empt what Congress is supposed to do. His statement was a reproach to Congress not to exercise its constitutional right to approve or reject proposed a law. Right now, the majority of the people is against the approval of the BBL, and is looking forward to Congress to do the job of saving the country from falling apart.

The panel was supposed to come out with a formula for a peaceful settlement, but they came out with a sellout agreement.

In fact, the position of PNoy was an implied warning that should anybody defy the order, they would lose either their pork barrel needed to sustain the political circus, and the huge amount of grease money believed ready to be doled out to anybody who would ratify it.

Most serious is that he appears as though he is the spokesman of the MILF, or worse, has been blackmailed.

The conduct of the President is strange because his interest is to go along with the wishes of the people. His arbitrary usurpation of the role played by that Malaysian lackey Mohagher Iqbal is unusual, for instead of him advising the MILF to abide by the decision of Congress, it being a part of our democratic and constitutional process, he is the one telling Congress he would not take “no” for an answer even if at stake is the future of our republic - whether it will remain one and united or give way to the creation of a Malaysian puppet state called Bangsamoro Islamic State. rpkapunan@gmail.com

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OPINION lettertotheeditor@thestandard.com.ph

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

ADELLE CHUA EDITOR

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THANK YOU, INDONESIA, BUT VELOSO IS NOT YET OUT OF DEATH’S REACH

consideration is that an Indonesian THE eleventh-hour reprieve given by was executed while a Filipino was Indonesian President Joko Widodo to spared. This speaks highly of the exMary Jane Veloso, a Filipino migrant tra-ordinary accommodation Indoworker convicted of drug trafficking nesia gave to the Philippines.

Actually, the reprieve given to Vearising from an incident in 2010, was loso confirms the friendly ties Jakarta welcomed by everybody in the Philipmaintains with Manila. Unlike Mapines. A day before the reprieve was laysia and Singapore, Indonesia has announced, everybody was resigned been a genuine friend of the Philipto the ostensible unwillingness of pines since the 1960s.

History proves Widodo to postpone the execution it. of Veloso. The surprise reprieve was When the administration of Preswelcome news, indeed. ident Diosdado Macapagal (1961It will be recalled that at the recent 1965) made overtures to get back summit of the Association of South North Borneo (present-day Sabah) East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in from Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur raised Malaysia, President Benigno Aquino the issue of “self-determination” and III made a last-minute personal apdemanded that a referendum be held peal to President Widodo. Initially, a in North Borneo to determine the reluctant Widodo explained that the popular sentiment. Indonesia was drug menace has destroyed the lives invited as a third-party in what was of many Indonesians, and that the called The Manila Accord. The referdeath sentence is a means of address- endum took place alright, but Manila ing the problem. noted that it was attended with masAquino stressed that Veloso was a sive fraud, violence, and intimidation. victim of a drug syndicate involved Indonesia, itself a Muslim-dominated in the traffic of narcotics to Indone- country like Malaysia, sided with the sia, and that if given time, Veloso will Philippines and protested the result. be able to identify the kingpin of the Malaysia refused to budge. syndicate. “Don’t settle for small fish, Malaysia has an on-going territoif one can get the big one,” Aquino rial dispute with the Philippines, and suggested. Widodo was apparently refuses to resolve the dispute at the moved by the suggestion and accom- international arbitration level. Since modated Aquino’s request at the last the 1960s, Malaysia has been financminute. Thus, the execution of Ve- ing the Muslim separatist movement loso was postponed to give Manila in the Philippines, as seen in its rabid enough time to get to the bottom of support first for the Moro National the mess.

Liberation Front of Nur MIsuari, and The reprieve given to Veloso must later for the Moro Islamic Liberabe seen in the following perspective tion Front of the fictitious Mohagher – Veloso was set to be executed by a Iqbal. Malaysia does not even bother firing squad together with eight other to hide its presence in the talks which convicts (two Australians, one Brazil- led to the Memorandum of Agreeian, four Africans, and one Indone- ment on Ancestral Domain (declared sian). Australia’s appeal for clemency unconstitutional by the Supreme was flatly rejected. The most tell-tale Court) and the on-going Bangsamoro

Basic Law. Political observers suspect that Malaysia will stop undermining Philippine sovereignty only if Manila formally renounces its claim to North Borneo.

Singapore treats the Philippines with greater contempt than Malaysia does. Back in 1995, Singapore executed Flor Contemplacion, a Filipino domestic helper employed in the island-state. Contemplacion was accused of killing her friend Delia Maga, another Filipino domestic helper in Singapore, and convicted solely on the basis of a confession prepared for her by Singapore police authorities and written in a language she did not understand. President Fidel Ramos requested the prime minister of Singapore to grant clemency to Contemplacion, but his request was summarily rejected.

Contemplacion’s children were not permitted by Singapore prison officials to kiss, hug, or even touch their mother in the hours prior to her execution. They were allowed to see their mother only through a glass panel. Communication was by telephone.

Months ago, it was revealed that Singaporeans maintain a policy of rudeness towards Filipinos in their tiny country. They will try their best to bump Filipinos in the sidewalk, or turn them away publicly at restaurants. Just recently, a Singapore company fired a Filipino for making critical but private remarks using the Internet. Even Malaysians can’t stand Singaporeans, and that is the reason why Malaysia kicked out Singapore from its political union after winning independence from the British.

In contrast, Indonesia has no territorial disputes with the Philippines,

and there are no infamous cases involving Indonesian maltreatment of Filipinos in Indonesia. Jakarta does not support the Muslim insurgency in the Philippines, and it has consistently supported Philippine overtures in Asean. To repeat, Indonesia sided with the Philippines in the North Borneo controversy.

For these reasons, this writer advocated in some columns past that Indonesia, not Malaysia, should help broker the peace talks in Mindanao. Unlike Malaysia, Indonesia can be trusted and has no hidden agenda.

While we are thankful to Indonesia for the reprieve given to Veloso, the latter is not yet out of the woods.

Her execution was merely postponed; her sentence was not commuted.

Unless Manila can come out with something that will warrant a commutation of her sentence, or even a pardon, the firing squad is just one presidential directive away.

Ma. Kristina Sergio, Veloso’s recruiter, is in Philippine police custody, not because she was arrested but because she seeks protection from unidentified people who allegedly want to harm her. To make Sergio testify, charges must be filed against her first. Enticed with the prospect of being a state witness, Sergio may name names. If the mastermind is identified, how long will it take to arrest and convict him? Where will he be tried? Will Manila turn over the mastermind to Indonesia? What if Indonesia runs out of patience and proceeds with Veloso’s execution?

Can something really be done for Veloso now that our politicians are busy with the 2016 national elections?

These questions have to be answered, and answered soon.

WHEN... From A9

DISTORTED... From A9

ence, duly witnessed and notarized debunking Reghis’ claim his signature was forged.

As with most family business rifts, this one started with money. It seems the senior Romero was not pleased with the P2million a month stipend from Michael and he wanted P5million instead to sustain the lavish lifestyle he had been accustomed to. It will be recalled that Reghis Romero, who has a reputation as a ladies’ man, was kidnapped at a posh Palawan resort and held hostage by the notorious Abu Sayyaf kidnapfor-ransom gang. He was with a pretty young thing when the ASG came and abducted all the guests of the island resort.

Son Michael paid the ransom for the father and comely companion while keeping it all quiet that Dad was vacationing with a female companion outside the family circle. But that’s another story.

rewarded with the highest honors from the boxing world, international fame, and riches that perhaps he never imagined he would ever have.

Pacquiao is an outstanding boxer, period. But the way we have been treating him goes way beyond his being a great boxer. We raised him as a spoiled brat.

He is hailed as a hero. He is the epitome of Pinoy pride. He could do no wrong and we spoil him to the max.

People were willing to close their eyes to Pacquiao’s much publicized womanizing and talks about gambling. We were quite sympathetic when the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) found problems in taxes he paid, or did not pay.

He wanted to play basketball, no, not ordinary basketball but in the professional league. So, Pacquiao became the playing coach of one of the teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). I wonder how the other players and coaches must have felt. Especially those who spent many years before turning pro.

Pacquiao likes to sing. So, he records, comes out with CDs, and per-

forms in his own concerts!

Everything he does is news. Even his mother’s clothes and bags. He has enchanted the whole country because he is our national pride.

When he wanted to enter politics, his province made him its representative in Congress. No matter if Pacquiao has been a top absentee and among the worst performers in the House of Representatives, he of course got reelected. Not only this, wife Jinkee is now the incumbent vice-governor of their province.

Pacquiao became so popular that despite his dismal record as a lawmaker, some “wise” guys in his camp have been floating the idea of the boxer running for higher office—the Senate, or even, God forbid, the Presidency! Don’t look now but Pacman is presently number 15 in the recent Pulse Asia survey for possible senatorial candidates.

Anything that Pacquaio wants, he gets. Or perhaps that’s what he and his people thought. This is how badly the country has spoiled this pinoy pride.

We have been so enamored despite the fact that everything he has done is really for himself—for a lot of money and fame. Do we believe that he fights for the country? Most cer-

tainly, Pacquiao fights for Pacquiao.

We are just too happy to claim otherwise.

When Pacman lost the “Fight of the Century” to Floyd Mayweather, we were quick to judge the latter as having cheated, and the judges as biased. We called Mayweather “negro” and “gay weather”. Our ugly racist and homophobic head showed.

Now that more information are surfacing including the possibility that Pacquiao and his group might have willfully concealed a shoulder injury, a possible violation of rules, and which, many consider as a game changer and possible reason for his lackluster performance, I wonder how our pride as a people will be affected.

I do not hope for Pacquiao to be penalized or found guilty of any violation. But if this comes to pass, the country could possibly lose our pride.

It’s about time that we learn to be better at nurturing real national pride. We have to look at substance, not just claim celebrities.

We have to correct our distorted concept of “Pinoy pride”. bethangsioco@gmail.com @betangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Fun, games at Tempra Mother’s Day event ENTRANCE to the Tempra-A Mother’s Day Treat, presented by Taisho Pharmaceuticals (Phils.) Inc. and Tempra, in cooperation with Subterranean Ideas, honoring mothers with fun and games on Mother’s Day (May 10) at the Skydome, SM North-EDSA, Quezon City, is free.

This is the third straight year that the Mother’s Day Event, also backed by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Starmobile and Barangay Commonwealth, led by its Chairman Manuel Co, is being held by Tempra.

“Throughout the years, Tempra has been synonymous with a mother’s love for her children, especially when they are sick. It has always been the preferred medicine of choice by parents when their kids suffer from flu and fever because it is safe and effective. Our Mother’s Day event is our way of thanking Filipino mothers,” said Cleo Roda Nodado, Senior Brand Manager of Taisho-Tempra.

XFACTOR and Himig Handog PPOP Love Songs 2014 Finalist Michael Pangilinan is expected to serenade mothers during the program while Showtime finalist na Dapithapon will showcase their dance skills for the whole family.

Various games and fun booths await mothers and their children, such as the Spin a win-8, pachinko, magic treats, balloon twisting, unlimited face painting (kids and adults), Tempra photo booth (photo opportunity with Dr. T), and other games such as Tempra Hold Your Breath Contest, Sign Game, Tempra Find the Fruit Game (concept of Easter Egg Hunt) and many others.

But participants must bring two empty boxes of Tempra (any variant and combination) and present at the entrance’s registration booth to avail of one booklet. In case there will be Tempra tablet registration, it should be an empty blister of 10s (1banig) to avail of the booklet. Only booklet holders can claim giveaways from Tempra. Some privileges (photo booth) indicated in the booklet are on a first-come, firstserved, limited basis.

More empty boxes/blister packs mean more chances of winning in the grand raffle. Participants should write their names and contact numbers in the empty boxes/blister packs for the raffle, where various gift items/packs from Tempra are at stake.

All participants must present booklet to join the event contests and activities. Non-booklet holders may still enjoy the program as part of the audience and maybe admitted to some exhibit booths. There are booths, however, which are exclusive to Booklet holders.

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal returns a ball to Italian tennis player Simone Bolelli during during the Madrid Open tournament at the Caja Magica (Magic Box) sports complex in Madrid. Nadal won 6-2, 6-2. AFP

Nadal, Sharapova make Madrid Open q’final RAFAEL Nadal showed no signs of his recent slump as he eased past Italy’s Simone Bolelli 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open on Thursday.

Women’s top seed Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova also stayed on course for a potential meeting in the final as they progressed to the last four with wins over Carla Suarez Navarro and Caroline Wozniacki respectively.

There were also straight sets wins for Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori.

Nadal has yet to win a European clay court tournament this season after defeats to Novak Djokovic at the Monte Carlo Masters and Fabio Fognini at the Barcelona Open last month.

However, he remains the heavy favourite in the Spanish capital in the absence of world number one Djokovic and will continue his quest for a fifth Madrid title against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov on Friday.

Dimitrov disposed of Stan Wawrinka in the last-16, 7-5 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 just as he did at Monte Carlo.

“Dimitrov is a very complete player, he is one of the best in the world,” said Nadal.

“He has already won three matches here, so he is at a good level again. He played very well against Wawrinka and (Fabio) Fognini.”

Murray and Nishikori stayed on course for a mouthwatering semi-final clash as they proved too good for Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Roberto Bautista Agut respectively.

It was Murray’s second victory of the day as he didn’t get off court until 3am local time in dismissing Philipp Kohlschreiber in the previous round.

But he enjoyed a far easier evening as he matched his best ever run on the clay in Madrid 6-2, 6-0 in little over an hour on court to set up a quarterfinal clash with Milos Raonic, who beat Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 6-3.

Last year’s finalist Nishikori was equally impressive in seeing off 14th seed Bautista Agut 6-3, 6-3.

Next up for the Japanese is a quarterfinal meeting with David Ferrer after he an all-Spanish battle by coming from a set down to beat Fernando Verdasco 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Tomas Berdych faces John Isner in the other quarter-final.

Williams extended her unbeaten record this season to 24-0 as she swept aside Spain’s Navarro 6-1, 6-3.

The 19-time Grand Slam champion had to save three match points in overcoming two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka on Wednesday, but had no such trouble as she maintained her record of never having dropped a set against Navarro in their six meetings.

Williams complained that she had

been far from ready for the clay court swing when struggling to victory over Italy’s Sara Errani in Fed Cup action last month.

However, the world number one now believes that was the perfect preparation as she builds up for the French Open later this month.

“I definitely didn’t have an easy draw, and coming through so far has been really good.

“I didn’t have the greatest preparation that I would’ve liked to. I would’ve liked to spend so many more hours on the court just sliding and stuff.

“But I’m telling you, Fed Cup really helped me out. It helped propel me to the extra preparation that I needed.”

The 19-time Grand Slam champion will face fourth seed Petra Kvitova on Friday after the Wimbledon champion beat Irina-Camelia Begu 7-5, 6-3.

Sharapova also reached the last four for a third consecutive year with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Wozniacki.

The Russian showed no ill effects early on from her marathon win over Caroline Garcia on Wednesday as she raced through the first set.

Wozniacki battled back to take the second set, but unlike in their previous two meetings at the US Open and the end of season finals in Singapore, it was Sharapova who emerged victorious in the decider to set up an all-Russian semi-final with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Rosberg draws first blood in Grand Prix duel with Hamilton NICO Rosberg drew first blood Friday in his duel with Mercedes team-mate world champion Lewis Hamilton, the 29-year-old German narrowly topping the times in opening free practice session for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Two-time champion Hamilton, who leads this year’s title race by 27 points after winning three of the opening four races of the season, was second, only 0.070 seconds off the pace, with four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari a further nine-tenths of a second adrift.

In Formula One terms, Rosberg’s advantage was wafer-thin and Hamilton sustained only the merest of scratches as he worked through his technical programme in preparation for Sunday’s race.

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s German driver Nico Rosberg (left) Sahara Force India F1 Team’s Mexican driver Sergio Perez (right) drive during the first practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya on May 8, 2015 in Montmelo on the outskirts of Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix. AFP

On a warm, sunny day at the Circuit de Catalunya in the industrialised hinterland of Barcelona, about 20 kms north-west of the city, Rosberg showed he was intent on rekindling his faltering challenge to his British team-mate.

But Ferrari, for whom Finn Kimi Raikkonen was fourth-fastest, were unable to close the performance gap despite a raft of upgrades to their car following the Bahrain Grand Prix, three weeks earlier.

Spain’s new local hero Carlos Sainz, son of the former world rally champion, delighted his followers in the paltry crowd by placing fifth for Toro Rosso ahead of his teenage team-mate Dutchman Max Verstappen.

Russian Daniil Kvyat was seventh for Red Bull ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams,

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who was delayed by problems again, in the second Red Bull and Brazilian Felipe Nasr of Sauber.

The two Toro Rosso men once again proved their potential and mettle by out-performing their counterparts at senior sibling team Red Bull on a morning of few surprises and little drama.

Both the Lotus and McLarenHonda teams continued their struggles in a woeful start to the season with two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso and his McLaren team-mate Briton Jenson Button winding up in 15th and 16th places while, for Lotus, Briton Jolyon Palmer was 13th and Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado 18th, another man to spend much of the session waiting in his team’s pits garage.

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Tired PH team bows to Taipei A TIRED and sluggish Philippine side allowed a determined Chinese Taipei to capture an easy 2517, 25-19, 25-20 victory in their classification battle for 5th to 8th places yesterday in the 1st Reb isco Asian U23 Women’s Volleyball Championship powered by PLDT Home and Smart Live More yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

With the Taiwanese sizzling on the offensive end, the Filipinos struggled for form and were erratic in their reception in absorbing the sorry setback that relegated them to the classification encounter for 7th and 8th places of this prestigious continental tournament backed and aired exclusively by TV5.

The Nationals will confront Iran, which surrendered a five-set decision to India; 25-22, 16-25, 2519, 20-25, 9-15, later in the day.

The Taiwanese, for their, part will battle the Indians in the battle for fifth place.

The Philippines-Iran rematch is set at 10 am.

Fresh from difficult four-set loss to China late Thursday, the Nationals marched into battle at high noon looking tired and weary as they couldn’t shatter the mighty defensive barrier erected by the Taiwanese at the net.

Their brightest moment came in the second set when they led, 18-16, but a string of errors and poor receptions doomed their chances as Chinese Taipei seized the momentum entering the third set.

“I offer no excuses. Our reception didn’t work. That’s the story of the game,” said Gorayeb, whose wards were battered by the Taiwanese in a four-set duel last Tuesday.

“If this game was done in the afternoon, maybe it could have been a different story. The girls gave their all against China, so it is understandable that they are tired en-

tering this match. But again, I offer no excuse. We simply didn’t play our usual game.”

Gorayeb added that they are again planning to go all out against Iran, which clobbered them in the opening day in four sets.

“Mas maaga yung laro namin bukas,” he said. “Since maaga kami natapos ngayon, mas makakapahinga kami ng maaga. We want to win tomorrow. We want to end this tournament with a big win.”

Tzu-Ya Chen delivered 10 kills to finish with 11 points while WeiHua Wu added eight markers for Chinese Taipei, which was also stunned with the kind of performance the Filipinos displayed.

“This is the second time we faced the Philippines and we were surprised with the kind of effort they showed,” said Chinese Taipei coach Ming-Hui Lin through an interpreter. “This game is very different from their performance in our first match. Today, they look tired. That’s why we had an easy time beating them.”

Skipper Alyssa Valdez, the tournament’s second leading scorer, was not her usual deadly self as she finished with only eight points behind Jaja Santiago and Myla Pablo’s nine points apiece for the Philippines, which committed 31 turnovers.

Valdez’s presence was also hardly felt in the crucial third set where the Taiwanese raced to an early 8-2 advantage en route to an easy victory.

Three-way battle up in drag racing finale ACE drivers gear up for an exciting finale as they take last ditch efforts in their quest for the titles at stake in the final round of the 2015 National Drag Racing Championship Southern Series today at the Batangas Racing Circuit in Rosario, Batangas.

Top guns Martin Manalo of RSL Motorsports, Arvin Jay Millet of TEMZ and defending national champion Jonathan Tiu of JCT Blanche Racing seek crucial wins to push their bid for the overall Southern Series crown in the event sanctioned by the Automobile Association Philippines and sponsored by M&H, Sparco, Aguila Auto Glass and GT Radials.

Manalo, tagged as drag racing’s “Batangas Barako”, captured his second M&H Pro crown that not only steered him to solo leadership in the Southern Series but likewise gave him another crack at the national drag racing crown Millet needs a second M&H Pro victory to even up with Manalo and hopefully capture the Southern Series crown in the countback

to break the tie, while Tiu kept hopes Southern Series crown alive after clinching his third triumph in Quick 8 division.

But to push their bid, they have to survive the tough trail to the finals where they will face equally tough rivals including Vanni Garcia of Vannitec, veteran campaigners Sheldon Chua and Jonathan Young, and the fast-rising Aaron Lao. Millet also aims to keep his throne in the Expert class where he faces cousin Jannery Millett and younger brother Chris Jayson Millet, Also favored are Victor Pe Benito in the Sportsman class and Cer Olliris Alcala in the Hotstreet division.

For further details, interested parties may contact the Batangas Racing Circuit c/o Nelson Gayola or Rodini Rivera at (632) 7295365, Mlobile 0932-8604522 like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ Batangas Racing Circuit or check out our website www.batangasracingcircuit.org.

Philippine volleybal ace Alyssa Valdez scores on a slam past Taipei defenders Chen-Yu Huang (no. 4 and Li-Wen Chang (no. 2) during their U-23 match at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. ROMAN PROSPERO POSITION

NAMES AND ADDRESSES

President

DARIO A. LAPADA JR. 215 Col. Bonnie Serrano Rd. Cubao ANNA MARIE A. KAPUNAN 22 Delgado St., BF Homes Quezon City

Vice President

Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros Manila

Secretary General

IN RE: REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION AS A REGIONAL SECTORAL ORGANIZATION (IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION) OF CANCER ALLEVIATION NETWORK on CARE, EDUCATION and REHABILITATION INC., also known AS “CANCER PARTYLIST” FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE 2016 PARTY-LIST ELECTION.

RHODORA R. MARMITO 2840-A Juan Luna St., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila HENRY BALBIN San Juan, Agoo, La Union

Treasurer General Counsel

SP CASE NO. 15-032 ( PL) SPP 15-026 (PLM) CANCER PARTYLIST, represented by its President DARIO A. LAPADA Jr., Petitioner.

X ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X

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9.

10.

ORDER Acting on the verified petition for registration of “CANCER ALLEVIATION NETWORK on CARE, EDUCATION and REHABILITATION INC (CANCER PARTYLIST)” filed on April 22, 2015, as a sectoral organization under the party-list system, the Commission (Second Division) hereby sets this instant case for hearing on May 13, 2015, at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, Comelec Session Hall, 8th Floor, Palacio del Governador, Instramuros, Manila.

To Simplify the proceedings, petitioner is required to submit prior to the scheduled hearing the following: 1. The names of two (2) witnesses who shall be the Chairperson or President and Secretary General of the party, organization or coalition; 2. Judicial affidavits of the witnesses; and 3. Proof of publication Meantime, all evidence to be presented by petitioner shall be pre-marked including evidence to prove compliance with the jurisdictional requirements before the Clerk of the Commission on May 11, 2015, 10 o’clock a.m. Counsel shall manifest during the marking of exhibits his/her appearance and the same be entered in the minutes. In no case shall representatives of parties, other than counsel, for purposes of marking be allowed. Further, counsel is requested to prepare his/her summary of exhibits as a guide during the marking/s thereof.

The Commission requires the petitioner to publish at its own expense in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation the following: 1. The petition; and 2. The instant Order of the scheduled hearing.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

HOWARD M. CALEJA Unit 2904 C West Tower Philippine Stock Exchange Ortigas Pasig

A certified list of officers and partial list of members of the petitioner particularly showing that majority of its officers and members belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sector/s, is hereto attached as Annex “C”.

Petitioner hereby manifests its intention and desire to participate in the partylist elections, particularly in the May 9, 2016 elections. Therefore, it seeks registration and accreditation with this Honorable Commission as a regional sectoral organization under the Partylist systems pursuant to Republic Act No. 7941, as indicated in the “ Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Partylist system of Representation” in the May 9, 2016 elections hereto attached as Annex “D”.

Petitioner hereby likewise manifests that all its officers and members are made aware of this Petition and have given their consent thereto.

Petitioner is duly registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of its Article of Incorporation, By-laws and Certificate of Incorporation as Annexes “E” to “E-2”.

The advocacies of the petitioner has been advanced way before it was formally organized.

Traces of roots giving rise to the formal organization of the petitioner is hereto attached as Annex “F”.

Except for the coalition agreement forged by the petitioner with other cancer-oriented groups such as, Philippine Foundation for Breast Care., Inc. ; New Vois Association of the Philippines; Corridor of Hope – St. Lukes Medical Center; TBM- Gastro Intestinal Stromal tumor and touched by Max, there are no other sectoral parties or organization affiliated with petitioner.

Copies of the Coalition agreement are hereto attached as Annexes “G” to “G-5”.

The names, coordinators, and addresses of the petitioner’s officers as well as their sworn proof/s of existence in the areas concerned are hereto attached as Annexes ‘H’ to “H-9”.

The petitioner’s nominees are hereby likewise manifested, in the form prescribed by the Commission, together with their respective “Certificates of Acceptance,” are hereto attached as Annex “I” to Annex “I-1”.

Petitioner has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications for participating in the Partylist System. i.

It is not, and shall not be, a religious sect or denomination, organization or association organized for religious purposes. ii.

It does not, and shall not, advocate violence or unlawfull means to achieve its goals. iii. It is not, and shall not be, an adjunct or a project organized or an entity funded or assisted by the government. iv. It is not, or shall not be, a foreign party or organization.

It does not, and shall not, receive support for partisan political purposes from any foreign v. government, foreign political party, foundation, organization, whether directly or indirectly, or through its officers or members, or indirectly through third parties.

16. The List of Documents attached to and in support of this Petition is as follows: ANNEXES

SO ORDERED.

A TO A-1

Given this 30th day of April 2015, at Manila, Philippines.

FOR THE DIVISION: AL A. PARREÑO Presiding Commissioner Republic of the Philippines COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS Intramuros Manila IN RE: REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION AS A REGIONAL SECTORAL ORGANIZATION (IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION) OF CANCER ALLEVIATION NETWORK on CARE, EDUCATION and REHABILITATION INC., also known AS “CANCER PARTYLIST” FOR THE PURPOSE OF PARTICIPATING IN THE 2016 PARTY-LIST ELECTION.

B

C

DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENTS Constitution and By-Laws as an organization seeking registration under the party-list system of representation.

CANCER Partylist General Program of Action (Platform or Program of Government) Certified List of Officers and (Partial) Members in the National Capital Region, particularly showing that the majority of its membership and officers belong to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors the petitioner seeks to represent.

NOTE: The list is partial because some membership application forms are still in transit, complete list to follow.

Manifestation of Intent to Participate in the Partylist System of Representation in the May 2016 Elections, list of at least five(5) nominees with the corresponding Certificates of Acceptance of each Nominees

D to D-5

SP CASE NO. 15-032 ( PL) W/ SPP 15-026 (PLM) CANCER PARTYLIST, represented by its President DARIO A. LAPADA Jr., Petitioner.

X ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X PETITION FOR REGISTRATION AND ACCREDITATION UNDER THE PARTYLIST SYSTEM PETITIONER, through its undersigned representatives, and unto this Honorable Commission, respectfully states: 1. Petitioner CANCER ALLEVIATION NETWORK on CARE, EDUCATION and REHABILITATION INC., also known AS “ CANCER PARTYLIST” FOR BREVITY, is a regional party with principal office at Room 607 North Tower Cathedral Heights Bldg. St. Lukes Medical Center E. Rodriguez St. Quezon City.

1.1 The acronym of the petitioner is “CANCER PARTYLIST”, which does not exceed twenty (20) characters.

2. Petitioner is a regional sectoral organization party, particularly in the National Capital Region which seeks to create a caring environment for cancer patients and their family members. It seeks to provide cancer support groups and free support services thereby creating a holistic environment to preserve the dignity and enhancement of quality of life for the cancer patients and their family members.

3. Petitioner is represented in this Petition by its President DARIO A. LAPADAJR., who is duly authorized to represent it, pursuant to a Resolution executed by its National Executive Committee, copy of which is hereto attached and made integral part of this petition. The said authorized representative is of legal age and hold office also at petitioner’s above address where they may be served with notice.

4. In 2005, petitioner was established and founded informally by its President Dario A. Lapada together with Maira Farida L. Dologuin, Henry B. Balbin, Maila L. Vizcayno and Doris Ramos.

It was eventually formally organized during its 1stNational Convention and Founding Congress held on January 10, 2010 in Quezon City. The subsequent National Convention were held every October of the succeeding years. A secretary certification as to that effect is hereto attached and made integral part of this petition.

5. As of today, the period of existence of petitioner is a least five (5) years and three (3) months, which is at least one(1) year at the date and time this Petition is filed. Recall that the petitioner was formally established on January 10, 2010 during its Founding Congress in Quezon City.

6. The Constitution and By-laws of the petitioner is hereto attached as Annex “A” to “A-1” and Platform or Program of government is attached as Annex “ B” .

7. At present, the Executive Officers of the petitioner, duly elected pursuant to its constitution and By-Laws, are the following:

NOTE: The Nominees (by Rank at least 5) are: 1. DARIO ALBARICO LAPADA JR. 2. EMERITO LUMANLAN ROJAS 3. RYAN VINCENT LACIERDA UY 4. ELIZABETH PALER CRUZ 5. NELIA ANGELES ABROGAR Petitioner is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hence Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and E to E-2 Certificate of Registration issued by the SEC is hereto attached.

F Track record summary showing that it represents and seeks to uplift Coalition Agreements with the following: a. Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. b. New Vois Association of the Philippines c. Corridor of Hope – St. lukes Medical Center G to G-5 d. Adult Leukemia Foundation of the Philippines (EPCALM) Foundation, e. TBM – Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor and f. Touched By Max Secretary’s Certification of the list of city coordinators of CANCER Partylist, with Indvidual Affidavits from the NCR Chapter Coordintors, proving existence of thepetitioner n he areas H to H – 9 mentioned, indicating the local headquarters and membership in the subject Areas.

OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE COMELEC 1. Resolution to Participate in the Partylist Elections of2016 Partylist election fduring the Party Convention on October 26, 2012 at Quezon City .

I to I-1 2. Resolution Authorizing the Presidnet to File for Registrarion and Accreditation with the COMELEC under the Partylist Systems nd for other Pursposes.

18. The Petition is filed not later than May 8, 2015 (COMELEC Issuance 15-0214. In the mater of the dealines on Political Party and party-list matters March 17, 2015).

19. Petitioner hereby commits to comly with the laws, reuls and regulations relating to elections.

PRAYER WHEREFORE, it s respectfully prayed that petitioner CANCER partylist by registered and accredited as a Sectoral Organization for the partylist System; that it be allowed to participate in the Partylist Elections in May 2016 and succeeding elections; and that it be accorded all rights and privileges as such under existing laws, rules and regulations.

Petitioner pray for other just and equitable relief.

Quezon City for Manila, April 22, 2015

DARIO A. LAPADA JR. President (TS-MAY 9, 2015)

S AT U R D AY : m AY 9, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

NCR bet sets new swimming mark

By Peter Atencio

TAGUM City, Davao del Norte- One national junior mark fell, while another almost went down as well.

A trio of young guns- twelve year old seth Isaak martin, sacho maurice Ilustre and long distance specialist Jie Anne Caliscontinued to leave big footprints in the swimming and athletics of the 2015 Palarong Pambansa here. the lanky martin set a national junior record in the 50-meter backstroke, on his way to picking up a total of six gold medals in the elementary boys swimming competitions at the Davao del Norte sports and tourism Complex here.

Calis, a diminutive wonder from misamis Occidental, broke a total

of three course records, and came close to a national mark in the long distance events of secondary girls events in athletics.

Ilustre won a total of five medals, all in record-breaking fashion counting his his latest victories in the 4x100 meter medley relay, the 800-meter free style and the 100-meter butterfly.

In the hotly-contested secondary boys basketball action, the Chiang Kai shek College-led NCR team barged into the finals after getting past defending champion Calabarzon, 78-66, in the semifinals,

and arranged a showdown with Central Luzon in the finals.

Central Luzon, behind cagers from Infant Jesus High school, turned back Central Visayas, 71-63.

Back at the pool, the 12-year old martin clocked 30.16 seconds to shatter the national junior under-13 mark for the second time in three months and grab the 50-meter backstroke gold for the National Capital Region.

But he was faster in the preliminaries where he clocked 29.64, which surpassed the 30.57 seconds which he himself set during the NCR Palaro last February.

His time broke the six-year old national junior record of 30.82, which belonged to Rafael sta. maria in the southeast Asian Age Group Championships in 2009.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Office Address: Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Telephone Nos.: (044) 766-3888 / 766-4142 / 766-0157 / 766-3524 Email Address: niabaneimo_es@yahoo.com/niabaneimo_om@yahoo.com niabaneimoafs@yahoo.com

Telefax No. (044) 766-3888 TIN No. 000-578-009-000

INVITATION TO BID for Rehabilitation of AngatAfterbay Regulator Dam Package 7-Repair and Improvement of Pavilion Invitation To Bid No. NIAR3–2015-AARD-BANE-7 1.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) – Region III, through funds transferred by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to NIA under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NIA and MWSS, intends to apply the sum of Five Million Thirty One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Seven Pesos (P 5,031,677.00) being the Approved Budget for Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for Rehabilitation of AngatAfterbay Regulator Dam, Package 7 – Repair and Improvement of Pavilion. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The NIA-Region 3 now invites bids for the Rehabilitation of Angat After bay Regulator Dam, Package 7- Repair and Improvement of Pavilion located in Brgy.Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan.

3.

Completion of the Works is required within 90 calendar days.

4.

Bidders should have completed a single contract in the construction of similar projects with a value of at least 50% of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly in Section I, Instruction to Bidders.

5.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

6.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

7.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from NIA-Region 3 and inspect the Bidding Documents at the Office of the BAC Secretariat, NIA-Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan from 8:00 A.M to 4:00 P.M., Monday to Friday.

8.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested bidder on May 11, 2015 from the above address, Office of the BAC Secretariat and upon presentation of its original PCAB license and payment at the NIA-Region 3 Cashier of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000.00).

Interested bidder must also present a notarized letter authorizing his/her representative to acquire the Bidding Documents duly signed by the General Manager/Owner, if a Sole Proprietorship, or certified true copy of Board Resolution, if a Corporation.

It may also download free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the NIA-Region 3 website, provided that bidder shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of its bid.

9.

The NIA-Region 3 will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 15, 2015, 10:00 AM at the Conference Room, NIA – Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan which shall be opened only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

10.

Bids must be delivered on or before 10:00 AM, May 28, 2015, at the Conference Room, NIA – Region 3, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan. Opening of bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend. Late bids shall not be accepted. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18.

11.

The NIA – Region 3 reserves the right to acceptor reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

12.

For further information, please refer to: The Chairman Bids and Awards Committee Office of the Engineering & Operations Division National Irrigation Administration – Region 3 Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Telephone/Fax No. (044) 766 - 4839

(Sgd.) VIRGILIO J. ILAO Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee ( T S - M AY 9 , 2 0 15 )

Region XI’s Graciana Joy Alisan(blue) won the gold in Arnis pinweight secondary girls division against NCR’s Kristine Balungsat during the 2015 Palarong Pambansa being held in Davao Del Norte. NONIE REYES

‘Palaro to yield P100m in revenues’ DAVAO del Norte— the 2015 Palarong Pambansa will yield at least P100 million in total revenues to the local economy, according to Governor Roldolfo del Rosario on the eve Friday of the games’ closing which he stressed would be a “grand ceremony.”

“We made a conservative projection of each of at least 10,000

athletes and officials spending a conservative P1,000 each for all nine days of the Palaro and multiply that by at least 10—because the most of the athletes are accompanied by family members and chaperones—and you get P100 million,” Del Rosario said.

“But the numbers do not include local tourists and spectators,” said

del Rosario, who added that several delegates have sorted to “home stay” programs for their billeting.

All hotels in the capital tagum and nearby cities and towns of the province are booked, del Rosario said. “that’s why even Davao City is benefited by these games because those delegates who were unable to book

rooms in the province are billeted in the city,” he added. the games close on saturday starting at 3 p.m. and del Rosario promised of a “grand” closing program to make up for the opening ceremony that was virtually rained out.

“If there is a grand opening ceremony, we have a grand closing ceremony,” he said.

Team Pacquiao also at fault inside sports ronnie nathanielsz It seems to us that while the Nevada state Athletic Commission and chairman Francisco Aguilar were somewhat unfair to eight-division world champion manny Pacquiao over the request for treatment of a reported tear in the rotator cuff of his right shoulder hours before his fight against Floyd mayweather Jr , he would not have had a chance to act the way he did if team Pacquiao officials did their job efficiently.

It essentially means telling the truth and not hiding what was going on even from Filipino media people whose newspapers and tV networks spent a considerable amount of money in following Pacquiao every step of the way in his training camp. to begin with, Aguilar has taken issue with top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s claim that they had informed the Commission about Pacquiao’s shoulder injury some days before the may 2 showdown at the mGm Grand Garden Arena which Aguilar claimed was only conveyed to them a few hours before the two fighters entered the ring.

While it is true that the United states Anti Doping Agency was aware of the medication being administered to Pacquiao because of a reported tear in the rotator cuff of his right shoulder, it was certainly not the responsibility of UsADA to inform the Nevada state Athletic Commission.

It was not their job but that of team Pacquiao’s. the task of the UsADA was to undertake random drug tests on both fighters and to submit the results to the Commission. Nothing more, nothing less.

Both trainer Freddie Roach and Pacquiao’s longtime adviser michael Koncz lied to the media when they said Roach gave Pacquiao one week off from sparring because he was worried he would over-train and get burned out. that lie came back to haunt them because if they had come clean and told the media the truth about the injury then they could have had a basis for seeking a postponement of the fight since there was a provision written into the contract that allowed for such an eventuality.

However, despite claims that they advised manny to seek a postponement, they were accused of wanting to lay their greedy hands on Pacquiao’s earnings as quickly as possible. to compound the felony, they didn’t even allow the media to talk to manny’s sparring partners as though keeping their identities secret would deprive the mayweather camp of getting what the team Pacquiao people considered vital information.

In the end, even Pacquiao came to realize that inside information from the Pacquiao camp was being transmitted to team mayweather who claimed he knew every little detail of what was going on inside the training camp. this happens all the time unless of course they trained inside the walls of the Kremlin.

While we are personally upset with the manner in which chairman Aguilar treated Pacquiao, we hate to admit that team Pacquiao by its administrative inefficiency if not incompetence gave him the opportunity to do so.

Koncz filled up the pre-fight form at the weigh-in and manny, as is customary with him, merely signed the form without going through the answers.

How many times has he done this in the past regarding concerts or guest appearances and paid the price? there was no conceivable way Koncz could have claimed that Pac-

quiao had no shoulder injury when the question was posed in the form when they claimed to have informed the NsAC about the injury and the medication taken to treat it, neither could he have said “no” when asked about whether manny was taking any nutritional supplements or vitamins. there is no way team Pacquiao can claim these were mere mistakes.

No wonder the NsAC accused team Pacquiao of perjury.

Against this background, it would be interesting to get a copy of a similar form signed by mayweather because he publicly stated in a post-fight interview that both his hands as well as his shoulders were also injured and if he didn’t indicate that in the questionnaire he filled up, then he too perjured himself!

We cannot understand why team Pacquiao didn’t just go ahead and take the pain-killing shots since they were not declared illegal by UsADA and presumably would not have shown up in the random drug tests.

It is rumored that mayweather always takes pain killing injections because of his fragile hands before every fight and he probably did so once again before the “Fight of the Century.” As long as it’s not illegal, that’s fine.

When chairman Aguilar prevented any vitamins or even water taken into Pacquao’s dressing room prior to the fight it was obviously harsh but technically correct.

We feel terribly sad for manny Pacquiao who has been exploited and cheated through the years by those who should have protected him.

While mayweather tried to soothe the hurt in manny’s heart by offering to give him a rematch in 2016, its obvious as Alex Ariza contends, that unless he revamps his entire team Pacquiao won’t stand a chance. Harsh but painfully true.

S AT U R D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 5

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SPORTS sports@thestandard.com.ph

Floyd changes mind on rematch with Pacquiao FLOYD Mayweather has branded Manny Pacquiao a “sore loser” and a coward and says he won’t delay his planned retirement to grant the Philippine icon a rematch next year, in an apparent U-turn.

And he dismissed Pacquiao’s claim that he had been carrying an injury in Saturday’s one-sided win for Mayweather, the American calling it “Excuses, excuses, excuses.”

Mayweather took his unbeaten record to 48-0 in Las Vegas with a 12-round unanimous decision over Pacquiao in a welterweight world title bout that will go down as the most lucrative in boxing history.

In an interview recorded this week to be aired on Showtime television on Saturday, Mayweather says he did text ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he would grant Pacquiao a rematch—but he has changed his mind.

The 38-year-old says he couldn’t detect any physical problem for Pacquiao during the bout, after which the Filipino and his camp said he was suffering from a right shoulder injury.

Y BIRTHDAY

ZOAN

“Absolutely not,” Mayweather said. “He was fast. His left hand was fast. His right hand was fast and he was throwing them both fast and strong.”

Although Pacquiao had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Mayweather said his plea of injury was nonsense.

“He lost. He knows he lost. I lost a lot of respect for him after all of this,” said Mayweather.

As to the flip-flop on a possible rematch, Mayweather said simply: “I change my mind.

“At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward... If you lost, accept the

LOTTO RESULTS

loss and say, ‘Mayweather, you were the better fighter.’”

Pacquiao, 57-6-2 with 38 knockouts, is expected to be out of the ring for nine months to a year.

Mayweather has said his last fight will be in September, when he will complete his six-fight deal with Showtime and then retire.

With a victory in that fight against a still-to-be-named opponent, Mayweather would match Rocky Marciano’s iconic 49-0 ring record.

He has insisted he would be happy to retire with that mark and wouldn’t be tempted to stay around and try to make it a round 50 victories. AFP

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, May 9, 2015

ACROSS 1 Rafter locale 5 Use steel wool 10 Frozenpreci p 14 Basilicapart 15 Grayish-brown 16 Naturali mpulse 17 Stonehengebui lder 18 “Dallas”setti ng 19 Winglessi nsect 20 Enginesound 22 Sturdyshoe 24 Notsquare 25 Pick up and go 26 Becomesbroader 29 Obvious 33 Faulty 34 Upset 36 Director Ang — 37 USPSal ternative 38 Preparedappl es 39 Athena’ssymbol 40 It’s easily deflated 41 Belgianri ver 42 Grossout 44 Frenchauto 47 Billtack-ons 48 Courtorder 49 Rheacousi n 50 Joyous outbursts 53 Dash 58 Con 59 Cubanei ghbor 61 Where Mongolia is 62 Aleservi ng 63 Break a record 64 Discussion 65 Woe is me!

66 Farm implement pioneer 67 Makes do with DOWN 1 Pool-hall triangle

PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLVED

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

5-9-15

6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00 Batang... From A16 In his first game back since midway the Commissioner’s Cup, Stanley Pringle went right back to work with a solid outing with 18 points, including four triples, and four assists to help out while Ronjay Buenafe also chipped in 16 points and four rebounds for GlobalPort. Both of them doing damage off the bench.

It was in the second quarter where the Batang Pier broke the game wide open.

Led by the hot hand of Romeo, who scored 13 of his points in the first half, GlobalPort uncorked a key 26-9 blast midway the second to suddenly open up very comfortable 49-30 spread in the waning minutes of the first half.

The Batang Pier did not look back as it gave more beating to the helpless Elite in the second half where it led by as much as 32 points, 79-47, in the closing seconds of the third canto.

Marcus Douthit once again produced well for Blackwater with gamehighs of 24 points and 15 rebounds for his own double-double but for the second straight game, hardly felt the presence of his teammates.

The Batang Pier did tons of scoring in almost all aspects. It scored 46 points in the paint, 22 points off the Elite’s turnovers and 17 more points from second chance opportunities.

© 2015 UFS, Dist. by Univ. Uclick for UFS

2 Forthright 3 European capital 4 Goes and gets 5 Bacon units 6 “Slither” actor 7 Pealed 8 Mdse. bars 9 Was incumbent on 10 — and puffed 11 Theyounger Guthrie 12 Disney CEO Bob — 13 Softmetal 21 Kesey and Burns 23 IVsquared 25 Brawl 26 Thincooki e 27 Publicpersona 28 Mason- — line 30 Flee to the JP 31 Morei nnovative

32 Divulges a secret 34 “Nick of Time” singer 35 1040org.

38 Suave 42 “GreenMansi ons” girl 43 Train 45 Holds off for 46 Vase with a foot 47 Berate 50 Storybookbear 51 Indigodye 52 Sight from Messina 53 Minor weakness 54 Routefor Ben-Hur 55 BaronessK aren 56 Linoleum square 57 Ties up the phone 60 Bunyantool

Strong field vies in ICTSI golf fest THE country’s top guns returns from an Asian Tour stint, all geared up for a fierce battle for the top P650,000 purse in the rich ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational which unfolds May 13 at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club in Morong, Bataan.

Three-time ICTSI Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuna, current OOM leader Miguel Tabuena, three-time Asian Tour champion Angelo Que have signed up for the P3.5 million event, completing a stellar roster spiced up by eight foreign players in the fifth leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The Anvaya Invitational also serves as the first two new events on the local tour calendar, the other being the ICTSI Luisita Championship set May 20-23 at the Luisita Golf Club in Tarlac, which is making its return to big-time golf since the President’s Cup in 1989.

Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Frankie Minoza, Cassius Casas, Orlan Sumcad, Ferdie Aunzo, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Clyde Mondilla, Mars Pucay and Arnold Villacencio are also in the Anvaya roster, upbeat of their respective chances in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Republic of the Philippines Office of the President

National Irrigation Administration (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) Region 8, Tacloban City Office Address: NIA Road, Marasbaras Tacloban City, Philippines Website: www.nia.gov.ph

Telefax No. (053) 323-7596 TIN 000-916-415

Invitation for Bids Participatory Irrigation Development Project Loan No. 7709-PH Rehabilitation of Diversion works of Marabong River Irrigation System, Julita, Leyte ITB No. PIDP8-C-MARRISN-1 1.

The Government of the Philippines (GOP) has received a Loan from the World Bank toward the cost of Participatory Irrigation Development Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan to payments under the contract for the Rehabilitation of Diversion Works of Marabong River Irrigation System.

2.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) now invites bids for the Rehabilitation of Diversion Works of Marabong River Irrigation System. Completion of the Works is required in Two Hundred Forty Five (245) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.

3.

Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the World Bank. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification. The Estimated Project Cost (EPC) is Twenty Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php20,150,000.00).

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Bids and Awards Committee and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Mondays to Fridays.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by the interested bidders starting April 30, 2015 from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount Ten Thousand Pesos (PhP10,000.00).

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the NIA website (http://www.nia.gov.ph), provided that bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

An organized field visit by the contractors and NIA will be conducted on May 12, 2015. Prospective bidders are advised to coordinate with the BAC Secretariat regarding the itinerary of the field visit. Attendees will include representatives from the Regional Irrigation Office (RIO), Irrigation Management Office (IMO) and Irrigators Associations.

7.

The NIA will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on May 15, 2015 , 10:00 A.M at the NIA, Conference Room, Marasbaras, Tacloban City, which shall be open to all interested parties.

8.

Bids must be delivered at the NIA, Conference Room, Marasbaras, Tacloban City on or before May 28, 2015, 2:00 P.M. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Securing Declaration or a bid security in the amount of Four Hundred Ten Thousand Pesos (PhP410,000.00) in the form of Cash, Cashier’s/Manager’s Check or Bank Guarantee issued by a universal or commercial Bank.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend immediately after the deadline for the submission of bids at the same address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

The NIA reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

10. For further information, please refer to: Office of the BAC Secretariat, NIA Region 8, Marasbaras, Tacloban City

Noted: (Sgd.)ROMEO G. QUIZA Regional Manager ( T S - M AY 9 , 2 0 15 )

(Sgd.) GLORIA A. SEVILLA Chairman, Bids and Awards Committee

S AT U R D AY : m AY 9, 2 0 1 5

A16

RIERA U. mALL ARI EDITOR

REUEL vIDAL A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

sports@thestandard.com.ph

sports

Batang Pier in hot start, get 2nd win

By Jeric Lopez

The hot start continued for GlobalPort as it unleashed another beatdown, this time at the expense of Blackwater, 100-76, for its second straight victory to grab the early lead in the 2015 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum yesterday.

Terrence Romeo of Global Port squeezes past Frank Golla (covered) and Blackwater import Marcus Douthit for a basket in their PBA game yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Batang Pier won, 100-76.

Relying on shared wealth, the Batang Pier banked on four of its chargers who tallied in twin-digits to lead the squad’s attack.

Red hot spitfire Terrence Romeo

continued to show how steady he is, scoring a team-high 20 points with five rebounds while Patrick O’Bryant had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds for Glo-

balPort, who was never in any trouble the entire 48 minutes of action.

GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio was quite satisfied with how everyone chipped in to this victory for the Batang Pier. ‘’It’s a total team effort. Yung mga locals and imports talagang nagtulungan to get this win,’’ said Jarencio. ‘’Dapat maging habit na namin ito.’’

This 2-0 GlobalPort start is its best in franchise history and it is clearly holding its ground thus far while the still woeful Elite remained at the bottom with 0-2 Turn to A15 mark thus far.

B1

SATURDAY: MAY 9, 2015

RAY S. EÑANO EDITOR

RODERICK T. DELA CRUZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

BUSINESS

Malampaya yields more gas

By Alena Mae S. Flores

SHELL Philippines Exploration B. V., operator of the Malampaya field off northwest Palawan, expects more natural gas to flow from an expansion project by the middle of the year.

The third phase of the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project involves the fabrication, installation, tie-in and commissioning of the second offshore platform.

The platform, in combination with the development of two ad-

ditional wells, is aimed at sustaining the gas output of the Malampaya field.

“We will have the second platform generating by second half,” Spex managing director Sebastian Quinones told reporters.

Spex owns 45 percent of service

contract 38, or the Malampaya prospect, while Chevron LLC holds 45 percent. PNOC Exploration Corp., a unit of state-owned Philippine National Oil Co., owns 10 percent.

The consortium is undertaking the phase 2 and phase 3 development at a combined cost of $1 billion to sustain the level of gas production as part of a commitment under its existing contracts.

The Malampaya deep-water gas-to-power project, completed in 2001 at cost of $4.5 billion, supplies natural gas to three power plants in Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,700

megawatts.

Quinones also said the completion of the phase 3 development would not be distracted by reports of the Commission on Audit that the Malampaya project should pay the government P53.14 billion in taxes.

“We are in talks with [Energy Department]. CoA is a government entity but DoE is also a government entity,” he said.

Quinones, meanwhile said, the consortium was upbeat in finding more gas in the Malampaya reservoir. Seven wells currently produce natural gas that fuels the three power plants in Batangas.

“Our hope is to find additional reservoir in the area,” Quinones said, He said Spex was still keen on finding other natural gas reserves in the area and was waiting for the Energy Department to act on its pending license extension request. The consortium’s license over SC 38 will expires in 2024.

“We have sent a letter [for the license extension] in 2011,” Quinones said.

The Malampaya gas project provides up to 30 to 40 percent of Luzon’s power needs and reduces the country’s dependence on imported fuel by 30 percent.

PSe comPoSite index Closing May 8, 2015

8500 8000 7500 7000 6500 6000

7,763.21 53.06

PeSo-dollar rate

Closing MAY 8, 2015 46

P44.615

45

CLOSE

44 43 42

HIGH P44.590 LOW P44.780 AVERAGE P44.690 VOLUME 725.800M

P500.00-P728.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.65-P45.25 Unleaded Gasoline P28.00-P31.30 Diesel

oPriceS il P today

P32.80-P40.55 Kerosene P23.70-P24.40 Auto LPG

Toyota registers record annual profit of $18.1b

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Thursday, May 8, 2015

F oreign e xchange r ate Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

44.6500

Japan

Yen

0.008349

0.3728

UK

Pound

1.526300

68.1493

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128969

5.7585

Switzerland

Franc

1.085069

48.4483

Canada

Dollar

0.824402

36.8095

Singapore

Dollar

0.750638

33.5160

Australia

Dollar

0.791891

35.3579

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652450

118.4319

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

11.9064

Brunei

Dollar

0.747831

33.3907

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000076

0.0034

Thailand

Baht

0.029780

1.3297

UAE

Dirham

0.272257

12.1563

Euro

Euro

1.127100

50.3250

Korea

Won

0.000916

0.0409

China

Yuan

0.161111

7.1936

India

EastWest’s offering. EastWest Bank raised P8 billion from its stock rights offering and listed the shares in the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Shown during the bell-ringing ceremony in Makati City are (from left) EastWest Bank independent director Jose Sandejas, independent director Paul Aquino, president and chief executive Antonio Moncupa Jr., chairman emeritus Andrew Gotianun Sr., PSE chairman Jose Pardo, director Ma. Vivian Yuchengco, president and chief executive Hans Sicat and director Alejandro Yu. LINO SANTOS

Rupee

0.015603

0.6967

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.278358

12.4287

New Zealand

Dollar

0.744380

33.2366

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032487

1.4505 Source: PDS Bridge

TOKYO—Toyota said Friday its annual profit accelerated 19 percent to a record $18.1 billion as the world’s biggest automaker capitalized on a weak yen and strong demand in North America, despite a damaging string of recalls.

The company beat earlier forecasts with its 2.17 trillion yen net profit ($18.1 billion) in the fiscal year to March--bigger than the combined 2014 profit of Volkswagen and General Motors.

Revenues at the Corolla and Prius hybrid maker rose six percent to 27.23 trillion yen.

Despite weakness in Asia and industry concerns about a slowdown in major market

China, Toyota also said it was on track for a bigger 2.25 trillion yen net profit in the current business year.

Toyota’s latest operating profit rose 20 percent--largely owing to cost cuts and a sharp decline in the yen, which inflates the value of exporters’ repatriated profits-even as sales edged lower to 8.97 million units.

Including the Hino and Daihatsu brands, Toyota moved a slightly higher 10.16 million units.

Sales to North America and Europe rose, while they turned down in Asia and specifically in Japan, where consumer spending dived after the government hiked

sales taxes last year.

Chinese sales rose 7.4 percent in the latest period, however, although GM and Volkswagen still outsell Toyota in the world’s biggest auto market.

“We are expecting the North American market to continue its strong performance, but we see sales volume falling in Asia where the environment is becoming increasingly tough, as well as emerging markets such as Russia and the Middle East,” executive vice president Nobuyori Kodaira told a press briefing in Tokyo Friday.

Toyota said it is planning a 300-billion yen share buyback after an investor meeting in June.

But president Akio Toyoda added that his family company still needed to be “reborn” to cope with an “uncertain” global auto market.

Toyota has been focusing on squeezing out productivity gains and better using existing plants-it put on hold building new factories for several years.

The company began operating a new Thai plant in 2013, but then halted investment as the global car market struggled with oversupply and weak demand.

Last month, Toyota announced it was ending the construction freeze as it unveiled plans for a $1-billion plant in rising Mexico and another production line in China. AFP

SATURDAY: MAY 9, 2015

B2

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

MST BuSineSS Daily STockS Review Friday, May 8, 2015

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

High

Low

FINANCIAL 7.83 7.25 70.80 70.00 111.20 109.50 102.00 100.40 47.30 46.75 2.51 2.51 2.06 2.05 10.00 10.00 15.36 15.10 22.80 21.70 7.41 7.40 0.75 0.75 1.78 1.78 820.00 820.00 0.440 0.440 93.60 92.50 1.06 0.98 30.60 30.50 76.10 75.25 94.00 94.00 318.00 317.00 45.60 45.00 171.50 168.20 1440.00 1440.00 66.50 66.00 INDUSTRIAL 47.00 35.60 Aboitiz Power Corp.

43.05 42.75 42.00 5.00 1.60 Agrinurture Inc. 1.62 1.65 1.57 1.66 1.04 Alliance Tuna Intl Inc. 1.09 1.08 1.08 2.36 1.41 Alsons Cons.

2.07 2.08 2.06 15.30 7.92 Asiabest Group 11.32 11.50 11.32 113.00 40.30 Bogo Medelin 50.00 51.00 48.40 148.00 32.00 C. Azuc De Tarlac 90.00 90.00 90.00 20.60 14.60 Century Food 19.14 19.58 19.20 125.00 62.50 Chemphil 135.00 135.00 135.00 32.00 10.08 Cirtek Holdings (Chips) 30.45 30.85 27.40 65.80 29.15 Concepcion 62.00 62.00 61.00 Crown Asia 2.21 2.41 2.21 4.57 1.04 Da Vinci Capital 1.77 1.78 1.77 23.35 10.72 Del Monte 12.96 12.96 12.80 21.60 8.44 DNL Industries Inc. 20.850 21.000 20.45 12.98 9.79 Emperador 11.46 11.46 11.30 9.13 5.43 Energy Devt. Corp. (EDC) 8.05 8.09 8.03 12.34 9.54 EEI 10.36 10.40 10.28 2.89 1.06 Euro-Med Lab 1.90 1.90 1.75 17.00 8.61 Federal Res. Inv. Group 15.00 15.44 14.66 31.80 18.06 First Gen Corp.

28.50 28.55 27.55 109.00 67.90 First Holdings ‘A’ 93.95 94.00 92.00 20.75 14.00 Ginebra San Miguel Inc. 14.50 14.40 14.10 0.820 0.0076 Greenergy 0.4200 0.4300 0.4200 15.30 13.24 Holcim Philippines Inc. 14.04 14.20 14.00 9.40 3.12 Integ. Micro-Electronics 6.18 6.18 6.03 0.98 0.395 Ionics Inc 0.590 0.590 0.590 241.00 168.00 Jollibee Foods Corp.

209.00 210.80 20.92 12.50 8.65 Lafarge Rep 10.20 10.22 10.12 79.00 34.10 Liberty Flour 34.00 36.45 36.45 3.95 2.30 LMG Chemicals 2.78 2.60 2.55 33.90 24.40 Manila Water Co. Inc. 24.80 25.00 24.70 90.00 16.20 Maxs Group 28.50 29.05 28.00 13.98 7.62 Megawide 7.600 7.800 7.600 292.40 250.20 Mla. Elect. Co `A’ 262.60 265.00 262.80 5.00 3.37 Panasonic Mfg Phil. Corp. 3.92 4.09 3.90 5.25 3.87 Pepsi-Cola Products Phil. 4.25 4.26 4.12 13.04 9.00 Petron Corporation 9.72 9.80 9.69 6.80 3.70 Phil H2O 3.72 4.49 4.40 14.50 9.94 Phinma Corporation 11.40 11.60 11.38 7.03 3.03 Phoenix Petroleum Phils. 4.00 4.04 3.98 3.40 2.22 Phoenix Semiconductor 2.30 2.35 2.28 4.50 1.00 Pryce Corp. `A’ 2.40 2.40 2.29 6.68 4.72 RFM Corporation 5.05 5.07 5.02 7.86 1.65 Roxas and Co. 1.82 1.93 1.86 8.10 6.00 Roxas Holdings 6.39 6.40 6.20 253.00 201.60 San Miguel’Pure Foods `B’ 190.00 190.00 183.00 5.50 4.10 SPC Power Corp.

4.20 4.16 4.16 3.28 1.67 Splash Corporation 1.64 1.63 1.59 0.315 0.122 Swift Foods, Inc. 0.162 0.167 0.160 2.50 1.02 TKC Steel Corp.

1.37 1.38 1.38 2.68 2.01 Trans-Asia Oil 2.20 2.23 2.19 226.60 143.40 Universal Robina 213.00 214.00 201.60 1.30 0.670 Vitarich Corp.

0.70 0.70 0.67 2.17 1.39 Vulcan Ind’l.

1.35 1.36 1.33 HOLDING FIRMS 0.70 0.45 Abacus Cons. `A’ 0.470 0.470 0.455 59.20 48.10 Aboitiz Equity 56.80 57.90 57.30 31.85 20.85 Alliance Global Inc. 24.50 25.00 24.30 7.39 6.62 Anscor `A’ 7.04 7.04 7.04 2.27 1.210 Asia Amalgamated A 1.56 1.68 1.50 3.40 1.40 ATN Holdings A 0.335 0.335 0.310 3.35 1.60 ATN Holdings B 0.34 0.34 0.31 800.00 600.00 Ayala Corp `A’ 808.50 808.50 800.00 11.06 7.390 Cosco Capital 8.20 8.29 8.20 84.00 14.18 DMCI Holdings 14.92 14.92 14.60 3.35 2.60 F&J Prince ‘A’ 3.48 3.50 3.48 5.14 4.25 Filinvest Dev. Corp.

4.30 4.32 4.32 0.66 0.144 Forum Pacific 0.285 0.285 0.275 1380.00 818.00 GT Capital 1295.00 1305.00 1288.00 6.68 5.30 House of Inv. 6.39 6.45 6.40 72.60 46.60 JG Summit Holdings 72.30 73.00 70.15 6.66 3.52 Keppel Holdings `B’ 6.78 6.26 6.26 9.25 4.43 Lopez Holdings Corp.

8.91 8.90 8.65 0.90 0.59 Lodestar Invt. Holdg.Corp. 0.72 0.73 0.72 18.90 12.00 LT Group 15.54 15.50 15.18 0.73 0.580 Mabuhay Holdings `A’ 0.67 0.67 0.67 5.53 4.22 Metro Pacific Inv. Corp. 4.60 4.63 4.57 6.55 4.50 Minerales Industrias Corp. 5.00 5.10 4.99 0.0670 0.036 Pacifica `A’ 0.0380 0.0380 0.0380 2.31 1.23 Prime Media Hldg 1.400 1.400 1.400 0.84 0.450 Prime Orion 1.160 1.210 1.120 87.00 66.70 San Miguel Corp `A’ 67.20 67.20 66.85 934.00 709.50 SM Investments Inc. 910.00 910.00 903.00 2.20 1.13 Solid Group Inc. 1.18 1.24 1.23 1.39 0.93 South China Res. Inc. 0.83 0.84 0.83 390.00 170.00 Transgrid 250.00 250.00 250.00 156.00 85.20 Top Frontier 98.00 98.00 96.00 0.710 0.200 Unioil Res. & Hldgs 0.3750 0.3750 0.3700 PROPERTY 10.50 6.01 8990 HLDG 8.850 9.000 8.840 26.95 12.00 Anchor Land Holdings Inc. 10.48 9.46 9.46 7.88 75.30 124.40 104.00 63.00 2.49 4.20 4.00 18.48 31.60 9.50 0.92 2.95 890.00 1.01 99.40 1.46 75.00 94.95 137.00 361.20 59.00 174.80 1700.00 127.90

2.50 AG Finance 66.00 Asia United Bank 84.60 Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. 84.50 Bank of PI 45.80 China Bank 1.97 BDO Leasing & Fin. INc. 2.03 Bright Kindle Resources 8.70 Citystate Savings 12.02 COL Financial 23.55 Eastwest Bank 6.30 Filipino Fund Inc. 0.74 First Abacus 1.75 I-Remit Inc. 625.00 Manulife Fin. Corp.

0.225 MEDCO Holdings 78.00 Metrobank 0.90 Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

58.00 Phil Bank of Comm 76.50 Phil. National Bank 95.00 Phil. Savings Bank 276.00 PSE Inc. 45.00 RCBC `A’ 107.60 Security Bank 1200.00 Sun Life Financial 66.00 Union Bank

7.46 70.80 110.20 100.60 46.75 2.50 2.07 10.18 15.30 21.75 7.40 0.78 1.77 785.00 0.450 93.55 1.08 30.60 75.25 94.00 318.00 45.00 167.40 1440.00 66.50

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

7.50 70.50 111.20 101.00 47.25 2.51 2.05 10.00 15.34 22.80 7.40 0.75 1.78 820.00 0.440 93.00 0.98 30.50 76.00 94.00 317.00 45.00 169.40 1440.00 66.20

0.54 (0.42) 0.91 0.40 1.07 0.40 (0.97) (1.77) 0.26 4.83 0.00 (3.85) 0.56 4.46 (2.22) (0.59) (9.26) (0.33) 1.00 0.00 (0.31) 0.00 1.19 0.00 (0.45)

46,900 170,870 1,830,060 1,988,640 101,800 1,000 313,000 400 6,900 3,661,100 30,100 30,000 11,000 100 870,000 2,758,550 116,000 14,100 28,700 170 27,400 626,500 710,700 45 20,110

42.00 1.65 1.08 2.07 11.32 51.00 90.00 19.56 135.00 27.40 62.00 2.41 1.77 12.94 20.800 11.42 8.05 10.28 1.88 15.00 27.55 93.90 14.10 0.4300 14.20 6.10 0.590 210.00 10.18 36.45 2.55 24.85 28.65 7.600 265.00 4.08 4.15 9.71 4.40 11.60 4.00 2.30 2.35 5.06 1.86 6.20 187.00 4.16 1.61 0.167 1.38 2.19 202.00 0.69 1.35

(2.44) 1.85 (0.92) 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 2.19 0.00 (10.02) 0.00 9.05 0.00 (0.15) (0.24) (0.35) 0.00 (0.77) (1.05) 0.00 (3.33) (0.05) (2.76) 2.38 1.14 (1.29) 0.00 0.48 (0.20) 7.21 (8.27) 0.20 0.53 0.00 0.91 4.08 (2.35) (0.10) 18.28 1.75 0.00 0.00 (2.08) 0.20 2.20 (2.97) (1.58) (0.95) (1.83) 3.09 0.73 (0.45) (5.16) (1.43) 0.00

2,288,700 5,000 500,000 147,000 200 1,220 90 17,400 20 211,200 43,950 10,844,000 47,000 41,400 2,695,800 583,400 12,662,900 32,600 13,000 23,900 7,370,300 81,770 15,900 30,000 83,800 29,600 210,000 952,800 454,000 100 46,000 1,315,300 1,066,700 23,500 59,900 62,000 7,686,000 537,600 10,000 19,800 426,000 825,000 635,000 319,600 39,000 7,200 104,790 4,000 829,000 6,950,000 1,000 2,068,000 5,664,310 1,485,000 247,000

0.460 57.65 24.50 7.04 1.50 0.310 0.31 805.00 8.21 14.60 3.50 4.32 0.285 1293.00 6.40 70.75 6.26 8.72 0.72 15.50 0.67 4.61 4.99 0.0380 1.400 1.180 66.85 906.00 1.23 0.83 250.00 97.00 0.3700

(2.13) 1.50 0.00 0.00 (3.85) (7.46) (8.82) (0.43) 0.12 (2.14) 0.57 0.47 0.00 (0.15) 0.16 (2.14) (7.67) (2.13) 0.00 (0.26) 0.00 0.22 (0.20) 0.00 0.00 1.72 (0.52) (0.44) 4.24 0.00 0.00 (1.02) (1.33)

420,000 1,324,140 6,021,500 4,800 115,000 24,660,000 5,160,000 141,210 1,268,000 3,412,400 10,000 5,000 230,000 197,775 506,500 2,196,390 5,900 585,800 174,000 579,700 45,000 29,515,000 95,100 1,500,000 1,000 5,834,000 321,620 20,012 3,000 100,000 20 27,140 1,460,000

8.840 9.46

(0.11) (9.73)

139,200 200

1,019,204.50 (59,773,703.00) (10,164,893.00)

698,940.00 (148,000)

52 Weeks

Previous

High Low

STOCKS

Close

1.99 2.07 40.00 6.15 5.40 5.60 1.54 1.48 0.201 0.98 0.305 2.25 1.87 6.34 5.73 0.180 0.72 27.00 8.54 31.80 2.29 3.60 20.60 1.02 7.56 1.96 8.59

0.91 1.29 29.10 4.10 4.96 2.80 0.89 0.97 0.083 0.445 0.188 1.40 1.42 2.80 4.13 0.090 0.39 23.00 2.57 21.35 1.64 3.08 15.08 0.69 3.38 1.00 5.69

10.50 66.00 1.44 1.09 12.46 15.82 0.1460 4.61 99.10 12.30 9.00 2090.00 8.41 33.00 1.97 119.50 7.00 0.017 0.8200 2.2800 5.93 12.28 2.85 2.20 3.20 5.90 1.97 2.46 15.20 0.62 1.040 22.80 6.41 4.00 110.20 14.00 3486.00 0.710 2.28 48.50 90.10 11.60 10.20 0.490 1.60

1.97 2GO Group’ 32.50 ABS-CBN 1.00 Acesite Hotel 0.60 APC Group, Inc. 10.00 Asian Terminals Inc. 9.61 Bloomberry 0.0770 Boulevard Holdings 2.95 Calata Corp.

46.55 Cebu Air Inc. (5J) 10.14 Centro Esc. Univ.

5.88 DFNN Inc. 1600.00 Globe Telecom 5.95 GMA Network Inc. 30.00 Grand Plaza Hotel 1.36 Harbor Star 105.00 I.C.T.S.I. 3.01 Imperial Res. `A’ 0.012 IP E-Game Ventures Inc. 0.036 Island Info 1.200 ISM Communications 2.34 Jackstones 6.50 Leisure & Resorts 1.69 Liberty Telecom 1.10 Lorenzo Shipping 2.00 Macroasia Corp.

1.05 Manila Broadcasting 0.490 Manila Bulletin 1.80 Manila Jockey 8.70 Melco Crown 0.34 MG Holdings 0.37 NOW Corp.

14.54 Pacific Online Sys. Corp.

3.00 PAL Holdings Inc. 2.28 Paxys Inc. 79.00 Phil. Seven Corp.

4.39 Philweb.Com Inc. 2726.00 PLDT Common 0.380 PremiereHorizon 0.32 Premium Leisure 31.45 Puregold 60.55 Robinsons RTL 7.59 SSI Group 6.45 Travellers 0.305 Waterfront Phils.

1.04 Yehey

0.0098 5.45 17.24 0.330 12.80 1.20 1.73 10.98 4.20 0.48 0.455 0.475 0.023 0.026 8.20 49.20 4.27 1.030 3.06 0.020 7.67 12.88 10.42 0.040 420.00 9.00

0.0043 1.72 8.65 0.236 6.98 0.61 0.78 5.99 1.08 0.330 0.2130 0.2160 0.014 0.014 3.660 20.20 2.11 0.365 1.54 0.012 5.40 7.26 2.27 0.015 115.90 3.67

70.00 120.00 515.00 8.21 12.28 1060.00 1047.00 76.90 84.80 1.34

33.00 ABS-CBN Holdings Corp.

101.50 First Gen G 480.00 GLOBE PREF P 5.88 GMA Holdings Inc. 6.50 Leisure and Resort 997.00 PCOR-Preferred A 1011.00 PF Pref 2 74.20 SMC Preferred A 75.00 SMC Preferred C 1.00 Swift Pref

6.98

0.8900 LR Warrant

10.96 15.00 88.00 12.88

2.40 3.50 13.50 5.95

130.70

105.60 First Metro ETF

High

Low

Close

%

Net Foreign

Change Volume

Trade/Buying

A. Brown Co., Inc. 0.72 Araneta Prop `A’ 1.300 Ayala Land `B’ 40.40 Belle Corp. `A’ 4.12 Cebu Holdings 5.13 Cebu Prop. `A’ 6.45 Century Property 0.89 Cityland Dev. `A’ 1.10 Crown Equities Inc. 0.158 Cyber Bay Corp.

0.465 Ever Gotesco 0.190 Global-Estate 1.36 Filinvest Land,Inc. 1.88 Keppel Properties 5.50 Megaworld 5.42 MRC Allied Ind. 0.123 Phil. Realty `A’ 0.5000 Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry 31.00 Primex Corp.

7.30 Robinson’s Land `B’ 29.00 Rockwell 1.75 Shang Properties Inc. 3.30 SM Prime Holdings 19.90 Sta. Lucia Land Inc. 0.77 Starmalls 7.00 Suntrust Home Dev. Inc. 1.000 Vista Land & Lifescapes 7.400

0.72 0.71 0.71 1.300 1.290 1.290 40.40 39.55 39.80 4.15 4.11 4.12 5.18 5.13 5.13 6.45 6.45 6.45 0.89 0.87 0.89 1.10 1.10 1.10 0.158 0.156 0.156 0.460 0.450 0.450 0.182 0.182 0.182 1.37 1.36 1.36 1.92 1.86 1.87 6.04 5.48 5.48 5.44 5.36 5.41 0.127 0.127 0.127 0.4900 0.4600 0.4700 27.40 23.50 24.05 7.32 7.30 7.30 29.20 28.90 29.10 1.76 1.75 1.76 3.30 3.30 3.30 19.94 19.64 19.64 0.77 0.75 0.76 7.00 6.56 6.56 1.000 0.990 0.990 7.550 7.360 7.410 SERVICES 6.40 6.50 6.34 6.50 62.20 62.50 61.90 62.10 1.04 1.04 1.03 1.04 0.670 0.690 0.660 0.660 13.66 13.70 13.60 13.70 11.60 11.66 11.50 11.50 0.1010 0.1010 0.1010 0.1010 4.63 4.62 4.12 4.23 84.00 85.00 84.00 84.30 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 7.16 7.07 7.00 7.00 2196.00 2200.00 2182.00 2184.00 6.20 6.26 6.20 6.21 32.00 30.40 23.50 30.40 1.44 1.45 1.45 1.45 109.90 110.60 108.00 109.00 6.50 7.00 6.01 7.00 0.014 0.013 0.013 0.013 0.224 0.230 0.223 0.226 1.2800 1.2500 1.2500 1.2500 2.50 2.50 2.42 2.43 9.42 9.50 9.42 9.42 2.09 2.09 2.05 2.09 1.30 1.29 1.28 1.29 2.00 2.13 2.04 2.13 68.25 95.50 35.00 46.85 0.680 0.670 0.670 0.670 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 8.66 9.17 8.68 9.14 0.365 0.360 0.360 0.360 0.430 0.435 0.430 0.430 18.42 18.50 18.50 18.50 4.90 4.89 4.85 4.85 3.00 3.05 3.05 3.05 139.00 140.00 139.90 139.90 14.74 14.76 14.68 14.74 2822.00 2858.00 2822.00 2836.00 0.660 0.670 0.650 0.660 1.600 1.640 1.600 1.610 39.50 39.95 39.55 39.55 84.95 85.80 84.80 85.50 10.56 10.70 10.30 10.30 6.70 6.70 6.61 6.65 0.335 0.325 0.325 0.325 1.290 1.300 1.300 1.300 MINING & OIL 0.0053 0.0005 0.0053 0.0054 3.00 3.04 2.90 3.04 8.03 8.22 8.03 8.20 0.255 0.255 0.255 0.255 6.6000 8.0000 7.1700 8.0000 1.03 1.03 1.03 1.03 0.89 0.89 0.88 0.89 7.90 7.92 7.71 7.73 1.92 1.92 1.83 1.85 0.365 0.370 0.365 0.365 0.231 0.233 0.230 0.232 0.236 0.241 0.236 0.241 0.0150 0.0150 0.0140 0.0140 0.0140 0.0160 0.0140 0.0150 4.52 4.50 4.30 4.34 26.85 27.35 26.45 26.70 3.98 4.02 3.87 3.92 0.7100 0.7100 0.7100 0.7100 2.140 2.150 2.100 2.150 0.0130 0.0130 0.0120 0.0130 4.49 4.50 4.40 4.49 7.10 7.11 7.09 7.09 1.50 1.65 1.49 1.50 0.017 0.017 0.016 0.016 163.00 163.50 162.70 162.80 5.52 5.87 5.52 5.73 PREFERRED 62.95 62.95 62.55 62.75 119.10 119.00 119.00 119.00 511.00 513.00 513.00 513.00 5.95 5.95 5.95 5.95 1.09 1.09 1.09 1.09 1060.00 1055.00 1050.00 1050.00 1045.00 1045.00 1045.00 1045.00 76.10 76.10 75.95 76.10 86.95 87.00 83.50 87.00 2.20 2.20 2.20 2.20 WARRANTS & BONDS 4.160 4.170 4.130 4.160 SME 9.69 10.06 9.72 9.89 8.30 8.24 6.10 8.24 75.50 77.65 74.00 77.65 9.10 9.30 9.08 9.13 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 127.00 127.10 126.20 126.20

(1.39) (0.77) (1.49) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 (1.27) (3.23) (4.21) 0.00 (0.53) (0.36) (0.18) 3.25 (6.00) (22.42) 0.00 0.34 0.57 0.00 (1.31) (1.30) (6.29) (1.00) 0.14

1,266,000 136,000 5,640,000 556,000 30,100 200 6,225,000 5,000 1,880,000 3,410,000 40,000 2,215,000 9,935,000 5,000 14,866,700 20,000 272,000 42,800 129,000 4,200,900 165,000 103,000 7,322,400 332,000 122,200 120,000 4,271,700

1.56 (0.16) 0.00 (1.49) 0.29 (0.86) 0.00 (8.64) 0.36 0.00 (2.23) (0.55) 0.16 (5.00) 0.69 (0.82) 7.69 (7.14) 0.89 (2.34) (2.80) 0.00 0.00 (0.77) 6.50 (31.36) (1.47) 0.00 5.54 (1.37) 0.00 0.43 (1.02) 1.67 0.65 0.00 0.50 0.00 0.63 0.13 0.65 (2.46) (0.75) (2.99) 0.78

145,000 23,610 39,000 2,317,000 12,500 3,642,900 6,970,000 1,798,000 208,850 13,500 269,000 32,385 106,500 2,000 6,000 1,280,350 105,000 1,000,000 1,820,000 665,000 69,000 768,800 10,000 23,000 103,000 49,530 38,000 80,000 7,547,000 500,000 60,000 700 6,000 4,000 280 118,600 69,055 5,078,000 39,965,000 1,909,500 329,630 3,918,100 1,097,900 10,000 1,000

1.89 1.33 2.12 0.00 21.21 0.00 0.00 (2.15) (3.65) 0.00 0.43 2.12 (6.67) 7.14 (3.98) (0.56) (1.51) 0.00 0.47 0.00 0.00 (0.14) 0.00 (5.88) (0.12) 3.80

103,000,000 45,000 31,300 200,000 21,100 5,000 212,000 6,800 58,150,000 170,000 5,240,000 30,000 2,600,000 81,400,000 295,000 5,345,900 3,053,000 30,000 146,000 5,800,000 139,000 101,500 4,733,000 120,700,000 892,360 616,500

(0.32) (0.08) 0.39 0.00 0.00 (0.94) 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00

222,990 30,000 1,460 57,000 2,237,000 1,000 240 83,660 98,090 7,000

0.00

118,000

2.06 (0.72) 2.85 0.33

6,965,500 400 980 532,600

2,030,664.00

(0.63)

21,220

149,230.00

76,110.00 (167,069,065.00) 554,000.00 (3,744,600.00)

(2,037,440.00) (1,725,650.00) (17,701,908.00)

MST

Trading Summary FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SHARES 16,171,911 72,859,630 86,481,859 83,949,079 85,497,528 393,014,111 745,494,893

(277,200.00) (57,035,613.00) (1,130,147.50)

1,572,320.00 23,295,720.00 33,748,130.00

6,600.00

(80,831,590.00)

(54,000.00) 41,400.00 3,600.00

14,125.00 (1,063,910.00) (239,240.00)

1,067,925.00 (2,134,864.00) (13,663,213.00) 148,140.00

(73,994,295.00) 2,075,149.00

119,000.00

58,697,986.00 (1,597,296.00)

7,608,260.00 (4,495,215.00) 4,773,704.00

(7,254,710.00) (2,077,220.00)

868,000.00

1,457,026.00

(18,609,426.00)

393,000.00 (56,350.00)

(479,125,930.00)

1,877,652.00 (72,260,875.00) (28,160.00)

86,000.00 (21,750,930.00) (487,775.00) (38,608,414.00)

(84,845,005.00) 1,280,000.00 (7,543,721.00)

(3,090,515.00)

(539,462.00)

64,742,680.00

(250,290.00) (12,228,646.00) (110,576,960.00) (2,460.00) (2,412,427.00)

Abra Mining Apex `A’ Atlas Cons. `A’ Basic Energy Corp.

Benguet Corp `B’ Century Peak Metals Hldgs Coal Asia Dizon Ferronickel Geograce Res. Phil. Inc. Lepanto `A’ Lepanto `B’ Manila Mining `A’ Manila Mining `B’ Marcventures Hldgs., Inc. Nickelasia Nihao Mineral Resources Omico Oriental Peninsula Res. Oriental Pet. `A’ Petroenergy Res. Corp.

Philex `A’ PhilexPetroleum Philodrill Corp. `A’ Semirara Corp.

TA Petroleum

Double Dragon Makati Fin. Corp.

IRipple E-Business Intl Xurpas

T op g ainerS VALUE 1,223,586,517.99 2,228,043,245.98 1,365,142,551.47 679,754,834.776 834,745,065.59 429,208,522.619 6,837,298,368.68

STOCKS

FINANCIAL 1,792.94 (UP) 8.38 INDUSTRIAL 12,082.63 (DOWN) 213.59 HOLDING FIRMS 6,950.49 (DOWN) 32.96 PROPERTY 3,186.53 (UP) 32.71 SERVICES 2,124.28 (UP) 1.74 MINING & OIL 15,472.22 (DOWN) 34.59 PSEI 7,763.21 (DOWN) 53.06 All Shares Index 4,487.81 (DOWN) 28.11 Gainers: 71 Losers: 101; Unchanged: 57; Total: 229

24,000.00 16,617,810.00

(9,700,410.00)

(12,303,678.00) (77,400.00) (1,505,660.00)

4,393,290.00 (10,926,771.00) (20,887,170.00)

23,021,938.00

(18,400.00)

2,688,468.00 (14,350.00)

(8,816,662.00)

24,250.00

8,442,620.00 (396,000.00) (24,534,690.00) (20,383,980.00) 18,866,224.00 (4,057,680.00) (330,491.00) (3,250.00) 121,900.00 60,800.00

146,190.00

(9,083,160.00)

(10,500.00) (252,200.00) 33,862,605.00 71,840.00

29,800.00 (144,000.00) 75,835,310.00 27,840.00 (729,381.50)

(4,988,580.00)

2,277,806.00

T op L oSerS Close (P)

Change (%)

STOCKS

Close (P)

Change (%)

Benguet Corp `B'

8.0000

21.21

Manila Broadcasting

46.85

(31.36)

Phil H2O

4.4

18.28

Phil. Tob. Flue Cur & Redry

24.05

(22.42)

Crown Asia

2.41

9.05

Cirtek Holdings (Chips)

27.4

(10.02)

Imperial Res. `A'

7.00

7.69

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.

9.46

(9.73)

Liberty Flour

36.45

7.21

Natl. Reinsurance Corp.

0.98

(9.26)

Manila Mining `B'

0.0150

7.14

ATN Holdings B

0.31

(8.82)

Macroasia Corp.

2.13

6.50

Calata Corp.

4.23

(8.64)

Melco Crown

9.14

5.54

LMG Chemicals

2.55

(8.27)

Eastwest Bank

22.8

4.83

Keppel Holdings `B'

6.26

(7.67)

Manulife Fin. Corp.

820.00

4.46

ATN Holdings A

0.310

(7.46)

SATURDAY: MAY 9, 2015

B3

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

Cash manager.

M. Lhuillier Financial Services Inc., one of the Philippines’ largest financial institutions, teamed up with BDO Unibank Inc. for its cash management services. Shown during the signing ceremony are (from left) M. Lhuillier financial services division manager Cecilia Lumapas, M. Lhuillier executive vice president Michael Lhuillier, BDO senior vice president Emmanuel Narciso and BDO senior vice president and cash management services head Jaime Nasol.

ABS-CBN investing P7.5b Melco incurs net loss of P3b

By Jenniffer B. Austria CASINO operator Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp. incurred a net loss of P3 billion in the first quarter of the year, wider than the P970.1-million loss it booked in the same period last year, on higher expenses due to the development of the $1.2-billion City of Dreams Manila.

Melco said in a financial statement filed with the stock exchange it registered total net operating revenues of P2.34 billion in the January-March period, significantly higher than the P21.3-million revenues posted in the same period last year, following the opening of the integrated casino resort in December 2014.

Casino revenues accounted for 83 percent of total operating revenues at P1.95 billion while non-casino revenues, which contributed 17 percent to total net revenues, reached P388.6 million.

Melco Crown said average occupancy at the three hotels in City of Dreams, including Crown Towers Hotel, Nobu Hotel and Hyatt City, reached 76.2 percent in the first three months.

Operating expenses surged to P4.74 billion in the first quarter from only P430 million posted in the same period a year ago, mainly due to spending related to the opening of City of Dreams Manila.

By Darwin G. Amojelar

BROADCAST network ABS-CBN Corp. will spend up to P7.5 billion to complete 10 Hollywood-style sound stages in Bulacan province until 2016.

ABS-CBN chief finance officer Rolando Valdueza told reporters the company allotted P750 million per sound stage, including the cost of the land.

A sound stage or studio is a soundproof, hangar-like building used for television or film production.

“We are targeting 10 [soundstages] by next year, but

we are still working at least two soundstages at the early part of the year,” Valdueza said.

The network said it aimed to save around 65 percent to 75 percent in shooting location costs, with the construction of the modern sound stages.

About 80 percent of ABSCBN’s production is remote and only 20 percent is shot in studio,

the company said earlier.

The broadcast company, controlled by the Lopez family, was also in talks with foreign consultants to improve the quality of show production.

ABS-CBN reported a net income of P569 million in the January to March period, up 5.8 percent from the P538-million profit it booked in the same period last year.

Revenue rose 2.4 percent in the three-month period to P8.4 billion from P8.2 billion a year earlier.

Advertising revenues increased 3.5 percent to P4.3 billion from P4.1 billion while consumer sales

rose to P4.13 billion from P4.08 billion.

Valdueza said the company had started to move into the digital TV era, with the launching of ABS-CBN TV Plus in mid-February. He said digital TV was now being enjoyed by more than 300,000 households in Mega Manila, North Luzon and Cebu.

The network is also spending P500 million to expand digital TV networks in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan, Bacolod and Iloilo.

“If the market is very encouraging, maybe we can look at the other major cities and provinces,” Valdueza said.

Stock market declines; Security Bank leads gainers STOCKS fell for the third day, as foreign investors continued to withdraw funds in favor of exchange-traded funds tracking Chinese companies.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, dropped 53 points, or 0.7 percent, to close at 7,763.21 Friday. The gauge was still up 7.4 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also shed 28 points, or 0.6 percent, to settle at 4,487.81 on a value turnover of P6.8 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 101 to 71, while 57 issues were unchanged.

Foreign investors were net sellers of P957 million worth of stocks Friday. Foreign selling reached P4.2 billion, while foreign buying amounted to P3.3 billion.

Universal Robina Corp. emerged as the most active stock, with a value turnover of P1.16 billion.

URC, the food manufacturing unit of tycoon John Gokongwei, fell 5.2 percent to P202.

Security Bank Corp. was the biggest gainer among the 20 most active stocks, as it rose 1.2 percent

Foreign investors were net sellers of P957 million worth of stocks Friday.

to P169.40, after reporting that profit jumped 135 percent in the first quarter to P3.36 billion from a year ago.

BDO Unibank Inc., the largest lender, gained 0.9 percent to P111.20, while Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. advanced 0.5 percent to P2,836.

Meanwhile, other Asian markets traded broadly higher Friday, after a rally on Wall Street with investors focused on a US jobs report that will supply more clues about the strength of the

world’s top economy.

Tokyo was up 0.30 percent, Sydney climbed 0.61 percent, Seoul inched 0.07 percent higher, while Hong Kong added 0.62 percent.

Mainland Chinese markets also rose with Shanghai tacking on 0.84 percent ahead of the release of trade data for April which showed exports fell 6.2 percent year-on-year, a further sign of weakness in the world’s secondlargest economy.

Markets are gearing up for the US Labor Department’s jobs report Friday to gauge whether the economy is strong enough for the Federal Reserve to begin raising ultra-low interest rates.

US employers likely added 228,000 workers to non-farm payrolls last month, after a 126,000 increase in March, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

A positive reading would renew hopes for a rate hike later this year, after a batch of tepid US data earlier this week, including a disappointing employment report from payroll firm ADP. “There’s very little to drive

the markets ahead of the macro data,” said Andrew Sullivan, head of sales trading at Haitong International Securities Group in Hong Kong.

“We may see some caution into the close. The wage levels will probably be more closely watched for signs of inflation.”

On Wall Street, US stocks pushed higher Thursday as oil prices cooled and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba soared on strong sales.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 0.46 percent, the SP 500 gained 0.38 percent, while the Nasdaq jumped 0.53 percent.

Oil prices dived Thursday a day after hitting 2015 highs as worries about global oversupply reemerged with traders scrutinising a mixed US inventories report.

On Friday, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June was down nine cents to $58.85 a barrel, while Brent North Sea crude for June, the European benchmark, was up two cents to $65.56 a barrel.

With Bloomberg, AFP

SATURDAY: MAY 9, 2015

B4

BUSINESS business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

In BrIef

AEV’s profit dips

CONGLOMERATE Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. ended the first quarter with a consolidated income of P4.1 billion, down seven percent year-on-year, and a flat core profit.

The power business contributed 79 percent to AEV’s income in the first three months of 2015, while the profit share of the banking, food and property units accounted for 9 percent, 10 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

The income contribution of Aboitiz Power Corp. rose 4 percent to P3.3 billion from P3.2 billion a year ago.

The power business unit posted a one percent year-on-year decline in earnings share to P3.3 billion from P3.4 billion, when adjusted for non-recurring items.

Aboitiz Power, in a separate disclosure, said consolidated net income reached P4.3 billion in the first quarter, up 4 percent on-year.

Alena Mae S. Flores

More rice mills eyed

THE Agriculture Department said Friday it plans to establish more rice storage facilities and upgrade existing ones through the publicprivate partnership scheme.

“In areas where the private sector is reluctant to invest, we will take the lead,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Alcala said the department planned to put up rice mills near production areas to lessen transportation time and cost.

Collapsible drying facilities are also being eyed for distribution to farmer cooperatives.

The department aims to improve the postharvest stage in rice production to address cost issues.

Alcala added the agency would also promote new cost-effective technologies to increase the milling recovery rate of rice.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

Globe, du team up

GLOBE Telecom Inc. has expanded its footprint overseas by teaming up with a Middle Eastern telecom company.

Globe, a unit of conglomerate Ayala Corp., said its alliance with Emirates Integrated Telecommunications, known as du, would allot it to launch a co-branded telecom service for Filipino migrant workers.

“There are close to one million [migrant workers] in the [United Arab Emirates], and we at Globe have endeavored to forge ties with a top telecommunications company like du to provide Filipinos abroad with better, more accessible means to call home,” Gil Genio, Globe executive vice president and chief operating officer for international and business markets, said.

This is Globe Telcom’s sixth cobranded partnership after Saudi Arabia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, complementing robust retail presence in the US, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Financial literacy. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando M. Tetangco Jr. (left) stresses the importance of financial literacy for millennials during the Financial Literacy Summit on April 15, 2015 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Millennials, or those aged 15 to 34 years old, make up 35 percent of the Philippine population and 47.8 percent of the workforce. Financial capability for this generation is important as they are and will be moving to be key decision makers in business and industry. With Tetangco at the panel are (from left) Canada’s Financial Consumer Agency Commissioner Lucie Tedesco, Australia’s Parliament Secretary Steven Ciobo and Haiti’s Banque de la République d’Haiti executive board member Georgette Jean-Louis.

SMC may sell beer unit for an ‘outrageous price’

By Jenniffer B. Austria

CONGLOMERATE San Miguel Corp. said Friday it may consider selling its stake in beer unit to its joint venture partner Japan’s Kirin Holdings Co. Inc. for an “outrageous price.”

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang declined to say the “outrageous offer,” adding San Miguel Brewery had a value of $6 billion.

“The value is $6 billion. I have no idea about the outrageous price they might offer,” Ang told reporters at the sidelines of the annual stockholders’ meeting of San Miguel Pure Foods Co. Inc. San Miguel owns 51 percent of SMB while Kirin holds the balance.

Kirin earlier said it would seriously consider and make its own valuation of SMB if parent San Miguel decided to sell its stake in

the unit.

Ang said the company’s beer business had been providing stable earnings for the conglomerate in the past few years.

He said SMB posted a 20-percent increase in net income in the first quarter of 2015 on strong volume growth. The company will release the actual figures Monday.

Pure Foods, meanwhile, may be interested in venturing into the branded snack food, condiments and noodles businesses to expand its food manufacturing business.

Pure Foods chairman Eduardo

Cojuangco Jr. said in a speech during the stockholders’ meeting the company was on the lookout for new acquisitions in new businesses.

“We are now in the best position to take advantage of the opportunities in the food manufacturing industry,” Cojuangco said.

Pure Foods last year acquired local buscuit maker La Pacita Pure Foods in the first quarter reported a seven percent increase in net income to P911 million on the back of higher volumes, better selling prices and the strong performance of core brands.

Consolidated revenues in the first three months of the year reached P25.1 billion, up four percent over the same period last year.

Operating income rose 10 percent to P1.47 billion, driven by the strong performance of the flour and feeds businesses.

Pure Foods is a leading food producer in the Philippines with a highly diversified product portfolio that includes animal feeds, poultry and fresh meats, processed and canned meats, flour, spreads, butter, margarine, coffee and ice cream.

Max’s Group swung to net profit of P140.2m in Q1

By Jenniffer B. Austria

RESTAURANT chain operator Max’s Group Inc. swung back to a profit of P140.2 million in the the first three months of 2015 from a loss of P23.8 million year-on-year, as the company started to reap the benefits of its recent acquisition of Pancake House Inc. Max’s Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange consolidated revenues increased 159 percent in the first quarter to P2.4 billion on-year.

Max’s Group’s first-quarter performance covers the financial results of operations of the Pancake House Group and the Max’s Group restau-

rant brands.

“We are now seeing the results of our transformative efforts in 2014. As we continue to rationalize operations across our stable of brands, we are determined to gain more ground and sustain this momentum moving forward,” Max’s Group president and chief executive Robert Trota said.

Store sales, which comprised the bulk of revenues, grew six percent to P2.05 billion year-on-year.

Franchise income rose 40 percent to P91.93 million from P65.54 million in the same period last year.

The Max’s Group opened 10 outlets in the first four months of 2015, including

three overseas. It opened a fourth Max’s Restaurant in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates and another branch in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.

Pancake House, meanwhile, now has eight outlets in Malaysia, including the addition of a new store in Kuala Lumpur.

The Max’s Group as of end-April has a total of 543 branches.

The company plans to open 80 to 90 new branches this year and accelerate the rollout pace of the stores in the next quarter.

“We remain confident in our plans to broaden our international footprint by positioning some of our brands as

mainstream products in new markets,” Trota said.

Trota said the company would continue to evaluate underperforming stores and streamline the base of operations, primarily in the supply chain, marketing and support services.

“While 1Q results reflect that we are already benefiting from these activities, we are still expecting to realize a sizable portion of cost savings derived from operational efficiencies and synergies within this year,” Trota said.

The initiative gives the company the flexibility to divert resources into other value-accretive activities leading to margin improvement.

S AT U R D AY : M AY 9, 2 0 1 5

B5

CESAR BARRIOQUINTO EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

WORLD

War veteran. This picture taken on May 7 shows World War Two veteran Sardar Akylbekov, 93, drinking tea at his house in the village of Tok-Bay, some 20 km of Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkerk. Kyrgyzstan will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in World War II on May 9. AFP

US Senate to review nuke deal WASHINGTON—The US Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Thursday giving Congress the right to review and perhaps even reject any nuclear deal with Iran, the culmination of weeks of wrangling over how to hold Tehran to account.

The bill passed 98-1 after overcoming initial objections from President Barack Obama. It comes amid intense negotiations between world powers and Iran on a deal intended to prevent Teheran’s development of a nuclear weapon in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions.

“We worked hard to create a great bipartisan balance,” said the measure’s chief author, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker.

Republican Tom Cotton was the lone member voting in op-

position to legislation that would give lawmakers at least 30 days to review any final Iran accord.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where it has the support of the chamber’s Republican leaders.

According to White House spokesman Eric Schultz, Obama “said he would sign the legislation in its current form.”

If it goes through, it would also prevent Obama from easing economic sanctions against Tehran during the review period. The legislation would also compel

the president to assert to Congress every 90 days that Iran was complying with the deal.

Lawmakers would have the ability to support or oppose the nuclear pact by voting for or against lifting congressionally imposed sanctions on Iran.

Should Congress pass a resolution opposing the accord, Obama would have 12 days to veto it. If he does, Congress would have 10 more days to override the veto.

Democrats and Republicans alike said it was vital to assert congressional oversight over the nuclear deal.

“This is important because this president has shown a predisposition to go it alone,” number two Senate Republican John Cornyn said.

US lawmakers “cannot be frozen out of the debate and the

decision-making when it comes to something as important as an Iranian nuclear negotiation,” he added.

“Our goal is to stop a bad agreement that could pave the way to a nuclear-armed Iran (and) set off a regional nuclear arms race,” said House Speaker John Boehner in applauding the bill’s Senate passage.

Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, the bill’s chief co-sponsor with Corker, said Congress, and not the executive branch, should determine whether it is appropriate to lift the sanctions that have hurt Iran’s economy.

“Sanctions relief is not a given and it is not a prize for signing on the dotted line,” Menendez said.

Obama, who had wanted unfettered negotiation pow-

ers with Tehran, lifted his veto threat when it became clear the bill had strong support from Democrats.

But the measure ran into difficulty in recent weeks when conservative senators moved to add amendments, including one by 2016 presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio that would require Tehran to publicly acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as part of the final agreement.

Such an amendment would likely pass, but Democrats warned it would kill the bill and perhaps prompt Iran to walk away from negotiations.

Mindful of the threat of a presidential veto, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked such amendments from being considered. AFP

Monkey’s name Charlotte to stay TOKYO—A Japanese zoo that caused a furor by naming a baby monkey after Britain’s Princess Charlotte has been told to stick to its guns by the local mayor after two days of fraught debate.

Mt Takasaki Wild Monkey Park in Oita was flooded with complaints after announcing Wednesday that the public had voted for a newborn macaque to be called Charlotte, just days after Britain’s royal family named its newest member.

With the story making headlines around the world on Thursday, the zoo offered an apology for any offense caused to the daughter of

Prince William and his wife Kate.

More than 500 people got in touch with the monkey park over two days to voice an opinion on the name, with early correspondents urging them to drop it.

“Initially opinions were mostly complaints saying it is disrespectful to the British people, then voices supporting the name began to increase, with some saying it was okay because the baby monkey is cute,” an official in Oita, southwestern Japan, said.

As the controversy raged online, on television and in the newspapers, local offi-

cials even sought the opinion of the British embassy in Tokyo—who offered no comment—before Mayor Kiichiro Sato ended the confusion with a definitive ruling.

“I think the public gave it the very pretty name Charlotte, and I don’t think there is any problem with it, so we’ll go with Charlotte,” Sato told reporters.

Japanese society places great emphasis on not offending anybody in an effort to maintain “wa” or harmony.

This frequently results in the kind of paralysis of the decision-making process—two days of debate—witnessed here. AFP

Official visit. Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews an honor guard upon his arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo II Government airport on May 8. AFP

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WORLD

cesar barrioquinto EDITOR

editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Google’s ‘campus’ in Seoul SEOUL—Google formally opened its first Asian start-up “campus” in Seoul on Friday —a marquee-name nod to South Korea’s aspirations as a regional hub for a new generation of tech entrepreneurs.

Opened by President Park Geun-Hye who has touted establishing a “creative economy” as a key policy for her administration, Campus Seoul is housed in the capital’s upscale Gangnam district which has become a focal point for the Korean start-up community.

As well as providing a space for people to work and network, it offers mentoring and training by Google teams and experienced entrepreneurs, as well as access to other start-up communities in Asia and beyond.

“We feel we’re at a tipping point where Korean start-ups will begin going global,” said Jeffrey Lim, who heads the Seoul Campus operations.

It’s a point that has been touted as tipping for some time, nudged by a highly educated, hard-working community in a country with some of the world’s fastest broadband speeds and highest smartphone penetration rates.

But despite the domestic success of some start-ups, Korean firms have struggled to take their products to the global market.

There are a variety of reasons, including a lack of funding and know-how, well-intentioned but overly regulated government involvement, and the absence of any real role models.

There are also challenges that are particular to South Korea because of its recent history.

The Asian financial crisis that rocked the country in the late 1990s and the bursting of an initial dotcom boom in 2001 served to reinforce the widely held view that taking risks and running your own business was to invite volatility, insecurity and potential bankruptcy.

“When bright, young Korean graduates want to create their own start-ups, the biggest challenge they face is often their parents,” said Lim. AFP

Ready for toasting. Champagne is displayed at the NYLON Young Hollywood Party presented by BCBGeneration at HYDE Sunset: Kitchen + Cocktails on May 7 in West Hollywood, California. AFP

Louis Vuitton makes a splash in Palm Springs PALM SPRINGS—Luxury brand Louis Vuitton lured a bevy of stars to the California desert to see its latest cruise collection by Nicolas Ghesquiere—further evidence of the Los Angeles area’s rise on the world fashion scene.

An A-list audience of about 500—from legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve to rapper Kanye West to LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault—trekked to the Bob and Dolores Hope Estate in Palm Springs for the glittering event.

Their hair flowing in the wind, towering models strolled between the chairs set up on the estate’s patio, sporting long flared gowns in muted desert hues, with cut-outs at the hips, belts and studs, or lace accents.

Other models wore jumpsuits or rompers in patterns that sometimes evoked Native American

fabrics.

The estate—a concrete structure with circular and futuristic shapes—is considered an architectural masterpiece dating back to 1973 and designed by American John Lautner.

“What inspired me very much is the contrast in this home between a certain brutalist exterior—it is very radical—and the softer, more decorative items inside,” Ghesquiere told AFP at the event late Wednesday.

Ghesquiere—the man behind the revival of Balenciaga who moved to Louis Vuitton in late 2013, replacing Marc Jacobs—said he imagined “a community of women that live in the desert.”

With fluid silhouettes, and some outfits in leather, he said he “almost wanted to create confusion” among materials by favoring the idea of “movement, which is

important for Vuitton—a woman who moves.”

Before the show, guests were received inside the home, where models dressed glam-rock style— think David Bowie—formed a living sculpture.

Louis Vuitton is the third major luxury brand this year to hold a show in California, after Tom Ford and Burberry staged shows that drew high-wattage stars from the film and music worlds.

Just as Palm Springs is experiencing a bit of a jet-set renaissance, California is back on the fashion map.

“In the 1950s, Palm Springs was the symbol of things modern. After that it faded, but there is now a true rebirth,” Louis Vuitton chief executive Michael Burke told AFP. “New York is a world capital of culture but very strongly tied to

Europe. For the whole world, it is California that represents what is modern in America,” he added.

Saint Laurent designer Hedi Slimane lives and works in Los Angeles, and Ford lives in LA part-time. American designers Monique Lhuillier and the Mulleavy sisters of Rodarte launched their labels in California.

“Fashion caters to celebrities, the new icons and trend setters of our society,” said Cecilia Dean, cofounder of the fashion magazine Visionaire.

“A lot of fashion is impregnating the city,” she added. “It is not the city of sweatpants anymore.”

Cruise collections have sometimes been given short shrift in the fashion world. They are shown between the industry’s main seasons—spring and autumn—and in the past were limited in scope. AFP

Held for cashing dead parents’ pension TOKYO—An 86-year-old Japanese woman who allegedly carried on cashing her parents’ pension for half a century after they died had been arrested, police said Friday.

Mitsue Suzuki is believed to have collected more than 50 million yen ($420,000) over the last five decades for her parents, who would now be among the world’s oldest people if they hadn’t died in the 1960s.

The case is the latest in a series in Japan where welfare payments have continued long after someone’s death.

In some instances, claimants

have lived with the corpse of their late relative in order to keep cashing the checks.

Suzuki’s alleged crime came to light when a pensions agency official contacted the local authority in Gifu, central Japan, to ask after the health of a woman who was 110 and her 112-year-old husband.

The world’s oldest man is 112-year-old Sakari Momoi.

But Gifu officials said both had long since died—and they had been given death certificates in the 1960s.

An officer at Gifu Prefectural Police told AFP Suzuki had been

arrested on Thursday for allegedly receiving 2.6 million yen between April 2013 and December 2014.

Detectives are examining whether they can expand this time period to cover more alleged claims without falling foul of the statute of limitations.

Suzuki has denied any wrongdoing, the officer said.

With its aging population, Japan is no stranger to pension fraud. In 2010, police arrested a family in Tokyo for allegedly collecting 18 million yen in pension payments in the 30 years after the death of Sogen Kato. AFP

Onstage.

Bella Porter performs at the Coalition for Engaged Education 2nd Annual Poetic Justice 2015 fundraiser event on May 7 in Santa Monica, California.

AFP

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PROPERTY jdlacsamana@gmail.com

JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR

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‘RIVER AMCHAM’. Students from various universities and colleges joined a week-long annual event organized recently by the American Chamber Philippines Business Leadership Program (BLP) as part of its 13th anniversary. The students visited companies, met with CEOs, and sweated over a mentored business project – all of which were aimed at helping them increase their awareness on the multinational business landscape of the Philippines. In photo are the students and Rick Santos (Center), vice president of AmCham Philippines.

ABOVE BOARD HOMES. James Hardie recently released Sustaina board, a new product in its HardieFlex fiber cement boards line for peaople on the lookout for good products to build their homes.

James Hardie pioneered fiber cement manufacturing in the late 1980s, and currently operates modern facilities in several countries, including a regional production facility in Cabuyao, Laguna.

James Hardie building materials are low in VOCs (Volatie Organic Compounds), contain no asbestos, and are made from unbleached pine wood pulp from sustainable plantation timber, Thus, no pollutants and toxic substances for safer, more energy-efficient homes.

GREENHILLS REDUX. Ortigas & Co., recently completed the structural works of Viridian, its 53-storey residential tower located at Metro Manila’s destination of halcyon shopping and entertainment memories, Greenhills Shopping Center.

The contemporary-classical structure, at the corner of Connecticut and Missouri Streets, enjoyed robust sales since its launch in 2012. Multi-Development and Construction Corporation (MDCC) is currently doing the project’s architectural fit-out. RTKL, a Los Angeles-based consulting firm, did the original design plan. At the topping-off ceremonies were Joey Santos, (fifth from left) general manager of the real estate division, Ish Ortigas Montilla, Miren Ortigas-Padilla, Chari Montilla, DMCI EVP; Edilberto C. Palisoc, DMCI president; Jorge Consuji, Marga Ortigas, Fernando Ortigas, DMCI VP; Luis C. Pastor, GM of the shopping center division; Cathy Casares-Ko, and CFO Davee Zuñiga.

MEGAWORLD TO OPEN TWO NEW HOTELS IN 2015

M

egaworld is opening two new hotels in Metro Manila and Iloilo.

Richmonde Hotel Iloilo will occupy eight levels of the 12-storey Richmonde Tower in the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. It is set to open in June this year, and will have 151 guest rooms.

Megaworld commissioned architectural firm Gettys to design the hotel’s façade, grand lobby, restaurant and guest rooms.

“We are bringing a new hotel experience for Iloilo where business meets pleasure,” said Carmen Fernando, managing director, Prestige Hotel & Resorts, Inc., the management company of Richmonde Hotel Iloilo.

Megaworld will open another hotel in the 25-hectare Newport City, at Resorts World Manila.

The Belmont Hotel Newport, just right in front of the Marriot and near Resorts World Manila, will stand 10-storeys high with 480 suites.

“The Belmont will primarily cater to business travellers,” said Francisco Canuto, senior vice president, Megaworld.

Last year, Megaworld chairman Dr. Andrew L. Tan announced that his group will be building hotels around the country with a total of 12,000 rooms, in tandem with its sister company, Travellers International Hotel Group

The Belmont Newport

The Richmonde Hotel Iloilo

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JOEL D. L ACSAMANA EDITOR jdlacsamana@gmail.com

PROPERTY

A bit of a flutter, just what the doctor ordered.

BETS ARE ON FOR PH REAL ESTATE, GAMING SECTOR

A

Casino boom scenario is hovering over the Philippines as more foreign firms place their bets on the Southeast Asian nation that has attracted increasing numbers of the wealthy overseas high rollers and big spenders.

Investor confidence in the industry, and in local real estate, is seen to improve in 2015, even as a local mega-casino recently reported its first annual profit on the back of half a billion dollars in revenues, strengthening the Southeast Asian nation’s bid to become one of the world’s biggest gambling hubs.

Bloomberry Resorts, which operates the Solaire Resort and Casino, said it posted a 4.072-billion-peso ($91-million) net profit in 2014, compared with a loss of 1.315 billion pesos in the previous year.

STEADY FUNDAMENTALS The steady macroeconomic fundamentals of the country, and boost in the purchasing power of the market, have ostensibly encouraged multinational companies to invest in different real estate sectors – office, residential, retail, industrial, commercial, and most recently, gaming. Real estate services provider CBRE Philippines described the gaming sector as the current ‘Sunshine Market’ in the industry.

With several casinos coming online in the coming years, the gaming industry in the Philippines is expected to flourish.

Said Fitch Ratings, in its “Eye in the Sky Series: Philippines,” the new gaming complex, or Entertainment City of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., could drive the growth of the sector.

Strong revenues are expected in 2015 through other licensed players including Travellers International Hotel Group,

BY JOEL LACSAMANA

Bloomberry Resorts Corp., Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corp, and Tiger Resorts. Industry analysts see double-digit revenues as all of the licensed casino operators commence their business.

INFRASTRUCTURE GOING SOUTH US-based Sino-American Gaming Investment Group and Macau Resources Group Ltd. recently announced they were in talks with Philippine state gaming regulators on the possibility of building two new resortdestination casinos outside Metro Manila with an estimated investment of as much as $1 billion.

One of the casinos would rise in Cebu while the other near a proposed airport in Napayawan, Masbate.

Sino-American Gaming is reportedly planning to bring its hotel chain Banyan Tree Group to the Philippines to form part of its proposed casino development. The proponents are also looking to recruit the Marriott hotel group to complete the hotel component of the project.

Apart from this, Sino-American plans to tap an unidentified Las Vegas company to provide entertainment.

If the plan goes through, the Philippines will be successful in luring another global casino operator which will further heat up competition in the fast-growing gambling market.

BULLISH AS CAN BE “We are bullish on the growth of the real estate – gaming sector especially when private and public entities focus on developments and implementations that will favor investors,” said Rick Santos, chairman of of CBRE Philippines.

Santos added that new gaming attractions will help the country draw tourists from frequently visiting neighboring cities like Macau, whose casino operators are currently experiencing a slump in revenues as China’s corruption crackdown puts a dent in revenues.

Solaire’s revenues doubled to 24.122 billion pesos from 2013, according to Bloomberry Resorts Solaire, owned by Filipino billionaire and port magnate Enrique Razon, is one of the first of four billion-dollar casinos planned on a strip fronting Manila Bay dubbed Entertainment City.

The huge casinos are the centrepiece of the Philippines’ campaign to rival Las Vegas and Singapore as one of the world’s biggest gambling destinations, after the Chinese enclave of Macau, the industry’s capital.

Analysts said Solaire’s nearly half billion dollars in revenue, in only its second year, showed the Philippines could achieve its goal.

“There’s nowhere to go but up, considering the attractiveness of this sunrise industry.... we’ve just started to attract the high rollers,” said First Grade Holdings managing director Astro del Castillo.

Earlier this year, a second casino called City of Dreams, a joint venture between Australian billionaire James Packer and Lawrence Ho, son of Macau gambling mogul Stanley Ho, opened at Entertainment City.

Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada has targeted a 2016 opening for his casino, while Filipino tycoon Andrew Tan and Malaysian billionaire Lim Kok Thay will open theirs in 2018.

Last year, Caesars Entertainment, the largest American casino operator, said it

was seeking a licence to build a fifth megacasino in the Philippines.

Gaming revenue in the Philippines reached $2.5 billion last year, according to the nation’s industry regulator.

The Philippines is targeting $7 billion dollars, roughly the levels of Singapore and Las Vegas, by 2020, according to Cristino Naguiat, chairman of the country’s gaming board.

TOURISM’S ROLE The Philippines can maximize its resources by developing entertainment complexes that are well-integrated with commercial, leisure, and gaming spaces. CBRE said developers can opt for a holistic approach, taking into consideration the strength of the Philippines as a top tourist destination.

The Department of Tourism indicated that visitor arrivals reached 456,524 this February, which is 8.02% higher than the February 2014 arrivals of 422,631.

“Tourism plays a hand in the development of the gaming sector as the Philippines goes beyond the casinos,” said Santos.

The downturn in Macau, the world’s largest gambling market, has benefited mid-sized markets such as Korea and the Philippines as Chinese gamblers flock to new casino destinations with fewer restrictions.

The Philippines may become the next most attractive gambling hub in Asia given its proximity to a range of key tourism markets. It earned $2.5 billion in revenues in 2014, up 16 percent from the previous year.

Within a three-year scenario, Macquarie Research sees the Philippine gaming industry growing by 20 percent to hit $4.8 billion.