Manila Standard - 2017 March 24 - Friday

VOL. XXXI • NO. 42 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 • www.thestandard.com.ph • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

INSOUCIANT REMARKS. President Rodrigo Duterte, reacting to impeachment complaint against him by his critics, tells Filipinos in Bangkok Sunday the Vice President, whom he says ‘is in a hurry to get rid of me’—denied by the latter—should, in a light-hearted vein, just marry him if she cannot wait to be head of state. In this file photo, Leni Robredo beams when she was still in Duterte’s Cabinet.

Digong gives Leni a ribbing: Marry me

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte proposed Wednesday night that Vice President Leni Robredo just marry him if she cannot wait to be president.

Earlier, Duterte had branded Robredo an enemy who was in a hurry to claim the presidency.

“The woman you elected is in a hurry to get rid of me,” he told Filipinos in a speech in Bangkok, Thailand.

“I have not been here for a year and she wants to get rid of me. Well, she’s single. Marry me. Then there will be two of us here,” he said in Filipino.

“At least I won’t be removed.

I can just whisper to you,” he

China ships free to enter Panatag if...

By John Paolo Bencito TO AVOID further escalating tensions in the region, President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said Manila would allow Beijing to conduct innocent passage within the disputed Scarborough Shoal after the Chinese assured him that they will stop their planned construction of radar structures in the resource-rich waters.

Speaking to reporters, Duterte said that Beijing may enter the traditional fishing grounds only upon the notice of relevant Philippine authorities.

“You are free to enter—just inform my Navy. Inform the Foreign secretary,” the President said in a press briefing after a four-day official visit to Myanmar and Thailand.

“You can go there any time, I said. I told them, since you are claiming it, [and] I am claiming it, do not impede our travel there.”

“My coast guard ... they can go there and visit you, shake your hands, and you can park here.”

The President added that the Chinese authorities assured him there would be no construction on Panatag Shoal—the Philippine name for Scarborough Shoal.

“I was informed that they are not going to build anything in Panatag,” Duterte said.

“Out of respect for our friendship they will stop it. Don’t worry, we are friends,” he added.

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added.

Duterte told Robredo not to rush, as she has not done anything substantial yet for the country.

“Why are you in a hurry? Wait.

What have you done for the nation?” he said, addressing Robredo in Filipino.

In a speech before the Filipino community in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar Sunday, Duterte tore into his critics, including Robredo.

Among my enemies, Leni [Robredo] is in too much of a hurry to become president,” he said.

The President had said he would not be surprised if Robredo were behind the impeachment complaint against him, but said

Stop oust-move vs VP—Duterte

By John Paolo Bencito, Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday rejected calls seeking to oust Vice President Leni Robredo through impeachment, even as a group of lawyers bared plans to file a second complaint against her.

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“Look, we just had an election.

Guys, lay off. Stop it,” Duterte said upon arriving from a four-day official visit to Myanmar and Thailand.

“You can do other things but do not tinker with the structure of government. I will not countenance it,” he said.

Duterte warned that an impeachment case would only create more trouble in the country, espe-

cially now that security forces face so many challenges.

“The elections just finished.

Why would you [tear] the country apart? If I won’t wake up tomorrow because of a bad dream, then she’ll be next [President]. You create trouble,” the President said.

Any move to impeach Robredo would not be supported by the military, Duterte added. Next page

Martial Law plan revived amid security threats

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte warned Thursday he may impose Martial Law and suspend elections for tens of thousands of local posts, fueling concerns about democracy under his rule.

Duterte said he was considering both

measures as part of his controversial campaign to eradicate illegal drugs in society, and that Martial Law would solve a range of other security threats, including those from Islamic militants.

“If you overdo things, you put bombs in schools… then you have forced my hand to declare Martial Law,” the President told re-

porters in a dawn press briefing.

“If I declare Martial Law, I will finish all the problems, not just drugs,” Duterte told reporters in a pre-dawn briefing after returning from neighboring Thailand, which is under military rule.

Duterte said that, as part of Martial Law, he may create military courts to hear cases

against terrorists.

“I will allow the military to try you and put you to death by hanging,” he said.

On Monday night, police arrested Nasip Ibrahim, believed to be a part of the terrorist Maute Group, with guns and ammunition at the Salam Compound in Culiat Village in Next page Quezon City.

Deal proposed on village polls

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday he was willing to enter into a compromise with religious groups to fill more than 42,000 posts should he proceed with his plan to end the term of all barangay or village officials and replace them with his appointees.

“I’m going to a compromise with the Church and everybody. They can nominate three citizens from… If the PDEA and the police and the military [can prove] that they have no connections with the rebels, that’s one,” Duterte Next page

FOUND AND RESCUED. This undated photo released Wednesday by the Philippine Military Western Mindanao Command shows

Korean hits out at DoJ decision

two Malaysians, kidnapped by Filipino Muslim extremists last year, are found and transported on a motorboat after they were rescued in the Sulu archipelago. AFP

By Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo

Sayyaf abandons 2 Malaysian hostages off Sulu said in the statement.

Captain Jo-Ann Petinglay, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command, said Tayudin and Abdurahim were “very sick and weak” when found inside a mangrove

THE lawyer of a Korean businessman who was allegedly forcibly taken by Justice Department agents on Thursday slammed Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for reversing the final and executed decision of his predecessor, now Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguiao.

Redentor Viaje told reporters that Aguirre

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TWO ailing Malaysian seamen held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf bandits for eight months were found Thursday aboard a boat adrift off Sulu, the military said.

Tayudin Anjut, 45, and Abdurahim bin Sumas, 62, were abandoned by the Abu

Sayyaf gunmen before dawn near their coastal forest hideout on the remote island of Pata, a military statement said.

“The... kidnap victims are weak and in a sickly state,” regional military commander Major-General Carlito Galvez

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News

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

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High court weighs in on impeachment T

HE impeachment process is not entirely a numbers game in Congress because the legal issues arising from it may be brought before the Supreme Court, an official said Friday.

High court spokesman Theodore Te said that while an impeachment was a political process in which party alliances played a crucial role, it could also involve contentious legal issues that only the high court could settle.

He made the statement following moves in the House to impeach President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

Te said there were issues in impeachment proceedings that may be subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court.

Martial...

Police said the spate of arrests they made proved the existence of threat groups in Metro Manila.

Ibrahim was said to be part of the failed attempt to bomb the US Embassy in Manila in November 2016.

Since easily winning presidential elections last year and taking office nine months ago, Duterte has given conflicting statements on whether he intended to impose military rule.

The issue is highly sensitive in the Philippines, which is still trying to build a strong democracy three decades after a famous “People Power” revolution ended Ferdinand Marcos’s dictatorship.

Duterte has previously warned he would be prepared to defy constitutional safeguards and restrictions on Martial Law, although he and his aides have later sought to downplay those threats.

On Thursday he gave an emphatic case for Martial Law, saying it would stop the Philippines from “exploding.”

“I will be harsh,” Duterte said as he described his approach to military rule.

Duterte also said he was planning to appoint leaders of more than 42,000 districts, known as barangays, across the nation instead of having them elected in polls that were scheduled for October.

“We are looking for a way to just appoint the barangay captains,” Duterte said, adding this was necessary because 40 percent of them were involved in drug trafficking.

“Narco-politics has entered the mainstream of Philippine politics.”

The elections, which by law should be held every three years, are important to the Philippines’ democracy because the barangays are the smallest government unit responsible for a wide range of local services.

Barangay officials also help to monitor communities for illegal drugs and draw up the lists of traffickers or addicts. Police use those lists for raids that frequently lead to suspects being killed.

Duterte won the presidential elections after promising during the campaign to eradicate drugs in society by killing tens of thousands of criminals.

Police have reported killing nearly 2,600 people in his drug war while rights groups say thousands more have been killed in a state-sanctioned campaign of mass murder.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have warned Duterte may be guilty of a crime against humanity.

Local opponents have said they are planning to file a case against Duterte with the International Criminal Court, and a lawmaker last week filed an impeachment complaint against him in Congress.

Duterte is extremely popular with many Filipinos fed up with crime and he has a commanding majority in Congress, meaning the impeachment case is unlikely to prosper. With AFP

“There have been instances where the Supreme Court has been asked to come in, but on very, very limited issues,” Te said in a television interview.

He cited the impeachment cases against retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., the late former Chief Justice Renato Corona, and former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez that all reached the high court.

In the Davide case, the high court decided on the issue involving the constitutional rule requir-

Sayyaf...

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area around 2 a.m. in Karudong village.

Galvez said they were receiving treatment at a military hospital in the area for ailments that he did not specify.

He said a Navy patrol boat found the pair, eight months after they were abducted along with three other crewmen of a tugboat that was boarded by gunmen near the sea border between the two countries.

Their recovery followed a Philippine military operation against the kidnappers on a nearby island early last month that left eight

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He added that China will not do anything that will jeopardize its relations with the Philippines.

Unlike the United States, Duterte said that “China has a word of honor.”

On Wednesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied reports that China will begin preparatory work this year for an environmental monitoring station on Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. “China places great importance on the preservation of the South China Sea’s ocean ecology, this is certain,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in Beijing.

“According to the relevant bodies in China, the reports you mention that touch upon building environmental monitoring stations on Scarborough Shoal are mistaken, these things are not true,” she added.

“With regards to Scarborough Shoal, China’s position is consistent and clear. We place great importance on China-Philippines relations.”

China seized the shoal, which is northeast of the Spratly islands, in 2012 and denied access to Philippine fishermen. But after President Rodrigo Duterte visited China last year, it allowed them to return to the traditional fishing area.

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told reporters after arriving from a four-day visit to Myanmar and Thailand.

“Second is that they are not into drugs, and third is that they are not really the leaders of politicians. If you can have that at least, I would be happy to just coming from the Roman Catholic from the Islam group, the Jehovah Witnesses.”

Duterte made his statement even as Liberal Party president Francis Pangilinan warned against encroaching dangerously on authoritarian ideologies reminiscent of those harbored and exemplified by the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

“To further postpone barangay elections and opt to instead appoint the barangay officials means to impinge on the people’s right

ing only one impeachment complaint against an official per year and tackled its jurisdiction over the case.

In its 2003 ruling, the high court disallowed the filing of a second impeachment complaint against Davide after the first one was dismissed by the House.

In the 2010 Gutierrez case, the high court was asked to review the power of the House to conduct hearings on an impeachment case. The high court then upheld the House procedures and the former Ombudsman resigned from her post in April 2011 even before her trial in the Senate could start.

In both cases, the high court temporarily stopped the House from proceeding with the impeachment process pending a res-

olution of the petitions.

Corona also filed a petition with the high court when he faced impeachment in February 2012, but the high court did not grant him relief until the Senate ordered his ouster after his impeachment trial.

But Te said in all cases, the high court did not touch on the grounds of the impeachment cases.

“There has been no instance when the court actually reviewed the basis for impeachment,” Te said.

Te said impeachment was a “political process to remove a public official unfit for a position.”

“It is not a criminal trial, it is not a trial per se as we understand it in the courts. It is not a judicial process. It is basically a political disciplinary process,” he said. Rey E. Requejo

gunmen dead, Galvez said.

The Abu Sayyaf, blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history, have been kidnapping people for ransom for decades.

In recent months they have taken to seizing sailors from vessels plying the waters between the southern Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Maritime security officials have warned that the region is in danger of a “Somalia-type” situation unless action is taken.

The International Maritime Bureau said in January the number of maritime kidnappings hit a 10-year high in 2016, with the waters off the southern Philippines becoming increasingly dan-

gerous.

The Abu Sayyaf, established with seed money from Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaida network in the 1990s, are believed to still be holding 23 foreigners and six Filipinos, military spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla told AFP. They include Malaysian, Indonesian and Vietnamese captives as well as a Dutch bird watcher abducted in 2012, he added.

Last month the group, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State movement, beheaded an elderly German yachtsman who was abducted last year after failing to extort ransom for him.

AFP, with Florante S. Solmerin and Francisco Tuyay

Earlier this month, Xiao Jie, the mayor of what China calls Sansha City, said Beijing planned to begin preparatory work this year to build environmental monitoring stations on a number of islands, including Scarborough Shoal.

Sansha City is the name China has given to an administrative base for the South China Sea islands and reefs it controls.

Because of his renewed ties with Beijing, Duterte said that he would no longer go to the disputed islands riding a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag there.

During the presidential debates, Duterte said he will ask the Philippine Navy to bring him to the boundary of the Spratlys so he can “ride a jet ski while bringing the Philippine flag.”

Instead, Duterte revealed that if he wishes to visit the disputed waters, the Chinese has offered to take him there onboard a helicopter.

“Why do you have to go there and look for friction if friction can cause explosion?” he said.

“I might run over sharks there.

I might lose a foot,” Duterte said in jest.

Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he believes the government will not sacrifice its claim to its territories in the West Philippine Sea. Estrada pointed out that Duterte was only stating the obvious when he earlier said that the Philippines cannot stop the Asian superpower from putting up structures at the

disputed shoal if it wants to, a comment that earned negative reactions from his critics.

“First of all, we cannot fight China. Whatever we do, we cannot,” Estrada said.

“So as much as possible, we should talk quietly but not to the point of surrendering our claims to Panatag,” said Estrada.

In a press conference before leaving for Myanmar last Sunday, Duterte said going to war against the economic superpower would be a losing battle for the militarily weaker Philippines.

A leftist group of fishermen, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said Thursday they did not trust the Chinese statements.

A Chinese local official last week claimed that the environmental monitoring structure to be built in Paracel islands is one of Beijing’s top priorities this year.

But a Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday denied the previous reports.

“The Chinese local official won’t utter a statement out of nowhere; his original pronouncement must be derived from somewhere. Beijing can only prove their sincerity on preserving the South China Sea if they concede from the international tribunal decision and completely halt their reclamation activities on the disputed waters,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairman. With Sandy Araneta

to vote and choose their leaders,” Pangilinan said.

“It is worrisome that the President should even contemplate such a rash decision.”

Duterte said the constitutionally-mandated separation between Church and State will not be violated.

“It’s not actually interference in the preference of the character that should be there. Election eh,” Duterte said.

“It’s not that the Church is interfering, and the Lions or all, just list whoever is accredited, they can nominate. So we can do away with shady character.”

Duterte is mulling over the proposal to replace barangay officials with his own appointees.

“We are looking for a way to appoint na lang the barangay captains but the mechanism of how to go about it, select them… I can, but you know it’s always the

President who has the power to appoint,” he said. “[But] you know, there’s a problem. There is no legal basis for being there. Walang hold over sa barangay. They are just there, I don’t know de facto, whatever” Duterte warned that money from the narcotics trade might proliferate again should the barangay elections push through this year.

“The local elections it’s just around the corner. If [narcomoney] is there, and they can influence the electorate, magkakaroon ng utang loob itong mga officials, delikado—because then you’ll have completed the turn of this country into a narcopolitics state.” “If you do the elections now, those who will win are those in my list. Forty percent of the total barangay captains are into drugs, that’s my problem.”

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“Why would you want to add to their problems? Even the police. Who will keep order in this country if not them?” Duterte said in Filipino.

“They might say all you want is trouble. Our life was getting better because the elections were over. You know, this is a democracy,” he added.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, secretary-general of the ruling party PDP-Laban, threatened to muster the super majority in the House to impeach Robredo for allegedly plotting the first impeachment complaint filed against Duterte.

Calling themselves the “Impeach Leni Team,” Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III, lawyers Bruce Rivera and Trixie Cruz-Angeles, and political science professor Antonio Contreras said they are building up their case against Robredo.

All groups are using as grounds the vice president’s video shown at a side event of the 60th annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, claiming that her speech constituted a culpable violation of the Constitution and a betrayal of public trust, which are both impeachable offenses under the Constitution.

Alvarez on Thursday said the House stands by its constitutional duty to hear impeachment complaints against high-ranking officials.

In a text message sent to reporters, Alvarez said that while he respects the position of President Duterte, he said the House should still do its mandate under the Constitution.

Alvarez, in a separate interview, further cited the separation of powers in government in pushing through with the impeachment of Robredo.

His remarks came after Duterte rejected moves to impeach Robredo, saying these would be divisive.

Digong...

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he never asked any government official to move against her, nor was he involved in attempts to impeach her.

Robredo, who released a scathing attack on the Duterte administration’s drug war through a video prepared for a United Nations meeting in Vienna, has denied any involvement in the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Duterte, who will be 72 on March 28, told reporters he wished for more strength to finish his work as the country’s chief executive and more time to spend with his family.

Speaking to reporters following his arrival from a four-day state visit to Myanmar and Thailand, Duterte said that he no longer wants material gifts and has already reached “the apex” of his career.

“I’m 72 years old. Give or take the reality of it all, in about five to seven years, I’m about ready by that time also. By that time, God willing if I complete the term, I would be walking slowly,” he said.

“So my wish really, my prayer to God is that I be given strength

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had ordered the immediate arrest of Korean businessman Kang Tae Sik. “Based on Aguirre’s resolution dated March 7, which was received only by Kang the other day, operatives of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation and agents of the DoJ pounded on Kang’s Makati office and arrested him yesterday,” Viaje said.

He made his statement even as a Korean business group denounced the arrest of Kang who, it said, had been cleared of any links to the so-called “Korean Mafia.”

The Korean Business and Community Association was stunned

by Aguirre’s decision to reverse the “final and executory decision of his predecessor, now Supreme Court Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa,” clearing Kang of any wrongdoing.

On Jan. 15, 2016, then Justice secretary Caguioa issued a decision granting Kang’s appeal

Alvarez said that he is still studying the impeachment complaint against Robredo, noting that it should be sufficient in substance to send to the Senate for trial.

Alvarez also slammed Robredo for her “shameless” and “irresponsible” act of putting the country in a bad light before the international community by sending a video message to the United Nations, where she criticized the Duterte administration’s antidrug campaign.

On Monday, the first impeachment complaint against the vice president was filed by Oliver Lozano and perennial senatorial candidate Melchor Chavez, who asked for Alvarez’s endorsement.

Robredo told her supporters to exercise sobriety.

“That is correct that we are besieged by chaos. But what I am asking of you is to stay calm. We ask you to stay brave in times of many troubles and darkness,” she said.

She said she would not retract her message to the UN. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said in a text message that an impeachment complaint against Robredo would distract from more important work.

“It should be resorted to as the last card against an erring high official for serious and grave reasons. It should not be treated lightly,” Pimentel’s message said.

Senator JV Ejercito said he was glad the President issued a statement against the impeachment of Robredo, saying this showed he was a statesman.

He said impeachment complaints against Duterte and Robredo would just cause political instability.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said the impeachment complaint might prosper in the House if its leaders bully and threaten the congressmen, as they did for the vote on the death penalty bill.

“But I have faith that my fellow legislators can still stand up to pressure that may be put on them and act fairly on the matter,” he said. to our..[work]. Twenty-four hours is not really enough for the presidency, unless you want to sleep more than just about four hours.”

Duterte said that for him to finish his term, he should be more careful to avoid more impeachment complaints.

“I only ask God that give me a little bit of time, a little strength to surmount the problems of the country and that I’d be able, not really to solve but maybe mitigate some of the [problems],” he said.

Duterte, who says he believes in God but not in religion, asked God for people to understand what he’s doing.

The tough-talking leader appeared soft when he said that he wants to spend more time with his newborn grandson, Marko Digong “Stonefish” Duterte-Carpio, son of presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

“I would be very glad to spend my time with my newest grandson Stone and the rest of my children and grandchildren. That would have been the greatest gift that I can ask in this planet. That for me is enough,” he said.

Duterte, the oldest man to be elected as President of the Philippines, was born on March 28, 1945 in Maasin, Southern Leyte. against a resolution of the Immigration Department ordering his deportation.

Viaje quoted Caguioa as saying “it would be the height of injustice if we condone the deportation of an upright individual who has made this country his home for the last 38 years...merely on the basis of a complaint instituted by appellant’s own former lawyers.”

Aguirre, in a Feb. 23 Senate hearing on the Jee Ick Joo kidnapslay case, testified that an anonymous Duterte administration official had told him that a certain Kang Tae Sik was the head of a Korean mafia.

But the Korean Embassy strongly denied any derogatory activities of Kang and challenged Aguirre to substantiate his remarks with concrete evidence, Viaje said.

Jee Ick Joo was a South Korean businessman who was abducted on Oct. 18, 2016 and later found dead within Camp Crame.

In October 2015, while the deportation case on Kang was still pending, immigration personnel arrested Kang.

News IN BRIEF Korean-made jet delivered March 29

ALL 12 units of the brand-new South Korean-made FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” jet aircraft will be delivered and under Philippine Air Force control in May. Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Resituto Padilla made this announcement during an interview late Wednesday.

“By April, FA-50PHs with tail numbers 009 and 010 will be delivered while 011 and 012 [will] be handed over this May. By that time, the PAF’s FA-50PH fleet will be completed,” he said in Filipino.

Earlier, the PAF said FA-50PHs with tail numbers 007 and 008 will be delivered to Clark Airbase in Angeles City, Pampanga on March 29.

And due to the initial good performance impressions given by the aircraft, Padilla said there is a possibility, provided they are given funding and authority by the civilian leadership, to acquire six more units of the Korea Aerospace Industries-made jet fighter.

“We are constantly evaluating the jet and so far, its performance has been good. If we will be given additional funding and authority, we might acquire six more units,” the AFP spokesperson stressed.

The jets have conducted over-flights in Visayas and Mindanao airspace and a bombing run against Maute Group lawless elements in Lanao Del Sur last February.

The PAF’s 12-plane order from Korea Aerospace Industries is worth P18.9 billion.

The FA-50PHs has a top speed of Mach 1.5 or one and a half times the speed of sound and is capable of being fitted air-to-air missiles, including the AIM-9 “Sidewinder” air-to-air and heat-seeking missiles aside from light automatic cannons.

The FA-50PHs will act as the country’s interim fighter until the Philippines get enough experience of operating fast jet assets and money to fund the acquisition of more capable fighter aircraft.

The FA-50PH design is largely derived from the F-16 “Fighting Falcon”—and they have many similarities: use of a single engine, speed, size, cost, and the range of weapons.

KAI’s previous engineering experience in license-producing the KF-16 was a starting point for the development of the FA-50PHs. PNA

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

No conflict in drug cases vs De Lima—DoJ, OSG P

By John Paolo Bencito and Rey Requejo

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday appeared very assured of his destination in the afterlife, but said he would ask Satan to instead take his top critic, detained Senator Leila De Lima as the queen of hell.

“I think that with this age, I would really go first... But I don’t have any ambitions [going to heaven]. I’m really going to hell.

But I will wait for her until she comes,” Duterte said of De Lima.

“I will tell him, Senyor Satanas, here’s the queen you’re waiting for. Really,” he added.

Meanwhile, both the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General have denied the claim of De Lima’s lawyers that there was conflict in their respective positions on the appropriate drug charges filed against her.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Solicitor General

Jose Calida stressed they had no conflicting opinions on the proper cases against De Lima.

“If there’s conflict in the information filed by the panel of prosecutors and the OSG’s interpretation, there should already have [been] an amendment but we did not amend the information since there is no conflict,” Aguirre said in an interview.

In fact, Aguirre joined with Calida during the second oral arguments of De Lima’s case before the Supreme Court last Tuesday in a display of solidarity in defending DoJ’s cases against the senator.

Calida also disputed the assertion made by De Lima’s counsel and former solicitor general Flo-

rin Hilbay during the first hearing last March 14.

“It’s very clear there is no conflict between our positions. The conflict is just a figment of their imagination,” Calida stressed.

The DoJ filed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court against De Lima cases for three counts of violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act), which penalizes the “sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of illegal drugs.”

During oral arguments, Calida emphasized that De Lima was charged Section 26 (b) of the same law, which penalizes “any attempt

PRESIDENTIAL COMPASSION.

President Rodrigo Duterte condoles with former President Fidel Ramos during the wake Wednesday of former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.

Also in photo are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Go, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.

Malacañang Photo

Nograles slams NYT for article vs Duterte

A LEADER in the House of Representatives on Thursday slammed a New York Times article which, he said, “vilified” President Rodrigo Duterte, linking him to alleged efforts to destabilize his administration.

In a statement, House appropriations committee chairman and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles dismissed the NYT article as a “rebooted, rehashed, exaggerated remake of a movie script” intended to vilify Duterte.

The NYT article titled “Becoming Duterte: the Making of a Philippine Strongman” was published on March 21, wherein the author, Richard Paddock, described Duterte as a man who “relishes the image of a killer-savior.”

Nograles added this reinforced suspicions that certain groups were working hard to tarnish the Duterte presidency with “unfounded allegations” such as the spate of extrajudicial killings in the administration’s drug war, as well as the alleged threat of authoritarianism.

“The spin doctors are on overtime to put in disrepute the President of our Republic in a desperate attempt to take over. They are going international because they know that our people know better and nobody would believe them,” Nograles said.

“Imagine a story printed on an American broadsheet reprinted verbatim by Philippine newspapers on the same day… This is obviously a calibrated and calculated move by enemies of the State to force themselves into power in an undemocratic manner.

Only rich and powerful enemies have the means to operate in this manner,” he added. PNA

Trillanes, accused of extortion, challenges Du30 Duterte:

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night accused one of his vocal critics, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, of extorting huge amounts of money from big business people.

The President, in a speech before the Filipino community in Bangkok where he was on official visit, mocked Trillanes who led the impeachment complaint against him, saying he simply robbed a hotel during the Manila Peninsula takeover in 2007.

Trillanes’ fellow Magdalo party-list member Rep. Gary Alejano filed the impeachment complaint against Duterte after Congress went on recess last week.

The complaint alleges the President has

hidden wealth and was behind the Davao Death Squad responsible for killing hundreds of suspected criminals and his political enemies when he was mayor of Davao City.

The day after, Trillanes challenged Duterte to file charges against him if indeed he had been collecting money from big businessmen.

In a statement issued to the media, Trillanes considered “a lie coming from a pathological liar” Duterte’s allegations hurled against him.

“If that is true, come out with the details and charge me. I will face it,” said Trillanes.

Trillanes stressed all his accusations against the President were backed up by specific details, documents, and even witnesses.

He said he also filed charges in court against Duterte so he could present evidence

in a proper forum.

“But he is hiding until now. So stop fooling us. Open your bank accounts,” Trillanes said.

Towards the end of the campaign period, Trillanes accused Duterte of having more than P2.2 billion in bank deposits before he became president.

Trillanes has presented purported bank records of Duterte’s account in the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

However, the bank denied that the senator’s documents were from them.

The senator also presented Edgar Matobato and Arturo Lascañas, who both claimed to be members of the Davao Death Squad, which they said was created by Duterte to go after suspected criminals, political opponents and personal enemies.

Senators want foreign policy issues clarified

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATORS have expressed a desire to look into the country’s foreign policy direction following President Rodrigo Duterte’s latest pronouncements over Benham Rise and Panatag Shoal.

Last Sept. 19, 2016, Senator Bam Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues.

It was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations chaired

by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter.

However, six months had passed and, until now, no date has been set for the hearing.

or conspiracy to commit sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of any dangerous drugs.”

He vowed to discuss this issue more substantively when he presents the government’s side in the third hearing next Tuesday, March 28.

“While the DoJ alleges in its defective Information that petitioner is an actual drug lord—a master of puppets—the OSG is now saying petitioner is a theoretical drug lord—a drug lord in words and not by deed— one who merely conspired to trade in drugs with alleged co-conspirators but actually never did so,” Hilbay told the SC magistrates last week.

Aside from Aquino, three other senators backed the resolution, including Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Leila de Lima.

In addition, Aquino insisted the government must enlighten the Senate on the agreement that President Duterte allegedly entered into with China in connection with the Benham Rise.

The Department of Foreign Affairs, for its part, was not informed about the deal.

“Was there really an agreement? If there was an agreement, the govenrment should make it known to the Senate to be studied and so that the public might know,” said Aquino, who plans to call officials of the DFA, Department of National Defense and the Office of the President to clarify the matter.

TOP CADETTES. Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald Dela Rosa presents to the

media Thursday cadettes of the Philippine National Police Academy during their call on the PNP head in his office at Camp Crame. Manny Palmero

Communists must have sincerity

By John Paolo Bencito PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte took the peace talks as his bargaining chip to communist rebels Thursday, strongly demanding from them they should accept all his preconditions or he would once again call off the ongoing negotiations.

Amid the scheduled return of the peace talks with the communists next month, Duterte reiterated that while he was willing to talk in pursuit of peace, he needed to see the sincerity of the rebels leading the longestrunning communist insurgency in Asia.

“To me this is very important and I have said it before, I would not want to overemphasize it. It might irritate the old ones...” Duterte said.

“And if you don’t accept my—the conditions that I have imposed—I am sorry I cannot deal with you anymore,” he added.

Duterte particularly stressed the issue of revolutionary taxes being levied upon the people by the rebel group’s armed wing, the New Peoples’ Army and their usual threats of militarization allegedly perpetrated by government forces.

“One is...they have to stop...

The forced taxation must stop.

Second is that they have been talking about their territory, that the soldiers of this Republic cannot enter into territories they claim which is theirs,” he added.

Duterte told communists that “certain conditions” they gave to him “are no longer negotiable.”

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Opinion

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Tourism is also a casualty

T

HE deadly drug war waged by President Rodrigo Duterte is also taking its toll on Philippine tourism. Foreign media reports on the so-called extrajudicial killings are scaring away potential foreign tourists in the Philippines, making the job of the tourism secretary harder.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo attested to this. Tour operators abroad, she says, are “always” asking her about the issue, citing Asia and Europe as the regions where travelers

Adelle Chua, Editor

were especially concerned. She appealed to the media to tone down the coverage of extrajudicial killings to ease her job of selling the Philippines as a tourist destination.

It is ironic the country’s tourism chief is put on the defensive mode, instead of leading the charge in wooing foreign tourists and promoting exotic beaches and tropical islands in the Philippines.

But the concern of foreign tour operators will not just die down.

Nor will the media coverage of the drug war be toned down.

This is because of the sheer number of people who have died. Police have reported kill-

ing over 2,500 people, while rights groups claim there have been more than 5,000 other deaths linked to the drug war. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have warned Duterte may be overseeing crimes against humanity, with police allegedly running anonymous death squads.

Duterte’s drug war has given foreigners the impression that the Philippines is sanctioning the campaign of

mass murder. While this may be exaggerated, it did not stop the European Parliament last week from issuing a resolution condemning “the high number of extrajudicial killings” in Duterte’s drug war.

The media coverage of the deadly drug campaign is certainly not the kind of publicity that the Philippines needs in luring foreign tourists. The Philippines has to do a lot of catching up in the sec-

tor. About 5.9 million tourists visited the Philippines in 2016, ranking it 14th—second to last in 2015 in terms of arrivals in Southeast Asia.

Selling the Philippines to foreign tourists as a peaceful country with plenty of scenic spots and friendly people is a challenge to tourism authorities.

But the daily killings in the drug war is making it doubly difficult to convince foreign tourists.

PENSEES FR. RANHILIO CALLANGAN AQUINO

What warrants impeachment?

Not Digong, but Leni LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES IF PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte asks that Vice President Leni Robredo must not be impeached, does that mean that she shouldn’t be? A group of proDuterte lawyers and bloggers disagrees.

The group calling itself Team Impeach Robredo held a press conference yesterday to announce that it was going ahead with the plan to build an impeachment case against the vice president, regardless of what Duterte thinks. The effort, it said, goes beyond the President and seeks to make Robredo accountable for ruining the country’s reputation abroad.

It’s all about defending the country, according to the group.

The same country that Robredo

allegedly betrayed when she forgot her oath to defend it and lied before an international forum about the true situation in the Philippines.

Lawyers Bruce Rivera, Trixie Cruz Angeles, Tom Berenguer and Ahmedy Paglinawan, together with political science professor Antonio Contreras and Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III, explained that while they were all supportive of Duterte, they are not “minions” who will blindly do whatever the President wants. The President’s declared opposition to the impeach-Leni campaign, they said, actually proves that the group has nothing to do with Malacañang.

Neither is the point of the exercise, they said, to get back at the political enemies of Duterte who earlier filed an impeachment case against the president in the House of Representatives.

“We are not a gang that retaliates when we get hit,” Rivera explained.

Even winning the impeachment case, according to the pro-

The people who want Robredo removed will not be dissuaded, even by the man who inspired them to take action.

ponents, is secondary to getting Robredo to explain why she has been painting such a dire picture of the country, thereby scar-

ing away foreign investors and tourists who only hear about the Philippines from the one-sided anti-Duterte coverage in the Western media. And what really made them decide to prepare a suit against Robredo was her illadvised decision to send a videotaped speech at the sidelines of a United Nations conference in Vienna, Austria last week, where the vice president used the trappings of her high office to pass on unverified and even totally untrue reports as gospel.

In that controversial speech, Robredo revealed a heretofore unheard-of policy of holding hostage or even killing the relatives of drug users and pushers wanted by the police—a fantastic claim about a so-called “palit ulo” scheme that she has not yet backed up with actual cases. She also repeated the canard that more than 7,000 people have been killed in Duterte’s antidrug campaign, a figure of dubi-

ous provenance that the foreign press has always taken as unassailable truth.

Of course, the police and other official sources have denied that either assertion is factual, being based only on reports in the press that are unflattering to Duterte. That, and the revelation of PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa that Robredo never verified the “facts” she presented in Vienna with official sources, proved to be the tipping point for the antiRobredo group.

“We don’t believe that she can be impeached on the basis of one speech,” Rivera explained. “But there have been many incidents in the past, too many to count, when Robredo can be proven to have betrayed her oath to defend the country.”

It’s really not about Duterte as much as it is about Robredo. And the people who want Robredo removed will not be dissuaded,

WHEN the Revised Penal Code defines a crime, it enumerates the elements that a judge must find to be able to rule that the crime has been consummated.

When Article XI of the Constitution enumerates the grounds for impeachment, it gives nothing more than broad headings that defy all antecedent specifics: betrayal of the public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other similar generalities. Ultimately, an offense warrants impeachment when the Lower House says it does. There may be pious protests in the name of constitutional theory against this statement—but ultimately, that is what it all turns out to be, which is not to say, of course, that that is how things should be! Otherwise, the Constitution could have more simply and forthrightly read: “The President, the Vice President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Ombudsman and the Members of the Constitutional Commissions may be removed from office by impeachment whenever the House of Representatives votes for the articles of impeachment against any of the foregoing.” If the Constitution enunciates grounds, then there must, in the very least, be a finding that one or the other ground is present —but, again, it is the Lower House that makes such a determination.

Will certiorari lie—especially since Article VIII of the Constitution provides the courts with such a broad sweep in the face of official acts gravely abusive of discretion? I do not think so, because there has to be some judicial standard against which to reckon whether or not discretion has been abused. And what standards do the courts go by when the House of Representatives makes a determination that an impeachable official should be impeached?

The ordinary meaning of words is not of much help, because one can be said to “betray the public trust” in so many ways. Detractors of Leni Robredo claim that she betrayed public trust by expressing grave concern and, in a way, condemning the spate of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. Duterte’s own foes claim that he betrayed public trust by allowing the PROC to send its ships through the

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Opinion

FORBES has come out with its annual billionaires’ list for 2017, this year numbering over 2,000 names. That’s a lot of moolah, collectively worth nearly $ 7.7 trillion, or more than a trillion dollars higher than the previous year.

Predictably, the top name on the list was again Microsoft’s Bill Gates, for the fourth year in a row. The Harvard dropout is worth so much ($86 billion) that he had to give up his job and start working full-time on giving his money away. Evidently, he hasn’t been too successful at doing that.

In our country, retailer and real estate developer Henry Sy was again the only Filipino in the top 100 (ranked 94th) with a net worth of $12.7 billion. “Tatang” is quintessentially low-profile, attracting remarkably little controversy.

It’s helped that his large brood of kids are likewise as discreet as they are dedicated to the family fortune.

Thirteen other Filipinos were also worth over a billion dollars each, ranging from “Mister John” Gokongwei in second place, down to newcomer “Edjap” Sia who’s easily moved on from fast food to property development.

On the other hand, noteworthy this year was the absence of the aristocratic Zobel de Ayala scions. Also perennially missed is the very high- profile Manny Pangilinan, who must be employing some pretty good personal accountants. *** Lists like this tend not to go over too well in this country, where chronic e nv iou s ne s s happily co-exists with all sorts of soak-the-rich ideologies. In the US, billionaires are generally regarded as aspirational models (“Someday I can be up there like them.”) Here, they’re viewed as target-shooting practice (“Right now they should be like me down here.”)

The term “oligarch” has thus recently acquired an unwelcome new connotation. Properly, it should refer only to rich fellows who’ve succeeded through unsavory methods, like cut-throat business practices or even criminal behavior. But these days, it’s also used to describe anybody who’s deemed “too rich” regardless of how their wealth was earned.

Now how is it possible for anyone to become “too rich” per se? The best-known exponent of that point of view was PNoy, who during his term canceled a big infrastructure project earlier promised to Pangilinan, with the comment: “Masyado nang mayaman si Manny.”

Except for Mr. Gates and his later-in-life fellow philanthropist Warren Buffett, I don’t know of anybody—myself included, PNoy not excluded— who at some point would start turning wealth away as being “too much.” But this standard that anyone would rightly reject for himself, he evidently is allowed to judge other people, or the rest of society, by. *** So there it sits, class envy, a noxious swamp that discourages the growth of the middle class and breeds populist unrest among the underclass. Exam-

ples abound in our country, of which here are a couple: The amiable Labor Secretary “Bebot” Bello is so congenial to the Left that he keeps getting assigned to head the government panel in the on-again, offagain peace talks in Oslo (now Rome). But even he came under attack, by non-militant as well as militant unions, for promulgating a compromise on the “endo” issue that only banned “labor-only” subcontracting.

In vain did Bello point out that the law itself doesn’t allow him to go farther than that. What the unions wanted was nothing short of preventing employers from seeking out the cheapest labor contracting arrangements they can find.

In other words, the unions wanted to do away altogether with an open labor market.

That’s how class envy can addle your mind. Evidently they forgot that you’ll need political commissars to make an entire market disappear.

The militant urban poor group Kadamay, after forcibly occupying empty housing projects in Bulacan, have spread like locusts to nearby Rizal where they tried to pull off the same stunt. By singling out projects originally intended for soldiers, policemen, and firemen, they’re cleverly setting themselves up as future victims of “uniformed agents of the fascist state,” who in reality will be nothing more than dispossessed homeowners trying to recover stolen property.

Admittedly, you have to wonder why those projects have not yet been turned over. If the delay was caused by “corruption and criminal negligence” with public housing funds, as Kadamay has charged, it’s well worth looking into—for the sake of our men in uniform who’re the rightful homeowners, and only for that.

But when Kadamay justifies widespread and blatant lawbreaking by claiming a “universally recognized right to housing,” one’s eyes have to roll. *** Three centuries ago, a fledgling American state recognized only three universal rights: To life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since then it’s all gone downhill, with the list of universal rights growing ever longer. And the longer that list gets, the wider the culture of entitlement becomes, and the deeper the swamp of class envy.

Unchecked, it can get to the point where obeying the law is no longer obligatory, just optional. After all, there are so many human rights that are being trampled by this or that law—and human rights, as everyone knows, are more important than pretty much anything else.

This is why the law is being ignored by Bello’s critics, and flagrantly flouted by the home invaders of Kadamay. And the more that happens, the farther away we will be getting from what ought to be our objective: A predominantly middle-class economy and culture that is possible only if, when, and because we are rules-based.

How is it possible for anyone to become ‘too rich’ per se?

Not...

From A4 even by the man who inspired them to take action. *** If the move to impeach Robredo teaches the Vice President anything, it should be this: She cannot just bad-mouth the Phil-

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com. ippines abroad without suffering any consequences.

The trouble with Robredo is that she has decided to exploit her position as the second-highest official in the land in order to push her particular brand of partisan politics—even outside the country, where the media have decided that Duterte is the worst thing that ever happened to the

A5

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Major mess-up by PAL

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR

Class envy

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO WITH its acronym PAL, national flag carrier Philippine Airlines should be a friend. But PAL was everything but friendly, as shown in a recent mess-up in the handling of a passenger’s flight which has come to our attention.

Ms. Maria Cristina Romulo is a confirmed business class passenger on PAL March 1 to attend the opening of the Romulo Cafe in London on March 2. Unfortunately, the PAL flight was canceled due to what the airline said was “operational problems.”

Ms. Romulo was to attend the London event not just for social reasons but because she is a shareholder of the well-known restaurant chain. She was rebooked on Cathay Pacific but because PAL did not coordinate with CX, she was not boarded

by Cathay Pacific. This left her stranded in Hong Kong. Distraught and emotionally drained,

she was left with no other option but to return to Manila.

Ms. Romulo was told by PAL that she could take the next flight the next day on CX or other airlines. Since her primary reason was attending the Romulo Café opening in London (she also planned to go on to Barcelona), she decided not to leave anymore.

Her father, former secretary of Foreign Affairs Roberto Romulo, wrote a letter to PAL president Jaime J. Bautista asking for an explanation for the booking foul-up. But Bautista did not even have the courtesy to reply to Mr. Romulo’s letter. Instead he merely referred Mr. Romulo’s letter to PAL Head of Customer Management Office, Clara C. de Castro.

Although Ms. De Castro expressed PAL’s apology “for all the troubles that your daughter had to go through,” the explanation given by PAL was perfunctory. It smacked of finger-pointing at Cathay Pacific as the culprit.

Ms. De Castro also sought a meeting with Mr. Romulo to thresh things out and “make sure that necessary corrective measures are in place to address lapses

in the system.”

For the shoddy treatment that they got from PAL, the entire Romulo family is talking to lawyers to study filing a suit against the national flag carrier.

This is more than a computer glitch. It’s human error by PAL’s ground staff. PAL is proud to claim it is competitive with other airlines when it purchased new planes from Airbus and Boeing.

PAL also added two new longhaul routes by flying to London and New York. But new passenger jetliners and additional destinations would be for naught if the ground support system is not efficient.

Impeachment mess President Rodrigo Duterte has disowned any involvement in the impeachment case against Vice President Leni Robredo. He claims he is beyond politics and is not going to waste his time on the matter, adding that he has more important things to do in affairs of the state.

So, if Duterte is disowning any role to unseat Leni, is House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez being more popish than the Pope? He claims Leni is the beneficiary to

succeed as president if Duterte is dislodged by impeachment.

Alvarez is confident that he has the numbers in the House to push the case.

So why is Alvarez so gung-ho about impeaching Robredo? The reason must be because he also stands to advance in the succession order if Duterte and Robredo are impeached. The only man standing between him and his ambition is PDP -Laban partymate Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel.

What is going on in these murky and politically charged impeachment moves? It seems only Alvarez knows.

If Alvarez succeeds, he will move up in the succession order considering rumors and speculations about Duterte’s health.

If the President means what he said about spending the rest of his six-year term with more important affairs of State, then he should do so and lay to rest all these impeachment and succession speculation. The President should also rein in his henchmen Alvarez, Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo and Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre.

The NYT’s hatchet job unfairly narrates the President’s rise to power in the context of violence,” Abella said, noting that the paper “deliberately” failed to mention Duterte’s accomplishments in 23 years as Davao City mayor.

This is the second major NYT piece on Duterte in less than three months. On Dec. 7, 2016, NYT had a horrid piece on Duterte, “They Are Slaughtering Us Like Animals,” by Times photographer Daniel Berehulak who apparently documented the killing of 57 homicide victims over 35 days of Duterte’s “brutal antidrug campaign.” It won an award for photography.

It now seems to me that if a foreign correspondent wants to win a journalism award, all he has to do is fly into Manila and Davao, stay for a few days, and rake up dregs about Duterte.

Usually, such a parachute journalist will not be disappointed.

Duterte is a very colorful man.

He uses a colorful language, in Cebuano, Tagalog and English.

He curses, breaks protocol, and has no patience with diplomatic niceties and political correctness. The mayor is a product of his milieu and the rambunctious politics of his times.

If an editor is tired of terrorist attacks here and there and of Donald Trump’s constant lying and moneymaking on the side by his family, a crisp Duterte article or feature is sure to break the monotony and humdrum of the daily grind.

For many weeks in the past six months, Duterte was the secondbiggest story on global news networks after Trump. A writer or a tv crew can easily paint Duterte as a Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson of the East, one who minces no words and has no scruples at breaking your skull or cutting your body in half with machine-gun fire. The guy likes to retail tales of horrid murder before his friends—malcontents and criminals being dropped

from a helicopter in the middle of the ocean, what the Times calls “sadistic exploits.” On the side, you can also portray him as a womanizer and a serial sexual harasser. Duterte certainly breaks the man-bites-dog definition of news.

Such an approach becomes a problem when it becomes a pattern. When you become a “project” of foreign media. You are no longer a news item. You are a target.

Like Allende of Chile who was said to have been assassinated (by the CIA?) but who official records indicate “committed suicide.” Or Castro of Cuba against whom the CIA launched some 53 unsuccessful assassination attempts, including an outright US invasion, until he died of old age.

The last time The New York Times zeroed in on a Philippine strongman, it was against Ferdinand E. Marcos who ruled the country with an iron grip for 20 years until he was ousted by a largely peaceful coup and People Power revolt in February 1986.

Many believe the United States set the stage for Marcos’s ouster after he limited the lease on the US bases in the Philippines from 99 to 25 years, demanded annual rentals for their use, and veered his foreign policy towards China.

Before Marcos’s removal, however, America’s major newspapers like The Times wrote unrelentingly about Marcos’s alleged human rights and other abuses in articles that were in part glowing, in part critical but often ridiculously about the Philippines’ politics, economy, the elite, and the masses. The image conveyed was that of a Third-World country ruled by a dictator whose family behaved like a monarchy, whose economy was a basket case, and whose future was anything but bright.

So is it déjà vu time in the Philippines?

Early on in his presidency, Duterte announced a policy that seems to end the country’s longstanding ties with America and nuances a pivot to China, and even Russia. Duterte visited Beijing in October 2016 and will visit Moscow this April.

Duterte last year even called Barack Obama the son of a whore and vowed to punch him in the face if he met him in an international summit of leaders. The opportunity never came because Obama canceled a scheduled tetê-á-tetê with Duterte. Only last December, the President told the Americans: “Prepare to leave the Philippines. Prepare for the eventual repeal or the abrogation of the Visiting Forces Agreement,” referring to a 1998 accord that governs American forces visiting the Philippines for joint combat exercises.

Last week, however, amid an impeachment complaint filed against Duterte in the last session day of Congress before the Holy Week break, the President announced his friendship with US President Donald Trump.

“I think we’re headed for something that is very... an understanding platform for both countries,” Duterte said at a presscon in Burma (March 19).

He considers Trump a “realist.”

“He [Trump] is a guy who knows what is real, what is not, and he does not engage in theories. And even in the matter of human rights, he takes into account everything,” he explained.

“I can assure him [Trump] also of our friendship and cooperation. There’s no problem with that. Under the Trump administration I will give all, whatever it is. Short of ’yung sabi ko [But short of] military alliances, ayaw ko na niyan [I don’t want that],” Duterte said.

Does Duterte sense he is being set up by some foreign elements?

Not clear yet.

troubled waters of the West Philippine Sea, and even over the Benham Rise on our eastern seaboard! How does one say what does and does not constitute a betrayal of public trust?

This points to the inadequacy of the text when it comes to fidelity to constitutionalism. If ours is a government hemmed in by the Constitution, as it should be, then the Constitution should be of paramount importance, which is the reason that every public officer swears to uphold and to defend it. But “constitution” cannot refer only to the written text—as the present conundrum so amply demon-

strates. It must refer as well to the culture of respecting the institutions of the constitution and keeping them from the hands of the reckless. Britons have what is known as “the conventions of the Constitution.” We might very well refer too to a “constitutional culture”—the culture of keeping within the bounds of the purpose of constitutional provisions. Certainly, impeachment was not meant to be ready tool of political vendetta or the persecution of one’s political foes. It was a device by which the Republic might save itself from the stewardship of inept, incapable or corrupt and treacherous leaders! That, I believe, is what is lacking. There is an adroitness about citing the Constitution and

drawing recondite implications from its rather lapidary and, at least in many places, limpid provisions. But what is sorely lacking is a constitutional culture that makes us respectful of what is unwritten but clearly intended.

PNoy used the machinery of impeachment and his intimidating following in the Lower House to force Merceditas Gutierrez into resigning. He got his way with Chief Justice Renato Corona, prompting the brilliant and unflappable Joker Arroyo to remark in exasperation: “I cannot believe that we are impeaching a Chief Justice because of an erroneous SALN.” In that case, the Lower House virtually ruled

that misstating one’s assets in a SALN was either a “culpable violation of the Constitution” or a “betrayal of public trust.”

True, impeachment has been characterized by many constitutional theorists as an exercise of “political justice,” but “justice” is as much part of the expression as is “political”—unless, of course, in this jurisdiction, “political justice” is an oxymoron. But what it should mean is a political determination, after an assiduous review of evidence, that a high official of the land is no longer worthy of office.

Philippines. Her use of the Philippine flag and her office’s official seal as the backdrop of her speech in Vienna is proof that she wants to give her pronouncements an air of official sanction, never mind if it damages the country that she represents on the international stage.

But Robredo still cannot get it through her head that she is not

just any other Filipino when she speaks abroad. She is still the vice president, and if she had any prudence or common sense at all, she should have realized that she cannot play the role of chief critic of the government when she is outside the country —especially if she plays fast and loose with the facts about such serious matters as the reported

extrajudicial killings that have gotten the Western media all het up about Duterte.

That Robredo cannot even grasp such a basic concept as her true role when she is talking about her country when she is overseas speaks volumes of her lack of understanding of the vice presidency. If only because of her cluelessness, she

deserves to be haled before an impeachment court and taught a simple lesson: If you can’t say anything good about your country in a foreign land, maybe you should just smile your sweetest smile and shut up. If even the most recent Filipino worker sent overseas understands this, I don’t know why Leni can’t.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ IS RODRIGO Duterte a strongman? A 2,830-word New York Times article of March 21, 2017 thinks the Philippine President has the makings of one.

For the lengthy article, titled, “Becoming Duterte: The Making of a Philippine Strongman,” Bangkok-based contributor and Pulitzer Prize-winning veteran war correspondent Richard C. Paddock went to Davao for a number of days this early summer and interviewed relatives, friends, associates and government officials under Duterte.

The article describes Duterte as “a child of privilege turned populist politician, an anti-drug crusader who has struggled with drug abuse. Obsessed with death, he has turned his violent vision into national policy.”

“President Rodrigo Duterte relishes the image of killersavior. He boasts of killing criminals with his own hand. On occasion, he calls for mass murder,” the article’s lead paragraph asserts.

The Times paints Duterte as a troubled “thug,” molested by priests in school, frequently whipped by his stern mother, prone to violence, and one who as mayor and president “has encouraged the police and vigilantes to kill thousands of people with impunity.”

Not surprisingly, Malacañang, the presidential Palace, has strongly reacted to what it calls the “cynical and unfair” Times report. Smirked Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella: “One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy.” “NYT cynically and

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Ex-Caloocan City mayor Echiverri faces graft raps

By Rio N. Araja

F

ORMER Caloocan City mayor and representative Enrico Echiverri was arrested on Thursday inside the Sandiganbayan for graft raps over the alleged overpriced, multimillion-peso drainage projects in 2011.

Echiverri was attending a hearing on a motion for case dismissal he filed when a sheriff from Third Division served the arrest warrant against him.

The anti-graft court, however, granted Echiverri’s petition for bail reduction to P15,000 from the recommended original bail of P30,000.

The court’s sheriff also arrested former Caloocan City accountant Edna Centeno and former Caloocan City budget officer Jesusa Garcia.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division also granted Centeno and Garcia’s petition for bail reduction.

Each posted a total of P21,000, or P15,000 for graft and P6,000 for falsification of public documents.

Echiverri, Centeno and Garcia were charged with one

count of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act at the Third Division.

In its resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman said the respondents gave “unwarranted benefits and advantage to supposedly anomalous projects involving the P2.7-million contract to E.V. & E Construction for the improvement of the drainage system of Molave Street in Pleasantview Subdivision, and P1.9-million contract awarded

to Golden 3T Construction for the improvement of the drainage system along Saplungan Street’s drainage system.”

The Commission on Audit also issued Echiverri a notice of disallowance.

“Without authority from the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Echiverri entered into a contract with EVEC which constituted an unwarranted benefit and privilege granted to a private party,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said.

Same-sex union still a no-no, says Du30

By John Paolo Bencito GAYS can do whatever they want as long as they don’t break the law, President Rodrigo Duterte said Thursday as he once again turned back on his campaign promise to legalize same-sex marriages in the country.

“If it makes the gays happy, let them be. I do not condemn anybody there. What makes you happy, good, just don’t violate the law, period,” Duterte told reporters when asked on what made him change his mind about his campaign promise.

Duterte, who has just arrived from a four-day official visit to Myanmar and Thailand, cited the Family Code as a reason on why he reneged on his promise.

“But for the reason that there is a law which say—in the Family Code sa ating Civil Code defining the relations of non—our society, marriages and everything, it says that marriage is always between a man and a woman,” he said.

“If I allow it then I would have violated the law.”

Duterte’s pronouncements contradicted his remarks during the 2016 presidential campaign when he said that he would consider legalizing same-sex marriage, if he becomes president.

“Definitely, the gays were created by God... God made them so medyo nagkamali ‘yung bilangan diyan sa Bible [there is a slight error in the Bible]. [It should be] Adam, Eve, and the gays,” he said last January 2016.

Duterte, who stressed he is against harrassment and bigotry, also believes members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community should be welcomed to join the military.

IN BRIEF Intl body inducts PN into Hall of Fame AN INTERNATIONAL body has recognized the Philippine Navy as one of the best organizations in terms of strategy execution after it was inducted in the Palladium Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for Executing Strategy last March 21.

Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said PN chief-of-naval staff Rear Adm. Gaudencio C. Collado Jr., received the award in behalf of the Navy during the Palladium Summit 2017 held in London, United Kingdom.

He was accompanied by the PN Director of the Center for Naval Leadership and Excellence, Capt. Armil M. Angeles.

Lincuna said the PN was the first national government agency in the country to join the outstanding line of Palladium BSC Hall of Famers.

The awardees are usually comprised of public and private organizations which have successfully implemented their strategies and delivered positive social impact using the BSC management framework, such as Canon, HSBC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Army, and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense.

Three local government units— Iloilo City, and San Fernando City in Pampanga and La Union—have been previously inducted to the Palladium BSC Hall of Fame. This year, the City of Balanga, Bataan joined the Navy in the Hall of Fame.

The recognition was given after the Navy successfully presented a compelling case of sustainable transformation and institutionalization of good governance through the PN Strategic Sail Plan 2020. PNA

Govt allocates P50m for marine training

FIRE DRILL. A team of professional firefighters draw pails of water from a drum while others get ready to hoist their hoses during the 3rd National Fire Olympics held at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Manny Palmero

‘War on drugs makes Metro residents feel safer’

By Joel E. Zurbano EIGHTY-TWO percent of the people in Metro Manila feel safer because of the government’s war against drug.

This was according to National Capital Region Police Office chief Oscar Albayalde, who cited the latest Pulse Asia Research Inc. survey results.

The survey was conducted on Dec. 6-11, 2016, a few months after the NCRPO began its campaign against drug trafficking and illegal drug use in Metro Manila.

Albayalde said the NCRPO’s War Against Illegal Drugs was implemented on July 1, 2016 and its five months relentless implementation gained 82 percent approval rating from public based on the result of the Pulse Asia Research survey question: “Compared to last year, I feel that it is less dangerous now in

our place because of the campaign against illegal drugs.”

Albayalde said he is inspired by the result of the survey and assured the public to continue the thrust of the NCRPO on crime prevention and suppression, war against illegal drugs and illegal gambling and Internal Cleansing Program.

“This result will serve as our driving force to continue our mission on eradicating illegal drugs and other illegal activities in the Metro.

We will take this accomplishment as one of our basis and guide to further improve our performance, to address the security demands of the public, and to further pursue our transformation program,” he said.

Albayalde expressed his gratitude to the public and further encouraged them to continue their support and cooperation to all NCRPO undertakings.

He also acknowledged the sig-

nificance of the information sharing that lead to the arrest and neutralization of illegal drugs personalities.

Albayalde also vowed that all information, reports and complaints from the public will be acted accordingly and promptly.

“The fulfillment of the service that we render to the public is the acceptance of the public of our services, as we have always emphasized that policing is not just our responsibility but the community as well. The response they provided in this survey reflects their concerns. We will innovate and do more until we get to 100 percent,” Albayalde added.

The NCRPO reported that crime incidents in Metro Manila such as robbery, car and motor thefts, rape and physical injury went down during the second semester of 2016.

Based on the record of the

NCRPO-Investigation and Detection Management Division, the number of crimes against property declined to 30.55 percent from 301 to 209.

Robbery cases also decreased by 35.09 percent from 86 to 55 while theft incidents decreased by 24.25 percent from 177 to 134. Carnapping incidents also went down by 63.56 percent from 9 to 3 while theft involving motorcycles went down by 45.42 percent from 30 to 16 number of cases.

Crime against person such as rape reduced by 12.66 percent from 22 to 19 number of cases while physical injury was down by 11.29 percent from 98 to 87 cases.

Albayalde expressed belief that the relentless Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel campaign being implemented by his office has greatly contributed to the reduction of street crimes.

THE government has allocated P50 million for the training of marine deck and engine officers for the updating of Management Level Courses, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration said Thursday.

With this, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac urged seafarers to avail of the free training being offered by the agency.

“We hope to enroll as many noncompliant active members as we can as support to the plight of our member-seafarers, who because of their failure to take the MLCs prohibited them to progress to the next step,” he said in a statement.

The OWWA Board of Trustees, chaired by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello lll, approved the OWWA Board Resolution No. 14, series of 2017, allocating the said amount.

This is in response to the clamor of Filipino sea-based workers for financial subsidy to Marine Deck and Engine Officers who were not able to comply with the 2010 Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers Convention which will be fully implemented on July 1, 2017.

Cacdac said that those who are entitled to the financial subsidy of P7,500.00 are active members who have at least three membership contributions to the Fund, and who have not yet availed any OWWA program covering said contributions. PNA

NCR has highest number of live-in couples METRO Manila has the highest proportion of youth living-in with their partners at 20.4 percent and the lowest in formal marriage at 2.2 percent, according to a study on young adult fertility and sexuality (YAFS4).

At a forum at the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus, Quezon City, Commission on Population executive director Juan Antonio Perez III presented the commission’s 2013 YAFS4’s “recent and fourth” study, citing its importance to help policy managers and the public to understand the sexual and non-sexual behaviors of the millennials, and come up with more responsive interventions.

The study said the metro has the highest prevalence of premarital sex at 40.9 percent, and the highest proportion who have read pornographic materials at 47.4 percent, visited sexually explicit websites at 33.3 percent and shared sexually explicit videos through Internet or mobile phones at 29.5 percent.

As far as teenage pregnancy is concerned, 18 percent of females from 15 to 19 had gotten pregnant, while 4.7 percent of males from 15 to 19 have gotten someone pregnant.

For every 100 youth, 41 have engaged in premarital sex, six have attempted suicide, six have used drugs, 56 drink liquor and 27 smoke.

Under the category of nonsexual risk behaviors, the highest rates of currently smoking and drinking are 26.6 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

The study showed the highest proportion of those who attempted suicide was 5.6 percent, and who experienced physical violence in the 12 months preceding the survey, both as aggressors at 34.5 percent and as victims at 29.5 percent.

“The National Capital Region is the political and economic heart of the Philippines, where the country’s seat of government is located,” YAFS4 survey said, adding “it is the most populous

region in the country.”

The metro is composed of the cities of Manila, Quezon, Caloocan, Las Piñas, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Taguig, and Valenzuela, and the municipality of Pateros.

Based on YASF4 data, the region has the best educational profile in the country and has the highest proportion of youth with college education (34.9 percent) and the lowest with elementary education (5.2 percent).

While the NCR exhibits a young population structure, it has the oldest population among all the regions based on its median age of 25.5 years, the highest in the country.

Other regional studies showed the significance of education to the sexual and non-sexual behavior of the young adults.

In Cordillera Administrative Region, young children with less education start child-bearing much earlier. Rio N. Araja

SIGNING ON. Senator JV Ejercito and hundreds of young people make the JV sign with their fingers during the Opening Ceremony for the Special Program for Employment of Students, Summer Jobs 2017 ‘Sulong Kabataan’ for the Manila Youth held at the Open Park Auditorium at the Rizal Park. Norman Cruz

Sports

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

PSC doubles PNG cash incentives I Sports Commission.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” NCENTIVES have doubled for the local Ramirez said this while he had a government units which will excel in the meeting with heads of LGUs in Philippine National will which will be revived the Southern Tagalog Region in Lipa City, Batangas. later this year.

The meeting was part of the The winning LGU will now the P5-million that was origi- sports caravan that the PSC is receive P10-million, instead of nally pledged by the Philippine holding for LGUs in the Calabar-

By Peter Atencio

zon and Mimaropa regions.

“Gusto natin na maibalik naman sa kanila ang sapat na insentibo para sa kanilang paghahanda at pagtulong sa mga atleta,” said Ramirez, who was there with commissioners Ramon Fernandez and Celia Kiram.

The P10-million incentive is part of the PSC’s plan to give

cash prizes to the top 10 LGUs in the PNG. The runner-up gets P9 million, while the third placer gets P8 million while the fourth placing delegation will have P7 million.

Earlier, the agency said it will provide the needed funding so that interested LGUs can devel-

op their own grassroots development programs.

The funds will be made available once the formation of the National Physical Fitness and Sports Development Council is finished.

“This is an avenue for their sports program that we can support also,” said Abarquez.

US snaps world baseball championship drought

Marcus Stroman of team United States holds the MVP trophy after their 8-0 win over team Puerto Rico during Game 3 of the Championship Round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium on March 22, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Baseball’s biggest international stage hasn’t been kind to the United States, but they washed away years of frustration Wednesday by winning their first World Baseball Classic title.

Marcus Stroman pitched a no-hitter through six innings and Ian Kinsler belted a home run as the United States carved up Puerto Rico 8-0 at Dodger Stadium.

“We were talking before the game that there is no way we lose this,” said left fielder Christian Yelich. “We just couldn’t see a scenario where we lost this tournament.”

“We just knew if we went out and did what we had to do, we were going to come out on top.”

Kinsler started the scoring for the Americans with a 402-foot two-run home run in the third.

The US team tacked on two more runs in the third, two in the fifth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth.

Those three runs in the seventh all came with two outs.

Stroman had his no-hit bid ended when Puerto Rico’s Angel Pagan opened the bottom of the seventh with a double.

The US pitcher has Puerto Rican

POC: All SEAG needs of NSAs will be met FOR now, 25 national sports associations will get the equipment needed to support the training and preparation of national athletes in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

Tom Carrasco, SEA Games Task Force on the Philippine Olympic Committee side, said

this after a meeting with officials of the Philippines Sports Commission.

These NSAs, according to Carrasco are expected to get to meet their logistical requirement now that the government sports agency is almost done finalizing its procurement efforts.

“Naaayos na ang procurement ng equipment for the SEA Games,” said Carrasco.

He said there are a total of 37 NSAs that are requesting for equipment from the PSC. And they are still reviewing some requests, including one coming from the Philippine

National Shooting Association.

PNSA president Richard Fernandez is asking the agency for support in its request for ammunition, and is currently being addressed.

Carrasco said the task force has identified nine sports which can deliver

medals during the Games.

This includes athletics, aquatics, gymnastics, sailing, sepak takraw and taekwondo.

An initial list of 535 athletes from 31 sports were submitted to the SEA Games organizing committee last month.

Peter Atencio

Hamilton predicts F1 resurgence for Ferrari MELBOURNE, Australia—Lewis Hamilton said Thursday he wanted a seasonlong world title joust with Sebastian Vettel and declared Ferrari as the team to beat in this weekend’s Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Three-time world champion Hamilton said he would love a close battle with Vettel, who strung together four world titles with Red Bull before switching to Ferrari.

While Mercedes have dominated the last three seasons with Hamilton winning two titles and Nico Rosberg last year before his shock retirement, the Ferraris were quickest in pre-season testing.

Hamilton believes Ferrari are ‘keeping a lid’ on expectations but said he would savour a battle with Vettel for this year’s world driver’s championship in the new generation of quicker cars.

“I’ve not had a lot of battles with Sebastian on the track. Of course, I’d love to have that. I think the fans want to see that,” Hamilton said.

“You want to be racing against the best.

That’s what the fans want to see.

“They want to see that close racing, that sheer competitiveness. See the ups and downs of the best doing the best. I hope there’s lots of close racing.”

Hamilton said Ferrari, who have not won a world constructors title since 2008, had the quickest car heading into Sunday’s Melbourne season opener.

“I see Ferrari being the quickest at the moment. And I think they’ll definitely be

the favourites. But of course, we’ll find out more on the weekend,” he said.

“It’s interesting to see, Sebastian is usually a lot more hype. I can tell he’s trying to keep a lid on it. But their pace was obviously great in testing.”

Hamilton said the new car regulations would spice up this year’s world title race.

“Every year, your goal is to beat everyone. The more of a fight you have, the more satisfying it is when you’re victorious. We’re up for a challenge, and that’s what I’ve prepared for,” he said.

Vettel excited

“Doing drastic changes kind of spices it up. I’ve never seen fans so excited about a season as they are this season, being that it is we don’t know where the cars and the teams are.”

Vettel was cagier at the official media conference and said Mercedes and Hamilton were the obvious favourites for the season opener.

“I think it must be. Obviously Mercedes has been in a very, very strong form the last three years,” the German said.

“Even with changes to the rules and regulations, if the team is strong then they will build a strong car the year after, no matter what they do.

“It is very clear who is the favourite.

For all of us, we are obviously trying our best to catch up.

“How much we have succeeded we will see. As the season goes on obviously, I’m sure the cars will have big progression.”

Vettel said pre-season testing lap times

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton listens to a question during a press conference in Melbourne on March 23 ahead of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix. AFP

meant little heading into the first race of the new season.

“So far we don’t know anything. So it will be exciting to find out where we all are on Saturday and Sunday to get a first impression,” he said.

“Testing times doesn’t matter much, I think it matters much more what you show from here onwards.”

Hamilton played down the absence

of his world champion former teammate Rosberg.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me whether the reigning champion is here or not. Every year it’s a brandnew start, brand-new challenge and a brand-new championship to win,” he said.

“You just want to beat whoever it is you’re up against.” AFP

Red Warriors capture UAAP Season 79 lawn tennis crown UNIVERSITY of the East drew the best from its doubles pair of Paulo Baran and Jeric delos Santos to beat University of Santo Tomas and capture its first-ever men’s title in the UAAP Season 79 lawn tennis championship tie Wednesday.

The Red Warriors completed a

date with destiny with a seriesclinching 3-1 conquest of the Growling Tigers at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Baran and Delos Santos rallied from a 0-5 hole in the deciding set of the second doubles match to outlast Bernlou Baring and En-En Lopez,

6-7, 6-2, 7-5.

Tournament MVP AJ Lim put up a clinic, taking down Jose Francis Suazo in an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 first singles win to put the Warriors ahead.

RJ Saga and Rogelio Estaño then survived the two and a half hour first doubles match against Clarence Cabahug

and Joel Cabusas 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 to give UE a 2-0 lead.

UST extended the tie after Dave Mosqueda carved out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win over Dolfo Barquin to cut the deficit to 1-2.

The Rookie of the Year award went to Ateneo’s Jose Julian Dayrit.

roots on his mother’s side of the family and at one time he said he would like to play for Puerto Rico instead of the US. But after winning the title – and picking up the MVP award -- the 25-yearold Toronto Blue Jay pledged his allegiance to Team USA on Wednesday.

“I’ll be back in four years to defend the title,” he said.

One American who won’t return is manager Jim Leyland. The former Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers manager had come out of retirement to guide the American team.

“I have been retired for three years and I am going to stay retired.

That I can promise you,” Leyland told reporters.

“I am not wearing a baseball uniform anymore. I’ll be 73 years old. That’s enough. Let somebody else do it.”

While this may not be the World Series, Leyland likes the idea of going out on top.

He praised the way his players have come together as a unit in their brief time playing for Team USA. “I had some players tell me this is the greatest experience of their life. Joe Torre did a great job of putting them together and made themselves a team in a short period of time.”

Kampala to host 1st major showpiece NAIROBI, Kenya—The World Cross Country Championship takes place in Kampala Sunday in Uganda’s biggest ever sports showpiece, with the traditional rivalry between Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes set to dominate the event.

More than 550 athletes from 59 countries and one refugee team from South Sudan will take part, making the event the biggest cross country meeting since 2006 where 574 competitors took part in the Japanese city of Fukuoka.

Kenya and Ethiopia have dominated the event since 1981 and all eyes will be on the two running-mad nations at Kampala’s Kololo grounds, scene of Uganda’s Independence celebrations in October 1962.

Kenya won the men’s senior title a record 18 years in row from 1986 to 2003, with most of the wins under former national team coach Mike Kosgei.

Kosgei is back with Kenya as the deputy team manager for Kampala championships, and the veteran coach has warned that although Kenya will field a formidable team, the hosts and a couple of countries with former Kenyan-born athletes should not be underrated.

“Many people are thinking the race will be between Ethiopia and Kenya, but they are forgetting about the Ugandans and former Kenyans who are competing for other countries like Bahrain, Qatar and the United States”, Kosgei told AFP. “Uganda have a very strong team led by the 2014 World and African 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei and Timothy Toroitich, winner of two big international cross-country races in Spain this winter,” Kosgei told AFP. AFP

LOTTO RESULTS

6/49 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6/42 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 6 DIGITS 00-00-00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

Azkals continue to play better

By Peter Atencio THE newly revamped Philippines Azkals national men’s football team are playing better and learning how to finish games.

National coach Thomas Dooley said this after the Azkals played to another scoreless draw in their friendly match with Malaysia on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“All teams that we played are getting better. I think we had more chances in the beginning of the game.

We played better this time than the last time,” said Dooley.

It was the Azkals’ fifth draw in five years in their series of friendly matches with Malaysia.

The game is supposed to prepare the Azkals for the coming third qualifying round of the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup football tournament.

The Azkals are bracketed in Group F with Nepal, whom they will play against on Tuesday next week.

Also in the same bracket are Tajikistan and Yemen. The top two teams in their series of home and away games will make it to the tournament proper.

Both teams have their share of their good chances to score in the first half, but it was the Azkals who had more shots that went on target.

Skipper Phil Younghusband could have provided the Azkals the early lead in the 20th minute, but his rightfooted blast was saved by goalie Khairulazhan Khalid.

Malaysia banked on their quick wingers with Safee Sali leading the attack. But they came up emptyhanded.

The Azkals had one last chance in the second half, but Fitch Arboleda’s assault went wide to the left.

This time time, they played without goalkeeper Ronald Muller, who recently retired.

Muller, who has been around since 2011, left the national squad after playing 22 international games, mostly as an alternate to Neil Etheridge.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) glides to the hoop against four Philadelphia 76ers defender. Westbrook unleashed his 35th triple double of the season to power the Thunder over visiting Philadelphia 122-97. AFP

Westbrook powers OKC past Philadelphia 76ers W

ASHINGTON—NBA scoring leader Russell Westbrook unleashed his 35th triple double of the season Wednesday, making NBA history and powering the Oklahoma City Thunder over visiting Philadelphia 122-97.

Westbrook went a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor and free throw line to score 18 points, also grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds and passing off a game-high 14 assists to spark the Thunder.

It was the first time in NBA history that a player achieved a triple double with perfect shooting from the court and free throw line, and the first game in

Westbrook’s career in which he was perfect on every shot.

“I was just playing, trying to take my time,” Westbrook said of his historic hot hand. “I wanted to continue to get my teammates involved throughout the game.”

Meanwhile, Gary Harris netted 21 points to lead seven double-figure scorers for the Denver Nuggets in a 126-113 home victory over the reigning NBA

champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kyrie Irving scored 33 points, Deron Williams added 19 and LeBron James had 18 for the Cavaliers (46-24), whose lead over Boston in the Eastern Conference shrank to only one game.

Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points and Avery Bradley added 18 points as the Boston Celtics (4626) cruised over visiting Indiana 109-100. Paul George led the Pacers (36-35) with 37 points.

Charlotte reserve forward Frank Kaminsky scored 13 of his 18 points in the decisive fourth quarter to power the Hornets over host Orlando 109-102.

Led by Nikola Mirotic’s 28 points, the Chicago Bulls boost-

ed their playoff chances with a 117-95 home rout of Detroit.

The Bulls matched Detroit at 34-38 for ninth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind Miami for the final playoff spot.

French center Rudy Gobert scored a career-high 35 points and added game highs of 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to lead the Utah Jazz over visiting New York 108-101, while Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 32 points as the Milwaukee Bucks downed host Sacramento 116-98.

Washington’s Bradley Beal scored 28 points and teammate John Wall added all 22 of his points in the second half to power the Wizards

Belingon battles Tauru KEVIN “The Silencer” Belingon is a man on a mission as the Filipino homegrown talent seeks to avenge the loss of teammate Geje “Gravity” Eustaquio to Finnish standout Toni “Dynamite” Tauru.

Eustaquio and Tauru crossed paths at ONE: Age of Domination last December, with the latter easily earning his first victory inside the ONE Championship cage at the expense of the Team Lakay striking specialist.

Tauru wasted no time in the stand-up department with his Filipino foe, shooting immediately for a single-leg takedown and driving Eustaquio to the mat. From there, he utilized his size and strength advantage to power through a rear-naked choke to notch the win in the first round.

Belingon will have the chance to get his hands on Tauru as he is booked to lock horns

with the Finnish fighter on the undercard of ONE: Kings of Destiny, which takes place at the 20,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on April 21.

“It’s not personal to me. Winning and losing are part of this beautiful sport. However, in this fight, he will face a natural bantamweight fighter. Geje is not a natural bantamweight. This time it will be an even playing field. Let’s see what he can do against me,” Belingon said.

Belingon has been a bantamweight competitor since he started his mixed martial arts career in 2009, owning 19 professional bouts.

With an experienced prizefighting record of 14-5, Belingon is known as a fierce combatant with the ability to finish opponents in a variety of ways.

The 29-year-old Baguio City native has five knockouts

victories on his résumé and is one of the most feared strikers in ONE Championship’s bantamweight division.

“I’ve been a staple of this weight class for a long time.

I’ve fought the best of the best.

I know Toni Tauru’s caliber as a fighter. I am not taking this fight lightly. My focus is on walking away with my name being announced as the winner,” Belingon said about his marquee match-up against Tauru.

Although Belingon is confident that he will have his hand raised in triumph at ONE: KINGS OF DESTINY, many cage side pundits are worried that he might suffer Eustaquio’s fate when he faced Tauru three months ago.

Tauru overwhelmed Eustaquio with his size and length advantage as the Finnish stal- Kevin Belingon unloads an overhand right at Muin Gafurov during their ONE wart stands 5-foot-10 and has a Championship fight. Belingon faces Toni Tauru at the undercard of ONE: Kings reach of 70 inches. of Destiny at the Mall of Asia Arena. ONE Championship

Bolts gun for solo PBA leadership

By Jeric Lopez

Meralco Bolts import Alex Stepheson (33) protects the basketball against a trio of NLEX Road Warriors defenders, from right: Glenn Khobuntin, Wayne Chism and Asi Taulava. The Bolts gun for solo leadership against sister team TNT Ka Tropa.

CO-LEAGUE leader Meralco Bolts face their toughest test thus far when they take on debuting sister team TNT KaTropa. A victory propels the Bolts to solo leadership in the early goings of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The Bolts (2-0) and the Tropang Texters (0-0) resume their sibling rivalry at 7 p.m. in an intriguing match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Preceding that is a battle between two winless teams as cellardwellers Mahindra and NLEX, both carrying 0-2 slates, are bound

to separate paths when they go at it at 4:15 p.m. to open the show.

With an extra motivation to do better following a dismal campaign in the Philippine Cup, the Bolts are off to a rousing start, winning their first two games the past week to grasp early share of tournament lead.

Meralco first tripped Mahindra in its opening game before giving the NLEX Road Warriors a 91-84 beating last Sunday in its last assignment.

Bolts coach Norman Black is happy to see his team race to a quick start.

“We really prepared really hard for this conference since we want to

improve and establish ourselves as a contender,” said Black.

Alex Stepheson seems to be what the doctor ordered for Meralco as his inside presence had improved the team.

The Bolts will face a debuting TNT KaTropa side that is set to parade NBA veteran Lou Amundson.

After letting go of Denzel Bowles last week prior to the start of the tournament, the Texters found a gem in NBA journeyman Amundson.

He is bound to lead TNT KaTropa, who is set to miss the services of star guard Jayson Castro as he continues to recuperate from his hamstring injury.

over Atlanta 104-100.

Westbrook bounced back after scoring only 15 points Monday against Golden State, although he didn’t attempt a 3-pointer for the first time since March 14, 2016—a span of 83 games.

“Westbrook really did a good job,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. “Look at the stat line. It’s an interesting stat line, isn’t it?

It was eye-popping and he just doesn’t go away.”

Westbrook needs six more triple doubles in the final 11 games for the Thunder (41-30) to match the all-time one-season record of 41 triple doubles set by Oscar Robertson in the 1961-62 campaign. AFP

Adamson nears UAAP crown Games today

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

ADAMSON University goes for the jugular against University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 79 softball championship series today at the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium.

With the possibility of Tigresses pitcher Mary Ann Antolihao missing Game 2 due to a knee injury, Lady Falcons coach Ana Santiago is not taking their beleaguered foes lightly in the 8 a.m. clash.

“Ako naman, from the start, ang main woman nila ay si Antolihao,” said Santiago.

“But we’re not looking for that one player only. We’re looking at them as a whole. It doesn’t mean na pag mag-preprepare kami kay Ann, hindi kami nag-prepare for their other pitchers,” she said.

Ateneo tries to capture its fourth baseball crown in five years as it clashes with UST in Game 2 slated at 12 noon.

Both games will be aired live on S+A HD Channel 166.

Gunning for a seven-peat and a record 16th championship, the Lady Falcons carved out a 9-2 win over the Tigresses in last Tuesday’s opener.

UST coach Sandy Barredo is expected to start Mallows Garde in case Antolihao can’t make it.

Once pitcher Lyca Basa clicked and their hitting goes off the charts, Adamson is tough to beat.

Metrobank plans to issue $2-b notes B2

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@thestandard.com.ph extrastory2000@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

B1

Neda approves new design of LRT hub

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee–Cabinet Committee approved the new project configuration for the Unified Grand Central Station of Light Rail Transit Line 1, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and the planned MRT 7.

Neda said in a statement the ICC-Cabinet Committee also approved the scope revision of another transport project, the change in financing mode of one irrigation project and a water supply project. It endorsed the

approval of a new cost threshold for projects for ICC review and approval.

Neda said the LRT Line 1 North Extension Project-Common Station or the Unified Grand Central Station (North

Extension Project) would now cost P2.8 billion, inclusive of the P1.4 billion in the Department of Transportation’s 2017 budget.

“The project’s new physical configuration includes dual tracks for LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT7, and a total concourse area of 13,700 square meters. The project is targeted to be delivered by April 2019 [assuming there will be no needless further delays],” Neda said.

Business groups earlier asked the government for the “expeditious completion” of the common train station at the intersection of Edsa and North Avenue in Quezon City.

The House committee on trans-

portation, however, asked the Department of Transportation and the Light Rail Transit Authority to review and rectify what it called “onerous” provisions of the memorandum of agreement on the P2.8-billion rail station project.

Meanwhile, the ICC-CC also approved the proposed loan extension and fund reallocation for the New Communications, Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project.

“The proposed project revision includes a loan extension of two years and six months. It will also reallocate the P570.38 millionportion of the project cost to con-

struction and procurement, consulting services, administration costs, VAT and duties and taxes from the local counterpart contingency,” it said.

The committee also approved the change of the financing mode for the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project from national government funding to official development assistance.

It also supported to change the financing mode from public-private-partnership scheme to ODA for the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project and the North-South Railway ProjectSouth Line, which were originally approved by the Neda board in September 2015 and February

IN BRIEF

Govt posts P2.2-b surplus

THE government posted a P2.2billion budget surplus in January this year, a reversal of the P3.5billion deficit a year ago, as revenue collections rose faster than spending, the Bureau of Treasury said Thursday.

The Treasury said the January surplus marked the first time the national government achieved a positive fiscal balance in the first month of the year since 2010.

“This reflects improved revenue collection effort and prudent spending with yearon-year growth of 10 percent and 7 percent for revenues and expenditures, respectively,” the Treasury said.

Data showed that total revenues increased 10 percent in January to P200.3 billion from P182. 2 billion a year ago.

Ninety-two percent of revenues came from tax collections.

Government disbursements rose 7 percent to P198.1 billion in January, despite the 7-percent year-on-year decline in interest payments for the month.

“Only 21 percent of the total expenditures went to the payment of interest, against the previous year’s 25 percent, showing that the growth in disbursements mainly came from releases to productive components of the budget,” it said.

Total interest payments stood at P42.4 billion for the month.

The biggest contributor to the revenue expansion was the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which posted a 14-percent increase in collections of P147.4 billion on higher tax payer compliance and other reforms undertaken by the bureau such as expansion of its Large Taxpayers Service.

Julito G. Rada

Coke wants 6 months to convert facilities

AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said he will ask for President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval to give Coca Cola Femsa Philippines six months to change its facilities to accommodate the use of local sugar in beverage production.

Coca Cola earlier appealed for the suspension of an order by the Sugar Regulatory Administration which regulates the entry of high fructose corn syrup. The order mandates that an importer or consignee of imported fructose be a duly registered international trader with the SRA. Piñol earlier said he wanted to hold in abeyance the SRA order because of complaints from big beverage companies. “I told them that we are willing to give them six months to adjust and they are happy. We are willing to give them time so that they can process raw sugar into what they need for sugar production. They even said that they are willing to buy more local sugar from us,” Piñol said.

Coca Cola said its facilities were designed for the use of HFCS. “The [SRA] order greatly affected our production. What we we asking is time to adjust,” said Coca Cola director for legal and corporate affairs Juan Lorenzo Tañada.

He said changing Coke’s facilities would involve a few million dollars. Anna Leah E. Gonzales

ICTSI’S LISTING ANNIVERSARY. The Philippine Stock Exchange and port operator International Container Terminal Services

Inc. lead a special bell ringing ceremony to celebrate ICTSI’s 25th listing anniversary. The service firm debuted on the stock market on March 23, 1992. Shown are (from left) ICTSI assistant corporate secretary Silverio Benny Tan, senior vice president and chief finance officer Rafael Jose Consing Jr., senior vice president and regional head for Asia Pacific and Manila International Container Terminal Christian Gonzalez, board director Stephen Paradies, board director Jose Ibazeta and chairman and president Enrique Razon Jr., PSE chairman Jose Pardo, director Ma. Vivian Yuchengco, chief operating officer Roel Refran and director Emmanuel Bautista, ICTSI executive vice president Martin O’ Neil and senior vice president for finance Jose Joel Sebastian.

232-MW solar, wind project launched

By Alena Mae S. Flores ENERGY Logics Philippines Inc. on Thursday launched a 232-megawatt integrated solar and wind energy project in Ilocos Norte province.

Energy Logics tapped engineering, procurement and construction contractor Qingdao Hengsun Zhongsheng Group Co. Ltd. of China to build the $430-million project starting this year.

The project involves the construction of a 132-MW wind facility in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and a 100-MW solar plant in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte. Both the wind and solar plants will be built simultaneously.

“This is the biggest project in the Philippines that has both wind and solar energy,” Qingdao Hengsun chairman Lu Min told reporters in Davao City.

He said construction of the wind and solar projects was expected to start this year and would be completed within 18 months from groundbreaking.

“We are honored to be EPC contractor for this project. We build and design energy projects for industrial parks. This is our first project in the Philippines,” Lu said.

Qingdao Hengsun currently has EPC projects in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Indonesia.

“We hope through this project we will give good quality life to the Philippines people as well as start using this project to secure future projects to contribute to Philippine society,” Lu said.

He said the project would showcase the company’s expertise in solar and wind power development.

“We want this project to be completed

to bring electricity to the people,” Lu said.

Xidian Holdings Philippines Corp., funded by Chinese investors together with a Singaporean-based consortium and local investors acquired Energy Logics from the Delgado Group in December.

This latest investment is an offshoot of the successful visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in China last October.

“Geographically Philippines is very near to China so since last year when your President visited China…the relationship between two countries has been improving tremendously and more Chinese enterprise coming into the Philippines,” Lu said.

The projects are seen to generate 2,000 jobs during construction and 500 jobs during operation and maintenance.

Bangko Sentral keeps interest rates unchanged THE Monetary Board, the policy-making body of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, on Thursday kept the benchmark interest rates steady, amid manageable inflation and robust domestic economic growth.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in a news briefing the board retained the policy interest rates at 3 percent for overnight borrowing, 3.5 percent for lending and 2.5 percent for special deposit account. The reserve requirement ratio was also left unchanged.

“The Monetary Board’s decision is based on its assessment that the outlook for inflation remains manageable, consistent with favorable growth prospects,” Tetangco said.

“While the average headline inflation for the first two months has risen due to the recent increases in food and oil prices as well as base effects, latest baseline forecasts are slightly lower than previous forecasts and within the target range of 2 to 4 percent for 2017 and 2018,” Tetangco said.

2016, respectively.

It also set the new project cost threshold for ICC review and approval at P2.5 billion.

“Major capital projects costing at least P2.5 billion shall require ICC approval, except as otherwise provided by law. However, projects costing below P2.5 billion will still need certification that the project is consistent with the Philippine Development Plan/Results Matrices/Public Investment Program and the implementing agency’s mandate, as well as the performance indicators approved by the Department of Budget and Management, among other requirements,” it said.

Inflation in the first two months this year averaged 3 percent, or at the mid-point of the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent.

Tetangco said the balance of risks surrounding the inflation outlook remained tilted to the upside, given the transitory impact of the proposed tax reform program of the government and possible adjustments in transportation fares and electricity.

Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said there was no immediate need for additional monetary stimulus at the moment, given the “expected strong domestic demand” in the economy.

The board slightly reduced the inflation forecast this year to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent made in the previous meeting.

The forecast for 2018 was also reduced to 3 percent from 3.1 percent.

Tetangco said with these considerations, the prevailing monetary policy settings remained appropriate.

Julito G. Rada

Solons eye probe on ERC decisions CONGRESS plans to look into two recent decisions by the Energy Regulatory Commission involving the interim maximum annual revenue of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and the extension of the deadline for compliance with the competitive selection process in the procurement of power supply by distribution utilities.

Party-list Rep. Harry Roque, in a hearing last week, called attention to reports that ERC, while chairman Jose Vicente Salazar was on official leave, favored a higher iMAR for NGCP which could add burden to power consumers.

NGCP is the concessionaire of the country’s nationwide power transmission system. It is partly owned by the government of the People’s Republic of China through the State Grid Corporation of China.

The NGCP iMAR is the cap imposed by ERC on the revenues that it can earn in a given year. The cap aims to protect consumers from unbridled spikes in transmis-

sion charges.

Roque also questioned why the reversal of the earlier decision in favor of the higher iMAR was made at the time that Salazar was on leave following investigations related to the suicide of ERC director Jose Francisco Villa Jr. Solons also called for further probe on the move by ERC to extend the deadline for the implementation of the CSP which allegedly paved the way for some “midnight deals” between power distributors and generators.

The ERC chairman, upon questioning by the solons, said he opposed the extension on record but had to respect the decision of the majority.

The extension earlier came under fire as cause-oriented groups raised concerns that the move favored some of the country’s biggest power distributors.

The CSP required DUs to call for at least two bids for their power requirements. CSP rules allow them to buy from affiliate power generators only as a last resort.

Bloomberry posts P2.32-b net income

BLOOMBERRY Resorts Corp., the owner and operator of Solaire Resort & Casino in Parañaque City, said Thursday it swung back to profit last year on higher gaming revenues and improved hotel occupancy.

Bloomberry said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it posted a net income of P2.32 billion in 2016, a sharp turnaround from the P3.37-billion net loss it registered in 2015.

“The year was not without its challenges, but our continuing programs on financial management, marketing, property and systems improvements and staff engagement rallied us through. Overall, we are more than pleased with the results that put us in good standing with the competition. We hope to use this position of strength to carry us into, if not surpass, the results for the current year,” said Bloomberry chairman and chief executive Enrique Razon Jr. Gross revenues jumped 19.1 percent to P40.9 billion from P34.2 billion in 2015 with gaming revenues accounting for 94.2 percent of the total. Solaire, the company’s $1.2-billion gaming and resort casino, registered gross gaming revenue of P38.3 billion in 2016, the highest since it opened in 2013.

Solaire generated record VIP volume growth of 12 percent while while mass table drop grew 12 percent and EGM (electronic gaming machine) coin-in increased 18 percent.

Non-gaming revenues climbed 26 percent to a record P2.381 billion, on continued improvement in Solaire’s hotel, food and beverage, retail and other segments. Hotel occupancy in 2016 improved to 85.4 percent from 79.2 percent in the previous year. Total visits hit 5,124,028 last year, up 6.4 percent from 2015.

Jenniffer B. Austria

B2

Business

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rebounds; JG leads advancers S TOCKS rebounded Thursday following overnight gains on Wall Street as investors now focus on a crucial congressional vote on US healthcare reform.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, advanced 46 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 7,301.03, as three of the six major sectors— holding firms, services and mining and oil—posted gains.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also went up 17 points, or 0.4 percent, to settle at 4,386.67, on a value turnover of P5.6 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 94 to 83, while 58

issues were unchanged.

Thirteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. which climbed 3.7 percent to P81.95 and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which rose 1.8 percent to P6.11. PLDT Inc. went up 1.8 percent to P1,545.

Meanwhile, most Asian stocks also traded higher Thursday. However, the increases were marginal compared with

the sharp sell-off suffered on Wednesday when equities tumbled across the board on fears Donald Trump’s economy-boosting measures could be delayed by his struggles to push through his repeal of Obamacare.

There is widespread belief the tycoon’s health system proposals will fall foul of lawmakers with many of his Republican counterparts opposed to numerous parts of it and raising questions about the fate of promised infrastructure spending, tax cuts and deregulation.

Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at AxiTrader, said: “A not inconsiderable risk is that the administration gets bogged down in the repeal of Obamacare,

Metrobank plans to issue $2-b notes

By Julito G. Rada

spends its political capital, and delays the tax and infrastructure plans that so boosted the market.”

McKenna added that the head of the Office of Management and Budget had said full details of the 2018 budget would not be available until May, adding to investors worries.

But Wall Street’s three main indexes climbed Wednesday, giving some impetus to Asia, which followed suit in early trade.

Tokyo was up 0.1 percent by the break, Hong Kong added 0.3 percent, Shanghai put on 0.2 percent, Sydney also gained 0.2 percent and Seoul was 0.3 percent higher. Singapore, Manila and Jakarta also eked out small gains.

With Bloomberg, AFP

METROPOLITAN Bank & Trust Co., the second largest bank in terms of assets, will create a $2-billion medium-term note program to raise funds for future growth.

Metrobank said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the establishment of the note program was already approved by its board of directors in a meeting held earlier.

The bank said the note program would be “in the aggregate amount of up to $2 billion or its equivalent in other currencies [including, without limitation, US dollar, Philippine peso, Australian dollar, euro, Japanese yen, Great Britain’s pound, Chinese yuan [onshore] or Chinese yuan [offshore].”

It said it “may from time to time issue, offer and sell notes in such form, amount, currency, tenor, number of tranches, at such in-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

3.1 48.5 101 3.96 123.1 1.19 40.5 16 20 805 0.68 78.05 0.72 25.3 56.35 242 111 87.2 39.5 202 1,715 79.7 1.21

3.1 48.9 101 4.1 123.1 1.2 40.6 16.3 20.1 810 0.69 78.7 0.72 25.3 56.9 242 111 88 39.5 202 1,715 79.7 1.22

3.1 48.5 99.9 3.96 122.4 1.18 40.5 16 19.88 800 0.66 77.5 0.72 25.3 56.35 240 111 87.2 39 199.8 1,715 79.3 1.21

FINANCIALS 3.1 1,000 48.9 11,100 100 920,080 4.02 79,000 122.5 1,462,000 1.18 37,000 40.6 121,700 16.02 16,000 20 2,723,900 810 290 0.67 3,564,000 78.1 1,953,250 0.72 57,000 25.3 6,100 56.4 51,220 240 120 111 10 88 1,200 39.2 29,000 200 486,140 1,715 85 79.65 71,340 1.22 5,000

3,100 541,880 92,020,314 318,190 179,430,957 44,070 4,938,460 260,580 54,480,155 232,550 2,383,470 152,732,053.50 41,040 154,330 2,889,079 29,000 1,110 104,928 1,135,010 97,251,349 145,775 5,679,800 6,090

532,120 47,948,102 -28,001,421 3,570 1,295,825 -34,875,590 -40,450 3,450.00 -12,424,064 -448,662.50 24,200 43,665 -26,779,259 -94,325 13,534 -

ABOITIZ POWER 42.8 AGRINURTURE 5.32 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.82 ALSONS CONS 1.37 ASIABEST GROUP 20.25 BASIC ENERGY 0.25 CEMEX HLDG 7.46 CENTURY FOOD 16.9 CHEMPHIL 180 CIRTEK HLDG 23.2 CNTRL AZUCARERA 14.6 CONCEPCION 60.5 CROWN ASIA 2 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.75 DEL MONTE 12.4 DNL INDUS 12.8 EEI CORP 7.72 EMPERADOR 6.24 ENERGY DEVT 5.98 FIRST GEN 22.9 FIRST PHIL HLDG 73.15 GINEBRA 12.38 HOLCIM 15.7 INTEGRATED MICR 6.85 IONICS 1.53 JOLLIBEE 193.9 LIBERTY FLOUR 72.95 LMG CHEMICALS 4.74 MABUHAY VINYL 3.81 MACAY HLDG 28 MANILA WATER 30.2 MAXS GROUP 26.95 MEGAWIDE 15.66 MERALCO 283.8 MG HLDG 0.305 PANASONIC 6.99 PEPSI COLA 3.8 PETRON 8.9 PHIL H2O 3.7 PHINMA 11.48 PHINMA ENERGY 2.23 PHX PETROLEUM 7.41 PHX SEMICNDCTR 1.93 PILIPINAS SHELL 73.5 PRYCE CORP 4.81 PUREFOODS 281 RFM CORP 4.95 ROXAS HLDG 2.93 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.3 SPC POWER 4.4 SWIFT FOODS 0.146 TKC METALS 1.42 UNIV ROBINA 164.4 VITARICH 1.5 VULCAN INDL 1

42.8 5.32 0.82 1.39 20.25 0.255 7.56 17.12 180 23.5 15 61 2.02 5.75 12.4 12.9 8 6.24 6 22.9 73.15 12.4 15.7 7.01 1.55 194 73 5.12 3.83 28.5 30.5 26.95 16 283.8 0.315 6.99 3.8 9.08 3.7 11.5 2.3 7.6 1.95 73.75 4.81 281 4.95 2.96 14.1 4.4 0.146 1.46 165.7 1.54 1.03

42.1 5.2 0.81 1.35 19.18 0.245 7.4 16.88 180 23.1 14.3 60.5 1.95 5.75 12.2 12.7 7.72 6.12 5.95 22.4 72.8 12.38 15.54 6.82 1.5 190.1 70 4.6 3.71 28 29.85 26.4 15.6 276.4 0.28 6.8 3.73 8.83 3.7 11.42 2.23 7.4 1.92 73 4.81 280 4.9 2.88 13.3 4.4 0.146 1.42 164 1.5 1

INDUSTRIAL 42.7 1,399,400 5.3 1,012,700 0.82 296,000 1.36 117,000 19.7 9,500 0.249 2,520,000 7.46 24,285,100 16.88 3,493,000 180 10 23.5 174,500 14.9 20,100 61 5,270 1.95 1,567,000 5.75 65,500 12.2 16,700 12.8 1,262,100 7.99 358,600 6.16 2,040,300 6 9,048,700 22.4 563,500 72.95 21,260 12.4 16,100 15.6 55,400 6.92 826,300 1.53 418,000 190.2 685,300 72.75 2,670 5.1 2,290,000 3.82 25,000 28.5 700 30.3 1,282,400 26.95 89,500 15.6 599,700 276.6 243,530 0.28 45,790,000 6.8 221,500 3.73 5,271,000 9 2,510,400 3.7 4,000 11.48 48,400 2.25 778,000 7.6 3,118,000 1.94 316,000 73.5 614,480 4.81 10,000 280 2,090 4.95 832,000 2.89 23,000 14.1 5,263,600 4.4 5,000 0.146 40,000 1.46 104,000 165.2 946,010 1.53 1,082,000 1 233,000

59,616,830 5,353,732 241,690 160,360 183,311 620,790 181,201,305 59,181,502 1,800 4,076,750 292,334 320,370 3,085,600 376,625 204,390 16,156,296 2,844,606 12,583,558 54,110,204 12,691,305 1,551,021 199,618 864,420 5,719,733 631,770 130,935,074 193,797.50 11,247,650 94,600 19,695 38,621,605 2,411,145 9,399,768 67,909,658 13,301,900 1,511,604 19,730,200 22,580,338 14,800 555,596 1,739,430 23,536,761 612,010 45,112,354 48,100 586,408 4,078,950 67,000 73,204,298 22,000 5,840 150,580 156,054,072 1,643,950 233,060

-17,681,125 586,367 7,350 -38,314,924 185,302 -21,150 74,834 317,320 13,650 -6,640,470 -1,084,068 -4,532,950 21,645,259 -4,598,855 882,901.50 -808,308 -427,806 -4,210 -34,817,078 -4,300 -8,897,050 -1,153,695 -6,802,358 3,883,410 -2,744,600 -168,450 -11,733,537 805,030 -290,550 -3,818,761 561,126 -78,860 10,395,160 4,380 26,707,935 -16,400 -

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

0.385 75.7 13.08 1.13 6.29 0.335 0.33 845 8.86 11.78 8 5.38 0.189 1,175 6.48 82 5.57 1.13 7.95 15 6.16 0.055 1.09 2 104.5 2.97 663 1.49 275 0.29 0.196 0.26

0.37 74.2 12.9 1.1 6.1 0.31 0.33 830 8.77 11.52 8 5.38 0.183 1,160 6.24 78.75 5.48 1.07 7.9 14.88 6.08 0.053 1.08 1.96 103 2.81 653 1.41 274 0.285 0.194 0.247

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 820,000 75 1,196,740 13 18,099,200 1.12 220,000 6.1 10,200 0.325 5,910,000 0.33 180,000 845 183,950 8.8 512,600 11.62 21,413,800 8 1,000 5.38 10,000 0.183 70,000 1,169 62,810 6.48 90,700 81.95 1,390,770 5.57 3,800 1.07 14,154,000 7.93 802,900 14.92 4,143,800 6.11 73,415,000 0.054 36,620,000 1.08 44,000 2 45,000 104.4 716,760 2.81 623,000 658 221,980 1.43 1,089,000 274.8 8,060 0.29 1,550,000 0.194 40,000 0.247 450,000

310,650 89,820,801.50 235,335,100 242,140 64,120 1,883,000 59,400 154,682,435 4,510,883 249,047,914 8,000 53,800 13,030 73,439,260 569,661 112,430,503 21,063 15,471,610 6,366,996 61,868,584 449,247,561 1,972,430 47,560 88,400 74,116,716 1,792,540 146,142,580 1,552,300 2,212,628 448,000 7,800 112,080

40,004,466 27,722,712 56,576,270 1,996,918 -43,994,540 5,670 8,450,500 525,008 33,696,355.50 -851,400 29,318,562 -217,408,540 13,500 5,400 -53,952,870 881,495 7,300 -239,792 3,920 5,200

1,525,274 413,950 4,800 526,180 19,646,370 254,453,580 42,714,380 14,040 609 1,021,140 14,130 251,010 211,970 66,665,772 172,420 5,226,610 1,195,600 54,280 225,680 20,219,510 75,206,790

-1,403,217 149,400 -13,422,835 -5,258,970 2,504,041 3,380 709,030 2,785,330 -341,330

8990 HLDG A BROWN ANCHOR LAND ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEBU HLDG CEBU PROP B CENTURY PROP CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP KEPPEL PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED

0.38 75.7 12.94 1.1 6.29 0.33 0.33 830 8.86 11.58 8 5.38 0.189 1,170 6.24 79.9 5.48 1.13 7.95 15 6.14 0.054 1.09 1.96 104.5 2.89 658 1.49 274.8 0.285 0.196 0.26 6.77 0.91 6 2.44 1.31 35.7 3.7 5.01 6.09 0.51 1.29 0.157 0.55 54.8 0.169 1.66 0.98 1.18 4.03 3.5 0.213

6.8 0.93 6 2.44 1.36 35.75 3.73 5.13 6.09 0.51 1.29 0.161 0.55 55.35 0.179 1.69 0.98 1.18 4.03 3.6 0.238

6.76 0.9 6 2.34 1.27 35.3 3.69 5.01 6.09 0.495 1.27 0.157 0.54 54.7 0.169 1.66 0.98 1.18 4.03 3.5 0.212

VOLUME

PROPERTY 6.8 224,800 0.92 457,000 6 800 2.34 224,000 1.32 15,037,000 35.55 7,162,800 3.7 11,497,000 5.01 2,800 6.09 100 0.495 2,053,000 1.27 11,000 0.158 1,580,000 0.55 386,000 55.2 1,207,900 0.178 990,000 1.67 3,123,000 0.98 1,220,000 1.18 46,000 4.03 56,000 3.58 5,655,000 0.233 326,080,000

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

NAME

-

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

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VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

7,100,000 29,890,000 72,000 2,865,000 41,000 37,000 16,523,800 1,125,000 2,400 15,000 1,015,000

2,317,550 19,501,600 311,090 65,941,980 69,860 122,420 467,878,480 1,115,620 15,964 13,220 4,878,630

9,450 -466,990 -6,453,005 -112,869,885 -3,050 623,230

PHIL ESTATES PHIL REALTY PRIMEX CORP ROBINSONS LAND ROCKWELL SHANG PROP SM PRIME HLDG STA LUCIA LAND STARMALLS SUNTRUST HOME VISTA LAND

0.315 0.65 4.34 23.8 1.7 3.33 28.5 1 6.41 0.9 4.85

0.34 0.68 4.38 23.8 1.71 3.35 28.6 1.01 6.99 0.9 4.87

0.315 0.64 4.3 22.9 1.69 3.28 27.9 0.98 6.41 0.88 4.78

0.315 0.65 4.32 23 1.7 3.28 28.3 1 6.99 0.88 4.8

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 HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IP EGAME IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES MACROASIA MANILA JOCKEY MELCO CROWN METRO RETAIL NOW CORP PAL HLDG PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT

8.4 46.4 1.46 0.52 0.05 12 5.32 7.5 0.073 2.31 91 8.7 4.53 1,930 6.12 15.74 3.53 3.57 85.5 0.0092 9.01 0.187 1.33 3.54 14.4 3.66 3.7 2.44 5.98 3.71 3.07 5.37 3.1 165 8.54 1,536 1.53 0.435 44 76.5 6.1 2.2 1.11 3.08 0.39

8.63 46.5 1.46 0.52 0.053 12 5.33 7.56 0.074 2.31 93 8.7 5.19 1,950 6.12 16.1 3.53 3.65 88 0.0092 9.01 0.19 1.33 3.95 14.4 3.75 3.77 2.44 6 3.77 3.1 5.37 3.35 165 8.54 1,549 1.53 0.45 44.95 77.1 6.1 2.24 1.13 3.09 0.395

8.35 46.3 1.46 0.51 0.049 12 5.32 7.4 0.073 2.2 90.7 8.7 4.53 1,900 6.08 15.68 3.4 3.54 85.5 0.0092 9.01 0.185 1.31 3.41 14.38 3.66 3.66 2.26 5.92 3.7 2.97 5.37 3.1 164.9 7.99 1,520 1.51 0.435 43.9 76.05 6.1 2.17 1.1 3.08 0.39

SERVICES 8.5 231,700 46.4 5,900 1.46 9,000 0.52 135,000 0.052 89,140,000 12 2,800 5.33 3,100 7.4 2,686,000 0.073 9,610,000 2.21 3,601,000 91 491,950 8.7 6,000 4.75 73,300 1,945 46,890 6.12 22,500 15.68 70,500 3.4 832,000 3.64 38,000 87 964,800 0.0092 3,000,000 9.01 250,000 0.185 2,670,000 1.32 707,000 3.64 2,303,000 14.38 1,200 3.69 3,021,000 3.72 1,257,000 2.4 608,000 6 15,134,200 3.7 214,000 2.99 2,646,000 5.37 100 3.33 120,000 164.9 53,100 7.99 926,800 1,545 66,215 1.52 4,626,000 0.435 4,100,000 44 1,350,000 77 753,250 6.1 3,300 2.21 2,167,000 1.1 5,964,000 3.09 78,000 0.395 30,000

1,982,294 273,780 13,140 69,830 4,604,490 33,600 16,493 20,028,245 702,060 8,007,940 44,842,682 52,200 357,077 90,965,190 137,249 1,109,386 2,873,940 136,290 83,891,224 27,600 2,252,500 497,440 932,070 8,512,960 17,260 11,174,430 4,661,450 1,426,070 90,730,705 795,230 7,959,020 537 375,680 8,756,201 7,515,952 101,872,355 7,036,210 1,813,350 59,427,415 57,918,486.50 20,130 4,758,980 6,584,680 240,290 11,800

46,280 -266,760 -21,600 -9,328,910 9,620 56,010 -23,633,589 8,114,965 3,550 7,609,094.50 9,200 37,200 264,000 -76,030 -9,278,020 -67,050 243,739 -115,650 38,770 130,200 0 -134,927 34,322,215 910,890 27,294,155 -15,251,173 -434,100 2,521,500 197,120 -

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

0.0033 1.65 5.35 0.5 0.4 9.49 2.43 0.255 0.182 0.011 1.72 6.25 2.19 0.455 0.89 0.011 0.011 4.04 0.014 8.61 2.95 145 2.74

0.0033 1.69 5.5 0.52 0.4 9.5 2.59 0.26 0.182 0.012 1.72 6.48 2.21 0.455 0.9 0.012 0.011 4.04 0.014 8.7 2.95 146.5 2.74

0.0032 1.63 5.35 0.5 0.4 9 2.43 0.248 0.181 0.011 1.72 6.25 2.12 0.45 0.89 0.011 0.011 4.01 0.013 8.55 2.91 145 2.6

MINING & OIL 0.0032 23,000,000 1.63 2,806,000 5.36 186,600 0.52 698,000 0.4 690,000 9.1 1,600 2.57 11,820,000 0.255 80,000 0.182 1,360,000 0.012 67,500,000 1.72 6,000 6.42 3,806,200 2.19 21,000 0.45 70,000 0.9 25,000 0.011 20,100,000 0.011 500,000 4.02 23,000 0.013 4,700,000 8.58 926,800 2.92 721,000 145.2 670,090 2.6 5,000

73,700 4,594,310 998,942 354,220 276,000 14,602 29,803,830 20,260 247,480 742,600 10,320 24,456,003 45,950 31,550 22,290 226,800 5,500 92,650 61,600 7,949,328 2,111,920 97,300,436 13,140

3,300 -1,303,860 -11,792 -4,000 -3,105,910 5,200 -18,582,399 4,200 -835,664.00 -5,720 49,756,948 -

ABS HLDG PDR ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GLO PREF P GMA HLDG PDR GTCAP PREF A GTCAP PREF B MWIDE PREF PCOR PREF 2A PCOR PREF 2B PF PREF 2 SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2D SMC PREF 2E SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2G SMC PREF 2H

46.6 107 105.8 107.1 118 525 5.84 1,021 1,035 107 1,069 1,149 1,019 2.3 80.5 77 78.95 79.65 79 77.7

46.6 107 105.8 107.1 118 525 5.86 1,021 1,045 107.9 1,069 1,149 1,019 2.34 81 77 79.05 79.7 79 77.8

45.8 107 105.1 107.1 118 525 5.84 1,021 1,035 107 1,069 1,149 1,019 2.1 80.5 76 78.95 79.65 79 77.5

PREFERRED 45.8 70,100 107 12,060 105.1 30,860 107.1 10 118 11,120 525 200 5.85 352,500 1,021 1,500 1,045 595 107.9 13,500 1,069 3,550 1,149 5 1,019 11,450 2.1 4,000 81 220 76 20,000 79.05 2,770 79.65 39,850 79 20,000 77.8 212,950

3,222,575 1,290,420 3,243,750 1,071 1,312,160 105,000 2,063,400 1,531,500 621,575 1,449,575 3,794,950 5,745 11,667,550 8,850 17,720 1,525,175 218,768.50 3,174,366.50 1,580,000 16,510,555

454,755 -1,067,650 -

LR WARRANT

2.07

2.18

2.07

WARRANTS 2.07 321,000

680,080

41,400

164,390 438,043 22,350,426

1,281,495

42,119

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.8 6.82 9.75

FIRST METRO ETF 120.1

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS PROPERTY SERVICES MINING & OIL GRAND TOTAL

SME

3.87 6.82 10.1

3.7 6.67 9.75

3.8 6.8 9.84

120.5

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.1 120.5 350

SHARES

VALUE

12,999,995 125,496,056 189,284,505

734,888,391.43 1,173,376,618.276 1,775,035,533.98

435,774,768 161,277,485 139,879,706 1,067,071,746

1,056,531,540.96 651,538,400.10 169,481,390.081 5,583,849,024.326

43,000 64,800 2,250,600

FINANCIAL 1,830.52 (down) 2.12 INDUSTRIAL 10,962.52 (down) 10.00 HOLDING FIRMS 7,377.76 (up) 108.50 PROPERTY 3,217.01 (down) 10.43 SERVICES 1,490.61 (up) 15.20 MINING & OIL 11,945.70 (up) 73.69 PSEI 7,301.03 (up) 46.10 All Shares Index 4,386.67 (up) 17.64 Gainers:94; Losers:836; Unchanged:587; Total: 235

terest rate, and under such other terms and conditions as the management of the bank may subsequently determine, approve or ratify.”

“The program shall be established to afford the bank maximum flexibility in accessing markets and maximizing opportunities to raise funding expediently,” it said.

Metrobank said the issuance of notes should be subject to favorable market conditions, any applicable regulatory requirement and certain closing conditions and deliverables.

Metrobank offered longterm deposits amounting to P5 billion last year, taking advantage of excess liquidity in the financial system and low interest rates environment.

Metrobank’s net profit in 2016 fell 3 percent to P18.1 billion from P18.6 billion in 2015. However, net income in the fourth quarter rose 3 percent to P5.5 billion.

SEC clears IPO plan of Pure Energy

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday approved the P1.58-billion initial public offering of Pure Energy Holdings Corp., an investment holding firm with interests in renewable power and bulk water supply and distribution projects.

SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong in a text message confirmed the IPO approval.

Documents filed with SEC showed that Pure Energy would sell 930 million common shares with an option to sell another 46.5 million shares in case of strong demand at P1.62 per share.

The offer shares represent 15.6 percent of the company’s authorized capital stock.

The company tapped Abacus Capital Securities as the sole underwriter for the offering.

Proceeds from the maiden share offering will be used to finance project financing of various hydropower projects and acquire existing hydropower projects.

Megaworld raises P12b in bond sale OFFICE and condominium builder Megaworld Corp. successfully raised P12 billion from the issuance of seven-year bonds amid strong demand from institutional and retail investors.

Banking sources said Megaworld’s bond offering was warmly received by investors who welcomed the property firm’s return to the bond market after several years of absence.

Sources said institutional investors took up as much as 60 percent of the P12-billion bond offering while retail investors accounted for the remaining 40 percent.

Megaworld’s return to the bond market was oversubscribed despite the presence of similar big offerings in the market this month.

Among these fund raising activities were the P7billion initial public offering of Wilcon Depot, the P15billion five-year bond offering of San Miguel Corp., the P30-billion three-year retail treasury bonds of Bureau of Treasury and the P7-billion 10-year bond offering Ayala Land Inc. Megaworld offered to sell P8 billion with an oversubscription option of P4 billion at a coupon rate of 5.3535 per annum. Offer period took place on March 15 to March 21.

The bonds will be listed with the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp on March 28. Jenniffer B. Austria

Motoring

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

B3

Girl power behind the wheel T

HE SHELL Eco-marathon—with its goal of spurring the youth to design, build, and drive their very own vehicles that can run the farthest using the least amount of energy—is one of the global platforms that drive female student engineers to make waves in their chosen field The presence of Filipino women is particularly something to watch out for in the Asian leg of this year’s energy efficiency competition in Singapore this March.

Kirsten Caldez Despi, for one, is the team manager of University of San Carlos’ Team Lahutay, which has always been noteworthy for producing sleek car designs in their over five years of joining the competition.

“I joined the team in 2016. I viewed it as an opportunity to see theories put into action. For this year’s race, I was appointed team manager. I did find it a challenge to balance school and work since this is also my graduating year. But I see this as a stepping stone for better learning, and to give me more confidence when I face the world outside of school,” she shared.

Another female leader is Rangel Daroya, manager of Team Dagisik from the University of the Philippines. Although their school is a veteran contender in the competition, Team Dagisik

is composed of all-new members and their car, Siglo, is also built from scratch.

“Joining a regional competition such as the Shell Eco-marathon takes a lot of determination and commitment. When you think you already got it figured out, new problems will come up. But it’s all worth it when your car finally runs the track,” said Daroya.

As team manager, it is her task to motivate the group and make sure everyone keeps on going for gold despite the challenges.

As proof that hard work pays off, Team Dagisik won in the Urban Concept–Battery Electric category during the local rendition of the competition held in Clark International Speedway in Pampanga earlier this year. They chalked a mileage of 110.03 km/ kWh, and they are determined to exceed this record in the regional event.

Women from other countries— even those that have always been known to be male-dominated

Rangel Daroya (front, 3rd from right) and Team Dagisik during the flag-off ceremony of Shell Eco-marathon Philippines held recently at the Clark International Speedway.

especially in the science and engineering fields—are equally making strides at the Shell Ecomarathon Asia. Team Megalodon from The German University of Technology in Oman is one example of a student team that, for the first time in three years, has recruited two women to play key

roles in the team.

Arjawan al Hajri, a third year Process Engineering student who has always loved driving cars, is the team’s designated driver. The second female student member, Al Shifa al Hadi, helped develop an innovative automatic control programming solution that is de-

FASTLANE MEN IN BLACK. From left: Ilderim Castanares Isuzu Cebu Branch

Manager, Steve Gingco Isuzu Cebu Inc. General Manager, Shojiro Sakoda Executive Vice President Isuzu Philippines Corp., Daisuke Takagi Mitsubishi Corp. General Manager for ASEAN Division, Hiroto Nakaguro Sales Department Head Isuzu Philippines Corp.

Dark and daring: Isuzu mu-X in black ALREADY boasting of high-caliber features, the Isuzu mu-X exceeds any discerning customer’s expectation. Now, this premium SUV offers even more as a new variant is introduced.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) unveiled an upgraded variant of the Isuzu mu-X 3.0 LS-A 4x2 A/T that is equipped with additional styling and functional features. To underscore both the Isuzu mu-X’s flagship status in IPC’s model lineup and the importance of the Visayas market to the Isuzu brand, the new vehicle was presented on March 17, 2017 at Isuzu Cebu City.

Called the Isuzu mu-X Black Series, the model is more sophisticated yet sporty at the same time.

As identified by its name, it comes equipped with black radiator grille and hood garnish, as well as a two-tone front bumper where the top portion matches the vehicle body’s color while the lower part is finished in Cosmic Black.

Bolstering the darker and more daring look of the Isuzu mu-X Black Series while also enhancing functionality are the matching gloss black roof rails, which can carry loads weighing up to 60 kilograms, and the semi-gloss black side stepboards. In the rear of the vehicle, a new tailgate garnish that’s also finished in black updates the styling.

Meanwhile, giving a touch of elegance are the redesigned two-tone, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 255/65 R17 tires.

The changes extend to the Isuzu mu-X Black Series’ interior where, on top of numerous luxury and convenience features, added are carbon fiber accents on the key cover and other panels, as well as new scuff plates. Lending a more sophisticated feel are the chrome inside door handles, and the door armrests and center console that are now covered in soft pad. Also new is the organizer box, which complements the various storage compartments strategically located inside the vehicle.

“As Isuzu Philippines’ bestsell-

ing and flagship model, the Isuzu mu-X Black Series deserves to have the best features that address the expectations of even more discerning customers. That is why we strive to continually introduce upgrades to this premium and highly capable SUV. The Isuzu mu-X Black Series is the latest product of such efforts, and we’re confident that the model will appeal to a more sophisticated market,” said IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda.

“Introducing the new Isuzu mu-X Black Series in Cebu is also an important move as this signifies Isuzu Philippines’ appreciation for growth markets in the central and southern parts of the country. And Cebu has consistently been among the strongest performers in terms of deliveries of Isuzu products,” Sakoda added.

The Isuzu mu-X Black Series is powered by Isuzu’s 3.0-liter 4JJ1-TC (HI) diesel engine that is equipped with common rail direct injection, intercooler and a variable geometry system turbocharger. This engine produces 163Ps at 3,200rpm and 380Nm of torque from 1,800rpm to 2,200rpm, which is delivered to the rear wheels by a five-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift function.

As a premium SUV, the Isuzu mu-X Black Series boasts of projector-type multi-reflector headlamps, daytime running lamps, a centermounted roof antenna, chrome power-folding side-view mirrors with integrated turn indicators, and a rear spoiler. Inside the vehicle are upscale devices like an entertainment system with Bluetooth, iPod and WiFi connectivity, as well as an 8-inch touchscreen display for the various multimedia functions and the navigation system. Other features include the electroluminescent multi-information display, 10-inch ceiling-mounted video monitor, six-speaker system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and 6-way power adjust driver seats that are also covered in leather.

Honda at the 2017 Manila International Auto Show HONDA Cars Philippines, Inc., Honda’s automobile business unit, gears up for the 2017 Manila International Auto Show, which will be held at the World Trade Center Pasay City from March 30 to April 2, 2017. With this year’s MIAS event, Honda is bound to stir the Philippine automotive industry with its exciting lineup that will be on display at the event.

In line with the 2017 MIAS theme of “Beyond Performance”, HCPI will showcase a much awaited lineup that will elevate the Honda brand in the upcoming auto show. This year, HCPI will portray “Joy in Motion” by displaying vehicles that appeal Honda’s striking sporty image that it is known for. HCPI’s sporty lineup for MIAS will allow customers to experience its aggressive comeback after the long wait to join MIAS once again.

Customers anticipating to attend the MIAS event may watch out for HCPI’s surprises, as HCPI will display an accessorized concept of the All-New Civic and All-New

BR-V. Both displays will be integrated with Modulo accessories designed to revive and showcase Honda’s sporty DNA. Customers will see Honda’s advanced innovation at MIAS as HCPI will launch a new HR-V MUGEN variant enhanced with a bolder and more athletic appeal.

HCPI will also exhibit the New City MIAS Edition, integrated with exclusive features only available for sale at the MIAS event. Only 8 units of the New City MIAS Edition will be available in the market, so customers are encouraged to reserve, and be one of the few to take ownership of this exclusive offer for Honda’s bestselling subcompact sedan.

After its first appearance at the Geneva International Motor Show, the Civic Type R will finally make its way to Philippine shores. Customers eager to see the Civic Type R in the metal are invited to visit the Honda booth during the MIAS event, and check out the Civic Type R that will be on display.

Motul to showcase rare cars at MIAS WITH the numerous road accidents and road rage incidents occurring in the busy streets of Metro Manila, Motul, the country’s only 100 percent fully synthetic performance engine oil is introducing its Corporate Social Responsibility campaign at this year’s Manila International Autoshow (MIAS). The campaign aims to instill driver discipline and promote road safety.

The CSR campaign was borne out of the frustrations of the everyday driver. More than a decade ago, the traffic situation was far safer and driving along EDSA was a stress-free experience. These days, it is chaotic out there, with every driver having a free-for-all, as each one fight for every inch of space almost everyday. Road rage incidents are common, and hopefully, this Drive Right campaign will remind everybody out there that the roads are for everybody and we must learn to share it with discipline and inspire goodwill among fellow drivers.

As an added treat to patrons of this year’s MIAS, rare sports cars will be on display at the Motul booth and visitors can avail of “Drive Right” car stickers by simply registering your name and e-mail address. It is Motul’s small contribution in making our roads a safer place enjoyed by disciplined and defensive drivers.

signed to enhance the car’s performance by sensing and reporting car-related parameters to the driver.

Meanwhile, Team Panthera from the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women in India, is an all-girls team. It is made up of students pursuing

bachelor of technology degrees in the mechanical and automation fields, from both rural states and cities in India.

Female engineers are indeed playing an increasingly vital role in the making the future of energy through Shell’s renowned smarter mobility competition.

SEAOIL launches 1st fuel blind test campaign SEAOIL, the country’s largest independent fuel company, hasd launched an industry-first fuel blind test campaign for motorists to experience the quality of its fuels.

“Through this campaign, we want to re-introduce SEAOIL fuels to the public by highlighting the qualities that make them high-performance products, something that our loyal customers can already attest to,” said SEAOIL CEO Glenn Yu. During the fuel blind test, motorists who agreed to have their tanks filled up with an anonymous brand went on a test drive with celebrity racer Arci Muñoz. They reported experiencing a smoother drive and more powerful acceleration using this brand, which Muñoz later on revealed to be SEAOIL. “It was exciting to be part of the fuel blind tests and witness how motorists were able to recognize the power of SEAOIL in their own cars.

As a racer, I am honored to be representing a homegrown Filipino brand that is committed to producing high-quality

fuel products,” said Muñoz.

The campaign focuses on the top three qualities that make SEAOIL world-class performance fuels. Firstly, SEAOIL imports its base fuels from select refineries in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. These imported fuels are then shipped directly to SEAOIL’s network of terminals and depots across the country.

Secondly, SEAOIL fuels are tested at least three times daily by trained station personnel for consistency in purity. These inventory and quality checks are conducted every shift-end in all stations nationwide.

Finally, all SEAOIL fuels are powered with STP additives, which are known for their superior cleaning formula that improves engine performance. SEAOIL is the only fuel company in the Philippines that uses these US-brand additives.

To deliver its high quality fuels to more markets, SEAOIL continues to expand its retail network through innovative and award-winning franchise offerings.

Motoring

RAMON L. TOMELDAN Edi tor DIN O DIREC TO III A ss t . Edi tor

B4

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

‘Glamping’ with Nissan A more refined wagon as defined by Mazda’s Kodo” design philosophy

Mazda’s

fun wagon Text and Photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

The Navara is flanked by (from left) Dax Avenido, Nissan’s marketing guru and Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI’s newly minted President.

Text and photo by Dino Ray V. Directo III

I

N CELEBRATION of the Nissan Navara’s second year in the domestic market, Nissan Philippines In. embarked on a journey of discovery and nature tripping. With select members of the motoring media in tow, Nissan organized a ride and drive event up North, the in the scenic province of Ilocos Norte.

Dubbed as the “Beast of Both Worlds” event, motoring pen pushers were divided into groups of seven and drove 14 hours to the northernmost part of Luzon, in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. I was paired up in Navara number 4 with Patrick Tulfo of the Business Mirror. From Nissan’s dealership in Quezon Avenue, Quezon City, the participants met up in the wee hours of the morning and drove to Agoo, La Union for our first stop which was breakfast. Travelling at night might be the best time to drive because of zero traffic on the roads, as the participants arrived in La Union shortly after sunrise.

From Agoo, the contingent snaked its way through La Union and proceeded for our second stop of the day, lunch in Laoag, Ilocos Sur. After a hearty lunch of Ilokano delicacies, the convoy pushed hard to our destination in Pagudpod. With good throughout the journey, we were able to put the Navara through its paces.

The 2.5 liter engine hummed with authority during passing maneuvers and long straights.

The multi-link suspension system gamely absorbed the road imperfections along the route and was balanced when taking fast corners.

Passing through the famous

Bangui Windmills, the group of Navara’s arrived at their destination before sun down. In line with the outdoors theme of the event, organizers established a campsite a few meters away from the shoreline of the South China Sea. With tents provided

by Coleman, it was this writer’s first time to spend the night in a tent. I was a bit apprehensive at first because sleeping on the ground was the last thing I need after a long 14-hour drive. Nissan proved me wrong because the tent itself was comfortable, with an air bed, a Coleman night lamp plus a thick blanket to keep us warm from the very cool breeze that enveloped the camp site. It was more of a glamour camping, hence the term “Glamping” because we had servants at our beck and call; there was a bonfire with sticks of marshmallows on the ready; chefs were grilling some steaks and fresh seafood and drinks of all kinds were available all night.

If only camping was this comfortable and cool, I would do it every weekend.

“The Navara is one of the

brand’s most successful vehicles and one of Nissan’s best sellers for 2016,” states Ramesh Narasimhan, NPI’s youthful and down to earth President and Managing Director. Narasimhan also spent the night among us in Nissan’s tent city in Pagudpod.

The following day, the Navara contingent did a bit of offroading in a barangay enroute to a winery. Here, participants utilized the technical advancements of the Navara like Hill Descent Control, Traction Control and Vehicle Dynamics Stability Control, which enabled us to drive confidently through the rough terrain. “In just two short years, the Navara has risen to the third position in its segment because of its versatile character and go anywhere engineering and comfortable ride,” says Narasimhan.

Since NPI took the reigns of domestic distribution in 2014, it has become one of the fastest growing automotive companies registering a 62 percent growth in 2015 and a nationwide network of 28 dealerships, with 11 more in the pipeline.

WHEN Mazda cut its ties with Ford in 2010, it took quite a while for most of us to recognize the potential of the brand as a manufacturer of affordable, light and fun to drive vehicles. When the CX-5 and the Mazda 6 was introduced to the global market in 2012, the latest “Skyactiv” engine technology was promising and the design philosophy of the brand was aggressive to a point that its competitors had to stop at their tracks and give Mazda a second look. Finally, the once boring brand woke up from its slumber and began to fold it sleeves to buckle down and work.

Middle of last year, Mazda created quite a stir in the domestic market when it launched the wagon type version of the Mazda 6. Design wise, it blew everybody off the water. The car being gorgeous was an understatement.

It was a Kodo design that was polished even further.

Honestly, it took the Gods of Berjaya Philippines, distributors of the Mazda brand in the country some time to lend me a test unit. The first thing that strikes you is the car’s heft and width and that bolder grille design and the standard LED lights. This wagon is smooth, from its front wheel arches, down to the bulbous rear end with a massive boot lid. The 17-inch alloy wheels finishes off the wagon’s exterior. Step inside and you’ll notice the tall roofline and swatches of leather contrasted by bits of aluminum. The cockpit has a sporty feel to it, with the meaty steering wheel, high transmission tunnel and the deep cowl gauge clusters. It also has a seven inch screen on top of the center console

which acts as the car’s command center. You can control the audio and get other data about the wagon’s vitals by way of a circular knob located near the transmission. Mazda has replaced the old model’s shiny black plastics, which were susceptible to finger marks, with leather inserts that avoid this problem and it looks and feels nice to the touch.

With the car’s height adjustable steering and driver’s seat, driving this big sedan is a cinch even for vertically challenged blokes like this writer. Both the front and rear passengers have lots of space to stretch their legs. Due to the tall roofline, your six-foot child has no problems with leg and headroom space. The back seat is wide enough to accommodate three full size adults or four average sized kids. Being a wagon, expect tons of space at the back as it is big enough to carry a golf bag plus room for a small luggage.

Despite its size, this Sports wagon is equipped with the sedan’s same 2.5 liter Skyactiv-G mill pumping out 188bhp and an estimated 250 nm of torque. With its weight not being an issue, the car is fun to drive and gives you the power when you need it. It is no white elephant especially when you put it in Sport mode and use the paddle shifters. This wagon transforms into a different animal. Although there is a slight noise emanating from the tires, yet this wagon can respectfully manage a conservative 10kms per liter during urban duties and 15 km/l on a highway sprint.

Overall, I love this car. I just hope that I win the lottery before the proposed excise tax becomes a law.

Manila

Standard

LGUs TODAY

QRTCC saves boy from dad’s beating

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—The Quick Response Team on Children’s Concerns here rescued another victim of child abuse after the biological father of a six-yearold boy mauled his only son using an electric wire.

The boy was full of bruises and wounds when the QRTCC team rescued him around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, after a concerned citizen informed them through the so-called Kean Gabriel hotline—named after a three-year-old who was killed by his stepfather in this city last year.

The QRTCC and police arrested the father of the child, who was present during the group’s rescue operation.

Social Worker Teresita Obang said the child was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and pajamas when the group arrived, apparently to cover the bruises caused by his father’s mauling.

The boy’s mother, however, refused to file charges against her husband, but admitted it was not the first time the father hurt their only child.

Based on the mother’s testimony, her husband mauled the boy whenever he was drunk.

However, she did not report it since she said the father “does not have any idea of what he has done to the child” afterward.

“At first, the mother was convinced of filing charges against her husband, but when we arrived at the police station she changed her mind. She said she does not have any idea how they will survive without her husband,” Obang said.

The QRTCC team found out the boy was no longer attending school, and was left alone in their house whenever his parents went out to work.

“According to the neighbors, they always left the kid alone, no one was taking care of him,” Obang said.

The six-year-old said he was beaten by his father because he took a shower in the rain.

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

C1

Makati raises drug subsidy Taguig fighting T

By Joel E. Zurbano

HE city government of Makati will spend P600 million this year for its innovative drug subsidy program called “Libreng Gamot para sa Mamamayan” to cater to over 200,000 patients presently enrolled in the program.

Launched in 2013, the program covers members and beneficiaries of the Makati Health Plus (Yellow Card) program, which include senior citizens, persons with disability and other bona fide Makati residents.

City government employees and other Makati-based government workers who are active Yellow Card holders are also qualified beneficiaries of the program.

Mayor Abigail Binay said her administration fully supports the

continued implementation of the program, in line with her commitment to provide accessible health care and address the medical needs of residents.

“The program is an effective remedy to the prohibitive cost of medicines, which could undermine the benefits of accessible medical services provided by Ospital ng Makati and our health centers. With improved access to proper medication, especially maintenance medicines, our constituents can enjoy a better quality of life,” Binay said.

Out of the 2017 executive budget of P18 billion approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Makati, almost P4 billion has been allocated for health services, with P1.2 billion for the Makati Health Department and P2.7 billion for the Ospital ng Makati.

Based on an MHD report, 200,698 patients have enrolled in the drug subsidy program from 2013 to 2016, including 35,424 Makati senior citizens and 144 PWDs. MHD chief Dr. Bernard Sese said for patients 80 years and older and those who are bedridden, the Makati Action Center personnel deliver the medicines to their homes after proper evaluation by the

RESCUED. Pictured are Candida Ramas (right), 88, and her daughter Rodora, 49, who suffers from polio and cerebral palsy, in their shanty house in Davao City.

After a concerned neighbor posted a video of the women on Facebook, the Davao City Social Services and Development Office came to Ramas and pledged to look after them. F. Pearl A. Gajunera

‘More business for QC women’ QUEZON City Mayor Herbert Bautista is determined to provide more economic opportunities to women in the city and encourage them to become entrepreneurs.

In a speech during the Quezon City Women Entrepreneur’s Forum at the Quezon City Performing Arts Theatre, the mayor underscored the need to teach women, especially homemakers, how to avail of livelihood opportunities from the city government.

“Creating more entrepreneurs is one of the key solutions to address the lack of employment opportunities in the city,” Bautista said.

Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte also shared the mayor’s insights on the importance of providing more home-based employment and entrepreneurial activities to the women in Quezon City.

“They should be given the capacity to earn, to put them on equal standing with the men,” Belmonte said.

The forum, organized by Councilor Irene

assigned physician in the city’s Senior Citizen Wellness Program.

The program covers medicines for the following conditions and illnesses: Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardio-vascular diseases, dyslipidemia, enlarged prostate, gout, cough and colds, sexually transmitted infections, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, seizure disorder, allergy, ulcer, vertigo, and gastro-intestinal problems, among others.

It also provides free multivitamins for children, adults and pregnant patients, as well as oral and injectable contraceptives.

For the convenience of residents and other beneficiaries of the Yellow Card program, Mayor Abby has ordered the extension of the validity period of the cards to three years.

Yellow Card beneficiaries also enjoy free outpatient consultations and subsidized hospitalization for emergency and in-patient care at the city-run Ospital ng Makati.

Primary health services ranging from maternal and child care to elderly care are also provided for free at the city’s 26 barangay health centers and three lying-in clinics.

rabies

TAGUIG City has launched an anti-rabies program to conduct house-to-house visits in all barangays to vaccinate pet animals in celebration of the Rabies Awareness Month.

The launching of the Taguig City Anti-Rabies Drive (TCARD), according to Dr. Alexis Siblag, head of the city’s Veterinary Office, came after the government of Mayor Lani Cayetano found out the city’s dog population alone has reached more than 57,000.

“In rabies control, you need to vaccinate 70 percent of the total population to eradicate rabies,” Siblag said.

With TCARD, Siblag said a pet owner could have as many pets vaccinated in his home as he wants. On the first day of their house-to-house visits, more than 1,500 dogs and cats were vaccinated in one barangay alone, he said.

So far, they have gone to four barangays. Around 834 cats and dogs were vaccinated in Barangay Bagumbayan, while 400 pets were vaccinated after another day in Barangay New Lower Bicutan.

“An average of 900 animals are vaccinated a day in one barangay,” Siblag added. They intend to finish the remaining 24 barangays within the month. Joel E. Zurbano

Ayala Land readies its properties for Earth Hour

Belmonte, was meant to encourage and inspire women in Quezon City to pursue entrepreneurship.

The councilor, who also chairs the QC Council’s Committee on Trade, Commerce and Industry, also invited representatives from key national and local government agencies to provide information on their programs and services.

Among the national government agencies which participated in the forum were the Department of Trade and Industry, Social Security System, PhilHealth, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The forum also served as venue for a consultative session relative to the passage of a proposed ordinance principally authored by Councilor Belmonte on Women Entrepreneurship.

Tower One & Exchange Plaza in Makati gets ready to switch off for Earth Hour.

NEW AIR ROUTES. Cebgo, a subsidiary of Cebu Pacific Air, last week launched two new routes from Cagayan de Oro, one to Bacolod and another to Tagbilaran in an event attended by (from left) Tourism Undersecretary Katherine De Castro, Cebgo President and CEO Alexander Lao, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vicente Emano, and Eddie Alejandro of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in Cagayan de Oro’s Laguindingan Airport. The new inter-regional flights will further improve air connectivity around the archipelago according to the Department of Tourism, which also expects the new routes to further boost domestic tourism by enhancing the cluster or regional tourism concept of the agency. CEB flies four times a week between Cagayan de Oro and Tagbilaran and three times a week between CdO and Bacolod.

AYALA Land, Inc. (ALI) is preparing all of its properties nationwide for this year’s Earth Hour by consistently going beyond the switching-off of lights, and integrating energy efficiency, water efficiency, and solid waste management into its day-to-day operations.

While Earth Hour is held only once annually, the company has embedded sustainability into the yearround planning, design, and management of its properties nationwide.

Through its subsidiary Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC) for instance, ALI has effectively lowered its energy intensity (kwh per square meter of space) by 38 percent from 2011 to 2015. This was achieved through retrofits, redevelopment, and other interventions which include the replacement of old light bulbs with LED bulbs, and investments in new air conditioning technologies.

These avoidance and efficiency measures reduce unnecessary load on the national grid, and also lead to cost savings which may then be reinvested into the overall sustainability effort. Last December, 10 APMC-managed properties, including BPI-Philam Life Makati, Convergys One, and Bonifacio High Street, were recognized by the Department of Energy through the Don Emilio Abello Energy Efficiency Awards. The year prior to that, APMC-managed malls and offices saved Php 131.5 million by avoiding 16,409 MWh of electricity consumption.

“While eco-efficiency is an everyday endeavor at Ayala Land properties, we fully support activities such as Earth Hour that help us engage with all our

stakeholders and encourage them to join us in our commitment to sustainability,” said APMC President Laurent Lamasuta.

APMC also recently partnered with ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. to recycle and sell APMC’s used oil and used lead acid batteries.

Revenues from the partnership will help fund environmental initiatives such as the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed, and the rehabilitation of the La Mesa Ecopark.

ALI is the Philippines’ leading developer of sustainable estates, offering a diverse mix of properties such as residential, retail, office, hotels, and leisure developments, that support local economic growth and nation-building. As part of its sustainability efforts, it recently announced that it is embarking on an aggressive plan to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its commercial properties and to aim for carbon neutrality by 2022. The company will achieve this through a combination of initiatives, including passive cooling design, energy efficiency, renewable energy sourcing, and carbon offset mechanisms such as forest regeneration and protection.

Earth Hour 2017 will be on 25 March, Saturday, at 8:30 PM Local Time.The event originated from Sydney, Australia in 2007 as an attempt to conserve energy and electricity and combat global warming.

Participants are asked to simultaneously shut-off lights and unnecessary electrical items for one hour. Today, more than 100 countries take part in the celebration and contribute to the prevention of climate change.

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

LGUs

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 Standard Standard C2 TODAY TODAY Manila Manila

Palawan road shifting into six-lane highway P UERTO PRINCESA CITY—The province of Palawan will soon turn its 600-kilometer north-tosouth arterial road into a sixlane superhighway to boost its tourism potential.

WONDER NO MORE. Local tourists scale the world-renowned Salinas Salt Spring in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya. Considered as one of the eight wonders of the world, it ceased as a tourist attraction after the July 1990 earthquake ruptured its underground salt flow.

Ben Moses Ebreo

RESERVE YOURAD SPACENOW! email us at advertise@ thestandard.com.ph or call us at 832-5547

Provincial information officer Gil Acosta Jr. said the move is in support of the sub-regional economic cooperation initiative Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Vision 2025 on facilitating free movement of people, goods, and services.

The ambitious plan of developing the province’s national road, which costs P30 billion, has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, and will be coursed through the Department of Public Works and Highways, Acosta said.

An initial P3 billion has been downloaded to the DPWH for the six-lane superhighway project, and bidding started late last year, he added.

“The pilot project will be in the second Palawan District, from Narra to Bataraza in the southern side,” Acosta said.

Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez’s “firm effort to implement all the infrastructure goals” under IHELP [infrastructure, health, education, livelihood, and protection of the environment] helped clinch the President’s approval, he added.

Negotiations have now shifted to the DPWH and other concerned national government agencies to craft the details of the project and finalize its implementation.

For decades, the existing two-lane National Highway in Palawan that stretches from El Nido in the north to Bataraza in the south provided accessibility to the municipalities in the mainland.

The narrow road is an “unwelcome sight for visiting tourists,” who troop to the island to en-

Youngest Mindanao vice mayor champions sports

N NO OT T II C CE E

By Hadji Ayunan Gunting the former mayor. Given his age,

Notice Notice isis hereby hereby given given that that ISABELA ISABELA POWER POWER CORPORATION CORPORATION isis applying applying for for registration registration with with the the Board Board of of Investments Investments (BOI) (BOI) as as Renewable Renewable Energy Energy Developer Developer of of Hydropower Hydropower Resources Resources (19MW (19MW Ilaguen Ilaguen Hydroelectric Hydroelectric Power Power Plant) Plant) in in Brgy.

Brgy. Tappa, Tappa, Municipality Municipality of of San San Mariano, Mariano, Isabela, Cagayan Valley to avail of the incentives Isabela, Cagayan Valley to avail of the incentives under under the the Renewable Renewable Energy Energy Act Act of of 2008 2008 (RA (RA 9513).

9513).

Any Any person person with with valid valid objection/s objection/s on on the the aboveabovementioned mentioned project project may may file file his/her his/her objection objection in in writing, writing, under under oath, oath, with with the the BOI BOI within within three three (3) (3) days days from from the the date date of of this this publication. publication.

(SGD.) (SGD.)NESTOR NESTORP. P.ARCANSALIN ARCANSALIN Director Director Resource-based Resource-based Industries Industries Service Service (MS-MAR. (MS-MAR.24, 24,2017) 2017)

HE’S 22 years young, and is currently serving as vice mayor of the town of Pantao Ragat, a fourth-class municipality in Lanao del Norte. Sultan Mohammad Daud Nabil “Ayran” Dimaporo Lantud followed in the footsteps of his parents when he ran for the second-highest post of his hometown.

His father is Lacson Mangotara Lantud, the present mayor of Pantao Ragat, while his mother, Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud, was

the younger Lantud is focusing his work on the town’s youth, and he’s encouraging them to be more active in sports.

“I want to build a covered tennis court and basketball court because I want to develop a sports program for the youth, to keep them from getting into trouble, like for example drugs. I want to encourage them to get into sports and cut the bad vices they may be doing,” Ayran said.

Lantud plans to hold tennis and basketball clinics once the reno-

INVITATION INVITATION TO TO BID BID FOR FOR THE THE PROVISION PROVISION OF OF TEMPORARY TEMPORARYSUPPORT SUPPORT PERSONNEL PERSONNEL FOR FOR PPA, PPA, PMO-AGUSAN PMO-AGUSAN FOR FOR CY CY2017 2017 1.

1.

The The Philippine Philippine Ports Ports Authority, Authority, Port Port Management Management Office Office of of Agusan Agusan (PPA, (PPA, PMO-Agusan), PMO-Agusan), through through the the PPA PPA Corporate Corporate Funds Funds CY CY 2017 2017 intends intends to to apply apply the sum of Pesos: Four Million Eight Hundred Fourteen Thousand Eight the sum of Pesos: Four Million Eight Hundred Fourteen Thousand Eight Hundred HundredThirty ThirtyFive Five(P4,814,835.00) (P4,814,835.00)being beingthe theApproved ApprovedBudget Budgetfor forthe theContract Contract (ABC) (ABC)to topayments paymentsunder underthe thecontract contractfor for the theProvision Provisionof ofTemporary TemporarySupport Support Personnel Personnel for for PMO-Agusan.

PMO-Agusan. Bids Bids received received in in excess excess of of the the ABC ABC shall shall be be automatically rejected at bid opening. automatically rejected at bid opening.

2.

2.

The ThePPA, PPA,PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusannow nowinvites invitesbids bidsfor forthe theProvision Provisionof ofTemporary TemporarySupport Support Personnel Personnel for for PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan .. The The contract contract duration duration isis from from April April 16, 16, 2017 2017 up up to to December December 31, 31, 2017.

2017. Bidders Bidders should should have have completed completed similar similar contract/s contract/s with a single largest similar contract of not less than fifty percent (50%) of with a single largest similar contract of not less than fifty percent (50%) of the the ABC. ABC.The Thedescription descriptionof ofan aneligible eligiblebidder bidderisiscontained containedin inthe theBidding BiddingDocuments, Documents, particularly, particularly,in inSection SectionII. II.Instructions Instructionsto toBidders.

Bidders.

3.

3.

Bidding Bidding will will be be conducted conducted through through open open competitive competitive bidding bidding procedures procedures using using aa non-discretionary non-discretionary “pass/fail” “pass/fail” criterion criterion as as specified specified in in the the Implementing Implementing Rules Rules and and Regulations Regulations (IRR) (IRR) of of Republic Republic Act Act (RA) (RA) 9184, 9184, otherwise otherwise known known as as the the “Government “GovernmentProcurement ProcurementReform ReformAct”.

Act”.

INVITATION INVITATIONTO TOBID BIDFOR FORTHE THESUPPLY SUPPLYOF OFJANITORIAL JANITORIALSERVICES SERVICESINCLUDING INCLUDING JANITORIAL JANITORIALSUPPLIES SUPPLIESAND ANDEQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT FOR FORPPA, PPA,PMO-AGUSAN PMO-AGUSANFOR FORCY CY2017 2017 1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

7.

7.

8.

8.

The The Philippine Philippine Ports Ports Authority, Authority, Port Port Management Management Office Office of of Agusan Agusan (PPA, (PPA, PMOPMOAgusan), Agusan), through through the the PPA PPA Corporate Corporate Funds Funds CY CY 2017intends 2017intends to to apply apply the the sum sum of of Pesos: Pesos: One One Million Million Fifty Fifty One One Thousand Thousand Seven Seven Hundred Hundred Forty Forty One One 81/100 81/100 (P1,051,741.81) (P1,051,741.81) being being the theApproved Approved Budget Budget for for the the Contract Contract (ABC) (ABC) to to payments payments under under the the contract contract for for the the Supply Supply of of Janitorial Janitorial Services Services Including Including Janitorial Janitorial Supplies, Supplies, Materials Materialsand andEquipment Equipment for for PMO-Agusan.

PMO-Agusan.Bids Bidsreceived receivedin inexcess excessof ofthe theABC ABCshall shall be beautomatically automaticallyrejected rejectedat atbid bidopening. opening.

The The PPA, PPA, PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan now now invites invites bids bids for for the the Supply Supply of of Janitorial Janitorial Services Services Including Including Janitorial Janitorial Supplies, Supplies, Materials Materials and and Equipment Equipment for for PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan .. The The contract contractduration durationisisfrom fromApril April 16, 16,2017 2017up upto toDecember December31, 31,2017.

2017.Bidders Biddersshould shouldhave have completed completed similar similar contract/s contract/s with with aa single single largest largest similar similar contract contract of of not not less less than than fifty fifty percent percent(50%) (50%)of ofthe theABC. ABC.The Thedescription descriptionof ofan aneligible eligiblebidder bidderisiscontained containedin inthe theBidding Bidding Documents, Documents,particularly, particularly,in inSection SectionII. II.Instructions Instructionsto toBidders.

Bidders.

Bidding Bidding will will be be conducted conducted through through open open competitive competitive bidding bidding procedures procedures using using aa nonnondiscretionary discretionary“pass/fail” “pass/fail”criterion criterionas asspecified specifiedin inthe theImplementing ImplementingRules Rulesand andRegulations Regulations (IRR) (IRR) of of Republic Republic Act Act (RA) (RA) 9184, 9184, otherwise otherwise known known as as the the “Government “Government Procurement Procurement Reform ReformAct”.

Act”.

Bidding Biddingisisrestricted restrictedto toFilipino Filipinocitizens/sole citizens/soleproprietorships, proprietorships,partnerships, partnerships,or ororganizations organizations with withat atleast leastsixty sixtypercent percent(60%) (60%)interest interestor oroutstanding outstandingcapital capitalstock stockbelonging belongingto tocitizens citizens of of the the Philippines, Philippines, and and to to citizens citizens or or organizations organizations of of aa country country the the laws laws or or regulations regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino Citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino Citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and and subject subjectto toCommonwealth CommonwealthAct Act138.

138.

Interested bidders may obtain further information from the PPA, PMO-Agusan BAC Interested bidders may obtain further information from the PPA, PMO-Agusan BAC Goods Goods and and Services Services and and inspect inspect the the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents at at the the address address given given below below from from9:00 9:00AM AM––12:00 12:00NN NNand and2:00 2:00PM PM––5:00 5:00PM, PM, Monday Mondayto toFriday.

Friday.

AAcomplete completeset setof ofBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsmay maybe bepurchased purchasedby byinterested interestedBidders Biddersstarting starting on onMarch March20, 20,2017 2017until until April April5, 5,2017 2017from fromthe theaddress addressbelow belowand andupon uponpayment paymentof ofaa non-refundable non-refundablefee feefor forthe theBidding BiddingDocuments Documentsin inthe theamount amountof of5,000 5,000Pesos Pesos,,exclusive exclusive of ofVAT. VAT. Address: Address:The TheSecretariat Secretariat Bids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committeefor forGoods Goodsand andServices Services PPA, PPA,PMO PMOAgusan Agusan Port PortArea, Area,San SanFrancisco FranciscoStreet Street Butuan ButuanCity City8600 8600 This This Office Office isis not not electronically-ready electronically-ready to to handle handle documents, documents, thus thus submission submission of of bids/ bids/ proposals proposalselectronically electronicallyisisnot notallowed. allowed.

The The PPA, PPA, PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan will will hold hold aa Pre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Conference on on March March 24, 24, 2017 2017 at at 2:00 2:00 PM PM at atthe thePMO PMOAgusan AgusanAdministration AdministrationBldg., Bldg.,Port PortArea, Area,San SanFrancisco FranciscoStreet, Street,Butuan Butuan City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding City, which shall be open only to all interested parties who have purchased the Bidding Documents.

Documents.

Bids Bidsmust mustbe bedelivered deliveredto tothe theaddress addressbelow belownot notlater laterthan than2:00 2:00PM PMof ofApril April5, 5,2017.

2017.

All AllBids Bidsmust mustbe beaccompanied accompaniedby byaabid bidsecurity securityin inany anyof ofthe theacceptable acceptableforms formsand andin inthe the amount amountstated statedin inITB ITBClause Clause18.

18.

Bid Bid opening opening shall shall be be on on April April 5, 5, 2017 2017 at at 2:30 2:30 PM PM at at the the Port Port Manager’s Manager’s Office, Office, PPA PPA PMO PMOAgusan AgusanAdministration Administration Bldg., Bldg., Port PortArea, Area, San San Francisco Francisco Street, Street, Butuan Butuan City.

City.

Bids Bidswill willbe beopened openedin inthe thepresence presenceof ofthe theBidders’ Bidders’representatives representativeswho whochoose chooseto toattend attend at atthe theaddress addressbelow. below.Late Latebids bidsshall shallnot notbe beaccepted. accepted.

The The PPA PPA PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan reserves reserves the the right right to to accept accept or or reject reject any any bid, bid, to to annul annul the the bidding bidding process, process, and and to to reject reject all all bids bids at at any any time time prior prior to to contract contract award, award, without without thereby therebyincurring incurringany anyliability liabilityto tothe theaffected affectedbidder bidderor orbidders. bidders.

For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto: to: Ms. Ms.SHEERYL SHEERYLB. B.PEDEGLORIO PEDEGLORIO General Services Officer A General Services Officer A Head, Head,SecretariatSecretariat-Goods Goodsand andServices Services Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com (Sgd.) (Sgd.)Engr.

Engr.RONALDO RONALDOC. C.MONTERO MONTERO Division Manager A, Engineering Services Division Division Manager A, Engineering Services Division Chairperson, Goods and Services Chairperson, Goods and Services

Engr.

Engr.Ronaldo RonaldoC. C.Montero Montero BAC BACChairperson Chairperson PPA PPAPMO PMOAgusan Agusan Butuan ButuanCity City Sir: Sir: This This isis to to respectfully respectfully request request the the PMO PMO BAC BAC to to include include Seven Seven (7) (7) Janitorial Janitorial positions positions for forbidding: bidding:

77 ===== =====

Bidding Bidding isis restricted restricted to to Filipino Filipino citizens/sole citizens/sole proprietorships, proprietorships, partnerships, partnerships, or or organizations organizationswith withat atleast leastsixty sixtypercent percent(60%) (60%)interest interestor oroutstanding outstandingcapital capitalstock stock belonging belonging to to citizens citizens of of the the Philippines, Philippines, and and to to citizens citizens or or organizations organizations of of aa country countrythe thelaws lawsor orregulations regulationsof ofwhich whichgrant grantsimilar similarrights rightsor orprivileges privilegesto toFilipino Filipino Citizens, Citizens,pursuant pursuantto toRA RA5183 5183and andsubject subjectto toCommonwealth CommonwealthAct Act138.

138.

4.

4.

Interested Interested bidders bidders may may obtain obtain further further information information from from the the PPA, PPA, PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan BAC BAC Goods Goods and and Services Services and and inspect inspect the the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents at at the the address address given given below below from from 9:00 9:00 AM AM –– 12:00 12:00 NN NN and and 2:00 2:00 PM PM –– 5:00 5:00 PM, PM, Monday Monday to to Friday.

Friday.

AA complete complete set set of of Bidding Bidding Documents Documents may may be be purchased purchased by by interested interested Bidders Bidders starting starting on on March March 20, 20, 2017 2017 until until April April 5, 5, 2017 2017 from from the the address address below below and and upon upon payment payment of of aa non-refundable non-refundable fee fee for for the the Bidding Bidding Documents Documents in in the the amount amount of of5,000 5,000Pesos Pesos,,exclusive exclusiveof ofVAT. VAT. Address: Address: The TheSecretariat Secretariat Bids Bidsand andAwards AwardsCommittee Committeefor forGoods Goodsand andServices Services PPA, PPA,PMO PMOAgusan Agusan Port PortArea, Area,San SanFrancisco FranciscoStreet Street Butuan ButuanCity City8600 8600 This This Office Office isis not not electronically-ready electronically-ready to to handle handle documents, documents, thus thus submission submission of of bids/proposals bids/proposalselectronically electronicallyisisnot notallowed. allowed.

5.

5.

The The PPA, PPA, PMO-Agusan PMO-Agusan will will hold hold aa Pre-Bid Pre-Bid Conference Conference on on March March 24, 24, 2017 2017 at at 9:00 9:00AM AM at at the the PMO PMOAgusan AgusanAdministration Administration Bldg., Bldg., Port PortArea, Area, San San Francisco Francisco Street, Street, Butuan Butuan City, City, which which shall shall be be open open only only to to all all interested interested parties parties who who have have purchased purchasedthe theBidding BiddingDocuments.

Documents.

6.

6.

Bids Bids must must be be delivered delivered to to the the address address below below not not later later than than 9:00 9:00AM AM of ofApril April 5, 5, 2017.

2017.All All Bids Bids must must be be accompanied accompanied by by aa bid bid security security in in any any of of the the acceptable acceptable forms formsand andin inthe theamount amountstated statedin inITB ITBClause Clause18.

18.

Bid Bid opening opening shall shall be be on on April April 5, 5, 2017 2017 at at 9:30 9:30AM AM at at the the Port Port Manager’s Manager’s Office, Office, PPA PPA PMO PMO Agusan Agusan Administration Administration Bldg., Bldg., Port Port Area, Area, San San Francisco Francisco Street, Street, Butuan City.

Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives Butuan City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who whochoose chooseto toattend attendat atthe theaddress addressbelow. below.Late Latebids bidsshall shallnot notbe beaccepted. accepted.

7.

7.

The ThePPA PPAPMO-Agusan PMO-Agusanreserves reservesthe theright rightto toaccept acceptor orreject rejectany anybid, bid,to toannul annulthe the bidding biddingprocess, process,and andto toreject rejectall allbids bidsat atany anytime timeprior priorto tocontract contractaward, award,without without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

8.

8.

For Forfurther furtherinformation, information,please pleaserefer referto: to:

Ms. Ms.SHEERYL SHEERYLB. B.PEDEGLORIO PEDEGLORIO General Services Officer A General Services Officer A Head, SecretariatGoods Head, Secretariat- Goodsand andServices Services Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan Philippine Ports Authority, Port Management Office of Agusan Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Port Area, San Francisco Street, Butuan City 8600 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Tel. Nos. (085) 342-6451/342-5352 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Fax No. (085) 815-4434 Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com Email Address: pmo_nasipit@yahoo.com (Sgd.) (Sgd.) Engr.

Engr. RONALDO RONALDO C. C. MONTERO MONTERO Division Manager A, Engineering Services Division Division Manager A, Engineering Services Division Chairperson, Goods and Services Chairperson, Goods and Services

March March 13, 13, 2017 2017 Engr.

Engr. Ronaldo Ronaldo C. C. Montero Montero BAC BAC Chairperson Chairperson PPA PPAPMO PMOAgusan Agusan Butuan Butuan City City Sir: Sir:

DAILY DAILYRATE RATE PP280.00 280.00

For Foryour yourconsideration considerationand andimmediate immediateaction. action.

NTP-PTB: NTP-PTB:

99 Utility Utility Worker WorkerAA 11 Clerk Clerk Processor ProcessorAA

Admin/Finance Admin/Finance Division: Division: 11Accounting Accounting Processor ProcessorAA 22 Clerk Clerk Processor ProcessorAA 22Terminal Terminal Fee Fee Collectors Collectors 33 Driver Driver Mechanic Mechanic BB Engineering Engineering Services Services 11 Draftsman DraftsmanAA 11 Carpenter CarpenterAA 22 Utility Utility Worker Worker _____ _____ 34 34 ===== =====

Thank Thankyou. you.

For For your your consideration consideration and and immediate immediate action. action.

(Sgd.) (Sgd.)MELINDA MELINDAT. T.COLLADO COLLADO Div. Div.Manager, Manager,Admin.

Admin.Division Division

vation and construction of the courts are completed. Likewise, he has been organizing fun runs to promote fitness and establish camaraderie among his young constituents.

Just three years ago, Lantud was officially crowned Sultan of the Royal House of Cabasagan in Pantao Ragat. His father had be-

PhilHealth cuts off Cagayan hospital

By Jessica M. Bacud TUGUEGARAO CITY—The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has not renewed the accreditation papers of Puyaoan General Hospital in Camalaniugan town in Cagayan due “to lawful and justifiable grounds.”

Regional vice president Oscar Abadu Jr. of PhilHealth-Cagayan Valley said the hospital’s accreditation was not renewed for breach of performance of contract.

“The application of Puyaon General Hospital (PGH) as Health Care Provider of PhilHealth has been denied amid issues of ghost patients and other anomalies in the facility,” Abadu said.

Hospital officials allegedly admitted patients in the guise of confinement just to get Phil-

Health benefits, even if they were only being checked up and discharged within the day, an investigation by the agency showed.

The hospital also allegedly collected patient fees higher than those allowed by the government health insurance firm, complainants told PhilHealth.

PGH’s accreditation can only be restored “if the PhilHealth accreditation committee would find merit in the hospital officials’ motion for reconsideration,” Abadu added.

He advised patients to avail only of medical services from PhilHealth-accredited hospitals and clinics.

Puyaon General Hospital submitted its accreditation for renewal on Feb. 20, 2017, as its license expired on Dec. 31, 2016.

IN BRIEF Vizcaya schools to get free books BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—At least 57 elementary and secondary schools in the province are expected to receive additional books to boost learning among their students.

Samuel Soliven, schools division superintendent of the Department of Education, said the 34,0213 books were acquired through their partnership with the provincial government.

“We are very fortunate to have a school partner like the provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Carlos Padilla,” Soliven said.

The books, which will be used by Grades 2 and 3 for all subjects and Grades 8 and 9 for Filipino subjects, will be distributed in various elementary and secondary schools in the towns of Alfonso Castaneda, Ambaguio, Aritao, Bagabag, Bambang, Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Quezon, Solano, Sta. Fe, Villaverde, Diadi and Kasibu. Ben Moses Ebreo

Environment gab for Apayao officials

MONTHLY MONTHLYRATE RATE PP9,628.00 9,628.00 13,833.00 13,833.00

LUNA, Apayao—A consultative meeting dubbed “Pulong-Pulong Para sa Kalikasan” (A Discussion for the Environment) was held at the Apayao Eco-Tourism and Sports Complex here following the reassignment of the provincial environment officer to the regional office.

The recent changes in personnel in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region included the reassignment of Apayao PENR Officer Moises Butic to the DENR-CAR office.

Gov. Elilas Bulut Jr. and Rep. Eleanor Bulut-Begtang attended the meeting with other provincial officials, mayors and heads of national line agencies in the province. It aimed to generate firsthand accounts from executives and concerned officials regarding the present status of Apayao’s environment, and to devise plans how to address pressing issues that beset the province.

New OIC PENR Officer Dr. Candido Tuscano, who assumed office on March 1, was formally installed after the issuance of Special Order dated Feb. 27 by DENR OIC Undersecretary for Field Operations Philip Camara, completing the total revamp of top environment positions in CAR. Dexter A. See

(Sgd.) (Sgd.) MELINDA MELINDAT. T. COLLADO COLLADO Div. Div. Manager, Manager,Admin.

Admin. Division Division

13,833.00 13,833.00 12,880.00 12,880.00

13,833.00 13,833.00 11,992.00 11,992.00

13,833.00 13,833.00 11,145.00 11,145.00 9,628.00 9,628.00

Thank Thank you. you.

(MS-MAR. (MS-MAR.24, 24,2017) 2017)

Pantao Ragat Vice Mayor Sultan Ayran Dimaporo Lantud (right) and his mother, former mayor Bae Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud.

stowed him that right, being the descendant of the first Sultan of Cabasagan. Mohammad was just 20 when he was given this honor, making him the youngest Sultan of Lanao royalty.

Lantud said he decided to toss his hat into the political arena last year because he was inspired by the work of his parents, who labored to uplift the lives of the people of his hometown.

“They have always had the will to help and serve the people of Pantao Ragat. I decided I wanted to do my share, especially when I was crowned Sultan,” he said.

“As a public servant, I’m confident that I can provide the needs of the people of Pantao Ragat,” Lantud added. “Right now, I’m getting to know my constituents well. I interact with them, and we discuss the problems that have been besetting them, and we find ways to improve their way of life.”

This Thisisisto torespectfully respectfullyindorse indorsethe thefollowing followingproposed proposedOutsourced Outsourcedpositions positionsfor forbidding: bidding:

MIS MIS Computerization: Computerization: 55 Data 12,880.00 Data Encoder Encoder 12,880.00 11 Clerk 13,833.00 Clerk Processor ProcessorAA 13,833.00 55 Utility Worker A 9,628.00 Utility Worker A 9,628.00 11 Sr. 24,423.00 Sr. Mgmt.

Mgmt. Information/systems Information/systemsAnalyst Analyst 24,423.00

March March13, 13,2017 2017

NO. NO.OF OFJANITORIAL JANITORIALPOSITIONS POSITIONS

joy its premier destinations. Thus, the provincial government responded to the call “with urgency and strong resolve,” said Acosta.

“The robust growth of the local economy, attributed primarily to the thriving tourism industry, made it imperative for the provincial leadership to seek remedy to address the need for wider roads for ease of travel,” he said.

“Taking into account the citation earned by Palawan as the ‘World’s Best Island’ destination, Governor Alvarez is quick to capitalize on it as the bargaining chip in lobbying for funds to finance the big-ticket infrastructure project,” Acosta said.

The expansion of the arterial road would make it convenient for motorists to haul agricultural and fishery products of rural communities dotting the countryside, the info officer added.

The superhighway project should be completed within three years, and is expected to accelerate the development and inclusive growth of Palawan in the coming years. PNA

(MS-MAR. (MS-MAR.24, 24,2017) 2017)

CYAN CYAN MAGENTA MAGENTA YELLOW YELLOW BLACK BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

Manila

World

TODAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

C3

A dystopian view of Trump’s America L OS ANGELES―President Donald Trump’s chest-thumping nationalism and harsh immigration policies are the subject of a new play depicting an apocalyptic America where stadiums are turned into prisons and people become sick, hungry and frightened.

“Building the Wall,” which opened last weekend in Los Angeles, was written by Robert Schenkkan, a two-time Tony winner who co-wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated movie “Hacksaw Ridge.”

The play is set in the very near future, after the Trump administration makes good on a pledge to hunt down and arrest millions of unauthorized immigrants by imposing martial law. But things get horribly out of hand.

Schenkkan told AFP that the play is a very personal response to what he sees happening in the United States and many other countries: a “nativist, anti-immigrant, right-wing and proto-fas-

cist” movement.

Trump took power in January with a promise to deport millions of immigrants who are in the country illegally and build a wall along the border with Mexico. He started off by making it easier for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest unauthorized migrants.

Schenkkan sees Trump as an authoritarian, and this is the central premise of the play. Along the way, the writer asks members of the audience to stretch their imagination to the very limit.

All 100 minutes of the play unfold in just one place and with only two characters.

Gloria, played by Judith Moreland, is an African American

history professor and Rick -- Bo Foxworth -- is a white Republican from Texas who oversees a privately owned prison and carries out a policy that would be unthinkable today.

His orders under martial law are to capture immigrants and their relatives and expel them from the country.

But what if no other country wants them? That is exactly what happens.

Jails become jam-packed as other solutions are sought, such as using a stadium as a prison. That’s what Latin American dictators did in the 1970s and 80s, and even creating a death camp disguised as an airport.

In this imaginary future, Trump has been impeached and removed from office, but little is said of the new government -- only that people responsible for abuses are being put on trial, including Rick.

“I’m not saying that’s exactly what’s going on here,” said Schenkkan, 64.

“What we are witnessing, what we

are experiencing, is a concerted attack on fundamental American values.”

Most immigrants living illegally in the United States are Latinos.

Trump has said some Mexicans crossing the border are rapists and drug dealers.

In the play, although he does not appear on stage, the hero is a Latino adolescent held in the prison overseen by Rick.

The play, which depicts an unthinkably grim future, is an exercise in fiction, which allows for analysis of the Trump administration’s “quite hateful, divisive and incendiary rhetoric.”

“The success or failure of Trump’s authoritarian power will hinge entirely on the response of individuals” out on the streets, Schenkkan added.

“We are seeing both -- an enormous outpouring of resistance on the part of many, many people, but we are also seeing, to my mind, a shocking level of complicity already from ordinary citizens and professional politicians and experts.” AFP

Standard

Republic of the Philippines

TODAY ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION San Miguel Avenue, Pasig City

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE OVER/UNDER RECOVERIES BASED ON THE FORMULA ON THE VARIOUS AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENTS AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS PURSUANT TO ERC RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AND RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010.

CABANATUAN ELECTRIC CORPORATION [CELCOR], Applicant.

ERC CASE NO. 2017-___CF

X - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - X APPLICATION Applicant, by undersigned counsel, and unto this Honorable Commission, most respectfully avers that: THE APPLICANT Applicant, CABANATUAN ELECTRIC CORPORATION, hereinafter referred to as CELCOR for brevity is a domestic corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, with principal office address at Maharlika Highway, Cabanatuan City.

CELCOR is the duly authorized operator of the electric light and power service in the City of Cabanatuan, Province of Nueva Ecija. The City of Cabanatuan is a Chartered City per Republic Act No. 526 entitled “An Act Creating the City of Cabanatuan”.

CELCOR is represented in this Application by its Chairperson, Mrs. ADORACION C. YATCO. Attached and marked as Annex “A” is a copy of the Secretary’s Certificate authorizing Ms. Yatco to sign the instant Application and the law firm of undersigned counsel to file the same and represent CELCOR. RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AND RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010 On 13 July 2009, this Honorable Commission issued its Resolution No. 16, Series of 2009 entitled “A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE RULES GOVERNING THE AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENT AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES” directing Luzon DUs to file their respective consolidated applications on or before 30 October 2009.

On 18 October 2010, this Honorable Commission issued its Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 entitled “A RESOLUTION AMENDING SECTION 4 OF ARTICLE 4 AND SECTION 1 OF ARTICLE 5 OF THE RULES GOVERNING THE AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENT AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS FOR DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES”. Said filing by Luzon DUs of the required consolidated application was moved to 31 March 2011 for adjustments implemented until the billing month of December 2010 and filing period of March 31, 2014 for adjustments covered by January 2011 to December 2013.

In compliance with the aforementioned Resolution, CELCOR filed in ERC Case No. 2011-005CF and ERC Case No. 2014-012 CF dated 31 March, 2011 and 24 March 2014, respectively, its Application entitled “IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF (OVER)/UNDER RECOVERIES BASED ON THE FORMULA ON THE VARIOUS AUTOMATIC COST ADJUSTMENTS AND TRUE-UP MECHANISMS AND CORRESPONDING CONFIRMATION PROCESS PURSUANT TO ERC RESOLUTION NO. 16, SERIES OF 2009 AND RESOLUTION NO. 21, SERIES OF 2010”.

On 25 February 2013 and 24 November 2014, this Honorable Commission issued its Decision approving with modification CELCOR’s Application in ERC Case No. 2011-005CF and ERC Case No. 2014-012 CF, respectively.

Article 5, Section 1 of Resolution No. 21, Series of 2010 likewise mandates all Luzon Distribution Utilities (DUs) to file the respective consolidated application every three (3) years following the sequence of period of filing.

In compliance, therefore, with the aforementioned provision of the Resolution, CELCOR herein submits for this Honorable Commission’s confirmation/approval the following under-recoveries for the period 2014 to 2016: Category

Rich Chinese buy paintings in Hong Kong HONG kONG―Huang Xiaoshuai and his wife last year splashed out $70,000 for a large painting of fish by Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody―part of a growing clique of young, affluent Chinese art enthusiasts building their own high-end collections.

The picture now hangs in their Shanghai home and the couple, along with other mainland collectors, have flown in to attend VIP events at this week’s Art Basel in Hong Kong where they are hoping to indulge their taste for contemporary Asian and European art.

Each year Huang and Wei Mengyuan set aside $1.5 million to spend on art―half from Huang’s salary and the rest from family funds.

Huang, an investment banker, says he and his wife first got into collecting when they were deciding how to decorate their new home.

“We have friends who deal art. They gave me some advice (on how) to buy some paintings or sculptures to put in our house,” says Huang.

A hobby turned into a passion -- now the couple say they buy art not only as decoration but also as an investment.

Wei says that, unlike jewelry or real estate, art allows her to form an emotional connection and both say they like to meet the artists who create the works they buy.

This year at Art Basel, the couple will be looking out for pieces by Sweden-based sculptor Klara Kristalova and Chinese artist Sun Xun. “I want to see (the artworks) in person, otherwise I can’t get the feeling,” Huang said, adding that he hoped friends and family would enjoy viewing his latest purchases when they visit his home.

“It’s not to sell but to share,” he said.

China is the third-largest art-buying market in the world and leads the auction sales segment, according to a new report by Art Basel and UBS. Although sales have been dampened by an economic slowdown there have been some stellar purchases in recent years.

Taxi-driver-turned-tycoon Liu Yiqian has made the biggest headlines, buying a tiny Ming Dynasty “Chicken Cup” for $36 million at Sotheby’s in 2014 before drinking tea from it.

Liu, who founded the Long Museum in Shanghai, then branched out into Western art, bagging a Modigliani for $170.4 million at a Christie’s New York auction in 2015.

But gallerists and art dealers say the growing band of well-travelled, wealthy young buyers are also now making their mark, albeit with lower budgets and sometimes using their parents’ money.

With a critical eye and in-depth knowledge, they are departing from the more traditional tastes of established Chinese collectors and are building collections in their own edgier style.

Hong Kong-based gallerist Pascal de Sarthe says their passion and know-how has created a “much broader market” which has impacted dealers.

“Now we have more requests about Western art than we used to,” thanks to young Chinese collectors, he said.

Another Hong Kong gallerist, Pearl Lam, said the market in China was generally becoming more adventurous.

“Chinese collectors, as well as artists, are becoming more exposed to art from different parts of the world and are becoming more accepting of works from emerging countries or by emerging artists,” she told AFP. AFP

Brazil’s govt fights to rescue meat industry from scandal BRASILIA―Brazil’s government fought Wednesday to save the country’s meat industry from getting burned in a corruption scandal that has prompted several countries to pull Brazilian beef and chicken from the menu.

Agriculture Minister Blairo Maggi did not mince his words.

“What we are suffering now is a blow, a punch to the stomach,” he told the Senate.

“We have to recover, to reorganize our forces, to travel around the world and to show that what happened here was that a few people did wrong but that the system or the industry was not at fault.”

Maggi warned that Brazil’s chances are dwindling for realizing ambitions to raise market share in the worldwide food trade to 10 percent from the current seven percent.

“It’s so bad that when I see this seven percent I start to think that it will be a job to maintain it. I can’t imagine getting to 10 percent.

It’s a shock,” he said.

Brazilian meat exports were worth $63 million a day until last week’s announcement by police of “Operation Weak Flesh,” which revealed that some meat packers had paid crooked inspectors to pass off rotten and adulterated meat as safe.

That figure plummeted to about $74,000 on Tuesday, the foreign trade ministry said.

Brazil’s government appealed Wednesday to the World Trade Organization’s 163 other

members not to impose “arbitrary” bans on the country’s more than $13 billion meat export industry.

But damage has already been done, with two of the biggest markets, China and Hong Kong, having suspended all imports of beef and chicken.

Other important markets, notably the European Union, have stopped any imports from the 21 businesses under investigation.

Japan, Brazil’s third-biggest market for chicken with $720 million in sales, imposed a similar limited ban, while Mexico has stopped imports of chicken produced by the 21 companies under scrutiny.

In its letter to the WTO, Brazil pressed its message that a few bad apples are at fault for the scandal and that the Brazilian food industry itself is in good health.

It pointed out that of 11,000 employees at the agriculture ministry, 2,300 work as inspectors on animal products and “only 33 individuals are being investigated for improper conduct.”

Underlining Brazil’s leading position as an exporter of animal products to 150 countries, the letter insisted that the agriculture ministry “is widely recognized for its rigorous and robust inspection service.”

Markets analyst Andrei Perfeito told AFP that Brazil’s fear is that competitors will try to gain ground while this cloud hangs over Brazilian products. AFP

(Over)/Under Recovery

Generation Under recovery

PhP

12,747,493.93

Transmission Under recovery

9,626,678.37

System Loss Over recovery

-1,643,582.35

Lifeline Over recovery

-286,702.16

Senior Citizen Under recovery

3,096.28

Total Under recovery

PhP

20,446,984.07

Shown below is the breakdown of CELCOR’s (over)/under-recoveries per line item: 1.

GENERATION

Generation Allowable Cost

P3,678,075,061.98

Generation Revenue

P3,665,327,568.05

Under Recovery 2.

P12,747,493.93

TRANSMISSION

Transmission Allowable Cost

P627,294,071.97

Transmission Revenue

P617,667,393.60

Under Recovery 3.

P9,626,678.37

SYSTEM LOSS

System Loss Allowable Cost

P314,040,053.86

System Loss Revenue

P315,683,636.21

Over Recovery 4.

-P1,643,582.35

LIFELINE SUBSIDY

Lifeline Discount

-P53,903,249.58

Lifeline Charge

P54,189,951.74

Over Recovery

-P286,702.16

5.

SENIOR CITIZEN

Pass Through Cost

P136,827.10

Lifeline Charge

P133,730.83

Under Recovery

P3,096.28

In compliance with the filing requirements of this Honorable Commission and in further support of the instant Application, CELCOR herein submits the following: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m.

Power Supplier Data Sheet Statistical Data Sheet Implemented Rates Data Sheet Power Bills of Power Suppliers Official Receipts issued by Power Suppliers Breakdown of Payments with Official Receipts Debit/Credit Memo of Power Suppliers NGCP Invoices Official Receipts issued by NGCP Breakdown of Payments with Official Receipts Debit/Credit Memo issued by NGCP DU-MO1 and DU-MO2, and Consumer Bills of Lifeliners (per level) and Non-Lifeliners per customer class PRAYER

WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, it is respectfully prayed that after due notice, hearing and evaluation, the (over)/under-recoveries of CABANATUAN ELECTRIC CORPORATION for the period 2014 to 2016, as presented in the instant application, be confirmed and approved accordingly.

Category

Amounts

Generation Under recovery

PhP

12,747,493.93

Transmission Under recovery

9,626,678.37

System Loss Over recovery

-1,643,582.35

Lifeline Over recovery

-286,702.16

Senior Citizen Under recovery

3,096.28

Total Under recovery

PhP20,446,984.07

Other relief just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

Marikina City for Pasig City, Metro Manila. 17 March 2017.

THE LAW FIRM OF MANJARES & MANJARES Counsel for Cabanatuan Electric Corporation No. 6 Saint Anne Provident Villages, Marikina City By:

NORBERTO F. MANJARES, JR. IBP OR No. 1061393; 1/10/17; Q.C. PTR OR No. 6685942; 1/11/17; Marikina City Roll of Attorneys No. 14937 MCLE Compliance No. V-0022134; 30 May 2016 VERIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION I, ADORACION C. YATCO, after having been duly sworn to in accordance with law, depose and say THAT: 1.

I am the Chairperson of CABANATUAN ELECTRIC CORPORATION (CELCOR), the applicant-corporation in the above-entitled case; 2.

I have caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing APPLICATION;

3.

I have read the same and that all the allegations contained therein are true and correct of my own personal knowledge and belief; 4.

I hereby certify that CELCOR has not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issue/s with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency; 5.

To the best of my knowledge no such action or proceeding involving the same issue/s is pending with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency; 6.

Should I thereafter learn that an action or proceeding is pending with the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency, I hereby undertake to report such fact within five (5) days with this Honorable Commission.

FURTHER AFFIANT SAYETH NONE. ----------------------------------------------------ADORACION C. YATCO SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 20th day of March 2017, affiant exhibited to me her Philippine Passport No. 7626603 issued on March 13, 2013 at DFA, Pampanga.

ATTY, TTY, RODOLFO P. BELTRAN NOTARY PUBLIC Until December 31, 2017 PTR No. CBN-0864297-01.03.17 Roll of Attorney No. 17618 IBP No. 1056623-01.03.17 MCLE Exemption No. V-000109 Issued on 01.09.05 Cabanatuan City Doc. No. 447; Page No. 91; Book No. 1; Series of 2017.

(MS-MAR. 24, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

FRIDAY, MARCHG 24, 2017

World

Tension as HK votes for chief executive HONG KONG―Hong Kong will select a new leader on Sunday in a vote skewed towards Beijing that has once more opened up the city’s political divisions.

Pro-democracy campaigners describe the election process as a farce and predict weekend protests as the prospect of political reform in the semi-autonomous city appears more unattainable than ever.

Hong Kong’s next leader will be chosen by an electoral committee rather than the general public and the person selected has to be formally approved by Beijing.

The majority of the 1,194 representatives on the committee belong to pro-establishment special interest groups such as agriculture and real estate which lean towards China. Only a quarter come from the pro-democracy camp.

It is the first leadership election since mass rallies in 2014 calling for Hong Kong residents to have the right to vote for the city’s highest-ranking official failed to win change, and comes as concerns grow that Chinese authorities are tightening their grip.

Former deputy leader Carrie Lam is seen as Beijing’s favorite for the job, and some pro-establishment members of the electoral committee say they have come under pressure to vote for her.

Lam is intensely disliked by the pro-democracy camp after promoting the Beijing-backed political reform package that prompted 2014’s “Umbrella Movement” that paralyzed parts of the city for more than two months.

The proposal had promised a public vote for city leader in 2017, but said candidates must be vetted. It was dismissed as “fake democracy” by opponents and rejected in parliament by pro-democracy lawmakers.

Since then the political reform process has been shelved.

Those opposed to Lam cast her as just another version of unpopular current leader Leung Chun-ying.

Her main rival is ex-finance chief John Tsang, perceived as a more moderate establishment choice and the public’s clear favorite in opinion polls.

Known as “Mr Pringles” for his resemblance to the mustachioed crisp brand mascot, Tsang has cast himself as a unifying candidate. AFP

TOKYO FASHION WEEK. In this picture taken on March 22, 2017, a model checks her smartphone backstage before a show by Indonesian designer Rani Hatta for her 2017 Autumn/ Winter Collection at Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo. Rani Hatta’s “modest wear” fashion displays an unconventional motif of sporty minimalism with monotone colors. AFP

7 arrested after deadly attack in Westminster L ONDON―British police arrested seven people in armed raids Thursday linked to the deadly “Islamist-related” attacks the day before on the symbol of the country’s democracy.

Britain’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley also said police have revised down the number of victims from Wednesday’s rampage to three from four. Some 40 people were wounded.

“We have searched six addresses and made seven arrests,” Britain’s top anti-terror officer Mark Rowley told reporters in London.

He said the raids included locations in London and the central city of Birmingham.

Defiant British MPs meanwhile vowed to return to work as normal after the lightning attack on the iconic parliament building in the shadow of Big Ben. Authorities worked around the

clock to piece together what happened when carnage was sown in the heart of London as the attacker ran down several pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge then charged at a policeman at the parliament gates, stabbing him to death with a large knife.

Armed officers shot the attacker dead but not before he had killed two members of the public and the 48-year policeman guarding the seat of British political power in the deadliest attack in the country since 2005.

Press Association news agency photos believed to be of the attacker lying on an ambulance stretcher showed a burly man

wearing black clothes and a beard.

Other pictures showed two people being treated on the ground inside the vehicle entrance gates of parliament, with a knife visible on the cobblestones, while three shots were heard ringing out on video footage as terrified passers-by fled.

British lawmaker Mary Creagh told AFP there was “a real sense of panic” as the attack unfolded and a doctor at nearby St Thomas’ Hospital said they were treating people with “catastrophic” injuries.

Prime Minister Theresa May described the attack as “sick and depraved” in a defiant address in which she affirmed parliament would meet as normal on Thursday.

Standing outside her Downing Street residence after an emergency cabinet meeting, May said Britain’s alert level would remain unchanged at level four, or “severe”.

“We will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart,”

said May, dressed in black.

The prime minister was in parliament at the time of the attack and was ushered away in a silver car as gunfire rang out.

Rowley said on Wednesday police suspected they were dealing with “Islamist-related terrorism,” adding that investigators believed they knew the assailant’s identity.

Queen Elizabeth II postponed her appearance on Thursday to open the new headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police, where the force’s flag flew at half-mast following the attack.

The attack came a year to the day after Islamic State jihadists killed 32 people in twin bomb attacks in Brussels and after a series of deadly assaults in Europe that had spared Britain -- until Wednesday.

Parliament was locked down for several hours and police evacuated hundreds of MPs and visitors to nearby Westminster Abbey and the Metropolitan Police headquarters.

AFP

N. Korea suspected in Bangladesh theft

LAUNCHING. Vanessa Hudgens Launches “Bubble Witch 3” at Venue 57 on March 22 in New York. AFP

WASHINGTON―US federal prosecutors suspect the North Korean government directed last year’s theft of $81 million from Bangladesh’s account at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, according to a media report Wednesday.

Citing unnamed sources, The Wall Street Journal said prosecutors were developing cases showing Chinese middlemen helped the North Korean government orchestrate the enormous theft from the Bangladesh central bank.

In February 2016, thieves transferred the funds from Bangladesh’s account at the New York Fed to accounts in the Philippines using authenticated international bank access codes in the SWIFT system, not by hacking the bank.

It was unclear when or if any charges would be filed but any case might implicate North Korea without charging North Korean officials.

The Justice Department and the New York Fed declined to comment on the report.

The New York Fed over the past year has issued sev-

eral statements, including joint statements with the central bank of Bangladesh and SWIFT, pledging to recover the stolen funds and enhance security of the payments system.

One statement said officials “remain concerned about this event and recommitted to working together to recover the entire proceeds of the fraud as expeditiously as possible, bring the perpetrators to justice in cooperation with law enforcement from other jurisdictions, and lend support to multilateral international efforts to further protect the global financial system from these types of attacks in the future.”

However, the New York Fed did not respond to a request from AFP for comment on the status of the investigation.

Researchers at the security firm Symantec previously had linked the theft to a series of cyber-attacks on the US financial system and the 2014 hacking of Sony Pictures.

AFP

Yemen stuck in quagmire 2 years on RIYADH―Deadly fighting, a rise in jihadism, the threat of famine―two years after Saudi Arabia intervened against Iranbacked rebels, Yemen is more unstable than ever.

The chaos has also seen fighting erupt in vital Red Sea shipping lanes, and Riyadh’s ally the United States stepping up its involvement.

The war has become “a quagmire”, Peter Salisbury, a research fellow at London’s Chatham House, said ahead of the March 26 anniversary of the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen itself has fractured to the point where its future “as a functioning unitary state” is hard to imagine, he said.

Financed and equipped by the coalition, various factions are aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Huthi rebels and their allies.

But analysts warn of tensions among the anti-rebel forces that will likely lead to internal conflict even if the civil war ends, which is unlikely any time soon.

“The entire country continues to fall apart at the seams” while Yemen’s elites look out for their own interests, said Adam Baron, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Along with a severe humanitarian crisis, government institutions and overall security have collapsed, leaving ordinary Yemenis the greatest victims, Baron said.

“And unfortunately there’s no sign that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The United Nations warned this month that Yemen represents “the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.”

The conflict has killed nearly 7,700 people, more than half of them civilians, and wounded more 42,500 others, while it has displaced three million people.

Seven ceasefires alongside peace efforts by the UN and former US secretary of state John Kerry failed to stop the fighting.

The Yemen focus of new US President Donald Trump has so far been on a major escalation of attacks against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Trump’s administration may also see Yemen as a chance to show its resolve against Iran, wrote Joost Hiltermann and April Longley Alley of the International Crisis Group. AFP

Pia Wurtzbach

Life SHOPPING

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

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Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach encourages women to dream big, not settle, and never fade.

inspires Southeast Asian women to #neverfade

T

HE new regional campaign of Downy was launched recently with Philippines’ Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, 205 Miss Universe, along with other leading ladies across Southeast Asia – Malaysian actress, model, and TV host Scha Alyahya, actress and model Araya “Chompoo” Hargate of Thailand, and Miss Vietnam 2012 Dang Thu Thao. Together with Downy, these ladies seek to inspire more women in Southeast Asia to #NeverFade.

Downy, the leading global fabric softener, celebrated the unfailing spirit and timeless quality of Southeast Asian women with the launch of its new and upgraded Downy Parfum Collection.

This innovation from consumer products company Procter & Gamble (P&G) offers long-lasting perfume for fabric that lasts longer than expensive fine fragrances, created for women who #NeverFade.

The bold launch mounted an ambitious multi-country gala event across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, encouraging empowered women to inspire more women across the region on International Women’s Day. Known for being confidently beautiful with a heart, Pia Wurtzbach believes that women #NeverFade if they fight and work hard in pursuit of their dreams and goals. “‘Never settle when you can dream bigger’ is a saying I’ve always lived by. I tried three times for Binibining Pilipinas, and faced so many rejections, but I refused to let anyone bring me down. Looking back at those times, I’m glad I persisted and refused to give up. The path has not always been easy but I’ve always believed that we should work hard for our dreams and just keep on moving forward. I’m proud to join Downy in their endeavor to empower more women across Southeast Asia to #NeverFade,” Wurtzbach said.

Designed to match the varying personalities and characteristics of

the Southeast Asian woman, the new Downy Parfum Collection features an upgraded formula of its flagship sophisticated scents: Mystique, Passion, Romance, and Fusion, as well as the new, opulently aromatic Daring scent.

“All scents in the new collection have been upgraded to feature the highest-ever intensity of premium perfume oils and the best dual perfume capsules technology in Downy’s history in Asia,” said Cedric Legoff, country marketing leader for Downy Philippines.

“This new formula enhances the scent character and longevity of the fragrances to ensure long-lasting freshness which is released by simply rubbing the fabric. Together, the concentrated premium perfume oils and perfume capsules provide your clothes a long-lasting refreshing scent that lasts even longer than expensive fine fragrances,’’ added Legoff.

The Philippine leg of Downy’s #NeverFade campaign launch was graced by female personalities who joined in celebrating the story of women who have made a great impact in their own fields and remained relevant by refusing to fade away from the limelight.

Advocate for Climate Change, known TV host, and now a young mom, Bianca Gonazalez-Intal is proof that it is a choice to do your best in achieving your dreams as well as your many roles in life so you never fade – “I just want to keep growing to always matter— and never fade—to my husband, daughter, family, friends, and work,” Bianca said.

Artist and World Food Pro-

gram ambassador, KC Concepcion meanwhile embodies the never fade spirit by her grace and strength to remain true to herself despite whatever controversies she went through in the public eye. Despite being born to famous parents, KC is proud to have made her own name and stood for who she is in a business that can so easily change and control you.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) meanwhile epitomizes what it means to fight for Filipina’s rights since its formation in the '80s. A steadfast partner in celebrating women, Downy is proud to support their 2017 Women’s Month theme of “We make change work for women”, and honor Emmeline Verzosa, executive director of PCW, as one of the #NeverFade Filipinas.

Louie Morante, regional brand communications for P&G Asia Fabric Care said, “The Downy woman is confidently beautiful inside and out. We celebrate her never fading spirit and timeless beauty on the occasion of International Women’s Day. We take inspiration from her as we launch our new and upgraded Downy Parfum Collection with long-lasting fragrance for fabric that lasts even longer than expensive fine fragrances.”

“We are proud and honored to celebrate the stories of Pia, Bianca, KC, and Emmeline who are true embodiments of the essence of #NeverFade. Together, we aim to inspire and encourage more women to be relentless in pursu-

Some of the Filipinas who #NeverFade in their chosen fields (from left) Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, KC Concepcion, Pia Wurtzbach, and Philippine Commission on Women executive director Emmeline Verzosa

ing their dreams and ambitions in life,” Morante added.

The new Downy Parfum Collection is now available at all leading department stores and supermarkets nationwide. Follow the conversations at www. facebook.com/DownyPhilippines or at #Downy #NeverFade

From left: Mikaela Martinez-Lagdameo, Ofel Gonzalez, Bianca Gonzalez-Intal, Elena Buenaobra, KC Concepcion, Sarah AlonzoWurtzbach, Pia Alonzo-Wurtzbach, Emmeline Verzosa, Dr. Aurora Javate-de Dios, Dr. Rhodora Bucoy, and Honey Castro are honored on International Women's Day

International

International “it” girls 2017 Taylor Hill, currently the most popular Victoria’s Secret Angel, and Hailey Baldwin, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, and niece of Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin are the faces of L’Oréal Professionnel’s top launches this 2017.

Model Hailey At just 19, fashion model Taylor Hill has been igniting social media Baldwin will bealready the networks and has created a stir at the muse for the next last Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, It Looks by Vanessa Bruno for L'Oreal held for the first time in Paris.

Professionnel

“it” girls2017

TAYLOR HILL, currently the most popular Victoria’s Secret Angel, and Hailey Baldwin, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, and niece of Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin are the faces of L’Oréal Professionnel’s top launches this 2017.

At just 19, fashion model Taylor has already been igniting social media networks and has created a stir at the last Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, held for the first time in Paris.

The young American top model has more than 6.8 million followers on Instagram and an active career, having already worked for famous brands like H&M and Forever 21. She also made a strong impression on the Fashion Week catwalks, where she walked the runway for renowned designers such as Elie Saab, Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana.

Her dream figure has recently welcomed her to the very select Victoria’s Angels club.

“I’m extremely honored and very proud to be an ambassador for L’Oréal Professionnel. Hair is an important aspect of my work, so I need to take good care of it. With L’Oréal Professionnel I know my hair will always look beautiful, shiny and healthy as if I’ve just stepped out of the salon!” she says. Taylor will be the face behind the big re-launch of L’Oréal Professionnel’s emblematic Série Expert hair care range including the new Powermix.

In terms of hair color, she will be the face of the Majirel Color Correction campaign, a coloring service inspired by make-up—in perfect affinity with the expectations of today’s women that can correct a color, add radiance and enhance natural color the same way a make-up artist enhances skin tone. Today, all is possible so we can say farewell to dull hair, roots that are too dark, and lackluster colors

with no depth or nuance.

Hailey is already a big name in today’s fashion scene. A highly sought-after model, she has already appeared on the covers of some well-known magazines including Love, Tatler, L’Officiel and Marie Claire. Just 20 years old, she has more than eight million followers on her Instagram account and every one of her posts creates a buzz on social media networks, alongside her famous friends from the Kardashians— Kendall and Kylie Jenner.

A selfie pro and true beauty addict, Hailey likes to play with her look, especially her hair which she wears as a fashion accessory. Having recently sported Grey Hair for her appearance at the famous and ultra-fashionable Coachella Festival, she then switched to rose hair before finally returning to the blond she’s so famous for.

Hailey will be the muse for the next It Looks S/S and F/W seasons by Vanessa Bruno for L’Oréal Professionnel. This partnership with the French hairstylist has brought forth 24 new shades inspired by nature for the iconic INOA range.

“It’s amazing how just a new hair color can change everything,” says Hailey. “I feel as though it even affects my mood.

With the INOA by Vanessa Bruno professional hair color, I feel like another Hailey!”

“We’re delighted to welcome Taylor Hill and Hailey Baldwin into our L’Oréal Professionnel family. They embody a new generation of women that is both addicted to fashion and ultra-connected,

women who express their personality through hair color and style to transform themselves just like with make-up. L’Oréal Professionnel has both the ambition and strength to address these needs, thanks not only to its broad portfolio of inno-

vative products and services but also its talented Hair Artists whom we work with worldwide,” says Marion Brunet, L’Oréal Professionnel International general manager.

Victoria's Secret angel Taylor Hill will be the face of the Majirel Color Correction campaign

Life

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FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Socials

Shang toasts partners

Shangri-La Plaza executive vice president and general manager Lala Fojas (center) with Jojo Claudio of Toby's Sports and Marine Claudio-Vinas

WHAT better way for ShangriLa Plaza to celebrate its 25th anniversary than by honoring their retail partners for their support and friendship through the years.

Shang celebrated its silver anniversary with an appreciation dinner for its retail partners, attended by the mall’s top executives and friends from the media, at the Edsa Shangri-La Manila. Kim Jones and Tim Yap hosted the affair, which featured wonderful musical performances by Jed Madela, Nicole Asensio, and The Nightingales, accompanied by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra.

To show its gratitude and appreciation, Shang honored its most loyal retail partners during the appreciation night.

Recipients of the 25-year award include Almeda Optical, Bloomingdales, Celine, J. Viñas Optical, Jollibee, KFC, National Book Store, Rustan’s Department Store, Rustan’s Supermarket, Sizzling Seafood, and Toby’s Sports.

Awards were also given to Shang’s retail partners who have

Mall lifestyle in Boracay AT last, one can now experience the true mall lifestyle in Boracay with CityMall.

A project of CityMall Commercial Centers Inc. (CMCCI), the community mall development arm of DoubleDragon Properties Corp.

(DD), CityMall-Boracay is expected to be the top commercial destination in the area, offering convenience, entertainment and everything you might need in one roof.

“We’re excited to give residents and tourists in Boracay a true mall lifestyle experience on the island,” says Ferdinand Sia, DoubleDragon Properties Corp. president. “As CityMall gears to become the most dominant everyday mall for Filipinos, we felt that we definitely had to open a mall in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country to serve the local community and the thousands of tourists who come here.”

Anchoring the mall is a full-size SM SaveMore outlet, the first full-service supermarket that serves the needs of local residents and commercial establishments. CityMallBoracay will also continue its signature food court concept, “FoodWorld,” which will offer top fast food brands, like Jollibee, Mang Inasal, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon and Highlands Coffee. In addition, the mall carries modern retail brands Ace Hardware, Watsons, SM Appliance, SM Simply Shoes, BDO, LBC, Rodeo Drive, Fun Nation and Universal Eye Check.

Cinema screens to be operated by ABSCBN will also be opened.

been with the mall for 20 years, which include Dippin’ Dots, Figaro, and Honey’s Kimchi.

Shangri-La Plaza EVP and General Manager Lala Fojas led the toast to Shang’s silver anniversary and its retail partners, without whom this achievement would not have been possible.

The Nightingales, Jed Madela, and Nicole Asensio, together with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra giving a powerful performance during Shangri-La Plaza's silver anniversary

From left: Shangri-La Plaza's Michelle Rivera, Healthway's Mildred Crisostomo, Fojas, Jocas Alejandro, and Healthway's Lilibeth Astor

Deals Drive-Thru and drive home a Honda BR-V Imagine going on that road trip with family and friends, enjoying your favorite meals while behind the wheel of a brand-new SUV. This can now be a reality with Jollibee’s Scratch2Win promo.

Jollibee Drive-Thru customers are in for a pleasant surprise as they get a chance to win their favorite langhapsarap treats and drive home a brand new Honda BR-V. Until April 30, the country’s largest fast food chain is bringing a little more joy on the road by treating Drive-Thru customers to an exciting pool of prizes. With a minimum P200 single receipt purchase, customers will be given a scratch card where they can win Jollibee favorites like Yum Burger, Jolly Spaghetti, Peach Mango Pie, free drink upgrades, or one of five brand new Honda BR-V SUVs. So whether you’re thinking of bringing home treats or just hungry for your Jollibee favorites while in traffic, head on to any of Jollibee’s 265 Drive-Thru stores across the country.

Chocolates in chic box Villa Del Conte's Chocolate Box comes in a chic box, which contains 200 grams of either decadent Praline Balls or the healthy Bonta Dark Chocolates. Villa Del Conte offers a delicious way to show appreciation with their Thank You Chocolate Box that comes in elegant gold or black box and contains 18 pieces of dark chocolate 5g squares.

Villa Del Conte’s special gift boxes will surely make these celebrations sweeter and extra special.

Congratulations Chocolate Box is priced at P880 while Thank You Chocolate Box is at P480 and are available at all Villa Del Conte stores in Greenbelt 5, Century City Mall, Shangri-la Mall, Resorts World, Alabang Town Center, SM Megamall, and Robinsons Magnolia.

For bulk orders and to know more, contact (02) 893-2575 or 621-6101, visit www.villadelcontecioccolato.com or follow them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/VillaDelContePh, Instagram: instagram.com/villadelconteph, and Twitter: www.twitter.com/VilladelConte.

DoubleDragon Properties Corp. president Ferdinand Sia led the opening of CityMall in Boracay

Express your gratitude with a Villa Del Conte Thank You Chocolate Box that contains 18 dark chocolate squares and comes in elegant black or gold box

Make any milestone of someone extra special when you give them a box of Congratulations Box that contains decadent Villa Del Conte praline balls

Express yourself through color Jack ‘n Jill Nips gives the young and young-at-heart a fun and playful way to express their love with the new Jack ‘n Jill Nips Color Series.

Each pack of this limited edition treat contains single-colored button-shaped candies that have assorted Milk Chocolate, White Chocolate and Peanut centers. Available in Yellow, Blue and Red variants, Jack ‘n Jill Nips Color Series is the perfect gift to show your feelings to your loved ones.

Express your fun and playful side through the pick-up lines found on every pack of Jack ‘n Jill Nips Color Series. Nips Yellow signifies a budding love felt during a first meeting or a first date, Nips Blue is for that special person that has captured ones’ affection and admiration, while Nips Red celebrates the romance in a current relationship.

Whatever your status may be – whether you’re happily committed or simply single and contented, you can spread the love and sweet vibes with every pack of Jack ‘n Jill Nips Color Series. Your favorite candy-coated chocolate is available at leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

CityMall-Boracay offers a true mall lifestyle to residents and tourists in Boracay with its complete lineup of retail and service establishments, which include supermarket, cinemas, and food court

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

PEOPLE

…are not talking about Kimerald Former love team Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson will soon reunite in a television project entitled Ikaw Lang Ang Iibigin. The series promises to revive the onscreen pair that made fans fall in love through a series of films and television dramas they starred in the past. As a sneak peek to this love team revival, the two were featured in the latest episode of MMK last week. And how did the reunion fare according to ratings data? Viewers didn’t miss them much.

…are talking about Angel Locsin Fans who anticipated seeing her fly again as Darna were disappointed when they learned that their idol could no longer play the role of the iconic superhero due to health reasons. Many regard Angel as the most popular Darna of her generation that’s why even though she’s turning 32 next month, they still wanted the actress to reprise the role.

It’s obvious that her life is far from super but to her legion of fans, she’s one superhero.

Darren Espanto At the star-studded Myx Music Awards last week, the teen singer was among the big winners. The 15-year-old The Voice Kids alumnus, known for his amazing set of pipes, won two major awards including Favorite Artist and Favorite Male Artist. With his achievement at an early age, music critics already call Darren the future of OPM. Why not? With this talented kid, OPM sees a very bright future.

Luis Manzano It’s really nice to see celebrities playing environmental stewards not just for a day. As a person who’s been diving for more than a decade now, appreciating the beauty of the biodiversity that Mother Earth offers, it’s not surprising that his personal advocacy centers on environmental conservation. In a recent event in Makati, the TV host led the launch of a WWF campaign that encourages the public to funnel their finances to well-meaning causes such as conservation.

POPSTAR royalty Sarah Geronimo led this year’s winners at the MYX Music Awards held on March 16 at Kia Theatre. She earned three recognitions, namely Favorite Music Video and Favorite Song for her hit “Tala” and Favorite Collaboration with the band Hale for the song “The Great Unknown.”

The Voice Kids alumnus Darren Espanto, meanwhile, received the coveted Favorite Artist award as well as the Favorite Male Artist award for the second consecutive year.

“I’m really thankful that artists like myself are recognized for what we do,” said Darren. “But I regard this as a bonus. Awarded or not, we still want to give it our all. Always.”

Meanwhile, Gloc-9 also took home two trophies for the Favorite Urban Video and Best Music Video categories for his song “Hoy.” “Many thanks to MYX, to the people who voted, to the people who still support me,” said the rapper.

“It’s my 20th year and I don’t know how long I will keep doing this, so thank you for the support.”

Other artists that bagged awards include Nadine Lustre for Favorite Female Artist, Ylona Garcia for Favorite New Artist, Nash Aguas for Favorite Guest Appearance in a Music Video, and Sharlene San Pedro for Favorite Remake.

This year’s MYX Magna Awardee was given not to a music artist but to a producer who has been in the music scene for 50 years—Vic Del Rosario Jr. Thyro, Yumi, Jinky Vidal, Jaya, and last year’s MYX Magna Awardee Ogie Alcasid paid tribute to his tremendous contribution in the local music scene with a performance of the songs his recording company has produced.

Among the artists who performed in the much-awaited awards night in Philippine music were Kiana Valenciano, KZ Tandingan, Inigo Pascual, Sue Ramirez, Daryl Ong, Jona, Morisette, Kristel Fulgar, Ella Cruz, and BoybandPH. Other media personalities like Kira Balinger, Kiray Celis, Kyla, Hashtags, Gimme5, Pepe Herrera, Leila Alcasid, Glaiza de Castro, and PBB Teen Housemates Kisses Delavin, Marco Gallo, Edward Barber, and Maymay Enntrata also graced the stage as award presenters.

The 12th MYX Music Awards was hosted by MYX VJs Ai dela Cruz, Robi Domingo, Tippy Dos Santos, Sunny Kim, Donny Pangilinan, Alex Diaz, Jairus Aquino, and Sharlene San Pedro. *** Here is the complete list of winners: FAVORITE ARTIST Darren Espanto FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO “Tala” – SARAH GERONIMO (Director: PAUL BASINILLO) FAVORITE SONG “Tala” – Sarah Geronimo

Sunny Kim, Sharlene San Pedro, Jairus Aquino, and Robi Domingo

Sarah, Darren, and Gloc-9 bag major wins at Gloc-9 taking home the award for Favorite Urban Video

MYX Magna Awardee Vic Del Rosario Jr.

MYX MUSIC AWARDS 2017

Sharlene San Pedro for Favorite Remake award

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST Nadine Lustre FAVORITE MALE ARTIST Darren Espanto FAVORITE GROUP

Friday, March 24, 2017

57 Oust from power 60 Marvelous 64 Pamplona shouts 65 Coral formation 67 Yield, as territory 68 Have the boldness to try 69 Wild West show 70 Black cat, perhaps 71 Difficult duty 72 Brewer’s supply 73 Dinghy or dory DOWN 1 Tot’s cry 2 Norse king 3 Yearn for 4 Breed of chicken 5 Biased viewpoint 6 Hibachi sites 7 Diligent insects 8 Slalom need 9 Port near Hong Kong 10 Frozen spikes 11 Diva — Ponselle 12 Lemony 13 Plane tip 21 Singer/ composer Paul —

It take Gutz to a be Gutierrez Even before they left for abroad to shoot for their show’s next season, Rufa and Annabelle seem to have started another quarrel, which will eventually be part of the show as if we haven’t seen that scene already. Unless something big happens, perhaps a big revelation, or a confirmation of the things people already know, then the next season will be very exciting. Otherwise, this season will be just another boring series featuring a bunch of Kardashian wannabes.

MYX MUSIC SQUAD. (From left) Donny Pangilinan, Tippy Dos Santos, Alex Diaz, Ai dela Cruz,

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS 1 Vote 5 Sudden muscular contraction 10 Shah’s land 14 Shampoo additive 15 Sri — 16 “Murder by Death” actor 17 Twinge 18 Upper room 19 Wife of Osiris 20 Kabul natives 22 Gallery 24 Not fooled 25 Smudge 26 Swimming hazard 29 Weaken gradually 31 Vacation spot 35 Good brandy 37 Coercion 39 Ms. Hagen 40 Doesn’t move 42 Sandra or Ruby 43 More reverent 46 Gregarious 49 Got some shuteye 50 Plato’s H 52 One for the — 53 Hard benches 55 Set of two

Piolo Pascual At 40, it’s quite funny how he handles his romantic life. Last month, he confessed that he and Shaina Magdayao have been “exclusively dating” for the past five years. With his admission, people asked how come they haven’t seen the two going out together…no pictures, no news about them even. But things suddenly changed, people have finally seen a sighting of the two out on a date. Didn’t we tell you that they have an upcoming movie together, too?

23 Barbecue treats 25 Frisky 26 Moves fast, as clouds 27 Travel stopover 28 Fiber plant 30 Discrete 32 Kind of cassette 33 Squeaking noise 34 Loaf ends 36 Okla. zone 38 Lisper’s problem 41 Kickoff stands 44 Is against 45 Navajo foes

47 Emmy’s relative 48 Tobacco pipe 51 Lunchbox items 54 Worn out 56 Ration 57 Non-flying bird 58 Zest for life 59 Machu Picchu locale 60 Fizzy beverage 61 Slightly used car 62 Glimmering 63 Ding a door 66 Sock filler

The Juans FAVORITE MELLOW VIDEO “Di Ka Man Lang Nagpaalam” – Juan Karlos Labajo (Director: Jiggy Gregorio) FAVORITE ROCK VIDEO “Videoke Queen” – Rico Blanco Director: RA

Myx Favorite Artist Darren Espanto

Rivera) FAVORITE URBAN VIDEO “Hoy” – Gloc-9 (Director: Paul Basinillo) FAVORITE NEW ARTIST Ylona Garcia FAVORITE COLLABORATION “The Great Unknown” – Sarah Geronimo (Feat.

Hale) FAVORITE REMAKE “Paraan” – Sharlene San Pedro FAVORITE MEDIA SOUNDTRACK “This Time” – James Reid & Nadine Lustre FAVORITE GUEST APPEARANCE IN A MUSIC VIDEO Nash Aguas in “Pakipot Suplado” – Alexa Ilacad FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL VIDEO “Closer” – The Chainsmokers (Feat. Halsey) FAVORITE MYX CELEBRITY VJ Elmo Magalona SPECIAL AWARD: BEST MUSIC VIDEO (Not for public vote) “Hoy” – Gloc-9 (Director: Paul Basinillo) MYX MAGNA AWARD Vic del Rosario Jr.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017

ISAH V. RED

L

EGENDARY balladeer Basil Valdez celebrates his 40th anniversary with a special onenight-only show titled Basil Valdez @ Solaire on April 29 (Saturday, 8:00 p.m.) at The Theatre at Solaire.

Expect a night of nostalgia with Basil and his very special guests Sharon Cuneta, the Ateneo Chamber Singers, and the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra under the musical direction of Ryan Cayabyab.

The Megastar recorded several cover versions of Basil’s classics, most notably “Ngayon At Kailanman,” which even became the title of her blockbuster movie with Richard Gomez in the 90s. Basil and Ryan, on the other hand, go a long way back. When Basil joined the Circus Band in 1972, he met Ryan who was then part of another band. When Basil was putting together his first solo album Ngayon At Kailanman, he asked Ryan to write a few tracks for him, which the composer gladly did. Since then, Ryan became Basil’s musical director in almost all of his major concerts both locally and internationally.

The 42-piece ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra was created for the purpose of connecting and reinstating symphonic music into the lives of every Filipino. Formed in 2001, the Ateneo Chamber Singers has earned national and international renown for rendering sacred choral music with style and aplomb.

It is a fitting tribute that these artists come together for the love of Basil, who is arguably one of the country’s most enduring balladeer.

When OPM classics like “Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng

years of

BASIL VALDEZ

Walang Hanggan,” “Iduyan Mo,” “Hindi Kita Malilimutan,” “Kahit Ikaw’y Panaginip Lang,” “Let The Pain Remain,” and “You” to mention a few, come to mind, one immediately realizes how indebted ballad-loving Pinoys and generations of artists are to Basil who is undoubtedly one of the best male voices to have graced local music industry.

In an era where it is such a challenge for musical idols to last a decade, Basil is a shining symbol of how pure, soulful talent coupled with fortitude and professionalism can take one a long, long way. His songs and artistry have truly survived the test of time.

Basil Valdez @ Solaire is the perfect opportunity to go back through 40 solid years of spellbinding music from the musical prodigy that is Basil Valdez.

A production of NY Entourage Productions, Basil Valdez @ Solaire is supported by Philippine Airlines, Richville Hotel, and Petron.

For tickets, contact Ticketworld (891-9999 or at www.ticketworld.com.ph) or call NY Entourage Productions at 552-7473. For more information follow NY Entourage Productions on Twitter and Instagram (@nsyshows) and like nsyshows on Facebook *** Hungry with passion and driven with motivation, Starstruck VI Ultimate Female Survivor Klea Pineda has more plans to fulfill now that she is turning 18.

The challenges that being a legal adult has set Klea’s mind to act on her dreams and learn more about her craft.

She admits to have dreamt of being in the showbiz industry ever since she was young, and she is thankful that her home Network is helping her to achieve this.

“I am so happy that GMA continues to give me different opportunities for my career. As a fresh face in showbiz, I know I have a lot more to learn and that’s what I’m focused on especially now that I’m 18,” claims the Kapuso

actress.

Branded as #EighteenK, Klea is looking forward to celebrate her becoming a lady tomorrow at Nobu Hotel/Wave Poolside at the City of Dreams Manila. With a modern bohemian theme, the Encantadia star will be having a feast with her family and close friends.

“The party will be intimate. I just want my family and friends to be there. With all the people around me giving me unconditional love and support, I’m inspired to focus on my ultimate goal and that is to find happiness in everything that I do.” *** Primetime King Coco Martin and Pop Royalty Sarah Geronimo joined forces to highlight the

Knowledge Channel host Enchong Dee

shows Filipino families can watch together via the exclusive channels of ABS-CBN TVplus in their own take of the hit OPM song, “Isang Linggong Pag-Ibig.”

In their version, Coco and Sarah sang and danced together to showcase the offerings of the exclusive channels of ABS-CBN TVplus that families can watch seven days a week for a fun-

filled family bonding at home.

On Mondays to Sundays, kids can enjoy cartoons and child-friendly shows like Sesame Street on allday children’s channel, YeY!.

They can also tune into Team YeY!, a show headlined by Sam Shoaf, AJ Urquia, Mitch Naco, Jana Agoncillo, Raven Cajuguiran, and Luke Alford, who encourage kids to embrace and love their childhood through kid-friendly, daily activities they feature on the show.

On Tuesdays, kids can watch and learn educational, curriculum-based shows on Knowledge Channel like MathDali and AgriCOOLture hosted by Robi Domingo and Enchong Dee. Meanwhile on CineMo, families can catch action and comedy movies of movie legends like Fernando Poe Jr. and Dolphy. CineMo is also the only channel that airs Funny Ka, Pare Ko, the Sunday sitcom top billed by Karla Estrada and Bayani Agbayani that brings laughter and champions entrepreneurship among families.

A serving of the latest news and the biggest issues in the country and abroad can also be seen on DZMM TeleRadyo, while on S+A, families can experience the thrill of watching together live sports events such as the UAAP and NCAA. Other shows the families can watch together via ABS-CBN TVplus are the top-rating weekday and weekend programs of ABS-CBN like the familyoriented show My Dear Heart, the kilig-filled teleserye A Love to Last, and the talent-reality show, Your Face Sounds Familiar Kids.

On top of exclusive channels and crystal clear TV viewing, the ABS-CBN TVplus box can also capture signals from other channels that transmit in digital.

ABS-CBN is the first media and entertainment company in the country to roll out digital TV that has transformed the TV viewing of Filipinos since 2015.

Don’t miss the chance to bond together with the family every day of the week only with ABSCBN TVplus. For more information, visit tvplus. abs-cbn.com and follow ABS-CBN TVplus on Facebook (facebook.com/ABSCBNTVPlus).

It’s a ‘Girl Power Celebration’ on Lifetime LIFETIME recently celebrated International Women’s Day by welcoming Asia to the Fempire, a social movement aimed at showcasing the full spectrum of female strength. This April, the celebration of girl power continues as LIFETIME features women who show us the true meaning of grit.

Lifetime also conducted a social experiment called “Spot the Boss,” revealing how gender stereotypes still exist in the workplace. Watch the candid reactions of six unsuspecting participants as they are tasked to identify the real boss from three executives at https://www.facebook.com/ LifetimeAsia/videos/480487662075328/.

Although the Philippines scores the third highest in Asia Pacific in terms of leadership in business and politics, according to the 2016 Mastercard Index of Women’s Advancement, leadership in general, remains a challenge towards gender equality. But Mastercard’s Index of Women Entrepreneurs 2017 also shows that despite struggles, Filipino women are still driven by strong desires to succeed.

And so, this April on Lifetime, we see how perseverance puts women on top. Premiering on April 25, 9 p.m. every Tuesday, The Pop Game follows executive producer Queen Latifah – with Jermaine Dupri and Timbaland – as she mentors aspiring vocal artists to become the next big thing in the music industry.

Britney Ever After details the tumultuous story of the pop icon’s rise to fame, fall from grace and

"Britney Ever After" chronicles the tumultuous story of pop icon Britney Spears' rise from humble beginnings on the Mickey Mouse Club to mega stardom Lifetime's new unscripted series "The Pop Game" features aspiring singers who aim to score a record deal

eventual triumphant comeback. Britney Spears battled to rebuild her career to its former glory, proving to everyone that she’s a timeless force in entertainment. Catch this original movie at 9 p.m. on April 22, Saturday.

Stay glued to your screens As Lifetime also features a thrilling original movie and new series.

Inspired by true events, Under The Bed follows a young woman with an obsessed stalker who takes up residence in her home. Catch this at 9 p.m. on April 15, Saturday.

Starting on April 6, Thursdays, 9 p.m., Fit to Fat to Fit shows the inspiring journey of fitness trainers and their overweight clients. While on the same day

at 10 p.m. is Atlanta Plastic, where four top African American plastic surgeons shatter stereotypes about beauty; and on April 24, Mondays at 10 p.m., catch Thirty-Something Grandmas, featuring women who were teen mothers now facing the terrifying reality that their daughters are about to give birth as teenagers themselves.

Lifetime™ is available on SKYCable Ch 65 and Lifetime™ HD Ch 199; Cable Link Ch. 223; Dream Satellite Ch 28; Destiny Ch 44.