Manila Standard - 2017 March 22 - Wednesday

‘Leila fabricated legal papers’

By Rey E. Requejo

SOLICITOR General Jose Calida on Tuesday said detained Senator Leila de Lima fabricated the jurat— or clause in which a notary attested that she made the statements under

oath—in her petition and the attached affidavit of merit filed before the Supreme Court.

The debate over the legitimacy of the senator’s documents came as an associate justice of the high tribunal chided De Lima for her “undue

haste” in bringing her appeal directly to the Supreme Court without exhausting other legal avenues.

Before the continuation of oral arguments on De Lima’s petition questioning the legality of her arrest Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 40 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Pressure on Leni mounts Robredo faces credible ouster bid—Alvarez

By Maricel V. Cruz

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PEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday maintained he is determined to file a credible and substantive impeachment case against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“I am still studying it,” Alvarez said even as he refused to comment on the impeachment case filed by lawyer and serial impeachment filer Oliver Lozano against Robredo.

“I have not seen the complaint,” Alvarez told The Manila Standard in a text message.

Alvarez earlier accused Robredo of having a hand in the impeachment case filed against President Rodrigo Duterte by Magdalo Rep. WALK THE WALK. President Rodrigo Duterte (right), on a two-day official visit to Thailand, and his host Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha discuss fields of mutual interest, including trade and investment, agriculture, education and tourism. Three agreements are expected to be signed during the Gary Alejano. visit. AFP Alvarez noted that the filing of the impeachment complaint came on the heels of a video message Robredo sent to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs where she criticized the conduct of the administration’s war against illegal drugs.

“I will file [the impeachment complaint] as soon as I have a complete to name him as head of an army that request from Duterte—that the Pres“In the very remote and unlikely

By Christine F. Herrera study and recommendation by my lawyers,” Alvarez said last week. would battle the Chinese if the dis- ident let him use the unused jet ski event the continued incursions of Next page THE lawmaker, who accused Presi- pute over the West Philippine Sea that he said he would use to plant the China in Philippine territories lead Philippine flag on the disputed ter- to war, [I am] more than willing to dent Rodrigo Duterte of high crimes and Benham Rise leads to war.

The President’s accuser, Magdalo ritories held by China when he was fight for the country,” Alejano said. in an impeachment complaint on Next page Tuesday urged the Chief Executive Rep. Gary Alejano, said he had one still campaigning for the presidency.

Ex-mutineer vows to use jetski, lead army vs Chinese

TAP ON THE SHOULDER. PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa

presents to media Tuesday Nasip Ibrahim, the fifth suspect in the thwarted Nov. 28 bombing near the United States Embassy in Manila, arrested by law enforcement authorities the day before inside his convenience store at Salaam Compound in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City. Lino Santos

Maute terror attack in Metro foiled—PNP

By Francisco Tuyay

A POTENTIAL terror attack in Metro Manila by the Islamic State-inspired Maute group was foiled after authorities arrested a suspect, who is apparently a weapons keeper for the Maute fighters who have established a presence in the Metropolis, an official said Tuesday.

Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said Nasip Sarip alias Nasip Ibrahim, a member of the Maute group, was collared at his store on Libyan Street inside the Salam Compound in Culiat, Quezon City on Monday.

He said Ibrahim was the man who coddled Jamil Baja Tawil, a member of the Maute group who is facing arrest for illegal possesNext page sion of firearms.

Govt, Reds to restart peace gab

PH readies protest vs China

By John Paolo Bencito

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE fourth round of peace talks between the government and the communists will push through on the first week of April in an attempt to restart the stalled negotiations, an official said Tuesday.

Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Førner said the talks will be held at the seaside town of Noordwijk in The Netherlands on April 2 to 6.

“I am pleased that representatives of the Philippine Government and the NDFP will meet for a new round of talks,” Førner said in a statement sent to MaNext page nila Standard.

water sustainability challenge to reduce water usage and educate employees, business partners and communities about water stewardship.

San Miguel said it was rolling out an integrated water management

THE Philippines is preparing another protest against China over the latter’s plan to install a radar station in the Panatag or Scarborough Shoal, a Cabinet official said Tuesday.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the administration was heeding the proposal of Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio to file a protest before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague against China’s building activity in the shoal.

“I think so, there will be [a protest to be filed]. A stronger one will be filed,” Aguirre said.

Senator JV Ejercito called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to file a strong diplomatic protest against China’s incursions and building activities in Philippine territory.

“The Scarborough Shoal and Benham Rise are part of Philippine

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BASIC HAPPINESS. There has been a profound shift in attitudes

round the world, with the celebration of International Day of Happiness, after the United Nations in 2011 called for ‘a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth’—in Metro Manila, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City has joined in its observance. Norman Cruz

SMC group sets 50% cut in water use SAN Miguel Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its biggest sustainability project which involves the reduction in its use of water by 50 percent across its businesses by 2025, the country’s largest conglomerate announced during the celebration

of World Water Day. San Miguel said the project would employ measures such as water recycling, conservation and rainwater harvesting to meet the target by 2025.

It said it was taking on its own

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Duterte seeks to affirm Asean ‘code of conduct’

By John Paolo Bencito

D

ESPITE Beijing’s plans to build monitoring stations in the South China Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday vowed to finish within the Philippine chairmanship the final crafting of a framework for a legally binding “code of conduct” among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China as he underscored the need to maintain peace and stability in the region.

kok capped his 10-nation tour of Southeast Asian nations since he took office last June, earlier raised alarm over China’s plans to construct monitoring stations in the Scarborough Shoal and other vital points in the disputed waters.

Duterte said that should Beijing continue to proceed with its plans, “it might impede ... [and] would disturb the [freedom of] navigation of the sea.”

On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said that the Foreign Affairs Department is already in the process of verifying the alleged announcements of the proposal to build structures in the disputed waters.

Abella also reiterated that the Philippines is not giving up its claims and entitlements over the area. “[Duterte] has said time and again that he will defend and protect the interests of the Filipino people, and will take necessary action at at a time most fitting and

Speaking at a joint press conference with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Thai Government Building in Bangkok, Duterte insisted the need to respect the freedom of navigation and overflight within the disputed waters.

“It is imperative that both sides emphasize the need for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration of Code of Con-

duct of parties in the South China Sea and express determination to complete the framework of the code of conduct in 2017,” Duterte said Tuesday night.

Duterte said that countries should strive to respect freedom of navigation and overflight, which would be “in the interest of all countries within and outside the region,” he added.

Duterte, whose trip Bang-

Maute...

operatives from the Quezon City Police District moved to arrest Tawil but he was not around.

Sarip refused to say where Tawil was, prompting the policemen to search his house where they found firearms and magazines, an IED and seven sachets of shabu.

“This discovery leads us to believe that the Maute group has already established a presence in Metro Manila, but as to what extent is the subject of our follow-up operations,” Dela Rosa said.

“I urge our people to remain calm yet alert and vigilant.”

Dela Rosa said the terrorists were planning to use IEDs in future bomb attacks to catch the attention of ISIS. Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office Chief Oscar Albayalde said the IED recovered from Sarip’s house was supposed to be used during the procession of the Black Nazarene and the Miss Universe pageant in Manila last January.

Pressure...

in De Lima’s favor because the lower court has not yet proven her guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

“But I have some grave concern about the undue haste by which you came to this court compelling us to make a pronouncement on the issue of jurisdiction,” Tijam said.

Tijam echoed earlier observation expressed by Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco Jr. and Diosdado Peralta, who both emphasized the importance of exhausting all available administrative remedies before raising the case before the Supreme Court.

“To me, the procedure should have been—you go first to the RTC and if you do not get a favorable decision, then go here to the Court,” Peralta said.

De Lima’s lawyers led by former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay earlier argued that the Department of Justice and the Office of Solicitor General could not agree on the nature of her offense; the Muntinlupa City court handling the case lacked jurisdiction; and the drug trafficking charges against De Lima lack basis.

“In the case of the petitioner, you have a situation where the prosecutors don’t have the authority to prosecute notwithstanding their clear duty to refer the case to the Office of the Ombudsman,” Hilbay told justices during the March 14 oral arguments.

However, Tijam reminded Hilbay that as an officer of the court, his “primordial duty” is not to serve the interest of his client.

“Therefore it is incumbent upon you to advice your client to abide by the petition process, you should abide by pronounced doctrines and rules like forum shopping and hierarchy of courts,” Tijam said.

During the resumption of the oral argument, Peralta again tackled the issue of whether or not De Lima’s petition was premature as she raised before the Court practically the same issues she pending before the Muntinlupa regional trial court handling her drug cases. With Macon Ramos-Araneta, PNA

Ex-mutineer...

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“The PNP has foiled another sinister attempt by the ISIS-inspired Maute group to launch terrorist activities,” Dela Rosa said.

“I am glad that alert operatives of the NCRPO discovered and intercepted in time an improvised explosive device being prepared by the suspects even before it can be delivered to its possible target or used elsewhere.”

In 2015, reports indicated that a dozen terrorists had entered Metro Manila to launch a series of bomb attacks in public areas.

But the planned attacks were foiled following the arrest of Rayson Kilala or Rashid Kilala, 34, a resident of Barangay Bagumbayan in Bulacan, Bulacan, who was set to set off an improvised explosive device in front of US Embassy last November.

Sarip was arrested after police

‘Leila...

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in connection with drug charges filed against her, Calida said there was no record of a notary public going to Crame to visit De Lima.

If the documents are not properly notarized, he added, it will appear that no petition has been filed.

But De Lima maintained that the jurat was authentic and that the notary public met with her in Camp Crame, where she is detained.

In a press conference, Alex Padilla, legal counsel for De Lima said that the Office of the Solicitor General’s statement on the alleged defect in the notarization of her petition to the SC was a false allegation.

De Lima said that by focusing on “the bases of technicalities and in lieu of substantial arguments,” the OSG was “scraping the bottom of the barrel” to keep her detained.

But Calida said there were no entries in the log book to show that De Lima was telling the truth.

“Even Vice President Leni Robredo signed the logbook when she visited Senator De Lima,” Calida said.

On Tuesday, Supreme Court Associate Justice Noel Tijam agreed with the position taken by some fellow magistrates that De Lima may have violated the hierarchy of courts when she assailed the validity of her arrest directly before the high court following her indictment for drug trafficking charges.

Tijam made the observation during the continuation of the oral arguments on the petition filed by De Lima seeking to nullify the warrant of arrest and her trial for drug trafficking charges filed by the Justice Department before the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court.

Tijam, who was recently appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as the 15th associate justice of high tribunal, said the presumption of innocence is still

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Isabela Rep. Rodito Albano doubted that the Lozano impeachment complaint was credible.

“Why Oliver Lozano? He is a perpetual impeacher,” Albano said.

He added, however, that he did not think Duterte wanted Robredo ousted.

Liberal Party members of the House of Representatives backed Robredo, their party chairman.

Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, an LP member, said Congress “should not spend a single second on this baseless complaint,” referring to the Lozano draft.

“It is a mere scrap of paper that is supported not by any evidence, but by mere erroneous conclusions of law. Congress will only end up wasting time better spent on much needed

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“Every Filipino should be ready to defend the country as mandated by the Constitution, including myself. This would have been the best opportunity to strengthen our reserve force and reinstitute mandatory ROTC among the youth of the land,” he added.

Earlier, the Duterte dismissed Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Alejano, both unsuccessful mutineers who failed to topple President Gloria Arroyo, as being cowards who surrendered without firing a shot.

Duterte also said Alejano should lead the troops against China if he wanted to make that an issue in his impeachment complaint.

He also chided the Magdalo for doing nothing for the coun-

Govt,...

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“Despite challenges along the way, the parties continue to show their commitment to peace.”

The fourth round of talks will focus on issues such as social and economic reforms and the crafting of a bilateral ceasefire agreement, the Norwegian Embassy said.

The government and the NDF negotiators recently signed a joint agreement to revive the stalled peace talks following

SMC...

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system across its entire operations in a bid to further mesh sustainability into its business goals and processes.

Water is an essential ingredient to many of San Miguel’s brands. Beer is 90 percent water, and liquor is around 85 percent water. Across the San Miguel Group, water is used to clean,

I raised PH rights issue with Du30—Bishop AUSTRALIAN Foreign Minister Julie Bishop belied claims made

by President Rodrigo Duterte who had said that the Australian envoy never raised the issue of human rights or the thousands of Filipinos killed in his bloody war on drugs when they met in Davao City last week.

In a statement to Fairfax Media published on The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday, Bishop contradicted Duterte’s claims when she relayed her country’s concerns with respect to killings related to Duterte’s war on drugs.

“I conveyed Australian and international concerns with respect to extrajudicial killings and spoke of the importance we attach to human rights and the rule of law,” she said.

Bishop also told the New South Wales-based The Australian that “during my conversation with President Duterte we discussed the country’s antidrug campaign at length.”

“I also raised the issue with three senior ministers and I met with a member of the human rights commission and other human rights advocacy groups,” she added.

Duterte, who had nothing but praise for Bishop, claimed that the Australian diplomat “never discussed human rights.”

“Because if you say that, if you utter those things in my presence, you’ll get an insult.

So what we did was to discuss transnational crimes, terrorism,” he said in a media interview in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

“Australia? I will not pick a fight. Do not ever do that because if you can say one bad thing about me I can say five things bad about you,” he said, adding that he was “on the right track” on human rights.

Despite this, the Palace maintains that there was never a contradiction between the Australian official and the Philippine president, but “just a difference in perspective.”

“Since they had a productive dialogue which emphasized possible areas of constructive cooperation on the war against illegal drugs, [President Duterte] did not deem it sufficient to mention as having been discussed,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said. John Paolo Bencito

legislation including those on tax reform, traffic crisis act, as well as those that seek to make economic gains more inclusive,” Quimbo said.

He added: “Congress should not allow itself to be used by these ‘recidivist impeachers’ who trivialize this deeply sacred accountability measure enshrined in our constitution. We must not allow Congress and its members to be dragged into their petty political charades.”

On Tuesday, Lozano sought Alvarez’s endorsement of his six-page impeachment complaint against Robredo “for culpable violation of the Constitution and/or betrayal of public trust.”

“She is the termite of the government. Her unfaithfulness has extended to the betrayal of the public trust [and] culpable violation of the Constitution,” Lozano said in his letter to Alvarez.

In his complaint, Lozano ac-

cused Robredo of having committed “acts of injustice prejudicial to the nation and public welfare, which constitute culpable violation of the Constitution.”

Lozano dismissed as “false news” that 7,000 people had been killed by summary execution, as Robredo said in her video message to a side event of the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Because of this, Lozano said Robredo committed a “betrayal of public trust” for she has “done injustice to the Filipino people and disservice to the nation.”

Lozano also said Robredo “betrayed the people by shaming the nation with her dishonest message to the United Nation.”

“The respondent is duty bound to act within the framework of the Constitution but her acts of dishonesty and moral bankruptcy breached the bounds of the Fundamental Law,” Lozano said

in his complaint.

Senator Francis Pangilinan on Tuesday scored Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III after he challenged LP senators to denounce the filing of an impeachment complaint against President Duterte, to show they had no hand in it.

“Who is he to tell us what to do? He is not the only elected senator,” Pangilinan, president of the LP, said in a statement.

“We are not behind the impeachment complaint, but we are also not puppets who merely follow,” he added.

Pangilinan noted that they have already been stripped off of committee chairmanships in the Senate and yet are expected to denounce the complaint only to prove that they are not behind it.

In an interview over radio dzBB on Sunday, Pimentel challenged LP senators to denounce Alejano’s filing of an impeachment complaint against Duterte.

try but cause trouble.

The insults seemed to hit home for Alejano, a former captain in the Marine Corps.

“Service to the country is nothing new to me. I am more than willing to fight for this country, to lead our troops against China, or any other foreign intruder,” Alejano said in a statement.

He cited his various combat and rescue operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group and other bandits in Western Mindanao.

He also said he was wounded in the campaign to capture Camp Abubakar and awarded various medals, including the Distinguished Conduct Star.

“We support the President in his desire to subscribe to an independent foreign policy. We, in the Magdalo maintain that an independent foreign policy is vital in the pursuit of development and the territorial integrity of the country based on clearly

stated principles and practices.

We respect the national interest of other countries such as China, however, if their interest conflicts with ours, then by all means we should prioritize ours,” Alejano said.

Alejano maintained that the administration should use the United Nations arbitral tribunal decision favoring the Philippines over China in the maritime dispute over the resourcerich West Philippine Sea as a bargaining chip in asserting the Philippines’ rights over the disputed waters.

Alejano said he supports the continued engagement of the Philippines with China economically and culturally.

However, the congressman insisted that this engagement should hinge on a clear principle of respect and recognition of the country’s rights over WPS and Benham Rise.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s three “requests” before any negotiation could proceed: A genuine ceasefire done in sincerity, the release of all soldiers and civilians being held captive by the NPA, and a stop to the NPA’s extortion activities.

The continuation of the drafting of three substantial agenda―social and economic reforms, constitutional and political reforms and an end to hostilities―were among the issues left hanging after Duterte decided to terminate the peace talks amid the breakdown of

their respective unilateral ceasefires in early February.

The Philippines and the communists initially agreed in Rome in January to resume the negotiations in Oslo in April.

“This will be the fourth round of talks since formal negotiations were resumed summer 2016. This round will focus on issues such as social and economic reforms and a bilateral ceasefire agreement,” Førner said.

The talks will once again be led by the Norwegian Special Envoy to the Philippine peace process, Ambasador Elisabeth Slåttum.

territory. It is our sworn duty to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Ejercito said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto supported Carpio’s recommendation to rethink our relations with China.

“I agree with him. Totally.

Maybe not to use the word ‘rethink’ but ‘review’. The connotation is different,” he said.

Aguirre said President Rodrigo Duterte will not surrender the nation’s sovereignty despite his reported pronouncement that the government would be helpless if China built structure in the shoal.

“Definitely, he will not let go of [Panatag Shoal],” Aguirre said.

“As a matter of fact, we are strengthening our relationship with the US” in response to China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea. The filing of a protest was among the five-point strategy suggested by Carpio on how the government could respondent to China’s building activities in the Panatag Shoal.

Carpio said the government could also send the Philippine Navy to patrol the shoal.

“If the Chinese attack Philippine Navy vessels, then [we will] invoke the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Agreement which covers any armed attack on Philippine navy vessels operating in the South China Sea,” Carpio said.

cool, heat, produce steam and pasteurize. It is an important input to raw materials and packaging and major input to the power and oil refining industries.

“San Miguel is going to set an example in its responsible use and management of water,” said SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang. “Many of our facilities are already efficient in terms of using water, but we can always do more. Given the scale of our

need, we’re working to become more conscious about our water footprint,” he said.

A major component of San Miguel’s water strategy involves minimizing the amount of water it draws from ground water sources, and instead reusing and recycling process water and harvesting rainwater.

The company said it could also utilize surface runoff water (usually excess stormwater) from mountains, creeks and riv-

ers and filter and store these for irrigation.

Ang said the first year of implementation would focus on establishing baseline information, data that would then be analyzed to see where the company could improve both, in terms of efficiency and conservation.

Metering and establishing operating standards is the first order of the day. While many of the newer plants have water meters per line and per process,

advantageous to us,” he added.

Discussions on the code between China and Asean, four of whose members—the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei—have claims in the South China Sea that overlap those of China, have taken place for over a decade already amid lingering tensions in the waters.

In July last year, foreign ministers of Asean and China “committed to the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entry and working substantively towards the early adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea based on consensus.”

After that statement, on-andoff consultations between Asean and China for the adoption of the code of conduct resumed.

In the same statement, Duterte expressed elation on the possible start of the inaugural joint military cooperation between Filipino and Thai military starting this year.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Venue of peace talks to return to PH shores

By John Paolo Bencito

FARMERS’ PLEA. Militant groups stage a protest rally Tuesday in front of the National Housing Authority in Quezon City, calling on the Duterte administration to stop the alleged killing of farmers and the forced evacuation of their families from their homes. Lino Santos

IN BRIEF NHA to proceed with eviction of illegal occupants THE National Housing Authority stood its ground to adhere to the rule of law and proceed legally with the eviction of those who illegally occupied government housing units in Bulacan’s Pandi and San Jose del Monte.

General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. vowed to exhaust all legal and “peaceful” means to solve the issue.

“The NHA will come up with housing programs and projects appropriate to their needs with necessary budget from the national government and we will advocate and aggressively pursue this for the funding in 2018 and beyond,” he said.

The relocation of qualified housing beneficiaries to the unoccupied housing units is scheduled this summer break to accommodate the school-age children of families and their enrollment in their new local schools, he said.

“We ask them to vacate the units and follow the housing procedures, like answering the housing information form, screening process and awarding/beneficiary selection,” he added. Rio Araja

American sex convict wanted in Texas nabbed THE Bureau of Immigration arrested an American sex convict wanted by authorities in Texas for a string of criminal cases, who was hiding in rebel infested Insula, Sultan Kudarat.

Steven Riley thought he would be safe from being arrested by immigration operatives when he decided to live and stay in Sultan Kudarat, a lair of Abu Sayyaf terror group and well-known kidnap-forransom group.

BI commissioner Jaime Morente said he issued the mission order for Riley’s arrest at the request of the US Embassy in Manila which sought the BI’s help in locating the fugitive so he could be deported to the US to stand trial for his crimes.

He said the district court in Denton, Texas issued an arrest warrant against Riley last Jan. 13 upon learning he had jumped bail and fled the US. He was previously convicted of sexually assaulting a 45-year-old woman.

Aside from being a sex offender, Riley was also indicted for causing bodily injury to a family member; larceny; violation of protective order by assaulting and stalking his former victim; disturbance of public peace; harassment; drunk driving; and misdemeanor. Vito Barcelo

Congress expected to okay free internet access in 2017

S

ENATE President Aquilino Pimentel III on Tuesday said Congress was expected to approve this year the bill on free internet access in all public places and six other key priority measures when it resumes session after the Lenten recess in May. Pimentel, president of the administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan said the “super majority” in the House was giving Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez an easy job to get support for priority measures.

“I am confident the House would easily accomplish its mission,” Pimentel said.

To date, the Senate has approved the seven priority bills on third reading and sent them to the House of Representatives for concurrence to provide, among others, full tuition subsidy for college and university students and those in technical-vocational schools, both private and public.

Pimentel said both the Senate and the House had also passed the bills extending the franchises of GMA Network Inc. Franchise and the Smart Communications Inc. for 25 more years.

He noted the Senate had approved the country’s accession to the Paris Agreement on climate change and ratified both the social security pact with Japan and membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Poor students would soon avail themselves of full tuition subsidy in state universities and colleges and private higher education and technical-vocational schools as the proposed Free Higher Education Act passed

third reading in the Senate.

Also approved on final reading were the Philippine Food Technology Act for the registration, licensure and practice of food technology and the proposed Philippine National Police reorganization to allow the PNP chief and the CIDG to administer oath and issue subpoena duces tecum.

The proposed Speech Language Pathology Act was also passed on third reading to regulate the practice of speech language pathology and the Expanded Maternity Leave Law to give 120 days of maternity leave for workers in government service and the private sector.

Moreover, every 25th day of November would soon be declared National Technical Vocational Day after the Senate passed the proposed measure on third reading and sent it to the House for concurrence.

A total 39 priority measures plus the proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act were tackled by the Senate, including the proposed emergency

powers to be granted to the President to address transportation and traffic congestion crises in Metro Manila and other key cities.

Meanwhile, passed on second reading were the proposed Philippine Mental Health Act to promote mental health, promulgate a national mental health policy towards the enhancement of integrated mental health services and the promotion and protection of persons utilizing mental health services, and establish a Philippine Mental Health Council.

Scheduled for second reading are bills on Free School Feeding/ Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy, Amendments to Republic Act No. 9160 or the AMLA, Corporation Code of the Philippines, Coconut Farmers and Industry Development, Revised Penal Code, Ease of Doing Business/Fast Business Permit, Refusal of Hospital and Medical Clinics to Administer Medical Treatment in Emergency Case, Traffic Congestion Crisis, AntiDiscrimination, and Amendments to the Social Security law. PNA

THE Philippines and Malaysia on Tuesday finally agreed on a new facilitator in the government’s peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, reaffirming Malaysia’s role in the implementation of peace talks between the government and Moro rebels.

This, as the venue of the meetings of the implementation of the peace talks return to Philippine shores more than a decade after being held in Malaysia.

In a joint statement signed

by Government Implementing Panel chairman Irene Santiago and MILF Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal in Kuala Lumpur, both groups announced the appointment of Dato’ Kamarudin bin Mustafa, a former Malaysian Ambassador to Russia as the new third party facilitator for the peace negotiations.

He will replace the late Tengku Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mohamed who passed away on Sept. 2, 2016.

Murad earlier said the President agreed to reinstate the facilitator role during a meeting in early December in Davao City, in the presence of peace secretary Jesus Dureza.

In that meeting, Murad said it was agreed the implementing panels “will jointly request Malaysia for the appointment of a new facilitator.”

The International Monitoring Team and the Ad Hoc Joint Action Group will also be extended for another year until March 2018 “in recognition of the important roles that these mechanisms play in the GPHMILF Peace Process,” the statement read.

The IMT ensures the strict observance of the implementation of cessation of hostilities between the government and the MILF, while the AHJAG seeks to interdict and isolate lawless elements that take refuge in or near MILF communities.

After more than a decade, peace negotiations were transferred back to the Philippines “in the spirit of ensuring efficiency in the implementation of peace agreements.”

Kuala Lumpur has been host to the peace negotiations since it started during the Ramos administration in the 1990s.

Poe files bill to benefit elderly Group told to rev up

By Macon Ramos-Araneta bill on Magna Carta SENATOR Grace Poe has filed a measure seeking to mandate the reservation and designation of priority seating for the elderly in public transportation to give them better access, safety and comfort.

In filing Senate Bill No. 1367 that proposes to amend certain provisions of Republic Act No. 7432, as amended, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Poe wants to ‎cover jeepneys, buses, rail services and commercial air and sea transport.

“The welfare of the elderly should be given priority in public transportation because their condition is not a joke. Most of the time, they have some ailment... they easily [get] tired. Let us prioritize them,” said Poe.

She added such positive cultural norm among many Filipinos in giving up their seats to the elderly must be institutionalized.

Batas Pambansa 344 or the Accessibility Law mandates that posters or stickers shall be used on public transport to generate awareness of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities, which includes the marking of priority seats for PWDs. This was absent in the Expanded Senior Citizens Law, despite having been amended several times.

“In fact, the latest iteration of the law under RA 9994 merely states that the Department of Transportation shall develop a program to assist senior citizens to fully gain access to public transport facilities,” Poe said, referring to the law that amended the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.

INAUGURAL SUMMIT. Pagcor Chairperson Andrea Domingo (center) is flanked by Asean Gaming Summit managing directors Rosalind Wade (right) and Luis Pereira in Tuesday’s briefing at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City, the three-day introductory summit ending March 23 drawing together the region’s leading operators, regulators and suppliers, both terrestrial and online. Ey Acasio

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House committee on youth and sports development has ordered the technical working group to speed up the approval of the proposed measure that seeks to promote the welfare of student-athletes.

The panel, chaired by Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III, named Antipolo City Rep. Cristina “Chiqui” Roa-Puno as head of the TWG to fine-tune the bill authored by deputy speaker and Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.

Cayetano recalled that her staff originally drafted the “Magna Carta of Student- Athletes” as contained in House Bill 583 when she was still a senator.

Cayetano said the proposed bill of rights for student-athletes shall endeavor to address issues and concerns encountered for many years by many student-athletes, past and present, as there is no existing law that promotes and protects their overall welfare.

“The intention of the bill is to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the educational institutions of what these students go through and what they bring to their schools in terms of honor and prestige. Yet, it must always be emphasized that they are students and not just athletes,” Cayetano said.

The bill also aims to provide appropriate recognition and pro-

tection to the rights and general welfare of student-athletes encompassing academic, amateur sports, and mental and physical aspects.

It also recognizes that student-athletes should be protected from discriminatory policies that may restrict their participation in any field of amateur sports which they have chosen to join and compete in and consequently hinder the development of their full potential as athletes and well-rounded citizens of the country.

Cayetano said the bill recognizes the vital role of the schools and accredited athletic associations not only in providing the opportunity and avenue for student-athletes to join and excel in sports, but also in ensuring the protection of student-athletes from physical harm, discrimination, and other potentially harmful consequences of training and competing in their respective fields of amateur sports.

For his part, Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo said that despite the passage of Republic Act 10676 in 2014, its implementing rules and regulations have not yet been promulgated.

The bill provides the CHED and the Department of Education, in consultation with the Philippine Sports Commission, shall draw up the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10676.

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Opinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

An ugly legacy

I

T IS ironic to listen to Liberal Party politicians complain about a proposal to impeach Vice President Leni Robredo over a video address she made for an international human rights conference in Vienna this month.

“Our people feel both hopeless and helpless,” Robredo told delegates to a side session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting, after stating that 7,000 people have been summarily executed in the government’s anti-drug war.

Robredo painted a grim picture of Filipinos living in fear, as she took President Rodrigo Duterte to task for police abuses in his campaign against illegal drugs.

The President’s supporters quickly jumped on this and threatened to impeach her for betrayal of the public trust for making false accusations that brought shame and discredit, not only to the government, but to the entire country.

Without any proof, they also linked her to an impeachment complaint earlier filed by the Magdalo party-list group against President Duterte.

Liberal Party vice chairman Senator Franklin Drilon said there was no basis for filing an impeachment complaint against Robredo, chairman of the LP. “I could not figure out how you connect criticisms of policies of this administration with betrayal of public trust. Maybe we will wait to see how they connect these,” he said in a TV interview.

Liberal Party officials and Robredo herself also denied any connection to the impeachment complaint filed against the President.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, however, seems adamant and says the supermajority in the House of Representatives has the numbers to send Robredo to an impeachment trial before the Senate, in what is widely seen as a political, not a judicial process.

Robredo’s spokesperson reproached Alvarez, calling his threat “baseless and irresponsible.”

“From what we understand, there is no basis

whatsoever for his threats. Issuing such statements was very irresponsible as these had no basis,” the spokesperson said. “They are afraid of dissent so they try to silence detractors.

That does not seem right.”

In the House, another LP member, House Deputy Speaker Miro Quimbo said Congress should not spend a single second on a “baseless complaint” that was drafted in reaction to Alvarez’s statements.

“It’s a mere scrap of paper that is supported not by any evidence but by mere erroneous conclusions of law. Congress will only end up wasting time better spent on much needed legislation including those on tax reform, criminal justice overhaul, traffic crises act as well as those that seek to make economic gains more inclusive.

“Congress should not allow itself to be used by these recidivist impeachers who trivialize this deeply sacred accountability measure enshrined in our Constitution. We must not allow Congress and its members to be dragged into their petty political charades,” Quimbo said.

“It’s a travesty to our political institutions if

we are to allow these people to cheapen this process,” Quimbo added.

Quimbo should know. He was, after all, one of the prosecutors in such a political travesty, which led to the ouster by impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona, who was publicly raked over the coals and convicted of the “high crime” of fudging on his statements of assets and liabilities. Corona’s real crime was his readiness to stand up to then President Benigno Aquino IV on a number of issues, including the fate of Mr. Aquino’s family-owned hacienda.

For this reason, Mr. Aquino mobilized the entire machinery of government—and liberally doled out public funds to lawmakers—to oust the chief justice.

For the Liberals to speak of cheapening the process ignores the lessons of recent history and obscures the fact that it was they that started the ball rolling on trivializing the constitutional remedy of impeachment.

This was the legacy of Mr. Aquino, and it is an ugly one indeed.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Robredo: An enemy of the people

Seeing Marcos, again LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES WHEN cornered, blame Marcos. That seems to be the game plan of Vice President Leni Robredo and her Liberal Party right now.

The lawyer of Robredo, former Akbayan congressman and LP spokesman Ibarra Gutierrez, said in an interview yesterday that the fact that lawyer Oliver Lozano, who is identified with the Marcos family, submitted the first impeachment complaint against Robredo is “worrisome.”

Gutierrez hinted that former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr.— who is protesting Robredo’s victory in the elections last May—may be behind the move to impeach Robredo.

The theory is so silly, it must

be dismissed out of hand.

First of all, Lozano, who gained notoriety during the Arroyo administration for filing impeachment complaints annually in order to “inoculate” the President from further charges for a year, is probably just chasing what he thinks is a huge money-making ambulance for him. Even his hastily filed complaint has not been officially received yet, since Congress is on recess and cannot act on it.

Lozano’s complaint was merely brought to the office of House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and doesn’t even have a congressman to sponsor it, as the rules require. (This is why Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano’s earlier complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte was filed on the last session day, when it could be received, with Alejano himself as the sponsor.)

Second, the real complaint that

will be filed against Robredo, based mainly on her ill-advised video message played back at a United Nations-sponsored conference in Vienna, Austria last week, will only be revealed in a press conference tomorrow.

If Robredo’s lawyers think this is about Marcos, she’s definitely going to lose her case.

This complaint was drafted by a team of lawyers acting as private citizens who decided to do something about Robredo’s speech shortly after it was posted on the video-sharing site YouTube.

I’ve been told that Alvarez himself is planning to endorse this—not Lozano’s—complaint.

And Marcos or any member of his family certainly have nothing to do with it.

But that’s just how the LP has always operated. The remnants of the Yellow regime cannot seem to accept that the people have turned their backs on them and that they will retaliate against anyone who unjustly attacks Duterte.

Marcos isn’t even going to succeed Robredo if she is removed, since he is not even a member of the present Congress. As far as I know—and I personally know some of the lawyers who drafted the real complaint—none of them are even remotely associated with the Marcoses.

What’s truly worrisome is the quality of legal help that Robredo is getting. If her lawyers think this is about Marcos, she’s definitely going to lose her case.

*** For years, I routinely castigated Sonny Coloma for not having a clue when he worked as head of the Aquino media team. But I was talking about his abilities as a government propagandist, not as the administrator of state facilities.

Workers at the APO Production Unit, a government printing facility, are up in arms over what they say is an overpriced, grossly disadvantageous deal giving the printing of e-passports to a private-sector outfit through a joint venture scheme. The outsourcing deal, crafted in 2015, gave the lion’s share of the revenues to a private company called United Graphic Expression Corp., after the job of printing passports was removed from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The deal is no small potatoes.

Industry sources placed the cost of a single blank passport Turn to A5

BY NOW, millions would have viewed, read and known about Vice President Leni Robredo’s five-and-a-half-minute video addressed March 15 to the United Nations Commission on Narcotics Drugs denouncing alleged human rights violations by the Rodrigo Duterte administration in the Philippines.

In the video, the second highest official of the land talks about what she calls “very grim statistics: since July last year, more than 7,000 people have been killed in summary executions.” “Our people feel both hopeless and helpless—a state of mind that we must all take seriously,” she relates.

She claims “around 500 complaints have been filed at the Commission on Human Rights and recommended to the Department of Justice for filing of cases, but until now, seven months into the administration’s drug war, no information has been filed.”

Smiling throughout her narration, a stunningly made-up Robredo shows no grimness of face, nor a heart riven by sadness, and nor her passion apparent for those she claims whose rights are being violated by “summary executions”, for “our people [who] feel both hopeless and helpless”, for those “who may have undergone trauma due to extrajudicial killings.”

Throughout the 330 seconds of her video, Leni sounds like a woman who has just said yes to a suitor and was looking forward to a dinner by candlelight after shooting the video and loading it online.

The first two reactions to her video notice the obvious.

“Why don’t I see seriousness in your eyes?” asks Gen Lowenberg. “It’s like you are reciting a poem in front of the teachers and the class.”

“She was so concerned of how she looks. Walang feeling sa kung ano yung binabasa. Mahalaga sa kanya mabasa nya at pa-cute at pa-charming sya.

(She had no feeling with what she was reading. All that was important to her was to read it and make sure she looked cute and charming”), chimed in Mabait Tingnan.

The video is damaging to the Philippines. The uninitiated gets the impression that the Philippines is a country which violates UN treaties and international human rights norms, where there is no rule of law, where basic human rights are not respected and are instead abused, where people are gripped by fear and whose daily struggles are escalating, where the leader allows lies to distort the truth, and Turn to A5

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Opinion

WHAT is happening to the list system. The idea is to have country today brings forth marginalized sectors of sociemore questions. Why are there ty be represented in Congress. impeachment complaints But who are actually there? against President Rodrigo Du- Many of them represent the terte and Vice President Leni elite, if not political dynasties!

Robredo?

I can cite many other flaws Destabilization rumors are of the Constitution. I wish attempts of the opposition— though we could return to the mainly the Yellowtards—to two-party system so that peoreturn to power. My gulay, we ple can have very clear choichave a vice president too eager es. What we have now only to become President just in leads to more confusion. case the electoral protest case *** she is facing prospers!

I heard President Duterte The impeachment case say that when he gets a whiff against the President, while of corruption by his own apcoming from a party-list rep- pointees, he does not hesitate resentative from the Magdalo to fire them. group of Senator Antonio TrilRecall that he fired two of lanes IV, is a perfect example his fraternity brothers at the of moves by the political op- Bureau of Immigration and ponents of Duterte. We know his campaign spokesman at full well it will not succeed. the National Irrigation AdThe House of Representatives ministration. Now, another of has a super majority beholden his appointees, Philippine Coto the President. conut Authority Avelino AnSo why dal, has been are the Yelsuspended lowtards in a pending inhurry? They vestigation have had into allegedly The six years in shady dealpower and Yellowtards are ings. they squan- plotting a return All these dered it. The are good but I r e s o u n d i n g to power. think Mr. Duvictory of terte can rePresident ally show us he is serious Duterte last year very in the fight clearly says the people would against corruption if he acts have no more of the Yellow on the allegations that Envibrand of politics. ronment Secretary-designate Actually, the issue high- Regina Lopez committed graft lights a flaw in the Constitu- and corruption. tion. We always have a presiLopez is accused of going dent who has a vice president on a trip to Paris courtesy of a belonging to a different politi- friend seeking something from cal party. the Department of Energy.

This is not the way it is in No less than the business the American system. development officer who faThis is the reason the Phil- cilitated the junket filed the ippines is now inflicted by charge! the desire of a vice president The issue is that Lopez acto become president, too soon. cepted gifts from a private It is hypocritical on the part company in exchange for a faof Robredo to say she has no vor that secured for the firm a desire of becoming president. multi-million peso government Why do you think she is mak- contract. The charge is that ing all these noises?

Lopez received an all-expense Congress should look hard paid trip to Paris amounting at the Constitution and consid- to 38,380 euros or P2.05 miler bringing back the system of lion, in exchange for using her block voting for president and influence as DENR secretary vice president. We talk of re- to speed up the approval of the forming the fundamental law French friend’s solar farm pro—well, here is one aspect that ject in Zamboanga. must be changed. We need to Given this, the President get rid of the system where the really has no reason to two top officials of the land reappoint Lopez to his Cabinet are not on the same page inso- since she has been bypassed far as the best interests of the anyway by the Commission on country are concerned.

Appointments.

Another anomaly in the Mr. President, prove to us 1987 Constitution is the party- that nobody is above the law.

Seeing...

From A4 at P200, while the microchip needed for the security features costs only P100. Add the cost of security ink and thread used for binding the passport and P400 sounds like a fair price.

The Department of Foreign Affairs receives at least 17,000 passport applications a day and processes an estimated 5.1 million applications per year. With passports costing P950 each, the DFA earns about P500 for every passport released.

Under its 10-year contract with UGEC, APO-PU stands to receive an estimated P25.5 billion. Except that under the deal, the government agency will only earn a tenth of that amount, with the private partner getting 90 percent in the lopsided sharing scheme.

The deal was entered into by Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma on the part of the government, after the BSP said it wanted to

let go of the passport printing job in order to focus on printing currency. Little did anyone know at the time that Coloma and his private partner may as well be printing money through the lucrative—and onerous, for the public— contract.

I’ve been told that right now, on the basis of the employees’ revelations, the Commission on Audit is going over the APO-PU’s books with a finetoothed comb. Thus far, CoA has reportedly discovered questionable disbursements, including huge commissions and consultancy fees paid to several unnamed personalities.

And here I was, believing that Coloma, as one of the three Cabinet members in charge of President Noynoy Aquino, didn’t know what he was doing on the job. I can’t believe Coloma wasn’t aware that he was going into a deal that would oppress the millions of Filipinos who needed to get travel documents, especially those who were looking for jobs overseas.

A5

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The impeachment fever

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Why there is destabilization

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT SEEMS the impeachment fever is on both sides of the political divide. Now it’s Vice President Leni Robredo who’s being threatened with impeachment by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

For what? Alvarez, a known attack dog of President Rodrigo Duterte, is after Robredo for what he perceives as having “put the country in a bad light” when she sent a video tape to the United Nations in Vienna detailing the extrajudicial killings in the government’s brutal war on drugs.

Somebody should tell Alvarez that the EJK issue on the war on drugs is known the world over, even without the Robredo tape.

The VP merely compiled all the reports and film footage of bloodied victims sprawled on the ground after being shot by police operatives. The almost-daily killings of drug suspects are shown mornings and evenings on national TV news and picked up by international media like CNN, BBC and the New York Times.

Alvarez went the extra mile to point out that if his President is impeached in the case filed by Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary Alejano, the vice president would be the beneficiary. But of course!

That is the order of succession in our Constitution. Under the constitutional succession, it is Vice President Robredo’s duty to assume the role of president. Duterte’s remark that Robredo is in a hurry to become president only betrays his own insecurity. Alvarez, though, forgot to mention that under the leadership succession order, he’s also in line as president after the Senate President.

Duterte’s Speaker should first have the “bebot” to handle the im-

peachment case filed in the House.

After it has been dismissed, it should then proceed to push the case against Robredo. The way it looks, the Alvarez move is only a tit-for-tat leverage for the impeachment case filed against Duterte.

Except for speaking out against the extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s war on drugs, Robredo is probably the least aggressive VP and ranking member of the opposition Liberal Party or whatever is left of it. Most of its members have switched political side to join the ruling party of President Duterte’s PDP-Laban.

Instead of pushing for federalism and the restoration of the death penalty, our legislators should focus on instituting an iron-clad two- party system to avert turncoatism. Their other focus should be to ban political dynasties. But then, politicians would never ever enact laws that would be their own death knell to staying in power.

Perennial impeachment case filer Oliver Lozano was beaten to the draw by Alejano’ action against Duterte. Feeling upstaged, the lawyer Lozano is stewing.

Known as the serial impeachment filer against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, other lawyers fault Lozano for filing weak or defective impeachment cases. This, observers claim, is merely to shield the object of his complaint so no other case can be filed against her. The law provides that only one impeachment case in a year can be filed against an incumbent president.

Both Duterte and Robredo have denied they are behind the two impeachment cases. If so, then who are behind these legal maneuverings? House Speaker Alvarez is never shy to say he’s at the forefront of the impeach-Robredo move. The case against Duterte was filed by Magdalo Party-List Rep. Gary Alejano. A known confederate of Senator Sonny Trillanes in past coup attempts, Alejano may be suspected of acting on the order of Trillanes,

a former navy captain who gained prominence in the Oakwood mutiny against Arroyo.

Alejano’ case is based on several allegations which were partly President Duterte’s doing, particularly his overzealous war on drugs. Unmindful of the European Union’s and human rights groups’ concern, Duterte said the renewed anti narcotics drive will even be more brutal.

Lest my comments are misconstrued as in defense of Robredo, I would like to make clear that I do not know Robredo. I have never even met her. Robredo, however, could be more firm and emphatic when making public statements.

She should, without being contentious, be stronger in her statement in denying any hand in the impeachment case against Digong.

She has been marginalized and left with no options but to resign from her Housing and Resettlement Cabinet post when the President told her not to attend any more Cabinet meetings. She was also excluded from diplomatic receptions at the Palace when the protocol is that the Vice President must be invited to the occasion.

Robredo, therefore, could no longer be blamed for acting like the opposition after all the indignities she has suffered under this president.

The Alejano impeachment case filed against Duterte includes graft for allegedly amassing P2.2 billon in several bank accounts, the extrajudicial killings in the administration’s bloody war on illegal drugs , human rights violations and betrayal of public trust.

Graft might be hard to prove without a paper trail tracing the money to Duterte’s accounts. Allegations of human rights violations in the summary killings of drug suspects could be as difficult as this has to be proven it is a state policy.

Where, then, is Duterte vulnerable?

If we are to listen to the words of Antonio Carpio, Senior Associate

Justice of the Supreme Court, it is in the area of betrayal of public trust.

The President of the Republic, according to Carpio, took an oath and swore to defend the territorial sovereignty of the Philippines. We have yet to see Duterte do this. What we have seen instead is accommodation and a weak response to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese have seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines and turned it into a military installation that effectively bars our fishermen into the marine resource -rich waters near Bajo Masinloc off Zambales. The 200 kilometers from our coastline is our exclusive economic zone as mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea. The Hague international court upheld Manila’s challenge to Beijing’s sweeping claim of nearly the entire South China Sea. Instead of asserting our sovereign right to the West Philippine Sea, Duterte appears to be subservient to China’s aggression while accepting multi-million loans and grants of purportedly development funds for agriculture and infrastructure projects, Should there not be a red line between government-to-government assistance and accepting funds by looking the other way?

Justice Carpio suggests that the government should file a strong protest against Chinese aggression and violations of our territorial waters, He went further to say that Duterte should sent Philippine Navy vessels back to Scarborough Shoal and accost the Chinese ships. If attacked by the Chinese, Carpio said the country could then seek American assistance under the PHL-US Mutual Defense Treaty of 1956.

But then, what are we talking about? The Alejano impeachment case against President Duterte will never prosper in the House with the administration-controlled super majority. Impeachment, after all, is more than just a legal action.

It is political and a numbers game.

Politics and tourism SO I SEE LITO BANAYO THE warmed-up relations between the Philippines and China has begun to reap benefits to the national economy.

The recent visit of Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang resulted in the firming up of several loan packages as well as outright grants to finance badly needed infrastructure, not only in Mindanao but in Metro Manila as well.

There are more lined up as soon as feasibility studies on proposed projects are completed.

This is in contrast to the situation in the last six years when icy-cold relations on account of our previous leader’s conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea, a.k.a.

South China Sea prevailed.

Looking, for instance, at the table of net foreign direct investments into the Philippines last year, I noticed that Japan, the biggest source of FDI, brought in 993.1 million dollars worth of investments, followed by Hong Kong with 611.6, Singapore with 156.2, and Taiwan with 147.7 million. Germany, the USA, Spain came in next. The top ten country investors accounted for 2.255 billion dollars of new capital invested into the Philippines last year.

But nowhere was the People’s Republic of China.

Compare that to the huge volume of investments we will be getting this year and the next more years from China. The way I look at it, the country’s foreign direct investments could reach 6 billion this year, and more in the coming years, and at least 75 percent of these

Robredo:...

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does not evoke in our people hope and inspiration.

It is as if the one in the video speaking was not the Vice President of the Philippines, nor a Filipino. Because no Filipino in his right mind and who truly loves his country should do those things: Shame the country before the world and before seven billion other people.

What is galling are the lies that Robredo peddles before the world.

She claims, for instance, that 500 complaints have been filed before the Commission on Human Rights on extrajudicial killings and not a single case has been filed by the Department of Justice. I called the office of the CHR chair yesterday. They couldn’t confirm the bloated figures.

As you know, ours is not a small country. With a population of 105 million, the Philippines is the 12th largest

would come from only three economies: China, Japan and Taiwan.

One especially big boost with immediate benefits to the economy is the promise to bring in at least one million tourists to visit the country from China.

This is a case where good politics will become a boost to our tourism.

We had close to 6 million visitor arrivals in 2016. There were more visitors from tiny Taiwan than huge China. Think of an increase of one million. That is a 17-percent increase in just one year. And if we build more and better infrastructure and solve the congestion in our airports, if we make our beautiful islands more accessible, Secretary Wanda Teo’s wish for 10 million tourists by 2020 will be well neigh possible.

Even in Taiwan, I note that on the basis of visa applications for the last two months alone, an increase of some 25 percent in visitor arrivals this year compared to last is very doable. And with our office and the new tourism attaché here joining hands in promoting interest in the country, we should easily achieve our targets.

Already, flights to and from Manila and Taipei have increased in frequency, with new player Air Asia inaugurating daily flights to Manila and even Cebu starting December last year. As for China, there will be direct flights from Shanghai and Guangzhou to Cebu soon, and many more from different major cities there to our other destinations such as Aklan and Palawan.

The multiplier effect of tourist spending is phenomenal. Not only the airline industry, but hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir shops, down the line. The other good thing about tourism as an economic driver is that even semiskilled and minimally-schooled

workers can be employed in the hospitality industry.

Political decisions can also affect tourist arrivals negatively, as in Taiwan.

Some kind of cold war now defines the cross-strait relations between China and this country. And visitor arrivals from “greater” China, or the mainland, has gone down, per news reports by at least 35 percent between 2016 and 2015.

When the relations warmed up during the previous regime, so many enterprising Taiwanese businessmen built more hotels and restaurants, as the boom required more rooms and food outlets. And even with a multiplicity of hotels, 80-percent occupancy was the norm.

But on business travellers alone, a peak of 1 million visitors in 2008 has gone down by half in 2016. The new administration has unveiled a new “Southbound” policy which aims to strengthen better economic and bilateral relations between Taiwan and mostly Asean countries. Hopefully, this would fill the gap occasioned by the China cross-strait thaw.

Those who fret about what they perceive to be soured relations between the Philippines and its previous colonial “master”, the US of A will do well to analyze the statistics.

In the last five years, US investments in the country has not figured in the top sources of FDIs. And if you de-construct visitor arrivals from North America, you will note that some two-thirds of these visitors are really Fil-Ams or Fil-Canadians. While I do not discount their contribution to the economy, as visitors, they do not spend as much as the full-foreign visitors.

I always write that good economics is good politics. Similarly, shifts in political decisions and developments impact positively or negatively on a nation’s economy,

particularly on tourism. *** Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani, diplomat, statesman and nationalist passed away last Monday the 20th of March, at 2:40 in the morning in the intensive-care unit of St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig, where she had been confined for about a month.

At the time of her demise, she was a member of the board of directors of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), our country’s representative office in Taiwan.

Before that, she was an accomplished senator for two terms, a distinguished career foreign service officer, having been Philippine ambassador to Romania, Hungary and the then-separated East Germany (now united with the West as the Federal Republic of Germany), and to Australia as well.

She wa an Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and served the United Nations in various high positions.

She was with MECO as director from 2001 to 2004 under President Arroyo, thence re-appointed

by President Aquino from 2010 to 2016. Last July, her skills were once again harnessed by President Duterte to continue her service to the nation as a director of MECO. Within the short period of her latest appointment, it was my privilege to have been mentored by this great lady on the nuances of the crossstrait relations and our country’s role as friends of both China and Taiwan. She has always stressed the importance of fostering stronger education and cultural ties with our neighbor to the north. In the short period that she has guided us in MECO, many of her advocacies are now seeing fruition.

She will be greatly missed. Our profound condolences to the family.

nation on earth. In terms of nominal GDP (or economic output in current dollars), among 217 countries, we are 38th largest with GDP of $291 billion.

In GDP purchasing power parity (or measured in what the US dollar can buy in local goods), the Philippines is the 27th largest country with GDP of $741 billion. In Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, Filipinos are middle class, with $3,547 per person income, nearly ten times the so-poverty income ($365).

In other measures of wealth, the Philippines is No. 2 in richness and diversity of its biodiversity, the world’s No. 1 nickel producer, the third richest in gold reserves, fourth in copper reserves, and the fifth largest mineralized country. We are also the world’s second-largest archipelago with a coastline twice that of the US in length. We have the largest number of marine workers in the world.

In terms of democratic habits and gender equality, the Philippines has had two woman presidents, only 40

years after gaining independence from America. We don’t have a tradition of employing slaves. The US does. Twelve US presidents owned slaves, including George Washington, the Father of the Nation.

The Americans, 241 years after independence, have yet to elect a woman president. The best try, by Hillary Clinton, was defeated by hacking by a foreign power. The one elected in 2016, lies every day, including in his tweets. Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban affects 200 million Muslims.

The right to travel is a basic human right too. According to The Economist, the homicide rate in America today has been rising at its fastest since the 1970s. The murder rate in America is 8,000 per year (based on 280,000 murders from 1980 to 2015).

“Over the past two years, America has become more murderous,” deadpans The Economist. Why doesn’t the UN look into murders in America?

In terms of Christian civilization, the Philippines is 495 years old. Up to

the 1970s, the Philippines was the second richest country in Asia, outside Japan. It is also the largest Christian country in Asia.

So contrary to what VP Robredo is trying hard to make the world believe, the Philippines is not a failed state nor a failed democracy.

How can a country that allows a vice presidential candidate elected by computer manipulation and then masquerade as a human rights fighter before the world be considered a failed state and a failed democracy? It seems that in the Philippines to lie and to be an impostor are also human rights.

Robredo is a liar and an impostor.

She is an enemy of the people.

If Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez wants to impeach Robredo, he should proceed without delay. He has the numbers. Justice delayed is justice denied. Lies cannot be allowed to taint the truth about our country and its people. biznewsasia@gmail.com

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

IN BRIEF Sueno urges public to join village meets INTERIOR Secretary Ismael Sueno has enjoined the public to suggest ways to improve the anti-illegal drugs drive of their respective barangays during the Barangay Assembly to be held in villages across the country on Saturday.

“In the Barangay Assembly, the people have a voice… The people also have the duty to help the Barangay Captain by suggesting ways to resolve the illegal drug problem in the barangay,” Sueno said in a news release issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

He said the Barangay Assembly is open to all Filipino citizens, 15 years and above who have been residents of the barangay for at least six months.

The interior chief encouraged the people to attend the March 25 meeting, saying it is the proper venue to discuss community concerns and learn how barangay officials are spending barangay funds.

Sueno, meanwhile, called on barangay officials to discuss with the people the MASA MASID program, a barangay-based anticriminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program that encourages volunteerism at the community level. MASA MASID stands for Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga.

News

‘Aquino cabal’ targets contracts under Duterte

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales

T

HERE is now a cabal within the government, allegedly comprised of former officials from the Aquino administration, that is seeking to control multibillion-peso government projects and contracts, Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Avelino Andal said Tuesday.

“There is now a pattern of wide ranging conspiracy covering various agencies [and government-owned or controlled corporations] such as National Irrigation Administration, National Food Authority, National Housing Authority and the Philippine Coconut Authority,” Andal said in a telephone interview.

Andal said the cabal is comprised

of “some vested interest groups that have wormed their way and cozied up into the Duterte government after they jumped ship from the past regime” and is now trying to discredit Duterte appointees so they can take over the agencies.

“This faction wants control over GOCCs which oversees big-ticket infrastructure projects, big rice

and other grains importations,” Andal charged. “[They] also want the biggest pie of them all, the hundred-billion peso coconut levy fund, the imminent legislation of which is now in the hands of Congress, and is being fast-tracked for the benefit of millions of our coconut farmers and the coconut industry as a whole,” Andal said.

Andal claimed he himself has become a target of this group which has accused him of corruption so they can take over the PCA. “The accusations that I am involved in corrupt activities as PCA administrator is simply a scapegoat or a coverup to justify their plans to take over PCA. There is nothing other than that,” Andal said.

Andal said the PCA Board, headed

by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco

Jr., suspended him after two of his staff members allegedly demanded an extra collection of fees on coco lumber and transport permits, a charge that Andal denied.

Board members Edicio dela Torre, Romulo dela Rosa and Alan Tanjuakio and board chairman Evasco signed his suspension order but board member Ponciano Batugal did not.

He found it suspicious that the PCA Board had to “surreptitiously” pass three board resolutions, including the preventive suspension against him, last March 15.

“The whole action of the PCA Board of March 15, 2017 constitutes an unjust, unfair and oppressive exercise of executive action against the administrator and a co-director of the governing board, who is the board’s vice chairperson and a direct

CIDG 19 detained at own unit’s cell

Death March marathon set for April 8-9 All IS set for the staging of the 32nd “Araw ng Kagitingan” ultra-marathon, an event that pays tribute to the veterans of World War II. The race, slated to be held on April 8-9, will cover the stretch of the Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga.

Founding organizer, Ed Paez, said on Tuesday that the event will start with the traditional walk-with-the-heroes phase, featuring the war veterans with local government officials, led

by Mariveles Mayor Ace Jello Concepcion and Vice Mayor Angelito Rubia, who will hand over a symbolic torch to the runners, who will also carry a big Philippine flag as well as Japan and US flaglets throughout the race.

After passing through nine towns and one city in Bataan, the runners will stay overnight at the Lubao municipal gym, where they will be welcomed by the Pineda clan, headed by Gov. Lilia Pineda, Vice Gov. Dennis Padilla and Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab.

Drugs kill people, says archbishop

By Vito Barcelo MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle called on all community and parish leaders to work together to fight the illegal drug trade, which the Church leader described in his homily as “evil” that is “slowly killing people.”

The Cardinal’s call appeared to be in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge to bishops and priests to join the government’s war against the worsening drug problem in the country.

But the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines rejected PNP chief Gen. Ronald dela Rosa’s proposal for a PNP-Church partnership, saying priests need not join the rebranded police anti-illegal drug operations to support the drug fight.

According to the CBCP, the Church will support whatever strategy there is, for as long as there’s no killing and it is devoid of any corrupt and unjust practice.

In his homily, Cardinal Tagle said it’s wrong to leave behind drug dependents or treat them like outcasts.

“If I sell or give something that can destroy my neighbor, and I gained from it, it’s like killing that person,” Tagle said.

He reminded the faithful not to belittle the ability of people to change, emphasizing that even the worst of sinners can be redeemed and forgiven by God. “Stop saying that they are useless and can be thrown away. We do not know what God will do,” he said.

“Maybe in His hands a miracle will happen.”

appointee of the incumbent President Rodrigo R. Duterte,” Andal said.

Andal claimed the PCA Governing Board never really met on March 15 (or after March 8, which was the latest Governing Board meeting) so they could not and did not deliberate on the matter which is a major organizational issue.

“The purported signatures appearing in copies of the said Board Resolution no. 027-2017 were simply collated by referendum, thereby circumventing any democratic discussion on the issue, much less “agreeing unanimously that an investigation is warranted”; how could the four Board members (the Chairperson included) “agree unanimously” when in fact and in truth there was no meeting convened for that purpose,” he said.

NOT A GOOD ORDER. Around 500 workers picket the Department of Labor and Employment office in Intramuros, Manila to demand a rethink of Department Order 174 which is supposed to crack down on contractual employment schemes. Norman Cruz

Envoy compares Rody to Lee Kuan Yew

By Sara D. Fabunan SINGAPORE Ambassador Kok Li Peng expressed optimism that President Rodrigo Duterte’s “doer” leadership will help the Philippines “charge ahead” among Southeast Asia and Asian countries.

Kok also said Duterte has some similarity with Singapore’s well-loved founding father Lee Kuan Yew who raised Singapore’s status from developing to a developed country.

“Both men have been characterized as doers. I think that’s a good description of how they’re driving their respective agendas,” the envoy said during the Pandesal Forum at Kamuning

in Quezon City.

“I think looking at the policies that the new administration is putting in place in economic and business realm, there’s room for optimism. The Philippine economy is charging ahead, it is one of the best performers in Southeast Asia and in Asia,” she added.

Kok said Singapore nationals have “benefitted well” under Lee’s leadership before he died in 2015 and “the Philippine will [also benefit] under the President’s leadership as well.”

Citing her observation during the President’s official visit to Singapore in December 2016, Kok said that both Lee and Duterte stood out in terms of “po-

litical will” and highlighted Duterte’s “magnetic appeal and charisma” when he went to Singapore last year.

“They were in leadership positions at different times. I think the challenges the late prime minister faced were quite different from the challenges the President is facing today. But I think both equally possess political will and determination,” Kok said.

Kok said she doesn’t see any slowdown in the economy because Duterte has been working very hard to bring investment in the country in every foreign trip.

“There’s no reason to expect that there will be any less momentum. You can see that the President has been working very

hard to bring in assistance from countries in the region. And countries in the region are responding,” she added.

She also expressed optimism in the two ongoing two peace processes between the Philippine government and the MILF and the NPA. “Two peace processes are going in parallel. I think it’s not going to be easy and it’s not going to be resolved overnight. If it were, it would have been done years ago,” Kok said.

The envoy started her diplomatic tour of duty as an ambassador to the Philippines on March 30, 2015, or during the leadership of former President Benigno Aquino III.

BAYBAY CITY, Leyte—The 19 police officers allegedly behind the murder of Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. will temporarily be jailed at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group detention center as the local jail is overcrowded.

Baybay City Regional Trial Court Branch 14 Presiding Judge Carlos Arguelles granted the plea of former CIDG Region 8 head Supt. Marvin Marcos and 18 other CIDG operatives to stay at the CIDG regional office lock-up cell.

During the presentation of the suspects to the court on Tuesday morning here, Arguelles cited a Supreme Court directive disallowing regional courts to issue commitment orders in crowded jail facilities.

Baybay City Jail Warden Lourdes Noveda testified in court that the Baybay sub-provincial jail managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology has more than 70 inmates, or 300 percent higher than its actual capacity of 24.

“Usually, the sub-provincial jail only detains suspects for crimes committed in the towns of Mahaplag and Albuera,” Noveda added.

Arguelles assured that there will be no special treatment for the former top CIDG official and the 18 other operatives.

“Their detention at the CIDG lock-up cell is only temporary and they may be transferred to the BJMP jail In Baybay anytime as ordered by court,” the judge said.

Heavily guarded by policemen, Marcos and his companions arrived at the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 before 9 a.m. aboard rented vans. They left the court after an hour.

On Monday morning, Marcos surrendered at the CIDG-8 office in this city with the 18 other CIDG operatives. PNA

DoJ issues alert vs Cebu suspect

By Rey E. Requejo

LITERATI MOMENT. Singaporean Ambassador Kok Li Peng speaks with Filipino poet Jose ‘Pete’ Lacaba during the Pandesal Forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City on Tuesday. PNA

AN IMMIGRATION lookout bulletin order has been issued by the Department of Justice against David Lim Jr., who shot a nurse in a road altercation in Cebu City last Sunday.

In a memorandum issued Monday, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II directed the Bureau of Immigration to be on alert for possible flight of Lim who turned himself in to police authorities Tuesday and is expected to post bail on for imminent cases of frustrated homicide and illegal possession of firearm.

The LBO was issued by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II upon request of special assistant to the President for the Visayas Michael Diño.

“We issued the LBO to curtail any efforts on the part of Mr. David Go Lim Jr., or those trying to protect him, to evade any responsibility from the shooting incident. If he committed the act attributed to him by the victim, then he should squarely face the charges against

him,” Aguirre stressed.

The order requires BI personnel to immediately coordinate with the Philippine National Police should they find any of the road rage suspect about to leave the country at the airport.

While the LBO cannot prevent the subject from leaving the country just like a hold departure order, it requires him to ask for permission from the DoJ for their flights to ensure that they would come back while pending criminal investigation and for possible prosecution in court.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court clarified that there was no reason for Lim to remain under police custody because there is no outstanding warrant of arrest against him.

“As per information of the Executive Judge Gilbert Moises of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, no court has issued a warrant of arrest against Mr. Lim because there is no case filed before the courts,” SC spokesman Theodore Te said, in a statement.

Sports Adamson softbelles demolish UST, 9-2 Games Friday

(Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium) 8 a.m. – UST vs AdU (Softball Finals) 12 noon – UST vs ADMU (Baseball Finals)

ADAMSON University moved on the cusp of extending its softball reign to seven years, while Ateneo also gained a headstart in its bid to reclaim the baseball throne yesterday in UAAP Season 79 action at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

The Lady Falcons bucked a slow start to beat University of Santo Tomas, 9-2, in six innings to inch closer for a record 16th championship.

The Blue Eagles turned back the Growling Tigers, 9-2, to grab a 1-0 advantage in the baseball championship series.

Despite playing with a hurting hand, Adamson pitcher Lyca Basa was able to held on with a threestrikeout effort, while Angelie Ursabia belted out three RBIs. After giving up two runs at the top first, the Lady Falcons came through with five runs, as pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao struggled big time.

UST never recovered from there and lost Antolihao late in the fourth inning due to a knee injury.

Mallows Garde replaced Antolihao with Adamson ahead, 7-2, but her efforts were not enough to bail the España-based softbelles out of the funk.

Antolihao’s status in Game 2 remains uncertain, as Adamson goes for the jugular on Friday at the same Malate venue.

“Sabi ko sa mga bata, walang pressure, there’s nothing new in the Finals. Just do what you’ve been doing in the first two rounds.

At isa pa, surprise me,” said Lady Falcons coach Ana Santiago.

The Tigresses started hot behind Celestine Palma and Lealyn Guevarra, but the Lady Falcons got into the groove as Riezel Calumbres, Lorna Adorable, Flor Pabiania, Gelyn Lamata and Ursabia connected to take the upper hand in the first inning.

“Hindi pa namin naiiskoran si Ann (Antolihao) ng ganoon before,” said Santiago.

Ateneo coach Randy Dizer stressed that his team is determined to erase the pain of last season’s Finals loss to fierce rival De La Salle that ended the Katipunanbased sluggers’ three-year reign.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Libel case to fund sports program

By Peter Atencio

P

HILIPPINE Sports Commission board member Ramon Fernandez wants some good to come out of the libel case that he will pursue against Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Fernandez said the money This program, according to that will be obtained from the Fernandez, could help the counlibel case will help fund an try produce its first ever gold Olympic program. medal in the Olympics.

“Gagawa kami ng sports program, kung magkano ang kailangang budget up to the 2020 Olympics, to produce the first gold,” said Fernandez during the weekly PSA Forum yesterday at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City.

“Kung hindi niya nagawa ito as POC, maybe the money can produce a gold medal,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said he felt hurt when Cojuangco called him a game fixer three weeks ago.

Cebu-based lawyer Ramsey Quijano is assisting Fernandez in the case against Cojuan Fernandez added that he has trimmed down his list of conditions so that he will not push through with his case.

Cojuangco no longer needs to retract nor make a public apology for his statement, according to Fernandez.

All he has to do is resign. If he does, Fernandez said he will no longer pursue his plans to seek le-

Fil-Am scores at WWT

PSC Commissioner Ramon Fernandez (right) speaks about his planned libel case against POC President Peping Cojuangco during the PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel in Pasay City. Ey Acasio

Kiram wants LGUs to craft own initiatives TOP local government officials from Bicol have been encouraged to put up a genuine grassroots sports program in Bicol.

They got their encouragement from Philippine Sports Commission board member Celia Kiram, who talked to mayors and provincial sports officials last Monday in Naga City.

“We need to provide con-

tinuity for our programs. It’s about time we prioritize sports starting from the LGUs. If we want to improve our performance and output in the international sports arena,” said Kiram.

Such a program aligned with the national effort of the agency, according to Kiram, will help discover more talents in various sports from the countryside.

The Bicol leg of the PSC’s visit to the provinces is part of the nationwide Sports Caravan organized by the agency.

Kiram believes that the program could gain continuity once the sports officials involved have been hired on a long-term basis.

The Caravan aims to revive Executive Orders 63 and 64, which were crafted during the

time of President Fidel Ramos.

EOs 63 and 64 is about the formation of the National Physical Fitness and Sports Development Council.

The NPFSDC encourages all LGUs to create their own sports programs.

Aligned with the national program, talented young athletes who can make the national team can surely be discovered. Peter Atencio

McIlroy ready for Woodland

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the 17th green during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Florida. AFP

MIAMI—Rory McIlroy believes he will carry a psychological edge into his duel with Gary Woodland after being drawn to face the American in the opening round of the World Golf Championship-Dell Match Play tournament on Monday.

The charismatic Northern Irishman defeated Woodland in the final of the event two years ago when the tournament was staged in San Francisco.

The world number two, who revels in the match play format, thinks the memory of that emphatic 4&2 victory will stand him in good stead when he locks horns with Woodland at Austin Country Club in Texas this week.

“I certainly hope there is some sort of psychological advantage there,” said McIlroy.

“I did well the last time. I hope that’s still in his mind. I think so, anytime you can get 1-up on a guy, I

think it helps a little bit.”

McIlroy, who finished two off the lead in last weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, nevertheless said he was wary that Woodland’s defeat in 2015 may make the American determined to settle a score.

“There’s that revenge factor. He’ll want to come back and try to get me for beating him a couple of years ago,” McIlroy acknowledged.

“I guess it could work both ways.”

As well as Woodland, McIlroy finds himself grouped alongside Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo and Soren Kjeldsen for this week’s tournament which tees off on Wednesday.

Sixteen groups of four players will battle it out before advancing to a conventional straight knockout round over the weekend.

McIlroy is confident he can progress from the first round and go

deep into the tournament.

“I’m happy with that draw,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing well enough. I feel like I can advance from that group and get myself into the weekend.”

Dreaming of Reed replay McIlroy’s match play duels for Europe in the Ryder Cup have rapidly become the stuff of legend, with an epic battle against Patrick Reed being one of the highlights of last year’s final day at Hazeltine.

McIlroy lost on that occasion but not before producing some magnificent golf before a fiercely hostile crowd to reinforce his claim to be one of the best match play performers around.

McIlroy admitted he would relish the opportunity to have another crack at Reed should the two men meet again this week in Austin. AFP

Arrogate gears up for Dubai World Cup THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE SUPERHORSE Arrogate is at Meydan Racecourse preparing for the $ 10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) set for March 25.

This is Arrogate’s first outing since his 4-3/4 length win in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) last Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

According to Bloodhorse.com, Arrogate’s trainer Bob Baffert gave the Juddmonte Farm-owned colt a half-mile (800 meters) breeze last March 20.

“He’s handling everything really well,” Baffert was quoted as saying about Arrogate’s journey from California to Dubai and his adjustment to the Meydan track.

gal remedies against Cojuangco.

Fernandez said he resented Cojuangco’s allegations that he allegedly threw away games during his 20-year career in the Philippine Basketball Association and while playing for teams like Toyota and San Miguel.

Quijano said Cojuangco’s allegation has nothing to do with Fernandez in his current job as commissioner of the PSC and that libel is a malicious imputation of a crime.

Baffert has won the Dubai World Cup twice, in 1998 with Silver Charm and 2001 with Captain Steve, but that was at the old track, Nad Al Sheba, which he described as “totally different [than Meydan] with tighter turns.”

Other contestants are also at Meydan preparing for the world’s second-richest race on Saturday.

Baffert had 6YO Hoppertunity, who placed third in last year’s World Cup, gallop a half-mile last Monday. Also worked a half-mile was Winchell Thoroughbreds’ and Three Chimneys Farm’s Gun Runner. Trainer Todd Pletcher worked Keen Ice and Neolithic for a 2,200-meter (1-3/8 miles) gallop. *** A full gate of entries were signed up for the Dubai World Cup this year. The contenders (and their sires) are: Apollo Kentucky (Langfuhr), Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song), Awardee (Jungle Pocket), Gold Dream (Gold Allure), Gun Runner

(Candy Ride), Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday), Keen Ice (Curlin), Lani (Tapit), Long River (AP Indy), Move Up (Dubawi), Mubtaahij (Dubawi), Neolithic (Harlan’s Holiday), Special Fighter (Teofilo), and Furia Cruzada (Newfoundland).

Because of his superb performance last season and in the Pegasus, clobbering much-vaunted California Chrome, I’m going with Arrogate to win this. Gun Runner’s my forecast choice, followed

by Keen Ice and Neolithic for my quartet. The latter two came in third and fourth in the Pegasus earlier this year, while Gun Runner recently won the $500,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park and the $500,000 Clark H. (G1) at Churchill Downs. *** The Dubai World Cup Carnival with its nine races and other exciting events is a celebration of racing and the Arab love of horses, and the Dubai World Cup is considered

to be the premier horseracing and sporting event of the United Arab Emirates.

There are other rich Grade 1 races on the card, according to Daily Racing Form. The $6 million Sheema Classic has seven runners, with Postponed, Highland Reel, Jack and Hobbs among them. The $6 million Dubai Turf will see competition from 14 runners, including Real Steel, Ribchester, Zarak, Mondialiste, and others. Among the 14 runners in the $2 million Golden Shaheen are American horses Mind Your Biscuits, St. Joe Bay, Stallwalkin Dude, and Imperial Hint.

Over $30 million in prize money will be awarded for the nine races of the DWC Carnival. As always, it will be a star-studded event attended by the elite of Dubai and UAE society, celebrities, and thousands of racegoers.

A concert and a fireworks show will follow the races.

I haven’t been to Meydan, although I visited Nad Al Sheba in the ‘90s. It was modern and stateof-the-art back then, with huge widescreens on the infield and superb hospitality in the boxes. I can only imagine the glitz and glamour of Meydan now.

They take horseracing seriously over there, as part of their cultural heritage, and the magnificence of the runners in their stables and the stock on their ranches are a collection of the best Thoroughbred DNA on the planet.

Don’t miss this year’s Dubai World Cup—it’s worth waking up early to catch the live streaming to see Arrogate and other elite horses gallop their way to gold. *** Dr. Ortuoste is a Californiabased writer. Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @ jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @ jensdecember

FIL-AMERICAN Coryn Rivera, who used to ride for Team USA, pulled off her first career win in the Women’s World Tour.

Now riding of Team Sunweb of The Netherlands, Rivera conquered the Trofeo Alfredo Binda last Sunday in Cittiglio, Italy.

The 24-year old Rivera finished with the same time as Arlanis Sierra of Astana, and Cecille Ultrup-Ludwif of Cervelo-Bigla, and they were second and third respectively.

“We kept fighting to stay in the front group and it payed off,” said Rivera in an online interview with Velo News.

They were two seconds behind Chantal Blaak of Boels-Dolmans and seven others.

Rivera, who left the United HealthCare team this season so that she can join more races in Europe, had fast finishing kick with about 150 meters left.

The gradual uphill stretch at the end of a hilly circuit in Lombardy was a challenge, especially final 50 meter stretch.

The fightback came from Sierra. But Rivera stayed on course.

Sierra is one of the few Cuban riders in the pro peloton.

The 132-kilometer race was said to be marked by a number of attacks and aggressive racing. It was on the last of four 18-kilometer circuits that six women broke away, including Rivera.

Peter Atencio

Richardson nears SEAG standard UNITED STATES based Kayla Richardson is getting close to hitting the bronze medal standard of the women’s 400-meter run of the Southeast Asian Games.

Last weekend, Richardson clocked 54.62 seconds in the second heat of the event at the Trojan Invitationals in Los Angeles, California.

According to the official website, She is 36/100ths of a second near the time of Shereen Vallabough of Malaysia, who took the bronze in 54.26 in the 2015 SEA Games.

This had Richardson finishing overall third.

Norwegian runner Amalie Iuel, her teammate at the University of Southern California, won the gold by over two seconds with a personal best of 51.81 seconds, and is considered national record for Norway.

Two years ago, Richardson had a time of 56.63 in the same event.

She is the defending champion in the 100-meter dash of the SEA Games, and the silver medalist in the 200-meters.

Her coach Carol Gilbert, who is also the school’s program head, said the extra speed and endurance will help Richardson become much faster towards the end of the season.

Richardson is expected to be in the high 52 by the time she sees action in the SEA Games.

Zion Corrales holds the national record at 55.18 seconds. 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+

Ateneo tries to extend streak

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

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Games today:

(Filoil Flying V Centre) 8 a.m. – UE vs FEU (Men) 10 a.m. – ADMU vs AdU (Men) 2 p.m. – UP vs AdU (Women) 4 p.m. – ADMU vs NU (Women)

Sports Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) soars to the hoop past Oklahoma City Thunder defender Steven Adams at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. AFP

Warriors stifle Westbrook to beat Thunder, 111-95 L

OS ANGELES—Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry outplayed Russell Westbrook as the Golden State Warriors romped to victory against Oklahoma City on Monday, while James Harden produced another heroic display to hand Houston a dramatic win over Denver.

Triple-double machine Westbrook was effectively stifled by the Warriors’ potent offense and defense, restricted to only 15 points in front of an expectant home crowd at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Instead it was reigning NBA MVP Curry and teammate Thompson who got on top, raining down three-pointers as the Warriors recorded a 111-95 victory.

Thompson poured on 34 points —including seven three-pointers —while Curry weighed in with 23 points, also contributing seven three-pointers.

“I’ve been playing well the last few games. Got a lot of great looks today. It’s as simple as knocking them down,” Thompson said afterwards.

Westbrook brushed off the defeat as a bad day at the office.

“Just one of those nights,” he said. “Shots didn’t fall. They made shots as well. A few mishaps defensively. But we’ll be all right.”

The Thunder star had been at the center of an ugly shoving match with Curry in the second quarter when tempers flared.

The flash point triggered a melee that ended with Westbrook,

Curry and two other players receiving technical fouls.

“Ain’t nothing going through my mind but to protect my teammates,” Westbrook said when asked about the scrap. “That’s what was going through my mind.”

The Warriors improved to 5614 with the win as the Thunder fell to 40-30.

Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets cemented their grip on third place in the Western Conference standings with a thrilling victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Harden settled the duel 125-124 with a last-gasp coast-to-coast layup after pouncing on a loose shoot from Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson.

It was the final act of another virtuoso display from Harden, who finished with 39 points as the Rockets improved to 49-22.

“I was running so fast, I felt like Usain Bolt,” Harden said of

his electrifying late break effort that clinched victory with 4.2 seconds on the clock.

Harden’s heroics left Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni singing the Houston star’s praises.

“He gives you an example every night,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said of Harden, one of the leading candidates for season MVP. “If something’s better out there, I’ve never seen it and I’ve been around. I’m old and I’ve been around and never seen anything better.”

Harden also had 11 assists while reserve Eric Gordon weighed in with a useful 18 points, which included back-to-back threepointers at the start of the fourth quarter to give Houston the lead.

In the Eastern Conference, Boston scored a bruising 110-102 win over Washington to remain comfortably in second place over-

Folayang, Belingon headline ONE Championship card

Cheats banned for life SHANGHAI, China—China will ban marathon cheats for life to clamp down on scandals that have dogged the fast-growing sport, which saw nearly three million participants across the country last year.

The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) said in a statement late Monday that people who run under false names, or cheat in other ways such as replacing a runner with another person during the race or having more than one identifying PIN chip will be banned.

First-time offenders will receive a lifetime ban from the race in which they cheated. A second offense will result in a bar for life from all Chinese marathons.

The December death of a runner in a half-marathon in China’s southeastern city of Xiamen threw the spotlight on distancerace cheating in the world’s most populous nation.

After the man called Wu had a heart attack and died 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) from the finish line, it was discovered he was running on someone else’s behalf.

Organizers later disqualified 30 of the 18,000 who had entered the race.

Wu’s family last month filed a 1.2 million yuan ($174,000) lawsuit against the person who enlisted him to run and race organizers because they had failed to notice Wu running with a different colored female bib, reported the Beijing Youth Daily.

An incentive to cheat, said the paper, was that high school students had been told they could earn credits towards university entrance examinations if they finished in the top 100 places in the race.

all behind Cleveland.

Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points for the Celtics as Boston improved to 45-26 to stay in front of third placed Washington (42-28) in the standings.

Thomas admitted there was little love lost between the teams following a fractious encounter.

“Those guys don’t like us, we don’t like them, that’s what it is,” Thomas said.

The two teams’ three previous meetings this season had been dogged by physical altercations and trash-talking.

Monday’s encounter was no different, with players regularly exchanging barbs throughout.

“We knew it was going to be one of those games. We knew it,” said Thomas.

“With that team, it’s always going to be a physical game, always going to be trashing talking and things like that.” AFP

ATENEO’S Lady Eagles try extend an eight-game winning streak even as they move closer in claiming the first twice-to-beat slot in the Final Four as it plays National University in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Centre today, March 22.

Hoping to avenge their lone loss of the season, a 17-25, 13-25, 25-19, 27-29 defeat to the Lady Bulldogs last Feb. 8, the Lady Eagles are now a different team after the defeat and looking good in the scheduled 4 p.m. match.

University of the Philippines, stung by last Sunday’s straight set setback to defending champion De La Salle, tries to wheel back in Final Four contention against also-ran Adamson University at 2 p.m.

On an eight-game winning streak and holding the league’s best record, Ateneo will bank on playmaker Jia Morado and main hitters Jho Maraguinot, Michelle Morente, Bea de Leon, Kat Tolentino and Ana Gopico, who is given more court time by coach Tai Bundit.

“Every game, pinaghahandaan namin. Kung ano ang resulta ng every training, makukuha namin,” said Lady Eagles assistant mentor Sherwin Meneses.

Ateneo’s character showed in last Saturday’s 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 21-25, 15-8 win over Far Eastern University, as the twotime champions displayed steely resolve during crunchtime.

NU, currently tied with idle University of Santo Tomas in third at 6-4, still hammered out a 25-15, 25-21, 22-25, 25-21 win against University of the East despite the benching of two liberos in the fourth frame.

Once the Lady Bulldogs figured out their defensive deficiencies, main hitters Jaja Santiago, Risa Sato and Jorelle Singh will have no problem in scoring from Jasmine Nabor’s feeds that will make life hard for the Lady Eagles.

“Kailangan yung kumpiyansa namin, bumalik. Kaya ang sabi ko, hangga’t nandiyan kayo sa loob, nandiyan ang tiwala ko sa inyo. Iyon ang aking basehan,” said NU coach Roger Gorayeb.

ONE Lightweight World Champion Eduard Folayang (right) misses a roundhouse kick against Adrian Pang during their fight. ONE Championship

EDUARD Folayang and Kevin Belingon of Team Lakay will headline the ONE Championship card Kings of Destiny to be held April 21 at the 20,000 Mall of Asia Arena.

In the main event, ONE Lightweight World Champion Folayang makes the first defense of his title against top contender Ev “E.T.” Ting of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Up and comers Belingon and Toni “Dynamite” Tauru of Utti, Finland battle in the featured undercard.

After nearly a decade of competing in various promotions, Folayang has amassed an impressive 17-5 professional MMA record. The 33-year-old veteran authored a career resurgence in 2016, winning three consecutive

Alaska, Phoenix gun for share of lead

By Jeric Lopez THE Alaska Aces and the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters aim to gain a share of early tournament lead when they shoot for a second straight win against separate foes in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup. Following a very impressive showing in their opening game win, the Aces (1-0) are looking for a follow-up as they take on Blackwater Elite (0-1) this time around at 4:15 p.m. in the first game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Aces will be led by highscoring import Cory Jefferson as well as do-everything forward Calvin Abueva.

In the main attraction, the Fuel Masters (1-0), who fought their way towards a hard-fought initial win, go head-to-head with the debuting Star Hotshots (0-0) at 7 p.m.

Alaska and Phoenix both look to tie early league leaders Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Meralco Bolts, who are already at 2-0.

Showing its hunger, Alaska rolled to a dominant 107-79 dev-

astation of GlobalPort Batang Pier last Saturday to open its campaign with a bang.

While the Aces are looking for a follow through, their opponent is looking for redemption.

The Elite dropped a tough double overtime 116-118 defeat at the hands of Phoenix also last Saturday in a thrilling doubleovertime encounter.

The Fuel Masters, on the other hand, are looking to stay sharp and keep the ball rolling following that tough grind out win when they face the vastly improved Star side.

bouts against high-profile opponents while showcasing a highly-improved wrestling and grappling arsenal.

In his last bout, Folayang shocked the world by capturing the ONE Lightweight World Championship with a sensational victory over Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki. Folayang will now put his title on the line against Ev Ting.

Ting is a mixed martial artist with deep roots in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Living and training out of Auckland, New Zealand, Ting owns a stellar 13-3 professional record, including four wins by submission and four exciting knockouts.

In his most recent bout last February, Ting overcame a tough challenge from MMA

veteran Kamal Shalorus to win by split decision. The victory earned him a date with ONE Lightweight World Champion Folayang.

Belingon of the famed Team Lakay MMA in Baguio City, Philippines, is one of the country’s most talented mixed martial artists. With a professional record of 14-5, Belingon is known as a fierce competitor with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of methods.

The 29-year-old wushu stalwart owns five knockouts on his resume and is one of the most feared strikers in his division. In his last bout, Belingon defeated top Tajikistan prospect Muin Gafurov by decision. He now faces another tough task in Toni Tauru.

Alaska Aces forward Calvin Abueva (8) glides to the hoop against GlobalPort Batang Pier defender Mick Pennisi.

Abueva and the Aces gun for a share of the lead against Blackwater.

Renewable energy projects B3 rising

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

B1

Pagcor open to sale of casinos

By Julito G. Rada STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is open to the government’s proposal to privatize the casinos under its control.

“I am not opposing it... If it is going to happen, it will happen. But it will take a long period of time,” Pagcor chairman and chief executive Andrea Domingo said in a news briefing at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City Tuesday.

“We had no chance [before] to discuss it with the DoF [Department of Finance] as we were busy collecting revenues as much as we can. But we have to discuss it,” Domingo said.

The Duterte administration said earlier it was open to the idea of undertaking the sale of Pagcor casinos. The sale of casinos operated by Pagcor, a wholly-owned government corporation formed in 1977 by a Marcos presidential decree, could earn billions of pesos for the Duterte administration.

Domingo said the agency had yet to determine which of the 46 casinos it was operating would be sold. She said while the valuation of the casinos could happen, Pagcor would try to “make them profitable.”

“We have not started pricing each of the casinos. Others are big and others are small...

It still has to be decided,” Domingo said.

IN BRIEF Yellow Cab goes to Malaysia, Brunei

MAX’S Group Inc., the country’s largest casual dining chain operator, signed a deal to bring pizza chain Yellow Cab to Brunei and East Malaysia.

Max’s Group said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it sealed a development agreement with YTT Sdn Bhd to establish at least 10 Yellow Cab Pizza stores in Brunei and East Malaysia within five years.

“Again, this proves the enormous mainstream appeal of Yellow Cab Pizza in the global stage.

We are excited with the opportunity to serve the flavors of New York to the people of Brunei and East Malaysia. Looking ahead, we will continue to further unlock the brand’s potential in other markets,” said Max’s Group president and chief executive Robert Trota.

This marks the second development agreement secured by the restaurant chain this year, resulting in international pipeline of 140 outlets that would open in the coming years.

“We are confident in our tie-up with YTT Sdn Bhd given their strong commitment and familiarity with the local food industry. On our part, we shall extend fundamental support to reinforce this partnership,” Trota said. Jenniffer B. Austria

Vista Land prepares to launch 30 projects

HOMEBUILDER Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. said it will launch 30 residential projects this year with total sales value of P30 billion, as it expects residential sales to grow faster.

Vista Land president and chief executive Manuel Paolo Villar said in a news briefing the company budgeted P35 billion for 2017 capital expenditures this year, up from last year’s P30.9 billion.

He said of the P35 billion programmed spending, P26 billion would be allotted for residential development and P9 billion for its leasing business.

Villar said the company would also continue to ramp up its leasing business by building commercial developments to boost recurring income.

Villar said from 882,000 square meters as gross floor area of end 2016, the company aimed to have 1 million sqm of GFA by end 2017 and 1.3 million sqm of GFA by end 2018.

Vista Land identified about 100 areas or over 600 hectares of land for existing developments around the country with ready population catchment areas for potential commercial projects. Jenniffer B. Austria

P500-B TARGET. The Board of Investments sees investment project approvals in 2017 growing by at least 13.7 percent from last year to

breach the P500-billion mark. Leading the start of BOI’s countdown to its 50th founding year on Sept. 16, 2017 through a kickoff activity is Trade Undersecretary and BoI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo (eighth from left). He said the target also represents the agency’s 50th year, hence the theme “P500 billion for BOI@50.” With Rodolfo are former Trade undersecretary and BOI managing head Cristino Panlilio (seventh from right) and other BOI officials.

Villar group ventures into telecom industry T

By Jenniffer B. Austria

HE Villar group is venturing into the telecommunication business initially through the offering of fixed broadband services to the public as an alternative to those provided by existing players.

Manuel Paolo Villar, the eldest son of billionaire and former senator Manuel Villar, said the company was waiting for a congressional franchise to operate and construct telecommunications system across the country before it could start rolling out a fixed broadband venture.

Streamtech Systems Technologies Inc., which is owned

by the Villar group, applied for a congressional franchise last month “to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines.”

Villar said the group had a ready market for the planned venture would initially offer the fixed broadband service to homebuyers of communities being developed by real estate unit

Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. “We have a lot communities and we can provide our fixed board band services so that our homebuyers can avail of our good service,” Villar said.

Villar said he was hopeful that the group’s franchise application would be approved giving the increasing demand from the public for better and faster internet connection.

“From the public’s point of view, they want to have more competition. The government should be planning more franchises because Filipinos really need good service. I don’t think anybody is satisfied with the current service,” Villar said.

Villar said he was confident

that the group would be able to provide better broadband connections to customers.

The group is willing to take in foreign and local partners for the venture, he said. But for now the group can operate nationally without getting new partners.

Villar’s Vista Land has an established presence in about 100 cities and municipalities across 37 provinces. Over the next few years, the property firm aims to have presence in 200 cities and municipalities.

Vista Land is also focusing on developing integrated urban developments by combining lifestyle retail, universities, healthcare, themed residential developments and leisure components within its projects.

S. China Sea oil exploration ban remains in effect

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Energy Department is waiting for the Foreign Affairs Department’s go signal for the lifting of the moratorium on oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said oil and gas areas affected by the West Philippine territorial dispute remained under exploration moratorium.

“It’s still suspended. We have not lifted that. We are looking at DFA’s lead to give the signal that

we can already lift the suspension,” Cusi told reporters.

He said the department needed to coordinate with the Foreign Affairs Department because the issue involved the country’s sovereignty.

“The conflict is between countries and not between the exploration company and DOE. So this is an issue that we are leaving with the DFA,” Cusi said.

The group of businessman Manuel Pangilinan is waiting for the lifting of the moratorium on service contract 72 (Recto Bank) before it can proceed with any

exploratory drilling in the area.

Pangilinan said his group revived talks with China National Offshore Oil Co. Ltd., an upstream oil and gas firm owned by the Chinese government, following the more friendly relations between Manila and Beijing.

“I think to the extent that the government has adapted a more friendly, more conciliatory push to China, I think the atmosphere has become better for a resumption of a discussion with China in general. And we’d like to move in that direction,” Pangilinan

said earlier.

Pangilinan said they initiated talks with CNOOC on how best to move forward on service contract 72 but the tenor of discussions should be bound by Philippine laws.

The Philippines and China have an ongoing territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea which covers SC 72.

Pangilinan chairs Philex Mining Corp. whose subsidiary PXP Energy Corp. (formerly Philex Petroleum Corp.) controls Forum Energy Plc which holds a 70-percent stake in SC 72.

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing March 21, 2017

8000 7600 7200 6800 6400 6000

7,323.31 6.74

PESO-DOLLAR RATE

Closing MARCH 21, 2017 45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P50.185 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P50.100 LOW P50.195 AVERAGE P50.164 VOLUME 289.500M

P496.00-P756.00 LPG/11-kg tank P39.40-P48.09 Unleaded Gasoline P28.05-P33.95 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P32.85-P41.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75 Auto LPG Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, March 21, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

50.1450

Japan

Yen

0.008885

0.4455

UK

Pound

1.236000

61.9792

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128776

6.4575

Switzerland

Franc

1.001502

50.2203

Canada

Dollar

0.749232

37.5702

Singapore

Dollar

0.716076

35.9076

Australia

Dollar

0.772900

38.7571

Bahrain

Dinar

2.655267

133.1484

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266667

13.3720

Brunei

Dollar

0.713521

35.7795

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.028810

1.4447

UAE

Dirham

0.272272

13.6531

Euro

Euro

1.074100

53.8607

Korea

Won

0.000898

0.0450

China

Yuan

0.144739

7.2579

India

Rupee

0.015309

0.7677

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.225989

11.3322

New Zealand

Dollar

0.705300

35.3673

Taiwan

Dollar

0.032929

1.6512 Source: PDS Bridge

SL Agritech gets tax incentives as hybrid rice seed producer

By Othel V. Campos THE Board of Investments approved the application of SL Agritech Corp. as a producer of hybrid rice seeds and by-product under the agriculture/agribusiness and fishery listing of the current Investment Priorities Plan.

The P450-million project in Matanao, Davao del Sur is estimated to yield hybrid rice seeds of 9 million kilograms a year to be sold to local farmers.

Commercial operations began in March 2017, employing about 7,000 people including farm workers.

SL Agritech president and chief executive Henry Lim said the hybrid rice technology was recognized as a key approach to raise farm productivity.

SL Agritech said to further sustain rice production and availability to the public, it was taking advantage of the opportunity by concentrating on hybrid seed production known as AxR. Trade Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo said the project would create more jobs and income opportunities for farmers in Mindanao, specifically those in the Davao region.

Rodolfo said given the country’s limited land to expand the hectarage of rice production, using hybrid seeds which increase farmers’ yield, rather than the conventional or regular seeds, would be an excellent approach to further increase rice production.

SL Agritech will use its own parental seeds in the production of SL-8H hybrid rice seed.

SL-8H has proven to be productive in terms of yield versus other hybrid rice seeds in the market with a potential yield of at least 8 tons and a record-yield of 17 tons per hectare.

NEW IBPAP OFFICERS. The board of trustees of the Information Technology and Business Process

Association of the Philippines holds its first official meeting and elected its new board officers. Shown are (from left) IBPAP chairman Lito Tayag, country managing director of Accenture; treasurer Karen Batungbacal, executive general manager of QBE Global Shared Services Centre; vice chairman Cathy Ileto, senior director for marketing and public relations of Sutherland Global Services; and assistant treasurer Miguel Del Rosario, president and chief executive of Toon City.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; ICTSI, Xurpas up Petron raising $600m S to refinance term loan TOCKS rose slightly Tuesday following the previous day’s retreat, as Federal Reserve officials reignited the debate on the timing of further policy tightening.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 6 points, or 0.1 percent, to close at 7,323.31, as three of the six major sectors—financials, services and property—advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, picked up 1 point to settle at 4,405.37, on a value turnover of P7.7 billion. Advancers matched losers, at 98 apiece, while 46 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by

mobile phone solutions provider Xurpas Inc. which went up 6 percent to P10.28 and port operator International Container Terminal Service Inc. which gained 3.1 percent to P88.10.

Meanwhile, most Asian markets also rose Tuesday following the previous day’s retreat, but the dollar was hit by fresh uncertainty over Donald Trump’s economic policy and contradictory views on future rate rises among two top Federal Reserve officials.

Global stocks had started the

week with a wobble after G20 finance chiefs failed to renew a longstanding anti-protectionist pledge in the face of Trump’s “America First” push, fuelling fears about the international trade system.

But investors returned to buying in Asian business Tuesday, with Hong Kong up 0.4 percent in the afternoon—building on a threeday rally that has pushed it to levels not seen since the summer of 2015.

Sydney was flat, Shanghai closed 0.3 percent higher, while Seoul jumped one percent and Singapore barely moved. Taipei, Wellington, Jakarta, Bangkok and Manila were all higher.

But Tokyo lost 0.3 percent as traders returned from a long weekend to find the yen had strengthened significantly against the dol-

lar.

The greenback was at 112.70 yen, up from New York but well off the 113.33 yen mark seen when the Nikkei was last open Friday.

The dollar has come in for heavy selling since the Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised borrowing costs but pointed to another two rises this year, confounding talk of a possible three or four.

On Monday Chicago Fed President Charles Evans suggested there could be more increases this year but Minneapolis boss Neel Kashkari said the policy board should take its time.

The uncertainty surrounding US policy comes as investors await details on Trump’s promise to boost infrastructure spending and slash taxes to fire up the economy.

With Bloomberg, AFP

By Alena Mae S. Flores OIL refiner Petron Corp. is raising $600 million this year to refinance a term loan that is due next year, a company official said Tuesday.

Petron president and chief executive Ramon Ang confirmed the fund raising program and said it was being arranged by ANZ, Bank of China, Standard Chartered and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

Petron, the country’s biggest oil company, reported a 73-percent increase in consolidated net income to P10.8 billion in 2016 from P6.3 bil-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 3.13 2,277,000 48.65 71,300 100 1,315,400 125 2,783,890 1.21 175,000 40.4 187,000 16.02 50,600 20.35 759,400 7.72 1,100 1.7 41,000 850 40 0.67 2,328,000 79.5 2,853,950 0.72 20,000 14.7 32,500 56.4 21,430 243.6 2,200 87.2 270 39.3 115,000 201 631,730 1,750 20 79.65 104,890 1.23 2,450,000

7,126,760 3,432,910 131,814,946.50 348,234,356 210,990 7,538,010 813,560 15,469,410 8,493 67,900 34,000 1,581,220 228,820,044.50 14,400 477,510 1,212,421.50 533,178 23,544 4,527,500 127,022,752 35,000 8,353,517.50 3,012,700

2,466,310 60,047,538 377,605 3,828,500 -13,571,015 67,000 73,084,104 -169,039.50 287,280 -1,092,840 6,972,310 -602,950.50 -

42.3 5.25 0.81 1.35 19.4 0.25 7.61 16.7 190 23.05 14.6 90 95.7 2.03 5.7 12.3 12.74 7.76 6.3 5.9 22.5 72.7 12.16 15.62 6.9 1.53 191.1 72.5 4.9 3.8 28.2 30.05 26.5 16.04 288.4 0.255 6.9 3.73 9.12 11.44 2.24 7.47 1.95 74.25 4.85 275.2 4.96 2.8 13.6 4.4 0.144 1.47 160.5 1.52 0.99

INDUSTRIAL 42.3 1,946,800 5.35 742,900 0.82 127,000 1.39 1,289,000 20 4,200 0.255 23,780,000 7.69 20,549,700 16.9 3,279,900 195 30 23.45 158,400 14.6 2,400 90.05 1,570 95.7 180 2.08 1,638,000 5.7 1,240,600 12.3 1,100 12.9 5,141,100 7.76 524,900 6.36 1,722,500 5.93 14,703,900 22.8 3,484,600 73 89,580 12.16 100 15.68 73,700 7 1,128,300 1.56 719,000 194 380,830 72.5 20 4.91 1,955,700 3.8 12,000 28.2 5,000 30.4 1,757,500 26.95 128,000 16.2 5,173,000 289.6 614,290 0.26 4,220,000 6.96 872,600 3.74 2,010,000 9.13 2,285,600 11.48 10,400 2.25 624,000 7.47 625,500 2 575,000 74.8 140,610 4.9 62,800 278 5,360 4.96 2,017,000 2.94 5,000 13.6 8,151,800 4.4 4,000 0.148 570,000 1.47 1,015,000 162.8 1,052,020 1.53 2,058,000 1 985,000

82,805,780 3,967,353 103,610 1,751,840 83,045 6,073,500 159,071,997 55,204,602 5,848 3,706,200 35,080 141,682.50 17,226 3,366,280 7,087,098 13,538 66,046,960 4,094,247 10,913,199 87,499,094 78,839,610 6,536,109.50 1,216 1,158,006 7,898,047 1,135,690 73,880,144 1,450 9,827,915 45,630 141,500 53,324,800 3,433,325 84,816,646 177,887,098 1,083,100 6,094,461 7,531,730 21,012,858 119,376 1,406,310 4,704,758 1,143,590 10,513,290 308,014 1,490,106 10,004,320 14,460 113,380,518 17,600 83,690 1,529,970 170,476,363 3,181,080 985,630

-53,582,075 260,866 34,830 87,750 -24,582,421 -2,336,480.00 548,050 -456,600 -11,039,348 -1,946,896 68,599 43,525,452 72,633,645 2,635,160.50 -974,630 435,593 -732,110 5,083,314 66,482 141,500 15,888,405 278,900 -31,969,488 -27,808,324 299,060 -1,411,888 337,500 510,978 239,886.50 237,615 455,794 0 -2,950 20,660,234 11,690 6,120 14,134,072 779,620 -

0.37 73.9 12.68 1.11 6 0.32 0.335 819.5 8.67 11.74 7.95 0.181 1,175 6.22 81 5.44 1.12 7.85 14.88 0.415 6.2 3.58 0.053 1.98 103 2.9 654 1.46 271 0.28 0.186 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 840,000 74.5 1,525,020 12.78 13,404,700 1.11 12,000 6.03 26,500 0.335 17,580,000 0.355 2,650,000 827.5 434,030 8.86 1,489,100 11.76 14,881,900 8 600 0.181 100,000 1,189 202,250 6.52 126,300 81.5 2,180,160 5.54 16,000 1.12 5,113,000 7.96 434,000 14.9 7,911,100 0.415 10,000 6.2 74,298,800 3.74 33,000 0.055 144,570,000 1.98 12,000 104 140,220 2.99 1,378,000 656 399,180 1.46 209,000 273 4,230 0.285 480,000 0.186 130,000 0.245 50,000

316,000 113,565,778 170,991,468 13,320 161,498 5,845,450 902,250 358,928,460 13,168,630 175,079,958 4,815 18,130 239,329,755 806,522 178,388,434.50 87,854 5,773,480 3,448,481 118,193,150 4,150 468,228,830 120,060 7,825,570 23,760 14,575,509 4,196,250 262,035,195 307,180 1,152,658 136,750 24,180 12,250

64,907,026 -13,584,566 57,347,630 7,661,727 -30,601,906 -48,947,975 162,240 83,633,996 892,967 71,305,684 -222,305,762 24,840 -432,214 -1,461,010 -362,242 -

150,682 844,290 72,040 8,179,560 243,176,625 11,777,340 10,116 3,474,650 59,920 175,680 556,280 92,545,353 3,747,400 8,769,070 3,225,440 152,620 77,965,340 89,167,150 71,500 33,160,520 1,735,140 14,250 42,889,900 1,690

-4,668 90,000 -477,210 -21,194,555 -2,282,950 -292,050 -31,800 2,657,807 -74,000 5,059,400 -1,680,340 -1,176,120 -80,000 -17,800 9,376,195 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE ASIA UNITED BANK PH ISLANDS 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 VANTAGE

3.11 47.3 99.8 124.1 1.22 40.35 16.2 20.45 7.72 1.64 850 0.68 79.5 0.72 14.6 56.5 242 87.2 39.9 202.8 1,750 79.95 1.21

3.13 48.7 102 126.1 1.25 40.45 16.2 20.5 7.73 1.7 850 0.7 80.85 0.72 14.7 57 244 87.2 39.9 203 1,750 79.95 1.23

3.1 47.15 99.8 124.1 1.2 40.2 16 20.35 7.72 1.62 850 0.67 79.35 0.72 14.6 56.3 241 87.2 39.3 200.8 1,750 79.15 1.21

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA 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 MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETRON PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PHX SEMICNDCTR PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VULCAN INDL

43.2 5.39 0.81 1.36 20.35 0.265 7.8 16.9 199.8 23.05 14.62 90.5 95.7 2.12 5.85 12.38 12.84 7.85 6.38 6 22.7 73 12.16 15.98 7.12 1.6 191.1 72.5 5.04 3.81 28.4 30.65 26.5 16.3 291 0.255 6.92 3.73 9.16 11.44 2.27 7.58 1.96 75.5 4.9 277 4.96 2.8 14.26 4.4 0.144 1.54 163 1.55 1.01

43.3 5.39 0.82 1.39 20.4 0.265 7.95 16.9 199.8 23.45 14.62 93 95.7 2.12 6 12.38 12.96 7.98 6.4 6 22.8 73.1 12.16 15.98 7.12 1.61 195 72.5 5.21 3.81 28.4 30.65 27 16.7 291 0.265 7.08 3.8 9.3 11.48 2.27 7.58 2 75.65 4.99 280 4.96 2.95 14.5 4.4 0.148 1.56 163 1.57 1.05

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

0.385 74.15 12.7 1.11 6.13 0.365 0.35 830 8.67 11.8 7.95 0.181 1,175 6.54 81 5.44 1.13 8 15.08 0.415 6.34 3.8 0.055 1.98 103.4 2.98 658 1.48 273 0.28 0.186 0.245

0.385 74.5 12.86 1.11 6.2 0.365 0.36 835 8.86 11.96 8.05 0.183 1,190 6.54 83 5.57 1.15 8 15.08 0.415 6.37 3.8 0.055 1.98 104.2 3.15 660.5 1.48 273 0.285 0.186 0.245

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP PTFC REDEV CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL

6.7 0.91 2.44 1.39 35.95 3.68 5.13 0.5 1.07 0.159 0.55 54.8 0.152 1.72 0.98 1.19 3.59 0.194 0.295 0.61 4.45 28.5 24 1.69

6.98 0.92 2.44 1.42 36.4 3.75 5.13 0.51 1.07 0.161 0.56 56.6 0.187 1.73 0.98 1.19 3.64 0.225 0.305 0.68 4.46 28.5 24.25 1.69

6.7 0.9 2.4 1.37 35.85 3.66 5.05 0.495 1.07 0.159 0.55 54.75 0.152 1.69 0.97 1.18 3.58 0.194 0.295 0.6 4.37 28.5 23.95 1.69

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

3.36 28.65 0.98 0.9 4.7

3.39 29 1.01 0.9 4.8

3.36 28.45 0.97 0.88 4.7

3.37 28.5 1.01 0.9 4.8

777,000 13,028,200 10,567,000 54,000 2,523,000

2,618,670 372,756,495 10,449,240 47,660 12,019,960

2,470,210 -15,806,235 -2,000 1,043,920

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CALATA CORP CEBU AIR DFNN INC EASYCALL GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPEOPLE IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

8.3 46.6 1.46 0.54 0.048 12 5.59 7.56 0.075 2.18 94 8.8 4.71 1,910 6.12 15.84 15 3.57 3.74 85.5 0.0093 11.92 9.01 0.185 1.33 3.4 14.38 3.69 0.96 3.9 2.41 5.82 3.72 3.02 11.28 5.33 164 8.69 1,540 1.52 0.41 45 81 6.16 2.21 1.12 3.17 0.38

8.38 46.6 1.46 0.54 0.051 12 5.59 7.6 0.076 2.25 94.4 8.81 5.68 1,939 6.12 16.08 15 3.6 3.77 89 0.0093 12.38 9.01 0.187 1.36 3.44 14.38 3.76 0.96 3.9 2.44 5.95 3.77 3.05 11.28 5.4 165 8.71 1,546 1.53 0.45 45.25 81 6.17 2.25 1.13 3.17 0.385

8.11 46.1 1.46 0.52 0.048 12 5.28 7.55 0.072 2.13 93.5 8.8 4.71 1,906 6.08 15.6 15 3.54 3.7 81 0.0093 11.9 9.01 0.185 1.31 3.3 14 3.69 0.95 3.75 2.27 5.71 3.72 2.98 11.26 5.22 164 8.53 1,527 1.51 0.41 45 78.2 6.15 2.19 1.11 3.01 0.38

SERVICES 8.38 46.3 1.46 0.54 0.049 12 5.28 7.58 0.075 2.19 94.3 8.81 5.49 1,913 6.08 16.08 15 3.54 3.71 88.1 0.0093 12.38 9.01 0.185 1.34 3.44 14 3.76 0.96 3.75 2.4 5.95 3.76 3.02 11.26 5.35 165 8.57 1,536 1.53 0.435 45.05 79 6.15 2.23 1.12 3.08 0.385

89,200 11,000 90,000 403,000 80,200,000 3,500 26,000 3,153,100 20,550,000 3,263,000 323,290 11,100 490,000 85,525 362,000 61,000 200 1,140,000 158,000 3,063,770 5,000,000 113,000 275,000 3,340,000 166,000 66,000 3,100 1,299,000 6,000 746,000 363,000 5,234,900 405,000 1,592,000 11,400 136,500 730 689,500 156,315 14,650,000 10,380,000 2,849,500 2,234,830 32,600 1,421,000 5,891,000 1,048,000 100,000

741,212 510,265 131,400 217,600 3,946,900 42,000 138,573 23,933,000 1,531,490 7,134,460 30,410,040.50 97,731 2,586,670 163,599,425 2,208,672 973,264 3,000 4,074,880 589,000 267,853,950 46,500 1,392,718 2,477,750 618,640 219,680 224,080 43,438 4,873,360 5,750 2,801,280 854,240 30,876,930 1,520,070 4,790,310 128,484 730,290 120,140 5,925,374 239,787,395 22,291,930 4,540,250 128,379,225 177,808,020 200,841 3,161,370 6,632,880 3,212,140 38,150

5,200 -12,319,835 545,000 -5,210,272.50 3,881,540 3,710 37,896,718.50 1,083,282 -18,500 -2,898,590 450,300 -5,954,924 -739,040 348,200 16,050.00 69,300 -12,914 24,744,225 728,450 -42,500 7,464,445 -100,897,933 -485,020 -1,924,870.00 -58,460 7,700

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

0.0034 1.59 5.4 10 1.84 1.83 0.45 0.405 9.49 2.36 0.255 0.18 0.194 0.011 1.8 6.41 2.16 0.45 0.87 0.012 0.011 4.05 0.013 8.8 3.06 145 2.62 0.0092

0.0034 1.68 5.61 11.38 1.84 1.83 0.51 0.405 9.5 2.4 0.255 0.18 0.194 0.012 1.8 6.41 2.16 0.45 0.87 0.012 0.012 4.05 0.014 8.84 3.1 146.5 2.7 0.0092

0.0032 1.58 5.4 10 1.75 1.83 0.45 0.405 9.01 2.35 0.25 0.175 0.194 0.011 1.78 6.31 2.09 0.45 0.87 0.011 0.011 4.04 0.013 8.77 3.01 144.9 2.62 0.0088

MINING & OIL 0.0032 119,000,000 1.63 2,990,000 5.4 125,400 11.38 1,400 1.76 16,000 1.83 12,000 0.51 2,400,000 0.405 200,000 9.05 4,500 2.39 1,837,000 0.255 70,000 0.176 19,580,000 0.194 620,000 0.012 1,800,000 1.78 134,000 6.38 1,728,400 2.15 64,000 0.45 20,000 0.87 3,000 0.011 16,100,000 0.012 200,000 4.04 10,000 0.014 12,700,000 8.78 1,583,600 3.01 1,052,000 145.2 870,620 2.63 26,000 0.0092 3,000,000

381,400 4,867,780 677,361 15,794 28,230 21,960 1,209,850 81,000 40,812 4,345,570 17,800 3,450,550 120,280 20,200 238,570 11,000,961 134,500 9,000 2,610 185,200 2,300 40,460 166,100 13,934,869 3,192,930 126,482,930 68,980 27,200

-1,343,280 -158,261 -9,000 -689,880 -17,800 -748,585 -3,106,404 5,712,173 -13,500 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 AC PREF B2 ALCO PREF B DD PREF GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B LR PREF MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SMC PREF 2B SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

46 534 539 107 106 537 5.86 1,035 1,035 1.05 107 1,131 1,020 106 77.6 80.6 76.5 78.4 79.65 79 78.1 78.05

46.6 534 540 107 106 537 5.86 1,035 1,035 1.05 107 1,131 1,020 106 77.6 80.6 78 78.5 79.65 79 78.1 78.05

45.95 534 539 107 106 537 5.85 1,021 1,035 1.05 107 1,131 1,020 106 77.6 80.5 76.5 78.35 79.65 78.95 78.1 78

PREFERRED 46.6 303,900 534 300 540 6,000 107 3,000 106 47,030 537 1,000 5.85 833,000 1,021 2,005 1,035 50 1.05 6,000 107 1,000 1,131 520 1,020 730 106 5,000 77.6 100 80.6 91,930 78 4,500 78.35 63,440 79.65 150 79 77,280 78.1 15,070 78 4,000

13,981,360 160,200 3,239,280 321,000 4,985,180 537,000 4,877,310 2,047,175 51,750 6,300 107,000 588,120 744,600 530,000 7,760 7,407,572 346,900 4,974,629.50 11,947.50 6,103,509 1,176,967 312,020

-667,045 -4,802,430 -

LR WARRANT

2.13

2.13

2.08

WARRANTS 2.1 72,000

151,350

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.8 6.81 9.7

3.91 7.05 10.28

3.66 6.8 9.7

SME 3.66 6.93 10.28

2,075,730 286,412 134,668,912

44,300 -17,861,365

FIRST METRO ETF

120.5

121.2

120.5

303,769

-

MS

PROPERTY 6.88 0.92 2.4 1.37 36 3.7 5.05 0.5 1.07 0.159 0.56 55.5 0.187 1.71 0.98 1.18 3.58 0.225 0.305 0.68 4.4 28.5 24 1.69

22,000 935,000 30,000 5,899,000 6,755,600 3,197,000 2,000 6,970,000 56,000 1,100,000 1,009,000 1,661,160 21,040,000 5,128,000 3,311,000 129,000 21,651,000 425,220,000 240,000 50,873,000 392,000 500 1,784,300 1,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

SHARES

16,223,513

INDUSTRIAL

123,681,772

HOLDING FIRMS

294,724,539

PROPERTY

584,434,133

SERVICES

173,949,225

MINING & OIL

186,447,538

GRAND TOTAL

1,393,501,430

554,000 41,700 13,442,500

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.1 2,510

VALUE 1,848.65 (UP) 2.71 890,389,618.42 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,015.93 (DOWN) 2.92 1,379,235,500.48 HOLDING FIRMS 7,347.80 (DOWN) 0.21 2,806,663,151.462 PROPERTY 3,251.77 (UP) 1.11 SERVICES 1,498.41 (UP) 9.69 1,025,163,206.106 MINING & OIL 11,933.74 (DOWN) 12.45 1,230,188,051.20 PSEI 7,323.31 (UP) 6.74 199,815,295.046 All Shares Index 4,405.37 (UP) 1.03 7,668,789,645.712 Gainers:98; Losers:98; Unchanged: 46; Total: 242

lion in 2015, on record sales.

“We exceeded expectations in 2016 and are wellpoised to sustain our growth momentum this year with our continued focus on profitable market leadership, optimal product yields from our refinery, and further synergies internally and with other San Miguel companies,” Ang said earlier.

Petron said the robust performance last year was driven by record sales volume, operational efficiency with increased crude run at higher product yields and effective risk management.

Combined sales from Petron’s Philippine and Malaysian operations hit a record 104.3 million barrels, up by 6 percent from 98 million barrels sold in 2015.

Both markets saw solid growth across key segments.

Domestic volume grew 10 percent to 48.2 million barrels in 2016, faster than the national demand growth of 8.8 percent.

Petron is also pursuing a retail network expansion program that will enable the company to channel increased production from its refinery to its service stations. There are nearly 2,300 Petron stations nationwide.

“With the expected rise in vehicle sales, the influx of tourists, and more manufacturers setting up shop in the country, we are confident that we will be able to capture this growth since we are backed by the most extensive distribution and retail value chain in the country,” Ang said.

DMCI alloting P12b for ’17 capex

By Jenniffer B. Austria DMCI Homes, the real estate arm of conglomerate DMCI Holdings Inc., earmarked nearly P12 billion for 2017 capital expenditures, as it plans to remain aggressive with new projects this year.

DMCI said it would spend P8.4 billion for project development and another P3 billion for land acquisition this year. The remainder will go to existing buildings and improvements.

The property firm said it aimed to launch eight projects with over 15,300 units this year. Total sales value of these residential projects is expected to reach P57 billion.

“Every year, we strive to come up with exciting projects for our valued clients. This is in line with our goal to satisfy the changing needs and preferences of the market,” DMCI Homes president Alfredo Austria said.

“We hope that our new projects further reaffirm our reputation as a builder of high-quality, best value homes and resort-inspired communities that promote quality lifestyle among Filipinos,” he said.

DMCI Homes launched two residential projects in the first quarter this year, including the Prisma Residences in Pasig City and Mulberry Place in Taguig City.

Scheduled to be launched in the second and third quarter of the year are six projects including hybrid developments, high-rise towers and amixed-used facility offering residential and office units.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Piñol decries sugar protests, dares critics

By Anna Leah E. Gonzales AGRICULTURE Secretary Em-

EASTWEST LISTING. East West Banking Corp. marks the listing of P2.7 billion worth of Long-term Negotiable Certificates of Time Deposit

due 2022 with a bell ringing ceremony on March 21, 2017, at the Philippine Dealing System Holdings Corp. office in Makati City. EastWest Bank chairman Jonathan Gotianun (third from left) and president and chief executive officer Antonio Moncupa Jr. (fourth from right) lead the ceremonial ringing of the bell, with (from left) Unicapital president Ricardo Fernandez, Philippine Depository and Trust Corp. president and chief operating officer Ma. Theresa Ravalo, PDS president and CEO Cesar Crisol, EastWest Bank senior executive VP and COO Jose Emmanuel Hilado and PDEX president and COO Antonino Nakpil.

manuel Pinol denied Tuesday that he is favoring big beverage companies and dares those accusing him to show proof that he is corrupt.

Piñol made the statement after protesters accused him of receiving bribe from makers of Coca Cola and Pepsi soft drinks brands.

“Without even presenting proof, placards hoisted by the well-organized and obviously well-funded demonstrators called me “Money Piñol,” insinuating that I received money from Coca Cola and calling me anti-farmer,” Piñol said.

“They cited that because of the massive use by Coca Cola (also Pepsi Cola) of high fructose corn syrup, the prices of sugar dropped from P1,800 per bag of 50 kilos to only P1,300 per bag last week,” he said.

The protesters were reacting to Pinol’s recent pronouncement that

he wanted to suspend the implementation an order regulating the entry of HFCS. “The problem with SRA’s (Sugar Regulatory Administration) Sugar Order No. 3 is it regulated the importation of HFCS used by Coke in producing their soft drinks. They appealed because any change in the type of sugar that they will use in production will involve changing their machineries and equipment,” Piñol said.

He said the protesters called for a boycott of Coca Cola products, which Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon supported by ordering a ban on the sale and sponsorship of Coca Cola in the province in April.

“Coca Cola FEMSA Philippines and Pepsi Cola started relying heavily on the use of HFCS about five years ago when the prices of local sugar doubled compared to that of sugar coming from Thailand,” Piñol said.

Renewable energy projects rising

By Alena Mae S. Flores

T

HE Energy Department has awarded 755 renewable energy projects with a potential generation capacity of 16,948 megawatts as of end December 2016.

Latest records from the department showed hydro power obtained the biggest number of approvals with 413 projects and with a potential combined capacity of 10,792.37 MW. Solar projects followed with 150 projects approved with a potential capacity of 4,077.22 MW.

Mining closures hit PPA’s revenue

By Darwin G. Amojelar STATE-RUN Philippine Ports Authority revised downward its revenue and cargo growth forecast this year after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered the closure of 23 mining operations in several areas in the country.

The port authority anticipated expansion to be nominal this year from the previous year’s exponential growth due to vital developments over the past two months.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago blamed the tapered expectation to the volatility of the Philippine currency as well as the expected drop in the operation of the mining industry in the Philippines.

“Last year was a great year for the agency as we were able to post significant figures in terms of cargo volume and revenues,” Santiago said.

The PPA in 2016 posted a P6.159-billion net profit, beating the target by 165 percent or P3.836 billion.

PPA was able to achieve the feat with strong figures coming from lay-up fees, Ro-Ro fees, berthing fees and remittances from Asian Terminals Inc. The 2016 figure is 8 percent better against the P5.705 billion registered in 2015.

“While we expect this condition to be temporary, the authority is bracing for a challenging 2017,” Santiago said.

He said this year would be different as PPA anticipated it to be nominal due to several developments, especially in the mining industry.

“Based on our, almost all our business aspects have already reduced targets and budgets for 2017 ranging from the original 20 percent to only 3 percent,” Santiago said.

“Nonetheless, PPA will remain resilient and committed to carry out its mandate of better connectivity and service amidst these developments,” he added.

Wind projects came next with 58 projects approved and equivalent to a potential output of 1,038.95 MW, and geothermal with 43 projects involving a potential capacity of 684 MW. Biomass followed with 45 projects approved with a potential capacity of 312.38

MW and ocean energy with seven projects approved equivalent to a potential output of 26 MW. The department has nearly 4,000 MW of projects pending approval, indicating continuing interest in the country’s renewable energy industry.

Of the pending projects, 201 involve solar with a capacity of 2,130.8 MW, 88 hydro at 1,484.02 MW, 22 wind stations with 260 MW, three geothermal project with a combined 60-MW capacity and six biomass projects with a 43-MW output.

A department data showed

the country’s power generation capacity mix remained driven by coal-fired power plants last year but renewable energy was fast catching up.

Coal’s share in the capacity mix was placed at 36.5 percent for a total dependable capacity of 4,970 megawatts in 2016.

Coal is followed by renewable energy composed of geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar at 27.1 percent or 3,684 MW. Hydro accounted for the bulk of 17.1 percent of dependable capacity, followed by geothermal at 5.7 percent, wind at 2.2 percent, solar at 1.6 percent and

biomass at 0.5 percent.

Natural gas power plants provided 24.2 percent of dependable capacity in 2016 at 3,291, MW while oil-based stations accounted for 12.2 percent of dependable capacity at 1,655 MW. “We can still develop more indigenous resources,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said when asked to comment.

Data also showed the Philippines recorded an installed capacity of 21,423 MW as of end2016, while dependable capacity stood at 19,097 MW.

The bulk of the output came from Luzon with an installed capacity of 14,977 MW compared with a dependable output of 13,600 MW. Visayas’ installed capacity reached 3,284 MW against a dependable output of 2,813 MW. Mindanao has an installed capacity of 3,162 MW versus a dependable output of 2,684 MW. The department said the figures excluded off-grid power generators. Installed capacity refers to the capability of the power plants to produce while the dependable capacity refers to the actual output.

River cruise liner offers Asia, Europe travels to Filipinos

By Othel V. Campos UNIWORLD Boutique River Cruise Collection, Travel Corp.’s 6-star luxury river cruise line, will start offering travels within Asia and Europe to Filipinos this year.

Uniworld Asia manager Henry Yu said Filipinos were starting to mature as travelers and were ready for premium river cruise travel.

“This market (Philippines)

has a very big potential. First of all, this is a young market that is willing to travel. Filipinos are now are looking for something different. We think river cruise is a potential product in Asia and I think Philippines is the shining star in the future,” he said.

TravCorp, a global travel company that manages tour operations, hotels and cruises worldwide, is looking at the Philippines as an emerging tourism market in the Asia

Pacific region.

Collaboratig with Filipino travel company Rajah Travel Corp., TravCorp plans to expand its offerings in the Philippines through some of its key brands.

Yu said the current spending capacity in the Philippines and its young population made it an enticing market for travel companies.

Uniworld entered the Asian market four years ago and

considers Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as its top markets.

“We explored Malaysia and Singapore since they are English-speaking countries.

There is no language barrier and that made it is easier for us to enter. The market in Hong Kong and Taiwan are amazing although they are Chinesespeaking but the people know how to appreciate and they cruise with their family,” Yu

said.

Another tours company, Insight Vacations, said the Philippine outbound market had become sophisticated. It saw more middleaged Filipino professionals and their families traveling to more exotic destinations.

Insight Vacations-Asia president Evon Ler said the Philippines was now its second biggest market in Asia after Singapore, with double digit growth in recent years.

Sales of DMCI Power up on higher demand

PH-INDIA FORUM. The Board of Investments, the Embassy of India in the Philippines and the Philippine-India Business Council hold March 14, 2017 the Philippines-India Investment Forum at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City. The Philippine panel is headed by Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado (second from left) and BoI International Investment Promotion Service director Angelica Cayas (right).

The Indian panel is led by Embassy of India Chargé de Affairs Ramakrishnan (second from right) and Philippines-India Business Council chairman Johnny Chotrani.

SALES of DMCI Power Corp., the off-grid subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., rose 14 percent to 240 gigawatt-hours in 2016 from 212 gWh in 2015.

DMCI Power said in a statement higher power demand and dispatch across all cooperatives accounted for the double-digit sales growth.

“We are pleased to serve the growing electricity demand in our service areas. With our continued partnership with local cooperatives, we can deliver reliable electricity to even more off-grid communities,” said DMCI Power president Nestor Dadivas.

Palawan registered the highest sales growth of 17 percent to 91.27 gWh from 78 gWh in the previous year due to the increased economic activity in the province and the installation of a satellite plant in Brooke’s Point.

DMCI Power’s sales to Ori-

ental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, or Ormeco, increased 11 percent to 51.76 gWh last year from 46.24 GWh due mainly to the full year operations of the power generator’s 15-MW bunker-fired diesel power plant in Calapan City.

Dispatch to Masbate Electric Cooperative, or Maselco, rose 11 percent to 94.91 gWh from 85.81 GWh following a five percent uptick in the cooperative’s line connections.

DMCI Power has long-term power supply agreements with Palawan Electric Cooperative, Ormeco and Maselco.

DMCI Power has been investing in off-grid operations. The company announced last month it was spending P1.2 billion to augment power generation capacity in Masbate, Oriental Mindoro and Palawan this year.

Alena Mae S. Flores

PAJ, San Miguel to bare best agriculture journalists tonight THE country’s best agriculture and environment journalists in 2016 will be known in fitting ceremonies tonight at the 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards, 7 p.m, in Makati.

“We are proud to honor once again the winners of the 2016 PAJ-SMC Binhi Awards as our tribute to our colleagues covering the agriculture, environment and agrarian reform beats, including the efforts of writers, editors and broadcast journalists for their respective reportage, ag-

ricultural publications, radio and television programs, and information campaign,” said Roman Floresca, president of the Philippine Agricultural Journalists Inc. (PAJ), and retired business editor of the Philippine Star.

Sponsored yearly by San Miguel Corp., the 2016 PAJSMC Binhi Awards will have as main guest and keynote speaker Senator Cynthia Villar, who chairs both the Senate committees on agriculture and food, and environment and natural re-

sources.

“We are privileged to have SMC as our title sponsor, and we sincerely thank Mr. Ramon Ang for his continued support and generosity,” said Floresca, adding the PAJ has been conducting the Binhi Awards for agricultural journalism since 1978.

This year’s awards feature 22 winners in 14 major and minor categories, who were thoroughly chosen by a five-man board of judges chaired by former agriculture secretary William Dar,

who now serves as founding president of InangLupa Movement, Inc. The other judges are Mary Jane Oconer Llanes, AVP-SMC corporate and media affairs; Fred Gabot, former PAJ and National Press Club president, and currently editor of Farm Book magazine and Philippines Today; Angelo Palmones, former partylist representative and currently AVP for news and current affairs, MBC-DZRH; and Temina Lalani-Shariff, communication

head of the International Rice Research Institute.

The 2016 Binhi awardees, led by winners of the three major categories—agricultural journalist, agribeat reporter, and environment journalist—will receive a cash prize of P50,000 and a trophy, while the second and third placers will get P25,000 and P15,000 cash and trophy, respectively, said Noel Reyes, Binhi Awards contest chair and PAJ vice president for internal affairs.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Business

US officially rejects globalization

By Virginie MONTET

W

ASHINGTON―On free trade, globalization and multilateral organizations, the United States has done an about-face on international engagement, calling the vaunted “Washington consensus” into doubt.

During a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers over the weekend in Germany, the new Trump administration blocked the longstanding resolution opposing protectionism and qualified its commitment to the multilateral trade system including the World

Trade Organization.

“This is obviously a very significant change,” said Edward Alden, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert on trade.

“Donald Trump quite explicitly is the first president in more than 75 or 80 years who

has outspokenly said he believes protectionism could make sense for the US.” Since the start of the post-war era, the United States has driven global economic integration, relying on the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which preceded the WTO, to promote rules-based international trade.

But President Donald Trump clinched the White House on a promise to redress the inequity in US trade. He has vowed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement binding the United States, Mexico and Canada and has spoken of

slapping import duties on certain goods.

The chronic US trade deficit stood at $502.2 billion in 2016, widened by deficits with China ($347 billion), Europe ($146.3 billion) and Mexico ($63.2 billion).

Eswar Prasad, a former IMF economist, told AFP the US may regret its recent ideological turn.

“The omission of even a ritualistic paean to free trade in the G20 communique may be a victory for Trump’s protectionist agenda, but it comes at the cost of weakening US leadership on global economic issues,” said Prasad, a professor of trade policy and economics at Cornell

University.

“The US may find itself increasingly isolated on issues such as promoting free trade and tackling climate change as other major economies begin to collaborate more closely with each other in response to US disengagement.”

But others say the United States has less to lose in a trade war than its trading partners, giving it added heft in bargaining.

Mohamed El-Erian, chief economic adviser at the German insurer Allianz SE, said the damages the US suffers from the “America first” policy will be less than the harm inflicted on “many, many other countries.”

“As such, others are faced with an unpleasant lose-lose situation in which accepting a bad outcome is better than risking a much worse one,” El-Erian wrote in a Bloomberg column on Monday.

Alden said the consequences will depend on the scale and nature of policies that Washington ends up adopting.

For the moment, these are just ideas.

“If they involve small changes to Nafta or trade agreements, if they involve some modestly increased pressure on China... all of those could be benign outcomes potentially consistent with administration philosophy,” he said. AFP

Forbes: Bill Gates still world’s richest NEW YORK―Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates once again topped the Forbes magazine list of the world’s more than 2,000 billionaires, while US President Donald Trump slipped more than 200 spots, the magazine said Monday.

Gates, whose wealth is estimated at $86 billion, led the list for the fourth straight year, and has been ranked as the richest person in the world for 18 of the past 23 years.

Among the top 10 billionaires, a group heavily dominated by Americans, many from the technology sector, Gates was followed by Berkshire Hathaway chief Warren Buffett, with wealth was estimated at $75.6 billion, a $14.8-billion jump from the 2016 list, despite his pledge to give away 99 percent of his wealth.

Others in the top 10 included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos who moved up to number three with the biggest gain of any person on the planet, a $27.6-billion increase to his fortune of $72.8 billion. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg was number five and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison was number seven.

There are 183 tech billionaires in all with a combined $1 trillion in wealth, Forbes said.

The global population of billionaires jumped 13 percent from last year to a record 2,043, the biggest annual increase in the 31 years since the magazine

began compiling the list, Forbes said.

The US had the most billionaires with 565, a product of the swelling value of the American stock market since Trump’s November 2016 election.

China was second with 319 billionaires, and Germany was third with 114.

Trump slipped 220 spots on the list to 544 with an estimated $3.5 billion, a decline of $1 billion from last year. Forbes attributed Trump’s drop to sluggishness in the midtown Manhattan real estate market which is responsible for a disproportionate amount of his wealth.

“Forty percent of Donald Trump’s fortune is tied up in Trump Tower and eight buildings within one mile of it,” Forbes said. “Lately, the neighborhood has been struggling (relatively speaking).”

Forbes also said Trump’s wealth was hit by $66 million in political spending on his successful presidential campaign, as well as $25 million to settle litigation he allegedly ripped off students at Trump University.

The US president also would have missed the big stock market rally following his election, “assuming Trump sold off all of his stocks during last year’s campaign, as he has claimed,” the magazine said. AFP

Britain to launch EU exit process March 29 LONDON―Britain said Monday it will launch the process of leaving the European Union on March 29, setting a historic and uncharted course to become the first country to withdraw from the bloc by March 2019.

Nine months after the stunning referendum vote for Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May’s government will finally trigger Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty next week, starting a two-year departure.

“We are on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation,” said Brexit minister David Davis.

The European Commission said immediately that it was ready to begin negotiations, although a source in Brussels said it would take “four to six weeks” to arrange a summit to agree a common EU position.

Britain is one of the oldest and largest members of the 28-nation bloc, and its departure has raised fears for the EU’s future as eurosceptic movements gain support across the continent.

London has repeatedly said it wants to maintain good relations with its European allies, but major battles await, in particular over budget contributions, immigration and future trade ties.

Britain has said it wants to agree its divorce and a new relationship with Europe within the two years.

“We are going to be out there, negotiating hard, delivering on what the British people voted for,” May said on Monday.

But lawmakers have warned that her government must prepare for the risk they might fail―and for Britain to crash out of the EU with no agreement in place.

The prime minister has long said she would start the Article 50 process by the end of this month.

Britain’s ambassador to the EU, Tim Barrow, on Monday informed the office of EU President Donald Tusk that it would do so on March 29, May’s spokesman told reporters.

“We wish the talks to begin promptly, but we fully respect that the 27 (other EU nations) will want to agree their position in advance,” the spokesman said.

The notification of Article 50 will take the form of a letter to Tusk, likely outlining Britain’s key objectives, followed by a statement by May to MPs in the House of Commons.

Tusk said he would issue draft guidelines for the negotiations within 48 hours, and officials said EU leaders are then likely to meet at a special summit in early May to approve them. AFP

BREXIT TALKS. British Prime Minister Theresa May (right) and Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones are seen during a bilateral meeting at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on March 20, 2017. May has begun a tour of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland aimed at boosting support for Brexit. Britain said on March 20, 2017 it will trigger its exit from the European Union on March 29, nine months after the country voted to leave the European Union. (Story below) AFP

Indian tycoon Birla shuns investment banks in $23-b Vodafone transaction INDIAN billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla just pulled off the biggest deal of his career.

There won’t be any investment banks sharing in the glory.

The tycoon’s mobile arm, Idea Cellular Ltd., said Monday it will merge with Vodafone Group Plc’s Indian operations to create the largest Indian wireless carrier with a $23-billion enterprise value.

Birla, who will be chairman of the combined business, personally led talks with Vodafone chief executive officer Vittorio Colao, people with knowledge of the matter said.

While Vodafone was assisted by a slate of six investment banks―led by Morgan Stanley and Robey Warshaw LLP― Idea Cellular didn’t list any financial advisers in the deal announcement. Birla turned instead to a pool of former bankers he’s brought onto the payroll at his conglomerate, including Aditya Birla Group corporate strategy chief Saurabh Agarwal and head of group corporate finance Ashish Adukia, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

Birla shunned investment banks because he wanted to avoid any leaks, especially on the details of the transaction structure, according to the people.

The billionaire’s internal deal team has been working around the clock for the past two months, pushing through weekends to get an agreement, one of the people said. Idea Cellular met Vodafone officials in London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Mumbai to hash out the deal terms, the people said.

“Normally you would have investment banks in a deal of this size which is quite complex,” John Colley, a

Pedestrians walk past a Vodafone India Ltd. store in Mumbai, India, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. Bloomberg

professor at Warwick Business School who researches mergers and acquisitions, said by phone. “Even if you don’t need new money, you would want the experience of these bankers, and it’s rare not to have them.”

Earning fees Though talks first started in July last year, they quickly broke off and didn’t resume in earnest until December, according to the people.

Negotiations accelerated after the two companies publicly confirmed in late January they were in discussions for a deal, the people said.

When visiting London, Birla’s team stayed away from larger, more prominent hotels to avoid being spotted, according to one of the people. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Birla officials stayed in different hotels from the Vodafone executives so they wouldn’t be seen together too often, the person said.

A spokeswoman for Aditya Birla Group declined to comment, while a representative for Vodafone didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Agarwal joined Aditya Birla Group after leaving emerging markets-focused lender Standard Chartered Plc in 2015.

He previously headed India investment banking for Bank of America Corp. Adukia came to the conglomerate in 2014 after stints at Morgan Stanley, where he was an executive director, and Citigroup Inc. The Vodafone deal builds on the record $81.2 billion of acquisitions announced by Indian companies in 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. JM Financial Ltd., a local boutique advisory firm, was the No. 1 adviser on deals in the country last year with a 33.4-percent market share, followed by cross-town rival Arpwood Capital Pvt with 21.6 percent, the data show.

Birla’s desire to avoid outside financial advisers follows the mold of fellow billionaires like Ajay Piramal, who has mostly shunned bankers when seeking acquisitions for his health care to real estate empire in India. That creates an added challenge for the Wall Street firms still stinging from the Indian government’s earlier

practice of paying advisers a fee of less than one rupee, equivalent to 2 US cents, for managing equity transactions.

Fierce competition The deal with Idea Cellular will help Vodafone unload an unprofitable business that has prompted it to announce $12 billion of additional investments and writedowns as it fights competition from new rival Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. The upstart operator, backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has put pressure on carriers to consolidate after storming into the market last year by offering free calls and data.

Vodafone’s Colao told investors Monday that shared control of the merged company had always been a requirement of the discussions with Idea Cellular. Owning a lower stake in a “much better and much stronger asset” is more appealing than having 100 percent of a smaller, less profitable business, he said on a conference call with reporters.

While Idea Cellular didn’t use financial advisers, it hired Mumbai-based Axis Bank Ltd. for the much less lucrative role of providing a fairness opinion. Vaish Associates Advocates and Bharucha & Partners provided legal advice to the Indian company. The transaction with Vodafone comes with a break fee of 33 billion rupees ($505 million), according to an emailed press release.

“The trend of engaging inhouse investment bankers is slowly picking up globally,” Alok Shende, the founder of Ascentius Consulting in Mumbai, said by phone.

“Where there is consensus and friendlier terms, in-house bankers will come to help to conclude a deal.” Bloomberg

Village leaders ‘closely watched’

LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Sandy Araneta SEVERAL barangay chairmen in Manila who were confirmed to be involved with illegal drugs are now being closely watched, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said on Tuesday.

Estrada said the surveillance is part of evidence-gathering efforts of the Manila Police District to pin down these officials and expose their alleged links to drug syndicates, including those confirmed to be drug dependents.

While declining to give further details, the mayor reiterated his earlier assurance to publicly name those barangay chairmen in due time.

“We will not name them first. We need complete evidence,” he stressed, adding that criminal and administrative charges await the unscrupulous barangay officials aside from their dismissal from government service.

Last November, Estrada ordered the mandatory drug testing of the 7,168 elected barangay officials in the city’s 896 barangays, as part of his campaign to eliminate drugs in the capital city.

Earlier, the mayor confirmed that some barangay chairmen have tested positive for drug use, after confirmatory drug tests at the East Avenue Medical Center.

The drug test results are now with the Manila Health Department, Manila Barangay Bureau, and the MPD, he said.

Estrada and the 36-member City Council, including Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, subjected themselves to drug testing at city hall on Aug. 18. None of them tested positive.

It was the first time in recent years a city mayor voluntarily submitted to a drug test, which was also the first ever to be conducted at Manila City Hall.

Estrada’s move to subject barangay officials to mandatory drug tests was an offshoot of last October’s anti-drug operation at the Islamic Center, Quiapo.

There, incumbent Barangay 648 Chairman Faiz Macabato was killed after fighting with policemen who were about to serve an arrest warrant to his brother, a drug suspect.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

SIMPLE JOYS. A construction worker creates makeshift robot costumes out of cardboard boxes for two boys who are sons of street vendors in Manila. AFP

Davao uniting anti-vice laws D

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte is expected to release an Executive Order on April 3 combining the restrictions on smoking, liquor, and selling liquor to minors in the city once she returns from her maternity leave.

In a meeting with owners and managers of entertainment businesses here on Tuesday, Duterte said she will merge the ordinances involving the AntiVice Regulation Unit under the supervision of Voltaire Engracia for strict implementation.

“We will lump together the anti-smoking, liquor ban, and selling liquors to minors. They might inspect you [or] conduct a raid if they can see a basis to do such a thing, and they might close your establishment,” she warned the business owners.

The city government “is willing to help and assist them,” which is why she is reminding them of the laws and their violations “to prevent the worst-case scenario, which is shutting down their establishments,” the mayor said.

Duterte said she received several complaints about entertainment businesses still violating the ordinance selling liquor to residents and visitors to Davao younger than 23 years. The names of more than 10 establishments “kept on popping up” from the complaints, reason why she decided to meet the owners.

“We are here to help you, to

support you, that is why we have this [meeting]. We don’t want to close your businesses. It is not worth it to shut down your business just because of a P400 bill or so,” Duterte said.

She reminded the business owners their businesses should close by 2 a.m., and “last orders” before the closing time will still be considered a violation.

Duterte explained that by the time their businesses should be closed, the management should stop their customers from drinking, and even suggested to call the police—or her personally— to stop the drunkards.

Taguig boosts aid to residents, vets

By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Taguig has doubled the burial assistance benefit being extended to families of deceased persons who have lived in the city for at least five years.

To keep up with the rise in inflation, the city government decided to adjust the burial assistance to P20,000.

According to Mayor Laarni Cayetano, the program is available to families of indigent persons who have been Taguig residents for at least five years prior to their death.

Cayetano said the assistance is primarily spent for the expenses of the wake, including funeral services. The beneficiaries may use any excess amount for other burial-related costs, she added.

“The death of a loved one brings emotional pain to those left behind. For the underprivileged members of our society, the

emotional pain is aggravated by the practical problem of getting the wherewithal for the wake and burial expenses,” said Cayetano.

The mayor tapped the city’s Social Welfare Development Office to administer the program.

Myrna Gilbuena of the social welfare staff said Taguig City also offers its poor residents non-monetary and logistical support, such as free use of chairs and tables.

World War II veterans and their spouses, including those listed as widows of WWII veterans, are also beneficiaries of the city government program, likewise entitled to P20,000 in burial assistance.

Taguig also recently granted an additional P5,000 to the monthly allowance given to World War II veterans residing in the city.

Cayetano said city councilors approved a series of ordinances granting monthly allowances and a raise in the benefits being extended to the war veterans in Taguig.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY— A suspected drug dealer long monitored by the police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Northern Mindanao was arrested by anti-narcotics operatives during a buy-bust operation over the weekend.

The suspect, Nobaisa Tanggo, has been on the Philippine National Police and PDEA’s watch lists “for a long time,” said Po-

lice Senior Insp. Maricris Mulat on Monday.

Tanggo, a resident of Barangay Bulua here, was caught selling suspected shabu to Divisoria police officers who posed as buyers on Sunday evening.

Taken from the suspect, Mulat said, were sachets of suspected shabu weighing about 210 grams, with an estimated street value of P1.5 million.

Authorities believed Tanggo is a big-time dealer, since her main

“We will be adding personnel to the [Anti Vice Regulation] unit to further implement the law, and they will be working 24 hours to regulate it,” Duterte said.

She assured the business owners she is willing to help them, “especially when they abide by the laws of the city.” Duterte said she understands them since she “used to drink a lot” during the time she was not yet the mayor of Davao.

She told the business owners it would be better to open their establishments earlier in the day, so they can abide by the scheduled closing time.

Over 3k pets in Makati treated

SWARMED. Fans and onlookers swarm actress KC Concepcion (center, with black shirt), also the United Nations World Food Programme ambassador for hunger, during the opening of the weeklong Bangsamoro Week of Peace in Cotabato City. Celebrated every second week of March to commemorate the Jabidah Massacre, the event shows the commitment of the government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to raise awareness on the Bangsamoro identity. Omar Mangorsi

Woman tagged as big drug dealer nabbed in CdO

By Lance Baconguis

C1

customers are pushers from different areas in the city, she added.

The suspect, Mulat said, admitted to selling the illegal substance, but did not identify who her supplier is.

She said Tanggo has been dealing drugs ever since she was residing in Sto. Niño, a community near the Cogon public market area, one of the neighborhoods in Cagayan de Oro tagged as a drug hotspot.

In fact, Mulat added, Tanggo’s

husband was arrested in 2011 for prohibited drugs, and is serving time at the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, formerly the Davao Penal Colony, in Panabo City.

Investigators managed to locate the suspect’s whereabouts after previously arrested drug personalities mentioned her name to police.

Tanggo is alleged to have a wide drug distribution network, Mulat said. Selling shabu “has become a family business,” aside from her husband,

her siblings “are also into drug pushing,” she added.

Mulat said Tanggo had a huge house built in Bulua district. She even kept bank deposit slips signifying that she has been saving the proceeds she earned from selling the illegal substance, she added.

Meanwhile, a female “Tokhang” responder and two other suspected drug personalities were arrested by police and PDEA agents in a joint buy-bust operation in Barangay Camaman-an last Friday.

MORE than 3,000 pet owners in Makati have benefitted from the resumption of free anti-rabies vaccination operation conducted by the city government in observance of Rabies Awareness Month.

The city’s Veterinary Services Office gave free anti-rabies shots to 3,481 pet dogs and cats in a house-to-house vaccination drive conducted since March 1 in various barangays.

In a report to Mayor Abigail Binay, city chief veterinarian Dr. Ma. Katherina Mangahas said her office also conducted an information drive in the nine barangays covered to date, to raise the awareness of residents on rabies prevention and responsible pet ownership.

Streamers bearing the theme “Rabies Iwasan, Alaga’y Pabakunahan” were put up in front of barangay halls, health centers and schools, while leaflets were also given to residents whose pets were vaccinated, Mangahas said.

Binay thanked the residents who supported the drive and had their pets vaccinated by VSO personnel.

“I am glad that many of our constituents responded positively to our campaign against rabies. Let us continue to support the efforts of our city veterinary office to protect Makatizens from this deadly disease,” she said. Joel E. Zurbano

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

LGUs

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 Standard C2 Standard TODAY Manila Manila

TODAY

House approves college access bill T

HE House Committee on Higher and Technical Education has approved a bill for universal access to tertiary education that will afford Filipinos “equal opportunity to quality education in both private and public educational institutions.”

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Please be informed of the following New Set of Directors/Shareholder of BOURBON MARINE SERVICES MANILA effective 15 February 2017 RENATO M. SANTELICES PAMELA S. ALBANO SALVADOR S. ALBANO EVELYNE MARIE ILIOU MARK HENRICK F. HILVANO Corporate Secretary: KAREEN FE PIOQUINTOENRIQUEZ Asst. Corporate Secretary : ARCANGEL CHRISTIA REYES-MARCOS For more information: CALL US at 720-1000 or VISIT US at 8F Sage House 110 V.A. Rufino St. Legaspi Village, Makati City Philippines

(MS-MAR. 22, 2017)

NOTICE OF EXTRA JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Josefina Fruto Binalla has been extra judicially settled among her heirs on 15 March 2017 as per Doc. No. 86; Page No. 18; Book No. 3; Series of 2017; before Atty. Alysha Grace M. Zulueta, Notary Public for the City of Manila.

The measure, called the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, consolidates House Bill 2771 filed

by Albay Rep. Joey S. Salceda, and similar bills filed by partylist Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT) and Sarah Jane Elago (Kabataan party-list), but adopted the title and major provisions of Salceda’s original bill.

The consolidated bill’s highlights include full funding of state universities and colleges or SUCs with its proposed P38billion budget, and another P21.6 billion for other expenses.

It also calls for sufficient funding for Technical Vocational Education and Training or TVET in

Technical Vocational Institutes run by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority with P6.7 billion, also from Salceda’s original version.

It also offers a Tertiary Education Subsidy of P15 billion, limited to Decile 1 to 5 students, for tuition and other expenses in accredited private higher education institutions, local universities and colleges, SUCs and Tesda-accredited TVIs, original provisions from the measures filed by Reps. Dakila Carlo E. Cua (Quirino) and Carlo Alexei B. Nograles (Davao City).

The measure aims to provide other mechanisms to increase the participation rate in tertiary

education from all socio-economic classes; provide all Filipinos with equal opportunities to quality education in both private and public educational institutions; give priority to academically able students from poor families; ensure optimized utilization of government resources in education; and recognize the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the tertiary educational system.

Its other salient features include the National Student Loan Program with a P15-billion allocation, limited to Decile 1 to 8, for tuition and other expenses in accredited HEIs and SUCs. The loan is payable upon the student-

lender’s gainful employment when the beneficiary’s gross income reaches the minimum critical threshold, and will be collected as additional percentage on top of his or her Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System premiums.

That provision was wholly taken from Salceda’s Higher Education Contribution Scheme or HECS proposal, patterned after the Australian model of free higher education, and renamed NSLP. HB 2771 also aims to strengthen the unified financial assistance system for tertiary education, and amends an older legislation, Republic Act 10687, better known as the UniFAST Law.

(MS-MAR. 22,29 & APR. 5, 2017)

NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS OF BRIGHT KINDLE RESOURCES & INVESTMENTS, INC. (FORMERLY BANKARD, INC.) RYM Business Management Corporation, Caulfield Heights, Inc., Mr. Anthony M. Te and Mr. Macario U. Te (the “Bidders”) acquired a total of 1,375,459,989 shares of common stock of Bright Kindle Resources & Investments, Inc. (formerly Bankard, Inc.) (“BKR”) (the “BKR Sale Shares”) registered in the names of, and/or beneficially owned by, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation and RCBC Capital Corporation. As of the same date, the BKR Sale Shares represented approximately 89.9891% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BKR. In relation to the conditions for the acquisition of the BKR Sale Shares and pursuant to the requirements of the Philippine Securities Regulation Code (“SRC”) and its implementing rules and regulations, the Biddersare implementing a tender offer to acquire the 257,145,011 common shares currently held by the public, representing approximately 16.82% of the issued and outstanding capital of BKR (the “BKR Public Shares”) from the owners thereof (the “BKR Public Shareholders”), subject to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)(“Tender Offer”).

The Bidders shall purchase BKR Public Shares which are tendered (the “Tender Offer Shares”) by the BKRPublic Shareholders (the “Tendering Shareholders”), at the price of P0.8575 per share (the “Tender Offer Price”), payable in cash (before deductions for customary selling charges of0.61% of the total transaction valueor P0.8523 after deducting the customary selling charges).The customary selling charges that will be deducted by the Bidders do not include the selling broker’s commission payable by the Tendering Shareholder, which is subject to mutual agreement between the Tendering Shareholder and its/his/her broker, and the taxes on the commission.

Each BKR Public Shareholder as of any date during the Offer Period is entitled to sell its/his/her BKR Public Shares to the Bidders in accordance with and subject to the Terms of the Tender Offer, which is Annex A to the Application to Tender Common Shares in Bright Kindle Resources & Investments, Inc. (formerly Bankard, Inc.) to RYM Business Management Corporation, Caulfield Heights, Inc., Mr. Anthony M. Te and Mr. Macario U. Te (the “Application”).

The Tender Offer will commence at 9:00 a.m. on 20 March 2017 and end at 5:00 p.m. on 19 April 2017.The Bidders reserve the right to extend the Tender Offer with the approval of the SEC. Scrip shareholders (i.e., shareholders who hold stock certificates) of BKR who wish to sell their shares to the Bidders should complete the Application in triplicate and submit the same with the following attachments to Lucky Securities Inc. (the “TO Agent”) at the address set forth below, not later than the end of the Tender Offer Period: Lucky Securities Inc. 1902B West Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Center, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City a.

Original BKR stock certificates duly endorsed; to be verified by the TO Agent as valid and authentic certificates. For those whose stock certificate/s is/are lost: (i) one (1) original of a duly notarized affidavit of loss; (ii) copy of the affidavit of loss as published in a newspaper of general circulation (in substantially the form of Annex E to the Application which is Exhibit A to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the SEC); (iii) affidavit of publication (of affidavit of loss); and (iv) bond in the amount of P0.8595 covered by a lost stock certificate. b.

For Individuals:

c.

d.

(i)

For shareholders acting through an attorney-in-fact, a duly notarized Irrevocable Power of Attorney (in substantially the form attached as Annex B to the Application, which is Exhibit A to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the SEC). For married individuals who are Philippine citizens, their respective spouses must sign the space provided in the Irrevocable Power of Attorney to indicate marital consent to the sale of the Tender Offer Shares.

(ii)

Photocopies of two (2) valid identification cards showing the Applicant’s signature and photograph, i.e., driver’s license, tax identification card, Social Security Services/Government Services and Insurance System card, or passport.

(iii)

Duly accomplished signature card containing the specimen signature of the Applicant and verified by the Applicant’s broker or by an officer of the bank at which the Applicant maintains an account (the signature card must specify the name of the broker and the broker’s signatory or the name of the bank and the bank’s signatory, as the case may be).

For Corporations: (i)

Notarized Board Resolution (in substantially the form of the Secretary’s Certificate attached as Annex C to the Application, which is Exhibit A to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the SEC) authorizing the sale of the Tender Offer Shares, designating signatories for the purpose and indicating the specimen signatures of those signatories.

(ii)

Copy of SEC Certificate of Incorporation or equivalent constitutive document certified as true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of company records.

(iii)

Copy of latest Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Applicant or equivalent constitutive document certified as true copy of the original by the Corporate Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of company records.

(iv)

Duly accomplished signature card containing the specimen signature of the Applicant’s designated authorized signatories and verified by the Applicant’s broker or by an officer of the bank at which the Applicant maintains an account (the signature card must specify the name of the broker and the broker’s signatory or the name of the bank and the bank’s signatory, as the casemay be).

For Partnerships: (i)

Copy of SEC Certificate of Registration or equivalent constitutive document certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

(ii)

Copy of the latest Articles of Partnership of the Applicant or equivalent constitutive document certified as true copy of the original by the Partnership Secretary or equivalent person having official custody of the partnership records.

(iii)

Notarized Partnership Resolution (in substantially the form of the Partners’ Certificate attached as Annex D to the Application, which is Exhibit A to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the SEC) authorizing the sale of the Tender Offer Shares, designating signatories for the purpose and indicating the specimen signature of the signatories.

(iv)

Duly accomplished signature card containing the specimen signature of the Applicant’s designated authorized signatories and verified by the Applicant’s broker or by an officer of the bank at which the Applicant maintains an account (the signature card must specify the name of the broker and the broker’s signatory or the name of the bank and the bank’s signatory, as the case may be).

Scripless shareholders (i.e., shareholders of BKRwhose shares are lodged with thePhilippine Depository and Trust Corporation (“PDTC”) who wish to accept the offer must complete the Application in triplicate and submit the same with the attachments referred to in item (b), (c) or (d) above (as applicable to the TO Agent at the address set out above no later than the end of the Tender Offer Period. In addition, such scripless shareholders must instruct their brokers to electronically transfer their Tender Offer Shares to the TO Agent. The member broker(s) of the PSE who hold(s) theTender Offer Shares, should, upon receipt of the notice of the Tender Offer, immediately notify the relevant shareholder that should the shareholder wish to sell its/his/her shares in BKRto the Bidders, the shareholder must instruct said participating broker to electronically transfer its/his/her shares to the TO Agent, as custodian for such shares, not later than 5:00 p.m.on19 April 2017. When tendering shares, the participating brokers are required to submit the letter to the TO Agent (in the form of Annex 1 to the Instructions to Participating TO Agents, which is Exhibit G to the SEC Form 19-1 filed by the Bidders with the SEC) not later than 5:00 p.m. on 19 April 2017as well as the duly completed Application.

The terms of the Application (including the Representations and Warranties) shall form integral parts of the Terms of the Tender Offer, which in turn form integral parts of the Application.

The Tender Offer Shares shall be deemed accepted by the Bidder on 21 April 2017subject to the conditions that the TO Agent has determined that the Tendering Shareholders shall have submitted the required documents and obtained all the required approvals and authorizations to enable it to transfer the Tender Offer Shares to the Bidders before the expiration of the Tender Offer.

Acceptance of Applications is subject to the terms hereof. The Bidders, through the TO Agent, at its sole discretion, shall have the right to reject any Application that does not qualify and accept qualified Applications at any time before the Tender Offer Shares are sold to the Bidders through the facilities of the PSE. Applications (i) received after the Tender Offer Period, or (ii) that are not properly completed, or (iii) lack any of the required attachments, will be rejected.

The TO Agent will accept Applications on the condition that it is able to verify the signature/endorsement on BKRstock certificates by verifying the signature on file with BKR’s stock transfer agent, if such is available. The TO Agent will rely on the signature affixed on the Application and on the supporting identification documents or board resolution when it verifies the endorsement of the relevant BKRstock certificates. The TO Agent shall not be required to make further inquiries into the authenticity of the signature. If the TO Agent is unable to verify the signature on the Application or the endorsement of the BKRstock certificate, the TO Agent will also reject the Application.

Tendering Shareholders whose Applications have been rejected, in whole or in part, shall be notified of such fact by the TO Agent on or before 21 April 2017.

All Applications shall be accepted only in the Philippines.

Rejected shares shall be returned in the same form they were received to the Tendering Stockholder’s broker (for scripless shares) or to the Tendering Stockholder (for certificated shares) within three (3) trading days from the end of the Tender Offer Period. Any and all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the return of the rejected shares shall be borne by the Tendering Stockholder.

The accepted Tender Offer Shares are intended to be crossed at the PSE on 26 April 2017(the “Cross Date”), subject to the approval by the PSE and subject further to any extension of the Tender Offer Period with the approval of the SEC. Any change in the Cross Date shall be announced by the Bidders in Manila Standard and Philippine Daily Inquirer The settlement date shall be within three (3) trading days from the date the accepted Tender Offer Shares are crossed at the PSE (the “Settlement Date”), subject to any extension of the Tender Offer Period with the approval of the SEC. All accepted Applications shall be settled only in the Philippines.

The TO Agent will act as agent for the Tendering Shareholders for the purpose of receiving the check payments from the Bidders and transmitting the check payments to such Tendering Shareholders. The check payments to be issued to Tendering Shareholders shall be made available by the TO The TO Agent will act as agent for the Tendering Shareholders for the purpose of receiving the check payments from the Bidders and transmitting the check payments to such Tendering Shareholders. The check payments to be issued to Tendering Shareholders shall be made available by the TO Agent for pick-up by the Tendering Shareholders starting on Settlement Date at its offices.

When collecting payment, the Tendering Shareholders shall present the “Applicant’s Copy” of the Application as well as proper identification (e.g., driver’s license, driver’s license, tax identification card, Social Security Services/Government Services and Insurance System card, or passport). Duly authorized representatives shall be required to present an authorization letter from the Tendering Shareholders.

Tendering beneficial owners of Tender Offer Shares are advised to consult with their custodian, fiduciaries, or other similar agents on the manner by which they may collect payment from such agents.

In any event, no payment shall be made without the TO Agent having timely received the duly accomplished Application, the stock certificates evidencing the Tender Offer Shares and other documents required herein.

Any payment not collected within thirty (30) trading days from the Cross Date shall be dispatched via registered mail, to the address of the Tendering Shareholder indicated in the Application, at the risk of the Tendering Shareholders.

Tendering Shareholders shall have the right to withdraw any Tender Offer Shares at any time during the Tender Offer Period but only up to 19 April 2017 at 5:00 p.m., by submitting a written request for the withdrawal of the Tender Offer Shares to the TO Agent with a copy of the “Applicant’s Copy” of the Application issued by the TO Agent. If tendered Tender Offer Shares are not accepted by the Bidderson or before 21 April 2017,Tendering Shareholders may likewise withdraw their tendered shares.

For withdrawal of the tendered shares to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be received by the TO Agent before 5:00 p.m. on19 April 2017at the address set forth herein. The notice must specify the name of the Tendering Shareholder and the number of Tender Offer Shares to be withdrawn. If the stock certificates evidencing the Tender Offer Shares have been delivered to the TO Agent, the serial numbers shown on such certificates must be submitted to the TO Agent prior to the physical release of such certificates. No request for withdrawal of fractions of Tender Offer Shares will be considered. The TO Agent shall have the right in its sole discretion, to determine the form and validity of the notice of withdrawal, including the time of receipt thereof.

All expenses incurred by the TO Agent in respect of withdrawal of Tender Offer Shares shall be for the account of the shareholder making the withdrawal.

The terms set out in SEC Form 19-1 filed with the SEC on 01 February 2017shall form integral parts of the Terms of the Tender Offer. Copies of the SEC Form 19-1 are attached to the Notice of Tender Offer distributed to the shareholders of BKR. Any shareholder who wishes to obtain a copy of the said form may do so at the office of the TO Agent.

For inquiries regarding the Tender Offer, the number of shares and stock certificates, please contact the following: Lucky Securities Inc. Contact Person: Ms. Bee F. Ang Telephone Number: 634-6786 Telephone Number:634-5382

RYM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION Represented by Mr. Remegio C. Dayandayan, Jr.

CAULFIELD HEIGHTS, INC. Represented by Mr. Isidro C. Alcantara, Jr.

MR. ANTHONY M. TE MR. MACARIO U. TE (MS-MAR. 20,21 & 22, 2017

AMBULANCES FOR BOHOL. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Alexander F. Balutan (on the rostrum) makes his remarks

before government officials of Bohol during the turnover of eight ambulance units to the municipalities of Panglao, Clarin, Baclayon, Loboc, Bien Unido, Mabini, Candijay, and Batuan. This was held at the New Capitol Compound in Tagbilaran City last Saturday. Also in photo are (seated, from left) Bohol Gov. Edgar Chatto, Vice Gov. Dionisio Balite, PCSO Executive Assistant VI Manuel Fraginal Sr. and PCSO Branch Manager Roberto Cinco.

Pangasinan State U head faces graft raps

By Dexter A. See LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Graft charges were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman last Monday against the president of the Pangasinan State University for disbursing for himself “extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses” beyond what is allowed by law.

In a complaint filed before the anti-graft body, Dr. Francisco G. Posadas, an associate professor of PSU, accused Dr. Dexter Buted of “blatantly violating pertinent laws on the use of public funds, an act tantamount to

abuse of authority, grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.”

Posadas presented evidences that include findings by the Commission on Audit that Buted had claimed reimbursements of P1 million for extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses or EMS, more than what is allowed under Section 39 of the General Appropriations Act or GAA of 2015.

Under the GAA, Buted who holds a rank of a department undersecretary, is entitled to P108,000 in extraordinary expenses and P72,000 in miscellaneous expenses.

However, the CoA found out that the state university head had claimed EMS reimbursements of P1.18 million, or an excess of P1 million. The reimbursements were made within a year after Buted’s assumption of the post in December 2014, the CoA report said.

Posadas claimed in his complaint that Buted as early as from June to Sept. 22, 2015, or a period of four months, had already used P480,000 of his EMS, but he continued to claim additional reimbursements up to December of that year way beyond the ceiling provided for by GAA.

The complainant informed the anti-graft body that Buted managed to claim reimbursements “without supporting documents, such as official receipts,” to justify the expenses.

Posadas submitted copies of the vouchers and corresponding checks covering the reimbursements from June to Dec. 15, 2015.

The CoA in its annual audit report, asked Buted to “submit a detailed accounting of the excess amount” (of the reimbursed fund), but Buted allegedly failed to submit the requirement and instead issued only a certification on the expenses.

2 events on Death March route set

By Butch Gunio

ILAGAN CITY’S PRIDE. A worker repairs the giant armchair displayed along the national highway in Ilagan City, Isabela. The chair symbolizes the Ilagueños’ booming furniture industry. Ben Moses Ebreo

Rice production project studied

By Brenda Jocson LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A United Nations specialized agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries is conducting an impact assessment study on its funded Department of Agriculture Irrigated Rice Production Enhancement Project or IRPEP in six provinces in Regions 6, 8 and 10.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development or IFAD has funded the IRPEP, which is a major component of the DA’s Rapid Food Production Enhancement Programme or RaFPEP. IFAD has commissioned the Philippine government-host-

ed Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture or SEARCA to conduct the data collection of its impact assessment of the IRPEP. Paul Winters, IFAD Research and Impact Assessment Division director, said the RaFPEP was completed in December 2016 and implemented to increase food production by farmers in clustered irrigated rice production systems on a sustainable basis.

Winters said RaFPEP had more than 100 community irrigation system beneficiaries in its covered provinces of Capiz, Aklan, and Antique in Region 6; Northern Leyte and Western Sa-

mar in Region 8; and Bukidnon in Region 10.

He said SEARCA will conduct a survey of more than 2,000 households, 16 focus group discussions (FGD), and 24 key informant interviews (KII).

“The survey’s purpose is to estimate the project’s impact on the household beneficiaries and partner irrigators’ associations,” Winters said.

Earlier, SEARCA conducted a training from Feb. 27 to March 5 for enumerators to ensure that they will properly administer the IFAD-approved paper and tablet questionnaires as well as pilot-testing of the survey instruments.

BALANGA CITY, Bataan—In time for the 75th anniversary of the Bataan Death March, the Philippine Veterans Bank, together with its partners, revisits history anew by organizing events to be held in honor of the country’s World War II heroes.

The events are the fourth edition of the Bataan Freedom Run marathon, and a new event for running and biking enthusiasts, dubbed the Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail.

Slated on April 2, the Bataan Freedom Run will feature a 42-kilometer full marathon, a 21-kilometer half-marathon as well as 10-kilometers, 5-kilometers, and 1-kilometer courses for running aficionados, kids, and pets.

As in previous years, the BFR follows the route of the Bataan Death March and will start at Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan.

The Freedom Trail will feature a punishing 160-kilometer run with individual and team relay categories for marathoners as well as similar-distanced bike run. The new event will be held from April 10 to 11 and will cover the Death March route from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac.

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

World IN BRIEF Human rights activist arrested ABU DHABI―Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested an award-winning human rights activist pending an investigation for allegedly publishing “false information” and “sowing sedition and sectarianism” online, state media said.

Cybercrime prosecutors ordered the arrest of Ahmed Mansoor on Sunday “over documented electronic proof,” the official WAM news agency reported late Monday.

Mansoor was accused of using social media platforms to “publish false information and rumours, and spread tendentious ideas that would sow sedition, sectarianism and hatred and harm national unity and social peace, as well as harming the state’s reputation and inciting disobedience,” said WAM. AFP

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Mexico might ditch US corn M

EXICO CITY―Mexico has identified a potential weapon in its trade wrangle with US President Donald Trump: lucrative yellow cobs of American corn.

‘Piggy Bank’ dies from complications BANGKOK―A sea turtle nicknamed “Piggy Bank” has died after complications from surgery to remove nearly 1,000 coins she swallowed during captivity, Thai vets said Tuesday.

The reptile was thought to be recovering well from the pioneering seven-hour operation earlier this month to remove five kilograms (11 pounds) of coins lodged in her digestive tract -- good luck pennies tossed into the pool she was kept in.

But she took a sudden turn for the worse over the weekend, developing blood poisoning from serious intestinal problems after the coins were removed.

Omsin (Piggy Bank) was 25.

Her plight, recorded in precise detail in daily news updates, captured the hearts of many Thais and raised questions over the collision of traditional beliefs in good luck and animal welfare in the country.

“At 10:10am she went with peace,” a tearful Nantarika Chansue, the vet in charge of Chulalongkorn hospital’s aquatic research center, told reporters on Tuesday.

“She is my friend, teacher and patient,” she added.

The turtle lived for two decades in a small pond in a public park in Chonburi Province.

Visitors tossed coins into her pond seeking to “make merit” or good luck. AFP

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CLOWN OF THE MOUNTAIN. This undated photo received from the University of Auckland on March 21, 2017, shows a kea parrot in New Zealand. Researchers have found that New Zealand’s kea parrot has the avian equivalent of an infectious laugh—a call that when heard prompts others to drop everything and have some fun. Kea live in alpine areas and are renowned in New Zealand for being intelligent and mischievous, often called “the clown of the mountain”. AFP

The Latin American nation imports billions of dollars’ worth of the yellow grain from the United States to feed its livestock.

But with Trump pushing to shake up the countries’ trade ties, Mexico is now threatening to buy from elsewhere.

That is worrying corn growers in some of the very same US states that voted heavily in favor of Trump: Iowa, North Dakota, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

Trump has vowed to restrict free trade with Mexico in order to protect US jobs and industry.

But with Mexico gearing up for a potential trade battle, the effect could be the opposite -- at least when it comes to corn.

“For US corn producers, Mexico is their number one export customer,” Thomas Sleight, president of the US Grains Council, told AFP. “They are concerned about maintaining excellent relationships with long standing customers that they’ve built over generations.”

Mexico’s Agriculture Secretary Jose Calzada said Mexico is in advanced talks with two other corn producers, Brazil and Argentina.

The US grain is cheaper than those countries’ corn at $198 a ton, says Juan Carlos Anaya, head of the Agricultural Markets Consulting Group, a Mexican research firm.

Brazilian corn costs $210 a ton and Argentine corn $217, Anaya said.

Buying corn from other countries would drive up the price of certain products in Mexico, he warned.

But Mexico needs alternative sources of corn to gain leverage in trade negotiations.

Trump has vowed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada.

He wants new conditions that will help shift manufacturing jobs back to the United States and boost US production and exports.

Talks are expected to start this year.

“We do not know what the United States will propose,” said Calzada.

“We have to act first to be sure that when we arrive at that negotiating table we are starting from a position of total strength.”

One leftist opposition senator, Armando Rios Piter, has launched a legislative proposal to buy corn from Brazil and Argentina.

US “corn producers may have been fooled by Donald Trump when he said that Mexico was the only one benefiting from NAFTA,” Rios told AFP. AFP

China threat forces submarine project launching KAOHSIUNG―Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen launched the island’s first ever home-grown submarine project Tuesday in the face of what the government says are growing military threats from China.

The move comes after China sent its only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, through the Taiwan Strait in January, in one of a number of military drills held as relations deteriorate.

Taiwan last week warned of an increased invasion risk from China and has pledged to boost its military in response.

Tsai called the launch of the

submarine plan a “historic moment” at a naval base in the southern city of Kaohsiung.

She was presiding over a formal signing ceremony to initiate the project between the navy, Taiwanese shipbuilder CSBS Corporation and the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, which develops combat system integration.

Delivery of the submarine is expected to take eight years and is part of the island’s “indigenous defense policy”, said Tsai.

“I want to tell you all that the Taiwanese always face challenges bravely and overcome them,” she said.

Taiwan’s navy currently operates a fleet of four submarines, bought from abroad, but only two of them can be deployed in the event of war.

The other two were built by the United States in the 1940s and are only used in training as they are too old for combat.

As part of her visit Tuesday, Tsai boarded Taiwan’s Zwaardis-class submarine the Hai Hu, which was purchased from the Netherlands.

Tsai watched the simulated firing of a torpedo while on board.

Beijing still sees Taiwan as part of its territory to be brought

back into its fold, by force if necessary, even though the island has been self-governing since the two sides split after a civil war in 1949.

Ties have worsened since Beijing-skeptic Tsai took power last year, ending an eight-year rapprochement.

Tensions heightened further after a protocol-busting call between Tsai and Donald Trump, following his US election victory.

The US is Taiwan’s most powerful ally and main arms supplier, despite having no official relations with Taipei after switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.

But Taiwan has turned to the domestic submarine project after years spent waiting for US models.

A long-stalled offer approved by then US president George W Bush in 2001 to supply eight conventional submarines has never come to fruition.

Defense minister Feng Shihkuan has said the Liaoning’s sail near Taiwan highlighted the need for the island to press ahead with building its own subs.

Taiwan also announced last month its bid to create a new generation of locally built jet trainers by 2026. AFP

Prosecutors question S. Korean ex-president SEOUL―South Korea’s ousted president Park Geun-Hye was questioned by prosecutors Tuesday about the corruption and abuse of power scandal that brought her down, after using executive privilege to avoid them for months while in office.

Park apologized to the public as she arrived at the prosecutors’ office in Seoul, adding: “I will undergo the investigation sincerely.”

The nation’s first female president was impeached by parliament in December as millions took to the streets to demand her removal over the sprawling scandal, which has exposed the links between politics and business in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

Her dismissal was confirmed by the country’s top court earlier this month, ending the political career of a woman who grew up in the presidential palace as the daughter of army-backed dictator Park Chung-Hee. As a private citizen once again, Park’s convoy drove at walking pace through crowds of flag-waving supporters lin-

ing the street outside her home -- some of them lying on the pavement to try to block her exit before she left.

Every inch of the journey was covered live on television, with cameramen trailing the vehicles in cars and on motorcycles and at fixed points along the route.

Questioning by prosecutors is a key step in South Korea’s judicial process before a suspect is charged. It can last for many hours, late into the night, and can be repeated if officials deem it necessary.

Park faced two prosecutors and an investigator and was accompanied by one of her lawyers, but standard procedure bars him from interjecting, only allowing consultations during rest breaks -- which could be an issue for her.

The 65-year-old has a reputation for fastidiousness and as president reportedly refused to use toilets that had been employed by others.

She had a packed lunch of seaweed rice rolls and sandwiches brought by one of her security guards, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. AFP

INAUGURATION. Dancers perform during the inauguration of the new Tatutu prison in Papeari on the French overseas territory of Tahiti.

French Justice Minister Jean-Jacques Urvoas inaugurated on March 20, 2017, in Tahiti the Tatutu detention center, which he considers “one of the most modern prisons in France” on an overseas territory where one can also find the country’s most overpopulated and smallest prison. AFP

World

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

PREMIERE. Carmen Gabriela Baldwin, Alec Baldwin, Rafael Thomas Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin attend ‘The Boss Baby’ New York Premiere at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on March 20, 2017, in New York City. AFP

Syria rebels in fresh assault

DAMASCUS—Rebels and jihadists on Tuesday launched a fresh assault on east Damascus, two days after Syrian government forces repelled an initial attack just a few kilometers from the center of the capital.

An AFP journalist in east Damascus and a monitor both reported a large explosion at dawn followed by fierce clashes, shelling and government air strikes on opposition positions.

The renewed fighting in the capital, which saw rebels and jihadists make their largest incursions in east Damascus in years, came just two days before another round of UN-backed peace talks were set to get underway in Switzerland.

“There was a big blast at dawn, most likely due to a car bomb attack by the rebels against a regime position between the districts of Jobar and Qabun,” Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP. Syria’s air force responded with raids on opposition positions while rebels shelled the Abbasids and Tijara neighborhoods near Jobar, a few kilometers from the city center, said Abdel Rahman.

The official SANA news agency said 12 people were wounded in rebel shelling.

“The Syrian army is facing attempts to advance by terrorist groups... north of Jobar and is surrounding them,” it reported.

An AFP journalist in Damascus reported hearing a large explosion at dawn in the city’s east followed by non-stop shelling and gunfire.

Plumes of dark smoke could be seen rising from eastern neighborhoods.

“Our windows and doors rattle with each bombardment,” Damascus resident Lamis, 28, told AFP. “I’m frightened that these armed groups will advance further and I hope they will be stopped soon.”

It was the second wave of an assault that began at the weekend and saw rebels and allied jihadists initially score gains in Jobar, even briefly advancing into Abbasid Square—two kilometers from Damascus’ Old City—for the first time in two years.

But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad drove them back by nightfall and began a fierce bombing campaign, the Observatory said, before calm was restored on Monday afternoon in eastern Damascus where shops reopened and cars returned to the roads. AFP

HK protester starts jail term HONG KONG―A Hong Kong activist who was attacked by seven police officers during mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 began a prison sentence Tuesday for his own assault on police.

Ken Tsang was found guilty last year of assaulting and resisting officers during the “Umbrella Movement” protests that brought parts of the city to a standstill for more than two months.

Later the same night Tsang was beaten and kicked by a group of officers in a park -- an assault that was captured by local TV cameras and beamed around the world, denting the image of the city’s police force.

Seven officers were jailed for two years in February for assault causing actual bodily harm, but acquitted of a more serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

Tsang himself had been sentenced in May last year to five weeks in prison after being found guilty of splashing liquid on police during the street rallies.

He immediately appealed and was bailed, but Tuesday dropped the appeal bid in a case that has dragged on for nearly three years since he was first arrested.

“After today’s legal proceedings are over, I will immediately serve my sentence,” Tsang, 41, told reporters and around 20 supporters outside the High Court Tuesday.

“I understand that some things I did that night may not be tolerated by the law. I need to take responsibility for my actions,” he added, saying that the liquid he splashed on police was water.

Tsang said his decision to give up the appeal was “not a sign of weakness”, and he had faced unfairness from the government and police whom he accused of “blurring the line between right and wrong”.

“This is the best result we can achieve at this point in time.”

Police have been criticized for their sometimes heavy-handed treatment of protesters during the “Umbrella Movement’s” mainly peaceful 79 days of rallies and street blockades.

The demonstrators were seeking fully free elections for future leaders of the semiautonomous Chinese city. AFP

Distraught villagers fight to save their homes in HK

H

ONG KONG―Ko Oi-sum’s simple village home on the northwestern edge of Hong Kong is surrounded by trees planted by her mother―she dries the leaves to make tea, espousing their health benefits.

But this ramshackle rural community of narrow alleyways, humble houses and freely roaming cats and dogs, is now under threat.

Residents have been served an eviction notice by the government, asking them to leave by 2018 to make way for a new housing development.

Some politicians say expanding into the less populated parts of Hong Kong is essential, with affordable homes hard to find in the densely packed urban areas where rents are sky high.

Much of the territory outside the city’s main commercial hubs is forest, park land and rural settlements.

But critics say the government’s approach benefits a clique of private developers and powerful rural elites, at the expense of the public.

A month after her family received the eviction news, Ko’s mother suffered a stroke, which her daughter blames on shock.

She passed away a year later, last December.

“My mum was not emotionally prepared,” she told AFP. “She didn’t want to live in public housing or a high-rise...

She’d put her heart here.”

Ko lives in a cluster of three villages known as Wang Chau, home to fireflies, indigenous tree frogs and around 100 households.

The villages are set to be demolished to make way for 4,000 public housing units.

Some residents have been there all their lives, after their parents came over from mainland China in the 1950s.

While most built their own homes, they rent the land their houses stand on from private individuals, mostly indigenous villagers who have now moved away.

Villagers and campaigners believe compensation for the destruction of the site would be to landowners, not to home owners, although the government has said it will make payouts to some residents.

But they say they were not consulted about the project and do not want to give up their communities.

“My roots are here,” said one villager who gave her name as Miss Lam and grew up in Wang Chau.

A water well outside her house was hand-built by her late father.

The government has said relocation is “inevitable” and that it will provide cash or rehousing to eligible residents, without detailing who would qualify.

But villagers blame authorities and local power blocs for hanging them out to dry -Wang Chau is now peppered with banners decrying corruption and displacement.

The rural areas of Hong Kong are dominated by a political network known as the “kuk”, who are represented in the legislature and participate in voting for the city’s leader. AFP

FROM HA-HA. A model

presents a creation from the Japanese design team Ha-Ha during its 2017 Autumn/Winter Collection show at Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. AFP

China now most disliked country in South Korea SEOUL―The row between Seoul and Beijing over the deployment of a US missile defense system has seen China overtake even former colonizer Japan in the ranking of South Koreans’ least favored countries, a survey shows.

Japan has consistently been Southerners’ most disliked country after North Korea, mainly due to the disputes over Tokyo’s wartime

atrocities including the use of up to 200,000 Korean women as sexual slaves for Japanese troops.

But now South Korea and the US have begun deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to guard against the missile threats from the nuclear-armed North, infuriating China, which sees it as compromising its own capabilities.

Beijing launched a series of measure against the South seen as economic retaliation, forcing dozens of South Korean retail stores in China to shut their doors and banning Chinese tour groups from visiting.

China’s rating in an opinion poll by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies slumped from 4.31 in January to 3.21 in March, on a 0-10 scale, with 10 representing the

most favorable.

Japan’s number also fell amid a diplomatic row over the “comfort women” issue, from 3.56 to 3.33.

A drop in the Chinese figure was expected given Beijing’s response to THAAD but the “sharp decline” was surprising, Asan said in a statement Monday.

“Even more surprising is that Koreans are now more favorable

toward Japan (3.33) than China (3.21),” it said, noting Japan had consistently been Koreans’ least favored country after the North.

The survey also showed the ratings of US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe all declining, but Xi’s falling the most, plunging from 4.25 in January to 3.01 in March. AFP

The Embassy of France in Manila’s Deputy Head of Mission Laurent Le Godee and Counsellor for Political Affairs Christine Carole

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

FASHION & BEAUTY

D1

A look at French fashion

P

ATRONS of SM Aura Premier recently had the rare opportunity to have a glimpse of contemporary French fashion during the recent PhilFrance Fashion Week 2017

The event highlighted the collection of designer Clivia Nobili in a fashion presentation, Beau Travail, as well as an exhibit at the mall’s atrium.

A joint project of The Embassy of France in the Philippines, in partnership with SM Aura Premier, the event is part of Phil France: Feel French, a celebration of 70 years of Franco-Philippine Friendship.

The Clivia Nobili fashion show, Beau Travail highlights Art de Vivre program of the Phil France: Feel French campaign, which is the art of living in a style that is distinctly French, a unique way to immerse oneself in the pleasures of gastronomy, fashion, culture, and sports with family and friends.

Born in Paris, France, Clivia Nobili took evening classes at the Fashion Institute Technology, New York and was an assistant stylist for Charles Jourdan in 1994 to 1995. She was also a costume designer for films, TV series, and advertising materials for Peugeot, Décathlon, Renault, Premier Suspect, and Marionnaud then later became the designer of work wears for Chassagnette restaurant, the Opéra of Lille, the Grand Palais Lille, and Auchan Department Store.

Her latest collection Beau Travail, which means “good job” or “good work” in French, aims to bring a revo-

French designer Clivia Nobili (second from left, front row) presents her Beau Travail collection during the PhilFrance Fashion Week at SM Aura Premier

lutionary twist to corporate attires and would still be wearable in the Philippines. The clothes in the collection are made of 100 percent cotton and cotton

– linen with deep blue, rouge, and saffron as its color pal-

Wear white in summer

PLAINS AND PRINTS is one of the leading fashion houses in the country known for its original graphic printed apparels with over 70 boutiques nationwide. Over the past years, Plains and Prints have evolved into more than just a woman’s apparel brand to one of the country’s leading one-stop beauty boutiques that emphasizes the true essence of a woman—offering an array of products from apparel, accessories, cosmetics and fragrances.

Established as a fashion house that continuously inspires and innovates, Plains and Prints is happy to introduce another milestone project featuring a color-inspired collection.

Going back to the basics, Plains and Prints used a classic, timeless color— White—to encapsulate timeless yet made new cuts to achieve the first of its kind to the brand—the #whiteseries limited edition capsule collection.

ette, as well as a gold range.

The fashion show was well-attended by members of the diplomatic corps and fashion lovers: designers, and faculty

and students of schools like the Fashion Institute of the Philippines and the De La Salle – College of St. Benilde School of Design and Arts. the event.

Off the shoulder looks for kids

Inspired by monochromatic dressing, specifically the all-white trend, Plains and Prints’ #whiteseries collection created a variety of white tops, bottoms, jumpsuits and playsuits that can be easily styled.

Plains and Prints believes that no matter the woman’s shape and style, an all-white ensemble will definitely look sharp and polished. Moreover, the capsule collection is referred to as #whiteseries that is complementary to today’s digital eon that sets transcendent style trends.

The collections will be available at Plains and Prints boutiques nationwide tomorrow.

For more information like www.facebook.com/plainsandprints and follow @PlainsandPrints on Instagram and Twitter.

Experince online shopping at www.plainsandprints.com

WITH a hint of the little Bohemian, the current off-the-shoulder trend is one of hottest looks this season, and there’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t join in. Including little girls at SM Kids.

Feminine and romantic at the same time, there is something charming and carefree about an off-the-shoul-

der dress or top. And pretty little girls can wear the colors of summer as a classic choice, or a cold shoulder top as a trendier style.

Paired with jeans, denim shorts or a billowing skirt, the off-the-shoulder trend is so versatile it’s on with style.

The collection is available at SM Kids of The SM Store.

Floral printed dress in boho style

Romantic off-the-shoulder ruffle dress

Export quality corporate attire Anne Curtis wears all-white ensemble stylishly

Local fashion label Plains and Prints launches a classic all-white capsule collection

THE Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines (FDAF) has partnered with the Corporate Executives Dress and Apparel, Inc. (CEDA) and Qalidad Filipino Foundation Incorporated (QFFI) to provide export quality corporate attires to different offices here and abroad.

They opened their Corporate Center on March 8 in Mandaluyong spearheaded by FDAF, CEDA and QFF president and founder Digna Rosales.

“The partnership among the organizations is based on some common

grounds in the fashion industry. It also aims to provide direct and indirect benefits to the community where it operates. For Qalidad Filipino, it aims to provide livelihood to the marginalized sector by training people to be entrepreneurs in different fields from fashion to the field of arts,” said Rosales.

The corporate offices of both companies located at CEDA Corporate Center, #777 Katarungan St. Plainview, Mandaluyong City is open to interested partners or stakeholders.

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Feel confident this summer W

ELCOME the hottest season in style with a boost of sizzling confidence care of Maidenform, the leader in bra and shape solutions.

Flaunt those curves and that stunning silhouette with bras that give you the perfect support, structure and lift. Wear strapless maxi dresses and low cut blouses with confidence with the support of Maidenform invisible adhesive bra

Whether it’s worn under a plain Tshirt, a gorgeous gown or a cute beach outfit, Maidenform aims to give you the foundation to help you stand out. When it comes to turning heads, a memorable look doesn’t begin with a beautiful outfit but great foundation—a well supportive bra and underwear. Find the perfect one for your size and style as Maidenform has you covered.

If you’re the type who seeks the sup-

port of a good bra but without the underwire, look no further as Maidenform offers the Invisible Adhesive Bra. Wear it under strapless maxi dresses, low cut tees and blouses, or other sheer beach fashions for more confidence. The super smooth seamless wire-free cups with silicone gel adhesive fit perfectly.

The foam cups, which give you complete coverage, are also designed to be a whole piece, with no sides or back. This

innovative design also sports cup liners that are completely adhesive and multiwear.

When it comes to preparing for a beach getaway, packing light is the way to go. Give yourself more luggage space and cut down the time in packing by only taking a few pairs of bras with you. Maidenform’s Clear Bra Straps are the perfect solution for such as trip as they offer you more versatility in styl-

Maidenform silicone nipple covers are easy to attach and remove

ing. Wear your favorite bras with clear bra straps that come in a sturdy 3/8-inch wide fit. These invisible beauties give you much needed support without taking away attention from your outfit.

For a halter fit, simply use one strap to hook around your neck.

Finally, if you’re feeling a bit daring but still want to retain that mystery and sexy allure, achieve that sense of “bare nakedness” with Maidenforms’ Reus-

able Silicone Covers. This nifty pair helps cover your intimates, while giving you the confidence to wear your plunging neckline and braless outfits. These soft, gel-like adhesives are 2-inches in diameter and are easy to attach and remove—and they’re washable too.

Maidenform is available in leading department stores nationwide exclusively distributed by Rustan Marketing Corporation.

Finding the right partner is like finding the right glasses IT IS such a great joy whenever we find the perfect eyeglasses because it is really a struggle sometimes to have a pair that would match not just the shape of our face but our personality as well.

It’s like finding the one person you are meant to be with, who likes the things you like, does the things you also want to do and who just basically is your soul mate. Finding the perfect pair of eyeglasses is just like that.

Since this is what we wear everyday and what is seen together with our faces almost all the time, it is just right that we wear the perfect ones. EO Executive Optical, one of the largest optical chains in the Philippines, has got you covered.

To determine which type of eyeglasses are perfect for any kind of face, it is important to first know what shape your face is. Is it round, square, oval, heart, oblong or diamond? Once you figure that out, EO then has variety of eyeglasses to choose from depending on the shape of the face.

1.

Round-faced For people with round faces, full cheeks and a rounded chin they should get square, cat-eye or wayfarer eyewear. This will put a little more edge and boney features to the face. Round faced-people should also avoid wearing round eyeglasses.

A black Lucky Wallet from McJim Classic Leather helps increase wealth and attract success in career or business

2.

Square-faced Those that have a prominent jawline with angular features and a wide forehead are square-faced people. If you have this type of face, you must balance it with your eyeglasses by choosing any of the three styles: aviator, round or any curved style eyeglasses.

3.

Oval-faced Meanwhile, oval-faced people are lucky since they can wear any type of eyeglasses. However, they should still try to avoid eyeglasses that are too small or too large for their faces.

Know the dos and don’ts in handling your wallet to make it attract wealth

Be a prosperity-magnet DID you know that according to the ancient science and philosophy of Feng Shui, there are several simple ways to attract wealth and prosperity? For instance, following a certain arrangement in the furniture of your home, wearing some charms, or owning a ‘lucky wallet’ are tried-and-tested methods that can help increase your moneymaking opportunities.

McJim Classic Leather, a trusted brand in stylish and authentic leather accessories, offers lucky wallets in various sizes, colors and designs, perfect for any man who wishes to increase his luck.

If you’re now thinking of getting your lucky wallet, keep a few “lucky” tips from the Feng Shui experts in mind: • Avoid buying, or using, a second hand wallet. The previous owner’s energy remains in the wallet and may affect your own energy when you use it, leaving you uncertain if it carries good or bad luck.

Instead, choose a brand-new “lucky wallet” from the collection of McJim Classic Leather, which comes in colors seen as money magnets by Feng Shui specialists.

• For instance, black wallets represent wealth and prosperity, ideal for individuals who aim for career advancement and success in business.

• Meanwhile, brown wallets are perfect for those who wish to increase their savings, or quit the habit of unnecessary spending or impulse buying.

• Green wallets help increase money-

making opportunities, as green represents growth and life.

• Whatever color your McJim lucky wallet will come in, note that McJim Classic Leather wallets have many compartments, helping you organize your bills, coins, and cards neatly— another Feng Shui tip for attracting good wealth.

• After purchasing your McJim lucky wallet, Feng Shui masters suggest keeping it tidy and free from clutter, making room for positive energy to flow.

Immediately discard old receipts, credit card bills, candy wrappers, and expired membership cards since these represent debt and expenses.

Instead, always keep your McJim lucky wallet filled with money, to symbolize abundance.

• Treat your McJim lucky wallet well and expect it to do the same for you.

Secure your wallet in a special place in your home and leave it there when not in use, so it will feel treasured. Feng Shui masters claim this results in the wallet attracting more wealth into your life.

• Avoid tossing your wallet anywhere you find convenient, or placing it on the floor, especially in the bathroom.

• Finally, neatly sort out the paper bills and coins in your McJim lucky wallet. Make sure that all notes are arranged in an upright position to positively influence you, your wallet, and your money.

For wealth and prosperity to come your way, buy a McJim Classic Leather and follow these foolproof Feng Shui tips.

4.

Heart-shaped face A heart-shaped face is characterized by a broad forehead with painted and narrow chin and high cheekbones.

For this face shape, it is advised to get square, sporty and rectangular type of glasses. This will balance the face as it is almost like a round-shaped face.

5.

Oblong-faced An oblong face has a longer length than the width, with a long straight cheek line. Oblong-faced people should get aviators or square type of glasses. These kinds of faces are best complimented by oversized glasses.

6.

Diamond-faced These kinds have angled foreheads and chins with a broad and high cheek bones. If you have this kind of face, the perfect eyeglasses are rimless, cat-eyed or oval.

With all these options, it will be easier to find the perfect pair for anyone. It is however important that you are comfortable and happy with your choice—just like choosing your partner in life.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

Liza

SHINING THE BRIGHTEST.

Cited for her exceptional talent and sensational beauty, Liza Soberano has been chosen to be the face of a popular jewelry store

Soberano’s

NEW LOVE

Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo star in yet another romcom, “Can’t Help Falling in Love”

After LizQuen, it’s KathNiel’s turn

Y

ES, Liza Soberano is very much in love. No doubt one of the most popular and highly talented young actresses today, Liza can no longer keep it a secret: at her tender age, she finds herself in a love affair that she simply could not resist. It was indeed love at first sight, she reveals, leaving her forever smitten and her heart truly aflutter. And all this took place when she was first introduced to jewelry from MyDiamond!

My Diamond is the new apple of Liza Soberano’s eye – exquisite creations that are elegantly designed and finely crafted lifestyle pieces. And like her, you too will fall in love – intensely and purely – with MyDiamond jewelry, proving that it is never too early to own pieces of value, objects that even those her age and generation can already enjoy and appreciate.

It offers high-quality diamond jewelry set in either 14 or 18 carat gold. Each piece is made by internationally trained craftsmen using diamonds of top-tier cut, clarity, color and carat weight, and

as an option an assured authenticity certificate from the Gemological Institute of America.

“Liza Soberano exemplifies the value of Choose True Brilliance,” John Paul Paglinawan, MyDiamond Marketing manager, enthuses. “Her talent shines the brightest among her generation and she stays true to herself both in her personal life and professional career. Like My Diamond’s exquisite pieces – Liza is authentic and naturally beautiful both inside and out.”

Also a noted fashionista, Liza can always select a piece that easily matches her sense of style, one that has been described as super chic, stylish, and playful. And no matter the occasion – casual to formal and everything else in between – there’s definitely a piece of My Diamond jewelry that Liza can choose from.

For a bigger, bolder look, there’s the Dream Collection that features rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings in round brilliant, princess, pear, and

heart-shaped creations shine and give off a romantic, dreamy look. Meticulously arranged settings also make the diamonds appear as one big stone, giving each piece a brilliant and very elegant effect. This intricate design is inspired by the famous illusion setting that gives customers more value, something that My Diamond does not fail to deliver.

Whether it’s your first heirloom piece or maybe even an engagement ring or a wedding band, My Diamond has diamond jewellery that is a perfect match for you – selections that will take your breath away and make you fall deeply in love.

To know more, visit a MyDiamond concept store today.

My Diamond can be found at: Shangri-La Plaza Mall, SM Megamall, Robinsons Place Manila, Festival Supermall, Glorietta 4, Greenbelt 3, Gateway Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Aura Premier, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Ayala Fairview Terraces, SM Lanang Premier.

K Brosas’ hilarious ‘K-Sabihan’ in a book

K Brosas channels her inner humorist in a book she launched recently

K BROSAS’ witty remarks, popularized in Showtime’s “Tawag ng Tanghalan” portion, are now compiled in softbound copies in ABS-CBN Publishing’s K-Sabihan, Ang Alamat ng Teh at Iba Pang Kasagutan.

Readers will enjoy more of K Brosas’ famous accounts and funny anecdotes on love and life.

In the book, she candidly shares stories from her past and writes how readers can still be happy despite being single.

“A lot of millennials will find this read relatable,” shared K. “Those in unlabeled relationships, those whose feelings are unreciprocated—a lot of those examples, so I’m sure that a lot of the young ones will be affected.”

It has been K Brosas’ dream to become an author. She even mentioned getting rejected once by

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, March 22, 2017

ACROSS 1 Plaid items 6 Lascivious 10 “Our Gang” dog 14 Flawless 15 Black-and-white snack 16 Fringe — 17 Gray rock 18 Slant 19 Tolled 20 Equinox month 22 Grove 23 Passable 24 Feel the heat 26 Too 29 Earth orbiter of yore 31 Stout 32 Dull routine 33 Compos mentis 34 Shimmers 38 Genetic double 40 Safari animal 42 Famed statuette 43 Excellent 45 Calls it quits 47 Explosive ltrs.

48 Publicity info 49 A Gabor sister 50 On a voyage 51 Parkas 55 Graceful horse 57 The “f” in f-stop 58 Hitched up

63 Opposing forces 64 Wine served warm 65 Hollow rock 66 Baroness Karen 67 Pierre’s girl 68 Foolish, plus 69 Warrior princess 70 Get healthy again 71 Sandal part DOWN 1 Show affection 2 Out of work 3 Vault 4 Heart, maybe 5 Like healthy fur 6 Trying to influence 7 Old barge canal 8 Has on 9 Salon styles 10 Conditionally released prisoners 11 Go off like Vesuvius 12 Stressed out 13 Desirous 21 Tot’s cry 22 String quartet members 25 Shake a finger 26 Eyebrow shapes 27 Humdinger

28 Pause 30 “Walk Away —” 33 Ongoing drama 35 Feigns 36 Luxuriant tresses 37 Baja Ms. 39 Omaha’s state 41 Monotonous 44 — choy 46 Fix a sock 50 Not in class 51 Stick on 52 Threat for a Wild West

outlaw 53 Whale’s home 54 Embarrass 56 Auspices 59 Similar 60 Glide like a hawk 61 Novelist — Ferber 62 Profound 64 Actor — Shepard

a local publisher but that did not stop her from writing a masterpiece that will surely make people throw their head back in a full throated guffaw.

“Only a few knew that I have a blog. It has long been my dream to write a book and share interesting stories in the level of J.K. Rowling and E.L. James,” she said in jest.

She included excerpts from her blog in the book, particularly questions from her followers that she amusingly answered.

K-Sabihan, Ang Alamat ng Teh at Iba Pang Kasagutan is the latest addition in ABS-CBN Publishing’s line of bestselling consumer books.

Priced at P175, K-Sabihan, Ang Alamat ng Teh at Iba Pang Kasagutan is exclusively available in all National Book Store outlets nationwide.

LIZA Soberano and Enrique Gil’s My Ex and Whys gave the audience a glimpse of what Star Cinema has in store for moviegoers who fanatically enjoy the film outfit’s brand of big-screen entertainment -- the usual boy-meets-girl formula, which they seem to have perfected.

While critics gave the romantic comedy unfavorable reviews, the same thing cannot be said of the way it was received by the movie going public. The film now holds the record for 2017’s highest opening day gross for a Filipino film. Its opening day box-office record was also the third highest opening day gross for a non-MMFF Filipino film of all time earning more than P340 million according to Star Cinema.

Now, expectations are high as Kapamilya’s film outfit fields the tandem of Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla in yet another romantic movie set for commercial release next month.

Following Star Cinema’s tradition of using a song title or a famous line from a song, the upcoming KathNiel film outing is inspired a pop ballad originally recorded by Elvis Presley, Can’t Help Falling in Love.

And Daniel has already recorded his own version of the 1961 hit.

The teaser for the romantic comedy was released on Facebook on March 15 and garnered more than two million views in less than 24 hours. On the same day, the trailer was uploaded on YouTube and has been viewed almost a million times since.

Interestingly, the movie doesn’t follow the plot of Fools Rush In, 1997 American romantic comedy film starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, which of course was inspired by the same song popularized by the King of Rock and Roll.

The teaser sees Daniel and Kathryn portray strangers who suddenly find themselves married. In the oneand-a-half-minute trailer, the two characters are seen meeting for the first time. Kathryn shakes Daniel’s hand and shows him a marriage certificate then blurts out, “Let’s get a divorce.” The young man teasingly suggests that they try out the married life.

In a recent interview, Kathryn said that the new movie will a bit different from their previous big screen project.

As a summer movie, it’s light and with less drama, which means no hugot lines to feast on.

“Rom-com talaga iyong movie na ito. The whole time ay hindi siya mabigat panoorin ...Masaya siya na may matutunan tayo after,” Kathryn said.

Directed by Mae Cruz Alviar (Crazy Beautiful You, She’s the One), Can’t Help Falling In Love is Daniel and Kathryn’s first movie following the widely successful Barcelona: A Love Untold, which earned P321 million.

Indeed, it will be such a busy year for KathNiel and for the fans that religiously follow them on social media. The pair will also be returning to the Kapamilya primetime with La Luna Sanggre, the third installment of ABS-CBN’s hit fantasy series Lobo (2008) and Imortal (2011).

outsider’s take on what Filipinos may take for granted or miss,” she added.

Also debuting a new face on ANC is Gametime, a 30-minute sports newscast airing weekdays at 9:30 p.m. featuring sports highlights, game recaps, exclusive interviews, and interactive segments presented by upcoming anchor Migs Bustos, a commentator for the National Collegiate Athletic Association and contributes stories to Channel 2’s news program Bandila and articles and analysis to ABS-CBN’s online sports hub, sports.abs-cbn.com. He began his young and promising broadcast career as sports analyst for ABS-CBN S+A sports channel’s The Score, DZMM’s Fastbreak, and ANC’s Hardball, before venturing into news casting as an anchor for ANC Headlines.

Meanwhile, ANC is also introducing a primetime edition of The Bureau, which offers a comprehensive take on international news and events with reports from worldwide news resources.

At the helm of the 7 p.m. edition is Ron Cruz, while Karmina Constantino remains on the 4 p.m. telecast.

Ron is one of ANC’s most loyal anchors, having been with the channel for 21 years. For his new assignment Ron hopes to address the demand of viewers for more global news and stories.

“The world is getting really small and Filipinos want to know what’s happening around the world that directly affects their lives and can affect their businesses here,” he explained.

ABS-CBN Integrated News head Ging Reyes said there are more to come for the channel in 2017 as they further strengthen ANC’s business and political content and programming, and produce more live events like their ANCX series.

“We in ABS-CBN never tire of innovating. We are always restless.

We always challenge ourselves to do better. The spirit of adapting to change and delivering what our viewers need continues this year,” she said.

ANC, deemed as the gold standard in Philippine news, has been a partner and the go-to news source of the country’s business leaders and decision-makers for more than two decades.

For more information, visit news.abs-cbn.com/anc, or follow ANC on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/ANCalerts) and Twitter (@ANCalerts).

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2017

T

HE ABS-CBN news channel on cable introduced Annalisa Burgos and Migs Bustos to the members of the press in a lunch do last week.

Burgos joins the team of Early Edition anchored by TJ Manotoc with Paolo Abrera, Michelle Ong, and Christian Esguerra at 5:30 a.m. Monday to Friday.

The show is the first major assignment for international news anchor Annalisa, the latest addition to ANC’s formidable roster of journalists. The Los Angeles-born journalist brings with her over 17 years of experience, covering the news, business, and lifestyle beats in the USA and later in Asia for organizations like Channel NewsAsia, HGTV, Forbes, CNBC, and Bloomberg.

Annalisa shared why she decided to continue her career in the Philippines and with ANC, which happens to be the only English language 24/7 news channel in the Philippines that is broadcast internationally.

“I admire the company’s journalistic reputation and commitment to informing Filipinos across the world. I grew up watching The Filipino Channel and learned Tagalog by watching it with my grandmother. So many Filipino immigrants rely on ABSCBN to stay connected to their motherland and I’m honored to be part of this tradition,” she explained. Annalisa revealed that as someone new in the country, she is also able to give a fresh perspective on issues. “I like to challenge the way people see things, so expect to see different points of view.

I offer an

Sportscaster Migs Bustos

ABS-CBN Integrated News head Ging Reyes

Senior news anchor Ron Cruz

ANC introduces NEW ANCHORS

‘Bhoy Intsik’ star is

Sinag Maynila Best Actor

RAYMOND Francisco bagged the Best Actor award for his performance as a gay thief with a heart in Joel Lamangan’s Bhoy Intsik during the Sinag Maynila 2017 Awards Night on March 12 at the Samsung Hall of SM Aura.

In his acceptance speech, Raymond literally cried with happiness as he admitted that after all these years in the acting profession (he’s theater actor before becoming a TV commercial director and actor for film and television), this Sinag Maynila trophy is his very first acting award, so it was so special to him and felt so overwhelmed that his triumph to bag the Best Actor award did not immediately sink in, forgetting many people to thank for in his emotional speech onstage.

He even personally checked the envelope that read his name as the winner, “Baka mamaya, ma-LaLaLand ako, na nag-i-speech na, hindi pala ako ang winner! This is a big deal for me since it’s my firs time to win an award. I was already acting since prep, in school stage plays,” says a tearful Raymond.

Raymond said the award would give him more inspiration to hone his craft as an actor.

“I also dedicate this to my superb director Joel Lamangan, all the hardworking staff of Bhoy Intsik, my staff in Frontrow Entertainment, as well as my tribute to the LGBT community,” he added.

Bhoy Intsik also won the Sinag Box Office Award for being the most

International news anchor Annalisa Burgos

Film and stage actor Raymond Francisco shows off his Sinag Maynila Best Actor trophy

blockbuster film among the entries, and had numerous nominations in various categories. Raymond tied as Best Actor with Kristofer King for Kristo.

The jury members of the Full Length Competition of the three-year indie film festival were composed of French film critic and historian Max Tessier, Filipino film critic Oggs Cruz, and Film Development Council of the Philippines Chair Liza Diño-Seguerra.

FROM Pilipinas Got Talent to We Love OPM, Kaye Cal has come a long way and is now ready to unleash her acoustic soul as she launches her first solo album under Star Music.

Kaye initially went mainstream as the lead vocalist of Ezra Band, a Pilipinas Got Talent Season 1 grand finalist. She has eventually emerged as a solo performer, doing covers in her YouTube channel, recording singles for Star Music’s OPM Fresh and Himig Handog, and being part of Nyoy Volante’s team in We Love OPM. Kaye’s self-titled album has nine tracks with two originals, three covers and four bonus hits.

She composed the two original songs, “Rosas” and “Mahal Ba Ako ng Mahal Ko.” This album also includes some of her popular covers like all-time OPM favorites “Why Can’t It Be”, “Ikaw Lang”, and a song collaboration with Maya and Michael Pangilinan, “Kung Ako Na Lang Sana”.

It features bonus tracks such as her greatest hits “Walang Iba”, a song originally sung by Ezra Band, and “Isang Araw”, her single under Star Music’s OPM Fresh album compilation.

Kaye’s song “Nyebe”, part of Himig Handog’s P-Pop Love Songs for 2016, is also part of the album alongside “Give Me a Chance”, a single included in the successful soundtrack of the TV series, Til I Met You. Her songs in this album will surely become romantic hits as what the singer-guitarist has achieved in her previous acoustic covers.

Kaye, who hails from Davao del Sur, is a proud lesbian and member of the LGBT community. She has been making waves in the music industry with her soulful and uniquely ‘masculine’ singing voice.

Kaye Cal, produced by Rox Santos, is available at all record bars nationwide for only P199. Digital tracks may be downloaded on online music stores such as iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify.

For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/starmusicph, Twitter.com/starrecordsph and Instagram.com/ starmusicph.

Kaye Cal soars in new album

Talent search discovery Kaye Cal