Manila Standard - 2017 February 8 - Wednesday

VOL. XXX • NO. 361 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘P653m foregone with mines closure’

By Gabrielle H. Binaday and Anna Leah E. Gonzales THE government stands to lose about P653 million in revenues from the closure and suspension of some 28 mining companies, the Finance department said Monday night.

Last week, the Department of the Environment and Natural Resurces ordered the closure of 23 mining companies and the suspension of five others for violating environmental laws.

Of the total revenue losses, P441.92 million would come from the affected mining firms while the remaining P211.72 million represented taxes lost.

But Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said it is the local governments in areas where the mining companies operate that would be the hardest hit.

“The national government is going to hurt, but it’s not going to be fatal. But in some municipalities, my gosh, that is the only real income they have,” Dominguez said Monday evening.

Dominguez, as the chairman of the inter-agency Mining Industry Coordinating Council (MICC), said there will be a fact-finding body on the recent mining results Next page to know whether the laws are followed.

WATER WHAM. An unprecedented volume of water makes a Tuesday blast after an excavator jackhammer or borer hits a pipeline along United Nations Ave. of Maynilad, the water and wastewater services provider of cities and towns that form the West Zone of the Metropolis. Norman Cruz

Duterte revokes Reds’ safety pass Cancels bail for NDF consultants facing raps

By John Paolo Bencito, Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Francisco Tuyay

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte formally ended peace talks with communist rebels on Tuesday after the government served notice to the National Democratic Front to end the 22-year Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG), which guaranteed free and unhindered passage to communist negotiators.

Medal of Valor for SAF 44 pushed

By Florante S. Solmerin and Joel E. Zurbano TAKING a cue from President Rodrigo Duterte, the National Police Commission has recommended the conferment of the Medal of ValorPosthumous to the 44 elite policemen who died in Mamasapano in Maguindanao on Jan. 25, 2015, vice chairman Rogelio Casurao said in a statement on Tuesday.

The policemen died during the execution of “Oplan Exodus,” an operation that killed Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan.

The widows of Medal of Valor awardees are entitled to a lifetime monthly pension of P20,000 with several incentives and special privileges.

Among the benefits already received by the families of the 44 SAF troopers from the Napolcom were a one-rank posthumous promotion, Next page

“Following the President’s announcement of the cancellation of the peace talks with the CPP/ NPA/NDF and per his instructions, the government is hereby serving this notice of the termination of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees [Jasig],” Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said in a Next page

Task Force Sulu kills 5 Abu Sayyaf

By Florante S. Solmerin FIVE Abu Sayyaf gunmen were killed and another was captured in a fierce firefight with government troops Tuesday morning in Capual town in Sulu, Capt.

Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesperson of the Western Mindanao Command, said.

“The firefight started at around 8 o’clock this morning between soldiers from the Marines Special Operations Group and the terrorists led by ASG sub-leader Alhabsy Misaya in Baragay Talok-Talok,” Petinglay said in a phone interview.

Next page

China seen fortifying shoal off PH coast MANILA expects China to try to build on a reef off the Philippines’ coast, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday, a move he said would be “unacceptable” in the flashpoint waterway.

In an interview, Lorenzana said he believed China would eventually reclaim the Scarborough Shoal, which sits just 230 kilometers from the main island of Luzon.

Beijing has already built up a number of islets and reefs in the South China Sea, installing military facilities on several of them.

Analysts say that similar installations on Scarborough Shoal could give China effective military control over the disputed waterway—something the US has said it is not prepared to accept.

“They encroached,” Lorenzana said of a 2012 confrontation that saw Philippine vessels displaced. “They occupied three islands there plus they are Next page

GREEN GARDEN. President Rodrigo Duterte takes a curing stroll between rows of green plants during the launch Monday of the Hardin ng Lunas at the Presidential Security Group grounds in Malacañang by the Pasig River.

Senate killed Erring cops told: Pack up, leave for south death penalty By John Paolo Bencito offenses from shakedowns to ex- bombed. All of you here you are tortion to prepare for redeployment. part of Task Force South, I will PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte “Prepare to move out. I’ll give bring you to Basilan. Live there bill in 2006 on Tuesday berated disheartened you two weeks from now, 15 for two years.”

By Macon R. Araneta

A TOTAL of 6,204 people were sentenced to life in prison instead of death for committing heinous crimes after the death penalty was abolished in 2006, Next page

cops after he ordered them to “pack up and leave” for Mindanao’s conflict areas within two weeks as punishment.

Duterte, in a profanity-laced speech, ordered 228 errant cops from Metro Manila with varying twitter.com/ MlaStandard

days,” Duterte said at a podium set up in front of the main Palace building to address the policemen lined up before him.

“I need police in the south. I lack police in Basilan because their stations are always being

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Duterte said the policemen who will refuse to be redeployed to Mindanao would have to resign.

He said he would also dismiss some of them but he would create a “battalion” composed of

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BY ORDER. More than 300 erring and red-faced policemen Tuesday

jump on PNP trucks scheduled to roll out to Malacañang to report to their commander-in-chief, President Rodrigo Duterte, only eight days after the outraged head of state slammed the Philippine National Police as ‘corrupt to the core.’ Manny Palmero

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Jee slay suspect’s bid hangs J Aguirre said the government is not ready at this time to accept Santiago’s request since the joint probe conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police has yet to be com-

pleted.

“We are not yet ready to offer him that. The joint investigation is yet to be completed,” Aguirre said, whose department administers the WPP.

Santiago is the owner of the Gream funeral parlor where the body of Jee was brought after he was killed in Camp Crame.

During last week’s reinvestigation of the case before the DoJ, Santiago’s lawyer Restituto Mendoza told the prosecution panel headed

by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera and Olivia Torrevillas that his client has applied for admission to the WPP. Early this year, Santiago flew to Canada due to death threats he has been receiving since his name was implicated in the murder of Jee. But he returned to the Philippines a few weeks later after coordinating with NBI officials.

Duterte...

The NPA will threaten those businessmen and also get money,” said Lorenzana.

“There’s no difference at all,” he added.

Lorenzana noted that the NPA is a huge threat to national security as its members have been menacing communities and extorting money from businessmen.

“We will hunt them down and maybe stop them from doing what they are doing,” Lorenzana said.

Duterte ended the government’s unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels Friday and announced the termination of peace talks over the weekend.

Some 23 detainees, all identified as NDF consultants who took part in the peace talks in Oslo and Rome were ordered arrested by Duterte following the collapse of the peace talks.

Among them were Benito Tiamzon, chairman of the CPP and the NPA and wife Wilma, CPP-NPA secretary-general, who were released Aug. 19, 2016.

Also included were Loisa Magpatoc, thead of the Far South Mindanao command of the CPP-NPA; Reynante Gamara, alleged secretary of CPP’s Metro Manila Regional Party Committee; Tirso Alcantara, spokesman of NDF Southern Tagalog region; Adelberto Silva, secretary-general of the CPP-NPA; Cochita Araneta Bocala, leader of CPP Panay Island Regional Party Committee; and Alan Jazmines, member of the CPP central committee and secretary general of the party.

The defense chief also appealed to NDF members to turn themselves in.

Duterte earlier called the communists “spoiled brats” after he scrapped the government’s peace talks in the wake of several rebel attacks on government troops, even before their unilateral ceasefire ended.

Dureza said despite the collapse of the talks, the government remained committed to socio-economic reforms that would benefit the people.

It would also continue “to pursue other paths to peace,” he said.

“We assure our people that the government will continue its vigilance in the preservation of law and

order and in protecting our people against insurgent activities and threats of terrorism, and pursue the enhancement of our democratic institutions.”

The Justice Department was set to issue an immigration lookout bulletin and to revoke the bail bond of 17 NDF consultants who were temporarily released to join the peace negotiations.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the lookout bulletin will be issued to prevent the NDF consultants, who have since returned to the country after the third round of talks in Rome, from seeking refuge in other countries.

NDF legal consultant Edre Olalia insisted on Monday that political consultants released on bail cannot be arrested again even if Duterte ordered it.

Olalia pointed out that the peace negotiations have not been properly terminated so the consultants are still guaranteed “immunity from surveillance, harassment, search, arrest, detention, prosecution and interrogation or any other similar punitive actions due to any involvement or participation in the peace negotiations.”

He also added that Duterte cannot just order the arrest of the peace consultants as they have permission from the courts that allowed them to post bail for their temporary liberty for six months.

Olalia also cited the guarantees of safety and immunity under the Jasig.

Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Emano on Tuesday said he was not hiding NDF negotiator Wilfred “Ka Paris” Mapano.

Mapano, whose wife works at the provincial capitol, was released from the Misamis Oriental Provincial Jail in August 2016 so he could join the peace talks in Oslo.

After Duterte issued his arrest order, Col. Francis Carandang of the 58th Infantry Battalion called on the governor asking about Mapano’s whereabouts.

Emano said it was a routine call to ask him if he knew where the NDF negotiator was, not an accusation.

“Of course I will help them if I know, I will tell,” Emano said.

The governor said he believed that the President was doing the right thing in defending the country,

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said on Tuesday that it is premature to accept the request of Gerardo Gregorio Santiago, the funeral parlor owner who was one of those implicated in the killing of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, to be included in the Witness Protection Program.

From A1 letter dated Feb. 7, addressed to Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison and NDF chief negotiator Fidel Agcaoili.

The agreement, formalized in 1995 under the Ramos administration, mandates the government to send the NDF a written notice of termination of the peace talks that would take effect only 30 days after the NDF’s receipt of the notice.

But Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that communist negotiators who were facing court charges cannot invoke immunity under the Jasig, saying that the courts granted temporary liberty to NDF negotiators due to the bail granted at the behest of the government’s request for them to participate in the peace negotiations.

“As informed by Office of the Executive Secretary, the rearrest order of the members of the NDF panel previously under detention and provisionally released to join the peace talks will be issued by the courts,” Duterte’s spokesman said in a Palace press briefing.

“Basically, this is now under the jurisdiction of the courts... The DoJ will be the one to invoke the court to cancel [their] bail,” he added.

“Now, that was given as a court order. If and when that is revoked, then they revert back to their terrorist status,” he said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that since the talks were already terminated, there is “no basis to keep them out in the open and [they can] be arrested. That’s what I understand from the President’s instruction.”

Lorenzana added that the NDF negotiators could not validly invoke the Jasig because it applied only to those who were in hiding and whom the government invited to participate in the peace talks.

“Their crime does not go away.

They were not given an amnesty or a pardon,” he said in Filipino.

Lorenzana said the Armed Forces will be engaging is going all-out against the communist New People’s Army, which they now consider a terrorist group.

“What’s their difference with the Abu Sayyaf? The Abu Sayyaf kidnap people and they get money.

'P653m...

From A1 The Finance chief clarified that no Cabinet secretary is against the other on the issue.

“It’s not Secretary Lopez against me, she is the vice chairman of the MICC, I am a member of the climate change cluster so it is not one against the other. It is all of us working together for the benefit of all those people who might experience difficulty. Nobody is challenging her order,,” Dominguez said.

“Im not asking anybody to retreat. All I’ve said, is that my concern and the concern of many members of the Cabinet are the people who might lose their jobs, because frankly most of the jobs are not in locations where you can go across the street and get another job,” Dominguez added.

Dominguez said the the recommendation of Lopez to fully concentrate on eco-tourism as an alternative could be viable, but at some future date.

“Well I am sure that at some point in time it will be viable. How do you make eco-tourism if you cannot get them because there is no road, that there is no pier, that there is no airport, right? We have to build those infrastructure to make sure that it is a viable place to visit that people would like to visit the area. You know it is a question of timing and timing is the most important thing in the world,” he said.

The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines on Tuesday wrote Dominguez and other economic managers to underline the impact of the mine closures and suspensions.

“We have already written to the secretary of Finance regarding the effects of the closure and suspension,” said chamber chairman Artemio Disini.

Disini said the group’s letter highlights the effects of the closures and suspension on the country’s gross domestic product, min-

ing investments, tax revenues, and employment.

“The mining industry’s contribution is more than the GDP indicator in the national accounts as often announced to the public,” Disini said in the letter. In some regions, mining could contribute more than 20 percent to the regional output.

Disini also highlighted the loss of dollar earnings from mineral exports.

The central bank recorded $ 4.04-billion receipts in 2014, and the contribution could have doubled if projects in the pipeline came on stream, Disini said.

Earlier, chamber said the closure and suspension orders would hurt the livelihood of 1.2 million people.

The group also said Lopez should immediately disclose the mining audit reports that were the bases for her closure orders, for the sake of transparency and fairness.

The Senate committee on labor, employment and human resources development was scheduled to conduct an inquiry into the government’s transition plan for affected workers on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

“About 20,000 workers are to lose their jobs with the closure of 20 mines,” said the panel chairman, Senator Joel Villanueva. “The government has to make sure that we have a clear transition plan to support these workers and to make sure that the capacity building programs and trainings are provided to help them find new jobs.”

Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, meanwhile, assailed Lopez’s decision to close 23 mining companies and to suspend five others, noting that these were practicing “legitimate and responsible mining operations.”

He said Lopez could have been misled by her consultants and former DENR undersecretary and chief of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Leo Jasareno, who headed the audit team. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

China...

From A1 trying to get Scarborough. So to us that is unacceptable.”

“If we allow them, they will build. That’s very, very disturbing.

Very much [more] disturbing than Fiery Cross because this is so close to us,” Lorenzana added, referring to one of the Philippine-claimed reefs China has built on.

Because of its position, another military outpost at Scarborough Shoal is seen as the last major physical step required to secure control of the sea.

An outpost at the shoal would also put Chinese fighter jets and missiles within easy striking dis-

Senate...

From A1 Bureau of Corrections Director Benjamin Delos Santos said Tuesday.

He told the Senate hearing on the death penalty that the figure was a 3,280-percent increase in the number of people convicted for heinous crimes.

Delos Santos made his statement even as Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon said the plan to reimpose the death penalty died in the Senate due to the Philippines’ treaty commitment.

“It is clear that we can no longer revive the penalty of death because of our treaty commitment,” Drilon said.

“A treaty was included in our law and that was ratified here in the Senate and became part of the law of our land.”

Delos Santos said before the death penalty was revoked, 189 people were convicted to death for committing heinous crimes.

But he said any discussion on the death penalty would be divisive.

“Being with the [Bureau of Cor-

The lawyer said that if his client’s request to be included under WPP will be granted, Santiago’s testimony would focus on Jee’s cremation, as he has denied any knowledge or involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Jee. Santiago has maintained that he was told that the body, which turned out to that of Jee, was killed in an anti-drugs operation.

So far, Mendoza said his client has already turned over to the NBI his cellular phone that he used when SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel called that he would bring a body to his funeral parlor.

The NBI said, Santiago’s cellular phone will be subjected to forensic

analysis.

Also, the footages taken by the CCTV at the funeral parlor has also been turned over to the NBI. Under the WPP coverage, a witness is given several privileges, including provision for a housing facility or safe house that could be extended to members of his/her family, financial assistance, assistance in obtaining means of livelihood, payment equivalent of salary as compensation for absences from work, travel and medical expenses.

The family of witnesses who die while under the WPP will avail of death benefits, including free college education to their children.

and said peace talks should continue only when there is a ceasefire in place.

“It cannot be that the top is talking peace and the ground below are waging war. That is no way to bring peace,” Emano said. “How can one talk of peace when their allies, friends and comrades are waging war?”

He also said localized peace talks will not work because it cannot be that there would be peace in his province but war in other provinces.

Agcaoili on Tuesday said it was up to the leftist members of Duterte’s Cabinet if they wanted to remain in the administration, now that peace talks have collapsed.

“It is Duterte’s decision, as well as theirs, whether to remain or not in their respective positions,” Agcaoili said.

“It depends on the perception of those Cabinet officials on whether, by remaining, they can still continue to be of service to the people or not,” he added.

The Palace, however, said that leftist members of the Cabinet will remain despite the breakdown of the peace talks.

“They are still [in the] Cabinet,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

Duterte, shortly after winning the presidency, said that he would be willing to give Cabinet posts to the Communist Party of the Philippines should they decide to join his government.

After the NDF gave a shortlist of possible names, Duterte gave leftists control of key agencies involved in the delivery of basic services -including the Department of Agrarian Reform given to former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano and Department of Social Welfare and Development given to UP professor Judy Taguiwalo.

Members of leftist groups who were likewise given posts in the Duterte government were Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, who now leads the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC); former Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon, who leads the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP); and Anakpawis Rep. Joel Maglungsod, who is an undersecretary at the Department of Labor and Employment.

The Defense chief praised the

leftist scretaries for being passionate in delivering services to the poor.

“Personally, I believe they are doing their jobs very well,” he said.

Abella confirmed that Taguiwalo, Mariano and Maza were present in the Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Agcaoili lauded the leftists in Cabinet for their continued service to the masses amid challenges ahead.

“They have been doing excellent work in providing support and services to the people despite enormous bureaucratic constraints, severely limited resources, and the overall anti-people neoliberal approach, programs and policies of the regime,” Agcaoili said.

“The NDFP-recommended members in the Cabinet were selected for their individual qualifications— skills, talent, progressive views, and integrity--in their respective positions,” he added.

The NDF panel, currently in Norway, is already working to resolve challenges posed by President Duterte’s pronouncements terminating the peace talks.

“Their lawyers are already working on it,” Agcaoili added.

Ground forces, meanwhile, were hunting NPA rebels, two of whom were killed as fighting was reported in five separate instances in Luzon and the Visayas.

Tanks and special forces troopers have been mobilized in the remote hinterlands to neutralize the NPA rebels, the military said.

“We will sustain the conduct of focused combat operations,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said.

“We are going to use all available assets of our Armed Forces to accomplish our mission,” Arevalo said.

The latest clashes broke out on the outskirts of Sorsogon and Rizal provinces, two days after Duterte declared an end to peace talks.

In Bukidnon and Surigao provinces, security forces launched massive search and destroy operations against the NPA, particularly those responsible for the killing of four Army soldiers.

In Sorsogon, fighting with some 15 rebels broke out in Sitio Trece Martirez, Casiguran town. Two soldiers were wounded.

tance of US forces stationed in the Philippines.

The shoal also commands the northeast exit of the sea, so a Chinese military outpost there could stop other countries’ navies from using the vital stretch of waters.

A UN-backed tribunal -- in a case brought by Manila under thenPresident Benigno Aquino III— ruled last year that the so-called “nine-dash-line” which underpins Beijing’s claim to most of the South China Sea had no legal basis.

But President Rodrigo Duterte has courted Beijing and backed away from his country’s close relationship with the United States.

Lorenzana said Chinese island-

reclamation efforts were meant to control the South China Sea. “That could be their strategy to counter any superpower that would encroach on South China Sea because they believe South China Sea is—that’s like their lake to them— theirs,” he added.

The administration of new US President Donald Trump has indicated it will push back against any Chinese attempt to solidify control of the sea.

During confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US would block Chinese access to the islands, although analysts have pointed out that this would require a military blockade—an act of war. AFP

rections], I would not delve on the arguments whether I’m for or against it,” Delos Santos said, adding he was giving the statistics for the consideration of the senators.

Delos Santos said there were 17,655 inmates nationwide and of those 5,591 were serving life sentences.

Senator Leila de Lima said she would always be against the death penalty because it was wrong on legal, moral, ethical and constitutional grounds.

“I’m here to listen more to the anti-death penalty advocates for them to be able to convince the majority of our people not to support the bills pushing for the reimposition of the death penalty,” she said.

Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros said the countries that imposed the death penalty on drug traffickers did not curb illegal drug trafficking.

“According to Amnesty International, thousands of people have been executed for drug offenses since 1959 in Iran,” Hontiveros said.

Erring...

From A1 military personnel to watch their every move. He said this was necessary because, in his experience, policemen who were dismissed used their skills and contacts to commit crimes.

He cited the need to put up a squad composed of army, navy, and air force men to keep track of rogue former law enforcers.

“Most policemen, especially those who were dismissed, they are part of syndicates because they know many things. You are the most dangerous among criminals,” Duterte said.

He said the most vicious criminals were mostly ex-policemen and ex-military men, citing as an example the members of the notorious crime syndicate Kuratong Baleleng.

“I will create a battalion to keep track of your movements,” he said.

“You get into drugs, sorry but I won’t think twice. You will be the victim of extrajudicial killing, it’s true.”

Rallyists, PSG men lock horns over peace

By Sandy Araneta TENSION flared on Tuesday during a protest rally in front of Malacañang when members of the Presidential Security Group tried to block and disperse a street rally urging President Rodrigo Duterte to continue the peace talks with communist rebels.

The rallyists were mostly relatives of political prisoners and victims of enforced disappearances.

The protesters converged outside Malacañang’s Gate 2.

They carried with them banners saying “Resume peace talks” and a letter requesting an audience with Duterte.

The situation escalated when members of the PSG arrived to announce that mass actions in the area are prohibited.

The presidential guards seized the protesters’ banners and tied to confiscate journalists’ camera footage of the incident.

A reporter also engaged in a tug of war for his mobile phone with a PSG guard who attempted to erase the video clips of the incident from the device.

The reporter was able to secure his mobile phone by fleeing on board his crew cab.

After the tension subsided, activists Amaryllis Hilao Enriquez and Danny Dela Fuento were able to eventually hand their letter for Duterte to members of the Presidential Management Staff.

President Duterte on Saturday said he is pulling out the government from the peace negotiations with communists.

Task...

From A1 She said the soldiers engaged more than 40 Abu Sayyaf men in a 20-minute battle.

“We’ve initial reports here on the enemy casualties at five. There could be more. One was captured.

We’ve no report so far of dead or wounded on the side of our Marine troopers,” Petinglay said.

She said the troopers also recovered four M16s and four M14s.

At the same time, Petinglay said they were trying to confirm reports that Misaya’s group was trying to escape with some unidentified hostages.

“The Joint Task Force Sulu is continuously conducting clearing and hot pursuit operations in Capuan Island for possible recovery of the kidnap victims,” she said.

Western Mindanao Command chief Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. has ordered more blockades to all escape routes.

Misaya’s group was based in Indanan town.

Medal...

From A1 gratuity and pension for their families and scholarships for their children.

But the Napolcom’s recommendation did not sit well with some officers and men in the military service, saying that might cause demoralization in the rank and file.

“With due respect to the President, Napolcom and PNP including the departed who sacrificed their lives for flag and country, the Medal of Valor award should not be taken lightly,” a senior officer said.

“We mourned the death of our police comrades as we mourned the soldiers who fought in Camp Abu Bakar, the Zamboanga City siege, and elsewhere in the country where our soldiers continue to spill their blood to defend and protect the people from the enemies of the government.”

The officer asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Former Philippine Army Chief Arturo Ortiz, a medal recipient, resigned as a member of the Medal of Valor board and chief of the AFP Joint Operations Center in protest against the awarding of the medal to then lieutenant colonel and now Brigadier General Noel Buan and Sergeant Leopoldo Diokno in December 2014.

Then board member Lt. Col. Custodio Parcon also resigned and joined Ortiz in the protest. Both questioned Buan and Diokno’s award, noting the twoa llegedly applied an “element of deceit” during their operation that led to the killing of Abu Sayyaf Group leader Hamsiraji Sali and several of his men on April 8, 2015 in Basilan.

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IN BRIEF CBCP to govt: Strengthen fight vs sex trafficking THE Catholic bishops has called on the government to strengthen the fight against human trafficking as millions of Filipinos fall victims to human trafficking syndicates at home and abroad.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said it had asked dioceses, parishes and church-based organizations to help fight against human trafficking, also known as modernday slavery.

According to 2016 Trafficking in Person Report, the Philippines is a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor.

An estimated 10-million Filipinos work abroad, and a significant number of these migrant workers are subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor—predominantly via debt bondage, the report said.

Bishop Ruperto Santos, chairman of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People, said the collaboration with the government and other private entities and religious groups was critical to combat a booming illegal industry of human trafficking.

Vito Barcelo

Laguna Lake open to traffic on Thursday THE P1.22-billion Laguna Lake Highway or known as C-6 dike road will be open to vehicular traffic tomorrow, expected to reduce travel time from Taytay, Rizal to Bicutan, Parañaque, by 50 percent, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said.

“The opening of two lanes from Napindan to M. L. Quezon section in Taguig City is the first phase of the Laguna Lake Highway project that would link Metro Manila [to] the province of Bulacan in the north, Rizal in the east, and Cavite in the south, passing through the cities of Pasig, Taguig, and Muntinlupa,” Villar said Tuesday.

The 10.7-km road network covers the construction of two bridges, rehabilitation of existing 10.28 kms of asphalt road, including construction of 2-meter wide planting strips and 3-meter-diameter bike lane.

“The thrust of the Duterte administration is to ensure not only mobility of vehicles but also individuals. More bike lanes, sidewalks will be installed throughout the country,” he said.

“Complementing the widened road is the construction of additional two lanes at Napindan Bridge 2 which is expected to be completed by December 2017,” he added.

Villar said travelers between Rizal, Makati and Taguig would likely benefit from the new road completion as well as travel speeds along the Laguna Lake Highway.

“With the improved highway, the traffic from Edsa and C5 will be greatly reduced,” Villar said.

Vito Barcelo

DEATH BILLS RESURRECTED. Senator Panfilo Lacson confers with Police Director Augusto Marquez during the first Senate hearing Tuesday on Death Penalty Bills filed with the Committee on Justice and Human Rights at the Senate session hall in Pasay City. Lino Santos

Pimentel lauds Du30’s rebuff of plan to retrain erring cops

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel Cruz

S

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte’s rejection of a plan by the Philippine National Police to retrain police officers involved in misconduct.

The President on Sunday said erring cops should remain “suspended all over,” adding putting them under retraining process would not make them better cops but rather “better scalawags.”

“This only shows Presi-

dent Duterte’s political will to cleanse the ranks of the PNP of hoodlum cops,” said Pimentel.

The PNP earlier revealed some 387 policemen had been recalled and reassigned inside Camp Crame to under-

go disciplinary retraining.

Pimentel said that there was no place for rogue cops anywhere in the country and they should be sacked immediately once proven guilty of committing illicit activities.

Pimentel is the highest official to criticize the old PNP practice of reassigning erring policemen to Mindanao.

He said Mindanao region also deserved honest and disciplined law enforcers like the rest of the country.

The Senate President said bad cops should go directly to jail if proven guilty rather than being redeployed in other areas, particularly in Mindanao.

This was supported by Senator Cynthia Villar who said pushups were punishments too light against policemen who committed the serious offense of betrayal of public trust.

“I can understand the frustration of our people hearing about police authorities masterminding kidnapping operations, extortion and summary executions. These are the people who vowed to serve and protect. If the police cannot be trusted, where will our people go?” Villar asked.

Villar said there was merit in the creation of a task force that would investigate and operate against erring cops, pending a

House begins probe into ERC rumpus

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives on Tuesday began its probe into the corruption allegations that drove director Francisco Jose Villa to commit suicide last Nov. 9 At a hearing conducted by the joint House committees on good government and energy, ERC chairman and CEO Jose Vicente Salazar denied the allegations against him.

Salazar was named in Villa’s suicide note as having favored a certain Luis Morelos for the ERC’s audio-visual presentation in a ‘‘rigged selection system.

Salazar said Morelos was a friend who volunteered to extend free services for the AVP of the ERC to be shown in the country’s cinemas, to make the commission’s mandate known to the public.

I do not think there is something unusual

with a person wanting to help us,” Salazar told the House panel.

“After the death of Mr. Jun Villa, I asked why is he providing us with all these concepts. He said, [this is only for charity work], Salazar said.

The House conducted the probe into the matter in response to a resolution filed by Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy urging lawmakers to look into the circumstances that compelled Villa to commit suicide.

Herrera-Dy said the House probe must “exact accountability and formulate remedial legislation in the name of transparency and integrity.”

Also during the hearing, Commissioner Alfredo Non said the ERC postponed the internal inquiry into the matter in response to Salazar’s request to defer the inquiry pend-

ing the results of the investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Salazar said he would have wanted other agencies to probe the ERC, saying an internal inquiry would be self-serving.

I should admit that I approached members of the commission. And I asked them that we should allow these to investigate us, because an internal inquiry would be self-serving, Salazar said.

The Commission on Audit earlier brought to an end the controversies hounding the ERC after it released its investigation report clearing the ERC head of allegations concerning a P300,000-audio visual project.

In the report signed by State Auditor Vivencio Quiambao Jr. and Supervising Auditor Flovita Felipe, the CoA debunked issues raised against Salazar.

LTFRB to GFIs: Provide help to jeepney operators

ROTC REVIVED. (From left) Neda Director General Ernesto Pernia, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno

and Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno in a huddle on the sidelines of the 12th Cabinet meeting Tuesday where President Rodrigo Duterte approved the revival of the Reserved Officers Training Course for Grades 11 and 12 in public and private schools nationwide.

THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is urging government financial institutions to provide assistance to jeepney operators and drivers as the agency pursues the implementation of the jeepney modernization program.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada, in an interview, said the Landbank and the Development Bank of the Philippines should develop a mechanism that will provide loans to support the development of public utility jeepneys in the country.

She reiterated it was important that financial aid must be provided to PUJ drivers to supplement their take home pay and improve their living conditions.

Lizada expressed support for the proposal of transport groups that the Pantawid Pasada or fuel subsidy cards for public transport operators and drivers be utilized as a seed fund to facilitate access

on loans from banks and other financial institutions.

She also suggested that a financial literacy program be established in order that PUJ operators and drivers are able to manage and further increase their income.

“It is very important that we must empower them considering their contributions in our society,” Lizada emphasized.

Lizada also said the LTFRB was coordinating with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Finance for the implementation of the financial mechanism for the jeepney modernization program.

For its part, the DoF has said it will allocate P8 billion for the Pantawid Pasada to offset the impact of rising fuel prices due to the planned excise tax on petroleum products and the jeepney modernization program in line with the tax reform initiatives of the government. PNA

formal document stating in detail the scope and composition of the task force.

PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa created the Counter-Intelligence Task Force led by Sr. Supt. Jose Chiquito Malayo to go after police officers involved in illegal activities.

It is composed of 100 police personnel from the PNP Special Action Force and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“We should send a strong signal that these activities will never be condoned and that we will not let a handful destroy the whole of the police organization,” Villar said.

Yasay bats for career officials

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan FOREIGN Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. has vowed he will seek the appointments of career officers, not political appointees, as heads of posts.

His promise was lustily applauded by Filipino ambassadors, consuls general and charges d’affaires posted in different Philippine embassies, consulates and Philippine representatives worldwide who gathered last week in a yearly conference at home.

“We will continue to seek the appointments of career officers as heads of posts,” Yasay said before all careerdiplomats who flew in from different countries to attend the annual conference.

He added the merits-based promotion and rotation system of the DFA should be “strengthened and rid of biases and unfairness to provide equal opportunities for everyone.”

But the mood suddenly faded when Yasay called on all diplomats to “actively advise” Duterte to seek the services of men of competence, integrity, and capability like formerlawmaker-and-now-TV anchor Teodoro ” Teddy Boy” Locsin, who has been appointed recently as the new Philippine ambassador to the United Nations; veteran journalist Chito Sta. Romana, who has been tapped to head the Philippine Embassy in China; businessman Joey Laurel who took over as Philippine Ambassador to Japan; and Allan Tibayan, the country’s top diplomat in Qatar as examples.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Adelle Chua, Editor

EDITORIAL

Mamasapano questions remain

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday backpedaled on his plan to create an independent commission to determine the culpability of top Aquino administration officials for the botched January 2015 raid in which 44 police commandos were left to die in the marshlands of Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

commandos, two years after the ill-fated covert operation.

He said he wanted to find out why the government of thenPresident Benigno Aquino III had left the commandos to die without any reinforcements or air and artillery support.

But in a speech this week, Mr. Duterte said he would now simply await the results of cases filed last year by relatives of the slain police commandos against Aquino before the Office of the Ombudsman, where he has been accused of reckless imprudence resulting in Duterte had announced that homicide. plan back in January before Ironically, this is the same ofrelatives of the slain police fice that cleared Aquino of any

criminal liability in the case two years ago, and the same Ombudsman who has been accused of favoring the former president.

In January, the Aquino-appointed Ombudsman, Conchita Carpio-Morales, promised to wrap up the investigation into the new cases “maybe this year, maybe next year.”

Going from strange to stranger, Duterte also said that Aquino’s sister, TV host Kris Aquino had texted him, pleading that he not put her brother in jail.

Using his speech instead of his phone to respond, Duterte assured Kris Aquino that he was not vindictive toward his

political enemies, nor was he out to jail her brother.

“I just want to know the truth,” he said.

But if truth is what Mr. Duterte is after, he sure has a funny way of showing it. Rather than let an independent commission composed of “men of integrity and honor” determine the truth, he has left that job to an Ombudsman that, whether true or not, is perceived to be biased toward the former president who appointed her.

Of course, we do not know if Kris Aquino really texted the President, or if this is just another one of those presidential embellishments that the Palace

says media must interpret with “creative imagination.”

If she did, however, her text clearly suggests that she knows what a vindictive man her own brother was, and how she now fears that he will finally reap the fruits of his own bitter harvest.

But none of this will answer the questions that we want answered about the Mamasapano debacle. Why did Aquino entrust the operation to his suspended police chief?

Why were no reinforcements sent to prevent the slaughter of 44 police commandos?

And now—why has President Duterte backpedaled on his Mamasapano promise?

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Church vs State

Used again LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES THE bishops of the Philippine Catholic Church have got it all wrong. The silence that they heard, if they listened hard enough, is one of approval, not one of fear.

I wish the good members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines had consulted with their priests on the ground before issuing that pastoral letter read in many churches last Sunday. Yes, the same clerics who have also avoided, for a lot of valid reasons, using their pulpits in order to once again meddle with purely secular affairs like politics.

I say only “many churches” because I’ve been told that a good number of priests chose not

to read the pre-cooked sevenpoint homily denouncing alleged extra-judicial killings prepared by the CBCP. And I am convinced that if the bishops had asked their front-line clerics why they didn’t read the pastoral letter, they would have understood the situation better.

The overall theme of the CBCP’s sermon was that ordinary Catholics should overcome their fear and speak out against the reported killings of suspected drug pushers and users. By failing to be heard, the bishops said, the faithful had become accomplices in the deaths brought about by the war on drugs initiated and implemented by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The bishops bemoaned the “reign of terror” that was gripping the land. And despite admitting their own failings as churchmen—which they did not specify—they said they felt compelled to send out their message.

My own belief, as an ordinary

Catholic, is that the bishops have once again fallen into the trap of buying into a set of political beliefs without verifying these with their flock. And the main reason that the politically naive leaders of the Church have been gypped

I can’t remember ever hearing the Church denounce the evils of drug addiction. is because their current leader, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, is a foremost exponent of that belief system.

Villegas, if he were a tad more attuned to the true sentiments of

the faithful, should have stepped down as CBCP president first before the pastoral letter was read in churches all over the land. And he could have asked some other bishop to write it, instead of claiming authorship of the document at its end, as if he was really proud of what he did.

But Villegas is an acknowledged protegé of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin and spiritual adviser and family friend of both Cory and Noynoy Aquino. The fact that the bishops issued a letter written by Villegas himself speaks volumes of its lack of impartiality, as well as of the lack of empathy that those two former presidents are famous for.

And Villegas and his fellow top clerics are still smarting from the attacks that Duterte has leveled against them. They can be forgiven if they feel that they needed some payback – and they only had their pulpit to use in retaliation.

So Villegas and the bishops succumbed to the temptation.

But they never thought to ask the faithful, who constitute the church, if what they said was really what the people believed. *** Because the bishops, without any basis, can say that the people are cowering in fear as Duterte carries out his drug war, I think my own assertion—that they wholeheartedly approve of it—is just as valid as theirs. And I think that I have more evidence than just any bishop living in a diocesan “palace” possesses when I say that most churchgoing Catholics are law-abiding citizens who are actually (if silently) cheering the government on in its campaign.

For the life of me, I can’t remember ever hearing the Church denounce the evils of drug addiction. And even as I listened to last Sunday’s homily in its entirety (even if I felt a great urge Turn to A5

SILENCE for seven months amid seven thousand deaths. You cannot say the Catholic Church in the Philippines did not give Rodrigo Roa Duterte a chance to make his war on illegal drugs gain traction and work.

The Church is usually loquacious and self-righteous. At times, it is pompous. But priests, bishops, and cardinals observed the Silence Is Golden motto even as President Duterte unleashed the most vicious war ever over a group of alleged criminals and wrongdoers ever waged by a Philippine leader.

From July 1, 2016, Duterte’s first full day in office, to Jan. 22, 2017, some 7,028 were killed. Of that, 2,503 (35.6 percent) were killed by the police, by their own admission, because they allegedly were drug lords, drug pushers, and or drug users. That left 4,520 (64 percent) victims who died with no known killers. Their killing was classified as “deaths under investigation.”

Vigilantes and war among the drug lords and users were blamed for the unexplained killings. But the nagging suspicion is that many, if not nearly all the 4,520 unexplained killings, were perpetrated by the police themselves or their hired killers.

Proof: When Duterte ordered a sudden stop to the illegal drugs war, under “Project Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel” of the Philippine National Police, nobody died on the first day the order took effect. Previously, between 11 and 30 killings took place daily under “Project Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel.”

Last Sunday, in churches and chapels and everywhere, a Mass was celebrated nationwide, priests and bishops read a 946word pastoral letter adopted by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and signed by its president, Archbishop Socrates B. Villegas, DD. The cherubic prelate is also the archbishop of Diocese of LingayenDagupan.

The CBCP pastoral letter uniformly denounced what the bishops called “the reign of terror in many places of the poor” and pleaded that “this traffic in illegal drugs needs to be stopped and overcome. But the solution does not lie in the killing of suspected drug users and pushers.” Killing, they declared, is a “grave sin.” Not even the government, they stressed, has a right to kill.

Turn to A5

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Opinion

I DON’T know if Environment That’s Gina for you—a conand Natural Resources Secretary firmed anti-mining advocate and Gina Lopez realizes what she has protector of the Lopez oligarchy! done in cancelling the permits of 23 big mining forms and sus*** pending five others.

I recall that the Filipino people Perhaps she could not care took years to mount the People less. After all, she heiress to the Power revolution.

Lopez clan that owns giant netFilipinos are like that. They act work ABS-CBN. Why should only when when somebody or she care for the 1.2-million Fili- something leads them to do so. It pinos whose jobs would be af- is something similar to carabao: fected by the mine closures. She Beat it, abuse it, it will not react. is so obsessed with what she calls But there will come a time when the green economy—she is a self- it will have had enough, and it proclaimed environmentalist. will charge at you like a raging The method used by Lopez bull. in auditing the mining industry I see this happening with the shows her bias against it. She President’s war against illegal says mining is not possible in a drugs. More than 7,000 have Southeast Asian country like the died, most of them poor. The killPhilippines. It is on record that ings continue even after Mr. Dushe used an anti-mining organi- terte’s order that the police will zation, Alyansa Tigil Mina, in in- no longer be involved. specting the industry.

While surveys show that maShe does not care what would jority support the war on drugs, happen as a result of her deci- little by little some people are alsion to kill virtually all mining ready reacting. Recently the Cathactivities in the olic Bishops country. In fact, Conference her arrogance has of the Philcreated disunity at ippines has the DENR—there broken its That is Gina are those who are silence and for her and those Lopez for you— called on against her. Just the faithful look at the way fighting for the to speak out she conducts her environment against the press conferences. “new norFinance Sec- while also ma;” of killretary Carlos protecting her ings.

Dominguez has expressed con- family’s business *** cern over the imPresident pact of Lopez’s interest.

Duterte’s reaction on the naaction to the tional economy. communists’ Lopez has put coming to $22 billion worth the negotiof investments in limbo, crip- ating table with blood on their pled local government units and hands is not unexpected. communities by preventing them This could only mean that the from benefitting from P16.7 bil- Communist Party of the Philippines lion in taxes. My gulay, this and the National Democratic Front means that the gross domestic leadership has no control of some of product will also be affected. their members on the ground.

Santa Banana, Lopez has creThe President has ordered ated a much bigger problem with the military to prepare for war her “green economy.” against the insurgency and arrest The affected mines account for all 18 “consultants” because they half of the nickel ore output by the are terrorists. world’s top supplier of metal. This And that is what exactly haphas resulted in the sinking worth pened after the CPP-NDF deof nickel in the stock market. manded that the prisoners be Incidentally, some industry released before they could talk stakeholders note a conflict of peace. The President was right interest in the appointment of not to give in to the communists’ Lopez. As DENR secretary, she demands. would have to handle the case of That has always been the strategy the massive oil leak at the West of the communist movement. It’s not tower Condominium in Bangkal, give and take but take and take. makati City that was caused by The President said: I have given the Lopez owned First Philippine them more than enough, too soon.

Industrial Corp.

I agree. In fact, the President has The building has become unin- given the insurgents three Cabihabitable. Some of the unit own- net positions in an effort to get the ers have chosen to be compen- communists to talk peace. sated, byt some have chosen to go Peace must be attained, but not to court. at all costs. The government will University of the Philippines always have the edge because thr National Institute of Geological nPA now only has around 400 Science Director Carlos Arcilla armed fighters. said Lopez had not anything to Still, Mr. Duterte must realize comply with a Supreme Court why the communist movement order directing her department to continues in the rural areas. It is oversee the full cleaning by the because of poverty. Like illegal FPIC of the remaining pollution drugs, the insurgency issue traces in the groundwater and soil. its roots to poverty.

Used...

From A4

to simply walk out), I tried to recall the CBCP condemning the Mamasapano massacre, the failed response to the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda” or even the massive theft of the pork barrel and DAP funds—and I drew a blank.

(This was the same church, after all, that used its parishes to remind voters about the commandment against stealing, which was a pointed reference to one of the presidential candidates that Villegas and his fellow Yellows really worked hard to beat. Tell me again it isn’t dabbling in partisan politics with this pastoral letter.)

But I already started to relate my experience at church last Sunday. Allow me to complete the story.

Because I was so incensed that our local priest had foregone his

usual practice of explaining the Gospel and the readings to read the letter and even decided to ad lib on the same theme afterwards (he was a young man and obviously more easily swayed than other, more seasoned clerics, by conveniently packaged politics), I decided to approach him after mass.

After I had made sure that only he could hear me speak, I told him: “I am praying for you.”

The priest looked at me with a smile and replied: “Thank you.”

Then I got to the point: “I pray that no member of your family ever becomes the victim of a drug addict.”

Then I walked away without saying another word. I didn’t even look back at the priest—and I didn’t hear him offer a reply.

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THERE is a proposal to revert the name of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to its former name.

What’s in a name? Plenty—if it only brings back a grim reminder of a national shame that happened so many years ago. This is the assassination of former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. who was shot dead at the airport tarmac in 1983. Aquino, popularly known as Ninoy, was shot in the back of the head as he stepped down from the stairs of a China Airlines flight that brought him home from Taipei after years of exile in Boston, USA. Foreign visitors not familiar with this gruesome event have often asked who Ninoy Aquino was.

Their next question: Why name your international airport after a man who was murdered coldbloodedly by soldiers? Filipinos who are asked that question are just as puzzled . Not only is the name too long—uttered, it is a tongue twister.

Because of this, it was shortened to its abbreviation of Naia.

Still Naia drew questions of who, what and why the killing happened. Aquino’s assassination remains one of the infamous unsolved murder of the century. It also marked the beginning of the end of former President Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law regime.

There are some who defend the renaming of the airport to an assassinated national figure. They cite the renaming of the Idlewild International Airport in New York to John Fitzgerald Kennedy airport which is now known as JFK in the airline industry. But then, JFK was assassinated in Dallas, Texas and not at the New York airport itself.

Then, there are those who gave another meaning to MIA as Missing in Amenities for its rundown toilets, non-working air conditioning system, not to mention the petty extortionists, actually airport security personnel, who plant bullets in baggages, to shake down departing and arriving passengers.

I left and arrived at Naia’s Terminal 1 to spend the Christmas holidays in the States. To be fair, I was amazed at the changes and improvement undertaken by the airport authority and management. The toilets have been

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mst.daydesk@gmail.com

What’s in a name?

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Creating bigger problems

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

spruced up, with the flush and faucets working well, the entire flooring was retiled to match the squeaky-clean white walls. Some of the dividers at the arrival section were removed to give the area a sense of air and space.

Why the Noynoy Aquino administration and its Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya did not undertake the airport improvement early at the start of its six-year term remains a question. Even the elevated skyway from Naia’s Terminal 3, which goes to Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, is now used by motorists who find it a convenient alternative artery to avoid traffic around the airport and to Roxas Boulevard. The new skyway eased traffic congestion around Terminal 3.

Speaking of traffic and moving people, the first day of strike by jeepney drivers stranded many passengers but did not make as much impact to paralyze the commuting in Metro Manila. The drivers’ strike was triggered by the Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board’s decision to decongest the monstrous metro traffic by phasing out old and dilapidated passenger jeepneys. It is a wise move but as usual, anything that would decom-

mission these dilapidated public utilities and affect people earning a marginal livelihood is sure to spark protests.

Again, this is a sad reflection on past administrations and government officials who did not foresee the problem of the increasing population in Metro Manila and the lack of roads. Without an effective mass public transport system, the people have no choice but to purchase private vehicles to get to work and bring their children to school. The Metro Rail Transit and the Light Rail Transit break down almost daily because of mismanagement and defective spare parts.

The MRT’s maintenance service contract was awarded to a company that did not have any track record of train repair. The contract was given to a relative of the MRT manager who is now facing graft charges for the anomalous deal. In every capital of the world including in nearby Hong Kong and Singapore, trains run on time and efficiently that one can set his watch by the trains’ schedule.

Once again, our train of thought is occupied by thoughts of train which the government owes every tax-paying citizen.

Patience, humility SO I SEE LITO BANAYO I WRITE this article to juxtapose certain national developments with readings into the character of Rodrigo Duterte, our president.

I do not claim affinity as to be able to speak with any authority about the person; in fact, I write this after recent conversations with friends who were in the Duterte campaign as well, and with erudite observers, both Filipino and foreign.

While reading the latest internet editions of Manila papers here in Taipei, I suddenly recalled what my Jesuit-trained English professor in college would keep quoting, an oration in the Roman Senate by the famous Cicero, leveled against fellow senator Luius Sergius Catilina, who was supposed to have conspired with revolutionaries (unsuccessfully) to overthrow the institution of the Senate itself.

“Quo usque tandem abutere, Catalina, patientia nostra?”

The Latin words are still in my memory bank, and they translate: “When, Catilina, will you cease abusing our patience?”

Further, Cicero asked: “How long is that madness of yours still to mock us?”

Condoling with the bereaved families of slain soldiers ambushed by NPA guerillas, President Duterte declared that the ceasefire with the leftist rebels was over, and later called off the

ongoing peace talks with their negotiating panel. There was also an unpublicized though shocking incident which occurred in late January where the Pico de Loro resort owned by the Henry Sy family in Nasugbu was raided by a band of NPA guerillas who disarmed the guards and carted off equipment and vehicles.

In the President’s mind, the left had abused his patience and disdained by such actions the olive branch he offered in the pursuit of a lasting peace.

May hangganan ang pasyensya, may katapusan ang pagmamagandang loob, as our forefathers would say.

To show his sincerity, he caused the release from prison of some of their top leaders, including the spouses Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, so that the parleys could begin well. And earlier, he appointed prominent members of the re-affirmist left to his Cabinet.

Then this dastardly attack against his soldiers happened, killing a lieutenant just freshly graduated from the Academy, something that surely struck deep into the hearts of the military establishment. This happened right after the NPA’s Mindanao command headed by Jorge Madlos unilaterally declared that the ceasefire was over.

(As this is written, the Standard reports a statement from Luis Jalandoni, fired from his cushy digs in the Netherlands, speculating that “the military may have killed their soldiers to lay the blame on the NPA”.

That’s adding insult to injury.)

And so the President first told

the military: pare bellum. Prepare for war. Then a day or two later, he declared the NPA terrorists and ordered the cancellation of the passports of those he had earlier released from prison and who were now part of the negotiating team whose talks are held in Europe at great expense to the Filipino taxpayer.

To paraphrase Cicero, how long would we allow this madness to mock us?

And further, when will they cease abusing the patience of Duterte?

He has walked more miles than any president before him to achieve peace, from offering a change in the form of government in order to settle the long-held grievances of our Muslim brothers. He has opened his cabinet to members of the left, something never done by his predecessors but for a few token appointments here and there. Now this.

Yet foreign and local observers, while saying that the President has a short fuse when it comes to crime and corruption, also admire the person’s innate humility. He quickly apologizes when he realizes he made a mistake. Hubris does not become the man, unlike others who preceded him.

When he accused the Pangasinan governor of involvement in the hated drug trade and found out later that the accusation was without basis, he offered his apologies, without thought of personal face.

When the Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo was found to have been killed by police officers and right inside Camp Crame, not only did he order immediate

investigations, or revamp the unit involved by a few criminal miscreants, he apologized publicly, later on sending his legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, to Seoul to convey the profundity of the nation’s condolences.

A Caucasian businessman who has lived in the country for two decades, compared the Duterte apology with how the previous president would not dignify with personal and public apology the massacre of several Hong Kong tourists in August of 2010.

These were committed by katzenjammer cops on the hallowed grounds of the Luneta.

“Very human, truly humble,” the businessman told this writer, while dismissing his predecessor as “inappropriately stubborn.”

The same Caucasian friend recalled too how PNoy went to a car assembler’s plant inauguration instead of meeting the cadavers of the Fallen 44 of Mamasapano when the plane carrying their mortal remains landed at the airport named after his martyred father.

And compared it to how Duterte solicitously visits wounded soldiers and commisserates with the grieving families of those who died in combat against enemies of the state.

True leaders are made of steely resolve, sharp minds and probably, most importantly, big hearts.

The steely resolve gets tested when patience is abused and when large goals need to be implemented to confront national ills. The big heart is saddened by tragedy, touched beyond words by human suffering.

There are limits to the leader’s patience, but his humility will be without any.

390 pastoral centers, 90 orphanages, 40 homes for the aged, eight printing presses, and 22 radio stations.

Catholic schools educated many of the country’s business and professional elite and politicians.

During the martial law years and his strongman rule, the Catholic Church unleashed its power to abbreviate Ferdinand Marcos’ regime. When no one dared to challenge Marcos’ armed forces, many priests and parishes gave aid and comfort to communist party guerillas.

The Church also helped oust President Joseph Estrada after only 30 months in office.

Now, after an eerie, uncomfortable silence, the Church is taking on Duterte. Just like previous fights with the ruling power, the bishops are mincing no words.

“Your bishops are deeply concerned due to many deaths and killings in the campaign against prohibited drugs,” the churchmen told their faithful.

Without naming Duterte, who went to Catholic schools in high school and in law school, the bishops lectured on the President:

“The life of every person comes from God. It is he who gives it, and it is he alone who can take it back. Not even the government has a right to kill life,” they said.

“To destroy one’s own life and the life of another, is a grave sin and does evil to society,” the bishops added.

The bishops explained: “Any action that harms another (seriously) is a grave sin. To push drugs is a grave sin as is killing (except in self-defense). We cannot correct a wrong by doing another wrong. A good purpose is not a justification for using evil means. It is good to remove the drug problem, but to kill in order to achieve this is also wrong.”

Sounding profound, bishops said “the deep root of the drug problem and criminality is the poverty of the majority, the destruction of the family and corruption in society. The step we have to take is to overcome poverty, especially through the giving of permanent work and sufficient wages to workers.”

The bishops addressed the country’s Catholics and summoned them to be silent no more: “To consent and to keep silent in front of evil is to be an accomplice

to it. If we neglect the drug addicts and pushers we have become part of the drug problem. If we consent or allow the killing of suspected drug addicts, we shall also be responsible for their deaths.”

“We in the Church will continue to speak against evil even as we acknowledge and repent of our own shortcomings. We will do this even if it will bring persecution upon us because we are all brothers and sisters responsible for each other,” the bishops dared, in direct challenge to Duterte.

“Let us not allow fear to reign and keep us silent,” the Catholic Church’s leadership said.

On Jan. 29, 2017, Duterte stopped the 160,000-strong PNP from undertaking the illegal drugs war after abuses seeped into the campaign.

A PNP sergeant, Ricky Sta. Isabel, and a PNP colonel, Rafael Dumlao, were found to have conspired to have kidnapped and later kill Jee Ick Joo, a prominent Korean businessman from his house in Angeles City, Pampanga, in the guise of undertaking a Tokhang operation.

Church...

From A4

With the bishops’ pastoral missive, the Catholic Church has declared an open war against Duterte illegal drugs war. And since the President, in recent weeks, has been vitriolic against the churchmen, accusing some bishops of maintaining mistresses and the others of outright immorality, the Catholic Church, in effect has declared war on Duterte and shown a willingness to meet his advocacy.

The Catholic Church in the Philippines is the oldest in Asia and among the most powerful in the world. There are 85 million Catholic Filipinos, among the most fervent Catholics in the world and who are led by four Filipino cardinals. No institution in the country has more credibility, wider network, and greater following and is better respected than its Catholic Church.

There are 96 bishops (archbishops, bishops, and auxiliary bishops), 6,198 diocesan priests, 1,663 religious, 778 religious brothers, 7,556 religious sisters, 7,338 seminarians, 2,966 parishes, 7,966 chapels, 131 colleges and universities, 660 high schools, 486 grade schools, 592 kinder schools. Plus 423 hospitals, 199 retreat centers,

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News

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Unite vs oligarchs, farmers exhorted

By Rio N. Araja AGRARIAN Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano urged farmers of the Hacienda Luisita Inc. under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to unite against the landlord oligarchy of the Cojuangco-Aquino clan.

Mariano met with 120 members of the Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala), led by chairperson Florida Sibayan and vice chairperson Rudy Corpuz, along with Barangay Lourdes councilor Abednego Nigogalang, to address disputes within the ranks of the farmers.

“Now, more than ever, we need the peasant movement to be a united front in our fight for genuine agrarian reform. Let us remember who the real enemies are. Let us unite against landlord-oligarchs,” Mariano declared.

Despite DAR’s July 1 status quo order, he said, the agency has been receiving mounting complaints of destruction to properties in the past months.

“Regardless as to whether or not such persons anchored their claims on the basis of certificates of land ownership award, it is imperative to maintain the status quo that no person should directly or indirectly dispossess or abet the dispossession of farmers presently occupying the land or the destruction of any crops,” the order read.

Last January, Ambala complained that its makeshift houses used as headquarters were reportedly demolished by alleged goons of the Cojuangco clan, the most recent attack in the “bungkalan” area in Barangay Mapalacsiao.

In December last year, a weeklong tension between armed goons and the Ambala farmers last forced the latter to evacuate their cultivation areas.

NPA justifies ‘atrocities’

By Lance Baconguis

C

AGAYAN DE ORO CITY—The communist New People’s Army defended its recent Malaybalay City operation that resulted in the killing of three unarmed army troopers in civilian clothes, which the military condemned as a violation of international humanitarian law.

The NPA’s North Central Mindanao Command issued the justification on Tuesday, a day after National Democratic Front negotiator Luis Jalandoni claimed the killings may have

been contrived by the military in order to blame communist insurgents.

The military, however, dismissed Jalandoni’s claim as an outright lie because the day

after the three troopers were killed, the NPA North Central Mindanao Command already admitted that the three soldiers were killed at an NPA “checkpoint.”

The admission was made by NCMR spokesperson Allan Juanito, who claimed the soldiers —Corporal Pat O. Non, Corporal Nino Christopher Talabor and Sargeant Owen Yee, all from the 8th IB—were killed because they were conducting “psychological warfare” among the residents of the area.

“As opposed to what the 8th [Infantry Battalion] wanted to paint that they are bringing serv-

ices to the [Barangay Kibalabag], what they brought were vices, gambling and inappropriate film showing, and brainwashed the community,” Juanito said.

Juanito added that the 8th IB forced the barangay council to sign a resolution asking the 8th IB to stay in their communities for their protection, but the council rejected it.

He said the 8th IB’s Community Organizing for Peace and Development involves interrogations, locations of NPA camps and use of civilians as guides.

Juanito also denied claims that the NPA took the money of the soldiers. “The NPA did not take

IN BRIEF BoC seizes rare hardwood THE Bureau of Customs seized an illegal shipment of rare and endangered Philippine ironwood, locally called mangkono, which was bound for Japan and declared as flour meal, dried crushed banana and powder at the Port of Davao.

Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon said mangkono (Xanthostemon verdugonianus), which is endemic to the Philippines, is officially classified as rare and endangered and its exportation is prohibited.

Davao District Collector Jamail Marohomsalic said the logs were discovered when its container van was opened by BoC agents in the presence of Philippine Drugs Enforcement Administration and the Philippine Coast Guard due to a false information that the shipment contained illegal drugs.

Mangkono is categorized as endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red list for 2014 and the cutting of the tree is prohibited by Executive Order 23 and Presidential Decree 705, otherwise known as Forestry Code of the Philippines. Vito Barcelo

FARE HIKE. A jeepney barker flashes a sign informing the public of a one-peso fare increase that takes effect Wednesday. Norman Cruz

DILG questioned over suspension of Bayrons THE Department of the Interior and Local Government was criticized on Tuesday over the unenforced suspension of Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and his son Karl Bayron over charges of grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

In a three-page letter, complainant Aldrin Madreo urged the DILG to implement the suspension order of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and demanded an explanation why it has not yet been enforced.

“It has been more than 14 days

from when the said decision was received by the Department on Jan. 23, 2017, and yet the order remains unimplemented,” said Madreo’s lawyer Jeremiah Belgica.

“Based on the information that we have gathered, the memorandum from the implementation of the said order has been pending with the office of the Regional Director of Mimaropa,” Belgica said.

Morales approved the recommendation of a panel of investigators that found the Bayrons guilty of concealing their kinship when the mayor’s son declared in his July 1, 2013 contract of service

that he “is not related within the fourth degree of consanguinity/ affinity with the hiring authority.”

In the ruling, the Ombudsman stressed as public officials, the Bayrons were under obligation to disclose the truth as required by the public nature of the contract.

It held that the confidential nature of the position did not mean it was exempt from full disclosure as it was still necessary for the respondents to do so to enable authorities to determine if an appointment fell under the exception.

Belgica reminded the DILG that the decision of the Ombuds-

man in administrative cases is immediately enforceable regardless of a pending appeal.

“The Supreme Court in the case of Ombudsman vs. Samaniego held that the decision of the Ombudsman is immediately executory pending appeal and may not be stayed by the filing of an appeal or the issuance of an injunctive writ,” he added.

The older Bayron facilitated the appointment of his son as the project manager of the Bantay Puerto-VIP Security Task Force. The father and son were found administratively liable for the Ombudsman.

Court records showed Lucilo en-

tered into a contract of service with Karl who was hired as a project manager from July 1, 2013 until Dec. 31, 2013, with a monthly salary of P16,000 paid out of the city coffers.

The contract “clearly” stated the parties attested that Karl “is not related with the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity with the hiring authority.”

Apart from the dismissal order, the Bayrons were also meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

PCSO warns firm over numbers game PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz on Tuesday warned the Meridien Vista Gaming Corp. to immediately stop its illegal numbers game operation in Albay and other provinces even as he asked the police to enforce the law.

“The operation of Meridien outside Cagayan is not sanctioned

by PCSO. The government is deeply invested in the success of STL to generate funds for priority health programs. The PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been tasked by the President to help protect PCSO’s STL,” Corpuz clarified.

Meridien, associated with gambling operator Charlie “Atong” Ang, got a permit to operate from the Cagayan Exclusive Economic Zone Authority based in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, to operate jai alai fronton that mutated also into a “virtual two” lottery game.

Corpuz issued the order after the spokesperson of the Albay provincial police claimed Meridien had a permit from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to operate the numbers game since 2008 despite the fact that the PCSO had an approved Authorized Agent Corporations now playing the STL in the province.

PCSO general manager Alex-

the wallets of the soldiers except for the .45 caliber pistols,” Juanito said.

“We are saddened by the incident, this took place as the peace negotiation with the government of President Rodrigo Duterte was ongoing, but right at the start, the AFP-PNP-CAFGU has violated by entering areas under the revolutionary movement,” Juanito said.

Meanwhile, the army’s 4th ID chided Jalandoni for his libelous accusation against the AFP during his interview with GMA Network, saying that the death of the three soldiers in Bukidnon was a rubout.

ander Balutan said he sought the assistance of the PNP to conduct a crackdown on illegal gambling activities.

“STL is the only legal numbers game in the country. On the other hand, the government does not earn a single cent [from Meridien],” he said.

He said Meridien’s numbers game operation is not authorized under the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations for STL. The PCSO recently launched the expanded STL operations composed of 56 AACs is a bid to generate revenues of P27 billion for charity this year. President Rodrigo Duterte has promised to buy free medicines for the poor, improve medical services, strengthen health programs, and expand institutional partnerships, among others.

Balutan also reminded the public that there are only two institutions authorized by the law to operate gaming or play lotteries: PCSO and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

“We have to support our 56 AACs in their entry in the market,” Balutan urged the public and government officials.

Records show that Albay and Camarines were among the 56 municipalities that were given permits and accreditation by the PCSO to operate STL.

ILLEGAL GAMBLING. PCSO Chairman Jose Jorge Corpuz (center) and PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan (right) brief Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella (left) about STL operations and the battle against illegal gambling in the country.

PPTF to hold new program THE Philippine Printing Technical Foundation will conduct a Technical Upgrading Program for Skills Standardization in partnership with PUM, a Dutch non-profit organization of senior experts founded in The Netherlands in 1978.

The Comprehensive Technical Upgrade workshop/seminars will cover the following areas: Prepress Technology; Press Technology (sheet-fed offset); Press Technology (web-fed offset); Post Press Technology; Service Mechanic (mechanical); and Service Mechanic (electronic). The 10day seminar/workshops are unique educational programs combining classroom activity, practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises.

The seminar on Prepress Technology will start on Feb. 20 to March 3, 2017 and will be conducted by Jan de Vrij of PUM, a senior expert on the subject, with the assistance of printing consultant Bernabe “Boy” Kitane. The next series of trainings are scheduled each month thereafter until June 2017.

Since the training is limited to 20 participants only, applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more particulars, kindly coordinate with the PPTF Secretariat c/o Cristy P. Manuel, tels.

713-0902 / 713-2671 and mobile no. 0917-6485508.

BoC finally exceeds target after 7 years

By Vito Barcelo THE Bureau of Customs has surpassed its January collection target, breaching the assigned revenue goal of P35.509 billion by P236 million for the first time after seven years.

The BoC, the national government’s secondlargest revenue source, said its January collection target reached a record P35.745 billion.

In a preliminary report, the BoC’s Financial Service disclosed that the January collection is comparatively 115 percent higher than the cash collection of P31.08 billion in 2016.

“The amount in revenue collection for January 2017 could hit an outstanding sum in the final financial and revenue collection reports that will be released by the National Treasury soon,” the FS said.

Faeldon said the BoC has regained the trust and confidence of stakeholders, thus, its collections continue to rise in line with the agency’s fiscal and administrative policies.

“Our relentless consultations with all transacting publics, including that of BoC personnel, on continuous improvement of policy reforms and programs have built public trust that, in effect, created a conducive environment especially in

transparent trade facilitation and in the work performance of our employees,” he said.

“From the beginning, we worked hard to accomplish our tasks, especially to improve revenue collections, stop corruption, and wipe out smuggling as inspired by our mandate and in compliance with the directives of President Duterte,” he said.

The ports were able to meet and/or surpass their revenue expectations for the month include San Fernando, Manila, Legaspi, Iloilo, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Davao, Subic, and Limay, which exceeded their respective income targets.

Sports Alido keeps Zaragosa at bay

A7

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

De Guzman, Arda power Blazers to NCAA throne S

By Peter Atencio

CANLUBANG—Ira Alido rode on a superb frontside stint to fire PIKER turned actor Johnvic de Guzman a two-under 70 and wrest a oneshowed the way for the Blazers with 28 stroke lead over Rupert Zaragopoints, while Isaah Oneal Arda submitted a sa and three others while Mikha Fortuna and Bernice Olivarezbrilliant all-around game in the last moments of Ilas took charge in the women’s the final set to end the 17-year wait of the College side with 74s at the start of the W Express RVF Cup Amateur of St. Benilde Blazers.

Golf Championship at Cangolf’s Arda’s block with teammate deadlock and powered the BlazNorth course here yesterday.

Alido birdied Nos. 6 and 8 Mark Anthony Deximo and his ers to their first ever men’s inside 10 feet then survived a drop shot off Ronniel Rosales division crown following a roller-coaster backside run of did the trick as the Blazers went two-game sweep of their besttwo birdies against the same on to post an historic 25-12, 21- of-three title series in the 92nd number of bogeys to turn in 25, 17-25, 25-14, 18-16 verdict National Collegiate Athletic a 34-36 card and set the early over the University of Perpetual Association (NCAA) volleyball pace in the 72-hole championHelp Altas in Game 2 yesterday tournament. ship held as part of the PLDT at the Arena in San Juan.

“I told them when we trailed Group National Amateur Golf His efforts broke a 16-all not to give up. This one’s ours.

Tour and backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, Cignal and Metro Pacific Investments.

Weiwei Gao actually matched Alido’s opening 34 but the Cebuano bet wavered at the finish, bogeying the last two holes to drop to joint second with Paolo Wong, Jolo Magcalayo and Zaragosa at 71.

Wong rallied with birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 to close out with a 34, Magcalayo birdied No. 17 to complete a 35-36 card while Zaragosa, out to atone for a string of so-so finishes in recent tournaments, hit three birdies against two bogeys to get into the mix early in the tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and held in honor of the late golf patron and former NGAP president Rod Feliciano.

Kai Yasuma pieced a pair of 36s to seize solo sixth as he took the cudgels for fellow Japanese Yuto Katsuragawa, winner of two tournaments late last year but who fumbled with five bogeys and one double bogey against two birdies for a 77, seven shots off Alido.

Carl Corpus and Ryan Monsalve carded identical 74s, Carlo Gatmaytan, Luis Castro and Dan Cruz matched 75s while Korean Won Yong Hwi and Paolo Barro stood six strokes off Mikha Fortuna shows top form as she hits a drive off the No. 10 mound. the pace with 76s.

We want this. Then everything turned around. It was a great turnaround win for us,” said the 6’2” Arda, who had seven points.

His leadership in those final moments earned the 21-year-old open spiker the Finals MVP honors as the Blazers finally ended a 17-year title drought with their first championship since joining the tournament in 2000.

De Guzman kept it tight for the Blazers, 14-all, when he hit a kill of a block by Manuel Doliente and Rey Taneo.

Two more deadlocks followed, with de Guzman scoring off the blocks of Ronniel Rosales and Taneo, 16-all.

Blazers coach Arnold Laniog

said their title conquest felt sweet, considering that there were a lot of times in the past that they almost got it.

“After 17 years ko sa CSB, I finally won it,” said Laniog.

Earlier in Game 1, spiker turned actor de Guzman took charge during a crucial stretch in the second set, and his heroics helped lift the College of St. Benilde Blazers to a 25-17, 26-24, 25-17 stopping of the University of Perpetual Help Altas.

Meanwhile, the title clash in the juniors division is all even after defending champion Perpetual Help overpowered Lyceum of the Philippines U, 25-21, 25-18, 25-22, yesterday.

Ivan Encila led the Junior

Sailors race from Subic to Boracay

Everything set for 2018 Winter Olympics

Cross country skiers try their race course at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang. AFP

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea—Across the road from the pentagonal arena which will host South Korea’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony a year from Thursday, bundles of dead fish dangle from a wooden frame outside Lee YongOon’s shop.

Most venues for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games are virtually finished and the organizers are about to launch a domestic and international marketing blitz, touting Korean technology, culture and food as they seek to persuade sports fans from around the world to make the long journey to north-east Asia.

Lee, though, has his doubts.

Dried pollack—dessicated during the biting chill of winter—is a specialty of the area, but he thinks Westerners would find his signature product “a bit hard to eat”.

He is not planning to increase production for next winter, he told AFP, despite his prime retail location and a chance to attract thousands of potential customers.

With a year to go, many South Koreans express pride that they are hosting the games, and workers are already installing the upper levels of the Olympic structure opposite Lee’s premises.

The only sporting facility still awaiting completion is a new ski slope for the downhill events—none of the existing resorts have high enough mountains to provide the vertical drop required according to regulations—but even that is 85 percent finished.

A roomy show flat in the Olympic village, complete with bedspreads covered in sports symbols,

has two sets of double glazing to protect against the cold.

Looking out from the top of the vertiginous K125 ski jump, tiny staff in dayglo green jackets far below prepare the landing area snow for a test event, the cross-country course runs through wooded hills nearby, and wind farm turbines line the horizon.

But marketing has so far been conspicuous by its absence. On the road from Seoul, the first mention of the Winter Olympics is a plain white sign on a hillside around 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Pyeongchang.

It is a notable contrast to the next host China, where multicoloured billboards already line highways more than an hour from the venues, despite the fact that its Games are not until 2022. AFP

Russia banned from London World Championships CAP-D’AIL, France—Russia will miss August’s World Athletics Championships in London after their doping ban was extended on Monday, world governing body president Sebastien Coe said.

Coe said Russia, whose 15-month ban from athletics was prolonged at the IAAF’s Council meeting in Cap d’Ail near Monaco, could not be reintegrated into the sport before November.

Double Olympic 1500-meter champion Coe was speaking after the IAAF Council approved the Task force’s recommendation that Russia was “not ready for reinstatement”.

Russia has been barred from international competition since November 2015 following a damaging report alleging that state-sponsored doping

was rife in the country.

The ban had already been extended in March and then June 2016, preventing Russia’s athletes from competing at the Rio Olympics.

The Task force, which was set up to oversees Russia’s reintegration into international athletics, produced recommendations detailing a road map to reinstatement.

But while “acknowledging several positive developments” at recent meetings in Moscow with RusAF, the Russian Athletics Federation, and new Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov, the Task force also “pointed to some negative developments” including “unhelpful public comments recently made by some Russian sporting officials”.

It said that RusAF “continues to face practical and legal diffi-

culties in enforcing provisional doping bans and there continues to be very limited testing of Russian track and field athletes at the national level as well as troubling incidents at what testing is taking place.”

The road map to reinstatement specifies that “testing of Russian athletes must take place without further incidents or difficulties” and that RusAF takes “demonstrable objective and practical steps to cultivate the clean sport movement”.

Coe meanwhile reiterated the IAAF’s commitment to giving clean Russian athletes the possibility to compete as neutrals, providing they are not tainted by the Russian doping system.

“Our priority is to return clean athletes to competition but we must all have confidence in the process,” said Coe

at the IAAF’s Council meeting in Cap d’Ail, France.

“Clean Russian athletes have been badly let down by their national system. We must ensure they are protected and that those safeguards give confidence to the rest of the world that there is a level playing field of competition when Russians return.”

So far in 2017, 35 Russian athletes have applied to compete as neutral athletes in international competition, the statement added.

Last week, RusAF revealed the names of 31 of its athletes to have made applications, including both world and Olympic champions.

Ivan Ukhov, Olympic high jump champion in 2012, 2015 world 110m hurdles champion Sergei Shubenkov, 2015 world

Altas with 11 hits. Ryuji Condrad Etorma and Marvien Castillo chipped in 10 points apiece to help the Junior Altas negate the thrice-to-beat advantage of the Junior Pirates and reduce the series to a best-of-three showdown.

LPU swept the elimination round while Perpetual had to beat Emilio Aguinaldo twice in the stepladder semis to advance to the title showdown.

Perpetual Help coach Sandy Rieta praised his players for their heart.

“I kept telling my players who won last year because we showed heart and I’m happy they responded by playing well in this game,” said Rieta.

high jump champion Maria Kuchina, and 2014 world indoor triple jump champions Lukman Adams and Yekaterina Koneva, were all named on the list.

More than 60 Russian athletes have been added to the IAAF’s international testing pool which, although not guaranteeing those athletes reinstatement, Coe said it does mean the world governing body has a greater “guarantee they have undergone a long term recognied, independent and fully WADA Code-compliant drug-testing program.”

Upon the Task force’s recommendation, the Council also approved the participation of Russian under-15 athletes to compete in international competition, including at July’s European Youth Olympic Festival in Hungary. AFP

WITH top notch sailors and boats coming in from Hong Kong, excitement is building up on the Standard Insurance 8th Subic Bay to Boracay Race.

Organizers led by Ernesto Echauz and Jun Avecilla said this as around 18 boats and more than 200 crack sailors from all the globe come over to take part in this extreme sailing action.

Participants will head down south to one of the country’s famous tropical paradise, Boracay.

“This will be a part of the Asian Yachting Circuit that determines the Skipper of the Year and Yacht of the Year,” said Avecilla during yesterday’s press briefing at the Kamayan Restaurant in Padre Faura, Manila.

The event is also part of the Philippine Sailing Grand Prix, which is a series of popular racing events in the country that put Subic in the compass of the international sailing community.

The SBBR is just the start. It will be followed by the Boracay Cup Regatta on Monday, Feb. 20.

Then, the 10th Commodore’s Cup Regatta will be on tap from April 19 to 23, also in Subic Bay. All of these are part of the 2017 Asian Yachting Grand Prix Circuit organized

by Asian Yachting.com.

“The coming race is going to be very exciting. Because, we are going to see the top boats from Hongkong coming over,” added Echauz, who is also the president of the Philipine Sailing Association.

Syd Fisher’s Dubois 90 Ragamuffin, skippered by David Witt, recorded the fastest time of 14 hours, 23 minutes and 17 seconds that last time around.

This time, a bigger boat Scallywag, which is the former Ragamuffin 100, will be there to beat the record under new owner Seng Huang Lee. Last year’s Frank Pong’s Custom Dibley 75 Jelik navigated through the Bataan and Batangas Mountain Range, and cleared the notoriously tricky Verde Passage with ease.

Jelik went on to claim the handicap honors by two hours over defending IRC Cruising Class 1 champion TP52 Standard Insurance-Centennial III, which belongs to Echauz.

This year’s Echauz’s boat will go head on again against Ray Ordoveza’s Excel 53 Karakoa, which lost by a point to Standard Insurance-Centennial III last year.

Also in contention in the IRC Racing Class 2 event is Nick Burns’ Sydney GTS43 Mandrake, which took the class handicap plum. Peter Atencio

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 6 DIGITS 0-0-0-0-0-0 3 DIGITS 0-0-0 2 EZ2 0-0

P0.0 M+ P0.0 M+

Sports

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) glides to the hoop against the Washington Wizards during the game on February 6 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. AFP

Cleveland Cavaliers snap Washington winning streak W ASHINGTON—LeBron James sank an astonishing three-pointer to force overtime and Kyrie Irving sparkled late as the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted Washington 140-135 on Monday in an epic NBA thriller.

A game featuring playoff-level intensity from tip-off to last shot saw the defending champions rally in overtime after James had fouled out while the Wizards, who saw their 17-game home win streak snapped, served notice they will be a formidable foe when the playoffs arrive.

“It was an instant classic – a great basketball game by two really good teams,” Wizards coach Scott Brooks said.

On the same night the New York Daily News reported unnamed sources saying James was pushing for the Cavs to trade Kev-

in Love to New York for former Olympic teammate Carmelo Anthony, Love scored 39 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, making major plays late to doom the Wizards.

“Thirty-nine and 12? We’re going to trade him tonight,” Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue told reporters with a grin after the game before adding, “He’s not going anywhere.”

James said of the report: “That’s trash.”

Meanwhile, Goran Dragic scored 33 points, including a career-high seven 3-pointers on his first seven shots from beyond

the arc, and Miami’s win streak reached 11 games with a 115-113 victory at Minnesota.

DeMar DeRozan returned after missing seven games with a sprained ankle and scored 31 points to lead Toronto over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 118-109.

Marcus Morris had 19 points and Andre Drummond added 16 points and 17 rebounds in Detroit’s 113-96 home win over Philadelphia.

Paul George scored 21 points and Indiana Pacers beat visiting Oklahoma City 93-90. NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook had 27 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists.

In Memphies, the San Antonio Spurs missed 23 of their first 25 shots in the fourth quarter in an 8974 loss at Memphis, setting season lows for points and assists with 11.

Anthony Davis scored a gamehigh 34 points and Jrue Holiday

the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player banked in a shock fadeaway 3-pointer over Washington’s Bradley Beal to deadlock the game at 120-120.

“LeBron made a heck of a shot that he would probably make one out of a million times,” Wall said.

James, who also made three consecutive 3-pointers for Cleveland late in regulation, fouled out seconds into overtime trying to defend a shot by Beal, who scored a game-high 41 points, the last of them on a 3-pointer that put Washington ahead 133-131.

Irving answered with a baseline jumper and a 3-pointer to put the Cavaliers ahead to stay. Marcin Gortat pulled the Wizards within 136-135 but Irving and Love each hit two late free throws to seal the victory, snapping a seven-game Wizards win streak, their longest in 12 years. AFP

Ronda resumes race in Pampanga

PSA honors Rivera MILO Rivera is set for another ride of his life.

The 21-year-old slalom champion is the choice as the President’s Award of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) in its Annual Awards Night presented

by San Miguel and Milo set next Monday at the LE PAVILLON. PSA president Riera Mallari of The Standard said Rivera is deserving of the honor following a wonderful season that saw him declared the National Slalom champion for the third straight year, got invited by a top Formula 3 Team in Adria, Venice, Italy, and became the first ever Filipino to be crowned ‘FIA Gymkhana’ champion after winning the 2016 FIA Taiwan Auto Gymkhana Grand Prix.

Rivera joins Athlete of the Year Hidilyn Diaz among the top awardees in the Feb. 13 gala night co-presented by CIGNAL/HYPER HD. Past recipients of the President’s Award include the Ateneo basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, National University, former world champions Rubilen Amit, Dennis Orcollo, and Lee Van Corteza, taekwondo jin Mikaela Calamba, the Philippine women’s bowling trio, among others Rivera’s shining moment came in the final week of September when he topped the Gymkhana Gran Prix in Taichung, Taiwan where he bested 32 of the best slalom and Gymkhana drivers from all over the world, which included renowned motorsports legend and 18-time world champion Tetsuya Yamano of Japan.

added 30 as New Orleans ripped visiting Phoenix 111-106.

Will Barton scored a seasonhigh 31 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lift host Denver over Dallas 110-87.

Utah’s Gordon Hayward scored 30 points and the Jazz won 120-95 at Atlanta while the Los Angeles Lakers snapped a 12-game road losing streak with a 121-107 victory at New York.

With the Wizards leading 118117 and 12 seconds remaining, James drove the length of the court but missed a layup, setting up two John Wall free throws for a 3-point Washington lead with 3.4 seconds remaining.

“It was a point-blank layup and I missed it,” James said. “I was blessed to (get) in position where I could make up for it.”

Love hurled a long pass to James along the right sideline and

Rudy Roque of Navy-Standard Insurance tries to keep his hold on the lead as LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 action resumes today with the 137-kilometer Stage Three that starts at Angeles and ends in Subic Bay.

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga— Rudy Roque of Navy-Standard Insurance seeks to keep his stranglehold of the lead as LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 action resumes today with the 137-kilometer Stage Three that starts at the Angeles Municipal Hall here and ends in Subic Bay in Zambales.

Roque, 25, took the solo lead after finishing second in the first two stages in Vigan, Ilocos Sur over the weekend, clocking an aggregate time of five hours, three minutes and three seconds, less than a minute ahead of teammates Ronald Lomotos and Archie Cardana, who has clockings of 5:03:23 and 5:03:44, respectively.

The Tibo, Bataan native said the next three stages will be critical to his campaign.

“If I’m still on top after those three stages, I think I’ll have a strong chance of winning here,”

said Roque, whose biggest finish came in the unaugural Ronda edition six years ago when he ended up ninth, in Filipino.

In Stages Three and Four, Roque and the rest of the 96-man cast will need to negotiate the mountains of Morong, Bataan where the Nuclear Power Plant is located in the next two days.

And on Sunday, they will brave the 251-kilometer Stage Four that will start in Lucena City and end in Pili, Camarines Sur. It included the dreaded mountain pass of Tatlong Eme in Atimonan, Quezon.

Expected to give Roque a fierce chase are the big guns in last year’s winner Jan Paul Morales of Navy, Cris Joven of Kinetix LabArmy and Jaybop Pagananwon of Bike Extrme.

Goodel hands award to Brady HOUSTON—After losing a court fight to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and serving a four-game ban to start the season, New England quarterback Tom Brady accepted something else Monday from Goodell—the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player trophy.

The final touch for the 201617 NFL campaign came Monday when Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke after New England’s 34-28 overtime triumph over Atlanta at Super Bowl 51 in Houston, Texas.

“It’s a great honor for us, for me personally, to have both of these guys this morning,” Goodell said. “Tom, come on up and get your trophy.”

Brady, who arrived 18 minutes late for the presentation, earned it by sparking the Patriots to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, rallying New England from a 28-3 deficit to force overtime and then driving the Patriots for the winning touchdown in extra time, a Super Bowl first.

“It’s an honor to be here and to have the commissioner give me this award,” Brady said.

In becoming the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls, Brady completed 43of-62 passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns.

“It took a miraculous effort,” Brady said. “The lows of not playing great, then the highs of playing better and then at the end, it’s just a night I’ll never forget. It’s a great win for our team.

“I’m just happy this team will be able to be mentioned with some of those other great teams.”

Brady was to have missed the first four games of the 2015 season after “Deflategate”, when the Patriots were found to have used underinflated balls in a playoff win on their way to a 2015 Super Bowl triumph. AFP

Belga, Tiu reinforce Mighty RAIN OR SHINE playmaker Chris Tiu and beefy center Beau Belga will provide Mighty Sports additional firepower and stability when it vies for supremacy in the Dubai International Basketball Championship slated Feb. 17-25 in the United Arab Emirates.

An original member of Gilas Pilipinas, Tiu will share minutes with former Ateneo hotshot Keifer Ravena and former PBA MVP Willie Miller while Belga’s toughness in the shaded lane is another plus to a team seeking its second international title.

The Dubai trip marks the first time that Tiu will be playing with fellow ex-Xavier School stars Jeron Teng and Jett Manuel in the team that will be handled by his younger brother and former Gilas assistant coach Charles Tiu. Meantime, Mighty Sports Association president Dr. John Sy expressed the club’s profound gratitude to ROS owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que for allowing their players to suit up for the team.

“Mighty Sports will be playing in Dubai not only as a club team but will also represent our country so we are fully behind in its quest for another glory,” said Yu. “As long as it is for our national interest we’re going to help anyone.”

San Miguel Beer battles TNT KaTropa

By Jeric Lopez THE semifinals of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup loom and powerhouse teams San Miguel Beer and TNT KaTropa clash in a projected blockbuster matchup.

Defending champion San Miguel is looking as dominant as ever, being armed with a nine-game winning streak and has only lost once all tournament long.

“It’s a good thing the semifinals are a best-of-seven. That will be a long series. That will give us a chance to make adjustments,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria.

The top seed, who easily dispatched Rain or Shine, in just one game in the quarterfinals, is obviously the team to beat and the favored team in the last four.

Still, TNT KaTropa is expected to put up a challenge to the Beermen as they resume their rivalry.

The Tropang Texters swept GlobalPort, 2-0, in the quarters to get to this point and it seems that they are finally getting into their groove as a unit.

“We can’t sleep in this series at any point. San Miguel is San Miguel,” said TNT coach Nash Racela.

“They’re such a powerhouse team.

June Mar (Fajardo) is the focal point but everyone is playing well so that

makes it even tougher.”

San Miguel and TNT KaTropa start their semis duel today at 7 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Enthusiasts are expecting two epic best-of-seven affairs ahead as the teams who are still in the hunt parade battle-tested veteran players.

The most impressive teams for the last three weeks is without a doubt Star, who emerged emphatically as a title threat after rising from mediocrity.

It looks like the Hotshots are finally in sync as their six-game winning streak paved the way to their rennaisance and placed them back to the semis where they were so used to several years ago.

San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos (right) dribbles past TNT KaTropa defender Moala Tautuaa. Defending Philippine Cup champion SMB continues its drive to retain the crown in a best-of-seven semifinal duel against TNT.

Business

SMC joins renewable energy B3

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

B1

Maynilad investing P13.2b in 2017

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales WEST zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc. said Tuesday it will spend P13.2 billion this year for its water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

Maynilad said of the 2017 capital expenditure, P8.2 billion would be used for water infrastructure projects to enhance water supply and pressure in its concession area.

More than P4.2 billion was earmarked for water sources and operations support programs, which include improvement works in Maynilad’s La Mesa and Putatan water treatment plants, upgrade and construction of pumping stations and reservoirs for better supply and pressure management, installation of primary pipelines for water service expansion and enhancement of common purpose facilities in the Bigte Basin, La Mesa Aqueduct and Ipo Dam in Bulacan.

It said P4 billion was allocated for water loss recovery or non-revenue water management and service expansion program. This covers meter management, leak detection and repair, pipe replacements and district metered area management.

The rest of the budget will be spent for the modernization of data management and information systems and maintenance of existing facilities.

IN BRIEF Epson PH posts 21% revenue growth EPSON Philippines Corp. said it is optimistic about the Philippine market on the back of robust domestic economy.

“We expect a very good year [for fiscal year ending March 2018]. The Philippine economy has one of the fastest economic growths in the region and in the world. We expect to continue to spur demand for our products,” Epson Philippines senior general manager and marketing head Ed Bonoan said.

The Philippine economy grew 6.8 percent last year and is projected to grow between 6.5 percent and 7 percent this year.

Bonoan said Epson Philippines posted a 21-percent growth in revenues last year and was expected to sustain growth this year.

“We did get more than half of the inkjet market and for projector, we did get more than 50 percent of the market,” he said.

Bonoan said the company also aimed to get half of the receipt printer market.

The Japanese manufacturer of inkjet and projector is building a new factory in Batangas, which is expected to be completed this year. The actual operation of the new factory is set to start in April or May 2018.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Uy gets board seat in 2Go Groups THE board of logistics company 2Go Group Inc. recognized Davao-based businessmen Dennis Uy as a shareholder and a member of the board, after several months of ownership squabble.

2Go said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the board of directors in a meeting on Feb. 6 accepted the election of Uy and lawyers Jose Amor Amorado, Joseph Tan and Elmer Serrano.

The entry of Uy was strongly opposed by existing shareholders led by 2Go president Sulfico Tagud.

Seven directors and officers resigned, including Li Wen, Patrick Ip, Nelson Yap, Mark Williams, Amado Santiago III as corporate secretary, Manuel Eduardo Carlos as assistant corporate secretary and Jeremias Cruzabra as corporate information officer.

Uy’s Udenna Corp., the parent of listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., announced its entry in the 2Go Group by acquiring the 32-percent stake of KGL Investment B.V., a company based in The Netherlands.

KGL has about 60 percent of beneficial ownership in KGLI-NM Holdings Inc., which controls Negros Navigation Co. Inc. which in turn owns 88.31 percent of 2Go Group.

Udenna Investments indirectly has 21-percent voting and 28-percent beneficial interests in 2Go. Jenniffer B. Austria

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing February 7, 2017

8000

TOYOTA SUPPLIERS. Toyota Motor Philippines Corp., along with the Toyota Group of Export Suppliers, welcomes Philippine Economic Zone

Authority director-general Charito Plaza (seated, center) during the group’s bi-annual meeting at Shangri-la Hotel at The Fort in Taguig City.

Aside from reporting their business performance, prospects and plans, members of the Toyota Group expressed their strong support to the new Peza administration and assured Toyota’s commitment to help the country achieve sustainable growth and progress.

7600 7200 6800 6400

January inflation accelerated to 2.7%

By Gabrielle H. Binaday

I

nflation rate accelerated to 2.7 percent in January 2017, the fastest increase in consumer prices in two years, on the back of higher fuel and transport costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Tuesday.

Data from PSA showed the inflation rate in January was faster than 2.6 percent in December 2016 and 1.3 percent a year ago.

It was also the fastest increase in prices in two years, or since December 2014 when inflation rate reached 2.7 percent.

The National Economic and Development Authority said higher price adjustments in the heavily-weighted housing, water, electricity, gas and other fu-

els pushed up overall inflation.

Prices of these non-food items went up by 1.8 percent in January 2017, faster than 1.3 percent in December 2016.

“The faster spike in transport and gas and other fuels costs can be traced to the increase in petroleum prices as the oil market rebalances after the recent decision of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut oil production by 1.2 mil-

lion barrels per day,” said Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Neda said despite the slight pickup in inflation, lower food prices were recorded in January 2017. The food subgroup inflation decelerated to 3.4 percent from the previous month’s 3.6 percent.

Neda said upward pressures on inflation remained, including higher oil prices, pending petitions for higher electricity rates and transport fares and strong domestic demand.

Other price pressures are the shift to a unitary excise rate for cigarettes effective January 2017 under the Sin Tax Reform Law and the Malampaya natural gas field’s 20-day maintenance shutdown that could lead to an in-

crease in the generation charges starting March.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said inflation in January was still within the forecast range of 2.3 percent to 3.2 percent and the government’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent. “[It is] consistent with our expectation that inflation will follow a slow path to within the target range. We are closely monitoring developments, including the emerging form and magnitude of the tax reform program as well as those from the external front, and their impact on our own price and growth dynamics. We will consider these at our policy meeting this week,” Tetangco said in a text message.

Finance, Trade departments set to discuss car tax

By Othel V. Campos THE Finance Department said it is willing to listen to the Trade Department’s position on vehicle taxes.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said his agency was willing to lend an ear to the automotive sector and the Trade Department and could possibly consider what they could present on the table.

“We will certainly give them a good hearing. We will give it good consideration,” Dominguez

told reporters Monday night at the sidelines of the induction of the 2017 board members and officers of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines.

The Finance Department’s tax reform program includes imposing higher tax rates on vehicles.

The Trade Department, on the other hand, is pushing for a higher floor value on vehicles that will be affected by the proposed tax reforms.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the department proposed to adjust the floor price on vehicles

that will face higher taxes to P1 million, compared to the Finance Department’s proposal of P600,000.

Dominguez said the critical objective of adjusting taxes on automobiles was “to give relief on the number of cars on the road.”

He said with a great volume of cars being added on the road each year, not a single vehicle was being taken out of the cities where traffic had a debilitating effect on the economy.

Vehicle sales in 2016 reached 403,000 units.

“You’re jamming the roads with more cars and traffic gets worse and worse. More than 60 percent [of vehicles sold] are in the megacities,” Dominguez said.

The Finance Department is inclined to impose lower tax rates on utility vehicles―the preferred vehicles in the provinces due to their multi-service features. The agency is also carefully reviewing proposals to retire aging cars.

Dominguez said the Finance Department did not want to rein in auto sales, but the government should resolve traffic woes.

6000

7,262.64 31.76

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing FEBRUARY 7, 2017 45.00 46.25 47.50 48.75 50.00

HIGH P49.620 LOW P49.780 AVERAGE P49.671 VOLUME 548.000M

P471.00-P690.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.80-P48.90 Unleaded Gasoline P27.90-P33.80 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P28.50-P36.85 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, February 7, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.7290

Japan

Yen

0.008949

0.4450

UK

Pound

1.246500

61.9872

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128899

6.4100

Switzerland

Franc

1.009082

50.1806

Canada

Dollar

0.764175

38.0017

Singapore

Dollar

0.709925

35.3039

Australia

Dollar

0.765800

38.0825

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655196

132.0402

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

13.2614

Brunei

Dollar

0.707414

35.1790

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.028568

1.4207

UAE

Dirham

0.272301

13.5413

Euro

Euro

1.075100

53.4636

Korea

Won

0.000882

0.0439

China

Yuan

0.145690

7.2450

India

Rupee

0.014888

0.7404

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.225887

11.2331

New Zealand

Dollar

0.731800

36.3917

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032404

1.6114 Source: PDS Bridge

Tetangco begs off a third term because of health condition BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. has declined a possible third term as the head of the Monetary Board and the bank regulator because of health concerns.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III told reporters that while Tetangco was his number one choice for the post, the latter begged off, citing his health condition.

“As far as I am concerned, Tetangco’s term should be extended but [he] begged off, saying he has health issues. [At] 43 years, even I would get tired of doing the same job,” Dominguez told reporters at the sidelines of the induction of officers of Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines in Manila.

“I think that this is probably the most important appointment the president is going to make.

I think that there should be a process to arrive at a wise decision because we are not replacing one person, we are replacing actually four positions in the central bank,” Dominguez said,

Other names cropped up for the pa, Foreign Affairs Secretary PerTetangco would complete his referring to three other posts in the Monetary Board that will be BSP position, including EastWest fecto Yasay Jr. and MB member second term as BSP governor in Bank president Antonio Moncu- Peter Favila.

July. Gabrielle H. Binaday vacated on July 1.

The terms of three other MB members are expiring in July.

These positions are held by Armando Suratos, Felipe Medalla and Alfredo Antonio.

“This is practically majority of the board. I think that it should go through a real good process.

To start the process, we have to understand what exactly does the central bank do. We should have an appreciation with that,” Dominguez said.

“We want a serious process we think that is fair for the Filipino people and it is fair to candidates that each one gets a proper hearing, gets a real appreciation for the president, gets appreciation for what the job is [and] what the qualifications are for each of the position,” he said.

SCPA-HARIBON PARTNERSHIP. Sanitary Care Products Asia Inc. extends its partnership with Bangko Sentral Deputy GovHaribon Foundation with a commitment to plant 3,000 seedlings and fund eight implementations of ernors Nestor Espenilla and the Hari EcoVan Biodiversity on Wheels initiative in Iloilo province. Shown during the signing of the Diwa Guinigundo earlier said agreement are (from left) SCPA marketing manager Jerivic Delos Angeles, SCPA president Ven Sio, Harithey would accept the top job at bon chief operating officer Maria Belinda de la Paz and Haribon constituency development manager the central bank, if it was offered Arlie Jo Endonila. to them.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market declines; GT Capital up Zest-O protests higher S tax on beverage sector tocks retreated Tuesday, as concerns about upcoming European elections and Donald Trump’s unpredictable presidency fuel uncertainty across markets.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, fell 31 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,262.64, while the broader all-share index dropped 11 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,385.77 on a value turnover of P6.6 billion.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 108 to 93, while 42 issues were unchanged. Nine of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by developer Century Properties Group Inc. which jumped 5.7 percent to P0.56 and conglomerate GT Capital Holdings Inc. which climbed 3.9 percent

to P1,268. Chemical producer D&L Industries Inc. gained 3.8 percent to P12.98.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also traded lower Tuesday.

With investor nerves shredded by a succession of outbursts from the new US president, safe-haven assets are on the rise, with the yen surging to threemonth highs against the dollar and gold pushing higher.

The weakness across markets is in contrast to the two-month rally that followed Trump’s election win in November, when dealers bet that his big-spend-

ing, tax-cutting plans would fan US growth and inflation and force interest rates up.

Tokyo’s Nikkei ended 0.4 percent lower as the stronger yen hit exporters. The greenback was hovering around 111.90 yen, up slightly from late Monday but well off Friday’s close.

The Japanese unit has surged about five percent against the dollar this year, clawing back most of the losses seen since Trump’s election, after he accused Tokyo and Beijing of currency manipulation to get a trade advantage over the US. Japan’s former vice minister of finance for international affairs Eisuke Sakakibara said this week that Trump’s desire to boost US jobs means he must boost exports.

“In order to do so, Trump is leaning to a weak dollar policy by,

for example, criticising Japan for adopting weak yen policy,” said Sakakibara, who has predicted the dollar would fall below 100 yen.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to discuss trade when he meets Trump in the US at the weekend.

Hong Kong was marginally lower in the afternoon while Shanghai ended 0.1 percent down and Seoul gave back 0.1 percent.

Wellington, Manila, Jakarta and Bangkok were all down but Singapore added 0.3 percent and Sydney gained 0.1 percent.

Dealers were given a sombre lead from Wall Street where energy firms were hit by falling oil prices, while European traders are increasingly worried about upcoming polls in Germany and France. With AFP, Bloomberg

By Jenniffer B. Austria BUSINESSMAN Alfredo Yao, who owns Zest-O and RC Cola beverage brands in the Philippines, described as unfair and unjust the government’s plan to impose higher value added tax on the beverage industry.

Yao questioned why the beverage industry was being singled out among the industries that were using sugar in their products.

“Their reason why they are planning to tax-based sugar

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.32 69,000 48.25 13,700 91.5 1,828,850 4.39 185,000 114.3 1,886,090 1.27 460,000 38.5 822,700 16.2 56,900 19.96 83,300 6.62 300 1.68 402,000 830 120 0.78 12,259,000 79.4 4,117,060 0.77 628,000 14.3 31,500 56.4 161,250 239 19,040 89.45 510 37.45 268,900 213.4 679,400 1,755 75 78.5 11,670

229,110 659,875 167,335,161 782,590 215,203,597 577,530 31,708,920 921,396 1,662,282 1,986 675,340 99,900 9,681,460 327,135,992 482,820 448,102 9,039,782 4,475,478 45,619.50 10,003,425 145,141,488 131,850 918,597.50

342,705 -2,488,341.50 -6,414,051 38,500 -822,960 -137,864 120,000 19,016,514 -3,123,854 1,925,135 40,224,112 -80,235

43 5.04 0.85 1.41 16.74 0.2 99 11.2 16.04 23.05 14.62 58.85 92.1 97.35 2 6.11 11.96 12.48 7.95 6.98 5.79 22.2 72.1 12.34 16.8 6.12 1.69 205.2 69 4 30.1 27.05 14.64 285.8 0.28 5.36 3.28 9.4 3.85 11.5 2.4 7 1.53 78.2 4.8 269 4.94 2.03 3.3 12.66 4.16 0.149 1.55 164.1 4.35 1.75 31.05 1.08

INDUSTRIAL 43.2 1,114,400 5.2 1,538,700 0.86 1,629,000 1.43 906,000 16.88 22,900 0.3 47,960,000 100 370 11.26 7,447,400 16.14 2,613,900 23.6 224,100 14.68 53,100 60 72,940 94 900 97.35 10 2.02 351,000 6.11 390,700 12 16,100 12.98 16,267,800 8.01 456,500 7.04 594,500 5.81 10,020,500 22.25 1,093,500 72.2 120,800 12.38 4,500 17.1 224,100 6.25 383,600 1.74 465,000 206.6 202,830 69 10 4 1,390,000 30.25 466,700 27.5 168,400 14.64 317,500 286 101,350 0.28 14,470,000 5.38 1,100 3.28 133,000 9.45 2,469,600 3.85 1,000 11.5 300 2.42 2,596,000 7.31 2,842,100 1.54 309,000 78.55 251,820 5.05 1,569,100 270 9,460 5 120,000 2.03 10,000 3.32 567,000 12.66 2,269,900 4.16 70,000 0.151 3,590,000 1.58 172,000 167.8 1,223,670 4.53 54,000 1.79 4,345,000 31.05 600 1.08 3,000

48,078,870 8,013,101 1,388,720 1,284,830 392,604 13,096,180 36,990 84,414,918 42,036,776 5,230,060 792,900 4,297,759 84,450 973.5 705,890 2,406,903 192,902 209,229,258 3,652,161 4,176,723 58,219,302 24,354,855 8,715,739.50 55,650 3,808,102 2,379,404 799,510 41,898,082 690 5,761,620 14,088,210 4,643,950 4,653,760 29,039,262 4,325,400 5,898 438,690 23,467,009 3,850 3,450 6,285,130 20,476,040 477,420 19,768,353.50 7,751,767 2,553,410 601,160 20,300 1,941,100 28,776,418 291,200 540,550 269,440 202,607,916 244,000 7,872,000 18,915 3,240

26,010,020 1,013,313 8,600 -58,500 -22,255,894 -2,790,614 -184,400 2,988,658 619,000 51,580,852 727,004 -2,655,510 37,587,513 -12,190,190 3,925,821 347,394.00 -16,495,546 100,880 -6,757,735 -1,211,760 -1,030,940 7,559,484 14,840 -13,603,294 114,900 2,669,100 8,277,591.50 3,400,600 -8,100 -505,000 9,900 12,444,056 4,510 47,870 16,012,948 87,500 -

0.385 74 12.54 1.15 6.18 0.335 0.34 776.5 9.05 12.92 8 5.25 0.2 1,221 5.85 73.5 4.94 1.04 7.8 13.16 0.43 6.66 0.042 1.99 102.4 675 0.85 1.4 264 0.32 0.192 0.265

HOLDING FIRMS 0.395 12,860,000 74.1 2,363,180 12.58 4,160,600 1.15 11,000 6.29 10,499,700 0.35 850,000 0.345 240,000 780 322,540 9.1 1,012,900 12.98 7,541,900 8.01 60,700 5.25 900 0.223 12,990,000 1,268 249,175 5.9 5,800 74.5 742,110 4.94 15,000 1.05 13,971,000 7.9 481,900 13.2 3,458,700 0.43 100,000 6.69 34,638,400 0.043 93,600,000 2 257,000 103 616,450 682 338,170 0.9 48,000 1.4 1,033,000 265 3,660 0.325 1,620,000 0.22 59,930,000 0.265 50,000

4,977,650 175,167,812.50 52,315,990 12,650 66,147,068 296,300 81,650 251,988,850 9,236,572 98,251,598 486,073 4,725 2,855,560 312,623,215 34,085 55,033,624 74,100 14,916,900 3,800,962 45,691,440 43,500 232,084,048 3,984,900 526,210 63,438,366 230,318,485 42,030 1,461,320 970,258 529,950 14,234,180 13,250

-35,516,848.50 -29,039,306 -65,961,000 71,400 -147,339,505 438,893.00 29,631,312 21,910 11,600,860 -10,135,724 4,320 -1,100,870 -4,884 -21,499,576 -81,720 1,028,889 -117,251,710 -1,410 -217,288 78,030 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.45 47.8 91.95 4.14 113.2 1.27 38.5 16.36 20 6.62 1.67 845 0.82 81 0.77 14.28 55.9 239 89.45 37.15 212.8 1,765 79.45

3.45 48.3 91.95 4.39 114.5 1.27 38.6 16.36 20 6.62 1.68 845 0.82 81 0.77 14.3 56.4 239 89.45 37.45 216 1,770 79.45

3.25 47.8 91.3 4.02 113 1.25 38.5 16.1 19.92 6.62 1.67 830 0.77 79.1 0.76 14.22 55.65 235 89.45 36.9 212.8 1,755 78.3

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD 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 LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS AND CO ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

43 5.3 0.86 1.43 18.94 0.2 99 11.4 16.04 23.1 15.16 58.85 95 97.35 2.02 6.19 11.98 12.5 8.01 6.99 5.82 22.45 72.1 12.34 17.12 6.13 1.73 208 69 4.2 30.3 27.95 14.64 286 0.315 5.36 3.33 9.5 3.85 11.5 2.4 7 1.54 78.5 4.99 271.8 4.94 2.03 3.78 12.76 4.16 0.15 1.59 164.2 4.53 1.78 32 1.08

43.3 5.3 0.87 1.44 18.94 0.3 100 11.42 16.44 23.6 15.2 60 95 97.35 2.02 6.22 12 13.04 8.03 7.05 5.82 22.5 72.2 12.38 17.12 6.25 1.75 208 69 4.48 30.3 28 14.74 288.6 0.315 5.38 3.36 9.62 3.85 11.5 2.46 7.38 1.55 78.65 5.08 271.8 5.1 2.03 3.78 12.76 4.16 0.152 1.6 167.8 4.53 1.86 32 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 FORUM PACIFIC GT CAPITAL HOUSE OF INV JG SUMMIT KEPPEL HLDG A LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS ZEUS HLDG

0.395 74.5 12.68 1.15 6.18 0.345 0.34 791 9.2 13.08 8.01 5.25 0.2 1,221 5.85 74.8 4.94 1.13 7.8 13.2 0.44 6.78 0.043 2 102.6 697.5 0.85 1.44 265 0.335 0.207 0.265

0.395 74.5 12.68 1.15 6.3 0.36 0.345 792 9.2 13.26 8.1 5.25 0.23 1,268 6 74.8 4.94 1.13 7.9 13.26 0.44 6.78 0.044 2.06 103.2 697.5 0.9 1.44 266 0.335 0.27 0.265

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 EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY

7.17 1.1 2.65 1.45 35.6 3.33 5.05 0.54 1.08 1.27 0.171 0.61 52.95 0.73 0.157 1.68 1.04 1.19 3.83 0.161 0.395 0.93

7.24 1.1 2.68 1.55 36 3.36 5.05 0.62 1.08 1.31 0.171 0.61 53.95 0.73 0.163 1.68 1.04 1.19 3.9 0.164 0.55 0.95

7.13 1.05 2.56 1.35 35.35 3.28 5.05 0.53 1.04 1.27 0.165 0.58 52.85 0.72 0.143 1.67 1.01 1.15 3.83 0.156 0.395 0.71

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

4.84 25.05 1.68 3.37 30.75 1.05 0.97 5.02

4.84 25.05 1.71 3.38 30.85 1.08 0.97 5.04

4.75 24.8 1.65 3.3 30.35 1.03 0.91 5

4.75 24.85 1.66 3.35 30.45 1.03 0.92 5.04

1,201,000 727,200 1,020,000 44,000 5,580,700 10,566,000 1,250,000 1,611,700

5,751,590 18,091,980 1,706,420 145,470 170,204,870 10,973,920 1,162,020 8,111,325

-8,961,435 -1,168,900 -43,912,655 209,000 -2,377,139

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL 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 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 PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

7.4 46 1.44 0.59 0.062 10.52 5.5 7.31 0.065 2.45 96 9.87 9.29 2.28 1,700 6.22 16.42 3.79 15.6 76.2 0.01 12 9.07 0.194 1.38 2.97 14.5 4.13 2.45 4.8 3.85 18.02 2.66 11.18 5.34 3.2 139.9 9.25 1,500 1.41 0.415 43.85 80.6 6.28 2.73 1.07 1.78 3.23 0.48

7.5 46.2 1.65 0.59 0.062 10.7 5.5 7.55 0.069 2.52 96.5 9.87 9.29 2.28 1,710 6.26 16.84 3.81 16 77.05 0.01 12.2 9.07 0.208 1.4 2.97 14.5 4.13 2.45 4.85 3.9 19 2.68 11.18 5.35 3.25 139.9 9.36 1,500 1.41 0.435 45 81.5 6.32 2.73 1.08 1.88 3.23 0.65

7.4 46 1.38 0.53 0.056 10.52 5.32 7.12 0.063 2.44 95.75 9.63 8.5 2.05 1,670 6.22 16.42 3.71 15.5 76.2 0.01 12 9.05 0.194 1.37 2.94 14.5 4.07 2.44 4.7 3.8 17.5 2.55 11.12 5.26 3.2 139.9 9.02 1,480 1.39 0.415 43.85 80.6 6.27 2.64 1.06 1.78 3.18 0.48

SERVICES 7.5 46.2 1.51 0.53 0.057 10.7 5.5 7.2 0.065 2.48 96.2 9.63 8.86 2.05 1,700 6.25 16.84 3.8 15.5 76.8 0.01 12.2 9.05 0.199 1.38 2.94 14.5 4.09 2.45 4.7 3.9 18.88 2.65 11.12 5.35 3.25 139.9 9.29 1,500 1.41 0.425 44.8 81.2 6.29 2.66 1.08 1.88 3.2 0.49

11,400 19,300 688,000 870,000 162,480,000 5,100 7,300 7,439,700 105,630,000 4,220,000 184,430 1,900 621,300 40,000 60,005 257,600 58,400 5,193,000 7,600 638,510 1,000,000 11,900 510,000 24,050,000 506,000 53,000 1,000 636,000 88,000 3,017,000 2,585,000 5,000 4,271,000 12,000 9,000 47,000 70 484,900 51,120 3,633,000 9,710,000 1,629,800 1,415,940 278,700 1,619,000 15,143,000 3,000 1,052,000 57,850,000

84,743 888,680 1,081,950 491,000 9,369,000 54,552 40,078 53,603,437 6,882,210 10,440,230 17,716,884.50 18,369 5,429,339 85,000 102,007,305 1,608,558 978,362 19,624,960 118,246 49,056,136.50 10,000 144,560 4,615,570 4,853,180 697,980 156,520 14,500 2,599,860 215,450 14,313,310 9,938,040 88,764 11,158,080 133,864 47,990 150,500 9,793 4,474,877 76,449,320 5,111,920 4,120,300 72,962,545 115,022,553 1,751,117 4,319,510 16,284,930 5,440 3,363,360 31,913,200

-898,720 -53,500 -21,387,997 171,490 1,002,360 1,130,832 -458,063.00 -31,720,550 -89,520 -3,569,703.50 -20,700 5,800 -5,791,980 -1,883,940 1,067,710 535 134,400 -9,793 -188,018 -11,474,115 -2,593,400 -193,550 43,712,630 29,588,613.50 -126,100 -189,620 -5,134,960 1,785,630 -321,300

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

0.0032 2.63 5.42 1.8 1.9 0.55 0.475 11.04 2.62 0.255 0.184 0.19 0.011 0.013 1.79 6.75 2.68 1 0.011 0.011 0.014 9.22 3.54 135.8 2.89 0.0094

0.0033 2.64 5.55 1.85 2.14 0.55 0.48 11.32 2.62 0.255 0.184 0.19 0.012 0.013 1.79 7.03 2.68 1 0.011 0.012 0.015 9.49 3.63 136.4 2.94 0.0096

0.0032 2.47 5.42 1.8 1.9 0.51 0.465 11 2.45 0.249 0.176 0.19 0.011 0.012 1.64 6.71 2.58 0.92 0.011 0.011 0.013 9.22 3.53 135.1 2.88 0.0094

MINING & OIL 0.0032 415,000,000 2.48 4,708,000 5.5 236,900 1.84 47,000 2.14 10,000 0.53 4,367,000 0.47 2,620,000 11.12 7,600 2.5 10,831,000 0.255 2,230,000 0.18 8,450,000 0.19 120,000 0.011 1,800,000 0.013 2,000,000 1.7 3,830,000 6.98 8,602,700 2.64 69,000 0.93 242,000 0.011 44,800,000 0.012 50,300,000 0.014 497,400,000 9.3 6,011,500 3.58 964,000 135.4 749,290 2.94 22,000 0.0094 19,000,000

1,328,100 12,026,630 1,301,079 86,060 19,490 2,338,600 1,231,750 83,796 27,163,670 557,510 1,514,900 22,800 20,800 25,600 6,546,090 59,815,417 178,380 225,210 492,800 563,300 6,803,500 56,220,607 3,433,190 101,510,112 63,450 180,800

-2,529,900 -102,825 -5,700 54,000 -1,003,560 2,500 5,700 13,000 -113,850 -9,112,711 -2,576,592 -60,520 -15,707,284 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46 542 105.2 104.6 115 535 5.89 1,020 1,036 1,020 106 2.4 77.3 81 76.55 78.2 79.85 77.8 78 78.05

46 542 105.2 104.6 115 538 5.89 1,020 1,036 1,020 106 2.4 77.3 81.5 76.55 78.2 79.85 77.8 78 79

46 542 105.2 104.5 115 530 5.89 1,020 1,035 1,018 106 2.4 77.25 81 76.55 78 79.8 77.5 77.1 78

PREFERRED 46 669,900 542 750 105.2 3,130 104.6 183,490 115 4,400 530 2,080 5.89 2,861,300 1,020 8,000 1,035 2,690 1,020 6,850 106 21,000 2.4 1,000 77.25 9,470 81.5 26,480 76.55 21,000 78 39,000 79.8 417,000 77.5 6,000 78 36,980 79 121,010

30,815,400 406,500 329,276 19,192,908 506,000 1,102,790 16,853,057 8,160,000 2,784,350 6,986,150 2,226,000 2,400 731,707.50 2,149,325 1,607,550 3,045,070 33,277,300 465,401 2,863,210 9,444,140

-23,791,200 -3,924,507 -724,535 -76,550 -

LR WARRANT

2.19

2.19

2.13

WARRANTS 2.13 308,000

662,720

-

199,800 325,000 785,800

1,274,909 1,347,530 6,096,672

-64,920 -2,128,201

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119.4 9,500

1,138,345

-

MS

PROPERTY 7.14 1.09 2.6 1.45 35.85 3.3 5.05 0.56 1.08 1.3 0.167 0.58 53 0.72 0.143 1.68 1.03 1.19 3.86 0.16 0.4 0.74

942,100 3,275,000 851,000 90,758,000 7,543,900 4,794,000 5,800 270,080,000 18,000 51,000 35,560,000 16,624,000 180,820 234,000 750,000 12,244,000 2,975,000 230,000 23,657,000 22,250,000 75,070,000 133,474,000

6,740,271 3,519,180 2,198,080 132,438,300 270,332,470 15,836,510 29,290 156,580,570 18,800 65,400 5,937,780 9,807,600 9,601,345 170,480 116,940 20,517,170 3,028,600 266,940 91,192,530 3,560,100 35,312,800 106,766,210

-6,195,981 10,900 -115,630 37,231,205 -1,201,880 -36,634,690 -2,790,210 946,676 -145,270 3,138,200 22,368,250 159,740 845,400 127,960

ALTERRA CAPITAL ITALPINAS XURPAS

6.55 3.85 7.85

6.55 4.3 7.85

6.3 3.85 7.67

FIRST METRO ETF

120

120.1

119

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

23,984,914

INDUSTRIAL

133,731,359

HOLDING FIRMS

264,786,344

PROPERTY

1,918,205,791

SERVICES

422,742,848

MINING & OIL

1,085,671,586

GRAND TOTAL

3,850,443,520

6.34 4.04 7.85

SME

VALUE 1,763.50 (down) 5.76 927,396,861.59 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,193.94 (up) 23.68 966,417,718.65 HOLDING FIRMS 7,315.21 (down) 62.41 1,706,624,280.13 PROPERTY 3,341.99 (down) 6.89 SERVICES 1,428.63 (up) 3.61 1,961,378,235.722 MINING & OIL 11,907.65 (up) 26.06 736,119,600.395 PSEI 7,262.64 (down) 31.76 283,807,771.773 All Shares Index 4,385.77 (down) 11.83 6,591,603,789.017 Gainers:93; Losers:108; Unchanged: 42; Total: 243

drinks is because of health reasons. But why tax a specific industry? How about candy and ice cream makers that also use sugar? Why focus only on the beverage,” Yao said in an interview during a forum. “It is unfair and unjust.”

Yao said instead of imposing higher taxes on the beverage industry, the government should impose higher VAT on sugar itself.

“This way, the burden will not only be shouldered by industry but by every one,” Yao said.

He said the beverage industry raised its concern about that planned higher tax to the Finance Department.

Sugar-based drinks already carry a 12 percent value-added tax that is passed on to buyers.

Universal Robina Corp. president Lance Gokongwei, who was in the same forum, did not comment on the possible impact of the planned imposition of higher VAT on beverage and junk food.

URC is one of the biggest snack food and tea drink manufacturers in the country.

Share price of URC has been on the downward trend as investors expect the company’s operations to be significantly affected by the planned tax on sugar-based drinks and junk food.

The higher tax on sugar and junk food also known as “fat tax” is being considered to be part of the tax reform agenda of the Duterte administration.

8990 expects P5.4-b income PROPERTY developer 8990 Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it expects net income to jump 41.7 percent in 2017 to P5.4 billion from P3.81 billion in 2016, as it plans to launch 11 new projects this year.

Jesus Gregorio Atencio, chief executive of 8990 Holdings, said in a news briefing revenues were estimated to hit between P10 billion and P13.5 billion this year. He said 66 percent of the revenues would come from 11 ongoing projects and 34 percent would be generated from 11 new projects.

“So if 2017 continues to be an unlucky year and [we] don’t get permits, I can still get P10 billion in sales which is 7 percent increase in sales from 2016 level,” Atencio said.

The company said of the 11 new projects to be launched in this year, eight were originally slated for launching in 2016 but were delayed because of stringent permit and licensing environment from various local government units.

The eight delayed projects covered 2,706 units worth P2.4 billion. “We wish to emphasize that these revenues are not lost, but merely delayed,” Atencio said.

Atencio said the company’s thrust for 2017 was to generate cash to pay down short-term and medium-term debt.

8990 Holdings plans to sell P3 billion worth of receivables and increase loan take out from Home Development Mutual to P6 billion this year.

The mass housing developer also plans to raise P3 billion through securitization and P5 billion from issuance of preferred shares.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Manila

Standard

TODAY

IN BRIEF Govt sells P15b worth of T-bonds

WESTERN UNION SUB-AGENT. Palawan Pawnshop and Universal Storefront Services Corp., Western Union’s largest network agent in the

Philippines, sign a sub-agent agreement in Pasig City. When the services are activated, Palawan Pawnshop will process and payout Western Union® international inbound transactions in all its over 1,900 locations nationwide. Sealing the agreement are (from left) Nando Roa, USSC vice president for marketing; Ray Montinola, USSC VP for operations; Eckie Gonzales, USSC president and chief executive officer; Bobby Castro, Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO; Angie Castro, Palawan Pawnshop executive vice president; and Lilian Castro Selda, Palawan Pawnshop VP for finance and controls.

THE government on Tuesday sold P15 billion worth of Treasury bonds on strong demand and ample liquidity in the financial system.

Rates for the re-issued longterm debt papers settled at 3.492 percent or 11.2 basis points higher than 3.364 percent in the previous auction.

“The auction committee decided for a full award of the reissued Treasury Bonds on the back of strong demand for the security,” the Bureau of Treasury said in a statement after the auction.

Tenders for the government facility reached P33.98 billion, or more than double the the offer of P15 billion.

National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said the auction results reflected the resilience of the country’s finances despite global headwinds. Gabrielle H. Binaday

Pagcor defends offshore licenses STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. reiterated Tuesday that it is standing pat on its decision to grant offshore gaming licenses.

“Pagcor stands by its ground that it has been carrying out its mandate within the bounds of its charter to “operate, authorize and license games of chance, games of cards and games of numbers in the Philippines,” the regulator said in a statement.

“We understand that there is a pending case filed before the Supreme Court concerning the matter at hand. The state-run gaming agency shall await and abide by the High Court’s decision on this,” the agency added.

Pagcor said as the third largest contributor of revenues to the government, next to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs,it had the country’s best interest in mind.

Gabrielle H. Binaday

San Miguel joins renewable energy

By Alena Mae S. Flores

S

an Miguel Corp. is diversifying into renewable energy sources through unit SMC Global Power Holdings Inc.

The company has shortlisted two Asian firms, one of which could be its strategic and technical partner on the green venture it declined to disclose.

San Miguel said in a statement the expansion would relieve electricity consumers from

higher bills resulting from the feed-in tariff subsidies extended to renewable energy producers.

San Miguel president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said as the global renewable sector matures, the cost of RE technologies worldwide drops

correspondingly.

San Miguel has focused so far in putting up base load power plants. It is nearing completion of the first phase of its coal plants in Bataan and Davao provinces and seeking similar projects in Mindanao and the Visayas.

“It’s about time we find a balance between promoting clean energy and securing the country’s energy needs without making consumers bear the cost of a punishing subsidy for years in favor of RE producers,” Ang said

The feed-in tariff system guarantees payment for renewable energy producers through a long-term fixed price over a 20-year spread, a subsidy that is shouldered by consumers.

The Philippines has one of the highest electricity rates in Asia. Consumers are also paying additional rates through the feedin tariff allowance.

“We have a responsibility as a major power producer to do our share in pushing for a sustainable clean energy economy, but it has

to be done in the most efficient way possible for the consumers.

With critical mass and better technology, I believe we should be able to strike the perfect balance between renewable and non-renewable sources in terms of the country’s energy mix,” Ang said.

San Miguel owns 60 percent of the 218-MW Angat hydro power plant. It is also the independent power producer administrator of the Ilijan natural gas plant in Batangas and the San Roque hydro stationt in Pangasinan

province.

Ang said the company had formed a team that would conduct researches on and develop solutions across the clean energy sector.

“We are challenging ourselves to be able operate in the most environmentally responsible manner while taking into consideration energy security and affordability to the consumers.

Initiatives to achieve this objective are under way and I’m proud to say, we are making good headway,” he said.

The Bare Essentials 2 ment accounts yet. But, at this point, we have a beginning balance sheet.

Last week, in this column I continued sharing my finance cheat sheet with the set of mnemonics I used to teach myself accounting.

This week, we continue. But first, we remember: Debit means left.

Credit means right.

Asset accounts are left (debit) accounts and Capital accounts are right (credit) accounts.

We remember this by spelling and counting:

Remember, Assets = Capital and Capital = Debt plus Equity. So debt and equity are both right accounts. At the beginning of every year, each account begins with the actual amount in the account at the end of the previous year.

Positive amounts belong on the same side: left for left accounts, right for right accounts.

Negative amounts belong on the opposite side.

To record increases or positive changes in an account, record the amount on the same side.

To decrease an account, record an entry on the opposite side.

It’s very important to remember that after the beginning balances are created, every entry on the left side of an account is matched by entries totaling that amount on the right sides of some other account. That is why it’s called double entry bookkeeping. Also, accountants like for things to match.

Now, we remember that the income statement really explains changes in equity, a right account. Since revenue (sales) increase equity, it is a right account, Expenses, which decrease sales is a left account.

The Accounting Sample Going back to our sample from last week, we begin with 50,000 in cash using 100% equity. That means the cash account starts with a balance of 50,000 and so does the equity account. All other accounts have a zero balance.

Let’s say that, before we begin to operate, we use 40,000 to buy a car that we plan to sell and we pay cash, then we would record changes in both cash and inventory.

Remember, since the car is what we will sell, it is inventory, NOT fixed asset! Also remember that both cash and inventory are left accounts.

The 40,000 decreases assets. So that goes on the opposite side – on the right. The transaction increases inventory. Inventory is a left account – so the entry goes on the same side – left.

It is important to note here that these two entries, the left entry in inventory to record an increase of 40,000 in inventory is balance by a right entry of 40,000 in cash, which records the decrease in cash. So the entries balanced!

When accountants have manual or semimanual (excel) systems, they actually simply total all left entries and all right entries in an accounting period just to do a quick check that all of the entries balanced.

Now, notice that we have no income state-

31st Floor Units 3101-3108, Raffles Corporate Center, F. Ortigas Jr. Road (Formerly Emerald Ave.) Ortigas Center, Pasig City

BOARD OF DIRECTORS (As of December 31, 2016) Atty. Mariana Amanda S. Meer Chairman

Always remember, at the beginning of a fiscal year, balance sheet accounts get carried over but income statements accounts begin with zero.

Now, we sell the car for 45,000. Many things happen. We get cash. We release inventory. But also, that is a sale! And that is revenue! And, with the principle of matching, we can now recognize the cost of sales. So that is four accounts that are affected!

In the income statement accounts, we have movements in Sales, a right account because it increases equity, a right account. We make a right entry of 45,000 in sales in order to show that sales for the year increased.

We also record a cost of sales using the principle of accounting that we record expenses that are related to sales. And once again, we see that accountants do really like things to match.

Now, cost of sales is an expense account.

This account decreases equity, a right account, and is therefore a left account. Since we are recording an increase in costs (a left account) for the year, this is a left entry.

Michael A. Bautista Director Robert B. Jordan Jr. Director Ruben Y. Lugtu II Director Atty. Patrick Austin R. Manalo Director Chito Francisco R. Dizon Director Atty. Ray Anthony F. Fajarito Director Vicente P. Ortuoste Director Atty. Dennis Aldrich C. Del Rosario Corporate Secretary

Michael A. Bautista President/CEO Raquel A. Sese Senior Vice President/COO Manny M. Vidal Chief Finance Officer

There are also movements in balance sheet accounts. All the balance sheet movements are in the left (asset) accounts.

We record an increase in cash of 45,000 since the car was paid for in cash. This increases the left account of cash and is therefore a left entry. Note that it balances the right entry of sales and shows that the sale was a cash transaction. We also show a decrease in inventory of 40,000. This is a right entry in the left account of inventory. This shows that we released a car worth 40,000 when we made a sale. This 40,000 left entry balances the right entry of cost of sales.

If we want to make our income statement now (without tax and interest or any other cost), it would look like this: Sales: 45,000 Cost of Sales 40,000 Gross Profit: 5,000 Other Expenses: 0 Net Income 5,000 Our ending Balance Sheet would look like this

1/Common Equity Tier 1 is only applicable to all Universal and Commercial Banks and their subsidiary banks.

And we can see that, not only does the balance sheet balance but also the increase in equity is explained by net income.

Isn’t accounting fun???

Readers can email Maya at integrations_manila@yahoo.com. Or visit her site at http://integrations.tumblr.com. For academic publications, Maya uses her full name, Maria Elena Baltazar Herrera.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) TANAY RIZAL ) SS I/We, MANNY M. VIDAL and MICHAELA A. BAUTISTA of the above-mentioned bank do solemnly swear that all matters set for in the above balance are true and correct to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

(SGD) MANNY M. VIDAL (SGD) MICHAEL A. BAUTISTA Chief Finance Officer President & CEO SUBSCRIBE AND SWORN to before me this 31 JAN. 2017 day of ____________at TANAY RIZAL affiant exhibiting his/her/their Community Tax Certificate No.issued_____ at__________ on_________ .

(MS-FEB. 8, 2017)

Business

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Australia keeps rates unchanged SYDNEY―Australia’s central bank held interest rates at a record low of 1.50 percent Tuesday but soft inflation and growth figures kept the door open for future cuts.

The Reserve Bank of Australia slashed rates 300 basis points between November 2011 and August last year to support non-resources industries as the economy transitions out of a mining investment boom.

After its first meeting this year, the RBA’s governor Philip Lowe said “the board judged that holding the stance of policy unchanged at this meeting would be consistent with sustainable growth in the economy and achieving the inflation target over time.”

The decision was widely tipped by economists, and the Australian dollar was largely unchanged at 76.35 US cents after the statement.

It was the bank’s first rate announcement since data showed the economy shrank in the third quarter of 2016, marking just the fourth retreat in a quarter of a century.

The 0.5 percent contraction in July-September, which slowed the annual growth rate to 1.8 percent, came as government and consumer spending weakens and trade also softens, underlining the challenges facing the economy.

Lowe noted growth was “weaker than expected” in the September quarter but said this was largely due to “temporary factors” and “a return to reasonable growth is expected in the December quarter”.

Inflation also remains well off the RBA’s target band of 2.0-3.0 percent, reaching just 1.5 percent in the final three months of last year.

While Lowe admitted inflation remained “quite low,” he said the bank’s forecasts were unchanged.

“The continuing subdued growth in labor costs means that inflation is expected to remain low for some time,” he said.

“Headline inflation is expected to pick up over the course of 2017 to be above 2.0 percent, with the rise in underlying inflation expected to be a bit more gradual.”

AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver said he expected rates to be cut again in the first half of the year. AFP

HONDA-HITACHI DEAL. Honda Motor president, CEO and representative director Takahiro Hachigo (right) shakes hands with Hitachi Automotive Systems president and CEO Hideki Seki following their joint press conference in Tokyo on February 7, 2017. Japanese automaker Honda announced February 7 a joint venture with Hitachi Automotive Systems, a subsidiary of the industrial conglomerate, to collaborate in the field of electric and hybrid vehicles. AFP

US tech companies lead resistance to Trump ban

W

ASHINGTON―A coalition led by some of the world’s biggest tech firms is taking on President Donald Trump’s travel ban, signaling the contentious relationship between the sector and the White House could be about to get worse.

Scores of technology giants― including Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter―filed a joint legal brief arguing against the temporary ban on refugees and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Tesla and SpaceX were among another 30 companies that added their names to the filing late Monday, pushing the total to more than 120.

Elon Musk, chief of Tesla and SpaceX, is on a Trump advisory group and it remained to be seen what siding against the president’s order in court might mean to his role on that panel.

Uber founder Travis Kalanick quit Trump’s business advisory board last week, saying he did

not want to be seen as endorsing the president’s policies.

The legal challenge suggests the important tech sector― which overwhelmingly opposed Trump in the November election―is likely to be headed for more battles with the new administration.

“The tech sector will stand up to the president when they see him threatening industry interests, and on the immigration issue all these companies depend heavily on foreign scientists and engineers,” said Darrell West, director of the Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation.

“I think there is likely to be an adversarial relationship because many tech companies are staffed

by millennials, and dominated by young and progressive people who are opposed to what Trump is doing now.”

While the sector enjoyed cooperation and access to the White House during the presidency of Barack Obama, West said that “the technology sector doesn’t need much from government.”

“Almost all the tech innovation is funded by the private sector,” he added. “All they really want is a light regulatory touch.”

The brief filed in a federal appeals court―in support of a suspension of the travel ban― said the order has already created disruption in the sector, which depends heavily on foreign-born talent.

“This instability and uncertainty will make it far more difficult and expensive for US companies to hire some of the world’s best talent―and impede them from competing in the global marketplace,” said the brief endorsed mostly by companies in the technology

industry with some non-tech firms such as Levi Strauss and yogurt maker Chobani.

It argued that highly skilled people “will not wish to immigrate to the country if they may be cut off without warning from their spouses, grandparents, relatives, and friends.”

Companies backing the brief include Airbnb, Dropbox, eBay, Intel, Kickstarter, LinkedIn, Lyft, Mozilla, Netflix, PayPal, Uber, Yelp, Pandora and HP Inc. Executives from several top Silicon Valley companies previously spoken out against the ban, which temporarily closed US borders to all refugees and travelers from seven mainlyMuslim nations―Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Technology analyst Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates said the sector is fearful of Trump’s intentions.

The travel ban has raised concerns, but “it’s what that order heralds in terms of what’s likely to come next,” Kay said. AFP

Greece requires additional debt relief WASHINGTON―The International Monetary Fund’s board agreed late Monday that Greece likely will need further debt relief, but there remains a split over the appropriate goal for the country’s finances.

The board met to discuss the long-overdue review of the Greek economy, as well as a report that describes the country’s debt as becoming “explosive” in the long run.

The IMF said most of its board members agreed that “despite Greece’s enormous sacrifices and European partners’ generous support, further relief may well be required to restore debt sustainability.”

That debt relief must be accompanied, however, by “strong policy implementation to restore growth and sustainability,” it said.

There has long been a split between the IMF and Europe due to the demand by the eurozone that Greece deliver a primary balance, or budget surplus before debt repayments, of 3.5 percent of GDP, far in excess of the 1.5 percent the IMF says is feasible.

This dispute―which is holding up further IMF financing―was evident in the board discussion Monday.

“Most Directors agreed that Greece does not require further fiscal consolidation at this time,” since the country already is expected to hit the 1.5 percent target. However, “some Directors favored a surplus of 3-1/2 percent of GDP by 2018,” the statement said.

The IMF does not identify the board members in its statement, but also noted that the directors “stressed the need” to have “realistic assumptions about Greece’s ability to generate sustained surpluses and long term growth,” an issue at the heart of the fund’s dispute with the eurozone.

Months of bickering have delayed progress on Greece’s 86-billion-euro ($92.4 billion) bailout program agreed in 2015.

While the IMF board did not discuss the loan program, the board members representing the 189 IMF member countries agreed in urging Greece to speed up implementation of reforms―especially improving tax collection―to get the economy back on sound footing.

The IMF board also reviewed the Debt Sustainability Analysis―which was not released publicly but was obtained by AFP―and warns that “Greece’s debt is highly unsustainable” and “will become explosive in the long run,” as the government will have to replace highly subsidized official financing with market financing at much higher rates. AFP

Huge gas finds in Mediterranean Sea waiting to be tapped AS THE helicopter roars its way west from the Tel Aviv coast, two dots emerge from the featureless blue. Closer up, they begin to take shape: Giant platforms for extracting gas from under the Mediterranean Sea. “A few years ago, there was nothing to see around here,” Yossi Abu yells from the front seats. And soon, according to the Delek Drilling LP CEO, there’ll be more.

He points northwards. “Over there, we’ll build a new platform,” he says. “To export gas to Egypt and Turkey.”

Abu makes it sound easy. It won’t be.

Hundreds of miles of undersea pipelines will cost billions of dollars and pose a technical challenge for their designers.

And even that task is dwarfed by the political engineering required to build stable energy routes through a conflictridden region.

That’s true across the Eastern Mediterranean, where nations have watched enviously over the decades as energy finds a bit further east made their Gulf peers rich. Now it’s got riches of its own, as it becomes clear that Delek’s discoveries were just a start. The whole area from Cyprus to Lebanon and Egypt may be sitting on even bigger gas fields.

The United States Geological Survey estimates they could hold more than 340 trillion cubic feet, an amount that would surpass US proven reserves, though many in the industry think the actual volume may be lower.

There’s an ideal market nearby in Europe―rich, mostly lacking its own fuels, and desperate to wean itself off energy dependence on Russia. It’s just that getting the gas there will require collaboration between countries with a history of feuding or fighting.

“This is the kind of opportunity where

either everybody rises or everybody falls,” said Amos Hochstein, who served as former US Secretary of State John Kerry’s energy envoy.

Hochstein acknowledges the “complicated relationships” involved, but says they can be overcome.

“We’ve been preaching this gospel in the wilderness for a while,” he said. “But enough people now see the potential fruits.”

They do in Egypt, where the Zohr field discovered

by Eni SpA is the region’s largest to date, and a tipping-point that persuaded other majors to take the East Med seriously. BP Plc, which has a 50-year history of exploring and producing gas in Egypt, bought a 10 percent stake from Eni in November.

For Egypt’s economy, hamstrung since the 2011 revolution by a lack of foreign currency, gas exports could prove a savior.

WhatsApp Diplomacy Then there’s Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who spent years at loggerheads before reaching a reconciliation in 2016 that was partly driven by potential energy ties. Turkey gets gas from Russia and Iran, but has had a volatile relationship with both neighbors lately. And being on the receiving end of eastern Mediterranean pipelines would help Erdogan promote his country as a hub for the region.

Erdogan appointed his son-in-law Berat Albayrak as energy minister, and a senior Israeli official said he speaks to Albayrak daily on WhatsApp. Former US diplomat

Many analysts see an Israel-Turkey pipeline via Cyprus as the best way to transmit gas to Europe. It could also be piped to LNG plants in Egypt and shipped from there. Israeli and European Union officials have even held talks on an ambitious pipeline route all the way to Greece.

Who’ll do the building?

There are plenty of big companies betting on the East Med, but they haven’t all had an easy ride there so far.

Eni and Exxon are among companies that registered interest in exploring off Matthew Bryza is now a director of the Turkish company Turcas Petrol AS, which Lebanon; the auction of rights has has held talks on buying Israeli gas. Bryza been delayed since 2013, a victim of says that discoveries in the Mediterranean the country’s political gridlock and could also help end a much longer-running territorial disputes with Israel, though the government is promising a fresh attempt dispute: the division of Cyprus.

Since 1974, northern Cyprus has this month.

In Egypt, Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s been controlled by a self-declared state supported by Turkey. Several attempts liquefaction plant has been idle for years, to reunify the island have failed, but this as exports were sacrificed to meet domestic year’s talks in Switzerland have rekindled shortages. Noble Energy Ltd., the only major foreign company to try its hand in hope, and gas could be one reason.

Eni, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Total SA Israel, has made money off domestic sales, are among companies keen to explore but its export projects got tangled in a legal off Cyprus, which will be much easier if and regulatory web for years.

Political Will the political obstacle is removed. Turkey The region’s geology, especially the insists that the Greek-Cypriot government has no right to dispose of energy resources massive trench along the seabed from on its own. It even sent warships toward Israel to Turkey, will make pipeline construction tough, according to Simon the island to make the point.

Henderson, director of the Gulf and ‘The End-Line’ While there are bigger issues to resolve, Energy Policy Program at the Washington “if there’s a deal on the horizon, then I Institute. And there are price concerns: think the potential for energy benefits the global supply glut weighs on the could well pull the sides over the end- industry’s appetite for expensive projects.

Lately, though, optimism is building. line,” Bryza said.

Enthused by Zohr, Eni sees Egypt as the center of a hub including Israel, Cyprus and Libya that can provide “solutions for European energy security,” according to chief executive Claudio Descalzi.

To get companies and regional governments on that track might need a nudge from major powers―which means the EU and US. “You definitely need both political and commercial will to coalesce,” said Brenda Shaffer, a senior fellow at the Washingtonbased Atlantic Council research institute’s Global Energy Center. She said the EU already sees Mediterranean gas as a “toppriority project,” though it lacks financial tools to push it forward.

Bryza sees the potential to replicate, in the East Mediterranean, the success of a project he saw up close as US ambassador to Azerbaijan. BP’s Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline runs from the Azeri capital via Georgia to Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.

It received aggressive American support.

And the result has been “new patterns of cooperation” between the three countries, Bryza said.

The US has been pushing for the reunification of Cyprus and the reconciliation of Israel and Turkey, which Hochstein helped to broker. Its interest level under President Donald Trump remains to be seen.

When the US has backed energy routes in the region, it’s often been trying to sideline Russia. Trump says he’ll improve ties with Moscow, and in general pay less attention to the outside world when American interests aren’t directly at stake.

Still, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a former Exxon Mobil CEO, is no stranger to pipeline politics. “Control of energy will be a priority, even in his subconscious,” Shaffer said. Bloomberg

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

C1

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

LIBRARY OPENS. Mayor Herbert Bautista (third from left) cuts the ceremonial ribbon as he leads the opening of Quezon City’s new Central Library inside the city hall compound, touted as the country’s most modern public library. Bautista said the state-of-the-art library realized his dream for the project even before he took office in 2010. Also in photo are (from left) Councilors Eufemio Lagumbay, Voltaire Liban, Godofredo Liban and Onyx Crisologo, and second District Rep. Winnie Castelo.

10 QC villages ‘drug-cleared’

By Rio N. Araja

A

NOTHER 10 villages in Quezon City have been declared “drug-cleared” by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City Police District chief Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar and Dangerous Drugs Board chairperson Benjamin Reyes.

Barangays Maharlika, Philam, Paligsahan, Laging Handa, Teacher’s Village East, Novaliches Proper, Capri, Greater Lagro, Greater Fairview, and New Era were added to the previous

list of nine drug-free barangays.

Belmonte led the presentation of plaques of recognition to the 10 villages cleared by the authorities based on the merit of compliance, with the parameters set

by DDB and the QC Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council.

Eleazar said QCADAAC will conduct an assessment after three months to determine if these barangays still maintain their drug-cleared status.

“We can revert their status if there will be a let-up in their campaign against the illegal drugs,” he said.

Belmonte and Eleazar previously declared Damar, West Triangle, Blue Ridge B, Libis, Quirino 3B, Mangga, Valencia, Horseshoe and Kalusugan as drug-cleared villages.

Belmonte admitted that District

2’s thickly populated barangays— Holy Spirit, Batasan Hills, Payatas, Commonwealth and Bagong Silangan, with over 200,000 residents—may not be able to achieve a drug-clear status.

“But at least, we hope to lower the drug incidence there,” she said.

The vice mayor said most District 2 villages showed a remarkable improvement in their campaign against illegal drugs.

As far as Mayor Herbert Bautista is concerned, the parameters set by the DDB “are no longer realistic,” especially in areas which are thickly populated. He called on

DDB Chairman Benjamin Reyes to institute policy changes in the determination of the degree of the drug problem in a certain village.

Belmonte earlier said the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council, under her watch, came up with the expanded parameters with help from the DDB, QCPD, the Department of Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Liga ng mga Barangay, Ugnayan ng Barangay at mga Simbahan, and Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga to identify drug-free villages.

Manila dads hail fast CTO service SEVERAL Manila city councilors are praising the City Treasurer’s Office for promptly attending to the tax requirements and documents needed by thousands of local taxpayers, who have been trooping to city hall since the start of the annual taxpaying season last Jan. 2.

The tax payment season ends Friday, Feb. 10, barring an extension order by the city council.

“Our congratulations and admiration go to the entire staff of the treasury department,” Majority Floor Leader Councilor Cassy Sison and Councilor Dionix Dionisio, chairman of the council’s finance and budget management committee, told Manila Standard on Tuesday.

“These highly-efficient and dedicated service-oriented men and women of our city government are truly representative of what public servants are expected of by the people. We salute and doff our hats to you all,” the councilors added.

The lawmakers said the CTO takes only 20 minutes at most to assist a taxpayer in completing the paperwork to settle their tax liabilities. Around 60,000 establishments operate in Manila, and are required to secure business licenses every year, either new ones or for renewal.

Manila’s approved budget for fiscal year 2017 is P14 billion, but this early the CTO has already processed tax payments from about 50,000 establishments estimated to hit P5 billion. Tony Macapagal

ARRESTED. Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan (seated center) reads the investigation report on the arrest of Lino Albaiz (behind the mayor), the suspect in the rape and killing of a 12-year-old girl who is alleged mentally deranged. Flanking Malapitan are city police commander Senior Supt.

Chito Bersaluna (left) and Supt. Ferdinand Del Rosario. Jun David

Typhoon-hit towns get P52m in QC aid THE Quezon City government has extended over P52 million in aid to cover the rehabilitation and restoration of four towns devastated by Typhoons “Lando” and “Nona” in Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan and Sorsogon.

Mayor Herbert Bautista handed

over the checks representing the city’s financial assistance to the mayors of San Miguel in Bulacan, Baler in Aurora, Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya, and Bulan in Sorsogon during a turnover ceremony on Monday.

He turned over P25,992,769 to

San Miguel Mayor Marivee Mendoza, P20,507,637 to Bulan Mayor Romeo Gorgola, P4,528,465 to Bambang Mayor Flaminiano Baldoz Jr., and P1,517,480 to Baler Mayor Nelianito Bihasa.

According to Karl Michael Marasigan, QC Disaster Risk

Reduction Management chief and action officer, the funds will be used to restore several government buildings and structures damaged by the two typhoons, such as health centers, schools, barangay halls and municipal halls. Rio N. Araja

Another Manila Bay deal signed

By Sandy Araneta MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada recently approved another multibillionpeso reclamation project in Manila Bay—touted as the biggest and most technologically advanced in the city—that will serve as the new commercial and tourism hub of the capital.

During the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Reclamation Authority and UAA Kinming Group Development Corp. on Monday, Estrada said this new project will bring Manila a step closer to regaining its old standing as Asia’s “Pearl of the Orient.”

“This important event will usher in a new era of prosperity for the great city of Manila. It will bring our city a step closer to recapturing its old glory, and being recognized once again as the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’” Estrada said in his speech.

UAA Kinming has proposed to put up the New Manila Bay International Community, a 407.42-hectare mixed-use commercial and tourism center in the central area of Manila Bay. As “a city within a city,” the project will house future developments, new businesses, and tourism and entertainment facilities.

The MOU officially seals the tripartite cooperation of Manila, the PRA, and UAA Kinming for the project’s construction.

With this new business district, Estrada said Manila will be able to invite more local and foreign investors, which in turn will bring in more tax revenues for the city and thousands of job opportunities for Manileños.

“We will soon see the expansion of Manila’s borders, and its capacity to host more business ventures which will drive Manila’s economy,” the mayor said.

Fresnedi offers P100k reward in case of beheaded helper MUNTINLUPA Mayor Jaime Fresnedi on Tuesday announced he is offering a P100,000 reward to anyone who can give vital information to help solve the murder of house helper Richelle Sagang, whose head was found in Makati and her body in Santa Maria, Bulacan.

Fresnedi vowed to hasten the arrest of the perpetrators and appealed to people who know the whereabouts of the persons of interest in the case to cooperate with authorities.

“There must be no distinction between the rich and the poor. Justice must be served, as

peace and order in the city is one of the local government’s priority,” the mayor said.

A police report said Sagang was brought to the guard house of the subdivision in Muntinlupa where she was working over an alleged robbery last Jan. 12. Authorities then found her body in the Bulacan town

about 60 kilometers north of Muntinlupa, while her head was discovered in a creek in Makati several days later.

Anyone with information on Sagang’s case may contact the Muntinlupa Police at the following numbers: 862-2611, 86237-78, 862-1841, 543-0799, or 861-7922.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Republic of the Philippine National Capital Judicial Region REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Branch 145 Makati City

TODAY

TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. Plaintiff, - versus-

C2

Civil Case No. 12-542

ARLINDA G. ROJAS doing business under the name and style of “Rojas Export, and ROBERTO A. HUTLEY Defendants. x-----------------------------------------------x DECISION This is an action instituted by plaintiff Trade and Investment Development Corporation of the Philippines against defendants Arlinda G. Rojas (doing business under the name an style of “Rojas Export “) and Roberto A. Hutley with a complaint that alleges, among other things that: [i.]

The plaintiff is a government instrument duly organized and existing pursuant to and by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1080, As amended;

[ii.] The plaintiff and defendant Arlinda G. Rojas entered into a Credit Agreement and an Amended Credit Agreement wherein the latter applied and obtained from the former a credit line in the amount of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos Php 1,500.000.00], Philippine currency, under plaintiff`s SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth [SULONG] Program. [iii.] Defendant Roberto A. Hutley executed in favor of the plaintiff a Continuing Surety Agreement, dated June 30, 2004, wherein he bound himseIf to be held liable, jointly and severally, for the said credit line. [iv.] As an additional security, defendant Arlinda G. Rojas mortgaged her property, covered by TCT. No. OP-56994, in favor of the plaintiff. [v.]

Defendant Arlinda G. Rojas withdrew from the credit June and issued five [5] promissory notes in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250,000.00] each or a total of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250000.00] with an annual interest and penalty rate, stipulated respectively, at the rates of 10.60% and 16%, to wit: Promissory Note No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 MI-L05-0491-007-005 MI-L05-0491-008-006 MI-L05-0491-010-016 MI-L05-0491-011-020

Term/Days 126 97 67 139 162

Date of Execution 01/07/05 01/07/05 01/07/05 02/11/05 02/03/05

Maturity Date 05/13/05 04114 03/15/05 06/30105 07/15/05

[vi.] Upon maturity of the promissory notes, defendant Arlinda G. Rojas unjustly failed and refused to pay her obligation. [vi]

Thus the plaintiff sent defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Roberto A. Hutley , as surety, two separate demands letters asking for the payment of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavos [Php2,433,608.57], representing the outstanding balance then of the said obIigation, as of June 30, 2008.

[vii.] Despite said demands, still the defendants failed to pay thus the plaintiff extra-judicially foreclosed the mortgaged property of defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, under Act 3135, as amended, before the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City, and plaintiff turned out to be the highest bidder and purchaser thereof in the amount of Php172, 500.00. [ix.] After applying the proceeds of the foreclosed mortgaged property to the said obligation, the plaintiff claims an insufficient balance in the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Two Hundred Eleven Pesos and Ninety Centavos (Php3, 738,211.90], representing the outstanding obligation of the defendants, as of May 31, 2012, inclusive of stipulated interest and penalties as well as expenses incurred in the foreclosure of said mortgage.

Casecnan dam firm gets TRO for taxes

By Ben Moses Ebreo

B

AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Regional Trial Court here has granted the petition of Casecnan Water & Energy Co. Inc. for a 20-day Temporary Restraining Order, stopping the order of Alfonso Castañeda town to settle the firm’s unpaid Real Property Tax arrears.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given that the amendment of the Articles of Incorporation of JTM PROPERTIES & RESOURCES CORP. (the Corporation) shortening the term of existence to November 30, 2016, thereby dissolving the corporation on said date has been approved by the Corporation Board of Directors and Stockholders on November 14, 2016.

All persons having any claims against the Corporation`s are requested to present their claims at the Corporation`s office at 183 Maude St., San Juan City.

This announcement will serve as a notice to all persons concerned of the legal dissolution of the aforesaid corporation.

(SGD) MING MING S. MAGUAN Corporate Secretary

A copy of the Order dated June 25, 2014 was sent to the defendants by registered mail but again said court process was returned to court for reason that the defendant were “not found” at their given address 2.

RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW! email us at advertise@the standard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

(MS-FEB. 1,8 & 15, 2017)

The Officer’s Returned, dated September 18, 2012, shows that summons upon the defendants could not be served because the no longer reside at their given address. Despite earnest efforts of the plaintiff, the whereabouts of the defendants could not be determined, thus, upon motion, the plaintiff was allowed to serve summons by publication in an order dated June 17, 2013 .

In a “Compliance and Manifestation”. dated November 26 2013, the plaintiff attached therewith an affidavit of publication issued by the authorized representative of the Manila Standard Today dated November 19, 20131 showing the publication of summons upon the defendants.

A copy of the order dated June 17, 2013, as well as the summon by publication and the complaint together with its annexes, were sent to the defendants by registered mail at their last known given address, through registered mail, on August 12, 2013 but said court process were returned to court for reason that the defendants were “unknown”. Consquently, upon motion of the plaintiff and for failure of the defendants to file an answer, the defendants were declared in default in an Order dated June 25, 2014 while the plaintiff was allowed to present its’ evidence ex-parte before the Branch Clerk of Court who in turn submitted his report thereon dated November 26, 2014.

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Republic of the Philippines CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE INVITATION TO BID (2nd Notice)

Cost of Proposal Booklet

Lot No.

Project No.

Name of Project

1

201701

REGULAR HAULING OF RESIDUAL WASTE (Total of 20,000 cu.m. in 6 months) From Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

P9,000,000.00

P10,000.00

2

201702

REMOVAL OF EXISTING SOLID WASTE OF ABANDONED DUMPSITE, SAN ANTONIO, CAVITE CITY USING HEAVY EQUIPMENT Source of Fund : EMB R-IV - P6,708,539.55 LGU Counterpart - P10,621,420.75

P17,339,960.30

P25,000.00

ABC

On the basis of the report of the Branch Clerk of Court, plaintiff: through counsel, adduced in evidence the testimony of its’ Assistant Department Head of the Remedial and Asset Disposition Department of the plaintiff: Mr. Ruben Cayabyab, who testified on his Judicial Affidavit, in lieu of hi direct testimony, as well as on the following pieces of documentary evidence:

1.

[i.] Exhibit “A” and “B” – The “Credit Agreement” and “Amendment to the Credit Agreement”, respectively, dated June 15, 2004 and September 8, 2004 to prove that the plaintiff granted defendant Arlinda G. Rojas a credit line in the amount of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 1, 500, 000. 00 under its’ SME Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth (SULONG) Program for said defendant`s preshipment financing requirements;

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE, through the, CENRO ANNUAL BUDGET CY2017, & EMB R-IV Assistance Fund, intends to apply the sum as indicated above being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the above-mentioned project. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

The LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE now invites bids for the above LOT Number.

Delivery of Works required is 180 CALENDAR DAYS. Bidders should have completed similar contract to the project, within ten (10) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents.

3.

Bidding will be conducted through an open competitive bidding procedures using nondiscretionary pass/fail criterion as specified In the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least seventy five percent (75%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

4.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from LGU-CITY GOVERNMENT OF CAVITE and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during office hours from 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

5.

A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from the address below and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount indicated below.

It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhiIGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that bidders shall pay the fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

6.

The LGU-ClTY GOVERNMENT OF CAVlTE will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on February 15, 2017-10:00 A.M. at the JULIAN C. MEDINA, JR. MEMORIAL HALL, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

7.

BIDS MUST BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY BY EACH LOT AND PROPERLY MARKED IN THE OUTER ENVELOPE.

8.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before FEBRUARY 27, 2017 - 10:00 AM, at the BIDS & AWARDS COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT, CITY HALL BUILDING, SAMONTE PARK, SAN ROQUE, CAVITE CITY. All bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause.

[ii.] Exhibit “C” - The “Continuing Surety Agreement” dated June 30, 2004 executed by defendant Robert A. Hutley, to prove that he bound himself to be liable, jointly and severally to the plaintiff in event of default in payment of any loan obtained on the said credit line. [iii.] Exhibit. “D” and “E” - The “Real Estate Mortgage” dated November 8, 2005 and “Original Certificate Title (OCT) No. OP-56994” of the Registry of Deeds of Cebu, respectively, to prove that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas mortgaged her property located in San Vicente Liloan, Cebu, as security her loan obtained from the plaintiff. [iv.] Exhibits “F” to “J” - Respectively, Promissory Note Nos. PNO5-0491-08-006, PN05-0491-07-005, PN 5-049106-004, PNO5-0491-011-020 and PN05-0491-10-016 to prove that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas withdrew from the said credit line a loan in the total amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1, 250,000.00] on January and February 2005. [v.] Exhibit. “K’ and “L” - Two demand letters, both dated June 18, 2008, separately addressed to defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and Robert A. Hutley, as surety, to prove that they failed to pay the amount of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight and Fifty Seven Centavos.

[Php2,433,608.57] representing their outstanding obligation as of June 20, 2008. [vi.] Exhibits ‘M” - The “Certificate of Sale”, dated January 29, 2009, signed by the Sheriff, the Clerk of Court and Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City, to prove that the plaintiff foreclosed the mortgaged property and purchased it at the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00]. [vii] Exhibit “N” - The “Statement of Account” that how title claim of the plaintiff, and its` computation on the alleged outstanding obligation of the defendants, as of May 31, 2012, in the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Two Hundred Eleven Pesos and Ninety Centavos [Php 3, 738,211, 90] inclusive of interest and penalties as well as expenditures that the plaintiff allegedly incurred in the foreclosure of the mortgaged property, less the proceed on the sale thereof.

Acting on the report of the Branch Clerk of Court, as well as the oral offer by plaintiff`s counsel of the abovementioned documents, an Order, dated December 1, 2014 was issued wherein these documentary exhibits were admitted in evidence for the plaintiff.

From the undisputed evidence of the plaintiff, it is preponderantly established that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, doing business under the name and style of “Rojas” Export”, entered into a Credit Agreement and amendment thereto [Exhibit “A” and “B”] and obtained a loan from the plaintiff in the total amount of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos [Php 1,250,000.00], with a stipulated annual interest and penalty rate of 10.60% and 16% respectively; that defendant Arlinda G. Rojas executed Five [5] Promissory Notes [Exhibit “F” to “J”] as follows: Promissory Note No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 MI-L05-0491-007-005 MI-L05-0491-00B-006 MI-L05-0491-010-016 MI-L05-0491-011-020

Term/ Days 126 97 67 139 162

Date of Execution 01/07/05 01/07/05 01/07/05 02/11/05 02/03/05

Maturity Date 05/13/05 04/14/05 03/15/05 06/30/05 07/15/05

Bids will be opened In the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

9.

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

10. For further information, please refer to: RAEJEAN E. VASQUEZ Head, BAC Secretariat City Hall Building Samonte Park San Roque, Cavite City Telefax 046-431-1655

( M S - F E B . 8 , 2 017 )

As a security to the credit line, defendant Roberto A. Hutley executed in favor of the plaintiff a Continuing Surety Agreement [Exhibit “C”] wherein he bound himself to be held jointly and severally liable for said obligation while defendant Arlinda G. Rojas; executed in favor of the plaintiff a Deed of Real Estate Mortgage [Exhibit “D”] over her property registered with the Registry of Deed of the province of Cebu under Original Certificate Title [OCT] No. OP-56994 [Exhibit “E”].

Republic of the Philippines Province of Bohol MUNICIPALITY OF SEVILLA

Upon maturity of these promissory notes, the defendant Arlinda G. Rojas failed to pay her obligation with an outstanding balance of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavos (Php 2,4 608 .57], thus the plaintiff sent defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Robert A. Hutley, as surety, separate demand letters both date June 18, 2008 [Exhibit “K” and “L”] but to no avail because said obligation remained unpaid.

Thereafter, the plaintiff flied an Extra-judicial Foreclosure of the Real Estate Mortgage4 under Act No. 3135 as amended, with the Regional Trial Court of Mandaue City that was docketed as EJF-REM File No. 08-10-1725. Consequently thereto, after a compliance with the provision of the Real Estate Mortgage Contract and with the formalities required by Act No. 3135, as amended an auction sale of the mortgaged property was conducted on January 29, 2009 and, wherein the plaintiff by virtue of the Certificate of Sale [Exhibit “M”] was declared the highest and only bidder of the foreclosed mortgaged property in the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00].

From the foregoing findings, the plaintiff is entitled to its claim for the unpaid deficiency of the subject obligation against defendant Arlinda G. Rojas, as principal, and defendant Roberto A. Hutley, as surety, thereof.

It is clearly shown from the demand letters of the plaintiff upon the defendants marked as Exhibits “K” and “L”, dated June 18, 2008, that the outstanding obligation of the defendants was then in the amount of Two Million Four Hundred Thirty Three Thousand Six Hundred Eight Pesos and Fifty Seven Centavo. [Php 2,433, 08.57] while the proceeds of the foreclosure sale is only One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php 172,500.00). Therefore, there is indeed a deficiency to which the plaintiff ma claim against the defendants.

The Supreme Court held in the case of BPI Family Saving Bank Inc. versus ma. Arlyn T. Avenido and Pacifico A. Avenido [G.R. No. 175816 dated December 7, 2011] that “it is settled that if “the proceeds of the sale are insufficient to cover the debt in an extrajudicial foreclosure of mortgage, the mortgagee is entitled to claim the deficiency from the debtor. While Act No. 3135, as amended, does not discuss the mortgagee’s right to recover the deficiency, neither does if contain any provision expressly or impliedly prohibiting recovery. If the legislature had intended to deny the creditor the right to sue for any deficiency resulting from the foreclosure of a security given to guarantee an obligation, the law would expressly so provide.

Absent such a provision in Act No. 3135, as amended, the creditor is not precluded from taking action to recover any unpaid balance on the principal obligation simply because he chose to extrajudicially foreclose the real estate mortgage.”

Be that as it may, the court is not inclined to heed to the Statement of Account, dated May 31, 2012 and marked as Exhibit “N” particularly to plaintiff’s claim for the amount of Three Million Seven Hundred Thirty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Twenty, One Pesos and Ninety Centavos [Php 3 738.221.90], a deficiency obligation, as of May 31, 2012, as alleged in paragraph 13 of its complaint, because of the failure on the part of the plaintiff to present any other documentary evidence to support and prove its claim for: [i.] “OTHER CHARGES” in the amount of Php 16,498.76; [ii.] “UNPAID GRT PER OR # 000466 DATED 01.12. 04” in the amount of Php 72.00; [iii.] “ATTORNEY’S FEE 2/” in the amount of Php 525,000.00, as well as [iv.] the deduction of the amount of Php 16,498.76 from the bid price/proceed of the foreclosure sale of Php 172,500.00.

From the Statement of Account, marked as Exhibit “N”, it is clear from the following Promissory Notes marked as Exhibits “F” to “J”, that as of May 1, 2012, the defendants are owing to the plaintiff the total amount of Three Million Three Hundred Sixty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php3,360,150.95], to wit: [i.] [ii.] [iii.] [iv.] [v.]

PN No. MI-L05-0491-006-004 PN No. MI-L05-0491-007-005 PN No. MI-L05-0491-008-006 PN No. MI-L05-0491-010-016 PN No. MI-L05-0491-011–020 Total

Php 468,995.15 718,748.43 718,748.43 729,896.66 723,762.28 Php 3,360,150.95

Therefore deducting the proceeds of the foreclosed mortgaged property in the amount of One Hundred Seventy Two Thousand Five Hundred Pesos [Php172,500.00] from said outstanding obligation as of May 31, 2012, in the amount of Three Million Three Hundred Sixty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,360.95] there is still a deficiency balance in the amount of Three MiIlion One Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,187,650.95], to which the defendant should pay the plaintiff plus stipulated interest thereon and penalty charges at an annual rate of 10.60% And 16%, respectively, computed as of May 31, 2012 until full payment thereof.

Moreover, considering the surety agreement, the liability of both defendants shall be solidary.

WHERE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, judgment is rendered in favor of plaintiff Trade and Investment Development Corporation of the Philippines and against defendants Arlinda G. Rojas doing business under the name and style of ‘Rojas Exports”, as principal, and Robert A. Hutley, as surety, directing said defendants to pay the plaintiff the amount of Three Million One Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Fifty Pesos and Ninety Five Centavos [Php 3,187,650.95] plus stipulated interest and penalty charges thereon in an amount equivalent to an annual rate of 10.60% and 16%, respectively, computed as of May 31,2012 until full payment thereof.

The liability of both defendants shall be solidary. Hence, plaintiff may collect from both or any of the defendants for the award herein made.

All other claims of the plaintiff are denied for lack of merit.

Cost of suit against the defendant.

Makati City, this 2 December 2014.

CARLITO B. CALPATURA Presiding Judge

(MS-FEB. 8 & 15, 2017)

(SGD) ARCH. ALLISON B. SANTIAGO City Administrator BAC Chairperson

INVITATION TO BID 1. The Municipal Government of Sevilla, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC),invites Bidders/Suppliers to apply for Eligibility and to Bid for: NAME OF PROJECT: : PURCHASE OF RESCUE VEHICLES Approved Budget for the Contract : Php 5,050,400.00 Contract Duration : 120 calendar days Fund Source : FY 2016 DILG-BUB-Local Government Support Fund and 20% IRA Mun. Development Fund for CY 2016 Bid Documents Fee : Php 10,000.00 PROJECT DESCRIPTION : 1.

SPECIFICATIONS One (1) unit BRAND NEW 6-wheeler DUMPTRUCK with minimum specifications as follows:

ABC per item Php 3,980,000.00

Engine 6 cylinders, Diesel, 4.6 L engine displacement, 132 kW (179 Hp) engine power, 700 N.m. torque Transmission 6-speed, manual Brake system Air brake system with parking brake Steering Power steering Payload capacity 10 tons Dump Box capacity 7 cu.m.

Tire size 9.00 R20 Cabin Aircon, fully upholstered Inclusions/accessories Spare tire, hydraulic jack, tire wench, warning device and other relevant tools 2.

One (1) unit Brand New MOTORIZED POLYETHYLENE/ FIBERGLASS BOAT with TRAILER Php 500,400.00 Passenger Capacity 8-10 persons seating capacity Engine 30 hp-carbureted, two-stroke outboard motor, manual start, long shaft 20”, -cylinder in-line, with tiller handle assembly, aluminum propeller Fuel tank 6 gallons fuel tank capacity with fuel line assembly Dimensions Length: 14 ft Width: 5 ft. 6 in.

Accessories 4 pcs. Paddle, life line, 4 pcs life vest, 2 pcs removable seats, stainless steel handle cleats with lifeline included TRAILER With wheels and leaf springs, manual winch, keel and bow roller, tongue ring jack hitch, jockey wheel, C-channel steel fabrication, spray painted 3.

One (1) unit Brand New MOTORIZED INFLATABLE RUBBER BOAT Php 570,000.00 Passenger Capacity 11 persons + 1 pilot Length 520 cm Engine 30 hp, two-stroke outboard motor Beam outside 220 cm Tube diameter 51 cm No. of chambers 5 Accessories 2 pairs of two-pc aluminum anodized oars, foot pump, repair kit, 2 pcs bench seat, carrying bag and aluminum floor board

NOTE: After sales service maintenance and spare parts are locally available 2. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using non-discretionary PASS/FAIL criteria in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9184 known as the Government Procurement Reform Act. Only bids from Bidders who pass the eligibility check will be opened.

3. Price quotations shall include freight on board, VAT, customs clearance charges and other cost of handling and other related charges. The units shall be delivered at LGU-Sevilla, Bohol. Completion of the contract is within 120 calendar days reckoned from the date of receipt of Purchase Order.

4. Prospective bidders should possess current and valid licenses/permits applicable to the Contract, have completed a Single Largest Contract similar in nature with a value of at least 50% of the total ABC within the last five (5) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids.

5. All particulars relative to the Eligibility Statement and Screening , Bid Security, Performance Security, Pre-Bidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post-Qualification and Award of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

6. The schedule of BAC activities is as follows: BAC ACTIVITIES SCHEDULES Publication/Posting of Invitation to Bid February 8, 2017 Availability of Bidding documents February 14, 2017 Pre-Bid Conference February 14, 2017, 9:00 o’clock in the morning Venue: Conference Hall 2nd floor, Municipal Building (main bldg), Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol Deadline of Submission of Bids February 27, 2017, 9:00 o’clock in the morning Venue: Office of the BAC Secretariat Municipal Accountant’s Office Ground Floor, Municipal Building (main bldg) Poblacion, Sevila, Bohol Opening of Bids February 27, 2017, 9:30 in the morning Venue: Conference Hall 2nd floor, Municipal Building (main bldg), Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol Bid Evaluation February 28, 2017 – March 1, 2017 Post-Qualification March 7-10, 2017

7. Prospective bidders can secure the Bidding documents during office hours on the period indicated above at the BAC Secretariat, Office of the Municipal Accountant, Ground floor, Municipal Hall, Sevilla, Bohol, upon payment of a non-refundable amount of Ten Thousand (Php10,000.00) pesos only.

8. Implementation of the Project shall commence upon receipt of the Purchase Order issued by the head of procuring Entity.

9. The Municipal Government of Sevilla reserves the right to accept or reject any bid or to annul the biding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award. Likewise, the LGU assumes no responsibility or liability for any and all costs associated with the Bidder’s participation in the bidding process regardless of its result.

Bids and Awards Committee (SGD) ARTEMIO D. PERIN BAC Chairman Municipal Hall Poblacion, Sevilla, Bohol 09988846108 (MS-FEB. 8, 2017)

Issued by Judge Jose Godofredo Naui of RTC branch 37, the TRO took effect on Jan. 31 and expires Feb. 19.

CWECI sought the restraining order after Alfonso Castañeda Mayor Jerry Pasigian notified businesses in the municipality to settle their unpaid RPT or face closure and a halt to their operations.

A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co. and operator of the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation and Power Project, CWECI runs the project that siphons water from the Taan and Casecnan rivers in Alfonso Castañeda through a 26-kilometer diversion tunnel to the Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija.

It irrigates at least 200,000 hectares of farmland in Central Luzon and the western part of Pangasinan using the water sourced from this province and neighboring Quirino.

Pasigian said CWECI was advised to pay P1.7 billion in RPT arrears to the provincial government before their business permit will be renewed for 2017, but the firm refused, citing the provisions of Executive Order 173 issued by former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. The EO required the reduction and condonation of RPTs and interest or penalties assessed on power generation facilities of independent power producers under the BuildOperate-Transfer contracts with governmentowned and controlled corporations.

“We are now coordinating with the provincial government through the Provincial Legal Office for the preparation of our Motion for Reconsideration,” Pasigian said.

The mayor said his ‘No Permit No Operate’ notice was given to all establishments in their town and did not single out CWECI. “I denied CWECI’s municipal business permit because the basic permit emanating from the barangay was not also issued.

This is a slap on the face of our barangay captains if I opted to give them their municipal permit,” Pasigian said.

He said barangay officials of Lublub, Pelaway, Lipuga, Cauayan, Galintuja and Abuyo are supporting their legal action in claiming the unpaid taxes of CWECI.

IN BRIEF Pangasinan campus journalists honored LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan, through Provincial Resolution No. 500-2017 authored by Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, hailed the Mother Goose Special School System Inc. for producing a winning team in the recent National Schools Press Conference in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. The radio broadcasting team trained

by Lily Ferrer and Nena Mangsat placed second in the best in scriptwriting category and third in the best radio production contest of the NSPC, an annual gathering of the best campus journalists from all over the country organized by the Department of Education.

Prior to the national contest, the radio broadcasting (English) team of the Dagupan City-based school won the championship in the regional level, besting entries from 13 other school divisions.

The team is composed of James Matthew DG Dimaano, Naomi Julienne O. Ravago, Jeremiah Ang-Angco, Errol V. Nabua, Mardean Roma Q. de Guzman, Sheena Kimberly E. Villegas and Riza Mae B. Garcia. Dexter A. See

Pangasinan signs Cabiles lot deed LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Gov. Amado I. Espino III has formally signed and received from the Cabiles family the deed of donation for a two-hectare lot where a drug rehabilitation center will be built.

Former Burgos town Vice Mayor Belen Cabiles and her son, lawyer Aldrin Cabiles, signed the deed in a simple ceremony at the Office of the Governor in the Provincial Capitol.

Through Provincial Resolution No. 2752016 approved by the provincial board last November, the lot will be used for the rehabilitation center “in order to cater to and respond to the needs of those who are to undergo treatment and change their old ways of drug dependency, to being drug free and go back to the normal society.”

Espino said the project, which was long overdue, will finally be realized after two decades, and thanked the Cabiles family for their generosity. Dexter A. See CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Turkey condemns new Israeli law ISTANBUL―Turkey on Tuesday condemned a new Israeli law legalizing dozens of Jewish settlements built on private Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, as a senior government minister was visiting Tel Aviv in the first such trip in seven years.

“We strongly condemn Israeli Parliament’s adoption of a law that gives approval to various settlements consisting of 4,000 units built on the private property of the Palestinians,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said the “unacceptable” Israeli policy contradicted UN Security Council resolutions and was “destroying the basis for the two-state solution”.

The new law will allow Israel to legally seize Palestinian private land on which Israelis built without knowing it was private property or because the state allowed them to do so.

Critics say it will legalize the “theft” of the land even Israeli law has accepted as Palestinian.

Ankara’s reaction comes as Tourism Minister Nabi Avci was due to meet with his Israeli counterpart in Tel Aviv -- in the first visit by a top government official from Turkey since the two countries last year patched up ties that were badly damaged over the 2010 raid of a Gaza-bound Turkish ship by Israeli commandos.

AFP

China to attend summit on trade of organs BEIJING―China will attend an organ trafficking summit at the Vatican for the first time Tuesday, local media said, as Beijing tries to persuade the world it is no longer using executed prisoners as donors.

The invitation to former vice health minister Huang Jiefu to the conference comes as the Holy See bids to improve relations with the Asian giant, long stalled over conflicts about who should control the Catholic church in China.

Beijing issued its first regulation banning the trade of organs in 2007, but trafficking remains common as the country suffers a drastic shortage of donated body parts.

The practice of using executed prisoners’ organs for transplants was also banned in 2015, but some international medical groups suspect prisoners may be reclassified as voluntary donors to get around the rules.

Huang previously admitted that China did use the organs of convicts for transplants before the country had a public donation system in 2010, but has since insisted this is no longer the case.

“This is the first time that China is invited to a summit on organ transplanting held by an authoritative international organization,” Huang was quoted by the Global Times as saying on Monday. AFP

Japanese charged with trafficking PHNOM PENH―A Japanese restaurant owner accused of overseeing a smuggling ring that forced women into sex work in Japan was charged with trafficking in Cambodia Tuesday, along with his wife and an employee.

The charges follow the dramatic rescue of seven Cambodian women from a restaurant in Gunma, northwest of Tokyo, in December after one of them made a desperate plea for help on Facebook.

Japan has long been a destination for Southeast Asian women who travel seeking higher wages but often find themselves forced into sex work or indentured labour.

On Tuesday a municipal court in the capital Phnom Penh charged a Japanese restaurant owner in the city, his Cambodian wife and a local employee with human trafficking offenses.

“The prosecutor has forwarded the case to investigating judge for further procedures,” court spokesman Ly Sophana told AFP. Police allege the Japanese man, 52-year-old Susumu Fukui, lured the women with promises of high wages and personally delivered them to a contact in Gunma in November.

The women thought they were going to work as restaurant staff but soon found themselves forced to have sex with clients. AFP

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

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13,000 hanged in five years B

EIRUT―As many as 13,000 people were hanged in five years at a notorious Syrian government prison near Damascus, Amnesty International said Tuesday, accusing the regime of a “policy of extermination.”

LUNCHEON. Actress Emma Stone, actor/producer Matt Damon and actress Natalie Portman attend the 89th Annual Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 6, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Peru fights to save endangered languages LIMA―Amadeo Garcia has no one left to talk to in his mother tongue, Taushiro.

Neither does Pablo Andrade, the last living speaker of Resigaro.

The two indigenous languages are among 17 that are critically endangered in Peru, where modern life’s advance into the isolated Amazon basin region has wiped out many native peoples’ way of life, and their languages along with it.

Garcia, 67, is the last living Taushiro, an indigenous group native to northern Peru that was decimated by malaria, conflicts with rubber tappers and toxic oil spills in its rivers.

Andrade, 65, has likewise watched his people and their language fade away.

He lived until recently with his sister, Rosa, the other surviving speaker of Resigaro.

But she was mysteriously murdered last month, leaving him with no one to talk to in their dying Amazonian language.

There were 37 Resigaro speakers left a decade ago. But the others have all married into a larger ethnic group, the

Ocaina, and given up speaking their mother tongue, said anthropologist Alberto Chirif.

Peru, the cradle of the ancient Incan empire, is battling to protect its wealth of indigenous languages from being overpowered by Spanish, the dominant language since colonial times.

The government produces a daily TV news program in Quechua for the four million people who speak it.

Another is in the works in Aymara, which has nearly half a million speakers.

Both of them have many dialects.

Yet in this country of 30 million rising from coastal desert to towering Andes and tropical Amazon basin lowlands beyond -- not all languages have the same demographic heft as the Andean big two.

“There are four endangered indigenous languages and another 17 that are critically endangered, which is about half the country’s indigenous languages,” said Elena Burga, head of the government’s Intercultural, Bilingual and Rural Education Department.

No fewer than 37 indigenous languages have already disappeared, according to official statistics.

Burga said the cultural weight of Spanish -- the primary language of government, education and TV -- crushes indigenous languages, making children less likely to learn them.

The problem has been exacerbated by the threats facing indigenous groups, who have been forced from their land by farming, oil drilling, illegal mining and logging, and drug cartels.

“Disease can also decimate an isolated population and drastically reduce its numbers,” Burga told AFP. Some 2,500 languages worldwide face extinction, UNESCO warned in 2009.

Each one represents a treasure trove of words, poems, jokes, proverbs and legends, it said.

The problem is particularly acute in Peru, where the challenging environments of the Amazon rainforest and Andes mountains harbor dozens of fragile indigenous communities. AFP

Titled “Human Slaughterhouse: Mass hanging and extermination at Saydnaya prison,” Amnesty’s damning report is based on interviews with 84 witnesses, including guards, detainees, and judges.

It found that at least once a week between 2011 and 2015, groups of up to 50 people were taken out of their prison cells for arbitrary trials, beaten, then hanged “in the middle of the night and in total secrecy.”

“Throughout this process, they remain blindfolded. They do not know when or how they will die until the noose is placed around their necks,” the rights group wrote.

Most of the victims were civilians believed to be opposed to the government of President Bashar alAssad.

“They kept them (hanging) there for 10 to 15 minutes,” a former judge who witnessed the executions said.

“For the young ones, their weight wouldn’t kill them. The officers’ assistants would pull them down and break their necks,” he said.

Amnesty said the practices amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity, but were likely still taking place.

Thousands of prisoners are held in the militaryrun Saydnaya prison, one of the country’s largest detention centers located 30 kilometers north of Damascus.

Amnesty accused the Syrian government of carrying out a “policy of extermination” there by repeatedly torturing detainees and withholding food, water, and medical care.

Prisoners were raped or forced to rape each other, and guards would feed detainees by tossing meals onto the cell floor, which was often covered in dirt and blood.

A twisted set of “special rules” governed the facility: detainees were not allowed to speak and must assume certain positions when guards enter their cells.

“Every day there would be two or three dead people in our wing... I remember the guard would ask how many we had. He would say, ‘Room number one – how many? Room number two – how many?’ and on and on,” said Nader, a former detainee whose name has been changed.

After one fierce day of beating, Nader said, 13 people died in a single wing of the prison.

One former military officer said he could hear “gurgling” as people were hanged in an execution room below.

“If you put your ears on the floor, you could hear the sound of a kind of gurgling,” said Hamid, who was arrested in 2011.

“We were sleeping on top of the sound of people choking to death. This was normal for me then,” he told Amnesty.

The group has previously said that more than 17,700 people were estimated to have died in government custody across Syria since the country’s conflict erupted in March 2011.

The figure of 13,000 deaths in a single prison, therefore, is a marked increase.

“The horrors depicted in this report reveal a hidden, monstrous campaign, authorized at the highest levels of the Syrian government, aimed at crushing any form of dissent within the Syrian population,” said Lynn Maalouf, deputy director for research at Amnesty’s Beirut office. AFP

Amnesty: IS besieged in its major stronghold BEIRUT―The Islamic State group is “completely besieged” in its last major stronghold in Syria’s Aleppo province, a monitor said Monday, as pro-regime forces pressure the jihadists on several fronts.

IS fighters were cut off in AlBab after forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad’s government severed a road into the northern town, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

“Al-Bab is now completely besieged by the regime from the south, and the Turkish forces and rebels from the east, north and west,” the monitor said.

The reported siege came as President Donald Trump Monday pledged that America and its allies would defeat the “forces of death” and keep radical jihadists from gaining a foothold on US soil.

“Today we deliver a message in one very unified voice to these forces of death and destruction -America and its allies will defeat you,” Trump said as he visited US Central Command, which plays a key role in the US-led mission to fight IS in Iraq and Syria.

“We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism. And we will not allow it to take root in our country,” he said.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said Syrian regime forces and allied militias captured the last route between Al-Bab and Raqa, the jihadists’ de facto capi-

tal in the country.

At least 11 pro-government fighters were killed Monday in ongoing clashes around Al-Bab, he added.

Just 25 kilometers south of the Turkish border, the town is seen as a prize by nearly all sides in the complex war.

Since December, Turkeybacked rebels known as the Euphrates Shield alliance have edged towards Al-Bab from the north.

“Al-Bab is more important for the Turks, who defined the town as a priority for their Euphrates Shield alliance,” said Syria expert Thomas Pierret.

But the regime was eyeing territory around Al-Bab “to protect the eastern flank of Aleppo city” it recaptured in December, he said.

It also sought to use the town as a buffer, “preventing the Euphrates Shield from advancing south” deeper into Syria.

Turkey and Russia back opposing sides in the war, but have joined forces in recent months to try to end the conflict.

They carried out their first joint bombing raids around Al-Bab in January after brokering a fragile ceasefire between rebels and regime forces.

Along with Iran, they organised a summit in Kazakhstan to try to reinforce that truce ahead of peace talks in Geneva later this month. AFP

RETROSPECTIVE. An employee poses alongside artworks entitled ‘Garden with Blue Terrace, 2015’ and ‘Garden, 2015’ by British artist David Hockney during a photocall to promote a retrospective of Hockney’s work at the Tate Britain in London on February 6. The exhibition runs from February 9 to May 29, 2017. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

World

Unpredictable protests rise in Trump’s America N EW YORK― New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco: the cities are many and so are the anti-Trump protests.

Since the US president’s inauguration, daily life in multiple metropolitan centers has been carried out with the knowledge that at any moment -- and on weekends in particular -- demonstrations are unfurling in the streets below.

The final impact of the protests is yet to be determined, but with Donald Trump’s term set to last at least four years and a seemingly unbridled passion welling forth in people not previously civically engaged, the rallies aren’t expected to stop soon.

“This is the first time I have ever been on the ground helping out people,” Mark Hanna, a 29-year-old New York lawyer, who demonstrated and offered his services to travelers impacted by Trump’s immigration decree at New York’s John F Kennedy airport, told AFP. The United States has not seen such a vast mobilization -- women, doctors, Muslims, students, artists, gays -- since 2003, when large rallies were held against the Iraq war, said Fabio Rojas, a sociology professor at Indiana University.

A wide range of issues unites Trump’s opponents, in addition to his inflammatory statements and controversial decrees.

“There is a good chance we are going to see more of it,” Rojas told AFP. The urban, anti-Trump rallies are fed by the fact that major US cities tend to skew Democrat, the party of Hillary Clinton, who lost the November presidential election in a surprise defeat.

Many liberals are still reeling after Clinton won the US popular vote but lost the state-weighted electoral college, a rare occurrence in US politics, although it happened as recently as 2000, when president George W. Bush bested Al Gore.

Social media has fired up the anti-Trump base by allowing groups to coalesce around different causes, whether women’s rights, immigration or gay rights.

Experts, however, warn that if the movement is not accompanied by concrete action, it could garner little measurable effect, as was the case with Occupy Wall Street. AFP

Trump vows US, allies will beat jihadists MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE―President Donald Trump vowed Monday that America and its allies would defeat the “forces of death” and keep radical jihadists from gaining a foothold on US soil, but did not offer details about his strategy to defeat the Islamic State group.

In his first visit to US Central Command -responsible for an area that includes the Middle East and Central Asia -- Trump also did not say whether he would scrap parts of the anti-IS mission in Iraq and Syria undertaken by his predecessor Barack Obama.

“Today, we deliver a message in one very unified voice to these forces of death and destruction -- America and its allies will defeat you. We will defeat them,” he told about 300 military personnel at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

“We will defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

And we will not allow it to take root in our country,” Trump added. “Freedom, security and justice will prevail.”

He accused Islamic State fighters of leading a “campaign of genocide, committing atrocities across the world,” and promised an unspecified “historic financial investment” in the US military.

“Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland as they did on 9/11, as they did from Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino, and all across Europe,” added the president.

He claimed that the “very, very dishonest press doesn’t want to report” on certain attacks, without offering any corroborating evidence to back up his allegation.

“They have their reasons,” he said, without explaining further.

Trump made fighting “radical Islamic terrorism” a central plank of his election campaign, and the issue is emerging as the organizing principle of his foreign and domestic policies.

Centcom plays a key role in Operation Inherent Resolve -- the US-led mission to “degrade and defeat” IS. A total of 17,861 strikes have been launched across northern Syria and Iraq since August 2016 under the mission.

In late January, the president ordered generals to begin a 30-day review of the US strategy to defeat IS. AFP

Chinese judge: Trump enemy of rule of law

CHARGED. This file photo taken on January 20, 2017 shows South Korea’s Culture Minister Cho Yoon-Sun arriving at court for a hearing to review the issuing of her arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul. Cho, the former South Korean culture minister, was formally charged on February 7, 2017 for creating a “blacklist” of nearly 10,000 artists who voiced criticism of impeached President Park Geun-Hye, prosecutors said. AFP

UN slams first slur case under new king BANGKOK―The first royal defamation case brought under Thailand’s new monarch was slammed by a top United Nations envoy on Tuesday, who said public figures should not be above scrutiny or criticism.

The comments were sparked by the ongoing detention of Jatupat Boonpatararaksa, a pro-democracy student activist arrested in December for sharing on Facebook a profile written by BBC Thai of the country’s new king Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Thousands of Thais shared the profile but Jatupat -- a prominent junta critic better known by his nickname Pai -- is the only person to have been prosecuted so far.

Multiple bail hearings have been held behind closed doors and he faces up to

15 years in prison if convicted.

David Kaye, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, said he was concerned by the use of secret hearings.

He also launched a wider attack on Thailand’s lese majeste law, the use of which has skyrocketed since ultra-royalist generals seized power in 2014.

“Public figures, including those exercising the highest political authority, may be subject to criticism, and the fact that some forms of expression are considered to be insulting to a public figure is not sufficient to justify restrictions or penalties,” Kaye said in a statement.

He said such laws “have no place in a democratic country” and called for Thailand to repeal them.

The chances of that happening are slim

as Thailand is run by staunch royalist generals who have formed the most authoritarian government in a generation, with political gatherings banned and scores of opponents jailed or facing trial.

Dozens of lese majeste cases have been brought against members of the public and activists -- often for comments made online -- with some being handed down 25-30 year jail sentences.

Thailand’s enormously wealthy monarchy are shielded from criticism by the lese majeste law which forces media inside the kingdom to heavily self-censor.

But authorities have little control over what is written about the family outside the country.

Vajiralongkorn, 64, succeeded his father Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October after a seven-decade reign. AFP

BEIJING―A top Chinese judge has called President Donald Trump a bully and an “enemy of the rule of law” for attacking the US judiciary as China revels in the upheaval gripping the world’s leading democracy.

Trump launched a tirade against US District Judge James Robart for suspending his travel ban on people from seven majority Muslim nations last week, deriding him as a “so-called judge”.

He Fan, of the Supreme People’s Court of China, likened Trump’s criticism to the murder of a judge in China last month.

“A president criticizing judges and bandits murdering judges are all enemies of the rule of law,” he wrote on his public WeChat social media page on Sunday.

“In a country claiming to be the most democratic and most based on rule-of-law, for a president to lead the charge in scolding judges... makes him no different from a bully without dignity!”

Since Trump’s inauguration last month, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party has blasted the “systemic crisis” facing capitalist Western democracies, hailing the superiority of China’s authoritarian system.

Trump’s threats to get tough with what he sees as unfair Chinese trade practices have sparked fury in Beijing while his Twitter outbursts against the media have prompted scathing commentary in China’s nationalist publications.

Senior officials in China’s highest court are appointed by the rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, and are expected to toe the line of the ruling Communist Party, not act as a check on its power.

He Fan’s comments are jarring given that Chinese President Xi Jinping has rolled out a crackdown on lawyers who have taken on cases deemed sensitive by the leadership. AFP

Criticism of Rohingya probe rejected YANGON―A Myanmar state commission probing allegations the military has killed, tortured and raped Rohingya Muslims rejected accusations it is not credible, saying Tuesday it was focused on the “truth” and not pleasing the UN. Last week the United Nations’ human rights office said Myanmar’s military had likely killed hundreds of Rohingya during a continuing crackdown in a “calculated policy of terror” against the Muslim minority.

Almost 70,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since the army launched “clearance operations” four months ago to find Rohingya militants they accused of carrying out deadly raids on police border posts.

The report by the UN’s rights body OHCHR said the accounts of torture, murder and gang-rape

at the hands of security forces were so severe they may amount to ethnic cleansing.

Among the brutal testimonies published were accounts of children butchered with knives while their mothers were raped by security forces.

For months Myanmar dismissed similar testimony gathered by foreign media and rights groups and curtailed access to the region.

But following last week’s UN report a spokesman for Myanmar’s president said the government was concerned by the “extremely serious allegations” and would investigate them through the Rakhine commission.

Critics have rejected the stateappointed body, which is led by retired general and Vice President Myint Swe and includes no Muslims, as toothless and lacking in

credibility.

Last month it issued an interim report denying that troops had carried out a genocidal campaign against the Rohingya and saying it had found “insufficient evidence” of rape.

“The existing commission is not a credible option to undertake the new investigation,” the UN’s top official on preventing genocide, Adama Dieng, said in New York on Monday.

“I am concerned that the government commission... found nothing to substantiate the claims, while OHCHR... found an overwhelming number of testimonies and other forms of evidence.”

But commission member Aung Tun Thet rejected the criticism, saying the body was focused on getting “fair results” and not pleasing the international community. AFP

CONFERENCE. Actor Debra Messing attends the 2017 MAKERS Conference Day 1 at the Terranea Resort on February 6, 2017 in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. AFP

Life

Kate Spade New York Spring 2017 collection draws inspiration from the landscapes and patterns of Morocco.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

D1

Moroccan-inspired

Spring collection

F

OR Spring 2017, Kate Spade New York heads to Morocco, drawing inspiration from dusky desert landscapes, the pattern play of candle lit lanterns, rose petals, the sensory overload of the souks, and the oasis of calm in the majorelle gardens. Throughout the collection, textured fabrics and detailing; eyelets, pompoms, applique roses and ruffles sit against softly flowing and feminine silhouettes.

READY-TO-WEAR Silhouettes

The classic fit and flare silhouette receives a bohemian reinvention in the form of loose pleats and free-flowing fabric.

Tiered dresses and skirting evoke an elegant expression against casual cotton and linen styles while billowing sleeves lend Moroccan flair to shift dresses and structured blouses.

Colors and patterns

Fresh white and true black provide a clean canvas for the season’s stand out colors and patterns.

Florals are given a new treatment, growing larger and more impactful, and peacock plume covered silk dresses in bold blues and striking reds compliment richly embroidered styles that are unique and sophisticated. Berber stripes provide a playful and bold refresh to seasonal staples.

Fabrics and detailing

Rose prints and embroidery accent structured denim and silk, while tassels trim the edges of midi length dresses, coats and soft denim pants.

Delicate lace complements airy cotton blouses, as structured eyelet styles ground the season’s rich hues and a stunning embroidered sequin tassel dress and skirt round out the seasonal offering with a shock of glamour.

BROOME STREET

The Broome Street collection continues to provide a more casual offering that seamlessly integrates into everyday looks. Classic tees, tomboy trousers, flounce skirts, and modern dungarees lend themselves to extending the life of a luxe Madison separate or mainline coat.

HANDBAGS

The structured and chic Hayes street small Isobel debuts at the forefront as the new go-to bag of the season, while wicker monkeys and camels come to life, accented with tassels, fringe and beading. Fresh new shapes and classic favorites in striking seasonal colors round out the collection with a surprise appearance by elegant embellished straw totes.

Cameron Street Little Babe

Like all of our Cameron Street styles, the Babe, which comes in crosshatched leather, is lightweight, scratch-proof and wipes clean.

(Win-win-win) It also has the sweetest silhouette: part throwback lady bag, with elbow hold

handles and an adjustable shoulder strap, part modern masterpiece, with clean lines and a roomier-than-you’d-think interior. There’s cute luggage tag, too.

Nike Zonal Strength Running Tights target thighs and calves

Hartley Backpack

Hayes Street Small Isobel

We love tassels. We adore bows. How to choose? Luckily, the Small Isobel has you covered on both fronts: it’s a classic satchel in textured pebbled leather, all tied up with a tasselended bow. Pretty and practical, it also offers an adjustable crossbody strap and a zipped center divider (plus a range of rich hues).

Lewis Way Large Pom Marketa

A classic straw market tote with a festive update, the Marketa features a row of pretty, colorful poms, a swingy tassel charm, bright contrasting leather trim and “spice things up” written in script (a friendly reminder to bring a little brightness to your day).

Robson Lane Luxe Darcy

The saffron hue of this super soft nubuck leather isn’t the only thing that makes the Darcy extraspecial. We also adore the high-contrast embroidered trim and tassels that’ll swing with every step.

The flap stays secure with a magnetic closure, and an adjustable crossbody strap keeps things handsfree when you’re on the run.

Silicone Roses iPhone 7 case

Ridley Street Skye

The Skye is a classic 70s-inspired saddlebag style in double vegetable tanned leather with a few extra-special touches. Kate Spade’s designers styled the tassel hardware after Moroccan lanterns, and the wide, braided leather strap is a luxe equestrian touch.

GIVE IT A TWIST! PERSONALIZATION

Kate Spade New York continues to build upon existing monogramming and personalized product offerings with new colorways of interchangeable handbag straps and tassels, stickers in gold metal and leather, as well as expanded monogramming capabilities. With a nod to the season’s inspiration, a cheeky camel winks from a leather patch, and a studded strap adds a playful edge to the personalized offering.

SHOES

Striking colors, tassels and stitching accents are shown across a variety of silhouettes. Woven slides and flats are relaxed and effortless, while elegant lace up heels are given an unexpected flare with the addition of color coordinated tassels. A flash of gold can be spotted from a metallic block heel sandal, completed by rich suede in the season’s signature colors.

JEWELRY

Tiered tassel earrings make an effortless statement in a range of bold colors. From classic stud earrings to a glittering tassel pendant stunner, spring’s assortment runs the gamut from understated to overtly dazzling.

In the Philippines, Kate Spade New York is located at Central Square in Bonifacio High Street Central, Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Power Plant Mall, Rustan’s Cebu, R u s t a n’ s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La.

The Right Tights DIFFERENT athletic activities affect different muscle groups. For example, a distance run optimizes the quads, hamstrings and calves; whereas a high intensity workout demands core activation. In addition to muscle groups, another factor amongst athletes is the desire to achieve the best workout, every time, and they look to products to help them gain the advantage.

“Efficiency is always a key factor for our athletes—they want to get the most out of every workout,” explains Helen Boucher, VP of Women’s Training Apparel Product. “Tights are a huge part of any athlete’s uniform and we analyzed every design and fit detail to ensure key parts of the body are compressed for the right sport.”

With that in mind, Nike’s newest Zonal Strength Tights feature compression zones built directly into the base fabric, targeting key muscle groups to

Cameron Street Little Babe handbag

reduce muscle vibration for an efficient workout, without restricting mobility.

Are you a runner?

Nike Zonal Strength Running Tights target thighs and calves to reduce muscle vibration where runners need it most. Flyvent waistband provides breathability and four-way stretch fabric enhances mobility, especially in the hips and knees.

Do you hit the gym?

Nike Zonal Strength Training Tights provide enhanced support and muscle awareness in the core, glutes, quads and hamstrings. A high-rise waistband provides additional core awareness, which is integral for all training activities, from low impact like yoga to high impact cross training.

Flat seams allow for zero distractions.

Nike’s Zonal Strength Tights for both men and women are available in retail and nike.com at P5,795.

Nike Zonal Training Tights provide enhanced support and muscle awareness

Berber stripes provide a playful refresh to seasonal staples

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Look good with fairer, supple skin at any age T

HERE is perhaps one thing agreed upon by everyone in the world, and that is we all want to live a long healthy life, while looking good at the same time. Many people say that age is just a number, and that can only be true if you feel good in and out.

There is no shortcut to staying healthy and looking beautiful, but it is not an impossible task. With proper diet, right amount of sleep, exercise, and health supplements, you are on your way to achieving youthful beauty regardless of your age.

Early this month, a revolutionary beauty supplement was launched at Edsa ShangriLa, much to the delight of many beauty enthusiasts. The 100% Organic Pearl Coix, a product manufactured by Fine Japan Co. Ltd., has come to give you that supple fair skin you have been longing for. It is sourced from the adlay plant, which has been used for medicinal purposes since the olden times.

With its pure and potent organic ingredients, it makes the skin smoother and more radiant.

An avid supporter of organic supplements is TV host, author and beauty pageant titlist Cory Quirino, who talked about wellness during the launch of 100% Organic Pearl Coix. She says we are walking around with three ages: age indicated on your birth certificate, biological age (how healthy are you), and your psycho-social age (how young or old you feel), and it is up to us which age we choose as our own age.

“We can no longer run after time. Time waits for no one. So how do we do it?”

The search for the fountain of youth is a never-ending task for the many. Quirino says the existence of the fountain of youth is real, quoting a phrase from Deepak Chopra’s book Ageless Body, Timeless Mind. “Look to the land where no one is old. It is nowhere but in yourself,” the book says. To feel and look young, Quirino explains that you must start from within.

First, you must let go of stress. “If you address the problem of stress, you can boost the immune system. When you do that, your hormones are up. If you feel good, you will look good. That is a non-negotiable law of wellness,” she says.

Second, choose to be happy and be kind to your body. She says that happiness is connected to a person’s entire composition: body, mind, spirit. “What the brain is thinking will affect the body. Look in the mirror every morning and tell yourself how beautiful you are. Be thankful for another day because a new ‘today’ is a gift. That is why it is called ‘present.’ Practice the virtue of gratitude. Stop comparing yourself to others. You don’t know what set of problems they have with their own lives,” Quirino relates.

Third, forgive your enemies. “Let go of the excess baggage. When you overburden your body, you also overburden your mind and heart,” she notes.

Lastly, her golden rule in wellness: change your lifestyle and embrace the organic life. In the world of technological breakthrough, traditional health and beauty regimens teach us that going back to basics and sticking to organic ways is better.

“I am so eager and passionate to know about the new things that are discovered, only to realize that the new breakthroughs really are based and founded on old traditions. Adopt organic regimens that can help you from the inside as well. Embrace a wellness lifestyle by being good to yourself today.”

Distributed in the Philippines by BrightRay Enterprises, this product will surely keep you glowing in no time. This ready-to-drink nutraceutical product comes in sachets. Just mix it with water or your favorite beverage and let it do its wonders on your skin.

The right lifestyle and bright outlook in life are the secrets to achieving youthful beauty regardless of age

For more information, visit www.HyC150.com; like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HyC150; follow it on Twitter #HyC150 or on Instagram @HyC150, or call (02) 546-7297, (02) 861-6298 or 0917-7750779. 100% Organic Pearl Coix is available at Watsons stores nationwide on www.lazada.com.ph and at its online store with free delivery nationwide.

VA N I T Y C O R N ER Celeteque DermoCosmetics CC Micro-Hydrating Powder

MAKEUP THAT CARES IT IS natural that we use makeup to enhance our features and conceal imperfections, but the makers of Celeteque DermoCosmetics pushed the envelope further by creating products that make skin look radiant and nourished.

Bases are covered with Celeteque DermoCosmetics 24-hr Photoready Matte Primer that helps prepare the skin by minimizing appearance of pores and fine lines so the makeup you put on look flawless longer; CC MicroHydrating Powder (in Classic Natural and Deep Beige) whose Hyaluronic Acid, Silica and Tocopheryl Acetate ingredients work together to hydrate skin, control oil and provide protec-

tion against the sun; and 2-in-1 Eyebag Miracle Kit that contains eye balm to reduce puffiness and eye foundation (Light, Natural, Beige) to cover and lighten eye bags.

Pucker up with well-nourished lips courtesy of Ultra-Nourishing Lip Lacquer (Natural Nude, Soft Pink, Velvet Red) whose formulation keeps lips soft and supple all-day. Meanwhile, achieve that rosy flush both on lips and cheeks with Moisturizing Lip & Cheek Duo (Rosy Blush and Soft Berry) that is an oil-free and streak-free mouse that protects lips and cheeks from free radicals while retaining skin’s moisture and smoothness.

Always look at the brighter side with the help of Eyebrow Defining Kit, a 2-in-1 formulation of Tinted Wax and color-complementing Eyebrow Powder that contains Shea butter, Tocopheryl Acetate and Argan Kennel Oil; and Long-Wear Eyeshadow Palette that provides color and keeps lids moisturized and smooth thanks to Shea butter, Tocopheryl Acetate and Evening Primrose Oil. Celeteque DermoCosmetics products are available at all Wastons stores nationwide.

COMPLETE BEAUTY ARSENAL LOCAL cosmetics brands Ever Bilena and Careline introduce new makeup and skincare products to help everyone look their best the whole year, without breaking the bank.

Frame your eyes with EB Advance Silky Brow and Silky Eye Liners that provide high definition in just a few strokes, and EB Advance Lash Define Waterproof Mascara whose top-to-bottom lash applicator and waterproof formula ensure smudge-free lashes.

Get 12 rosy neutral shades of matte and shimmery eyeshadows in EB Advance Uncover 12-Color Eyeshadow Palette or in Careline’s Hello Beautiful! palette to complete the look.

For always on-the-go women, there’s Hello Sweetie eye shadow and blush compact that contains two blush-ons and six eyeshadow shades.

You will never run out of lipstick options with LTD Liquid Lipstick, available in 12 pigmented shades, that delivers buildable and long-lasting

lip color with matte finish; Ever Bilena Luxe Lipstick for rich semi-satin finish; Ultra Matte Lipstick with waterproof and nourishing benefits; and Kleopatra Magic Lipstick that comes in fruity scents and changes its shade once applied on the lips.

The Evera Face Powder evens out skin tone and keep face smooth and f lawless.

For easy application of foundation, powder and bronzer, Ever Bilena offers Advance Multi-task Paddle Brush and Advance Essentials Paddle Brush.

Completing the new releases are EB Naturals Sunflower Oil that helps in minimizing dark spots and in revitalizing skin; and EB Naturals Hand Cream in Sweet Rose and Femme Floral scents, which both help in soothing dry hands.

These are available in supermarkets, drugstores and beauty stores nationwide. Visit www.everbilena.com.ph and careline.com.ph for more information.

Avon’s Belle in Bloom collection includes Eyeshadow Quad, Nail Enamel and more

BE THE BELLE IN BLOOM LOOK “blooming” or like you had eight hours of sleep, even if you didn’t, with Avon’s Belle in Bloom Collection.

Achieve flawless freshness with Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder that offers light to medium coverage for blemishes and imperfections. It comes in Medium, Neutral, Oriental and Natural shades. The Ultra Color Lipstick, meanwhile, lets you give the sweetest smile

with lips that are vibrant and nourished. This lipstick collection comes in Hot Pink, Hibiscus, Lava Love, Ripe Papaya and Berry Bright.

Open your eyes to intense color of the easyto-use Belle in Bloom Eyeshadow Quad and complete the look with Nailwear Pro+ Nail Enamel in Orchid Splash and Wandering Rose.

Ask an Avon Representative or visit www.avon. ph to find out how you can get these items.

EB Advance Silky Brow and Silky Eye Liners, Hello Beautiful and Hello Sweetie palette, LTD Liquid Lipstick, and Advance Essentials Paddle Brush are some of Ever Bilena and Careline’s new product releases

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Kapuso stars in country’s biggest festivals in January

T

‘Harvey did more than redeem himself’– Teo

RUST GMA Network to kick off the year in the most festive way possible, making sure Kapuso fans in Aklan, Cebu, and Iloilo have a memorable celebration of three of the country’s major fiestas: Ati-Atihan, Sinulog, and Dinagyang Festivals.

In a monthlong festivities that aim to honor the Holy Infant Jesus or Sto. Niño, Kapuso fans were treated to a series of Kapuso Mall Shows featuring the casts of Meant To Be, Ika-6 Na Utos, and Pinulot Ka Lang Sa Lupa.

The Kapuso stars could not help but be overwhelmed by the warm reception they received from their fans.

“We did not expect such warm welcome from our Kapusong Cebuano and Ilonggo since every year, we have Kapuso artists who go to Cebu and Iloilo to celebrate the Sinulog and Dinagyang festivals,” admits Barbie Forteza. “We came from our taping (in Manila) but when we heard them shouting and saw how happy they were, we forgot about how tired we were.”

Ken Chan, who is also not new to regional malls shows, was taken by surprise upon seeing the jampacked Robinsons Place Iloilo last Jan. 21. “It was really fun performing because you can hear the people shouting and cheering for you,” he shares. The crowd estimate during their Iloilo show was at 8,000.

Jak Roberto, Ivan Dorschner, Addy Raj, and Mika dela Cruz were also in Cebu for the Sinulog Festival 5, and even joined the Grand Sinulog Parade along with Destined To Be Yours stars Alden Richards

Julie Anne San Jose and Martin del Rosario pumped up the energy during the Sinulog Festival, (inset) Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza joined thousands of fans at the Ati-Atihan Festival Kapuso Fiesta

and Maine Mendoza and My Love From The Star’s Jennylyn Mercado and Gil Cuerva.

Sunshine Dizon of Ika-6 na Utos says this year’s Sinulog and Dinagyang Festivals “was a very memorable experience.” She was with Gabby Concepcion in their Kapuso Mall Shows in Cebu and Iloilo and with Ryza Cenon at the Sinulog Festival.

Julie Anne San Jose pumped up the energy of Kapuso fans at Pastrana Park to watch the Ati-Atihan Festival Kapuso Fiesta. She with co-star Martin del Rosario.

James Wright was in the Mutya It Kalibo Coronation Night.

Benjamin Alves joined Julie, Martin, and LJ Reyes at The Terraces, Ayala Center Cebu for the Sinulog Festival.

Laughter wins in ‘Extra Judicial Kidding’ Valdes, who is going SATIRE and humor may not to direct a production necessarily change politics but Extra of this scale for the Judicial Kidding can definitely first time, also told us change the way you look at people what to expect from who run this filthy world and bring the two-hour spectacle those who wear different political happening on Feb. 15 at colors together in one room even for the Newport Performing just two hours.

Arts Theater. He cited That is what the show is all about that there will be brand according to Jon Santos, Rex new material from Navarrete, and Kakai Bautista the internationally who are headlining the production acclaimed stand-up written by Rody Vera and directed comic Navarrete, brand

by Joaquin Pedro Valdes. new characters and The three artists promise to poke stories from Santos, and fun at all of the issues that almost show-stopping musical made us forget how much more fun numbers from Bautista. it was in our beloved Philippines Laughter is the best medicine. Standup comedian Rex Navarrete, actress Kakai Bautista, and impersonator Jon “It’s harder to make by turning political and popular Santos headline "Extra Judicial Kidding," a Valentine concert at the Resorts World Manila people laugh than it is to personalities and the country’s make them cry. It takes a pressing issues into punch lines. lot of intelligence and experience that individually, Rex, Jon and Kakai “Because of the recent events in the country, a lot of relationships were have cooked and marinated through time. Whatever joke or punchline severed. Also because of political alliances and differences in opinion, you hear they deliver was because it has been cooking for over the many of us were unfriended, unfollowed, and unliked. As artists, it’s going years—of all of the characters Jon has developed, of all the experiences to be a big reward for us to see us all together and embrace each other’s that Rex has noticed or of all the training that Kakai has gone through,” differences and be united in the spirit of laughter,” Jon Santos told Manila Valdes shared.

Standard during the show’s media launch at Resorts World last week.

According to the theater actor and director, he felt extremely excited Santos, who arrived at the venue dressed as Miss France and reigning Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere furthered that the show aims to find a common ground and challenged when the project was offered to him the first time. First, he had to conceptualize a cohesive idea that would kind of thread the different styles and artistic where the audience can just laugh and forget about the things that cause their stress.

Agreeing with what the seasoned actor and impersonator said, young director Joaquin lenses that the three different artists have. He wanted to create a seamless concert. Then, Valdes turned to us and exclaimed, “People are asking are we going to talk about there’s this challenge of doing a comic commentary on the latest issues and trending topics.

“I’m bringing all my experience as an artist into making it into a cohesive show. I am extrajudicial killing…are we going to take a political stand. There’s only one stand that this show is going to make -- whatever side you’re on or whatever view you may have, not working alone on this, I am working with three geniuses and an amazing writer. The we are coming all together in laughter and in love and in moving forward. That’s the main biggest challenge is, are we ready to laugh about it? We are taking a risk. We will see if it’s going to fly. It’s a big risk but I think it’s a risk worth taking,” Valdes concluded. goal of the show.”

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, February 8, 2017

ACROSS 1 Happy hour sites 5 Pack animals 10 Bad cut 14 Novelist — Waugh 15 Oven emanation 16 Long-active volcano 17 Bryce Canyon state 18 DeMille of epics 19 Shaquille O’— 20 Oz girl 22 Court decisions 24 Buckeye sch.

25 Width of a cir.

26 Reeked 29 Place for a pint 32 Animal that hisses 36 Ocean motion 37 Pina — 39 Bad-mouth 40 Difficult problem (5 wds.)

43 Louis XIV, e.g.

44 Opening remarks 45 Dublin’s locale 46 Fruit-stand buy 48 Honshu

honorific 49 Pitch 50 Mermaid’s domain 52 Dot in the Seine 53 Strikingly 57 Roofed-in galleries 61 Peter Gunn’s girl 62 Shove off 64 Deep tracks 65 Koh-i- — diamond 66 Of durable wood 67 Falling-out 68 Afflictions 69 Vestige 70 Lampreys DOWN 1 Modem-speed unit 2 Low voice 3 Caboose’s spot 4 Tall beer glass 5 — Picchu 6 Heavy hydrogen discoverer 7 Rapper Tone — 8 Kuwaiti leader 9 “Cheers” in Chihuahua 10 Warm and friendly 11 Nefertiti’s god

DOT Secretary Wanda Teo, new Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere, and TV hostcomedian Steve Harvey

12 Ruin a nylon 13 Greer and Roach 21 Naughty, naughty!

23 Spring fragrance 26 Throng 27 Nevada lake 28 Be of benefit 29 Acts sullen 30 UHF part 31 Twirler’s gear 33 Robin of balladry 34 Tinier than mini 35 Lopsided

37 “The Situation Room” network 38 Two, in Tijuana 41 Ate elegantly 42 Drill 47 Willow shoots 49 RNs provide it 51 Ration 52 Dancing Castle 53 Start of a famous boast 54 Goddess’s statue 55 Strad 56 Century unit

DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo expressed admiration and congratulated Steve Harvey for doing a wonderful job in hosting the 65th Miss Universe competition.

“Steve truly has a way with words, and he clearly won the heart of the Filipinos. He was apologetic but at the same time humorous,” Teo said.

Harvey wasted no time to seek amends for his gaffe of initially proclaiming Miss Colombia instead of Miss Philippines in last year’s competition before he immediately corrected himself.

“All is well that ends well. He did just great to make this Miss Universe experience truly a memorable one,” Teo went on to say.

The DOT head also lauded the audience for welcoming Harvey’s efforts to redeem himself.

“The Filipino audience appreciated his humor, wit and tactfulness on stage,” Teo said.

The American opened the show apologetic whilw poking fun at himself.

“Let’s get it out of the way, I know what you’re thinking,” he said while eliciting laughter from the crowd.

“Is that the guy from last year? Did they bring back that guy from last year?

Well, they did. It’s me, I’m back,” he said. “It’s been a long year getting here.

Boy, I paid the price for last year with that mistake. I went and had a little surgery, had some stuff done to my eyes, so when the card comes up we’ll get it right this year.”

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach cracked some jokes with Harvey on stage.

“Thank you for making me the most popular Miss Universe,” she said.

Harvey also faced this year’s Miss Colombia Andrea Tovar and asked her about his reputation in her country.

“I want to just ask this for myself, how do people in Colombia feel about Steve Harvey?”

Tovar jokingly replied, “A lot of people hate you, but you know I love you. That’s the most important,” Tovar said.

Before the announcement of the winner, Wurtzbach handed Harvey a pair of eye glasses to make sure he’d read the right name.

After Miss France Iris Mittenaere was crowned Miss Universe 2016, Harvey bid the audience good night and, ended the show with, “I got it right this time.”

Ellen Adarna smolders in a photo shoot for a popular men's magazine. The sexy star joins the cast of "Moonlight Over Baler," a timeless love story encompassing two important events in the Philippines. Photo courtesy of Mark Nicdao and FHM

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017

S

a bed of roses, but love is real and it never dies.”

For updates about the movie, like Moonlight Over Baler on Facebook. *** A good looking actor may not be part of the series of publicities for Moonlight Over Baler, but on his own, some members of the press have been taken by his presence. The actor is Aaron Yanga, a GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) talent, who’s been in showbiz in the last two years, yet whose career seems unable to take off.

I surmise it is the last name factor that seems no immediate recall. I told his manager that perhaps he and the GMAAC could reach an agreement to use another family name, perhaps his mother’s maiden name, Garcia, for easier recall.

Unless an actor has an outstanding talent, an unfamiliar family name won’t help and if it does initially it could soon bring him to the firmament of oblivion.

Aaron Garcia Yanga is from Pampanga and graduated at Angeles University Foundation (AUF]). He was a first runner up in the Mr. AUF 2009 pageant. He’s got a well-sculpted physique that became his ticket to a number of bikini pageants.

At the Kapuso network, he was seen playing minor roles in Dear Uge, Alyas Robin Hood, Karelasyon, and earlier in My Faithful Husband.

Will he ever land a major role? That’s the million dollar question. *** Meanwhile, Christian Bables, who for several years hang around the industry playing nondescript roles in independently produced movies, is moving on to be a major star.

The 2016 Metro Manila Film Festival’s biggest discovery and Best Supporting Actor for the top-grossing MMFF entry, Die Beautiful, is now a certified Regal millennial baby.

The actor signed an exclusive four-picture contract with Regal Entertainment, Inc., producer of Die Beautiful, which also won for lead star Paolo Ballesteros the 2016 MMFF best actor trophy.

“We believe in his talent! He’s not only good but very, very good and natural actor,” said mother and daughter Lily and Roselle Monteverde.

Christian’s outstanding performance as Barbs, Paolo’s best friend in Die Beautiful, spread like wild fire last Christmas season.

He was the moviegoers’ unanimous choice for the best supporting actor award, which explains Christian’s emotional speech when he was finally handed the trophy during the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal.

Jun Lana and Perci Intalan discovered Christian and cast him in I Love You To Death as gay Kiray Celis’s character’s gay friend.

When he was called for a role in Die Beautiful, he didn’t make the cut. But when he was made to read the script, Jun, Perci and Roselle agreed to cast him for the festival entry, The rest is history.

Chito Rono will direct Christian’s first project for Regal.

HE hogged the limelight several months ISAH V. RED back when she started posting in her Instagram account her liaison with presidential son Baste Duterte. She had no inhibitions, really, in posting even those photos what many thought to be rather intimate (e.g. a photo of her and Baste with their lips locked rather casually) and eight months later when she had declared to all and sundry the relationship is now broken, Ellen Adarna would only respond with a giggle reminiscent of teenage girls who just had aborted a puppy love that could have turned serious.

Ellen Adarna recently set social media aflame again with another revealing photo one that shows her lying naked on a bed. The star, without a doubt, says director Gil Portes who cast her in Moonlight Over Baler (opening today in theaters nationwide), is sexy but many people may have forgotten that aside from her gorgeous looks and to-die-for body, Ellen also has acting chops.

This newest project marks return of Ellen’s collaboration with the director.

Moonlight Over Baler tells the love triangle between Fidela (Elizabeth Orepesa), a retired schoolteacher; Kenji (Vin Abrenica), a visiting Japanese photojournalist and Rory (Adarna), a local in Baler with whom Kenji is enamored with. The retired schoolteacher looks at Kenji is a as a mirage of Nestor (Abrenica in earlier times), the soldier she was was engaged with before the JapaneseAmerican War in the Pacific became a full-blown saga in the Philippines. The young Fidela (played by young actress Sophie Albert) loses Nestor who never comes back after the war.

Moonlight Over Baler is an epic romantic drama set in the picturesque town of Baler, and inspired by the classic song, “O Maliwanag na Buwan,” popularized by Pilita Corrales.

Ellen had displayed her acting prowess in Bayang Magiliw, a film about reproductive health. The FHM cover girl earned more favorable notices and pushed the envelope in Ang Tag-Araw ni Twinkle in which she played a drug addict-rebel. Reviewers described her performance as “believable” and “daring.”

Compared to her role in Twinkle, Ellen’s Rory is a walk in the park. Yet. in every scene that she appears in, she lights up the screen with her captivating presence, prompting leading man Vin to be awestruck.

“Sino ba naman ang hindi mabibighani sa isang Ellen Adarna?” Vin quips.

Ellen reportedly gave up a launching movie so she could be in Moonlight Over Baler,, which she found

Up-and-coming actor and GMACC talent Aaron Yanga

to be more meaningful and special.

“Ellen has a great potential to be an awardwinning performer. She should be doing more roles that showcase her range as an actress,” declares screenwriter Eric Ramos.

In a world that’s become cynical about love because of undefined relationships and messy break ups, its good to know that there are still stories about undying and courageous love.

Starring in the film is an ensemble of very talented performers Daria Ramirez, Alvin Fortuna, Kate Alejandrino, Abel Estanislao, Angie Ferro, Benjie Felipe, Jess Evardone, and many more.

Moonlight Over Baler is produced by T-Rex Entertainment.

The story is partly inspired by true events that happened in Pagbilao, Quezon, hometown of Portes who related to Ramos the story of his aunt, a teacher and her fiancé, a USAFFE soldier, who fought in the Japanese-American war in the Philippines but never returned home. Instead of “considering other romantic interests, the teacher kept pining for her missing love, praying he’d come back.

“When she reached retirement age and met a drug salesman who looked so much like her exfiancé, my aunt became friends with this young

man,” Direk Gil shares.

Upon hearing the details about Direk Gil’s aunt, Eric proceeded to fashion a tale of a woman’s devotion and sacrifice across generations. Eric’s script of Moonlight Over Baler eventually won third place in the Dulang Pampelikula category in the 2009 Gawad Palanca Awards.

Essential to the movie is “O, Maliwanag Na Buwan,” a Tagalog ditty based on the Ilocano folk song, “O, Naraniag A Bulan.” No less than National Artist for Music and Literature Levi Celerio translated this Ilocano folk song into Tagalog version that was recorded by Pilita Corrales.

Eric reveals, “The original Ilocano lyrics are actually sad but when Mr. Celerio translated them into Tagalog, the over-all message became more hopeful. From the moment I sat down to write the script, I had ‘O, Maliwanag Na Buwan’ as the theme of Fidela.”

Direk Gil, Eric and producer Rex Tiri envision Moonlight Over Baler as a film that would inspire the young and young-at-heart to believe in everlasting love.

“Nowadays when angsty ‘hugot lines’ have become the norm, we want to give the audience a reason to hope,” says Tiri. “Love is not always

Vin Abrenica shows off his sculpted physique while taping for "Moonlight Over Baler"