Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 54 | Friday-Saturday, May 24-25, 2019

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

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GOBERT, GEORGE, GIANNIS LEAD ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM

Serving a seamless society

VINDICATION

SPORTS P11

Sara, Pulong, Bong vindicated over ‘Bikoy’ recantation

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO AND THE EDGE DAVAO EDITORIAL TEAM

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avao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio and the two main subjects of the controversial 'Bikoy' video accusations--Presidential son Paolo "Pulong" Duterte and former top aide Christopher "Bong" Go--aired their vindication over the recantation of the video's alleged source Peter Joemel Advincula.

INVESTIGATE ‘BIKOY’. Presidential son and Congressman-elect Paolo Duterte calls for a proper investigation after Peter Joemel Advincula a.k.a ‘Bikoy’ revealed names of high profile personalities allegedly behind the Bikoy videos including Senators Antonio Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros and several lawyers. Lean Daval Jr

FASHION WEEKEND DAVAO 2019 TO SHOWCASE A FUSION OF FASHION AND HERITAGE ►INDULGE A1

"Bikoy is a scam created by people who oppose the Duterte administration. This group is so disorganized they cannot even get to �irst base because the path to their objective is in disarray. Kung ako leader ng grupo na ito, I will shoot myself in the head, get rid of the brain that is not useful," Mayor Duterte-Carpio, whose husband lawyer Manases Carpio was also linked in the controversial video to illegal drugs, said in a statement. The statement was released on Thursday after Advincula admitted he falsi�ied his earlier statements saying they were "all lies."

In a complete turnaround of his earlier claims, Advincula said the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos are all lies to bring down President Rodrigo Duterte. He said he surrendered to the authorities as he

was bugged by his conscience.

Advincula, who surfaced on May 6, 2019 and introduced himself as "Bikoy" the hooded �igure who linked President Duterte's family to the narcotics trade in several viral videos, said on Thursday that his allegations were "all lies". He also revealed that the 'Bikoy' tirade was "orchestrated" by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and the Liberal Party.

"Lahat ng nangyari sa Ang Totoong Narco-list, video episode 1 to video episode 5... lahat iyun pawang scripted, lahat iyun pawang kasinungalingan," Advincula said in a televised press conference at the Philippine National Police. "Walang katotohanan lahat-lahat iyun at iyun ay pawang orchestrated lang ng mga nasa kabilang party, which is Liberal Party

HEIGHT IS MIGHT NO MORE

►GAME CHANGER P10

VINDICATION, P9

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

NEW THAI AMBO. President Rodrigo Duterte receives the credentials of Thailand’s Ambassador to the Philippines Vasin Ruangprateepsaeng during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

P500T for smokers P therapy program

President signs law institutionalizing 4Ps

By ADAM B. MORRELL

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he City Government of Davao through its Vices Regulation Unit (VRU) will provide nicotine replacement therapy for individuals with nicotine dependence in Davao City.

VRU-Anti Smoking Task Force chief Dr. Ashley Lopez, during the I-Speak media forum held in the City Hall of Davao on Thursday, May 23, said that Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has allocated P500,000 budget for purchasing of medicines needed for the nicotine replacement therapy project.

Lopez said this move came after observing that apprehending anti-smoking ordinance violators is not

enough to keep them from nicotine addiction.

“Even �ining and counselling these violators is not also enough,” the VRU chief said.

Thus, the VRU will be providing free medicines called nicotine pastils that will serve as an alternative for smoking.

Lopez said anyone who will be assessed as nicotine dependent may avail the therapy provided by the

51 winning party-list groups proclaimed

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he Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), on Wednesday of�icially proclaimed the winning 51 party-list groups in the May 13 midterm national and local elections at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum in Pasay City.

The 51 party-list groups, according to the Comelec, are entitled to 61 seats available in the House of Representatives.

“The Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers of party lists hereby declares the following party-list groups as winners in the party-list elections of 51, P10

City Government of Davao.

The implementation of this program will begin as soon as the supplies arrive in Davao City.

“Gina paabot nalang ang supply but it will probably begin within this year.

As soon as naa na ang mga tambal mag sugod na dayun. Kung muabot dayun ugma, mag sugod dayon ta ugma,” he assured.

Lopez, meanwhile, said the institutionalized anti-smoking program of then mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte also complements the vision of the Department of Health

(DOH) to make Davao literally a smoke-free region in three years’ time.

He also said they have been intensifying their campaign and augment the personnel through deputizing Civil Security Units and barangay tanods as well as traf�ic enforcers to reach its goal.

Lopez said the increase of apprehended smoking violators this year has increased to 60 percent.

“Last year we surpassed more than 10,000 apprehended violators while the �irst quarter this year, from

P500T, P9

resident Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law an act institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11310 or the 4Ps Act on April 17, a copy of which was released to media on Wednesday (May 22).

He signed the law recognizing the duty of the state to “promote a just and dynamic social order thereby uplifting its citizens and marginalized sectors from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all”.

The 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that

provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve the health, nutrition and education aspect of their lives.

However, the National Advisory Council (NAC) may recommend a longer period under exceptional circumstances.

Eligible bene�iciaries of the 4Ps include farmers, �isher folks, homeless families, indigenous peoples, those in the informal settler sector and those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas including those in areas without electricity.

All bene�iciaries of 4Ps as identi�ied by the standardized targeting system to be quali�ied household-bene�iciaries of the 4Ps shall automatically be covered in the National Health Insurance Program

that these newly-proclaimed senators will be fealty to their oath, loyal to the Constitution, obedient to the laws of the land,” Panelo said.

“We remain con�ident that these new senators, as well as the other incumbent senators will join the President in his dedication of spurring inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development, implementing the nation’s most ambitious infrastructure program, and creating a foundation for the establishment of a society that will provide lasting peace for the Filipino people as well as give them comfortable lives,” he added.

Panelo also hoped that

the new senators would listen to the voice of those who elected them in of�ice.

“After a grueling battle, it is hoped that the protagonists lay down their political swords, accept the will of the electorate and bow to the majesty of their sovereign voice, by giving their preferred choices a chance of leading the country towards progress,” Panelo said.

Panelo, meanwhile, described the recently-concluded election as a demonstration of thwe “vibrancy” of democracy in country.

The 12 newly-proclaimed senators are reelectionists Senators Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Juan

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New senators urged to start focusing on public service

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ith all 12 senators-elect of�icially proclaimed nine days after the May 13 midterm polls, Malacañang on Wednesday urged the winners to buckle down to work and focus on public service.

“Now that the political dust has settled with the proclamation of the winners, it is the perfect time for nation-building and for those who triumphed to focus on public service,” said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement.

Panelo also called on everyone “in all sides of the political spectrum” to stop what he described as “excessive politicking” that has

only caused more divisions.

“We have been magnanimous in victory, thanking those who were defeated in the polls for �ighting a good battle. We should all join hands in undertaking measures and projects for the betterment of our country and people,” he said.

Panelo congratulated the new senators, saying they have been “entrusted with the mandate of legislating new policies and programs”.

He expressed con�idence that the new senators will do their best as legislators and enact laws which are both conscientious and bene�icial the country and its people.

“We express con�idence

NEW, P9

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

Bangsamoro tensions to create new strings of conflict–report

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ncidents of election fraud and violence in the Bangsamoro will lead to a multitude of con�licts, warned International Alert Philippines.

According to a postelection bulletin released by International Alert, a UKbased peacebuilding organization operating in the Philippines, the violence that attended the recent elections has created new strings of con�lict, as �ights between rival politicians morph into �ights between clans exacting revenge.

The group’s critical events monitoring system (CEMS) captured 121 reports of election-related incidents from 11-13 May in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao including Cotabato City, parts of North Cotabato, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Most of these incidents involved rival clans with the ability to engage in prolonged revenge killings.

CEMS is a real-time SMS-based monitoring platform used by International Alert and an early response network to disaster and con�lict based in Marawi City.

Explosions and �ist�ights According to International Alert’s report, the election period saw fewer shooting incidents between rival candidates and supporters that were a staple of previous electoral battles. Instead, grenades and improvised explosive devices went off to scare voters and to preoccupy the police and

military deputized by the Commission on Elections to ensure order during the polls. Meanwhile, there were reports of at least 20 �ist�ights and scuf�les that broke out among candidates’ supporters and poll watchers within and outside polling places in International Alert’s areas of coverage.

Bombing and brawling seems to have replaced the violent gun battles of the past. A lot of this owes to the tight military and police presence and control in the Bangsamoro that started early this year during the plebiscite for the BOL and continued up to election day, notes International Alert.

In December 2018, Congress approved a 12-month extension of martial law in Mindanao after President Rodrigo Duterte pushed for maintaining tough security measures in the region to stop extremist violence.

The important question now and in the post-election period is whether martial law will continue, according to the peace building group.

Clan feuding, revenge killings, and extremist violence are expected to rise in the absence of a negotiated post-election settlement on the carrying and use of �irearms agreed by various groups such as the security sector, leaders in the new Bangsamoro government, local government of�icials, traditional leaders, and civil society, the group warns.

SoKor commits to help reexport its waste materials in CDO

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he South Korean government has committed to help ship back to its country some 5,176 metric tons (MT) of waste materials illegally imported here last year and currently stored at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority premises in Misamis Oriental.

Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said in his report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III that the waste materials, consisting of plastic synthetic �lakes, were unlawfully imported by the Cebu-based Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp. in July and October last year.

An Order of Forfeiture and Order of Re-Exportation were issued by the Port of Cagayan De Oro (CDO) against these waste materials, which arrived here in bulk and containerized shipments, Guerrero said in his report.

“The Korean government has expressed its commitment in collaborating with the Philippine government to execute the repatriation of these materials should Verde Soko fail to follow the Notice of Repatriation Order which it issued, and its willingness to shoulder the shipping cost without the arrastre and demurrage charges,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero said a separate shipment of 51×40

container vans of waste materials were loaded on the cargo vessel MV Kalireo last Jan. 13 and left for South Korea the following day.

The remaining 5,176.9 MT of waste materials still stored at the Verde Soko compound within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority premises in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental will soon be balled and compacted to prepare them for shipment back to South Korea, Guerrero added.

He said in his report that “The Port of CDO District Collector informed that PHIVIDEC has already applied for power supply with the Cagayan de Oro Electric Power Light Company (CERALCO) in order that the Balling and Compacting Machine, which are already in place, can be used in the compacting and bagging of the waste materials prior to their shipment to Korea.”

Manila and Seoul are signatories to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal–more popularly referred to as the Basel Convention–designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and speci�ically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.

STRICTER. Passengers disembark from a passenger vessel plying the Island Garden of Samal (IGaCoS)-Sasa route at a jetty in Babak, IGaCoS on Thursday morning. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Davao has implemented a stricter precautionary

NEWS 3

measures before allowing boats to sail following Sunday’s incident near the Davao Wharf where a motorboat used for island hopping sank when a rope got entangled with its propeller. Lean Daval Jr

Road closures ordered for HNP thanksgiving

By ADAM B. MORRELL

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oad closures will be observed during the thanksgiving activity of Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) which will be staged with a theme “Daghang Salamat, Davao City” on May 31 at the Rizal Park in San Pedro street, Davao City.

The 18th council of Davao City on Thursday’s regular sessions passed under the suspended rules the request of HNP member, secretariat Raul Nadela Jr., chief of staff of Davao City mayor Sara Duter-

te-Carpio, of the road closure in portion of Bolton Street in Between Rizal Park and Sangguniang Panglungsod, from corner San Pedro Street to corner Magallanes, City Hall drive right side, from between

Quezon and Rizal Park until between City Engineer’s Of�ice and City Planning and Development Of�ice, and road fronting Davao City Hall.

The road closure will particularly begin at 12:01am of Friday, May 31, until 6:00am of Saturday, June 1.

The thanksgiving activity will be graced by HNP of�icers spearheaded by the presidential daughter

along with HNP president Davao Occidental governor Claude Bautista, HNP vice president and Davao Oriental governor Nelson Dayanghirang, HNP secretary general former Davao del Norte governor Anthony Del Rosario and HNP treasurer and Compostela Valley governor Jayvee Tyron Uy. Some 10,000 individuals are expected to join celebration.

chair of the sub-committee on the ROTC bills.

“DepEd has proposed and it is already incorporated in the Senate version an Instructors Academy, an ROTC Instructors Academy where all those who will be teaching ROTC, whether coming from the AFP or coming from DepEd or coming from DND, they will be undergoing a capacity-building training so that all the necessary laws, policies, guidelines and approaches will be given to them,” Pascua said.

“These are the measures/mechanisms to ensure that our students will not be subject to abuse,” he added.

Pascua said his agency is also proposing the establishment of “grievance committees” from the district level up to the nation-

al level which will have investigatory and prosecution functions.

Moreover, he said there is also the suggestion of creating a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee where DepEd and DND will jointly report every year in the pilot implementation phase, and even in the �irst year of full implementation.

At least 100 public and private high schools nationwide will be part of the two-year pilot program for the proposed mandatory military training.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones, for her part, said she is personally in favor of the revival of ROTC for senior high school students.

“I think we need ROTC now so that we have a source of defense. We cannot be relying on other

countries to defend us. We have to rely on ourselves,” Briones said.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier welcomed the passage of mandatory ROTC bill in the House of Representatives on a 167-4-0 vote.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to pass a bill reinstating mandatory military training for senior high school students to instill patriotism and love of country.

The mandatory ROTC program for college students started in 1912 but was made optional and voluntary in 2002 after some cadets died from hazing, including University of Santo Tomas student Mark Welson Chua, who exposed corruption in the organization. (PNA)

DepEd suggests ‘ROTC Instructors Academy’ as safeguard vs. abuse

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o prevent abuses in the proposed revival of the Reserve Of�icers’ Training Corps (ROTC) in schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for the creation of an “ROTC Instructors Academy”.

DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua said the academy will require ROTC instructors, who are members of the DepEd, Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to undergo capacity-building training to protect students from abuses such as hazing and corruption.

Pascua said this proposal has already been incorporated in the Senate version of the proposed revival of mandatory military training through Senator Sherwin Gatchalian,

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

DOF eyeing expanded SoKor economic cooperation

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ment-owned lands as mandated under Executive Order No. 75, second, the parcellation of collective CLOAs, and most of all, ensuring that the country is LAD Free by 2022,” Castriciones said.

However, if the DAR is armed with a well-coordinated strategy, it would not be an “impossible mission,” he added.

inance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has reaf�irmed the Philippine government’s desire to deepen economic ties with South Korea, which recently unveiled plans to pivot towards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and expand its assistance to countries in the region.

In a meeting held recently with of�icials of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Dominguez also thanked South Korea for supporting the Philippines’ efforts to enhance the use of digital technology in improving tax administration through its support for the electronic invoicing and receipts system of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

“We want to express how appreciative we are of the assistance we are receiving from the Korean people through the Korean government. I hope that we can expand our cooperation at this time and for the coming future,” Dominguez told the South Korean delegation led by KOICA president Lee Mikyung.

Lee said that with South Korea’s assistance to ASEAN in 2017 almost tripling by 2022, the Philippines can also expect the volume of support from his country to also increase during that period.

He said Korea expects “more close and deepened cooperation” with the Philippines especial-

ly as this year marks the 70thanniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In light of South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s policy centered on “the three Ps—people, peace and prosperity,” and his recognition of the strategic importance of ASEAN in the global economy, Lee said his government has pursued several initiatives on education, information and communications technology (ICT), and inclusive development, among other programs, that the Philippines could tap to help achieve its goal of economic inclusion for all Filipinos.

These include the ASEAN Higher Education Initiative, which involve the exchange of college students between South Korea and the Philippines, and South Korea’s highly developed ICT programs to assist the Philippines in enhancing transparency in governance and reforming its tax system.

Lee said that since President Duterte assumed of�ice, the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) both played pivotal roles in the Philippines’ economic development and poverty reduction efforts. “I am also happy to see that you are making progress and achievements in these areas,” Lee said.

“With the new set of

egar using coconut sap, coconut water, nipa sap, sugarcane juice, banana and other fruits.

It will also introduce the “Acetator” equipment developed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which could process coconut water into vinegar in 16 hours; the DA-PCA program for the establishment of village-level processing facilities for household and industrial vinegar; and the DAACPC (Agricultural Credit Policy Council) Loaning Program for Agricultural Production to include production of household and industrial vinegar.

Regional orientation-workshops will be conducted after the launching in Quezon City.

Invited to attend the �irst orientation-workshop on natural vinegar production are experts in the �ield, as well as farmers and entrepreneurs who are already producing vinegar.

Among the leading companies is Green Life Coco Products based in Laguna, which is pro-

ducing 20-metric tons of organic coco sap vinegar and 60-metric tons of coco water vinegar monthly.

Vinegar-making is a traditional source of income for many coconut farmers in the country but it has reportedly been ignored and neglected by the government in the past.

With the consumers now getting more health-conscious and opting for healthy food, Piñol said the production of natural and organic vinegar has a huge market potentialm provided that the production process, including the packaging, is improved with government assistance.

For coconut water alone, the country produces 15 billion matured nuts yearly, with farmers focused only on harvesting the coconut meat and throwing away the other parts of the nuts, including water.

Assuming that each nut contains one-fourth liter of coconut water, the volume of coconut water wasted is estimated at 3.5

billion liters, he noted.

One liter of vinegar is now sold at the market for PHP50 while fruit vinegar commands a higher price.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) OIC Director General Rolando Enrique Domingo earlier issued a statement that its standards “consider vinegar a natural product that should have undergone the natural process of alcoholic or acetous fermentation of natural raw materials.”

“If the product contains arti�icial matter, such as synthetic acetic acid or cloudifying agent, it is considered adulterated,” Domingo said.

He said the FDA is “coordinating with the PNRI (Philippine Nuclear Research Institute) for the submission of the results of the analysis, while continuously subjecting vinegar products for testing.

Synthetic acetic acid may not be harmful per se, but products using such chemicals shall have their registration with the FDA revoked for misdeclaration.” (PNA)

ORGANIC. Organically grown bananas and other fruits and vegetables are on sale at the organic market at Rizal Park in Davao City on Thursday. Organic products sold at the organic market by urban farmers of Davao City are being patronized by Dabawenyos because of their affordable prices and health benefits. Lean Daval Jr

Complete land distribution by 2022, feasible - Castriciones

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AVAO CITY – Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John R. Castriciones is positive in achieving its new mandate to complete the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by 2022.

To accomplish President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s new challenge, dubbed LAD Free 2022, Castriciones directed all its regional and local of-

�icials to forge a systematic and formidable plan.

Last Monday, at the start of a national conference on the new issuances of the agency,

DOE holds discussion on EVOSS implementation

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he Department of Energy (DOE) reached out to key energy players through a public consultation on the Drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop (EVOSS) Act at the Marquis Events Place in Bonfacio Global City.

The public consultation is a signi�icant step towards the implementation of the EVOSS Act, which aims to cut back on lengthy government processes and generate more energy investments in the country. It aims to create and establish an online platform where prospective energy project developers can apply, submit documentary requirements, pay corresponding fees, and monitor the status of their application.

Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said, "The passage of the EVOSS Act is only the tip of the spear. We need to generate more energy projects to ensure suf�icient energy supply for generations to come - we can achieve this with policies that support investments in the energy sector by eliminating hurdles in the application process."

Among those present during the public consultation were energy stakeholders, representatives from national government agencies and entities and members of the energy family.

"The Duterte Administration aims to institutionalize more ef�icient processes, including those that are certi�ied as energy projects of national signi�icance," the Energy Chief concluded. (DOE)

Castriciones emphasized that with over 600,000 hectares of land still to be covered under the CARP, completion of the land distribution process in a span of three years seems to be a tall order.

“There are three things that the administration of President Duterte wants us to accomplish. First is the distribution of govern-

DOF, P10

Coco farmers to undergo natural vinegar production training

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s the government prepares to purge “fake” vinegar from the consumer market, the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will begin the nationwide training of farmers and women’s groups on the production of natural vinegar, using agricultural products to �ill the expected supply gap.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol, in his FB post on Wednesday, said the DA and the PCA will launch on May 28 the “Natural Vinegar Production Program” - with a one-day orientation-workshop at the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in Quezon City.

The orientation-workshop will include the status of the Philippine coconut industry and the government’s thrust to develop other high-value products from coconut; potentials of natural vinegar for household and industrial uses; processing and production of natural vin-

ECONOMY

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

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Tax exemption for small-scale gold miners hailed by BSP

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angko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) of�icials applauded the amendment of the National Internal Revenue Code that exempted small-scale miners from paying income and excise tax for the gold that they sell to the central bank.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11256 on March 29, 2019.

BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the

amended law is “an excellent and much needed law.”

“It remedies the 99 percent drop in domestic gold purchases from more than 900 thousand �ine troy ounces (FTO) in 2010 to around 10 thousand FTO in 2019 as a result of the taxation of the sale of gold to the BSP beginning July 2011,” he said.

The BSP chief explained that the amendment of the NIRC will

allow the central bank to increase gold purchases from domestic sources “to further build up the country’s gross international reserves (GIR).”

“Higher GIR would lead to improving the country’s economic standing and lowering the costs of borrowing by the Republic as well as the private sector. Moreover, it prevents the smuggling of Philippine gold through the black market to other

countries,” he added.

Also, BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said monetary of�icials “de�initely welcome” this development.

“We worked hard for it for the last few years and its passage is a strong symbol that the Government values the welfare of our small scale gold miners who are forced to settle for lower prices for their gold in the blackmarket,” he said.

Guinigundo explained that this measure is a winwin situation for both the small scale miners, who will now have higher return for their gold, and the government, which would be able to buy gold using the local currency instead of using US dollars when it purchases gold overseas.

“With higher and sustained and comfortable import and short term debt coverage, we can be favorably considered

both by the market and the credit rating agencies.

That should translate into lower borrowing costs for both the Government and the corporates,” he said.

“We hope the gold sale to the BSP can reach almost a million �ine troy ounces like it was before the collection of excise tax and creditable tax were mandated by BIR. Now it's only about 20-30 thousand �ine troy ounces,” he added. (PNA)

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

EDITORIAL Boomerang Now that Peter Joemel Advoncula has recanted his statements accusing the Duterte family and its allies of involvement in a large scale illegal drugs syndicate, will those from the opposition proposing for a probe continue to push on with it?

This is getting quite interesting.

Advincula, who introduced himself as the ‘Bikoy’ in the controversial video “Ang Totoong Narcolist” which tagged the Duterte family-presidential son Paolo, son-in-law Atty. Manases Carpio and top aide Christopher “Bong” Go--to the illegal drugs operations in the country, himself recanted his statements and admitted they were all lies made to bring down President Rodrigo Duterte and install opposition leader and Vice President Leni Robredo.

The supposed hooded confessor ‘Bikoy’ sang a different tune on Thursday after he turned himself up voluntarily to the police. He said

EDGEDAVAO

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the opposition Liberal Party orchestrated the plan called “Project Sodoma.”

The latest twist sent shockwaves to many but for those accused in the video, they were not. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Congressman-elect Paolo Duterte and Senator-elect Go all felt vindicated and said they were not surprised by the revelations. They expected it.

Earlier, opposition Senators led by Sen. Franklin Drilon pushed for an all-out inquiry in the Senate. Now that their own party and their allied Sen. Antonio Trillanes, Sen. Risa Honteveros and Vice President Robredo were implicated in the Advincula recantation, will they still pursue the probe vigorously?

If indeed the opposition had no hand in the ‘Bikoy’ accusations, they must continue to pursue with the same enthusiasm the inquiry in the Senate.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Social Media Manager/Lifestyle

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

7

MUJAHID NAVARRA UNDERSTANDING ISLAM

PERSECUTION OF UIGHUR MUSLIMS BY CHINA We are way past the middle of the month of Ramadhan for this year, yet many Muslims are not celebrating this blessed month the way some Muslims around the world do.

Social media is often the only way we hear about the plight of the Muslims in Palestine, Syria, Burma and every Muslim con�lict area in the area in the world as most Mainstream Media would rather deliver news about celebrities than the real plight of fellow human beings around the world. The need to entertain and be entertained has overtaken our need for humanity just like during the times of the decadent Rome when spectacles such as gladiatorial �ights in huge coliseums are built in order for the people to forget the plague of human problems around them.

Muslim die each day of bombs and even weapons of mass destruction while others die in a modern-day famine which is really unbelievable for the thriving human society we have today as economists claim. All these grim glimpses of the bad situation of Muslims around the world is being made worse by the fact that Muslims are already over reported as terrorists but under-reported as victims.

Sympathy towards Muslims is something that is rare because

it is rarely too that people are being made aware.

But of all modern day atrocities towards Muslims, there is one that has caught the attention of some mainstream media because of its peculiarity. Unlike being an open war just like what is happening around the Muslim world, China is quietly, systematically and effectively oppressing the Uyghur Muslim minority. Early reports mention of Uyghurs being forced to attend indoctrination of the Chinese ideology to the point that they are being made to abandon their religion by having any Islamic religious act outlawed. This religious persecution meant that Uyghurs women could not wear veils or the Uyghur population, in general, could not read the Quran, attend regular prayers or even fast during Ramadhan.

The Uyghurs is an ethnic minority in China whose populations is more related to the Turkic people of Central Asia like Kazakhstan than the ethnic Han Chinese of mainland China. They have their own language, culture, and religion that is different from the majority of the Chinese. This is due to the fact that the area they now occupy, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region northwest of China, was once a sovereign state known as the

Dzungar Khanate and is a remnant of the Mongol Empire. In 1933, the area is known as the Islamic Republic of East Turkistan but it was occupied by China in 1934. In 1944, the Soviet Union backed the creation of a smaller East Turkistan Republic at the edge of the Xinjiang province near Russia but the Soviet Union ceded this too to China in 1949 when China became communist. It has been under China ever since.

Since 1949, China has kept the Uighurs in check in order to foil any independence movement whose small spark may cause a civil war that China could not afford to happen let alone �ight as the Xinjiang province is very strategic economically, politically and militarily.

Xinjiang has 40% of China’s coal reserves and 20% of its oil, gas and wind energy. China is very well aware of a Uighur nationalistic pride shall undoubtedly prosper in a region that is technically a country of its own and they really wanted to keep this in check. Any form of de�iance in the Xinjiang province by the Uighurs shall mean large scale con�lict in the region as any armed movement there would be very formidable thanks to its available resources and China will �ind itself in a long, protracted and costly war that it could not afford.

China began to dilute any possibility of a solid Uighur Muslim identity in the region by helping Han Chinese migrate from mainland China to the Xinjiang province. In 1946 there was only 6.2% Han Chinese and 82.7% Uighur in the region, but in 2008, 39.2% of the region is already Han Chinese and only 46% Uighur.

As the Xinjiang province progressed, Uighurs are left discriminated and marginalized in every �ield of work and opportunities. This injustice ignited bloody riots and one of these is in 2009, killing 200 people.

This led to more Chinese crackdown on the Uighurs and the establishment of Muslim internment camps in the region.

International media has made investigations on the matter that reveals huge internment camps for Muslims, about the size of modern cities, that have gotten bigger over the years through satellite imagery.

The Chinese government is least cooperative on the matter claiming that those were vocational schools and factories, but satellite imagery reveals very high perimeter walls and guard towers that cast long shadows that you would most likely �ind in a prison, not in a school or a factory. It’s an internment camp for ethnic cleansing. An ethnic cleansing that China could not

keep secret for so long.

Soon, China renames these vocational schools as re-education centers after relenting to some pressure especially from western media who visited China in order to investigate the plight of the Uighurs in these internment camps. China is now playing to the tune of curbing international terrorism as their main reason for this religious persecution.

Xinjiang province is also at the crossroads between mainland China and other neighboring countries. It is also the best land route to Europe. Con�lict arising in these areas would negatively affect China’s economic policies such as their belt and road initiative on their way to global trade supremacy as they are currently in a literal trade war with rest of the world.

Upon hearing about this, we are quick to make parallels between the Jewish holocaust during World War II under the Nazis but most independent investigations made reveal that China has a different set of motives other than pure religious hatred of the Muslims. China is purely economic and political in all these atrocities as they say. But still, any kind of atrocity in any kind of motive is still an atrocity. May Allah help the Muslims around the world.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

HYPOCRITES OF PATRIOTISM I have not seen so much animosity, bitterness, hatred, division and fault�inding as much as I have seen today in the recently concluded 2019 political exercise.

Why we have reached this unmistakably polarized national situation, I guess, behooves us all. But this is not unexplainable and without reason.

Undoubtedly, among those running for national elective posts, Otso Diretso candidates were feverishly and �iercely campaigning on a personal vendetta against the President, instead of bringing to the people their alternative legislative agenda.

This strategy personi�ied a team bereft of a positive governance platform because none of them - who used Otso Diretso as a subtle acronym to escape the stigma the Liberal Party has brought upon itself - offered achievable solutions to the glaring problems of poverty, unemployment, illegal drugs menace, oil and

energy, in�lation, food security and other issues affecting the Filipino nation.

The resignation of Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan from the presidency of the Liberal Party was the unimpeachable testimony that Otso Diretso grievously failed in wooing the sympathies of a people that have placed its full trust and con�idence in the Duterte administration.

The negative, fault-�inding campaign issues against Duterte boomeranged.

The opposition’s stirring groans that the Philippines has become a “province” of China did not ring any alarm bell among the electorate. This, despite the “collaboration” of the Metro Manila-based mainstream media.

Thru Gary Alejano, a Magdalo pary-list representative, Otso Diretso even raised a racially slurred and prejudicial news releases about illegal Chinese entrants being given favorable employment considerations.

It was painfully agonizing to see the sparse crowds Otso Diretso bets received in many provincial sorties. People shied away and the usual “hakot” style was absent. Very obviously, the LGUs that usually kowtowed to the previous Aquino administration in the 2013 and 2016 polls have jumped ship and did not want anything to do with them.

Yet, Otso Diretso still clings to the false notion that they alone love this country and its people.

Did they run for of�ice because they wanted to serve the public interest?

As Samuel Johnson said: “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.”

Johnson added that “those who resort to patriotic pronouncements, with the ulterior motive of self-advancement, are hypocrites of patriotism.”

Don’t the Otso Diretso candidates �it this description?

They pretended and presented themselves as patriots

and nationalists by hammering on Duterte’s friendly pivot towards China, accusing the President of his vassal-like actions.

They painted a picture, similar to the Marcos years, that the loans granted by China for the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program are a debt-trap that is putting the country in deep peril.

Otso Diretso’s patriotic pretensions suffered the integrity and credibility tests as none of them – from re-electionist senator Bam Aquino to perennial loser Mar Roxas – failed to convince the populace that Duterte’s leadership and governance style are putting the country in the economic danger zones.

It cannot be far-fetched – as has been laid out by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo – that the opposition Liberal Party to which the Otso Diretso bets sprung from may have something to do with the series of

Bikoy videos that were scattered all over the social media.

The CBCP hierarchy can also be rated as hypocrites of patriotism.

When it called on the people, particularly their Catholic brethren, not to vote for “murderers and thieves,” the CBCP took on a different role, that of a political warlord instead of a spiritual shepherd.

How many bishops trooped to Malacanang and submitted requests for SUVs which were coursed thru to the PCSO for the use of the parish in visiting far-�lung areas?

Has the CBCP forgotten this?

Have Otso Diretso bets overlooked this that they even sought endorsements from the CBCP? Well, can we separate real patriots and nationalists from hypocrites of patriotism like chaff from the grain?. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

8

EDGEDAVAO

COMPETITIVE EDGE

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. staged a recent Open House for Investors and Sellers attended by local and foreign prospective buyers at West Empire Restaurant, Lanang, Davao City on May 10, 2019. A group of foreign investors also came to the open house party to check out the premium properties offered by Aeon Luxe.

Globe, Beach Volleyball Republic tie up for FIVB

S

ummer’s not quite over yet as Globe teams up with Beach Volleyball Republic (BVR) to bring an action-packed sporting event in the country! A total of 64 players from international (32) and local (32) elite teams will compete in the upcoming FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open 2019 that will happen from May 23 to 26, 2019 at the White House Beach Resort in Boracay.

The event will not just focus on the sport of beach volleyball since the participating players will also be at the forefront of the campaign for the use of reusable water containers and sports bottles during the tournament and help raise awareness on the importance of avoiding single-use plastics. Globe and BVR will also work closely with the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, the local government of Malay and White House Beach Resort, the of-

�icial tournament venue, as part of the efforts to promote sustainable sports tourism.

“Beach volleyball is one of the world’s most exciting sports competitions, and it will be a good opportunity for the Philippines and for Globe to showcase the country’s capabilities when it comes to hosting global sporting events while also promoting responsible care for the environment through eco-tourism. We hope many Filipinos will head out to Boracay and witness the world’s best of the best in beach volleyball for a great summer to remember and get ready to #GrowTheGame,” says Issa Cabreira, Head of Consumer Mobile Business at Globe Telecom.

Charo Soriano, BVR President, for her part, expressed gratitude to Globe for partnering with them in the hosting of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open 2019. “We would like to thank

Globe for sharing our vision of promoting sports and eco-tourism in the Philippines through beach volleyball, given the richness and robustness of the country’s natural resources. The Philippines has placed well in past editions of this tournament and I hope we will do well again this year and show the world the kind of up-and-coming powerhouse that we are in the sport of beach volleyball.”

A hydration area will be set up at the tournament venue for the players where they can �ill up their respective reusable water containers or sports bottles. Volleyball fans can also visit the Globe EcoBooth and show their support with the use of reusable sports bottles. Globe users can get a free reusable water bottle and eco-bag by simply registering to GoSAKTO90 and a free water re�illing station will also be put up to quench their thirst while en-

joying the tournament.

To conclude the weekend, BVR will hold a beach volleyball clinic from 10 AM to 12 noon, which will be participated by over 80 indigenous (Ati) and underprivileged children as part of the group’s Sandroots Development Program for 2019.

The program hopes to empower and inspire Filipino underprivileged youth through beach volleyball as a language of hope and as a platform to make the dream of winning in international events come true. The activity is fully supported by Globe and is BVR’s way of promoting the country through beach volleyball as well as paying it forward to the community. Globe will also join BVR’s Sandroots Program Tours throughout the year that includes holding beach volleyball clinics in select provincial communities in Visayas and Mindanao.

made with their iSave accounts.”

Opening a Maybank iSave account will earn a depositor one raf�le entry for every Php 10,000 month-todate average daily balance maintained in their accounts up to July 31, 2019. The promo started last February 1, 2019. “Not only can they experience convenience when doing their banking transactions online or via the Maybank2U PH app, they can also be delighted with customized shopping sprees if they win in the preliminary draws and a travel package in the grand draw”, she added.

Maybank iSave depositors are automatically registered for all the draws and

will be informed of their earned raf�le entries via SMS. All quali�ied iSave accounts will continue to earn raf�le entries until the end of the promo.

The winners of the preliminary draws will receive P300,000, P200,000 and P100,000 worth of shopping spree to any store of their choice within the Philippines, while the grand draw winner is set to enjoy a trip to the U.S.A. or any preferred destination and travel package worth P1 million, TAX FREE. All quali�ied iSave entries can join in all the raf�le draws, but can only win once per draw. iSave Savings account is the �irst purely online account in the Philippines,

with no initial deposit and no maintaining balance required. Clients earn interest at a minimum balance of P20,000 and can withdraw from any Bancnet ATM in the Philippines for free. The account is also accessible using Maybank ATMs in Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia with no charge and client can enjoy better conversion rates. It also comes with an EMV-enabled card, thus very secure.

Conveniently do banking transactions via the Maybank2U PH app, providing clients an alternative way to bank.

So get going, get banking with iSave and the Maybank2U PH app.

PER DTI-FTEB Permit No. 1591, Series of 2019

Maybank gives clients chance to shop, travel abroad for FREE

M

aybank is giving its clients the opportunity to go on a trip anywhere abroad for FREE or spend as much as P300,000 of items in a shopping spree in its iSave.iShop.iFly. Promo.

All they have to do is open an iSave account via the Maybank2U PH app and maintain at least P10,000.

Maybank Philippines Head of Marketing Donna Michelle Barroga said the bank has already done the promo’s 1st preliminary draw last April 15, 2019 which was broadcasted via FB Live. “This initiative not only encourages a culture of saving but also empowers new and existing clients by helping unlock the full potential of their deposits

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office No. XI Balusong Ave., McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City

Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED UV EXPRESS Service.

Petition for Extension of Validity of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service.

DONNA T. TAM, Petitioner.

AISA D. JUANIR, Petitioner.

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2019-5-1000

Case No. R11-EV-TX-2019-5-470

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x

NOTICE OF HEARING

NOTICE OF HEARING

Petitioner is a grantee of several Certificates of Public Convenience issued in this cases authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED UV EXPRESS service on the route: DAVAO CITY - MONKAYO (COMPOSTELA VALLEY) AND VICE VERSA with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on February 9, 2020. In the petition filed on May 15, 2019, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

Petitioner is a grantee of several Certificates of Public Convenience issued in this cases authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY and from said place to any point in REGION XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2019. In the petition filed on May 15, 2019, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JULY 2, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JUNE 11, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

Davao City, Philippines, May 17, 2019.

Davao City, Philippines, May 16, 2019.

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR OIC-Regional Director

Atty. CATTLEYA B. ACAYLAR OIC-Regional Director

(2014-XI-01000)

Petitioner, Donna T. Tam Counsel, Atty. Bien Marie G. Bolcan

(2014-XI-00470)

Petitioner, Aisa D. Juanir Counsel, Atty. Albert G. Yenco

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VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Fashion Weekend Davao 2019 to showcase a fusion of fashion and heritage As the country celebrates National Heritage Month this May, Ayala Malls Abreeza and the Davao Fashion Design Council join forces for a common goal: to bring to the fore fashion artistry and enterprise that are rooted in the region’s rich cultural identity.

Fashion Weekend Davao (FWD), the region’s premier fashion and design platform, makes its return to Ayala Malls Abreeza’s Activity Center from May 24 to 26, 2019. Launched in 2016 by Ayala Malls Abreeza and the Davao Fashion Design Council, this year’s installment is more ambitious than the last as it gathers the region’s traditional and contemporary designers, makers, artisans, and creative entrepreneurs in one cultural convergence. As a catalyst for innovation and creative enterprise, FWD seeks to recognize the value of diversity in crafting Mindanao’s distinct local-global design identity.

This year’s edition of FWD kicks off with its opening salvo, Tambayayong Dabawenyo: Annual Convergence of Traditional and Contemporary Arts, Design, and Performances, on May 24 at 4pm. This signature event of the Department of Tourism’s Visit Davao Summer Festival will weave fashion, music, dance, and theatre performances across a plethora of ethnic-modern opus by contemporary and indigenous music artists from all over the Davao Region. Also taking center stage in this cultural celebration is authentic tribal garb as worn by muses from 11 tribal communities, as well as indigenous-inspired ready-towear garments by Stellar: Mindanao Heritage Fashion Designers Competition 2016 winner Wilson Limon.

FWD 2019’s main highlight takes place on May 25, 4pm with the second edition of Stellar: Mindanao Heritage Fashion Designers Competition. Besides vying for the grand prize of P100,000 in start-up capital, the participating up-and-coming Mindanaoan designers take part in heritage fashion design ideation and business incubation, which will encourage them to create harmonious partnerships with traditional and emerging communities in building their enterprises.

Other FWD 2019 component events that further fuse fashion and heritage are A: Artisan Fashion Market and Crafts Buffet - Weekend Market for Artisanal Fashion Products from Indigenous Communities in Davao Region on May 26, Heritage Fashion Commune: Live Interactive Showcase of the Region’s Indigenous High Arts on May 24-26, Gama | Gawa: Vignette of Award-winning Davao Fashion Design and Designers on May 24-26, and FASHION+ Co-Lab: Curated Pop-up Stores Featuring Davao’s IP Community-collaborated Fashion Brands on May 24-26.

Ayala Malls Abreeza and the Davao Fashion Design Council have welcomed a powerhouse of collaborators for such an ambitious undertaking. These include as co-operators the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Department of Tourism, the Visit Davao Summer Festival, and the Department of Trade & Industry. The local government units of Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Compostela Valley also take part in the project.

Curating partners consist of the Philippine Women’s College of Davao’s Artisanal Heritage Studies & Creative Enterprise Center, the Creative Innovators Programme of the British Council, and the Commission on Higher Education’s Institutional Development & Innovation Grants. Also pledging its support is creative industry partner Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation Inc. At the media launch on May 21, coming together to provide more exciting details about FWD 2019 were Ayala Malls Abreeza Marketing Manager Ruby Ochoa, Davao Fashion Design Council’s Dodjie Batu and Emi Englis, Department of Trade & Industry’s Marie Anne How, Visit Davao Summer Festival’s Tessa Piansay, and Stellar 2016 winner Wilson Limon. Stellar 2019 finalists Ron Xavier Santos, Toping Zamora, Rogie Vergara, Jr., Kenny Ladaga, Bonie Adaza, Christon Soto Bautista, Joao Tarepe, and Raymond Umpa also gave guests a sneak peek into the collections they’ll be unleashing on the runway on May 25.

For updates and further information on FWD 2019, please follow Ayala Malls Abreeza on Facebook (@AbreezaMall), Twitter (@abreezatweets), and Instagram (@iloveabreezamall).

The Stellar 2019 finalists and their models with DFDC’s Dodjie Batu and Emi Englis, VDSF’s Tessa Piansay, Ayala Malls Abreeza’s Ruby Ochoa, and DTI’s Marie Anne How.

Stellar 2016 Grand Prix Winner Wilson Limon.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

TRAVEL

THE TRAVAILS OF TRAVEL

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, man has traveled. The Bible, for instance, is replete of people who traveled from one place to another. In the book of Exodus, Moses led his people out of Egypt. In the New Testament, Paul chronicled his visit to various places through his epistles. Matthew wrote the story of the “wise men” who traveled from east to Jerusalem looking for the Holy Child so that they could worship Him. Today, traveling has become a major part of life for modern man. “Why do you go away?” asked Terry Pratchett, author of A Hat Full of Sky. “So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as

never leaving.”

In his book, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It, Mark Twain wrote: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome,

charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

And so, here are some of the lessons I learned during my recent travel to the United States:

Lesson No. 2: phone, program use. Go to the m national roamin a text (ROAM) t you can use you the world. I did a problem conta would pick me a tional Airport in Immediately, airport at the m I texted my frien Caraquel. Fortu back. So, when terminal after ge saw him waving Lesson No. 3: nected with frie through social m ommend Facebo have free Wi-Fi Lesson No. 1: If you are going abroad, be sure to get your connecting you have to do i flights with the same airline company the guide and pr nected for free. or having alliance with the airline of immediately sen your choice. It may be more expento who you wan sive but you are sure that you will get Also, you can po to your destination without much waiting for your hassles.

In may cheaper to book in different break boredom.

Lesson No. 4: airline companies but the problem is when some of your flights are delayed. out there so be s and debit cards The rest of your flights will definitely traveling abroad be affected. And new bookings – if brought some d ever there are available flights – may they may not be entail you to spend more. Not to use cash only in mention is the headache of getting a Hotels don’t acc room reservation in the hotel where ally ask for your you are stuck. check-in. I learn If you want to save money, try to when I was in N book earlier flight. This was what I have a credit car did when I had my flight from Davao that my friend h to Manila. I saved a few thousands when I opted to fly the early flight – at it for me to be ch around 3 in the morning. What I lost, checked-out, I p though. however, was slept; I had a hard time Why two card sleeping knowing that if I had to be in trip, I usually us deep slumber, I may miss my flight.

EDAVAO

: If you have a mobile m it for international menu and click “interng.” Or, you may send to 333. By doing this, ur phone anywhere in d it because I may have acting my friend who at the JFK Internan New York. , when I arrived at the middle of the night, nd, Atty. Nicolas unately, he answered I went out from the etting my luggage, I g at me. : Have yourself conends and relatives media. I highly recook. Most airports connection and all is connect; just follow presto you get conFrom there, you can nd messages privately nt to contact with. ost some photos while r flight. A great way to . : It’s a cashless world sure to bring credit at your disposal when d. Okay, you have dollars with you but e enough. In my case, I n case of an emergency. cept cash, they usur credit card when you ned this the first time New York. I didn’t rd then but it was good had one and he used hecked-in. When I paid all my bills in cash

ds? During my recent se my debit card. But

INdulge! A3

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Love, betrayal and vengeance take the spotlight in Dahil sa Pag-ibig HOW FAR would you go for the one you love?

there are instances when it doesn’t work. And so, I had to use my sister’s credit card to pay the bills when I was shopping together with her. In other words, if you have two cards, you can never go wrong!

Lesson No. 5: Know the airport where you will fly. Airports have their uniqueness so you better study them so you won’t get lost. When I flew from Orlando, Florida to JFK in New York on my way back to Manila, I had to fly a different airline (Delta Air Lines). When I checked-in, I had to pay US$70 for my two luggage ($30 for the first and $40 for the second). After doing so all the requirements, I went inside lo and behold, it was not the departure zone. I had to ride a train to go to the said area. If I wasn’t told by my brother-in-law, David Eplite, I would have never known it.

Another problem I encountered was the JFK International Airport, the busiest international air passenger gateway into North America.

Over ninety airlines operate from the airport with nonstop or direct flights to destinations in all six continents.

The sixth busiest airport in the United States, it has six passenger terminals.

Delta Air Lines operates at Terminal 2 and my flight back to Manila was on Terminal 1. There is a train that operates around the busy terminal but I had to travel all around to get to Terminal 1. When I arrived, I asked some people on how to get to my terminal; it is just on the other side, I was told. It was only a matter of five-minute walk but it was raining and was freezing.

I did the unimaginable. I took my two huge luggage walking under the rain and crossed to the other building.

The good thing was there were few vehicles crossing the street – or else I would be smashed.

(To be concluded)

GMA Network redefines the Kapuso viewers’ afternoon viewing experience with the gripping story about the sacrifices a wife would be willing to endure for the sake of her husband in Dahil sa Pag-ibig.

The original drama is topbilled by the network’s highly-talented and promising stars: Benjamin Alves as Eldon, Winwyn Marquez as Portia, Pancho Magno as Gary and Sanya Lopez as Mariel.

Eldon (Benjamin), who works as an OFW in Saudi Arabia, commits a grave crime that eventually lands him in jail. His wife Mariel (Sanya), who is left in the Philippines, is desperate to earn the “Blood Money” that will bail out her husband. Portia (Winwyn), the wife of Eldon’s employer, is bent on putting him behind bars. Gary (Pancho), Mariel’s rich former lover, offers an indecent proposal that shakes her fidelity to Eldon.

Driven by the fears and sacrifices of every wife who has an OFW for a husband, Dahil sa Pag-ibig tells the thought-provoking tale of the temptations and difficulties that a married couple confront when separated by distance.

Witness in Dahil Sa Pag-ibig how a shocking revelation turned the once perfect lives of the characters of this soap into a nightmare.

Joining the powerhouse cast are Sandy Andolong as Nanette, Mariel’s naïve mother; Dominic Roco as Roger, Eldon’s trusted friend and housemate in Saudi; Devon Seron as Chin-Chin, Mariel’s comical best friend; Kelley Day as Alison, Gary’s sophisticated girlfriend;

Tep Tep Pineda as Justine, Mariel and Eldon’s lovable daughter; and Tetchie Agbayani as Clara, Eldon’s strict mother.

Behind this engrossing drama is the creative team composed of Creative Director Aloy Adlawan; Creative Head RJ Nuevas; Creative Consultant Agnes Uligan; Headwriter Christine Novicio; Writers Wiro Michael Ladera and Marlon Miguel; and Brainstormers Nehem Dallego and Angeli Delgado.

The series is another original creation of the GMA Drama Group under the supervision of Senior Vice President for Entertainment Group Lilybeth G. Rasonable; Vice President for Drama

Redgie Acuña-Magno; Assistant Vice President for Drama Cheryl Ching-Sy; Senior Program Manager Cathy Ochoa Perez, Executive Producer Arlene Pilapil.

Under the helm of esteemed Director Ricky Davao with Lore Reyes as his associate director, don’t miss the world premiere of Dahil sa Pag-ibig beginning May 20 after Bihag on GMA Afternoon Prime.

Kapuso viewers from across the globe can also catch their favorite Kapuso shows via GMA’s international channels GMA Pinoy TV, GMA Life TV, and GMA News TV International. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

VINDICATION... FROM 1 under the handling of Senator Sonny Trillanes IV." Congressman-elect Pulong Duterte, accused in the video as a major player in a large scale illegal drugs syndicate in the country, also issued a statement saying: "From the very start, it was clear that the Bikoy videos were fabricated with a narrative taken straight from the playbook of people whose desire is to destroy our name and our reputation."

"All the lies presented were also meant to crush the trust of the Filipino people in the authorities and inspire public disgust against the government — truly the handiwork of people who want to undermine the Duterte administration," Duterte, who had been hurled with challenges to show his tattooed back which allegedly bears the code used by the syndicate, said. "Without a doubt, as I have said before, Senator Antonio Trillanes was behind it. And now that many names have also surfaced, to include Sen. Risa Hontiveros and several lawyers, I believe a proper investigation is in order."

BONG GO NOT SURPRISED BUT ADMITTED HE WAS HURT Senator-elect Go, the former Special Assistant to the President who had shown his ink-free back on two occasions to dispel the accusations, said he was not surprised of Advincula's recantation.

"Hindi ko ikinagulat ang pagbaliktad ni Bikoy sa isang press conference ngayong umaga dahil alam ko sa simula pa lang na pawang kasinungalingan ang lahat ng sinabi niya laban sa kay Pangulong Duterte, sa kanyang pamilya at sa akin," Go said. "Ginawa na nila itong maruming black propaganda noong nakaraang 2016 elections laban kay Mayor Duterte at ginawa nila ulit ito ngayong katatapos lang na halalan. Lahat nag back�ire. Naging Pangulo si Mayor Duterte noong 2016 at inilampaso ng taumbayan ang Otso Diretso ngayong 2019."

Go also took a swing at the opposition Liberal Party.

"Nakakalungkot nga lang malaman na kung sino pa yung mga sinasabing "disente" na nagmamalinis sa ating lipunan ay sila pa ang may pakana ng maruruming paninira sa kapwa tao. Hindi ito ang uri ng pamumulitika na natutunan ko kay Pangulong Duterte.

Hindi ito ang uri ng pamumulitika ng isang simpleng probinsyanong gaya ko na walang ibang hangad kundi pagserbisyuhan ang kapwa ko Pilipino."

The third-ranked Senator-elect in the May 13 polls, nevertheless, admitted he was also hurt by the accusations. "Masakit ang ginawa ni Bikoy sa akin. Sa kanyang mga kasinungalingan at paninira sa akin, pinapatawad ko si Bikoy bilang isang Kristiyano. Subalit, bilang isang Pilipino, haha-

9

500T... FROM 2 yaan ko ang ating mga otoridad na gawin ang kanilang katungkulan sa anumang pananagutan niya sa batas," Go said. "While I urge our authorities to respect all the constitutional rights of Bikoy, I must also say that the country needs to know the whole truth. After all, the truth will set us free. May panahon din ito. Naniniwala ako na bilog naman ang mundo."

MEETING HONTIVEROS, TRILLANES Advincula said the allegations of the "Ang Totoong Narcolist" videos, which tagged the Dutertes and senator-elect Bong Go to the narcotics trade, were all false. He claimed that he met Sen. Risa Hontivers and Trillanes several times. He also linked members of the Otso Diretso senatorial slate to the videos, except former Interior and Local Government chief Mar Roxas.

Advincula said that he even saw Vice President Leni Robredo in one of the meetings held at Ateneo de Manila University, but the vice president only passed by and did not join the meeting.

The Liberal Party has denied the accusations of Advincula.

PROJECT SODOMA In his latest revelations, Advincula claimed the plan dubbed "Project Sodoma was aimed to oust Duterte and put in power Vice President Leni Robredo, chairperson of LP, before June 30, 2019. He said he met

Trillanes through a priest.

He also named two other opposition senators to the alleged plot to discredit the administration.

In exchange for appearing in the viral videos, Advincula claimed he was promised money, a government post and absolute pardon. For the demolition job, Advincula said he said he was promised 500,000 pesos to appear in the videos, but the money did not come through.

But after the May 13 elections, Advincula said Trillanes allegedly stopped contacting him after opposition candidates failed to win a Senate seat.

"Hindi ko po kayang panindigan iyung mga scripted lang na kuwento na ngayong talo na ang mga kandidato nila, nararamdaman ko na unti-unti na akong nilalaglag at kinatatakutan kong baka sila pa ang mag-eliminate sa akin kinalaunan dahil wala na akong silbi," he said.

Trillanes' ally, outgoing Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, said he will consult other Otso Diretso candidates on possible charges against Advincula for his allegations.

Advincula voluntarily turned himself in to the Northern Police District on Wednesday and was turned over to the Philippine National Police headquarters at Camp Crame. PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde denied police coached Advincula in retracting his earlier claims.

January to March, naa tay mga 3,200 apprehensions.

Sa �irst quarter last year kay mga 2,000 lang,” he explained.

He, however, said their intensi�ied campaign as well as migrants and tourists who are not yet familiar

with the ordinance are factors to this increase.

Lopez, however, clari�ied that out of 100 percent, 80 percent of the reported apprehensions are locals while the remaining 20 percent were apprehended tourists.

Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Nancy Binay, former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go, former Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, former Bureau of Correc-

tions (BuCor) chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, actor Lito Lapid, former Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, and come-backing Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla. (PNA)

NEW... FROM 2

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late CESAR R. LAREDO who died intestate on April 15, 2004 in Davao City, Philippines has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH SALE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No. 232; Page No.67; Book No. 05 Series of 2010, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. TEODORO V. ANGEL.

May 10, 17 and 24, 2019

10 GAME CHANGER EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

Coach Ronel Leuterio is determined to introduce the new basketball concept to Filipinos.

Height is might no more

By ADAM B. MORRELL

I

f you still are caught up in the belief that in basketball, "height is might", think again.

Meet veteran coach Ronel Leuterio. He is a non-believer of this mind's eye.

Far from the conventional belief that basketball will only be dominated by the tall and hefty, the seasoned drillmaster who once steered the Davao Eagles in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) and now Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Davao executive program of�icer is ready to unveil a never-before-seen system that will prove the "height is might" perspective wrong.

In a conversation with this writer on Wednesday,

the SBP Davao executive shared that a dimensional system best �its with the Philippine brand of basketball.

It is likely elevating the smaller players to a more ef�icient and competitive plays that could keep pace with, perhaps, overcome the larger ones through an unorthodox but proven style that relies on a larger attempt percentage.

Leuterio didn't label this system yet but it will come up with an initial pilot tournament project dubbed as Escandor Cup 3x3 unconventional threepoint shootout devoted for private and public school teams with players born in 2003.

The date of this compe-

tition isn't determined yet but he said it is most likely to get-going in June right after the orientation slated on Sunday, May 26 at the Davao City Recreation Center formerly Almendras Gym. The orientation starts at exactly 9:00am and ends at lunch time.

During the orientation, Leuterio will explain the concept of the three-point shootout and will touch the basic knowledge of the said system he is talking about.

Leuterio said this threepoint shootout is way different from the traditional game where racks of balls will be placed around the arc and the participant will shoot as many as he can until the given time expires.

"Iba ito, it will be played

by a team composed of four players," he said.

He didn't want to spill more about the system but urges the coaches to come over on Sunday to understand it further.

Before this system will be formally launched, Leuterio studied it �irst in 2017 and even enhanced through the years while observing the system of various NBA teams.

As much he wanted to share everything, Leuterio invites the coaches to come on time and know more about the system.

After this three-point shootout, Leuterio will hold the �irst Escandor Cup 4x4 tournament where the system will be of�icially tested.

(NHIP).

Within six months from the effectivity of the new law, the DSWD Secretary shall, in coordination with appropriate government departments and agencies with the participation of local government units, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act.

This Act was passed

by the Senate of the Philippines as Senate Bill No. 2117 on Feb. 4, 2019 and adopted by the House of Representatives as an amendment to House Bill No. 7773 on Feb. 7, 2019.

It shall take effect 15 days following its publication in the Of�icial Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. (PNA)

policies presented by the Korean government, our volume of assistance to ASEAN countries will be increased by 2.8 times in 2022 compared to that of 2017, that means the volume of assistance to the Philippines will be naturally increased,” Lee said.

Lee also cited South Korea’s assistance to the

government’s peace and development efforts in Mindanao. These include humanitarian assistance coursed through the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). DOF

2019 entitled the total number of seats indicated in the respective names to serve for a term of three years beginning at noon of June 30, 2019,” the Comelec resolution read.

The groups that have received three seats each are ACTCIS and BAYAN MUNA while AKO BICOL, CIBAC, ANG PROBINSYANO, 1-PACMAN, MARINO and PROBINSYANO AKO secured two seats each group.

On the other hand, the groups that earned one seat each are SENIOR CITIZENS, MAGSASAKA, APEC, GABRIELA, AN WARAY, COOP-NATCCO, ACT

TEACHERS, PHILRECA, AKO BISAYA, TINGOG SINIRANGAN, ABONO, BUHAY, DUTERTE YOUTH, KALINGA, PBA, ALONA, RECOBODA, BH (Bagong Henerasyon), BAHAY, CWS, ABANG LINGKOD, A TEACHER, BHW, SAGIP, TUCP, MAGDALO, GP, MANILA TEACHERS, RAM, ANAKALUSUGAN, AKO PADAYON, AAMBIS-OWA, KUSUG TAUSUG, DUMPER PTDA, TGP, PATROL, AMIN, AGAP, LPGMA, OFW FAMILY, KABAYAN, DIWA, and KABATAAN. A total of 134 party-list groups participated in the last midterm polls. (PNA)

PRRD... FROM 2

DOF... FROM 4

51... FROM 2

GOBERT... FROM 11 Holiday (90 points), Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (82), Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (80), Warriors forward Draymond Green (61) and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (39). This is the �irst NBA All-Defensive Team selection for Thompson, a �ive-time NBA All-Star.

The winner of the 201819 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award will be revealed at the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on Monday, June 24 at 9 p.m.

ET on TNT (June 25, PHL time). The third annual NBA Awards, honoring this season’s top performers, will take place at Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.

Gobert is seeking to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. In addition to vying with Gobert for Defensive Player of the Year, George and Antetokounmpo join Houston Rockets guard James Harden as the �inalists

for the 2018-19 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award.

The NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters selected two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly.

Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.

Complete voting results by media member will be posted at pr.nba.com the night of the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia. Click here for the list of 100 media voters for the 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive Teams.

Below are the voting results for the 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive Teams. The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting �irm Ernst & Young LLP.

Toronto forward Kawhi Leonard was named second team.

NO TIMETABLE FOR ANUNOBY Raptors coach Nick Nurse said OG Anunoby does not have a timetable for returning from an emergency appendectomy that has sidelined the 21-year-old forward for the entire postseason.

“He is being more active every day,” Nurse said. “I think we are getting closer to a point where we’re — you know, unpack is the next step for him. He’s moving pretty good, he’s shooting, etc., but still a ways away from being able to take hits and contact in the areas that he needs to test out.”

TWICE IS ENOUGH Milwaukee isn’t accustomed to losing back-to-back games in 2019 — in fact, it’s happened only twice.

Before the two losses to Toronto in the Eastern Conference �inals, the only other time Milwaukee dropped back-to-back games was in March, losing at Utah on March 2 and at Phoenix on

March 4 (Mar. 3 and 5, PHL time).

THE DRAKE FACTOR Drake’s impromptu massage of Nurse’s shoulders is getting a lot of attention, though the Raptors’ coach said he didn’t even realize it had happened.

“I didn’t even know I got the shoulder rub last night until somebody showed me a picture today,” Nurse said.

“I didn’t even feel it. I was so locked into the game. Didn’t distract me at all.”

Drake has been very animated at courtside, and Budenholzer said if the rapper steps onto the court, it crosses the line.

“I don’t know how much he’s on the court. It sounds like you guys are saying it’s more than I realize,” Budenholzer said. “There’s certainly no place for fans and, you know, whatever it is exactly that Drake is for the Toronto Raptors. You know, to be on the court, there’s boundaries and lines for a reason, and like I said, the league is usually pretty good at being on top of stuff like that.”

BUCKS... FROM 11

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

11

NBA vet shines in PBA debut T Milwaukee star forward Giannis Antotekounmpo cannot do it all for the Bucks and would need a lot of help from the bench. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Bucks need better bench support

M

ILWAUKEE (AP) — The Bucks are back in Milwaukee looking to regain momentum in the Eastern Conference �inals.

Coach Mike Budenholzer believes the play of his bench will be a major factor in what happens in Game 5 on Thursday (Friday, PHL time).

The Bucks reserves played so well in the �irst two games of the series that the teams’ apparel shop unveiled a “Bench Mob” T-shirt, celebrating the efforts of Malcolm Brogdon, Ersan Ilyasova, George Hill and others. Milwaukee’s bench outscored Toronto’s reserves 130-78 through the �irst three games of the series.

But it was the Raptors’ bench, led by forward Norman Powell’s 18 points, that decided Game 4 — scoring 48 points Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) as Toronto evened the series at 2-2.

“They need to play well,” Budenholzer said Wednesday (Thursday, PHL time) of his reserves. “I think our whole team, whether it be the bench or the starters, needs to be better defensively. I think there’s things offensively where the bench can, you know, just like the rest of us, we have to execute a little

bit better. ... this series, the benches have been critical and very in�luential and credit to Toronto’s bench, particularly. They really stepped up and had a huge game, and we need that from our group.”

Serge Ibaka gave the Raptors a lift off the bench Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Fellow Toronto reserve Fred VanVleet added 13 points and six assists.

Their efforts came as the Raptors got only 19 points from a hobbled Kawhi Leonard.

Raptors coach Nick Nurse is con�ident his bench will continue to play well in Milwaukee because of Toronto’s style of play.

“That’s really kind of our system, would be that we create opportunities and everyone’s involved and everybody’s touching the ball,” he said. “Everybody’s moving and cutting. It’s kind of a free-�lowing, open system.

“If we play with the effort we’ve put in the last two games, actually three of the four games in the series, we are going to have a really good chance to win,” Nurse said. “We are going to put ourselves in position to win, and I don’t think it’s any tricky schemes or fabulous game

Gobert, George, Giannis lead All-Defensive team

N

EW YORK – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team.

The three �inalists for the 2018-19 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award �inished with nearly identical point totals as the top vote-getters for the NBA All-Defensive Teams.

Gobert earned 196 points, including 97 First Team votes, to make the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the third consecutive year. George received 195 points (96 First

Team votes) for his second All-Defensive First Team honor. With 193 points (94 First Team votes), Antetokounmpo is a First Team selection for the �irst time.

The 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive First Team also features Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (145 points; 63 First Team votes) and Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (100 points; 36 First Team votes). Smart and Bledsoe are both �irst-time selections to an NBA All-Defensive Team.

The 2018-19 NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of New Orleans guard Jrue

GOBERT, P10

plans. I think it’s our players playing their butts off, really.”

Brogdon, who returned from a foot injury in the Eastern Conference semi�inals, missed his �irst seven shots Tuesday night (Wednesday, PHL time) and �inished with just four points. None of the Milwaukee reserves scored in double digits.

“It was disappointing, but I mean, the series is 2-2,” said Bucks forward Kris Middleton, who �inished with a game-high 30 points. “It’s not the end of the world. They protect their home court just like we did, and I know the �ight is going to be a dog�ight.

First team to two wins. Can’t feel sorry for ourselves that we lost two in a row here. We have to go protect home court and go from there.”

Here are some other things to know going into Thursday’s (Friday, PHL time) Game 5: DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS Some of the league’s best defensive players are in the Eastern Conference �inals.

Bucks MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee guard Eric Bledsoe Wednesday were named NBA �irst-team all-defensive performers.

errence Jones made a great impression of himself in his Philippine Basketball Association debut and led TNT to a 102-87 romp of NLEX on the second day of the Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Wednesday night.

The former National Basketball Association veteran dropped 41 points for the KaTropa, which pulled away from the Road Warriors, thanks to a 34-16 second quarter.

Jones also had 14 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.

Anthony Semerad was the top-performing TNT local with 11 markers, six boards, one dime, and one steal.

Curtis Washington struggled in his own PBA debut for NLEX, only making 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting with 16 rebounds,

one assist, and two blocks.

Poy Erram and Kenneth Ighalo each added 14 points off the bench.

In the other game, NorthPort began its PBA Commissioner’s Cup bid with a sound 103-81 beating of Alaska.

The Batang Pier went full blast in the �inal quarter, outscoring the Aces, 28-15, to secure the blowout.

Sean Anthony made 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals off the bench for NorthPort, which played without star guard Stanley Pringle.

Import Prince Ibeh and rookie Robert Bolick each added 19 points.

Chris Daniels �ired 21 markers, 13 boards, two dimes, and three blocks for Alaska, which opted to sit out Chris Banchero due to his recurring calf injury.

(PNA)

BUCKS, P10 Terrence Jones of TNT fakes off Marion Magat and Curtis Washington of NLEX. PBA Images

EDGEDAVAO

12 SPORTS

VOL.12 ISSUE 54 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 24-25, 2019

OPPOSITE WAYS PH women's 3x3 team is 2-0, men's team bows to Thailand, Qatar

G

ilas Pilipinas fell in their �irst two matches on opening day in the 2019 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup quali�iers in Changsha, China.

The Philippines are down to only three players after Ricci Rivero went down with a sprained ankle in the opening game and lost to Thailand 11-14 on Wednesday. They came back to the court undermanned and lost a hardfought match to Qatar 17-21.

With a 0-2 mark and only 28 points, Gilas is on the brink of elimination as only one team per group will move on.

The Philippines wrap up preliminary play against powerhouse Iran and Samoa Thursday.

In the women’s side,

the Philippine women’s team racked up its second win in a row in the qualifying draw of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup after slipping past Chinese-Taipei, 16-13, on Wednesday afternoon.

A few hours after crushing Samoa, 21-1, the Filipinas had to battle Chinese-Taipei to the �inal buzzer.

Jack Animam led the Filipinas with 5 points, while Afril Bernardino and Janine Pontejos each scored 4 markers. Clare Castro added 3.

The Philippines, seeded 10th in the tournament, are on top of Qualifying Draw A ahead of their game against No. 15 Vanuatu Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Philippine men’s team fell to

0-2 in their own qualifying draw.

With Ricci Rivero sidelined due to an ankle injury, the Philippines bowed to Qatar, 21-17, in their second game on Wednesday.

High school star RJ Abarrientos from Far Eastern University had 12 points, while Rhayyan Amsali had 3 and Barkley Ebona scored 2 points for the Philippines.

But they fell in eight minutes and 36 second to Qatar, who were led by Fadi Abilmona’s 9 markers.

The Filipinos are in fourth place in Qualifying Draw A, just ahead of Samoa. They play Iran and Samoa on Thursday.

Ricci Rivero went down with a sprained ankle in the opening game as the Philippines lost to Thailand (11-14) and Qatar (17-21) in group play Wednesday. (FIBA)