Manila Standard - 2017 January 05 - Thursday

150 INMATES BOLT KIDAPAWAN JAIL; REBELS BLAMED KIDAPAWAN—More than 150 inmates of a North Cotabato district jail escaped when 60 suspected Muslim rebels stormed the dilapidated facility in a pre-dawn raid on Wednesday, killing one guard, authorities said.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista cancelled classes in five public schools following the jailbreak.

The attack added to a long history of daring jailbreaks in Mindana, home to a decades-old Muslim separatist insurgency as well as extremist gangs that recently declared allegiance to the Islamic State group.

A two-hour-long firefight broke out when more than 100 armed men believed to have been led by a local Muslim rebel commander attacked the jail in Kidapawan city at 1:00 a.m., jail authorities said.

“It’s to rescue their comrades under our custody. It is a rescue operation,” jail warden Peter John Bonggat said.

Bonggat said the attackers were believed to be a breakaway faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front the nation’s largest Muslim rebel organization that is in peace talks with the government.

At least 158 prisoners had escaped, Bonggat said, although it was unclear how many of those were linked to the attackers or were just other inmates who took advantage of the chaos.

“The [inmates] took chances because of the volume of fire... they used their bedding, piled them on top of each other to escape,” Bonggat said.

Bonggat said the jail, which housed 1,511 inmates, lacked guards

and was a dilapidated former school building located in a forested, secluded area.

Three inmates facing charges of illegal possession of explosives and drugs escaped from the jail last year.

Kidapawan is home to various Muslim rebel groups, criminal gangs and communist insurgents.

“We have many Muslim personalities [in the jail] that are members of various organized, syndicated groups,” Bonggat said.

Security forces pursued the assailants and the escapees throughout Wednesday morning, with local authorities reporting up to six had been killed in the hunt.

MILF spokesman Von al-Haq said the group did not know who the attackers were and was contacting its members to get more information.

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COPS AT BAT. Armed police stand guard at the gates of a dilapidated jail in Kidapawan City in Mindanao after an estimated 60 Moro Islamic Liberation Front gunmen stormed the district jail to free their comrades, killing one guard, and enabling at least 150 inmates to escape in a pre-dawn raid Wednesday. AFP

Ping: Solons got P5-b pork

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

VOL. XXX • NO. 327 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Rody fed wrong info on SSS pay

By John Paolo Bencito, Sandy Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz LEFTIST groups on Wednesday accused economic managers of President Rodrigo Duterte of misleading him into rejecting proposals to raise Social Security System pensions.

The secretary general of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno was wrong in saying that Duterte’s campaign vow to raise pensions could not be kept now that he is President.

“Diokno’s statement that Duterte the candidate is different from Duterte the President is unacceptable. No one would believe candidates’ Next page

SOME lawmakers were given up to P5 billion in “pork” allocations in the General Appropriations Act of 2017, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday.

“After all these years that I and my staff scrutinize the budget books year in and year out, I know pork when I see

it,” he said. “I believe our people, especially our taxpayers, should know the real score behind all these pretenses and denials about the existence of pork.”

Lacson, one of two senators who did not vote for the budget, said that while the Senate was deliberating this year’s spending plan in the plenary, congressmen from

Liberals tagged in Bilibid attack Anti-De Lima inmate was target—Aguirre

By Rey E. Requejo

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USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II linked the Liberal Party to the stabbing of inmate Jaybee Sebastian, allegedly to keep him from testifying against Senator Leila de Lima, who has been accused of taking money from drug lords jailed in the New Bilibid Prison.

TAMING THE TEMPEST. A line of retirees claiming benefits at the Social Security System main office in Quezon City jabs the eyes Wednesday

while Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno insists more than 30 million members should be required to pay higher premiums before the SSS gives out additional pension. Manny Palmero

Special courts to try EJK cases proposed AN ANTI-CRIME group has asked the Supreme Court to create special courts to exclusively hear cases involving collateral victims of the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Tuesday received a letter from the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption asking her to desig-

nate special courts that would handle cases of innocent people getting killed during anti-drug operations to make sure they received justice.

VACC founding chairman Dante Jimenez cited the rising number of “unfortunate killings of innocent victims of crossfires, mistaken identity and the like during the process of police operations.”

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Ship’s crew foils Abu raid THE 27 crewmen of a Davao City-bound container vessel defended themselves as they waited for the arrival of a Navy ship, which prompted six Abu Sayyaf bandits on board two watercraft to escape during a foiled abduction operation on Tuesday off Sibago

Island in Basilan.

The Manila-based MV Ocean Kingdom was cruising Sibago at 3:24 p.m. on Tuesday when the bandits on board the two watercraft tried to stop the ship by firing their guns at its starboard.

The inmate who stabbed Sebastian on Sept. 28, 2016, Tomas Doniña, mentioned the LP in his five-page confession and implicated De Lima and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Aguirre said.

In his affidavit dated Oct. 8, 2016 but released by the Justice Department only on Wednesday, Doniña said the order to kill Sebastian came from a former fellow officer in the Navy whom he did not name.

He said his contact claimed to be talking with Trillanes throughout their plan.

Doniña said he was also told

that De Lima and Trillanes have joined forces to silence Sebastian, and mentioned the LP as well.

“Because Jaybee Sebastian and I have no personal grudge against each other, I advised him not to betray ma’am De Lima.

At first, he said he would not betray her. He even said that Liberal Party is strong,” he said in Filipino.

Aguirre highlighted the links between the LP and De Lima and Trillanes.

“We all know that Senator De Lima belongs to the Liberal Party and Senator Trillanes has also been supportive of the LP,” he said in an interview.

Aguirre said Doniña was told he would eventually be freed, once President Duterte was ousted from power.

Aguirre admitted that Doniña’s claims remained hearsay as there was no evidence to back up his story.

“De Lima and Trillanes were not charged because it appears that the statements of Doniña were also hearsay since he had no personal knowledge,” the Justice secretary said.

Nonetheless, Aguirre denied De Lima and Trillanes’ claim that he invented the allegations of Doniña to implicate them in the attack on Sebastian.

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Russia offers to help PH fight terror ALTHOUGH Russia is not actively seeking a military alliance with the Philippines, the Russian Navy is willing to train Filipinos in the use of various combat systems if an agreement is reached on military exercises.

“We don’t seek military alliance with the Philippines. As I understand, our Filipino partners don’t need a military alliance with Russia either. What we are seeking is a cooperation in those fields where our two countries need each other,” said Russian Ambassador Igor Khovaev.

“We are against any close military alliances in the Asia Pacific region because the security must

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CONVENTIONAL CHAIN. Men and women devotees line up, pray and kiss the look-alike of the Black Nazarene carved by an Aztec carpenter at the crowded Minor Basilica in Quiapo, in the runup to the annual feast on Jan. 9, among the most popular and largest festivals in this Land of the Morning. Norman Cruz

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‘Drug evidence planted’ M ARINE Lt. Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino on Wednesday asked a Manila Regional Trial Court to lift the warrant of arrest it issued against him in connection with the drug case filed by authorities because the evidence was planted.

Marcelino asked the judge of Manila RTC Branch 49 to reconsider his order on Dec. 22 issuing the warrants for his arrest and that of his Chinese companion Yan Yi Shou alias Randy.

He made his plea even as Yan turned himself in to the National

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“I only brought up these allegations against them when you [media] asked me for updates on our investigation on threats against Jaybee. And the stabbing incident is related to these threats against him,” he said.

Earlier, Aguirre disclosed that De Lima had been tagged in the threats against Sebastian that led to his transfer from the national penitentiary in Muntinlupa City to the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Manila City last week.

Sebastian testified on Oct.10, 2016 that he gave P14 million in drug money to De Lima’s alleged representatives--her former aide Joenel Sanchez and former Bureau of Correction director Franklin Bucayu--when she was still Justice secretary.

Several other inmates corroborated his testimony and said they sold drugs through their contacts outside the prison to raise funds for De Lima in her senatorial campaign.

De Lima on Wednesday said it was President Rodrigo Duterte and his “cohorts” who ordered the stabbing of Sebastian.

“The fact is it is Duterte and his cohorts who ordered the stabbing and also the torture of inmates

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the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao came to see him in his office, telling him that their projects were worth only P1.5 billion, while others got up to P5 billion in allocations.

“Change is coming? Maybe, but it’s pork allocations changing hands from LP congressmen to those from Mindanao,” Lacson said.

Some of his colleagues in the Senate, meanwhile, complained that their allocations only came to P300 million.

Lacson, who had never used his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocation or pork barrel since he became a senator, said he did not submit a list of projects to the Budget department.

He said Senators Vicente Sotto III and Francis Pangilinan also told him on separate occasions that they, too, did not submit a list of projects.

“I don’t know who else among my Senate colleagues did not submit their list,” Lacson said, noting that those who did could get commissions from contractors.

In the final budget, Lacson

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be transferred, must be equal for all members of the international community and not only for the selected few,” he added.

But while Russia has no intentions of building a military alliance with the Philippines at this point, Moscow is interested in holding activities with Manila that are mutually beneficial, Khovaev said. ‘‘We have an objective need to develop very actively our Far Eastern and Siberian regions.

It’s not possible to fulfill these tasks without a full-fledged integration of Russia into Pacific multilateral cooperation mechanisms,” he said.

At the same time, Russian Pacific Fleet flotilla deputy commander Rear Admiral Eduard Mikhailov said the Russian Navy is more than willing to train Filipinos in Russian combat equipment if an agreement is reached on joint military ex-

Bureau of Investigation Tuesday night hours after Marcelino surrendered to the AFP Provost Marshall in Camp Aguinaldo, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II announced Wednesday.

Marcelino said the court erred in ruling that he and Yan failed

who refused to testify against me,” said De Lima.

De Lima lashed back at Aguirre and called him a “ chronic liar” for linking her to the stabbing incident at the national penitentiary.

“Aguirre is lying. He is a chronic liar like his boss, and a secretary of Justice without balls. What do you expect from a public official who fakes his own hair?” she said in a statement.

De Lima said Aguirre’s new allegation against her is again in line with the propaganda thrust of the Duterte administration to pin all the blame on somebody else except themselves.

“If I were responsible for the stabbing, it then seems that the NBP is run and managed by idiots who can’t protect high-profile inmates staying inside the most guarded spot in Philippine prisons,” she said.

She said Aguirre is exercising all powers of a Justice secretary without taking any responsibility.

“He has power and authority as DoJ secretary over the Bilibid [prison] but refuses to take responsibility for the stabbing of several high-profile inmates under his watch,” said De Lima.

Instead, Aguirre found a convenient scapegoat in her and Trillanes, who were several kilometers away from the crime scene, she said. said, the Department of Public Works and Highways got an extra P9.054 billion in pork at the expense of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

“What is unfortunate is that with massive devastation brought by recent calamities… most of the victims might be left to fend for themselves instead of getting sufficient assistance from the government,” he said.

He pointed out that the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” still need at least P100 billion to fully recover.

“What is sad here is the thought of sacrificing the victims of calamities for political favors and alliances,” also said Lacson.

He said the details of the DPWH budget and other agencies are not yet out.

Once they get hold of the budget books, the senator said he will scrutinize the DPWH budget.

“I and my team will continue to be the watchdog to guard against abuses in the use of public funds.

I tell you--it is tiring and frustrating and not a few times, I have paused and felt resigned, simply step aside or abandon this advocacy. It is a lonely crusade, to say the least,” he said. ercises.

“Maybe in the future, we’ll have exercises with your [and we’ll teach you] maneuvering and use of combat systems,” he added.

Mikhailov said Russia, the Philippines, China and Malaysia can participate in one big naval exercise in the South China Sea. He added that this is possible as all the above-mentioned countries are concerned with the safety and security of the region.

Mikhailov made this statement during the sidelights of Tuesday’s official welcoming ceremonies for Udaloy-class destroyer/large anti-submarine ship, Admiral Tributs and the Boris Chilikin-class fleet oiler, Boris Butoma, which arrived Monday night at Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila.

The former is the head of the Russian naval delegation which is on a six-day goodwill visit to the country which will end on Saturday. PNA

to give a credible account of their presence in an apartment in Santa Cruz, Manila, where they were arrested in an anti-drug operation in January last year by police operatives.

That raid resulted in the seizure of P380 million worth of shabu.

Marcelino said he was found on the ground floor of the apartment and that no illegal drugs were confiscated from him. He said there was no evidence that he had any knowledge on or control of the illegal drugs found on the property.

His plea to lifting the arrest warrant against him aside,

he also pleaded to dismiss the charges against him for lack of probable cause.

Marcelino has attributed his ordeal to then PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac whom he accuses of being “historically irate” at his continuing involvement in the government’s anti-drug campaign.

He said he and Yan had been able to “exhaustively give a credible account” of their presence in the premises where they were arrested.

He also told the court that before proceeding to the area, he even coordinated with PDEA Director Randy Pedroso and asked if there were similar op-

erations in the area to prevent a possible rumble in the gathering of information that might compromise the operation.

He said he was conducting an operation in that area against those involved in the illegal drug trade based on the information provided by Yan. He deemed it necessary not to share the information provided by Yan since it had to be verified.

“Having done many covert intelligence operations in the past, Lt. Col. Marcelino thought it best to verify the information given by Randy,” he said. Sandy Araneta and Rey E. Requejo

ACQUITTED. Senator JV Ejercito answers questions from the media during the Senate Kapihan on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017. Ejercito talked about his acquittal by the Sandiganbayan over the alleged purchase of firearms using San Juan City's disaster fund. Ey Acasio

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The MILF has about 10,000 armed followers, but they have been observing a ceasefire with the government as part of the peace efforts.

The southern region of Mindanao is the ancestral homeland of the Muslim minority in the largely Catholic Philippines.

More than 120,000 people have been killed in the rebellion.

While the MILF is aiming for peace, there are various breakaway groups that are determined to continue fighting and have declared allegiance to the IS group.

The Maute group, regarded as one of the most dangerous extrem-

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promises then. The economic managers should be helping the President fulfill his promise to the people, instead of finding ways to abandon these promises,” he added.

“President Rodrigo Duterte should be wary of the neo-liberal triumvirate of Dominguez-Diokno-Pernia,” he added, referring to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Diokno and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia. He said the three economic officials opposed Duterte’s pro-people policies while upholding “the discredited neo-liberal macro-economic policies of the Aquino regime.”

Speaking at a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Diokno said it was unfair to hold the President to his campaign promise to raise pension funds by P2,000 a month amid concerns over the viability of the Social Security System.

Reyes, however, accused the

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His group also urged the high court to monitor the handling of such cases and make sure they were quickly resolved .

The VACC also made a separate request to the Office of the President to create special investigation teams to probe the cases of innocent victims in the war on illegal drugs.

ist organizations, freed 23 inmates in a jailbreak last year in a nearby city.

Maj. Gen. Rafael Valencia, commander of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said troops have been mobilized to help the police and personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology track down and arrest the fugitives.

He said some of them were in hiding within the operational area of division.

Valencia said helicopters were also deployed to provide support.

He said the jail raid was led by a certain alias Derby.

Valencia said that among the rescued inmates were members of the MILF Special Operations Group, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and high-profile

criminals involved in kidnapping and illegal drugs.

The mayor of Kidapawan City cancelled classes in five public schools following the jailbreak.

“We should ensure the safety of our pupils and teachers in the area while tensions and pursuit operations are underway. We will wait until they will declare these areas safe,” he said.

The Davao City Police Office assured the public that they are doing their best to prevent the escaped convicts from entering the city.

DCPO chief Sr. Supt. Michael John Dubria said that they have raised the number of guards in all exit and entry points of the city, which is just three hours away from the district jail. AFP, PNA, F. Pearl Gajunera

economic managers of opposing any pro-people measure that Duterte himself promised.

“The so-called economic managers oppose the SSS pension hike. They previously opposed the two-year ban on land conversion. They now want to raise the excise tax on oil products. It seems that they are systematically trying to undermine whatever pro-people and progressive policy pronouncement Duterte has in his government,” he said.

“If economic managers can offer this much resistance to such a basic reform measure as a pension increase, what more can we expect in peace negotiations with the NDFP on far-reaching socio-economic reforms? These developments do not bode well for negotiations on socioeconomic reforms.”

Bayan said Duterte should listen to ordinary people and not the probusiness, pro-foreign, economic managers. The group also said protests loom if the government fails to keep its promises to the people.

Proponents of the P2,000 pen-

sion hike on Wednesday dared the administration’s economic managers blocking the proposal to live on a P40 daily to see for themselves if they can live decently on such an amount, which is the daily equivalent of the P1,200 monthly base pension.

“It is easy for these economic managers to block the proposal because they are not the ones suffering from the difficulty of coping with the high cost of medicines, which they need to keep them alive,” Zarate said.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate also accused President Duterte’s economic managers of sabotaging the congressional measure to give immediate relief to millions of SSS pensioners now and in the future.

“The P2000 SSS pension only translates to P66 per day for the much needed additional fund for our senior citizens’ food, maintenance medicine and other expenses but this would be a big help for them to somehow have more comfortable lives,” said Zarate.

Jimenez cited the incident in Caloocan City last week in which five teenagers were killed as masked gunmen chased and fired shots at a suspected drug dealer.

The teenagers were partying at a house near the shanty of the suspect identified as alias Junior Santor.

Jimenez said only one of the victims had a drug offense record.

The gunfire also killed Santor’s mother Christina and his

pregnant common law wife Analyn Dayamla inside their house, which was allegedly being used as a drug den.

Senator Panfilo Lacson recently proposed that the government compensate the families of collateral victims of the war on illegal drugs.

Police records show that 2,174 suspects have been killed in the war on illegal drugs since the start of the Duterte administration.

Rey E. Requejo

Graft raps versus 5 over pork

By Rio N. Araja FORMER Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral is facing two counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court in connection with a P9.4-million pork barrel fund scam.

Also charged in the case are Cotabato Vice Gov. Gregorio Ipong, Undersecretary Mateo Montaño, chief accountant Leonila Hayahay and Roberto Solon of the Economic and Social Cooperation for Local Development Foundation Inc. Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Ipong was found responsible for the anomalous use of his P9.4million Priority Development Assistance Fund issued through a special release allotment order in January 2007, when he was a representative of North Cotabato.

The fund was supposed to help the poor and marginalized sectors of Ipong’s constituents in North Cotabato’s District 2 through medical missions, health materials and various medicines worth P400,000 and capacity building/livelihood capital assistance for 75 marginal families in extremely difficult circumstances pegged at P9 million, or P120,000 per family.

The Ombudsman’s field investigators found that Ipong had instructed that the fund be downloaded to Social Welfare as implementing agency through the ECOSOC as a non-government organization-partner.

A verification conducted by the Ombudsman found that “a majority of the supposed beneficiaries denied receipt of the purported assistance.”

Certifications and affidavits from city, municipal and village officials were obtained by the Ombudsman to prove that the PDAF was used to finance Ipong’s ghost projects.

Key documents were obtained showing the absence of due diligence audit of the ECOSOC over its financial incapability to implement multi-million- peso projects because it had only P56,000 in capital.

The respondents also failed to comply with the requirement of public bidding.

The medicine supplier, Ace Pharmaceuticals, denied engaging in any business transaction with ECOSOC relative to the supply of medicines.

The board of trustees of the NGOs also denied any knowledge of the transactions entered into by ECOSOC with DSWD. The NGO issued a letter to the Commission on Audit stating “the persons involved must have used their NGO for their own personal and unauthorized purpose.”

“Cabral, then Social Welfare secretary, prepared, reviewed and entered into the memorandum of agreement governing the implementation of the projects,” Morales said.

“Instead of using the PDAF disbursements received by them to implement the livelihood projects, respondents diverted these sums amounting to P9.4 million to their own pockets.

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But the captain and crew were not intimidated and did not stop, and then started sending distress calls to the Coast Guard and Navy.

“Due to the vigilance of the captain and crew members and the prompt response of naval troops, the armed perpetrators aborted their attempt to hijack the vessel and retreated towards the Moro Gulf,” said Major Felimon Tan Jr., spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command.

He also said a trusted man of Abu Sayyaf commander Furuji Indama was killed in an encounter on Wednesday in Sapah Bulak village in Sumisip town.

Tan said the Abu Sayyaf bandits were armed with M16, M14 and AK47 rifles.

“MV Ocean Kingdom incurred gunshot holes on her port and starboard, but no casualty was reported on her crew members,” Tan said. Florante S. Solmerin

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Clashes with Pimentel no reason for his ouster—JV

By Macon Araneta

FRENETIC FACELIFT. Workers from the Department of Public Works and Highways gussy up the center island of Padre Burgos street near the Manila City Hall where the annual Traslacion for the Black Nazarene shall pass next Monday from the bayside Quirino Grandstand at the sprawling Luneta Park to the Minor Basilica de Nazareno at Quiapo, 2 kms away. Ey Acasio

IN BRIEF Aliens told to register for 2017 annual report THE Bureau of Immigration urged foreigners living in the country to register for the 2017 annual report or face sanctions such as deportation.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente reminded foreigners that under the Alien Registration Act of 1950, they must report to the BI within the first 60 days of the year to make their obligatory annual report.

All immigrant or non-immigrant visa holders should comply with the rule unless exempted by law. Those who would fail to meet the requirements would be meted administrative fines and might face deportation proceedings, the BI chef warned.

He said all registered aliens have until March 3, 2017 to report in person at the Bureau of Immigration offices and pay the annual fee.

“The annual report of registered aliens is required by RA 562 and they have to do this within the first 60 days of every year,” he said.

The BI chief stressed the annual report period was` non-extendible and warned that “failure to comply shall result in imposition of administrative fine and/or imprisonment at the option on the commissioner.” Vito Barcelo

Some AMLC provisions are unconstitutional —Estrada, wife DETAINED former Senator Jinggoy Estrada and his wife have asked the Supreme Court to declare certain provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act unconstitutional for violating their right of due process and privacy.

In an 82-page memorandum, Estrada and his wife Ma. Presentacion made the appeal even as he assailed the March 2015 resolution of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division resolution denying his attempt to block the use of an inquiry report by the AntiMoney Laundering Council as evidence in his P183.8-million plunder case.

The Estradas questioned Sections 10 and 11 of the Amla which bestows upon the AMLC the authority to freeze bank accounts and inquire into bank deposits.

The petitioners stressed the provisions violate Sections 1 (right to due process), 2 (right against unreasonable searches and seizures), and 3 (right to privacy) of Article III of the 1987 Constitution.

The Estradas argued they have a constitutional right to notice and hearing, before any inquiry could be made on their bank accounts.

Rey Requejo

Malacañang raps Robredo for ‘cynical political mindset’

By John Paolo Bencito

M

ALACAÑANG on Wednesday scored Vice President Leni Robredo for her “cynical political mindset” after claiming the relief operations on Typhoon “Nina’’-hit communities were “slow.”

“Ms. Robredo saying the relief operations were “slow” suggests a cynical political mindset willing to capitalize on disaster,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

The Palace official also threw a snide against Robredo for criticizing efforts of the government’s calamity response, when she herself was reportedly vacationing out of the country when the typhoon struck.

“One wished she displayed more appreciation of the work of our disaster officials, our

social workers, and other volunteers who were on Ground Zero even before ‘‘Nina’’ made a landfall,” Abella added.

Claiming efforts to restore power in her hometown have been lackadaisical, Robredo said little had been done eight days after the typhoon battered the Bicol region.

“I think it’s slow, the action is slow. I think we should help on how to make the process faster, because it’s really unusual. Eight days have passed and not even 50 percent of areas affected have their electricity re-

stored,” she said.

“For example, I’ve only been to one village as of now, but the Barangay captain was complaining, he said only relief goods from our office had arrived,” she added.

Robredo claims she wasn’t able to “concentrate” during her vacation, since she was attending to relief operations while she was in the United States.

“It was really a bad timing, it also hurts me that I’m not here when it happened. I was actually in a vacation but I cannot concentrate. I was leading relief operations here,” she said, adding she tried to get tickets for the return flight of her family, but “it was impossible.”

Malacañang defended government relief efforts, pointing out as of Jan. 4 P182 million worth of relief assistance had been provided to families in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Regions 5 and 8, including those who were stranded in various

PCOO to oversee FOI implementation

By John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG has designated the Presidential Communications Operations Office to oversee the implementation of the Freedom of Information executive order in the executive branch.

Memorandum Order No. 10, signed Dec. 29 by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, mandated the PCOO “as the lead agency in the implementation of executive order no. 2.”

“All departments, agencies, bureaus, officers or instrumentalities

of the government, including government-owned and -controlled corporations, are directed to render full assistance and cooperation to the PCOO as may be required to carry out its functions pursuant to this Order,” the memorandum said.

The memorandum also mandated the PCOO to oversee FOI’s implementation, develop programs and mechanisms to enhance the government agencies’ compliance and conduct and facilitate institutional building programs.

President Rodrigo Duterte

signed Executive Order No. 2 last July 23, 2016 implementing FOI in the executive branch.

The executive order requires all executive departments, agencies, bureaus, and offices to make public records, contracts, transactions and any information requested by a member of the public, except for matters affecting national security.

The landmark order was signed two days before Duterte delivered his first State of the Nation Address and just three weeks after he assumed the presidency on June 30.

PROPOSED PROJECT. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Martin Diño shows to media a photo copy of the proposed project for inclusion in the Philippine-China Development framework of cooperation aimed at modernizing Subic Freeport transport link and connectivity in support of President Duterte’s Ten -Point Agenda at a forum Wednesday in Quezon City. Manny Palmero

ports in Regions 5 and 8.

The Social Welfare Department also provided assistance worth P166,976,473 while LGUs and non-government organizations provided P4,225,832 and P11,271,270, respectively.

The Department of Energy, with support from local government units and private institutions, brought back electricity to priority areas in Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions before New Year, the Palace said, contrary to Robredo’s claims.

For transmission facilities in the on-grid area, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, after deploying 500 technical personnel, reported that as of Dec. 31, the Naga-Daraga 230 kV line and the Naga-Pili-Iriga line had been restored, servicing the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon and Camarines Sur. Full restoration of NGCP transmission services in Typhoon ‘‘Nina’’-affected areas meanwhile, is expected within the week.

SENATOR Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Wednesday said some “disagreements” with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III were not enough to warrant his ouster.

“Perhaps, some misunderstandings or disagreements can’t be avoided but I don’t think it’s enough to warrant or to have a coup d’état against the Senate leadership as of this time…” Ejercito told the regular “Kapihan sa Senado.”

The senator was back in the Senate after he went on a forced vacation following a suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman over a graft case involving an alleged anomalous gun deal when he was still mayor of San Juan City.

He started serving the 90day preventive suspension last Nov. 8 when the Sandiganbayan handed down a decision last month junking the case against him.

“It’s nice to be back in the Senate again after a forced vacation,” said Ejercito, who was acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of his graft case three days before Christmas.

“At least I felt the spirit of Christmas even for the three days prior to Christmas. I have to be honest with you… it’s very hard to celebrate if you have something in mind, if you’re worrying about something so I’d consider the acquittal as one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever received. So I’m back again,” said Ejercito.

Being away for several weeks, Ejercito said he was raring to go back this Jan. 16 once session resumes.

On Pimentel’s leadership, Ejercito said he was very much satisfied with the way he had been running the Senate.

While there were some issues with Pimentel, also national president of PDP-Laban, Ejercito considered them merely “petty” which were easily threshed out.

“They’re just small things, very petty but we’re hoping these will all be resolved in the coming months,” he said without elaborating.

Palace tells govt bodies to support Miss U tilt

By John Paolo Bencito MALACAÑANG on Wednesday ordered government agencies to support the Philippines’ hosting of the 65th Miss Universe pageant in Manila but that no public funds should be used..

Memorandum Circular No. 13, signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last Dec. 28, orders all government agencies to help in easing the country’s hosting of the beauty tilt, without any taxpayers’ money used for the hosting of the international event.

“Except for such reasonable resources required in providing support for the hosting of the Pageant, no public funds shall be expended for the hosting of the 2016 Miss Universe Pageant,” the order read.

The circular, however, allows the Department of Tourism, which backed the Philippines’ hosting of the pageant, to ask for help from other government agencies, local governments, and non-governmental organizations.

“The DoT may call upon any such department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government including GOCCs [government-owned or -controlled corporations] and SUCs [state universities and colleges], LGUs, and non-government organizations for assistance as the circumstances and exigencies may require,” the MC read.

Government agencies must ensure “there will be no disruption of work and services in their respective offices” because of the pageant, the Palace said.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier gave the green light for the pageant after Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo gave assurances that government money would not be spent on it.

Addressing Duterte’s concerns the pageant could cause more vehicular traffic in Metro Manila, Teo said organizers decided to hold the Manila events in the area around the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City to contain any traffic disruption.

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Opinion

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

‘An honest explanation’

B

ECAUSE we have become so used to the practice, we think nothing of politicians who promise good things to those they are trying to woo.

The word “change” has been dangled many times over before a public so hungry for it. The immediate goal, after all, is to be elected to their posts. All other issues will eventually take care of themselves.

Case in point: Candidate Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to give Social Security System pensioners the P2,000 increase in their monthly pensions. Last year, just a few months before the presiden-

tial elections, this was an emotional issue because President Benigno Aquino III had vetoed the congressional measure granting the increase.

Aquino, in the last days of his term, came under fire for the veto, which he said would not be healthy, long-term, for the fund. And then the public got wind of the excessive salaries and benefits of SSS executives, most of them appointed under the Aquino administration. Then came Duterte who said he would make the increase possible.

But now, at the beginning of his seventh month in office, Mr. Duterte says he may not be able to keep his promise after all.

“I will try to give you an honest explanation, maybe in the month of January,” he said. He gave a preview, however, of what he might say. “[The economic team] had a very bleak assessment of what’s in store for us in the days ahead.”

Top economic managers include Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

The President, however, said the team would meet about the matter again and find an alternative.

This is hardly a consolation. After all, what if the administration is just saying this again to quiet the dis-

content over the fact that he did not make good on his promise. Besides, were we not cautioned against taking the President’s words at face value?

If the SSS were really in a bind, and there is no viable way to grant the increase, then the people must be told. If they trusted their officials, they would accept it even as they may not like it.

For a rational electorate that trusts the government it put into power, an “explanation” would suffice. There would be no need for the adjective “honest”—which presupposes that some explanations—excuses if you will—are truthful while others are not.

DUTY CALLS FLORENCIO FIANZA

More of the same

Winning the other ‘war’ LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE numbers don’t lie. The new president, despite all the dire warnings, has actually turned out to be good for the economy, so far.

One of the least known facts about President Rodrigo Duterte’s success as longtime mayor of Davao City was brought up in a recent Reuters report: In 2014, while the national economy grew a respectable 6.1 percent, Davao’s growth was tracked at a worldbeating 9.3 percent.

And Duterte’s economic policy has always been simple —provide business and the general population with a peaceful, drug- and corruption-free environment while letting experts do the actual heavy lifting of finding ways to grow the economy. Now that Duterte is

president, he seems hell-bent on implementing the same stripped-down formula on the national stage.

The early numbers, six months into Duterte’s term, seem to indicate that his Davao template is working. In the last quarter of 2016, the Philippines’ gross domestic product grew by a robust 7.1 percent, the secondhighest in all of Asia and the fastest in three years.

Of course, there will always be naysayers and gloom-anddoomers who worry, not always with the best of intentions, that Duterte may be focusing too much on drugs, crime and corruption (apart from indulging his new passion, irritating foreign leaders and international agencies he doesn’t like) and not enough on the economy.

The latest in the long line of dire warnings comes from the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, which said earlier this week that the killing of drug suspects and the President’s verbal tirades could

dampen investor confidence.

But as Duterte himself has repeatedly said, it’s not his mouth or the alleged extra-judicial killings that will bring down this country, but drugs and corruption. Recently, Duterte also dared his critics to shut up if they can’t back up their allega-

Unlike Matobato, the economic numbers can’t be made to lie so easily. tions that he is “bad for business” using irrefutable numbers.

And the numbers, so far, are in Duterte’s favor, overall. De-

spite jitters in the stock market and a 5-percent drop in value of the peso against the US dollar (both events caused more by external, not local, developments), consumer spending remains strong, inflation is nearly flat, unemployment is down, agriculture and manufacturing are both experiencing rare upticks and remittances from Filipinos overseas have reached new highs.

With the passage of Duterte’s first full-year budget by Congress, a fourth of which is earmarked for new infrastructure, many businessmen are also looking forward to better times ahead. While some analysts warn of deficit spending and stimulus-driven growth as a result of supposed unsustainable populist policies, others also say that this is the only strategy that will make the Philippines close its critical infrastructure gap with its neighbors—one of the major reasons for the dearth of all-important foreign direct investments.

Of course, if you go by what’s reported in the politically charged and often still Yellow-leaning Philippine mainstream media, the economic gains posted in Duterte’s first six months don’t seem newsworthy enough. As for the foreign press, it’s they who have focused so much on the drug killings—and not nearly enough on the economic gains of a president whom they have written off, this early, as a loss. *** A lot of the credit for keeping the national economic policy on track goes to the wise men on whom the President has entrusted the job of keeping the ship of state sailing smoothly—with the help of (and sometimes despite of) Duterte’s mouth and his war on drugs. And the Three Kings in the Duterte Cabinet whose main task is growing the national economy are Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Budget Secretary Benjamin

THOSE of us wishing for a change in President Duterte’s behavior in 2017 will be greatly disappointed.

In a series of one-on-one interviews with TV networks before the end of 2016, it was clear from what he said that if anything else, the nation can expect more of the same. This means that the war on illegal drugs and tirades will go on.

Ironically, the President also said he wants a peaceful and progressive Philippines and that the country is open for business and wants more investments. He made special mention of the entry of China that will dramatically increase foreign investments beginning this year.

To many observers, these may seem contradictory statements. For the President, however, there is no contradiction. It is simply a difference in the reading of the situation—what is happening on the ground. To him, the number-one problem in this country is illegal drugs. It is the primary stumbling block in the attainment of peace and progress in the country. Solve it and the country will be rid of a deadly menace.

The difference is that his critics do not seem willing to pay the steep price.

Who is right? On the home front, it would seem that the President is winning. This is shown by his robust approval rating. Overseas, of course, together with his critics here at home, the unabated killings must stop. As the illegal drug war continues, there is nothing that can be done except to wait and count the costs when it will finally come to an end —if ever it comes to an end.

Just last Dec. 27, three teenagers and a pregnant woman were killed in Caloocan City during a police operation. No satisfactory explanation was given by the police. Even the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, an advocacy group that also wants stronger measures to fight crime, was shocked at the killing of these four apparently innocent people, calling them an unnecessary collateral damage to the war on drugs.

One wish that majority of Filipinos would want the President to stop is the insulting words that he uses in his tirades: “ulol,” crazy, idiot

Turn to A5

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Opinion

THE problem of this coun- policy threatens to undermine try, as I see it, is that it has no our decades-old alliance with credible opposition. There is the Americans! The policy may no political leader who can in- lead the Philippines to danger spire right-thinking Filipinos because only the US could to protest what is happening in prevent China from “militarizthe wake of President Rodrigo ing” the South China Sea. Even Duterte’s war on illegal drugs. now, the only thing we can do Santa Banana, more than is protest; we cannot enforce.

If we were to have an inde6,000 have been killed, more than half of them by “uniden- pendent foreign policy, why tified gunmen.” Those killed can’t we have an alliance with belong to the lower class of so- all nations instead of pivoting ciety. And then there are over to China and Russia alone? It 1 million drug users who have does not make sense.

This is tragic because we surrendered. Just how city and municipal jails can accommo- worked so hard on that arbitration case. Must we now set date them.

Many of the victims of the it aside just to get on China’s war on illegal drugs are said good side?

Joint explorations are someto be collateral damage—and all the President could do is to thing else if they are a govsay sorry. Where is the effort ernment-to-government effort, to bring justice to the widows because then they have to be and orphans of those who were approved by Congress. Just killed? There are not even to- how this will be done, since all private companies in China are kens of compensation.

If the President is really sorry linked to the government is the for all the unintended victims, big question. *** there should be an honest effort Campaign promises are on the part of the administration to go all-out against vigi- meant to be broken, so the lante groups who have taken saying goes. This seems to be happening with the President’s the law into their own hands.

As I said, in the wake of all promise to increase by P2,000 these, there appears to be no the pension of over 2.2 million genuine opposition. Filipinos Social Security System penhave been so desensitized and sioners. He also promised to apathetic to what is happen- double the salaries of soldiers ing. And there is no opposition and cops.

In the case of the P2,000 SSS leader to take up the cudgels for those whose rights are violated. pension increase, they claim this cannot be done without This is a national tragedy!

Sure, there is noise from impairing the viability of the a minority group, even from system, which could go banksome congressmen who claim rupt in 20 years. The solution to be part of the opposition. would be to increase the conTwo senators have also come tribution of its members. The out against those killings and government is now in a quanhuman rights violations. But dary. It does seem that the new officials and that is beboard memcause members failed bers of the to consider Liberal Party This is a the impact of have joined pension inthe so-called national tragedy. crease. supermajority As for for their own doubling agenda. the salary of Even the Catholic Church appears to be soldiers and policemen, it is useless and powerless—except Congress that must approve for a handful of priests and this move. These are two cambishops who have openly criti- paign promises that he failed cized the practice. We really to make good on last year. He miss the late Jaime Cardinal is a big disappointment to solSin who used to rally the Cath- diers and cops. *** olic faithful.

There are two mayors in The LP, which should normally be the opposition, has Metro Manila—Manila Mayor also become useless. Vice Joseph Estrada and Makati President Leni Robredo should Mayor Abigail Binay Campos be leading the opposition, but —whom I would like to comshe does not have what it takes mend for their string perforto be an effective leader. We mance in the past six months.

Erap is out to vindicate himsee this in her indifference to her constituents in Naga City self after his ouster in 2001. when it was struck by Typhoon He just succeeded in returning “Nina.” She chose to go to the the streets of the premier city United States knowing that to motorists and pedestrians.

Camarines Sur would be along He also succeeded in making the path of the typhoon. How Manila’s public market safe could she abandon her constit- and secure. The horrible traffic in the city is also a thing of uents in their hour of misery?

Robredo said it was unfor- the past.

Binay, on the other hand, tunate; she had wanted to return home but could not book has cleared up Makati’s city a flight. Come on, Leni. Don’t hall of contractual and casual workers. These did not work, give us that baloney.

Where is the opposition but collected their salaries when the country has become anyway because the previous administration abused its a virtual killing field? authority. She also succeeded *** The Russians are already in in returning Makati’s streets town and the Duterte admin- to motorists because of illegal istration is now talking about parking. And, like her parents joint oil explorations in the who also used to lead the city, South China Sea. Recall that Abby has shown great concern the President has announced a for the poor.

In my book, Erap and Abigail pivot to China and Russia. Does this pivot mean that he would are achievers. *** set aside the ruling of the PerI must say mea culpa. I manent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which has ruled in missed out in my list of perour favor? The President seems formers and achievers in the more interested in the invest- Cabinet, during the first six ments and loans he would get months of the Duterte administration, Foreign Affairs from China.

Duterte’s has in fact dis- Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. played antagonism toward He has really made a name for Washington. Would this mean himself.

I am sorry that Secretary less economic and military dependence on the United States? Yasay will be replaced by My gulay, our has been a long Senator Alan Peter Cayetano in July this year. I wonder whether alliance!

I am no foreign policy ex- the latter can outperform the pert, but this so-called pivot to former. He would have big China and independent foreign shoes to fill.

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Spare no one

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

No credible opposition

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

OVERSIGHT DANILO SUAREZ THE nation was shocked by a big scandal involving Bureau of Immigration officials who received cash worth P50 million as bribe from casino mogul Jack Lam, to release 1,316 illegal Chinese workers arrested in Clark, Pampanga. This scandal resulted in the dismissal of BI Deputy Commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who admitted receiving the said amount from Lam’s camp. BI Intelligence Chief Charles Calima, Jr. and Technical Assistant for Intelligence Edward Chan were also dismissed for receiving P18 million out of the P50million bribe. Besides the dis-

missal from their positions, the officials may also be charged once the Department of Justice finds probable cause.

Before the scandal, President Duterte had ordered Jack Lam’s arrest. However, at that time, there were no cases filed so the National Bureau of Investigation failed to arrest him. Currently, cases have been filed against Jack Lam. President Duterte will allow him to return to the Philippines and continue his businesses in the country if he meets three conditions: 1) pay the tax deficiencies of his online casino in Fontana; 2) apply for license in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. to legalize his casino operations and to pay the appropriate taxes moving forward; and 3) promise not to corrupt officials such as the BI bribery case.

Argosino and Robles, the high-ranking BI officials involved in the bribery case, were the President’s election lawyers.

They worked for him during the campaign. At the same time, they were his fraternity brothers at the San Beda College of Law’s Lex Talionis Fraternitas, Inc. While the President had previously stated that his brods, friends, and even relatives who would be involved in corruption would not be spared, we are still concerned about his other appointees in the government. If these two BI officials were still able to commit such a corrupt act despite their closeness to the President, what would prevent other appointees from doing the same?

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II considers overhauling the bureau after

the bribery scandal. Maybe he can also take a look at other agencies that have been involved in corruption in the previous administration such as the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Pagcor, etc.

We hope that the President reviews his appointments in several government agencies.

He has always insisted that his appointees were selected based on merit, and not by personal affiliation. The BI scandal is a proof of appointments less than meritorious. The administration should show it is serious about fighting corruption from within its ranks. A good way to start is to review the dedication and integrity of all government appointees. After all, they are—every one of them—a reflection on the President.

‘Oro, plata, tuta’ THE producers of Oro deliberately killed a dog during the film’s shooting.

This was confirmed by Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairperson Liza Diño, who, with members of the Metro Manila Film Festival executive committee, met the other day with representatives of the film’s producers.

The Oro team had initially told Diño that the animal killed was a goat “wearing prosthetics,” and that the slaughter was done by a professional butcher.

Later they admitted that it was indeed a dog, and that for verisimilitude, it was slain for a scene that showed a dog being killed and gutted because “it was within the bounds of culture in that area where dogs are eaten as food.”

The scene, which Diño described as “very disturbing” and “very graphic,” disgusted many of the film’s viewers, who remarked that the dog showed “sadness” and “knowledge that he was about to be killed.” Outrage erupted on social media, with many netizens posting angry comments on the film’s Facebook page.

On Dec. 31, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society asked

More...

From A4 and stupid. Tirades by a leader maybe unavoidable at times but using insulting words is severe.

It is not doing our country any good in the eyes of the international community. Mr. Duterte must stop this. *** One good development in the anti-money laundering front is a bill filed by former President Gloria Arroyo and now a deputy speaker in the House to remove the Anti-Money Laundering Council from the supervision and control of the Bangko Sentral. As one who handled transnational crime during her administration, it is about time. The governor of the central bank being involved in police investigations is anathema to managing the country’s financial coffers. Money laundering is the biggest criminal operation in the world today

Winning...

From A4 Diokno and Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Unlike the previous administration, which gambled on an economic team composed of close personal associates and political hangers-on that was short of experience and collective wisdom, Duterte cast a much wider net in his search for economic managers. Of the

the MMFF execom to conduct an investigation into the incident, saying no animal should be hurt nor killed in the making of a film.

On Jan. 3, the MMFF execom withdrew the Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ) Memorial Award given to the film Oro after Senator Grace Poe, daughter of FPJ, released a strong statement asking the MMFF to probe the animal cruelty issue and condemning the butchering of the dog.

Actress Japo Parcero, in a long Facebook post titled “An exposition about the dog that was brutally murdered for a film” narrated how she was chosen for a small part in Oro. Although she was not around for the dog scene she was later “made aware that A DOG WAS KILLED IN THE SHOOT [emphasis hers]. In fact, two dogs died, one accidentally and one deliberately.” [The first died after the supplier tied it in a sack and unknowingly smothered it.]

“The actor was asked to bludgeon the [second] dog to death,” Porcero said. “Someone said he was even reduced to tears by the end of the scene because he also didn’t want to do it… I know there was a great delay to the shoot because the lead actress…stood her ground and threatened to refuse shooting if they killed an animal.

“I don’t know how they are

able to convince the ENTIRE CAST AND CREW to ever agree to such an unspeakable act, but the words often used that night were ‘for authenticity’ and ‘we believe in the vision.’…in a few moments, they gathered us and inconspicuously asked us to never tell anyone about the incident. That we have to LIE about it. It was unacceptable.”

Oro writer and director Alvin Yapan, in a post on the film’s Facebook page on Jan. 2, stated “Hindi po totoo na pumatay kami ng aso para lang sa pelikula…Hindi rin totoo na inutusan ko ang isang actor para lang pumatay ng aso…Hindi rin totoo na kinain iyong aso sa set.

Sa pagkakatanda ko bang araw shinoot iyong inuman scene doon sa mismong pagkatay ng aso. Baboy ang ginamit nila.

Nasa pag edit po iyon.”

Oro executive producer Feliz Guerrero, in that same post, also denied that the film’s team killed the dog. But he said, “Ikinatay ang aso at pinagsaluhan. Umasa ang produksyon na manindigan ang animal welfare advocates na magsalita at turuan ang sambayanan tungkol sa tamang pag-alaga at proteksyon sa mga hayop.”

Yapan and Guerrero, in short, said no one on the team killed the dog. But they also admitted a dog was killed and eaten to illustrate the subject mining community’s culture.

So who did kill the dog?

It seems that falsehoods were spun about the dog’s death, perhaps in an attempt to cover up actions that had moral implications, legal consequences, and ethical considerations for the filmmakers.

Yapan also said in his post that it is not his place to educate the mining community about their cultural habit of eating dog meat. He said focus should be placed instead on the story of four massacred miners as told in Oro. But the miners’ story is not the point here; it is the way by which Yapan and the rest of the Oro team chose to tell that story. And that story, however worthy of scrutiny and public awareness, has now been overshadowed by the scandal brought about by the killing of a dog.

The issues that emerge now from Oro are not the ones that the film’s team chose to surface, but rather their own decisions on how to bring the miners’ story to the public. In choosing this particular path to bring their artistic vision to the screen, they have, unwittingly, drawn attention to filmmaking and the values that guide it.

dwarfing any other criminal activity.

Corrupt government officials in every country use money laundering to hide the proceeds of their crime. Although big strides have been made in this field in the last couple of decades, there is still a lot of loopholes in the system, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies worldwide to run after corrupt officials, especially from less developed countries.

Criminal syndicates also use money laundering to legitimize proceeds from their crime.

This is happening under the very noses of our law enforcement agencies even as I write this piece.

More than amending the Anti-Money Laundering Law, we need to craft a new law to give teeth to law enforcement agencies in fighting corruption and other crimes. Many of our corrupt officials can still hide

their stolen money in our banking system using various techniques and taking advantage of loopholes in the law.

Removing the AMLC from the supervision and control of the central bank governor should only be the first step in reforming our Anti-Money Laundering Law. If Congress fails to do this, corruption will never be minimized or reduced in this country. But with all the corruption allegations involving our government officials, there is a strong incentive not to amend the anti-money laundering statute. After all, where else can corrupt officials hide the proceeds of their crime? It is not after all wise to simply stash away huge amounts of money in a house.

So, the banks still remain to be the best place to hide dirty money if not here in the country, in some overseas offshore bank like in the Cayman Islands, Reunion Island in the

Indian Ocean and a few other places that have remained havens for stolen money. Some still claim that the illegal drug trade is the biggest but it is nothing compared to the amount involved in money laundering. The Bangladesh money laundering case has demonstrated the weaknesses of our system.

If the AMLC under the central bank were handled by professional law enforcement people, the monitoring would have been such that AMLC world have seen able to monitor the transaction electronically.

This is relatively simple to do and does not involve huge amounts of money. It is just coming up with a software program and buying affordable computer hardware available in Greenhills. Hopefully, the Arroyo bill will find support in Congress as a first step in amending the Anti-Money Laundering Law.

three, only Dominguez was personally close to Duterte before his election as president —and the finance secretary’s business and government bona fides are as illustrious as those of Diokno the longtime budget technocrat and Pernia the distinguished academic.

I covered Dominguez as a reporter when he was agriculture secretary of Cory Aquino and I’m convinced that he’s an excellent choice to hold the fi-

nance portfolio. Dominguez himself doesn’t think they’ve done such a good job, however, compared to what the president has done. “[Duterte] should deserve credit,” he told Reuters. “People are always looking at the controversial statements. But he has done an excellent job… the important thing is the trust and confidence of business in him is very high.”

It’s easy to see why some

media outlets here and abroad would rather resurrect a perjured and discredited character like Edgar Matobato instead of focusing on the great strides being made by Duterte’s administration on the economic front. Unlike Matobato, the supposed Davao Death Squad member who swears that two cement blocks can actually fit in a man’s abdomen, the economic numbers can’t be made to lie so easily.

Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Follow her on Facebook: Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @jennyortuoste, Instagram: @jensdecember

News

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Revelry caused ‘very dangerous’ MM pollution

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

PRAYER FOR THE EARTH. Environmentalists from Buklod Tao and the Eco Waste Coalition assemble in front of the Quiapo Church in Manila to urge devotees of the Black Nazarene to keep the annual procession of the Black Nazarene cleaner and litter-free. Norman Cruz

IN BRIEF Throw poll materials, SC tells Comelec THE Supreme Court, acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, has permitted the Commission on Elections to dispose election materials pending the resolution of the poll protest against Vice President Leni Robredo by her rival, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. This came after the PET granted the motion filed by the Comelec last August and ordered the “immediately conduct stripping activities for all the vote counting machines and consolidation and canvass system kits, including the disposal of the VCM external batteries.”

In a decision, the PET also ordered the Comelec to expedite resolution of complain and “allow the parties and representatives of the Tribunal to observe and comment during the conduct of the closure/ stripping activities.”

The presidential tribunal also required the poll body and parties in the protest to agree on protocol and procedures to be observed during the closure/ stripping and backing up activities, including an ocular inspection of the Comelec’s warehouse in Sta. Rosa, Laguna where said activities will be conducted.

The PET also authorized the Comelec to back up the contents of the VCM SD cards of all 92,509 clustered precincts. Rey E. Requejo

1,200 deployed to Quiapo

By Joel E. Zurbano

T

HE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will deploy more than 1,200 personnel starting Saturday, Jan. 7 to ensure the security of devotees for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos said a total of 1,245 MMDA personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church and along the procession routes to assist in traffic management, public safety and emergency response operations.

The MMDA contingent will come from the Traffic Discipline Office, Road Emergency Group, Public Safety Division, Sidewalk Clearing

Operations Group, and the Metro Parkways Clearing Group, which will conduct a massive cleanup on the procession routes right after the procession passed through.

The agency will also install emergency response tents and plastic barriers for the queue to the traditional Pahalik at the Quirino Grandstand on Jan. 7.

The MMDA also extended the op-

erating hours of its Pasig River Ferry System service on Jan. 9 to provide an alternate mode of transportation for thousands of devotees joining the procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

Orbos said at least two ferry boats will also be on standby near Jones Bridge to respond to emergency situations during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

He said the first trip of the special run of ferry service from Guadalupe Terminal in Makati City to Escolta Terminal in Manila will start at 5:30 a.m. The last trips from Escolta to Guadalupe station will be at 7 p.m.

Apart from the ferry boats’ extended operating hours, Gwapotel, a budget hotel managed by the MMDA, will also be offering a 20 percent discount to all Black Nazarene devotees going to the establishment, starting

Jan. 7 until Jan. 9.

Orbos said he ordered the deployment of MMDA personnel to augment the Manila Police District to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of the religious event and the agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.

“Plastic barriers for the queue to the traditional Pahalik will also be set up on Jan. 7. It was successful in ensuring orderliness last year, so we are doing it again this time, with some improvements,” he said.

Ambulances and other road emergency vehicles, traffic mobile patrol cars, tugboats, mobile surveillance and communications units, and all other necessary equipment and vehicles will also be dispatched.

The MMDA also released the

procession route: The grand procession will be from Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos, left Taft Avenue thru Jones Bridge, right Dasmariñas Street, right Plaza Sta. Cruz Street, left Carlos Palanca Street, thru under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Boulevard, right Arlegui Street, right Fraternal Street, right Vergara Street, left Duque De Alba Street, left Castillejos Street, left Farnecio Street, right Arlegui Street, left Nepomuceno Street, left Concepcion Aguila Street, right Carcer Street, right Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen, left Bilibid Viejo thru G. Puyat, left Z.P. De Guzman Street, right Hidalgo, left A. Bautista Street, right Globo de Oro thru under Quezon Bridge, right Palanca, right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.

Solon lambastes ‘revisionist’ film

By Maricel V. Cruz

No FATF blacklist, Palace says MALACAÑANG on Wednesday downplayed speculations the country may be blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force if the proposed bill insulating the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from the activities of the Anti-Money Laundering Council is passed into law.

“The Financial Action Task Force [FATF] potential blacklist over changes in the chairmanship of AMLC has no basis,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Reports said that the FATF, an international body promoting policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing could again be included in the blacklist of non-cooperative countries if the bill strips the BSP of the chairmanship of the AMLC. Uncertainty over the future of the anti-laundering body came after the proposal of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to ban the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor from supervising the Anti-Money Laundering Council.

The proposed provision would “insulate the BSP officials from the actuations of AMLC, especially the political ones which may be influenced by the council officials’ loyalty to their appointing authority.”

“The BSP should be liberated from the burden of supervising the very rigorous demands of criminal investigation such as those performed by AMLC,” Arroyo said. John Paolo Bencito

HIGH pollution levels hit major cities in Metro Manila as millions celebrated the start of the new year last Sunday, the Environment department said yesterday.

Based on the data gathered from various air quality monitoring stations in the metropolis, many of the cities were monitored as severely polluted during the early hours of Sunday.

As of 12 a.m. of Jan. 1, the monitoring station at the De La Salle University in Manila recorded a PM2.5 level of 448 micrograms per normal cubic meter (ug/Ncm), while pollution levels in the cities of Parañaque, Taguig, Valenzuela and Muntinlupa were 433, 324, 285 and 175 ug/Ncm, respectively.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that PM2.5, is a micro particle matter that causes hazardous smog, was a major pollutant.

As of 2 a.m. of the same day, the air quality monitoring stations in Pasig City and the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City recorded PM2.5 levels of 397 and 369 ug/Ncm, respectively.

The PM2.5 levels in the cities mentioned fall under the category of extremely dangerous.

DENR said this means it is no longer deemed safe to go outside without wearing a face mask.

The healthy guideline values for PM2.5 is 25 ug/Ncm annually and 50 ug/Ncm for 24-hour averaging.

DENR said, however, all stations have registered higher levels of PM2.5 compared to last year’s festivities.

On regular days, however, such as in the month of April 2015, PM2.5 readings in selected air quality monitoring stations are generally lower values: DLSU with 7 to 182 ug/Ncm ; Parañaque, 6 to 18 ug/Ncm; and Muntinlupa with 8 to 42 ug/Ncm. The DENR attributed the high pollution levels to the continued use of fireworks and firecrackers

by New Year revellers.

“This was the reason why DENR has been supportive of the proposed ban on firecrackers and pyrotechnics display, “ said Assistant Director Jacqueline Caancan, officer-in-charge at the Environmental Management Bureau.

SEEKING REAL CHANGE. Labor leaders urged the Department of Labor and Employment to recall a department order outlining rules which, they claim, will only legitimize the practice of contractual employment. Manny Palmero

A HOUSE leader on Wednesday called for a congressional investigation into what he described as the blatant “revisionism” or “fallacious” portrayal of small-scale mining and pro-environment activities in Camarines Sur in 2014, which was presented in the controversial movie “Oro.” Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said he will file a resolution calling for a joint inquiry by the committees on public Information and on Metro Manila Development Authority to demand an explanation why the MMDA Film Festival Executive Committee included “Oro” among the official entries.

Worse, Villafuerte said the movie was even given granted an award despite its gory dog-slaying scene and its depiction of supposedly everyday life in CamSur that was “the exact opposite of what actually happened as well as the real

protagonists and antagonists in a barangay in Caramoan Island.”

Oro is an official entry to the 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival and whose award was later on withdrawn by the organizer itself in belated protest over its depiction of an act of animal cruelty in violation of the law.

“The film is nothing but political propaganda masquerading as art in which the highly respected actors that took part in it plus the film crew were unwittingly used to present an alternate universe of events that have never happened in Caramoan Island in CamSur two years ago,” Villafuerte said.

“There is such a thing as artistic license but it does not justify the misinterpretation of events for political ends,” Villafuerte said. “This was a blatant case of historical revisionism that the camp of former Speaker Arnulfo Fuentebella had committed as a political hack job against the incumbent provincial government leadership.”

‘Manila on the Go’ now at full stop after Mel Lopez death

By Tony Macapagal THE enthusiastic and determined “driver” of “Manila on the Go,” former Mayor Gemiliano “Mel” Lopez Jr., suffered a massive heart attack last Jan. 1 and died at age 81.

The death of Lopez, who was mayor from 1986-1992 when the city government’s battlecry of “Manila on the Go” was a full swing, effectively put a stop to his hopeful dream of regaining the lost glory and grandeur of the premier city of the country.

Lopez was first named officer-incharge of the city by former President Corazon Aquino after the 1986 Edsa Revolution. Two years later, or in 1988, Lopez won the mayoralty race and served up to 1992.

“Manila on the Go” was the centerpiece or focal point of Lopez’s desire to reinvigorate and literally renew the “total face” of his beloved city.

Lopez went out to improve the health, education, living condition, the infrastructure, and local governance—notably in the barangay

level—among others.

More health centers and additional schoolrooms were built. Several streets, playgrounds, parks and plazas were inaugurated. Street and sidewalk vendors were regulated and disciplined. Jobs available at city hall and at factories and companies operating in the city.

Manila then was so alive, full of vigor, moving, surging with not in and fruitful activities, and really on the go, thanks to the leadership of the indefatigable Lopez.

“To be given the chances to serve our fellowmen is a rare and divine opportunity. You serve your people and you serve the Lord God Almighty.

For me, I cannot ask for more, I vigorously thank Him for that,” Lopez once told journalists.

And so unlike many of government or public officials, Lopez, the statesman, and clean and straight politician that he was during his incumbency, always welcomed criticisms and even egged newsmen to “criticize me. Hit me. How would I

know if I am doing right or wrong?”

“C’mon boys, do it. Do not be propagandists. Just do your job. One thing is sure. I can take all those brickbats, those innuendoes,” he added.

The attitude, his supporters said, stem from a genuine aspiration for sportsmanship.

He was a sportsman, especially interested in amateur boxing. There was a time he was involved in the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, headed the Philippine Sports Commission, and a force to be reckoned fighting graft and corruption at the Asia International Boxing Association.

At the time of his demise, he was chairman of the Philippine National Oil Commission where he started his tenure on September 2010. It was Lopez while PNOC top official, that he turned over to the national government coffer some P6 billion in income and savings.

It will be noted that Lopez enjoyed the trust and confidence of two presidents while at PNOC-Benigno Aquino and Rodrigo Duterte.

Lopez Aside from the above-mentioned positions, Lopez also held the posts of Manila city councilor, from 1967 to 1971—when the infamous and tragic Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party grand meeting happened that inflicted body wounds on

him and scores of his party mates.

Also, Lopez was voted as one of Manila’s assemblyman from 198486, and was one of then Constabulary chief Gen. Fidel Ramos’ “jumping mates” at the Edsa People Power revolution.

Lopez’s remains lie in state at The Aeternum at Heritage Park in Taguig City. His body was brought to the Tondo Cathedral last night and will be transferred to city hall’s Bulwagang Villegas today (Thursday) at 1 p.m. The remains will be returned to Heritage Park, also today at 5 p.m.

Lopez from Aliaga, Nueva Ecija and Tondo, Manila, is survived by his wife, Concepcion Tantoco Lopez, and children: Alexander and Sallie Laurel, Carmen Anita and Angelito del Rosario, Rep. Manuel Luis and Suzette Hahn, Maria Victoria and QC Councilor Allan Reyes, Rosanna and Rep. Gilberto Duavit Jr., Philip and Sharon Pasamba, Gemiliano “Gino” III and Rajnna Cuadra, Michael Angelo and Fina Gupit, and Trina and Emil Ramos.

Sports

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Training of athletes is PSI priority

By Peter Atencio

T

AKING care of the needs of the elite athletes and providing the means to develop athletes at the grassroots level will be the main thrust of the Philippine Sports Institute.

National training director Marc Edward Velasco said this as he talked about the third revival of the PSI, which is set to take place on Jan. 16 at the Multipurpose Arena of the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

“We will be able to give more to our elite athletes and at the same time the PSI will be the driving force of our grassroots program that will be implemented in the first quarter of the year,” said Velasco during

a press conference yesterday.

Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission have big plans for the PSI, which will be the centerpiece program of the National Sports Development Program.

It will have a four-stage programs which are dedicated for both athletes identification and the training of a pool of researchers.

Under the grassroots development program (GSDP), talented kids who are between

the age of eight to 15 years old will be chosen to undergo training.

This is a program which Velasco developed while working closely with deputy director Dr. Henry Daut, who came aboard last October.

The four stages of the GSDP will involve the training of the pool of researchers, the testing phase of selected athletes, the selection of the athletes, and their inclusion in the Smart Kids program.

President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest speaker during its launch The PSI was first initiated by former PSC chairmam Philip Ella Juico during his time with the agency from 1996 to 1998.

After that PSC chief William “Butch” Ramirez made efforts to restart it on his first tenure from 2005 to 2009.

The PSI is expected to become the PSC’s flagship program in terms of talent development.

The program is first set to be held initially in Davao, before it is later introduced in other provinces.

The PSC has plans to put up around 40 regional training centers in the provinces.

Ramirez said around 20 of the centers will be located in Luzon, while 10 will be in the Visayas region, and the other 10 will be in the Mindanao region.

Initially, around 16 areas were identified. But more LGUs got interested.

Blue Jackets near historic record LOS ANGELES—The Columbus Blue Jackets inched closer to NHL history Tuesday, notching their 16th consecutive victory 3-1 over the Edmonton Oilers.

Cam Atkinson and William Karlsson scored power-play goals and Nick Foligno added a third-period goal in the win, which put the Blue Jackets one victory away from tying the 199293 Pittsburgh Penguins for most successive NHL victories.

Columbus goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky made 21 saves and extended his win streak to 14 games.

The Blue Jackets struck first when Atkinson scored 1:12 into the first power play of the night after Jesse Puljujarvi was called for holding on Jack Johnson.

Atkinson collected a feed from Zach Werenski in the high slot and rebounded the puck in off an Oilers defenseman with 7:28 left in the opening period.

Edmonton equalized 5:39 into the second when Patrick Maroon fed Oscar Klefbom, who was entering the zone with speed. Klefbom fired from high between the circles for his sixth goal of the season.

Less than five minutes later, 1:49 into the Jackets’ second power play of the night, Brandon Saad sent a crosszone pass to Karlsson, whose shot from the right circle found the net.

The goal marked Karlsson’s first career power-play goal. Karlsson was

filling in on the second power play unit for Brandon Dubinsky, who fought Maroon earlier and was serving the resulting penalty.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals within two minutes of the third period Monday to break a 1-1 tie and lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL’s Winter Classic outdoor game.

Tarasenko’s first goal at 12:05 in the third came as his attempt at a backhanded centering pass deflected off the skate of Blackhawks defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson and into the net.

The Russian right winger’s next goal, at 13:58, was more straightforward—a wrist shot past Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford for his 18th goal of the season.

“Well, he’s a hungry offensive player,” Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. “He’s a guy that sniffs out weaknesses, or he sniffs out coverage issues and he jumps on it.

“And when he’s engaged like he was today and like he’s been for most part of this year, he’s dangerous because he’s one shift away from breaking the thing right open.”

Tarasenko had two superb chances earlier in the third, but was denied

by Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford on a breakaway before hitting the post while the Blues were on a power play. AFP

Cam Atkinson (13) of the Columbus Blue Jackets battles for control of a loose puck against Oscar Klefbom (77) of the Edmonton Oilers during the first period on January 3 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. AFP

Local jungolfers battle SEA rivals at Pradera

Rising star Annyka Cayabyab, here practicing her putting, is raring to showcase her wares.

THE country’s leading jungolfers and amateurs gear up for a battle royale against the top players from neighboring Southeast Asian countries in a Ryder Cup-style format event set Jan. 15-17 at the Pradera Golf Club in Lubao, Pampanga.

Dubbed the Pradera Ladies Golf Challenge, the novel three-day championship will pit 10 players from each side with Team Pradera Philippines to be bannered by rising jungolfer Annyka Cayabyab and veteran internationalist Pauline del Rosario and the SEA squad to be led by the aces from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, headed by Thai star Attaya Thitikul.

“This is going to be an exciting event.

Never has there been a duel pitting the best young players in the region in a Ryder Cupstyle format,” said Archen Cayabyab, who with Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab and swing coach Norman Sto. Domingo drew up and came up with the event as part of their effort to boost the country’s junior and amateur golf program.

While Del Rosario, a former Thailand Ladies Amateur champion who strung up three victories in Malaysia and Singapore to close out her 2016 campaign, will anchor the host’s

bid, the 12-year-old Cayabyab, a five-time world junior golf champion and youngest Most Outstanding Kapampangan awardee, will provide the youth power in what promises to be a slam-bang duel of shotmaking, putting and strategies.

“I’m so thrilled to be joining this event and I hope to play to my true potential and be able to help the team,” said the St. Paul Pasig student, who has racked up a number of titles abroad, including the Junior World, the Veritas Junior Golf and the Future Champions of Golf International in California.

Action is expected to heat up right in Day One with two sets of matches lined up, including the alternate shot format in the morning and the best ball event in afternoon play. Each side will field in five teams.

Day Two will feature the same set-up with the deciding 10 singles matches on tap in the final day. Winning teams in the first two days will be awarded one point per match with the singles staking 10 points. The team to score 15.5 points wins the duel.

“We hope to institutionalize this event by holding it annually through the help of the Pradera Golf Club,” said the elder Cayabyab.

Becker team wins Reisinger in Orlando

BECKER team has won the 2016 Reisinger Memorial Trophy in Orlando: Mike Becker, Mike Kamil, Walid Elahmady, Richard Coren, Tarek Sadek and Aubrey Strul.

The Reisinger Memorial Trophy was the main event at the Fall NABC (North American Bridge Championships, held in Orlando (Florida, US) from November 24 to December 4, 2016 -oOoI feature from the World Bridge Federation

by Mark Horton Hommage a Patrick Jourdain In one of the early Bulletins we reproduced a story by Patrick Jourdain entitled ‘Keep Losers, throw Winners’. If you want proof that reading the Bulletin can seriously improve your IMPs look no further

than this deal from session four of the Women’s final between France and USA. Board 30 North Dealer East ♠Q1097 None Vul. ♥95 ♦1072 ♣KQ64 West East ♠AK86 ♠J5 ♥10864 ♥KQ ♦QJ3 ♦K985 ♣93 ♣AJ1052 South ♠432 ♥AJ732 ♦A64 ♣87 In the Closed Room EW stopped in 1NT, scoring eight tricks, +120.

Open Room West North East South Reess Palmer Zochowska Shi 1NT Pass 2♣* Pass 2♦* Pass 3NT All Pass South led the three of hearts and declarer won with the queen and played a diamond to dummy’s

jack. When it held she played the three of clubs to the jack. A diamond went to the queen and declarer exited with a diamond to South’s ace. Back came the two of spades perfect, but now North went wrong by returning a spade. (The winning defence is to play a heart, when South must win and play a second spade.) Declarer won with the jack, to reach this position: North ♠109 ♥5 ♦♣KQ6 West East ♠AK ♠♥1086 ♥K ♦♦8 ♣9 ♣A1052 South ♠4 ♥AJ72 ♦♣8 At this point declarer cashed the eight of diamonds and pitched a heart from dummy. She followed

that by cashing the ace of clubs and exiting with the king of hearts, but South took the rest for two down,100 and 6 IMPs to the USA. All declarer had to do was throw one of dummy’s winning spades on the eight of diamonds. After cashing the ace of clubs she exits with the king of hearts and South can choose her poison, If she wins she will have to surrender the last two tricks to dummy, but if she ducks declarer changes tack and exits with a club, forcing North to lead a spade to dummy’s ace at trick thirteen.

Yeh Online Bridge World Cup comes to a close So the First Yeh Online Bridge World Cup has ended- but it heralds the start of a new chapter in the great history of bridge. Our congratulations go to the winning team, Lavazza: Norberto Bocchi, Emanuela Lavazza, Bénédicte Cronier, Giorgio Duboin, Agustin Madala, Sylvie Willard, and Maria Teresa Lavazza (NPC).

The concept of the tournament was to showcase bridge as a modern game, pure, using all the technology

available to promote a dynamic image, and attract as much media attention as possible.

Each venue provided great interest and there was some great bridge. I should especially mention the Beijieng heat, where two teams were playing in an amazing setup created and supported by OurGame and where our patner, Mr. Chen Yeh was welcomed.

Seven (7) hours time difference on one side, 8 the other side, 15 in total and still we gathered altogether for the good of bridge, including Bill Gates, our best ambassador for worldwide bridge, Mr. Guo Jinlong who was the biggest World Mind Sports Games, Mr. Giuseppe Lavazza who is one of the strongest supporters of bridge that we have.

After the event Bill gates tweeted: “This morning I played in the first-ever online @BridgeWorldCup. I hope this draws more people to the card game. I love playing.”

Comments to: sylvia.alejandro@ yahoo

Filipino athletes to join Asian Winter Games TWENTY NINE Filipino athletes will take part in the 8th edition of the Asian Winter Games, which will be held in Sapporo and Obihiro, Japan.

The Philippines will take part in ice hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating and snow boarding.

Chef de mission Tom Carrasco said the teams involved are expected to leave early for the Games, which is set Feb. 19 to 26.

There are 31 countries joining, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Vietnam which are joining for the first time.

It was last held in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2011 with the host country leading the medal race with 32 golds, 21 silvers and 17 bronzes.

Michael Christian Martinez, who was at the 2016 World Figure Skating Championships and finished 19th out of 30 competitors, leads four-member national figure skating squad.

He will be with Jules Alpe in the men’s division, while Samantha Cabiles and Shayanne Casapao are in the women’s side.

The Philippines has entered an ice hockey team for the first time, and its roster is still being finalized.

The team will play in division two of the competition and will be made up of 23 athletes.

Kathryn Victory Magno, a speed skater from San Jose, California in the United States, will represent the country in the short-track speed skating meet.

Another Fil-American Ryan Magno, takes part in snowboarding. Peter Atencio

LOTTO RESULTS

6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M+ 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0 M 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

Sports

Riera U. Mallari, Editor Reuel Vidal, Assistant Editor sports@thestandard.com.ph sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) drives strong to the basket against the Utah Jazz during the game on January 3 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. AFP

Celtics silence Jazz, 115-104 L

OS ANGELES—Boston star Isaiah Thomas showcased more than his scoring talents Tuesday, adding a career-high 15 assists to go with 29 points in the Celtics 115-104 NBA victory over the Utah Jazz.

Thomas, who scored 52 points without an assist in the Celtics’ victory over the Miami Heat on Friday, mixed things up against the Jazz and his versatility helped Boston notch a third straight home win for the first time this season.

Thomas said he didn’t make a conscious effort to up his assists.

And he certainly didn’t take any flak from his teammates after failing to deliver one decisive pass to another scorer against Miami.

“If they would’ve said something, then I would’ve really tried to not score and get as-

sists,” he said. “But after the last game I was upset and they were like, ‘You scored 52, who cares about your assists!’

“Tonight I didn’t really emphasize passing like that. It’s just that’s what the defense was giving me,” Thomas said.

Amid all that passing Thomas had just one turnover.

“He did it in all kinds of ways,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

“The best plays that he made and the most impactful were when he got to the rim and he’d go up and find people.

“He was finding people everywhere.”

Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns beat Miami for the first time since November 3, 2009, their 99-90 victory marking a sixth straight defeat for the reeling Heat.

Devin Booker scored 18 of his 27 points in the second half and Marquese Chriss added a career-high 18 for the Suns, who had lost 12 straight to their rivals from Florida.

“That tells you how talented they’ve been for the last few years ... still really talented, just shorthanded tonight,” said Booker, who was just 13 the last time the Suns triumphed over the Heat.

Goran Dragic’s 24 points paced the Heat, who dressed the league minimum of eight players as injuries and ailments ranging from food poisoning to migraine sidelined others.

In Los Angeles, Julius Randle notched the third triple-double of his career to help the Lakers end a three-game losing streak with a 116-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Randle scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and handed out 11 assists as the young Lakers team won for just the third time in 18 games.

In Detroit, Paul George scored 32 points and the Indiana Pacers matched their season high in a 121116 victory over the Pistons.

And in Denver, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins scored a game-high 31 points to go with six rebounds and six assists in a 120-113 victory over the Nuggets.

In Dallas Mavericks’ experiment with bringing Aussie big man Andrew Bogut off the bench paid off on Tuesday with a 113-105 NBA victory

over the Washington Wizards.

The strategy meant that Bogut and veteran Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki were never on the floor at the same time, and while Dallas coach Rick Carlisle wasn’t completely comfortable with the plan, there was no arguing with the result.

“I don’t like this,” Carlisle admitted after the win. “He (Bogut) shouldn’t be coming off the bench.

But the fact that he’s not only willing, but basically offered to, tells you a lot about his character.

“He wants to win. This is not a normal occurrence for a 12- or 13-year guy. And he’s a proud guy.

He deserves to start. They both do.

But we haven’t been able to make it work real well. So tonight, this is where we were.”

It was just the 15th time in his career that Bogut came off the bench. AFP

it is unfortunate that Marcin Prachnio has fallen to injury, fans of ‘The Burmese Python’ have every reason to be excited, as Yangon’s own martial arts hero Aung La N Sang has been tapped for the main event against ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash. He has definitely earned a shot at ONE Championship gold with his spectacular performances as of late. We’re ready to blow the roof off the Jakarta Convention Center.

You will not want to miss this!”

Bigdash of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, will be making the first defense of his title since winning the belt back in October, 2015 with a resounding technical knockout victory over former champion Igor Svirid. Bigdash displayed true grit and determination in one of the most action-packed

fights in ONE Championship history. Bigdash showcased tremendous heart and resolve, overcoming a devastating attack by Svirid to score the upset. Now, he takes on his first challenger as champion in Aung La N Sang.

Thirty one-year-old middleweight standout Aung La N Sang is arguably one of the world’s most renowned fighters from Myanmar, whose constricting style of fighting has earned him the moniker of ”The Burmese Python”.

Born in Myitkyina in the mountainous Kachin State, Aung La N Sang belongs to an ethnic minority known as the Kachin. A veteran of 29 professional bouts with a record of 19-9-0 and 1 NC, he is on a four-fight win streak in ONE Championship, including three victories by highlight-reel finish.

includes top players from Malaysia, Taiwan, Ireland, Korea, Hong Kong, Guam, England, Thailand and the US, all in the hunt of the country’s premier amateur championship.

Ninety-one players are in the men’s list but the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines said a big number of entries are still scrambling to get into the four-day tournament, guaranteeing a record cast in the event held under the PLDT Group National Amateur

Lyceum Pirates blank Generals (Filoil Flying V Center) 8:30 a.m.- CSB vs SBC (jrs) 10 a.m.- CSB vs SBC (m) 11:30 a.m.- CSB vs SBC (w) 1 p.m.- MIT vs CSJL (w) 2:30 p.m.- MIT vs CSJL (m)

ONE Middleweight World Champion Vitaly Bigdash (right) hits Igor Svirid on the head with his knee during the ONE: Tigers of Asia. ONE Championship

Tight battle looms at Philippine Amateur Open Golf tourney THE Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship unwraps today Thursday, January 5 with the local aces, led by Rupert Zaragosa, Ira Alido, Aidric Chan and Jelbert Gamolo, bracing for a fierce duel with a slew of foreign rivals at Riviera’s Couples course in Silang, Cavite.

Yuto Katsuragawa, the 18-yearold Japanese mainstay of Manila Southwoods in various interclub tournaments, banners the talentladen international men’s roster that

SOUTH Cotabato’s Janus Ringia outplayed Jules Lazaro, 6-2, 2-6, 12-0 on Wednesday to reach the boys’ 18-under semifinal in the 28th Andrada Cup Junior Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The victory set up the topseeded player from Koronadal City against No. 7 Jake Martin, who pulled off a 7-6 (2), 6-3 upset win over third seed Gabriel Tiamson.

Fifth seed Emmanuel Fuellas also reached the semifinal after demolishing Sam Mamaril, 6-0, 6-0. Fuellas will meet the winner between No. 4 Jeremiah Macias III and Aljohn Talatayod.

Talatayod, seeded fourth in the 16-under category, had earlier booked a semis berth after posting a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 6 Angelo Aparte. Talatayod’s next match will be against top seed Janus Ringia, who walked over No. 5 Jan Harold Trillanes.

In other matches, second seed Marcus del Rosario defeated No. 7 Athan Arejola, 6-2, 6-2, while third seed Jose Antonio Tria downed No. 8 Jules Lazaro, 6-1, 6-2, to forge a semifinal showdown in the Group 1 tournament supported by former Philta vice president Manuel Misa of Altamar Shipping, Thaddeus Sporting Goods and official ball Babolat.

Meanwhile, top seed Gennifer Pagente of Cagayan de Oro City lived up to her billing, winning her matches to lead the semifinalists in the girls’ 18-under and 16-under categories.

In the 18-under division, Pagente routed Lila Salvacion, 6-0, 6-0, to advance against Rafa Villanueva, who walked over Miles Vitaliano. Also advancing were Crystal Mildwaters and Bea Gomez.

In the 16-under class, Pagente defeated No. 8 Justine Maneja, 6-4, 6-1, to set up a semis meeting with No. 3 Micaella Vicencio, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over No. Patricia Lim. The other semis match will pit No. 5 Macie Carlos, a 2-6, 6-4, 10-3 winner over Miles Vitaliano, against Crystal Mildwaters, who scored a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Bettina Catoto.

Games today (Jan. 5)

Bigdash defends ONE title against ‘Burmese Python’ ONE MIDDLEWEIGHT World Champion Vitaly Bigdash will defend his title against replacement fighter “The Burmese Python” Aung La N Sang of Myanmar in ONE: Quest for Power on January 14 at the Jakarta Convention Center.

This after middleweight contender Marcin Prachnio pulled out after suffering an injury during training. Two bouts have also been added to complete an amazing fight card. Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev is set to take on Georgi Stoyanov, while light heavyweight contenders Igor Subora and Sherif Mohamed do battle inside the ONE Championship cage.

Ticket information for ONE: QUEST FOR POWER is available at onefc.com.

Victor Cui, CEO of ONE Championship said, “While

Ringia, Martin advance to semis

Golf Tour and sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.

Zaragosa hopes to snap out of a slump as he aims to get another crack at the crown along with Alido, Chan and Gamolo, along with Kristoffer Arevalo, Luis Castro, Dan Cruz, JP De Claro, Jed Dy, Weiwei Gao, Nik Gatmaytan, Gab Manotoc, Ryan Monsalve, Don Petil, Paolo Wong, Carlo Villaroman and Jolo Magcalayo.

But the in-form Katsuragawa looms

as the marked player after anchoring Southwoods’ title romp in the recent Fil-Am Championship and leading his team-up with Carl Corpus in last week’s National Doubles Championship.

Other foreign players in the fold are Korean Lee Min Jun, Jang Young Cheol, Jeon Jeong Hyun and Lee Seong Hyeon, Taiwanese Chiu HanWei, Malaysian Chan Tuck Soon, Leo Connolly of Ireland, Takuya Kawamura, also of Japan, Robby Manalo and Masaki Ujiie of Guam,

Marc Newman of United Kingdom and Jaycue Vales of the US. A wide-open race is also seen in the women’s side of the 72-hole championship although focus will be on Yuka Saso and Harmie Constantino, who both posted victories in the local pro circuit last year with the former also winning the individual crown in the third World Junior Girls in Canada and lead the Phl, which included Constantino and Sofia Legaspi, to the team championship.

LYCEUM of the Philippines U bucked the Holiday Season jitters and downed Emilio Aguinaldo, 25-20, 25-23, 25-20, yesterday to seize a share of second with reigning titlist St. Benilde in the 92nd NCAA women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

Cherilyn Jhane Sindayen, the team captain, had a hard time finding her groove but still managed to score 12 points while Christine Mirales, Czarina Pauline Orros and La Rainne Fabay pinched in 12, 12 and 10 hits, respectively, to help propel the Lady Pirates to win No. 5 in six outings.

After the game, LPU coach Emil Lontoc blamed his team’s struggles to lack of familiarity with the court.

“Maybe the players are not that used to playing here because we never practiced in this venue not even once,” said Lontoc in Filipino. “That is why I’m planning to hold team practices here soon.”

LPU is targeting nothing less than a Final Four appearance but it will have to overcome Perpetual Help (Jan. 13), Arellano U (Jan. 18) and San Sebastian (Jan. 25)—all Final Four contenders—to accomplish it.

The Lady Generals skidded to 0-7 (win-loss).

In juniors’ action, LPU turned back EAC, 25-19, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, to stay the only undefeated team with four wins.

The Brigadiers fell to 5-1.

In men’s play, LPU trounced EAC, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, to stay in the Final Four hunt with a 3-3 mark.

The Generals sank to 0-7.

Peso to face another tough year —analysts B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

B1

Luzon faces tight power supply

By Alena Mae S. Flores

L

UZON faces tight power supply next month, as the repair of Malampaya natural gas project and the shutdown of several power plants will deprive the island of 1,850 megawatts of supply, the Energy Department said Wednesday.

The agency said a ‘yellow alert’ might be declared in the Luzon grid for five days representing the critical period of the Malampaya maintenance shutdown starting Jan. 28 until Feb. 17. The Malampaya gas project powers three power plants in

Batangas with a combined capacity of 2,700 MW. Power generation rates are also expected to increase by P1.20 per kilowatt-hour in the March billing, with the use of more expensive fuel and the resulting tight supply.

Energy undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said around 1,850 megawatts would go offline during the Malamaya shutdown, compounded by the repair of other power plants.

“We want to make sure that there will be no brownouts during the period,” Fuentebella said.

“The critical period is from Feb. 13 to Feb. 17. Worst case scenario is yellow alert. But it’s a good thing we are interconnected with Visayas,” Fuentebella said.

Power plants that are expected to go on maintenance shutdown during the period include Calaca 1 (200 MW), Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. (450 MW) and Ilijan 1 (600 MW).

The San Gabriel natural gas plant will be running at a lower capacity of 414 MW, while Ilijan Block B will also run at a lower capacity of 420 MW. The department also considered the possible forced outage of Sual unit 1 coal plant with a capacity of 642 MW. “We have asked REMB [Renewable Energy Management Bureau] to look at renewables that are coming. We have also asked to include the ILP [interruptible load program participants],” Fuentebella said.

Fuentebella said two coal plants from the Visayas―Panay Energy Development Corp. and

Palm Concepcion Power Corp.-could help ease the tight supply.

The department directed the 620MW Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal to run during the shutdown while the 100-MW Avion open cycle natural gas-fired power plant in Batangas was also under commissioning to run on other fuel.

Fuentebella, however, said the Malaya power plant could not run on full load or only at 70 percent.

He said the department would coordinate with other agencies to inform the public of how to manage electricity consumption to lessen the impact of the possible price increase during the shutdown.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing January 4, 2017

8300 7840 7380 6920 6460 6000

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing JANUARY 4, 2017 43.00 45.40 46.60

P49.650

49.00

CLOSE

HIGH P49.650 LOW P49.800 AVERAGE P49.732 VOLUME 529.500M

P425.00-P650.00 LPG/11-kg tank P36.90-P47.90 Unleaded Gasoline P28.25-P30.10 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

BUS DRIVERS PROTEST. Labor undersecretary Joel Maglunsod discusses labor issues with DLTB Labor Union-Alliance of Genuine Labor Organization members during the group’s demonstration in front of the Labor Department’s building in Intramuros, Manila. The group of bus drivers protested DLTB Bus Co.’s failure to give their wages and their 13th month pay.

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG

SSS readies plan to hike members’ contribution

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Wednesday, January 4, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.7880

Japan

Yen

0.008495

0.4229

UK

Pound

1.223600

60.9206

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128924

6.4189

Switzerland

Franc

0.973425

48.4649

Canada

Dollar

0.744491

37.0667

Singapore

Dollar

0.689893

34.3484

Australia

Dollar

0.722200

35.9569

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

132.2004 13.2782

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266695

Brunei

Dollar

0.687521

34.2303

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000074

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.027930

1.3906

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5566

Euro

Euro

1.040400

51.7994

Korea

Won

0.000829

0.0413

China

Yuan

0.143620

7.1506

India

Rupee

0.014649

0.7293

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.222717

11.0886

New Zealand

Dollar

0.691300

34.4184

Taiwan

Dollar

0.030922

1.5395 Source: PDS Bridge

RFM raises P21.8m from treasury shares

FOOD and beverage producer RFM Corp. on Wednesday raised P21.8 million from the sale of 4.363 million treasury shares at P5 apiece.

RFM said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the sale of treasury shares was conducted through a cross-sale transaction which was not covered by any purchase agreement.

“The corporation intends to sell the authorized number of treasury shares as selling opportunity presents itself and up to the time when the total approved amount for sale is exhausted. The corporation often receives queries from quality investors if there are shares that they can buy in substantial blocks. Management can seek board authority for additional treasury shares to be sold if and when warranted,” it said.

RFM, controlled by the Concepcion family, posted a net income P683 million in the first nine months of 2016, up by 9 percent from a year ago.

Nine-month revenues increased 3.8 percent to P8.73 billion from P8.41 billion a year earlier.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Clark’s head bullish on '17 performance

7,030.95 169.64

47.80

IN BRIEF

By Gabrielle H. Binaday Private sector pension fund manager Social Security System said Wednesday it plans to increase members’ contribution rate to 17 percent by 2020 and adjust it based on inflation in the succeeding years.

SSS president and chief executive Emmanuel Dooc said the plan was to increase the contribution rate to 17 percent by 2020 from the current 11 percent of members’ salary. It will then be indexed to inflation.

“Even without increase in pension, part of SSS agenda is to gradually increase the contri-

bution. Hopefully we can go to that direction, indexation,” Dooc said.

Dooc said aside from the indexation of members contribution, the pension of members would also be indexed accordingly.

“Pension benefit will be based on cost of living, salary of workers, so that the replacement income when they retire will not be very low compared to the actual salary when they were still working,” said Dooc who used to head the Insurance Commission.

“That will be in the pipeline.

[With] indexation, we will be amending [the charter],” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte deferred the Senate and House resolution to release the P1,000 increase in SSS pension.

Dooc said SSS proposed remedial measures to offset the possible P32-billion losses coming from the P1,000 pension increase. These include additional contributions, raising the maximum monthly salary credit from 16,000 to 20,000 and increasing the minimum salary credit from P1,000 to P4,000.

He said from the current 11 percent of the total salary of members, it would be increased by 1.5 percentage points annually until it reached 17 percent

by 2020.

“If you combine all these remedial measures, end result is we will have a longer fund life, adequate fund to sustain and support the increase. These are the some conditions that we want to introduce together with the additional pension increase,” Dooc said.

The SSS chief said the fund was willing to give the P1,000 pension increase as long as the remedial conditions would take effect immediately.

Dooc said the pension increase could also be given after the implementation of the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

SEC issues new corporate governance code for listed companies

By Jenniffer B. Austria

ISO AUDIT. Therma Luzon Inc., operator of the 700-megawatt Pagbilao thermal power plant and

Therma South Inc., operator of the 300-MW thermal plant in Davao City, passed a surveillance audit conducted by TÜV Rheinland Philippines Inc., an affiliate of Germany-based technical services provider TÜV Rheinland Group. TLI and TSI obtained their respective ISO 9001 certifications in 2015 after passing the certification audit. Securing the ISO certification and conforming to the annual surveillance audits are part of Aboitiz Power’s commitment to place utmost value in quality processes that enhances a culture of excellence and satisfies customers.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday issued a new corporate governance code for publicly listed companies to strengthen the country’s regulatory framework and corporate governance practices.

The SEC said the new code which it prepared together with International Finance Corp., a member of the World Bank Group, would improve the functioning of boards, strengthen shareholder protection and promote full disclosure in financial and non-financial reporting. The code took effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

It provides guidance for publicly listed companies to adopt best governance practices which would improve competitiveness and ability to attract foreign investments.

The corporate regulator said to increase the responsibilities of the board and ensure the competence and commitment of its directors, the new code adopted a “comply or explain” approach that com-

bined voluntary compliance with mandatory disclosure.

The SEC said companies should state in their annual corporate governance reports whether they complied with the code provisions, identify any area of noncompliance and explain the reasons for non-compliance.

“The new code is intended to raise the corporate governance standards of Philippine publicly listed corporations to a level on par with its regional and global counterparts,” said SEC chairperson Teresita Herbosa.

“The adoption of the ‘comply or explain’ approach is also expected to address the perceived overregulation of the SEC,” she said.

Under the new code, all publicly listed companies are required to submit a new manual on corporate governance to the SEC on or before May 31, 2017.

The SEC and IFC signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2016 to revise the country’s Corporate Governance Code and set best practices for Philippine companies to follow.

CLARK Development Corp. president and chief executive Noel Manankil said Wednesday the agency expects better performance in 2017 on improved business activities inside the Freeport zone.

The Trade Department Region III said in a report that Clark Freeport Zone facilitated about $6.565 billion worth of exports in 2014, representing 67 percent of total exports in Central Luzon. The figure declined to 64 percent in 2015.

Clark also contributed 11 percent of the total Philippine exports of $61.8 billion in 2014 and accounted for 11 percent of the total Philippine export volume of $57.29 billion in 2015.

CDC’s corporate planning department said employment in the Freeport reached 75,538 or 1.8 percent of the total 4.11 million work force in Central Luzon in 2014. That increased to 82,382 workers comprising 2 percent of the total 4.2 million workers in the region in 2015.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Agency also showed that Clark Freeport Zone also contributed to the influx of foreign tourists due to the “increased air traffic at the Clark International Airport.”

Clark hosted 992,145 visitor arrivals in 2014 and more than 1.02 million in 2015. Othel V. Campos

BSP’s 1st auction gets high demand

By Julito G. Rada INVESTORS flocked to the P180-billion auction of term deposits by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in the first week of 2017.

Bangko Sentral said the first weekly auction was oversubscribed, as total bids for the P180-billion volume reached P261.51 billion.

The week-long P30 billion worth of deposits attracted total tenders of P43.99 billion and fetched a weighted average accepted yield of 3.07 percent.

Meanwhile, the month-long P150-billion deposits lured total bids of P217.523 billion and had a weighted average accepted yield of 3.37 percent.

“This is the first oversubscription for the 28-day tenor since Dece. 7 and lower maximum rate of 3.5 percent. This may be due to market normalization after the holidays and the FOMC [Federal Open Market Committee] meeting. We will continue to monitor price action in the auctions to see if there is need to adjust policy levers,” Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a text message.

Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said there appeared to be tight liquidity during the holiday season as banks prepared for higher cash demand from their clients, resulting in their lower placements in the facility.

B2

Business

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market advances; PLDT climbs BDO sets final terms S for P60-b rights offer TOCKS jumped Wednesday, sending the benchmark index above the 7,000-point mark, as investors cheered the positive economic indicators in the US and China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, climbed 169 points, or 2.5 percent, to close at 7,030.95.

It was also up 2.8 percent in the first two trading days of 2017, following last year’s 1.6-percent loss.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also went up 81 points, or 2 percent, to settle at 4,247.78, on a value turnover of P7.6 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 144 to 43, while 41 issues were unchanged.

All six major sectors advanced, while 17 of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by PLDT Inc. which surged 6.8

percent to P1,463 and Security Bank Corp. which climbed 5.9 percent to P202. Metro Pacific Investments Corp. gained 5.7 percent to P6.87.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks rose toward the highest level in three weeks as Chinese factories and services data bolstered confidence in the world’s second-largest economy. Tokyo led the charge as it returned for the first day of trading after an extended new year break.

The gains followed a strong performance in global markets on Tuesday, as investors reacted to bright economic indicators pointing to further growth, particularly in the United States.

The dollar’s gain against the yen also perked up sentiment in Tokyo, as a weaker Japanese currency provided a boost for local exporters.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up more than two percent in morning trade, while the broader Topix index of all first-section issues

added around one percent shortly after opening.

Hong Kong and Shanghai were slightly up following gains the previous day, while Australian and South Korean shares were flat.

Shares traded in London reached a new high Tuesday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average in New York continued to push towards the 20,000 milestone.

The Tokyo bourse finished 2016 at its highest year-end close in two decades, boosted by expectations for big government spending under US President-elect Donald Trump to further power the world’s biggest economy.

But experts also called for caution, as Trump’s politics and policies remain uncertain at best.

“Markets have been rallying quite strongly on this notion of fiscal hope but, as we move into the reality of 2017 and what a Trump presidency will actually look like, there is some risk of fiscal disappointment,” Paul Eitelman, a strategist at Russell Investments, told Bloomberg Radio. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Julito G. Rada BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s largest lender controlled by tycoon Henry Sy, set the final terms for a P60-billion stock rights offering.

BDO said in a statement it would offer up to 716.4 million common shares to stockholders, with each eligible stockholder entitled to subscribe to one common share for every 5.095 common shares held as of record date of Jan. 10 at P83.75 per rights share.

“The offer price is based on the

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.43 61,000 48 25,100 90 1,976,580 114.9 7,485,100 1.44 1,326,000 38.2 104,500 16.2 39,700 18.56 62,900 785 1,170 0.65 26,105,000 74 2,597,540 0.79 196,000 14.22 12,300 55.2 30,810 239 42,930 139.9 650 90 160 34.8 11,800 202 1,133,200 1,660 50 74.9 95,400

206,140 1,203,725 177,607,847.50 857,488,062 1,811,830 3,995,180 643,140 1,163,564 918,450 16,797,590 192,136,253 151,390 174,728 1,699,392 10,263,716 91,712 14,400 413,690 227,344,248 83,010 7,148,876

335,890 -35,117,847 289,271,656 -340,700.00 214,800 -77,663,608 -41,180 267,990 -9,694,676 -130,480 -43,896,284 -2,540,114.50

41.8 4.36 0.84 1.25 19.02 0.19 11.14 16 140.6 22.8 19 58.4 93 1.87 6.33 12.1 11.3 6 7.1 5.08 1.75 21.2 68 13 16.3 6.06 1.58 198 74.75 2.64 3.57 28.65 25.4 14.72 270 5.2 3.17 10 2.17 5.53 1.34 70.15 4.7 229 4.95 2.8 11.48 4.51 0.14 1.46 163.9 4.34 1.58 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 43.05 985,200 4.52 1,302,000 0.86 500,000 1.29 592,000 19.5 2,400 0.19 110,000 11.3 8,531,800 16 3,162,800 140.9 880 22.9 48,700 19.02 24,800 58.4 1,000 93 60 1.95 192,000 6.55 606,200 12.1 21,200 11.74 6,833,600 6.12 301,000 7.17 875,400 5.11 9,975,100 1.78 4,000 21.7 1,230,100 68.05 67,680 13 5,500 16.3 6,000 6.12 361,800 1.69 1,004,000 206 737,800 74.8 200 2.64 4,000 3.76 10,000 29.1 560,700 26.7 361,100 14.98 1,504,300 277 542,540 5.2 3,000 3.2 8,483,000 10.2 7,486,500 2.3 5,427,000 5.7 509,000 1.39 106,000 70.85 736,390 4.82 351,000 230 880 5 8,371,800 2.8 3,000 11.68 3,234,700 4.51 2,000 0.143 1,790,000 1.55 286,000 165 2,091,120 4.52 15,000 1.89 32,127,000 1.08 105,000

42,255,595 5,787,640 429,030 749,960 47,286 20,900 96,631,750 50,920,970 124,913 1,118,430 490,440 58,415 5,580 371,170 3,867,171 257,456 79,871,888 1,844,974 6,261,604 51,182,135 7,090 26,666,480 4,624,239.50 71,500 98,310 2,206,025 1,663,100 151,215,205 14,965.50 10,560 36,330 16,318,460 9,467,970 22,462,910 149,642,014 15,600 27,314,830 75,938,926 12,234,190 2,891,592 145,440 52,148,884.50 1,696,310 201,550 41,866,389 8,400 38,000,558 9,020 256,600 441,710 344,525,308 66,410 56,167,660 111,700

10,237,980 -36,309,140 -14,844,396 -34,500 40,000 32,340 32,316 -133,204 38,124,414 -1,120,987 -2,496,416 -17,624,549 10,635,335 -1,680,444 1,650 -1,150,792 41,745,075 -4,376,365 -2,388,465 -14,673,934 12,013,508 -169,430 -8,976,342.00 6,289,970 -1,797,210 4,110 5,287,363 9,361,955 4,893,814 2,890 -100,317,545 5,989,000 -

0.415 68.6 12.8 1.1 5.99 0.285 735 8.53 13.3 8 0.18 1,302 5.76 69.7 1.13 7.69 12.7 6.5 0.037 1.93 93.05 641 1.26 261.2 0.29 0.194

HOLDING FIRMS 0.425 10,450,000 71.25 1,390,230 13.2 7,388,200 1.17 34,000 6 15,600 0.31 470,000 760 242,320 8.53 469,300 13.48 9,498,700 8.15 154,300 0.204 140,000 1,326 96,630 6.19 12,000 71.3 2,102,260 1.14 5,504,000 7.7 3,731,100 12.86 581,000 6.87 22,256,100 0.038 37,700,000 1.97 1,419,000 96.5 390,440 650 333,050 1.29 1,896,000 264 1,830 0.29 820,000 0.194 1,040,000

4,389,700 98,980,735 96,588,548 38,240 93,530 143,200 182,894,740 4,012,886 127,847,080 1,249,864 26,070 128,071,790 69,705 149,464,991.50 6,387,380 28,767,702 7,469,838 149,766,123 1,420,600 2,759,350 37,467,467 216,910,370 2,451,230 481,920 240,300 201,770

-16,600 16,199,761.50 -28,600,330 53,358,180 2,144,741.00 -54,425,616 -13,040 3,592,970 40,142,700 -17,574,730 -2,101,478 45,891,302 93,500 998,140 418,245 -57,923,455 -155,910 -

734,827 606,790 100,249 1,262,550 12,224,100 250,294,305 15,226,030 5,835,410 107,520 2,080,060 1,186,870 11,815,100 31,620,185 26,810 51,794,850 4,903,780 283,979,570 3,408,580 339,600 29,050 10,822,850 153,159,900 20,310 32,570 866,749,085 4,537,650

159,623 -97,004 -8,950 41,024,070 576,890 -125,400 12,500 1,662,250 -1,920,000 2,449,460 -30,110,870 21,420 -133,705,840 179,260 -300,900 -60,713,285 487,751,880 2,160

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS BDO UNIBANK BRIGHT KINDLE CHINABANK COL FINANCIAL EAST WEST BANK MANULIFE MEDCO HLDG METROBANK NTL REINSURANCE PB BANK PHIL NATL BANK PHIL STOCK EXCH PHILTRUST PSBANK RCBC SECURITY BANK SUN LIFE UNION BANK

3.45 47.95 89 112.1 1.33 38.4 16.2 18.4 785 0.61 72.8 0.77 14.2 55.2 239.2 144.8 90 34.2 192 1,661 75.3

3.45 48 90.4 116.2 1.48 38.4 16.2 18.56 785 0.66 74 0.79 14.22 55.2 244 144.8 90 35.5 202 1,661 75.3

3.35 47.9 88.7 111 1.3 38.2 16.2 18.38 785 0.61 72.7 0.76 14.2 55 238.6 139.9 90 34.2 191.9 1,660 74.1

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

42 4.4 0.85 1.25 20.2 0.19 11.14 16 140.7 23 20.25 58.4 93 1.87 6.34 12.32 11.3 6 7.1 5.08 1.75 21.3 68 13 16.46 6.06 1.58 200 74.9 2.64 3.57 28.65 25.5 14.8 270 5.2 3.17 10.1 2.17 5.66 1.37 70.55 4.73 229 5 2.8 11.48 4.51 0.14 1.49 164 4.35 1.59 1.06

43.05 4.56 0.87 1.29 20.2 0.19 11.48 16.18 150 23.2 20.25 59.9 93 1.95 6.77 12.32 11.86 6.18 7.22 5.17 1.78 21.9 68.45 13 16.5 6.12 1.69 206 74.9 2.64 3.76 29.3 26.7 15 277 5.2 3.25 10.3 2.3 5.7 1.4 71.2 4.94 230 5.06 2.8 11.9 4.51 0.145 1.6 167 4.52 1.89 1.08

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.42 70.5 12.8 1.11 6 0.285 735 8.59 13.3 8.15 0.188 1,302 5.77 69.95 1.13 7.7 12.7 6.51 0.037 1.93 93.1 650 1.27 261.8 0.29 0.194

0.43 71.9 13.3 1.17 6 0.31 760 8.6 13.58 8.15 0.204 1,331 6.19 71.75 1.19 7.79 12.92 6.87 0.039 1.97 97 663 1.32 264 0.295 0.195

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND

7.4 1.05 6.11 2.21 0.45 32.15 3.16 0.55 1.05 1.36 0.156 0.58 39.5 0.69 1.55 1.03 3.56 0.137 0.28 0.415 3.55 26.25 1.51 3.25 28.5 1.1

7.4 1.07 6.49 2.35 0.49 33.3 3.22 0.57 1.05 1.44 0.161 0.61 41.7 0.69 1.63 1.04 3.74 0.142 0.285 0.415 3.84 26.4 1.59 3.27 29.65 1.11

7.31 1.05 6.1 2.21 0.45 32.1 3.15 0.55 1.04 1.34 0.154 0.58 39.4 0.68 1.53 1.01 3.54 0.135 0.275 0.415 3.54 25.5 1.51 3.25 28.5 1.08

VOLUME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

7 0.86 4.95

7 0.89 5.1

7 0.86 4.95

7 0.89 5.01

1,000 273,000 2,574,000

7,000 239,790 12,976,460

20,640 -2,207,060

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A IMPERIAL B INTL CONTAINER IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PAXYS PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.45 44.4 1.36 0.5 0.041 10.7 5.8 6.1 0.064 2.31 90.7 9.9 8.1 955 1,514 6.2 17 2.99 15.5 125 72 12.4 9.05 0.215 1.3 3.25 15.72 4.09 2.3 3.79 4.05 18 2.52 11.26 5.01 3.06 10.18 1,379 1.16 0.47 38.85 74 5.87 2.55 0.97 3.22 0.345

7.65 44.4 1.46 0.54 0.042 10.7 5.8 6.37 0.069 2.57 93 9.9 8.51 955 1,528 6.24 17.2 3.01 15.7 125 73.3 13 9.05 0.228 1.35 3.25 15.82 4.1 2.5 3.94 4.15 18 2.63 11.26 5.15 3.1 10.2 1,463 1.2 0.5 39.5 74.3 6.05 2.69 1.06 3.32 0.36

7.44 43.8 1.34 0.5 0.041 10.6 5.32 6 0.064 2.29 90.7 9.9 8 955 1,501 6.16 16.8 2.72 14.82 125 71.55 12.4 9.05 0.215 1.3 3.25 15.3 3.94 2.3 3.77 4.05 18 2.52 11.26 5.01 3.06 9.39 1,379 1.16 0.465 38.85 73.5 5.8 2.54 0.97 3.22 0.34

SERVICES 7.6 44.1 1.44 0.54 0.041 10.6 5.32 6.37 0.068 2.53 93 9.9 8.51 955 1,522 6.2 16.8 2.73 15.7 125 71.55 13 9.05 0.226 1.31 3.25 15.82 4 2.4 3.89 4.12 18 2.62 11.26 5.15 3.1 9.91 1,463 1.2 0.49 39.3 73.85 6 2.67 1.05 3.3 0.36

29,400 27,000 26,000 420,000 66,700,000 7,200 2,500 7,787,200 24,580,000 17,940,000 125,350 1,000 800,300 10 123,965 445,500 155,700 26,649,000 11,100 150 1,262,550 89,300 450,000 56,930,000 875,000 5,000 24,300 1,191,000 46,000 16,197,000 3,906,000 200 1,928,000 2,500 1,900 36,000 2,238,400 161,570 12,110,000 33,260,000 991,800 4,057,970 3,123,400 857,000 50,749,000 303,000 1,020,000

222,527 1,195,400 36,620 218,100 2,747,100 76,520 13,904 48,739,101 1,640,380 43,442,660 11,604,407 9,900 6,730,375 9,550 188,766,555 2,755,111 2,642,842 75,810,280 169,348 18,750 91,684,021.50 1,150,568 4,072,500 12,631,950 1,149,470 16,250 383,018 4,752,420 111,240 63,004,700 16,046,460 3,600 4,999,810 28,150 9,715 110,850 21,647,542 231,856,790 14,502,010 16,175,750 38,846,500 299,043,920 18,609,519 2,238,520 51,969,890 990,980 352,700

-14,000 16,600 -18,659,536 3,250 -310,280 3,018,645.50 -1,921,000 -68,974,240 -6,440,820 -53,262,676.50 -189,850 -51,810 -1,960,040 13,800 -44,545,730 -7,394,010 -52,400 106,496 -24,413,140 -217,010 -240,850 2,642,695 9,805,331 0 -261,860 -220,370 48,300 -

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING BENGUET A BENGUET B CENTURY PEAK COAL ASIA HLDG DIZON MINES FERRONICKEL GEOGRACE LEPANTO A LEPANTO B MANILA MINING A MANILA MINING B MARCVENTURES NICKEL ASIA NIHAO ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PETROENERGY PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0033 2.63 5.04 2.12 2.22 0.51 0.45 12.08 2.96 0.26 0.204 0.207 0.011 0.012 2.4 8 2.89 1.06 0.012 0.011 4.11 0.012 8.58 3.54 130.7 3.09 0.0084

0.0033 2.74 5.04 2.13 2.22 0.54 0.475 12.08 3.2 0.26 0.208 0.207 0.012 0.012 2.5 8.19 2.9 1.1 0.012 0.011 4.11 0.012 8.7 3.55 134 3.09 0.0088

0.0032 2.62 4.9 2.12 2.22 0.51 0.45 11.2 2.91 0.255 0.199 0.207 0.011 0.012 2.4 7.95 2.75 1.06 0.011 0.011 4.04 0.012 8.51 3.44 129.8 2.9 0.0084

MINING & OIL 0.0032 21,000,000 2.74 76,000 4.96 375,700 2.13 9,000 2.22 5,000 0.54 115,000 0.47 2,970,000 12 57,900 3.17 4,808,000 0.26 460,000 0.203 6,100,000 0.207 550,000 0.012 392,600,000 0.012 5,000,000 2.5 813,000 7.95 3,344,700 2.86 52,000 1.09 397,000 0.012 37,700,000 0.011 6,600,000 4.04 25,000 0.012 13,700,000 8.7 1,910,500 3.46 1,873,000 132.8 834,110 2.9 9,000 0.0088 5,000,000

67,500 201,910 1,869,679 19,120 11,100 59,100 1,383,950 664,594 14,800,790 118,600 1,239,780 113,850 4,514,600 60,000 2,007,330 26,911,086 145,950 429,930 433,600 72,600 101,710 164,400 16,497,715 6,579,210 110,800,269 26,980 42,400

-1,658,690 2,220 9,400 -23,400 538,610 -366,900 -5,391,876 -12,000 5,799,524 -2,513,170 20,320,510.00 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PF PREF 2 SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

44.2 526 103 103.7 115 540 5.92 1,020 1.03 107.1 1,026 77.1 80.9 77 77.5 79.8 77 77.8

44.25 548 103 104.1 115 540 5.92 1,020 1.03 107.5 1,028 77.45 80.9 77 77.5 79.8 77 77.9

44 526 103 103.7 115 540 5.86 1,020 1.03 107.1 1,026 77.1 80.2 77 77.5 79.5 77 77.5

PREFERRED 44 413,100 548 410 103 32,470 104.1 35,830 115 10,000 540 10 5.87 411,500 1,020 100 1.03 238,000 107.5 8,100 1,028 140 77.45 2,770 80.2 20,400 77 32,700 77.5 66,000 79.5 44,740 77 32,000 77.5 95,100

18,187,480 215,880 3,344,410 3,715,580 1,150,000 5,400 2,425,862 102,000 245,140 868,750 143,740 214,267 1,648,965.50 2,517,900 5,115,000 3,565,702 2,464,000 7,391,520

-9,511,485 79,849 0 -2,119,732 59,367.00 2,517,900 2,015,000

LR WARRANT

2.11

2.19

2.1

WARRANTS 2.18 119,000

255,180

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

9.21 4.3 2.86 8.25

9.6 4.7 2.9 9

9.1 4.2 2.86 8.25

9.2 4.4 2.9 8.98

5,274,662 3,790,500 103,650 47,561,418

-46,750 -16,165,026

FIRST METRO ETF

113.4

116

113.4

490,942

-

NAME

MS

PROPERTY 7.35 1.07 6.49 2.32 0.46 33.3 3.16 0.57 1.05 1.42 0.161 0.6 41.4 0.68 1.59 1.02 3.67 0.142 0.285 0.415 3.83 26.3 1.56 3.27 29.6 1.09

99,800 573,000 16,400 547,000 25,930,000 7,582,000 4,791,000 10,336,000 103,000 1,535,000 7,480,000 19,826,000 770,700 39,000 33,128,000 4,798,000 77,251,000 24,310,000 1,210,000 70,000 2,911,000 5,850,300 13,000 10,000 29,498,400 4,141,000

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

42,960,984

INDUSTRIAL

111,765,282

HOLDING FIRMS

108,438,845

PROPERTY

265,770,637

SERVICES

339,351,619

MINING & OIL

508,070,397

GRAND TOTAL

1,383,178,924

SME

572,000 845,000 36,000 5,362,700

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 116 4,270

VALUE 1,694.50 (up) 37.54 1,582,639,774.572 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 10,872.27 (up) 151.11 1,423,113,425.784 HOLDING FIRMS 7,142.21 (up) 131.21 1,271,456,272.87 PROPERTY 3,182.24 (up) 110.62 SERVICES 1,339.75 (up) 38.25 1,733,266,260.70 MINING & OIL 12,122.77 (up) 166.17 1,328,584,659.821 PSEI 7,030.95 (up) 169.64 189,394,521.48 All Shares Index 4,247.78 (up) 81.22 7,585,681,856,527 Gainers:144 Losers: 43; Unchanged: 41; Total: 228

15-day volume-weighted average price of BDO common shares listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange at a discount of 23.4 percent,” it said. The stock rights offer will start at 9 a.m. on Jan. 16 and end at 12 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2017.

BDO appointed Credit Suisse, UBS and BDO Capital as joint global coordinators and bookrunners, with Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and HSBC as joint bookrunners.

BDO Capital will serve as issue manager and domestic underwriter.

“The fresh capital will support the bank’s mediumterm growth objectives amid the country’s favorable macroeconomic prospects and provide a comfortable buffer over higher capital requirements with the forthcoming imposition of the domestic systemically important bank surcharge,” it said.

SM Investments Corp., BDO’s controlling and majority shareholder, expressed full support for the bank’s expansion plans and the proposed rights offer.

SMIC committed to subscribe to its proportionate share and said it was willing to underwrite any shares not taken up by minority shareholders.

PAL eyes more flights to S. Korea

By Darwin G. Amojelar PHILIPPINE Airlines asked the Civil Aeronautics Board for more flight frequencies between the Philippines and South Korea amid strong travel demand between the two countries.

The flag carrier controlled by tycoon Lucio Tan seeks an additional 1,730 weekly seats from January until Feb. 18 and another 1,270 weekly seats from Feb. 19 onwards.

PAL’s request for additional seat entitlements to Korea was in accordance with the existing air services agreement between the governments of the Philippines and Korea.

The Philippine air panel and its counterpart in South Korea expanded their ASA in December 2015, adding 3,000 seat entitlements per week from the existing 28,500 seat entitlements a week.

Data from the Tourism Department showed Korea was the biggest visitor-general market with 1.091 million arrivals in January to September last year.

South Korea was also the top spending market with estimated receipts of P5.06 billion in September alone.

PAL launched a daily flight from Clark to Incheon on Jan. 1, allowing passengers from Central and Northern Luzon to fly to South Korea without passing through Manila.

Travelers from Incheon, upon arriving at Clark, can visit interesting attractions in Central and Northern Luzon, or connect on PAL’s direct flight to Caticlan, gateway to Boracay.

PAL can also take Incheon visitors from Caticlan direct to Cebu, host to a variety of world-class tourist spots and the jump off point to other international PAL destinations such as Los Angeles, Singapore, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and also back to Incheon.

PAL posted a comprehensive income of P2.96 billion in the nine-month period, lower by 54.8 percent than the previous year’s total comprehensive income of P6.55 billion.

Business

B3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Economic success needs good tax plan

DISTRIBUTION DEAL. First Metro Securities Brokerage Corp. signs an agreement with Sun Life Asset Management Company Inc. to

distribute five of the latter’s mutual fund offerings. At the signing ceremony are (from left) FirstMetroSec institutional sales and business development head Mhelvin Abajon, FirstMetroSec president Gonzalo Ordoñez, FirstMetroSec chairman Rabboni Francis Arjonillo, SLAMCI president Valerie Pama, SLAMCI Bank and Alternative Distribution Channel head Gerald Bautista and SLAMCI Mutual Fund specialist Angeline Cruz.

Peso to face another tough year—analysts S OUTHEAST Asia’s worst-performing currency of 2016 is in for another tough year with President Rodrigo Duterte’s spending plans seen boosting imports just as rising US interest rates spur capital outflows.

The peso is forecast to be collateral damage as an economy growing faster than 7 percent and the government’s infrastructure program drive demand for inward shipments. This year will be the first in about a decade when the amount of money Filipinos send home from overseas will be lower than the trade deficit, estimates ING Groep NV. “It’s a challenging situation for the peso for the next couple of years,” said Joey Cuyegkeng, an economist at the Dutch

lender in Manila. “A very strong domestic sector requires imports of both consumer goods and durable equipment as the economy expands and moves into investment-driven growth.”

The peso, which dropped 5.2 percent against the dollar in 2016, will fall a further 4.4 percent to 52 by the end of this year, predicted Cuyegkeng. The uncertain international environment, with Donald Trump poised to take office as US president, and nervousness over

President Duterte’s pivot toward China is likely to push investors to demand a peso premium, he said.

The peso rose to 49.65 Wednesday from 49.775 the other day.

Duterte’s fiery outbursts and unpredictability, together with high valuations, also damped the allure of Philippine shares in the second half of 2016. The benchmark index dropped 16 percent from a peak in mid-July to finish the year down 1.6 percent.

Opinion is divided on the prospects for this year, with Deutsche Asset Management and Nomura Holdings Inc. predicting a rebound, while Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse Group AG see more losses.

The government is forecasting a 10 percent jump in imports in 2017, compared with a 4 percent rise in remittances. Money sent home by Filipinos living abroad accounts for around a tenth of the nation’s economy.

Alan Cayetano, the Manilabased head of foreign-exchange trading at Bank of the Philippine Islands, is penciling in a rate of 51.5 to 52 pesos per dollar by the end of 2017. That’s more bearish than the median estimate of 50.8 of 21 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

The peso will weaken at a slower pace this year than in 2016 as major developments like higher US rates and more local spending are mostly priced-in, said Cayetano. Bloomberg

DA bares program to assist fishermen

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE Bureau of Fisheries and the Philippine Fishports Development Authority have introduced a nationwide program to facilitate the distribution of fish straight from the ports to the remote towns of the country.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the program called “Isda sa Kabukiran,” or Fish in the Rural Areas, would involve the BFAR and the PFDA in a distribution system where the fishing communities and fishermen would be organized and provided with ice-making and cold storage facilities.

From the cold storage facilities, fish would then be brought by fish cars owned by the fishermen’s associations to strategic locations in the interior areas, called the Provincial Fish Distribution Centers.

Piñol said the centers would be equipped with cold storage and ice-making facilities where fish vendors could buy wholesale for resale in the wet markets.

A municipal distribution center may also be set up in other more remote areas, where local vendors could also buy wholesale at a lower price.

Piñol said up to 40 percent of the fish catch in many fishing grounds is lost to spoilage simply because there are no cold storage or ice-making facilities.

While ordinary fish like “tamban” or sardines is sold for as low as P20 to P25 per kilo in many fishing communities, many poor families living in the mountains and interior towns and villages could not buy fish.

ABOITIZ FOUNDATION AWARD. The Aboitiz Foundation is recognized as Top Education Stakeholder and Benefactor by the Department of Education–Division of Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu for its unwavering support and invaluable contribution towards the realization of the division’s educational goals. Aboitiz Foundation project officer Ricardo Llego (left) receives the award during the DepEd Stakeholders’ Summit held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lapu-Lapu City on December 13.

EVAP asks govt to favor e-vehicles in tourist areas

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines urged the government to consider the use of electric vehicles in tourist areas to showcase the country’s e-vehicle industry.

EVAP said in a statement the government should learn from Vietnam in terms of e-vehicle applications in a country with driving terrains and conditions similar to those in the Philippines.

EVAP representatives observed many similarities and contrasts with the Philippines in terms of e-vehicles after a recent visit to Hanoi, Vietnam.

EVAP executive director Bong Cruz, however, said Hanoi was ahead of the Philippines in tourism development.

Cruz noted that Hanoi had more mini tourist buses that can bring travelers around the famous tourism sites.

“The traffic is manageable within the city and is delightfully free in the outskirts going to other areas such as the world heritage site, Halong Bay,” he said.

Cruz said the proliferation of electric

vehicle shuttles within tourist areas, such as around the Old Quarter, the French quarter and the famous Hoan Kiem Lake, was noticeable.

Hanoi’s electric vehicles are actually the big 6-seater golf cart varieties, which are smaller but very similar to the 14-seater electric jeepneys now plying in Makati, Filinvest City Alabang, Muntinlupa and Ateneo.

E-jeepneys in the Philippines are used for public transport.

“This is understandable since the jeepneys are the backbone of the Philippine mass transport system. But in Vietnam, the EVs are used more in the tourism industry to promote green and convenient tourist transport that is quiet and smoke free,” Cruz said.

Cruz said e-jeepneys were more enjoyable for the tourists because of their open windows where travelers can see more of the scenery.

Their engines are also quiet so one can hear the tour guide more clearly and is smoke-free.

EVAP added Vietnam does not have electric tricycles.

ANY trained economist knows that two documents are of utmost importance to the sustained success of an economic development plan. One is the annually produced schedule of government expenditures and income—also known as the General Appropriations Act—and the other is a soundly structured program of taxation.

The GAA indicates how much the government intends to spend during an ensuring 12-month fiscal period and the resources it expects to be able to raise to pay for the expenditures. The tax program indicates the sources of the revenues that it expects to collect from each source.

A responsible government does not program expenditures that it will realistically not be able to pay for with non-borrowed resources; in other words, a responsible government does not, unless required by highly adverse economic conditions, engage in deficit spending. Additional government borrowings are added to the national debt, which, when expressed as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) indicate whether the finances or a country are being soundly managed.

To its credit, the administration of Benigno Aquino III practiced fiscal prudence, progressively bringing down the debt-to-GDP ratio. True, the Aquino administration appears to have been overly prudent, resulting in government underspending, with dire consequences for the maintenance of adequate infrastructure. Indeed, it is partly to the historically low Aquino debt-to-GDP ratio that the succession of Philippine credit rating upgrades is to be ascribed—upgrades that are bound to be reversed if the management of this country’s finances begins to turn bad.

The P1.3 trillion GAA has now gone through the Congressional mill and become law, but the Duterte administration’s ballyhooed tax reform program thus far has made little progress in the tax-writing House of Representatives, which is said to be controlled by a Duterte ‘supermajority.’ The Secretary of Finance expects that the program will clear the Lower House during the first months of 2017. With the supermajority, this may well happen. But there will be the Senate to contend with afterwards.

There are elements of the Duterte tax reform package that I welcome and support. Foremost among the reforms is the proposed move toward a modified—i.e., simpler— income tax system. Excise taxes are not unacceptable if their objects are goods and services that may be considered less desirable, such as sugary products and highend motor vehicles; thus I support the reformist moves with regard to such products. And the list of VAT-exempt goods and services can stand a rigorous review.

The parts of the Duterte tax reform program that I am uncomfortable—nay, worried—about are those that are intended to be compensatory. New measures are being proposed to raise revenues that will compensate for revenues that will be foregone as a result of lowerings of taxability thresholds and reductions of tax rates. The expectations of compensation appear to me to have been made with a fingers-crossed-behind-my-back attitude.

Too much hopefulness, methinks.

Are the taxable individuals and enterprises of this country likely to respond positively to the concessions that the Duterte reform package is offering? I am a hopeful person, but I am a realist first and foremost. Tax concessions, once given, give rise to Treasury losses, and expectedbut-uncollected incremental revenues likewise produce Treasury losses. It will then be a double whammy for the tax authorities.

Is my concern totally without basis? I sure hope so.

But, given the culture of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Filipinos’ historical attitude toward taxation, maybe it isn’t.

In any case, a sound tax reform program is a necessity for the success of the Duterte administration’s success.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandardtoday.com extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

Business

Global markets rally; oil up S tocks in Asia climbed and S&P futures pointed higher after data fueled confidence in the US economy, and as equity traders in Tokyo returned from holidays with the yen in a four-day slump.

Japanese equities were set for the biggest gain in two months with the Topix index climbing more than 2 percent on its first trading day of 2017. Chinese shares climbed for a third day, while Australian, Indian and South Korean shares edged higher and Hong Kong equities declined. The S&P 500 Index posted its biggest climb in four weeks and the dollar extended gains as US manufacturing grew. Oil recouped some of Tuesday’s slump ahead of stock-

pile data.

A global equity rally has extended into the new year as data from the US, China and Europe boosted optimism for growth. Traders look to be shrugging off doom-sayers such as former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, who warned that Presidentelect Donald Trump’s policies might have unintended consequences for the world’s largest economy, and analysts at Eurasia Group who said

that America’s 45th president could contribute to a level of global instability not seen since World War II. “Markets have been rallying quite strongly on this notion of fiscal hope but, as we move into the reality of 2017 and what a Trump presidency will actually look like, there is some risk of fiscal disappointment,” Paul Eitelman, a Seattle-based strategist at Russell Investments Ltd., which oversees about $244 billion, told Bloomberg Radio’s Asia Daybreak program. “Any disappointment at this point could be a source of downside risk for markets from here, so we’re incrementally being a bit more cautious.”

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index

was up 1 percent as of 3.07 p.m.

Tokyo time. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.7 percent and was at the highest in three weeks.

The Hang Seng Index fell 0.1 percent and India’s S&P BSE Sensex added 0.1 percent. New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 1.4 percent, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index was up 0.1 percent. S&P 500 Index futures rose 0.1 percent after the underlying index Tuesday added 0.9 percent to 2,257.83.

The index advanced 9.5 percent in 2016. Japan’s Topix index and Nikkei 225 Stock Average both gained at least 2.4 percent, the best first day of trading since 2013. The Topix lost 1.9 percent in 2016, its first annual loss in five years.

The US Dollar Index was up 0.1 percent, near its highest level since December 2002.

The yen traded at 118.16 per dollar, down 0.3 percent. The offshore yuan strengthened 0.2 percent to 6.9432 per dollar and the onshore yuan rose 0.1 percent to 6.9554. South Korea’s won slid 0.3 percent.

The Aussie gained 0.2 percent to 72.38 U.S. cents, while the kiwi fell 0.1 percent.

Crude oil rose 0.8 percent following its 2.6 percent slide to close at $52.33 a barrel in New York after touching the highest level since July 6, 2015, at more than $55. Futures rose 45 percent last year. Gold was up 0.2 percent after jumping 1 percent in New York Tuesday. Bloomberg

Britain’s envoy to EU quits LONDON―Britain’s ambassador to the European Union resigned on Tuesday, adding uncertainty to the Brexit process less than three months before the UK is due to trigger its departure negotiations.

Ivan Rogers, a highly-regarded diplomat who had been due to end his four-year stint in October, stepped down as London prepares to invoke Article 50, which starts a two-year countdown to Britain leaving the EU. Rogers came under fire last month for saying it could take 10 years for Britain to conclude a trade deal with the EU. The government insisted, though, that he was only reporting back what was being said in European capitals.

“Sir Ivan Rogers has resigned a few months early as UK permanent representative to the European Union,” a British government spokeswoman said.

“Sir Ivan has taken this decision now to enable a successor to be appointed before the UK invokes Article 50 by the end of March. We are grateful for his work and commitment over the last three years.”

London is set to appoint a new ambassador and deputy ambassador shortly.

Rogers headed UKRep, the office which represents Britain in negotiations that take place in the EU. In a resignation email to UKRep staff, he urged colleagues to provide British ministers with their “unvarnished” understanding through Brexit negotiations―“even where this is uncomfortable.”

“I hope you will continue to challenge ill-founded arguments and muddled thinking and that you will never be afraid to speak the truth to those in power,” Rogers said.

He also criticized the British government for its short supply of “serious multilateral negotiating experience” in London and said the structure of the UK’s negotiating team “needs rapid resolution.”

“His resignation is not a surprise for those who work with him,” a European diplomat told AFP. “He was very competent, but not convinced by the Brexit decision and the British government line, leading the UK into an area of dangerous uncertainty.”

In the June 2016 referendum, 52 percent voted for Britain leave the EU. Triggering Article 50 will start a two-year countdown after which Britain will leave all the institutions and the single market unless alternative arrangements have been agreed.

Hilary Benn, who chairs parliament’s Brexit scrutiny committee, told BBC radio the resignation was “not a good thing.” AFP

Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), is seen behind skyscrapers in Tokyo’s Shinjuku area during sunset on January 4, 2017. Tokyo shares surged January 4 on the first trading day of 2017, following gains on Wall Street driven by optimism over the US economy. AFP

Spanish banking system recovers MADRID―Hit by a severe crisis several years ago, Spain’s banking sector has recovered but at a cost as thousands are laid off and it struggles to get rid of toxic assets.

“The system is closer to putting most of the crisis legacies behind it,” analysts at the International Monetary Fund in charge of Spain said in a recent report.

Still, the ghosts of a crisis that saw the European Union bail out the sector have recently been revived as Italy suffers a similar predicament, with the state having to rescue Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the world’s oldest bank.

The EU lent 41 billion ($43 billion) euros to rescue the Spanish banking sector in the spring of 2012, compared to some 50 billion euros in Greece, as an example.

At the time, Spain was waist-deep in a financial crisis caused when a property bubble burst in 2008 after years of euphoria that saw loans granted almost blindly to households incapable of reimbursing them.

Since then, though, the share of problem loans in the balance sheets of Spain’s banks has dropped considerably.

In the second quarter of 2016, it stood at an average of 6 percent, according to the European Banking Authority (EBA) regulatory agency.

This is slightly above the European median of 5.4 percent, but well below that of Italy, Portugal or Greece, which stands at 16.4, 20 and 47 percent respectively.

Spain’s central bank, which is even stricter in its calculations of the share of bad loans, said in November that it stood at an average of 9.2 percent, against a high of 13.6 percent at the end of 2013.

The Moody’s ratings agency predicts this should continue to drop thanks to “favorable macroeconomic conditions” such as expected growth of 3.2 percent in 2016, double the eurozone average.

Banks are also much stricter in granting loans now.

But on a darker note, they are struggling to sell the huge amount of property seized during the crisis from households that could not pay, as buyers remain scarce. AFP

Spain protects endangered, thousand years old olive trees

By Michaela Cancela-Kieffer TRAIGUERA, SPAIN―The sun sets in eastern Spain and dozens of ancient olive trees cast long shadows on the ground.

Once dug up and sold as luxury items for the wealthy, they are increasingly protected as farmers and authorities realize these trees, some of which were planted by the Romans, are an invaluable part of Spain’s heritage.

Near the town of Traiguera, Amador Peset, 37, gets out of his old 4x4 and, in the biting wind, cuts across a field before stopping before a majestic tree.

“You’re probably in front of the biggest olive tree in the world... with a girth of 10.2 meters (33.5 feet),” the farmer says proudly.

Botanists say a circumference of 10 meters indicates a tree is over a thousand years old― which means this specimen was around when the area was still under Muslim rule.

Peset lovingly tends 106 such “monuments,” cleaning their gnarled branches and ridding them of weeds that suck their sap like vampires.

Longevity, resistance Joan Porta, another farmer, says that just a few years back, olive trees were largely ignored in fields also full of almond and other fruit trees, vines or wheat.

In fact, they were often used for firewood in farms.

“Now we realize that they are thousand-year-old trees,” the 75-year-old says, pointing to the jewel in his own field’s crown.

It is aged 1,702 years according to a dating method used by the Polytechnic University of Madrid―which means it was

planted under the Roman emperor Constantine.

Brought to Spain by the Greeks and the Romans, olive trees now cover 2.5 million hectares (6.2 million acres) of land.

Such is the attraction of these long-living trees that they have become a must-have luxury item for some wealthy people.

In the mid 2000s, “people would talk uneasily about how some trees were torn out, how they would see trucks loaded up” with large trunks, says Maria Teresa Adell.

Adell manages an association of 27 towns and cities in the Valencia region―including Traiguera―as well as the neighboring areas of Catalonia and Aragon, which, among other things, works towards protecting their olive tree heritage.

According to the group, hundreds of the ancient trees were ripped out during the 2000s and taken away to be sold for high prices in garden centers or specialized auctions.

Online foreign garden centers still offer “ancient” olive trees for sale, such as Todd’s Botanics in Britain, where one specimen from Valencia is priced at 3,500 pounds ($4,300, 4,100 euros).

“I buy one or two every year,” says owner Mark Macdonald, adding however that he only purchases trees already in ready-toplant clods.

60,000 euros As for those who buy them, they tend to have money―people such as French wine magnate Bernard Magrez, who told AFP he had planted olive trees in the grounds of several of his Bordeaux estates including the prestigious Chateau Pape Clem-

People look at the oldest olive tree in Spain, growing in the municipality of Uldecona, on December 6, 2016. The sun sets in eastern Spain and dozens of ancient olive trees cast long shadows on the ground.

JOSE JORDAN/AFP

ent, aged “between 1,015 and 1,860 years.”

For Cesar-Javier Palacios, spokesman for the Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente environmental foundation, taking them away from their native soil “is like taking a cathedral and putting it somewhere else.”

Not so, argues Roamhy Machoir-Heras, who organized a big ancient olive tree auction in 2011 where Magrez bought his specimens.

Hers were already in clods, and “we saved them,” she said.

Of 44 specimens, some were sold for more than 60,000 euros.

Those that didn’t go to Magrez’s estates went to a “sumptuous collection” in the Middle East, she added.

Ban trade ‘like for ivory’

Palacios, though, has launched a petition “against the plundering of old olive trees” on Change.org that has garnered 154,000 signatures so far.

“We are asking... for regulations banning the traffic, like for ivory,” he said, adding however that the trade in olive trees has started to slow as people realize these are “heritage treasures.”

Concepcion Munoz, an agronomist at the University of Cordoba, has counted 260 different varieties in Spain, of which there sometimes only remains one specimen.

In 2006, the Valencia region banned the practice of tearing out trees with a girth of more than six meters.

Various towns and cities in Valencia, Catalonia and Aragon

have also inventoried nearly 5,000 of the oldest trees with a view to protecting them.

This makes it the region with the “highest concentration of ancient olive trees in the world,” says Adell, even if there are also many in Italy and Greece.

And to persuade farmers, Adell’s grouping of municipalities has also found an economic argument―producing oil from trees that are on the official inventory and are thus protected.

A liter costs around 18 euros in the area, 40 euros in Barcelona and up to 90 euros in China.

Peset, for one, is sold on the idea.

He is negotiating with Chinese buyers interested in ordering a thousand bottles to use in cosmetics. AFP

LGUs

QC Hall ready for more tax payments

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

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UEZON CITY Mayor Herbert Bautista on Wednesday said his administration will continue to remain aggressive in its tax collection efforts to enable the city government to finance its various projects. in his New Year message, the Mayor directed all city hall offices involved in tax assessment and payments to make sure that all procedural guidelines relative to the processing of business applications and renewal, and even tax collection and payments, are being maintained to provide taxpayers greater ease and convenience in settling their tax obligations during the tax payment period this January.

“We should assure a proper flow to the tax payment process,” Bautista said.

City Administrator Aldrin C. Cuña reminded taxpayers to avail of the city government’s electronic payment system when making payments for real property and business taxes.

The system, designed to promote transparency and operational efficiency in local governance, can be availed by taxpayers through mobile money payment using G-cash and an on-line payment system available for Landbank and Bancnet ATM and debit card holders.

Electronic official receipts will also be generated when making payments to the city government through mobile banking and other electronic means.

“Hopefully, we reduce the volume of people coming to city hall,” Cuña said.

Cuña also reminded taxpayers to take advantage of the 20-percent discount given by the city government to early annual real property taxpayers.

The grant of the incentive was designed to encourage taxpayers to pay their real property taxes not only on time but in advance.

Cuña said this year also marks the first time that the city government will be implementing the ordinance which makes it mandatory for all business establishments to install closed circuit television surveillance systems. The installation of security cameras in QC-based business establishments is being required by the city government.

As provided under the Local Government Code, the deadline for tax payments without penalty is Jan. 20.

The QC government also reminded taxpayers that all treasury branches outside of QC hall are also open to accept tax payments in Novaliches, La Loma, Cubao, Talipapa and Galas.

To date, there are nearly 70,000 registered businesses in QC. Rio N. Araja

ZIPPING PAST. A mother and her daughter ride the 320-meter plus 150-meter zip line at the Dahilayan Forest and Adventure Park in Manolo

Fortich, Bukidnon on New Year’s Day. Dahilayan’s zip line is touted as Asia’s longest dual zip line with an 840-meter line at 4,700 feet above sea level, in a mountain resort 1.5 hours from Cagayan de Oro City. Omar Mangorsi

Baguio Ombudsman Morales to get Tandang Sora award okays P1.77-b budget

By Rio N. Araja

By Dexter A. See BAGUIO CITY—The City Council approved the local government’s 2017 budget amounting to P1.776 billion, which is P10 million higher than the earlier proposal of the executive branch.

The additional budget will be sourced from the sale of fertilizers produced by the city’s two Environmental Recycling System machines based at the old Irisan dumpsite.

The extra money will be used for additional assistance to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center amounting to P1.5 million; completion of the rehabilitation of the Malcolm Square facilities amounting to P2.5 million; completion of the barangay hall at Kayang Hilltop worth P1.2 million; and the purchase of two trucks for the City Engineer’s Office amounting to P4.8 million.

The local government will be sourcing the city’s budget from its beginning balance of P230 million, tax revenue amounting to P418.95 million, non-tax revenue of P248.72 million, and external resources amounting to P868.55 million.

Baguio will be spending on personal services amounting to P649.042 million, maintenance and other operating expenditures (P714.47 million), capital outlay (P402.71 million), non-office expenditures (P118.72 million), disaster risk reduction and management fund (P76.81 million) and local development fund (P198.81 million).

OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales is this year’s recipient of the Tandang Sora award.

Mayor Herbert Bautista said Morales was chosen as the city’s most outstanding woman who embodies the virtues and ideals of Melchora Aquino, the Grand Woman of the Revolution.

He said the conferment of the

award will highlight the commemoration of the 205th birth anniversary of Tandang Sora in ceremonies at the Tandang Sora National Shrine at Banlat Road in Barangay Tandang Sora in Quezon City on Jan. 6.

Past recipients of the award included former Quezon City mayor Adelina Rodriguez, Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, journalist Tina

Monzon-Palma, and educator and former senator Helena Benitez.

The city government and National Historical Commission of the Philippines have coordinated efforts in the preparation for this year’s commemorative rites. Bautista will lead city government officials during the ceremony.

Descendants of Tandang Sora

are invited to join the celebration, together with other city, schools, police and barangay officials.

Born on Jan. 6, an Epiphany Day, in 1812, Melchora Aquino was named after one of the three wise men.

Despite her old age, Melchora Aquino, better known as Tandang Sora, risked her life by opening her doors to Kati-

puneros during the revolution against Spain, and provided them with food, clothings and shelter.

She was arrested and exiled to Guam by the Spanish colonial authorities.

Based on historical accounts, Tandang Sora returned to the Philippines on Feb. 26, 1903 at the age of 91. She died on March 2, 1919 at 107.

Calabarzon cops report fewer New Year injuries

Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi stands with small business owners who received incentives for being among the first taxpayers of their Business Permit Renewal Licenses.

Munti urges taxpayers to pay dues on time THE Muntinlupa city government urges business owners to participate in the 2017 Business Permit Renewal running from Jan. 3 to 20 at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Tunasan.

Business Permits and Licensing Office chief Gary Llamas encouraged all owners of commercial establishments in the city to pay their dues on time to avoid penalties.

Llamas said that a One-Stop Shop arrangement has been prepared in the venue for the convenience of taxpayers.

Requirements needed from Barangay Halls and Fire Department can be acquired in the location of the Renewal as representatives of said agencies will be rendering service simultaneously.

Taxpayers can also pay using BancNet, ExpressNet, Megalink and Visa Debit cards

in the Renewal. BDO ATMs and Lanbank mobile ATMs are installed across the venue for the convenience of taxpayers Llamas said that Closed Circuit Television System is in place for security and transparency purposes. He added that business owners registering in the renewal can also access the internet through free Go-WiFi powered by Globe Telecom.

Free shuttle service is also provided for clients going to the venue. Pick-up points are located at Muntinlupa City Hall Quadrangle in Putatan and Muntinlupa City Public Market in Alabang.

The list of requirements is posted in Muntinlupa BPLO Facebook page at fb.com/ bplo.muntinlupa. For inquiries, call the department’s hotline at 851-BPLO (2756).

To give incentives to early registrants,

the top five “early birds” receive bundle of grocery items and certificates of recognition from the city government.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi lauded the early registrants in this year’s registration and renewal of business establishments’ permits and expressed his gratitude for their promptness in registering.

The local exec hopes that the early taxpayers will serve as role models to other business owners in Muntinlupa to also be punctual in paying their dues.

The 2017 top five early taxpayers are the following: Cesar Lastrilla (Mercy Salon, Tunasan), Pinky Begona (MPLG Begona Trading, Poblacion), Cherrie Flores (Mini-mini Store, Bayanan), Nora Rongavilla (Kobe-Vince Julian’s Catering, Buli), and Josefina Montenegro (Baby’s Dry Goods, Poblacion).

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna— The Calabarzon Police Regional Office recorded a decrease in fire cracker incidents, stray bullets and indiscriminate firing on the celebration of New Year’s Eve 2016 compared to the previous year.

Records show that from Dec. 16 until Jan. 2, only one incident of stray bullet and indiscriminate firing happened, compared to the same period last year where 17 incidents were recorded.

Similarly, fireworks and firecracker incidents also decreased from 519 incidents and 523 injuries to 28 incidents and 35 injuries.

Chief Supt. Valfrie Tabian, Calabarzon Regional Director, said the decrease was associated with the intensified campaign of the PNP, DoH, BFP and other authorities to educate the public of the effects of firecrackers and indiscriminate firing.

Tabian said the increase in police visibility also contributed a huge part in the deterrence of fire crackers related incidents during the said celebration.

“We in the PRO Calabarzon gained our historical record as shown in the decrease of incidents compared to last year. This only means that our ‘policing’ is effective. We hope that this will continue not only during this season, but all throughout the year,” he added.

Roy Tomandao

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

LGUs

Baguio tallies 2,360 drug persons B

By Dexter A. See

AGUIO CITY—Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan remains alarmed over the increasing number of drug surrenderers coming from the city’s 128 barangays.

Domogan cited the need for a more aggressive campaign to rid Baguio of illegal drugs “that tend to compromise the bright future of today’s youth.”

From July 1 to Dec. 31, 2016, the city recorded 2,360 drug surrenderers, with 1,971 of

them users and 389 of them pushers involved in the lucrative drug trade.

Further, Domogan noted 197 individuals involved in illegal drugs were arrested during the government’s all-out campaign against the proliferation of pro-

hibited drugs in the city. The mayor said 175 were drug pushers and 22 were users.

“We have still a long way to go in the anti-illegal drug campaign, but we are confident that we can rid our city of illegal drugs if there is sustained teamwork and unity among our officials and the people we serve,” Domogan stressed.

He said the local government has made available the services of the City Social Welfare and Development Office to help reform the drug surrenderers to allow them to be able to be brought

back to mainstream society and become productive citizens of the barangays where they belong.

The mayor said law enforcers, barangay officials and volunteers need to sustain the government’s anti-drug campaign because it has significantly contributed in reducing the occurrence of crimes in Baguio over the past several months.

He expressed surprise over the number of individuals in the city who are involved in the illegal drug trade. Saying that the government cannot solve the problem alone, the people in the barangays

need to get involved and help the police neutralize the activities of individuals involved in the sale and disposal of illegal drugs.

Based on the number of drug surrenderers over the past six months, Domogan agreed with the contention of some sectors that all the city’s 128 barangays were drug affected because of either drug surrenderers or drug personalities who were arrested in separate drug operations citywide.

The mayor said concerned sectors in the city need to work double time to arrest those who continue to sell and dispose illegal drugs

and defy lawful orders for them to start reforming their means of livelihood to prevent them from being arrested and jailed for their involvement in illegal drugs.

“Everyone wants to live in a drug-free community that is why everyone must be involved in the neutralization of those drug personalities who continue to peddle prohibited drugs amid the strong pronouncement of the present administration that the days of the drug personalities are numbered and that the room that they currently operate is becoming narrower,” he said.

Angeles’ mayor is new RDC chairman SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga —Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan has been appointed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the new chairman of the Regional Development Council in Central Luzon.

Pamintuan replaces Bulacan Gov. Willy Alvarado, and faces issues of congestion, unemployment, investments and other challenges as he tries to steer the region to new heights.

The Region 3 development council is composed of national government regional offices in Central Luzon. The National Economic and Development Authority, as secretariat of the council, submitted the names of Alvarado and Pamintuan for the chairmanship of the regional body to the President.

Duterte appointed Pamintuan, who is also the president of the City Mayor’s League of the Phillippines, and made it official last Dec. 12, said Ceb Santos, Neda regional director.

Pamintuan, who is out of the country as an adviser to the Philippines panel in the ongoing peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front in Oslo, Norway, will serve for three years.

The RDC is the highest planning and policymaking body in the region, seeks to invite investors both foreign and local to support and complement the existing projects in Central Luzon like the Green City inside Clark.

It is also tasked to develop and boost the of growth of Corregidor, Subic, Clark and this city, Santos said. Romeo Dizon

TZU CHI AID. Volunteers of the Tzu Chi Foundation helped over 500 families who welcomed the New Year without homes after a fire razed their community in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Dec. 27. The volunteers hastened the cleanup by bringing shovels and performed other services for the residents.

City council sides with Baguio traffic cop BAGUIO CITY—The City Council is on the verge of passing a resolution condemning the “unceremonious” transfer of a longtime traffic policeman here to neighboring Apayao province.

The council also wants to declare Sr. Supt. Gregorio Lim, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, as “persona non grata” in Baguio City for his alleged abuse of power.

This is because Lim is reassigning SPO3 Alberto C. Tadeo, a veteran of the Baguio City Police Office Traffic Management Branch to Apayao, a move the Council opposes.

The resolution initially authored by Councilor Edgar M. Avila, but to be authored by all members of the local legislative body once enacted, said the act of Senior Superintendent Lim ordering the outright transfer

of Tadeo to Apayao “simply because he reminded his security escort and driver of violating the city’s number coding scheme” is considered “grave abuse of power and authority and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.”

It can be recalled that in the morning of Dec.19, 2016 at the city public market along Magsaysay Avenue, Tadeo apprehended a private motor vehicle

for violating the city’s number coding scheme.

The driver and passengers of the vehicle identified themselves as fellow members of the Philippine National Police assigned to Lim. Tadeo reportedly gave them a warning and reminded them of their violation, but did not issue them a traffic citation ticket and proceeded to perform his routine activities as a traffic enforcer. Dexter A. See

AMBULANCE FOR CAGAYAN.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander F. Balutan (left) presents to Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba one of the 13 ambulances donated to the province during the blessing and turnover of the ambulance at the Provincial Capitol on Dec. 27, 2016. With them is San Gabriel Parish Priest Danny Ulep.

Cagayan was one of the provinces devastated

by Typhoon ‘Lawin’ last Oct. 19.

IN BRIEF Tomazar promoted from Calabarzon CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna —Director Vicente Tomazar of the Office of Civil Defense IV-A has recently been promoted to director III by Local Government Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director and Civil Defense administrator.

With the promotion, Tomazar has been assigned to the OCD Central Office as the chief of Operations Service and leaves the Calabarzon region after serving the OCD here for 10 years.

Tomazar’s new position entails national coordination of operational and response assets in the performance of OCD’s mandate.

Dir. Olivia Luces, former regional director of OCD VII, will be the new regional director for OCD IV-A and also replaces Tomazar as chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council IV-A. Roy Tomandao

KMU calls DoLE Order 168 ‘junk’

Yolanda survivors’ group hits rehab budget cuts

By Mel Caspe TACLOBAN CITY—Given an “undeniable trend” in natural calamities, disaster mitigation and post-disaster response, both short-term and strategic longterm rehabilitation, should be prioritized and should therefore take up a considerable portion of the national budget, a group of Typhoon Yolanda survivors said here Tuesday.

“Post-disaster reports should serve as a reminder to our government that the new normal will require allocating bigger— not smaller—budgets for disas-

ter response,” said Danny Carranza, Advocacy Lead Person of the Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners.

Carranza said the government has yet to clarify why it cut by more than half the 2017 budget for the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council and how the Yolanda reconstruction completion will be funded.

“The public, particularly the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda” and other recent calamities, need to be assured that there will be adequate fund for emergency response in future typhoons and

other possible disasters,” CYSP said in a statement.

The New Year welcomed typhoon victims “with unfortunate news,” the group said, as President Rodrigo Duterte signed the 2017 national budget with only P15.7 billion allocated for the NDRRMC Fund—a P23-billion decrease from the calamity funds of the previous administration.

Considering that typhoonrelated disasters “have been the new normal in recent years, humanitarian organizations express strong concern at this reduced appropriation for disaster

response,” CYSP added.

The group cited a report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, which said the Philippines ranked fourth among countries stricken with the most number of disasters. In 2016 alone, 26 storms and 12 typhoons wreaked havoc on the country.

The most recent one, Typhoon “Nina” (international name NockTen), made landfall on Christmas Day and caused a total of P5.1 billion damage to infrastructure and agriculture, according to the latest report by the NDRRMC. A total of 424,223 families or 1,893,404 persons were affected

in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas, leaving three persons dead and 21 others missing in Calabarzon, CYSP noted.

Moreover, state weather forecaster Pagasa has reported that the number of destructive tropical cyclones had increased in recent years, the group added.

In 2015, the Philippines endured 15 disasters. In 2014, major typhoons that caused the most damage were Typhoons Glenda, Mario, and Ruby. In 2013, 14 destructive tropical cyclones entered the country, the most devastating of which was Super Typhoon Yolanda.

THE National Labor CenterKilusang Mayo Uno called for the junking of the Department of Labor and Employment’s Department Order 168, which sets new guidelines on labor contractualization.

The group claimed it will not end contractualization “but would only serve to legitimize the rampant contractual employment schemes in the country.”

“This is a betrayal of Filipino workers’ demand to end all forms of contractualization, which President Duterte promised to heed,” said Jerome Adonis, KMU secretary general.

The labor leader rejected the new DO’s policy of regularization through service providers, calling it “a cheaptrick to make capitalists’ violations of workers’ rights acceptable.” Benjamin Chavez

World

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

Obama will defend health care reforms W

ASHINGTON―US President Barack Obama will make a short but politically charged trip from the White House to Capitol Hill Wednesday, calling allied lawmakers to arms in defense of his signature health care reforms.

Obama’s eight-year drive to extend medical coverage to tens of millions of Americans will come under sustained assault when President-elect Donald Trump takes office January 20 with Republican majorities in both house of Congress.

In a preemptive strike, the outgoing president will meet Senate and House Democrats, “principally [to] discuss how to counter the stated Republican objective of repealing the Affordable Care Act,” said White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

Obama’s rare legislative pilgrimage coincides with a dueling visit to the Congress by Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

“We’re focused on repealing and replacing Obamacare,” Pence said

Tuesday. “We look forward to legislation that will give us the tools to roll back the avalanche of red tape and regulation that have been stifling American jobs.”

After a crushing election loss, the Democrats may have limited options for stalling reforms without significant Republican defections.

They also face criticism that Obama’s reforms have led to rising insurance premiums and a string of technical problems.

But while Republican opposition to Obamacare is clear, their prescription to fix it is not.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has proposed a tax credit system as a possible replacement, but the costs to government and individuals remains vague.

Indian police probe New Year sex attacks

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Some Republicans have suggested repealing Obamacare now and replacing it at later, perhaps after the next election.

But the White House is betting that Americans voters will react with fury if Trump moves to strip millions of coverage with no viable alternative.

They are hoping that public outcry could force Trump to confront some of the more ideologically driven reforms proposed by his own party.

The president-elect is seen as highly sensitive about his public standing.

He has been quick to tweet defensively about perceived slights or reminders that despite his electoral college victory in the November elections, his rival Hillary Clinton still won the popular vote by almost three million ballots. AFP

Manila

Standard

TODAY

BANGALORE―There is “credible” evidence that gangs of men sexually assaulted women at a New Year’s Eve celebration in Bangalore, Indian police said Wednesday, adding they have filed a criminal case over the incident.

Praveen Sood, the police commissioner of Bangalore city, said an inquiry had been set up into allegations women attending the Saturday night celebrations were chased, groped, molested and robbed.

The announcement followed a public outcry over comments by a local minister blaming the attacks in the southern city -- an IT hub considered relatively safe for women -- on “western dress”.

“We did not waste any time,” Sood told reporters, saying police had registered a criminal case without waiting for a complainant.

“The police teams are working, we are sure we will catch the culprits.”

Additional police commissioner Hemant Nimbalkar told AFP the case had been filed against unnamed persons for sexual harassment, illegal confinement and forcefully

attempting to disrobe.

Police officers have been sifting through footage from at least 45 CCTV cameras installed in the city center where hundreds of revelers had gathered to celebrate the new year.

India has been shamed in the past by shocking levels of sexual assault against women, notably in December 2012 when a student was gang-raped on a bus in New Delhi and later died of her injuries.

Indians took to social media to condemn the latest incident, dubbed “night of horror”. “#bangaloremolestation only shows how casual it is to molest women” tweeted Falguni VasavadaOza. “How easy it is to grope! How vulnerable is safety! How deep is (d) hierarchy.”

Video footage circulated on social media showed women screaming for help.

The attacks in Bangalore have drawn comparison with last year’s mass sexual assaults at New Year’s celebrations in the German city of Cologne, where police were also accused of losing control. AFP

IN BRIEF Gunman in nightclub attack known ISTANBUL―Turkish authorities have identified the gunman responsible for the attack on an elite nightclub that killed 39 people celebrating New Year, the foreign minister said Wednesday.

“The identity of the person responsible for the Istanbul attack has been established,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told Anadolu news agency during a televised interview.

He did not name the attacker or give any further details.

The assailant stormed the popular Reina nightclub on the Bosphorus and sprayed 120 bullets at terrified party goers celebrating the start of 2017 on Sunday.

Of the 39 dead, 27 were foreigners including citizens from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Tunisia and Morocco.

The Islamic State group claimed the massacre on Monday, the first time it has produced such a claim for a mass attack in Turkey.

Since escaping from the club, the gunman has been on the run although authorities previously said they were seeking a suspected jihadist from Central Asia, reportedly from Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan.

According to Turkish media the attacker rented a flat in the central city of Konya before moving to Istanbul to carry out the attack. AFP

70 spies doing time in jails in Iran TEHRAN―The chief prosecutor of Tehran has revealed that there are as many as 70 spies serving sentences in the Iranian capital’s prisons, far more than what had been estimated.

The 70 convicts had “offered intelligence to enemies in various fields including atomic, military, political, social and cultural,” Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi said, quoted by the Mizan Online news website.

Dolatabadi did not name the countries alleged to have recruited the spies.

Only a handful of cases of people charged with espionage had been made public in the Islamic republic prior to his comments, which were published late Tuesday.

Among them are two IranianAmerican dual nationals.

In October, business consultant Siamak Namazi and his 80-year-old father Baquer were given 10 years in prison for “espionage and collaboration with the American government”.

The father, a former employee of the UN children’s fund UNICEF, was arrested when he returned to Iran to seek Siamak’s release, a few months after his arrest.

The United States has demanded the release of the Namazis and has also expressed concerns about reports of the “declining health” of Baquer Namazi.

HEAVY WEATHER. The area around Hamburg’s fish market and the harbour is flooded on January 04, 2017 as northern Germany is under heavy weather and storm conditions. AFP

Death or life in prison for Roof CHARLESTON―Jurors begin considering Wednesday whether to sentence selfdescribed white supremacist Dylann Roof to death or life in prison for the racially motivated slaying of nine African Americans in a South Carolina church.

The 22-year-old was convicted last month of the June 17, 2015 killings at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic black church in downtown Charleston known as “Mother Emanuel.”

Parishioners attending a Bible study group had just begun their closing prayer when Roof opened fire, unleashing a horrific bloodbath that shocked the nation.

The victims, who had welcomed Roof into the church, ranged in age from 26 to 87.

During the trial, Roof made no attempt to explain his crimes and exhibited no signs of remorse as survivors recounted the rampage in heart-rending detail.

In accordance with federal rules, Roof will appear for sentencing before the same jury that found him guilty of all 33 federal hate crime charges, after just two hours of deliberation.

The twelve carefully selected jurors will decide whether the blond-haired Roof will be imprisoned for life or put to death.

He has elected to represent himself in the proceedings, rebuffing advice from his lawyers and the presiding judge.

The prosecutor intends to bring more than 30 witnesses, including survivors of the carnage and those close to the deceased victims, to the stand.

He will call for the death penalty on behalf of the federal government, based on a law punishing racially motivated crimes.

Capital punishment rarely is meted out in federal cases, in part because violent crimes more typically are tried under state laws.

The last person to be condemned to federal death row was Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for his role in orchestrating twin bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013.

Federal authorities have executed only three criminals since 1976.

With his life hanging in the balance, Roof could finally play the humility card, expressing remorse or compassion for his victims -- or he could use the court as a platform for racist ideology.

A video of Roof’s chilling confession to the killings was shown during the trial’s first phase.

“Somebody had to do something because black people are killing white peo-

ple every day,” Roof said without emotion to the FBI special agent questioning him. “They rape 100 white people a day.”

Judge Richard Gergel found Roof competent to defend himself in the sentencing phase of the trial, but imposed restrictions on his movements: he will not be allowed to approach the jury, the witness stand or judges.

Roof has told the judge he does not plan to introduce any evidence or witnesses on his own behalf, including any evidence regarding his mental health.

His main defense attorney, renowned death penalty expert David Bruck, had hinted at mental illness in his closing argument, calling on jurors to “look below the surface.”

However, he called no witnesses or significantly challenged any of the government’s witnesses.

Without Bruck at his side, Roof is at high risk of paying for his crimes with his life.

He could escape the death penalty if just one member of the jury -- ten women and two men -- opposes it.

They are expected to reach a verdict within 10 days.

Roof is also facing state murder charges in South Carolina, in a trial slated to begin January 17. State prosecutors there also are seeking the death penalty. AFP

MARRIAGE NOTICE This is to inform that MR. NITHIN CHANDRAN PAYINGU holder of Indian passport no. H9687314 issued at Kozhikode,intend to marry MS. SIENA C. DELACRUZ holder of Philippine passport no. EB 5768928 issued at Manila on June 27, 2012 at Abu Dhabi under the foreign marriage ACT, objection if any maybe conveyed to the embassy of India, Abu Dhabi within 30 days from the date of this advertisement.

RESERVEYOURADSPACENOW!

email us at advertise@thestandard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

(MS-JAN. 5, 2017)

Republic of the Philippines CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE INVITATION TO BID Lot No.

Project No.

Name of Project

ABC

Cost of Proposal Booklet

1

201701

REGULAR HAULING OF RESIDUAL WASTE (Total of 20,000 cu.m. in 6 months) From Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

P9,000,000.00

P15,000.00

2

201702

REMOVAL OF EXISTING SOLID WASTE OF ABANDONED DUMPSITE, SAN ANTONIO, CAVITE CITY USING HEAVY EQUIPMENT Source of Fund : EMB R-IV - P6,708,539.55 LGU Counterpart - P10,621,420.75

1.

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE, through the, CENTRO ANNUAL BUDGET CY2017, & EMB R-IV Assistance Fund, intends to apply the sum as indicated above being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above-mentioned project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE now invites bids for the above LOT Number.

Delivery of Works required is 180 CALENDAR DAYS. Bidders should have completed similar contract to the project, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through an open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified In the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount indicated below.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The LGU-ClTY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on January 12, 2017 at the JULIAN C. MEDINA, JR. MEMORIAL HALL, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY BY WACH LOT AND PROPERLY MARKED IN THE OUTER ENVELOPE.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before JANUARY 24, 2017 - 10:00 PM, at the BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

Bids will be opened In the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

10. For further information, please refer to: RAEJEAN E. VASQUEZ Head, BAC Secretariat City Hall Building Samonte Park San Roque, Cavite City Telefax 046-431-1655

(SGD) ARCH. ALLISON B. SANTIAGO City Administrator BAC Chairperson ( M S - J A N . 5 , 2 017 )

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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Fisher, Reynolds in joint funeral

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

LOS ANGELES―Screen icon Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, “Star Wars” legend Carrie Fisher, are to be buried side by side among numerous stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, US media reported Tuesday.

ABC News said a private memorial service limited to family and close friends would take place on Thursday.

Reynolds’s son Todd Fisher told ABC’s “20/20” on Friday he was planning a joint service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills with the help of Billie Lourd, his niece and Carrie Fisher’s daughter.

The Hollywood Reporter quoted a family source as confirming there would also be an event at the Beverly Hills compound where Reynolds and Fisher were neighbors.

“I’m not sure what they’re calling it -- a funeral or a wake -- but it will be Thursday at the house,” the source said.

“It will be exactly what they both wanted, to be together.”

The family is understood to be discussing a public memorial, although no plans have been announced.

Other celebrities laid to rest at Forest Lawn include Bette Davis, Reynolds’s onscreen mother in “A Catered Affair” (1956), and Reynolds’s close friend Liberace.

Silent film star Buster Keaton, Oscar-winning Rod Steiger and David Carradine, the star of “Kung Fu” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” films, are also buried there. AFP

PERFORMANCE. Actress/Singers Mel B, left, and Amra-Faye Wright perform in Broadway’s ‘Chicago’ at the Ambassador Theater on January 3, 2017 in New York City. .AFP

California to protect foreigners

L

OS ANGELES―California, home to many foreigners without residence papers, is girding to fight any attempt by President-elect Donald Trump to expel them.

Trump, who takes office January 20, has vowed to deport from the country as many as three million immigrants with criminal records and build a wall along the border with Mexico.

But several so-called sanctu-

ary cities in California -- ones that intentionally avoid prosecuting undocumented foreigners for violations of federal immigration policy -- are beginning to dig in.

The state is home to 2.8 million of undocumented immigrants.

“We have all heard the insults.

We have all heard the lies. And we have all heard the threats,” said Anthony Rendon, speaker of the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat of Mexican origin. “If you want to get to them, you have to go through us.”

During the presidential campaign, Trump vowed to cut off federal funds for sanctuary cities, of which there are an estimated 300 in the United States.

But city authorities seem to have no intention of supporting any anti-

immigrant initiative by the incoming government.

Advocates say protecting undocumented immigrants from deportation and other punishments encourages them to report crimes, enroll in school and seek health care.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said after Trump won in November that “being a sanctuary city is in our DNA. San Francisco will never be anything other than a sanctuary city.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti wants to open a $10 million fund

to provide free legal assistance to undocumented foreigners, most of whom are Hispanic.

Xavier Becerra, liberal Governor Jerry Brown’s nominee for state attorney general, is the son of Mexican immigrants and the first Latino to hold that post.

“If you want to take on a forward-leaning state that is prepared to defend its rights and interests, then come at us,” said Becerra, whom the press bills as Brown’s attack dog.

Brown has also vowed to oppose

any attempt by Trump to change California policy on climate change, labor law and immigration.

The state assembly, controlled

by Democrats, has approved a resolution urging Trump and the Republican-led US Congress to develop reasonable immigration policy and refrain from mass deportations.

Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck has said that his officers would not take part in any federal operation to deport undocumented foreigners. AFP

S. Korea to use missile system SEOUL―South Korea is committed to deploying an advanced US missile defense system this year despite opposition from China, a minister said Wednesday, even as opposition lawmakers headed to Beijing with a different message.

Seoul and Washington agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the South after a string of North Korean nuclear and missile tests -prompting strong objections from China.

“THAAD deployment is part of our efforts to bolster defense against threats from North Korea,” Defence Minister Han Min-Koo said in a report to the country’s acting president.

“This is not a subject for political considerations,” he told Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn, who took over the executive powers of scandal-hit President Park GeunHye after she was impeached last month.

But the opposition Democratic Party has said they will review the deployment if they win upcoming presidential elections, and a group of their lawmakers flew to Beijing to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other top officials.

“They are going to convey our belief to China that the THAAD issue should be left in the hands of the next president,” the party’s parliamentary floor leader Woo Sang-Ho said.

Originally set for December 2017, the country’s presidential election may be brought forward if Park’s impeachment is upheld by the Constitutional Court, which has up to six months to decide. AFP

FIRST MEETING. French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, third from left, and members of the French government arrive at the Elysee Palace for the first cabinet meting of the year in Paris. AFP

Malaysia floods force 23,000 to leave their homes KUALA LUMPUR―Floods in two northeast Malaysian states have now forced almost 23,000 people from their homes and extra relief centers have been opened, rescue officials said Wednesday.

Seasonal flooding hits Malaysia’s east coast states every year and regularly results in mass evacuations.

The latest round has forced authorities to evacuate 10,038 residents from Kelantan and 12,910 people from neighboring Terengganu, officials said.

Heavy rain in the past five days has also caused 101 schools to be closed. Many roads are impassable and train services to

some destinations in Kelantan have been suspended.

But no deaths have so far been reported in the two states.

Che Adam Abdul Rahman, civil department force chief in Terengganu, told AFP the number of evacuees rose sharply to 12,910 from 4,352 the previous day.

They are being housed in 139 relief centers that provide food, drinks and medical aid, he said.

“It is still raining heavily. Some 30 village roads are closed and water levels at some places are about one metre deep and we are using boats to evacuate villagers,”

he said.

In Kelantan, which suffered massive floods and major destruction of homes and infrastructure in December 2014, 10,038 people have been displaced by flooding.

The figure rose from 4,906 Tuesday, said Zainuddin Hussin, the chief of the state’s civil department force.

Zainuddin said 74 relief centers are operating in Kelantan but rainfall was scattered and many rivers were no longer overflowing their banks.

Malaysia’s worst flooding in decades in 2014 forced some 118,000 people to flee.

Prime Minister Najib Razak came under fire after photos showed him golfing with US President Barack Obama during the emergency.

With a snap general election expected this year, Najib will visit Terengganu and Kelantan on Saturday to oversee the evacuations, his aide said.

Votes from the two states will be crucial for the ruling United Malays National Organization.

Floods have also struck 10 villages in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island due to heavy rain, the official Bernama news agency reported. AFP

Life

W

ITH the aim of raising awareness on the disease and supporting patients and their families, Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA) Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar launched Hope For Lupus Foundation on Dec. 4 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

D1

Hope for Lupus patients

Lupus is an autoimmune disease wherein the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues. Advocating for the importance of the early detection and treatment of the disease, AglipayVillar tells that this is a cause close to her heart because she was diagnosed with Lupus in 2007.

“My personal experience is a testament to how early detection could have been prevented major organ damage of kidneys and blood vessels,” said Aglipay-Villar.

She emphasized that awareness of Lupus and its symptoms will allow patients to seek proper treatment at earlier stages, avert major damages and save more lives.

She also explains that there’s a lot of misconceptions and myths about Lupus because of the lack of information resulting to deaths of Lupus patients who were unable to seek proper diagnosis and treatment.

The Hope for Lupus Foundation seeks to raise awareness about the disease by providing national awareness through education, community outreach programs and funding for Lupus research in the Philippines.

“The lack of awareness on Lupus has already cost so many lives. With Hope For Lupus, no more lives would be lost due to lack of information and awareness about the disease,” says Democratic Independent Workers Association Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar emphasizes the importance of Lupus awareness to help patients seek proper treatments at an early stage Aglipay-Villar.

The foundation’s launch featured an exhibit entitled Lupus Warriors and the musical play Mabining Mandirigma by Nicanor Tiongson in partnership with the University of the Philippines - PGH’s Rheumatology Department.

Mabining Mandirigma, a steam-punk dance musical depicting the life of the revolutionary Apolinario Mabini, was staged at the CCP after the launch.

Proceeds went to the Bridging Lupus Fund for the benefit of indigent Lupus patients in PGH. Rep. Aglipay-Villar hopes that with the foundation they would be able to establish a Lupus-free Philippines.

Hope for Lupus is a non-prof it organization that f ights Lupus through increasing awareness about the disease for early diagnosis and proper treatment, and by providing support to people with Lupus and their families.

Rep. Aglipay-Villar approached Melanie Cuevas and Lila Shahani, both have Lupus, and invited them to join her in fulfilling this mission.

Rheumatologists, Dr. Paulo Lorenzo and Dr. Ging Racaza also volunteered to join the foundation. Sidney Salazar and Nadine Bernardino, other advocates for Lupus awareness, also offered to help in the cause. Thus, the Hope for Lupus Foundation was incorporated in November 2016.

Kids’ Christmas wishes granted SHARING on social media meant anew as thousands of Filipinos participated to help less fortunate children last Christmas through #GiveMoreWithHuawei.

Over P250,000 worth of donations were received by the kids of Concordia Children’s Services Inc. through a social media fundraising campaign—turning the quirky and creative photos of Filipinos doing the double O pose uploaded on social media into Christmas presents.

The movement gathered Huawei fans, employees, partners and social media personalities to use their crea-

tive #OO photos as a currency to donate. Indeed, social media sharing has been given a new and better meaning by the mobile device giant. “#GiveMoreWithHuawei, a joint initiative of Huawei Mobile APAC and Huawei Philippines, is more than just a campaign on social media. This is an initiative meant to inspire more people to help and to capitalize the Filipino’s love for social media,” explained Mark de Joya, Huawei Philippines marketing director.

The donation culminated a day full

of glee and thanksgiving as members of Team Huawei, led by Huawei ambassador Troy Montero, hosted a Christmas party with the kids of Concordia. These kids who were once abandoned on the streets of urban Manila were all smiles during the Christmas party exclusively held for them.

Over 120 kids were in attendance, receiving the Christmas donations given by Filipinos all over the Philippines—including toy cars, dolls, A kid got his Christmas wish from Huawei watches, colorful dresses and a whole lot more. Huawei also donated gro- cery supplies, cleaning materials and laptops with printers to help in the daily operations of the foundation.

“Christmas is the highlight of every Filipino child and family’s year. It is a season celebrated through sharing and gift giving, and through becoming a part of this initiative, we get to make the holidays even more special for the Concordia kids. We are very happy that Huawei chose to work with us in making these children’s Christmas wishes come true this year,” shared Chrisler Go, executive director of Concordia Children’s Services.

As a way to thank those who joined, Huawei raffled off units of Huawei Y6II, Huawei GR5, Huawei P9 Lite and Huawei powerbanks to 15 participants.

From left: Huawei ambassador Troy Montero, Huawei Mobile APAC’s Venilia Yap and Concordia Executive Director Chrisler Go

To view the collection of photo entries and know more about the #GiveMoreWithHuawei, visit bit.ly/GiveMoreWithHuawei or follow its Facebook page on www.facebook.com/HuaweiMobileAPAC.

The kids of Concordia Children’s Services, Inc. doing the #OO pose during their Christmas party hosted by Huawei Mobile APAC and Huawei Philippines

RHEA Generics campaign ambassador Angel Locsin

World-class generic medicines RHEA Generics partners with Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK, Otsuka and Merck to distribute world-class generic medicines in the country. This marks the launch of their new brand campaign, “Iba ang RHEA Generics: World-Class Ang Kalidad Sa Abot-Kayang Halaga,” to bring affordable and high-quality generic medicines to Filipinos.

Last year had been very productive for the company as it signed several partnerships with various world-class pioneer companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Its new campaign with Mel Tiangco and Angel Locsin further supports its efforts to provide Filipinos more options in the medicines they need thus allowing RHEA Generics to be one of the top generic brands in the market.

RHEA Generics remains a pioneer and trusted brand in the generics industry with more than 40 years of producing quality and affordable healthcare products, from over-the-counter products and vitamins to prescription drugs, including those from their partner pharmaceuticals.

It is working towards increasing its partnership with more pharmaceutical companies to add to its impressive list of generic medicines. “Our commitment is to help Filipino patients have access to better healthcare by providing them with world class-quality and highly affordable medicines,” said Neogin Evangelista, Philusa Corporation President.

Life

D2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Meralco’s info campaign with JIMMY ALAPAG

I

N EARLY November last year, Meralco Bolts point guard Jimmy Alapag announced for the second time his retirement from professional basketball, ending his over a decade-long career with Philippine Basketball Association.

Just when people thought they would miss one of their favorite cagers, Alapag suddenly becomes the face of Meralco’s campaign that encourages customers to update their contact information, especially their mobile phone numbers so they can get text alerts from Meralco on power interruption schedules, and other situations that can affect electricity service.

Alapag’s photo appears beside a reminder in the November Meralco bill, which goes, “Sabi ni Jimmy, update your contact information para handa sa scheduled power interruptions.”

I noticed the same message on top of the Customer Information Sheet attached to the November bill, which I got rather early. In the sheet customers are asked to update or provide their mobile and landline numbers, email address, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram usernames.

Filled up forms may be submitted at the nearest Meralco Business Center or Bayad Center, or to authorized Meralco bill delivery messenger.

Meralco aims to alert customers not only about power interruption schedules, but also in times of crisis or emergencies such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes and falling trees on cables so they can be better prepared.

In June last year, Alapag also appeared in the Meralco Advisory TV commercial for June, alongside anchors Joe Zaldarriaga and Maita David and talked about the importance of updating one’s customer information.

Jimmy Alapag is the face of Meralco’s campaign that encourages customers to update their contact information so they can get text alerts on power interruptions, among others.

In the future, Meralco said it would bill arrives. This will help customers consumption promptly. updatingyour info or go to Meralco’s ofalso be able to update customers on their manage their household budget better For more information, Meralco cus- ficial Facebook and Twitter accounts @ consumption, even before their monthly by allowing them to keep track of their tomers may visit www. meralco.com.ph/ meralco. – IVR

THE FUTURE OF SLEEP

Senso Memory Ultima Plus, a part of The Sleep Revolution collection, is designed with cooling technology and memory foam that absorbs heat.

WE LIVE in a time where we can function 24/7 if we have to. But with these increased productivity, some essential activities are sacrificed, foremost of which is sleep. We take the simple pleasure of a good, superior sleep for granted.

We need to have adequate sleep, that much can’t be emphasized enough. Sleep loss can have drastic effects on a healthy lifestyle; it will have an impact on your heart, weight, mind and wellbeing. Insufficient sleep will lead to serious, long-term health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity and rational thinking.

But through the untiring efforts of Uratex, a large number of Filipino families and individuals now sleep better. Because of these innovations, we have become healthier, more productive and energized during the day.

As the undisputed “Sleep Specialist,” Uratex continues to innovate and revolutionize the way it gives a superior sleeping experience to Filipinos through its latest collection, the Sleep Revolution.

“With Uratex, you get the best sleep. Everyone at our company takes great pride in making sure that each mattress we manufacture delivers superior comfort and support to improve your quality of sleep. Today, we will offer innovative products that will deliver on this promise,” says Cherry Wong-Tan, Uratex marketing director.

The Sleep Revolution

Bed odors will be a thing of the past with Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh that has odor-repelling features that provide a fresh and clean sleeping environment.

The Sleep Revolution collection focuses on Premium Touch Romance, Senso Memory Ultima Plus, Orthocare Biorytmic and Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh. It not only gives better sleep, but also responds to specific needs of different sleep problems Filipinos usually encounter.

Keeping the flames of love alive doesn’t have to stop after a long, hard day. The Premium Touch Romance is all about inspiring passion and desire for you and your significant other. The secret lies on its mattress ticking infused with the essences of ginseng, ylang-ylang and cinnamon, giving it a sweet and spiced romantic ambiance. Its unique perfume micro-capsules have a longlasting effect to inspire a more intimate bond for couples.

Crafted with Smart Reflex® Pocket Spring System that intelligently isolates body movement for an undisturbed sleep. Additionally, it combines the best of both worlds: Natural Latex and Senso Memory foam for a superior sleep experience.

The Orthocare Biorytmic mattress uses advanced sleep technology using rejuvenating minerals responsi-

iPhoto

Medical partnership HEALTHWAY Medical renews its partnership with Regal-Beloit Asia Pte. Ltd. as corporate clinic services provider of Regal Beloit, a leading global manufacturer of commercial, industrial, and residential engineering applications.

The company prefers Healthway Medical to ensure employee wellness through providing superior healthcare, which hap-

pens to be what the clinic has been delivering its clients.

Photo shows (from left) Regal’s HR Officer Mariane Rapadas; Facilities and Safety Assistant Supervisor Roman Angelo Munji; and HR Manager Manuel Casimiro, as they recently penned the renewal of corporate clinic services contract with Healthway Medical’s Vice President for Sales and

Marketing Carmie de Leon; Sales Manager Noreen Arellano; and Sales Specialist Nica Mae Buñales.

“We are privileged to work once again with Regal-Beloit in providing their corporate clinic services because we are a firm believer in the philosophy that a healthy workforce translates to a productive business organization,” said De Leon.

ble for restoring energy and regulating the body’s biorhythm. As you sleep, it helps reduce stress and provides better balance and concentration. For outstanding pressure relief and back support, it is coupled with Orthofirm® foam for a firm comfort feel all night long.

For a refreshingly cool sleep, look no further, as The Senso Memory Ultima Plus is specially designed with a cooling technology that helps you fall asleep faster.

What sets it apart from others is that its memory foam is blended with Hydragel® beads that absorb heat.

Wrapped with Cooler® knit fabric, it provides an enhanced cooling effect and has been proven to lower body temperature by up to 2°C. Furthermore, its plush comfort layers delicately adjust to your body’s movements while you sleep, relieving you from painful pressure points.

Always worried about odors in your bed? The Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh is the solution to your problem. This innovative mattress has odor-repelling qualities that offer a fresh, clean sleeping environment. For long-lasting odor-free protection, its cover is formulated with complex compounds that effectively eliminate all unwanted odors from the body so your mattress smells fresh while you sleep. It features a convoluted high-resilient foam with an egg crate design that allows air to flow freely. Balancing the body’s biorhythm is essential as it improves your intra-body communication and promotes your overall wellbeing.

Uratex innovative pillows

Uratex Premium also offers innovative pillows equipped with the same sleep technologies to complement these mattresses. The cores of Perfect Serenity Aura Fresh, Orthocare Biorytmic and Premium Touch Romance pillows are made of super soft molded foam built for plush comfort while the Senso Memory Ultima Plus pillow’s core is made of Senso Memory foam with Hydragel® beads. Both mattresses and pillows are treated with Sanitized® that effectively protect against growth of bacteria, odor, mildew and dust mites.

Sleeping solutions partner

The latest Uratex Premium Mattress collections are available at Our Home, the country’s top lifestyle furniture store chain; with 24 stores in major SM malls nationwide. The company’s philosophy has remained consistent—to provide customers with trendy, chic and affordable luxury furniture as well as superb service.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

T

HE Ultimate BROcation is definitely a show where crazy adventures and wardrobe wonders happen.

It is a hilarious reality show starring four celebrities exploring Hong Kong in an allexpense- paid-vacation tailormade for bros. Part of their fun-filled trip is an outdoor adventure, where they get to try unique and amusing activities.

It’s pretty safe to say that one BROcation wouldn’t really be complete without the involvement of cars. So, Billy Crawford, along with three other Asian celebrities – Thailand’s “bad boy” DJ and TV host P.K.; award-winning Malaysian hip hop artist SonaOne; and Singaporean maverick chef Bjorn Shen – went car racing and unleashed their awesome driving skills.

Billy Crawford tries out one of the activities during his outdoor trip in "The Ultimate BROcation"

These are all part of the fiveday adventure of the bros where they take over Hong Kong with no girlfriends, no kids, no sleep, and no idea about each other.

Yup, these bros don’t know one another, but we do know that their five-day trip to Hong Kong were filled with amazing party scenes, food trips, fast cars, unique adventures and of course, a new level of brobonding and hilarity.

And as you may already know, our BRO Billy is now engaged to his lovely girlfriend Coleen Garcia and we couldn’t be any happier for the couple.

This BROcation is the perfect send-off to Billy as he bids bachelorhood goodbye. So don’t

‘The Ultimate BROcation’ MARATHON AND FINALE

FAST CAR. Billy Crawford along with three Asian stars go car racing showing off their driving skills

miss this fun fest and fond out the answers to all of your questions with The Ultimate BROcation marathon of Episodes 1-4 on Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. and the finale episode 9 p.m. on Jan.11.

You can watch it on Cablelink Ch. 54, Cignal Ch. 264, Destiny

Ch. 63, Gsat Ch. 18, and SKY Ch. 63.

If you want to experience your own BROcation, don’t miss the chance to join The Ultimate BROcation Watch and Win Regional Contes. The winner can tag along two friends to

experience the best side of Hong Kong like never before. All you have to do is go online at: KIXTV.com/Contest and answer a simple question. Easy as that!

Prizes include: 3 Days and 2 Nights BROcation in Hong Kong, round trip airfare to

Hong Kong, 3 Days 2 Nights accommodation (triple sharing), A helicopter ride, guided hiking tour, Michelin restaurant dining and a fun flyboarding class!

The contest period is until Jan. 11.

Big win, shocking loss in beauty pageants

By Eton Bonifacio MISSES Philippines gave a good showing in all but one international competition held worldwide in 2016. The big stories were Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach’s homecoming victory parade and the successful bid of the Philippines to host the 65th Miss Universe, Kylie Verzosa’s crowning as Miss International 2016 and Catriona Gray’s defeat at the 2016 Miss World pageant.

Wurtzbach’s triumphant return to the country after winning the country’s 3rd Miss Universe title ushered in the year 2016 to beauty pageants which resulted in another good harvest, winning in both major and minor pageants, finishing strongly as runners up in other pageants around the world and continued the winning streak for the pageant crazy Asian country.

Kylie Verzosa took home the country’s 6th Miss International title in Tokyo, Japan, in October, one less than the seven wins

by Venezuela. The 24-year-old model and graduate in Business Management at Ateneo de Manila University was given a traditional homecoming victory parade around Araneta Center

by the Bb. Pilipinas Charities, Inc. and was also feted by the officials of the City of Baguio, her hometown. Verzosa, whose mother Gemma Racquel Fausto was also a former Bb. Pilipinas candidate, is a pre-school teacher at the Playschool International in Bonifacio Global City.

Jeslyn Santos, a former twotime Bb. Pilipinas candidate, bested 27 beauties from five continents and became the first Asian to win as Miss United Continents in Guayaquil, Ecuador in September. The 23-year-old Bulakeña and Broadcast Communication graduate earned praise among the Latin judges and candidates when she gave her answer about world unity in Spanish.

Nicole Cordoves, a 24-yearold Economics graduate at Ateneo de Manila University, nearly won the Miss Grand International 2016 crown in Las Vegas in October. She was first runner up to Miss Indonesia Ariska Putri Pertiwi. Cordoves, a former Miss Chinatown and Cabinet Secretary speechwriter, created controversy with her answer “I would choose Donald Trump (over Hilary Clinton) to be on my side to fight for world

QUEEN OF THE YEAR. Miss International 2016 Kylie Versoza with former winner Edymar Martínez from Venezuela

peace,” during the live finals of the pageant.

Nicole Manalo was named 3rd Runner-up at Miss Globe 2016 held in Tirana, Albania in

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Thursday, January 5, 2017

ACROSS 1 Great dog?

5 51 quadrupled 9 Venetian-blind unit 13 Commuter’s home 15 New Jersey town 16 Bygone Trevi coins 17 Oops’ ride 18 Burnoose wearer 19 He wrote “Picnic” 20 PC key 21 Typewriter type 23 Suppose 25 Cabby 26 Least experienced 27 Ness, to Capone 30 The Plastic — Band 31 Web habitues 32 Hens, at times 37 Marshall Dillon 38 Tastelessly showy 40 Water, in Tijuana 41 Trendy term 43 Handles 44 — -Margret 45 Cracker gowiths 47 Peanut brittle base

50 John, in Germany 51 Bungalow 52 Sign up for 53 Derrick arm 56 Whaler of fiction 57 Flimsy 59 Shake off 61 Kind of bonnet 62 Chariot race locale 63 Guitars’ ancestors 64 Orchard product 65 Subscription length 66 Mild expletives DOWN 1 “— Dinah” (Avalon tune) 2 Poles’ connector 3 Now, to Caesar 4 Sea eagle 5 Rattles 6 Mr. Dithers’ wife 7 Wyo. neighbor 8 Peppiness 9 Pizza order 10 Sausage variety 11 Jargon 12 Harold of the comics 14 Ignore 22 Pierre’s here 24 Jedi ally 25 Car-rental

agency Kind of hog Without feeling Hairy twin City on the Moselle 32 Bossy’s chew 33 Jet routes 34 Teamwork obstacles 35 Cartoonist — Goldberg 36 Back talk 38 Haywire (2 wds.)

39 Handel contemporary 26 27 28 29

42 Blow gently 43 Doghouse 45 Style of necklace 46 “Bali —” 47 Nevada lake 48 Port near Kyoto 49 Dietary plus 51 Sadie Hawkins Day founder 52 M.D.’s reading 53 Burlap material 54 — fixe 55 Ms. Myerson 58 Job-ad letters 60 Drag along

November where Ann Lorraine Colis relinquished her title to Miss India Dimple Patel. Manalo, a 27-year-old professional nurse, is the sister of Bb. Pilipinas

queens Kate (World) and Bianca (Universe), and niece of 1968 Miss International semi-finalist Nini Ramos-Licaros.

Trixia Maria Maraña bested 17 Asian delegates to win the 2nd edition of Miss Asia pageant, held in Kerala, India in August. Maraña, a 23-yearold Business Administration and Management graduate at Asian College of Science and Technology, reigned as Miss Dumaguete City 2009, Abuyog Queen of Leyte 2011 and Miss Negros Oriental 2015.

Camille Hirro was named first runner up at the Miss Global 2016 at the PICC in September won by Miss Ecuador Angela Bonilla.

The 28-year-old cum laude graduate at the University of the Philippines used to ghostwrite for politicians and columnists.

Ganiel Krishnan finished 2nd runner up at the revival of the Miss Asia Pacific International at Sheridan Beach Resort in Palawan in November, won by Miss Netherlands Tessa Le Conge.

Krishnan, a 21-year-old half-Indian beauty and Communication Arts graduate at Far Eastern University, works as a UAAP basketball games courtside reporter.

Janela Joy Cuaton also finished 1st runner up to

Thailand’s Amanda Obdan in Miss Tourism Metropolitan International 2016 in Kochi, India as well as Meryl Angeline King named 1st runner up to India’s Rajkhowa Varsha at the Miss Scuba International 2016 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, both held in November.

Catriona Gray’s loss at the Miss World 2016 in Washington D.C., in December proved was shocking news to many Filipinos.

Gray, a 22-year-old statuesque singer/songwriter and a Masteral degree holder at Berklee College of Music, won the Multimedia event, 2nd in Miss Talent, where she stunned the judges with her rendition of “Moon River” and “I Believe,” and Top 5 in the ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ event with her free-school outreach program for the poor children in Tondo.

Gray, raised in Cairns, Queensland by her Bicolana mother and Scottish father, was widely predicted to win the country’s second Miss World title. She was the best among the Top 5 finalists in the final Q&A but luck was not on her side. Gray, robbed of the title, was named 3rd runner up to eventual winner Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie del Valle.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017

FACETIME

By Nickie Wang

H

E IS a good man. He’s a good dad. He loves his children and puts his family first. Sometimes he misses the life he had with his wife before the kids were born, which was more spontaneous and there weren’t many responsibilities.

But, reality bites. Although from time to time, he wishes it were the case, still, he loves his kids more than anything and will do anything for them.

That’s how actor and TV host Matt LeBlanc describes Adam Burns, the character he plays in the American sitcom created

by Jackie and Jeff Filgo called Man with a Plan.

It airs every Friday at 9 p.m. on RTL CBS. In a phone interview with Manila Standard, the 49-year old actor gladly talked about the new character he breathes life into and went down memory lane with the role that made him a household name after playing it for more than a decade.

Sitcom is a very familiar arena for you, what’s it like going back to comedy after years of doing hosting jobs?

I

was doing ‘Episodes’. I don’t know if you’ve seen that show.

We did that for 5 or 6 years.

That was a single camera comedy, though, so it was a little different. For me, coming back to a multi-cam comedy format in front of a live

Matt LeBlanc and his children in the American sitcom series

‘Friends’ star Matt LeBlanc is

Actor Matt LeBlanc and Liza Snyder who plays his wife in “Man with a Plan''

audience is really fun. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I got back into it again.

How do you feel that after a decade, people still associate you with the character you played for 10 years? Do you miss playing Joey Tribianni?

I love that people still

Actor and television host Matt LeBlanc stars in “Man with a Plan,” which is all about fatherhood and the challenges that come with it

remember Joey. It seems like every year there is a new generation that’s discovering Friends. I’m very proud to have been a part of that show. That was the highlight of my career. I don’t think I’ll ever be involved in something ever again that’s that successful. I love this new

show ‘Man with a Plan,’ but that show ‘Friends’ and playing the character Joey, I mean, I’m Joey’s biggest fan and I will always be his biggest fan.

You became a household name when you played that character, now with Man with a Plan, do you think your character in this sitcom would achieve the same kind of success?

Since I’ve come back to a multi-cam format, the character has a little bit of Joey from ‘Friends,’ a little bit of me, a little bit of other friends of mine that have kids and the stories I hear about them. He’s this guy who is struggling to keep the ship afloat. His wife wants to go back to work now that the littlest one is going to school full-time. I’m my own boss; I run a construction company with my brother. The two of us are in a position where I can kind of adjust my schedule to help my wife who wants to go back to work. I think that’s kind of fun.

The show is getting mixed reviews from critics, how do you and your team deal with these kinds of feedback?

I feel good about that. I’m glad that it seems like people are watching the show and relating to the show. It’s kind of new territory for me. I played a dad in Episodes but we didn’t really focus on that too much. I’m also a happily married guy, which I’ve never played before. I think a family show felt to me like the direction I wanted to go. But as far as ratings and all that stuff go, yeah, I look at the numbers, but I try not to focus on that because that’s all stuff that’s really out of my control. All I can do is to make the best show possible that I know how to make.

In the story, Adam is more of a cool dad; can we assume that you are just playing yourself in real life?

I try to use the parenting tone that I use at home, but with a comic twist on the show. It’s all about where the funny is with this show. We try to take themes about parenting that are very relatable to a lot of parents and put a funny twist on it. Say the things that parents out there watching would like to say but can’t say.

We would imagine that part of these challenges is working with young actors, how is it like working with them, the actors who are playing your kids in the show?

The cast on the show has been fantastic. Everyone’s got experience. Even the kids are really fun and doing a great job. I’m really proud of them.

The girl who plays my wife, Liza Snyder, she’s got a lot of experience on sitcoms. Kevin Nealon, who plays my brother, he’s in ‘Saturday Night Live’ and he’s a stand-up comedian as well so he’s got a lot of experience.

We have a good group. We have some great directors, too.

What do you thin is the most important lesson sons and daughters can learn form thier fathers?

I think of a couple of important ones, but I don’t know what the most important one is.

I think it’s important to believe in yourself. You can be anything you want to be in this life if you believe in yourself. I think it’s also important to be humble and not believe you’re better than anyone else. Everybody puts his pants on one leg at a time. That was something my grandfather told me. He also told me ‘Buy land. That’s the only thing they’re not making more of.

‘Caretaker’ short film wins Active Vista Audience Choice Award A SHORT film that tackles brotherhood, parenthood and belongingness recently bagged the Audience Choice Award in the Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival short film competition.

Seymour Sanchez‘s Caretaker tells the story of a new caretaker (Rolando Inocencio) who comes in to replace the previous keeper of a vacation house of a wealthy family. He is a single parent trying to make ends meet while taking care of his two sons (Jomari Angeles and Luis Ruiz). He meets his boss (Raymond Riñoza), owner of the house, and is informed the family will be using it for the holiday. He starts cleaning the house in preparation for the family’s arrival. Meanwhile, the owner’s son (John Paul Duray) has other plans.

The caretaker is caught off-guard when the owner’s son comes home one night, with his fraternity brothers.

The cast and crew of the short film "Caretaker"

Moreover, the caretaker is unaware that he is in for a big surprise.

Richard Legaspi of Red Room Media Productions received Caretaker‘s award from Lourd de Veyra representing organizer DAKILA-Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism on behalf of filmmaker Sanchez during the Alab ng Puso: Stand Up for Human Rights program at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani on Dec. 10.

The Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival is a mobile cinema platform that allows audiences opportunity to debate, discuss, and spark conversations on human rights that can shape society. DAKILA is a group of artists, students and individuals committed to advocating social consciousness formation both among their industry peers and their immediate audiences. h t t p s : / / w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=HUlTIZWkJc8