Manila Standard - 2017 June 06 - Tuesday

‘Get him dead or alive’ Duterte raises bounty on Hapilon to P17.4m

ANTI-TERROR WEAPONS. Philippine

Marine Commandant Major General Emmanuel Salamat (center) tries an M4 rifle while US military representatives look on during a handover ceremony of weapons from the US at Marine headquarters in Manila on June 5, 2017. The US donation supports the counterterrorism program against Islamic militants, authorities said, despite tirades from President Rodrigo Duterte against arms from Washington. AFP

By John Paolo Bencito and Macon Ramos-Araneta

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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has raised the reward for Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon to P17.4 million dead or alive, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Eduaro Año announced Monday.

Hapilon, regarded as the leader of local Islamic State-affiliated terrorists such as the Maute group that attacked Marawi City, also carries a $5-million bounty from the US government.

A spokesman for the military said Duterte’s offer of P10 million was on top of a standing bounty of P7.4 million for Hapilon, who

Isnilon Hapilon

has outstanding arrest warrants for kidnapping with ransom and serious illegal detention.

“This reflects the resolve of the administration to get the terrorists dead or alive to finally end the conflict in Marawi City,” said AFP public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo.

The announcement came as the Next page

Bomb Marawi mosques an option vs Maute—AFP

By John Paolo Bencito THE military said Monday it may be forced to bomb mosques in Marawi City as Maute members have holed up in places of worship amid heavy fighting that has raged for almost two weeks.

“There are provisions that may allow for us to take action against them… We are studying this carefully,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, speaking in Filipino.

“I’m not saying we will bomb them, but we’re studying this carefully, because AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año has told us to avoid doing that as much as possilble,” he added.

Padilla said there were specific exceptions to restrictions in the Geneva Convention against attacks on places of worship. One of these is if they are being used to incite violence.

“There are exceptions. Whether the armed combatants force themselves into a

hospital or a place of worship, we can use violence [to drive them out],” he added.

The government previously said that the Maute terrorists were using human shields and turned madrasahs into staging areas and mosques into sniper nests.

According to the AFP Standing Rules of Engagement, “cultural, religious and historical landmarks, civilian population centers, public utilities and other nonmilitary structures, shall be protected and shall not be attacked except when they are used for military purposes.”

Padilla admitted that the presence of civilians, whose exact locations were not known, complicated the military campaign to gain full control of Marawi City, which was overrun by Maute terrorists on May 23.

Padilla also said ground commanders were the ones who could determine when the siege of Marawi City would end, despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 112 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Rody’s martial law challenged in high court

By Rey E. Requejo and Macon R. Araneta OPPOSITION lawmakers on Monday asked the Supreme Court to reject President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao, branding it unconstitutional.

Duterte declared military rule across Mindanao, home to about 20-million people, on

May 23 to quell what he said was a fast-growing threat from the Islamic State group there.

Duterte made the declaration a few hours after Maute group militants flying black IS flags rampaged through Marawi City, triggering clashes with security forces that are still ongoing and have left at least 178 people dead.

The petition filed by oppo-

sition lawmakers led by Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said martial law should be struck down for “utter lack of sufficient factual basis,” as it drew parallels with the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’s military rule a generation ago.

“The grim specter of repression, atrocities, injustice and corruption again bedevils the Filipino people with the

unwarranted, precipitate and unconstitutional declaration of martial law,” said the petition, filed by Lagman and Representatives Tomasito Villarin of Akbayan Party-List, Gary Alejano of Magdalo PartyList, Emmanuel Billones of Capiz, Teddy Baguilat Jr. of Ifugao, Raul Daza of Northern Samar and Edgar Erice of Caloocan.

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Saudi, 3 other Gulf states cut ties with Qatar over terror link GULF states on Monday cut diplomatic ties with neighboring Qatar over allegations that it supported terrorist groups and kicked it out of a military coalition.

In the region’s most serious diplomatic crisis in years, Qatar’s Gulf neighbors Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as well as Egypt all announced they were severing ties with gas-rich Qatar.

To “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism”

Riyadh decided to “sever diplomatic and consular ties with Qatar, and to close all land, sea and aviation” links, a Saudi official cited by the official Saudi Press Agency said.

Qatar hosts the largest US airbase in the region, which is crucial to operations against Islamic State group jihadists.

The cutting of diplomatic ties revives tensions from 2014 when Gulf countries recalled their ambassadors from Doha, ostensibly over its support for the MusNext page lim Brotherhood.

Filipinos in the Middle East 1M 600,000 250,000 60,000 5,000

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Saudi Arabia UAE Qatar Bahrain Egypt

DNA test on RW gunman OKd

By Rey E. Requejo and Sandy Araneta JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a DNA examination on the remains of the gunman in the Resorts World Manila attack that killed 38 people.

He said the DNA test would erase all doubt as to the identity of the gunman identified by the police as former Fi-

nance Department employee Jessie Javier Carlos.

Carlos used gasoline to set fire on casino tables that killed the 38 people who died of suffocation. He then locked himself in a room and then set fire to himself before shooting himself.

The authorities earlier claimed that the gunman was a Caucasian-looking individual who appeared to be six-feet tall.

But Carlos’ family reached out to the police and confirmed that he was the man Next page

TIRED AND WEARY. Evacuees from Marawi City camp rest at the Saguiaran Townhall in Lanao del Sur on June 5, 2017. Efforts to rescue up to 2,000 civilians trapped in fighting between government forces and Islamist militants failed on June 4 when a proposed truce ended in a hail of gunfire and explosions, authorities and witnesses said. AFP

20,000 students displaced in Marawi battle

By John Paolo Bencito THE number of pupils displaced by the government offensive against the terrorist groups in Marawi City rose to more than 20,000 Monday even as the Education department said some 27.7 million students showed up for the resumption of classes.

The department expected a drop in

enrollment figures from the schools in Marawi and in eight villages in Lanao del Sur after the school opening was moved back by two weeks.

But Education Secretary Leonor Briones said they expected an increase in enrollment in the schools in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Quezon City and Manila as a result of the grow-

ing number of evacuees affected by the fighting between security forces and the members of the Abu Sayyaf and Maute terrorist groups.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said he had created an inter-agency group that would ensure the rehabilitation of Marawi City’s energy facilities following Next page

Pump price rollback: P0.90/liter of diesel

By Alena Mae S. Flores THE oil companies rolled back pump prices by P0.90 per liter of diesel and kerosene and P0.55 per liter of gasoline effective Tuesday.

They made the cuts after the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries failed to make deeper or longer supply

cuts on May 25.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Seaoil Philippines, Eastern Petroleum and Flying V made the announcement on the price cuts on Monday.

Opec members and their non-Opec counterparts announced during the Vienna meeting that they would extend their supply-cut agreement.

Despite the cut, the Energy Department’s latest monitoring revealed that the supply of oil products in the world was still sufficient.

On May 30, the oil companies raised the price of gasoline by P0.55 per liter, diesel by P0.75 per liter and kerosene

by P0.85 per liter.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Solons to dig into RW ‘lapses’

By Maricel V. Cruz

“We will look into that and also on how they handle other crisis situations.

• The police are holding a series of meetings and seminars with the heads of security of business establishments in the wake of the attack at Resorts World Manila.

On Monday, officials and members of the Southern Police District and National Capital Region Police Office met with the security managers of the major locators and companies in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City to discuss how to improve security measures and public safety at their establishments.

SPD chief Tomas Apolinario said the close-door discussion held at the SM Aura Corp. Building was sponsored by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. He said one of the issues discussed was the security update on terrorism.

“Another meeting is scheduled on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Terror-

ism security updates will be discussed,” he said.

Tambunting said the congressional probe could possibly be a joint investigation between his committee and the House committee on public order and safety.

Albano said he was saddened by the fact that the management of Resorts World failed to save the lives of its clients and employees .

“A lot of people died, lots of issues on security must be answered by the RWM management,” Albano, majority leader for the House of Representatives’ contingent to the Commission on Appointments, said.

Evardone, chairman of the House committee on banks and financial intermediaries, shared his views: “I support the Congress probe. The incident shows a lot of issues to be addressed from security protocols, building structures, and most importantly the response of our law enforcement agencies.”

Roque, of the House minority bloc, said he would be interested in “fire regulations, the role of local government units and disaster preparedness.”

Atienza said Pagcor, if warranted, must immediately suspend or cancel the permit to operate of RWM pending the results of the police investigation into Friday’s attack.

Pagcor should immediately suspend Resorts World Manila’spermit to operate while we await the results of the investigation,” Atienza, a deputy minority leader, said.

He said someone must be made accountable for the tragedy.

“The CCTV footage showed the security guards scampering away instead of controlling the armed intruder. They can be very strict and even rude to ordinary casino-goers but when it came to this lone gunman, they were the first to flee,” Atienza said. With Sandy Araneta and Joel E. Zurbano

clared martial law in Mindanao to quell what he said was a fast-growing threat from IS there.

The Philippines and the United States have for decades been close allies, and they are bound by a 1951 mutual defense treaty to protect each other if attacked.

The United States is the Philippines’ biggest supplier of military hardware and arms.

However, Duterte, who took office last year, has sought to loosen the Philippines’ ties with the United States while forging closer relations with China and Russia.

Duterte has called for the withdrawal of American troops from his country while scaling down joint military exercises in response to US criticism of his deadly war on drugs.

He has looked to China and Russia as new sources of weapons, and complained about the quality of “second-hand” American military hardware.

“I will not accept any more military equipment that is second hand.

The ones the Americans are giving, I do not want that anymore,” Duterte said on Friday.

The equipment turned over on Monday was all new, according to US officers at the ceremony.

It included four M134D Gatling-

style machine guns, which are capable of firing thousands of rounds a minute, as well as 300 M4 assault rifles and 100 grenade launchers.

Also on Monday, the AFP said it is validating reports that 1,200 foreign ISIS operatives are currently in the country.

Arevalo said the figure did not come from the military.

“And if there is such a number, it might include all the local terrorists in the Philippines,” he added in Filipino.

“We are going to validate that number, we can’t say that it is wrong [for now as] it has to go through a process of validation,” Arevalo said.

Earlier, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said there were 1,200 ISIS fighters in the Philippines, of which 40 are Indonesian.

He added only cooperation, understanding and consensus can prevent these terrorists from setting up roots in Southeast Asia.

In a news briefing, AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said they were caught off guard by the Indonesian Defense chief’s claim.

“The revelations of the Indonesian Defense minister is something that came as a surprise to us because as was mentioned by senior

defense officials, in truth, we don’t have those numbers,” Padilla said.

Padilla said they had information about 40 foreign fighters who were aiding local terror groups, including the eight already killed in Marawi.

Still, he said the Philippines would reach out to Ryacudu to inquire about the source of his information.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue Sunday, Ryacudu called the militants “killing machines” and urged full-scale regional cooperation against them.

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Monday said the reported presence of ISIS groups in the Philippines highlights the need for security officials to closely coordinate with neighboring countries and other concerned nations like the European Union and the United States in the exchange of intelligence information, particularly on international terrorism and other related security matters.

“The world has become smaller not only in terms of modern information technology but also on Muslim extremism aimed at establishing an Islamic state in certain parts of countries which they think are vulnerable and where they can have influence,” said Lacson. With AFP and PNA

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shown in the footage taken by security cameras during the incident on June 2.

In other developments: • Carlos the gunman had sought to be reinstated to his post as a tax specialist in the Finance Department following his dismissal from the service by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012.

But the Court of Appeals denied his petition for review in 2015 and instead upheld his dismissal arising from his alleged unexplained wealth in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

• Carlos had an exclusion order from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. in all Pagcor-regulated casinos about a month before his attack, the agency said Monday.

The Exclusion Order was requested by his wife Maria Angelita Agcopra Carlos. Pagcor said the order was effective “in all Pagcor-operated and regulated gaming establishments.”

That meant he was banned from all Pagcor-regulated casinos.

Pagcor on Monday stood firm against any form of gambling addiction.

On Sunday, Aguirre ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation and case build-up over the Resorts World Manila incident.

He said the NBI should determine whether there was criminal, civil and administrative culpability on any agency, office or instrumentality of the government and whether the same could be found against the owners, managers and employees of Resorts World Manila.

“We need to know and to determine the responsibility and the liability, if any, of anyone which made possible the tragic events at Resorts World Manila,” Aguirre said.

“Whoever is responsible for allowing this tragedy to occur should be made accountable under our laws and before our courts.”

The “decisive” measure was due to the “gross violations committed by authorities in Qatar over the past years”, the Saudi statement said.

It said Qatar harbored “a number of terrorist and sectarian groups that aim to destabilize the region including the Muslim Brotherhood, Daesh [IS] and Al Qaida.”

Riyadh also accused Doha of supporting Iran-backed “terrorist activities” in Saudi Arabia’s Shi’itedominated area of Qatif, as well as in Bahrain, both of which have seen Shi’ite unrest over the past six years.

Sunni-ruled Bahrain’s news agency said Manama was cutting ties with Doha over its insistence on “rocking the security and stability of Bahrain and meddling in its affairs.”

Shi’ite-majority Bahrain, home to the US Fifth Fleet, has intensified a crackdown on dissent since US President Donald Trump’s visit last month.

Riyadh ordered its nationals to leave Qatar—host of the 2022 football World Cup—within 14 days and barred Qataris from the kingdom.

Many expatriate and Saudi travelers use Qatar as their gateway into Saudi Arabia.

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways said it would suspend flights to Qatar from Tuesday.

Egypt’s foreign ministry also accused Doha of supporting terrorism and announced the closure of its ports and airports to Qatari carriers.

A Saudi-led coalition, which for more than two years has been fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen, separately announced Qatar was no longer welcome in the alliance.

The US-supported coalition accused Qatar of “support to [terrorist] organizations in Yemen,” a claim being made publicly for the first time.

Qatar had assigned warplanes to the coalition conducting air strikes against Yemen’s Huthi rebels.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on Gulf states to stay united and work out their differences.

“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” he said in Sydney.

Doha last month launched a probe into an alleged “hack” of state media after it said false and explosive remarks attributed to Emir Sheik h Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani were published on the Qatar News Agency website following Tr ump’s regional visit.

The stories quoted him questioning US hostility towards Iran, speaking of “tensions” between Doha and Washington, commenting on Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and speculating that Trump might not remain in power for long.

Doha denied all the comments and said it had been the victim of a “shameful cybercrime.”

Trump’s visit to Riyadh—the first foreign stop of his presidency—saw the two sides speak of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of investment and arms deals.

Riyadh’s Sunni rulers have embraced Trump’s harder line against its rival Iran, with which it severed diplomatic relations in January last year.

In a Riyadh speech, Trump urged Muslim leaders from around the world to “drive out” extremists and “terrorists,” as Sunni jihadists carry out attacks in many countries.

Doha has long faced accusations it is a state sponsor of terrorism.

It has been criticized for supporting rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Qatari individuals have been sanctioned by the US Treasury for terrorist-funding activities.

In recent weeks, articles in the US press have accused Qatar of such funding, prompting Doha

to complain it was the target of a hostile media campaign.

It was also criticized for providing a sanctuary to former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal.

The Afghan Taliban opened an office in Doha in 2013.

Qatar has so far given no indication of where the alleged May 24 cyber attack originated.

Media organizations in several regional countries reported the emir’s comments as fact, despite an official denial by Doha.

They also blocked Qatari broadcasters and websites following the alleged statements.

The moves by the Saudis, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt came barely a week after Trump visited the region and joined Saudi Arabia in lambasting Iran for sponsoring terrorism from Syria to Yemen.

The spark for this flare-up was a report by the state-run Qatar News Agency that carried comments

by Qatar ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani criticizing mounting anti-Iran sentiment.

Qatari officials quickly deleted the comments, blamed them on hackers and appealed for calm.

Criticism by Saudi and UAE media outlets escalated after Sheikh Tamim phoned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani over the weekend in apparent defiance of Saudi criticism.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano acknowledged that the decision by the Gulf states to cut ties with Qatar would hurt Filipino workers there.

“Any rivalries among the nations in Middle East will definitely affect business, and will definitely affect the large number of our OFWs [overseas Filipino workers] there,” Cayetano said .

Based on data from the Foreign Affairs Department, there were 2,297,551 Filipinos working in the Middle East and Africa as of 2015.

A total of 7,979,716 Filipinos work abroad.

AFP and Bloomberg with Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

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AWMAKERS on Monday sought a congressional probe into the attack on Resorts World Manila that killed 38 people.

Reps. Gus Tambunting of Parañaque City, Rodolfo Albano III of Isabela, Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, Harry Roque of the Kabayan party-list, and Lito Atienza of Buhay party-list said Resort World’s management had a lot of explaining to do in terms of security and other matters pertaining to the safety of its clients.

Tambunting, head of the House committee on games and amusements, said he would initiate the congressional probe.

“The public deserves to know what happened in this incident,” Tambunting said.

“I will file a resolution seeking a congressional investiga-

tion on how to improve the security in our casinos.”

In other developments: • Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said Monday it will conduct a separate investigation into the possible lapses in Resorts World Manila’s response to the deadly attack on Friday in which a gunman torched gambling tables and then locked himself in a room, set fire to himself and then shot himself.

“From the footage, there seem to be a lot of lack of security measures and competence among security personnel of Resorts World,” Pagcor chairwoman Andrea Domingo said.

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Under the Constitution, the President may declare martial law and suspend the writ of habeas corpus only “in cases of invasion, rebellion or lawless violence and when public safety requires it.”

“There is no rebellion or invasion where the public safety requires the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Marawi City or elsewhere in Mindanao,” the petitioners argued.

They said the siege in Marawi was not a rebellion or an invasion, but rather an “armed resistance by the Maute group to shield [Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon] Hapilon from capture, not to overrun Marawi and remove its allegiance from the republic.”

No less than the military establishment has admitted that the current armed conflict in Marawi City was government-initiated and the armed confrontation was precipitated by the military operation to neutralize or capture Isnilon Hapilon, a high-profile terrorist commander, which was resisted by the Maute group of terrorists, the petitioners said.

Thousands of critics, suspected insurgents and their alleged supporters were jailed, tortured or killed during the martial law regime of Ferdinand Marcos, according to historians.

Shortly after Duterte declared martial law, he praised Marcos’s version and vowed his own would be “harsh.”

The 1987 Constitution imposes limits on martial law to prevent a repeat of abuses under Marcos, including allowing the Supreme Court to review its factual basis.

However, Duterte vowed five days after declaring martial law he would ignore the Supreme Court on the issue, and only listen to the police and military.

“The Supreme Court will say they will examine into the factual [basis]. Why, I don’t know. They are not soldiers. They do not know what is happening on the ground,” Duterte said then.

The petition stated that Duterte’s reasons for declaring martial law were “mostly inaccurate, simulated, false and/or hyperbolic.”

It highlighted one of Duterte’s statements to justify martial law that the militants had beheaded a local police chief.

National police chief Ronald Dela Rosa later said the officer was not beheaded.

The Constitution allows martial law to be imposed only in the event of invasion or rebellion.

The petitioners said the unrest in Marawi did not amount to rebellion, as stated by Duterte.

The Supreme Court has 30 days to rule on the petition.

The Court is expected to tackle the petition Tuesday when it resumes session after a month-long break.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III dismissed the petition, saying the lawmakers were “just anti-Duterte, it’s as simple as that.”

“Well, obviously now they are wrong. Even other Asian countries admit there are Daesh [Islamic State] operatives in the Philippines,” he added.

Sotto was among the 17 senators who backed Duterte’s martial law declaration in the southern region.

Senator Francis Escudero said it was the right of the petitioners to question the basis for martial law, but said “it seems quite obvious… that there is an ongoing rebellion in Marawi.”

Senator Juan Edgardo Angara said the petition by minority congressmen was expected and part of democracy.

He said, however, that the issue would become moot once martial law in Mindanao is lifted.

With John Paolo Bencito, AFP

United States gave the Philippines hundreds of machine guns, pistols and grenade launchers, which a local commander said would be used against Islamist militants battling troops in Marawi City.

The weapons, including machine guns capable of firing thousands of rounds a minute, were handed over at a ceremony in Manila that highlighted a decade-old American counterterrorism assistance program to the Philippines worth about $150 million.

“This equipment will enhance the [Philippine Marines’] counterterrorism capabilities, and help protect [troops] actively engaged in counterterrorism operations in the southern Philippines,” a US Embassy statement said.

Marines chief Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat said at the ceremony troops would use the weapons in the ongoing battle against Islamist extremists in Marawi.

Militants flying black Islamic State group flags rampaged through Marawi nearly two weeks ago, triggering clashes with troops and police that have left at least 178 people dead.

In response to the violence, President Rodrigo Duterte quickly de-

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Pump...

From A1 The total price adjustments so far revealed a net increase of P0.86 per liter of gasoline and a net reduction of P0.30 per liter of diesel and a net reduction of P0.76 per kilo of liquefied petroleum gas.

The Energy department announced late last month

that only kerosene was affected by the price freeze being implemented in Mindanao.

The price freeze for kerosene will be effective until June 7, or 15 days from the declaration of martial law.

The department said such freeze on kerosene was imposed due to the emergency situation in Marawi City as government forces tried to clear the area of Maute group terrorists.

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estimate of “about three more days” to end the crisis.

“The basis for determination of any military action on the ground, will be the call of the commander. They are the ones who are fully aware of the situation, gravity of the situation they face, as well as the solutions they have to address,” Padilla said.

Padilla again urged the Maute group to surrender as other rebel groups were poised to join the war against them.

Government chief negotiator and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Sunday night that a ceasefire with communist rebels would soon be ironed out to discuss their offer to help in the war against terrorists.

“We anticipate the immediate signing of the ceasefire agreement, which shall bind both parties pending the issuance of ceasefire declarations that are unilateral but simultaneous and reciprocal, subject to the basic guidelines,” Bello said.

On Friday, communist rebels offered to “cooperate and coordinate” with the Duterte administration in its fight against terrorism should the government return to the negotiating table, but Duterte, who earlier said that he’s “not keen” about the idea, demanded they first rescind orders for the New People’s Army to intensify attacks on government troops.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines earlier said the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the NPA may be bound by a ceasefire agreement in specific areas to “counteract the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf.”

On Sunday, Duterte said he accepted the offer extended

by Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari for 2,000 of his fighters to help in the ongoing fight against the Maute.

The President said these fighters would be integrated into the Armed Forces.

But Padilla said Monday no protocols have yet been established for the MNLF to join the fight against the Maute terrorists.

“The mechanisms for this kind of arrangement need to be discussed thoroughly prior to its implementation. Right now, we don’t have the appropriate protocols. We don’t have the appropriate coordinative elements on the ground to make this happen,” Padilla said.

“This may come later, after the resolution of the Marawi incident, but not during this time, because we have not discussed how to implement it yet,” he said.

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The inter-agency group is composed of the Energy Department, National Power Corp., Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., National Electrification Administration and the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative.

Briones had earlier estimated that only 5,000 students would be affected by the crisis in Marawi, but it appeared the number was more.

“While we are relying on reports, we see that these are ‘extensive’ and we are not sure about the conditions now of the schools,” she said.

Briones, who conducted school visits in two populous high schools in Manila on Monday, said the resumption of classes was generally “smooth.”

Education Undersecretary for Planning and Regional Operations Jesus Lorenzo Mateo said the “substantial increase in the budget and greater support from stakeholders and the local government” contributed to the smooth opening of classes despite the usual hiccups and glitches.

Briones said there were 27.7 million students this school year including some 0.8 million learners who were under the Alternative Learning System.

With Alena Mae S. Flores

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TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘De Lima partly to blame in RW attack’

By Rey E. Requejo JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Monday said detained Senator Leila de Lima is partly to blame for the deaths of 37 casino patrons and employees of Resorts World Manila.

Aguirre cited the legal opinion issued by De Lima in 2014 when she was still Justice secretary where she opined that the Bureau of Fire Protection has no authority to regulate fire security in casino establishments in the country.

De Lima’s opinion resulted to the transfer of jurisdiction on fire safety regulation in casinos from the BFP to Philippine Economic Zone Authority. “Because of the said legal opinion, it is the Peza, a government agency without competence and experience in fire protection, that was given the authority to implement the Fire Code and its implementing rules and regulations on Peza-registered companies like casinos,” Aguirre told reporters.

Aguirre said that this power was not provided in Republic Act 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act. Aguirre said that this could be one of the reasons for the lapses seen in the fire safety measures in Resorts World Manila.

Aguirre, however, clarified that this does not necessarily make De Lima liable.

He explained that the senator could only be held liable only if it would be established in the investigation that there was irregularity in the issuance of the legal opinion, which he already ordered for the National Bureau of Investigation to look into.

Nonetheless, Aguirre vowed to review the legal opinion and would most probably reverse it.

A total of 37 employees and clients of the posh casino died due to suffocation and smoke inhalation as they failed to leave the building that was set fire by gunman Jesse Carlos.

The Resorts World Manila administration earlier said the casino’s sprinkler systems were activated during the attack last Friday.

BIGGEST WARSHIP. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte visited Japan’s biggest warship, JS Izumo, a Japanese helicopter carrier which is anchored at the Alava Pier, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, in Olongapo City on June 4, 2017 here for a goodwill visit to the Philippines. As the first head of state to set foot on the ship, Duterte was accorded with military honors and was warmly received by His Excellency Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, Commander of Escort Flotilla One Rear Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, Commanding Officer of JS Izumo Capt. Yoshihiro Kai, and Commanding Officer of JS Sazanami Hirotaka Okumura.

The President and members of his entourage, were given a shipboard tour by the members of the Japanese delegation. Presidential Photo

Ampatuan Jr.’s 8-year bail petition junked

By Rio N. Araja

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FTER eight years, Quezon City’s Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Reyes has finally junked the 58 bail petitions of ex-Datu Unsay mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. who was charged in the Maguindanao massacre case.

In a 48-page decision, Reyes said “collectively, from the testimonial and documentary evidence on record, Datu [Andal] Unsay was linked in these purported crimes on Nov. 23, 2009.”

“All told, the court finds that strong evidence exists that accused Datu Unsay participated in the execution of these alleged crimes. Thus, there is no option except to deny his bail applica-

tions notwithstanding proofs that the accused could have not attended the alleged meeting on Nov. 17, 2009,” the resolution read.

Reyes was referring to the murder of 58 people, including 32 journalists, allegedly plotted and orchestrated by the late Ampatuan patriarch, Andal Sr., and his sons, along with 190 other people in Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman,

Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

On behalf of the victims’ relatives, the Department of Justice filed 58 counts of murder against the Ampatuan clan and the other respondents before the Quezon City court.

After his arrest in 2009, the younger Ampatuan filed a bail plea, saying evidence was not that strong to justify his detention.

A court personnel at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court said the resolution of Andal Jr.’s bail applications dragged on for years “because he had to answer and wait for the testimonies, opposition and comments of the kin of the 58 victims.”

A former houseboy of the Ampatuan family testified that the older Ampatuan ordered the killing of the victims over a family meeting

at the presence of Andal Jr. in their mansion in Maguindanao and at the Century Park Hotel in Manila.

“In a memorandum dated Jan. 3, 2017, the central argument of the prosecution is that the accused [Andal Jr.] actively participated in plotting the killing of the victims, but more so in the execution of the said plot by actually shooting the victims at the hilly portion of Sitio Masalay, Barangay Salman, Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009,” the Quezon City court said.

The order further stated “the present Constitution guarantees the right to bail of all persons criminally charged. However, our fundamental law imposes a limitation to persons charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua, like the accused in these cases. When evidence of guilt is strong, that accused shall not be entitled to bail.”

Be wary of ‘ticket scam’—CebuPac Ubial denies DoH’s

By Joel E. Zurbano link to Maute Group THE Cebu Pacific Air has reiterated its call to the public to be aware of a scam on social media claiming it is giving away free tickets as a reward for answering a promotional survey.

“Beware of a scam claiming to be a promotion authorized by Cebu Pacific Air. Please be advised that the circulating “promos” promising free ticket giveaways as rewards for completing a survey is not a legitimate Cebu Pacific contest, campaign, or initiative,” said the Cebu Pac management.

“We encourage our community to remain vigilant and be careful when sharing their information with

these third-party sites. We are working with Facebook and relevant authorities on this issue. Keep alerting us about accounts posing as CEB!,” it added.

Late last month, flag carrier Philippine Airlines also denied initiating a promo giving away free tickets as part of its anniversary.

“Such false and malicious advertising thru the misuse of the Facebook platform will not be tolerated,” said PAL spokesperson Ma. Cielo Villaluna.

Villaluna clarified that “PAL advertisements and promotional materials are only released through the official PAL Facebook page, PAL website www.philippineairlines.com and traditional platforms (print, radio, television).

BURNING ISSUES. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chairman Ms. Andrea Domingo (right) along with Tourism Undersecretary Ricky Alegre were the special guests during the Samahang Plaridel Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum where they discussed the Resorts World attack and Marawi City invasion incidents. Lino santos

By Macon Araneta HEALTH Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial vowed to cooperate with any investigation on claims that she sanctioned the continuing operations of Winston Q8, a Philippinebased but Kuwaiti-owned visa processing company, reportedly with links to ISIS. Ubial insisted as “not only false but highly malicious and libelous” insinuations by some of her critics at the House of Representatives that she has ties with the said terrorist group.

On May 9, 2017, Ubial said the Department of Health, through the Office of Health Regulations and Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB), revoked the accreditation of medical clinics contracted by Winston Q8 due to violations of existing laws. She said eight medical clinics have since ceased from operating.

She said DoH has no authority over Winston Q8, which was not even transacting any business prior to Ubial’s appointment as DoH secretary.

“Therefore, claims that then Secretary Garin already stopped the operations of Winston Q8 are false news,” said Ubial in a statement issued on Friday.

Based on the DoH investigation, the Kuwaiti embassy here in Manila sanctioned the operations of Winston Q8 only last August 2016. On Sept. 13, 2016, the HFSRB thru the Of-

fice for Health Regulations of the DoH, convened a meeting with Winston Q8 representatives with other National Regulatory Agencies (DFA, POEA) to investigate on the reported activities of Winston Q8. On Sept. 23, 2016, Department Circular # 2016-0267 was issued prohibiting all OFW Clinics from collecting additional medical certification and visa accreditation fees on behalf of Winston Q8.

The DoH said that OFWs must get full protection on their rights to choose relevant Medical Clinics for screening. It said that the collusion between these clinics and Winston Q8 had to stop. The anomalous involvement of Winston Q8 in such nefarious activities was referred to other government agencies.

On March 9, 2017, the DoH issued a preventive suspension order to the eight involved OFW medical clinics after receiving complaints of their continued activities despite the earlier directives. These clinics were accorded due process through official notifications and meetings with the HFSRB. On May 9, 2017, Ubial issued a final closure order prohibiting the eight Medical Facilities for Overseas Workers and Seafarers accredited by Winston Q8 from operating in the Philippines, after they were found to have continuously violated Administrative Order (A.O.) no. 2011-0015 and its amendment.

CCT must stop, says militant lawmaker

By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Monday said the government’s doleout program dubbed as the conditional cash transfer program must stop.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said the CCT has failed to cut the poverty rate and reduce the dropout rate among children who benefited from the multi-billion peso scheme.

Castro said the supposed poverty program also failed to deliver on its promise to improve enrollment and completion rates among children of beneficiaryfamilies in elementary and secondary schools.

“We have observed little improvement, even decreases in the enrollment and completion rates from 2011 to 2015. This, despite the hefty increases in the budget for CCT,” Castro said.

Citing data from the Department of Education, Castro said participation or net enrollment rate (NER) for public and private schools went down by 6.05 percentage points from 97.10 percent—or 14.44 million out of 14.87 million elementary school-age children—in 2011 to 91.05 percent or 14.35 million out of 15.76 million in 2015.

Elementary school-age children not enrolled in Grades 1 to 6 more than tripled from around 431,000 in 2011 to 1.41 million in 2015, Castro added quoting the DepEd data.

Although high school NER increased from 64.2 percent or 7.05 million out of 10.98 million high school-age youth to 68.15 percent or 7.35 million out of 10.79 million, Castro said the number of high schoolage youth not enrolled in first to fourth year remain high at 3.44 million in 2015.

“Moreover, CCT, also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps], did little to improve the high school completion rate [CR],” she said.

While elementary school CR rose from 71.01 percent or 10.25 million to 84.02 percent or 12.05 million, Castro said fewer youths finished high school, with the CR declining from 74.4 percent or 5.25 million or 1.8-million dropouts in 2011 to 74.03 percent or 5.44 million or 1.9 million dropouts in 2015.

Castro said the wide gaps between the enrollment figures for elementary and those for high school also indicate that a significant number of those in elementary school do not go on to enroll and finish high school, the two legislators argued.

A4

Opinion

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

I

Either or

N PHILIPPINE politics, much of the fanfare stems from identifying which characters are affiliated with whom.

Such loyalties—not inherent rightness or wrongness—determine which side officials take on any given issue.

In today’s environment, for instance, it appears that there are two groups vying for the people’s hearts and minds: Either you are for the President, or you are not.

If you belong to the former group, your tendency would be to sup-

Adelle Chua, Editor

port everything he does and to defend him from criticism. Nobody in the administration can do any wrong, and everything that has gone awry is the fault of the other side.

Case in point: Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II now blames his predecessor, Senator Leila de Lima, for the fire that killed 37 employees and guests of Resorts

World Manila. While it is not as farfetched as saying, for instance, that drug money was responsible for the gambling taking place in said casino, Aguirre said De Lima’s 2014 legal opinion prevented the Bureau of Fire Protection from regulating fire security in casinos.

As a rabid supporter of the President, you will be deaf to the objectionable words he utters and and will always try to massage the message so that it is more palatable, more acceptable to the

people. That—or accuse critics of being too stupid to comprehend the President’s real intent.

In extreme cases, you will wish bad things to happen to anybody who does not agree with you.

The other extreme is being against the administration, which could do no right or say anything proper in your eyes.

President Duterte, for you, is the worst possible affliction that could happen to the country and it is only a matter of time before he destroys us all. He will be

everything we feared he would be—a ruthless killer, a dictator, an international pariah.

Because of this, you oppose every measure he brings up and criticize him at every opportunity—even as you do not have proof of his malevolent intentions or offer an alternative.

For example, some people oppose the imposition of martial law in Mindanao just because it was a move by President Duterte. Whether or not it satisfies the conditions set by the law, or is truly

warranted given the lawlessness in Marawi, is not the issue.

These days, the country faces problems on numerous fonts. Part of why we have not been able to resolve such problems is because we don’t really debate the issues for what they are worth. Inordinately mindful of whose initiative or decision is being discussed, we fail to appreciate that government acts should stand of and by themselves regardless of whoever is calling the shots.

Controversies in the South China Sea

ily combustible carpets and other fixtures in the casino, to the ultimately fatal lack of exits and exhaust vents in the entire facility.

Surely, the investors in a business enterprise as capital-intensive as a five-star “gaming” emporium such as RWM must have paid attention to such basic matters as how to neutralize an armed attacker and making sure that patrons can be safely escorted out in the event of a robbery, a fire or both. The attack might as well have been staged by terrorists, if the casualty count alone is used as a basis; that no one died from gunfire except the debt-unhinged perpetrator himself, who took his own life when it became clear that he could not escape, only amplifies the apparent negligence of the casino operator.

Tan and his foreign partners must go beyond commiserating with the victims’ families and offering them cash. They must

THIS is the second of a series on the South China Sea dispute based on Justice Antonio Carpio’s e-book, The South China Sea Dispute: Philippine Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. I endorse the book to lawyers and non-lawyers alike, certainly to all patriots. I have made this required reading for all my constitutional law, public international law, and environmental law classes.

In the previous column, I looked at how Justice Carpio set up our understanding of the dispute by looking at historical accounts and the development of the law of the sea. In this column, I share Carpio’s understanding of the true nature and extent of the territorial and maritime disputes. In essence, he frames this as follows: “The dispute in the South China Sea is rooted in conflicting territorial and maritime claims over islands, rocks, reefs, and maritime zones among six countries bordering the South China Sea.” As described in the book, the territorial Disputes, are those in the Spratlys, Paracels, and Scarborough Shoal.

In the Spratly Islands, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have territorial disputes, with China and Vietnam claiming the entire Spratlys, while the Philippines and Malaysia claiming only certain islands and rocks above water at high tide. Louisa Reef, within Brunei’s EEZ and about 1 meter above water at high tide, is claimed by Brunei, and

by China as Nantong Reef.

Similarly, China and Vietnam have a territorial dispute over the Paracels.

China and the Philippines have a territorial dispute over Scarborough Shoal. The maritime entitlements of rocks above water at high tide, like Scarborough Shoal, can be independently determined without deciding which state exercises sovereignty over the rocks. One does not need to know which state has sovereignty over such rocks to conclude with certainty that such rocks are not capable of sustaining human habitation or economic life of their own.

Not a single blade of grass grows on the rocks of Scarborough Shoal, and not a single drop of fresh water can be squeezed from those rocks. Scarborough Shoal, whose biggest rock is 1.2 meters above water at high tide,

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Questions for Resorts World LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES ON THE morning of last Friday, when so many questions about the casino attack were still unanswered, I asked DWIZ reporter Aya Yupangco what he was seeing for the benefit of the listeners of our “Karambola” program.

Yupangco said he was surprised that the only smoke he could see came from the top of the building —no smoke was coming out of the sides of the building, as was usual with such incidents. That observation made me conclude that there was not enough ventilation in the structure, which forced the smoke up to the top, where an atrium was. Little did I know that this would be just one of so many other questions that would need answers, and none of them had to do with terrorism.

No, the Islamic State did not

pull off a daring attack at the heart of Metro Manila. But the terror caused is no less scary than if militant Islamists did descend on Resorts World Manila, especially if it is proven that the casino operator could not really ensure the safety of its clientele.

While some media outlets had a field day alleging terrorist involvement in the murderous attack by a single, gamblingaddicted former government worker on the RWM casino last Friday, more important issues needed to be addressed. And they have to do with the apparent lack of adequate security and fire safety measures by the casino operator, a joint venture with Chinese gaming company Genting and local tycoon Andrew Tan. That 37 casino guests and Resorts World employees died in the incident not because they were fired upon by the lone gunman but because of smoke inhalation is truly tragic. And

it made the head of the government agency in charge of regulating casinos wonder if the management of RWM was not in fact guilty of criminal neg-

Tan and his partners must go beyond commiserating with the victims’ families and offering them cash. ligence and should be made to answer for the killings as much as Jessie Carlos, whose deranged robbery attempt directly caused the carnage.

Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Chairman Andrea Domingo said RWM should explain if it had adequatelyarmed and -trained security people to address similar attacks. And she wanted to know if the casino complied with basic safety regulations such as providing enough exits and exhaust systems and making sure that it used building materials that did not make it dangerous for people to be trapped inside in case of a fire.

It’s hard to imagine a facility as heavily monitored and guarded as an upscale casinohotel-mall complex like Resorts World to fall so easily in the face of an attack by a single perpetrator, no matter how well-armed and determined he was. But Carlos seemed to have exploited all the weaknesses of RWM, from the failure of security personnel to adequately screen people entering with unconcealed high-powered weapons, to the toxic and eas-

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Opinion

SOME friends have asked me: illegal drugs. Things can only Emil, you are almost 90 years get worse!

I don’t want to be an alarmist old. Why don’t you retire?

No doubt, people my age but as the President said, if terhave retired. Government peo- rorism spreads to Visayas and ple retire at 60. For the military Luzon, he would have no choice and the police, the retirement but declare martial law in the age is 56—which I believe is entire country.

I lived through the Japanese quite early. Judges and justices occupation. I would not want to retire at 70.

Retirement, however, is far- live in an environment of fear thest from my mind. First of all, again. *** journalists don’t have pension More than 26.9-million kinplans. How can me and my wife dergarten, elementary and keep body and soul together?

I have seen friends and high school students trooped to colleagues stop doing what they schools yesterday, Monday, for were doing. They died soon the start of another school year.

On the second year of the after.

What will I do with my idle implementation of the K to 12 time? I will continue writ- program, enrollment increased ing my columns, afflicting the by 8.2 percent from the comfortable and comforting the previous year’s 24.9-million students. Two-million students afflicted, until I write “30.”

Yes I will indeed be 90 in entered kindergarten, while September. I expect to live the bulk of enrollees were some more years, and I will in elementary school at 14.4 spend them pounding on my old million.

What I cannot understand is typewriter. the fact that the Department of *** The revelation of an Indone- Education continues to suffer sian foreign minister that there from shortages in textbooks, chalk and are 1,200 killother supplies ing machines, despite this all allied with having been ISIS, now in the case every the Philippines We can no year. is something to longer remain Where is the worry about. change?

With this complacent. *** great number, What hapterrorists pened in Rewould be evesorts World rywhere, even was a wake-up here in Metro Manila, and not just in Mind- call to casinos all over.

With the lone gunman firing anao.

We can no longer remain at the signages and burning cacomplacent on the existence of sino tables, we now ask: Were terrorists all over the country. the sprinklers even working?

There was indeed a lapse in On the part of the people, the police and the military, there is security. There was also a lack no substitute for vigilance. The of exits.This reminds me of police should not easily dismiss what happened at Ozone Disco many years ago. anything.

The management of such That Resorts World incident may not have been committed establishments should look at by terrorists, but it is still an act their exit points. Malls, too.

What will happen if there is of terror in any language.

Efforts of the police to lull panic? *** people into complacency will The San Miguel Corp. connot help assuage fears that terrorist acts can take place any- glomerate has submitted to the Duterte administration a where, at any time.

This is why I support Presi- P27-billion unsolicited prodent Duterte’s declaration of posal to build an alternative toll martial law in Mindanao. When road that will link Tagaytay to former President Ferdinand Metro Manila via Cavite and Marcos declared martial law Batangas. The road will be 29 in 1972, he was fighting only kilometers long and will be an the communists, mostly in Lu- extension of the South Luzon zon, the Muslim independence Expressway . A copy of the promovement and the Moro Na- posal was submitted to Public tional Liberation Front. Now, Works and Highways Secretary President Duterte is fighting Mark Villar.

Ramon Ang said that the Tanmany fronts—the communist insurgents, the terrorist groups auan Expressway proposal was of Maute, Abu Sayyaf and submitted to government way Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom ahead of similar efforts by other Fighters, the continuing rebel- groups.

I think this will be good for lion of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the war on tourism.

Questions...

From A4 convince the people who make their business so lucrative that the casino isn’t just looking at its bottom line —and to hell with their safety. *** Speaking of that incident, it’s truly unfortunate that an organization like Rappler, which wants so desperately to be considered a legitimate outlet for news, can seize upon the flimsiest of bases to immediately cry “terrorism” in the case of Resorts World. When the authorities conclusively proved that Carlos was not a “lone wolf” sent by the Islamic State to sow terror in Metro Manila, Rappler boss Maria Ressa could only say that an IS-inspired news website had repeatedly reported that the terrorist caliphate had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Before Carlos was identified and the footage of the casino’s closed-circuit television monitors proved the terror angle completely false, Ressa went the rounds of international media to

explain why the attack bore the signature of IS. This, even if her only real basis for saying so was the aforementioned questionable website.

These days, when the real ISstyle terrorists are still holed up in Marawi City, it’s “sexy” to allege that the caliphate has also struck in Manila. With all the terror attacks happening all over the world, the latest of which was the killing of seven people in London by three terror suspects riding a van and brandishing long knives, alleging that IS is also behind the casino carnage makes perfect sense to many people who have already convinced themselves that the terrorists are already here and looking for any opportunity to strike.

It certainly didn’t help that the anti-Duterte politicians and their online hangers-on were also quick to pin the blame on the same Islamic terrorists who inspired the Maute gang of bandits that took over Marawi for the casino attack. But why let the truth get in the way of a good story, right, especially if it’s told by a self-styled terrorism expert like Ressa?

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Desperadoes

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Killing machines

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

FORMATION GARY OLIVAR THE collective sigh of public relief was palpable after the Philippine National Police determined that the Resorts World attacker was not some lone-wolf operative, as claimed by the ISIS terrorist group, but simply a government employee, one Jesse Carlos, who’d lost his job and owed too much gambling debt.

The initial speculation about terror was completely understandable, with the fighting in Marawi at its height and still going on as of writing. There was the boldness of the RW attack, and then the way that Carlos committed suicide by self-immolation—very similar to suicide bombers who leave no physical evidence of their identities at the crime scene.

Even House Speaker Alvarez jumped into the fray, insisting— with no proof offered—that the PNP’s initial theory about robbery was wrong. Now that the PNP was proven right, we trust that the Speaker will remember to hold his tongue in future—or at the very least advise his ally the President that he intends to open his mouth—when it comes to issues that properly belong to the Executive alone.

But one thing about which the Speaker was spot on was his insistence on a complete investigation into the culpability of Resort World’s owners and management in the glaring lapses in security and guest protection.

From the entry of Carlos in full battle gear with firearm despite front-door security presence, to the lack of coordination between

CCTV and security forces clearing the casino-hotel, to the failure to evacuate more guests more quickly and prevent more casualties from smoke suffocation, to the type of carpeting and table material used that readily fed toxic fires—so many questions remain unanswered and answerable for.

We’re willing to bet that other casinos, whether operated or simply overseen by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., have many of the same deficiencies in design and operating assets and protocols that are likely to be found in RW. This is why Pagcor would be better advised, not to offer politicallycorrect counseling to “gambling addicts,” but rather to conduct a thorough-going audit of systems and procedures in all gambling establishments here.

In fact, we’d go even farther and call for such a compliance audit to be conducted at every tourism and leisure establishment—casinos, hotels, large restaurants, malls, event venues—that routinely hosts large crowds, whether local or foreign. Check out their safety assets and procedures, building design and fit-out materials if compliant with fire code, and whatever else the inquiry into RW will tell us to look into.

Later this month, the United Nations World Tourism Organization will go ahead with its regular international conference in Manila, on the topic of tourism statistics. We owe it to those guys to make sure their courageous vote of confidence in Manila wasn’t misplaced, and that they don’t end up being the latest addition to a grimmer set of statistics. *** Meanwhile in Mindanao, there are real terrorists waging war on

our countrymen down there— and, it turns out, a lot more of them doing it than we’d suspected.

Speaking at a Singapore security conference, Indonesian defense minister Ryamizard Racudu claimed that there were as many as 1,200 Islamic State fighters right now in Mindanao, including 40 from Indonesia.

The presence of those foreigners was definitively confirmed with the slaying of some of them during the Marawi siege, including fighters from Indonesia, Malaysia, Yemen, Saudia Arabia, and Chechnya.

But Minister Ryamizard’s numbers took our defense officials by surprise. One of them said his own estimate was much lower, only 250 to 400 IS terrorists in total in Mindanao.

That number may have been true a while back, but has probably been eclipsed since then, not only by the influx of foreigners, but also by the new recruits pledging allegiance to IS from Abu Sayyaf, BIFF, and who knows who else, apart from the Maute group who led the initial attack on Marawi.

Between our people and the security officials of Muslim-majority neighbors like Indonesia and Malaysia, I’m disposed to believe the latter, who obviously have much longer and deeper experience with Islamic extremists than we do.

What scares our neighbors to the south is the influx of Southeast Asian terrorists finding their way back home after being beaten back in battlegrounds like Iraq and Syria. Their leaders in IS have already called for the Philippines to be the focus of their jihad to build the caliphate in Southeast Asia, with Maute leader Isnilon Hapilon designated as their go-to guy here.

This kind of scenario makes Mindanao, not just a domestic concern of ours, but also a regional and even global one. With at least four times more IS terrorists down there than we’d thought, and with the Marawi gang digging in for the long haul--inside AND outside that city—we can look forward to a very long and very hot summer. *** As if all this news isn’t bad enough, and only two weeks after the Manchester, UK bombing, London was again hit by terrorists, this time using the primitive method of stabbing. An online site has reportedly called on IS members to attack civilians with guns, knives and trucks during the holy month of Ramadan.

It’s difficult to comprehend the depth of anger that must inhabit the hearts of so-called Muslims who incite violence in the middle of their holiest religious observance. It will be even more inexplicable if it’s eventually discovered, likely as not, that these terrorists were born and schooled in the UK, raised in comfortable middle-class circumstances, and professionally accomplished.

Such people will not respond to solutions designed to uplift them economically or integrate them socially. These measures may work now among our own poverty-stricken Muslim communities in Mindanao, but, perhaps, not forever. It’s something to ponder as we go about realigning our political and economic environment, through federalism, to accommodate their separatist demands.

Should we worry about how much peace we’re buying, and if so, for how long?

Readers can write me at gbolivar1952@yahoo.com.

Legal issues about martial law in Mindanao HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA BECAUSE of the rampant lawlessness in Mindanao, in Marawi City in particular, President Rodrigo Duterte last week issued Proclamation No. 216 which placed Mindanao under martial law.

Under Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, the president has the power to place the entire country, or any part of it, under martial law, when there is an invasion of the Philippines, or when there is rebellion taking place. The Constitution also explicitly provides that when martial law is resorted to, public safety must demand it.

The mere mention of the phrase “martial law” triggers fear among many because of past experiences, real or imagined, during the martial law administration of President Ferdinand Marcos.

Nonetheless, it must be emphasized that the state of martial law contemplated under the current Constitution is a diluted version of martial law under the 1935 and 1973 charters. For example, martial law in the past meant the automatic suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus, Moreover, the factual basis for the proclamation of martial law was considered beyond the Supreme Court to look into. In fact, martial law could remain in force for an indefinite period.

All that changed under the 1987 Constitution, the present charter.

The 1987 Constitution is “reactionary” because, unlike in earlier charters, its “commander-in-chief

Controversies...

From A4 can generate only a 12 NM territorial sea, regardless of which state has sovereignty over the shoal.

Aside from the territorial dispute, there are also maritime disputes to be dealt with. The distinction is important to understand the significance of the arbitration case the Philippines filed against China that Justice Carpio discusses lengthily in the book and which I will summarize in a later column.

The Exclusive Economic Zones of Asean states China, on the one side, and on the other side, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia have a maritime dispute with China whose nine-dashed line encroaches on the EEZs of these five Asean states.

The dispute between the Philip-

clause,” or the provisions on martial law and habeas corpus, recites many details. The clause itself consists of six paragraphs, and its first paragraph is one of the longest in the entire charter.

Anyway, under the 1987 Constitution, the proclamation of martial law may be revoked by Congress or reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The revocation by Congress and the review by the Supreme Court, however, are not mandated by the Constitution. They are discretionary powers, because the charter uses the modal “may,” which denotes an option, as opposed to the modal “shall,” which denotes a duty.

In addition, martial law under the 1987 Constitution has a duration of no more than 60 days, and any extension of martial law will need the approval of Congress.

Evidently, if Congress refuses to revoke Proclamation No. 216, that is the prerogative of Congress, and the Supreme Court cannot compel Congress to perform a purely discretionary act. Likewise, the separation of powers doctrine disallows the Supreme Court, in the absence of a clear constitutional mandate, from ordering a co-equal branch of the government to perform an act.

A perfect illustration is provided by the constitutional ban against political dynasties. Although the Constitution mandates that the State shall prohibit political dynasties, it left it to Congress to first provide a legislative definition of the term. Unfortunately, vested interests in Congress, particularly those of well-entrenched political families, have rendered the antipolitical dynasty provision in the charter inutile. Attempts to convince the Supreme Court to compel Congress to define the term

“political dynasties” have been unsuccessful Congressional review of Proclamation No. 216 has become moot because just a few days ago, Congress expressed its support for the proclamation. That should not be a cause for immediate alarm or anxiety because, as pointed out earlier, martial law has a duration of no more than 60 days, and any extension of martial law requires the blessings of Congress.

Surprisingly, the news media recently reported that two ex-officials of the past administration have urged their fellow lawyers to oppose Proclamation No. 216 through both the congressional process and the judicial alternative.

They likened opposition to martial law with opposition to dictatorship.

Equating martial law under Proclamation No. 216 to dictatorship is unfounded.

In the first place, martial law is not synonymous to dictatorship because, as discussed above, martial law under the 1987 Constitution is for a limited duration, and fundamental freedoms like resort to the writ of habeas corpus remain in force during the emergency. The charter further provides that civilians arrested in the wake of martial law cannot be tried by military tribunals, and that civilian authority remains supreme over military authority at all times.

Secondly, how can the proclamation of martial law be deemed a dictatorial act when it is explicitly allowed by the 1987 Constitution, which is supposed to be an antidictatorship charter? Pro-Aquino minions opposing Proclamation No. 216 should take note that the 1987 Constitution was written by appointees of President Corazon

Cojuangco Aquino.

As for the review by the Supreme Court of the factual basis of the proclamation of martial law, the power is conceded. How that power will be exercised, however, is another matter.

How will the justices of the Supreme Court, who are all civilians and who have never been in active military duty, be in a position to ascertain with accuracy and meticulous exactitude if there is “factual” basis for Proclamation No. 216?

In the end, the justices will have to rely on information and data provided by the military establishment—the government agency that knows what is really happening in Mindanao at the moment.

If the justices disagree with the information and data provided to them, they will need very good reasons for supplanting the official findings of the military establishment—which under the rules on evidence carry a presumption of regularity—and substituting their own judgment for that made by the military experts. That will be a very hard task, indeed.

That is why the jurisprudence on the “commander-in-chief clause” of the Constitution provides that when the judiciary is called upon to review the exercise of presidential power under the said clause, the standard to be observed is not whether the president acted correctly in proclaiming martial law (which the courts cannot ascertain with precision), but whether the president acted arbitrarily in doing so (which the courts are capable of doing).

With what happened in Mindanao last week, Proclamation No. 216 will pass the test of judicial scrutiny.

pines and China involves the EEZ and ECS70 of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea, which forms part of the South China Sea. Under Administrative Order No. 29 (2012), the West Philippine Sea refers to the waters covered by the maritime entitlements (territorial sea and EEZ) of the Philippines in the South China Sea. The West Philippine Sea also includes the Philippine ECS. Under Article 77 (3) of UNCLOS, the right of the Philippines to its continental shelf, including its 150 NM extended continental shelf, does not depend on any occupation or proclamation. Such continental shelf inheres ipso facto and ab initio to the Philippines by virtue of its sovereignty over its land territory.

The Philippine arbitration case against China actually does not involve a territorial dispute but exclusively focuses on maritime dis-

putes involving the interpretation or application of UNCLOS. Thus, Justice Carpio clarifies that “The Philippines did not ask the Arbitral Tribunal to rule which state is sovereign over certain islands or rocks above water at high tide. Rather, the Philippines asked the Arbitral Tribunal to rule on the extent of the maritime entitlements (0, 12 or 200 NM) of certain geologic features, regardless of which state, if any, exercises sovereignty over them.”

Justice Carpio’s e-book points out that the Spratlys consist of about 750 geologic features lying off the coast of Palawan, most of which are submerged at all times while others are above water only at low tide. Only 28 features remain above water at high tide.

China’s claims to the Spratlys is based on the supposed award made in the Cairo, Potsdam and San Francisco Conferences. Again,

according to Justice Carpio, these claims are unfounded. The 1943 Cairo Conference, attended by Roosevelt, Churchill and Chiang Kai Shek, produced a press release that “territories taken from China

by Japan, including Manchuria, Taiwan and the Pescadores, would be returned to the control of the Republic of China after the conflict ended.” Yet, the Spratlys were never mentioned because these islands were not taken by Japan from China but from the French and the Spratlys were then unoccupied when Japan took over these islands.

Same goes with the 1951 San Francisco Peace Conference, when the motion of the USSR to award the Paracels and the Spratlys to China was defeated by a vote of 46 to 3, with one abstention.

Facebook: Dean Tony La Vina Twitter: tonylavs

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TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

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Imee visits detained aides at Congress

By Rey E. Requejo ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos on Monday showed up before the Court of Appeals to express her support to the bid of six provincial officials to be released from detention at the House of Representatives.

Interviewed prior to the hearing on the habeas corpus petition filed by the employees, Marcos, daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, said that the continued detention of their employees violates the law.

“There is obvious politics behind this. Let us not use Congress and most of all our small employees for political agenda,” she said.

The CA issued a writ of habeas corpus in hearing last Friday requiring House sergeant-at-arms Roland Detabali to present before the court the six petitioners who have been detained since May 29 after being cited in contempt by the House committee on good government and public accountability during its probe into the alleged misuse of P66.45 million in tobacco funds to buy motor vehicles.

RELEVANT WEAPONS. Officials and members of the Philippine Marines stand next to rubber dinghies during a handover ceremony of weapons from the US military, at the Marine headquarters in Manila on June 5, 2017. The United States on June 5 gave counterterrorism weapons to help the Philippine military fight Islamic militants, authorities said. AFP

Employers told to issue payslips

By Vito Barcelo

T

HE Department of Labor and Employment ordered all private companies and employers to issue payslips to their workers and employees, to verify if their wages were deducted with social security contributions.

Labor Undersecretary Dominador Say said he had received complaints that many workers were not being issued pay slips, thus cannot trace nor verify if their wages were deducted with social security or PhilHealth contributions.

“This is their right. Regardless of their work status, casual or regular employees, job

DoT scores ‘breakthrough’ in Korea

By Sandy Araneta THE Philippine tourism sector is confident it will retain Korea as the number 1 visitor market, as the country’s delegation to the Korea World Travel Fair in Seoul, showed high resolve to forge a stronger bond with Koreans, the Department of Tourism said on Monday.

In addition to the crowd-drawing stage presentations and exhibit set up by the DoT-Korea office and DoT-attached agency Tourism Promotions Board, tourism officials held “fact-finding” meetings with Korean travel executives and Seoulbased media, amidst security issues confronting international tourism.

DoT Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, head of the Philippine delegation at Korea’s biggest annual international travel event, described as a “breakthrough in the meeting of minds” with major travel agents and airline executives.

“We look at Korea as a mutual partner in growth, in tourism and our Korean partners are convinced that the Philippines remains in fact a safe haven for foreigners,” said Bengzon.

The Korean travel and tour, and airline executives who met with Bengzon and DoT spokesperson Assistant Secretary Ricky Alegre include Kim, Seong Hoon, sales manager and Kang, Hyuk Shin, country manager, Philippine Airlines; Kang, Yoon Ho, senior manager Cebu Pacific; Yong, Sun-Ok, senior manager and Jeong, Chan Woo, assistant manager, Hana Tour; Kim Jeong Tae, manager, Mode Tour and Um, Jong Hyun, CEO, Yoo Han Travel.

designation, and rate of wages, they are entitled to receive payslips from their employers. This will be the proof of their wages, and if they are being paid properly by their employers,” Say said.

The labor official said even domestic workers or ‘kasambahay’ has the right to be issued with pay slip in accordance with Republic Act No. 10361-Section 26 which states that ‘The employer shall at all times provide the domestic worker with a copy of the pay slip containing the amount paid in cash every pay day, and indicating all deductions made.’

The Labor Laws Compliance Officers conducted inspections and asked employers whether they remit their employees’ social security contributions.

“With their payslips, we can determine if they are being paid properly. They are all en-

titled to get social benefits under the law, including overtime and holiday premiums, as well as additional pay for work done on their rest days. Workers have the right to know this and the government, the labor department requires this process,” Say said.

He said failure to comply with said regulation, such as non-issuance of pay slips, paying employees below the minimum range of wages, non-remittance of SSS, and other social benefit contributions will make the company liable for infringement of labor laws and face charges.

“We encourage the workers to report noncompliant employers. What we can do is we can coordinate with SSS or concerned DoLE offices which can directly send a notice of compliance to the employers, explain them the law, and order them to pay and strictly abide by the rules,” the official added.

Trillanes slams filing of case vs Lascañas

By Macon Ramos-Araneta dia that Lascañas was already SENATOR Antonio F. Trillanes IV yesterday cried foul over the filing of murder and attempted murder cases against self-confessed Davao Death Squad hitman, retired SPO4 Arturo Lascañas, who linked President Rodrigo Duterte to extrajudicial killings in Davao City.

“After a hearing conducted by the Senate on Lascañas’ admissions, Duterte allies were quick to dismiss his testimony and conclude that he is not credible,” said Trillanes.

“And now, the Davao City prosecutor’s office is filing charges against him based on that same testimony,” he added.

“Worse,” Trillanes said, “the people behind this did not even allow the case to go through due process by not letting Lascañas submit his counter affidavit allegedly because of returned subpoenas.”

The senator noted it was widely reported in the me-

abroad in early April, “so why didn’t the prosecutor notify instead the Free Legal Assistance Group [FLAG] since it was listed as the lawyer representing Lascañas in his affidavit and during the hearing?”

On Monday, news reports have come out about the Davao City Prosecutor’s office’s filing of murder and frustrated murder cases against Lascañas in connection with a series of attacks on broadcaster Jun Pala.

Trillanes, a member of the Senate minority, also noted that if the Davao prosecutors relied on Lascañas’ testimony about Jun Pala in the Senate, then they must know that it was not Lascañas who murdered Pala.

“According to his testimony, Lascañas was only part of those who planned the assassination of Jun Pala. In which case, his coconspirators, particularly, Rodrigo Duterte, Sonny Buenaventura and Jim Tan should’ve been charged as well,” Trillanes added.

‘PH needs to improve assessment of foreign investments, assistance’

By Macon Ramos-Araneta SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate economic affairs committee, underscored the need to improve the assessment of foreign financing agreements and overseas development assistance (ODAs) to ensure that these

investment agreements are beneficial to Filipinos.

Under the current mechanism, Gatchalian said the country look for financing agencies, and when it finds one, these financiers are given a free hand to name their chosen contractors and suppliers as part of their trade packages.

“This is a revelation to me,” Gatchalian said, referring to the recent committee hearing on Proposed Senate Resolution No. 222, which called for an inquiry, in aid of legislation, into Philippine-Sino trade agreements forged during the state visit last October 2016.

He said the Philippine government has been using a loose vetting system for foreign-funded investments, which has allowed scheming foreign firms to pull off one-sided trade contracts to the detriment of the nation and the Filipino people.

The Department of Finance

(DoF) admitted during the hearing that the 2016 Chinese investment deals were actually ‘tied’ loan agreements that allowed the Export-Import Bank of China, which would serve as the Chinese funding agency, to name prequalified suppliers or contractors for government projects.

BACK TO SCHOOL. A father drives his children on his motorcycle to the Rafael Palma Elementary School in Zobel Roxas in Singalong, Manila during the first day of school on Monday, June 5. Lino Santos

Sports

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TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Pocari, BaliPure try to seal title duel

P

OCARI Sweat and BaliPure go for repeat over their respective Final Four rivals as they try to arrange a showdown for the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference crown at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today.

The Lady Warriors checked an impending skid and escaped with a 25-23, 2519, 23-25, 22-25, 15-12 victory over the Power Smashers in the opener of their bestof-three semifinal series last Saturday, keeping them on track of keeping the first of

two of championships they won in their maiden stint in the league last year.

Pocari has bucked the odds to move within a win from another finals appearance, topping the quarters and toppling the Power Smashers despite lack of an import

replacement. Krystal Rivers, ing champions in Game One, set to take over the injured producing 52 attack points Games today Edina Selimovic spot, still against their rivals’ 48. Po(Philsports Arena) can’t suit up without the ITC cari did prevail in other scor10 a.m. – Sta. Elena (International Transfer Cering skills, 15-13 (blocks), and vs Cignal (men’s) tificate).

8-6 (serve), but the Power 1 p.m. – Army But coach Rommel Abella Smashers could’ve easily vs Air Force (men’s) has motivated his wards to overcome those deficits with 4 p.m. – Pocari Sweat vs Power good communication and a overcome adversities with Smashers (women’s) top hitters import Michelle more solid floor coverage, 6: 30 p.m. – Creamline Strizak and Myla Pablo comwhich they hope to improve vs BaliPure (women’s) bining well with Jeanetta in Game Two. Panaga, Cai Nepomuceno, Top seed BaliPure is also Elaine Kasilang, Desiree Dadang and the rest of going all-out to finish off Creamline in their 6:30 the group, including ace playmaker Gyzelle Sy. p.m. showdown with the Water Defenders aiming But expect the Power Smashers to come into to duplicate their 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-21 victheir 4 p.m. encounter in fierce form in a bid to tory the first time out. send their series to a rubber match on Thursday.

Jennifer Keddy is again expected to lead BaliThe Power Smashers actually outhit the defend- Pure’s charge with fellow import Jaroensri Bualee

tipped to come into the match in top form after being slowed down by a shoulder injury she sustained in their quarters duel with the Power Smashers.

“We were leading in the first set but the problem was Bualee was injured. I told Risa (Sato) to help her (Bualee) in offense. Aiko (Urdas) also provided the needed support. They are playing differently now as they are able to complement each other,” said BaliPure coach Roger Gorayeb after steering the Water Defenders past the Alyssa Valdez-led squad.

Valdez, who normed in the 20s in the elims up to the quarters, has shared the scoring load with imports Laura Schaudt and Kuttika Kaewpin but the former league MVP is out to pour it all out today and keep the Cool Smashers in the title hunt in their maiden season in the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Mikasa and Asics.

Senate notches 1st win in UNTV Face-off Games Sunday (Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. PNP Responders vs DOJ Justice Boosters 3:30 p.m. Senate Sentinels vs BOC Transformers 5 p.m. AFP Cavaliers vs Judiciary Magis SENATORS Joel Villanueva and Sonny Angara powered the Senate Sentinels in registering their first win at the UNTV Cup Executive Face-off after three games.

The Sentinels handed the DOJ Justice Boosters their first loss via an 84-77 victory.

Angara and Villanueva, who was under the weather, combined for a 30 point-production.

“This is my first win as part of the Senate, so it’s kind of special to me despite the fact na mataas ‘yung temperature ko. But kudos to my team. ‘Yung persistency and the will to win nandoon. You can see in our eyes we wanted to win the game,” said Villanueva.

Due to the tight defense of the Senate, they were able to limit DOJ’s two-time Best Player of the Game Prosecutor Nonilon Tagalicud to just 10 points.

Another key factor to Sentinels’ victory were their twin towers Warren Tan and Lino Ong. Tan was even hailed as the Best Player of the Game after contributing 30 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.

Meanwhile, AFP Cavaliers unloaded their enormous firepower as they gunned down the BOC Transformers to enlist a 2-1 win loss record.

The Cavaliers, with tall and aggressive generals and colonels, piled up a 73-point win against the troop of BOC Commissioner Faeldon, 114-41.

“We prepared harder after the loss we had on our second game.

So I said, ‘We need to bounce back, let’s start with a nice game so that the remaining games we’ll have winning momentum,’” Cavaliers Head Coach Cornelio “Sonny” Manucat III said.

TRIATHLON 3-PEAT. Sam Betten (center) poses with runner-up and fellow Australian Mitch Robins (left) and American Iain Alexandrinis after ruling the Regent 5150 Triathlon in Subic last Sunday, completing a milestone three-peat in the 1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run event sponsored by Regent Food Corp. and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc.

Angeles’ 1st-half strike lifts Kaya Makati past Laguna Table tennis, TEN-MAN Kaya Makati needed a first half strike from Marwin Angeles to subdue a gritty Stallion Laguna side, 1-0, last Sunday, while JPV Marikina recorded a second straight victory in the Philippines Football League.

Angeles, a former national team player, was quickest to react to a loose ball inside the box in the 40th minute, firing past Stallion keeper Roland Sadia for the only goal of the match as Kaya went into the international break on a winning note at University of Makati pitch.

The result boosted Kaya to 10 points from five matches for second spot, two points behind Meralco Manila, which has played only four games so far.

Over at Rizal Memorial Stadium, goals from David Basa and Kouichi Belgira propelled JPV Marikina to a second straight victory at the expense of Ilocos United, 2-0.

Basa rose above everyone else to head home a corner in the second minute of first half stoppage time as JPV vaulted past Global Cebu to third spot with nine

points from five matches.

Signed from Meralco early this year, Belgira got his first goal of the season in the 65th minute, doubling the advantage for the Marikina side Miguel Tanton was sent off in second half injury time for a second yellow card, marking the third straight match that Kaya had a player getting a red card.

But the stellar first half performance plus some composed goalkeeping from Zach Banzon in the second half ensured

that Kaya picked up maximum points for the second straight game.

“In the first half we kept the ball well,” said Angeles. “We knew Stallion would come out strong because they were coming from a loss to JPV.” Senegalese striker Robert Mendy wasted a couple of good chances in the first half for Kaya, including a close range outside the foot effort and a one on one chance that was stopped by Sadia. But Kaya did just enough to stifle the Stallion attack.

Oakley Golf Cup raises funds for Junior Golfers League NOW in its fifth year, Oakley was once again proud to host the Oakley Golf Cup, with participants comprised of CEOs, celebrities, seasoned players, aspiring athletes, golf enthusiasts, as well as the media who swung their golf clubs for a cause last May 29 at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.

This annual charity event for the benefit of The Junior Golfers League is presented by Oakley to encourage a thriving competitive golf future for the country by developing the potential of young, talented golfers such as the TJGL, the grassroots development league of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines.

Despite the tough competition, the players enjoyed the 18-hole system 36 game.

Skills, patience and their heart for golf were tested, as playing golf is not a walk in the park, but Oakley’s Prizm Lens Technology has brought to the game to a whole new level of clarity.

In the Men’s Division Class A, Jeff Bernaldez emerged as Champion scoring, with 74-06 = 68 and Jeorge Gallent winning 1st and Joey Anclano bagging the 2nd Runner up scoring 69 and 70 respectively.

Meanwhile in the Men’s Division Class B, it was Vandolph Quizon who came out on

top with a 92-20 = 72, followed by Rico Tolentino as 1st Runner Up, scoring 9220= 72 and Jonjon Dela Rosa as 2nd Runner up with 92-22 = 72.

In the Men’s Division Class C, the top prize went to Kim Cabatit with a score of 103-31 = 72, with Lorenzo Dela Paz coming in as 1st Runner Up scoring, 103-27= 76 and Benedicto Adorable as 2nd Runner up with 104-28=76.

In the Ladies’ Division, Vangie Omlang emerged as Champion scoring 8413= 71 and Sheila Ward winning 1st and Marissa Vergara winning 2nd Runner up scoring 83-11 = 72 and 87-14 = 73 respectively.

The Junior Golfers also showed their talent for the game – in the 8 & Under Boy’s Division, Patrick Tambalque was named as Champion with a score of 91 + 92 = 183, while in the 8 & Under Girl’s Division, Celine Abalos came in first with 98 + 92 = 190. For the 9 – 12 year old division, the champions were Sean Granada with a score of 70 + 77 = 147 and Annika Chua with a score of87 + 88 = 175. Finally for the 13 – 18 Division, the top prizes went to Josh Jorge with a score of 76 + 73 = 149 and Trish Lazatin with a score of 97 + 99 = 196.

nila University Foundation, the De La Salle University Foundation, and the Rebisco Foundation, Inc. Among the decorated DLSU alumnae that will fight alongside Mika and Kim are former UAAP Most Valuable Players Aby Maraño and Ara Galang, former Finals MVPs Cha Cruz and Michele Gumabao, and superstars Melissa Gohing and Cyd Demecillo. Alyssa and Jia, meanwhile, will get a boost from key players from Ateneo’s twin championships like Ella De Jesus, Dennise

TABLE Tennis Association of the Philippines president Ting Ledesma graces the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum today at the Golden Phoenix Hotel (along Macapagal Ave. Sunrise Drive in Pasay City) to give an update on the condition of Olympian netter Ian Lariba.

Lariba, the first-ever Filipina table tennis player to represent the country in the Olympics (Rio), was recently diagnosed with leukemia and is currently undergoing treatment.

Ledesma is expected to talk about the absence of Lariba in the national team bound for the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia as well as the medal chances of the Filipino paddlers.

Also coming over are Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico, secretary general Renato Unso and marketing head Edward Kho. The weekly session is aired live over DZSR Sports Radio 918 and presented by San Miguel Corp., Golden Phoenix Hotel, Accel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

Ross is top PBA cager of week

Oakley expressed their support for The Junior Golfers League with a donation, allowing them to continue to bring Philippine Golf to the world stage and live out their obsession for the sport. Shown here are Oakley representative Rajiv Dargani and the young members of The Junior Golfers League.

Ateneo, La Salle standouts headline ‘Battle of the Rivals’ TWO fierce rivals in Philippine sports are joining forces for the benefit of the Filipino youth.

Former and current players of the De La Salle Lady Spikers and the Ateneo Lady Eagles led by Mika Reyes, Alyssa Valdez, Kim Fajardo, and Jia Morado are facing-off in the “Battle of the Rivals,” a charity volleyball game set on July 16 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Sponsored by Rebisco, the event aims to raise funds for the scholarship programs of the Ateneo De Ma-

athletics’ heads to grace Forum

Lazaro, and Amy Ahomiro, current UAAP standouts Maddie Madayag and Jho Maraguinot, and Fab 5 member Fille Cayetano.

The special match, announced in a presscon at Buffalo Wild Wings at Capitol Commons in Pasig City, will have the usual Best of Five sets format.

The Ateneo Lady Eagles and the De La Salle Lady Spikers have been meeting in the UAAP women’s volleyball finals in the past six seasons, strengthening further

the rivalry between the two prestigious universities.

Although fierce competitors in the volleyball court, both schools and teams are united in helping young Filipinos ensure a bright future through education. Volleyball fans can show their support by watching this showdown featuring some of the country’s most popular and most talented athletes.

“Battle of the Rivals” will also have a telecast on S+A with details to be announced soon.

DISPLAYING an all-around performance in San Miguel Beer’s last two games in the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations, Fil-American guard Chris Ross went on to earn the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of May 29-June 4.

The 6’2” Ross averaged solid numbers of 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 10.0 assists and 2.5 steals last week after leading San Miguel Beer to victories over Blackwater and GlobalPort.

The last two victories enabled San Miguel to clinch the second seed in the quarterfinals along with one of the two twice-to-beat incentives at stake.

The 32-year-old SMB guard helped the Beermen complete their comeback from a 16-point halftime after finishing with 14 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 assists to beat the Blackwater Elite, 124-113 last Wednesday.

Ross sustained his all-around game three days later as San Miguel Beer officially clinched a twice-to-beat advantage with its 112-101 victory over GlobalPort.

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

P0 M+ P0 M

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

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TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Texters dispatch Bolts

By Jeric Lopez THE TNT KaTropa sent a message loud and clear.

The Tropang Texters brought their A-game to easily dispatch Meralco, 102-94, for a 1-0 lead in Game 1 of their best-of-three quarterfinal series at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Jayson Castro was in playoff mode right away, scoring a game-high 25 points, while hauling six rebounds and handing seven assists to spearhead the Tropang Texters.

After a lackluster first half, Joshua Smith came out aggressive in the second half to help Castro, scoring 15 of his 19 points while shooting a high 8-of-9 clip from the floor.

Game 2 will be tomorrow and the TNT KaTropa will have the chance to close it out and move to the semifinals.

“It’s good to be able to get the first win. We have to keep working hard to get that other game we need,” said TNT KaTropa coach Nash Racela.

The Tropang Texters dominated the first half right away with their suffocating defense, limiting the Bolts to just 27 points, while scoring 42 to carve a 15-point advantage at the turn.

There was no let down from there as they cruised the rest of the way and even built a lead of 24 points, 93-69, with five minutes left.

Meanwhile, the two other quarterfinal series start today.

Top seeds Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer are both eyeing entry to the semifinals as they battle separate foes with twice-to-beat incentives on hand.

The top-seeded Gin Kings will play eighth-ranked GlobalPort at 7 p.m., while the No. 2 Beermen will be tested by No. 7 Phoenix at 4:15 p.m. in the opening game.

A win for Ginebra and San Miguel will send them to the semis right away while the Batang Pier and the Fuel Masters are hoping to force a knockout game.

The scores: TNT 102 - Castro 25, Smith 19, Tautuaa 13, Rosario 9, Garcia 9, Reyes 6, Semerad 5, Pogoy 4, Nuyles 2, De Ocampo 0, Rosales 0, Golla 0, Carey 0.

MERALCO 84 - Newsome 21, Amer 14, Dillinger 12, Hugnatan 11, Yeo 10, Stepheson 9, Caram 3, Hodge 2, Uyloan 2, Faundo 0, Nabong 0, Bono 0.

Quarterscores: 25-13, 42-27, 69-59, 102-84.

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers finds Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry too much to handle in Game 2 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. AFP

Kerr inspires Warriors in Game 2 win over Cavs OAKLAND—Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s return to the sideline Sunday after missing 11 games with a health issue inspired his squad to rout defending champion Cleveland 132-113 in the NBA Finals.

Kerr did not spare his players in assessing their victory, in which they imposed the second-most points surrendered by the Cavaliers all season.

“We had a lot of guys who played exceptionally well individually, and we played with great energy, but heading to Cleveland, we’re going to have to be a lot smarter,” Kerr said. “We play that same game in Cleveland, there’s no way we win.”

The Warriors won their 14th consecutive playoff game, an NBA record, and seized a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers in the best-of-seven championship series, which continues Wednesday and Friday in Cleveland.

“For him to be out there when he has a built-in excuse not to because of the incredible pain he’s under, it’s amazing. It motivates us to win for him,” said Warriors guard Klay Thompson.

“Steve’s a fighter.”

Kerr only revealed his comeback less than two hours before tip-off, leaving social media to inform Golden State forward Draymond Green.

“Before he even came in the locker room, it came across my phone. Everybody kind of found it out at different times,” he said.

“It’s obviously great to have him back on the sidelines, but it was still business as usual. It didn’t feel any different as far as play calls and things we need to do. But it’s definitely great to see him over there and have him talking in the timeouts and out there leading us.”

Kerr, who plans to handle the remainder of the final, pulled himself after feeling

complications from a 2015 back operation following the team’s game two win in the opening series against Portland.

Assistant coach Mike Brown took over and went 11-0, completing sweeps over Portland, Utah and San Antonio and taking Thursday’s NBA Finals opener.

Warriors center Zaza Pachulia was excited to hear the news, as was a sellout crowd of home supporters who gave Kerr an thunderous ovation.

“It feels amazing,” Pachulia said. “I saw the reaction of the fans when he walked in.

He’s such an amazing person. He’s so positive and always helping his players. It was great to see him out there feeling better, enjoying his job again.”

F2 sees tough PSL bid ahead

PH tracksters to train in HK; Tabal’s conduct questioned

By Peter Atencio SELECTED members of the national team will prepare for the coming Southeast Asian Games in Hong Kong.

The Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association is finalizing the list of athletes, who will be the in the former British colony for six weeks.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association officials, led by president Philip Ella Juico said this after expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the pre-SEA Games’ performance trials last Saturday.

“The federation has put serious effort in preparing the national team to enable all its members to meet or even surpass the SEA

Games standard,” said Juico in a statement.

Officials revealed that decathlete Janry Ubas came up with a 7.88-meter leap in the long jump event, surpassing the 10-year SEA Games mark of 7.87 meters.

Javelin throwers Melvin Calano and Kenny Gonzales surpassed the SEA Games’ bronze standard of 56.84 meters with identical heaves of 62.82 meters.

Then, there’s Josie Vilarito and Evalyn Palabrica, who heaved 47.5 meters and 46.77 meters respectively, to come to within range of the bronze standard.

In discus throw, Reah Joy Sumalpong, had a new personal best of 44.38 meter, which is near the bronze standard of 45.72 meters.

Another decathlete in Aries

Toledo was a revelation.

He dominated the 400-meter run in 48.13 seconds, beating Archand Bagsit, who had a 48.93 seconds.

The national squad is set to leave on June 16 for their training camp, which will be hosted by the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

The trip will be done with the assistance of the Philippine Sports Commission, Ayala Corporation, UCPB Gen and Cherrylume Corrugated Sheets.

Meanwhile, Olympian Mary Joy Tabal’s entry into the national squad is still a big question mark.

The PATAFA questioned Tabal’s conduct, saying that she would rejoin the national team whenever it pleases her and leave afterwards.

By Peter Atencio Games on Tuesday: (FilOil Flying V Center) 5 pm – Foton vs Cherrylume 7 pm – Cocolife vs Generika-Ayala

Some of the leading players seeing action in the 2017 Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference starting today at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan link hands as a gesture of unity for the sport during Monday’s media launch at the Centrestage-Mall of Asia. They are (from left) Djanel Cheng of Sta. Lucia Realty, Carmela Tunay of Petron, Gen Casugod of Generika-Ayala, Aby Marano of F2 Logistics, Jaja Santiago of Foton, Mary Ann Mendres of Cherrylume, Jheck Dionela of Cignal and Cherylain Dizon of Cocolife. Roman Prospero

Mondilla seeks 3rd win in a row in Calatagan

Claid Mondilla

CLYDE Mondilla hopes to ride the momentum of his recent back-to-back victories at Southwoods and Villamor as he guns for a third straight victory in the ICTSI Calatagan Golf Challenge starting Wednesday at the Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas.

One thing going for the 24-year-old Del Monte ace in the 72-hole championship offering a total pot of P2.5 million is that he’ll be playing on a course he tamed with a 17-under 271 total en route to posting a huge eight-stroke victory over Jhonnel Ababa last year.

With his pair of one-stroke triumphs at the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship last month and at the revival of the Philippine Masters two weeks ago, Mondilla

will not only have the proverbial momentum on his side but also the psychological edge.

Tony Lascuña admits that with Mondilla playing in some kind of a zone, it makes him doubly tough to beat but the veteran campaigner wants to focus on his game, particularly putting, as he goes for a follow up to his Manila Masters triumph at Eastridge last April.

“When you’re on top of your game, you’ll be tough to beat. But I still like my chances although I need to polish my putting to get another crack (at the crown),” said Lascuña.

Ababa is also tipped to contend for the top P450,000 purse in the event sponsored

by ICTSI, along with Mhark Fernando and Jerson Balasabas, who all call Calatagan

their home, having honed up their skills at the rolling layout during their amateur days.

Others expected to figure in the title chase are veterans Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Rey Pagunsan, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales and Orlan Sumcad along with young guns Jobim Carlos, Justin Quiban and Keanu Jahns.

The event, serving as the seventh leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., also continues to draw foreign participation with Aussies Nathan Park and Jason Dawes, Koreans Park Jun Sung and Hong Soon Hyup, Americans Elliot Hume, Lexus Keoninh, Paul Harris and Nicolas Paez, Macedonian Peter Stojanovski, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Scott Secord of Canada.

MEMBERS of the F2 Logistics are finally getting together after the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championships in Ust, Kamenogorsk in Kazakhstan.

But it will be a shaky start for the Cargo Movers when the Philippine Superliga AllFilipino Conference gets going this Tuesday at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

“It’s very hard. We are getting together as a team after the Asian Club in Kazakhstan,” said Cargo Movers coach Ramil de Jesus, who will try to steer F2 to another crown after winning it last year from Petron.

The Cargo Movers will have plenty of time to prepare as their first game will be on Thursday against Petron at 7 p.m.

The Foton Tornadoes, who are now coached by Moro Branislav, take on newcomer Cherrylume at 5 p.m. today, while Cocolife meets Generika-Ayala later at 7 p.m.

Four newcomers are coming into the Cargo Movers’ rosters, namely Tin Tiamzon, CJ Saga, Shawn Lei Santos and Aduke Ogunsaya, spikers who are part of reigning UAAP champion La Salle.

Investors swarm T-bill auction B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

IN BRIEF

Art Mod Fair 2017 showcases art pieces

A HOST of established and upcoming visual artists will showcase their best works during the first Art Mode Fair 2017 on June 9 to 11 at the Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

The fair produced and organized by ArtisteSpace provides audience from serious collectors to first time buyers a rare opportunity to grab modern art pieces from paintings and sculptures to mixed media and photography prints.

It will put on display the pieces of Filipino artists such as Philipp Badon, Boysie Villavicencio, Ali Alejandro, Joe Datuin, Toym Imao, MichellineSyjuco, Ronnie Lim, Andy Malluche, Luna Arguelles, Alfred Gallura, Elaine Herbosa, Miguel Buhay, Pilar Quiros, JV Calanoc, Noemi Concepcion, Sky de Leon, Ralph William Villaluz, Emmanuel Mendoza, Allan Sison, Norlie Meimban, Maia Magpantay as well as the collections of William Borja and Myla Roque and participating galleries such as Larc En Ciel, Arte Pintura, Transwing, Happy Art, Saturday Group headed by Buds Convocar, FDAP and Feati University.

The three-day event treats visitors to inspirational and informative talks and workshops by professional artists and educators like Inka Madera, Liz Lanuzo, John Paul “Lakan” Oliveros, Peter John Natividad and Toym Imao, conveying priceless insight and new ideas in their fields.

Ayala unit buys German auto firm

By Jenniffer B. Austria CONGLOMERATE Ayala Corp. said Monday unit AC Industrial Technology Holdings Inc. is acquiring 94.9 percent of German automotive supplier MT Misslbeck Technologies GmbH for 26.8 million euros or P1.5 billion.

Ayala said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it completed a share purchase and transfer agreement with MT in a transaction valued at 26.8 million euros.

“This investment forms part of AC Industrials’ strategy to increase its competence and capabilities in the automotive value chain and will complement AC Industrials’ existing businesses in manufacturing services and vehicle distribution and dealerships,” Ayala said.

The closing of the transaction is subject to completion conditions and regulatory approval.

MT is a supplier of models, tools and plastic parts to automotive original equipment manufacturers and automobile tier 1 suppliers.

The company, which traces its roots to a workshop established in 1869, has production plants in Ingolstadt, Germany. MT designs and creates models of entire cars or parts of a car, develops, designs and manufactures injection moulds for metal and plastic car parts and produces automotive plastic parts for prototyping and serial production.

B1

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT.

First Philippine Holdings Corp. expands the scope of information available to the public in its 2016 Annual Report by supplementing it with a Sustainability Report, adhering to the standards set by the Netherlands-based Global Reporting Initiative. FPH chairman and chief executive Federico Lopez (third from left) receives a copy of the report from Dr. Colin Legarde Hubo (fourth from left), executive director of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Social Responsibility, which prepared the report. With them are (from left) FPH president and chief operating officer Francis Giles Puno, UA&P president Dr. Winston Padojinog, FPH chief sustainability officer Agnes de Jesus and UA&P Prof.

Nanette G. Dungo.

Mitsubishi marks 100 years of car making MITSUBISHi Corp. is celebrating its centennial year of automobile manufacturing in 2017.

The first car ever to be adorned with the three-diamond emblem was the Mitsubishi Model A developed by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Company, one of predecessor companies of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 1917.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. said in celebration of Mitsubishi’s 100 years, it will hold a grand expo on June 8 to 11 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Dubbed as the Mitsubishi 100 Years Anniversary Expo, the motor show promises to excite the public as it brings a one of a kind and truly memorable experience not only to Mitsubishi fans but to any car enthusiasts.

The Mitsubishi 100 Years Anniversary Expo is open to public from 12 noon to 9 p.m. on June 8 and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 9 to 11 and admission is free.

A century of automobile innovation will be showcased at the expo with the display of the iconic cars, rally cars and MMPC’s current vehicle line-up.

MMPC will give each expo visitors a glimpse of the rich history of Mitsubishi and a chance to see actual vehicles that were on display at the Mitsubishi Auto Gallery located in Okazaki, Japan.

MMPC will bring in the 1937 Race (Circuit Car), 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally winner Pajero #189, WRC Lancer 2005 and the Outlander PHEV which won the 2015 Baja Rally.

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

PSE COMPOSITE INDEX Closing June 5, 2017

9000 8500 8000 7500 6500

World Bank sees PH outperforming China

By Julito G. Rada

HE World Bank expects the Philippine economy to sustain its growth momentum this year and next and outperform the rest of the region, including economic powerhouse China.

T

The bank said in its June 2017 Global Economic Prospects report the Philippine economy could register a 6.9-percent growth in 2017 and 2018.

“Growth in the Philippines is forecast to hold steady at 6.9 percent this year and the next, led by a pickup in public and private investment,” the bank said.

Such a growth would be faster than other major Asian economies including China which was projected to expand 6.5 percent in 2017. Actual gross domestic product growth in the Philippines reached only 6.4 percent in the first quarter, below the government’s target.

The World Bank said growth

in the East Asia and Pacific region would likely ease to 6.2 percent in 2017 and to 6.1 percent in 2018, as the gradual slowdown in China would be offset by a pickup elsewhere led by a rebound among commodity exporters and accelerating growth in Thailand.

“Growth in China is anticipated to slow to 6.5 percent this year and 6.3 percent in 2018. Excluding China, the region is seen advancing at a more rapid 5.1 percent rate in 2017 and 5.2 percent in 2018,” it said.

Indonesia is seen to pick up to 5.2 percent in 2017 and 5.3 percent in 2018 as the effects of fiscal consolidation dissipate and as private activity picks up,

supported by modestly rising commodity prices, improving external demand and increased confidence due to reforms.

Thailand is expected to maintain a 3.2-percent growth in 2017, accelerating to 3.3 percent next year, supported by greater public investment and recovering private consumption.

The World Bank also predicted that global economic growth would strengthen to 2.7 percent in 2017 as a pickup in manufacturing and trade, rising market confidence and stabilizing commodity prices allow growth to resume in commodity-exporting emerging market and developing economies.

Govt threatens to shut down Provident Plans THE Insurance Commission on Monday threatened to shut down Provident Plans International Corp., a pre-need company led by businessman Gregorio Alcantara Jr., unless the company finds a white knight on or before June 17.

Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa said in a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III the agency planned to put Provident Plans under conservatorship to protect the interest of 38,000 plan holders.

Provident Plans is among the companies found to be financially deficient after the regulation of the pre-need industry was

placed under the commission in 2010 under Republic Act 9829.

Pre-need firms were previously under the supervision of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Funa said while Provident Plans manifested before the IC in February and March this year that it had a “white knight” investor to cover up its capital impairment and trust fund deficiencies, the regulator had not yet received any concrete plan or letter of intent from the supposed investor.

“Thus, this commission has ordered Provident Plans to submit a concrete plan and letter of

Automobile industry set to thrive amid tax reform THE progressive automobile tax plan under the comprehensive tax reform program will not affect the growth of the industry, a highranking official of the Finance Department said Monday.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said in a statement the domestic automobile industry would continue to thrive and sustain its growth momentum amid the Duterte administration’s plan to make the excise tax system more progressive.

The measure aims to replace the current four-bracket system with a five-tier structure that will impose higher rates on the pricier luxury-car segment.

Chua said that in other ASEAN economies such a Indonesia and Malaysia, automobile excise tax rates reached 125 percent and 105 percent, respectively, yet their luxury car markets continued to thrive.

Reforming the excise tax system for automobiles is among the provisions of House Bill No. 5636 or the proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act now pending before the Senate.

This measure, which is the first package of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program, also aims to lower income taxes and to make up for the consequent revenue loss by plugging tax leakages, limiting value added tax exemptions and adjusting excise taxes on fuel, among other measures.

HB 5636, or the Train measure, was approved with 246-9 vote with one abstention on May 31 by the House of Representatives before Congress adjourned sine die.

Trains is a consolidation of the original tax reform bill―HB 4774―filed by Quirino Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua and 54 other taxrelated measures. Julito G. Rada

intent from its proposed investor or to cover up its capital impairment and trust fund deficiencies within 60 days from receipt of the directive (dated April 12, 2017) or until June 17, 2017.

Otherwise, this commission will issue a cease and desist order and place the company under conservatorship,” Funa said.

Provident Plans has three product lines focused on life/ memorial plans, education plans and pension plans, but 70 percent of its clientele were life/memorial policy holders.

Funa said Provident Plans’ financial woes were already existing before the enactment of the

Pre-Need Code and the transfer of supervision of pre-need companies to the IC. It said the primary cause of the company’s capital impairment and trust fund deficiency was the unrecoverable investment with its previous trustee bank―the Export and Industry and the neglect by its new trustee bank― United Coconut Planters Bank to protect. the trust fund.

The commission said it had given Provident Plans sufficient time and opportunity to infuse cash and/or additional assets to address its financial problems, which it had failed to do.

Julito G. Rada

6000

8,001.38 93.72

PESO-DOLLAR RATE Closing June 5, 2017

45.00 46.50 48.00 49.50

P49.400 CLOSE

51.00

HIGH P49.365 LOW P49.435 AVERAGE P49.404 VOLUME 385.800M

P435.00-P680.00 LPG/11-kg tank P37.65-P49.80 Unleaded Gasoline P26.70-P31.91 Diesel

OPRICES IL TODAY

P32.85-P41.15 Kerosene P20.75-P21.75

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monday, June 5, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar

Peso

United States

Dollar

1.000000

49.6310

Japan

Yen

0.009064

0.4499

UK

Pound

1.286800

63.8652

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128371

6.3712

Switzerland

Franc

1.039393

51.5861

Canada

Dollar

0.741345

36.7937

Singapore

Dollar

0.724533

35.9593

Australia

Dollar

0.742200

36.8361

Bahrain

Dinar

2.652379

131.6402

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266660

13.2346

Brunei

Dollar

0.721917

35.8295

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029189

1.4487

UAE

Dirham

0.272287

13.5139

Euro

Euro

1.127600

55.9639

Korea

Won

0.000894

0.0444

China

Yuan

0.146875

7.2896

India

Rupee

0.015528

0.7707

Malaysia

Ringgit

0.233699

11.5987

New Zealand

Dollar

0.712500

35.3621

Taiwan

Dollar

0.033230

1.6492 Source: PDS Bridge

BEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

Tagaytay Highlands‘ Woodridge Place wins Best Residential Development (Resort) in the 2017 Philippines Property Awards.

Accepting the award are (from left) Highlands Prime Inc. assitant vice president for marketing Mabe De Goitia, senior vice president and operations head Mary Eleanor Mendoza, vice president for sales Carmelyne Bolus and senior manager for corporate planning and market research Wilfred Ko.

B2

Business

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

MPIC offers P4.25b for Alsons coal unit

By Alena Mae S. Flores METRO Pacific Investments Corp. on Monday pegged the purchase price for a 50-percent stake in Alsons Thermal Power Corp. at P4.25 billion, subject to adjustment on closing.

Alsons Consolidated Resources Corp. of the Alcantara Group said it signed an agreement to sell 14,952,678 shares in Alsons Thermal Energy Corp., its coal holding company, and assign 50 percent of its receivables in Atec to Global Business Power Corp. which is controlled by MPIC. MPIC said “the completion of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent, including the approval of the Philippine Competition Commission.”

It said Global Business Power would fund the acquisition through internal sources and external bank debt.

Alsons said it would “gain a strategic partner for the coal power plant projects it owns, and future energy projects it will undertake through Atec.”

“The partnership will greatly benefit the power consumers with the combined technical competencies and strengths of GBPC in the Visayas and ACR’s long years of experience in Mindanao as the island’s first independent power producer, particularly in light of the planned interconnection of the Mindanao and Visayas grid,” Alsons said.

Stock index tops 8,000; Metrobank leads gainers

S

TOCKS jumped for a third day, sending the benchmark index above the 8,000-point level for the first time in 10 months, after the World Bank said it expects the Philippine economy to outperform the rest of the region.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 93 points, or 1.2 percent, to close at 8,001.38 Monday, the highest since it finished at 8,051.40 on Aug. 10, 2016. It was also up 17 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, gained 44 points, or 0.9 percent, to settle

at 4,760.27, on a value turnover of P8.7 billion. Advancers outnumbered losers, 116 to 80, while 43 issues were unchanged.

Nineteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. which surged 5.3 percent to P89.50 and Melco Resorts which climbed 3.4 percent to P10.

Meanwhile, Asian stocks were mixed as investors weighed the prospects for global growth. The pound slipped after a terror attack in London.

Crude climbed while Qatari stocks plunged as the political crisis in the Gulf escalated. US and Australian bond yields were near the lowest in seven months as Friday’s data on wage growth and hiring in the American labor market came in below forecasts.

The yen weakened after Friday’s gain. The peso reversed losses on signs the ruling PRI was ahead in the governor’s election for the key state of Mexico.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt said they will

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW MONDAY, JUNE 5, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.48 215,000 49.95 82,300 106.6 1,390,130 124.6 2,241,910 1.55 1,400,000 37.4 354,500 16.14 21,900 27.5 2,272,200 1.69 5,000 0.72 9,476,000 89.5 2,310,250 0.83 3,210,000 25.5 200 70.5 349,780 239.8 870 109 300 90.2 10,550 65.4 301,490 225 427,780 1,649 20 84.5 66,730

959,190 4,109,100 147,727,188 279,510,031 2,181,660 13,250,460 353,424 61,832,805 8,490 6,908,180 205,869,587 2,619,830 5,100 24,604,854.50 208,646 32,700 948,971 19,763,204 96,191,688 32,980 5,631,436.50

-102,840 3,899,410 9,002,276 -17,746,363 -54,000 2,583,000 -231,088 3,202,455 169,900 133,153,341.50 11,200,013.50 -276,012 5,022,090 73,649,492 -230,407

38.8 7.8 0.82 1.63 28 0.26 7.35 17.6 165.3 23.2 14.28 74.8 80 2.04 5.23 11.6 12.44 15.78 9.65 6.8 5.96 1.77 18.96 71.45 13.42 14.78 10.6 1.69 214 62.2 4.06 3.65 26 32.5 19.14 18.88 271 6.11 3.29 10.5 5 10.5 1.96 9.32 2.04 69 6.12 296 4.7 4.6 13.2 5.22 0.144 1.35 159 2.11 1.07

INDUSTRIAL 38.8 1,794,000 8.02 8,148,400 0.83 1,917,000 1.63 28,410,000 30.95 693,700 0.265 3,900,000 7.39 1,483,200 17.88 251,800 165.3 10 23.5 26,116,700 14.3 3,800 74.8 2,450 81 1,980 2.04 2,468,000 5.24 115,200 11.6 9,200 12.44 5,042,300 15.94 11,312,700 9.7 3,882,000 6.83 2,508,700 5.96 5,959,100 1.77 5,000 19.1 3,908,200 71.7 367,940 13.52 16,100 14.8 481,300 11.38 4,241,900 1.7 2,095,000 216 879,570 62.2 10 4.06 340,000 3.67 5,000 26.05 1,000 33.05 1,752,200 19.6 1,468,000 19.1 2,818,100 271 287,880 6.4 4,600 3.29 134,000 10.72 10,110,400 5.28 284,500 10.5 3,700 1.97 1,851,000 9.49 1,391,000 2.12 1,459,000 69.55 818,930 6.6 5,350,000 299 2,750 4.7 31,000 4.69 625,000 13.58 1,080,600 5.39 164,100 0.15 4,910,000 1.38 277,000 160.4 2,061,420 2.12 10,555,000 1.14 1,082,000

70,172,500 65,122,298 1,607,090 49,386,990 21,252,915 1,033,050 10,970,600 4,477,822 1,653 606,361,205 54,438 183,260 159,445 5,122,110 603,893 107,512 62,819,106 180,978,308 37,689,196 17,141,873 36,070,040 8,850 74,554,512 26,311,771 217,512 7,123,968 47,435,584 3,602,400 189,971,252 622 1,391,570 18,330 26,030 57,896,430 28,439,314 53,745,990 78,234,350 28,480 442,900 109,057,046 1,515,826 38,850 3,647,820 13,159,825 3,045,520 56,941,053.50 33,526,378 817,212 145,760 2,900,390 14,597,272 885,377 715,260 378,900 330,683,336 22,785,390 1,192,250

-10,596,120 -32,011,451 280,250 8,430 31,300 64,441 1,334,826 -38,946,645 -5,984 2,320 -3,226,192 3,289,760 -6,995,233 2,313,795 11,939,159 25,935,356 25,182,896 -6,287,776 16,187,480 77,900 72,804,490 12,180 15,701,830 417,388 -44,174,596 -19,224,404 -287,080 630,396 69,100 1,472,522 -211,000 3,755,900.50 31,250,000 -116,610 126,880 779,940 1,980,230 2,745 49,904,062 1,435,320 -

0.38 75.8 14.4 1.15 6.2 0.34 0.345 891 8.14 13.66 7.61 5.9 0.207 1,203 7.45 81.55 5.1 1.01 7.29 15.9 0.395 6.36 0.057 0.93 2.02 104.1 2.75 779.5 0.87 1.39 305 0.28 0.22

HOLDING FIRMS 0.38 3,870,000 75.95 1,174,000 14.8 17,918,500 1.2 429,000 6.25 252,900 0.34 6,750,000 0.365 1,630,000 894 168,160 8.18 362,600 13.92 14,385,500 7.61 30,000 5.9 1,200 0.207 650,000 1,227 185,520 7.45 1,500 81.55 1,548,990 5.1 1,100 1.03 9,626,000 7.5 4,135,300 16.1 662,400 0.395 100,000 6.36 18,476,000 0.059 19,310,000 0.95 120,000 2.02 108,000 104.8 191,950 2.75 5,000 790 502,850 0.87 42,000 1.41 199,000 306.2 4,970 0.285 840,000 0.23 630,000

1,491,400 89,349,652.50 264,182,446 510,690 1,579,354 2,355,050 600,650 150,528,010 2,963,764 200,339,870 228,300 7,080 136,250 227,134,280 11,175 127,102,964 5,610 9,901,200 30,628,751 10,703,712 39,500 117,960,222 1,110,670 115,980 218,680 20,109,601 13,850 397,937,410 36,560 278,260 1,519,894 238,450 143,400

1,925,278 26,310,592 19,705,470 1,663,425 104,078,444 73,166,000 50,437,600 5,100 -1,008,211 4,380,284 -3,905,799 -2,652,627 50,561,490 13,900 -186,994 -58,000 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.35 ASIA UNITED 49.9 BANK PH ISLANDS 105.8 BDO UNIBANK 123.9 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.5 CHINABANK 37.4 COL FINANCIAL 16.16 EAST WEST BANK 26.6 IREMIT 1.7 MEDCO HLDG 0.73 METROBANK 86.1 NTL REINSURANCE 0.8 PBCOM 25.5 PHIL NATL BANK 70 PHIL STOCK EXCH 240 PHILTRUST 109 PSBANK 89.5 RCBC 65.5 SECURITY BANK 225 SUN LIFE 1,649 UNION BANK 84.5

4.56 50 106.6 125 1.61 37.55 16.16 27.55 1.7 0.76 89.5 0.84 25.5 70.5 240 109 90.2 66 225.6 1,649 84.5

4.3 49.85 105 123.9 1.5 37 16.08 26.5 1.69 0.72 86.1 0.78 25.5 69.3 239.8 109 89.5 65 223.2 1,649 84

ABOITIZ POWER 39.5 AGRINURTURE 7.99 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.82 ALSONS CONS 1.9 ASIABEST GROUP 28.5 BASIC ENERGY 0.27 CEMEX HLDG 7.45 CENTURY FOOD 17.6 CHEMPHIL 165.3 CIRTEK HLDG 23.2 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.32 CONCEPCION 74.8 CONCRETE A 80 CROWN ASIA 2.06 DAVINCI CAPITAL 5.25 DEL MONTE 11.8 DNL INDUS 12.5 EAGLE CEMENT 15.8 EEI CORP 9.82 EMPERADOR 6.84 ENERGY DEVT 6.07 EUROMED 1.77 FIRST GEN 18.98 FIRST PHIL HLDG 71.75 GINEBRA 13.5 HOLCIM 14.8 INTEGRATED MICR 10.6 IONICS 1.78 JOLLIBEE 214 LIBERTY FLOUR 62.2 LMG CHEMICALS 4.2 MABUHAY VINYL 3.65 MACAY HLDG 26 MANILA WATER 32.75 MAXS GROUP 19.38 MEGAWIDE 19.4 MERALCO 275 PANASONIC 6.11 PEPSI COLA 3.33 PETRON 10.62 PHIL H2O 5.28 PHINMA 10.5 PHINMA ENERGY 1.98 PHX PETROLEUM 9.6 PHX SEMICNDCTR 2.05 PILIPINAS SHELL 69.8 PRYCE CORP 6.12 PUREFOODS 296.2 RFM CORP 4.7 ROXAS HLDG 4.72 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.4 SPC POWER 5.22 SWIFT FOODS 0.148 TKC METALS 1.38 UNIV ROBINA 160 VITARICH 2.13 VULCAN INDL 1.13

39.6 8.04 0.86 1.94 32.75 0.27 7.45 17.9 165.3 23.6 14.6 74.8 81 2.12 5.39 11.8 12.5 16.18 9.82 6.92 6.11 1.77 19.28 71.75 13.52 14.82 11.48 1.78 216.8 62.2 4.2 3.67 26.05 33.5 19.6 19.4 275.6 6.4 3.4 10.98 5.58 10.5 1.99 9.6 2.13 69.8 6.8 299 4.72 4.85 13.7 5.5 0.15 1.39 161.4 2.2 1.15

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 JOLLIVILLE HLDG LODESTAR LOPEZ HLDG LT GROUP MABUHAY HLDG METRO PAC INV PACIFICA PRIME MEDIA PRIME ORION SAN MIGUEL CORP SEAFRONT RES SM INVESTMENTS SOC RESOURCES SOLID GROUP TOP FRONTIER UNIOIL HLDG WELLEX INDUS

0.395 77 14.84 1.22 6.25 0.36 0.37 899 8.2 14.06 7.61 5.9 0.214 1,234 7.45 83 5.1 1.1 7.5 16.48 0.395 6.47 0.059 1.05 2.04 106 2.8 799 0.88 1.41 306.8 0.29 0.23

0.39 76.2 14.72 1.18 6.2 0.355 0.37 892 8.2 13.7 7.61 5.9 0.212 1,203 7.45 82.5 5.1 1.05 7.4 16.06 0.395 6.43 0.059 1.05 2.04 106 2.75 782.5 0.87 1.39 306 0.29 0.23

8990 HLDG 6.25 A BROWN 1.19 ARANETA PROP 2.29 ARTHALAND CORP 1.21 AYALA LAND 41 BELLE CORP 4.06 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.23 CEBU HLDG 5.29 CENTURY PROP 0.53 CITY AND LAND 1.1 CITYLAND DEVT 1.45 CROWN EQUITIES 0.166 CYBER BAY 0.52 DOUBLEDRAGON 48.95 EMPIRE EAST 0.68 EVER GOTESCO 0.161 FILINVEST LAND 1.67 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.11 IRC PROP 0.99 MEGAWORLD 4.5 MRC ALLIED 0.34 PHIL ESTATES 0.39

6.26 1.25 2.39 1.24 41.2 4.17 5.27 5.32 0.54 1.13 1.49 0.166 0.53 50.5 0.69 0.171 1.67 1.15 0.99 4.64 0.345 0.39

6.24 1.19 2.29 1.2 40.85 4.05 5.17 5.29 0.52 1.08 1.42 0.162 0.52 48.75 0.68 0.158 1.63 1.11 0.95 4.5 0.325 0.37

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL REALTY 0.73 PRIMEX CORP 3.87 PTFC REDEV CORP 27.85 ROBINSONS LAND 25.35 ROCKWELL 1.76 SHANG PROP 3.25 SM PRIME HLDG 34 STA LUCIA LAND 1.02 STARMALLS 7.2 SUNTRUST HOME 0.92 VISTA LAND 5.55

0.74 4 27.85 26.1 1.77 3.29 35.1 1.02 7.2 0.92 5.58

0.69 3.86 27.8 25 1.71 3.25 33.75 1 7.2 0.88 5.51

0.7 3.98 27.8 25.5 1.71 3.29 34.6 1 7.2 0.91 5.58

54,143,000 404,000 1,900 4,383,900 358,000 30,000 9,598,000 2,648,000 200 311,000 3,774,100

38,289,570 1,601,650 52,850 112,639,305 621,020 98,210 332,686,810 2,659,490 1,440 277,070 20,981,120

164,640 239,250 9,102,320 -29,520 104,102,380 -176,750 5,202,174

2GO GROUP 28.5 ABS CBN 42.75 ACESITE HOTEL 2.17 APC GROUP 0.52 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.045 ASIAN TERMINALS 11.1 BERJAYA 5.61 BLOOMBERRY 9.31 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.087 CALATA CORP 2.12 CEBU AIR 98.65 CENTRO ESCOLAR 9.68 DFNN INC 8.46 FAR EASTERN U 970 GLOBE TELECOM 2,162 GMA NETWORK 6.07 GOLDEN HAVEN 16.02 HARBOR STAR 2.87 IMPERIAL 3.45 INTL CONTAINER 101 IPM HLDG 8.51 ISLAND INFO 0.193 ISM COMM 1.37 JACKSTONES 3.74 LBC EXPRESS 16.44 LEISURE AND RES 3.95 MACROASIA 4.46 MANILA JOCKEY 2.35 MELCO RESORTS 9.6 METRO RETAIL 3.67 MLA BRDCASTING 16.88 NOW CORP 2.74 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.6 PAL HLDG 5.31 PHIL SEVEN CORP 170 PHILWEB 11.9 PLDT 1,825 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.6 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.39 PUREGOLD 44.7 ROBINSONS RTL 87.95 SBS PHIL CORP 5.83 SSI GROUP 2.68 STI HLDG 1.14 TRANSPACIFIC BR 1.9 TRAVELLERS 3.03 WATERFRONT 1.03 WILCON DEPOT 6.07

29.95 42.75 2.24 0.52 0.045 11.3 5.78 9.7 0.088 2.14 100.8 10.08 8.8 970 2,194 6.08 16.36 2.89 3.46 102 8.94 0.201 1.42 3.94 16.5 3.98 4.48 2.4 10.12 3.75 17 2.88 11.6 5.31 170 11.9 1,890 1.61 0.395 45.2 89 6 2.74 1.17 1.9 3.12 1.07 6.35

28.5 42.6 2.1 0.51 0.044 11.1 5.55 9.31 0.085 2.09 98.65 9.68 8.46 970 2,140 6.04 16.02 2.82 3.45 100.7 8.51 0.19 1.36 3.5 16.44 3.92 4.46 2.35 9.6 3.64 16.88 2.74 11.54 5 168 10 1,825 1.59 0.39 44.7 87.55 5.83 2.64 1.12 1.9 3 0.99 6.01

SERVICES 29.15 967,300 42.6 33,000 2.1 1,670,000 0.51 20,665,000 0.045 14,300,000 11.3 2,700 5.55 80,600 9.6 20,601,700 0.087 31,930,000 2.1 2,246,000 100.1 143,970 10.08 2,400 8.5 81,400 970 500 2,180 81,370 6.05 599,000 16.06 85,300 2.82 1,384,000 3.46 35,000 101.5 2,785,470 8.91 310,300 0.19 44,360,000 1.37 457,000 3.6 1,519,000 16.48 1,600 3.98 660,000 4.46 91,000 2.4 6,000 10 13,450,600 3.75 2,089,000 16.9 3,600 2.87 5,982,000 11.54 21,700 5.24 212,500 168 209,310 10.1 7,759,200 1,868 145,720 1.61 8,882,000 0.395 100,000 44.8 2,773,100 89 2,258,210 5.95 330,000 2.69 6,431,000 1.17 11,609,000 1.9 1,000 3.1 16,562,000 0.99 26,505,000 6.27 17,876,400

28,188,365 1,408,200 3,625,300 10,539,160 640,400 30,390 456,087 196,856,035 2,743,600 4,723,090 14,445,000 23,392 704,686 485,000 177,629,590 3,628,418 1,379,466 3,923,760 120,860 282,923,653 2,769,073 8,664,910 632,340 5,587,120 26,376 2,600,390 406,050 14,270 134,111,655 7,731,850 60,930 16,861,950 251,018 1,069,016 35,164,400 84,293,266 272,773,725 14,222,600 39,250 124,387,075 199,090,267 1,963,972 17,323,450 13,454,460 1,900 50,761,050 27,079,880 112,056,850

-446,280 -242,420 0 -68,187,698 25,800 -79,440 -2,542,317.50 -175,600 53,213,990 42,450 8,573,070 -397,000 150,450 345,900 5,924,142 560,900 82,370 40,691 0 -144,262 76,452,065 750,310 64,144,720 29,266,146.50 -3,121,890 4,867,060 -2,167,780 -744,000 36,617,776

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

0.0033 1.75 5.05 2.15 0.88 0.39 9.4 2.42 0.3 0.187 0.195 0.012 0.012 1.79 6.22 2.1 0.45 0.97 0.01 6.06 0.012 8.9 3.19 158 2.61 0.0085

0.0033 1.75 5.05 2.19 0.89 0.395 9.9 2.42 0.3 0.19 0.197 0.012 0.012 2.14 6.22 2.16 0.45 0.98 0.011 6.35 0.013 9.1 3.27 162.5 2.61 0.0085

0.0032 1.68 4.98 2.15 0.83 0.39 9.4 2.38 0.29 0.18 0.195 0.011 0.012 1.73 6.1 2.1 0.45 0.97 0.01 5.91 0.012 8.89 3.12 157.3 2.61 0.0083

MINING & OIL 0.0032 54,000,000 1.7 8,653,000 4.99 219,700 2.19 5,000 0.88 1,788,000 0.39 1,580,000 9.41 26,000 2.38 1,234,000 0.295 3,300,000 0.182 12,280,000 0.197 80,000 0.012 19,300,000 0.012 15,800,000 2.11 9,679,000 6.2 1,002,800 2.1 161,000 0.45 20,000 0.98 199,000 0.01 90,200,000 6.21 835,300 0.012 15,000,000 9.1 609,400 3.2 1,478,000 160 614,700 2.61 9,000 0.0083 21,000,000

172,900 14,801,620 1,098,654 10,910 1,525,470 617,400 247,875 2,954,720 960,950 2,262,120 15,700 215,300 189,600 19,482,120 6,202,101 338,310 9,000 194,780 931,300 5,174,420 181,100 5,501,090 4,680,690 98,840,985 23,490 177,000

6,400 852,510 -9,984 584,760 12,000 -12,890 962,441 -428,530 1,579,271 24,102,757 -

ABS HLDG PDR AC PREF B1 ALCO PREF B DD PREF FGEN PREF F FGEN PREF G GMA HLDG PDR LR PREF PF PREF 2 PNX PREF 3A SFI PREF SMC PREF 2C SMC PREF 2F SMC PREF 2H SMC PREF 2I

42 514 106 105 112.5 116.4 5.83 1.07 1,012 104.5 2.1 81.95 80.7 78.1 79

42 514 106 105.5 112.5 116.5 5.83 1.1 1,016 104.5 2.1 82 80.7 78.2 79

41.5 514 106 105 112.5 116.4 5.75 1.07 1,012 104.5 1.91 81.95 80.7 78.1 77.6

PREFERRED 42 35,200 514 2,000 106 17,380 105 6,850 112.5 100 116.5 550 5.76 929,700 1.1 239,000 1,016 2,660 104.5 1,870 1.91 46,000 82 118,070 80.7 5,700 78.1 30,000 77.7 67,110

1,467,550 1,028,000 1,842,280 719,275 11,250 64,067 5,382,943 262,630 2,694,340 195,415 93,560 9,681,466 459,990 2,343,050 5,229,316.50

415,800 53,000 -2,586,449 220,000 1,008,800

LR WARRANT

2.15

2.19

2.14

WARRANTS 2.16 215,000

461,240

-

3,686,470 202,694 14,413,437

-145,120 -3,518,457

6,155,475

273,180

29,295

-

NAME

OPEN

MS

PROPERTY 6.24 318,100 1.24 7,565,000 2.39 80,000 1.21 11,646,000 40.9 13,319,500 4.14 1,158,000 5.22 14,277,700 5.3 69,200 0.53 10,020,000 1.12 148,000 1.47 506,000 0.165 4,210,000 0.52 1,081,000 50.5 670,100 0.68 20,165,000 0.169 7,050,000 1.64 5,722,000 1.15 20,917,000 0.95 3,000,000 4.58 23,762,000 0.34 43,510,000 0.37 5,530,000

1,987,959 9,296,740 186,310 14,192,130 545,458,420 4,788,760 74,467,546 367,208 5,307,240 163,100 732,700 690,670 562,420 33,424,925 13,765,790 1,165,870 9,432,680 23,738,060 2,891,570 108,962,380 14,551,600 2,071,400

-1,421,216 16,030 49,540 397,495 2,663,880 7,517,476 -1,060,000 8,150 2,358,270 -12,279,200 1,580 -4,456,950 1,310,680 22,679,230 76,550 -

SME

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

4 6.03 8.16

4.21 6.12 8.25

3.93 6.02 8.03

FIRST METRO ETF 130.8

130.8

120

USD DMPL A1

10.5

10.5

10.5

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

24,237,918

INDUSTRIAL

165,191,961

HOLDING FIRMS

104,944,213

PROPERTY

270,417,022

SERVICES

271,562,993

MINING & OIL

259,084,712

GRAND TOTAL

1,098,193,246

4.2 6.12 8.03

907,000 33,400 1,762,200

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 121.7 50,390 DDS 10.5

2,790

VALUE 1,976.31 (UP) 30.61 895,221,979.10 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,112.93 (UP) 15.18 2,381,249,090.67 HOLDING FIRMS 7,953.67 (UP) 106.55 1,793,523,791.23 PROPERTY 3,740.42 (UP) 34.08 SERVICES 1,741.25 (UP) 23.93 1,380,771,394.03 MINING & OIL 12,568.54 (UP) 149.27 2,011,962,667.474 PSEI 8,001.38 (UP) 93.72 166,838,744.00 All Shares Index 4,760.27 (UP) 44.14 8,654,033,139.36 Gainers: 85; Losers: 64; Unchanged: 90; Total: 239

suspend air and sea travel to and from Qatar, with Saudi Arabia citing Qatar’s support of “terrorist groups aiming to destabilize the region.”

Also looming over the markets was the latest terror incident at a popular London nightlife spot, as Britain’s battle with jihadists looked set to dominate the final three days of the nation’s election campaign.

In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225, which closed Friday at its highest level for nearly two years, ended marginally down. Hong Kong was 0.3 percent lower in the afternoon and Shanghai closed down 0.5 percent. Sydney was off 0.6 percent while Singapore was flat and Seoul closed 0.1 percent off.

“Ugly best describes Friday’s US employment report as the headline miss was compounded by revisions lower to the previous two months data,” said Stephen Innes, senior trader at Oanda.

“The [jobs] numbers were solid enough to keep the [Federal Reserve] on track for a June hike, but not strong enough to erase uncertainties over the future Fed funds rate’s path beyond June,” Rodrigo Catril, currency strategist at National Australia Bank, said in a commentary.

With AFP, Bloomberg

Market value of SM Prime hits P1t SM PRIME Holdings Inc., one of the leading integrated property companies in Southeast Asia, saw its market value hit P1 trillion Monday, on the back of favorable market outlook.

This makes SM Prime the first Philippine company to reach the P1-trillion milestone in the market.

“SM Prime acknowledges the investment community’s unwavering support. This is a great moment for us to share this success as we continue to deliver our commitment to our shareholders,” SM Prime chief finance officer John Ong said.

SM Prime’s stock hit an intra-day high of P35.10 Monday, before closing at P34.60, up 2.5 percent from P33.75 Friday. At P35.10 per share, the company’s market value breached P1 trillion. The company has a public float of 31.8 percent.

SM Prime said the milestone was due to the integration of all the property businesses under SM Prime in 2013.

“The strategic move of SM Group enabled SM Prime to realize synergies among its business units, increasing efficiencies in operations and revenue in enhanced shareholder value. It also allowed SM Prime to pursue larger projects, from reclaiming land to long-term integrated developments,” it said.

SM Prime said it remained committed to its role as a catalyst for economic growth, delivering innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities that enrich the quality of life of millions.

SM Prime is in its fourth year of a five-year plan that aims to double income and revenues through a P400billion investment.

SM Prime had 60 malls in the Philippines and seven malls in China with total gross floor area of nine million square meters, as of endMarch.

It also had 43 residential projects six office buildings with total GFA of 383,000 sqm, six hotels offering 1,500 rooms and four convention centers.

With Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

PH telco regulation poor—PIDS report

By Othel V. Campos

GEORGIAN CORRIDOR. Georgian ports must improve their services and logistical connectivity in order to maintain the country’s position as a key transit corridor for the Caucasus. Shown cutting the ribbon during the 6th Black Sea Ports Conference and Exhibit are (from left) HansOle Madsen, International Container Terminal Services Inc. senior vice president and head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Region; Zurab Pataradze, Adjara Autonomous Republic chairman; Murat Jumadillaye, Batumi Sea Port Ltd. director general; and Rory Doyle, transport events management managing director.

STATE think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies said the quality of the Philippine telecommunication regulatory environment is significantly below international standards.

In a discussion paper authored by Ma. Kristina Ortiz, Ramonette Serafica and Jose Carlos Alexis Bairan, PIDS said the Philippines had an overall rating of 52.50, which is midway of the ideal level in the scoring system set by the International Telecommunications Union.

This makes the Philippines the second lowest among seven Southeast Asian countries assessed. The other six are Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The countries were reviewed in four clusters, namely regulatory authority, mandate, regime and competition framework.

Of the four clusters, the Philippines scored lowest in the regulatory regime with only 7 out

Investors swarm T-bill auction

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE P15 billion worth of Treasury bills offered by the government on Monday was more than three times oversubscribed due to strong demand, as investors anticipated an increase in the US policy rates this week.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed the auction attracted tenders of P51.8 billion, significantly higher than the P15 billion offered on the auction block. The auction committee opted for a full award of the volume offered.

“The 91-day and 182-day debt papers fetched a rate of 2.103

percent and 2.456 percent, down by 4.5 and 3.8 basis points, respectively, from the previous T-Bill auction,” the Treasury said.

The 364-day bill, meanwhile, averaged 2.850 percent, up by 1.5 bps from 2.835 percent the paper fetched at last month’s auction.

“Auction results revealed strong demand for the T-Bills ahead of the FOMC meeting within the week wherein it could raise US policy rates,” it said.

The Federal Open Market Committee last raised interest rates in March 2017 and predicted two more rate hikes this year and possibly three more next year.

Those forecasts will be updated this month.

Earlier, the Bureau of the Treasury raised P175 billion from its latest issuance of three-year retail treasury bonds, including those generated from roadshows conducted nationwide.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said total bids for the

RTBs reached P500 billion but the Treasury awarded only P105 billion in roadshow auctions.

The P175 billion raised was significantly bigger than the 10year P100 billion generated in September last year, the first issuance under the Duterte administration.

The agency earlier said the issuances were aimed at augmenting funds for the implementation of development projects under the Duterte administration, especially infrastructure projects.

The auction conducted on March 28 generated strong demand and fetched a coupon rate of 4.25 percent with total

tenders reaching P86.2 billion for a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.87 percent.

This prompted the auction committee to expand its offering from the initial announcement of P30 billion to P70 billion to accommodate market appetite.

ERRATUM Editor’s note: The title of the photo caption on 7-Eleven in the June 5, 2017 issue of Manila Standard should read 7-Eleven in Bohol, and not 7-Eleven in Bicol as erroneously published. We regret the error.

GMR-Megawide, Uber team up on taxi service

ALL-WEATHER. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, through the Yuchengco Group of Companies, conducts a road assessment/mapping study on All-Weather Urban Corridors. Shown are WWF-Philippines representatives presenting the All-Weather Urban Corridor mapping study to Angeles City local government officials. Part of the government’s infrastructure development plan is to improve local and national highways, including flood-proofing roads through recommended methods. Road risk assessments should be made to benefit businesses as well as the general public.

No. 1 violator of anti-distracted driving law THE promulgation of a law prohibiting the use of cellular phones and other driver-distractive things was bound to happen sooner or later. So many accidents had been caused by the distraction of drivers that the passage of Republic Act No. 10913 – better known as the AntiDistracted Driving Act – could not have come a day sooner.

So prevalent had been the use of cellular phones while driving that the media reported the apprehension of 127 Metro Manila drivers during the new law’s first day of implementation. The brazenness of the apprehended drivers apparently made the apprehensions easy.

The traffic enforcement people released the list of individuals who had been caught operating cellular phones while driving. Clearly, one name was missing from that list. The missing name was that of the President of the Philippines.

IN BRIEF Koreans to remain top tourists in PH THE Tourism Department is confident Korea will remain the top tourist market for the Philippines despite martial law in Mindanao.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon, head of the Philippine delegation to the recent Korea World Travel Fair in Seoul, Korea’s biggest annual international travel event, said the event was a “breakthrough in the meeting of minds” with major travel agents and airline executives.

“We look at Korea as a mutual partner in growth, in tourism and our Korean partners are convinced that the Philippines remains in fact a safe haven for foreigners,” he said.

Bengzon met Korean travel and tour, and airline companies that include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Hana Tour, Mode Tour and Yoo Han Travel.

Tourism spokesman Ricky Alegre said the isolated incident in Marawi City was immediately placed under control, and should not in any way deter foreigners’ trips to the Philippines. Othel V. Campos

PAL eyes code share deal with US carriers

By Darwin G. Amojelar GMR-MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport Corp., the operator of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, has teamed up with Uber Systems Inc. to provide a safer and faster ride to passengers in the Queen City of the South.

“Our partnership with Uber Philippines is a testament to our commitment to continually find ways to make our passengers’ journeys safe, convenient and enjoyable,” GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. president Louie Ferrer said.

Uber Philippines general manager Laurence Cua said teaming up with GMCAC for the Mactan Cebu International Airport was an important opportunity for Uber to once again provide more people with a transportation service that is safe, reliable and convenient.

“With the simple push of a button, passengers going to and from the airport can now get a ride and be part of the movement to celebrate Cebu,” he added.

Construction of MCIA’s Terminal 2 is currently in full swing and is expected to be operational by the end of June 2018, adding a capacity of 8 million passengers a year to the current 4.5 million capacity of Terminal 1.

GMR-Megawide Consortium in December 2013 won a 25-year concession agreement that involves the renovation of the Terminal 1 of Mactan Cebu airport as well as the design, financing, construction and operation of a second terminal after it submitted the highest bid of P14.4 billion.

The P14.4-billion premium paid by GMR-Megawide was on top of the P17.5 billion to be spent on a new passenger terminal.

Project funding for MCIA was sealed in 2014 through a consortium of the country’s leading banks led by BDO Capital and Investment Corp. and the Asian Development Bank.

of 30 points. Regulatory regime reviews specific regulatory interventions and covers the kind of targeted regulation needed to promote a healthy competitive environment.

For one, the Philippines does not issue global or unified licenses, which is considered optimal and reflects increased market liberalization in the global market.

The absence of number portability, or the ability of mobile phone users to retain their mobile number when changing from one mobile network carrier to another, is also considered a weakness of Philippine telcos.

“Policies that will reduce customer switching and search costs, as well as the promotion of the efficient use of facilities, embedding adequate monitoring and data reporting, and clearly specifying obligations or rules of conduct of various market players are seen as possible interventions to improve telcos in the country,” the authors said in a report.

If the Presidency of the Philippines may be likened to a motor vehicle, Rodrigo Duterte has been driving it in a distracted manner and therefore should be brought under the provisions of the AntiDistracted Driving Act. The person intended to be covered by the new law is unable to do a good job of driving – looking up and down at his cellular phone while traffic lights change and vehicles swirl around him – because he is distracted from the purpose of his being behind the wheel, which is to reach a certain destination. Like that person, President Duterte is a distracted driver.

The destination that a President of the Philippines is mandated to reach is made up of three parts, namely, defense of the nation’s territorial integrity, protection of the citizens’ basic rights and promotion of the nation’s economic development.

These three sub-mandates are tall orders; they demand the President’s focus and commitment. Unfortunately, like all the

apprehended drivers, Rodrigo Duterte is a violator of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. The No.1 violator of the new law, in fact.

Rodrigo Duterte is driving the national vehicle distractedly. His big Distraction – with a capital ‘d’ – is, of course, his personal war on illegal drugs. Because of his distracted driving, he has been unable to focus on the defense of the nation’s territorial integrity (he is knuckling under to the Chinese on the West Philippine Sea issue) or the protection of the civil rights of the citizenry (he has created the atmosphere for the extra-judicial killing of thousands of persons suspected of being users or pushers of drugs) or the promotion of the nation’s economic development (he has rejected offers of economic assistance and badmouthed the leaders of this country’s principal trade and investment partners). Like other targets of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, Rodrigo Duterte, in his own version

of being-distracted-while-driving, has not been keeping his eyes fixed on the road while driving the national vehicle.

Distracted driving on the part of ordinary motorists is bad enough – consider the dozens of lives that are lost every day because people insist on texting and talking with their cellular phones while driving – but it is far worse when the person engaged in distracted driving is the Chief Executive of the Republic.

The stability, integrity and prosperity of an entire nation – not just of persons – is involved. The new law against distracted driving is applicable to all distracted drivers, whoever they are and whatever vehicles they are driving.

So, stop being distracted, President Duterte. If you continue being distracted by your personal war on illegal drugs, your Presidency will not be the success that all sensible Filipinos hope it will be.

E-mail: rudyromero777@yahoo.com

PHILIPPINE Airlines is looking at a code share agreement with American carriers to expand its footprint in the US. “We’re working with a possible codeshare with some American carriers,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista.

The codeshare alliances with other airlines aim to broaden PAL’s network and establish a presence in cities where it does not fly.

PAL flies 17 times weekly nonstop flights to Los Angeles; 10 times weekly non- stop services to San Francisco; and 10 times a week to Vancouver, four of which fly onward to Toronto and back, and four fly en route to New York and back.

PAL also operates a regular five weekly direct service to Honolulu, and daily to Guam.

The airline has codeshare agreements with Xiamen Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, All Nippon Airways, West Jet, Turkish Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Garuda Airlines, Air Macau and China Airlines.

Darwin G. Amojelar

Tax reform is credit positive—Moody’s GLOBAL debt watcher Moody’s Investors Service considers the passage of the first package of the government’s tax reform program as credit positive because it will address the country’s weak revenue generation.

In a report Monday, Moody’s vice president and senior credit officer of the Sovereign Risk Group Christian de Guzman said the TRAIN bill was also crucial to maintaining narrow fiscal deficits since the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte intended to increase infrastructure spending over the course of its term in government through 2022.

“The TRAIN bill will boost revenue and improve the government’s debt affordability, as measured by interest payments as a share of revenue. Philippine government revenue has improved by nearly two percentage points of GDP to 15.2 percent of GDP in 2016 from 13.4 percent in 2010, largely because of administrative measures that improved tax compliance,” de Guzman said.

“However, the Philippines still collects less revenue than most Baarated peers, higher than only Indonesia (Baa3 positive), whose revenue was 12.5 percent of GDP in 2016, and Colombia (Baa2 stable) at 14.9 percent...,” he said. Julito G. Rada

Ray S. Eñano, Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com

B4

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Business Korea launches $10-b stimulus to boost jobs

SLOWING GROWTH. Restaurant workers carry a big pot out from a restaurant on the outskirts of Beijing on June 5, 2017. Recent indicators have pointed to slowing growth in the Asian economic giant as it grapples with weaker global demand, excess industrial capacity and a burgeoning debt problem. AFP

SEOUL―South Korea launched on Monday a $10-billion stimulus package to create jobs and bolster welfare programs in the country faced with slow growth and aging population.

The 11.2-trillion won plan is the first since Moon Jae-In was elected president of Asia’s fourth-largest economy last month and the finance ministry said it will be mostly funded by tax revenue rather than issuing state bonds.

Under the proposals, Seoul will spend 4.2 trillion won to help create 110,000 jobs –including 71,000 in the public sector― while 7 trillion won will be set aside for welfare for the elderly, working mothers and low-income households.

Among the new jobs being targeted are firefighters, police, assistant teachers and social workers, while young job seekers, small businesses and tech startups will also be helped.

Financial assistance will be increased for women on maternity leave, more daycare centers and nursing homes for the elderly are to be opened, while businesses hiring more full-time workers are to be given extra funding.

“We launched this extra budget as the high unemployment rate among young South Koreans will not be solved without drastic measures,” Park Chun-Sup, the ministry’s chief of budget, told reporters.

“There is a concern over a potential mass unemployment... we have nearly 1.2 million young, jobless people,” he said.

Decades of rapid growth saw the South rise from the ashes of the Korean War to become a member of the OECD group of leading economies, but expansions has slowed more recently.

Economic frustrations were among the factors that fueled the mass anti-corruption protests that saw former president Park Geun-Hye impeached and arrested over corruption.

Moon has described creating jobs, especially for the young, as a top policy priority.

Unemployment among under-30s hit 11.2 percent in April, more than double the rate for the entire working population. AFP

Global economy improving—WB ASHINGTON―The global economy is set to post solid growth this year, amid improving world trade and better performance by large emerging markets, but key risks could still threaten the outlook, the World Bank said Sunday.

W

Rising trade protectionism and policy uncertainty, primarily in the United States under President Donald Trump, pose important cautions for the outlook.

For the first time in four years, the latest edition of the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects has not downgraded

the growth forecast even as new problems have emerged.

The report said that “despite substantial policy uncertainty,” the global economy still is expected to grow by 2.7 percent for 2017, rising to 2.9 percent in 2018 and 2019.

“Global growth is firming,

contributing to an improvement in confidence,” the report said.

“A recovery in industrial activity has coincided with a pick-up in global trade, after two years of marked weakness.”

The seven largest emerging market economies―China, Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Russia―remain the key engine for the world economy.

As a group, emerging market and developing economies are expected to grow 4.1 percent this year, led by India, which is expected to expand by 7.1 percent, and China, at 6.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Russia and Brazil are

expected to return to growth after contracting for the past two years.

Advanced economies are continuing to grow but at a more modest pace, with the United States expected to expand by 2.1 percent this year, the euro area by 1.7 percent and Japan by just 1.5 percent.

However, “Substantial risks cloud this outlook,” the World Bank cautioned.

“Increased protectionism, persistent policy uncertainty, geopolitical risks or renewed financial market turbulence could derail an incipient recovery.”

Although the report does not mention Trump by name, it notes

that proposed tax cuts and infrastructure spending could boost the US economy but were not factored into the forecast since they remain undefined.

“In contrast, should substantial changes in trade policies emerge, they might trigger retaliatory measures, damaging activity in both the United States and its trading partners,” the report warned, and they “could derail a fragile recovery in trade.”

In addition, restrictive US immigration policies could reduce growth.

Just the suggestion by the Trump administration of “major

Beyond kebabs: Turkish cuisine seeks place at the table

By Fulya Ozerkan ISTANBUL―In a bid to banish stereotypes of latenight greasy fast food, Turkish chefs are trying to burnish their image by showcasing the culinary riches the country has to offer.

A new breed of cooks has shaken up the Istanbul food scene with an innovative approach to Turkish cooking, while others are on a mission to show there is more to the nation’s cuisine than the perhaps notorious, doner kebab.

For many outside the country, Turkish food brings to mind images of pitta bread stuffed with shavings of meat roasted on a vertical spit, usually consumed after a heavy night of drinking.

The doner was brought to western Europe by the Turkish diaspora, especially those in Germany where additions like salad and mayonnaise have made it a heavier meal than in Turkey.

But did you ever try karniyarik, a dish of split aubergines with a meat filling, or cilbir―poached eggs in garlic yoghurt?

Ever heard of tulum, a traditional cheese ripened in a goat’s skin, or a dessert called cezerye―caramelized carrot with coconut?

“Turkish cuisine is largely known abroad through doner and kebab,” says Defne Ertan Tuysuzoglu, Turkey director of Le Cordon Bleu, an international culinary academy, which started in Paris and

now has campuses all over the world.

“Turkish cuisine is not well known,” agrees Aylin Yazicioglu, executive chef at Istanbul’s Nicole Restaurant.

“The food that comes to mind when people talk about Turkey is, unfortunately, all bad examples.

“We see this changing slowly. We’ll do our best to change it.”

‘Rustic and different’ At Nicole, diners are offered a multi-course tasting menu of local products aimed at showing off the best that Turkish cuisine has to offer.

“I believe that in a world geared towards the ‘local,’ we’ve started to understand the value of our cuisine.

We’ve started to realize the

Aylin Yazicioglu, the chef-proprietor of the Nicole restaurant works on May 17, 2017 in Istanbul. Turkish chefs are trying to burnish their image by showcasing the culinary riches the country has to offer. AFP

value of our products,” says Yazicioglu.

“In our country, everything is available throughout the four seasons.”

Turkish food, she says, has much to offer and needs to promote its greatest assets, such as olive oil.

But to truly change perceptions, more work is required.

“I can say there’s been a movement but it would be very strong to talk about a revolution. The conditions are not yet ripe for a revolution,” she says.

Arnaud De Clercq, who has taught at the Istanbul branch of Le Cordon Bleu for the past two years and has worked in Michelin star restaurants in France, described Turkish cuisine as “very rustic” with its focus on sauces, ragouts and stews.

“It is close to the traditional French cuisine: beef bourguignon, veal blanquette, lamb navarin―all this you can find here, but a bit different.”

Ottoman appetizers He singled out Turkish meze, the selection of small dishes served as an appetizer at the start of a meal.

“When the Ottoman Empire expanded, it also spread its kitchen,” he said.

“You can find Turkish meze in all regions, in all countries and each country adapted it to its own taste, like in Lebanon, in Syria or in Jordan.”

Turkish chef Serkan Bozkurt from the Chef’s Table Culinary Academy, an Istanbul-based cooking school, said perceptions about Turk-

ish cuisine were changing.

Today, he said, Turkish restaurants and cafes were blossoming in Europe, with chains like the bakery Simit Sarayi and the Kahve Dunyasi coffee shop opening up in London and other places.

Cheese-lovers’ paradise Despite the somewhat limited perception of Turkish food overseas, the cuisine has a wide variety of regional differences, with specialities from the western Aegean differing sharply from those in the eastern Black Sea region.

Antakya in the southeast has a rich culinary heritage inspired by Aleppo in Syria, while specialities on the Black Sea include dishes such as muhlama, an unusual fondue made with cornflour, butter and cheese.

In a huge country, which spans 784,000 square kilometers (300,000 square miles)―an area bigger than Germany, Poland and Austria together―the cooking styles are very varied, from the herbs and vegetables used in the Aegean, to the meatdominated specialities of the east, Bozkurt said.

Its cheeses alone are likely to impress―Turkey has dozens of varieties, which differ sharply from region to region, he said.

“I always say if a weeklong cheese tour was organized in Turkey with trips to its seven regions, people would get dizzy!”

“Turkish cuisine is not confined to meat and kebab,” he said. AFP

shifts” in these areas can have an impact.

“Even without concrete changes, uncertainty about the direction and scope of US policies could affect prospects for the US economy and its main trading partners.”

The UK exit from the European Union also poses risks to the outlook, especially given the unknown outcome.

“A further increase in policy uncertainty from already high levels could dampen confidence and investment and trigger financial market stress,” the World Bank said. AFP

Oil prices climb on Gulf crisis OIL JUMPED after a Saudi-led alliance cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, while the pound slipped after a terror attack in London.

Stocks were mixed as investors weighed the prospects for global growth.

Crude climbed and Qatari stocks plunged as the political crisis in the Gulf escalated.

Treasury yields remained near the lowest in seven months as Friday’s data on wage growth and hiring in the American labor market came in below forecasts.

The peso rallied on signs the ruling PRI was ahead in the governor’s election for the key state of Mexico. Gold extended gains.

West Texas Intermediate crude advanced 0.8 percent to $48.02 a barrel as of 8:22 a.m. in London, after dropping 1.5 percent on Friday. Gold rose 0.2 percent to $1,281.69 an ounce, after gaining 1 percent Friday.

Investors turned their attention to geopolitics as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt said they will suspend air and sea travel to and from Qatar, with Saudi Arabia citing Qatar’s support of “terrorist groups aiming to destabilize the region.” Also looming over the markets was the latest terror incident at a popular London nightlife spot, as Britain’s battle with jihadists looked set to dominate the final three days of the nation’s election campaign.

The most recent US data is testing bets on improving global growth that’s helped drive the value of equities worldwide up by more than $10 trillion over the past year. The World Bank forecast a modest pickup in growth despite uncertainty about monetary policy and concern among bond traders that inflation is waning. Bloomberg

LGUs

‘You’ll have all you need for school’ LIKE a father to his children, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Monday reassured thousands of public school students in the city that he will continue to provide them with everything they need in school, such as new equipment and classrooms.

Speaking before the students and faculty of Pres. Corazon Aquino High School at the Baseco Compound in the first day of classes this morning, the mayor said he only wants the best for the schoolchildren of Manila, whom he described as “the city’s next generation of leaders.”

“Because I am the mayor, and therefore like a second father to you, I want to make sure that you have everything you need here in your school,” Estrada said. “I want to make sure that you are safe, secure, and comfortable in your buildings and classrooms, and in the entire campus.”

“We will buy additional equipment, including computers, to make your learning experience more enjoyable. We still have a lot of projects for your school, and other schools in the city,” Estrada added.

As an extra bonus, Estrada said he will also provide a shuttle bus to the students of Pres. Corazon Aquino High School, most of whom are residents of the impoverished Baseco Compound.

After the flag ceremony, Estrada led the inauguration of a new three-storey school building in the campus, which cost around P62 million.

Estrada told the schoolchildren that the city government’s only wish is for them to be good in their studies. “Study hard and learn your lessons well. It’s okay to play, but studying must be prioritized. Is that okay?” asked Estrada.

Addressing the teachers and school officials, the mayor reminded them that “I am always here to listen to you and hear what you have to say.”

Education Secretary Leonor Briones, who graced the inauguration ceremonies, praised Estrada for his support to the education sector, especially in addressing the perennial problem on classroom shortage.

She stressed the additional classrooms built by Estrada would mean so much to some students who came from conflict-stricken Marawi City and transferred in Manila to study. Sandy Araneta

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Erap leads clearing of R-10 I

By Sandy Araneta

RKED by the rampant illegal parking of cargo trucks and other vehicles along R-10 Road in Tondo, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada led another clearing operation in the area Monday to decongest the 10-lane thoroughfare.

Estrada ordered the impounding of dozens of trucks, public utility vehicles such as jeepneys and tricycles, and private cars that occupied several lanes of Radial Road 10 and have been slowing traffic in the area.

“We took pains relocating the informal settlers here to clear the road

and speed up traffic flow, but these illegally parked vehicles took their place. This cannot be,” he said.

Estrada said he would have the concerned barangay officials explain this excessive disregard of traffic laws.

Just last week, the mayor threatened to charge local baran-

gay officials that are uncooperative with the city government’s ongoing road clearing operations in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to involve barangay officials in clearing roads of obstructions.

In an April 12 memorandum, the Department of Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region issued a memorandum enjoining all barangay chairmen “to ensure that all roads within their area of jurisdiction are free from all kinds of obstructions.”

DILG-NCR said Duterte has instructed its office and the Metro Manila Development Authority to sue barangay officials who will tolerate illegal parking and

all kinds of road obstructions in their territorial jurisdictions for neglect of duty.

During the operation, Estrada brought in a composite team composed of members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, Urban Settlements Office, Department of Public Services, Office of the City Engineer, and Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Manila Police District.

The MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways also took part in the operation.

The road clearing and anti-illegal parking operation covered the entire Manila portion of R-10 from Zaragosa Street to Smokey Mountain in Tondo.

THE Makati City government will hold a job fair on Wednesday at the Glorietta Shopping Center where job-seekers can be hired on the spot by 61 participating local and multinational companies.

The event, which is part of Makati’s 347th Foundation Day celebration, will be hosted by the city’s Public Employment Service Office from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Glorietta 3 Activity Center lo-

the new buildings of the Gat Andres Bonifacio Elementary School in Taguig City on Monday in time for the first day of classes. Cutting the ceremonial ribbon are (from left) Fr. Mark Sesse; Dr. Benjamin Samson, OIC of the Schools Division Superintendent for DepEd Taguig and Pateros; Lourdes Reyes of FBDFI; Rep. Pia S. Cayetano; Felix B. Alviar, School Principal of GABES; and Phil Lomax, vice president and Philippines Head of Corporate Security and Business Continuity at Deutsche Bank. Manny Palmero

cated at East Drive Ayala Center.

The job fair, themed “Handog ng PESO: Trabaho para sa Maunlad na Kabuhayan, Tungo sa Progresibong Kinabukasan,” has been organized in partnership with Ayala Land Inc. and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Makati PESO manager and city personnel officer Vissia Marie Aldon said the participating firms are set to make direct, on-the-spot hiring at the job fair.

She advised applicants to bring

many copies of their resumes with their 2x2 ID pictures.

Among the companies that will be participating in the mega job fair are Eastwest Placement Center (overseas company), Ablebodies Manpower Services, Absolute Employment Management Solutions, Andok’s Litson, Asiapro Cooperative, Bench, Burlington Industries, Citiworks Manpower Resources, CMG Retail Inc., Dames International, and Domino’s Pizza Phil;

Dunkin’ Donuts, Fieldmen Janitorial Services Corp., Finex Marketing Services, Goldilocks, Go Sport, Humanlink Management, Jada Infinite Workforce Services, Lay Bare Waxing Phils. Inc, Marks & Spencer, and Max’s Group of Companies; MDS Call Solutions Inc., Mirof Resources Inc., Nail-A-Holics, Philippine Survey Research Center (PSRC), Philcopy, Receivers and Liquidators Reliable Workforce, Rough Ryder Jeans (RRJ),

Rustan’s Supercenter Inc., Skycable, and The French Baker; Topserve Services Solutions, Waffle Time, Oriental Pasta/ Luk Yuen, JTC Group of Companies, Hi-Precision Diagnostic, I Academy, and many more.

Pre-employment government agencies like Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG, Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will be present during the job fair to assist applicants.

Pass bike rack bill, police ask council

By Rio N. Araja TO LOWER the incidence of motorcycle theft, the Quezon City Police District on Monday urged the 36-member City Council to pass an ordinance requiring commercial establishments to put up motorcycle racks in their parking areas.

Sr. Supt. Ramon Pranada, QCPD deputy district director for operations, said the proposed measure could help bring down the number of thefts if businesses could provide such fixtures to ensure that owners could secure their motorbikes.

“A motorcycle left unlocked at a parking area is usually the main cause of such theft,” Pranada said.

The proposal was raised during the recent meeting of the Quezon City Peace and Order Council after it was revealed that intensified police visibility resulted in a decline in crime incidence in the city.

Motorcycle theft cases have

“This road is very critical with regards to trade and commerce in the Port Area. This is not only anti-illegal parking operation but also a ‘pro-economic progress’ drive,” MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said.

He found it ironic, however, that most of the illegally parked vehicles were cargo and trailer trucks operating out of the Manila North and South Harbors and Manila International Container Terminal.

“Mayor Erap has instructed us to declare the entire stretch of R-10 a ‘No Parking’ zone, meaning any vehicle we see parked on the sidewalk and curb will be towed away immediately,” Alcoreza said.

INAUGURATION. Officers of Fort Bonifacio Development Foundation Inc., the corporate social responsibility arm of Bonifacio Global City, joined stakeholders during the inauguration of

61 companies join Makati job fair on Wednesday

By Joel E. Zurbano

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dropped to 91 from January to April 2017, compared to 150 from January to April 2016.

During the council meeting, QCPD Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said crime in the city has dropped by 28 percent.

Of the eight major crimes— murder, homicide, theft, physical injuries, rape, robbery, carnapping and motorcycle theft—physical injuries, robbery and theft are the most prevalent, Eleazar added.

“We have concentrated our efforts to bring down the cases of the three index crimes that constitute 60 percent of the total crime index,” he noted.

Based on a weekly monitoring and assessment, the eight major crimes have a direct effect on the peace and order situation in the city.

“It is notable that rape cases have also declined in number.

Most often than not, our suspects here are those who use drugs,” Eleazar said.

GOOD CATCH. A worker holds up a fresh catch of prawns from the Marcela Farms in Calape, Bohol on Sunday. Marcela Farms, which runs a 101-hectare aqua farm with 300 workers, is the only exporter of fish and prawns from Bohol to Europe. They exported 800 tons of black tiger prawns and 1,000 tons of white prawns or banana prawns last year. Manny Palmero

QC dad: 5k jobs up for grabs MORE job fairs will be mounted starting June to November to help the national government pull down the unemployment rate, a Quezon City councilor announced Sunday.

District 1 Councilor Peter Anthony “Onyx” Crisologo said at least 5,000 new jobs are up for grabs at the “Trabaho Para sa Pagbabago” (Work for Change) job fair on June 6 and 7 at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Hall 3.

“We have lined up and scheduled a series of job fairs this year so we could provide job opportunities not only to the constituents of District 1, but also to the entire city,” he told Manila Standard.

The councilor’s office has partnered with Magnus Eventus Inc., owned and operated by a sister of actress Angelu de Leon, in the past five years for this job fair.

“We have already provided over 50,000 jobs,” Crisologo said.

The other job fairs under the partnership are scheduled on Aug. 22 to 23, the “Jobseekers’ Day” on Nov. 7 to 8 at the Trinoma activity center, and “A Jobfair Shindig” Nov. 22 to 23 at the SM Megamall.

Rio N. Araja

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LGUs

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

CL must take the lead for ‘Big One’ C

By Romeo Dizon

LARK FREEPORT, Pampanga— Science Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. has urged government agencies in Central Luzon to increase their preparation for the coming of the big earthquake that would hit Metro Manila, parts of Southern Tagalog, and Bulacan.

“Preparation is better than reaction in dealing with calamities,” said Solidum, who is also the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seis-

mology or Phivolcs.

Solidum said Central Luzon will serve as the base for continuing government services and business operations the moment

a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hits Metro Manila.

During a media forum here, Solidum said the former American bases here, Clark and Subic, would be the center of government and private sector operation until the situation normalizes in case of an earthquake.

Solidum said Clark is safe from earthquake and other calamities. Clark Freeport would house government agencies to continue rescue operations and relief goods distributions, he added.

Subic Freeport will be utilized to continue business by the private sector, specially for ex-

ports and imports, as the Port of Manila will be also affected with the incoming and outgoing cargo containers “which is vital to normalize the economy,” he said.

Clark Development Corp. chairman Jose de Jesus, who attended the forum, said the former US air base will accommodate government agencies but not evacuees, as provided for under its own charter.

The “Green City,” which is located inside part of Tarlac, can perhaps accommodate evacuees should an earthquake occur, De Jesus said.

As for the road networks, Solidum stressed the Maharlika

Highway and the Cagayan Valley roadworks can be used to reach the two Freeports in Angeles City and Olongapo City, respectively.

Another way is the use of water system networks from Rizal Park to Pampanga and Bataan, which is already existing nowadays, he said.

He said these two road networks are now being prepared because the five-kilometer long Candaba Viaduct along the North Luzon Expressway and the old MacArthur highway will surely be affected by the “Big One.” “The viaduct is sitting in

soft soil that will not withstand the magnitude of a 7.2 earthquake, as well as the bridges and roads of the old highway,” Solidum said.

Rene Romero, vice chairman emeritus of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the government must also establish a central food terminal and other necessities during the calamity.

Food suppliers from Northern Luzon, which have mostly perishable goods, cannot deliver their produce to Metro Manila due to congestion and traffic condition of the roads after an earthquake, Romero noted.

DoH aims for ‘ZOD’ by 2022 “THE Philippines is in the best position to achieve Zero Open Defecation in the next two years!”

This was a challenge posed to the Department of Health

by Dr. Kamal Kar, the pioneer of Community-Led Total Sanitation, in a gathering organized by Unicef for various government and development partners working on sanitation recently in Manila.

Dr. Maria Francia Laxamana, assistant secretary of the Department of Health, affirmed that achieving ZOD is one of the legacies of the department, and targets to declare the country ZOD by 2022.

Laxamana recalled how the government used to give out toilet bowls in the hope of ending open defecation. However, this has not worked when toilet bowls were not used, because the problem on changing household behavior was not changed.

CLTS is a participatory approach to helping households abandon the practice of open defecation. It helps residents in a community realize that having no sanitary toilets is a risk not just to one family but to the whole community as well.

As of 2015, 7.4 million Filipinos still do not have access to sanitation facilities, and are possibly resorting to open defecation. Open defecation is a dangerous practice that results to people being at risk of getting diarrhea, cholera, and other water-borne diseases; intestinal worm infections; and malnutrition and stunting of children.

To date, around 1,062 barangays have been declared open defecation free and 20 municipalities were able to eliminate OD completely.

“We have learned from this experience well, and that is why DoH has rolled out CLTS as a key strategy in enabling communities to analyze their sanitation conditions and to collectively decide and take responsibility in stopping open defecation,” said Laxamana.

Since the implementation of CLTS in 2008, a shift in the pace of the communities declaring ZOD happened after most of their development partners signed up to support the government and implement a phased approach to total sanitation.

From mid-2012 to the mid2016, ODF achievement was accelerated through CLTS and PhATS, with success rates of 82 percent.

NOTICE OF LOSS Standard Manila

TODAY

Notice is hereby given to the public that a memorial plot in LOYOLA MEMORIAL PARK MARIKINA and covered by Certificate of Ownership No. 74-007257 issued under the name of LIMBANIA G. ALBANO was reported lost as per Doc No. 9, Page No. 2, Book No. CLXXVIII, Series of 2017 before ATTY. JUANCHO DAVID R. TABLANG, Notary Public, Brgy. Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati City MS-JUNE 6, 2017)

NEW DEAL. Philippine International Trading Corp. president and CEO Dave M. Almarinez (seated right) inks a memorandum of agreement with new business partner Philippine State

College of Aeronautics president Dr. Bernard R. Ramirez. The signing was witnessed by PITC vice president for Government Procurement Christabelle P. Ebriega (right) and PHILSCA VP Dr. Esteban Cordovilla. Roy Tomandao

IN BRIEF

‘Disclose NV drug operations’

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—A provincial board member here has called on law enforcement agencies involved in the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs to implement full disclosure and documentation on their operations.

“While we are in full support of the illegal drugs campaign, may we seek full disclosure and documentation on the full operations of our law enforcement agencies?” Board Member Victor Gines, Liga ng mga Barangay President, said in his recent privilege speech.

He also lamented the earlier denial of Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives on his request for full disclosure of their illegal drug operations for reasons that these buy-bust operations will be “burned” or compromised.

“When we are called to testify in court hearings that we saw the whole operation but in most of these operations, we only appear when called by our law enforcers during search and seizure portion. Hence, we are not privy to the actual whole duration of the operation,” Gines said.

He said PDEA and PNP should instead employ the use

of a video camera to fully document the whole process of antiillegal drug operation.

Gines also asked his fellow legislators to order law enforcement agencies to implement the proposal as part of their mandated procedure in carrying out illegal drug buy-bust operations among suspects.

“This vital documentation should be presented in court as evidence so that lawless individuals who will be convicted are beyond reasonable doubt. In this way, we are helping the barangay officials who are also risking their lives and integrity as witnesses to crimes committed in their communities,” he added.

Baguio Council OKs e-bingo operations BAGUIO CITY—The City Council approved two separate resolutions interposing no objection to the requests of operators of various electronic bingo in the city to operate traditional and electronic bingo games, as well as other amusement games authorized by the State-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. or PAGCOR in different parts of the city, despite the vehement opposition raised by anti-gambling advocates.

During the council’s regular session on May 22, the legislative body passed Resolutions No. 176 and 176-A, series of 2017, which practically permission to Bingo Palace Corp. and the Highland Gaming Corp. to operate e-bingo parlors at SM City Baguio and the Baguio Center Mall Building, respectively.

Earlier, the council also approved the operation of an electronic bingo outlet to be established at the Maharlika Livelihood Center.

Members of the Baguio-Benguet Multi-Sectoral Group, however, lashed out at the councilors and asked them to consider their position paper against the operation of legal and illegal gambling activities in the city. They said the council disregarded the signatures of bona fide residents of the different barangays against the operation of electronic bingo games. Dexter A. See

Kibungan hydro developer slammed

FIRST-DAY SUPPLIES. Students of General Trias Memorial Elementary School in Gabaldon’s Barangay San Juan 1 raise the bags they received from the local government during the opening of classes yesterday. The LGU subsidized the school supplies of all public preschool and elementary students of the locality.

KIBUNGAN, Benguet—Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan has questioned the sincerity of the officials of the controversial Coheco Badeo Corp. in striking a deal with the indigenous peoples of this municipality and neighboring towns of Benguet, La Union and Ilocos Sur. The lawmaker also doubted the company’s financial capacity to bankroll the implementation of the P30-billion 500-megawatt pump storage hydro project in barangay Badeo when their recent actions contradict what they had been promising the IPs. Coheco Badeo officials, led by its purported majority shareholder Larry Howon Kim, met with Cosalan in Manila and committed that their 500-megawatt project will be implemented right after the completion of the 60-megawatt run-off-river hydro project of the Cordillera Hydroelectric Power Corp. in Kapangan.

But the lawmaker also accused the firm of violating this promise because it is proceeding with the free and prior informed consent assemblies in the various Barangays in the town from June 14 to 23.

Kim, who was the previous majority shareholder of COHECO when it was still securing the FPIC of IPs in Kibungan and Kapangan for its 60-megawatt project in Barangay Cuba, reportedly sold his shares to a Filipino-owned power firm to the tune of P1.2 billion, based on the company’s own press statement last week. Dexter A. See CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

BPSU prepares local farmers for Asean integration ABUCAY, Bataan—The Bataan Peninsula State University is helping farmers in the province to be ready for the upcoming full Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean integration.

“You cannot sell your produce to other Asean countries unless you have Good Agricultural Practices

[GAP] certification from Department of Agriculture,” BPSU director for Research and Development Office Dr. Hermogenes Paguia told local mango growers during the university-initiated GAP orientation on Friday.

“Unfortunately, there is still no GAP-certified mango farm in the

province, and this is why BPSU is initiating this orientation to help local farmers,” he pointed out. “Bataan farmers must become competitive in order to take advantage of the thriving Asean market.”

The BPSU official said they are helping the mango orchard

of Anthony Villanueva in Sitio Bodega, Barangay Tuyo, Balanga City to be the first mango farm in the province to have GAP certification.

“We will assist Mr. Villanueva who already started checking the requirements to comply with GAP. We will also assist in submitting

his application and would follow to DA the inspection of his farm,” Paguia said.

He said BPSU will also assist a rice farm in the province to get GAP certification.

“We will continue the GAP orientation of farmers in Bataan,” he concluded. Butch Gunio

World IN BRIEF 4 suspected suicide attackers killed SRINAGAR―Indian paramilitary forces killed four suspected suicide attackers who tried to storm their camp in the disputed Kashmir region early Monday.

The gunmen lobbed grenades and fired automatic weapons outside the Central Reserve Police Force camp in Indianadministered Kashmir before dawn, a spokesman said.

“They tried to storm the camp but they were not even allowed to enter the gate,” CRPF spokesman Bhuvesh Choudhary told AFP. Choudhary described the men as “heavily armed fidayeen”, a term commonly used to mean suicide attacker in Kashmir.

“All the four attackers were eliminated in a clean and wonderful operation. There were no injuries on our side,” he added.

Four assault rifles, grenades and other ammunition were recovered from the bodies of the slain attackers, whose identities were not known.

No group has claimed the attack.

“They were carrying huge amounts of ammunition and did not appear to be locals,” said director general of police, S. P. Vaid.

The foiled attack in the northern Sumbal area came amid renewed tension in Kashmir following the killing last month of a top rebel leader, which sparked fresh protests against Indian rule.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British rule in 1947, but both claim the territory in its entirety.

Rebel groups have since 1989 been fighting roughly 500,000 Indian soldiers deployed in the region, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, most of them civilians.

Dozens of local youths have joined the rebel ranks since last year when the killing of a popular rebel commander sparked widescale anti-India protests that left more than 100 civilians dead and thousands wounded.

India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and training rebels and sending them across the heavily militarized Line of Control that divides the territory to attack its forces.

Islamabad denies the allegations. AFP

Bus-truck collision kills 22 NEW DELHI―At least 22 people died when they became trapped in a bus that caught fire after it collided with a truck in northern India on Monday.

Police said the doors of the government-run bus jammed in the collision, trapping the passengers insiders as it caught fire after the fuel tank burst.

Some passengers were able to escape by breaking the windows, but police found 22 charred bodies inside the bus once the blaze was finally extinguished.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the accident in Bareilly, a town in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

“The case is under investigation and the cause of the accident and subsequent burning of the bus will be looked into,” Bareilly traffic police chief Om Prakash Yadav told AFP. India has some of the world’s deadliest roads with more than 230,000 fatalities annually, according to the World Health Organization.

Transport analysts attribute the huge number of accidents to poor roads, ill-trained drivers and reckless driving.

The national government has put forward proposals for new legislation to make roads safer by stiffening lax traffic regulations. AFP

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

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China urged to help curb N. Korea’s nuke program S

YDNEY―China and other nations must strengthen the efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday, while also calling out Beijing over its South China Sea activities.

DISCO PARTY. Morgan Petek and Jarrod Neimann pose backstage during the Nashville Disco Party Benefiting Alzheimer’s Association on June 4, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. AFP

Knowledge of son-in-law proposal denied WASHINGTON―Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has no knowledge of a reported pre-inauguration proposal

by President Donald Trump’s son in law and top aide Jared Kushner to set up a secret, bug-proof communications channel with the Kremlin.

In an interview aired Sunday on NBC, Putin again flatly denied US intelligence agencies’ assessment that Russia meddled via hacking and other means in the US election to help Trump win. He said there may have been non-Russian hackers from anywhere that simply blamed Russia.

This charge―and even more damning suggestions that the Trump administration actually colluded in such an effort― are at the core of a high stakes probe by a US special counsel and congressional committees. Trump’s most ardent critics

are already talking of impeachment.

Putin also said he had no idea if the Russian ambassador to Washington had held contacts with the Trump campaign before the November election.

“I’m being honest. Do you think that from all over the world and the United States, the ambassador reports to me every day who he eats with or meets with,” said Putin.

And Putin denied that Russia had any information on Trump to influence him.

“Well, this is just another load of nonsense. Where would we get this information from? Did we have a special relationship with him? We didn’t have any relationship at all. ... Have you all lost your senses over there?” Putin asked.

The Washington Post has reported that in a New York meeting in December with the Russian ambassador to Washington,

Sergei Kislyak, the 36 year old Kushner suggested setting up a back channel of communications with Moscow.

Putin, in the interview with journalist Megyn Kelly in St. Petersburg, said: “I don’t know about this proposal. No proposal like that came to me.”

Putin said that, had there been a proposal and it were appealing to the Russians, his foreign minister would have told him.

“There wasn’t anything to talk about,” Putin said through an interpreter.

“For me, this is just amazing. You create a sensation out of nothing and out of this sensation, you turn it into a weapon of war against the current president. Well, this is, you know, you’re just, you people are so creative over there. Good job. Your lives must be boring,” said Putin. AFP

America’s top diplomat, speaking after talks in Sydney, also gave a brief response to the unfolding crisis in the Gulf, where Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have all announced they are severing ties with gas-rich Qatar.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the United States has spent recent weeks trying to reassure allies it can maintain a tough line against China’s “militarization” of the South China Sea while at the same time seeking help from Beijing.

President Donald Trump―who frequently denounced China on the campaign trail―has turned to Beijing to help rein in ally North Korea’s weapons program, prompting concern among Asian allies that America might go easy on the South China Sea territorial dispute.

“We desire productive relationships,” Tillerson said after annual discussions with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in Sydney.

“But we cannot allow China to use its economic power to buy its way out of other problems, whether it’s militarizing islands in the South China Sea or failing to put appropriate pressure on North Korea.”

He said China and other regional partners should “step up” efforts to help solve the North Korea situation, because it presents a threat to the “entire world.”

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea despite partial counter-claims from Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

It has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.

Tillerson reiterated US and Australian commitment to freedom of navigation in the South China Sea to “ensure unimpeded flow of lawful commerce in a rules-based order”.

But reporters asked Tillerson if America was applying a double standard in telling countries to adhere to the international order while simultaneously pulling out of a trans-Pacific trade deal and the Paris climate accords -- moves that prompted even longstanding allies to question whether America was retreating into isolationism.

“That’s why we’re here, that’s why we travel to the region, that’s why we engage with our counterparts,” Tillerson said, standing alongside Pentagon chief Jim Mattis, Bishop and Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne.

We “travel to the region to meet with our counterparts and talk about all the issues that are important to them and hear from them concerns about where the (Trump) administration is positioned”.

Addressing the situation in the Gulf, Tillerson called on countries there to stay united and work out their differences.

“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” he said.

“If there’s any role that we can play in terms of helping them address those, we think it is important that the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) remain united.”

Riyadh cut diplomatic relations and closed borders with its neighbor Qatar to “protect its national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism”, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

Tillerson and Mattis both said they did not anticipate any impact on efforts by a US-led coalition to battle the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. AFP

Cambodian opposition gains in local elections PHNOM PENH-Cambodia’s embattled opposition made significant gains in this weekend’s local elections, early results showed Monday, a vote closely watched for signs of vulnerability in one of the world’s longest serving leaders.

More than seven million Cambodians voted in Sunday’s commune elections, the first time they have headed to the polls since 2013’s disputed election result.

The impoverished Southeast Asian nation has been run by prime minister Hun Sen for 32 years, a charismatic and wily strongman who tolerates little dissent and is accused of cracking down on the opposition in the run up to the vote.

National elections will be held in 2018 and Sunday’s vote was viewed as a warm up for those crunch polls.

In recent weeks Hun Sen has delivered a series of increasingly shrill speeches warning of civil war if his reign is toppled next year.

By early Monday both the premier’s Cambodian People’s Party

(CPP) and the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) released preliminary figures that tallied with each other.

They showed some 51 percent of the popular votes going to Hun Sen’s CPP and 46 percent to the opposition.

Both sides portrayed the results as a victory.

“This is a big success for the CNRP,” opposition party spokesman Yim Sovann told reporters.

In a Facebook post Hun Sen hailed the result as “another victory” for his party adding: “The vote in 2018 won’t be much different from the vote in this election.”

But the opposition have particular reason to be optimistic.

If the popular vote is confirmed they would hold some 500 of the country’s 1,646 communes, up from 40 won five years ago.

The National Election Commission is expected to release preliminary results over the coming days which can then be challenged for discrepancies. Final official results will be published until June 25. AFP

MARKETING DAY. In this photo taken on June 4, 2017, shoppers browse products on display at the Kwangbok, or ‘liberation’, department store in Pyongyang. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

Outrage after Trump targets London mayor

World

Bill Cosby on trial for sex assault NORRISTOWN―Bill Cosby goes on trial Monday, accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his Philadelphia mansion 13 years ago, with the megastar turned pariah facing prison if convicted.

For decades, he was “America’s Dad,” loved by millions for his role as an affable obstetrician and benevolent father on “The Cosby Show,” one of the most popular series in the history of US television.

On Monday, the disgraced 79-year-old will walk into Montgomery County Courthouse to face three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Around 60 women have publicly accused the pioneering black comedian of being a serial sexual predator for decades, shredding his reputation, ending his career and leaving him isolated by friends and celebrities.

But the trial concerns the allegations of just one woman, a former Temple University employee. It is the only criminal case as the vast majority of alleged abuse happened too long ago to prosecute.

In the imposing court in Norristown, just outside Philadelphia, a 12-person jury, two of whom are African Americans, will determine Cosby’s guilt or innocence in a trial expected to last two weeks.

It will be one of America’s biggest celebrity trials in years.

Several of Cosby’s co-stars from 1984-1992 sitcom “The Cosby Show” are reported to attend.

More than 100 journalists are expected to attend the trial, with dozens of broadcasters and photographers expected to camp outside.

If convicted, he risks spending the rest of his days behind bars.

If acquitted, and claiming to be legally blind as a result of glaucoma, Cosby’s career is unlikely to recover.

His accuser is Andrea Constand, 44, who at the time was director of basketball operations at Temple University, where Cosby served on the Board of Trustees until his resignation in a blaze of scandal in 2014.

Constand says Cosby, whom she considered a mentor, plied her with pills and wine, before sexually assaulting her on his couch in 2004 after seeking his advice on moving to Canada and switching careers.

Cosby says he gave her Benadryl to relieve stress, insists their sexual relations were consensual and accuses her of lying.

Constand, who is gay and lives in Canada, waited a year to report the incident and initially settled the case with a civil suit in 2006.

The case was re-opened in 2015 by Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele, who claimed new evidence had come to light. The actor was arraigned in December 2015 and released on a $1 million bail.

But securing a conviction or an acquittal will be fraught with difficulties―and ultimately comes down to her word against his.

The prosecution asked for 13 other Cosby accusers to testify, but Judge Steven O’Neill has permitted only one in addition to Constand.

They will likely introduce a 2005 court deposition, in which Cosby admitted obtaining sedatives with a view to having sex.

The defense will seek to undermine Constand’s credibility by highlighting her delay in coming forward and apparent willingness to continue to meet Cosby after the incident.

The jury was selected in Pittsburgh because the defense argued it would have been impossible to get a fair panel locally because of the publicity. They will be sequestered for the trial. AFP

TRIBUTE. Pedestrians look at the bouquets of flowers at a pedestrian crossing by Borough Market in London on June 5, 2017, which were left in tribute to the victims of the June 3 attacks. British police on Monday made several arrests in two dawn raids following the June 3 London attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State group and that left seven people dead. AFP

WASHINGTON―Outrage erupted on both sides of the Atlantic Sunday after President Donald Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the wake of a terrorist assault in the British capital that left seven people dead.

In a series of tweets, Trump poured scorn on Khan’s attempt to reassure the public after three assailants smashed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then attacked revelers with knives.

“At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’” the US president said in one message.

Khan, in an interview with the BBC shortly after the Saturday night attack, had asked Londoners and visitors to be calm and vigilant.

“You will see an increased police presence today, including armed officers and uniformed officers.

There is no reason to be alarmed by this,” he said.

Leading figures in the US and the UK lined up to dismiss the president’s remarks, with Washington’s acting ambassador to London coming out in support of Khan.

“I commend the strong leadership of the @MayorofLondon as he leads the city forward after this heinous attack,” Lew Lukens said on the US embassy’s Twitter account.

He also praised the “extraordinary” response from Londoners and emergency services.

Khan’s spokesman issued a pointed statement saying that the mayor had “more important things to do than respond to Donald Trump’s ill-informed tweet that deliberately takes out of context his remarks.”

Trump initially said the attack showed it was time to “stop being politically correct and get down to the business of security for our people.”

As the scenes of panic in London were still unfolding he tweeted that it underscored the need for his contested “travel ban” on several Muslim-majority nations.

But later on Sunday he condemned the attacks in more conventional terms, sidestepping the spat with Khan and saying he had spoken with Prime Minister Theresa to extend America’s “unwavering support”.

“The United States will do everything in our power to assist the United Kingdom and its citizens as they work to protect their country and to bring those that are guilty to justice,” he told journalists. AFP

More arrested over attack L ONDON―Police carried out fresh raids and arrested “a number of people” on Monday after the Islamic State group claimed an attack by three men who mowed down and stabbed revelers in London, killing seven people before being shot dead by officers.

Saturday night’s rampage at a popular nightlife hub around London Bridge by men wearing fake suicide vests was the third deadly terror attack in Britain in less than three months and came only days before a general election.

“A number of people have been detained,” police said in a statement after two early morning raids in east London, as commuters returned to the scene of the attacks after some security cordons were removed.

“A very high priority for us is to try to understand whether they were working with anybody else,” London police chief Cressida Dick told BBC television.

Dick said police had seized “a huge amount of forensic material” after going through the van used in the attack “very very carefully”.

“We will change and adapt to what appears to be a new reality for us,” she said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday blamed “evil” Islamist ideology and vowed to crackdown on extremist content online worldwide, warning that attackers were “copying one another”.

National campaigning for Thursday’s general election resumed on Monday after a oneday suspension out of respect for the victims, who included 48 people treated in hospital for injuries.

Of those, 21 are still in a critical condition.

Police said on Sunday they were holding 11 people, all arrested in raids on two addresses in

Barking in suburban east London.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

“A detachment of fighters from Islamic State carried out London attacks,” said the Amaq news agency, which is affiliated with the jihadists.

One Canadian national and one Frenchman were among the fatalities and seven French citizens were among the injured.

No details have been released about the perpetrators, who were shot dead within eight minutes of the first call to the police.

Eight officers fired an “unprecedented” 50 rounds at the three attackers, according to Mark Rowley, head of national counterterrorism policing, who said that a bystander had also suffered a gunshot wound.

The prime minister said the attack was driven by the same “evil ideology of Islamist extremism” behind the May 22 Manchester suicide bombing that left 22 people dead, and the Westminster attack in March, which killed five.

The assailants ran people over on London Bridge before lunging seemingly at random at the crowds gathered around Borough Market, which is full of restaurants and bars.

Gerard Vowls, 47, said he saw a woman repeatedly stabbed, and threw chairs, glasses and bottles at the attackers in a bid to stop them.

“They kept coming to try to stab me... they were stabbing everyone. Evil, evil people,” he told The Guardian newspaper. AFP

GOVERNORS’ BALL MUSIC FESTIVAL. Sarah Barthel of Phantogram performs during the 2017 Governors’ Ball Music Festival at Randall’s Island on June 4, 2017, in New York City. AFP

Gulf states urged to address their differences SYDNEY-US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Monday called on the Gulf states to stay united and work out their differences after several nations cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.

“We certainly would encourage the parties to sit down together and address these differences,” he said in Sydney.

“If there’s any role that we can play in terms of helping them address those, we think it is impor-

tant that the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] remain united.”

In the region’s most serious diplomatic crisis in years, Qatar’s Gulf neighbors Riyadh, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates as well as Egypt all announced they were severing ties with gas-rich Qatar.

Riyadh cut diplomatic relations and closed borders with its neighbor to “protect its national security from the dangers of ter-

rorism and extremism”, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

A Saudi-led coalition that for more than two years has been fighting Iran-backed rebels in Yemen separately announced Qatar was no longer welcome in the alliance, accusing it of supporting terrorist organizations.

Qatar had assigned warplanes to the coalition conducting air strikes against Yemen’s Huthi

rebels.

Tillerson said despite the impasse, he did not expect it to have “any significant impact, if any impact at all, on the unified fight against terrorism in the region or globally”.

“All of those parties you mentioned have been quite unified in the fight against terrorism and the fight against Daesh, ISIS, and have expressed that most recently in the summit in Riyadh,” he

added.

Less than a month ago, US President Donald Trump visited the region to cement ties with powerhouse Saudi Arabia―the first foreign stop of his young presidency.

In a Riyadh speech to Muslim leaders from around the world, Trump urged them to “drive out” extremists and “terrorists”, as Sunni jihadists carry out attacks in many countries. AFP

NCCA Life lauds

CULTURE & MEDIA

A

According to the NCCA, ABS-CBN, ANC, and DZMM are media partners that consistently display “steadfast support to the Commission through the promotion of programs, projects, and activities that showcase the diversity and uniqueness of our culture and artistic traditions in its TV and radio shows and programs.”

One such instance is the airing of the documentary series Dayaw, a project of Senator Loren Legarda and the NCCA, on ANC, the ABSCBN News Channel.

Now on its third season, Dayaw is a six-part, 30-minute weekly show that aims to promote appreciation and preservation of traditional Filipino arts and culture hosted by Legarda, an advocate of IP rights.

ABS-CBN’s commitment to uphold the promotion of the country’s cultural heritage is also demonstrated in its effort to cover and produce news stories on NCCA’s Ani ng Dangal, an annual event that recognizes Filipino artists who have won honors internationally and other accolades in the past year; and on NCCA’s celebration of the National Heritage Month, which aims to generate awareness, respect, and love for the legacy of Filipino cultural history.

Through the years, NCCA infomercials were also staunchly supported by the Kapamilya network by airing it on television and radio to reach more Filipinos, including NCCA led projects like the Philippine Arts Festival and the National Arts Month, among others.

Meanwhile, Kapamilya stars were also recognized for the important role they play as celebrity ambassadors in helping realize NCCA’s goals.

Among the recognized stars include Piolo Pascual (Culture Ambassador), Sarah Geronimo (Music Ambassador), Ogie Alcasid (Heritage Ambassador/ASEAN Ambassador), Boy Abunda (Arts Ambassador), Enchong Dee (Heritage Ambassador), and Jericho Rosales (Heritage Ambassador).

NCCA is the government agency responsible in preserving, promoting, and protecting Filipino culture and the arts. For its 30th year, the NCCA is celebrating its founding anniversary with the theme, “Lingkod NCCA: Marangal. Malikhain. Mapagbago. Filipino!”

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

D1

EVENTS

ABS-CBN, ANC, DZMM

BS-CBN, ANC, and DZMM were honored by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for championing the country’s rich culture and artistic traditions on Philippine television and radio during the agency’s 30th Founding Anniversary Celebration on May 17 at Sofitel Manila.

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

Collision of arts and science

CHAMPIONS OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE. ABS-CBN and DZMM earn recognition from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for their invaluable support as media partner of the agency

ANC COO Cilette Liboro Co (center) accepts NCCA’s recognition together with her team

Ogie Alcasid is recognized as Heritage Ambassador

IN CELEBRATION of the 119th year of independence of the Philippines from Spanish rule, the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) presents the Ultimate Indie Weekend in Bonifacio Global City on June 10-11.

BGC trains the spotlight on homegrown talents on Independence Day weekend to show that they can bridge the arts and science “to serve our lives,” with the Philippines’s first Manila Maker Faire and the second BGC Arts Center Festival entitled “BGC Loves Local.”

“This is the kind of weekend that has engineers, artists, and performers to give us fascinating technologies and uplifting performances that could improve the quality of our days,” says Maria Isabel Garcia, curator of The Mind Museum and head of Content of the BGC Arts Program.

As The Mind Museum celebrates its fifth year and with the recent opening of BGC Arts center, Garcia says, “We are even more inspired to rally this science-and-arts bridge to help in nationbuilding and culture-making.”

The Manila Maker Faire, the first in the country, is a free two-day event that gathers 50 innovators, hobbyists, and technologist from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. There will be robots, drones, 3D printers, virtual reality, and eco-friendly technologies, such as portable desalinators for fishermen, to be presented to the public at The Mind Museum.

This science event is licensed by the Maker Media of the US, and was first held in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, other parts of the globe, and now in the Philippines.

Piolo Pascual is named Culture Ambassador

ART COMPETITION

Doodle Art National Winner

to represent Philippines in Global Finals

Rojan Barcelon is first place for his Maynila King doodle

ON MAY 6, Red Bull Doodle Art crowned the Philippine representative to the National Finals at Kapwa Studio, Makati City. The event was attended by a number of artists and students who came to see a showcase that featured 133 entries from different universities across the country.

The Red Bull Doodle Art is a highly innovative global contest that brings together more than 50 thousand students from over 1000 universities in more than 40 countries who showcase their own doodle art. The third global edition of Red Bull Doodle Art will have an exciting finale: a 3D virtual reality experience.

Contestants uploaded their work to the Red Bull Doodle Art website where the top 20 entries were selected through public voting. These pieces were then judged by former Red Bull Doodle Art contestant, Manuel “Meow Meow” Liwanag and Details Ink owner Kara Pangilinan, who selected the top three through a combination of Creativity, Overall Style, and Aggregated Facebook Likes.

The winners were announced at the Philippine Finals in Kapwa Studio—1st Place: Rojan Elmo Barcelon (University of the Philippines Diliman); 2nd Place: Gabriel Villacarlos (University of San Car-

The Red Bull Doodle Art is a highly innovative global contest that brings together over 50 thousand students in more than 40 countries to showcase their doodle art

los); 3rd Place: Michelle Robledo (University of the Philippines Manila) “It was a long process. If you look at the entries they are really good in different ways, so it was hard to pick whose the best piece was” Pangilinan said.

“The winning entry had a great meaning and a great style that’s unique to Rojan Barcelon,” added Liwanag.

Barcelon advances to the Doodle Art Global Finals through his winning piece, Maynila King. He doodled the piece in between working on his thesis. “I want to show people that the lower class Filipinos can rise up and become the Kings of Manila!” he exclaimed.

Cebu-based student Villacarlos sought inspiration in traffic. With barely 24 hours spent in Manila, the victory came as an unlikely surprise to the fine arts student who had made the top 20 the week before. “I am humbled and so blessed. I didn’t expect to win this!” he said.

Third placer Robledo, a student of dentistry at the University of the Philippines-Manila, earned her spot in the top 20 through two different entries. She said, “It is my first time to join a competition and Doodle really helped me feel more confident about my art.”

The Global Finals for Red Bull Doodle Art will take place later this year at an undisclosed location. Stay tuned to www.redbulldoodleart.com for updates.

The top 20 entries from the Philippines were selected through public voting based on creativity, overall style, and aggregated Facebook ‘likes’

Bonifacio Global City celebrates Independence Day with an arts and science festival featuring local talents

Meanwhile contemporary artists will come together at BGC Loves Local, which serves as a mainstream venue for Filipino artists to showcase their works and talents. Shows range from classical music performances by past winners of the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA) to improvisational theater by Third World Improv.

On June 10, the Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall will feature original performances such as the one-act play on siblinghood by Theater 2108, an Ilokano One-Act Tale called Naameng Ak Gamin by Dulaang ELYU, and the improv show called Indi’sarswela by SPIT. The Globe Auditorium, will be the stage for the local adaption of I am Asher Lev by Twin Bill Productions, Cinderella by KidsAct, and Harana by The Philippine Opera Company.

On June 11, a ballet duet Passages created by Jean Marc Cordero, an orchestra performance by the NAMCYA, and a mini music festival by Stages Sessions—featuring Keiko Necesario and Bullet Dumas, among others— will be performed at the Globe Auditorium. The Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall will show a one-act play called Biyahe.

Several other indoor and outdoor performances will happen in several venues in BGC. Both events are open for everyone, from all ages and genders. “It’s for those curious how arts and sciences are connected. It’s for open-minded people,” says Garcia.

Go to www.bgcartscenter.org for the complete list of events.

Life

D2

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

MUSICAL THEATER

‘Kinky Boots’

announces full cast A TLANTIS Theatrical Entertainment Group and Metrobank Card Corporation announced the full cast of Kinky Boots, the Tony and Grammy award winning Best Musical with music written by pop singer Cyndi Lauper.

The show at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati opens on June 30.

Leading the cast as Simon/Lola is critically acclaimed musical theater performer and acoustic balladeer Nyoy Volante, last seen on stage as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. Laurence Mossman, last seen playing multiple roles in Fun Home, takes on the role of Charlie Price, Yanah Laurel, who was also last seen in Fun Home, plays factory worker Lauren, and former Miss Saigon cast

member Tricia Canilao returns to the musical theater stage after a long absence as Nicola.

Joining them are Nel Gomez, Christine Flores, Sarah Facuri, Steven Cionde, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Ron Gohel, Jill Pefia, Japs Treopaldo, and Juancho Escoto. Featured as the Angels are Ritz Beitan, Jorge Jahnke, Michael Jahnke, Jazztin Cacayan, Mark Pineda and Gerhard Krysstopher.

Winner of six Tony Awards, in-

Yannah Laurel plays factory worker Lauren

Laurence Mossman plays Charlie Price, and Nyoy Volante portrays the fabulous entertainer Lola

cluding Best Musical, Kinky Boots features a joyous, Tony-winning score by Lauper and a hilarious, uplifting book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein.

In the play, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the brink of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man that he is meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible... and

discovers that, when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Kinky Boots is directed by Bobby Garcia, choreography by Cecile Martinez, set design by Faust Peneyra, lighting design by Adam Honore, costume design by Raven Ong, sound design by Kevin Heard, wig and make up design by Johann dela Fuente, musical direction by Molinder Cadiz, and vocal direction by ManMan Angsico.

A surefire crowd pleaser, Kinky Boots will have you dancing in the aisle and discovering why, sometimes, the best way to fit in... is to stand out!

Get tickets at Ticketworld, call 8919999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

DESIGN

Industry experts weigh in on bamboo WITH the tagline “Bamboo. Tension. Integrity,” experts, namely, Luis Lopez of nonprofit organization BASE Bahay Inc, Dr. Bing Caasi-Lit, researcher and scientist from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Architect Christian Salandanan from SANGAY Architects discussed the seemingly never-ending uses of bamboo, often described as a sustainable material for construction, during Bamboo Tensegrity, a three-day symposium followed by hands-on workshop and several demonstrations.

Andry Widyowijatnoko, Indonesian bamboo architect and author of Traditional and Innovative Joints in Bamboo Construction, discussed how the product is used as a building medium.

After the seminar, Widyowijatnoko guided the participants, composed of faculty and students from both Polytechnic University of the Philippines and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, in working and constructing with the plant, as well as directing them in adopting traditional and innovative joints used in assembling structures, to complete a geosphere as finished product.

The event was made possible through the collaboration between Architect Jocelyn Lutap, PUP’s Architecture Program Chairperson, and Architect David Barcelona of the Social and Academic Guild for Architecture (SAGA) of Benilde’s Architecture Program.

Pianist Hiyas Hila performs with PPO

CLASSICAL MUSIC

Hiyas Hila plays with PPO

PIANIST Hiyas A. Hila performs with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) under the baton of Maestro Yoshikazu Fukumura in a matinee concert (4 p.m.) on June 11 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater).

The program consists of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s works, including the Overture from the opera Cosi fan tutte and Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”.

Hila will render Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.23 in A major (K.488).

Hila performs regularly as a solo, orchestral and chamber music artist.

She has been featured in concerts in the United States, Spain and the Philippines. Her orchestral appearances include performances with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, and the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra.

Hila earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance at the University of Minnesota School of Music, with Lydia Artymiw as her teacher, and her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in piano performance, with Mack McCray as her mentor, at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), she attended the University of the Philippines College of Music for two years, where she was a consistent university scholar before she moved to the United States. Her previous piano teachers were Regalado Jose, Leonor Kilayko, Ariel Dechosa and Cecile Basilio-Roxas. She has played in master classes given by Blanca Uribe, Faina Luzshtak, Roman Rudnytsky, Russel Brandon, Reynaldo Reyes, Ariel Dechosa, Boris Slutsky, Julian Martin, and Albert Tiu. Hila teaches piano, chamber music and piano ensemble at the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, California and at Saint Brigid Catholic School in San Francisco, California. She previously taught applied piano and class piano at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Tickets to her performance are P1000, P800, P500 and P200.

For inquiries, contact the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or 832-1125 local 1409.

Architecture faculty and students from Polytechnic University of the Philippines and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde assemble structures using bamboo, as guided by Indonesian bamboo architect Andry Widyowijatnoko, during the three-day symposium ‘Bamboo Tensegrity’

The Casa’s ‘Man Cave’ auction CASA DE MEMORIA, the country’s premier auction house for European fine and decorative arts, recently shone the spotlight on the men of society. Their most recent auction, dubbed “The Gentleman’s Pursuits,” featured furniture, paintings, and various conversation pieces that were bold, imposing, and downright masculine—the type of pieces that would fit right in a well-curated man cave.

The viewing party, held at Casa De Memoria’s main gallery on Jupiter St. in Makati, had more than just society’s refined men in attendance. Present were the likes of Aga Muhlach, who’s been collecting art and antiquities along with his equally stylish wife, Charlene Gonzales.

Joanna Preysler and Raul Francisco of The Provenance Gallery were also in the event, comfortably in their element as one

of Manila’s respected couples in art.

With an assortment of cocktails by ABV and hors d’oeuvres by Lazy Bastard, esteemed guests were in high spirits as they basked in the beauty of the pieces on display, curated by none other than renowned Creative Consultant Miguel Rosales. Notable lots sold included a painting by Portuguese contemporary artist Sara Maia, an 18th century center table carved in the Baroque style of Don Jose I, and even a signed copy of Helmut Newton’s SUMO—the biggest and most expensive book of the 20th century.

Casa De Memoria’s next auction, Auction .0007, is on July 1.

For more information, visit CasaDeMemoria.com, follow @CasaDeMemo- These art and antiquities (clockwise from left): signed verso by Sara Maia, a signed ria on Instagram, and like @TheCasa- copy of Helmut Newton’s SUMO on a bespoke stand by Philippe Starck, and Don Jose I DeMemoria on Facebook. center table were auctioned off at Casa de Memoria’s ‘The Gentleman’s Pursuits’

TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

New 24/7 go-to channel for anime A

NIPLUS Asia, the destination for everything anime is now here in the Philippines, first seen on SKY.

The 24-hour general entertainment channel brings the latest and hottest anime series in Japan like Sword Oratoria: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Granblue Fantasy The Animation, and the second season of the global phenomenon, Attack on Titan, which are highly awaited by hard core anime fans.

Sword Oratoria: Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in Dungeon? is the spin-off of the popular manga and anime Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, also known as DanMachi. It follows Sword princess Ais Wallendstein and the action happening in in the dungeon in Orario. It airs right after Japan in the Philippines at 12:30 a.m.

There will be encore telecasts every Saturday at 11 p.m..

Originally a mobile game by Cygames, Granblue Fantasy The Animation, is a highly anticipated anime in Japan. It’s about Gran and Lyria, two kids on the run from an

empire trying to dominate the world of skies. Watch it right after it airs in Japan every Saturday at 12:30 a.m., or the encore broadcast every Sunday at 6:30 p.m..

Season 2 of Attack on Titan picks up where the previous season left off, with the discovery of a Titan within a wall. Fans are sure to enjoy another action-filled season with Erin, Mikasa, and Armin as they try to take the world back from Titans. Fresh episodes premiere every Sunday at 6 p.m. right after Japan, with an encore at 10 p.m. the same day.

ANIPLUS Asia is available to subscribers of SKY with One SKY, SKYcable and Destiny digital subscribers in Metro Manila on channel 139.

The channel is open and free until July 14, after which it will be available as an add-on channel via SKY Select for P100/month.

To subscribe and to know more, log on to www.mysky.com.ph or call 4180000.

Exciting prizes for ‘Transformers’ fans

"Granblue Fantasy The Animation" is an anime series based on a role-playing video game developed for Android and iOS platforms

Whose end will prevail in ‘War For The Planet Of The Apes’?

THE greatest war will be fought in the upcoming highly anticipated action event of the year in War for the Planet of the Apes.

In the latest trailer reveal of the movie, tension between man and ape has reached boiling point that pits both in extreme warfare that could bring end to both species.

Directed by Matt Reeves, War for the Planet of the Apes gathers an extremely impressive cast that includes Woody Harrelson,Amiah Miller, Andy Serkis, Judy Greer, Steve Zahn, Karin Konoval, Devyn Dalton, Terry Notary, and Ty Olson.

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless

Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face–to-face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

Witness the all-out war for survival when War for the Planet of the Apes. hits Philippine cinemas on July 12 from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/KWRL1F_Tf5c / h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / 2 0 t h c e n t u r y f o x p h i l i p p i n e s / videos/10158671787050582/

Fashion design graduate wins Sony Channel’s ‘The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition’ WITHOUT any professional background in interior design, Aleksandra Flasz, a Polish fashion design graduate and model was crowned the winner of Sony Channel’s first original production, The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition.

In a grueling 40-hour design challenge, Aleksandra faced off with Malaysian architect, Winston See, to fight for the Rising Star crown and the grand prize of $100,000. It was a dramatic and close race to the finish, but ultimately Aleksandra won the winning vote against Winston, leaving him wondering where he went wrong.

“The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition was created to inspire young designers and Sony Channel’s viewers to enhance their living spaces using tips from the experts.

The series featured some of the world’s top designers including Laurence LlewelynBowen, Genevieve Gordor, and Jamie Durie, who provided incredible insights and design advice in each episode, and all against a backdrop of gripping drama,” said Virginia Lim, senior vice president and head of content,

Production and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

“I would like to congratulate Aleksandra and Winston for making it to the finish and I hope that The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition will help further launch their careers on a global scale.”

The ultimate and deciding challenge for the two finalists was to design and furnish an apartment from scratch with only the help of two previous contestants, Ally and Andres.

At the finale design court, Aleksandra and Winston had to defend their designs in front of a judging panel of nine, with esteemed members including Andrea Savage, Jeremy Rowe from Dulux and Genie Tay from UMLand.

While there was praise for both finalists, there were some questionable design choices that displeased the judges. Laurence LlewelynBowen described Aleksandra’s bedroom as “Hugh Hefner, done atrociously.” To Winston, he said that the floor design looked like it had “been hit by an earthquake.”

Despite the criticism, the judges commented

that both of them had shown vast improvement from their first challenge, and applauded them for their effort and hard work. In a tense reveal, Aleksandra won the 5-4 vote against Winston to take the title of The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition.

The intense 10-episode journey drew Sony Channel viewers into the cut-throat world of interior design where 12 up-and-coming designers competed to become the next style superstar.

The Apartment: Rising Stars Edition featured a formidable and glamorous judging panel, including world-renowned interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as the head judge and Jamie Durie, the award-winning designer and author, who doubled as series host and mentor. Vivacious media personality and home product designer, Genevieve Gorder also joined the judging panel this season, injecting her clever wit and colorful commentary into the series.

For more information, visit SonyChannel. com/TheApartment or @TheApartmentTV on Facebook and Twitter.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Tuesday, June 6, 2017

ACROSS 1 Kind of radio 5 Queenly 10 Attorneys’ degs.

14 “Old MacDonald — — ...”

15 Related to mom 16 Yvette’s eye 17 Nearly shut 18 Stunned (2 wds.)

20 Charlatan 22 Pine tree products 23 Quarter 25 It may be charmed 26 Moon goddess 27 Swampy area 28 Uh-uh 32 That’s — —!

33 Open-back shoe 35 Pantyhose woe 36 Autumn mo.

37 Mi. above sea level 38 U.K. part 39 Patella site 41 Take forcibly 43 Linger 44 Part of PBA 45 Tack on 46 Attacked the fridge 48 Cows’ mouthfuls 50 More than coarse

51 Loath 54 Fire engine gear 55 Common blessing 57 Hagar’s daughter, in the comics 61 Edges a doily 62 Ammonia compound 63 Wednesday’s god 64 Plasterer’s strip 65 Like Amundsen 66 Salad bowl wood DOWN 1 I knew it!

2 Capt.’s superior 3 Rx monitor 4 Theater sign 5 Consumer lures 6 Tennyson’s “— Arden” 7 Stare 8 Water off N.C. 9 Ogling 10 Unlaces 11 Strauss of blue jeans 12 Good, in Baja 13 35mm cameras 19 Rock’s — Leppard 21 Footed vase 23 Law breakers 24 Relish-tray

items 25 Mardi Gras followers 26 Decaf name 27 Worked with nails 29 Lake near Syracuse 30 Cater to 31 Urged on 34 Adds pork fat to 40 Form a hard coating 41 Tackled the job (2 wds.)

42 Board member

43 Honcho (2 wds.)

47 Frothy brew 49 Seal’s org.

50 Annuls 51 PR persons 52 Wienerschnitzel base 53 This senora 54 Charles to Elizabeth 56 Med. plan 58 Lyric poem 59 Ms. Peeples of TV 60 Squid’s weapon

CALLING all fans of Transformers!

7-Eleven is giving away premium Transformers collectibles and a trip to Singapore for the ultimate Transformers experience.

This exciting partnership is in time for the upcoming fifth movie in the franchise, Transformers: The Last Knight that will hit the big screen this June.

Whether you’re rooting for Optimus Prime and the Autobots or Megatron and his Decepticons, this 7-Eleven tie-up will get you excited for this epic film with collectible Transformers drawstring bags and even a chance to experience the excitement of Transformers first hand at Universal Studios Singapore.

To get the limited edition drawstring bag, all you need to do is collect e-Stamps, which you can earn with every P100 purchase using your Every Day! Rewards Card or CLiQQ App at any 7-Eleven store in the country. Ten Transformers e-Stamps will entitle you to a drawstring bag.

You can also avail of the bag by collecting one Transformers e-Stamp or two CLIQQ points, add P69 and voila, the premium drawstring bag is

yours.

To make it even more exciting, 7-Eleven is giving its customers the chance to experience the ultimate Transformers getaway in Singapore when they collect Transformers e-Raffle entries for every P100 worth of purchase from any 7-Eleven. They can also earn additional Transformers e-Raffle entries when they buy booster products. Ten winners will be chosen for the trip for two to experience Transformers: The Ride in Universal Studios Singapore.

Much like the Transformers franchise, 7-Eleven wants to keep everyone on their toes so 20 lucky winners will also get one of the hottest gadgets this season—the Nintendo Switch. And to complete the experience, Gulp Transformer cups will also be available for the duration of the redemption period to really get you excited for Transformers: The Last Knight.

The Transformers merchandise will be available until July 18, or until stocks last. So, all Transformers fanatics roll out and start earning e-Stamps and e-Raffle entries to get the most explosive freebies from 7-Eleven.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2017

I

T’S been months since “Kalyeserye” —the phenomenal segment on GMA 7’s noontime show Eat Bulaga—was seen on television.

The last “Kalyeserye’’ episode, which aired in December, saw Maine Mendoza as Yaya Dub and Alden Richards as Bae Alden introduce their twins Charmaine and Richard.

And it seems the story isn’t over yet. Fans of the show in the United States were able to see the “Kalyeserye” crew back in action via KS sa US (Kalyeserye sa US featuring AlDub and the Lolas at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles on April 9 and at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York on April 12.

Jenny Ferre, senior vicepresident for creatives and operations of TAPE, Inc, said the shows in LA and New York serve as a continuation of the “Kalyeserye” story.

Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros also joined Maine and Alden in the shows.

“We decided it’s about time to meet the fans abroad naman. Perfect timing lang yun. Okay si Alden, okay si Maine, okay ang mga Lola.

Para naman makalabas sila at makita sila ng fans abroad,” Ferre said, adding that Eat Bulaga has been getting requests and offers for them to do shows outside the country since the “Kalyeserye” became a hit in 2015.

She further explained, “Hindi siya repeat lang ng ‘Kalyeserye’ sa Eat Bulaga. Ang istorya nun is the continuation of the ‘Kalyeserye’.”

True to the “Kalyeserye”’s innovative and genrebending nature, the two US shows were not alike.

“Iba Iba yung nangyari sa Los Angeles, iba yung nangyari sa New York,” Ferre said, explaining that the New York show was the continuation of the show in Los Angeles.

“So, kung saan man kami damputin, yun yung kasunod ng istoryang yun,” ,” she added.

“It’s a chill show. Gusto lang namin tumawa sila. Ganun lang.. The shows were done several months after walang ‘Kalyeserye.’ Sila yung unang nakakita na nagsama yung tatlong lola at si Alden and Maine and yung kambal. May mga bagong Rogelio — kasi nga ang mga lola nasa abroad so dapat imported ang mga Rogelio.”

That was also the first time Maine had joined an Eat Bulaga show abroad — as Yaya Dub, no less.

“Noong una, reluctant pa siya.

She’s not sure if she can handle the crowd. A show abroad kasi is a like a concert. But kayang-kaya, ang galing naman niya,” ,” Ferre said.

Both the shows in Los Angeles

ALDUB and the ‘LOLAS’

return from ‘Kalyeserye’ shows in the US and New York were sold out and delighted the fans from all walks of life.

“Ang ganda. Tuwang-tuwa kami.

Nakaka-miss ang ‘Kalyeserye,’ promise. Miss na miss namin ang mga Lola saka si Alden at saka si Maine. Naging therapy ng mommy ko yan sa Pilipinas. Kasi nung pagkamatay ng father ko, naging therapy ng mommy ko ang AlDub. Kaya feel na feel ko ang ‘Kalyeserye.’ Bumiyahe pa kami ng five hours from Arizona,” said a Kalyeserye fan who watched the show in Los Angeles.

“They (Richards and Mendoza) are down to earth, they’re not fake.

There’s something about them that I can’t describe it,” said a fan from San Diego, California who saw the New York show with her parents.

“Nakakapagbigay siya ng saya from all ages, mula bata hanggang matanda. Yung misis ko nga, I turned her into a monster!

Ako ang unang nanood tapos pinanood ko sa kanya,” a Filipino couple in Los Angeles said, noting that they watch old episodes of “Kalyeserye” until now.

Richards was happy he was able to share the stage with Mendoza and the Lolas again in the US. “In a way, nakaka-miss ang Kalyeserye. Tapos nagawa namin siya dun, nakita ulit naming yung mga sarili namin as Kalyeserye characters. Nakakatuwa, nakakamiss pala,” he said.

More than the return of “Kalyeserye,” albeit on a different medium, the Eat Bulaga mainstays were thankful and happy to have

While not in their "Lola' costumes, (from left) Paolo Ballesteros, Wally Bayola, and Jose Manalo, entertain the crowd with their signature skit.

been able to perform for the Dabarkads in the US. “Iba kasi yung dating ng Eat Bulaga abroad to the Filipino viewers, especially sa mga OFWs. Ramdam mo talaga na yung craving nila for local artists from the Philippines to perform abroad is very huge,” he said.

He added, “Big deal sa kanila na nag-show kami doon. They’re very lively, madali silang makibagay sa nangyayari. I mean, yung focus nung audience dun, kuha ng mga hosts. So, ang sarap mag-perform.”

“Surprisingly, maraming matanda at maraming bata.

They have many stories to tell.

Kinukwento nila kung paano naging stress reliever sa kanila

Master your time with Time Master A NEW brand of exquisite timepieces has come to town and is set to make waves among the country’s watch aficionados.

Time Master, the newest business venture of budding entrepreneur Brian Poe Llamanzares, recently held a Grand Launch and Ramp Show at Prive Luxury Club in Bonifacio Global City, amidst a jam packed crowd consisting of Manila’s movers and shakers, big names in business, sports, film and television.

Llamanzares, son of Senator Grace Poe, is certainly coming into his own with notable accomplishments left and right, earning him the distinction of being called a “Game Changer” among today’s millennial. The 25-year-old business owner is a perennial source of pride for both the Poe and Llamanzares sides of the family. It comes as no surprise that his loved ones came in full force on May 12, with grandmother Susan Roces and aunt Lovi Poe lending significant star power to the elegant Prive affair. Brian’s dad Neil, mom Grace, sister Hanna and girlfriend Angel Alita were also in the crowd to show their love and support for the man of the hour.

Time Master unveiled its Poseidon Collection, four styles of limited-edition timepieces designed with superlative features and the signature Time Master

GAME CHANGER. Brian Poe Llamanzares (second from left) and friends present Time Master's four limited edition watches specially crafted for the brand. craftsmanship. Each product comes with the precision and dependability one would expect from a high-end watch, not to mention a commitment to help the less fortunate with every watch sold. Time Master has partnered with MovEd, a charity that makes quality education possible for children

from poor communities.

MovEd founder Alex Eduque lauded the efforts of Llamanzares in putting together a globally competitive brand that goes beyond business by way of paying it forward where it truly counts. Time Master enters the lesstraveled path of giving back, revealing

Brian’s affinity for public service and social responsibility.

One of the highlights of the night was the young CEO’s heartfelt tribute to his dad Neil Llamanzares, the very person who sowed in him a love for watches. Growing up, Brian recalls always receiving a watch from the elder Llamanzares to celebrate his personal milestones. At Time Master’s Grand Launch, Brian reciprocated his father’s timeless love with a most memorable gesture— the gift of the Time Master Metal Ore 001, the very first Time Master timepiece ever assembled. It was a touching affair to say the least, and a clear affirmation that Brian has picked the right time for the right business.

Time Master’s Poseidon Collection is now available at Washington Watches in SM North EDSA, Greenbelt and Glorietta, and may also be purchased online via its website timemasterwatches. com. For more information, please check out the brand’s Instagram account @ timemasterwatches.

ang ‘Kalyeserye.’ Kahit yung mga foreigner na asawa nila, nanood din! Maraming bumiyahe from other states, merong nag-drive ng four hours just to see them. It was overwhelming,” Ferre said.

But is there a chance the phenomenal ‘‘Kalyeserye’’ will return on television again?

Ferre said the ‘‘Kalyeserye’’ is definitely “not dead.” “Andyan lang siya sa tabi.”

“There’s a possibility that it could happen on TV again. Maybe a new twist, a new story, or we bring back the Lolas again. It depends on our gut feel e, kung pwedeng ibalik. Or it could be a monthly special, a weekly special,” she said.