Manila Standard - 2017 January 31 - Tuesday

France ends Miss U title drought

By Nickie Wang and Eton Concepcion FRANCE won its first Miss Universe crown in 63 years on Monday in a made-for-television spectacle where finalists spoke out on the refugee crisis and other hotbutton global issues.

Iris Mittenaere, a dental surgery student from Lille in the north of France, beat 85 of the world’s most beautiful women at the event in the Philippines scheduled for primetime viewing in the United States.

Mittenaere, 24, edged out Miss Haiti, the first runner-up, and Miss Colombia, the second runner-up, to win France’s first Miss Universe title since 1953.

“I was very surprised. I am always touching the crown and saying ‘Oh my God. I have the crown on my head. I don’t believe it,’” Mittenaere said in a post-pageant news conference.

“French people love beauty pageants but they don’t really know Miss Universe because never [did] our country win,” Next page

GIVING A HEAR-HEAR. Iris Mittenaere, congratulated by other candidates, is surprised she wins the 65th

edition of the Miss Universe beauty pageant but says ‘I feel blessed’ and admits Miss Universe is a dream and she wants ‘to help and understand people’ while advocating ‘for dental and oral hygiene.’ Raquel Pelissier of Haiti is the first runner-up, while Andrea Tovar of Colombia is second runner-up. AFP

VOL. XXX • NO. 353 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

SOUFFLER UN BAISER.

Iris Mittenaere, a 24-yearold dental student from Paris, blows a kiss after being crowned Monday following a three-hour meretricious spectacle Miss Universe 2017, beating 85 hopefuls in the 65th edition of the annual competition at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City. AFP

Facts about Iris Mittenaere, 65th Miss Universe • Born in North of France in a town called Lille • Loves extreme sports, travelling and cooking new French dishes.

• 3rd Miss Universe to be crowned in the Philippines. The other candidates being Miss Universe-Spain Amparo Muñoz (1974) and Miss Universe-India Sushmita Sen (1994).

• Only the 2nd French woman to win the Miss Universe crown, ending France’s 63-year title drought since the victory of Christiane Martel (1953).

War on drugs placed on hold Top cop dissolves narc group, goes after scalawags

By Francisco Tuyay and John Paolo Bencito

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HILIPPINE National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa suspended the government’s war on drugs on Monday and created a new unit to go after police scalawags, hours after President Rodrigo Duterte described the police force as “corrupt to the core,” with 40 percent of cops involved in illegal activities.

“You crooked policemen, prepare now. We have temporarily halted our war on drugs. What we have now is a war on scalawags,” Dela Rosa said.

The campaign against rogue policemen was launched in response to a scandal in which members of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Group were accused of abducting and killing South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo and extorting P5 million from his wife.

In a midnight news conference, Duterte said the police

force was “corrupt to the core” and ordered the dissolution of all its anti-drug units.

“You policemen are the most corrupt. You are corrupt to the core.

It’s in your system,” Duterte told reporters as he railed against the anti-drug officers who allegedly masterminded Jee’s murder inside national police headquarters.

Duterte admitted he was embarrassed by the kidnap-slay scandal, after defending the police repeatedly over the administration’s bloody Next page war on drugs.

THE PRESIDENT’S EAR. Presi-

dent Rodrigo Duterte gets wind of PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa during a news conference Monday at Malacañang, where the former extended his deadly war against illegal drugs until the last day of his term in 2022 but conceded the police force acting as his frontline troops was “corrupt to the core.” AFP

Senate okays subpoena Bounty on Dumlao’s head recalled Paolo Bencito powers for PNP probers ByandJohn Rey E. Requejo

By Macon Ramos-Araneta sponsored by Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate and Maricel V. Cruz WITH 20 affirmative votes and one negative vote, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to allow the head of the Philippine National Police and the director and deputy director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to issue subpoenas on cases under investigation.

The measure was authored and

Committee on public order and dangerous drugs.

In the House, Rep. Rodolfo Albano said only the courts and the legislature could issue subpoenas.

He said the measure would put the PNP and the CIDG in a class of their own.

Rep. Harry Roque said the bill “will give the PNP coercive powers to compel attendance in its investigation. I’m for it.” Next page

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has offered a P5-million bounty for the arrest, dead or alive, of Supt. Rafael Dumlao, one of the suspects in the kidnapping and killing of a Korean

businessman who turned out to be in custody on Sunday afternoon.

Duterte, who was fuming mad during a national address on Sunday night, gave Dumlao 24 hours to surrender for “putting the reputation of the police in shambles.”

He was later informed by PNP

chief Ronald dela Rosa that Dumlao surrendered early Sunday morning.

Duterte made his statement even as the Angeles City regional trial court ordered the Justice department to reinvestigate the kidnapping and killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo in October last year. Next page

THE Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Furuji Indama has ordered his followers to bomb and kill civilians who do not cooperate with them, the military said Monday after two children were killed and three others were wounded in a blast in Al-Barka, Basilan on Sunday.

Lt. Col. Franco Alano, spokes-

man for the Western Mindanao Command, said the explosion went off at around 11 a.m. in Barangay Danapah killing Niyadz Pising, 2, and Ombek Akbar, 5.

Alano also identified the three wounded as Pamiya Pising and Salmiya Akbar, both 4 years old, and Suraima Akbar, 25.

“The wounded were airlifted to Zamboanga City for medical Next page

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By Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Senate is suspending its hearings on kidnapping-for-ransom incidents involving corrupt policemen due to the government’s suspension of its war on illegal drugs, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Monday.

Lacson, who heads the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs, said it would be wise Next page

US warned not to build arms depots

‘Bomb civilians, ASG told’

By Florante S. Solmerin and John Paolo Bencito

Solons defer inquiry into KFR cases

SIR, YES SIR. Members of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs wait in queue in front of the AIDG office in Camp Crame as their seniors brief them on the order of President Duterte through PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa during the flag ceremony Monday. Manny Palmero

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday accused Washington of putting Manila in jeopardy by building permanent arms depots in the Philippines but the military said they are checking what the commander-in-chief was talking about because they know of “no incident of that nature.”

“They’re unloading arms in the Philippines now ... I’m serving notice to the armed forces of the United States. Do not do it, I Next page

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Sabah deportees assured of aid S

OCIAL Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on Monday assured the public that her office will exert all efforts to help settle Filipino migrant workers returning to the country from Sabah in Malaysia.

She added that President Rodrigo Duterte himself had said last November that the 7,000 undocumented Filipino workers who will be deported from the Malaysian island will be given access to health care and education.

Taguiwalo made the assurance following reports that Sabah is set to deport thousands of illegal immigrants

from the Philippines using the assets of the Malaysian Royal Navy starting on February.

News reports quoted Malaysian Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman as saying that preparations for the mass deportation are being finalized following the agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and President Duterte last November.

NPA 'harassment raid' kills trooper,wounds 3 A TROOPER from the 30th Infantry Battalion was killed and three others were wounded in what the military described as a New People’s Army (NPA) “harassment attack” in Barangay Mati, Surigao City Monday early morning.

The incident took place past 12 a.m., according to Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla in a press briefing held at the AFP headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Padilla said the soldiers were deployed in Barangay Mati for “peace and development activities” when attacked by 10 members of the NPA’s North Eastern Mindanao Regional Command.

The firefight lasted for about 10 minutes.

There were no immediate reports of rebel casualties Padilla called the latest NPA attack as “alarming” as this seems to signal the rebels’ withdrawal from the unilateral

ceasefire it has entered with the Philippine government last year.

Padilla said they are making public the incident so that the AFP can recommend to the peace panel possible steps which will safeguard the lives of troops in future similar encounters.

“But if they so desire that they are backing out of the unilateral ceasefire we will make appropriate recommendations therein to protect our troops. We have a duty to protect our people, we have a duty to keep the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country and we shall not also hesitate to provide the support needed by our local government and police in the area so that we can deliver the services needed by our people in these areas,” he added.

“We appeal to our fellow Filipinos who are on the other side to reconsider and let us allow peace again to prevail such as that we had since August,” Padilla said. PNA

Bounty...

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even a lawyer. Sayang, mabiyuda ‘yang asawa mo, pati ‘yung anak mo mawalan ng tatay,” Duterte said.

Dumlao, the immediate superior of AIDG operative Santa Isabel, who is accused of masterminding the murder of Jee, left restrictive custody Friday even but was not allowed to.

When Dela Rosa was being asked why the President was informed late about Dumlao’s surrender, Duterte interjected, claiming that he only met with Dela Rosa during the early morning press conference.

“We only met now... He’s not present there,” Duterte said referring to the command conference which preceded the press briefing.

Duterte dodged any blame for Dela Rosa even if the photos sent by the Palace to reporters showed the President tagging along with Dela Rosa as he started to preside over the joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Command Conference at the Heroes’ Hall in Malacañang “Maybe he’s with his girlfriend, I don’t know,” the President claimed, referring to Dela Rosa.

Dela Rosa said that Dumlao informed Anti-Kidnapping Group chief Glenn Dumlao, whose leading the PNP’s investigation on the kidnap-slay of his knowledge about the whole incident before Sunday’s command conference.

Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. ordered the department to conduct another preliminary investigation on the charges of kidnapping for ransom with homicide against Senior Police Officer 3 Ricky Santa Isabel and other police officers tagged in the case.

The lower court granted the appeal of Santa Isabel questioning his indictment by the department despite his lack of opportunity to submit his answer to the charges during a preliminary investigation.

Said Duterte: “If you do not come out soon, I will offer dead or alive, ikaw mismo Dumlao, P5 million.

Dead of alive. You deliver him to me dead, okay ako. Dalhin mo dyan sa gate ng Malacañang patay, buhay, okay sa akin. Dead or alive.

“This Dumlao, you better surrender or clear yourself. If you didn’t commit anything wrong, why did you leave Camp Crame? “’Pag hindi ka lumabas, patungan kita ng 5 million. I’m giving you exactly 24 hours pag hindi that reward goes into effect.”

Later, Dela Rosa was seen whispering to the President that Dumlao was already in custody.

“Latest story. He’s already in our custody. Better, Dumlao. You’re

Solons...

From A1 for the Senate to wait and see how the changes in the anti-drug war would work out.

“In view of the massive restructuring of the war against drugs to focus on rogue cops as ordered by the President, it is my view that the Senate [should] wait and see how this latest development plays out,” Lacson said.

“After all, the President has taken a positive action on the matter and I feel that the committee on public order and dangerous drugs has partially achieved one of the purposes of its legislative inquiry.”

The next hearing of Lacson’s committee had initially been scheduled for Feb. 2.

At last week’s Senate committee hearing, Lacson had closed-circuit television footage played showing rogue policemen planting drugs in an office that they eventually raided.

Lacson said he had the video played to stress the need for internal cleansing in the PNP, the agency he headed from 1999 to 2001.

For now, Lacson said, he would focus on the pieces of legislation that may at least minimize the abuses by police personnel in conducting anticrime operations.

Those include bills on the training of police personnel as well as the strengthening of the PNP’s Internal Affairs Service.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated the need for systemic measures to prevent abuses by law enforcers. He said crime may not be eradicated but could be minimized.

“I have said before that it is impossible to eradicate crime, but quite doable to greatly minimize it. As such, there should be systemic moves to deter, if not prevent, abuses by those tasked to stop criminality,” Lacson said.

Senators Grace Poe and Bam Aquino supported his decision to temporarily stop the Senate hearings on kidnappings for ransom.

Aquino praised Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa’s order to stop all antiillegal drug operations nationwide to focus on “internal cleansing,” saying it will help restore the public’s trust in the police.

“This is a step in the right direction for the PNP as it works on regaining the public trust after several controversial incidents involving bad elements within the organization,” he said.

Aquino earlier said that rogue policemen were capitalizing on the government’s war against illegal drugs for their personal gain.

The president has agreed to give his full cooperation to Malaysia, even as Malaysian authorities has committed to lend their naval ships in deporting undocumented Filipinos.

According to Malaysian reports, the deportation centers in Sabah have already exceeded their capacity with more than 7,000 undocumented migrants.

The reports added that the deportation procedure will be made using the Sandakan Port en route to Zamboanga.

“President Duterte has said that our ‘kababayans’ [compatriots] in Malaysia who stand to be deported will not be encouraged to seek clemency. Instead,

they will be assisted during the process of deportation to ensure that their return to the Philippines will be as smooth as possible. The Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD] is one of the agencies that will work to help ensure this,” Taguiwalo said.

President Duterte also said that he will appeal to neutral agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), to help build a hospital for Filipino migrants, and that Filipino medical personnel will be deployed to these health facilities to assist in the provision of services.

“For our part, our Protective Services Bureau (PSB), DSWD-

Field Office 9 (in Zamboanga) and the DSWD-Field Office in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) are already in the process of putting together a plan of action to help our ‘kababayans.’ We will provide them with assistance that is within the means of the department to ensure that their immediate economic needs are met,” she said.

The social welfare chief also said that the returning Filipinos will be given food and medical assistance, as well as information on other DSWD services they can utilize as they begin their new lives in the Philippines. PNA

War...

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policemen.

“This a momentary defeat on our part because we stop [the anti-drugs campaign] but we will continue the war later, once we have retooled our troops [and] cleansed our ranks,” Dela Rosa said.

“Everything will be ready to fight again another day,” Dela Rosa said.

“As for the drug lords, you have your day. This is your day. You may achieve your victory right now or this day maybe but as I have said, this is momentary victory on your part. You enjoy. There is always a time for reckoning,” Dela Rosa said.

With the PNP-AIDG dissolved, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency will assume the responsibility of waging the war on illegal drugs, but the police would still cooperate with the agency and local government units, Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa said the morale of the entire PNP has been rocked by the Jee scandal.

“As directed by the President, we agree to dissolve all anti-drug units at all levels, including [the] Anti-Illegal Drugs Group,” Dela Rosa said.

“We will cleanse our ranks … then maybe after that, we can resume our war on drugs. The President told us to clean the organization first.”

“I don’t know how long it will take to cleanse the PNP. But with each and every one of us cooperating, helping each other, maybe in a month, we can do it,” he said.

The President also said a PNP oversight committee will be created to look into the policemen who have been dismissed but found their way back to duty.

Duterte said policemen who had extortion cases against them would be sent to Mindanao to deal with terrorist groups as punishment.

“This cleansing is easy. All we have to do is look at the records of how many policemen have had cases, mostly involving extortion, and if they are reinstated—it’s over with... I’ll just gather them, bring them new uniforms, new combat boots. I have to have a strong presence in Basilan and Lanao, they’ll be the first I send there,” the President said.

Duterte added he would asked Congress to revisit the Philippine National Police law to simplify the police titles and units.

In his midnight news conference, Duterte reiterated that Dela Rosa would stay on as PNP chief despite calls for him to resign.

“What good will it do the police to remove Bato?” he said, referring to Dela Rosa by his nickname. “If there are still scalawags and criminals inside Crame, they will continue with or without Bato.”

The New York-based Human Rights Watch called the pause in the anti-drug war in favor of internal cleansing as

“nothing less than an empty public relations gesture,” due to the lack of interest in a probe of the police killings of 2,546 suspected drug users and drug dealers since July 1.”

“If Duterte and Dela Rosa continue to spurn their sworn obligation to protect the public and respect rule of law, many more Filipinos are at risk of unlawful killing,” HRW deputy director for Asia Phelim Kine said.

“De la Rosa has made clear that he has no interest in accountability for those deaths—his stated priority is to purge police ranks.

Critics questioned the sincerity of Duterte’s outrage against corrupt police, and asked why the police had been given such a free hand to kill in the name of the drug war if he knew so many were corrupt.

“How can a corrupt and fascist police force, where impunity is the norm, successfully stamp out criminal activities such as the illegal drug trade,” said Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan, a coalition of leftist activist groups.

“The body count will continue to rise and more criminals in uniform will wreck havoc on the people.”

Duterte repeatedly told police during the election campaign and after assuming the presidency that he would shield them from prosecution if they killed people as part of the crime war.

He also told police at Dela Rosa’s birthday party this month he would tolerate them engaging in illegal activities to earn “sideline” money, as long as that did not involve drugs.

“Go into smuggling, just don’t do drugs,” Duterte said.

Duterte said at the party he sympathized with the police for getting such low salaries, and he understood that they needed to get more income from other ways.

“I mean I’m not saying that we have to do illegal things. What I’m saying is that until such time that we [the government] can give you more and somebody offers to help, take it,” he said.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Laity on Monday welcomed the government’s suspension of war against drugs.

“It’s a good development. I hope they really push through with it,” said Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the commission.

The Manila Auxiliary bishop noted if such operation will be stopped, it would also mean that the unexplained killings in the country will stop.

“Knowing that they’ve stopped the war on drugs, it means they should stop the extrajudicial killings,” the CBCP-ECL official added. With Sandy Araneta, Sara Susanne D. Fabunan, Maricel V. Cruz and AFP

Miss Colombia appeared to allude to Trump when asked why violence was prevalent in the world.

“Although there are presidents who don’t get along with others, we work together to unite. Campaigns, respect and inclusivity to be able to have a social transformation that would educate our children,” said Andrea Tovar, 23.

Monday’s show was headlined by US performers including Grammy award-winning rhythm and blues group Boyz II Men and rapper and Grammy award nominee Flo Rida.

Pia Wurtzbach of the Philippines won last year following a major blunder in which the host—Emmy Award winner Steve Harvey—mistakenly awarded the title to Miss Colombia.

Harvey corrected the error minutes later, apologizing on air to Wurtzbach and Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez.

The mistake featured prominently on Monday’s show, with candidates and the home audience often ribbing Harvey about it.

“Steve, I never got to thank you but thank you for making me the most popular Miss Universe,” Wurtzbach told Harvey at the opening of show.

Harvey this year got through the closing moments of the ceremony smoothly.

The Philippines agreed to host the pageant as part of efforts to draw tourists and investors.

Beauty pageants are also hugely

popular in the Philippines, particularly among the tens of millions of poor who see the contests as a chance for their beautiful compatriots to live a life of fame and luxury.

But allowing the Philippines to host has proved controversial, with critics claiming the pageant would whitewash Duterte’s brutal drug war, which has left more than 6,000 people dead.

Environmentalists also hit out at pageant organizers for letting the bikini-clad contestants swim last month with endangered whale sharks.

Mittenaere, who turned 24 five days before the grand coronation, was born in the north of France in Lille and represented Nord-Pas-de-Calais during the Miss France national pageant. She is a model and currently pursuing a degree in dental surgery.

The 5-foot-7 stunner is the first European winner since 1990 and the second woman from her country to win the crown after Christiane Martel won in Miss Universe 1953 breaking France’s 63-year title drought. It’s also the third time that France made it to the top six since the pageant’s inception in 1952.

Philippine bet Maxine Medina had a top six finish along with Miss Thailand and Miss Kenya. Rounding up the top 13 were Miss USA, Miss Canada, Miss Peru, Miss Brazil, Miss Indonesia, Miss Panama and Miss Mexico.

With AFP, PNA

CIDG, with a mandate to undertake monitoring, investigation and prosecution of all crimes of such magnitude and extent as to indicate their commission by highly placed or professional syndicates and organization, has lost its subpoena powers,” Lacson said in his sponsorship speech.

Lacson, a former PNP chief, said it would be difficult for the PNP’s investigative arm to complete a thorough investigation with the removal of its subpoena powers.

Without the subpoena powers, he

pointed out, investigations would be incomplete and government resources would be wasted.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon said there was “every reason to grant such authority to the PNP chief who has control and supervision over lower-ranked officials, like the director and the deputy director of the CIDG.” Lacson and Drilon agreed that the subpoena powers should be limited to the PNP Chief, the CIDG director and deputy director and that those powers may not be delegated to other officers.

“When I said I’ll protect the police, I’ll protect the police. But I won’t protect lying,” Duterte said.

“This killing a Korean...They could have killed, strangled him anywhere but… it had to happen inside Camp Crame. [This] is really bad, we admit that. Something has to be corrected severely.”

“Because of this sordid incident, let me reorganize the system. My enemies here are the police who are criminals,” Duterte said, referring to them several times as sons of bitches.

His comments came seven months after he took office and immediately tasked police with being the frontline troops in his plans to wipe out the illegal drug trade that he said was threatening to turn the Philippines into a narco state.

Since then, police have reported shooting dead more than 2,500 people they have accused of being drug suspects, alleging on every occasion they had to open fire in self-defense.

Human rights groups and relatives of some of the victims have alleged police frequently shoot dead defenseless people, and often plant drugs and a gun on the bullet-riddled corpse.

Nearly 4,000 other people have died in unexplained circumstances in the crackdown, according to official figures.

Many of those victims have had signs placed on them labeling them drug traffickers or users.

On Monday, Dela Rosa said he would create a Counter Intelligence Task Force composed of 100 policemen headed by an official “with integrity and good morals” to go after scalawags inside the police force.

“This unit will police the police. We will ensure that the leader is beyond question, beyond doubt and with good moral character, and more importantly brave against bad policemen,” he said.

The new task force would concentrate on Metro Manila and Central Luzon, two regions that are supposed to be the most corrupt.

“For a start it will composed of 100 policemen composed of good men tasked to operate against scalawags in a syndicate,” Dela Rosa said, noting that the group will report directly to his office.

Dela Rosa said the involvement of rogue policemen in legitimate operations has tainted the government’s anti-illegal drugs war, with policemen planting evidence then extorting money from their victims.

He expressed regret that Duterte’s war on drugs would lose momentum as a result of the “stupidity” of some

France...

From A1 she said, adding she would advocate for good hygiene and educating children.

In the final question round, the six remaining contestants were each asked questions relating to various political issues in their own countries or abroad.

When asked about the global refugee crisis, Mittenaere said France had the right to close its borders to refugees if it wanted but she also spoke about the benefits of migration.

“In France we want to have the most globalization that we can. We want to have the biggest exchange of people that we can. Maybe someday that will change but now we have open borders,” Mittenaere said, with her comments translated into English for the audience.

“Having open borders allows us to travel more through the world and to find out more about what’s out there in the world.”

Miss Kenya, another finalist, said Donald Trump’s presidency “may not have been the choice of many people” in the United States.

“So many people oppose his position. But I feel that once [Trump] took up his position, he was able to unify the entire nation,” said Mary Esther Were, 27.

Senate...

From A1 Lacson said that when the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police were merged to establish the PNP under Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the “DILG Act of 1990,” most of the powers due the agency were carried over except for the subpoena powers.

“It seems absurd that the Criminal Investigation Unit, now known as the

Bomb...

From A1 treatment. We’re praying for their safety,” Alano said in a phone interview.

The commander of the Western Mindanao Command, Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. vowed to hunt down the perpetrators.

“This savagery and killing innocent civilians, including children is unacceptable,” Galvez said.

He said the ASG is killing civilians with their bombs especially “those who are not sympathetic to them” and refused sanctuary to them.

Alano said that last year, a similar attack was staged on Dec. 2 in Barangay Bohe, where two children perished.

On Monday, President Rodrigo Duterte said Isnilon Hapilon, the number two man in the Abu Sayyaf, is not the head of the terror group representing the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Philippines, which granted him the title of “Emir of Southeast Asia.”

“The greatest danger now that mankind is facing is really extremism,” Duterte said in a midnight press briefing.

“And [Hapilon] was already given the blessing to be the leader of ISIS. I don’t know if it covers Malaysia and Indonesia. But he is now the top honcho of the ISIS here. He is somewhere in Lanao and we have a full time military operation there,” he added.

Earlier, the military said Hapilon was gravely wounded and in need of a blood transfusion.

On Friday, Duterte threatened to call off the ongoing peace talks with Moro rebel groups should they provide refuge to ISIS terrorists in their territories.

Hapilon has been the figurehead of a handful of ISIS followers from different groups such as the Abu Sayyaf based in Basilan and Sulu, the Maute Group based in Butig, Lanao del Sur; the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters based in Central Mindanao, and Ansar al-Khilafa Philippines.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who was with Duterte in the joint command conference of the AFP and PNP, said Hapilon serves as the conduit to the ISIS “to find out if Central Mindanao is conducive to the establishment of an organization [provincial caliphate].”

Duterte said that he will engage in an all-out war against these terrorist groups, as he worked to contain the threat in Lanao del Sur, the stronghold of the Maute group.

“I have ordered a full-press military operation. I said to the military and the police, you embargo the place, you contain them in that area alone, Lanao,” the President said.

“I have also asked the Armed Forces to use all available assets and all the weaponry that’s at our disposal.” With PNA

US...

From A1 will not allow it,” Duterte said in a late Sunday night news conference.

“Provisions of the Visiting Forces [Agreement], there shall be no permanent facilities. A depot is by any other name a depot. It’s a permanent structure to house arms. I do not even know if there is a nuclear tip now that they are unloading.”

“There was no confirmed incident of this nature,” AFP spokesman Brig.

General Restituto Padilla said in a press briefing on Monday.

“This may have been a report on the previous joint exercises of the past years” when the US was allowed to bring tanks and other military hardware, Padilla said.

As of the moment, Padilla said, the Americans are only building facilities that may be used for disaster response.

“You place us all in danger. You do that and I will be there when you start building―even before you build the first post,” Duterte said after midnight of Sunday and Monday.

“You are egging us ... egging us [on] to force the issue of arbitral judgment.”

He made his statement even as the left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan supported his opposition to the US plan.

“We support President Duterte’s opposition to the construction of any US weapons depot in the country under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement,” the group said in a statement.

Bayan said Duterte was correct in pointing out that the US wished to preposition weapons in the Philippines, which would raise tensions in the region.

Duterte warned that should the American military presence in the country continue under the Edca, China might launch missiles against Philippine installations bearing American weaponry.

“Now, the missiles of China are pointed at the American expeditions.

The depots would serve as a supply line. Now, that will be the first thing to get hit by their missiles,” Duterte said.

“They will hit Cagayan, Palawan, Basa. So am I a fool? I won’t let it happen.”

Amid his continuing anti-American tirades, Duterte likewise sought an “urgent” appeal to his patron Beijing to provide precision-guided missiles to combat extremism in Mindanao.

“I have an urgent message to China to help us. If they have precision guided arms, a gun, give as a loan,” Duterte said.

“Certainly, I have to confront them... But now investments are coming in. They have answered projects that Congress won’t give Tugade,” he said referring to Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade.

He said the depots that the US would be building were “permanent facilities” and that would be unconstitutional. John Paolo Bencito, Sandy Araneta and Florante S. Solmerin

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

AMLC’s executive director Abad quits

By Julito G. Rada

A

NTI-MONEY Laundering Council executive director Julia Bacay-Abad officially announced her resignation from her post Monday, saying “recent developments” made her realize the agency would be more effective under a new leadership

Her resignation takes effect today. “… The recent developments that confronted the AMLC and its Secretariat gave me the occasion to realize that, though already resilient on its own, the AMLC Secretariat will be accorded with renewed strength through a transformed strategy. To be more effective,

the direction that the AMLC Secretariat will prospectively take would have to come from a new leadership,” Abad said in a statement sent to the press.

“This is not a decision that was taken lightly but I believe this is the right time for me to voluntarily relinquish my post as the executive director of the Anti-Money Laundering

Council Secretariat effective 31 January 2017,” Abad said.

Earlier reports (not in Manila Standard) speculated her resignation was due to the rumored low morale in the agency especially when President Rodrigo Duterte criticized its officials in his speeches.

The President in November warned AMLC and even Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to “cooperate or I will go to you.”

Abad said while the AMLC Secretariat strived to effectively discharge its functions, its hands remain tied and confronted with limitations in the form of legal and procedural restrictions that have repeatedly hampered the fast and efficient procurement of legal remedies.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have worked for

more than 10 years in the AMLC Secretariat with capable men and women of unsullied integrity who decided to dedicate themselves to be vanguards in this war against money laundering and terrorism financing. In putting the interest of the country first, I have witnessed how these men and women risk not only their lives but as well as that of their families in the performance of their duties,” she said.

She said the Council, the Secretariat, and the rest of the government and law enforcement agencies that supported the cause of the AMLC had all made great steps in creating a financial system that is not only stable and secure but one that has integrity.

“I am confident the next Executive Director of the AMLC Secretariat would not only continue the work that we have

done, but renew its strength as an institution,” she said.

She said her loyalty to the government and to the Filipino people would remain steadfast and reassured she would continue to serve this government in the best of her ability albeit in a different capacity.

Abad cited the recent accomplishments of the agency, including the amendments of the Anti-Money Laundering Act through the passage of Republic Act Nos. 10167 and 10365 to address the deficiencies earlier identified by the Financial Action Task Force in the country’s antimoney laundering and combating the financing of terrorism regime.

With the enactment of the said laws, the country was saved from being blacklisted by the FATF. In June 2013, after an on-site

visit to the country conducted by the FATF, the Philippines was finally removed from the FATF list of monitored jurisdictions.

In 2013 and 2014, the AMLC Secretariat simultaneously investigated several high profile cases which were predicated on plunder and/or corruption cases then being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Despite challenges on the AMLC Secretariat’s resources, its probe resulted in the freezing of multimillion pesos and, eventually, ripen into forfeiture cases now pending in court. One of the cases resulted in a civil forfeiture case filed by the AMLC before the Regional Trial Court in Manila against bank deposits, investments and other assets amounting to around P346 million and $697 thousand,” she said.

IN BRIEF Registration for alien deadline March 3, 2017 THE Bureau of Immigration on Monday said there would be no extension for the application of annual report for all foreign nationals staying in the Philippines as the deadline for the registration is on March 3, 2017.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente warned foreigners who failed to report for the annual registration would be deported.

“As of Jan. 26, a total 50,414 aliens have made their annual report as required under Republic Act 562 or the Alien Registration Act of 1950,” Morente said.

BI data revealed there were more than 500,000 foreigners in country living and staying in the country. Vito Barcelo

RoRo sets sail for Indonesia on April 28 THE Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo), which will connect Davao and General Santos City to Bitung, Indonesia is scheduled to set sail on April 28, an official of the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

In an interview, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said the formal launching of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung, Indonesia shipping service would be personally graced by President Rodrigo Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

“The launch of the Davao/ General Santos – Bitung Shipping Service is one of the target priorities for the Philippines’ Chairmanship of the Asean in 2017,” Jose said.

Jose said the Ro-Ro project was expected to spur not only the economic development of Mindanao and increase the per capita income of the Philippine coastal communities but also of the outlying islands including the main Sulawesi Island, particularly North Sulawesi.

Sara Susanne Fabunan

Kick the habit and save lives, Medgate urges GIVING up smoking could be the best new year’s resolution for the country’s 17-million smokers, saving smokers and their families from tens of thousands of pesos in potential medical costs.

Medgate Philippines Chief Executive Officer Robert Parker said the Department of Health should be commended for launching an aggressive anti-tobacco campaign that highlights the health and economic harms of smoking to families.

“Modern medicine allows us to address many of the health problems encountered by smokers, but the best solution to all these problems is simply quitting,” said Parker, whose company, Medgate Philippines, is the leading international provider of telemedicine, with operations in Switzerland, the Middle East, Australia, and the Philippines.

POLITICAL ISSUES. Former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Francisco Tatad tackle different topics, including US President Donald Trump and President Rodrigo Duterte’s pivot toward China at the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Monday. Lino Santos

DoJ’s Aguirre hits back at Trillanes Purisima posts

By Rey Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday slammed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for insinuating he was aware of the illegal operations of online gaming mogul Jack Lam as early as 2013, saying the opposition solon has no proof to back up his allegation.

“As usual, he has no evidence to back up his accusations. His factual allegation is false,” Aguirre said in an interview.

Trillanes earlier claimed the Justice secretary already knew about Lam’s illegal online gambling operation in the country as early as 2013.

The senator said Aguirre served as vice president and chief legal counsel of Clark Development Corp. during the Aquino administration, thus, the Cabinet official knew then that laws were being violated

by Lam. Lam operated an online casino in Fon-

tana Leisure Parks and Casino in Clark, Pampanga which illegally employed Chinese workers.

They were later arrested after authorities raided the hotel on Nov. 24, 2016.

But Aguirre stressed he had never met Lam when he was general counsel of CDC. “I never knew or met Jack Lam when I was General Counsel of CDC. I was with CDC for five months only, from the third week of March to August 31, 2013,” Aguirre said. ‘‘Where did he get false information that I stayed with CDC for three years? He should check his facts first,” he said.

Aguirre earlier accused Trillanes and Senator Leila De Lima of plotting to provide legislative immunity to ex-BI associate commissioners Al Argosino and Michael Robles in exchange for pinpointing him as involved in the bribery scandal.

According to him, the senators would

not be able to pin him down or find any evidence to implicate him to the shakedown operation of Lam after his workers were arrested for working illegally in his online gambling business since Argosino and Robles had cleared him of any involvement.

He said even police general Charles Calima also cleared him of any involvement in the P50-million bribery scandal that eventually led to the firing of Argosino and Robles.

Aguirre said if Trillanes and De Lima persisted in their efforts to link him to the controversy, he was prepared to face them. ”I’m looking forward to the Feb. 7 hearing. Bring it on, Trillanes and De Lima,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre asked De Lima why Lam was allowed to operate his illegal online gambling business for a long time without the BI conducting any probe during her term as DoJ chief.

POST ANALYSIS.

Leyte Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez (left), discussing with Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Divina Yu the country’s hosting of the Miss Universe pageant Monday, intends to file a resolution in Congress congratulating and commending Miss U candidate Maxene Medina of the Philippines. Ver Noveno

bail at S’bayan

By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima on Monday posted bail at the Sandiganbayan for the “graft and usurpation of public functions charges” filed against him in connection with the gruesome Mamasapano incident in 2015.

A total P20,000 bail was posted by Purisima: P10,000 for graft and P10,000 for usurpation of public functions—based on the recommendation of the Ombudsman.

PNP Special Action Force director Getulio Napeñas Jr. is also a respondent in the case.

The Ombudsman filed the charges against Purisima and Napeñas on the eve of the second anniversary of the Mamasapano clash last Jan. 24.

Purisima and Napeñas, the Ombudsman said, violated Section 3(a) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.

The Ombudsman, in separate three-page informations, said Purisima, even if under preventive suspension, “unlawfully and feloniously” took part in the planning and execution of the so-called Oplan Exodus.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCEMENT President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has submitted to the Commission on Appointments (C.A.) for confirmation the nominations and ad interim appointments of the following officials: Department of Foreign Affairs (nominations) Mr. Abdulmaid Kiram Muin – as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, with the salary and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I; Mr. Evan Pumaren Garcia – Chief of Mission, Class I, as Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; and Ms. Celia Anna Mallari Feria – Chief of Mission, Class II, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Portuguese Republic, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Cabo Verde, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and the Republic of Angola Armed Forces of the Philippines (ad interim appointments) Narciso A. Vingson, Jr. – Vice Admiral; Paul T. Atal – Major General The public may submit any information, written report, or sworn/ notarized complaints or oppositions in forty (40) copies on the above nominations and appointments to the CA Secretariat, 6th Floor, PNB Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

For the schedule of the public hearings and any other inquiry, contact the CA Secretariat through telephone numbers 551-7532, 831-0893, 8311824, 834-2706, 831-1566 and 834-2713.

30 January 2017.

HECTOR A. VILLACORTA Secretary (MS-JAN. 31, 2017)

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Opinion

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Beyond our control

I

N THE Book of Genesis, God commanded Noah to build a boat that would hold each species; 40 days and 40 nights of continuous rain—a punishment from heaven—would bring flooding, destruction and death.

NOAH is also the acronym for Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards. It is a project of the Department of Science and Technology that seeks to empower communities through access to accurate, reliable and timely hazard and risk information.

The project essentially uses scientific methods

Adelle Chua, Editor

to intelligently predict where disaster is likely to strike and in what manner. Through maps, local governments and communities are fed accurate information so that they can better anticipate disasters, take precaution, prepare for when they strike and rebuild and rehabilitate faster, afterward.

Since 2012, it has seen both success and recognition. Several local and international civil society organizations have partnered with the people behind NOAH; the maps, particularly, have served as essential tools in the disaster risk reduction and management activities of local governments.

Over the weekend, however, news reports had it that Project Noah would only have until the end of February; it will be shut down because of lack of funds. Its executive director, Mahar Lag-

may, said they were informed their request for project extension would not be approved.

Last year, Lagmay added, the scientists working under the program waited five months for their salaries. The previous year, salaries were delayed three to four months and some of the experts had to leave in search of stable jobs.

The executive director added, sounding cryptic, that there are officials who had been trying to make life difficult for NOAH for a long time— even before the Duterte

administration came in.

It appears, then, that funding is not the cause of—just a tool for—the project’s woes.

If there is any evidence at all that the project is a waste of time and resources, and that it has failed to fulfill its mandate, by all means cut the funding and set up something better. The administration, however, should not toy with what is happening if the project delivers some tangible, substantive good for the people, especially those who would not oth-

erwise have access to the input it provides.

But if it does any real good at all, then the Science and Technology secretary should look into the matter and quell ugly politics or any other controversy.

Shutting down a government unit known for the competence and dedication of its people, especially if it promises to save lives and livelihood, would be unwarranted punishment on a country still trying to make itself resilient in the face of forces beyond its control.

SOS for Project Noah

Roadblock cleared LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES ONE of the most controversial holdover officials of the Aquino administration has resigned. And with Julia Bacay Abad out of the way, perhaps the prosecution of the country’s top “narcos” and their protectors in government may now proceed unimpeded.

Abad, the head of the AntiMoney Laundering Council, said she resigned to give the Duterte administration a free hand in pursuing charges against drug syndicates and other persons of interest that the President has accused the agency of protecting. Abad issued a lengthy statement to media detailing her accomplishments as AMLC executive director, but did not admit that the agency had been used by the previous administration in order to persecute its avowed enemies.

Abad’s resignation came in the wake of repeated accusations made by President Rodrigo Du-

terte and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre that the AMLC was not acting quickly enough to help in the prosecution of persons believed to have amassed huge amounts of money from the illegal drug trade. Duterte has also declared that the AMLC has allowed itself to be used by his political enemies, particularly Senator Antonio Trillanes, who alleged right before the May 9 elections that then-candidate Duterte had stashed away hundreds of millions in ill-gotten wealth in an Ortigas-area bank.

The AMLC has been the subject of intense criticism ever since supposedly secret bank records of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona mysteriously appeared during his impeachment trial in the Senate. Abad’s agency has also drawn flak for issuing controversial freeze orders on the assets of former Vice President Jejomar Binay and his family and his close associates, as well as those belonging to businessman Roberto Ongpin.

Abad was reportedly appointed to the top AMLC post in 2013

through the intercession of then Senate President Franklin Drilon. (While the heads of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Insurance Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission jointly head up the agency, it is the executive director

Perhaps the long-delayed prosecution of De Lima may now proceed apace. who wields the real power to go after money launderers.)

While Duterte has railed against the alleged inaction of the AMLC, it was Aguirre who pointed out that the agency has not even provided his department with the data in its possession that will be used

in prosecuting persons suspected of involvement in the illegal drug trade. Aguirre said that AMLC has only recently submitted the results of its investigation into the bank accounts of the three so-called “narco-generals” linked by the president to the drug trade —many months after they were identified

by Duterte as protectors of narcotics syndicates.

Aguirre has also complained that the inaction of the AMLC on his department’s requests to look into the bank accounts of Senator Leila de Lima is keeping him from filing “airtight” charges against the lawmaker. With Abad gone, perhaps the long-delayed prosecution of the senator who is widely believed to have profited immensely from the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary may now proceed apace. *** The Western media was all over the Philippines’ case for electing Rodrigo Duterte president last May. They had no idea that just a few months later, the United States would choose Donald J. Trump to be the new “leader of the free world”—and that they

would witness their world turned upside down.

Chaos was the order of the day in many major ports of entry in the US, as Trump’s executive order banning people bearing passports from Syria and six other predominantly Muslim nations took effect over the weekend.

The order sparked a new wave of protests at the already-crowded American airports where the “screening” was being conducted

by US immigration authorities.

Reports of families being prevented from reuniting, of key employees of large US corporations unable to return to work and of refugees who have undergone and passed stringent vetting processes being denied entry filled the American press. And Trump, as Al Pacino’s character in the movie “Scent of A Woman” said memorably, was just getting warmed up.

A federal judge has restrained Trump from implementing his controversial order, widely called the “Muslim ban” even if it did not cover citizens of all nations that are mostly Islamic in populaTurn to A5

STRONGER storms and floods are coming our way. There is no uncertainty about this. Climate change is here and we have seen the deaths and devastation that it causes. In 2013, thousands were killed in the wake of the storm surge that accompanied “Yolanda.” In 2012, Typhoon “Pablo” destroyed houses and livelihoods in Southern Mindanao. Typhoon “Ruby” did the same in 2014. And just this past week, we saw how rain alone caused such damage in many parts of Cagayan de Oro City. Fortunately, unlike in 2011 when “Sendong” brought flash floods to my home city and killed thousands, there were no casualties from last week’s floods. The reason: early warnings were given and vulnerable communities and residents were evacuated in a timely manner.

This culture of early warning and timely evacuation has saved many lives in the last five years.

There is one reason for this: Project NOAH, the Department of Science and Technology’s response to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.

Started in 2012, Project Noah was designed to harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities. It is a project led by the DoST through Pagasa, Phivolcs and the DoST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), in partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering. Its project director, Dr. Mahar Lagmay, is one of the most brilliant, imaginative and committed disaster scientists in the world. Indeed, Project Noah is the envy of many countries.

According to its website, Project Noah has the following components: “Distribution of Hydro Meteorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet). A total of 600 automated rain gauges (ARG) and 400 water level monitoring stations (WLMS) will be installed along the country’s 18 major river basins (RBs) by December 2013 to provide a better picture of the country’s surface water in relation to flooding.

Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation— Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project. The project, which is targeted to be completed by December 2013, aims to produce more accurate flood inundation and hazard Turn to A5

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Opinion FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

Guilty as hell

Roadblock...

From A4 tion. The order has incensed civil liberties groups and many members of Congress, who pointed out that it was not well thought out nor properly coordinated with agencies like the State Department.

But Trump appears hell-bent on fulfilling the most controversial of his campaign promises, including building a wall across the US’ border with Mexico by having Mexicans pay for it, by way of new taxes on imports sent over by its southern neighbor.

In just a week in office, Trump

has already declared that he was withdrawing US participation in and support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and called for the repeal of the universal health care program nicknamed Obamacare, both of which were key initiatives of his predecessor, Barack Obama.

I insist that the only real thing Duterte and Trump have in common is that they were both elected by voters tired with government as usual. Trump is by far the more unpredictable of the two—and the coming days will prove just how much more difficult it will be for Americans to adjust to their new president than Filipinos have had under Duterte.

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Parsing Trump

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

NOW that the Miss Universe fe- tary Mar Roxas and then PNP ver has died down, one question Chief Leonardo Espina. Clearly, I’d like to ask is: What did the Aquino did not trust Roxas and event do for us Filipinos, and Espina.

As chief executive and comthe nation as a whole?

Sure, with the Philippines mander-in-chief, BS Aquino hosting the event, millions of had the authority to make the people worldwide now know AFP send military assistance to more about our country and its the beleaguered SAF members.

BS claimed that he ran low attractions. They have surely on battery in his mobile phone. heard about our hospitality.

All things considered, Santa Can you believe that, a president Banana, it was a pleasant diver- not knowing what was happension from all the bad things that ing during a sensitive operation are being said about the coun- just because he was “low bat?”

It is utter incompetence and try, especially with more than 6,000 already killed in Presi- criminal neglect on the part of dent Duterte’s brutal war on il- Aquino. No wonder even that legal drugs. These killings have Senate investigation was clear become the new normal for Fili- that he bore ultimate responsibility for what happened. pinos.

He blames Napeñas? Why not With so many reports of rogue cops and scalawags in his friend, Purisima, whom he uniform—they who are sup- put in control of the operation? posed to protect us in the first Then again, that would be out of place—I would like to know character, wouldn’t it?

Did Palace Peace Process Adhow we can still feel safe in our viser Teresita Deles order the homes or on the streets.

AFP to stand down, as reported, *** When the grieving fami- because she feared it may affect lies of the 44 members of the the peace process with the Moro Special Action Force killed in Islamic Liberation Front? She Mamasapano were invited to has already denied these accuMalacañang by President Rod- sations.

Or was it just Mr. Aquino berigo Duterte, they were expecting that many of their lingering ing his usual self—lacking in empathy and compassion? questions would be answered.

Other quesS a d l y enough, the tions that President raised comes to mind are: Who got the same questhe $5-million tions. He did What kind of reward offered promise them by the US Fedthat he would president blames eral Bureau of create a com- a subordinate?

Investigation mission to find for the head of out how and why the masMarwan? And, sacre happened, was it a Central and more importantly, who Intelligence Agency operation should be held responsible. At as claimed by Duterte?

Aquino himself admitted that least Mr. Duterte was frank enough to say that his predeces- the Americans had furnished sor, former President Benigno intelligence reports and even Aquino III, should be held ac- sent a drone to track Marwan.

And the finger of Marwan was countable.

True to form, BS Aquino’s sent to the Federal Bureau of spokesmen said what were be- Investigation, not our National ing presented were “alternative Bureau of Investigation.

Perhaps the said commission facts.” This was clearly an insult to the intelligence of many who can clear the air.

Why, too, did the Ombudsknew what happened when a combined force of Moro Islamic man charge only Purisima and Liberation Front, Bangsamoro Napenas, but not Aquino? OmIslamic Freedom Fighters and budsman Conchita Carpio Moprivate armed groups slaugh- rales knows that once BS Aquitered the 44 SAF members on a no was no longer President, he lost that immunity and could be cornfield.

The 44 men were sent on a charged as a private person.

Was Morales protecting the mission called Oplan Exodus, to neutralize Marwan, a known man who appointed her to the Malaysian terrorist, and another job? If so, that would be an Filipino, also involved in terror- impeachable offense—betrayal of public trust and culpable ism.

But, my gulay, what hap- violation of the Constitution.

To me, BS Aquino was and is pened after the SAF killed Marwan in a shack (and got his fin- to blame for the deaths of the 44 ger as proof) clearly raises some SAF men. The widows and orquestions that should be answer phans must be given justice.

The Mamasapano massacre

by BS Aquino.

The question was—and still could well be the legacy of BS is—why the Armed Forces of the Aquino. He always blames othPhilippines did not help the SAF ers and does not take any remembers, knowing full well that sponsibility for his mistakes. *** they were being slaughtered not We have seen to what extent too far away from them?

BS Aquino we clearly ly- the rogue members of the police ing through his teeth when he and scalawags in uniform can said that what happened was go to violate the law.

They have the guns. And the fault of SAF Chief Executive Getulio Napeñas. The latter now they have been emboldsupposedly disobeyed orders to ened by President Duterte telling them that he would defend coordinate with the military.

Santa Banana, what kind of and protect them.

Senator Ping Lacson, a forpresident blames a subordinate?

It was clear that from beginning mer PNP Chief himself, has to end of that operation, only shown us footage of the extent three people were involved: to which these rogue policemen President Aquino, his best would justify their acts. I have friend former PNP Chief Alan been told that many more would Purisima, and Napeñas. rather keep silent than come out Why didn’t Mr. Aquino in public for fear of retaliation. blame Purisima instead? PuriThe climate of fear in the consima was suspended at that text of the war on illegal drugs time. Aquino broke the chain is bad enough. The fact that it of command, bypassing Interior is the police who are now the and Local Government Secre- criminals makes it worse.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

“TRUMP: no visas for 7 Muslim countries!” cried out the story headline in this paper last Sunday.

As it turned out, the reality was less alarming. Visitors from those countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen) will not be able to travel to the US for 90 days while the US government sets up tougher new procedures for “extreme vetting” of those countries’ nationals.

Less well-treated was America’s entire refugee resettlement program, which was suspended for 120 days while the vetting procedures are likewise toughened up. And worst off were refugees specifically from Syria, who are banned indefinitely until no less than the president changes his mind.

As of November 2015, according to the previous Obama administration, Syrian refugees numbered less than 2,000, of whom only 2 percent were single males of “combat age.” Of course that still works out to about 40 men, more than enough in the worst case to put together a good-sized cell of “sleepers.”

Critics have pointed out that none of the seven affected countries were involved in 9/11. They conveniently forget all those past incidents that earned them America’s ire: the American hostages taken from the Tehran embassy nearly 40 years ago, the killing of the US ambassador in Benghazi, the parading of dead American

Blackhawk pilots through the streets of Mogadishu, the various bombings of American facilities in Sudan and Yemen.

Movies have been made of these incidents, ensuring them a place in American demonology.

Trump, however, made an exception for minorities, e.g. Christians, who may be fleeing from the Muslim majorities in those countries. This was predictably criticized by Arab-American community leaders as religious discrimination.

Unfortunately for them, the world still has to hear of Christians in the Middle East—or pretty much anywhere else for that matter—beheading their opponents and screaming for destruction of the Great Satan. It’s hard to demonize someone who isn’t acting like one.

For a long time now, responsible Muslim leaders have been urged to do a lot more to clean up their ranks and speak up more forcefully for Western values. Judging from the recent misbehavior of many of their refugees in the European nations who took them in, not enough has been said or done.

Now they’re having to learn, as a result, that if you won’t stop dancing with the devil, you’ll have to pay the piper. As a two-fisted businessman who’s fast learning the ropes in politics, Trump won’t waste this opportunity to ride on American hostility in order to introduce homeland security reforms that, upon the closest evaluation, may well turn out to be needed. *** On the brighter side of the ledger, Trump also revived the “Mexi-

co City initiative,” a longstanding executive order—abandoned under Obama—to withhold federal funds from organizations that promote abortion abroad.

Around the same time, the US House of Representatives also voted to outright defund Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest provider of abortion services. The measure is likely to pass the Senate, also controlled by the Republicans, and obtain a presidential signature soon.

Legislation has also been introduced that would, for example, prohibit abortion as soon as the doctor detects a fetal heartbeat.

And with the impending appointment of a new Supreme Court justice from the conservative camp, the country edges closer to the long-sought repeal of the Roe vs.

Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.

This year’s annual March for Life by the pro-life crowd in Washington, D.C. was addressed for the first time ever by an American vice president, the newly elected Mike Pence, with Trump as well tweeting his support from inside the White House.

Whether Trump did this as a repayment of campaign debt to his supporters, or out of genuine conversion, what will count is the consistency of the support he will give to the pro-life constituency.

All of this may seem foreign to Filipinos. After all, abortion is proscribed by no less than our Constitution, which (thanks to the devout Tita Cory) adopted the Church definition of life as beginning “from conception until natural death.” In a country that is uniquely attached to the

Santo Nino, our sheer love of children could never brook such a legalized crime.

The situation has always been different in the US and the rest of the West. And yet, most recently, the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute reported a drop in the US abortion rate, from nearly 2 million a year several years ago, to less than a million today. For the tide to be truly turning is certainly something to wish for. *** It seems that the US is relearning how to value the truly innocent—the unborn—even as it is re-learning common sense in dealing with refugees who are only presumptively innocent.

Catholics who are politically as well as socially conservative can only applaud.

Save for one voice who is conspicuously missing: the shepherd no less of all those Catholics.

In his pronouncements to date, the Holy Father has maintained absolute silence on the impending rollback of abortion in the US—a sin for which one could get excommunicated under Church dogma. Instead, he has chosen to pontificate against Trump’s hardline on refugees and immigrants, going so far as to indirectly describe the new president as “Hitler-like.”

With all due respect to His Holiness, we pray that he will sort out the proper priorities for the Church he leads, listening to Sacred Scripture and Tradition as well as the contentious voices of his flock.

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

‘Systems-generated’ extortion must end HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA THE cost of electricity in the Philippines is one of the most expensive in Asia in current times. As a consequence, foreign investors are discouraged from putting up production sites in the country. Those who do, either out of optimism or unmitigated zeal, end up pulling out and relocating elsewhere in Southeast Asia, where electricity bills are less prohibitive. Many simply farm out their production needs to factories and sweatshops in mainland China.

When foreign investors withdraw from the Philippines and relocate to other countries, more Filipinos join the unemployment line. To say the obvious, that’s bad news for the Philippine economy.

Electricity is expensive in the Philippines today because of the multi-layered process by which electricity is purchased and distributed to consumers. It becomes even more expensive because Congress enacted a law which allows electric power distributors like the Manila Electric Company to charge their so-called “systemsgenerated losses” to consumers.

As far as the existing legal arrangement is concerned, “systems-generated losses” are losses supposedly incurred by the power distributor in the course of selling electricity to its consumers —homes, offices, establishments, and local government units. This term seems broad enough to include the cost of pilfered electricity, as well as stolen equipment and

SOS...

From A4 maps in 3D for the country’s floodprone and major river systems and watersheds.

Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR. The project, which is targeted to be completed

by December 2014, shall use LIDAR technology and computerassisted analyses to identify exact areas prone to landslides.

Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM). CHASSAM, which is targeted to be completed

by December 2014, will generate wave surge, wave refraction, and coastal circulation models to understand and recommend solutions for coastal erosion.

Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project. Targeted to be completed by December 2013 is a flood center that will provide timely and accurate information for flood early warning systems.

The FloodNET Project will come up with computer models for the critical RBs, automate the process

supplies used by the power distributor in servicing its customers.

The amount corresponding to the “systems-generated loss” of each month is calculated by the power distributor, and this cost is passed on to the consumer on a proportionate basis, depending on the extent of the consumer’s actual monthly energy consumption.

In other words, if a consumer uses one percent of the total electricity sold by the power distributor for a particular month, the same consumer must pay the power distributor an amount equivalent to one percent of the total “systemsgenerated loss.” That amount is in addition to the cost of electricity the consumer actually used for that particular month.

The actual figures corresponding to the “systems-generated loss” is supposedly calculated by the power distributor. Whether these figures are correct, or whether they are subjected to an external audit, is unclear. As a result, many consumers suspect that the amounts they are required to pay for “systems-generated loss” are arbitrary figures.

What is more unsettling is that power distributors are allowed to charge the cost of all the electricity, supplies, and equipment supposedly pilfered from them to the “systems-generated loss” which the consumer must pay for. This includes electricity, supplies, and equipment stolen due to the failure of the power distributor to observe care and diligence.

In other words, the cost of the electricity, supplies, and equipment stolen from the power distributor, including those stolen because of the administrative incompetence of its officers or employees, or the negligence of

its personnel, or insufficient security services, are charged to the consumer.

Precisely because of this existing arrangement (where the helpless consumer is made to pay for every loss), there is no incentive for the power distributor to exercise due diligence to prevent the pilferage of electricity and the theft of company supplies, and equipment. Why should the power distributor observe diligence when somebody else will answer for the power distributor’s incompetence and recklessness?

Why should the power distributor spend money to hire more competent administrators, more efficient engineers, and more reliable security personnel to minimize, if not eliminate pilferage, when the consumer is required by law to shoulder the cost of such pilferage? No other business enterprise has it this good, and with the support of legislation, too!

There is more bad news for the consumer. The amount of money the consumer must pay as his share of the monthly “systems generated loss” is subjected to a value-added tax (VAT)! Imagine that! The consumer must pay a twelve percent tax for electricity the consumer did not use in the first place! Moreover, that’s tax paid by the consumer for the power distributor’s inefficient operations! In fine, that’s state-supported extortion plain and simple.

In past congresses, at least two bills seeking to do away with this onerous “systems-generated loss” racket were filed in the House of Representatives. Not a single hearing was held regarding either of them.

The VAT the government collects pursuant to this “systems

generated loss” runs to billions of pesos every year. Eliminate the “systems-generated loss” and you eliminate the VAT. Maybe this is the reason why the government during the past six years refused to put an end to this racket.

For the record, the Liberal Party was in power during the six years comprising both congresses. LP stalwart Leni Robredo, the current vice president whose highly controversial victory is being contested by ex-Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was a member of the House during the last Congress. She didn’t do anything to stop this racket.

The electric power industry is a public utility, which means that it is a business coupled with a very high degree of public interest.

Under the law governing public utilities, and because of the big investments needed in the business of power distribution, the State is obligated to protect a public utility from cut-throat competitors.

In exchange for this protection, the public utility is not allowed to impose prohibitive charges on its customers. The “systems-generated loss” allowed by existing legislation goes against this propeople blueprint.

The good news is that one congressman and one senator have filed separate bills, once again seeking to dispense with the “systems-generated loss” racket. Filing these bills is not enough, though.

The committees on energy of both the House and the Senate must act on these bills quickly and cause the immediate enactment of remedial legislation against this statetolerated anomaly.

It’s about time this institutionalized racket is halted. The public interest demands it.

of data gathering, modeling and information output, and release flood forecasts.

Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS). LaDDeRS seeks to develop local capacity to design, fabricate, and operate sub-systems of Doppler radars for remotely sensing the dynamic parameters of sea surface such as wave, wind field, and surface current velocity.

Landslide Sensors Development Project. This project is a low-cost, locally developed, sensor-based early monitoring and warning system for landslides, slope failures, and debris flow. As of May 2012, ten sensors have been installed in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte; Tago, Surigao del Sur; Tublay, Bugias, and Bokod in Benguet; Guihulngan City, Negros Occidental; St. Bernard, Southern Leyte; and Tubungan, Iloilo. Additional sensors are expected to be deployed to not less than 50 sites by 2013.

Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). WHIP involves the utilization of platforms such as television (DOSTv) and a web portal (http://noah.dost.gov.ph), which

display real-time satellite, Doppler radar, ARG, and WLMS data to empower LGUs and communities to prepare against extreme natural hazards. This is complemented by activities, such as: a) conducting of IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities; and b) the processing and packaging of relevant and up-to-date information for public use.”

These components are essential in the world of changing climate and immense disaster risks. If anything, what is clear is that Project Noah should not be just an ordinary project. It should in fact be institutionalized, made permanent, with an assured budget.

Alas, it looks like this is not the future of Project Noah. According to news reports, due to “lack of funds” for the program, it will be abandoned. Lagmay confirmed this sad news to Rappler over the weekend, saying the program will only run until Feb. 28 since there are no more funds for it.

According to Lagmay, they have been informed that the Project’s request for extension would not be approved.

Lagmay made sure that the Duterte administration was not to be solely blamed for this. In the Rappler interview, he “clarified this began under the Aquino administration, when mid-level officials of the DoST, who are still in government, told them there were no funds for the project.” “These officials are still with the government until now,” Lagmay is quoted.

I do not know why the DoST would not support Project Noah.

Its current Secretary, Fortunato De la Peña, is a good scientist and an excellent pubic servant. I cannot imagine him not being supportive of Project Noah. Likewise, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno understands disasters very well. I cannot think of any reason why he would withhold budgetary support for Project Noah.

It would be good to know what the replacement would be for Project Noah, if there are any. Otherwise, we are going into the future blind—and only death and devastation will be the result of that.

Facebook: deantonylavs Twitter: tonylavs

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News Rody ‘respects’ US visa policy

PINAY CULTURAL PRIDE. Filipina millennials, both Muslims and Christians, assert their cultural identity in a bid to raise awareness for peace, understanding and women’s rights on World Hijab Day at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City. Lino Santos

IN BRIEF PH, RU forge agri trade pact THE Philippines is poised to export more agricultural products to Russia, as the two countries have agreed to increase the volume of bilateral trade.

During a recent meeting with delegates of the Russia-Philippines Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, the Department of Agriculture implored the possibility of bringing the local okra, avocado and calamansi to the Russian markets.

Russia is also looking at importing Philippine bananas, mangoes and pineapple bits and seeks to increase the volume of carageenan seaweeds being imported to the country.

“In behalf of Secretary Manny Piñol, the Department hopes to pursue more agricultural cooperation with your country,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Ariel T. Cayanan.

Alexander Tysbulskiy, cochairman of the Joint Commission, said Russian companies were keen on exporting grains such as wheat and barley, among others, to the Philippines.

Russia is one of the biggest grain exporters, shipping over 40 million tons of grains every year to different countries.

The Russian delegates said they were also interested in exporting pork, cattle and poultry meat.

“The advantage of Russia, compared to other grain-exporting countries, is your short distance to the Philippines,” Cayanan added.

Cayanan, however, stressed that even with the Philippines’ open-market, Russia still needs to follow and pass restrictions set by the government.

A group of 19 Russian officials and economic leaders met with DA heads to explore possible business and agricultural ties to the country during a meeting last Jan. 26. PNA

Court releases Iligan mayor CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— Imprisoned Iligan City Mayor Celso Regencia was released from detention Monday morning on orders of the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City.

Regencia was detained on charges of multiple murder and frustrated murder in connection with the attempted slaying of Rep. Vicente Belmonte who was ambushed on his way home a few kilometers from the Laguindingan airport in 2014.

Belmonte survived but his three bodyguards, including an enlisted police officer, was killed in the ambuscade.

The RTC dismissed the charges after the court found out that the witness was not credible and that the arresting police officers recanted their testimonies and admitted to having planted the evidence against Regencia.

Regencia attended the flagraising ceremony Monday morning to the surprise and delight of the City Hall employees who was unaware of his release. PNA

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte respects United States President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily banning citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for the next 90 days.

“You know, Trump said [when we spoke], I will not interfere in the affairs of other countries.

Now, if he has policies to protect his country, I’ll understand because he said [the US] will not interfere in our anti-drug war,” Duterte said in a press conference late Sunday night.

“You’re doing it right. As a matter of fact, my country is also facing the same serious problem,” the President added.

During their phone conversation last Dec. 3, President Duterte said then US President-elect Trump admitted to him that the US is also facing a serious problem on illegal drugs.

“So out of respect, I can only answer him in the manner that he has told me. I will not inter-

fere,” Duterte said, adding that Filipinos in the US should be on the right track.

“If you are not allowed to stay there, get out, because if you are caught and deported, we will not lift a finger. You know it’s a violation of the law,” he said.

But if there is a compelling reason to do so, Duterte said he is ready to provide sanctuary for those Muslim refugees who will be affected by Trump’s order with the concurrence of the Philippine Congress.

“In the name of humanity and God, we’ll have to make some adjustments. If there is a compelling reason for us to offer sanctuary, I’m one of those that it is okay for me,” the President said.

“Those who have no place to go, if they cannot go anywhere, anymore, except to face death by hunger, we will consider it but it has to be with the concurrence of Congress. I have no problem accepting refugees,” he added. PNA

Duterte okays loan fund F

By John Paolo Bencito

OR the first time in 10 years, the en banc assembly of the National Anti-Poverty Commission convened on Monday with President Rodrigo Duterte pledging a P1-billion loanable fund for farmers and fisherfolk affected by natural calamities, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

The fund will be part of the Department of Agriculture’s Survival and Recovery Loan Program announced during the NAPC en banc assembly at Malacañang.

The last NAPC en banc assembly was held on July 30, 2007, during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. No en banc assembly was held during the entire

six years of President Benigno Aquino.

“During the discussions, [the President] asked me to make an update on the DA’s anti-poverty program along with food production projects,” Piñol said.

“Towards the end of my report, I mentioned the SURE Loan Program which I asked the Agriculture Credit Policy Council to design following a visit I made to the flood stricken provinces in Mindanao,” he added.

The program shall provide two packages: the Survival Package of P15,000 for food and subsistence and the Recov-

ery Package of P20,000 that farmers and fishermen can use “to buy fertilizers and farm inputs to be able to recover.”

“The loan is interest and collateral-free and payable in three years,” he added.

NAPC Undersecretary for Basic Sectors Maria Corazon Tan, who attended the assembly on behalf of NAPC lead convenor Liza Maza who is in Rome for the peace talks with the communist movement, said her agency met with the Department of Agriculture last Jan. 23 about the matter.

She said NAPC technical action officers will serve as the

converging point for basic sectors and national agencies in coming up with pro-poor, antipoverty resolutions but Maza clarified that the NAPC is not the implementing agency.

Maza said NAPC is gratified that Duterte himself has taken the lead in addressing poverty issues and concerns.

“We take steps to ensure that the voices of the poor reach the halls of Malacañang. We, in NAPC, are glad that a sitting President, after 10 years, has once again taken the lead in addressing poverty issues and concerns,” Maza said in a text message from Rome.

CBCP: Rethink Kuwait DH ban

By Vito Barcelo

RAISED HACKLES. A student angrily shouts slogans while holding up posters condemning the United States for its temporary ban on visas to residents of Muslim nations. Norman Cruz

Sugar farmers back bioethanol industry WITH farmers looking to maximize profits for their harvest of sugarcane farming communities in Batangas came out in droves to attend the Farmers Festival for Bioethanol in Batangas.

The sugarcane industry, one of the biggest agricultural sectors in the country, was given a new lease on life when the Biofuels Act of 2006, which requires petrol companies to include a 10 percent bioethanol mix into their products, was enacted into law.

Noberto Segunial Jr., a representative of the local sugar farming community in Sta. Teresita, Batangas, was looking forward to how the Bioethanol industry can help boost profits and productivity, especially to small-scale farmers.

Small-scale farmers comprise more than half of the sugarcane industry. According to Segunial, 57 percent of sugarcane farmers own less than five hectares each.

“Given that more than half of the farmers own small patches of land, we need to adapt methods that increase production-perhectare,” he explained. “And to be able to do that, we must look for alternative uses for our yields.

We must look to bioethanol plants as a new source of demand and revenue,” he continued.

To help with this need, Cavite Biofuel Producers Inc. will be building a state-of-the-art Bioethanol plant in Magallanes, Cavite to which farmers can directly sell raw materials for bioethanol production.

Aside from additional profits from selling to CBPI, farmers will also get support from the former’s sister company, Bukid Verde Inc., which is a corporate farming entity.

While BVI also produces sugarcane, it does so ‘cooperatively, not competitively,’ according to Job Ambrosio, CEO of Bioeq Energy, the mother company of CBPI and BVI.

THE Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines urged the Department of Labor and Employment to reconsider its plan to ban the deployment of Filipino domestic helpers to Kuwait due to reports of abuses.

The appeal was made by CBCP’s Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People chairman Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III announced plans to impose temporary suspension of deployment of household workers in Kuwait.

In a statement, Santos said the government should instead make good on its promise to provide alternative or permanent jobs to all Filipinos so that they will not be forced to work abroad.

Bello said there has been growing calls for a moratorium due to the abuses experienced by OFWs, particularly female household

service workers.

“We are taking this call for a moratorium seriously. We will conduct consultations with our partners and other government agencies,” Bello earlier said.

Another Filipino, Elpidio Lano is in death row after the Kuwait Court of First Instance sentenced him to death for killing a fellow Filipino, Nilo Macaranas on June 17, 2014.

The prelate said that temporarily banning works in Kuwait is not the answer, “it will just create difficulties to our people.”

The bishop also called on the government to make sure the needs of overseas Filipino workers are given proper attention.

“We have to accompany and always assist our OFWs there, be always available to them and attend to their needs—legal, economic and spiritual,” he added.

He also said that the Church’s migrants ministry is also doing its best to help the OFWs.

‘Bus drivers still biggest problem’

By Joel E. Zurbano LACK of discipline among bus drivers remains the biggest problem of the Metro Manila Development Authority in managing the traffic flow along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

The MMDA legal office has slapped two bus drivers with criminal charges for trying to bribe their traffic enforcers in separate occasions near the intersection of Edsa and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia) in Makati City last Sunday.

On Monday, a traffic enforcer was injured after he was attacked by a bus driver and his conductor whom he flagged down for traffic violation in Pasay City.

The first bribe attempt happened around 6:45 a.m. of Jan. 29 when traffic enforcer Primo Santillana flagged down a DLTB Co. bus (TYX-833) on the northbound lane of Edsa-Buendia in violation of the yellow lane bus regulation.

Santillana, a member of the

MMDA motorcycle unit, was issuing a traffic violation ticket to bus driver Francis Armada, of Kaunlaran Village, Caloocan City, when the latter purportedly tried to hand a P100 bill to him.

The traffic enforcer outrightly declined the bribe money and told Armada just to keep the P100 for payment of the traffic infraction.

Nova bus line driver Raul Li, of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, also tried to bribe traffic enforcer Michael Correa when he was flagged down for disregarding traffic sign at 6:55 a.m. on the same day.

After seeing the grease money, Correa immediately returned the driver’s license containing the bribe money to Li and proceeded issuing the traffic ticket to the bus driver.

Meanwhile, the Lucky 7 Jayross bus (TXJ-438) of driver Dick Soriano and his conductor Gilbert Gonzales was impounded to Marikina City after they attacked Richard Morales who apprehended

them for violating the bus closedoor policy.

Morales said he flagged down Soriano around 7 a.m. on the northbound of Edsa near Cabrera Street in Pasay City for violation of the said policy, which carries a P1,000 fine.

Soriano and Gonzales are facing assault of a person in authority and physical injury charges for the incident.

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the agency is continuously cleansing its ranks of bad eggs as evidenced by the apprehension of erring bus drivers who tried to corrupt the traffic enforcers.

“These apprehensions are the result of our no-nonsense enforcement of traffic regulations. If these traffic enforcers let these unscrupulous drivers off the hook and accept the bribe money, the consequence is that these motorists will continue to disregard our traffic rules and regulations, which in turn, compounds our traffic condition,” he said.

Sports

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Hawks edge Knicks in OT epic L OS ANGELES—The Atlanta Hawks edged the New York Knicks in an unexpected NBA epic on Sunday, emerging after four overtimes and almost four hours with a 142-139 victory.

“That was fun. I don’t want to do that again ever, but it was fun,” said Paul Millsap, whose 37 points included the go-ahead basket in the fourth extra period as the Hawks withstood 45 points from Carmelo Anthony to win on their home floor.

Millsap added 19 rebounds and seven assists in 60.07 minutes on the floor, and said he was determined not to come out of the contest.

“I’ve never played 60 minutes

of basketball,” he said.

Four-OT games are an NBA rarity. The Hawks won one against Utah in 2012, but the Knicks’ only other foray into a fourth overtime came back in January of 1951—when they lost to the Rochester Royals.

Four Knicks players fouled out, including Anthony.

Millsap’s put-back basket gave Atlanta a 141-139 lead with 27.4 seconds left.

After the Hawks’ Dennis Schroder made one of two free throws with 10.2 seconds left, New York’s Courtney Lee missed two three-pointers in the final eight seconds.

Mavs stun Spurs The Dallas Mavericks ended a frustrating run of futility in San Antonio, downing the Spurs 105101 for their first win on their Texas rivals’ home floor since November 26, 2010.

The Mavericks, who had lost 12 straight in San Antonio, were led by a career-high 24 points from Seth Curry, with Harrison Barnes chipping in 19.

They also got a boost from

rookie Yogi Ferrell, a surprise starter for his new team less than 48 hours after signing a 10-day contract.

Ferrell, undrafted out of college and laboring largely in the developmental league this season, shook off his early nerves to do a solid job of defending veteran Spurs point guard Tony Parker, and produced two clutch free throws in the waning seconds to seal the win.

“He’s a fighter,” Mavs superstar Dirk Nowitzki said. “He’s strong in there. That was fun to watch.”

Another milestone for James There were no surprises in Cleveland, where LeBron James

became the first player to score 20,000 points in a Cavaliers jersey with 25 in a 107-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The reigning champion Cavaliers withstood Russell Westbrook’s 24th triple-double of the season, with the Thunder star notching 20 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists despite connecting on just seven of 26 shots.

James, who is eighth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 27,938 career points, has nearly twice as many points as anyone else in a Cleveland uniform. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is second on the team’s scoring list with 10,616 points. AFP

Training center to rise in Davao THIS February, a regional training center will rise in the province of Davao del Norte.

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said this will start their efforts in helping strengthen the development of athletes in the regions and at the grassroots level.

“With the regional center, they (athletes) don’t need to come to ULTRA and to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila to train,” said Ramirez as the agency celebrated its 27th anniversary last week.

The center will be set with the support of Davao del Norte governor Anthony del Rosario.

He said the training center will focus on developing athletes via the scientific level.

“This is because the greatest demand of the time is sports science,” added Ramirez.

He added that their efforts to put up around 12 regional centers in the provinces will be made possible with their collaboration with the governors and the local government units.

Meanwhile, officials of the Philippine Sports Institute will visit South Korea next month to learn more about their highperformance training program.

National training director Marc Velasco said he and deputy director, Dr. Henry Daut will lead a delegation that will take a look at the facilities that the Korean Institute of Sports Science has to offer.

Velasco and Daut will seek input on how Korea in running its grassroots program. Peter Atencio

Dubs’ Kerr rips Trump LOS ANGELES (AFP)--Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke out strongly Sunday against the travel limits imposed by US President Donald Trump.

“If we’re trying to combat terrorism by banishing people from coming to this country, (we’re) really going against the principles of what our country is about, and creating fear,” said Kerr, whose father, Malcolm Kerr, was shot in 1984 while serving as president of the American University of Beirut in a killing claimed by Islamic Jihadists.

“It’s the wrong way to go about it,” Kerr said. “If anything we could be breeding anger and terror.

“I feel for all the people who have been affected,” Kerr added. “Families are being torn apart, and I worry in the big picture what this means to the security of the world.”

NBA spokesperson Mike Bass had issued a statement Saturday saying the league had “reached out to the State Department” to gather information on how the 90day ban on travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries, and a suspension of the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days, might affect players in the league from the countries involved.AFP

Diaz graces PSA Forum

Carmelo Anthony (left) of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Kent Bazemore of the Atlanta Hawks during a game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. AFP

THE Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum gets the pleasure of having Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz as special its guest in its weekly session today at the Golden Phoenix Hotel at Oceanaire Blgd,, CBP D. Macapagal Sunrise Drive, Pasay City.

It will be the first time the 25-yearold weightlifter will be appearing in the public sports program presented

by San Miguel, Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. after her runner-up finish in the women’s 53 kg event of the Rio De Janeiro Games.

Diaz has been unanimously voted by the PSA as its Athlete of the Year for 2016 and will be honored during its traditional Awards Night on Feb. 13.

International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, LVPI officials Peter Cayco and Joey Romasanta, along with representatives of Under Armour, will be joining Diaz in the program to be aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918.

Report: Sky, Armstrong deny secret motor cheating NEW YORK—Team Sky, which has produced four of the past five Tour de France champions, and doping-disgraced Lance Armstrong denied using secret motors in bicycles, a CBS television report said Sunday.

A segment on the show “60 Minutes” examined the possibility of motorized cheating in pro cycling with three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, admitted dope cheat ex-rider Tyler Hamilton and Hungarian designer Istvan Varjas, who makes hidden motors for bikes, saying they believe such cheating exists.

“I know the motor is still in the sport,”

LeMond said. “There’s always a few bad apples because it’s a lot of money.”

Jean Pierre Verdy, a former French AntiDoping Agency testing director, told CBS he had been disturbed by speeds on mountain climbs, saying informants among riders and team managers told him that about 12 riders used motors in the 2015 Tour de France.

“They are hurting their sport, but human nature is like that. Man has always tried to find that magic potion,” Verdy said.

Varjas said he told French police he sold secret-motor cycles to an unknown client just

before the 2015 Tour, delivering the bikes to a locked storage room. He noted one motor design can be hidden inside the hub of the back wheel but would boost the normal wheel weight by about 800 grams (1.7 pounds).

Weighty 2015 Tour issue In the 2015 Tour de France, peloton bikes were weighed before a time trial stage, with CBS reporting French authorities said Team Sky was the only squad with heavier bikes, each about 800 grams more.

“Weight is everything,” LeMond said. “If your bike weighs a kilo more, you would

never race on it.”

Britain’s Chris Froome, riding for Sky, won the 2013, 2015 and 2016 Tour de France crowns.

In 2015, he was “King of the Mountains” for his times in the difficult climbing stages that often prove decisive. No Tour winner since 1970 had won the mountain crown as well.

A Team Sky spokesman told CBS the team never used mechanical assistance, saying time trial bikes might be heavier to allow for better aerodynamics and all Sky bikes were checked and cleared by the International Cycling Union (UCI). AFP

Fessap sending team to 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei

By Graham C. Lim PREPARATIONS for the Philippines’ participation in the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei City from August 19 to 30, 2017 this year are going smoothly.

There’s so much excitement over the biennial spectacle that showcases the top university athletes from around the world, including sports powerhouses Australia, United States, Russia, China and Japan.

The Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines is again sending a lean but strong delegation of athletes and officials to the Taipei Universiade, a follow-up to its participation in the three previous editions of the Summer Universiade—Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China

in 2011; Kazan, Russia Federations in 2013; and Gwangju, Republic of Korea in 2015.

The University of Cebu will represent the country in Table Tennis during the Taipei conclave. The school team coached by Jessica Honoridez recently topped the National PRISAA competitions that served as the local qualifier to the Taipei Universiade.

Cebu City will be represented in the weightlifting event as former University of San Jose Recoletos athlete Kelle Kay Rojas has been tasked to organize a Universiade qualifier in the first week of February. A total of six weightlifters - four male and two female— will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wear the national colors in the Taipei Universiade.

The weightlifting qualifying tryout is in cooperation with Cebu Weightlifting Association, headed

by Atty. Baldomero Estenzo and CESAFI Commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy, chairman and president, respectively.

Sports patron Alvin Tai Lian, the Philippine Head of Delegation to the Taipei Universiade, and FESSAP officials, led by president David Ong and Professor Robert Milton Calo, Chair of the Universiade Monitoring and Preparation Committee, will visit Cebu City in mid-February to honor the athletes from the Queen City of the South that qualified for the Summer Universiade in Taipei City.

The name of the Philippine flagbearer to the World University Games in August will be an-

The 4th National Students Tennis Championship–Graham Lim Classic will be staged last April 17 to 23, 2017 at the tradition-steeped Reina Regente Tennis Club in Tondo district, Manila. The netfest is organized by coach Antonio Quiza, head coach of Mapua Institute of Technology.

nounced during the first week of February.

“We are in constant coordination with the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., which have been very supportive in building more classrooms for the public schools,

particularly in the provinces,” said David Ong. In Iloilo City, FESSAP coordinator Ivy Santa Ana from PRISAA Region 6 has been tasked to choose the 10 most outstanding swimmers from Visayas Region through a qualifying tournament.

Benilde, San Beda try to stay in NCAA volley title hunt DEFENDING champion St. Benilde and San Beda seek to stay in the title hunt as the two clash today in the first stepladder semis in the women’s division of the 92nd NCAA volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan City.

The Lady Blazers, out to retain the title they won last year by stunning the San Sebastian Lady Stags, clinched the No. 3 seed-

ing by beating the Red Spikers, 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 25-18, in a playoff Friday.

The winner of their 4 p.m. showdown will advance to the next stepladder game against Arellano University, which is ensured of a twice-to-beat advantage for finishing second after the elimination round, on Friday.

St. Benilde coach Macky Carino said they are in familiar territory.

Games today

(Filoil Flying V Center) 9 a.m.- EAC vs Perpetual Help (Jrs. stepladder) 11:30 a.m.- Perpetual Help vs San Beda (men’s Final Four) 2 p.m.- St. Benilde vs Arellano U (men’s Final Four) 4 p.m.- San Beda vs St. Benilde (women’s stepladder)

“We’ve been in this kind of situation before like what happened last year when came all the way back

from No. 4 to become champion.

We hope we could do it again,” said Carino, whose wards beat Perpetual Help and Arellano in the stepladder semis before shocking San Sebastian in the finals to win it all a season back.

In men’s action, St. Benilde and reigning titlist Perpetual Help try to arrange a best-ofthree title showdown as the two tackle Arellano University and

San Beda at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

The Blazers trounced the Altas, 25-21, 25-23, 25-14, Friday to seal the top seeding, while the latter slid to No. 2.

In juniors’ action, Emilio Aguinaldo shoots to forge a title duel with Lyceum of the Philippines University as it squares off with last year’s winner Perpetual Help at 9 a.m.

In Manila, the FESSAP is organizing a qualifying tournament in wushu, a sport that will make its debut during the Taipei Universiade.

Master Lou Mei Cheng and Gladys Sia has been tasked to select 10 athletes—five male and five female —for the Universiade.

LOTTO RESULTS 6/55 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 4 DIGITS 0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

A8

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

No clear favorite in UAAP volley Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum) 8 a.m. – NU vs UE (Men) 10 a.m. – Ateneo vs UST (Men) 2 p.m. – NU vs UE (Women) 4 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST (Women)

THE chase for the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball championship is regarded by pundits as too close to call, with six teams contending for the throne, which De La Salle currently holds.

The back-to-back seeking Lady Spikers lost open spikers Ar Galang, Cyd Demecillo, middle blockers Mika Reyes and Carol Cerveza may have already completed their playing eligibility, and Eli Soyud moved to another school, but the Taft-based squad need not to worry as veteran setter Kim Fajardo has decided to play for another year.

Kim Dy, last season’s Finals MVP, will banner De La Salle along with fellow key returnees Majoy Baron and libero Dawn Macandili, as coach Ramil de Jesus is bracing for a tough competition which has not seen in recent years with some teams going outside the country for training and retooled rosters.

Ateneo, which won two titles behind superstar Alyssa Valdez, still has a solid core with Jho Maraguinot, Bea de Leon, Maddie Madayag and setter Jia Morado leading the charge.

Michelle Morente returns after a one-year absence, while rookie Jules Samonte and Kat Tolentino will have a chance to shine for the Lady Eagles of Thai mentor Tai Bundit.

Far Eastern University remains one of major forces with Bernadeth Pons, ChinChin Basas, Remy Palma, Jerrili Malabanan, defensive specialist Buding Duremdes and new playmaker Kyla Atienza, who took over from veteran Gyzelle Sy. The Lady Tamaraws nearly made it last year as the 29-time champions dragged the Lady Spikers to a deciding Final Four match before bowing.

After making it to the semis last year, University of the Philippines hopes to make it two in a row despite stiff competition.

Aside from giving seniors Kathy Bersola, Nicole Tiamzon and Pia Gaiser a grand send-off, Isa Molde, Diana Carlos and Justine Dorog, gaining the needed experience from last season’s impressive run, are expected to mature this time around for the Lady Maroons, while skipper Arielle Estrañero will take charge as the team’s new setter.

Mika Reyes (3) followed up her La Salle winning stint with her maiden Philippine Super Liga championship behind F2 Logistics’ title romp during the all-Filipino conference.

Reyes is Ms. Volleyball in PSA Awards Night ‘17 M

IKA Reyes never had it so good last year.

The pretty middle blocker capped her playing career at De La Salle with yet another championship, helping the Lady Spikers regain the UAAP women’s volleyball crown at the expense of long-time rival and three-peat seeking Ateneo.

The championship was the third for Reyes, 22, with the Taftbased school, where she won back-to-back titles in 2012-13. In the five years she played with the team (2011-16), the Lady Spikers were all in the finals.

Shortly after, the native of

Pulilan, Bulacan followed it up with her maiden Philippine Super Liga championship behind F2 Logistics’ title romp during the all-Filipino conference.

On a personal note, Reyes was also named brand ambassador of the PSL for its 2016 season,

and later, was tapped for inclusion in the Philippine club team that competed in the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship as a member of its so-called ‘Magnificent Seven.’

Now, she gets to add the title Ms. Volleyball to her resume as the Philippine Sportswriters Association will recognize her of the honor during its Annual Awards Night presented

by MILO and San Miguel on Feb. 13 at the LE PAVILLON in Pasay City.

Reyes will be the fifth recipient of the award won three straight times by superstar Alyssa Valdez, who was Ms. Volleyball during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 staging of the

of the affair co-presented by CIGNAL/HYPER TV. Valdez shared the award with Aby Marano four years ago.

Reyes, incidentally, likewise graduated with a degree on AB Psychology June of last year.

The country’s oldest media organization, led by president Riera Mallari of the Manila Standard earlier named June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel as its Mr. Basketball during the two-hour program backed by Phoenix Petroleum, Gold Toe, ACCEL, SM Prime Holdings Inc., PBA, Globalport, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine, Foton, ICTSI, Smart, and the MVP Sports Foundation.

Still to be named are Mr. Football, Mr. Taekwondo, and

Lady Tams to retire Daquis’ jersey no. 3

So wins Tata Steel chess crown, climbs to no. 2 in world rankings

By Peter Atencio FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So beat Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 13th and final round to win the 2017 Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands and climb to second in the world rankings.

“It means a lot. It’s a relief that I won my last game. That’s because Magnus (Carlsen) and Wei (Yi) have a position (to win). And I don’t have to do tiebreaks,” said the 23-year-old So in an online interview with chessbase.com So turned back Nepomniachtchi in 28 moves of a Trompowsky Attack to end his 13-round campaign with five wins, eight draws and a

total of eight points.

He finished a full point ahead of world no. 1 Carlsen, who took solo second with eight points after drawing with Sergey Karjakin in 53 moves of a King’s Pawn Game.

Nepomniachtchi was a pawn down when So took control of the queenside to protect six black pawns.

“Other players may have gone the safe route and this is a long tournament--13 rounds. They may want to finish the tournament quickly.

But he (Nepomniachtchi) is a great fighter,” added So. So extended his unbeaten streak to 56, winning the Sinquefield Cup, the London Chess Classic and taking the overall crown in the Grand

Chess Tour last year.

Wei, who was in contention for a playoff for the crown had So lost, went down in a 70-move defeat to Radoslaw Wojtaszek in their King’s Pawn Game. He finished tied for third to fifth places at seven points with Baskaran Adhiban and Levi Aronian.

Because of his title conquest, So has unofficially dislodged Fabiano Caruana for the world no. 2 ranking with an ELO rating of 2822. His current official ELO rating is 2808. On other hand, Carlsen is still at no. 1 spot.

“I set up my goals to win this tournament. Although I can’t expect it with Magnus around. But winning this tournament with the world champion around is a huge thing,” said So.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK. Star’s Allen Maliksi stood at the

forefront of Star’s two-game win streak this past week after averaging 25.5 points and 5.0 rebounds to help his team secure a quarterfinal spot in the Philippine Cup. Maliksi’s leadership and growing confidence earned him his first Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the period Jan. 22-28.

End may be near for Federer

Roger Federer of Switzerland arrives holding the championship trophy for a photo opportunity the day after winning the Australian Open men’s singles final for this 18th career Grand Slam in Melbourne. AFP

MELBOURNE—Roger Federer dropped hints that his great career may be drawing to a close after his age-defying win over his Grand Slam nemesis Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open.

The 35-year-old Swiss admitted his return to Melbourne wasn’t guaranteed after he ended a five-year wait for his 18th major title by beating Nadal in a thrilling five-setter.

He told the Rod Laver Arena crowd: “I hope to see you next year, but if not, then it was a wonderful year here and I couldn’t be happier tonight.”

Federer has been rebutting suggestions of retirement for several years, but he said he was now aware injuries could force him off the scene.

The Australian Open marked his comeback from a six-month injury break, the longest of his career, after he underwent surgery for the first time last February.

“This is all about, you know, knowing that I have only so much tennis left in me,” he told reporters, when

Mr. Golf.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz leads all awardees to be recognized in the traditional rites also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Meralco, NLEX, and Federal Land, as recipient of the coveted Athlete of the Year trophy.

The 25-year-old Zamboanga City pride ended the country’s 20-year medal drought in the Olympics by winning the silver in the women’s 53-kg event of the Rio De Janeiro Games.

Another top awardee is Asia’s first Grandmaster in Eugene Torre, who will be feted with the PSA Lifetime Achievement Award.

asked about the comment in his acceptance speech.

“If I do get injured, you know, maybe if I miss next year, who knows what happens... You never know when your next Grand Slam is going to be, if ever.

“You never know if you’re going to have an opportunity at this stage.”

Federer added: “Look, I’ve had a tough year last year. Three five-setters are not going to help. I just meant it the way I meant it.

“There wasn’t something planned behind it, that this is my last Australian Open. I hope can I come back, of course. That’s my hope right now.”

‘Super-special’ Federer, now four titles clear of Nadal and Pete Sampras on the alltime major-winners’ list, was troubled by injury during the tournament and he said he had been carrying an upper leg problem since the second round.

Unusually for the Swiss, he took a medical timeout in the final as well as during his five-set semi with Stan

Wawrinka. He also went five sets with Kei Nishikori in round four.

He said Sunday’s 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win ranked alongside his 2009 French Open victory, which completed a career Grand Slam and ended a run of three defeats in the final.

“I think this one will take more time to sink in. When I go back to Switzerland, I’ll think, ‘Wow’. The magnitude of this match is going to feel different,” he said.

“I can’t compare this one to any other one except for maybe the French Open in ‘09. I waited for the French Open, I tried, I fought. I tried again and failed. Eventually I made it. This feels similar.”

Fittingly it was Nadal who pushed Federer to one of the biggest achievements of his career, after his Grand Slam chances had been largely written off.

It was a redemptive win as Federer has struggled against Nadal, losing four straight major finals to the fearsome left-hander since his Wimbledon victory in 2007. AFP

JERSEY no. 3 will no longer be seen on the back of any player from the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the coming 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball tournament when it begins this Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

That number used to belong to one of FEU’s great spikers, Rachel Anne Daquis, and the school will hang it on their gym during this afternoon’s jersey retirement ceremony.

The 5’10” Daquis played for the Lady Tams from 2004 to 2009 as an outside hitter/open spiker and was around when they took the crown in 2008.

Daquis, who started playing for various teams in the Philippine Super Liga after her time with FEU was up, is set to skip the upcoming season of the Philippine PSL. She and several members of the team are set to undergo military training.

The Lady Tams remain one of major forces in the coming UAAP volleyball season.

Veterans Bernadeth Pons, Chin-Chin Basas, Remy Palma, Jerrili Malabanan, defensive specialist Buding Duremdes are still around with new playmaker Kyla Atienza, who took over from veteran Gyzelle Sy. The Lady Tamaraws nearly made it last year as the 29-time champions dragged the Lady Spikers to a deciding Final Four match before bowing out.

So far, the chase is on for the crown with six teams contending for the throne, which La Salle currently holds. Peter Atencio

Semirara says Calaca project expansion on B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

B1

BPOs bullish amid Trump’s threat

By Othel V. Campos

B

USINESS process outsourcing companies in the Philippines remain bullish and expect growth despite President Donald Trump’s plan to bring jobs back to the United States.

“We are confident that, if we can collaboratively harness our respective strengths to maximize the potential of the industry and protect what we have already achieved, we can continue our progress in terms of economic development and job genera-

tion,” said IT-Business Process Association of the Philippines president and chief executive Ike Amigo.

Amigo made the statement after the Philippine Economic Zone Authority warned that the expansion programs of the BPO

sector might be put on hold until the US issued a clearer policy on offshore services such as business process outsourcing.

The group said its optimism stemmed from the interest of many countries in investing in the Philippine IT-BPM services such as the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and India.

IBPAP recently conducted a quick poll among members to gauge the interest of global investors and found that they were continuing their expansion plans in the Philippines.

The group said projections un-

der the Accelerate PH Roadmap 2022 were on track and the industry was prepared face challenges that, once overcome, would increase global interest in local ITBPM services and add revenue for the country.

“The objective of all these is to improve our capacity to move up the value chain to better wages, benefit the industry and inevitably contribute a greater percentage to the country’s GDP,” Amigo said.

The Philippine IT-BPM industry generated $22.9 billion in revenues last year and provided direct employment to 1.15 mil-

lion Filipinos with an additional 3.68 million ijobs outside the industry, both indirect and induced employment.

IBPAP’s Accelerate PH Roadmap 2022 envisions that the Philippines would remain a preferred investment destination given its deep pool of highquality Filipino professionals, a positive business environment that supports 7 by 24 operations and the partnership and support of the government.

The group, however, was also concerned over the future development of trade policies between the Philippines and the United

IN BRIEF

Car firms hike sales target to 450,000

URC biomass plant secures feed-in-tariff

THE Energy Regulatory Commission awarded a feed-in tariff-eligible certificate of compliance to Universal Robina Corp. for its 46-megawatt biomass power plant in Negros Occidental province.

ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar presented to URC president and chief executive Lance Gokongwei the feed-in tariff certificate for the Kabankalan bagasse-fired biomass power plant on Jan. 24.

The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 provides for the feed-in tariff scheme wherein biomass plants have a fixed-rate of P6.63 per kilowatt-hour for the next 20-years.

URC, controlled by conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Corp., put up the P2.5-billion biomass power plant in Negros Occidental not only to help secure power supply in the Visayas but also support its sugar milling operations.

Energy Department director Mario Marasigan earlier said the output of the 46-MW biomass plant would be used to support the company’s power requirements while a portion would be sold under the feed-in tariff scheme. Alena Mae S. Flores

By Othel V. Campos THE automotive industry raised its 2017 sales target to 450,000 vehicles from an earlier estimate of 430,000 units on sustained economic growth and new government policies.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and Truck Manufacturers Association expect combined sales of 400,500 units this year, on top of 49,500 units from other manufacturers.

Campi said in a letter to members that the group decided to revise the forecast on improving state of “economic growth due to the trust of investors in the present administration.”

It said the possibility of the market buying Euro 2 models instead of Euro 4 vehicles due to delayed compliance could result in stronger sales, “but not as strong as that of 2016.”

It said another reason was the perceived impact of the proposed increase in excise tax on automobiles that might prod consumers to buy vehicles ahead of the supposed implementation of the tax measure by 2018.

Campi said the new sales forecast of 450,000 units was a bit conservative “to protect the image of the industry to the public.”

Campi and TMA said the changing buying trend “may have a negative effect on the automotive industry in general.

Therefore,we may not reach the desired growth higher than 12 percent.”

Vehicle sales in the fourth quarter of 2016 yielded unsatisfactory results. Three segments posted slower sales including Asian utility vehicles which went down by 2.5 percent, light trucks by 31.4 percent and truck and buses category 4 by 29.6 percent.

States.

The BPO industry became an essential component of the Philippine economy over the past decade, especially in terms of providing high-paying, sustainable and inclusive jobs for the Filipino people.

The industry will continue to work with the national and local governments, industry regulators, legislators, the financial sector, and all other stakeholders to mitigate the possible shift in trade relations, and protect the Philippines’ leadership in the global outsourcing industry, IBPAP said.

DIGITAL SYNERGY. PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications seal a partnership with TV5’s multi-platform, multi-discipline production outfit D5 Studio, Voyager Innovations’ digital marketing solutions arm VYGR Digital Agency and PLDT’s big data organization Partner Analytics and Customer Experience or Pace to herald a new era of digital synergy and collaboration. Shown during the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Makati City are (from left) Pace chief customer experience and data analytics advisor Ralph Brunner, PLDT-Smart chief revenue officer Eric Alberto, PLDT Group chairman and chief executive Manuel Pangilinan, Voyager Innovations Inc. president and chief executive Orlando Vea and TV5 president and chief executive Vincent Reyes.

8 firms vying for P30-b LRT car contract

By Darwin G. Amojelar EIGHT local and foreign companies are vying for the P30-billion contract to supply 120 brand-new light rail vehicles for the oldest metro rail transit in Southeast Asia.

The Transportation Department identified the eight bidders for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 contract as Metro Builders Corp., Construcciones y Auxilliar de Ferrocariles of Spain, GE Corp. of the US, Sojitz Corp., Mitsubishi Corp., Marubeni Corp. and Sumitomo Corp. of Japan and Hyundai Rotem of South Korea.

“Bidding will be conducted through procedures in accordance with the applicable guidelines for procurement under Japanese ODA loans and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as define in the loan agreement,” the agency said.

The Transportation Department said the eligible nationality of the suppliers should be Japanese in case of the prime contractor and all countries and areas in

case of the sub-contractors.

The winning bidder will cover the coaches design, production, verification, delivery, testing, commissioning, technical support materials associated with the operation and maintenance of the vehicles and training for maintenance staff, engineers and operators.

The agency said the submission and opening of bids would take place on April 13.

The 120 LRVs will be configured into 30 four-car train sets to allow the rail line to accommodate up to 750,000 passengers daily.

The Transportation Department in March last year declared the bidding for 120 LRVs a failure after no offers were received by the agency from Japanese companies.

Marubeni and Sumitomo earlier expressed interest to participate in the auction for the procurement of 120 brandnew cars for LRT Line 1.

The government allocated P30 billion for the 120 new coaches for the

LRT Line 1 under the P64.9-billion LRT Line 1 Cavite extension project, which was awarded to Light Rail Manila Corp.

LRMC will construct the Cavite extension over the next four and a half years, making the entire line operational by the fourth quarter of 2020.

LRMC, a joint venture between Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has been operating and maintaining the existing LRT-1 system since the functions were handed over by Light Rail Transit Authority in September 2016.

LRTA remains the regulator of the railway while the Transportation Department is the implementing agency of the 32-year public-private partnership concession agreement with LRMC. The consortium would spend over P40 billion to rehabilitate and expand LRT Line 1.

Eight new stations will be provided with three intermodal facilities across Pasay City, Parañaque City, Las Piñas City and Cavite.

UnionBank’s profit rose 67% to record P10.1b in 2016

By Julito G. Rada UNION Bank of the Philippines, the 10th largest lender in terms of assets, said Monday consolidated net income last year jumped 67 percent to an alltime high of P10.1 billion from P6 billion in 2015.

UnionBank, the lending arm of the Aboitiz Group, said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the 2016 earnings translated into a return on equity of 16.9 percent.

“We are very pleased with our collective results. All of our major business segments contributed significantly to the bottom-line,” UnionBank president and chief operating officer Edwin Bautista said in a statement.

“More importantly, we were able to scale up our recurring revenue base, while making substantial headway in our journey towards digital transfor-

mation,” Bautista said.

Total loans went up by 31 percent to P235.4 billion, resulting in total assets breaching the half-trillion mark, to close the year at P524.4 billion. Total deposits grew 21 percent to P376.5 billion, with low-cost current and savings account increasing by 18 percent.

The combined growth in customer loans and deposits resulted in recurring revenues increasing 21 percent to P19.2 billion. Net interest income expanded 22 percent to P14.8 billion, while fees grew 19 percent to P4.4 billion.

“Full-year performance was also enhanced by tax-exempt profits from securities sold in the second half of the year to support the bank’s loan growth strategy,” the bank said.

UnionBank signed a bancassurance partnership with Insular Life Assur-

ance Co. Ltd. Subject to regulatory approvals, UnionBank and its whollyowned subsidiary, City Savings Bank, will distribute and sell Insular Life insurance products.

Insular Life is the first and largest Filipino life insurance company and one of the most trusted, having been in operation for 106 years.

“At the end of each day, we UnionBankers always ask ourselves whether we served our customers in a way that helped them elevate their lives and fulfill their dreams. Before this partnership with Insular Life, I was always hesitant to answer ‘yes’ convincingly, as I thought we missed an important and basic component – insurance,” Bautista said.

“I am therefore delighted that we are finally completing our product suite, and even more thrilled that we are signing with a company that has a long

history of being our partner. We see this partnership enduring for decades,” he said.

Union Bank of the Philippines is a publicly-listed universal bank that distinguishes itself through superior technology, unique branch sales and service culture, and centralized backroom operations.

It is consistently recognized as one of Asia’s leading companies in banking and finance, ranking among the country’s top 10 universal banks in terms of key performance ratios in profitability, liquidity, solvency and efficiency.

The bank recently garnered the awards of Best Innovation in Retail Banking and Best Commercial Bank of the Year in the Philippines from the International Banker, one of the world’s leading publications of authoritative analysis on finance, international banking, and world affairs.

PAL adds eight domestic routes

PHILIPPINE Airlines said it will add eight domestic routes from Clark and Cebu hubs in the first quarter of the year.

“We are introducing new domestic routes to allow travelers to reach their desired destinations without the need to transit in Manila.

Passengers get to experience the unique PAL brand of service even on short flights,” said PAL president Jaime Bautista.

The airline will fly four times a week from Clark to Cebu starting Jan. 30, 2017. Flights will increase to daily on March 26.

The three-times weekly Clark to Davao flight begins in February and the service increases to four times weekly on March 26.

The three times a week Clark to Puerto Princesa service starts March 26. The daily Clark to Coron flights, using the 56-seater Q300 airplane, will beginMarch 26.

The other new routes out of Clark will use the 199-seater Airbus A321 jet.

PAL started using Clark as hub of operations on Dec. 16 last year with a Clark-Caticlan service, followed by the first international flight, Clark-Incheon on Jan. 1.

Darwin G. Amojelar

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market ends flat; Metrobank rises Megaworld raising S P12b to fund projects TOCKS barely moved Monday, as traders across Asia were spooked by tensions caused by US President Donald Trump’s divisive immigration ban.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, added 3 points to close at 7,336.71 amid thin trading.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also closed flat at 4,415.68, on a value turnover of P4 billion. Losers edged gainers, 94 to 89, while 44 issues were unchanged.

Seven of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led

by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co., the second largest lender, which climbed 2.8 percent to P81.50 and conglomerate Ayala Corp. which rose 2.4 percent to P819.50. Property developer

Ayala Land Inc. added 1.4 percent to settle at P35.85.

Meanwhile, Asian markets sank in holiday-thinned trade.

A disappointing reading on US economic growth added to the downbeat sentiment with Wall Street ending last week on a negative note.

The reality TV star-turnedpresident on Friday signed an executive order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries that was met with widespread outrage from world leaders and mass global protests.

“The main focus over the week-

end has been Trump’s immigration policy and it won’t necessarily surprise to see some heat coming out of the dollar in early trading,” said Chris Weston, Melbourne-based chief market strategist at IG Ltd. “Whether the markets start to price in a stronger Trump risk premium is yet to be seen,” he told Bloomberg News.

In early trade Monday the dollar fell to 114.60 yen from 115.06 yen, while the euro rose to $1.0721 from $1.0696 and the pound climbed to $1.2570 from $1.2549.

“Chat in the market is dominated by the global backlash to Donald Trump’s executive order and any potential impact this could have in markets,” Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at FX and CFD provider AxiTrader, said in a note.

However, analysts said markets

have shown resilience despite a series of controversial moves by Trump in his first week in office, including a row with Mexico over trade and his proposed border wall, rows with the media over his inauguration crowds and unsupported assertions that millions of people voted illegally in the 2016 election.

This was put down to hopes he will stick to his promise to ramp up infrastructure spending, cut taxes and slash red tape to boost economic growth and corporate profits.

Eyes are now on the Friday release of US jobs data for January, which comes a week after figures showing US growth reached a sluggish 1.9 percent in October-December, well below the 3.5 percent in the third-quarter and below expectations. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria PROPERTY developer Megaworld Corp. is raising up to P12 billion from the issuance of sevenyear fixed-rate bonds to finance development of four townships.

Megaworld said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission the amount would represent the initial tranche of the P30-billion debt securities program approved by its board.

The company said initially, the program would involve P8 billion worth of fixed-rate bonds

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 48.45 16,200 92.1 505,100 4.1 12,000 114.8 1,087,460 1.35 179,000 38.5 46,000 16 3,800 20.15 664,300 1.67 7,000 850 20 0.71 3,422,000 81.5 4,228,180 0.77 250,000 14.22 11,000 24.8 21,900 54.5 32,510 238 620 140 290 36.3 233,400 213.8 202,320 1,770 20 78.5 47,500

782,210 46,605,783 48,440 124,915,716 245,760 1,771,090 60,800 13,325,980 11,650 17,000 2,467,280 342,911,584.50 192,500 156,490 536,900 1,766,917 148,378 39,400 8,457,230 43,259,970 35,500 3,728,184.50

753,280 -26,590,212.50 37,076,305 789,340 14,400 1,834,354 17,000 21,600 148,805,456.50 712,478 666,210 14,156,440 17,800 -249,491.50

43.3 4.9 0.9 1.54 18.26 0.198 11.3 16.72 150 22.45 15.02 56.95 93 98 2.05 6.45 11.98 12.2 7.8 6.99 5.59 22.65 70.55 12.28 16.5 6.14 1.86 208 4.25 3.5 30 27.3 14.7 285 5.18 3.2 9.39 2.26 5.98 1.5 77.7 5.29 247 4.95 2.85 12.8 4.2 1.57 164.1 4.35 1.94 1.06

INDUSTRIAL 43.6 691,500 5 3,235,000 0.91 244,000 1.55 1,074,000 19.2 2,300 0.198 340,000 11.44 1,132,800 16.8 111,400 150 70 22.45 100,400 15.14 801,400 59.4 7,210 93 1,440 98 100 2.09 683,000 6.45 242,000 12.08 14,400 12.38 6,189,300 7.8 288,100 7 299,100 5.62 8,089,200 22.8 2,054,400 71.55 241,290 12.3 4,600 16.5 524,700 6.14 123,400 1.86 2,081,000 209 172,300 4.3 2,073,000 3.5 1,000 30.3 882,600 28 158,800 15 2,135,800 286.2 28,880 5.18 20,000 3.2 17,000 9.42 3,537,000 2.27 114,000 6.25 1,424,200 1.54 360,000 78.05 314,770 5.29 143,800 257 27,350 5 40,100 2.85 68,000 12.82 1,024,000 4.2 192,000 1.64 1,192,000 165 1,135,390 4.5 17,000 1.97 1,497,000 1.06 47,000

30,105,185 16,112,550 223,680 1,676,210 42,674 68,810 12,949,734 1,868,084 10,500 2,266,055 13,508,012 425,872 134,020 9,800 1,401,690 1,561,064 172,996 76,173,448 2,273,912 2,096,157 45,584,713 47,134,340 17,253,914 56,492 8,657,550 760,581 3,973,860 35,972,058 8,965,780 3,500 26,769,325 4,441,195 31,696,418 8,271,572 103,770 54,510 33,395,987 259,590 8,721,042 540,950 24,555,490 762,441 6,986,050 199,985 194,300 13,177,250 807,400 1,991,050 188,200,226 75,300 2,943,630 49,960

-7,895,355 161,990 2,407,604 257,488 -31,920 49,780 -53,300 -1,834,062 6,360 -155,763 20,246,815 9,485,180.00 10,447,023.50 447,150 -75,100 14,580,408 -364,010.00 -10,192,490 -1,747,070 4,779,990 -2,062,744 -19,230 -10,881,584.00 -30,950 3,000 17,992,339.50 -2,739,620 -53,500 75,648 -16,900 -60,124,754 17,620 -

0.42 75 13.04 1.17 6.18 0.315 0.33 820 9.23 13.1 8.16 5.9 1,390 77 3.85 1.18 7.97 13.36 6.97 0.045 2.01 2.57 99.4 706 1.49 264.4 0.3 0.19 0.28

0.41 73.85 12.66 1.13 6.01 0.305 0.33 802 9.18 12.96 8.01 5.9 1,350 76 3.85 1.14 7.9 13.02 6.65 0.04 2 2.55 98.9 700 1.38 261.6 0.29 0.19 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.41 5,090,000 74.3 952,850 12.7 4,872,400 1.17 2,000 6.18 400 0.315 1,190,000 0.33 30,000 819.5 66,780 9.23 897,700 13 1,497,500 8.16 30,900 5.9 200 1,350 25,915 76 1,416,730 3.85 2,000 1.15 2,192,000 7.97 399,300 13.14 3,504,100 6.65 16,964,500 0.04 412,600,000 2 114,000 2.56 70,000 99.15 88,990 700 218,100 1.46 4,087,000 264.4 7,600 0.3 1,840,000 0.19 160,000 0.265 2,630,000

2,089,050 70,997,191.50 61,974,262 2,300 2,438 363,100 9,900 54,605,270 8,273,057 19,474,298 252,021 1,180 35,380,620 107,932,294.50 7,700 2,520,710 3,175,970 46,191,944 115,334,063 17,248,800 228,100 179,150 8,814,047.50 153,156,730 5,972,190 2,005,686 538,500 30,400 690,650

-19,636,121 -12,936,254 41,322,945 4,119,203 5,649,298 123,999 -3,249,930 -9,503,063.50 0 14,128,550 25,788,086 249,500 4,328 -31,104,865 -145,000 -396,018 -

7.35 1.28 2.71 0.84 35.95 3.29 5.12 0.56 1.12 1.43 0.191 0.58 52.3 0.76 1.65 1.01 1.2 3.72 0.184 0.285 0.405 5.18

7.28 1.26 2.5 0.79 35.4 3.21 5.12 0.54 1.06 1.34 0.19 0.57 51.95 0.72 1.63 1 1.18 3.64 0.176 0.27 0.4 4.85

1,355,213 447,038,420 8,235,400 18,623,740 225,418,470 9,512,070 93,184 3,179,900 220,100 1,071,790 1,613,550 1,730,190 5,607,772 84,340 2,873,750 3,529,850 128,100 40,370,580 12,375,140 35,850 20,100 48,868,830

-26,780 12,600 800,900 19,706,380 738,100 12,650 285,000.00 1,059,543 -1,941,960 -43,430 -7,078,880 575,920 -1,377,520

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

48.3 92.5 4.05 114.4 1.38 38.5 16 20 1.66 850 0.73 80 0.77 14.24 24.5 54.2 240 136 36 213.8 1,780 78.5

48.45 92.5 4.1 115.5 1.4 38.55 16 20.2 1.67 850 0.73 81.9 0.77 14.24 24.8 54.5 240 140 36.3 215 1,780 78.7

48 92.1 3.93 114.3 1.35 38.5 16 19.98 1.66 850 0.71 79.95 0.77 14.22 24.5 54.2 238 135 36 212 1,770 78.3

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CONCRETE B CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE 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 TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VULCAN INDL

43.75 4.9 0.92 1.57 19.28 0.205 11.3 16.8 150 22.65 16.16 56.95 98 98 2.05 6.46 12.08 12.4 7.96 7.02 5.64 22.8 70.55 12.28 16.5 6.2 1.92 209 4.53 3.5 30.2 27.3 15.02 285 5.35 3.2 9.5 2.3 5.98 1.5 78.1 5.34 247 5 2.86 12.96 4.21 1.6 168 4.55 1.95 1.07

43.75 5.04 0.93 1.57 19.38 0.205 11.48 16.8 150 22.8 19.8 59.4 98 98 2.1 6.53 12.08 12.42 8.1 7.03 5.7 23.2 71.6 12.3 16.5 6.2 1.94 209 4.75 3.5 30.4 28 15.34 287 5.35 3.24 9.62 2.3 6.25 1.54 78.1 5.34 257 5 2.86 13 4.21 1.72 168.1 4.55 2 1.08

ABACORE CAPITAL ABOITIZ EQUITY ALLIANCE GLOBAL ANGLO PHIL HLDG ANSCOR ATN HLDG A ATN HLDG B AYALA CORP COSCO CAPITAL DMCI HLDG FILINVEST DEV FJ PRINCE A GT CAPITAL JG SUMMIT JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION REPUBLIC GLASS SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.42 74.8 13.04 1.13 6.01 0.305 0.33 805 9.23 13 8.01 5.9 1,388 77 3.85 1.16 7.91 13.28 6.85 0.044 2.01 2.57 99 705 1.39 263.8 0.29 0.19 0.25

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP

7.3 1.28 2.5 0.8 35.4 3.29 5.12 0.55 1.06 1.36 0.191 0.57 52.3 0.73 1.65 1.01 1.18 3.64 0.178 0.285 0.4 5

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

26.2 1.72 3.25 30.05 1.05 6.98 1 5.08

26.6 1.75 3.28 30.5 1.06 7 1.02 5.08

26.05 1.68 3.25 30 1.03 6.98 0.99 5.02

26.05 1.69 3.28 30 1.06 7 1 5.02

1,511,700 73,000 126,000 5,758,700 10,712,000 6,700 225,000 900,900

39,488,605 124,220 409,640 174,235,955 11,279,820 46,820 224,010 4,527,437

6,321,665 46,150,320 -2,759,768.00

2GO GROUP ABS CBN APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL A INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME 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 47.8 0.52 0.055 10.52 5.32 7.89 0.071 2.87 94.75 9.7 8.94 2.12 1,805 6.18 16.26 15.3 2.99 16.5 78.95 0.01 12 9.06 0.215 1.48 3.15 15 4.14 2.53 4.88 4.14 18.22 2.8 11.28 5.32 3.02 10 1,490 1.44 0.475 44.25 78.7 6.44 2.75 1.08 3.26 0.385

7.49 47.8 0.54 0.056 10.52 5.32 7.95 0.071 2.89 95.55 9.75 9.03 2.12 1,806 6.3 16.54 15.3 3.09 16.6 79 0.011 12 9.07 0.215 1.48 3.15 15 4.25 2.59 4.88 4.14 18.22 2.89 11.28 5.32 3.1 10 1,520 1.44 0.475 44.75 80.25 6.48 2.75 1.09 3.32 0.385

7.44 47.6 0.52 0.054 10.52 5.32 7.73 0.07 2.76 94.5 9.56 8.88 2.12 1,790 6.18 16.22 15.3 2.99 16.26 77.2 0.01 12 9.05 0.213 1.45 3.1 14.54 4.14 2.48 4.78 4.05 18.2 2.77 11.26 5 3.02 9.84 1,490 1.41 0.465 43.1 78.6 6.2 2.6 1.06 3.25 0.385

SERVICES 7.49 47.6 0.54 0.056 10.52 5.32 7.75 0.07 2.78 95 9.65 8.91 2.12 1,794 6.23 16.54 15.3 3.07 16.6 77.95 0.01 12 9.07 0.213 1.45 3.11 14.98 4.2 2.59 4.79 4.06 18.2 2.86 11.26 5.2 3.1 9.89 1,513 1.42 0.465 43.75 78.7 6.47 2.64 1.08 3.29 0.385

55,200 10,300 322,000 63,000,000 200 4,400 5,881,200 14,530,000 2,349,000 308,140 24,200 214,600 4,000 13,020 89,700 93,700 100 2,071,000 8,100 2,859,980 51,000,000 5,100 529,000 2,910,000 61,000 35,000 2,900 358,000 164,000 2,133,000 1,062,000 1,900 5,060,000 4,900 51,700 6,000 632,300 35,315 10,914,000 1,820,000 475,500 1,107,610 1,551,100 2,923,000 6,811,000 466,000 280,000

411,166 490,520 170,660 3,497,960 2,104 23,408 46,179,586 1,020,970 6,589,160 29,263,429 232,835 1,928,350 8,480 23,414,910 559,856 1,536,932 1,530 6,311,700 133,258 225,079,506 510,400 61,200 4,796,680 622,600 88,810 109,010 42,502 1,504,270 412,790 10,247,560 4,327,250 34,590 14,374,280 55,218 262,818 18,200 6,259,562 53,386,750 15,511,550 850,750 20,861,055 87,757,402.50 10,027,319 7,779,010 7,266,040 1,533,790 107,800

206,000 -18,533,830 1,410.00 11,160 1,124,292.50 -601,218 7,660,780 -15,350 25,058,443.50 10,750 -1,500 -51,160 266,700 196,670 -787,500 -479,980 16,760 6,113,040 -5,366,960 -2,309,690 10,534,362 -2,354,280 2,138,920 -19,860 -

ABRA MINING APEX MINING ATLAS MINING 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 OMICO CORP ORNTL PENINSULA ORNTL PETROL A ORNTL PETROL B PHILODRILL PX MINING PXP ENERGY SEMIRARA MINING TA PETROLEUM UNITED PARAGON

0.0033 2.71 5.4 2.19 0.52 0.465 12.34 2.81 0.26 0.217 0.218 0.012 0.013 2.24 6.74 2.73 0.485 1.05 0.011 0.012 0.015 9.06 3.73 136.4 3 0.009

0.0033 2.76 5.5 2.19 0.52 0.51 12.34 2.87 0.26 0.217 0.218 0.012 0.013 2.25 6.82 2.73 0.485 1.06 0.012 0.012 0.015 9.2 3.77 138 3 0.009

0.0032 2.7 5.34 2.19 0.5 0.465 11.8 2.8 0.255 0.21 0.213 0.012 0.012 2.2 6.6 2.7 0.48 1.05 0.011 0.012 0.013 9.06 3.68 136 2.95 0.0089

MINING & OIL 0.0032 131,000,000 2.73 2,344,000 5.34 79,200 2.19 8,000 0.5 1,732,000 0.51 12,900,000 12 43,100 2.87 2,107,000 0.255 230,000 0.21 28,220,000 0.213 1,150,000 0.012 19,500,000 0.012 600,000 2.21 448,000 6.75 3,599,700 2.71 11,000 0.48 20,000 1.06 223,000 0.012 23,600,000 0.012 300,000 0.013 198,500,000 9.06 226,800 3.7 1,448,000 137.7 476,800 2.96 38,000 0.0089 3,000,000

429,700 6,392,230 430,050 17,520 869,600 6,430,100 510,722 5,954,310 59,300 5,969,870 245,200 234,000 7,300 991,360 24,343,369 29,760 9,650 236,330 263,600 3,600 2,806,000 2,057,986 5,381,460 65,456,899 113,300 26,900

-27,100 -382,770 0 -8,316 -267,400 83,070 47,310 -4,639,400 422,000 96,942 -941,490 23,836,451 -

ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

105 104.1 528 5.84 1,016 1,040 109.1 1,098 77 81.5 76.05 78.2 77.55 79.5 78

106.9 104.6 528 5.85 1,016 1,040 109.1 1,098 77 81.5 76.05 78.2 78 79.5 78.1

105 103.7 528 5.84 1,016 1,040 109.1 1,098 77 81 76.05 78.2 77.5 79.5 78

PREFERRED 106.9 19,200 103.7 75,900 528 2,000 5.85 299,800 1,016 100 1,040 60,770 109.1 21,000 1,098 200 77 1,990 81 14,000 76.05 13,340 78.2 20,320 78 63,000 79.5 20 78 133,300

2,051,530 7,894,347 1,056,000 1,751,304 101,600 63,200,800 2,291,100 219,600 153,230 1,134,100 1,014,507 1,589,024 4,888,024 1,590 10,397,409

1,999,030 4,162,989 -1,729,111 -

LR WARRANT

2.23

2.25

2.21

WARRANTS 2.25 227,000

505,080

-

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE XURPAS

6.85 4.3 2.94 8.38

6.95 4.31 2.94 8.38

6.75 4.1 2.94 8.25

6.8 4.1 2.94 8.25

565,748 1,594,640 88,200 9,259,587

-99,100 20,500 314,838

FIRST METRO ETF

120.4

121.3

120.4

847,054

-7,260

MS

PROPERTY 7.3 1.26 2.69 0.82 35.85 3.23 5.12 0.54 1.07 1.34 0.191 0.58 51.95 0.75 1.65 1.01 1.2 3.7 0.177 0.27 0.405 4.85

185,600 354,781,000 3,122,000 22,738,000 6,298,200 2,942,000 18,200 5,806,000 204,000 777,000 8,450,000 3,020,000 107,720 115,000 1,742,000 3,495,000 107,000 10,910,000 69,240,000 130,000 50,000 9,670,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

11,470,923 45,222,479 461,374,162

PROPERTY

523,340,166

SERVICES

183,121,030

MINING & OIL

431,959,357

GRAND TOTAL

1,658,105,351

SME

83,300 381,000 30,000 1,115,800

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121 7,000

VALUE 1,775.27 (up) 10.27 630,706,924.56 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,127.13 (down) 34.56 688,170,219.12 HOLDING FIRMS 7,472.14 (down0 29.56 876,481,903.602 PROPERTY 3,319.00 (up) 17.91 SERVICES 1,446.42 (down) 0.25 1,072,297,298.652 MINING & OIL 12,172.60 (down) 23.18 626,427,437.04 PSEI 7,336.71 (up) 3.04 129,315,074.266 All Shares Index 4,415.68 (up) 0.78 4,035,755,066.962 Gainers:89; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 44; Total: 227

due 2024 with an oversubscription option for another P4 billion.

Megaworld said assuming the oversubscription option was issued, it would use the P12billion proceeds to finance projects within Iloilo Business Park, McKinley Hill, McKinley West and Uptown Bonifacio.

The company said over the next three years, it would spend P1.16 billion in Iloilo Business Park, P2.14 billion in McKinley Hill, P2.4 billion in McKinley West and P7.2 billion in Uptown Bonifacio.

Any shortfall from the net proceeds will be funded by the company using internally generated funds, it said.

The four developments are among the 20 integrated urban townships that Megaworld has under its portfolio.

The proposed issuance received a rating of PRS Aaa from the Philippine Rating Services Corp. It has a stable outlook, which means the assigned rating is likely to remain unchanged in the next 12 months. PRS Aaa is the highest possible rating given

by PhilRatings.

PhilRatings considered the company’s sound capitalization and high-quality management, as well as expectations that Megaworld’s growth strategy will significantly benefit from the continued positive performance of the country’s economic growth drivers.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

Megaworld hired BDO Capital and Investments Corp. as the issue manager and lead underwriter for the bond offering.

Insular beats stock index FUNDS managed by Insular Life, the first and largest Filipino-owned insurance company, came out strong from last year’s roller-coaster ride for Philippine stocks, rewarding its investors with “very decent returns.”

“The peso funds outperformed the market in general,” said Vera Morales, Insular’s head of investment management division.

From its starting level of 6,952, the Philippine Stock Exchange index dropped by almost 12.5 percent in its first month. It climbed 33 percent to a high of 8,100, only to fall once again and end the year at 6,840, for a negative performance of 1.6 percent for 2016.

“Through it all, most investors of Insular Life’s variable unit linked funds held on and were rewarded by very decent returns,” said Morales.

Among these funds, the growth fund posted the highest return at 4.04 percent, followed by the equity fund at 3.21 percent. The balanced fund, a mixed exposure of equity and fixed income assets also delivered a respectable return of 2.64 percent.

Insular Life’s variable unit linked products provide financial risk protection while funding family expenses as education, retirement, and estate planning.

“The commendable performance of these funds benefits policyholders of Insular Life’s wealth builder, variable returns asset, wealth assure and wealth secure, including its packages of wealth secure education, wealth secure prime and wealth assure education,” said Morales.

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Neri dismisses shift to cheaper cigarettes

ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHOOL. Former Senate President Manuel Villar’s Vista Land and Lifescapes and the University of the Philippines launched the first phase of development for the upcoming UP School of Technology Entrepreneurship to be built in the state university’s new UP Alabang campus. With Villar (third from left) are (from left) UP vice president for academic affairs Gisela Concepcion, UP VP for development Elvira Zamora, UP resident Alfredo Pascual, Mark Villar, Paolo Villar, Camille Villar, incoming UP President Danilo Concepcion and Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Semirara says Calaca project expansion on

By Alena Mae S. Flores

S

EMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. is confident of starting the construction of a 700-megawatt coal plant in Calaca, Batangas within the year.

“Yes, I believe that President [Duterte] will push infra,” Semirara Mining chairman Isidro Consunji said.

Consunji said the project had received an environmental compliance certificate and was approval of a power supply agreement and “right of way transmission line.”

Semirara Mining, a unit of DMCI Holdings Inc. and Meralco PowerGen Corp., a whollyowned subsidiary of Manila Electric Co., have formed a joint venture to build the power plant.

The project company for the coal power plant is St. Raphael

Power Generation Corp.

Consunji earlier said Semirara Mining and Meralco PowerGen would equally take a 40-percent equity stake in the project. He said Marubeni Corp. of Japan could take a 20 percent interest.

“Meralco will buy the output,” Consunji said. Meralco, the country’s biggest power distributor, has a pending application with the Energy Regulatory Commission to purchase of up to 400 MW of electrical output from the St. Rafael power plant.

The proposed power plant is the second phase of the planned

expansion of the Calaca coalfired plant facility.

Semirara Mining’s board approved the second phase of the expansion in 2014 consisting two units of 350 MW each, using pulverized coal technology.

The existing Calaca facility consists of two 300-MW generating units designed to utilize local coal from Semirara.

DMCI bought the Calaca plant from the government in July 2009 with a bid of $361.7 million.

The company pursued the first phase expansion of the 300-MW capacity, which started full commercial operations last year.

The project received an indirect endorsement from President Rodrigo Duterte, who said the Philippines would continue to use coal for power generation as long as the plants use new technologies to minimize emissions.

“But for as long as the most viable fuel is coal and cheapest so that the power can also be delivered the energy to the people at a much lower price, then we’ll have no other alternative except to upgrade the technology to its fullest―to limit,” Duterte said during a visit to Sarangani for the groundbreaking of the coal plant of Alsons Consolidated Resources Corp.

“At this time, whoever is the president of the Philippines would always contend with coal. There’s so much coal still that can be utilized by civilization for the next 50 to 70 years. And to be worrying about pollution, well, we just have to come to terms with it that in our time, in our generation, it is really what it is. There is nothing you can do about it,” Duterte said.

The president said the use of coal for power continued to face challenges.

Okada Manila to vie with Asia’s gaming giants WITH several players slugging it out for market share within Asia’s highly-competitive casino landscape, Okada Manila, the newest addition to the integrated resorts in Entertainment City, is already being touted as a game-changer.

Steve Wolstenholme, president of Okada Manila, said the newly-opened integrated resort

of Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, had the potential to compete with other gaming giants across the region.

The 44-hectare Okada Manila is set to become the largest integrated entertainment resort in the country that will occupy a total floor area of 34,321 square meters, housing over 500 table games and over 3,000 electron-

ic gaming machines. It houses a Y-shaped hotel of two wings offering a total of 993 rooms.

It also features a dancing fountain comparable only to the Dubai Fountain and the Fountains of Bellagio, Asia’s first nightclub and indoor beach club enclosed in a dome, a highend retail area, a world-class 3,000-square meter spa facility,

YEAR OF THE FIRE ROOSTER. Philippine Stock Exchange Inc. ushers in the Year of the Fire Rooster with a dragon and lion dance at the Ayala and Tektite trading floors. Ringing the opening bell at the Ayala trading floor are (from left) PSE director Ma. Vivian Yuchengo, PSE President and CEO Hans Sicat and PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran.

and several food and beverage outlets.

Apart from its unique features, Okada Manila takes pride in the effortless integration of the Japanese people’s respectful demeanor, passion for creativity and hunger for innovation, and the Filipinos’ hard work, hospitality and cheerful spirit, in terms of quality service.

“With these guiding principles and values, Okada Manila expects to bring people around the world together through fun and entertainment by providing unique experiences that no one else can deliver,” Wolstenholme said.

The luxury resort has already contributed to local job generation by employing 22,000 workers to construct and develop the first phase. It is expected to hire 8,000 personnel to operate the casino, food and beverage, and hotel and leisure facilities of the Phase 1 development alone.

Okada, who has heavily invested in the Philippines, expects his integrated resort to be profitable in its first year of operations and give a return on his investment in three to five years as the country seeks a larger share of Asia’s gaming and tourism revenue.

Okada built his fortune during the 1980s manufacturing slot machines and Japanese pachinko machines. He is now worth $1.77 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

FORMER National Economic and Development Authority director-general Romulo Neri dismissed arguments that a two-tier excise tax system proposed under House Bill No. 4144 is an anti-health measure.

Pro-health advocates opposed the proposed amendment, noting that smokers’ projected downshifting will negatively impact on the bill’s intention to curb smoking prevalence.

Neri said “while some downshifting from premium brands to cheaper ones is expected to happen under a non-unitary tax system, this is limited in quantity and therefore has little detrimental effect on overall health.”

“Downshifting to lower priced brands is an absolute economic right of consumers,” he said.

Neri added that pro-health advocates might also be missing the point that a unitary tax system likewise encourages consumers of cheaper brands to move to premium ones since the resulting marginal difference in price will be negligible, especially when sold by per piece.

House Bill No. 4144, authored by Rep. Eugene Michael de Vera of ABS Partylist, proposes a two-tier tax system, with non-premium brands levied at P32 per pack and premium brands at P36 per pack, plus an annual increase of 5 percent on these rates.

Neri said ensuring the fairness of a tax system was a paramount social goal, stressing that the administrative ease of collection should not be an excuse for enacting a regressive tax system which will result by imposing a unitary specific tax.

“The claim of using tobacco taxes to benefit the health of the poor is a tenuous argument.

The poor will immediately feel the impact of the high tobacco tax draining his pocket while the benefit of government spending on his health is a highly uncertain future event,” Neri said.

“If the tobacco tax revenue is spent in general health services and not targeted directly, the poor smoker may end up subsidizing for the health care of non-smokers, making the situation even worse for the poor smoker,” he said.

Which training is best for BSP governor?

RECENTLY the idea was floated that the governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), whose second consecutive term will end in July 2017, should be given a third term. The floating of the idea has generated discussion in many quarters about the management of this country’s monetary affairs since 1949, when BSP’s predecessor, the Central Bank of the Philippines, was established. One aspect of the discussion has been the ideal professional background for the head of the nation’s policymaking institution.

Which profession provides the best training for a first-rate central bank governor? Ought the BSP’s chief executive officer to be an economist? Should he come from the ranks of the nation’s commercial bankers? Do lawyers make good central bank governors? Without passing judgment on the quality of their governorships – an issue that will require at least one separate column – a recital of the pre-BSP professional records of the nine men who have held the position of governor should serve to help provide answers to the questions (1) whether economists make the best governors and (2) whether incumbent governor Amando Tetangco Jr., an economist, should be succeeded by another economist.

Five of the eight past governors went to the nation’s monetary authority following careers in the law, accountancy and commercial banking, and three (including the incumbent governor) rose to the top position through the BSP bureaucracy.

Miguel Cuaderno, the Central Bank of the Philippines’ (CBP) first governor (1946-1962) was a lawyer who co-founded Bank of Commerce. Mr. Cuaderno, who was the first Filipino to take a course at the renowned London School of Economics and Political Science, presided over the installation of exchange and import controls at the start of the 1950s.

Mr. Cuaderno was succeeded by his deputy, Dr. Andres Castillo, an economist, when he resigned in the wake of the Liberal Party’s victory in the 1961 general election.

When the Nacionalista Party was returned to power in the 1965 election, Alfonso Calalang replaced Dr. Castillo as CBP governor.

At the time of his appointment Mr. Calalang was president of Security Bank and Trust Co. When the financial crisis of 1969-1970 broke out, Alfonso Calalang offered his resignation to President Ferdinand Marcos.

Rumor had it that IMF (International Monetary Fund) demanded the resignation as a condition for the grant of a standby loan.

Whatever the truth, the governor’s position was now vacant.

In place of Mr. Calalang, President Marcos appointed Gregorio Licaros, who was then chairman of the Development Bank of the Philippines. Mr. Licaros, who was a lawyer/CPA went on to be – until then – the longest-serving (1972-1983) governor. In Mr. Licaros’ stead President Marcos appointed one of the CBP deputy governors, Dr. Jaime Laya, a CPA. Dr. Laya resigned amid the scandal surrounding the computation of the Philippine international reserve.

Mr. Laya was replaced by a commercial banker, the president of Far East Bank and Trust Co., Jose B. Fernandez. Mr. Fernandez survived the Edsa Revolution but became a victim of the 1989 military coup attempt.

Another commercial banker, the president of Family Savings Bank and Trust (now BPI Family Savings Bank), Jose Cuisia Jr., replaced Mr. Fernandez. Mr. Cuisia is a CPA. When Mr. Cuisia resigned, newly elected President Fidel Ramos appointed Gabriel Singson, CBP deputy governor and general counsel, in his place.

When Mr. Singson’s term expired, President Joseph E. Estrada appointed as governor yet another commercial banker, Rafael Buenaventura. Mr. Buenaventura had headed PCI Bank.

And then there is Amando Tetangco Jr., an economist.

This brings me back to the question I posed at the beginning.

Which profession provides the best training for a first-rate central bank governor? Economics? The law? Commercial banking?

Accountancy?

There is no facile answer to the question. The key to the best answer is (1) to examine the economic environment in which each governor operated and then (2) to determine whether the governor did a recognizably good job under the circumstances.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

Business

Trump move sinks global stocks

S

TOCKS declined as traders weighed the impact of Donald Trump’s order halting some immigration and ahead of central bank decisions from the US and Japan. Crude fell below $53 a barrel.

Equities in Europe, Japan and Australia dropped with US stock futures, while markets in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam were among those closed for holidays. The dollar erased earlier declines and oil retreated for a second day.

Trump’s executive order halting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim nations

drew criticism from world governments and some of the largest companies, bringing the geopolitical and international trade risks surrounding the new US president into sharper focus.

His order was curbed by a Boston federal judge, who directed customs officials at the city’s Logan International Airport to allow passengers from those countries with valid visas to deplane there and go on their way.

The Federal Reserve holds a policy meeting on Feb. 1 and the Bank of Japan convenes this week. Neither is expected to change lending rates, though the Fed’s statement will be parsed for any reading on Trump’s impact on the world’s largest economy.

Apple Inc., Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are among the major US companies due to report results. Of the 219 S&P 500 names to report so far, 73 percent have topped profit estimates. Japan will see earnings from heavy hitters including Sony Corp. and Honda Motor Co. The first US jobs report of the year is due on Feb. 3., while China manufacturing and services

industry data are scheduled for Feb. 1.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index lost 0.6 percent at 8:22 a.m. in London in a second day of declines. The S&P 500 futures dropped 0.2 percent after the underlying gauge gained 1 percent last week. Japan’s Topix index slid 0.4 percent, led by a drop in banks and exporters. The gauge advanced 1 percent last week, trading near the highest since December 2015. Australia’s S&P/ ASX 200 Index lost 0.9 percent, dragged down by technology shares.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed after erasing losses of as much as 0.4 percent. The pound weakened

0.1 percent, extending a two-day decline. The yen climbed 0.2 percent to 114.89 per dollar. The Australian dollar and the kiwi were little changed.

Oil futures dropped 0.2 percent. Crude earlier slid 0.6 percent to $52.88 a barrel amid speculation increases in US drilling will boost output and curtail the effects of supply cuts made

by Opec and other producers.

Gold lost 0.1 percent to $1,189.9 after rising as much as 0.4 percent earlier.

US Treasury 10-year yields rose two basis point to 2.489 percent. The yield on 10-year Australian government bonds slid 6 basis points to 2.72 percent.

Bloomberg

Starbucks set to hire thousands of refugees NEW YORK―Starbucks plans to hire 10,000 refugees worldwide over the next five years in response to President Donald Trump’s travel ban, the head of the US coffee-chain company said Sunday.

“I write to you today with deep concern, a heavy heart and a resolute promise,” Starbucks chairman and chief executive Howard Schultz said in a letter to employees posted on the company’s website.

“We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question.”

Schultz, a Democratic Party supporter, said that Starbucks had been in contact with employees affected by the new Republican president’s executive order signed Friday.

The decree suspends the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

The CEO said the refugee hires would be fleeing war, persecution and discrimination in the 75 countries where the company operates.

“And we will start this effort here in the US by making the initial focus of our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with US troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support,” he said.

Schultz also defended Mexico, which Trump has said will have to pay for a wall along its long and porous border with the United States to deter immigrants, perhaps by the US imposing a 20 percent tariff on Mexican imports.

“Building bridges, not walls, with Mexico,” he wrote, voicing support for the country that has provided Starbucks with coffee for three decades and where nearly 600 Starbucks coffee shops employ 7,000 people.

“We stand ready to help and support our Mexican customers, partners and their families as they navigate what impact proposed trade sanctions, immigration restrictions and taxes might have on their business and their trust of Americans.

“But we will continue to invest in this critically important market all the same.”

Schultz is close to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate who lost to Trump in the November election, and supported her during her White House campaign.

But he has dismissed persistent rumors that he would seek the highest office in the land.

AFP

A pedestrian walks in front of an electric quotation board flashing stock prices on the Nikkei key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (left) and numbers from the New York markets (right) in Tokyo on January 30, 2017. Tokyo stocks fell early on January 30 as investors cashed in on recent gains with uncertainty surrounding US President Donald Trump’s policies. AFP

Silicon Valley anxious over ban NEW YORK―Silicon Valley heads have slammed US President Donald Trump’s temporary ban on refugees and many Muslims from entering the United States, fearing it could prevent them from accessing a global reservoir of talent.

The sweeping immigration crackdown moved many tech bosses to criticize measures that could impact sector employees.

“Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do,” said Tim Cook in a memo to staff obtained by AFP. The company’s founder Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian immigrant.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called the president’s first week in office “very sad,” saying in a Facebook post that “Trump’s actions are hurting Netflix employees around the world, and are so un-American it pains us all.”

“It is time to link arms together to protect American values of freedom and opportunity.”

Nearly 200 Google employees are directly impacted by the measures, according to an internal memo from CEO Sundar Pichai.

“We’re concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US,” said the head of the internet giant.

Trump’s hardline executive order, signed Friday, suspends the arrival of refugees for at least 120 days, and for the next three months bars visas for travelers from seven Muslimmajority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Immigration law specialist Ava Benach―who told AFP she has been flooded with calls from clients―said those already in the US should stay put, and those abroad risk being blocked from boarding aircraft.

“I would advise against leaving the US because I don’t believe that they will be able to return,” she said.

As resistance to the temporary immigration restrictions mount, a US federal judge on Saturday ordered authorities to stop deporting refugees and other travelers stuck at US airports. AFP

Toyota loses top-selling automaker crown to Volkwagen TOYOTA Motor Corp. lost its title as the world’s best-selling automaker to Volkswagen AG, snapping the Japanese company’s four-year reign, as demand for its flagship Camry sedan waned in the US and sales in China expanded at a slower pace than the overall market.

Toyota’s global sales, including its Hino Motors Ltd. and Daihatsu Motor Co. units, rose 0.2 percent to 10.2 million vehicles in 2016, the Japanese automaker said on Monday.

That fell short of Volkswagen’s record 10.3 million cars, trucks and buses, a 3.8 percent gain.

By another key yardstick, however, Toyota continues to outperform its European rival.

Toyota’s profit was more than double Volkswagen’s in the six months through September, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Both the companies haven’t reported earnings for the quarter ended Dec. 31.

Toyota’s sales last year lagged behind Volkswagen mainly due to the changing dynamics in the both automakers’ largest overseas markets: the US and China.

While the Japanese company was hampered by a broad US auto industry sales slowdown, VW benefited from its growth in China and a tax cut there that has stoked consumer demand since 2015.

Looking ahead, Toyota must contend with possible trade tensions as US President Donald Trump pressures foreign automakers to make more cars and trucks in the US. VW, meanwhile, faces decelerating demand in China as the tax reduction expires.

Since his inauguration,

Brand new Toyota cars sit on the forecourt of Currie Motors Toyota dealership in Twickenham, west London, on January 26, 2017. AFP

Trump has withdrawn the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord, reaffirmed a campaign promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement involving Mexico and met with automakers to persuade them to keep production within the U.S. Toyota will invest $10 billion in the US over the next five years, maintaining its pace of spending during the last half decade, joining other manufacturers with highlighting projects in response to pressure from Trump to create jobs in America. After criticizing Toyota’s plans to build a Corolla plant in Mexico, Trump rebuked Japan last week for sending the US hundreds of thousands of cars from what he said were “the biggest ships I’ve ever seen.”

“Trump is a bigger risk for

Toyota than for Volkswagen because the German carmaker has a small exposure to the US market,” said Ken Miyao, an analyst at Tokyo-based market researcher Carnorama. “Toyota has made investment to build a new plant in Mexico and will have limited options to appeal to Trump.”

US production The Toyota City, Japan-based automaker built its first U.S. assembly plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, three decades ago, in part to appease Washington during an era of icy trade ties. Since then, it has added factories in the country.

Last year Toyota built more than 1.38 million cars and trucks in the U.S., behind only General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV.

Still, Toyota’s production was about 1 million vehicles short of its sales in the country. Any push for investment growth will come up against a U.S. auto market that’s likely to wane after a reaching a peak in 2016.

“The development of the U.S. market is set to decide if VW can stay ahead of Toyota this year,” Sascha Gommel, a Frankfurtbased analyst at Commerzbank AG, said by phone. “If the Chinese and European markets continue to be solid and the U.S. market weakens as I expect, VW might stay first in 2017 as Toyota has a larger exposure to North America.”

The Japanese automaker’s deliveries in the U.S. declined last year, trailing industrywide growth, as demand for its Camry slowed ahead of the introduc-

tion of the next generation of America’s best-selling sedan.

The latest iteration of the model was unveiled at the Detroit auto show earlier this month.

Deliveries of Toyota in China climbed 8.2 percent in 2016, compared with the industrywide sales growth of 15 percent.

Top slot In 2008, Toyota ended GM’s 77-year reign as the world’s largest automaker, holding on to the top annual sales spot until 2011, when it surrendered the title after production was disrupted by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand. The Japanese company regained the lead in 2012 and kept the position through 2015.

For Volkswagen, taking the global sales crown marks the culmination of an aggressive expansion that former chief executive officer Martin Winterkorn began 10 years ago. While surging demand in China and expansion of the upscale Audi and Porsche brands’ line-ups have propelled sales gains, the Wolfsburg, Germany-based giant’s growth hit a wall in September 2015, when the carmaker and US regulators revealed that some of its diesel engines carried software to cheat on emissions tests.

Volkswagen’s namesake brand accounted for almost 6 million of the group’s global deliveries in 2016. The marque is targeting sales of 3 million cars this year in China, the company’s biggest national market.

In Germany, its second-largest market, the division is reducing its large leasing fleet for employees, which started to hurt new-car registrations toward the end of last year. Bloomberg

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

C1

FEAST NEARS. Bunting and colorful flags wave in the wind as Kidapawan City feels more festive as its foundation anniversary nears on Feb. 12. Geonarri O. Solmerano

Mayor nixes proposed ‘Koreatown’ S

By Romeo Dizon

AN FERNANDO, Pampanga— Mayor Edwin D. Santiago has denied the request of Korean expatriates to establish a community here, saying the international company Ikea was showing interest in investing in the area.

Members of the Korean Community Association of Central Luzon living in Angeles City, who number 16,000, made the request, Santiago said.

They were “feeling uneasy” in their current homes in San Fernando after the controversial murder of their compatriot Jee Ick Joo, who was abducted by policemen for supposedly being an illegal

drug dealer, the mayor said.

They were asking for 10 to 30 hectares of land in the city to be converted into a Korean community, but because of limited land, Santiago said he turned down their request.

He instead offered them to invest to the city’s business zone at barangay San Isidro, as would Ikea, the Swedish international firm renowned for its merchandise.

The company sells around 10,000 articles in various categories made of different materials from 33 countries, and employs 154,000 persons.

Ikea’s plan was relayed to Santiago by a group of businessmen who visited the city last week, the mayor said.

If not this city, the Koreans are also eyeing Subic, where they are interested in establishing another community apart from the one ex-

QC vies for top Kalasag honors

Manila deploys ‘mommy enforcers’

By Sandy Araneta THE city of Manila on Monday deployed 252 women, all mothers, as traffic enforcers in public elementary schools where their children are studying after completing extensive training in traffic management.

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada swore in the “mommy enforcers,” the first batch of auxiliary traffic personnel trained under the city government’s “Motherly Traffic Attendants” program.

“With their motherly love, our children will be safe in school.

We know they’re in good hands.

I am confident they will perform their duties well, being mothers themselves,” Estrada said during their oathtaking last week.

Estrada said he sees the mothers of Manila as partners of the city government in addressing the most pressing issues in the city, particularly traffic congestion and corruption.

Last November, Estrada fired

all 690 traffic enforcers—all men—of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau after receiving numerous complaints of extortion and other illegal activities.

Of the 690, only 82 men have been rehired after successfully completing an extensive retraining course ordered by Estrada.

“We have high expectations from every one of you,” Estrada told the mommy enforcers. “You all know that you have been recruited because our MTPB enforcers have been involved in anomalies. I trust you will help us regain the reputation of MTPB.” MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said the mommy enforcers will be assigned to 72 public elementary schools in the city to help direct traffic and assist schoolchildren in crossing the street or taking a ride.

“We are hoping to field one mommy traffic enforcer for every 1,000 schoolchildren, and so far, we have covered all 72 public elementary schools,” Alcoreza said. Manila has about 250,000 grade schoolers.

BENCHMARK VISIT. NEC Corporation representative Hirofumi Sato (center) talks to Muntinlupa Business Permits and Licensing Office chief Gary Llamas (left) in the city’s Business Permits Renewal Office last Friday.

Sato observed the renewal transaction at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Tunasan during his benchmarking visit, facilitated by the Development Academy of the Philippines. NEC provides ICT and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government agencies.

Taguig gives 36 schools emergency ‘grab bags’

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Taguig has distributed emergency kits to 23 elementary and 13 secondary schools as part of its disaster risk reduction and preparedness program in the event a big quake hit Metro Manila.

City officials and representatives from the Department of Education over the weekend led the distribution of 68,750 “grab bags” containing items used for emergency situations like whistle, mineral water, medicine, face mask, power bar, alcohol and first aid kit.

DepEd Schools Division Su-

perintendent Benjamin Samson said grab bags have been strategically placed in areas inside the school where they are easily accessible to the young students.

“The importance of these grab bags is to ensure that in the event of an emergency be it an earthquake, flash flood and other

disasters, our students will have something ready to survive and get to safety,” he added.

The distribution of grab bags is part of the city’s “Correct and Accurate Response for Emergency in the Schools” or “CARES” program, which was established under the administration of

Mayor Laarni Cayetano in 2010 to address the disaster reduction management and awareness needs of all the public schools.

Aside from the grab bags, the program has provided megaphones, fire extinguishers, fireand waterproof vaults for important documents inside the schools.

Quezon City dads support Bicycle Act bill in House THE Quezon City Council has passed a resolution supporting the enactment of House Bill 2276 or the draft Bicycle Act of 2016.

City Resolution SP-6929, S-2016, authored

by Councilor Alan Benedict S. Reyes, expressed support to the draft law authored by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco.

The bill bats for the establishment of

isting along the Friendship Highway in Angeles City, Santiago said.

Although they are all over the Central Luzon region, the Koreans want a territory or village of their own, catering exclusively to their fellow Koreans.

The Koreans in the region are hardworking and mostly engaged in legitimate businesses like restaurants, bakeries, groceries, travel agencies, and wellness centers, Santiago said.

bike-friendly communities and the promotion of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation throughout the country.

The bill is akin to a Quezon City ordinance, which directs the city’s 142 barangays to install bike racks in barangay halls or in any other convenient place that can be utilized as bike parking areas.

Under City Council Resolution SP 6760, bicycles are recognized for being very useful to the human society, “both in cultural and industrial realms.”

Reyes, the main proponent of the resolution, noted there is a move in QC to establish a bicycle sharing system or community bicycle program, which is implemented in

some cities around the world.

The Quezon City government, led by Mayor Herbert M. Bautista, supports moves to protect the environment by providing measures such as creation of bike lanes to encourage residents to ride bicycles instead of motorized vehicles that cause air pollution.

QUEZON CITY has qualified in this year’s search for the country’s best highly urbanized city disaster risk reduction management council, representing the National Capital Region for the Gawad Kalasag award in the national level.

Last December, the city was recognized by the Office of Civil Defense as the best disaster risk reduction management council for highly urbanized cities in the NCR, based on the merit of promoting innovation and excellence on disaster risk reduction management and humanitarian assistance.

Last week, city government officials led by City Administrator Aldrin Cuña welcomed the members of a five-man field validating team formed by the Gawad Kalasag organizing committee to assess the city’s disaster risk reduction and management efforts.

The team saw representatives from the Office of Civil Defense, League of Cities of the Philippines and Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Cuña said Quezon City’s disaster risk reduction and management effort “is a consolidation of some of the best practices adopted by other local government units.”

“Quezon City is far more progressive in disaster risk management and is more pro-active as far as climate change adaptation is concern,” Cuña said.

To date, Cuña said, the city under the administration of Mayor Herbert Bautista, has already spent a lot to acquire and install state-of-the art equipment and technologies to promote human security and strengthen the city’s coping capabilities and resiliency, especially in times of calamities.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

C2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

LGUs

P’sinan IP cooperatives sought L

By Dexter A. See

INGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III has proposed the establishment of cooperatives for the indigenous people of Pangasinan.

This was bared by Enrique delos Santos Jr., National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples-Pangasinan chief, in an interview immediately after a courtesy call on the provin-

cial chief executive last Jan. 26 at the Urduja Building, Capitol Compound here.

“The governor was very accommodating the IPs’ concerns.

He was the one who suggested

that a cooperative be organized for them,” Delos Santos said.

He added that Gov. Espino wanted a cooperative so that “IPs could have programmatic, sustainable livelihood on farming, which would train them to have a hand in management.”

The NCIP-Pangasinan chief said that he and his staff sought an audience with the governor to express gratitude for his valuable contributions to the improvement of IPs’ welfare in the province.

Delos Santos was equally glad

that Gov. Espino has allotted around 60 slots of college scholarships for the IP youths, a tradition he continues from his predecessor now Fifth District Congressman Amado T. Espino Jr. “This is important as education is what they really need to be freed from the grip of poverty,” he said.

He said that the provincial government has even lowered the maintaining average for the IP scholars to 81 percent, 4 points lower than the required 85 per-

cent, as a consideration for them.

On Feb. 2, a training on mushroom production will be facilitated by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist under the direction of the governor for the IPs as a way of equipping them with skills to make a living.

A key milestone in propagating appreciation for the IPs in the province was seen last Oct. 26 with the staging of the very first “Gimong” Pangasinan IP Forum.

Delos Santos said that this

event showcased to the world the relevance of IP groups in the modern world province and were privileged to perform vibrant ethnic dance at the Provincial Capitol Building.

Asked on the current status of the IPs in Pangasinan, he said, “They are now more organized and aware of their rights. It is because they are being empowered gradually through involvement in government programs. We are fully supported by the provincial government,” he said.

‘Town traffic due to old land use plans’

all vehicles, including motorcycles, are using the national BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya— highway while other cars are This town’s age-old Municipal also left to park alongside the Land Use Plan is a major con- road,” he said. tributor of its slow economic Valdez said the new MLUP development and heavy traffic should also take serious conalong the national highway. sideration on the growing Lloyd Valdez, former secre- number of tricycles plying the tary to the Sangguniang Bayan, national highway. said this town’s MLUP has not He said one of the perceived been updated for years and is solutions and recommendanot properly implemented, to tions was the rerouting of tripave the way for more spacious cycles, preventing them from and accessible roads. using the national highway He cited the presence of Tri- and the establishment of jeepcycle Operators and Drivers As- ney and tricycle terminals insociation zones, which are vis- side the town proper. ibly seen occupying huge road Valdez also said the old spaces in most corners of the MLUP has been preventnational highway. ing investors in pouring their “There is a problem on traf- business interest in the mufic management hereYELLOW because BLACK nicipality because of fear of CYAN MAGENTA illegal conversion Manila cases and violatStandard REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES of the parties’ incurable Republic of the Philippines TODAY REGIONAL TRIAL COURT psychological incapacity under ing proper zoning National Capital Judicial Region NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Article 36 of the Family Code regulations.

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT BRANCH 109, PASAY CITY and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’s counsel, Atty.

Mandaluyong City “Once invesMARISSA SAMSON DAGAMI TREBONIAN C. TABANG with Branch 211 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES address at CATRAL TABANG & Petitioner, tors see proper IRAL LAW OFFICES, Suite 505 REGIONAL TRIAL COURT IN RE: PETITION FOR THE ISSUANCE -versus – implementation of Artex Bldg., 435 Gen. Luna St., NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION OF NEW OWNER’S DUPLICATE COPY Binondo, Manila.

BRANCH 109, PASAY CITY OF CONDOMINIUM CERTIFICATES zoning and traffic CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-16-23464-CV OF TITLE NOS. 008-2015005599 AND For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage If you fail to answer within MARISSA SAMSON DAGAMI regulations, they the time fixed, as per the Rules 008-2015005600 IN LIEU OF THE LOST Under Art. 36 of the Family Code Petitioner, of Court, the Philippines-EMBRACE petitioner shall TITLES SHOES FOR ATHLETES. The American Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Philip Morris donated P3 million worth sports will be inspired to take judgment against you and -versus – CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-16-2 LRC Case No. MC16-865 ZHANG shoes and apparel for the young athletes of Cagayan. Receiving theWEI, donation are Cagayan lawyer Mabel Villarica, from Ebb demand Gov. from Manuel this Court Mamba, the do business in our For: Declaration of Nullity Respondent. relief applied in this petition.

Hinchcliffe, executive director of AmCham, and Bayen Elero-Tinga, director for External Affairs of Philip Morris Philippines.

Jessica Bacud ZHANG WEI, Under Art. 36 of the Fami METRO UTOPIAN CONTRACTING, INC. town,” he said. x------------------------------------x Respondent.

Moreover, you are reminded Petitioner, CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK of the provision of the IBPx------------------------------------x SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

By Ben Moses Ebreo

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

ORDER This is a verified petition filed by the petitioner praying that the Court cancel and declare null and void the owner’s duplicate copy of CCT Nos. 008-2015005599 and 008-2015005600 which were lost, and to order and direct the Register of Deeds for the City of Mandaluyong, after payment of the fees prescribed by law, to issue in lieu/replacement thereof, a new owner’s duplicate copy of CCT Nos. 008-2015005599 and 008-20155005600 which shall in all respect be entitled to like faith and credit as the original duplicate and in exactly the same terms and conditions annotated therein whatsoever, in accordance with Section 109 of Act No. 456, as amended by P.D. No. 1529, in relation to R.A. No. 26.

That petitioner is a corporation organized and existing by virtue and operations of Philippine laws with principal place of business at No. 455 Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City.

For the purpose, petitioner is represented by its President Enrico A. Doculan.

That petitioner is the registered and absolute owner of condominium unit and parking space located at Brgy.

Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City, and described under Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) Nos. 0082015005599 and 0082015005600 of the Register of Deeds for the City of Mandaluyong, with area of ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN SQUARE METERS AND NINETY EIGHT SQUARE DECIMETERS (114.98 sq.m.) and THIRTY SEVEN SQUARE METERS AND FIFTY SQUARE DECIMETERS (37.5 sq.m.), respectively.

That petitioner is in actual possession and occupation of the real estate properties and they have been declared for taxation purposes as evidenced by hereto attached latest Tax Declaration Nos. D-027-22910 and D-092722911.

That the Owner’s Duplicate Copies of the said titles were being kept by Mr. Doculan at petitioner’s then principal office at Unit 1075-3G, 3rd Floor, LEL Building, No. 1075, J.P. Rizal Street, Makati City.

That in December 2015, petitioner transferred its principal office to No. 455 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

By reason of this, all things which are being kept in the office were brought to the new office, including CCT Nos. 008-2015005599 and 0082015005600.

That all along, Mr. Doculan thought that all documents from the old office were placed and kept in their respective cabinets in the new office, only to find out that, in November 2016, CCT Nos. 008-2015005599 and 008-2015005600 are beyond recovery. In fact, they had a hint that those titles were lost during that time when petitioner transferred from one

office to another, and that they were not kept in the new office.

That accordingly, an Affidavit of Loss was executed which was later submitted for registration. Photocopy of the said Affidavit of Loss which was submitted for registration as Entry No. 2016010470 on December 2, 2016 at 1:47:07 PM for both CCT Nos. 008-2015005599 and 008-2015005600, before the Register of Deeds for the City of Mandaluyong. Meanwhile, copy of the Memorandum of Encumbrance evidencing such registration on the said titles can be seen on the second and third pages of each title.

That the said CCT’s are not mortgaged nor given as security to any loan whatsoever.

Neither said CCT’s are being subject of any attachment, execution or proceeding in any judicial or administrative body. And finally, said CCT’s have not been sold to any person or entity to guarantee any obligations or for any other purpose.

That the original copy the titles subject matter this petition is existing the Register of Deeds Mandaluyong City.

of of at of

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL C OURT NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION BRANCH 109, PASAY CITY MARISSA SAMSON DAGAMI Petitioner, -versus –

CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-16-23464-CV For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage If you fail to answer within the time fixed, as per the Rules Under Art. 36 of the Family Code of Court, the petitioner shall take judgment against you and ZHANG WEI, demand from this Court the Respondent. relief applied in this petition. x------------------------------------x Moreover, you are reminded SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION of the provision of the IBPOCA Memorandum on Policy TO: MR. ZHANG WEI guidelines dated March 12, #43 Lourdes St., 2002, to observe restraint in filing a Motion to Dismiss and instead F.B. Harrison St., alleged the grounds thereof as Pasay City defenses in the answer. If you GREETINGS: fail to answer within the time You are hereby directed to fixed, the Court shall order the enter your appearance in the Public Prosecutor to investigate above entitled case within whether or not collusion exist thirty (30) days from the last between the parties and issue of publication hereof intervene for the state to see to in a newspaper of general it that the evidence presented is circulation in the Philippines not fabricated or suppressed. once a week for two (2) Witness the HON. consecutive weeks and answer TINGARAAN U. GUILING, the Petition filed by petitioner Presiding Judge of this Court Marissa Samson Dagami this 20th day of December 2016. wherein the petitioner prays that judgment be rendered declaring the marriage between petitioner and respondent as null and void on the ground

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Acting on the petition, this Court hereby orders petitioners to cause the publication of a copy of this Order at their own expense before the hearing on February 27, 2017 at 1:30 o’clock in the afternoon before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 211, 2nd Floor, Old Municipal Hall Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. Let a copy of this Order be published in the Manila Standard Today, a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. 1079, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

Any interested person may appear and oppose the petition.

Petitioner is further directed to cause the service of copies of this Order together with the petition and annexes upon the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, the Director of the Bureau of Lands, the Commissioner of the Land Registration Authority, the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Office of the Solicitor General, the proofs of service to be duly proven and established to the satisfaction of the Court.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, January 13, 2016.

(Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALO Judge Copy Furnished: -Atty. Nesauro H. Firme -Register of Deeds -Bureau of Lands -Dept. of Envi. & Natural Resources -Land Registration Authority -Office of the Solicitor General -Manila Standard Today (MS-Jan. 31, Feb. 7 & 14, 2017)

of the parties’ incurable psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’s counsel, Atty.

TREBONIAN C. TABANG with address at CATRAL TABANG & IRAL LAW OFFICES, Suite 505 Artex Bldg., 435 Gen. Luna St., Binondo, Manila.

Republic of the Philippines National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Mandaluyong City Branch 211 IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF SECOND COPY OF THE OWNER’S DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 27260 LRC Case No. MC16-861 SPS. RICARDO B. VALDEZ and CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ, Petitioners, -versusTHE LAND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY, THE REGISTRY OF DEEDS OF MANDALUYONG CITY, Respondents. x-------------------------------------------x

ORDER

This is a verified petition filed by the petitioner praying that after due notice, publication and hearing in accordance with the provision of PD1529 and other allied and applicable laws thereon, judgment be rendered as follows: 1) Granting the instant petition; 2) Ordering the Registry of Deeds of the City of Mandaluyong to forthwith issue a Second Copy of the Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 2760 in favor of SPS. RICARDO B. VALDEZ and CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ, both of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of 715 Pantaleon St., Hulo, Mandaluyong City; 3) To release the issued Second Copy of the Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 27260 as no longer valid and effective; 5) Other reliefs just and equitable are likewise prayed for.

That petitioners are the registered owner of a parcel of land located at the Bo. Of Hulo City of Mandaluyong covered by TCT No. 27260.

(Sgd.) CLEOTILDE P. PAULO Officer-In-Charge (MS-Jan. 24 & 31, 2017)

That sometime on December 2015, petitioner CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ tried to retrieve and/or locate the Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of TCT No. 27260 from her personal files at the house but the same could no longer be found in the said files.

That efforts were exerted by petitioner to locate the missing Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Certificate of TCT No. 27260 but said efforts were all in vain as it could no longer be found.

That after consultation and advice of counsel, petitioner executed an Affidavit of Loss which was duly annotated in TCT No. 27260.

That the TCT No. 27260 was valid and effective at the time it was lost and duly registered and covered by the torrens system of land registration. That the said realty is declared for taxation purposes.

That the said realty has no other existing mortgage except the registered mortgage to the National Housing Authority which was already cancelled. It has no other liability and encumbrances of whatever nature or kind and either it is in the possession of a third person who has a lien or negotiations and/or transactions over the real property pending registration with the Register of Deeds.

That the petitioners tried to cause the registration and annotation of the Deed of Cancellation and Release of Real Estate Mortgage Contract executed by the National Housing Authority but the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City refused to act as there is a need to present the Owner’s Copy of TCT No. 27260. Petitioners cannot present the same because it was lost sometime on December 2015.

That there is an imperative need to secure a Second Copy of Owner’s Duplicate of TCT No. 27260 in order to remove any cloud or doubt as to its existence, validity and efficacy thereof and in order to protect the property rights and interests of the registered and lawful owner.

That said realty was acquired by the petitioners from the National Housing Authority and was paid in installment.

The National Housing Authority required the petitioners to execute a Deed of Real Estate Mortgage in their favor to secure the payment of the balance in the amount of P28,424.00. The Real Estate Mortgage Contract was duly annotated in page 2 of the Certified True Copy of TCT No. 27260 under Entry No. 60686-T 27260.

Acting on the petition, this Court hereby orders petitioners to cause the publication of a copy of this Order at their own expense before the hearing on February 28, 2017 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 211, 2nd Floor, Old Municipal Hall Building, Maysilo Circle, Mandaluyong City. Let a copy of this Order be published in the Manila Standard, a newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. That sometime on February 2005, 1079, once a week for three (3) consecutive petitioners have completed the payment weeks. of the mortgage obligations to the National Any interested person may appear and Housing Authority. As a result of the full oppose the petition. payment of the Mortgage Obligation, the Petitioner is further directed to cause the National Housing Authority executed the Deed of Cancellation and Release of Real service of copies of this Order together with Estate Mortgage dated February 4, 2005. the petition and annexes upon the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, the Director That after the issuance by the National of the Bureau of Lands, the Commissioner Housing Authority of the Deed of of the Land Registration Authority, the Cancellation and Release of Real Estate Secretary of the Department of Environment Mortgage Contract, the National Housing and Natural Resources and the Office of Authority released to the petitioners the the Solicitor General, the proofs of service Owner’s Copy of Transfer Certificate of to be duly proven and established to the Title No. 27260. satisfaction of the Court.

That after the acquisition of the said SO ORDERED. Owner’s Copy of TCT No. 27260 from Mandaluyong City, January 03, 2017. the National Housing Authority, petitioner (Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALO CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ was Judge Copy Furnished: entrusted the custody and kept the Owner’s - Atty. Julian T. Tutanes; - Register of Deeds; - Bureau of Lands; Copy and other documents related thereto - Dept. of Envl. & Natural Resources; - Land Registration Authority in her personal files at their house.

- Office of the Solicitor General (Manila Standard 1/24,31 & 2/7,’17)

2 cols.YELLOW x 15 cms.

CYAN MAGENTA BLACK

OCA Memorandum on Policy TO: MR. ZHANG WEI guidelines dated March 12, REPUBLIC OF THE #43 PHILIPPINES Lourdes St., 2002, to observe restraint in filing a Motion to Dismiss and instead REGIONAL TRIAL COURT St., F.B. Harrison alleged the grounds thereof as NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL Pasay City REGION defenses in the answer. If you BRANCH 109, PASAY CITY GREETINGS: fail to answer within the time MARISSA SAMSON DAGAMI You are hereby directed to fixed, the Court shall order the Petitioner, enter your appearance in the Public Prosecutor to investigate above entitled case within whether or not collusion exist -versus – CIVIL NO. R-PSY-16-23464-CV thirty CASE (30) days from the last between the parties and For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage intervene for the state to see to issue of publication hereof it that the evidence presented is ZHANG WEI, Art. 36 of the Code in Under a newspaper of Family general Respondent.circulation in the Philippines not fabricated or suppressed. once a week for two (2) x------------------------------------x Witness the HON. consecutive weeks and answer TINGARAAN U. GUILING, SUMMONS PUBLICATION theBY Petition filed by petitioner Presiding Judge of this Court Marissa Samson Dagami TO: MR. ZHANG WEI this 20th day of December 2016. wherein the petitioner prays

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TO: MR. ZHANG WEI #43 Lourdes St., F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City

Ilocos Norte crime rate falls 60% GREETINGS:

CRIME in Ilocos Norte has fallen any focus crime, and no fire shoot- capabilityYouenhancement are hereby directed toprogram.” enter your appearance in the a case within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication Gov. newspaper Imee ofR.general Marcos ex- once a we significantly, thanks to the strong ing incidents happened. circulation in has the Philippines consecutive weeks and answer the Petition filed by petitioner Ma He shared INPPO’s goal this 2017: pressed Dagami Provincial Government partnership of the Provincial Govwherein the petitioner prays that judgment be rendered marriage between petitioner and respondent as null and void on Norte’s support ernment of Ilocos Norte and the Ilo- “To intensify the prevention of the of Ilocos the parties’ incurable full psychological incapacity to under Article 36 Code and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’s counsel, Atty. TR planwith toaddress fightat CATRAL criminality in LAW OFFIC cos Norte Police Provincial Office, occurrences of street crimes, fur- INPPO’sTABANG TABANG & IRAL Artex Bldg., 435 Gen. Luna St., Binondo, Manila. intoline her provincial police director Jose Me- ther enhance our investigative so- the province If you fail answerwith within the time vision fixed, as per the Rules petitioner shall take judgment against you and demand from t lution, further increase the number for development which includes lencio Nartatez Jr. said. relief applied in this petition. #43 index Lourdes St., F.B. Harrison St., involving illegal drugs and heightened Moreover, you aresafety reminded ofunder the provision of the IBP-OCA of arrest public the With 1,500 reported crimes that in judgment be rendered on Policy guidelines dated March 12, 2002, to observe restra Pasay City declaring the marriage between (Sgd.) CLEOTILDE P. PAULO Motion to Dismiss and instead province. alleged the grounds thereof as de illegal firearms and strengthen the campaign for a “livable” 2015, the figure GREETINGS: dropped to 600 petitioner at the and Officer-In-Charge respondent as answer. If you fail to answer within the time fixed, the Court s on the ground Public Prosecutor to investigate whether or not collusion exist end of 2016, a decrease of 60 percent.

You are hereby directed tonull enterand your void appearance in the above entitled (MS-Jan. 24 & 31, 2017) parties and intervene for the state to see to it that the evidence case within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication hereof in a not fabricated or suppressed.

“The decrease inofcrime rate is a Philippines once a week for two (2) newspaper general circulation in the consecutive weeks and answer the Petition filed by petitioner Marissa Samson Witness the HON. TINGARAAN U. GUILING, Presiding Judge good indicatorDagami that wherein we have effective the petitioner prays that judgment be rendered declaring the this 20 day of December 2016. marriage between petitioner and respondent as null and void on the ground of (Sgd.) CLEOTILDE measure in thetheprevention of the ocparties’ incurable psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Officer-In-C (MS-Jan. 24 & 31, 2017) Code and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’s counsel, Atty. TREBONIAN C. currence of crimes,” Nartatez said.TABANG & IRAL LAW OFFICES, Suite 505 TABANG with address at CATRAL Artex Bldg., 435 Gen. Luna St., Binondo, Manila.

On crime solution hefixed, as per the Rules of Court, the If you fail to efficiency, answer within the time Thatthesometime on December 2015, Republic of the Philippines petitioner shall take judgment against and demand from this Court noted that INPPO’s investigation ef-you Capital Judicial Region petitioner CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ relief applied in this petition. National tried to retrieve and/or locate the Owner’s REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Moreover, you are reminded of the provision of the IBP-OCA Memorandum Duplicate Certificate of TCT No. 27260 from forts increased from 65 percent toMandaluyong City on Policy guidelines dated March 12, 2002, to observe restraint inher filing a files at the house but the same personal Branch 211 could no longer be found in the said files.

Motion to Dismiss and instead alleged the grounds thereof as defenses in the 80 percent in 2016.

RE: PETITION FOR the ISSUANCE OF order the answer. If you fail to answerIN within the time fixed, Court shall That efforts were exerted by petitioner SECOND THE OWNER’S to investigate whether or notOF collusion exist between the the missing Owner’s Duplicate to locate Alongside Public the Prosecutor increase of fo-COPY DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF parties and intervene for the TRANSFER state to see CERTIFICATE to it that the evidence presented is of Transfer Certificate of TCT No. Certificate OF 27260 but said efforts were all in vain as it fabricated or suppressed. cused police not operations and TITLE crime NO. 27260 could no longer be found.

Witness the HON. TINGARAAN U. GUILING, Presiding Judge of this Court That after consultation and advice of efficiency, INPPO continues to LRC Case No. MC16-861 counsel, this 20 day of December 2016.

SPS. RICARDO B. VALDEZ and petitioner executed an Affidavit of CLEOTILDE P. PAULO VARGAS VALDEZ, Loss which was duly annotated in TCT No. strengthen the competence ofCAROLINA their (Sgd.) Petitioners, 27260.

Officer-In-Charge (MS-Jan. 24 & 31, 2017) -versusThat the TCT No. 27260 was valid and officers through the Capability Eneffective at the time it was lost and duly THE LAND REGISTRATION registered and covered by the torrens AUTHORITY, THE REGISTRY hancement Program.

St system of land registration. That the said REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES OF DEEDS OF MANDALUYONG realty is declared for taxation purposes.

CITY, Through the CEP, police officers REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Respondents.

That the said realty has no other existing NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION x-------------------------------------------x mortgage except the registered mortgage to undergo series ofBRANCH physical examinathe National Housing Authority which was 109, PASAY CITY ORDER This is a verified petition filed by the already cancelled. It has no other liability tionsMARISSA and firearm skill tests to ensure petitioner praying that after due notice, and encumbrances of whatever nature or SAMSON DAGAMI publication and hearing in accordance with kind and either it is in the possession of a that they are fitPetitioner, for any operation.

That sometime on December 2015, Republic of the Philippines the provision of PD1529 and other allied third person who has a lien or negotiations property Capital Judicial Region petitioner CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ and applicable laws thereon, judgment and/or transactions over the real tried to retrieve and/or locate the Owner’s INPPO re- as follows: 1) Granting the pending registration with theNational Register of REGIONAL TRIAL COURT -versus is – also intensifying CIVIL CASE NO. R-PSY-16-23464-CV be rendered Duplicate Certificate of TCT No. 27260 from Mandaluyong City instant petition; 2) Ordering the Registry Deeds.

For: will Declaration of Nullity of Marriage her personal files at the house but the same cruitment to ensure there no ofbe Deeds of the City of Mandaluyong to Branch 211 That the petitioners tried to cause the could no longer be found in the said files.

ZHANG WEI, Under Art.forthwith 36 of the Family CodeCopy of the registration issue a Second and annotation of the Deed of IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Cancellation and Release of Real Estate That efforts were exerted by petitioner drop in the number of policemen.

Respondent.

SECOND COPY OF THE OWNER’S Certificate of Title No. 2760 in favor of SPS. Mortgage Contract executed by the National to locate the missing Owner’s Duplicate DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF x------------------------------------x RICARDO B. VALDEZ and CAROLINA Housing Authority but the Register of Deeds Certificate of Transfer Certificate of TCT No. Nartatez was also happy to report TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF VARGAS VALDEZ, both of legal age, of Mandaluyong City refused to act as there 27260 but said efforts were all in vain as it SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION TITLE NO. 27260 Filipino, and a resident of 715 Pantaleon is a need to present the Owner’s Copy of could no longer be found. that during the Yuletide Season, no Ilocos Norte provincial police director Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. explains how St., Hulo, Mandaluyong City; 3) To release TCT No. 27260. Petitioners cannot presentLRC Case No. MC16-861 That after consultation and advice of TO: MR. ZHANG WEI the issued Second Copy of the Owner’s the same because it was lostSPS. sometime on RICARDO B. VALDEZ and counsel, petitioner executed an Affidavit of the province’s crime rate went down. tourists were harmed or involved in Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Certificate December 2015. #43 Lourdes St., F.B. Harrison St., CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ, Loss which was duly annotated in TCT No. th

th

Pasay City

of Title No. 27260 as no longer valid and Petitioners, That there is an imperative need to effective; 5) Other reliefs just and equitable secure a Second Copy of Owner’s Duplicate -versusare likewise prayed for. of TCT No. 27260 in order to remove any THE LAND REGISTRATION cloud or doubt as to its existence, validity AUTHORITY, THE REGISTRY and efficacy thereof and in order to protect OF DEEDS OF MANDALUYONG the property rights and interests of the CITY, registered and lawful owner.

GREETINGS: That petitioners are the registered owner You are hereby directed to enter your appearance of a parcelinof the landabove locatedentitled at the Bo. Of case within thirty (30) days from the last issue of publication hereof in a by TCT Hulo City of Mandaluyong covered No. 27260. newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks and answer the Petition filed by petitioner Marissa That said realty was Samson acquired by the Dagami wherein the petitioner prays that judgment be rendered declaring petitioners from the NationaltheHousing marriage between petitioner and respondent as null andand voidwas on the ground of Authority paid in installment.

National Authority the parties’ incurable psychological incapacityThe under ArticleHousing 36 of the Familyrequired petitioners to TREBONIAN execute a Deed Code and furnish a copy thereof to petitioner’sthe counsel, Atty.

C.of Real Mortgage in their favor secure the TABANG with address at CATRAL TABANG & Estate IRAL LAW OFFICES, Suiteto505 payment of the balance in the amount of Artex Bldg., 435 Gen. Luna St., Binondo, Manila.

P28,424.00. The Real Estate Mortgage If you fail to answer within the time fixed, Contract as per the of Court,inthe wasRules duly annotated page 2 of petitioner shall take judgment against you and from Copy this Court thedemand Certified True of TCT the No. 27260 under Entry No. 60686-T 27260. relief applied in this petition. sometime Memorandum on February 2005, Moreover, you are reminded of the provision ofThat the IBP-OCA completed the apayment on Policy guidelines dated March 12, 2002, petitioners to observehave restraint in filing of the thereof mortgage Motion to Dismiss and instead alleged the grounds asobligations defensestointhe theNational As a result of the full answer. If you fail to answer within the time Housing fixed, theAuthority.

Court shall order the payment of the Mortgage Obligation, the Public Prosecutor to investigate whether or not collusion existAuthority between the National Housing executed the parties and intervene for the state to see to itDeed that the evidence presented is of Real of Cancellation and Release not fabricated or suppressed.

Estate Mortgage dated February 4, 2005.

Witness the HON. TINGARAAN U. GUILING, That Presiding Judge of thisbyCourt after the issuance the National this 20th day of December 2016.

Housing Authority of the Deed of

27260.

That the TCT No. 27260 was valid and effective at the time it was lost and duly registered and covered by the torrens system of land registration. That the said realty is declared for taxation purposes.

Itogon gains P16m for high school Respondents.

Acting on the petition, thisx-------------------------------------------x Court hereby orders petitioners to cause the publication ofORDER a copy of this Order at their own expense This is a verified petition filed by the before the hearing on February 28, 2017 petitioner praying that after due notice, at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before the publication and hearing in accordance with Regional Trial Court, Branch 211, 2nd Floor, the provision of PD1529 and other allied Old Municipal Hall Building, Maysilo Circle, and applicable laws thereon, judgment Mandaluyong City. Let a copy of this Order be rendered as follows: 1) Granting the be published in the Manila Standard, a instant petition; 2) Ordering the Registry newspaper of general circulation in Metro of Deeds of the City of Mandaluyong to Manila selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. forthwith issue a Second Copy of the 1079, once a week for three (3) consecutive Owner’s Duplicate Certificate of Transfer weeks.

Certificate of Title No. 2760 in favor of SPS. Any interested person may appear and RICARDO B. VALDEZ and CAROLINA oppose the petition.

VARGAS VALDEZ, both of legal age, Filipino, andthe a resident of 715 Pantaleon Petitioner is further directed to cause Hulo, Mandaluyong City; 3) To release service of copies of this OrderSt., together with thethe issued Second Copy of the Owner’s the petition and annexes upon Register Duplicate Certificate of Transfer Certificate of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, the Director of Title No. 27260 as no longer valid and of the Bureau of Lands, the Commissioner Other reliefs just and equitable of the Land Registration effective; Authority,5) the areEnvironment likewise prayed for.

Secretary of the Department of and Natural Resources and the Office of That petitioners are the registered owner the Solicitor General, the proofs service of a of parcel of land located at the Bo. Of to be duly proven and established Hulo Citytoofthe Mandaluyong covered by TCT satisfaction of the Court.

No. 27260.

SO ORDERED. That said realty was acquired by the Mandaluyong City, Januarypetitioners 03, 2017. from the National Housing Authority (Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALOand was paid in installment.

The National Housing Authority required Judge Copy Furnished: petitioners to execute a Deed of Real - Atty. Julian T. Tutanes; - Register of Deeds;the - Bureau of Lands; - Dept. of Envl. & Natural Resources; - Land Estate Registration Authority Mortgage in their favor to secure the - Office of the Solicitor General (Manila Standard 1/24,31 &of 2/7,’17) payment the balance in the amount of P28,424.00. The Real Estate Mortgage Contract was duly annotated in page 2 of the Certified True Copy of TCT No. 27260 under Entry No. 60686-T 27260.

That the said realty has no other existing mortgage except the registered mortgage to the National Housing Authority which was already cancelled. It has no other liability and encumbrances of whatever nature or kind and either it is in the possession of a third person who has a lien or negotiations and/or transactions over the real property pending registration with the Register of Deeds.

“We need the agricultural sector TUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining lex Mining enough for the legacy that Corp. is providing its host town of it would be leaving—its generosity in to prosper,” she added, stressing That the petitioners tried to cause the the need toregistration enhance livelihood proItogon a total of P16 million to build supporting projects on education.” and annotation of the Deed of Cancellation and Release of Real Estate region.

“We have many partners—part- grams in the an agricultural secondary school.

Mortgage Contract executed by the National Housing Authority but the Register of Deeds Austin said the granting of funds for This would help the municipality ners in words, but partners in deed, of Mandaluyong City refused to act as there to present the Owner’s Copy of the IANHSisTCT isa need part Philex Mining’s pursue and support the national gov- I see it in Philex,” she stressed.

No. 27260.of Petitioners cannot present same because it was lost sometime on to a 2015. humanized responsiManuel Agcaoili, SVP at Philex commitmentthe ernment’s program on basic educaDecember That there is an imperative need to which translates to Duplicate commuand resident manager of its ble mining, secure tion, as the company and other par- andMining a Second Copy of Owner’s Cancellation Release of Real Estate (Sgd.) CLEOTILDE P. PAULO of TCT No. 27260 in order to remove any Mortgage Contract, the National Housing nity development by building schools Padcal operations in Benguet, said the ties concerned signed the agreement cloud or doubt as to its existence, validity Officer-In-Charge Authority released to the petitioners the (MS-Jan. 24 & 31, 2017) and efficacy thereof and in order to protect Owner’s Copy of Transfer Certificate of the property rights and interests of the and roads, adhering to labor standards, and broke ground to seal the deal.

Title No. 27260. two-story building at Itogon Agriculregistered and lawful owner.

That after thetural acquisition of the said High School, will have protecting the environment, and National Philex Mining CEO and president Acting on the petition, this Court herebyproOwner’s Copy of TCT No. 27260 from orders petitioners to cause the publication of National Housing Authority, petitioner a copy of thisof Order at their own expense moting the welfare stakeholders.

10 classrooms Eulalio Austin Jr., Itogon Mayorthe VicCAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ was and two faculty rooms before the hearing on February 28, 2017 entrusted the custody and kept the Owner’s at 8:30 o’clock the in the morning before the He added that IANHS may to accommodate senior high-schoolers torio Palangdan, and Beatriz Torno, Copy and other documents related thereto Regional Trial Court, Branch 211, 2nd Floor, in her personal files at their house.

Old Municipal Hall Building, Maysilo Circle, the standards” beOIC-Regional Director of the Depart- (Grades 11 and 12) who would enroll by also “fall under Mandaluyong City. Let a copy of this Order be published in the Manila Standard, a by Secretary Regiment of Education in Baguio City, June. He added that building a teachers’ ing spearheaded newspaper of general circulation in Metro Manila selected by raffle pursuant to PD No. naFebruary Lopez the of Enwillxfollow soon. joined other company executives and quarters 1079, once aDepartment week for three (3) consecutive That sometime on 2005, of 2 cols.

15 cms. petitioners have completed the payment weeks. vironment Natural Resources, Torno said DepEd-CAR willof the bemortgage talk-obligations public officials in the groundbreaking to the National and Any interested person may appear and Housing Authority. As a result of the full oppose the petition. payment of the Mortgage the companies to “focus on forObligation, mining ceremonies after they signed the mem- ing with the Benguet State University, Petitioner is further directed to cause the National Housing Authority executed the of copies of this Order together with Deed of Cancellation and Release of Real servicecommunities” the impacted in imorandum of agreement in Sitio Ayosip, in the provincial capital of La Trinidad, Estate Mortgage dated February 4, 2005. the petition and annexes upon the Register of Deeds of Mandaluyong City, the Director That after the issuance by the National of the plementing projects under the Soto agree in providing the academic supBarangay Poblacion.

Bureau of Lands, the Commissioner Housing Authority of the Deed of of the Land Registration Authority, the and Release of Real Estate Secretary of theand Department of Environment cial Development Management agriculTorno said the DepEd-Cordillera Ad- port, especially its expertise onCancellation Mortgage Contract, the National Housing and Natural Resources and the Office of released to the petitioners the the Solicitor General, the proofs of service Program.

A. See ministrative Region “cannot thank Phi- tural studies, for the IANHS. Authority Owner’s Copy of Transfer Certificate ofDexter to be duly proven and established to the Title No. 27260.

That after the acquisition of the said Owner’s Copy of TCT No. 27260 from the National Housing Authority, petitioner CAROLINA VARGAS VALDEZ was entrusted the custody and kept the Owner’s Copy and other documents related thereto in her personal files at their house.

satisfaction of the Court.

SO ORDERED. Mandaluyong City, January 03, 2017.

(Sgd.) OFELIA L. CALO Judge

Copy Furnished: - Atty. Julian T. Tutanes; - Register of Deeds; - Bureau of Lands; - Dept. of Envl. & Natural Resources; - Land Registration Authority - Office of the Solicitor General (Manila Standard 1/24,31 & 2/7,’17)

World

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

C3

Mosque killing a ‘terrorist attack’ Q

UEBEC CITY―Six people died and eight were injured after gunmen opened fire at a Quebec City mosque, a shooting that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Monday as a “terrorist attack.”

Police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told journalists that two suspects were arrested following the attack that police were also treating as an act of terrorism.

Trudeau said in a statement that “we condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a center of worship and refuge.”

“Muslim-Canadians are an important part of our national fabric, and these senseless acts have no place in our communities, city and country.”

According to witnesses interviewed on local television, two masked gunmen entered the cultural center around 7:15 pm (0015 GMT) on Sunday.

The motive of the attack was not immediately clear. Police quickly set up in the mosque’s vicinity.

Coulombe said those killed were between ages 35 and 70.

Police did not rule out the possibility of a third suspect who had fled the scene.

“It is heart-wrenching to see such senseless violence,” Trudeau said. “Diversity is our strength, and religious tolerance is a value that we, as Canadians, hold dear.”

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said in a series of Twitter posts that the government was “mobilized to ensure the security of the people of Quebec.”

“Quebec categorically rejects this barbaric violence,” he wrote.

“Solidarity with Quebec people of Muslim faith.”

Police stationed near the mosque told AFP that they had been preparing for this type of attack “because it’s happening all over the world.”

“I don’t understand why here -- it’s a small mosque,” said a man who was inside the center at the time of the attack. “It’s not Montreal or Toronto.”

The mosque has already been the target of hate: a pig’s head was left on the doorstep last June during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Other mosques in Canada have been targeted with racist graffiti in recent months.

The attack comes as Canada has vowed to open its arms wide to Muslims and refugees after US President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration ban Friday sparked travel chaos and outrage around the world.

Canada will offer temporary residence permits to people stranded in the country as a result of Trump’s order, the immigration ministry said Sunday. AFP

Suu Kyi’s adviser shot dead

BRIEFING.

European Parliament’s President Antonio Tajani speaks during a press conference following a meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome. AFP

YANGON―The killing of a top Muslim lawyer and adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi who was gunned down outside Yangon airport was a political assassination and a “terrorist act”, Myanmar’s ruling party said Monday.

Ko Ni, a legal adviser to the National League for Democracy, was shot in the head on Sunday afternoon as he waited outside the airport while holding his grandson.

A dramatic photo circulating on social media showed the moment the gunman, standing behind him, took aim.

Police have not said what prompted the killing. But Ko Ni was a prominent Muslim figure who spoke out against the anti-Islamic sentiments of Buddhist hardliners and criticized the powerful military’s grip on power.

A taxi driver who tried to stop the gunman was also shot dead before the unidentified attacker was arrested.

Ko Ni had just returned from a government delegation visit to Indonesia where regional leaders were discussing sectarian tensions in Rakhine state.

Myanmar’s army has waged a crackdown on the mainly Muslim Rohingya community which has prompted tens of thousands of them to flee the state.

Ko Ni had previously criticized religious laws pushed by Buddhist nationalists.

In a statement the NLD described him as a key aide to de facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying he was “irreplaceable”.

“We strongly denounce the assassination of Ko Ni like this as it is a terrorist act against the NLD’s policies,” the statement said. AFP

IN BRIEF Yemen dissatisfied with travel ban on Muslim countries

Burglar on trial over $100-m Paris art haul

PARIS―A burglar known as “Spiderman”, notorious for daring acrobatic heists, goes on trial Monday for the 2010 theft of a $100-million haul that included works by Picasso and Matisse from a Paris gallery.

Vjeran Tomic, 49, who is facing 14 charges, will stand trial along with two accomplices charged with handling stolen goods.

The three were charged over the May 2010 robbery at the Modern Art Museum of five paintings by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Ferdinand Leger and Amedeo Modigliani.

On May 19, 2010, a thief cut through a padlocked gate and broke a window to

get into the gallery, one of the most-visited museums in Paris on the leafy banks of the Seine, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

The museum’s alarms had been awaiting repair for several weeks and the thief somehow managed to knock out a security camera.

Three guards were on duty that night, but the paintings were only found to be missing from their frames just as the museum prepared to open to the public the next day.

When police arrested the Serb in May 2011, Tomic told them he had initially broken into the museum for Leger’s “Still Life with Candlestick” from 1922, not thinking he would also be able to steal

another four.

Besides the Leger canvas, the other works stolen were Picasso’s cubist “Dove with Green Peas” from 1912 -- worth an estimated 25 million euros ($26.8 million) alone -- French contemporary Matisse’s “Pastoral” from 1905, Braque’s “Olive Tree near Estaque” from 1906, and Modigliani’s “Woman with a Fan” from 1919.

All but the Modigliani were hung in the same room in the museum, located in the well-heeled 16th district of Paris, which is run by the city and is home to more than 8,000 works of 20th-century art.

Tomic said he took them all because he “liked” the paintings. AFP

May criticized over response to Trump’s ban

DISASTER. Members of the Pollution Response Team remove black oil washed ashore as a thick oily tide from the sea lapped at the coast a day after an oil tanker and an LPG tanker collided off Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Chennai. AFP

LONDON―British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing criticism for her initial response to Donald Trump’s border clampdown, as the UK won an exemption for its citizens from the US president’s restrictions.

Shortly after the prime minister held talks with Trump at the White House on Friday, the new president signed an executive order to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough new controls on travelers from seven Muslim countries.

Trump’s move prompted an online petition to stop him making a planned state visit to Britain, a regal and glitzy affair which involves formalities such as a royal banquet in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom.

By early Monday the petition to the British parliament had attracted almost 900,000 signatures.

May sparked controversy Saturday after refusing to condemn Trump’s immigration clampdown when pressed by journalists during a trip to Turkey, but later issued a stronger statement as it emerged British citizens had been affected.

“Immigration policy in the United States is a matter for the government of the United States, just the same as immigration policy for this country should be set by our government,” a spokesman from her office said on Sunday.

“But we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking,” he added. AFP

ADEN―Yemen’s government warned Monday that US President Donald Trump’s order banning travelers from mainly Muslim countries would encourage global “extremism”.

“Yemen expresses its dissatisfaction after the order prohibiting, even for a limited time, the entry to the United States of people holding a Yemeni passport,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

The Arabian peninsula country was one of seven named by Trump in Friday’s order whose nationals will be temporarily barred from traveling to the US. “Such a decision is likely to strengthen the position of extremists,” the spokesman said, adding that “the only way to achieve victory in the fight against terrorism... is dialogue and not creating barriers.”

Yemen is gripped by a conflict that has killed more than 7,400 people since March 2015, when a Saudi-backed coalition began bombing raids on rebel forces who had seized control of capital Sanaa and northern and central parts of the impoverished nation. AFP

At least seven killed in series of avalanches DUSHANBE, Tajikistan―Authorities in Tajikistan said Monday that at least seven people were killed in a series of avalanches that hit the mountainous Central Asian country over the weekend.

Avalanches killed at least five people on a highway linking the capital Dushanbe with Khujand, Tajikistan’s second largest city, the emergency services committee said.

Two more died in avalanches in the remote Pamir region in the country’s east, the committee said.

Authorities said a rescue operation was ongoing and the casualty toll could continue to rise.

A spokesperson for the committee told AFP around 800 people had been evacuated Sunday following the avalanches.

Mountainous and poverty-struck Tajikistan is prone to natural disasters including avalanches, landslides and earthquakes.

In February 2015, a single avalanche claimed six lives in the east of the country. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

Temporary home for the stranded OTTAWA―Canada will offer temporary residence permits to people stranded in the country as a result of US President Donald Trump’s travel ban, the immigration ministry said Sunday.

“Let me assure those who may be stranded in Canada that I will use my authority as minister to provide them with temporary residency if needed as we have done in the past,” Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said at a news conference.

Hussen did not indicate how many people could be concerned by this measure, but he said that the Canadian authorities were so far unaware of anyone stranded in the country by the US order.

Trump on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees to the US for at least 120 days and barred entry for 90 days to people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Hussen, who is of Somali origin, said the Trump administration had assured Ottawa that Canadians holding dual nationality with those countries would not be affected by the US ban. AFP

World GRIEF. The mother and relatives of Palestinian Mohammed Abu Khalifa mourn over his body, after he was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, at the local morgue before his funeral at the Jenin refugee camp, near the West Bank city of Jenin. AFP

Outrage over ban is Trump’s first real test N EW YORK―Donald Trump faced mass protests and global outrage Sunday over his controversial ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries, facing the first real test of his nine-day administration.

The ban was criticized by allies, sparked confusion over its implementation and galvanized Democrats looking for a lightning rod to beat Trump. There was growing unease among Republican lawmakers as well.

Four federal judges moved to halt deportations, around 300 people were stopped or detained worldwide and US civil rights lawyers warned the battle could head to the Supreme Court.

Thousands of noisy demonstrators poured into the country’s major airports for the second day in a row to show support for immigrants and refugees impacted

by Trump’s contentious travel restrictions.

“I just hope that we can pass this difficult period while maintaining our values as a country,” said Saif Rahman, a 38-year-old Iraqi-born US citizen who was called in for additional screening after flying into Dulles airport out-

side Washington.

Lawyers accompanied by interpreters set up shop in airports and fought for the release of those detained on arrival -- many of them were in mid-air when Trump signed the decree.

The decree suspends the arrival of all refugees for at least 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.

At least 109 people were held upon arrival to the United States despite holding valid visas. It was unclear how many were still detained late Sunday.

Top Trump aides downplayed the number as “a couple of dozen” as Canada said it would offer temporary residence to those stranded in the country by the ban.

Under fire from all quarters, Trump issued an official White House statement to deny it was a Muslim ban and blast the media

for its coverage.

“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion -- this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said.

The decision -- which falls short of his 2015 promise on the campaign trail to ban all Muslims from coming to the United States -- ignited the biggest controversy since he took office.

Trump then took to Twitter to blast Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, fellow Republicans who criticized the ban. He called them “wrong,” “weak on immigration” and “looking to start World War III.” The real estate tycoon, who has never previously held elected office, sees himself making good on a key but highly controversial campaign promise to subject travelers from Muslim-majority countries to “extreme vetting” -- which he declared would make America safe from “radical Islamic terrorists.”

The detention of travelers at US airports left families divided: a father was unable to reach his son’s wedding, and a grandmother unable to meet her grandchildren.

Iran called the ban a “gift to extremists.”

Six Syrians were turned away from Philadelphia International Airport and sent back to Lebanon, a Beirut airport official said.

In New York, police estimated that 10,000 people gathered in protest at Battery Park across the river from the Statue of Liberty -- America’s famed beacon of freedom and immigration.

“Refugees are welcome here!” demonstrators shouted, some holding up signs recalling the Holocaust that read “Never Again.”

Trump signed the decree on Holocaust Memorial Day. “It should send a chill down the spine of every American,” the city’s Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio said as the crowd chanted “impeach” in reference to Trump.

Thousands more protested outside the White House.

“Taking a whole part of the world and saying you are not welcome here, you are our enemy, that invites violence. That’s not the American way,” said Tal Zlotnitsky, a software technology owner and dual US-Israeli citizen.

French-American national Sarah Diligenti added: “I hope this is a movement that lasts. I hope it’s not just a flash in the pan.” AFP

Word leaders slam immigration move PARIS―Several world leaders and governments have hit out at the immigration restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Here are some of the top reactions: Britain Downing Street said on Sunday Prime Minister Theresa May does “not agree” with the restrictions and would intervene if they affected British nationals.

While US immigration is a matter for Washington, “we do not agree with this kind of approach and it is not one we will be taking,” London said.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted Britain “will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatize because of nationality.”

Germany Angela Merkel’s spokesman said the German chancellor “regrets the entry ban” and “is convinced that even in the necessarily resolute battle against terrorism, it is not justified to place people from a certain origin or belief under general suspicion”.

Berlin “will now examine the consequences” of the ban for German citizens with dual nationality affected by the decision, added the spokesman.

Indonesia Indonesia “deeply regrets” the move “because we believe it would affect the global fight against terrorism and the refugees management negatively,” foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told AFP. European Union “It is wrong to link radicalism European Union foreign policy supremo Federica Mogherini and terrorism with one particular pledged the bloc would “continue religion,” Nasir said. to support, welcome and take care France of those who flee from war”.

French Foreign Minister Jean“We will continue to celebrate for every wall that is torn down Marc Ayrault said: “Welcoming and for every new bridge that is refugees who are fleeing war is built up. We will keep working part of our duty.”

“We must... ensure that this for peace and coexistence. This is our history, this is our identity, happens in a fair, just way and our work and our commitment,” with solidarity ... This decision can only cause us concern.” added Mogherini.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not directly criticize Trump but said on his official Twitter account: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”

This tweet was followed by one showing him with a young refugee at a Canadian airport and another that used the hashtag #ACanadianIsACanadian, as his office confirmed Canadian passport holders including dual nationals were unaffected by the ban.

AWARDS NIGHT. Actors Meryl Streep and Brie Larson attend The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium. AFP

Americans entering the country, though it will not apply to those who already have a valid visa.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed Trump’s move as “a clear insult to the Islamic world” and said it “will be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists and their supporters”.

Zarif said Trump’s decision “only serves to provide a fertile ground for more terrorist recruitment by deepening the ruptures and fault-lines which have been exploited by extremist demagogues to swell their ranks”.

His ministry said earlier it would reciprocate with a ban on

Sweden Swedish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Margot Wallstrom called the decision “deeply unfortunate”.

“This decision increases mistrust and tensions between people.

Not since World War II have so many people fled war and conflict,” she wrote.

“It is the joint responsibility of all countries to help them, including the US.” Switzerland Trump’s decision is “wrong”, Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Burkhalter said.

“We have always been opposed to discrimination against human beings on the basis of religion or nationality,” he said. “In that sense, the US order clearly goes in the wrong direction.”

Burkhalter said the Swiss government would confer with American representatives to find out how the order would affect Swiss residents, especially dual nationals from countries affected.

Burkhalter also invoked the Geneva Conventions, saying they “mean that all countries welcome people affected by war for humanitarian reasons”. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

CULTURE & MEDIA

D1

EXHIBIT features

Benilde faculty-artists

A Luksong Baka by Reymar A. Gacutan

LTRO Mondo Picasso highlights the latest pieces of 21 faculty members of De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde - School of Design and Arts in an exhibit entitled Recalibrated from Feb. 9 to March 5.

Bagiwa by Emiliano Santos

Activities include an opening ceremony at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9, Re-calibrated Acts (a performance featuring CCP ThirteenArtist awardee Kaloy Olavides) at 6 p.m. on Feb. 18, and a closing ceremony at 5 p.m. on March 5 with soundscapes by DJ Agnes Macasaet.

The exhibit showcases paintings, sculptures, prints and videos of the current and diverse practices of Benildean mentors such as Bagiwa, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Hector Barretto Calma, Camahalan, Alfred Capiral, Tim Dacanay, R.M. de Leon, Cristina Escario, Noell EL Farol, KR Fernandez, Reymar A. Gacutan, Padilla, Mervy Pueblo, Tess Quadra, Ian Quirante, Joey Yupangco, DJ Agnes Macasaet, Hershey Malinis, Marcushiro Nada, Kaloy Olavides, Abe Orobia, and Vincent.

“Scanning the relationship between virtual space and real time reveals expressive possibilities in visual forms,” states curator and faculty-artist, Noel Farol. “We explore the narratives of mediated environments and approaches to digital mediation and spatial experience.”

The exhibitors belong specifically to the Design Foundation (DF) Department, currently chaired by Prof. Tim Dacanay, under Benilde’s Art and Culture Cluster, headed

by Associate Dean Sunita Mukhi, Ph.D. The DF Department prepares students for their major courses by training them in drawing, painting, materials manipulation, and art history and theory. Its stu-

FEBRUARY is arts month at De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), where resident student artists groups will stage a series of performances to mark the month-long celebration of this year’s Lasallian Arts Month.

With the theme “Art Unmasked: The Truth in Art,” the events will be formally and simultaneously launched at the college’s different campuses tomorrow with day-long activities intended to stimulate public interest.

This includes an art forum to be participated in by esteemed personalities in the community, an art drive to benefit public schoolchildren, and an art jam.

Performing groups include Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company, Coro San Benildo, Dulaang Filipino, Karilyo, supported by the Stage Productions and Operations Team.

Saint Benilde Romançon Dance Company will mount Swan Lake on Feb. 8 to 10, 7 p.m., at the School of Design and Arts (SDA) Theater. This popular ballet about a princess trapped in the body of the swan is performed to the timeless music of Russian master Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Coro San Benildo offers a program of favorite songs in Harmony of Hearts and Voices from Feb. 13 to 15 at ,7 p.m., at the SDA Theater. The choir triumphed in last year’s 70th Llangolen International Music Festival Eisteddfod held in Wales, winning first place in the Youth Choir category, second in the Adult Folk category,

Dahon by Cristina Escario

dents have won awards for the college, such as the Grand Prize in the Coca-Cola Bottle Art competition last year, and Resorts World Manila’s Pinoy Ultimate Jeepney Design Competition, where they won the People’s Choice Award for two consecutive years.

The display is also part of Altro Mondo exhibitions during the Art Fair Philippines, the ever-expanding three-day celebration of contemporary Filipino art, on Feb. 16 to 19.

Altro Mondo Picasso is located on the 3rd floor of The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences at 119 L. P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

For inquiries, call Jazmin Tugas or Evangeline Binarao at the Design Foundation Department at (02) 230-5100 local 3863, or Kristine Caguiat of Altro Mondo Picasso at (02) 501-3270 to 71.

Visit the Facebook page Re-calibrated for updates.

Arts month celebrated in Lasallian network

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde stages ‘Arts Unmasked: The Truth in Art,’ a series of events that intends to stimulate the public interest in art

and finalist in the culminating Choir of the World competition.

In line with the festivities, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) opens Apichatpong Weerasethakul: The Serenity of Madness on Feb. 17. It presents a survey of the experimental short films and video installations of the 63rd Cannes International Film Festival’s prestigious Palme d’Or awardee Thai artist Apitchapong Weerasethakul.

As a culminating activity following sessions with the different arts groups, the Jaime Hilario Integrated School-La Salle will present a workshop recital on Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Augusto-Rosario Gonzales Theater.

The highlight of this year’s arts month is the staging of the musical Solomon, which is based on the life of St. Solomon Leclercq, a Christian Brother who refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new government during the French Revolution. The presentation, a collaborative effort between DLS-CSB and De La Salle University students, will have its premiere on Feb. 28, 7 p.m., at the SDA Theater.

The college’s arts month is an annual event under the Office of Culture and Arts designed to promote, encourage and empower art and culture within and beyond the DLS-CSB community.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/cultureandarts.benilde

Win up to P20,000 in cash prizes in culture and arts contests THE Rotary Club of Kamuning (RoCK) holds its annual youth development contest next month where solo or group winners among 3,500 participating elementary and high school students in Quezon City will take home up to P20,000 in cash prizes each.

RoCK President Leonard Lim thanked sponsors of the 23rd “Alay ng Rotary sa Araw ng Kabataan on Feb.

11 at the Amoranto Sports Stadium, for sharing RoCK’s desire to promote and uplift culture and the arts among young Filipinos.

“For 23 years now, our sponsors have supported our desire to encourage students to have love for country and strengthen character development by engaging in art and cultural activities,” Lim said.

As a result, sponsors have put up

as high as P20,000, P15,000 and P10,000 for prizes for champion, 1st runner-up; and 2nd runner-up, respectively, in on-the-spot painting, vocal solo, chorale singing, interpretative dance, drum and lyre, and rondalla competitions.

The Rotary Alay project is undertaken in cooperation with the Rotary International District 3780, which comprises the whole of Quezon City; the

Quezon City Schools, the Department of Education; and the Quezon City Government under Mayor Herbert Bautista, a past president of RoCK. Apart from the Quezon City Government, other sponsors last year include the Wong Chu King Foundation (WCKF) and the Union Bank of the Philippines.

“We are inviting public elementary and high school students in Quezon

City to take part in this event and showcase their talents and skills,” Lim said, adding that proceeds from the event will benefit Quezon City public school students and parents themselves.

Teachers may contact Philip Austria, project development officer of the Quezon City School Divisions Office, at 0995-5110148 and Philip-Austria@ yahoo.com to register.

Life

D2

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

By Pablo A. Tariman

T

HE first three wellreceived concerts of new PPO music director Yoshikazu Fukumura point to a coming of age of the national orchestra.

It has found its new vibrant voice, it has attracted back disillusioned music lovers and now it is attracting quality audience – not the kind eager to unleash applause in between movements of a concerto or symphony.

Founded in 1973 as an accompanying orchestra of the Cultural Center of the Philippines known as the CCP Philharmonic under Luis Valencia, it has evolved since it became the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) in 1982 under Professor Oscar Yatco.

For the record, its first concertmaster was Julian Quirit, now based in Sydney and has conducted the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras.

Its winning moments before it became the PPO was, of course, its first team up with piano prodigy Cecile Licad who in 1975 played three concertos in one evening when the ensemble was still known as the CCP Philharmonic.

It had its first foreign distinguished soloist in the person of American diva Beverly Sills who sang at the Meralco Theater in the late 60s under the baton of Maestro Valencia.

One had in mind PPO’s humble beginnings when it opened its 2017 season concert with violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr. as soloist in the Mendelssohn E Minor Violin Concerto.

What one noticed was that the old and new followers of the orchestra were around happy to be back. A discerning moment of the audience was when it gave its hearty applause only at the end of Mozart’s Symphony No. 28 in C Major.

The first three movements – allegro spiritoso, andante, minuetto y trio – were not spoiled by premature applause.

Thus, one enjoyed the opening number of the rarely heard symphony and once again savored the unerring musicality of conductor Yoshikazu Fukumura, the new music director.

Mozart isn’t an easy composer to delineate but with the right conductor, one savored the delicacy, the hidden grandeur and the youthful genius of the composer. Every beat and movement of Fukumura is in the service of music.

While his predecessors had their own musical qualities, Fukumura no doubt towers above the rest.

Friday night last week, it was raining applause with whistles and cheers ending with standing ovation after an ecstatic CCP audience heard Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor Op. 64 with violinist Diomedes Saraza, Jr. as soloist.

DOCUMENTING emotions has never been easy as they have always been vague and just beyond the mere senses, but visual artist Paulo Correa thought otherwise. For him, emotion pushes the body to make artworks that significantly portray raw and pure sentiments.

Emotions are everywhere and they can spur the need to create something; may it be dark, clear, true, or beautiful.

PPO comes of age

with Maestro Fukumura

Violinist Diomedes Saraza making brilliant music with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

The PPO under Fukumura was in complete harmony with the soloist whose entrance gave you an early indication he could nail this concerto with nary an effort.

His stunning entrance and execution of the theme found glorious equivalent from the orchestra which more than rose to the occasion.

The first movement cadenza dazzled as it were with its eerie, if, glorious rhythmic shifts with the audience in awe of the soloist’s ricocheting bowing.

There is a soulful moment in the andante movement, which the soloist and orchestra defined with infinite grace and solace.

The brisk E major finale farther showed astounding rapport between Saraza and orchestra under Fukumura.

The impact was such the audience found itself cheering as one and later moved to give a standing ovation.

Many things are noticeable about Saraza’s performance. For one, the technique didn’t call attention to itself.

You know it was a magnificent show of musicianship with technique keeping a low but essential presence.

It was easy to get carried away by the virtuosity but this soloist has a way of weaving his sense of phrasing without losing the emotional import of the piece.

After several curtain calls, Saraza obliged with an encore, Ysaye’s Violin

Sonata No. 3 (“Ballade”) which farther showcased his virtuosity.

The well-balanced program ended with Elgar’s Enigma Variations, which winded up a truly satisfying evening.

Noted CCP President Raul Sunico in his message: “Under the leadership of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura, we are certain that the PPO will continue to bring musical enlightenment to Manila’s music lovers through his determination, devotion and discipline.”

Indeed, it is gratifying when you see true professionalism and artistic excellence in every performance and not merely mouthed and pontificated by cultural workers who are hardly seen in the concert halls.

Machine’s emotions create

Best of both worlds

Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery in Makati City recently featured Correa’s first solo exhibit titled From The Machines.

It is described as a visual exploration that clearly gives forms and shapes to subconscious thoughts, and aims to defy the way people perceive tangible objects in the environment.

The exhibit showcased various connected artworks that prominently conveyed his experiences, thoughts, and his half-asleep and half-awake moments, specifically during the past year. The artworks are products of his visual journal throughout 2016. “Last year was a very hard year for me. I channeled my pent-up feelings [through] the best way [that] I can and that is painting,” Paulo said.

Notion has it that work and passion are two different entities—you can only choose one. Paulo, an associate creative director at Campaigns & Grey Philippines, still finds time to work on his craft despite his job’s demands.

Notion also dictates that advertising is art’s cause of death. Paulo disagrees with this notion and wants to inspire people and prove that advertising is not a dead end for art. He also reiterated that processes in advertising are helpful in terms of conceptualizing his visuals.

“The creative process is no different. I come up with an insight, visualize, then turn it into art,” Paulo expounded.

in anxiety and uneasiness brought by waking up in the middle of the night.

“Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with your heart pounding?

Your dreams were vivid moments and yet you can’t remember a thing [in your dream],” he said. “However, the feeling is still there.”

One of his artworks is Lucid Drowning and it is a series of framed visuals projecting unrecognizable faces submerged in blank and hand cut papers as drowning during sleep transpires. Paulo believes that faces seen in dreams purposely have no form, so they remain unidentifiable. Moreover, he thinks that dreams are correlated to what people think, feel, and see in their environment. “We know we are searching for something, but we just can’t find what it is,” he explained.

Some of his artworks are distorted but still detailed. Definite shapes and lines for him are not enough to describe or to merely put emotions on a blank canvass. For him, emotions rattle a person’s consciousness and they cause loudness and uneasiness. Paulo was able to communicate that with the gritty and bastardized but clear details in his artworks.

“Artwork is a communication between the artist and viewer. I want people to look at my artwork, interpret it themselves, and feel something from it.

That’s my end goal,” Paulo said.

Creator of Art

Of visuals, emotions, and whatnot

Inspiration is everywhere—you just have to look in the right place they say. As for Paulo, he found inspiration

Saraza (right) with the author in the backstage after the concert

A 13x19 inches acrylic on canvas, with hand cut noir paper in a box frame visual series called Lucid Drowning as featured in Paulo Correa’s ‘From The Machines’ solo exhibit

When asked if everyone can be an artist, Paulo firmly said no. But he thinks everyone is a creator. People have the need to create something—the word “artist” suggests exclusivity for him, when art is supposed to be for all. “We just need to find the right medium for us to create our own,” he emphasized.

To know more about From The Machines and Paulo Correa, follow him on Instagram @pauloexmachina, like his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ pauloexmachina, or email him at pauloexmachina@gmail.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

KAPUSO TALENT

opens 3rd Ka Tunying branch A

FTER opening its second branch on Timog Ave. in Quezon City in August, Anthony Taberna and wife Rossel are unstoppable in their plans for Ka Tunying’s Café (KTC) to spread sumptuous Pinoy cuisine with a twist.

Now, KTC is giving travelers a smile on their faces before boarding their flights to their respective destinations. The power couple has just opened KTC’s newest branch at NAIA Terminal 3.

Branching out to airports is KTC’s way of reaching out to fellow Filipinos leaving for other countries and arriving home. The Tabernas want them to have a

taste of Pinoy cuisine before they leave or right after they step back on Philippine soil.

How about those who don’t have any scheduled flights?

Not to worry. You don’t need to have a booked trip to enter NAIA Terminal 3. It is open to the public and you can visit anytime.

KTC’s passion for serving Filipino food has been fueled by

Manny Pacquiao (center) joins Anthony Taberna, his wife Rossel and their kids, during the opening of KTC’s newest branch at NAIA 3

followers and patrons clamoring for branches within the South’s reach. From a provincial bakery, to metro bazaars, to supermarket consignments and now to three branches of full service restaurants, and from serving Pinoy inspired tinapay (bread) and inumin (drinks), KTC is now serving Pinoy fusion of the everyday, favorite main entrees.

Advocacy filmmaker triumphs at Active Vista film fest SEYMOUR Sanchez, an advocacy filmmaker and freelance writer, bagged the Audience Choice Award for his short film Caretaker, a story about a new custodian’s challenges, at the recent Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival.

In the film, Rolando Inocencio plays a character that replaces the previous keeper of a wealthy family’s vacation home. A single parent who tries to make ends meet, as he takes care of his two children, he meets his boss, and is informed that the house will be for the holiday. He starts cleaning the place in preparation for their arrival.

The caretaker is caught off-guard when the owner’s son returns one night, with his fraternity brothers, who had other plans in mind.

The festival features short movies that share compelling stories of people whose freedoms and rights are trampled upon and give voice to those who suffer in silence. The topics dwell on and stimulate passionate discussions about human rights and capture the intensity of these filmmakers as they view the world in their own perspectives.

The film previously won second

Seymour Sanchez’s “Caretaker” is a short film about a caretaker who witnesses a shocking conclusion of a fraternity initiation rites

place in the short fiction category of the Sixth CAM International Festival for Short Films in Cairo, Egypt. It likewise received the Golden Philippine Eagle Festival Director’s Choice Award and Best Actor trophy for lead actor Rolando Inocencio in the short film category of the Third Singkuwento International Film Festival, co-organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

It was screened at the 22nd Annual Filipino International Cine Festival (FACINE) at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco,

California and at the International Film Festival Manhattan at the Producers Club in New York City.

Sanchez is a former producer for News and Current Affairs programs at CNN Philippines, Solar News and TV5. He is a graduate of Ricky Lee’s 14th Scriptwriting Workshop and Brillante Mendoza’s First Film Directing Class.

He is now a communication and film professor at the De La SalleCollege of Saint Benilde (DLSCSB), Far Eastern UniversityManila and College of the Holy Spirit-Manila.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

62 Limerick site 63 Japanese American 66 Gaelic 67 Fish without scales 68 — kidding!

69 Mr. Neeson of film 70 Experts 71 Hymn finales 72 Wild oxen of Tibet DOWN 1 Rick’s old flame 2 Simpleton 3 Boor 4 Make wealthy 5 Gymnast Nadia — 6 Hosp. locale 7 Vintage auto 8 Place for locks 9 Come next 10 Soft shoes 11 Grades 1-12 12 Book-binder’s need 13 Droops 21 Luau welcome 23 Did the floor 25 Andy Capp’s wife 26 Iron-on picture 27 Bakery lure

Carbonara, Pasta Ashitaba, Tuyo and Kangkong Pasta, among others. They also have innovative drinks such as palamig named Ligaya, Pagibig, Paraiso and smoothies such as Smoothie Bungbong and more mouthwatering meals from agahan, meryenda, tanghalian, hapunan, inumin and other Pinoy panghimagas.

After KTC gained its popularity after being featured in various Lifestyle TV shows, the Tabernas decided to take their business to higher notch. They are now also open for franchising.

For details, call 366-1342 and watch out for Ka Tunying’s Café’s next innovation. You never know, you might be one of their partners in the future.

Unleashing TV5’s makings of a hero

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Run in neutral 5 She turned men into swine 10 Tilly and Ryan 14 “Crazy” bird 15 Dolphin habitat 16 Mexican pot 17 Mumble 18 Subatomic particles 19 Puff along 20 — the Hun 22 Croc Dundee and mates 24 100 yrs.

25 Zipped by 26 Agatha colleague 30 Mrs. Peel, et al.

35 Diamond stat 36 Cote murmur 37 Irk 38 Fuel repository 41 Stronghold 43 Traffic light color 44 Jollity 45 Umbrage 46 Roundup gear 47 Add-ons 50 Hunky-dory 53 Actress — Hagen 54 Swimsuit fabric 58 Post twice

As the café expands, the food choices also grow. The list of food will bring you back to your childhood favorites and memories of luto ni nanay, champorado with tuyo, chicken arroz caldo, the famous Pancit ni Nanay Benny and so much more.

KTC also have a fusion of Italian and Pinoy cuisine such as Kalabasa Lasagna, Tinapa

28 Swedish autos 29 Nol or Chaney 31 Give — — break 32 Army doc 33 Ward off 34 Graf rival 39 Guitarist — Paul 40 Hatchlings 41 Cow’s mouthful 42 Accident results 44 Wray of “King Kong” 48 Navajo foe 49 To wit 51 Where Nairobi

is 52 Math proposition 54 Ooze out 55 Jetty 56 The younger Guthrie 57 Capone foe 59 Diva’s melody 60 Baroness Karen 61 Moon buggies 64 Prefer charges 65 Direction ender

IN THIS day and age, we still beg to ask, what makes a hero?

Is it determined by the size of his cape, or does it concern his range of extraordinary abilities? Well, in reality, none of these things matter to be a true hero. Because being a hero is determined neither by size and design of a cape nor by much superhumanly you can function. More than those, being a superhero is defined by your willingness to do good deeds and help those around you. And last Christmas presented the perfect opportunity for everyone to showcase your own versions of heroism.

TV5 did exactly that by hosting a Christmas party for the patients of Bahay Aruga, with the help of television’s most noted superheroes, namely the Flash and Arrow.

Bahay Aruga is a community focused on housing young pediatric cancer patients at Philippine General Hospital (PGH). Founding President Mayette Bonilla says the organization was established due to the necessity of finding the proper care for the children at PGH. “If you go to a PGH country institute, you’ll see that [some of] these kids come from different provinces; since the treatment of their diseases isn’t available in their area. So, they travel all the way to Manila to get the free treatment that they need. Unfortunately, they need a

TV5 spends a fun-filled afternoon with the kids of Bahay Aruga

place to stay in Manila, but they do not all have the capacity [to pay for housing] and that’s where we come in,” she further explains.

The Christmas party, held on Dec.12, marked the second time TV5 visited the community to help the children. “We are happy that TV5 was here and with all these blessings present, we really thank you,” Bonilla said.

In this two-hour event, TV5 held an unforgettable Christmas celebration for the kids, and even recruited cosplayers to act as television characters, the Flash and Arrow. When asked why these specific heroes were chosen, TV5’s Primetime Brand Manager Racquel Aliño said, “We chose Flash and Arrow because as heroes, they fight for what is right.

Through their example, we want the kids to also fight, but in this case, against their sicknesses.”

Not only did the Flash and the

Arrow serve as inspiration for the children, they also brought joy to the kids as they were able to play a series of games and challenges with them.

Through it all, it was a fun and eventful activity – complete with snacks, games and loot bags, which included exclusive the Flash and Arrow items, for the children to remember their encounter with the two superheroes.

In addition to this, TV5 also donated 200 Colonoscopy bags to aid the patients’ road to recovery.

“On behalf of TV5, we would like to encourage everyone to go out of their comfort zones and start making a difference in the world. Because even an act as small as spending the holidays with children-in-need, can make a difference in the lives of many,” says Rissa Guilas, TV5’s head of Entertainment Marketing.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2017

TIMELESS BEAUTIES IN

‘Moonlight Over Baler’ “Moonlight Over Baler” is a timeless love story encompassing two important events in the Philippines. It stars Elizabeth Oropesa, Ellen Adarna, Vin Abrenica and Sophie Albert.

T

WO beautiful actresses, one represents an older generation of beauties in the celluloid and the other a contemporary swan in both the big and small screens, share stellar billing in what is probably the most romantic film this Valentine season.

ISAH V. RED

Senior actress Elizabeth Oropesa in a scene from the romantic movie helmed by Gil Portes

FOR the very first time in over a decade, Gary Valenciano returns to the Valentine concert scene in a big band dinnerconcert fundraiser titled Love In Motion on Feb. 14 and 15 at the grand ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, The Fort.

With an awe-inspiring career that spans over three decades and with his artistry and genius cutting through changing musical climes and trends, it is easy to presume that there is nothing that Gary has not done yet.

Gary has waxed top selling and award-winning albums, written popular hits, serenaded fans with unforgettable ballads and won the Awit Award Best Male Performer trophy twelve times. If these credentials aren’t enough to merit him the status of musical icon, you can start counting the number of times Gary lent his voice to sing the theme songs for ABS-CBN soap operas and Star Cinema, Regal Films, Viva Films and Seiko Films movies.

Gary has also been receiving numerous offers during the Valentine show season but the last solo Valentine show that he did was

actually more than a decade ago and for this season he decided to mount a fundraiser specifically targeted for the victims of Typhoon Nina. A Bicolano, Gary last visited the region with UNICEF during the Typhoon Reming aftermath.

One of Gary V.’s proudest moments as a celebrity philanthropist was in 1998 when he became UNICEF Philippines’ first National Ambassador. In 2008, he marked his tenth year as a UNICEF Ambassador with a visit to Sitio Avocado, a former war zone in Negros Oriental. All proceeds of Gary V Love In Motion will go to the Shining Light Foundation, Inc., Operation Blessing Foundation, Inc. for the benefit of victims of the recent Typhoon Nina and UNICEF for special causes of children.

But fans and admirers of the human dynamo that Gary is will be expecting a Valentine treat like no other. He is not known as Mr. Pure Energy if it weren’t for his impeccable knack for unleashing energy, creating the groove, and providing rhythm to his original songs and to covers as well.

Elizabeth Oropesa and Sophie Albert – two of the most beautiful women in Philippine show business today – star in the romantic film, Moonlight Over Baler, a pre-Valentine presentation produced by T-Rex Entertainment and directed by Gil Portes from a Palancawinning screenplay by Enrique “Eric” Ramos.

Moonlight Over Baler opens in theaters nationwide on Feb. 8.

It tells the story of Fidela, a retired schoolteacher who encounters a young Japanese photojournalist who is surprisingly a doppelganger of Nestor, her boyfriend in the 1940s who was killed during the Japanese-American war in the Philippines.

The Japanese photojournalist, Kenji, is covering the events in Metro Manila in February 1986, known popularly as the Edsa Revolution. His arrival in Baler, Fidela’s hometown, triggers bittersweet memories in the former teacher. It even disrupts Fidela’s life as well as the community’s.

Moonlight Over Baler is a romantic comedy-drama about a broken promise, a timeless love and the song that could

Fall in love with Gary V in

‘Love In Motion’

Mr. Pure Energy Gary V stages a Valentine concert

warm even the coldest of hearts.

Portraying the young and senior versions of Fidela are young actress Sophie Albert and seasoned award-winning actress Elizabeth Oropesa, respectively.

In the 1940s segment of the film, Sophie plays Fidela, in love with USAFFE soldier Nestor, played by Vin Abrenica. She says ‘yes’ when he asks her to marry hi. Unfortunately, two weeks before their wedding, World War II breaks out and Nestor disappears. Fast forward to the 1980s, Fidela has grown elder and in this segment of the film, Elizabeth or “La Oro” as she is fondly called, now plays Fidela whose hope that Nest could be alive is awakened when she sees the charming but mysterious Kenji.

Elizabeth was cast as Fidela first. The production team met certain challenges in casting the young Fideal since not many of today’s young female stars could pass for Elizabeth’s young version.

Sophie Albert was tapped as she is about the same height as Elizabeth. Writer Eric had seen her work in the youth-oriented Cinemalaya film, #Y and vouched for her talent to director Gil

Some might ask, “Why perform with a big band?”

Gary Valenciano, by himself, is enough to entice concertgoers to troop to his show. It is because Gary is a performer who believes in collaboration. He is as generous with his talents and gifts as he is adventurous, always wanting to embark on a new challenge.

In a few words, Gary is one who never rests on his laurels.

In Gary V Love In Motion, expect a love-filled, fun, dance-inducing time as Gary performs with the 19-piece AMP Band. Chill on the big band vibe with a twist that only the complete artist that Gary Valenciano is can provide. “I am excited for this two-night show,” says Gary. “It’s my first time to perform with a big band and I am looking forward to surprising the audience and being surprised as well with the kind of show we will come up with.”

To the uninitiated, big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music and which became popular during the Swing era from the early 1930s until the late 1940s. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains

Portes. Eric’s recommendation was spot-on as Sophie delivered an inspired performance.

Moonlight Over Baler marks the major return of La Oro to the big screen. Not many seasoned actresses get to play leading roles in films nowadays. But as Elizabeth’s excellent characterization of Fidela eloquently demonstrates, she still strikes gold and truly deserves the “La Oro” moniker.

Incidentally, the classic war film Apocalypse Now by director Francis Ford Copolla is mentioned in Moonlight Over Baler and is duly cited as having started the surfing culture in the famed town.

Elizabeth was originally cast to play Marlon Brando’s wife in that film but the unconventional American actor reportedly found her too pretty for the role, which landed eventually on Gigi Dueñas’ lap.

The showbiz industry can be very fleeting; the careers of a number of stars simply come and go. But the fine talent and awesome inner and outer beauty the likes of Sophie Albert’s and Elizabeth “La Oro” Oropesa’s are definitely here to stay.

saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section.

During the war years, big band music lifted people’s spirit. That feeling of being overwhelmed while knowing that you are witnessing a wonderful and dynamic show with a heart is what awaits longtime Gary V believers. “We have also asked Anna Fegi who has just undergone a major trial to join us in this cause. She lost her baby on her ninth month last November and we want her to bounce back as we want Bicol, Marinduque and the rest of the Philippines that suffered from the typhoon to bounce back,” stated concert producer Angeli PangilinanValenciano who is mounting the event with her Manila Genesis team.

Musical director for Gary V Love In Motion is Mel Villena, vocal music director is Mon Faustino while stage direction is by Paolo Valenciano.

For more information follow @GaryValenciano1 (Twitter) and @therealgaryv (Instagram) and like Gary Valenciano Official on Facebook. For inquiries or table reservations, please call (+63917) 539 9584.