Edge Davao 9 Issue 152

VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PRIDE OF R-12. President Duterte commends outstanding police officers at the Police Regional Office-12 during his visit to the headquarters in General Santos City on Friday. SIMEON CELI/ PPD

LTFRB DAVAO MOST CORRUPT

3 big boxes full of questionable folders –Delgra

By Antonio M. Ajero, Tiziana Celine S. Piatos JUDGING FROM the volume of folders containing cases of questionable transactions, the regional office in Davao of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) could have been the most corrupt in the country.

This was bared by LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III during a press conference last Saturday at a hotel near a big mall at the Ecoland area.

Delgra was accompanied

by LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada and LTFRB region 11 officer in charge TeresitaIniguez.

The LTFRB head said three big boxes full of questionable documents involving transactions in LTFRB 11 based in Davao City are now being scrutinized by an audit team brought in by the LTFRB chief to conduct spot audit of regional offices.

Other regions have only

two boxes, if not one half boxes of folders containing illegal issuances of franchise, Delgra said.

Most of the questionable cases in Region 11 happened during the period from 2011 to 2015, it was learned.

Delgra said aside from the erring LTFRB officials, operators holding the questionable franchises will also suffer the legal consequences.

Delgra’s visit to regional offices is continuing to identify area-specific problems faced by operators and the riding public nationwide.

There is corruption in regional offices, he said, citing such examples as “franchise=for-sale schemes, taxi drivers and operators violating the laws and some regional directors collaborating with fixers to process papers.”

Board member Aileen Liz-

ada said their team discovered that previous regional directors in Region 1 and 3 were collaborating with fixers.

Several officials, however, have resigned or retired amid investigation on different regional offices’ alleged illegal issuance of franchises.

“Our audit team found several case folders with questionable franchise issuances,” Delgra said.

Delgra pointed out that the franchise folders brought to LTFRB’s Central Office in Manila are still being scrutinized.

While in Mindanao, Lizada said that the officials will be focusing on addressing inefficiency and corruption in LTFRB-Region 11 “We have to clean our own backyard before going out [in fixing other regions]” she said.

Among the changes to be

prioritized in all LTFRB offices was the cutting back on the processing time for transactions, lessening the requirements for certain transactions and reshuffling of officials.

“We will scrap the transactions that are a hassle to the applicant,” he said.

Delgra added that they will redefine the system which includes requiring applicants to go back and forth from one regional office to another to obtain permits.

Delgra added the LTFRB is also aiming to have cashless transactions in Region 11 office by 2017 and will complete a comprehensive review on moratoriums issued this year.

Delgra declined to provide details on the case of former LTFRB-XI director Benjamin Go, but said they had talked with Go personally.

Mindanao solon wants surfing to be a focus sport for 2020 Tokyo Olympics

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

Saying that the inclusion of surfing in Olympic Games is a welcome development for the Philippines because it is a sport in which Filipinos can excel and dominate in the international scene, a Mindanao solon on Friday said he already asked the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to make the water sport a focus for the Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan which will be held in 2020.

Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II of Surigao del Norte 1st District said he was elated when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced after the Rio Olympics that surfing will be included in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The country, Rep. Matugas said, has the potential in winning the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics, particularly in surfing.

He noted the Philippines now has the disciplined surfers who have competed and dominated surfing competi-

tions in the world.

The country has also world class surfing spots, such as the Cloud 9 in General Luna in Siargao Island that could serve as venues to hone the skills and broaden the experiences of Filipino surfers, he added.

Rep. Matugas joined House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea during the opening of the 22nd Siargao International Surfing Cup in General Luna town on Friday, Sept. 23.

A total of 56 professional surfers from various countries, including the Philippines, will compete in the annual tournament that will end on Sept. 29.

Prior to the event, Rep. Matugas delivered a privilege speech in the House last Monday, Sept. 19 and immediately filed Resolution No. 376 that urged the PSC and POC to focus on surfing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; to facilitate the recognition of the relevant national sports associa-

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DAVAO’S HEROES. Firefighters from Davao City Central 911 attempt to extinguish a fire that was devouring shanties in Salmonan, Brgy. 23-C Quezon Boulevard, Davao City on Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

LTFRB proposes ‘cashless’ transaction system

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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cashless transaction system will be introduced by the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central office by next quarter to eradicate corruption in the agency.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra sai that they have tapped a private company to put in place the cashless transaction business concept in the agency.

Delgra said that through the new system, he hopes to

see the eradication of corrupt practices in the agency.

“We will do a trial in the central office on the cashless transaction, what they need to do is to tap the card instead of handing money to LTFRB personnel, by that we can eliminate corruption,” he said.

Through the cashless transaction, people can transact even in the confines of their home.

LTFRB Board Member Atty. Aileen Lizada said they want to establish a better sys-

Davao courts dispose of old records of cases

By RIA VALDEZ

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ORE THAN 20 salas of Regional Trials Courts and Municipal Trial Courts and Cities holding office in the Hall of Justice (HOJ) along Candelaria St. fronting the Davao City Ecoland Terminal got rid of truckloads of useless files by selling them to businessman who won in a bidding.

Judge Emmanuel Carpio, executive judge of the Regional Trial Court, told Edge Davao the disposition of these files was directed by the Supreme Court through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) to decongest their court offices for their comfort.

The disposition covered

by OCA Circular No. 14-2016 issued by the Supreme Court for the disposition and/or de-

struction of long-decided cases and unneeded documents and papers, took one half day.

The useless documents darting as far back as the 1950’s were sold to a businessman engaged in recycling business at the rate of P3.05 a kilo. Mario Constantino won the sealed bidding participated by five bidders.

According to lawyer Francisco Campaner, RTC lerk of court, the files had undergone a bidding in front of the executive judge, vice executive judge, and two representatives from Commission on Audit (COA) where the highest bidder gave the price of P3.50 per kilo for the documents.

“After they are weighed, they can be disposed,” said

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tem which the next administration can continue to implement.

Lizada said she is hoping that when the next administration assumes power, the new and improved LTFRB system is already in place wherein corruption is non-existent.

“Chairman Delgra and I were just appointed in this position. We will later on be exchanged when the next administration will come, so what we are doing now is we are putting up systems so by the time we

leave, whoever sits in the position everything is in place,” she said.

Lizada, a former officer in the Office of the Ombudsman-Mindanao, said the agency’s leadership are determined to clean up the agency and boost the morale of honest employees.

She said the agency will go beyond checking the Statements of Assets, liabilities, Net worth (SALN) and even the income tax returns of LTFRB employees to make sure they are not involved in corrupt practices.

Meanwhile, an automatic fare collection system was proposed by the LTFRB among Region 11 transport operators on Saturday.

Delgra said that under the system, the riding public will have a stored value card which they can use to electronically pay their fare.

“I am appealing to the riding public to avail on the benefits of the stored value card, through this the drivers don’t need to give change to their passengers and it will lessen

the danger of robbery since they don’t need to bring money,” he said.

LTRFB 11 Regional Director Atty. Teresita Yniguez, said operators in the Davao region welcome the proposal.

“They are optimistic with the idea since it will lessen the danger of hold up since the drivers don’t need to bring money with them,” she said.

If the project will be approved, it will be the first of its kind to be implemented outside Metro Manila, Delgra said.

again slammed those who have criticized his war against the illegal drug trade, asking, “Why do you have to attribute all the killings in Metro Manila to the police and me [when] as a matter of fact there are several gangster police generals included [in the trade]?”

However, Garbo, Loot and other active police officers who were mentioned in the president’s latest drug list have denied their involvement in the illicit drug trade.

According to Duterte, the dead bodies of drug suspects wrapped in sacks or plastics are not the handiwork of the police, as it is not their job to “make mummies.”

“Why would we waste our time wrapping a body with…to make mummies out of those…kaya ako galit,” he added.

The President stressed, “The government did not sanction the extrajudicial killings.”

He also hit back at international human rights groups, as well as the United Nations, European Union, and United States of America for not understanding the scope of drug problem in the country.

President Duterte said “Marumi raw ang bunganga ko -- kasi tarantado kayo.”

“You are also bulls**ting us nga hindi pa nga nila alam kung sino ang nagpapatayan,” Duterte added.

Rody to critics: Don’t blame me on EJKs

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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resident Duterte on Friday has accused drug syndicates and corrupt police officers for orchestrating the spate of extrajudicial killings that have placed his administration’s human rights record in a bad light.

Speaking before member of the Philippine National Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) in General Santos City on Friday, the President said it is the syndicates who are killing each other’s members in what he described as a “silencing stage” in an effort to cover up their tracks and pin the blame on government.

President Duterte asked, “If some people are blaming the deaths on

us [some policemen and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa], then how stupid can you really get?”

The President pointed out that even high-ranking police officials had been linked to the narcotics trade.

The Chief Executive cited retired police officials Deputy Dir. Gen. Marcelo Garbo and Chief Supt. Vicente Loot as among the top protectors of drug lords in the PNP who were included in his drug matrix.

“Nagpapatayan sila kung sino ang pumiyait [squeal on] kay Garbo, sino ang pumiyait kay Loot?”

Duterte said.

President Duterte once

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Lacson: Matobato a hitman, but for whom?

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itness Edgar Matobato could in fact be a hitman, but it was also possible he did not necessarily work for President Duterte as he claimed, Senator Pampilo “Ping” Lacson said on Saturday.

Lacson made this point in a radio interview reiterating that Matobato, who claimed to be a former member of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), had several inconsistencies in the recently-concluded Senate hearing into extrajudicial killings on Thursday (Sept 22).

“Sabihin nating hitman pero hitman para kanino?

Para sa personal na bagay?

O hitman na inuutusan ng sino? Di na natin malaman alin ang totoo (Let’s say he is really a hitman but for whom? For personal reasons? Or was he ordered by someone to kill?

We no longer know what is true),” Lacson said in a radio interview.

Lacson explained that Matobato earlier claimed that suspected terrorist Sali Makdum, one of DDS’ alleged victims, was killed upon orders of then Mayor Duterte.

However, Matobato denied that he earlier said that it was the President who personally gave orders to kill Makdum, but rather Duterte’s righthand-man, SPO4 Arthur Lascaña who told him the orders came from him.

Lacson also reiterated that Matobato still refused to name the person who brought him to the Senate to testify, while Senator

Leila de Lima reasoned the witness came to her.

“Bakit ganoon kasimple lang na sasabihin mong ‘ako nagprisinta riyan kasi may nakiusap sa akin ipirisinta?’ Di pwede basta sumulpot na lang yan na uupo na walang member ng committee o member ng Senado na magpiprisinta. (Is it that simple to say that ‘I presented him because someone asked me to present him? It cannot be that he would just show up and sit without any committee or member presenting him),” he added.

He meanwhile said that the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights planned to invite the lineup of police officers named by Matobato as responsible for several extrajudicial killings in Davao City from 1988 to 2013.

“Paguusapan yan ng member ng committee.

Kung matuloy ang lineup anong implication kung meron siyang makilala?

Automatic bang DDS yan pag naituro niya? Di natin pwede conclude na meron (We will talk about it in the committee. If we push through with the lineup, what will be the implication if the recognizes one of them? Will he automatically be a part of DDS if he identifies him? We cannot conclude that there is),” the senator said.

Asked how long the inquiry will last, Lacson said that he has yet to meet with other members of the committee to verify facts.

(PNA)

RODY THE SINGER. President Duterte sings a ballad at the Matina Enclaves in Davao City following his out-oftown engagement in General Santos City on Friday evening. RICHARD MADELO/ PPD

NYC calls on youth Advocate for LGBT rights

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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ational Youth Commission (NYC) Undersecretary Aiza Seguerra has encouraged the youth to actively promote gender sensitivity and advocate for the rights of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) community.

In his remarks at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) last Thursday, Seguerra shared his experiences as a transman, as he talked about the struggles of coming out and the challenges he and his wife, Liza, have gone through in their relationship.

“People said, especially those who have issues with us [couple], pwede ka namang

magpakababae,” he shared.

However, Seguerra explained that she and Diño were confronted with two choices: “stay in the closet or live freely.”

The couple chose the latter.

He noted that same-sex marriage, which has not yet been legalized in the Philippines, is a key issue that needs to be addressed.

“Ni minsan, hindi namin [naisip ni Liza] magpakasal sa simbahan,” the former child star lamented.

Seguerra recalled how he had to describe himself as ‘single’ in signing legal papers and how he could not write

his wife’s name in the said documents.

She is also saddened by the fact that he cannot be recognized as the father of their eight-year-old child.

“Hindi ako makakabyahe na ako lang ang kasama niya [child],” he said, since he is still considered as the child’s guardian.

Seguerra thus challenged the youth to help push for LGBT rights, and continue to promote a culture of love regardless of one’s gender.

He also urged members of the LGBT Community to ‘persevere’ in achieving their goals in life regardless of the obstacles that come their way.

Rody holds dialogue with PNP-12 officials

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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SURVIVAL MODE. Residents wade through filthy seawater while carrying their belongings including a refrigerator, as their neighborhood is being consumed by a fiery blaze in Salmonan, Brgy. 23-C Quezon Boulevard, Davao City on Friday afternoon. At least 20 houses were razed by fire. Lean Daval Jr.

In an interview, Khryzza Pinzon, an AdDU student of, was grateful that Seguerra was named as NYC Chairperson.

“He gave his time to speak not just about what NYC is, not just about LGBT, but shared even his most personal experiences,” she said.

Pinzon said she admired the NYC Undersecretary for his strength and candidness in speaking to the youth, particularly to members of the LGBT community.

AdDU will hold its first Pride Week from Sept. 26 to 30, featuring various activities to celebrate and raise awareness on the LGBT community.

fter President Duterte’s visit to Cagayan de Oro City, he proceeded to General Santos to dialogue with police officers there.

According to Police Supt.

Romeo Galco, information officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 12, the President had a closed door meeting with police officials and gave them a lecture on their duties and responsibilities as public servants.

“It was a rare opportunity for a president to do such thing,” Galco said, noting that President Duterte is the first Philippine CommanderIn-Chief to have a personal engagement with members of PRO-12.

He said the President has

never failed to motivate them to do their job to the best of their ability, and that is to serve and protect the people.

Galco noted the event provided the police force the opportunity to learn more from the President Duterte on how they can effectively enforce his marching orders to “catch all the criminals and illegal drug users.”

“Kung may kailangan pang idadagdag sa efforts namin dito, dadagdagan naming para matugunan ang panawagan ni President Duterte na linisin ang bansa mula sa droga at kriminalidad,” Galco explained.

Galco said he and his fellow officers fully support the President’s advocacy, as he pointed out the war against criminality and the illegal drug

trade is not only President Duterte’s personal agenda, but should be a concerted effort by all members of the community.

“We thank him [the President] that he took time to visit us here in General Santos City,” Galco said.

Galco vowed that he and his colleagues will perform well, as they respond to President Duterte’s call to build a better nation so that the next generation will have “a better and peaceful future.”

After the closed door meeting with the police officials, President Duterte awarded the twelve outstanding police officers of PRO12 and delivered a speech attended by personnel of the regional office.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • SUNDAY-MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

EDGEDAVAO Mayor Sarah:

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No solicitations for bomb victims

D ENTERPRISING. Media practitioners gather behind Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) concurrent Undersecretary Mario Luis Jacinto to take pictures of data in his Ipad during a news conference at SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

avao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio has issued a public warning against the unscrupulous individuals who are using her name to solicit money, the City Information Office said in a statement released to media.

On Saturday morning, the mayor was informed about a text message sent to a member of the House of Representatives from a person who introduced himself or herself as Charisma Jaranilla.

The text message reads: “I was instructed to get in touch with you because Mayor Sara would like to invite you for her fundraising event in Davao tonight. Also, you could support the fundraising event for the family of the bombing incident happened in Davao.”

Mayor Inday Sara reiter-

ated her previous warning that she has not authorized anyone to solicit money for the people of Batanes or for the victims of the Davao bomb explosion.

She also has not allowed fundraising activities to be held related to any of these incidents.

For the information of the public, donations for the victims of the Davao bombing were either directly received by families of the victims, by officials of the Davao City LGU, or deposited to the Davao City LGU’s official Land Bank of the Philippines account.

Mayor Inday Sara deplored the folly and heartlessness of some people and how they have taken advantage of a tragedy to financially benefit themselves. (CIO)

MANILA, Sept. 23 (PNA) -The European Union (EU) and United Nations (UN) rapporteurs should follow protocol once President Duterte decide to invite them to make their own investigation on the controversial extra judicial killings issue, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

DFA spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose bared this when asked if the Philippine government needs to talk first to UN and EU representatives before they can proceed with their investigation.

“Merong sinusunod na protocol yung mga UN special rapporteurs sa pagpunta nila sa ibang bansa sa pagconduct ng investigation at yun din ang susundin dito, yung agreed protocol na iyon, ” Jose told reporters covering DFA in a chance interview.

He clarified that EU and UN rapporteurs cannot just conduct investigations without proper coordination with the host country.

He said as host country, the Philippines could demand for the identity of the place and persons, and if both sides agreed, that would be the part of the official protocol to be followed.

To date, Jose said, they had not received any letter from

the Palace asking EU and UN rapporteurs to make another round of investigations.

He said they were still waiting for the official request from Malacanang, saying the DFA was tasked to post the letter to concerned parties.

The senior DFA official said he had no idea when they could receive the official request, but assured that once they received the requests, they would immediately transmit the message to the concerned parties .

He said his latest information was President Duterte had instructed Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to draft the letter of request.

He pointed out the letter would include the parameters of investigation which may become one of the bargaining chips of the Philippine government and be part of the protocol.

“Hihintayin natin ang ipadadalang letter na ipadadala, yung invitation, saka natin makikita kung ano ang magiging parameters ng investigation na gagawin nila,” he explained.

Meanwhile, EU in their emailed advisory to reporters said the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is due to review the Philippines on Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 28-29). (PNA)

Carpio, who heads the Regional Disposal Committee, adding that these files need not to be microfilmed.

What is left of the files, according to Carpio, would be the information and the date of filing for criminal cases; and the complaint, answer, and decision for civil cases. “We don’t dispose on-going cases,” he added.

These residual files were files concerning both Regional Trial Courts (RTC) and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities

(MTCC) and ranged from the year 1950s until present.

The HOJ Davao had started collecting these files since July this year.

“This was the first time this happened,” said Carpio, saying that the Supreme Court would now make this disposition yearly nationwide with the collection period of January to March and March being the deadline of disposition.

The disposal was witnessed by two representatives of the Commission on Audit.

EU, UN rapporteurs need to follow protocols - DFA

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Mega Harbour to tap NGOS for waste management

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22ND SIARGAO SURFING CUP. House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (5th from left) and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (4th from left) led the opening of the 22nd Siargao International Surfing Cup in Cloud 9, General Luna, Sairgao Island, Surigao del Norte on Friday, Sept. 24. They are joined by (from left to right) Representative Francisco Jose Matugas II of Surigao del Norte 2nd District; former Rep. Francisco Matugas; House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas; Comelec Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon; and DOT Director Shalimar Hofer Tamano. (Alexander D. Lopez)

ega Harbour Port and Development Inc. plans to tap the services of non-government organizations in the implementation of solid waste management projects.

According to Arch. Manuel Noche in a press conference during the 18th Agri Trade Expo (DATE) at the SMX Convention Center, the company had proposed a Davao coastline and port development project along the shores of the Poblacion and Agdao districts up to Barangay Bukana.

Noche said the environmental project would include a flood control system and the enhancement of the power and water supply systems in the area.

DTI holds workshop on constructions skills

Speaker Alvarez opens nd 22 World Surfing Cup C H

ouse Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez formally opened the 22nd Siargao International Surfing Cup on Friday, Sept. 23, in Cloud 9, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

The opening ceremony was attended by the 51 competing surfers coming from various parts of the world, and the more than 6,000 local and foreign tourists who trooped to

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General Luna to witness the yearly sports event.

Speaker Alvarez was joined by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, Comelec Comm. Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas II of Surigao del Norte 1st District, Mayor Jaime Rusillon of General Luna town and former Rep. Francisco Matugas during the opening ceremony.

Gov. Sol Matugas was represented by ViceGov. Arturo Egay, while Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo was represented by Dir. Shalimar Hofer Tamayo during the occasion.

The event was also participated in by DOT-CARAGA and other top local officials in the province of Surigao del Norte; mayors from the 1st district of the province,

particularly from Siargao Island; and the representatives from Asian Surfing Championship Tour led by its General Manager Timothy Hain,.

Mayor Rusillon welcomed the guests and participants to this year’s cup, while Representative Matugas introduced Speaker Alvarez.

“We are delighted that this event has never failed to improve,” Gov. Matugas

ments of President Duterte directed to the US and EU, Lopez pointed out the Philippines continues its economic cooperation with the two giant economies.

The trade chief mentioned his meeting with the United States Trade Representative during the ASEAN Summit in Laos where the two countries agreed on boosting trade by helping micro, small, and medium enterprises. “[There is] so much excitement in pursuing and enhancing our trade,” said Lopez.

He also noted the Philippines and the EU are pursuing further talks for a possible free trade agreement.

“And there are more foreign embassies establishing offices or posts here. Likewise, we are expanding further our commercial attaché,” the official added.

“I say, we are receiving a lot of investment missions, foreign chambers visiting our office, from other countries, exploring investments here and some are planning for expansions,” he further said.

Lopez stressed the Philippines remains an attractive investment destination with its economic fundamentals such as gross domestic product growth, low inflation rate, strong foreign reserves, supported by the business

process outsourcing (BPO) industry and overseas Filipinos’ remittances, declining unemployment rate, better purchasing power, as well as high business and consumer confidence.

“These are all attractive to investors,” he said.

He added the investment promotion agencies under the Department of Trade and Industry -- Board of Investments (BOI) and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) -- have been receiving prospective investors and expansion plans from companies.

“Hopefully, those projects will be registered this second half or first half of next year,” Lopez said.

(PNA)

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PH pursuing closer trade ties with foreign countries

ANILA, Sept 23 (PNA) -- Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said on Friday the Philippines is pursuing stronger economic relations with other countries.

In a media briefing, Lopez said political issues here were never mentioned during his meetings with counterparts from other countries but only the prospects of promoting and enhancing trade and investment ties.

“We are moving forward commercial ties and strengthening it,” he said citing countries such as the United States, China, and the bloc of European Union (EU).

Despite the recent com-

He stressed that Mega Harbour this is line Mega Harbour’s goal of helping to address the existing pollutionrelated problems in the target communities.

Noche said that this is where the NGOs can come in, as the company plans to tap their services to monitor waste management in the proposed project areas.

In the meantime, he explained the DPWH will be in charge of attending to the relocation of the residents in the area once the company starts its construction activities.

Noche added they would hold a dialogue with barangay captains in the affected areas to ensure the project will benefit their constituents.

onstruction Manpower and Development Foundation (CMDF), the human resource development arm of the Department of Trade and Industry – Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (DTI-CIAP), recently organized a collaborative workshop to further develop the Construction Industry One Registry System (CIORS) concept.

The workshop, held last September 20, 2016 at the St. Giles Hotel Makati, drew together stakeholders and personalities from both the public and private construction sectors, to generate new ideas and approaches from diverse viewpoints, and to jointly come up with a final and workable CIORS concept.

“We have the best equipment in the world, and that is our human resource,” said newly-appointed Undersecretary DTI-CIAP Ruth B. Castelo, in her opening remarks during the workshop.

“And with this equipment, we can achieve what other countries cannot, if only we will work harder and dream bigger,” Atty. Caste-

lo said.

The CIORS will be the pioneer online registry system in the Philippine Construction Industry that is designed to to highlight relevant competencies of the construction human resource. The system seeks to address industry roadblocks related to construction productivity by providing validated, comprehensive, and readily-accessible human resource information.

With the advent of the data economy, establishing an online registry system will not only be timely and appropriate, but will also be integral in maximizing the advantages of the current construction boom in the country. Apart from aligned strategies and affirmed commitments that could boost the local construction industry, major stakeholders anticipate the impact and merits of the CIORS on the ASEAN community.

Atty. Castelo reminded the stakeholders that their participation and cooperation will be crucial across all the phases of this industry-wide initiative.

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Jr. during the general assembly of financial market players Thursday.

“The BSP has the tools to help ride out the volatilities.

We can also employ targeted macroprudential tools to bring about a more directed influence on market behav-

Tetangco: BSP tools vs. global, local econ challenges adequate

ANILA, Sept. 23 (PNA) -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) continues to have an armory of tools that will address impact of global and domestic economic developments.

This was stressed by BSP Governor Amando Tetangco

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Persons with disabilities provided with wheelchairs

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bout a hundred wheelchairs have been provided by the North Cotabato Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to persons with disabilities (PWDs), a local social welfare official said Friday.

Vergelita Guillaran, PSWDO chief, said the distribution was part of the program to help as many PWDs in the province so that they can cope up with daily challenges and live normal lives.

“The effort to help the PWDs and the initiatives taken to give them a more comfortable or regular life is being realized by providing them wheelchairs and other restorative devices,” Guillaran said.

She stressed that PWDs can also be productive citizens given the right assistance and motivation aside from the love and care of their respective families, hence the significance of assisting them.

The PSWDO also said that senior citizens who are in dire need of wheelchairs are also beneficiaries of the distribution in order to help them deal with their situations and lessen their difficulties especially those who can no longer walk or are bedridden.

Marchita Capilitan, PSW-

DO focal person, said the wheelchairs will be distributed to beneficiaries based in the municipalities of Midsayap, Aleosan, Alamada, Libungan, Pigcawayan, Pikit and Banisilan, Antipas, President Roxas, Makilala, Magpet, Arakan and Kidapawan City and Kabacan, Tulunan, and M’lang.

“With these devices comes our commitment to uphold the well-being of the PWDs and senior citizens,” said Capilitan, adding that a total of 92 recipients received wheelchairs.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza said the mandate of the PSWDO is to provide assistance to as many differently-abled persons and senior citizens as possible because they too, are part of the community.

“The wheelchairs along with crutches and canes provide the PWDs the normal lives they deserve and uplift their morale. They are an important part of our community therefore we must not overlook them, instead, we help them become productive citizens,” Mendoza said.

Aside from distributing wheelchairs, the governor continues to provide support to the Provincial Federation of Person of Persons with Disabilities (PFPWD) through various forms of support and assistance. (PNA)

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Zambo mayor requires profiling of hotel guest Z

so that coordinating with proper authorities would be easy “when the need arises”.

The directive also covers inns, motels, pension houses, boarding houses, guest houses, bed and breakfast, hostels and lodges.

To recall, 11 people were injured in a bomb explosion in a pension house in Barangay Guiwan on Oct. 9, 2011, while three people

were killed and 27 others were wounded in another bomb explosion at a pension house in Barangay Canelar on Nov. 27 in the same year.

Salazar said requiring valid IDs began last year and the same could be done, not only during the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival next month, but on a regular basis.

She reiterated her call

for all sectors to help and cooperate in the city’s anti-terror and anti-crime efforts, stressing the police, military and the local government cannot do everything by themselves.

“The people should share in the effort by providing information related to security threats to the proper authorities,” she added. (PNA)

at past 9 p.m. and saw Ganan shouting for help.

Neighbors rushed him to the Aleosan District Hospital.

Abantes said it was not clear if the grenade was lobbed by someone or it was owned by the farmer and prematurely exploded.

“We are still investigating because we have reports that Ganan was in conflict with another Muslim family in the area,” Abantes said. (PNA)

rovincial Governor Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. of Bukidnon, on Friday filed a motion with the anti-graft court to reconsider the sixmonth suspension order meted against him last Sept. 20.

Zubiri said he filed the motion for reconsideration at the Office of the Ombudsman in Manila right away without waiting for the 10-day grace period to expire.

In his motion, Zubiri told the court that his name was “merely superimposed on the clearance and application

for terminal leave of the complainant despite the fact that he was not a signatory thereto.”

The complaint was filed by Carlos Ycaro, a retired provincial government employee, who alleged that Zubiri refused to sign his leave and clearance papers in 2013.

It was noted that during a hearing in the regional trial court in Bukidnon for the same case last month, Ycaro reportedly admitted it was Calingasan who superimposed Zubiri’s name on the document.

In the same motion, Zubiri said the reason Ycaro’s papers were not signed by the incumbent governor then was because he failed to account for some P11.26 million of provincial government properties including chairs and equipment.

Zubiri reiterated his stand that the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend him for six months for abuse of authority was “incorrect” and “has no legal and factual basis” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio

Morales ordered the sixmonth suspension of Zubiri after the anti-graft court found him guilty of Grave Abuse of Authority amounting to Oppression and a violation of Section 5(a) of the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713).

The anti-graft court found out that in January 2013, Zubiri refused to sign the clearance and act on the request for commutation of Carlos Ycaro, the former provincial assessor. (PNA)

rector, Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix said during a press briefing held at his office on Friday afternoon that Judge Hector Salise, Regional Trial Court Branch 7 presiding judge based in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur province, was on his way to his office on board a red Innova car (SKF 719) manned by his driver-escort Police Offi-

cer 3 Edmund Narvasa.

They were blocked by the armed men who were on board a gray Sports Utility Vehicle when they reached the diversion road at Purok 3, Barangay Lemon in this city.

The armed men who had taken positions at the ambush site, suddenly fired at their vehicle, hitting Salise and

his driver. Narvasa, though wounded, was able to maneuver their vehicle back and sped away until they reached a community police assistance center (COMPAC) in Barangay Villakanangga. The armed group did not follow them but fled towards the direction of Agusan del Sur after the incident.

A police force at the COM-

PAC responded to the crime scene, while members of the Butuan City Public Safety Company rushed Salisi and his driver to the MJ Santos Hospital here.

Responding police investigators gathered 15 spent cartridges of M16 rifle and .45-caliber pistol at the scene of the crime.

Salisi sustained four gunshot wounds, while his driver had three. The two were declared in stable condition after undergoing operations.

Felix condemned the act and announced a thorough investigation to identify and arrest the suspects. He also said that adjacent municipalities

Grenade blast hurts North Cotabato farmer

farmer was seriously injured when a hand grenade exploded in a remote village here Friday night, police said.

Aleosan town police chief, Sr. Insp. Edwin Abantes, identified the victim as 45-year-old Datu Ganan of Sitio 3, Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan in North Cotabato province.

Abantes said initial investigations showed that residents heard the explosion

SURFING CAPITAL. The 22nd Siargao International Surfing Cup formally opened on Friday, Sept. 23 in Cloud 9, General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte. The highly-anticipated surfing event was participated in by 56 professional surfers from all over the world, including the Philippines. (Alexander D. Lopez)

amboanga City Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has directed local hotel owners to ensure efficient and regular profiling of guests, in a bid to strengthen the city’s anti-terror and anti-criminality efforts.

Salazar said the management of hotels should require guests to submit valid identification (ID) cards,

Bukidnon gov asks anti-graft court to reconsider suspension

P

Judge, bodyguard survive ambush attempt

B

UTUAN CITY, Sept. 24 (PNA) -- A regional trial court judge handling a large number of drug cases and his driver-bodyguard survived an ambush attempt in Butuan City early Friday, after a group of men with high-powered firearms blocked their way and fired at their vehicle.

Caraga regional police di-

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • SUNDAY-MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

EDITORIAL Lie detector test for Matobato

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he results may not be conclusive under the Rules of Evidence, but for all it’s worth, will somebody administer a lie detector test on Edgar Matobato?

This witness, the only man ‘brave’ enough to come forward and declare himself a member of the Davao Death Squad (DDS) whose existence is not even conclusively established yet, needs the test badly. Very badly. He has flip flopped a number of times in his testimonies and by the looks of it, this guy is wasting our precious time.

Judging from his testimonies on the nationally-televised Senate probe, Matobato needs a lot of coaching and lead questioning from Senator Leila de Lima. When Matobato couldn’t remember dates, De Lima was there to provide answers in the guise of clarifying questions. Poor Matobato looked like a confused schoolboy.Good thing, there was Senator De Lima to provide the answers. Still, this

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did not escape from the public eye.

How far can De Lima save Matobato from crumbling down to pieces remains to be seen. In his secnd appearance before the Senate, Matobato sang a different tune far from the first one he had during his initial appearance.

This time, he was tentative, unsure and spoke with uncertainty.

Oftentimes, he spoke inconsistently from his earlier testimony.

Senator Manny Pacquiao took Matobato wih his subtle questioning that pierced deeply into the audience’s subconscious and into the heart of Matobato—if you are not lying you know things by heart.

In Sen. Pacquiao’s simple world, it is easy to detect if Matobato is telling the truth or not. If he is consistent, he is truthful. If not, he is lying.

Matobato couldn’t be hit harder than that Pacquiao dig. Perhaps too, the Pacquiao jab reverberated on Matobato’s coddlers.

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9

Walang Forever?

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here is indeed no forever,” my friend, Sally, told me two days ago.

I know what you are thinking and you are right. She was talking about the split of her favorite Hollywood couple: Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

I really don’t want to talk about it but it seems everyone is talking about it – including the fingering thing (and that’s just the beginning). I might as well join the bandwagon.

Pitt and Jolie is what Hollywood couple is supposed to be. Both are stars in their own right; rich, famous and most-sought after. Pitt is one of the most handsome actors while Jolie is definitely a beautiful lady.

Pitt made a Hollywood splash when he appeared as a cowboy hitchhiker in the road movie, “Thelma and Louise” (1991). He received three Oscar nominations: “12 Monkeys” (1995), “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) and “Moneyball” (2011). But it was for producing such films as “The Departed” (2006) and “12 Years of Slave” (2013) that he won an Academy Award for Best Picture.

As a commercial actor, he is known for his appearance in 2004’s “Troy,” 2005’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” 2013’s “World War Z,” and the Ocean trilogy (2001’s “Ocean’s Eleven,” 2004’s “Ocean’s Twelve,” and 2007’s “Ocean’s Thirteen”).

Jolie, on the other hand, started her career in some low-budget movies. It was not until she co-starred in “Girl, Interrupted” in 1999 “

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that she became THINK ON THESE! known all over the world; the movie earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

She also received a nomination for her performance in 2008’s “Changeling.”

Henrylito D. Tacio Before she henrytacio@gmail.com married Pitt in 2014, she was previously the wife of English actor Johnny Lee Miller (whom she married in 1996 and divorced in 2000) and American director-actor Billy Bob Thornton (married in 2000 and divorced in 2003).

She met Pitt when the two were making “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” Just like what happened during the set of “Cleopatra” (where co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton fell in love with each other; both were married to different spouse), there were rumors that the two leading stars were “having some fun.”

Jennifer Aniston (of “Friends” distinction) was fuming and before they knew it, she divorced him. Now, Jolie is following the same thing; she divorcing Pitt because, according to some reports, he is seeing Marion Cotillard. To think, the Pitt

and the French actress are doing a movie entitled “Allied.”

Although it was not stated that she “was consumed by jealously” of the alleged affair, the reason for the dissolution of the marriage was “due to irreconcilable differences.”

The couple has three biological children, namely: Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne.

They also adopted three children: Maddox, Pax and Zahara.

When he was starting his Hollywood career, Pitt was compared to that of Robert Redford. Lola van Wagenen dropped out of college in 1958 to marry the then unknown actor. The two were blessed with four children: Scott Anthony, Shauna Jean, David James and Amy Hart. But 27 years after blissful marriage, the two got divorced in 1985.

Like Redford’s, the 26-year marriage of Kevin Costner to Cindy Silva ended in divorce. Both were dating when they were still in college. They got married in 1978 and divorced in 1994. But before that happened, they have three children: Anne Clayton, Lily McCall and Joseph Tedrick.

Mel Gibson was married to Robyn Denise Moore for 29 years when they finally called it quits. Robyn was a dental nurse when Mel met him for the first time. The two were married in 1980. They were separated as couple in 2006 but it was until in 2009 that Robyn filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences” as the cause.

However, it was only in 2011 that the divorce

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was finalized; the settlement was said to be the highest in Hollywood history: over US$400 million.

All in all, the couple has seven children: Hannah, Edward, Christian, William, Louis, Milo and Thomas.

But mind you, there are Hollywood marriages that were made in heaven, too. Charles Bronson married English actress Jill Ireland on October 5, 1968 – and they remained a couple until her death in 1990.

The two met in 1962 when she was still married to Scottish actor David McCallum. The two actors were doing a movie entitled “The Great Escape.” He told David, “I’m going to marry your wife.”

In 1953, Paul Newman met Joanne Woodward. Five years later, he married her. They remained married for fifty years, until his death in 2008. Although one of the most-sought after actors, he was very faithful to his wife. In fact, they starred together in several movies.

At one time, Newman was asked about infidelity, he famously replied, “Why go out for a hamburger when you have steak at home?”

If fifty years is a record, wait till you know the marriage of Charlton Heston (yes the actor who appeared in “Ten Commandments” and earned an Oscar for “Ben-Hur”). When he died on April 5, 2008, he was married to Lydia for already 64 years.

Now, who says there is no forever?

PEACETALK: Celebrating God’s work for Peace

BY FR. JOEL TABORA, SJ (Address to the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform, held at Homitori in Davao City on Sept.

20, 2016) Our topic speaks of celebration. In a real sense we come together in celebration. Peace is in the offing. The Duterte administration has not yet reached its 100th-day milestone. Yet we are celebrating clear breakthroughs on the road to peace.

We feel that peace in the centuries-old conflict between the majority of Filipino Muslims and Philippine society is within reach, despite the challenge coming from Caliphate-oriented groups; we see clear progress in resolving the festering conflict between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines, including the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army. After “decades of armed conflict in the country [that] have resulted in countless deaths, dislocations, much suffering among the people and a waste of scarce economic resources and development opportunities” there is enlightened recognition that “the Filipino people demand and deserve a life of peace, justice, dignity, prosperity and freedom from want and violence.”[1] We celebrate, however, also in the hope that it is not just the genius of man and his political astuteness that is bringing about this peace, but the work of God. Ours is a God of love. We are the people he loves. War and hatred, violence and killing, selfishness and greed are hateful to him. He intervenes in this world to establish his Kingdom of justice and peace. He accomplishes this work in inviting disciples to cooperate in his will and work for peace. In celebrating his peace, we celebrate his compassion. But we also celebrate the ongoing commitment of his disciples to discern his will and effect lasting peace, no matter the cost.

We pray it not just be peace that the world brings, the superficial peace of paper arrangements, but the peace that God brings – even though we know among social revolutionaries not all recognize God. Not all have been able to discover a kind and compassionate God amidst the “poverty, structural inequity, destitution and marginalization” that beset human beings ultimately at the behest of human beings. Not all have been able to reconcile the godly with people’s indifference to human suffering and to find God in their materialism, consumerism, and addiction to endless pleasure. Similarly, among those who publicly venerate the holiness of God and his infinite love for humanity, we are scandalized by their indifference to the massive poverty, structural injustice, and social

exclusion caused by greed and complacency. The peace that God brings is not indifference to this social sin, but prophecy and condemnation. Here, we have one of the true ironies of our age: the oddity that God brings peace to the world through the godless in their genuine concern for the welfare of the human being and human society; the scandal that the godly are shamed and condemned in the struggle to rescue the victims of their social injustice and greed. Perhaps, in this revolutionary irony, there is reason for celebration. God works for peace even through those do not know him. He works for peace even against those who claim to walk in his ways. He works his miracles where he wills.

Even as he also works for peace among his disciples who are able to feel for Lazarus “laying at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores” (Lk 16:21-21). They are disquieted by the stench and squalor in the hovels of the urban poor next to the palaces of the wealthy; they cannot stomach the hunger and destitution of the farmers whose produce fatten the wealthy but emaciate their children. They cannot sleep hearing of the murders of indigenous peoples’ leaders who fight for their ancestral domains and their tribal heritage against the rapaciousness of miners. They weep seeing families torn up by breadwinners forced to leave their homes and their loved ones to labor in alien countries so that life in the Philippines can be minimally humane, or families torn up because children are trafficked so siblings can eat, or families are torn up by those who make them the engines of their illegal drug trade.

God works for peace. And if we continue to hear his call, “Come follow me,” work with me, struggle with me, “the Kingdom of God is at hand,” we who are his disciples must first renew ourselves in journeying with him towards bringing our people the fullness of life that he brings. “I have come to bring life,” he declared, “life to the full” (Jn 10:10). We must ask ourselves: where are our hearts? Not long ago, the Catholic Church began a document proclaiming Gaudium et spes, Joy and hope, with the memorable words, “The joys and hope, the griefs and the anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.

Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts.” Our peoples’ treasures of family and love, their grief that their labor brings

too little to the table, their anxiety that there is not enough to deal with the 5-6 creditors, their despair in making ends meet in the Philippines, their hope that working abroad might help, their anxiety that their spouses and their children are neglected, their pain when crisis cannot be overcome, must be the joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties of those who believe in journeying with Christ to bring to our people “life, life to the full.” In this context, we must raise the social question as it continues to bite painfully into our experience of Philippine life today. Why so many poor? How so, the number of rich? What is the connection between the poverty of so many with the wealth of others? The lack of “fullness” in the lives of our poor, contrasted with the scandalous oversatiation in the lives of some, even when the Church clearly teaches the “universal destination of goods” and “the social mortgage on private property” We know the social question today, with its ugly manifestations in poverty for many and wealth for some, is not just a matter of relationships between capitalists and laborers within sovereign nations, but a whole matrix of complex relations between countries of wealth and countries of poverty, countries of oppressors and countries of oppressed which all today have little respect for national boarders. It is yet within this context that we must ask ourselves whether we wish to journey with a Lord that calls “to life, and life to the full,” and therefore to a type of development that is not development for some and the cost of others, development for the North at the cost of the South, for the West at the cost of the socialist states, for Manila at the cost of Mindanao, for the 1st class cities at the cost of the countryside, for the posh subdivisions at the cost of the urban poor, but development for the good of all, the common good. The common good is not something which is achieved by some for all, but by all committing themselves to work for all in shared solidarity. According to St. John Paul II, solidarity is “not a feeling of compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good, that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are responsible for all” (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis [SRS].

38).

It is this solidarity for the common good, a duty of the Christian, that underpins our “journeying with the GRP-NDFP in the Continuing Struggle for Peace.” I wish to prescind from many complaints on the ground that the armed struggle of the NDFP

has degenerated into an armed banditry and that revolutionary taxes have been reduced to local extortion which harms the poor even more than the wealthy. In this struggle lives have been lost at the hands of those who have lost their relationship to the original Marxian commitment to the humanization of humanity, the recovery of humanity that knows itself to be human (“species being”) in its relatedness through work and service to all (communism). Indeed, its objection to private property was because it hindered this commitment of each individual to the good of all. It is contrary to Marxian goals if the self-serving ends of extortionists are confused with the humanizing ends of the revolutionary struggle. Today, where the universal destination of goods and the social mortgage on private property belong to Catholic, if not Christian, social teaching, there is every reason to walk with the GRP-NDFP in the continuing struggle for peace.

Especially so since among the principles of the working draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER), between the GRP and NDFP of 27 April 2001 the common good is explicitly declared. “It is the common good, the welfare and interest of the Filipino people, that is the foremost concern in the efforts to resolve the armed conflict and achieve a just and lasting peace. The active participation of the people, therefore, must be sought in pursuing this common good (Sec. 2). In the Aug. 2011 version of the CASER, the consideration that the “pursuit of socio economic reforms to promote the common good and to respond to the needs of the Filipino people is crucial in considering a just and lasting peace, as able economic development” is part of its preamble. The “Pursuit of Social Justice” is integral to the pursuit of the common good. “Social justice is foundation for a lasting peace since it defines the right of people to human dignity and a decent quality of life. To achieve this, there is need to eradicate the social, economic and political inequities of society through equitable diffusion of wealth and political power for the furtherance of the common good and to free people from the bondage of poverty, inequity and marginalization” (CASER, 2001, Art 1, Sec. 4). From this follow explicit principles of the pursuit of authentic development (Sec 5), participative development (Sec 6) and the CASER as a “common ground for cooperation and collaboration” (Sec 7) in the struggle for peace.

The general goals of reform are certainly within the common good as “the fullness of life” that the Christian or any thoughtful Filipino citizen might

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ior, if and as warranted,” he said.

The central bank chief said developments in the global operating environment continues to evolve but fundamentals of the global economy are not expected to take hold of the situation that fast, “therefore surprises may continue to impact our shores.”

He, however, maintained the Philippines’ favorable fundamentals along with ample policy space and tools and pro-active reform agenda “gives us confidence that the risks in the horizon are manageable.”

“Clearly, these factors support a positive basis not only for measured risk-taking, but also dynamism in the industry as we continue to deepen our capital markets and further increase the efficiency of financial intermediation,” he said.

For one, the issue of excess liquidity is being addressed through, among others, the implementation of the Interest Rate Corridor (IRC) and Term Deposit Facility (TDF), he said.

Auctions for the TDF started in June, with volume for the

seven-day facility set at P10 billion and the 28-day facility, P20 billion.

But as bids continue to be more than three times the offering, the BSP increased the offering for the longer-term facility by Php20 billion on a monthly basis since July.

Offering for the 28-day TDF will be Php100 billion starting October.

“You can expect further upward adjustments to the auction sizes. The objective is to siphon off a sufficient amount of liquidity such that the gap between the policy rate and the term auction rates would have narrowed and are more closely aligned,” Tetangco said.

The central bank chief also said phase-out of trust entities’ access to the BSP’s overnight deposit facility and the TDF will be in effect by June 2017.

Tetangco said the Philippine economy remains resilient as it “is in a relatively strong position compared with many AEs (advance economies) and EMEs (emerging market economies).

“But we can aim to do better. We can make the financial market an even more effective and safe catalyst for economic growth,” he added. (PNA)

said in her statement, saying that every year, more have come to realize the beauty of Siargao, the significance of the surfing event, the warmth of the people, and the joy of being in touch with the blessed environment that the island have.

She also took pride that surfing, as a water sport, has now gained more appreciation and recognition with its inclusion in the highly-anticipated 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Speaker Alvarez also thanked the people of Siargao for continually supporting the sports event, while lauding the top officials of Surigao del Norte in for their strong and unceasing support.

The House Speaker said that starting next year, the two main annual events in Siargao - international surfing and the international game fishing - will be earmarked P10 million in funding, which will be coursed through the DOT.

He said the allocation will aid the local government in General Luna and the provincial government of Surigao del Norte in funding the two main events that have provided major economic gains to the people of the island.

The 56 professional surfers from all over the world were officially introduced during the opening ceremony by Gerry Degan, the contest director.

Thepar ticipating countries include Australia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Mexico and the Philippines.

Last year’s champion and first runner-up from the Philippines, John Mark Tokong and Piso Alcala, will also compete in this year’s cup, including Brazilian Lucas Chianca who bagged the third spot of the tournament last year.

The international surfing tournament will conclude on Sept. 29 with the closing program and awarding ceremonies.

had been ordered to put up checkpoints and prepare for hot pursuit operations.

Felix said they still have to establish the motive of the suspects.

Judge Salisi hears a significant number of drug cases at his sala. He is also responsible for the issuance of anti-illegal drug search warrants.

(PNA)

envision. These are the titles of the document’s main articles: “Pursuing Full Employment

by Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth Through Sound Economic Policy and Sustainable Agricultural Development” (CASER, ’11, IV, Art. 1).

“Addressing Inequity Through Asset Reform to Create and Redistribute Wealth and Economic Opportunities” (ibid, Art. 2).

“Promoting Good Governance Through Efficient and Effective Delivery of Basic Services” (ibid, Art 3).

“Shielding the Marginalized and Vulnerable Sectors from Risks Through Social Protection” (ibid., Art 4).

“Addressing the Exploitation of Indigenous Peoples by Recognizing and Protecting their Right to Self Determination” (ibid, Art 5).

“Promoting Sustainable Development through the Conservation, Protection, Rehabilitation and Efficient Utilization and Development of the Environment and Natural Resources” (ibid, Art 6).

There is a vision here, I think, that the economy can promote a humane society where the labor and creativity of each individual, including those of today’s marginalized like the IPs or the Bangsamoro or the impoverished farmer and fisherman, can be freely and happily committed to the advancement of human society, where wealth and productive resources are subordinated to the achievement of this humane society, where society provides all adequate basic services and protects all against social shocks, and where development is sustainable both for the flourishing of human life as well as for the protection of our common home. This is a vision compatible with the “fullness of human life” that Jesus comes to bring, or compatible with the humanly human society the social revolutionary struggles to bring about in rejecting its truncation in “poverty, structural inequity, destitution and marginalization.”

In the commitment to journey with the GRP-NDFP “in the continuing struggle for peace,” perhaps we can end these reflections with the following considerations: We must all renew ourselves in our felt rejection of social injustice. Peace is incompatible with social injustice.

Peace is incompatible with people deprived of the lands and livelihood, their creativity and responsibility, their dignity and their humanity. We must connect to social injustice emotionally and reject it with passion.

Many people refuse to journey towards social justice because they are unable to transcend their private interests, their self-interest and their selfishness. Many will continue in their ways inimical to common good because they are unable to imagine life other than they know it. Asset reform is inconceivable, a more sustainable economy for human life only someone’s else’s project for self-advancement. This intran-

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sigence is objectionable both social revolutionary as well as to the Christian committed to the common good.

In solidarity, nevertheless, we must commit ourselves to that future set of conditions where all human beings, none excepted, flourish as human beings. We must be able to imagine, dream, conceive, plan, and demand human flourishing. We cannot capitulate to the lie that what the economy and social order today offer with its boundless consumerism, environmental destruction, dehumanizing poverty and social exclusion is “the good life” and much less, “the fullness of life.”

In solidarity we must cooperate to bring about the common good. We cannot leave the common good to peace negotiators or to a political administration or to legislators or to economic planners or even to social revolutionaries. The common good is something that we must own. Owning it, we must discuss it, imagine it, plan it, advocate it, negotiate for it, struggle for it, and if necessary, fight for it, not for the short term but for the long term. Only in the shared achievement of the common good, where we overcome the centrifugal forces of our private interests, shall we find peace.

Finally, considering the God who calls us to solidarity in achieving “the fullness of life,” it is not religion that is necessarily the opium of the people, but today a concept of development

VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • SUNDAY-MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

based on material having, production for unbridled consumption, consequent destruction of the environment, and reduction of the human being to a crazed consumer caught in the man-made deception that having more is being more. This is something to consider even as we evaluate the assumptions behind the economic growth the GRP-NDFP envisions for the future with its concommitant exploitation of natural resources. The acknowledgement of a transcendent God who works for peace on earth may be a liberating step against many obstacles to advance a peace we undertake to achieve on our own. Social injustice is not just a social evil. It is a sin against God.

It is not just alienation of man from his humanity. It is alienation of man from his transcendence. One may seek to combat social injustice as if there were no God. But there is a God. And combatting social injustice in appreciation of divine justice may be practically appropriate. The fullness of life that God brings is not in the alienation of endless material consumption, but in overcoming human alienation in spiritual recovery.

God works for this. We work with God. We, together, journey with him. We pray for true peace. (MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. F.r Joel Tabora, SJ is the President of the Ateneo de Davao University)

tion; and to provide adequate funding for the training of local surfers.

“A few years ago, the government adopted the Sports Roadmap for 2011-2016 incorporating what were called ‘focus sports’ or those sports that will accelerate the full development of sports and where Filipinos had greater chances of earning medals in international competitions,” Rep. Matugas said in his privilege speech, a copy of which he provided to the media.

In his explanatory note in Resolution No, 376, Rep. Matugas said Filipino surfers espe-

cially those from Siargao Island are starting to be recognized in the international surfing scene.

He also emphasized the provincial government of Surigao del Norte has been hosting the annual surfing event in Siargao Island for the last 22 years that afforded local surfers the opportunity to compete with their foreign counterparts.

“A mass-based or grassroots program can be readily implemented for surfing considering there are so many surfing sites in the country where athletes can train,” Rep. Matugas said.

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EDGEDAVAO

Autumn

The varied colors of

By Henrylito D. Tacio

“I SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER, WHEN SUMMER IS GONE,” so goes a line of a popular song. So, after summer, what comes next? It’s autumn!

Now, if you have the opportunity of going to the United States soon or someday, I suggest that you do it during the autumn season. You will have the best of your times. Yes, it’s a little bit cold but not that cold compared during the winter season.

All you have to do is wear long pants and jacket – and you’ll just be fine.

I had been to the US six times.

Two of those visits were took place during the autumn season.

The first time I saw those trees with varied colors (green, yellow, orange, red and brown), I asked my sister if they were flowers. “No,” she replied, “Those are leaves.”

It was then that I believed what Albert Camus said. “Autumn,” he said, “is a second spring when every leaf’s a flower.” If you don’t believe me, see these pictures in this essay.

A lot of American authors hailed autumn. John Keats, author of To Autumn, wrote: “Season of mists and mellow fruit-

fulness! / Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun; / Conspiring with him how to load and bless / With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run; / To bend with apples the moss’d cottage trees, / And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core.”

Wendell Phillips exalted: “Thrice happy time, / Best portion of the various year, in which Nature rejoiceth, smiling on her works / Lovely, to full perfection wrought!”

Richard Henry Stoddard can’t help but marvel: “Divinest Autumn! who may paint thee best, / Forever changeful o’er the changeful globe? / Who guess thy certain crown, thy favorite crest, / The fashion of thy manycolored robe?”

Famous authors were never run out of words when describing autumn. George Eliot penned: “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the

Autumn A4

“

The first time I saw those trees with varied colors (green, yellow, orange, red and brown), I asked my sister if they were flowers.

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earth seeking the successive autumns.”

Robert Frost compared: “O suns and skies and clouds of June, and flowers of June together. Ye cannot rival for one hour October’s bright blue weather.”

William Shakespeare, the father of English literature, pointed out: “There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!”

Stanley Horowitz said it best: “Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”

Veteran newshen Raissa Robles said she likes autumn best. I do, too. Why? Allow me to quote the words of an unknown author: “Autumn is easily my favorite time of the year.

The days have cooled down, the leaves have turned, and the world is busy preparing herself for winter. There’s something magical about the clear brisk days, the first smell of the woodstove or the fireplace, the first frost, the sounds of the Canadian geese overhead as they pass through on their way south, the canning of the late fruits and vegetables, the pumpkin and cider stands on the roadways.

“School has started, and there’s newness in the air, even though the season is the precursor to winter. Somehow, the world knows that winter is neces-

sary, and the long preparation for the cold of winter – the preparation which is autumn – is a beautiful, necessary part of the world.”

September 22 – 27, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • SUNDAY-MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

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E-ALKANSSSYA PARTNERS. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Supervising Administrative Officer Loreta L. Anas [2nd from left] receives the Social Security System (SSS) 2016 Balikat ng Bayan Special Citation as e-AlkanSSSya Partner during the SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awarding Ceremony held last Friday at the Seda Hotel, Davao City. DSWD posted 100 percent coverage and collection from its contractual and contract of service personnel in 2015, ensuring their social security

protection. The presenters are [from left] SSS Mindanao South 1 Division Vice President Emmanuel R. Palma, Davao Branch Head Rizalito Alberto C. De Leon, Section Head Dedina M. Tombo and Accounts Officer Eileen Dela Cruz. Other awardees were SPES Pauperum Foundation, Davao Wisdom Academy, Media Partners, Baganga Integrated Social Action Group, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (DSWD)

Davao scholar presents ‘Muslim‘ study M

aximo “Mackie” Macalipes, Jr., an Australia Awards scholar representing the City Government of Davao, presented his study entitled “Participation of Muslim Women to the Socio-Economic and Political Development of Davao City,” during the Philippine Update Conference 2016 held last Sept.

2 to 3, 2016 at the Australian National University in Canberra with the theme “Sustaining the Momentum for Change Beyond 2016.”

Macalipes was a recipi-

ent of the Australia Awards Scholarship and studied at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia where he was conferred the degree of Graduate Diploma of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2011.

Alongside celebrated academicians and researchers, his research paper was selected among various submissions, owing to its significance and relevance in the economic and socio-cultural development landscape of the Philip-

pines today.

Macalipes’ research study was aimed at determining the degree in which Muslim women today adopt and ascribe to customary Islamic socio-economic and political practices in terms of education, health and community approaches, as well as finding out their level of participation in the socio-economic and political development of Davao City in terms of educational services, health services and participation in decision-making.

The findings of Macalipes’s study reveal that the more educated Muslim women are, there is a greater scale of adoption to their people’s customary Islamic practices. While there are customs and traditions which hinder total gender empowerment for Muslim women, their access to education contribute in gradually achieiving this goal.

Moreover, the study found out the level of participation of Muslim women in society is “extensive,” an indication that Muslim women are not

mere passive recipients of development, but are active “change agentsm,” which is strongly attributed to their access to education.

The study hopes to assist the local government in revisiting its existing policy directions, and developing programs and services that will widen the creation of opportunities for increased socio-economic and political involvement particularly among Muslim women. Macalipes is currently working as Market Supervisor III in the City Economic Enterprise – City Administrator’s Office of the City Government of Davao. Just recently, he was designated as the Market Operations Coordinator.

The Australia Awards Scholarship provides Filipinos with an opportunity to

gain an internationally recognized qualification from an Australian University, and acquire knowledge, leadership skills and international linkages in order to make a vital contribution to the economic and social development of the Philippines. Applications are ongoing for the scholarship, and will close on Nov. 30, 2016. Interested applicants may visit www.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH WAIVER

REPRESENTING DAVAO. Mackie Macalipes (5th from left), together with other research presentors and conference participants during the Philippine Update Conference 2016 in ANU, Canberra, Australia.

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ALFREDO JR. DEOCAMPO SABAY has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH WAIVER executed among his heirs per Doc. No.9; Page No.2; Book No. XIV; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC JANIS LOUIS H. ESPARCIA. 9/9,16,23

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Saving the Philippine Eagle By: Henrylito D. Tacio Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Along with it is the disappearance of one of the country’s natural treasures and the sad reality of the state of our environment.

This is true with Philippine eagle, the country’s bird icon. They say that when the last eagle dies, it shall be the sign of the worst yet to come: The death of our environment.

The Philippine eagle is second only to the Madagascar sea eagle in rarity. In size, it beats the American bald eagle; it is the world’s second largest – after the Harpy eagle of Central and South America.

In the past, Philippine eagles abound in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao. They can also be seen flying over in the forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon and Samar and Leyte in the Visayas.

Today, Philippine eagles inhabit those places but their number has dwindled. In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has declared the Philippine eagle as an endangered species.

Less than 400 pairs of Philippine eagles can be found in the country and about half of them are living in the forests of Mindanao.

The Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City houses more than a dozen pairs.

“The Philippine eagle is the largest predator we have,” says Dr. Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, the executive director of the Philippine Eagle Center Foundation. “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat.”

The Philippine Eagle Center is located in a far-flung area in Malagos of Calinan District in Davao City. It takes almost an hour to travel from the heart of the city to the center where you get to encounter Philippine eagles placed in cages.

Efforts to save the Philippine eagle was started way back 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine conservation efforts.

From 1969 to 1972, America’s famed aviator Charles Lindbergh spearheaded a drive to save the bird, which he called as the “noblest flier.” Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed.

Primarily a research facility, the Philippine Eagle Center is nestled at the rolling foothills of Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak. More than two dozen of Philippine eagles have been raised as part of foundation’s breeding program. Most of them are being induced to breed in captivity. Pag-asa is one of its noted attractions; it made the headline around the world as the first tropical eagle conceived through artificial insemination. Pag-asa is the Tagalog word for “hope.”

“Pag-asa connotes hope for the continued survival of the Philippine eagle, hope that if people get together for the cause of the eagle, it shall not be doomed to die,” says Salvador, who was named one of the outstanding young men (TOYM) in 2000 for leadership in wildlife conservation.

Salvador – which means “saviour” in Spanish – firmly believes the fate of the Philippine eagle is associated with forest conservation. A pair of the critically endangered bird needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. “The forest is its only habitat,” Salvador claims. “Without the forest, the species cannot survive over the long term.”

Aside from deforestation, another threat to the survival of the country’s bird icon is hunting. “Some do it because of ignorance but most, I believe, because of arrogance,” Salvador points out. “People believe they can get away with it so they do it. This of course it aggravated by poor enforcement of the law and clear lack of political

F SAVING, 13

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Saving... FROM 12 will.”

Salvador – whose academic background is agricultural economics (from the University

of the Philippines at Los Baños) and agribusiness (from the Ateneo de Davao University) – joined the eagle foundation

in 1987. “It was a very tumultuous period for the organization,” he recalls.

At that time, the eagle camp – as it was then known – was located at barangay Baracatan in Toril. Salvador was in-charge with the eagles’ foods. “Every week, I had to go down to the town and purchased native chickens and goats,” he says. “I loaded them up to the roof of the public jeepney then riding along with them all the way to Baracatan. But the jeepney terminal was about two kilometers away from the camp so I had to carry the chickens on my back while pulling the goats.”

Since insurgency was at its peak then, they were often isolated and left alone as neighbors would go to evacuation centers. “At night, we would dread hearing the dogs barking because that meant that rebels were just around the corner,” he says.

Another pressure they had to face at that time was from a government agency. “They were hot on our heels trying to their best to take the eagles from us and relocating the entire operation to a state university in Luzon,” Salvador shares. “In the end, they simply stopped funding the project.”

Media attention and support from the local government unit of Davao City kept the agency from taking the eagles “so they just left us on our own.” It was until a couple of howitzer shells that fell some 50 meters from its facility that they finally decided to leave Baracatan and move to Malagos.

In those days, there were only six of them in the technical team, including three from the government agency. When the said agency stopped funding the program in 1987, the three personnel also left.

Without any financial assistance, the group persisted. “We were basically operating on nothing,” Salvador says. “We had to sell some of our personal belongings just to feed the eagles. We waived our salaries for over a year. We solicited from local businesses to make ends meet. In addition, we had to work under adverse conditions as we were often caught in the middle of the crossfire between the military and the rebels operating in the Mt. Apo area.”

Despite all these setbacks, Salvador and his team continued. “Many of the technical problems we encountered from the beginning were resolved from constant experimentation, from trial and error, but always using the rigor of sound scientific research,” he says.

In 1992, Salvador became the executive director of the foundation. It was on this year that foundation was able to breed an eagle in captivity. “The success of the birth of Pag-asa attracted biologists and other young graduates into the program. They were amazed to find out that what we were doing was not the way they were featured in the movies or television channels,” he

says. “Working with eagles was hard, dangerous work.”

Salvador says with pride of what he and his team have accomplished through the years. “The success of captive breeding of the eagle Pag-asa brought the country’s attention to the plight of the species and was probably instrumental in turning the species into our national bird,” he points out.

Christy Ullrich, in an article which appeared in National Geographic, reported that several steps are currently going in the country to save the Philippine eagle from oblivion. “Certain conservation measures are already in place to help protect the comparatively scant number of surviving eagles. Legislation has been passed to prohibit hunting and protect nests, as well as to survey the birds’ habitat, create public-awareness campaigns, and step up captive breeding. The bird inhabits the protected areas of the northern Sierra Madre Natural Park on Luzon and Mt. Kitangland and Mt. Apo Natural Parks on Mindanao.”

In other parts of the island, most of the nest sites the foundation worked with are continued to be protected by local people.

“We worked with the people in these communities by building partnerships with them,” Salvador says.

The foundation does this through food-for-work scheme in reforestation programs, capacity building through training, access to basic services and livelihood alternatives, and helping them build tribal halls, classrooms, and community water impoundment projects.

Indeed, Salvador has gone a long, long way. He was born in Manila but grew up in Davao. He remembered well the time when he spent his summer vacation at his father’s hometown in Morong, Rizal. He went to the fields, climbed trees, and fished in the river. When the family moved to Mindanao, he would tag along on his father’s duck hunting trips where he learned the rudiments of responsible gun use and ownership.

Salvador was in high school when he was given by his father his own gun as a birthday gift. “My brother and I immediately set out to shoot small birds with great success,” he recalls. “We proudly showed our catch to our mom but to our horror, she ordered us to butcher the birds. Then, she cooked them and demanded the two of us to eat them.”

After the two brothers consumed the whole thing, the mother talked with her two sons and told them to never take anything from nature unless they are badly needed. “I guess that was my first lesson in conservation,” he says now.

“My own love affair with the eagles started only when I began working with them,” he admits. “The eagles are such charismatic creatures that once you start working with them, they seem to grab hold of you and then you realize that you’ve spent a great deal of your life with them.”

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14 HEALTH

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EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

VOL. 9 ISSUE 152 • SUNDAY-MONDAY 25 - 26, 2016

NEW APPOINTEE Duterte names Escandor PA for Sports

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

P

Go catches fire, tows CMO over Everball

G

o catches fire, tows CMO over EverballSec. Christopher “Bong” Go came out with his fiery shooting as the City Mayors Office rolled past Everball, 113-100, in their friendly match on Friday at the Genesis 88 Gym in Davao City.

Go, the special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte, scored 38 points to provide the much needed scoring pitch for the undermanned CMO squad.

The PMS chief shot eight

three pointers with few of which sparked a late CMO rally in the final stretch.

While Go is making things happen with his long range and pull up jumpers, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano threw significant contribution for the CMO. Cayetano found his great form early with his drive to the basket plays that led to a 21 points outing.

Earl Angsinco made 22 points to pace the Everball that stood toe to toe with

CMO most of the match.

Banking on his run and gun type of play, Everball took some tear midway of the second period and early going of the third canto.

Everball waged a run on a slow rotating CMO defense and had a chance to pull ahead.But Go catches fire down the stretch hitting crucial and timely baskets which Everball failed to weather as CMO zoom away for good Joel Aberilla scored 19 as Velasco had 12 for the CMO.

(FMA) worldwide.

He said the international community already recognizes Arnis as a sport and an FMA since a lot martial arts groups, Hollywood action movies, and law enforcement agencies have been using it as part of their self-defence training.

However, Inocalla lamented that other countries such as Brazil, Germany, USA, Russia, and Korea have better Arnis programs than in Philippines whose Arnis and FMA schools are not united.

“We would be more patriotic by promoting Filipino Martial Ats,” said Inocalla, who said that this martial art was instrumental in defeating the colonizers.

Arnis had been declared a national sport and a martial art of the Philippines by virtue of R.A. 9850 which was filed

by Senator Miguel Zubiri and signed into law by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Dec. 11, 2009.

Although a draft of the Implementing Rules and Regula-

tions (IRR) was ready by Dec. 2011, the Arnis Law has not been fully implemented.

Inocalla has asked for the blessing of the current administration to promote Arnis and other FMAs. In the meantime, Ryan Cordero, President of the Mandirigmang Kaliramdan, said the arnis community in Davao is alive and well.

“Our main objective is to propagate and preserve Filipino Matial Arts,” said Cordero, who said there will be a Unity Gathering in Davao City on Sept.

24, 2016, 4pm, at the Holiday Gym in F. Torres Street, to promote the sport.

For his part, Robert Alabado, Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 regional director, said that the agency also plants to promote Arnis and FMA in the next Kadayawan festival.

“Why don’t we include the martial arts [in the Kadayawan?” asked Alabado, adding this sport is unique to the Philippines.

Arnis to be featured in sports channels

A

rnis, a home-grown martial art and sport, will soon be featured in Filipino sports channels.

This, according to Allan “Shishir” Inocalla, founder of the Arnis Maharlika Institue, during a recent press conference at the Insular Waterfront Hotel.

Inocalla disclosed that he has held meetings with various media organizations in Luzon and asked them to showcase arnis in their sports channels.

“People seeing arnis in television will help promote it,” said Inocalla, adding he had also proposed to feature arnis scenes in teleseryes or and animation films.

He said that he was part of the live-action movie “Ninja Turtles” and was the actor behind the movements of Michaelangelo.

“Thanks to Arnis, I got the part,” said Incoalla who plans to promote this sport, along with other Filipino Martial Arts

resident Rodrigo Roa Duterte has named Dabawenyo business tycoon and sports leader Glenn Y. Escandor as Presidential Assistant for Sports.

Duterte appointed Escandor on August 30, 2016 although the latter said he only received the appointment last week.

As PA for Sports, the 47-year old Escandor will be President Duterte’s sports ambassador and will serve on consultative capacity for the country’s sports development programs.

“My marching order is to assist him on matters of sports knowing fully well the dynamics currently existing in the sports landscape,” Escandor said in an interview with Edge Davao.

He said he is honored to serve under the Dute-

rte administration. As PA for Sports, Escandor will not be receiving any remuneration.

“It’s service to the country. I hope I can contribute my part to help the President in his programs for sports,” he said. He also downplayed his role as not in conflict with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) which is under the office of the President.

“No conflict here. We will all be complementing to the agenda of the President. We know for a fact that he is against drus and sports is one vehicle to combat illegal drugs,” said Escandor.

The Dabawenyo sports leader served as longtime sports consultant of Duterte during his term as Mayor of Davao City and private partner in many sports undertakings. His

RACHEL Anne Daquis has been named team captain of the PSL Manila squad that will compete in the Women’s Club World Championship set October 18 to 2 3 at the Mall o f Asia Arena.

recover from jet Daquis was a member of the Philippine team that competed in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Women’s Club Championship last year.

sponsored basketball teams have been represented in the past by PBA players, San Beda College, De La Salle University and Far Eastern University.

Escandor is the concurrent area director of the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP), he was recently elected to the board during the elections held last August replacing the late Regino “Boy” Cua who passed away last June.

A graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, Escandor is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Escandor Group of Companies, the conglomerate which owns one of the country’s biggest security agency Davao Allied Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA), The Royal Mandaya Hotel, and the Matina Enclaves.

Daquis to skipper PSL Manila squad

The 28-year old outside hitter was chosen over seven imports and six other local players, namely Jovelyn Gonzaga, Jaja Santiago, Mika Reyes, Kim Fajardo, Ces Molina and Jen Reyes.

“Title ‘yung pagiging team captain pero para sa akin it’s more on a responsibility as an ate sa kanila,” said Daquis. “’Di ko tine-take ‘yun as kaya ako captain kasi ako ang pinakamagaling.”

Six of the seven imports have attended practice, with Stephanie Niemer and Lindsay Stalzer from the USA, Tichaya Boonlert of Thailand, Ekaterina Krivets of Russia, Yevgeniya Nyukalova of Ukraine and Yuri Fukuda of Japan suiting up.

Linda Morales from Puerto Rico skipped training as she has yet to

“ S y e m pre unang-una para

sundin ka nila respeto din sa kanila ang ibibigay mo, pero hindi mo naman kailangan magpasunod ng imports, ‘yung task mo is i-guide sila sa team,” she said. “’Di dahil team captain ka pagagalitan mo sila, hindi ganoon it’s more of setting an example,” she said.

lag.

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