Manila Standard - 2017 June 10 - Saturday

MOVE OVER JAMES, DURANT’S ERA HERE

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VOL. XXXI • NO. 116 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

Martial law stays—AFP

Despite June 12 ‘endgame’ to liberate Marawi

By John Paolo Bencito

BRITISH PM FACES PRESSURE TO QUIT

C3

Duterte to abide

by SC’s decision

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HILIPPINE flags will be freely waved in every corner of Marawi City on June 12, the country’s 119th Independence Day, the military said Friday as it vowed to end the weekslong rampage by extremists who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

By John Paolo Bencito and Rey E. Requejo PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said Friday he would respect any decision reached by the Supreme Court, which is set to hear five petitions against his declaration of martial law in Mindanao, after pro-Islamic State terrorists overran Marawi City on May 23.

“I will follow decision of Supreme Court on martial law,” the President said in a chance interview at Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. But the President said this would also depend on whether the military thought it advisable to lift martial law in Mindanao.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez had earlier warned of a possible constitutional crisis if the Supreme Court compels Congress to hold a joint session on Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Alvarez said the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction over Congress and could not order a co-equal branch of government to convene for a joint session, Next page

Licuanan top earner in Cabinet

By Rio N. Araja

FLUSHING THEM OUT. SWAT operatives search a house after receiving information that more than a dozen escaped prisoners, freed from jail by Maute militants, were hiding there, in Marawi City on June 8, 2017. One hundred and seven inmates were freed by the militants from Marawi City Jail on May 23, 2017. AFP

Aguirre orders NBI to probe destab plotters

By Rey E. Requejo THE Justice department has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the opposition leaders who might be involved in the alleged planning to destabilize the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In an order dated June 7, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II asked the NBI to investigate and build a case against “some sena-

COMMISSION on Higher Education Chairwoman Patricia Licuanan was the top earner among President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet officials in 2016, according to a report from the Commission on Audit.

She made P2,581,615 including P1.43 million in wages, P192,100 in additional compensation and honorariums, P351.565 in allowances, P272,246 in bonuses and incentives, and P336,000 in discretionary funds.

On the no. 2 spot was Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell Ubial who received P2,408,063.31, which included P943,757.45 as assistant health secretary from January to June 2016 and P1,294,412.14 for the second half

Ex-mayors’ homes yield shabu—cops

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tors and other opposition leaders” implicated in the alleged destabilization plot.

Meanwhile, Aguirre II on Friday cleared opposition Senator Bam Aquino of participation in the alleged destabilization plot against Duterte.

“Upon further verification, I was able to establish that Senator Bam Aquino went to Marawi City on May 19, 2017 upon invitation of Governor Soraya Alonto-Adiong

to promote the Go Negosyo Program, Aguirre said in statement.

Aguirre made the statement after receiving flak for his earlier claim that Aquino, along with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Rep. Gary Alejano and Ronald Llamas, political adviser of former President Benigno Aquino III, were involved in the Marawi City conflict.

He claimed that Aquino was among the members of the opposition who went to Marawi City and

met with some prominent families on May 2, three weeks before the fighting broke out.

Aguirre also mentioned a photo he received from his asset purportedly taken during the meeting. He refused to provide a copy of the photo but reporters were able to catch a glimpse of it.

Nonetheless, he eventually retracted his statement and issued a clarification saying the meeting Next page

Marawi ‘looters’ arrested

By Francisco Tuyay

POLICE seized more than a kilogram of suspected shabu in the houses of two former mayors in Lanao del Sur during a separate raids in Cagayan de Oro and Marawi City on Thursday.

Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac, director of the Police Regional Office-ARMM, said the shabu was found in the house of former Marantao, Lanao del Sur Mayor Mohammad Ali Abinal alias Mericano in Bobonga village

RW gunman linked to slays

By Joel E. Zurbano METRO Manila police consider the June 2 attack on the Resorts World Manila casino by a lone gunman, Jessie Carlos, a solved case, but they have yet to determine if he was also involved in the killing of a lawyer and a former police officer in Paco, Manila, hours before

he went on a rampage.

Thirty-seven people had died of suffocation in the Resorts World attack from the fire Carlos had set.

Lawyer Elmer Mitra Jr., 38, and former Manila policeman Alvin Cruzin, 43, were found dead with bullet wounds inside a gray BMW turned turtle on Perez and Belen Streets in Paco, hours before the Next page casino attack.

Speaking to reporters, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, however, said the imposition of military rule in the whole island of Mindanao might not be lifted right away despite the targeted liberation of Marawi, as “further assessment” would be required. “[Our] soldiers are doing their part, they’re doing their best and are continuing with this effort on the ground to facilitate the liberation of Marawi, hopefully by Monday,” said Padilla in a news briefing at Malacanang.

Padilla said that the end game is to have Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers arrested “if we can arrest them.”

“But if we cannot, then [the goal is] to neutralize them because I guess they will always fight it to the end,” he added.

Following offensives launched against enemy positions, the military noted that the volume of fire coming from the enemy has decreased and enemy activity has dwindled.

“So this continues up to this moment and we are confident our troops are gaining important headway inside these areas. And as I have mentioned the other day, definitely proving that the world of the terrorists inside the city is growing smaller by the day,” he said.

Padilla said that the military is looking forward to more cleared areas in the next few days, with only “three” remaining villages still under the control of the terrorists.

Despite the many missed deadlines, government troops are working overtime to liberate of Marawi, he said.

Local terrorists who pledged allegiance to Islamist groups had hoisted black ISIS flags around the city on May 23 after a failed attempt to serve warrants against top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and siblings Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute, leaders of the Maute local terrorist group. Next page

INSTANT RELIEF. Evacuees queue for relief goods distributed at a covered basketball court used as an evacuation center in Balo-i, Iligan City on June 8, 2017. Nearly 200 people have been reported killed since militants flying black flags of the Islamic State group went on a rampage in Marawi, the main Muslim city in the predominantly Catholic Philippines, on May 23. AFP

SECURITY forces on Friday arrested five looters who robbed abandoned houses in war-torn Marawi City.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the five looters, pretending to be rescued residents, were caught red-handed, in possession of cash, cell phones and jewelry stolen from abandoned houses.

The suspects, all from Iligan City, were turned over to the police for investigation and the filing of charges.

Residents of the city had hastily left their houses, leaving their cash and valuables behind when Maute group terrorists overran the city on May 23.

Government soldiers have been trying to dislodge the terrorist groups, which includes members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Abu Sayyaf.

The terrorists overran the city Next page

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DFA comes to aid of 9 Pinoys M

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

ALACAÑANG said Friday the Foreign Affairs department was doing everything to help the nine Filipinos who were sentenced to death in Malaysia on Thursday for occupying and waging war in Lahad Datu, Sabah, in 2013.

“Right now the DFA is exhausting all efforts to aid those Filipinos, so basically it’s in the hands of the DFA at this stage,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella told reporters.

But Foreign Affairs said the

decision of the Malaysian Court of Appeal against the nine Filipinos was not yet final, and that the Philippine government would continue to help them.

“The Court of Appeal’s decision is not yet final,” the de-

Duterte...

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of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, Ateliana Huos of Gabriela, Roland Cobrado, Carl Anthony Olalo, and Renato Reyes Jr. of Makabayan.

The petition was the fourth against martial law, but only the second seeking the nullification of the President’s proclamation.

The other petitions seek to compel Congress to convene in joint session to debate the martial law declaration.

Three Catholic bishops, meanwhile, also asked the Supreme Court to order Congress to call a joint session to debate military rule in Mindanao.

The petition was filed by Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias and Kalookan Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez.

as two petitions are seeking.

Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23 while he was on an official trip in Russia following heavy clashes between government security forces and the Islamic State-linked Maute group in Marawi City.

In a speech before troops at Maguindanao on Friday, Duterte chided critics who continue to question his declaration of martial law, saying that Mindanao has already reached its “critical level.”

“To those who are asking when will this end, this is my answer to the doubting Thomases: I have no ambition to keep myself in power,” he said in Filipino.

Duterte said some political opponents have opposed martial law believing he wants to prolong his term.

“These fools think we are trying to perpetuate ourselves in power,” he said.

Duterte also said he would be willing to resign had his running mate, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, or former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., won the race for the vice presidencey, and not Leni Robredo.

The Palace on Friday said the traditional vin d’honneur on Independence Day will be canceled after the President decided to focus on the conflict in Marawi City.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that while Duterte would attend the flag-raising ceremony on the morning of June 12 at Rizal Park in Manila, he would then attend to more important matters concerning Mindanao.

The Vin d’honneur is the official diplomatic reception hosted by the President, on New Year’s Day and Independence Day. Two more petitions were filed against martial law Friday, bringing the number of cases before the Supreme Court to five.

The fourth petition filed by leftist lawmakers and human rights activists asked the Court to strike down the martial law declaration for lack of sufficient factual basis.

The petition was filed by ACT Teachers’ Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, Kabataan Party-List Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, Eufemia Campos Cullamat of Maluhutayong Pakigbisog Alang Sumusunod, Virgilio Lincuna

Ex-mayors’...

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in Marawi City around 3:30 p.m.

“The troops found one big transparent plastic bag containing suspected shabu,” Sindac said.

And in Cagayan de Oro City security forces seized 10 packs of shabu in the house of former Marawi City mayor Fahad Salic.

Meanwhile, the military arrested in Cotabato City an engineer working at the city engineering office after he was suspected to be a recruiter of the ISIS-allied Ansar Al-Khilafa Philippines, the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf Group.

The arrest of Nasser Dilangalen, 57, at 2:30 p.m. Thursday came a day after police in nearby Parang town in Maguindanao rescued five recruits of Maute terror group while preparing to travel to Marawi City.

Dilangalen, construction and engineering maintenance general foreman, was arrested by operatives of the Army-led Task Force Kutawato and Cotabato City police office. He did not resist.

A police officer said Dilangalen was an alleged member of the Maute Group as a recruiter.

He said Dilangalen belonged to a big Moro clan in Magu-

“All we are asking is for the SC to order Congress to hold a joint session as provided in the Constitution,” Pabillo said.

He said that the joint session is necessary to find out, once and for all, if a martial law is necessary in the entire Mindanao.

“The purpose of the joint session is for the facts to come out behind the declaration of martial law,” he said.

A day before scheduled oral arguments at the Supreme Court, leftist groups led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) are planning nationwide protest actions to highlight their opposition to martial law and their support for peace and human rights.

Women from Marawi City have also petition the Supreme Court to annul Duterte’s proclamation of martial law in Mindanao.

Norkaya S. Mohamad, Sittie Nur Dyhanna S. Mohamad, Noraisah S. Sani, Zahria P. MutiPandi said the report submitted

by President Duterte did not contain sufficient basis to show that the Marawi siege cannot be addressed by the other powers and resources of the government.

“Had governance collapsed in Marawi at the time of the Proclamation of martial law? Was the violence so widespread and overwhelming that government had broken down to the extent that only the military could establish a semblance of governance?

If not, then martial law is not warranted,” said the petitioners represented by constitutionalist Christian Monsod and law professor Marlon Manuel of the Alternative Law Group.

indanao and was a key recruiter of the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group and AKP. The Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups now belong to Dawlah Islamiyah Pilippines, an ally of ISIS founded by the brothers Omarkhayem and Abdulla Maute of Lanao del Sur. These groups, backed by foreign terrorists, have orchestrated the attack in Marawi City.

Dilangalen was related to one of the seven young AKP recruits killed by the Marines in a November 2015 encounter in Barangay Butril, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat.

Army intelligence agents said Dilangalen had recruited high school and college students to join the ranks of jihadists.

On Wednesday, police in Parang, Maguindanao, rescued five teenagers who admitted they were recruited to augment the Maute group forces in Marawi City.

According to Chief Inspector Erwin Tabora, the relatives of the teenagers sought police assistance after they confirmed that their kin had been recruited to support the ISIS-linked group in Marawi City.

They were promised P100,000 once they left on June 15 for Marawi and P25,000 monthly as jihadists, Tabora told reporters. Francisco Tuyay, with PNA

partment said. It said the court’s decision will be elevated to the Federal Court of Malaysia under automatic appeal.

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the Filipinos’ appeal against their conviction and sentenced them to death “for waging war against the King and [being] part of the terrorist group.”

The court also affirmed the decision of the high court acquitting 13 Filipinos of various crimes related to treason and terrorism.

Justice Datuk Setia Mohd Zawawi overturned the high

court’s imposition of life imprisonment on the nine Filipinos and imposed greater penalty of death.

Foreign Affairs said the Philippine Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was monitoring their case very closely.

About 200 followers of Datu Amidbahar Hushin Kiram, the son of the late Sultan of Sulu Jamalul Kiram, arrived in Lahad Datu on Feb. 9, 2013 to reclaim their “ancestral homeland.” They were led by Kiram’s brother Rajah Mudah Agbimuddin Kiram.

Some 68 Filipinos and 10 Ma-

laysian security personnel died in the fighting.

The Kirams’ claim is based on an old document showing the Sulu Sultanate as the owner of Sabah, which was eventually leased to a British railroad company.

Britain turned the oil-rich territory to the Malaysian Federation in the 1960s, but Kuala Lumpur continues to pay an annual leasing fee to the Sultanate of Sulu.

The sultanate insists that the yearly settlement is an admission that it is the rightful owner of Sabah.

Martial...

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While government troops continue to gain more foothold in the areas of the city, the Palace feared that some ancient “tunnels” within the city may have been used by the extremists. “[There is an] additional compounding development, [which] is the discovery of tunnels that are possibly part of a network which may have been utilized by the enemy,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

The tunnel network was discovered in clearing operations by the military, Padilla said.

He played down the likelihood that these could have been used by Hapilon to escape.

Hapilon, whom the Islamic State reportedly anointed as its “emir” of an IS province in the Philippines, has a P10 million bounty on his head for his neutralization on top of the $5 million bounty earlier offered by the United States.

The Marawi clashes has led to the death of at least 38 soldiers and 138 members of the extremist group.

Padilla said Metro Manila re-

mains safe from terrorist threats after the father of the Maute brothers, Cayamora Maute, was transferred for security reasons.

“Let us not overreact to these developments. The decision to transfer these high value prisoners has basis, and it would be better for their security to transfer them here at Manila than in areas where the declaration of martial law was raised,” Padilla said.

Cayamora and his daughter Norjannah Balawag Maute Tingao and her husband Benzar Ali, and one of Cayamora’s wives, Kongan Balawag, were charged for illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Omar and Abdullah Maute, the leaders of the Maute terrorist group, together with Isnilon Hapilon of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf Group, went on a rampage in Marawi City on May 23. They continue to hold parts of the city amid a military offensive to clear the city of terrorists.

Padilla said that the military and police have full control over Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, where the Maute patriarch is detained.

Marawi..

“The health situation is not yet critical at this point, but we fear that this may worsen in the coming days with prolonged displacement,” said Jose Amigo, health coordinator for the ICRC in the Philippines.

About 240,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Marawi, according to the government.

The unrest began more than two weeks ago when hundreds of extremists rampaged through the city waving black flags of the Islamic State group.

President Rodrigo Duterte said the attack was part of a wider plot

by IS to establish a base in the southern region of Mindanao, and declared martial law there to quell the threat.

Twenty civilians have been confirmed killed due to the fighting, according to the government, but the true number is likely to be higher with authorities yet to clear the roughly 10 percent of Marawi still being held by the militants.

About 2,000 people are also believed to still be trapped in those areas with some being used as human shields, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, about 90 percent of the evacuees have sought shelter in

the homes of relatives and friends rather than evacuation centers, according to government data, and aid workers have not been able to help all of them.

Among those staying with friends and relatives was Emmalyn Macababayao, 37, who said her oneyear-old son died after getting sick during a six-day ordeal to escape Marawi.

“While fleeing I held on tight to my elder son with my left hand while the other was breastfeeding,” Macababayao said as she began to cry.

“The baby that time felt so hungry. It was raining so hard, we all got wet. It was a long walk, I was just crying, feeling helpless and in despair. But I kept holding tight to my children. I felt so afraid... I was alone.”

She said her son died three days after reaching a relative’s house, after not being able to get medical treatment for a fever and diarrhea.

The military said Friday it hoped to defeat the militants by Monday, which is Independence Day. But heavy fighting continued in parts of Marawi on Friday. With AFP

The Maute group attacks provoked President Rodrigo Duterte to impose martial law on the whole of Mindanao.

The government had earlier said the terrorist Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups, allegedly aided by foreign jihadists, were planning to establish an Islamic State wilayat (province) in Mindanao.

Padilla said that even if Marawi is cleared, martial law won’t be immediately lifted in the whole of Mindanao.

Padilla said military commanders on the ground would know when military rule should end.

“They knew about the breadth and width of the problem in Mindanao, and they know well and can answer these questions, because they have the authority [over the area],” the AFP spokesperson said.

The military on Friday also denied reports that Hapilon had alrady left Marawi City.

“This is not yet proven,” Padilla said.

From A1 after government troops launched a raid to capture top Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon.

An estimated 150,000 Marawi residents have left the city and fled to neighboring towns.

“The arrest of the civilian looters disproved the propaganda being peddled by Maute-IS sympathizers accusing soldiers [of] looting in the city,” Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, said.

On Tuesday, ground troops recovered P52 million in cash and P27 million in stale checks from a Maute safe house in Mapandi, a few kilometers away from the city.

The displaced residents face deadly health risks, relief groups said Friday after a fleeing mother told the Agence France-Presse her baby died because of a lack of medical care.

The onset of the rainy season could worsen the situation, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned as it said it had already observed a spike in diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and other ailments.

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Witnesses said they heard gunshots before the car turned turtle at 9:50 p.m.

Closed-circuit TV footage showed a man—purportedly Carlos—get out of the car and walk away.

GMA-7 reported that the two victims, one of them a casino financier, were the last known companions of Carlos before he went to Resorts World.

Southern Police District director Tomas Apolinario said they were looking into a possible connection between the two incidents.

Metro Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde had said the Resorts World case was solved after his men identified Carlos as the gunman.

He said Carlos, 42, separated and a former employee of the Department of Finance, was a resident of 1663 Felix Huentes St. corner San Lazaro, Brgy. 339 zone 34, Sta Cruz, Manila.

Carlos was dismissed from the Finance department for not declaring all his assets.

Albayalde added that Carlos was heavily in debt due to his gambling addiction.

Albayalde said there was a security lapse at Resorts World because Carlos was able to enter its premises

Licuanan...

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of 2016 as health secretary.

Ubial also held positions in the governing boards of four government hospitals and as member of the boards of other bodies for which she was not paid. And as chairwoman of the board of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. she received P167,393.72.

Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Peña received P1,359,192.50, followed

by National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza P1,241,189; Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, P1,213,762; Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, P1,197,602; Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel

with a long firearm. He added that hotel officials and their security managers could be held criminally liable for the lapses.

Footage from hotel security cameras showed that the gunman, wearing black and bonnet, entered the gaming area, fired at televisions and torched tables and slot machines, and stole gambling chips worth P113 million, before committing suicide on the fifth floor of the hotel.

A female security employee tried to prevent the gunman but then ran away.

The security personnel of the hotel were employees of the NC Lanting Security Specialist Agency.

Resorts World Manila has engaged the services of Blackpanda, international security experts, to review and tighten its security and safety protocols.

“We are determined to regain people’s trust after the tragic incident last week,” said Stephen Reilly, chief operating officer at the company.

“The recent breach in our security and the resulting loss of lives is truly regrettable and we cannot let it happen again,” Reilly continued.

“We will rebuild and make Resorts World better and stronger. A big part of this is to bring in world experts. We are going all out to reassure everybody—our nearly 6,000 employees and their families, and the millions who come to visit—that their safety is our priority,” he said.

Piñol, P1,195,428.24; Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, P1,180,902.36; Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar, P1,160,602, and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, P1,158,102.

Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo received P1,145,722.30; Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea P1,144,069.65; Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, P1,136,019.22; Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, P1,118,602; Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, P1,118,602; Education Secretary Leonor Briones, P1,117,723.48: National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Ernesto Pernia, P1,116,102; former Interior and

Local Government secretary Ismael Sueno, P1,106,602; former Environment Secretary Regina Lopez, P1,103,191; and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, P1,093,602.

The others were National Security Council chief Hermogenes Esperon, P1,093,602; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza, P1,093,602; Information and Communications Secretary Rodolfo Salalima, P1,053,873.98; then Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Emerson Carlos, P1,038,491.50, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, P1,024,682.63.

Those who earned less than a million in basic salary were Special Assistant to the Presi-

FB asked to close jihadists' accounts THE Philippine military on Friday asked Facebook to close dozens of accounts linked to Islamist militants who attacked a southern city, saying they were being used for propaganda.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera said the armed forces’ social media unit uncovered 63 Facebook accounts belonging to the jihadists and their supporters.

“These 63 accounts are spreading malicious information and misinformation that affect the information landscape and the mindset of every Filipino,” Herrera told a news conference in the southern city of Marawi.

The military has asked Facebook Philippines “to conduct necessary measures to take down these fake accounts,” Herrera said.

Hundreds of militants waving the black Islamic State group flag rampaged through Marawi on May 23 and seized parts of the city.

They have so far fended off more than two weeks of air and ground assault by government forces.

President Rodrigo Duterte said the attack was part of a wider plot by IS to establish a base in the southern region of Mindanao, and declared martial law there to quell the threat.

Forty government troops and 138 militants, have been confirmed killed due to the fighting, according to Herrera.

Twenty civilians have also been confirmed killed but the true number is likely to be higher with authorities yet to fully assess the roughly 10 percent of Marawi still being held by the militants.

About 2,000 people are believed to be trapped in the militant-held areas with some being used as human shields, the military has said.

IS jihadists have made extensive use of social media to strike fear and spread their ideology, and analysts have said many of their followers were radicalized by reading and listening to online propaganda material.

AFP made a request for comment with Facebook’s public relations company in Manila, which said the issue had been raised with the company. AFP

Aguirre...

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never took place and he was misquoted by the media.

“He [Bam Aquino] was not present in the alleged meeting of opposition leaders said to have been held in Marawi City on May 2, 2017,” Aguirre said.

“I did not give, release or send to anyone any picture of any Marawi meeting. The picture of an alleged meeting allegedly taken in 2015 did not come from me.”

To debunk Aguirre’s allegation, Aquino presented proof that made him impossible to be in Marawi as claimed by Aguirre.

On that day, Aquino said, he was a graduation speaker at the Philippine International Convention Center in the morning and attended the Senate plenary session in the afternoon.

Members of the Justice and Court Reporters Association slammed Aguirre for blaming the media for the backlash he received after issuing a statement dragging members of the opposition into the destabilization plot that led to the Marawi siege.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also lambasted Aguirre for using the media as his scapegoat to clarify his statement about the destabilization plot against the government.

dent Christopher Lawrence Go, P997,516; Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, P995,670.66; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Guiling Mamondiong, P980,809.92; former Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., P971,105.47; Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella, P882,978; Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, P757,586.08; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Adelino Sitoy, P655,844, and Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs Arthur Tabaquero, P134,294.41.

Vice President Leonor Robredo, former head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, received P1,007,897.80 for six months.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Impose entrance fee on casinos —Albano

By Maricel V. Cruz

SMALL TALK, BIG TASK. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks with soldiers belonging to the 4th Infantry Division in their headquarters in Camp Gen. Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City. Presidential Photo

Koko sets probe on BPI ‘glitch’

By Macon Araneta SENATE President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel lll said on Friday that he would file a resolution seeking a legislative inquiry into the alleged computer glitch that hit the financial system of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, causing inconvenience and panic among several bank clients.

Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the senate committee on banks, said he will hear the case once referred to his committee.

“At the proper time, I will hear it. I have zero backlog in my committee,” he added.

Pimentel said that the “internal data processing error” which the BPI admitted to have ruptured its data processing system which resulted in discrepancies in the bank account balances, debits for some and increases in the bank statements of other depositors.

Pimentel said the computer fiasco is a dangerous occurrence even as the BPI assured the public that the so-called internal data processing error was not a case of hacking as reported by social media users in their public accounts.

He said the proposed Senate inquiry will delve into the bank’s security protocols, adding the root cause of the data error must be fully explained by BPI to reassure the public that a similar incident would not occur again in the future.

Pimentel said local banks must be on the lookout for a possible cyber attack as hackers worldwide have already victimized a number of banking institutions despite safeguard measures to pre-empt the commission of the crime.

DepEd’s voucher program lacks transparency—solon

By Maricel V. Cruz

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MILITANT lawmaker on Friday slammed the Department of Education for not releasing data on the implementation of the Senior High School (SHS) voucher system.

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro said the DepEd failed to comply with the posting and transparency requirements set by law regarding the SHS voucher system.

“These are billions of taxpayers’ money funneled into private schools. The public wants to know if these schools really accepted the number of voucher students corresponding to the funds given to them and, considering the costs of private school education, whether these students continued high school

at all,” Castro said.

Quoting Special Provision 14 of the DepEd budget in the General Appropriations Acts for 2016 and 2017, Castro said Secretary Leonor Briones and the DepEd website administrator are mandated to post in the websites of the DepEd and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) the list of beneficiaries and participating schools. The data are not available in both websites as of this writing.

The 2016 SHS voucher pro-

gram, which gives funds to private schools accepting Grade 10 completers from public junior high schools, amounted to P11.18 billion. This increased to P23.85 billion in 2017 with an additional P1.17 billion for the technicalvocational track in private and non-DepEd public schools such as state and local universities and colleges.

“The DepEd falls short of the constitutional mandate on transparency when it fails to inform the public how exactly these billions are spent,” Castro said. “This is troubling since the Commission on Audit noted several irregularities in the implementation of the GASTPE Program even before it was expanded to senior high school.”

Based on the CoA 2013 audit report, it observed, among others, that it cannot verify the fund releases of the GASTPE

or Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in the Private Education due to the absence of necessary documents and records, including those pertaining to each grantee, Castro said.

The CoA also directed DepEd and PEAC, which administers GASTPE on behalf of DepEd, to provide these records and open their books of account for audit

by CoA for transparency and accountability.

Castro urged DepEd to comply with the law’s posting requirement as soon as possible with the law’s posting requirement and to release enrolment data in Grades 11 and 12.

“Without this data, we cannot determine how effective the voucher system and the senior high school program are in terms of providing the youth access to high school education,” Castro said.

A LEADER in the House of Representatives on Friday filed a bill imposing a P3,000 entrance fee on casino goers.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said the amount shall be imposed in all casinos and other similar gaming establishments in the country to deter gambling addicts.

“The bill seeks to strengthen regulation of the participation or engagement of citizens in casino gambling by ensuring that those who enter casinos and similar gambling establishments have the minimum resources to engage in gambling activity therein,” Albano, House majority leader for the House of Representatives’ contingent to Commission on Appointments, said.

Albano filed the bill following the tragic Resorts World incident that killed 38 people, including gunman Jessie Javier Carlos, a dismissed tax specialist at the Department of Finance.

“The Resorts World casino tragedy that senselessly claimed lives and caused injury to many people brought to public attention the sad state of regulation and administration of gaming and gaming establishments in the country,” Albano said.

“As important, it called attention to the sinister effects of gambling addiction especially among those who do not have or can ill afford the financial resources needed to engage in casino gambling,” he added.

Under the bill, a casino entrance charge, collected from any person who is not an official or employee of any casino every time he or she enters a casino and similar gaming establishments, will serve as a deterrent to those who lack the resources or can barely afford to engage in casino gambling.

The bill provides that the casino entrance charge (CEC) shall be collected by the gaming establishment where the casino is located and shall be used to create a Special Fund to be spent for the establishment and maintenance of children and youth welfare shelters in the country under the supervision of the Social Welfare department.

Group backs govt CAAP gets nod from intl body on fuel excise tax

By Joel E. Zurbano

By Rio N. Araja and Macon Araneta A MULTI-SECTORAL environmental organization said on Friday that it would back the Duterte administration’s plan to impose higher excise tax on dirty fuels and cars.

Dr. Leo Olarte, president of Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc., said over 80 percent of the air pollution in Metro Manila are caused by the emission of motor vehicles, and that an excise tax hike would be a proactive measure to reduce pollution.

“We, at the Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc., strongly supports the initiative of the Duterte administration to impose higher excise tax on dirty fuels and motor vehicles, and to give more incentives to cleaner fuels and transportation technologies to help curb the deadly effects of air pollution to the health and lives of Filipinos. More than 80 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from unabated emissions of motor vehicles that result in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke and sudden death,” he said.

Citing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources emission inventory for the National Capital Region, Olarte said mobile sources (motor vehicles) in 2012 account for 90 percent of the aggregated discharged amounts of air pollutants in the region. “We call upon our countrymen to rally behind our move to impose carbon or

environmental tax on dirty fuels and smoke belching motor vehicles in the country. The clear and present danger of air pollution from motor vehicles excuses no one. As long as you live in a city with polluted air to breathe you become automatically a victim of deadly air pollution,” he said.

Olarte is a former president of the Philippine Medical Association and now the vice president of the Philippine Hospital Association.

Olarte, along with the other representatives of the Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc., took part in the recent Senate hearing on automobile excise, led by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara’s committee on ways and means.

According to the group, even Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua backed the added excise tax on fuels and cars as part of Duterte’s comprehensive tax reform program to lower the high incidence of poverty and inequality.

As this developed, Senator Sonny Angara said that the government should hasten its projects to improve the country’s public transport system so that Filipinos will have a viable transportation option amid proposals to increase excise taxes on oil and automobiles.

“The government wants to reduce the number of vehicles on the road to address traffic congestion so they will increase taxes on vehicles. They would also raise taxes on gasoline that might result to increase in fare,” he said.

THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines earned the approval of the International Civil Aviation Organization team which conducted an assessment to determine if the agency comply with international safety standards.

CAAP Media Communication Office chief and spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the assessment, dubbed as ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM), was conducted from May 30 to June 8.

Apolonio said the ICVM is an onsite activity during which ICAO team of subject matter experts collects and assesses evidence provided by the State demonstrating that it has implemented corrective action (or mitigating measures for signifi-

cant safety concerns) to address previously identified findings, and ICAO validates the collected evidence and information.

ICVM team leader Jean Paul de Villeneuve and team member Michiel Vreedenburgh told CAAP officials during the exit briefing yesterday that they were satisfied with the corrective actions taken by CAAP that comply with international safety standards.

The ICVM team said that CAAP garnered 64.6-percent effective implementation score, which is above the 60-percent ICAO benchmark for safety oversight system.

The aviation authority spends P47.99 million every year to train air navigation professionals, in compliance with the ICAO rules.

CLEAN AND READY. Luneta Park workers clean and do landscaping along the length of the park in preparation for the 119th Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 12. Lino Santos

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Opinion

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

The authentic Aguirre

O

FFICIALS like Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who sow confusion and then display their arrogance when outed, are the last thing the nation needs in times as precarious as these.

Mr. Aguirre has actually shown his slip in the past. He said the killing of a Korean businessman right inside the headquarters of the Philippine National Police was the work of a mob. He said his predecessor Leila de Lima, now in jail on drug charges, was to blame for the Resorts World Manila attack.

But his behavior this week makes us wonder why President Rodrigo Duterte has not real-

ized he is an embarrassment to the administration and considered replacing him with somebody we can take seriously.

On Wednesday, Aguirre talked about how some opposition lawmakers were spotted in Marawi City, meeting with prominent clans, three weeks before the Maute group committed atrocities there. The attack led to the declaration martial law in Mindanao. “[I cannot know] why after

they went there, [there was trouble] after two weeks. They met with the people there, they met with several families there,” he said.

He even showed a picture to the media and hinted that the meeting may also be related to the P79 million cash discovered in one of the houses occupied by the attackers.

The photo turned out to be an old one, taken in 2015 at the Iloilo airport, and was taken from the Facebook wall of one of the officials present there.

Instead of eating humble pie and apologizing profusely for his blunder, Aguirre insisted he was misquoted by the media.

Worse, on Friday, he denied showing any photos to the media at all. “I did not give, release or send to anyone any picture of any Marawi meeting. The picture of an alleged meeting allegedly taken in 2015 did not (sic) from me,” the secretary said in a text message.

How it is possible to misquote somebody given the existence of video and audio recordings is just baffling.

In its indignation, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines issued a statement calling Aguirre a meanspirited coward. “No, we the media will not be the scapegoats as you try to weasel your way out of your latest bout of

foot-in-mouth disease,” the statement said.

Tragedies like the one now happening in Mindanao must not be given political color.

Everybody suffers, and the last thing Marawi residents need is for some clown from the executive to make this an usversus-them issue when lives are on the line.

We think, however, that the Justice secretary, by attempting to promote fake news for his own ends and then ducking for cover to escape blame, has taken the perfect opportunity to show us the kind of official —person—he really is. It’s not somebody we can stomach, much less respect.

HAIL TO THE CHAIR VICTOR AVECILLA

The myth about antidistracted driving

risk their lives and properties.

The Maute group, and other terrorist groups like it have no place in a civilized world. Indeed, they must be crushed. Duterte’s ML declaration should not be a cause for too much worry IF people are able to trust that this will not be abused.

It does not help that the decision to declare ML seemed arbitrary on the part of the President. Other officials claimed that they were not consulted.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana even went as far as saying that the military is capable of handling the problem in Marawi even without martial law. A decision as important as this should have been subjected to discussion among his key Cabinet officials. The perspectives of the country’s security forces should have been seriously considered. The arbitrariness of this decision reinforces

REPUBLIC Act No. 10913, also known as the Anti-Distracted Driving Law, was enacted by Congress to prevent drivers of motor vehicles from using their mobile phones while they are driving. Although its objective is the promotion of public safety, its provisions and implementation have created problems instead of solutions. Just a few days after it was enforced, its implementation was suspended upon the urging of many angry motorists, the Roman Catholic Church, and even the House of Representatives itself.

How the enforcement of an existing law can be suspended with the approval of the House but without the consent of the Senate is a constitutional mystery, and will be the topic of another essay.

The objective of Republic Act No. 10913 is to discourage the drivers of motor vehicles from using their mobile phones while they are in transit. That objective assumes that many road mishaps, minor or otherwise, are caused by inattentive drivers who are distracted by the conversation they are engaged in through their mobile phones.

Unfortunately, Republic Act No. 10913 and its implementing rules also assume that because a driver who uses his hand-held mobile phone while he is driving has only one hand on the steering wheel, the danger lies in not having both hands on the steering wheel at all times.

From that sweeping premise, the law and the implementing rules make their first illogical exception—a driver can use a mobile phone or a similar electronic communications device if it is attached to the dashboard and if it can be used without the driver holding it.

That is where the first problem begins.

What is it that really distracts the driver from paying attention to the road? Is it the mobile phone itself, or the conversation

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

Martial law and human rights POWER POINT ELIZABETH ANGSIOCO I WAS in my sophomore year in high school when then President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Outside of the imposed curfew hours (that invented stay-in parties), I really did not feel that anything wrong was going on. The song “Bagong Lipunan” and the line, “Sa ikauunlad ng bayan, disisplina ang kailangan” were mainstays on radio and television. Up to now, I still know the lyrics of Bagong Lipunan.

The only activist I knew that time was a cousin who was already in college, Kuya Dong. I distinctly remember having a conversation with him on current events and why he became an activist. It was from him where I got the notion of “at-

tacking the root of the problem.”

Still, perhaps I was too young, and my world view was too limited to understand what martial law was really about.

It was at the University of the Philippines where I came to understand the many problems besetting the country and how dissent was being silenced using martial law. I came to know about the mysterious disappearance of activists, and the arrest of certain personalities. The corridors were rife with whispered talks about walk-outs and rallies being organized to protest violations of human rights.

It was in UP that I learned about and understood human rights. It was there where I came to appreciate freedom of expression, the value of democracy, and the need to stand up for and defend human rights. Still, this awakening was not translated into action. It took the death of Ninoy Aquino for me to fully

grasp the importance of active of the Cory Aquino Constituinvolvement in the ouster of the tion put safeguards so any fuMarcos dictatorship. ture declaration of ML would be difficult to abuse. But now, the same threats have come back.

Our democratic gains, our human rights are again at risk. The country is jittery.

The whole of Mindanao is under martial law. A vicious war is being waged in Marawi City, the home of Maranao freedom fighters I personally know and have worked with.

I have written about how fond I am of Marawi City, and how much I care about the well-being of my Moro brothers and sisters. It has been weeks since the ISIS-inspired Maute group attempted to take control of the city and since then, fighting has been going on victimizing and terrorizing ordinary people.

“Never again!” was the bat- Tens of thousands were forced tlecry after Edsa 1. This ought to flee leaving their homes and to be the battlecry now. whatever possessions they have After Marcos Sr., the drafters behind. Those who chose to stay

Duterte’s declaration should not be cause for too much worry if people are able to trust that this will not be abused.

Rolando G. Estabillo Publisher can be accessed at: thestandard.com.ph

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Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

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ManilaStandard

Published Monday to Sunday by Philippine Manila Standard Publishing Inc. at 6/F Universal Re Building, 106 Paseo de Roxas, corner Perea St., Legaspi Village, Makati City. Telephone numbers 832-5554, 832-5556, 832-5558 (connecting all departments), (Editorial) 832-5554, (Advertising) 832-5550. P.O. Box 2933, Manila Central Post Office, Manila. Website: www.thestandard. com.ph; e-mail: contact@thestandard.com.ph

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Opinion

THE yellow opposition, for lack of any sensible thing to say, is accusing the majority of their colleagues of reneging on their duty to convene and vote jointly on the resolution for the President to report on the need to impose martial law.

Without admitting it, the opposition is exhibiting its downright stupidity. When the majority of the members of both Houses of Congress refused to sign the resolution, they are, in truth, against the idea of preempting the decision of the President. Even if Resolution No. 216 is pursuant to Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution, their refusal invariably means that there was no need to ask the President why he declared martial law and suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

In fact, the opposition figures themselves are to blame for wrongly interpreting the provision of the Cory Aquinoconcocted martial law. Instead of demanding that the President report within 48 hours from his proclamation of martial law or to submit a report in person or in writing to Congress, they prematurely filed a resolution to examine the validity of the proclamation.

The effect was a political disaster. It meant the President did not need to report any more because they had already prejudged his decision. Second, the mere fact that the resolution was not signed by the majority of the members of both Houses means that there was no more reason for Congress to tackle the declaration.

The problem is that these hypocrites are speculating on what will happen, and not assessing whether martial law has attained its objective. They should examine their position from this standpoint that martial law is a reactive and not a proactive action. It is a given fact that some of our precious liberties will be temporarily suspended to give way to the more pressing problem of restoring peace and order, and in saving the lives of our people.

We cannot have both. If President Duterte declared martial law without any antecedent facts, then we should take it that he has established a dictatorship.

But that is not the case. It was the yellow opposition that violated the process on how the President would go about implementing the national emergency. They thought they could grandstand to castigate the President—but it turned out to be their grandest stupidity.

It was a downright lie for the opposition to say that violence was not pervasive to necessitate the declaration of martial law. To remind them, the power to declare martial law, even without the Constitution granting it to him, is always vested in the President. US President Abraham Lincoln declared martial law to contain the secessionist rebellion in the South even if that power was not given him by the US Constitution. Readily, when US Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney questioned him, Lincoln, by a quick stroke of

wit, answered, “Are we going to save the Constitution or the Republic?”

In the third petition filed by former senator Wigberto Tañada, Bishop Emeritus Deogracias Iñiguez, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Bishop Antonio Tobias, Adelaida Agrubay, Shamah Bulangis and Cassadra Deluria, they admitted that the failure of Congress to hold a joint session “deprived” them of a deliberative and interrogatory process to review martial law and the public of the “transparency” necessary for a clear understanding of the factual basis of the declaration. These hypocrites deny the truth that martial law revolves around the issue of national security, specifically the rights of the people living in the war-torn city of Marawi.

It would be treason and a culpable violation of the Constitution for the President to wait until the lawless violence has spread to satisfy the quench of the opposition for a factual basis of martial law. When we elected him our President, we reposed our trust in him as our commander-in-chief. There is no reason for him to wait until the rebellion engulfs the whole of Mindanao.

It is most regrettable that the hypocrites are again comparing the present martial law to that of President Marcos. Even if we take it that isolated abuses were committed, nonetheless they never even attempted to mention that it was imposed in response to the violent provocat ion made by the same communists now negotiating with the government by their bombing of Plaza Miranda. They never attempted to quantify the antecedent facts that led to the declaration of martial law for fear that it would justify and validate the action of the former President.

Rather, Tañada, Saguisag and their cabal of congenial liars are plainly engaged in pure speculation and propaganda under cover of invoking their right to obtain firsthand information of the “mischief” and the “gross danger” that could happen under the mantle of martial law. But did they consider that when they began to tread on speculation, they are in effect engaged in propaganda through the most sinister method of discrediting the government, vis-a-vis serving the cause of the enemy.

It was even absurd for Senator Risa Hontiveros to say that the siege of Marawi City happened because the Maute group wanted to shield a notorious leader of the Abu Sayyaf, Isnilon Hapilon, from arrest.

She assumed that the marauding armed men belonging to the Maute group and other Islamic terrorists using bullhorn in urging people to withdraw their allegiance to the Republic was not intended to overrun the city. Senator Hontiveros is already putting her own elements on how the crime of rebellion is committed. Taking that premise, she hopes to justify her claim that there was no factual basis for President Duterte to declare martial law

These hypocrites are speculating on what will happen, and not assessing whether martial law has attained its objective.

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China’s historic rights claim

BACKBENCHER ROD P. KAPUNAN

What is the opposition up to?

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

THIS is the third of four columns serializing Justice Antonio Carpio’s e-book, The South China Sea Dispute: Philippine Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea. In this article, I summarize and share Carpio’s analysis of China’s historic claim to the areas that the Philippines has sovereignty over.

Justice Carpio emphasizes the fallacy of China’s historic claims by advancing a number of assertions.

Historical facts is not a valid basis whatsoever in the resolution of maritime disputes under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He presents as an example Spain and Portugal which cannot reclaim their colonial territories despite the 1481 Papal Bull confirming the division of the then undiscovered territories between the two countries. Moreover, the South China Sea was not even named by the Chinese but by European cartographers.

Neither can conquest be the basis for ownership under international law. On this argument he cites Greece’s conquest by Alexander the Great of Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and the land stretching up to Pakistan.

Same goes with China’s claim over Mongolia or Italy as to the land conquered and ruled by the Roman Empire from 27 BCE to 476 CE, stretching from Europe to the Middle East.

Citing the case the Island of Palmas Case (The United

The myth...

From A4

the driver engages in while using the mobile phone at the same time when he is driving? Obviously, it’s the conversation, because the conversation requires the driver to pay attention to the person he is talking to and, often, to answer questions, while he is supposed to be paying attention to the road. That’s why the law calls it “distracted driving” and not “driving while using the mobile phone.” Undoubtedly, why the use of a hands-off communications device while one is driving is not considered “distracted driving” under Republic Act No. 10913 or its implementing rules needs to be explained.

The second problem is in the sweeping prohibition that the driver of a motor vehicle is not allowed to use his hand-held mobile phone anywhere and anytime, even when the vehicle he is driving is at a full stop at an intersection or in a traffic jam. This creates a problem because admittedly, there are important calls or messages which the driver must immediately receive or know about—as

Martial...

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people’s perception about this president’s strong authoritarian tendencies.

It does not help that the declaration covers the whole of Mindanao and not only Marawi City.

Mindanao is one-third of the country. More importantly, there are more Mindanao areas that do not have problems as serious as this one created by Maute and it does not make sense that these areas are now under Martial rule.

It does not help that the President himself has repeatedly publicly announced that he may prolong the effectivity of martial even if it was apparent that the various Islamic terrorist groups have already coagulated to fight against the government.

Moreover, can any of the hypocrites, particularly the muddleheaded representatives

States of America v. The Netherlands), Carpio argues that in international law “a state cannot maintain title to territory based on discovery alone where subsequent to such discovery another state has shown ‘continuous and peaceful display of territorial sovereignty’ over the same territory. Since the 19th century, the rule in international law has been that discovery alone.”

This argument is buttressed

by UNCLOS which states that “a state can only invoke “historic” rights to claim a territorial sea or internal waters in deeply indented bays or gulfs along the coast of the mainland, like in the Gulf of Fonseca89 (Article 10, UNCLOS). Historic rights or historic title cannot be invoked to claim EEZs or ECSs. The creation of the EEZ under Article 56 of UNCLOS with “sovereign rights,” which means supreme rights, accorded to the adjacent coastal state, extinguished all historic rights or claims by other states to the EEZ of a coastal state. The word “exclusive” in the term EEZ means the economic exploitation of the zone is exclusive to the adjacent coastal state. No one may exploit the natural resources in the EEZ without the express consent of the coastal state [Article 77(3), UNCLOS].”

As noted by Justice Carpio, China was an active participant in the negotiations of UNCLOS from 1973 to 1982. China even sided with the developing coastal countries in demanding a 200 NM EEZ where the coastal state has exclusive sovereign rights to exploit the EEZ. Now contradicting its previous actions, China is now claiming that his-

toric rights as an exception to the exclusive sovereign rights of coastal states in their EEZs. In fact, in the UNCLOS negotiations the participants agreed that the 200 NM EEZ proceeds on the assumption that all historic claims of other states in the EEZ of a coastal state were deemed extinguished.

The author points out that even assuming, quod non, historic rights can be claimed beyond the territorial sea, the following sine qua non requisites must first be complied with for historic rights to be valid under international law: First, the state actually exercised authority over the area where it claims historic rights; Second, the state exercised that authority continuously and for a long period of time; and third, other states either acquiesced in or failed to oppose the exercise of such authority.

China’s nine-dash line claim fails to satisfy these requisite conditions. Yet, despite the baselessness of its claims, China invokes “historical facts” as basis for its nine-dashed line claim without specifying what these historical facts are.

China anchors its claim of sovereignty over the islands on supposed abundant historical evidence. Yet the author observes these are in fact non-existent and the evidence mostly fabricated. The author cites a noted French geographer, Francois-Xavier Bonnet, who has extensively researched on the South China Sea dispute, who asserts that China actually planted its so-called “abundant historical evidence,” at least in the Paracels and the Spratlys.

Francois Xavier Bonnet writes:

“Several authors writing about the Chinese claim to the Paracel Islands have dated to 1902 the first official Chinese expedition to these islands.

However, none of these writers has been able to show any records of this 1902 expedition taking place. In fact, Chinese records show that the expedition never happened. Instead, a secret expedition took place decades later to plant false archeological evidence on the islands to bolster China’s territorial claim. The same strategy has been applied in the Spratly Islands: the sovereignty markers of 1946 had been placed, in fact, ten years later, in 1956.”

The author likewise cites as annexes documents purporting to antedate markers in certain disputed Islands including the Paracels and the Spratlys.”

Finally, Justice Carpio notes that while China points to ancient Chinese maps as “historical facts” to claim the islands, rocks, reefs, and waters within the nine-dashed line in the South China Sea, it, however, refuses to produce these supposed ancient maps. Noting further that under international law, a map per se does not constitute a territorial title or a legal document to establish territorial rights.

There should be no doubt who has the legal upper hand on this dispute. In the final column of this series, I will summarize the arbitral award the Philippines won against China as interpreted by Justice Carpio. I will also share his thoughts on how this award could be enforced.

when a child should be fetched from another place instead of the originally designated pickup point. The ideal time to take those important text messages is precisely when the vehicle is stationary at an intersection or in a traffic jam. There is simply no way one’s driving can be distracted when the vehicle isn’t moving in the first place.

Sure, the law and the rules provide that the driver may use the hand-held mobile phone in case of an emergency. That exception sounds good, but then what constitutes an emergency outside of a medical illness, an engine breakdown, or a roadway collision is not clear. What if a driver leaves Makati and heads for Quezon City for an important meeting, and while he is in transit the meeting is moved at the last minute to Taguig, or is canceled? Does that count as an emergency? Who is to decide gray areas?

Another area overlooked by the law is the indiscriminate, irritating practice of many mobile telephone companies of sending spam text messages to mobile phones, hand-held or otherwise, on a regular basis. More often

than not, the text messages are sent in a continuous cluster, one after the other. Such a sudden surge in text messages is enough to make the driver believe that the text messages are very important or may even be in the nature of an emergency, even when they are otherwise.

Is a mistaken belief that the text message was actually an emergency advisory count as an exception? The law is silent in that regard.

Speaking of text messages, if a driver of a motor vehicle is prohibited by law from using his hand-held mobile phone while he is driving, the law should also penalize mobile phone companies that send spam text messages to their clients who may be driving at the time those unwanted text messages are sent. As it is, the driver with a hand-held mobile phone is not only subject to annoying, unsolicited spam text messages; he also courts a traffic ticket if he mistakenly believed that those spam text messages are emergency text messages and he looked at his mobile phone.

The third problem arising from the law and its short-lived

implementation is the prohibition against visual impediments, or articles on the dashboard or on the windshield that block the view of the driver. For a while, rosaries dangling from the rear view mirror near the windshield were banned. The ban was recalled when the Roman Catholic Church protested.

This brings up another problem. It appears that while the law is strictly enforced against private vehicles, it does not seem to apply to drivers of public utility vehicles, jeepneys in particular. The windshield of many jeepneys are cluttered with so many embellishments that only a fraction of it allows visual contact between the driver and the road. Why aren’t these jeepney drivers accosted by traffic enforcers? If the law prohibits “distracted driving,” how should the law deal with a jeepney driver who receives fares and gives change while he is driving the jeepney? Since jeepneys are public utility vehicles, shouldn’t a more exacting standard of roadway safety be imposed on jeepney drivers?

Republic Act No. 10913 certainly needs a total overhaul.

law, and that he may expand coverage to the whole country. Such declarations directly threaten our democratic gains and people’s exercise of our human rights.

It does not help that the Constitutional safeguards against ML abuses are completely ignored by both Houses of Congress. No less than the Constitution, the highest law of the land, commands Congress to convene, discuss, and consider the validity of this martial law declaration. Instead, the leadership of the House of Representatives and Senate chose to simply, and individually manifest their support to ML declaration without convening and voting as one

body. The fact that both Houses continue to defy the Constitution is beyond troubling. This is unconstitutional and should rightfully be questioned before the Supreme Court. We should not tolerate another rubber stamp Congress. The people ousted that with the late dictator.

Lastly, it does not help that we have failed in educating our people about human rights. Sadly, many of us do not seem to mind that our democratic gains are under serious threat. One only needs to check online comments to realize the very low appreciation of people of the rights that enable them to speak their minds, even bash those who are protect-

ing their rights. This realization I share with other human rights advocates during the recent forum organized by the Alternative Law Groups (ALG). There is much to do in terms of human rights education and we must do what we can to recover lost ground.

Our rights, our very democracy are at risk. Freedom-loving Filipinos are again called upon to be more vigilant. The Constitution MUST be followed. Defend our freedoms and rights. Never again will we allow the country to slide back to a dictatorship.

ning the checkpoints ordered all the men to disembark from the dump truck and mercilessly riddled their bodies with automatic gunfire? All were killed because they wanted to run away from the embattled city

of Marawi. It was not their religion why they were killed but for their refusal to be used as hostages to stop the advancing government troops.

led by Edcel Lagman, Tomasito Villariva, Gary Alejano, Emmanuel Billones, Teodoro Brawner Baguilat, Jr. and Edgardo Erice honestly say it was in defense of Hapilon when without any warning, those terrorists man-

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

DoLE forges tie-up with private agencies

By Vito Barcelo

COMBAT READINESS. Members of the Quezon City Police District District Public Safety Battalion conduct training on close quarter battle, vehicle take down and hand cuffing at Camp Karingal in Quezon City in preparation for possible terrorist or criminal activity. Manny Palmero

THE Department of Labor and Employment has partnered with a group of private recruitment agencies to protect Filipino migrant workers, particularly those working in high-risk countries.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III signed an agreement with the Coalition of Licensed Agencies for Domestic and Service Workers to extend full protection to domestic workers through the establishment of Welfare Help Desks from licensed Philippine Recruitment Agencies.

“This will help the labor department and our agencies in ensuring the protection and safety of our Filipino migrant workers on their workplace abroad. We thank our partners from the licensed agencies for their initiative to lend assistance to the government and serve our modern-day heroes,” Bello said.

The agreement will also provide DoLE, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration access to monitor the status of CLAD members and their workers on their respective workplaces overseas.

Under the agreement, the OWWA will conduct trainings for the designated Welfare Desk Officers under CLADS and provide them relevant information and communication ma-

FDA to conduct hearings on contraceptive implants

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

H

EALTH Secretary Paulyn Jean RosellUbial said on Friday that the Food and Drug Administration will conduct public hearing and consultation on contraceptive implants “as soon as possible.”

The public hearing will be conducted after the Supreme Court failed to lift the temporary restraining order on contraceptives.

Ubial said the TRO would be deemed lifted if the “questioned drugs and devices are found not abortifacient” by the FDA. “After we've put in place the quasi-judicial function of FDA, we can actually start recertification of the family planning commodities.

And for the implant, it can be used again after public hearing and

consultation,” said Ubial.

“Basically, they did not lift the [temporary restraining order], but they provided guidance to the Department of Health on how to proceed to implement the decision of the Supreme Court,” she added.

In its recent decision, the SC blamed the DoH for the “supposed” delay in the distribution of contraceptive implnts covered by a 2015 TRO. She noted the SC’s clarification that “it’s not a TRO on all contra-

ceptives.” However, she said some contraceptive products have already been withdrawn from the market, and these would have to be re-introduced, but the DoH is still studying how to go about it.

The High Court noted that the FDA would have finished and resolved the opposition of the petitioners already by this time had it immediately conducted a summary hearing on the issue.

The Commission on Population said that only 23 contraceptives remain available for the public this year as a result of the TRO. It said 15 certificates of product registration expired in 2016, while 10 expired as of May 2017.

“By 2020, no contraceptives can be procured from the market,” the PopCom said.

Commission on Population Executive Director Dr. Juan Antonio Perez III has earlier

warned that unsafe induced abortions may also rise without a family planning program, as more than 300,000 women signed a petition urging the Supreme Court to lift the existing TRO on contraceptives.

With the TRO in place, Perez said unintended pregnancies may rise which may result to induced abortion and maternal deaths.

He said this may also result to increase in population which has been expressed by Filipinos as a major national concern through the Pulse Asia Research’s Ulat ng Bayan in March 2017.

He said the TRO on the distribution, dispensing, and promotion of subdermal implants and on certification and recertification of family planning commodities should be lifted now if the country has to avert an impending national health crisis.

The lifting of the TRO, he said, will also pave the way for the full implementation of the 2012 Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act that has been deemed by CSOs and the population and development sector as dysfunctional for five years.

The RPRH Law guarantees universal access to all methods of modern contraception, comprehensive sexuality education, and maternal and child care.

Over a hundred of women and men mostly coming from urban poor communities went to the Supreme Court to submit the signed petition.

In June 2015, the SC issued a TRO to DoH and its agents to “temporarily” stop “procuring, selling, distributing, dispensing or administering, advertising and promoting the hormonal contraceptive Implanon and Implanon NXT.”

MWSS chief urges Neda: Speed up water infra OK

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco (left) welcomes participants to the 61st Project Implementation Officers Meeting hosted by MWSS and presided by Neda Undersecretary Rolando G. Tungpalan (center). At right is Neda director Violeta S. Corpus, PIO Secretariat head.

MWSS Administrator Reynaldo V. Velasco urged the National Economic and Development Authority to fast-track the approval of MWSS projects in the pipeline so that the agency can ensure it can carry out its mission of water security in supplying water for 25 million Metro Manilans that is sufficient, safe, and continuous for personal and domestic uses.

Velasco made the call in his welcome remarks during the 61st Project Implementation Officers’ Meeting hosted by MWSS the other day. He also expressed the need for the creation of a new Technical Working Group with members coming from MWSS, the three concessionaries, Manila Water, Maynilad and Luzon Water Development, that will be responsible for the planning, implementation and assessment of doable projects in the next five, 10 or even 20 years.

For his part, Neda Undersecretary Rolando Tungpalan lauded MWSS under Velasco for the agency’s clear cut vision and goal—that of achieving a sustainable water security infrastructure and framework for Metro Manila and its other coverage areas.

Velasco remarked that only Kaliwa Dam out of the two flagship dam projects proposed by

MWSS under the New Centennial Water Project, has been approved by Neda early this year with a 10.8 billion ODA from China.

The MWSS chief emphasized that the joint implementation of Kaliwa and Laiban dams, along with ongoing water source projects being undertaken by its concessionaires and the possible rehabilitation of Wawa Dam, altogether will yield an additional 3,500 MLD to complement the 4,000 MLD from Angat Dam which actually supplies 95.6 percent of the water supply needs of Metro Manila and other nearby provinces.

“With these new water sources, MWSS will ensure adequate, steady and sustainable water supply for our consumers in Metro Manila and adjoining provinces in the next 10 to 25 years, even 50 years—which shall form part of our collective legacy as public servants to future generations of Filipinos,” Velasco added.

Updates on the MWSS-Implemented Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project were among the topics taken up during the meeting.

Also discussed were the Flagship Infrastructure Projects that comprise the “Build, Build, Build” Program of the Duterte Administration with a total funding requirement of P8.44 trillion.

Case vs Agrarian head junked for lack of merit

By Rio N. Araja FOR lack of merit, the Office of the Ombudsman has junked the graft complaint against Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano filed by Lapanday Foods Corp. for the installation of 159 farmers at its 145-hectare banana plantation in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Assistant Ombudsman Edna

Diño said Mariano and Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Luis Pangulayan did not commit graft and grave abuse of authority when on May 18, they entered Lapanday's premises and installed the farmers belonging to the Madaum Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Inc., who were forcibly evicted by Lapanday at the 145-hectare San Isidro area of the 450-hectare plantation.

The Ombudsman “finds it proper to dismiss the complaint outright for want of palpable merit,” Diño said.

The complaint was also dismissed for forum shopping, the Ombudsman said, saying that Lapanday filed a case of indirect contempt with a lower court in Davao City, and a petition for certiorari with a temporary restraining order with the Court of Appeals

Eighth Division.

“Clearly, complainant is presently seeking reliefs from the Regional Trial Court of Davao City through its pending petition for indirect contempt and from the Court of Appeals [8th Division] in its pending petition for certiorari. These are adequate remedies that are available to complainant and which it is indeed currently availing of in the regular

courts,” the Ombudsman said.

“Wherefore, the complaint… is dismissed outright for want of palpable merit and complainant has an adequate remedy in another forum.”

Last April 18 and April 21, Mariano attempted to install the 159 farmers, but Lapanday, “with help of their armed goons,” prevented the installation.

terials as well as issue certificate of training completion.

“POEA, on the other hand, shall monitor and supervise PRA member of CLADS on their compliance to POEA rules and regulations; integrate monitoring and reporting requirements and provision of welfare assistance to OFWs in the Continuing Agency Education Program [CAEP] for licensed agencies,” Bello said.

“CLADS, on the other hand, is tasked to provide a list of focal persons of the participating recruitment agencies and identify WDOs who will undergo the OWWA training; establish an agency based database to monitor deployment, conditions, well-being and status of employment of workers, including cases of repatriation; and establish an online forum for complaints and assistance for the deployed workers for ease of reporting cases and facilitate timely intervention,” he said.

“We look forward to the success of the MOU since majority of the welfare cases we received here in OWWA came from domestic workers who experience maltreatment, contract violation, sexual abuse, harassment, and other infraction of their rights. The government and the recruitment agencies both have the responsibility to take good care of our modern-day Filipino heroes,” OWWA administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said.

PAL flights to KL resume

By Joel E. Zurbano FLAG carrier Philippine Airlines announced that it has resumed on Thursday its flight operations to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after a three-year absence.

“The resumption of PAL flights between Manila and Kuala Lumpur will help foster economic and cultural ties between the Philippines and Malaysia. Most importantly, it addresses the clamor for a direct service between the two capital cities,” said PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista in a statement.

Malaysia, where close to 800,000 overseas Filipino workers are employed, is a profit center in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, providing a favorable investment climate to individuals and organizations.

With investment opportunities in Malaysia's service and manufacturing sectors, the PAL route will provide direct access to new business opportunities.

“Through PAL flights and code-share partners, we can carry passenger traffic from Kuala Lumpur to China, Japan, South Pacific and North America and thus enhance our Asean network,” said Bautista.

“As the airport operator, we are always committed towards building a strong relationship with our partner airlines to support its growth, not only in Malaysia but globally.

Our mission here at Malaysia Airports is to create joyful experiences for all our stakeholders. Therefore, we will ensure that Philippine Airlines operations will receive Malaysia Airports’ fullest support for any airport facilities and services needed at the terminal,” said Malaysia Airports senior general manager Zainol Mohd Isa. The resumption of flight service to Kuala Lumpur came after PAL and Malaysia Airlines expanded their code-share arrangement which include code-sharing on 12 domestic Malaysian destinations and nine domestic Philippine destinations.

The points are: Malaysia—Alor Setar, Johor Bahru, Kota Bharu, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Labuan (Sabah), Langkawi, Miri (Sarawak), Penang, Sibu (Sarawak), Tawau (Sabah).

Philippines—Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Puerto Princesa, Caticlan.

The PAL management said that passengers may book on Business Class or Economy Class to any of these destinations. Lounge access is also available to Business Class passengers. It added that current frequent flyer baggage benefits of Mabuhay Miles and Enrich members are also extended.

Sports Unbeaten Generika, Foton clash Games Today

(Filoil Flying V Center) 3 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies 5 p.m. – Generika-Ayala vs Foton 7 p.m. – Cignal vs Petron

A DAZZLING performance by the “world’s greatest pop stars” highlights the opening salvo of the Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference today at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

Another massive weekend crowd is expected to show up as divas impersonating pop stars like Lady Gaga and Beyonce strut their stuff with the country’s elite volleyball players in a spectacular display of showmanship, poise and talent never before seen on the court.

Show starts at 3 p.m. followed by the battle between unbeaten Generika-Ayala and Foton at 5 p.m. and heavyweights Cignal and Petron in the 7 p.m. featured battle of this prestigious club tourney bankrolled by Rebisco, Gold’s Gym and Belo with TV5 as official broadcast partner.

Tickets are free and games will be shown live on Aksyon TV and Hyper HD and will be livestreamed over at Sports5.ph.

Right after the showdown among divas, members of the national table tennis team and some of Ian Lariba’s classmates at De La Salle University will personally solicit financial support for the fallen Olympian.

Lariba, the first Filipino table tennis player to compete in the Olympics, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a deadly blood disease that puts her in serious condition.

“We hope that this little contribution from the PSL will enable Ian overcome the biggest challenge in her life. We’re all praying and hoping for her speedy recovery,” said PSL g that half of the ticket sales in the league’s first two playdates will also be donated to Lariba’s medical fund.

Juico stressed that the PSL has

PH teams bag medals in HK meet ORGANIZED by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and coorganized by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association, the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival wrapped up with all three teams representing the Philippines bagging medals in their respective categories.

The Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. Dragonboat Team brought home the gold, winning first place for the International Para Dragonboat Championships after collecting a total of 14 points in the two-legs of the 400m standard boat international paradragon division.

PADS bested six other teams including the well-revered teams of Great Britain and Canada.

Triton Dragonboat Team bagged second place in the International Women’s Small Boat, while the University of the Philippines was awarded third place for International Mixed Small Boat.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival was held at the Central Harbourfront last June 2 to 4, attracting over 5,000 athletes from 12 countries and regions who competed for a number of championships in the CCB (Asia) Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races.

The event was one of the highlights in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Gialon sizzles at finish, leads ICTSI golf by 3 shots Z

ANIEBOY Gialon scorched the backside and shot a 66, moving 18 holes away from snapping a long title spell with a three-stroke lead over Tony Lascuña in the third round of the ICTSI Calatagan Golf Challenge at the Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas yesterday.

Gialon outgunned Jhonnel Ababa and Dutchman Guido Van der Valk with a near-flawless stint in the last 9 holes, capped by three birdies in the last four for a 31 for an 11-under 205 total that put diminutive shotmaker three shots clear of an equally charging Lascuña, who also turned in a six-under card four flights ahead to as-

sume the challenger’s role at 208.

Rufino Bayron also rallied at the back with a 33 for a 67 and took solo third at 209 while brother Jay carded a 71 and lay six shots farther back at 211 heading to the final 18 holes of the P2.5 million event sponsored by ICTSI. Ababa, who shared the halfway lead with Gialon, flubbed a couple

of birdie putts in the early going and struggled the rest of the way, hitting two birdies but fumbling with three bogeys for a 73. He tumbled to joint fifth with Clyde Mondilla and American Nicolas Paez.

Mondilla, seeking a third straight championship in the circuit organized

by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., struck back from the middle of the surviving pack to within a stroke off Gialon with three birdies in the first five holes. But the Southwoods and Philippine Masters winner lost his putting touch and settled for a onebirdie, one-bogey stint at the back for a 69 while Paez birdied two of the first four holes and eagled No. 13 but made two bogeys for a 70.

Jun Bernis turned in a second straight 70 but stood too far behind at 213 while Jerson Balasabas and Gerald Rosales tied for ninth at 214 with a 71 and 73, respectively.

With Ababa struggling, Gialon took control with birdies on Nos. 4 and 7. He stumbled with a bogey on the next but went on a birdie spree at the turn to find himself on top of the heap and closer to nailing a follow-up to his last victory in the rain-shortened Royal Northwoods Championship in 2014.

“It’s been a long while. I just hope I’ll be blessed with a win again tomorrow (today),” said Gialon, who birdied three of the first four holes at the back and rebounded from a bogey mishap

Unified Tennis Group lauded

HEROES VOLLEYBALL PROGRAM TAPS WILSON. The Heroes Volleyball Program recently signed an agreement with Sports Resources Inc., the exclusive distributor of Wilson in the Philippines, to use Wilson Volleyball as the official ball in its sports events, camps and tournaments. HVP is an institution that specializes in volleyball training, coaching services, competition planning, and sports events. With its expertise in the sports profession, HVP has built a good reputation with schools, private companies and government bodies in Metro Manila. Photo shows (from left) Errol Cajefe Elicanal, Brand Manager of Wilson; Rodolfo Claudio, president and CEO of SRI; Ken Silverio Trases Ucang, Founder and Managing Director of HVP; and Jan Viktor Dela Cruz, Partnership and Business Development Director of HVP. Wilson Volleyballs are now available in more than 100 sports retail stores nationwide including Toby’s Sports, Olympic Village, Gaisano, CSI, among others. Now on its 3rd year, HVP is expanding its reach in promoting volleyball in the Philippines, offering a variety of modules for volleyball camps in different branches in Metro Manila as part of its mission ‘Pass the Game. Transform Lives.’ For updates on HVP and Wilson events, visit www.facebook.com/heroesvolleyballprogram or https://www.facebook.com/WilsonSportsPH/.

CITING the group’s recent efforts to support the local tennis industry, Presidential Sports Adviser Dennis Uy has lauded the Unified Tennis Group composed of the top tennis stakeholders such as Cebuana Lhuillier’s Jean Henri Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop CEO Bobby Castro.

“The Unified Tennis Group has been proactively extending support to the industry by backing projects of former Philippine Davis Cuppers such as Tennis on Wheels of Rod Rafael and a series of tennis workshops by Alex Marcial,” said Uy. He added that these programs are instrumental in discovering new tennis talents and in keeping the interest of Filipinos, especially the youth.

Lhuillier recently agreed to sponsor the yearly Philippine Tennis Tour, a series of tennis clinics and workshops for coaches and trainers spearheaded by certified MTM (Modern Tennis Methodology) and USPTA (United States Professional Tennis Association) coach Marcial. This year, the tour will hold clinics in Cavite, Butuan, Surigao Del Sur, Cebu, Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo with the support of the UTG. Also in the program is the Tennis on Wheels, a project headed by former Philippines’ top tennis player and Davis Cup hero Rafael. The grassroots initiative aims to provide free tennis lessons to kids, ages 5 to 10 years old all over the country, especially those in depressed areas.

Uy has also expressed support for Lhuillier saying: “We need new leaders who has great vision, new ideas and has the passion. Lhuillier has strongly supported the sport for more than two decades now and has backed more than 500 various tennis events to develop the sport in the country from the elite Davis Cup team, to sponsoring our national athletes, international tennis tournaments, to junior tennis events.”

Parley for the Oceans, adidas link hands Mindoro gets ADIDAS and Parley for the Oceans announced their first global initiative with the launch of adidas x Parley Run for the Oceans, a global celebration that will take place during World Oceans Day week from June 5 to 11. adidas, Parley for the Oceans and Runtastic have come together, harnessing the power of sport as a catalyst to inspire positive action, and motivate people to get behind the cause, with each step spreading awareness of the threat plastic pollution poses to the oceans. adidas x Parley Run for the Oceans enables all athletes to unite through running and become part of the clean oceans movement that can make a difference in everyone’s lives, by taking part in a series of inspiring physical, digital and audio runs.

Digital Run: Everybody can become an ambassador for the oceans and join the global movement by taking part in the digital run. Between June 5 and 11, runners from around the world will virtually unite to show their commitment to ocean health, one mile at a time. As they run, people can listen to a dedicated Story Run and learn about the ocean’s delicate ecosystem, the Parley AIR strategy and how they can all be part of the solution. Runners can contribute their mileage and help spread the message by registering for the free digital run here. Those who register and run at any time during this week, accumulate miles and can see how those miles are adding up to the ones run by all runners around the world joining the movement.

NYC Run: On World Oceans Day, adidas x Parley’s first-ever Run for the Oceans will bring their communities of runners, ocean ambassadors, environmentalists, artists, influencers and

PSC’s support

adidas x Parley launch their first global initiative to raise awareness and inspire collective action to help save the oceans from the threat of plastic waste

media together, to inspire collective action and affect positive change in the world. Taking over New York City at night, a collective of over 500 runners will take part in a 5km run illuminating the city streets with blue lights as they go, taking a stand for the conservation of our oceans.

Audio: To truly galvanize action through sport, and raise awareness by inspiring the masses to commit to the oceans, an innovative Runtastic Cardio App feature has been created.

This Story Run, curated by a team of ocean advocates, is based on unconscious interval training and serves as an ongoing source for raising awareness of the cause.

Of the landmark event, Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member of adidas AG, Global Brands said: “adidas teamed up with Parley to help

spread awareness and transform ocean plastic pollution into high performance sportswear, spinning the problem into a solution. The threat, into a thread. We have already taken the first steps to reduce and ultimately eliminate virgin and single use plastic from our products. In doing so, we have shown that it is possible, and that people care—but now we must accelerate and scale. As a creator brand, we believe that necessity drives innovation, and that solving the toughest problems only makes us and our products better—all while doing less harm to the world.

To find out more about how to take action to raise awareness for the cause visit and sign up at adidas.com/runfortheoceans. Follow the conversation at @adidasrunning on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using #adidasParley and #RunForTheOceans.

Sentinels take on Transformers

THE Senate Sentinels vowed to intensify their plays against the Bureau of Customs Transformers on Sunday and expressed their support to Kuya Daniel Razon’s innovative basketball league.

Senators Sonny Angara and Joel Villanueva lead the Sentinels’ roster.

“Salamat sa lahat ng sumusubaybay sa UNTV, sa lahat ng sumusuporta sa Senate Sentinels.

Mabuhay po kayo, God bless,” Sen. Angara said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, on the other hand, said: “We’re going to have fun so, kudos to UNTV for having this special league, talagang saludo kami.”

on No. 14 with a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 15 then added a pair of fivefooters on Nos. 16 and 18.

With Lascuña and Rufino Bayron as his final round rivals, Gialon expects the pressure to mount early on but vowed to stay focused and seize the moment for a crack at the top P450,000 purse.

“I didn’t expect to lead, more so by 3. But I’m hitting it pretty well and hope to sustain it,” he added.

Lascuña missed moving within two with a bogey on No. 17 but the reigning Order of Merit winner remained confident of pulling off a come-from-behind victory for a follow-up to his Manila Masters feat at Eastridge last April.

Games Sunday (Pasig City Sports Center) 2 p.m. PNP Responders vs DOJ Justice Boosters 3:30 p.m. Senate Sentinels vs BOC Transformers 5:00 p.m. AFP Cavaliers vs Judiciary Magis

The Senators’ team showed last week that they can go up against other teams in the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off. They even handed the DOJ Justice Boosters their first loss on June 4 in a 84-77 victory.

“Nagkataon sa mga nakaraang game kulang tayo ng tao.

Ngayon, medyo kumpleto, tamang

tama hindi masyadong napagod.

Kasi last two games kinapos kami sa last quarter. So ito, medyo may gasoline pa kumbaga,” Sen. Angara said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva added: “Great addition si Senator Angara dahil may isa pa na puwedeng magdala ng bola, isang leader na kahit wala sa stats ‘yung makikita mo sa kaniya, he gives so much sa team.”

On the other hand, the Transformers, led by the BOC Chief, Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, expressed their commitment to the league despite their standing, in the name of public service.

MINDORO Occidental has gathered all sports coordinators of the province including the Physical Education Teachers and Coaches to a two-day Sports Consultative Meeting.

Rep. Josephine Y. R. Sato and Governor Mario Gene J. Mendiola want to formulate a comprehensive development program of the Province.

Gov. Mendiola said that the Province does not have a sports development program for the past years.

“We want to have one,” he said.

Rep. Sato wants to institutionalize the sports comprehensive plan of the Province.

“We want that to be crafted, to be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan so that it will become a law,” she said.

Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez of the Philippine Sports Commission, after meeting with Gov. Mendiola and Rep. Sato, ordered his staff to conduct the consultative meeting in Mindoro.

Some 80 sports enthusiasts attended, led

by Gov. Mendiola, Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Danilo Roxas of the Department of Education and Rep. Sato.

During the workshop facilitated by Dr. Sergio Opeña and Dr. Gemima Valderrama, the participants identified the best practices of the province and they came up with proposals how to make sports vibrant in the Province.

Rep. Sato thanked Chairman Ramirez for helping the Province to form and craft the Provincial Sports Development Program.

“We can push more activities including the indigenous people to be part of the Provincial Sports Program,” Gov. Mendiola said.

Mamburao Mayor Angelina F. Tria expressed her gratitude to the PSC and to all sports enthusiasts of the Province for taking the time to help them strengthen the sports development in the Province.

“We will be there to help our children by engaging in sports activities,” Trias said as she expressed her appreciation to all for a successful holding of the sports consultative meeting.

LOTTO RESULTS

Senate Sentinels’ playing senators Joel Villanueva and Bam Aquino together with the rest of the team at the opening ceremony of UNTV Cup Executive Face Off.

6/45 00-00-00-00-00-00 P0.0 M+ 4 DIGITS 00-00-00-00 3 DIGITS 00-00-00 2 EZ2 00-00

Sports

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

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

Beermen, Hotshots start war

Move over James, KD’s era is here

By Jeric Lopez ALL hell is about to break loose.

San Miguel Beer and Star are about to embark on a tough war with each other as they open their much-anticipated best-of-five semifinals series in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup. The No. 2 Beermen and the No. 3 Hotshots figure in Game 1 today at 5 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to see who gets the pivotal first blood.

Most people foresee this series to be evenly matched, and for good reasons.

Both protagonists, presenting loaded rosters, are playing highlevel basketball in the tournament.

San Miguel Beer and Star have been coasting thus far and now, they will no doubt face their toughest tests when they go at each other.

The Beermen, with a twice-tobeat incentive, demolished Phoenix, 115-96, in their quarterfinals’ tiff last Tuesday to earn their spot in the semis.

For the Hotshots, they swept Rain or Shine, 2-0, in their own best-of-three quarterfinals’ series.

In the closing Game 2, they finished burly down the stretch to arrange their date with the Beermen, finishing off the Painters, 84-69.

One of the many interesting match-ups this series will have is the battle of the teams’ reinforcements.

Strong imports Ricardo Ratcliffe (Star) and Charles Rhodes (San Miguel) are bound to cross paths again, this time in a bigger stage on Philippine soil.

These two prolific reinforcements were seasoned rivals in the Korean Basketball League, where they were both recognized as two of the top players there.

Meanwhile, TNT KaTropa and Meralco are currently disputing the last semis ticket as they battle in the deciding Game 3 of their best-of-three quarterfinals series as of this report.

Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors during practice and media availability as part of the 2017 NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

C

LEVELAND—Kevin Durant had been waiting his whole life to sink the 3-pointer that lifted Golden State over Cleveland and put him on the brink of an NBA championship.

The 28-year-old forward hit the go-ahead shot with 45 seconds remaining to put the Warriors ahead to stay in game three of the NBA Finals, giving Golden State a 3-0 edge in the best-of-seven series that could end Friday in Cleveland.

Durant left Oklahoma City last July to join Golden State hoping to become a champion.

The Warriors are 15-0 in the playoffs and would complete the first unbeaten post-season run in NBA history by winning game four.

“I’m not even thinking about that,” Durant said Thursday.

“I’m just trying to go out there

and play hard every second I’m on the floor, play with passion and energy and joy. That’s all I’m concerned about.

“I didn’t envision anything but just being around good people and getting better e v e r y si ngle d ay. T hat’s exactly what happened throughout the season.”

It’s a maturing process that Warriors coach Steve Kerr can see in Durant seeking the ball in clutch moments and blending his skills with his teammates rather than trying to force his style upon them.

“It just looks like he understands this is his moment, this is his time,” Kerr said. “He’s

earned it. He has been in this league for a long time and he’s, I think, at the top of his game at the biggest time.”

Durant’s key basket over Cleveland’s LeBron James could be the first signature moment in a possible dynasty run for the Warriors, seeking their second title in three seasons after falling one win shy of a crown last year.

“I don’t think about years from now. Try not to think too far past today,” Durant said. “I don’t want to get too far off of the goal at hand and the task at hand. I’m just trying to stay in this moment and not worry about the future.”

Warriors guard Stephen Curry was impressed to see Durant seize the moment and swing momentum in the game and series heavily in Golden State’s favor.

“Can’t be afraid of failure,” Curry said. “Most guys who

don’t want to take those shots don’t want to deal with the repercussions of if you miss, because that is a terrible feeling. But you can’t be afraid of that feeling, knowing that you prepared yourself with all the reps you put in in the gym shooting.

“His mindset is I’m ready to take this shot because I haven’t cheated the game. The guys that probably work the hardest, that have that killer instinct and that mindset, we don’t care if we make or miss. You want to take that shot because you believe in yourself and you’ll live with the results.

“So hopefully it works out more times than not, but that’s probably the key—just not being afraid of failure.”

Irving praises gutsy Durant Durant knows what it’s like to lose an NBA Finals, falling in 2012 to Miami as James won his first career title.

“I never been in this position

before,” Durant said. “I don’t want to relax. It’s not over. This is a crazy game. Anything can happen.

“I just try to stay positive and know in the fourth that coach is going to call my number and my teammates are going to look for me and it’s up to me to finish.”

Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving marveled at the way Durant finished.

“We witnessed a closing game by Kevin Durant that you can’t prepare for,” he said.

“It’s just big-time play, big-time play after big-time play he was making. He was comfortable and we tried to make it as uncomfortable as possible.

“If that three goes the other way, then the whole conversation could be different. But he nails a big-time shot like that.

He was gutsy enough to take it and it created what they needed.” AFP

LeBron or Jordan? His Airness has the edge CLEVELAND—One loss from his fifth defeat in eight NBA Finals appearances, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is matter-offact about his legacy, living in the moment and having nothing left to prove.

But when it comes to comparisons to retired Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, the 1990s playmaker might just have the edge on “King” James.

The Golden State Warriors lead the defending champion Cavaliers 3-0 in the best-ofseven series entering game four Friday at Cleveland.

At 15-0 in the playoffs, the Warriors are on the brink of becoming the first NBA team to charge through the playoffs unbeaten to a title.

No team in 126 tries has ever rallied from 3-0 down to win an NBA playoff series, so James—playing in his seventh consecutive finals— figures to fall to 3-5 in the championship round, going 2-2 with Miami and facing a 1-3 mark plus second sweep out with Cleveland.

“I don’t get caught up in what I’ve done over the years.

I get drawn in too much of

what I’m doing right now in the present,” James said.

“I never really talk about my legacy. I kind of just live in the moment and if I’m able to accomplish something, then it kind of adds to it on its own.”

Barring a miracle rally, only two players in NBA history will have suffered more finals defeats than James. Former Los Angeles Lakers stars Elgin Baylor and Jerry West each lost eight times, in part during the 1960s Boston Celtics dynasty era.

Jordan had a killer instinct and supporting talent that saw him go 6-0 in NBA Finals appearances and James has used childhood idol Jordan’s feats as a measuring stick to motivate himself.

“Comparing between people either living or still playing or not playing, it’s great for barbershops,” James said. “But for me I’m just trying to leave a legacy behind so I can inspire the next group of kids.”

Jordan feats inspire LeBron Jordan’s six NBA titles are twice as many as James and Jordan leads in Most Valuable Player awards five to four.

James

But James passed Jordan last month to become the all-time NBA playoffs scoring leader and enters Friday only one point behind Jordan for third on the all-time NBA Finals scoring list with 1,175.

“It has nothing to do with passing him in [totals]. It’s just my personal goal to keep me motivated,” James said.

“You guys want to have the conversations about who’s the greatest of all time, things of that nature, it doesn’t matter to me.”

James has been prolific in reaching the finals, the only man to get two teams there four times, but has struggled

Jordan

to hoist the trophies.

The Cavaliers fell behind the Warriors 3-1 in last year’s finals before James sparked the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history to bring Cleveland its first major sports title in 52 years. In an unprecedented feat, James led the finals in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots.

This year is nearly the same despite the Cavs being winless, James averaging 32.4 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.38 blocked shots, standing second only in blocks and rebounds.

“I want, once I hang it up

and not play this game anymore, that people can look at what I was able to accomplish—win, lose or draw— and say that he made a difference,” James said. “So that’s what I’m here for.”

Every reign must end James, 32, says he isn’t trying to prove critics wrong as he did in younger days.

“I left that in my 20s,” James said. “I’m not in the ‘prove people wrong, silence critics’ department no more. I got a promotion when I got to the 30s.

“I know what I’ve done and I know the way I’m built.

My only motivation is to be

able to compete for a championship every single year.”

Bringing a championship to hometown fans in Cleveland fulfilled a dream but kept James ever cautious.

“I don’t like to be satisfied too much,” he said. “Because then you become complacent.”

It’s a concern that keeps him at the gym every morning. Because every “King” knows all reigns must end.

“My mental motor is still going and my physical motor is trying to keep up with it,” James said. “I won’t be able to play this game forever, but I do know I’ll be able to work out for quite a while.” AFP

Rivera suits up as Pocari battles Balipure in Game 1 POCARI Sweat hopes to draw added firepower from import replacement Krystal Rivers as it clashes with BaliPure at the start of their Premier Volleyball League Finals at the Philsports Arena in Pasig tonight.

The American opposite spiker actually secured her ITC (International Transfer Certificate) last Thursday but the Lady Warriors opted to sit her out and went on to beat the Power Smashers, 25-19, 25-22, 25-21, to seal a title duel with the Water Defenders, who also eased out the Creamline Cool Smashers via the fashion, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16.

The 5-11 Rivers, a former US NCAA Division 1 player from University of Alabama, is expected to fire up the Lady Warriors all the more as they gun for back-to-back title

Games today (Philsports Arena)

10 a.m. – Army vs Sta. Lucia (men’s - for third) 1 p.m. – Air Force vs Cignal (men’s - for title) 4 p.m. – Creamline vs Power Smashers (women’s - for third) 6:30 p.m. – BaliPure vs Pocari Sweat (women’s - for title)

romp in the season-opening conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

But the Water Defenders remain unfazed and focused on their first-ever crack at the championship in three conferences on a team built around American Jennifer Keddy, Thai veteran Jang Bualee and local aces Grethcel Soltones, Risa Sato and Jasmine Nabor.”

That guarantees a slam-bang action in the 6:30 p.m. opener of the best-of-three playoff to be telecast live on S+A Channel 23.

The 4 p.m. clash for third between Creamline and the Power Smashers will also be aired live, according to Sports Vision.

“I guess Rivers biggest contribution would be on offense because she jumps high and delivers power-packed hits,” said Pocari Sweat coach Rommel Abella, of his new import who replaced injured Edina Selimovic.

“But BaliPure is also a strong team and they are peaking at the right time. We’ll both make adjustments, us playing with Krystal and them playing against her. The team who makes the better and quicker adjustment will win,” added Abella.

BaliPure, which settled for third place finishes in two conferences in their debut last season, hopes to make the most of its maiden finals stint with Keddy and Bualee out to neutralize their counterparts and Soltones, Sato and Nabor hoping to sustain their superb form.

“We’ll just prepare and try to continue our momentum. I hope the players will continue to play happy and inspired,” said BaliPure mentor Roger Gorayeb.

Meanwhile, Air Force and Cignal HD likewise start their best-of-three series for the men’s crown in the league backed by Mikasa and Asics. Gametime is at 1 p.m. with Army and Sta. Lucia facing off in their own series for third at 10 a.m.

Azkals missing 2 injured players

By Peter Atencio TWO key players won’t be around when the Philippines Azkals national men’s football team takes part in an Asian Cup Qualifier in Tajikistan.

Jeffrey Christiaens and Hikaru Minegishi have to be replaced because of injuries and won’t be around when the Azkals clash with host Tajikistan on Tuesday.

The match is part of the third round of the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers.

They are set to clash at the Central Republican Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The Azkals, who are in Group F, won their first match with Nepal, 4-l, last March 28.

Two veterans, Ace Villanueva and Ruben Doctora, will take the place of Christiaens and Minegishi.

This will be Villanueva’ first call up for the Azkals.

He plays for the Meralco Manila Custodian and is part of the Philippine under-22 side.

Doctora last played for Azkals in Malaysia in March of 2014. He scored once against Nepal during a game in Doha almost a month later.

The Azkals are reeling from a 1-8 loss to China in a friendly last Wednesday.

Semirara gets nod to run 300-MW coal plant

B2

Business

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

B1

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

Resorts World’s license suspended

By Jenniffer B. Austria

S

TATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. said Friday it suspended the provisional license of Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., the operator and developer of Resorts World Manila, pending an investigation on how a gunman brought in a high-powered firearm on June 2.

Pagcor said in a statement Resorts World Manila should cease and desist all gaming operations while an investigation on its liability regarding the June 2 incident was ongoing.

“In light of the tragic incident that happened in Resorts World Manila last June 2, 2017 – which

resulted in 38 fatalities, including the assailant and 54 individuals injured, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. suspends the provisional license granted to Travellers International Hotel Group to operate casinos and other gaming facilities under the business name of

RWM,” Pagcor said.

“The said suspension will remain until RWM rectifies its serious security lapses and deficiencies – which caused not only the loss of lives and damaged properties – but also placed the Philippine gaming, tourism and hospitality industries in bad light,” it said.

The gaming regulator said non-compliance with the order would force it to impose other sanctions warranted under existing laws.

Officials from Travellers International and Resorts World Manila did not immediately reply when sought for comment regarding Pagcor’s decision.

Pagcor also asked all integrated resorts to submit security

and safety protocols to make sure that the June 2 incident would not happen again.

“As the country’s gaming regulator, Pagcor will continue to safeguard the interest not only of all gaming industry players but also, of all guests, tourists and other stakeholders involved,” Pagcor said.

Share price of RWM on Friday closed at P3.05 per share, up 3.4 percent from the previous day’s close.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday started an investigation on the deadly attack at RWM. A lone gunman, identified as Jessie Carlos, managed to enter the integrated resort and casino facility in Pasay on June

Jobless rate in PH decrease to 5.7% UNEMPLOYMENT rate in the Philippines decreased to 5.7 percent in April from 6.1 percent a year ago as the agriculture and manufacturing sectors created more jobs during the period, the National Economic and Development Authority said Friday.

Results of the April 2017 Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that underemployment rate, or the proportion of employed persons wanting additional work, reached its lowest in more than ten years at 16.1 percent in April 2017.

This is lower by 962,000 workers, or 12.9 percent, compared with underemployed workers recorded in April 2016.

Neda said sustaining employment figures, while improving related services, was crucial to meeting the government’s key targets in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

Neda said the decreasing unemployment rate should be sustained together with higher job creation to reduce unemployment to around 3 percent by 2022.

Meanwhile, employment in the agriculture sector increased 1.2 percent in April from a year ago, with net employment gains of 125,000 workers.

Industry employment increased to 7.4 million, and manufacturing posted employment gains of 1.6 percent, equivalent to an additional 55,000 workers.

“Increased activity confirms the renewed positive outlook of exporting firms that had anticipated increases in the volume of export production,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia.

2, setting gaming tables on fire which resulted in the death of 37 people, including guests and employees.

Resorts World Manila is a 11.5-hectare development that opened in 2009. It was the first Pagcor licensee to operate an integrated resort and casino in the country.

Resorts World Manila recently completed phase two of its development which included the expansion of existing Marriott Hotel Manila through Marriott Grand Ballroom and the Marriott West Wing.

Construction of phase 3, which includes three luxury hotels – Sheraton Manila Hotel, Hilton Manila and Maxims II―is ongoing.

PTT’S MANGROVE PROJECT.

PTT Philippines Corp., the local unit of PTT Public Company Limited of Thailand, returns to Noveleta, Cavite to sustain its mangrove reforestation project called ‘BakaJuan’.

PTT Philippines president Khun Sukanya Siroyotin (left) leads the tree planting activity in its fourth year of implementation. She is joined by other officials of PTT Philippines and members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Manny Palmero

BOTH merchandise exports and factory output climbed in April from a year ago, pointing to a strong growth at the start of the second quarter.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed exports went up 12.1 percent in April to $4.805 billion from $4.285 billion in the same month last year.

Merchandise imports, however, fell 0.1 percent to $6.857 billion in April from $6.865 billion a year earlier.

PSA said the country still registered a trade deficit of $2.052 billion in April, despite the growth in exports.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia expressed optimism the country would sustain the strong performance of exports this year.

He said trade linkages to Eu-

Investment pledges up 25% in 5 months

INVESTMENT projects approved by Board of Investments climbed 25 percent in the first five months to P174.5 billion from P137.3 billion in the same period last year.

Data from BoI showed the number of investment projects also increased 70 percent to 218 in the five-month period from 128 a year ago.

Most are high-impact, socially relevant, and labor intensive projects which are expected to generate some 51,847 new jobs once operational, the agency said.

“It’s business as usual in the country,” said Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, despite the situation in Marawi City and the recent Resorts World Manila incident. He said these incidents were isolated and the Duterte administration was in firm control of the situation.

Lopez said investment prospects in Mindanao remained upbeat given the significant investment projects registered with BoI. “With the continued confidence of investors on the viability and profitability of doing business in Mindanao, we also send a positive signal on the stability of the peace and order situation in the island group,” Lopez said.

Othel V. Campos

Consumers turn more optimistic

CONSUMER confidence in the Philippines reached a record high in the second quarter, because of the availability of more jobs and effective government policies, results of the latest consumer expectation survey of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show.

The overall confidence index climbed to 13.1 percent in the second quarter, the fourth consecutive quarter that consumer confidence registered a positive reading. This indicates that the number of households with optimistic views increased and continued to be greater than those with pessimistic views.

Respondents cited the improvements in the peace and order situation, additional family income due to higher salary and stronger business activity, availability of more jobs and an increase in the number of employed family members and effective government policies as the reasons for their optimism.

For the next quarter (third quarter), consumer sentiment turned less optimistic as the index declined to 13.6 percent (from 16.5 percent in the previous quarter’s survey), but improved for the year ahead to 34.3 percent (from 31.7 percent). Julito G. Rada

PLDT launches TV streaming box

Vehicle sales rose 17% to 35,469 units in May

By Othel V. Campos SALES of motor vehicles in the Philippines sustained a doubledigit growth in May, as buyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates and prices ahead of the passage of a bill imposing higher tax rates.

The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.and the Truck Manufacturers Association said in a joint report that purchases of vehicles increased 17 percent in May to 35,469 units from 30,317 units

sold in the same month last year.

“Sustained marketing efforts continue to push sales as reflected in May sales performance,” said Campi president Rommel Gutierrez.

Data showed that both passenger cars and commercial vehicles performed well during the month. The PC segment sold 11,690 units in May, up by 7.3 percent from 10,893 units sold in the same month last year.

The CV segment achieved a 22.4-percent growth with 23,779 units sold in May from 19,424

units sold a year earlier.

Most categories within the CV segment set sales records in May. The biggest sales among the categories is Category 2 or the light commercial vehicle segment that went up 16.5 percent to 14,984 units in May from 12,867 units sold in the same period last year.

Category 5 (trucks and buses) is the only category that generated slower sales with 9 percent decline to 131 units from 144 units sold in May 2016.

Total sales in the first five

months also grew 17.9 percent to 158,533 units from 134,487 units in the same period in 2016.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. continued to lead the industry with a 43.67-percent market share. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. followed with 17.83 percent.

Ford Motor Company Philippines Inc. ranked third with 8.47-percent market share while Isuzu Philippines Corp. was fourth with 7.02 percent. Honda Cars Philippines Inc. was fifth with 7-percent market share.

Exports, factory output increased in April—PSA

By Julito G. Rada

IN BRIEF

rope and East Asia should be strengthened further as exports to these areas accounted for 62.3 percent of total export receipts.

Exports to EU and East Asia grew by 36 percent and 10 percent in April 2017, respectively.

“We aim to deepen our engagement with our neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance trade and investment links,” Pernia said.

Pernia recognized positive contributions of trade connections and cited China as an example, where merchandise exports increased 27.7 percent from October 2016 to April 2017 compared with the 7.1 percent decline from January to September 2016.

“Also worth noting is the tripling of exports to the UAE and India in April. This was the third month that receipts to UAE tripled, and the second month for India,” he said.

PLDT Inc. launched an entertainment television device powered by a US video streaming company in a bid to attract more broadband subscribers.

Developed in partnership with Roku Inc., PLDT Home’s new TVolution box is an all-in-one, plug-andplay entertainment solution loaded not only with video on demand titles from iflix and Netflix, but also with pay-TV channels from Cignal, free content from YouTube and over 100 other streaming channels.

“For our subscribers, this means easy access to all their favorite entertainment content, without having to switch between multiple devices,” PLDT first vice president and Home Business head Oscar Reyes Jr. said.

The partnership with Roku is the latest addition to PLDT Home’s roster of global entertainment partners like Cignal TV, iflix, Netflix, Fox+ and iWant TV. The TVolution streaming experience is delivered over PLDT Home Fibr, which delivers world-class broadband with speeds up to 1 Gbps and enables equal upload and download speeds. Darwin G. Amojelar

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday, June 9, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

DBP IN ZAMBOANGA. State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines pushes further in

promoting financial inclusion in Mindanao with the opening of a new branch at Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone. DBP Zamboecozone is the 119th branch in the bank’s fast-expanding branch network.

Shown during the ribbon-cutting ceremony are (from left) DBP vice president Edgar Seronay, Zamboanga City mayor Beng Climaco, Zambo Ecozone administrator Christopher Lawrence Arnuco and DBP executive vice president for branch banking Anthony Robles.

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

Japan

Yen

0.009093

0.4505

UK

Pound

1.295500

64.1855

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128250

6.3541

Switzerland

Franc

1.034126

51.2358

Canada

Dollar

0.740466

36.6864

Singapore

Dollar

0.724585

35.8996

Australia

Dollar

0.754200

37.3668

Bahrain

Dinar

2.653787

131.4819

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.2113

Brunei

Dollar

0.721970

35.7700

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0037

Thailand

Baht

0.029351

1.4542

UAE

Dirham 0.272301

13.4912

Euro

Euro

1.121600

55.5697

Korea

Won

0.000892

0.0442

China

Yuan

0.147070

7.2866

India

Rupee

0.015567

0.7713

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.234357

New Zealand Dollar

0.721400

Taiwan

0.033225

Dollar

49.5450

11.6112 35.7418 1.6461 Source: PDS Bridge

B2

Business

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market rises; Aboitiz climbs S TOCKS closed higher Friday, after the government announced positive economic data such as higher exports and lower jobless rate in April, pointing to a strong second-quarter growth.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 31 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 7,990.24, as four of the six major sectors advanced. The bellwether was also up 16.8 percent since the start of the year.

The heavier index, representing all shares, rose 11 points, or 0.3 percent, to settle at 4,749.13, on a value turnover of P8.1 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 96 to 85, while 54 issues were unchanged.

Ten of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. which climbed 3.5 percent to P75.30 and DMCI Holdings Inc. of the Consunji family which went up 2.1 percent to P14.50.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Office showed that unemployment rate eased to 5.7 percent in April 6.1 percent a year ago, while exports increased 12.1 percent to $4.8 billion in April from $4.3 billion a year earlier.

visor Mike Flynn.

Although the testimony painted an unflattering picture of the president, analysts said most of the information had already been aired in news reports and the disclosures themselves were not disturbing enough to hurt market sentiment.

“The testimony ended without a fresh storm of controversy,” Toshikazu Horiuchi, a broker at Tokyo’s IwaiCosmo Securities, told AFP. “It does not mean an end to the scandal, but the case has turned an important corner.”

Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei rose 0.52 percent, or 104.00 points, to finish at 20,013.26. It lost 0.81 percent over the week.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues ended up

Meanwhile, most Asian stocks also rose, as investors focused on regional issues in the wake of a benign reaction to recent geopolitical events in the US and the UK. Tokyo stocks rose Friday with SoftBank soaring to a 17-yearhigh, while traders took in their stride sacked FBI chief James Comey’s testimony that Donald Trump asked him to drop a probe into the administration’s Russia links.

Tokyo’s rise tracked Wall Street after Comey’s testimony on his firing by Trump and links to the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.

Comey testified that Trump asked him for “loyalty” and to drop a criminal investigation into his former National Security Ad-

0.08 percent, or 1.25 points, at 1,591.66. It fell 1.27 percent over the week.

Shares were also lifted by a rise in the dollar to 110.17 yen from 109.81 yen in New York.

The British pound fell sharply as Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party lost its Westminster majority, leaving a hung parliament and throwing the country into political uncertainty days before the start of sensitive Brexit negotiations.

Sterling fetched $1.2655 in Asia Friday afternoon, down from above $1.29 mark a day earlier.

Investors are now looking to the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting next week, while Japan’s central bank also meets.

With AFP, Bloomberg

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2017

NAME

OPEN

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.7 177,000 50.05 64,910 105.9 1,520,080 3.92 1,000 123.8 1,381,280 1.48 43,000 37.4 519,200 16.3 111,700 27.3 1,437,300 7.81 3,000 1.7 28,000 0.7 3,204,000 86.8 1,019,490 0.96 20,186,000 25 4,000 68.5 38,780 238.4 140 109 40 61.15 469,690 221.6 533,630 1,605 505 85.15 89,370 1.25 6,000

798,500 3,242,007 160,284,879 3,920 171,168,902 62,360 19,417,300 1,828,032 39,481,420 23,431 47,580 2,246,190 88,634,108 20,253,980 101,450 2,652,037 33,356 4,360 28,718,771.50 118,547,326 812,400 7,601,565 7,500

2,683,543.50 -46,625,722 18,893,546 17,814,165 -490,630 595,460 13,056,518 299,540 784,658.50 -121,746 -24,689,034 -361,625 -357,167.50 -

38.7 7.89 0.82 1.6 30 0.28 114.2 7.3 18.36 23.5 14.24 75 2.05 11.6 12.2 15.8 9.92 6.86 6 1.74 19 72 13.96 13.9 12.84 1.69 214.8 64 3.94 3.64 32.5 21 19.2 265.8 6.36 3.28 10.1 5 10.1 1.93 9.2 69.4 6.36 295 4.66 2.34 4.62 2.4 13.6 4 0.15 1.35 161.8 4.04 2.13 1.09

INDUSTRIAL 38.75 2,424,500 7.97 1,233,300 0.83 53,000 1.6 2,273,000 30.8 146,500 0.285 21,660,000 114.2 10 7.34 8,944,200 18.46 3,678,100 24.3 365,000 14.48 1,000 76 1,640 2.06 512,000 11.6 21,200 12.3 7,089,300 15.8 1,503,500 9.98 1,197,700 6.96 473,400 6.03 6,382,800 1.74 11,000 19 2,081,900 72.4 16,800 14.52 421,200 14.02 580,100 13 5,261,100 1.71 701,000 215.8 783,900 69.85 710 3.99 56,000 3.65 7,000 32.8 1,013,200 21.25 1,571,000 19.3 373,300 266 900,140 6.98 402,100 3.28 119,000 10.1 6,176,600 5.08 13,600 10.1 32,600 2 1,411,000 9.4 631,500 69.55 3,226,820 6.65 32,700 299 8,060 4.66 20,000 2.35 36,000 5.08 983,000 2.55 10,794,000 13.62 286,900 4.85 58,000 0.152 1,700,000 1.38 85,000 163.2 1,676,950 4.07 20,000 2.16 13,230,000 1.14 6,000

94,043,445 9,813,387 43,510 3,656,090 4,458,245 6,194,850 1,142 65,434,806 67,885,628 44 8,718,770 14,432 124,567.50 1,052,280 250,618 87,039,444 23,813,510 11,987,453 3,294,272 38,464,365 19,220 39,854,898 1,215,291 5,956,506 8,144,702 68,140,328 1,202,850 169,074,920 47,450 222,680 25,540 33,227,355 33,481,815 7,229,906 239,760,114 2,772,018 393,250 62,930,052 68,232 344,552 2,781,980 5,924,299 224,412,570.50 214,562 2,379,490 93,200 84,360 4,702,820 27,210,220 3,908,586 270,790 258,210 115,060 273,465,730 81,180 28,833,880 6,590

-14,785,050 -44,645 41,000 -1,602,630 30,100 8,115,750 ,301,278.0003 124,780 248,050.00 -52,650 39,079,874 -106,184 -166,067 36,056 24,730,059 -18,248,312 931,990 -1,535,608 14,969,452 0 -21,822,070 25,785,400 2,311,600 -2,810,776 -55,168,698 -32,920 -8,572,896 -17,500 52,840 623,623 -611,228 -2,367,620 277,200 6,006,940 3,079,610 -3,080 78,504,772 32,320 3,686,550 -

0.37 72.75 14.4 1.2 6.12 0.34 869 8.07 14.2 7.6 0.2 1,198 7.25 80 4.95 1.01 7.45 15.74 6.15 0.054 2.03 102.9 2.75 790.5 0.87 1.38 305.6 0.28 0.215 0.245

HOLDING FIRMS 0.375 1,590,000 75.3 1,829,720 14.44 5,998,200 1.2 220,000 6.12 7,400 0.34 2,130,000 869 382,740 8.1 1,448,600 14.5 19,590,900 7.6 21,500 0.2 70,000 1,198 78,445 7.4 9,800 80 1,113,640 4.95 3,900 1.03 1,496,000 7.59 903,700 16 322,700 6.19 35,099,200 0.055 75,950,000 2.03 473,000 103 292,030 2.77 36,000 798 246,650 0.9 10,000 1.41 1,074,000 307 7,460 0.28 270,000 0.215 400,000 0.245 100,000

588,550 136,903,378.50 86,728,434 265,080 45,331 732,500 333,456,155 11,754,886 286,779,794 163,500 14,080 94,175,720 71,560 89,476,098.5 ( 19,325 1,534,390 6,851,152 5,146,340 217,414,049 4,170,510 967,290 30,097,291 100,100 197,141,265 8,760 1,495,000 2,287,028 75,600 86,000 24,500

11,100 1,987,465 -5,867,444 15,396,805 6,395,021 122,912,758 -25,220,465 31,230,269.5) -102,000 -1,635,971 1,257,850 -12,243,461 33,000 66,806 47,882,550 75,420 -613,300 -75,600 -2,150 -

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 4.6 ASIA UNITED 50 BANK PH ISLANDS 104 BDO LEASING 3.92 BDO UNIBANK 123.5 BRIGHT KINDLE 1.5 CHINABANK 37.4 COL FINANCIAL 16.2 EAST WEST BANK 27.3 FILIPINO FUND 7.82 IREMIT 1.68 MEDCO HLDG 0.7 METROBANK 87 NTL REINSURANCE 1.07 PBCOM 25.5 PHIL NATL BANK 68.35 PHIL STOCK EXCH 238.8 PHILTRUST 109 RCBC 61.45 SECURITY BANK 224.8 SUN LIFE 1,605 UNION BANK 85 VANTAGE 1.25

4.7 50.05 106.1 3.92 124.4 1.5 37.45 16.48 27.85 7.82 1.7 0.71 88.2 1.15 26 69 238.8 109 61.65 225 1,610 85.2 1.25

4.4 49.35 104 3.92 123.3 1.44 37.35 16.2 27.25 7.81 1.68 0.69 86.55 0.92 25 68.15 238.2 109 60.5 221.6 1,605 85 1.25

ABOITIZ POWER 38.9 AGRINURTURE 8 ALLIANCE SELECT 0.84 ALSONS CONS 1.6 ASIABEST GROUP 30.85 BASIC ENERGY 0.29 BOGO MEDELLIN 114.2 CEMEX HLDG 7.33 CENTURY FOOD 18.5 CIRTEK HLDG 23.75 CNTRL AZUCARERA14.24 CONCEPCION 75 CROWN ASIA 2.08 DEL MONTE 11.88 DNL INDUS 12.3 EAGLE CEMENT 15.96 EEI CORP 10 EMPERADOR 6.86 ENERGY DEVT 6 EUROMED 1.82 FIRST GEN 19.6 FIRST PHIL HLDG 72.6 GINEBRA 13.98 HOLCIM 14.1 INTEGRATED MICR 13.1 IONICS 1.71 JOLLIBEE 217 LIBERTY FLOUR 65 LMG CHEMICALS 3.94 MABUHAY VINYL 3.64 MANILA WATER 32.5 MAXS GROUP 21.9 MEGAWIDE 19.48 MERALCO 269.6 PANASONIC 6.36 PEPSI COLA 3.29 PETRON 10.24 PHIL H2O 5 PHINMA 10.5 PHINMA ENERGY 1.93 PHX PETROLEUM 9.2 PILIPINAS SHELL 69.4 PRYCE CORP 6.36 PUREFOODS 296 RFM CORP 4.66 ROXAS AND CO 2.34 ROXAS HLDG 4.62 SFA SEMICON 2.4 SHAKEYS PIZZA 13.78 SPC POWER 4.85 SWIFT FOODS 0.153 TKC METALS 1.36 UNIV ROBINA 163 VICTORIAS 4.08 VITARICH 2.13 VULCAN INDL 1.09

38.9 8 0.84 1.62 31.25 0.295 114.2 7.34 18.8 24.3 14.48 76 2.1 11.88 12.36 15.96 10.2 6.99 6.06 1.82 19.72 72.65 14.52 14.2 13.1 1.74 218.8 69.85 4.03 3.65 33 21.9 19.5 269.6 6.99 3.38 10.42 5.08 10.72 2 9.49 69.65 6.65 299 4.66 2.35 5.08 2.59 13.78 4.85 0.154 1.38 164.2 4.08 2.2 1.14

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

0.38 75.4 14.52 1.23 6.24 0.35 884 8.18 14.9 7.62 0.204 1,211 7.4 81 5 1.05 7.6 16.2 6.26 0.056 2.06 104.4 2.82 804 0.9 1.42 307 0.28 0.215 0.245

0.37 72.75 14.48 1.2 6.24 0.35 872.5 8.18 14.2 7.62 0.204 1,211 7.4 80.2 5 1.03 7.6 16.2 6.21 0.055 2.05 103.2 2.82 798 0.87 1.42 307 0.28 0.215 0.245

8990 HLDG 6.06 A BROWN 1.52 ARANETA PROP 2.54 ARTHALAND CORP 1.27 AYALA LAND 41.9 BELLE CORP 4 CEB LANDMASTERS 5.6 CEBU HLDG 5.29 CENTURY PROP 0.52 CITY AND LAND 1.15 CITYLAND DEVT 1.49 CROWN EQUITIES 0.17 CYBER BAY 0.52 DOUBLEDRAGON 49.3 EMPIRE EAST 0.69 EVER GOTESCO 0.162 FILINVEST LAND 1.68 GLOBAL ESTATE 1.15 IRC PROP 0.99 MEGAWORLD 4.73 MRC ALLIED 0.39 PHIL ESTATES 0.375

6.2 1.53 2.55 1.28 42.15 4.06 5.62 5.3 0.53 1.15 1.49 0.173 0.52 49.4 0.69 0.162 1.68 1.16 1.01 4.82 0.42 0.375

5.93 1.43 2.44 1.23 41.3 3.98 5.41 5.28 0.51 1.12 1.41 0.169 0.51 47.9 0.69 0.158 1.65 1.15 0.99 4.68 0.39 0.355

VOLUME

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

PHIL REALTY 0.65 PRIMEX CORP 3.96 PTFC REDEV CORP 28 ROBINSONS LAND 24.75 ROCKWELL 1.71 SM PRIME HLDG 34.4 STA LUCIA LAND 1.1 STARMALLS 7.29 SUNTRUST HOME 0.88 VISTA LAND 5.75

0.68 3.96 28 25 1.76 35.1 1.1 7.29 0.91 5.76

0.65 3.88 28 24.3 1.7 34.4 1.06 7.29 0.88 5.69

0.66 3.88 28 24.6 1.76 35 1.1 7.29 0.91 5.72

21,252,000 240,000 2,100 970,300 862,000 9,072,700 10,317,000 100 19,000 3,329,500

14,149,960 937,570 58,800 23,830,370 1,498,000 316,688,695 11,138,180 729 16,750 19,021,326

-2,010,650 -3,437,990 64,750 198,575,575 320,140 -1,804,123

2GO GROUP 27 ABS CBN 42.45 ACESITE HOTEL 1.87 APC GROUP 0.5 APOLLO GLOBAL 0.044 BERJAYA 5.51 BLOOMBERRY 10 BOULEVARD HLDG 0.09 CALATA CORP 2.1 CEBU AIR 99 CENTRO ESCOLAR 10 DISCOVERY WORLD 2.3 FAR EASTERN U 970 GLOBE TELECOM 2,154 GMA NETWORK 6.1 GOLDEN HAVEN 15.7 HARBOR STAR 2.9 IMPERIAL 3.41 INTL CONTAINER 103.5 IPM HLDG 8.85 ISLAND INFO 0.185 ISM COMM 1.43 JACKSTONES 3.57 LBC EXPRESS 16.28 LEISURE AND RES 4.3 MACROASIA 4.54 MANILA JOCKEY 2.25 MELCO RESORTS 9.92 METRO RETAIL 3.68 NOW CORP 2.73 PACIFIC ONLINE 11.48 PAL HLDG 5.3 PHIL SEVEN CORP 157 PHILWEB 10.4 PLDT 1,873 PREMIUM LEISURE 1.58 PRMIERE HORIZON 0.39 PUREGOLD 44.05 ROBINSONS RTL 87.8 SBS PHIL CORP 5.9 SSI GROUP 2.95 STI HLDG 1.24 TRAVELLERS 2.97 WATERFRONT 0.86 WILCON DEPOT 6.5

27 42.75 1.87 0.51 0.044 5.6 10.48 0.093 2.14 99.5 10 2.3 970 2,214 6.1 16.1 2.91 3.5 106.9 8.9 0.187 1.48 3.66 16.28 4.6 4.72 2.45 9.99 3.7 2.8 11.52 5.3 168 10.44 1,894 1.59 0.395 44.8 88.4 6.29 3.16 1.3 3.06 0.87 6.61

25.6 42.45 1.72 0.5 0.044 5.5 9.97 0.09 2.1 98.65 10 2.3 970 2,138 6.06 15.7 2.86 3.41 103.5 8.85 0.183 1.43 3.56 16 4.3 4.52 2.25 9.35 3.66 2.73 11.46 5.3 157 10.02 1,870 1.58 0.39 44.05 87.45 5.9 2.95 1.23 2.96 0.82 6.48

SERVICES 25.7 870,900 42.7 30,900 1.72 343,000 0.51 926,000 0.044 14,000,000 5.6 8,900 9.97 23,911,500 0.092 98,050,000 2.11 1,420,000 99.15 812,850 10 100 2.3 1,000 970 200 2,152 105,810 6.07 133,800 15.98 19,100 2.88 725,000 3.5 14,000 105.8 4,624,850 8.88 355,000 0.187 4,290,000 1.45 457,000 3.6 64,000 16 8,500 4.56 6,880,000 4.7 851,000 2.45 70,000 9.35 10,564,500 3.7 728,000 2.79 2,192,000 11.52 35,200 5.3 3,000 168 1,120 10.26 1,280,800 1,881 115,300 1.59 2,158,000 0.395 760,000 44.5 1,325,900 87.65 1,127,230 6.01 2,324,300 3.16 37,050,000 1.3 72,703,000 3.05 5,061,000 0.83 19,446,000 6.59 6,868,400

22,776,440 1,318,800 624,190 464,760 616,000 49,710 245,146,362 44 8,970,170 3,012,140 80,591,320.50 1,000 2,300 194,000 227,924,020 812,065 303,974 2,088,280 47,830 490,457,209 3,149,500 792,390 668,900 229,110 137,314 30,916,230 3,966,450 ( 164,120 102,369,632 2,678,230 6,090,910 404,562 15,900 187,830 13,170,568 216,791,435 3,425,910 296,950 59,007,060(1, 99,083,676.50 14,234,817 114,746,220 92,402,510 15,216,910 16,309,340 45,153,006

154,990 ,636,764.0004 -28,520 10,590 -2,301,270.50 40,716,450 11,600 96,365,970 -49,830 560,849.9998) -65,250,064 -721,080 7,160 179,760 -2,707,648 1,819,275 79,500 106,864.9996) 28,793,675.50 44,775 -11,149,490 14,768,860 -1,188,360 -1,890 21,053,078

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

0.0031 1.74 5.03 2.27 0.92 0.405 9.5 2.36 0.305 0.181 0.193 0.011 0.011 2 6.18 1.99 0.455 0.96 0.01 6.2 0.012 9 3.17 162 2.74 0.0083

0.0032 1.74 5.03 2.27 0.93 0.405 9.5 2.37 0.31 0.184 0.198 0.011 0.011 2.1 6.2 2.09 0.455 0.99 0.011 6.2 0.013 9.1 3.18 165 2.98 0.0083

0.003 1.67 5 2.27 0.9 0.39 9.2 2.34 0.295 0.181 0.193 0.011 0.011 1.99 6.13 1.99 0.425 0.95 0.01 6.13 0.012 8.98 3.05 160.5 2.74 0.0083

MINING & OIL 0.0032 300,000,000 1.7 16,357,000 5 558,000 2.27 1,000 0.92 1,293,000 0.39 720,000 9.43 19,000 2.34 2,217,000 0.3 2,360,000 0.184 2,480,000 0.198 200,000 0.011 5,200,000 0.011 3,500,000 2.1 2,517,000 6.2 654,700 2 363,000 0.425 420,000 0.99 190,000 0.01 16,400,000 6.2 168,300 0.013 8,900,000 9.1 213,700 3.07 8,026,000 160.5 1,192,090 2.86 894,000 0.0083 11,000,000

927,600 27,853,000 2,790,507 2,270 1,188,940 284,800 179,216 5,206,840 707,400 451,260 38,990 57,200 38,500 5,256,540 4,045,123 727,440 180,650 181,420 171,000 1,037,438 112,800 1,940,543 24,725,900 192,585,873 2,584,930 91,300

30,000 855,020 67,119 -27,900 19,500 470,000 23,160 1,277,908 22,000 -29,698 -19,300,030 58,923,515 -

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

510 515 105 114.5 515 5.75 1,022 1.1 107.4 1,035 1,013 82 77.4 80.5 81 78.2 79.5

510 515 105.5 114.5 515 5.77 1,022 1.1 107.4 1,035 1,013 82 77.45 80.5 81.15 78.2 79.5

510 515 104.5 114 515 5.75 1,017 1.08 107.4 1,035 1,012 82 77.4 80.5 81 78.15 78.9

PREFERRED 510 980 515 30,180 104.5 28,240 114 9,500 515 500 5.76 10,400 1,017 2,470 1.08 2,093,000 107.4 80 1,035 1,200 1,012 105 82 1,960 77.4 65,990 80.5 4,000 81.15 27,880 78.15 13,400 79 36,220

499,800 15,542,700 2,962,750 1,083,700 257,500 59,950 2,512,090 2,293,480 8,592 1,242,000 106,310 160,720 5,108,526 322,000 2,261,205 1,047,335 2,864,075

-59,950.00 -1,100 -

LR WARRANT

2.27

2.44

2.23

WARRANTS 2.39 2,858,000

6,755,620

-

4.04 6.13 8.01

3.9 5.96 7.88

SME 4.03 5.97 7.88

651,300 501,568 28,181,158

27,462 -5,872,456

FIRST METRO ETF 120.3

120.8

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120.3 120.7 5,020

605,813

-

USD DMPL A1

10.24

10.1

8,136

-

NAME

OPEN

MS

PROPERTY 5.93 2,306,100 1.44 20,722,000 2.55 247,000 1.24 3,392,000 41.9 15,304,000 3.99 2,903,000 5.42 12,483,300 5.3 175,600 0.51 10,032,000 1.12 9,000 1.46 386,000 0.172 9,280,000 0.52 1,652,000 49.4 494,800 0.69 233,000 0.158 1,080,000 1.68 3,626,000 1.15 7,707,000 1.01 244,000 4.68 31,065,000 0.42 260,280,000 0.375 370,000

13,886,737 30,357,640 617,740 4,234,490 640,660,575 11,624,590 68,560,736 928,913 5,212,900 10,260 554,760 1,590,110 843,660 23,910,325 160,770 170,900 6,086,150 8,868,320 244,020 146,987,210 107,274,200 137,350

-12,652,772 -525,750 52,120 166,261,115 212,240 4,510,058 -802,360 -8,600 -66,300 -13,501,655 -6,900.00 755,030 112,500 41,758,360 3,617,250 -3,550

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.91 6.13 8

10.1

TRADING SUMMARY

SHARES

FINANCIAL

30,839,150

INDUSTRIAL

112,711,810

HOLDING FIRMS

153,898,091

PROPERTY

447,700,605

SERVICES

339,798,284

MINING & OIL

386,066,662

GRAND TOTAL

1,474,824,679

DDS 10.24

165,000 83,800 3,555,900

800

VALUE 1,950.73 (up) 0.86 666,002,266.95 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,143.33 (down) 4.58 1,678,039,303.19 HOLDING FIRMS 7,884.88 (up) 39.76 1,747,106,438.58 PROPERTY 3,787.81 (up) 17.00 1,754.18 (up) 8.06 1,568,030,306.605 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,550.74 (down) 19.48 2,152,025,279.55 PSEI 7,990.24 (up) 31.61 273,391,349.2079 All Shares Index 4,749.13 (up) 11.73 8,114,537,359.46 Gainers: 96; Losers: 85; Unchanged: 54; Total: 235

Semirara gets nod to run 300-MW coal plant

By Alena Mae S. Flores SEMIRARA Mining and Power Corp. said it received an approval from the Energy Regulatory Commission to run a 300-megawatt circulating fluidized bed coal-fired power project in Batangas province.

Semirara said in a disclosure to the stock exchange the Energy Regulatory Commission issued a certificate of compliance to unit Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. for the 300-MW project in Barangay San Rafael, Calaca, Batangas.

Southwest Luzon was authorized by ERC to operate the plant at a rated capacity of 150 MW per unit.

“The COC is valid until May 11, 2021. SLPGC shall accordingly be filing an amendment of its registration on the rated capacity from 140 MW to 150 MW with the Philippine Electricity Market Corp./Wholesale Electricity Sport Market,” Semirara said.

PEMC operates WESM, the country’s trading floor of electricity.

Units 3 and 4 of Southwest Luzon power plant started commercial operations in August 2016 at 140 MW per unit pursuant to a provisional authority to operate issued by the ERC. Units 3 and 4 are part of the expansion program of the 600-MW Calaca coal-fired power plant.

DMCI Holdings Inc., the holding firm of the Consunji Group, bought the 600-MW Calaca plant from the government in July 2009 with a bid of $361.7 million.

Semirara chairman Isidro Consunji earlier said the project had received an environmental compliance certificate and was waiting approval for a power supply agreement and right of way transmission line.

DD taps 4 banks for P9.7-b bond sale

By Jenniffer B. Austria DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. said it hired four banks to handle a P9.7-billion bond offering.

DoubleDragon said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission it tapped BDO Capital & Investments Corp., Maybank ATR Kim Eng, RCBC Capital Corp. and BPI Capital Corp. as joint lead underwriters for the offering.

The seven-year bond offering has a base offer of P6.5 billion, with an oversubscription option for another P3.2 billion.

The proposed issuance represents the second tranche of the P15-billion fixed-rate retail bonds previously approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission under a shelf registration program.

DoubleDragon said proceeds from the bond offering would mainly fund the construction of 10 to 13 CityMalls and the acquisition of 15 to 20 CityMalls.

The 13 CityMalls currently under construction are located in Baler, Ozamiz, San, Enrique, Cadiz, Tuguegarao, General Trias, Tagbilaran, Bongabon, Aparri, Los Banos, Northtown Davao, Basilan and Lucena.

Meanwhile, the potential sites for acquisitions are in Agusan del Sur, Albay, Batangas, Benguet, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Camarines Sur, Cavie, Cebu, Isabela, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Easten Samar, Ilocos Norte, Ilocus Sur, Kalinga, La Union and Laguna.

Home / Design

B3

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

New kids on the block give Metro skyline a facelift Local real estate scene sees robust 2017 as new towers near completion

T

HE local real estate industry is keeping its fingers when it comes to the property business as more skyscrapers are poised to transform the Philippine capital’s skyline, real estate listings website Lamudi Philippines recently said.

CAN’T WAIT FOR TRUMP.

Just like its sister buildings across New York and other parts of the world, Trump Tower Manila will offer luxury apartments and first-rate amenities.

One of the most awaited buildings is Century City’s Trump Tower Manila. Rising 250 meters in one of Makati’s up-and-coming business districts, Trump Tower Manila will stand as the fifth tallest tower in Metro Manila once it is completed later in 2017.

Property giant Megaworld Corporation will likewise join the fray through its roster of residential towers scheduled for turnover this 2017.

Three Central and Paseo Heights both in Salcedo Village, Makati, are scheduled for completion this year.

Commercial, corporate hubs

Megaworld will also finish two developments in Bonifacio Global City. Uptown Ritz Residence in Uptown Bonifacio and The Florence at McKinley Hill will soon stand out in the cityscape of Taguig. Uptown Bonifacio, one of Megaworld’s mixed-use townships in Taguig, also features commercial areas and corporate hubs.

And at the center of it will rise the 45 floors Uptown Ritz, a high-end condominium that offer residential suites ranging from two to four bedrooms and will only have a maximum of 10 units per floor.

The Florence is McKinley Hill’s first gated community. It has three towers ranging from 22 to 28 stories and considered as the most private among other residential developments to rise in the Taguig township.

Not one but four residential projects are scheduled to be turned over this year

by SMDC: Breeze Residences in Roxas Boulevard and Shore Residences at the Mall of Asia Complex both in Pasay, Grace Residences in Taguig, and Fern Residences in Quezon City are all expected to rise before the year ends. The four developments are located in key areas in Metro Manila.

TIPPING POINT.

Set to stand 67 stories high, Shang Salcedo Place (Shang Properties) is a shoo-in iconic edifice with a design that bespeaks a critical point that leads to a new and irreversible development.

Real estate landmarks

Ayala Land subsidiaries Alveo Land and Avida Land will likewise deliver real estate landmarks this year. Alveo Land’s Kroma Tower and Avida Land’s Avida Towers Asten will both rise in major areas in Makati. Rising 46 stories along Dela Rosa Street, Kroma Tower is just a few steps away

EXPAND SECURITY FOR BOSCH CARDS READERS. Bosch recently extended the security of its LECTUS secure

Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP)* series with a new card reader and added functionality. Taken together, these expansions enable both economical adoption of the series, and continuous encryption from controller to card. The new LECTUS secure 1000 reader introduces a smaller form factor – mini-mullion – which was deployed successfully in the LECTUS secure Wiegand* series. The functionality of the Bosch LECTUS secure OSDP series was expanded: the reader series now supports Bosch-coded MIFARE** classic and MIFARE DESFire EV1 credentials. The encrypted OSDPv2 protocol of this reader series delivers the highest security for communication between controller and reader.

TRAVEL MORE, PAY LESS. ZEN Rooms, a budget accommodation franchise, recently launched ZEN Homes, fully-equipped studio units with hotel-like service, to boost supply in the budget accommodation market, and offer more value-for-money options for travellers. “With ZEN Homes, we are offering fully equipped serviced studios, for a fraction of the cost of nearby hotel rooms.” claimed Benjamin Nicolas, country manager of ZEN Rooms Philippines. “For example, in the heart of Makati, our ZEN Homes are priced at only PHP1.5K all inclusive. This means a 33sqm studio unit, including a kitchen, gym and a swimming poo, with all professional conveniences such as free daily cleaning and 24/7 care.” ZEN Homes are currently available in Manila, and will be launched in key cities all over the country in the second half of 2017.

THREE TOWERS AND A MALL. Three Central will stand 51 floors high near Ayala Avenue, and

will feature a two-story mall. Paseo Heights is a 30-story condominium tower overlooking the trees and greens of Makati.

GREEN SPACES. Cerilo’s

headline attraction is its six-hectare main park flanked by smaller linear ones. ALP vows that at least 80 percent of the lots in the low-density subdivision will be adjacent to greenways.

Joel D. Lacsamana, Editor jdlacsamana@gmail.com

B4

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

The ‘Cerilo’ vision

GET HOME, FIX A DRINK, AND KICK BACK. ALP wants to attract a younger demographic looking to live away from Metro Manila but remain within commuting distance of the crowded metropolis.

Ayala Land launches new green-themed suburb in Nuvali

By Joel D. Lacsamana

F

OR hard-driving workaholics shuttling back and forth in the city, they’ve heard, and probably tried to answer this question before: “where do you see yourself in five years?”

Standard replies? You have locked into a good job in a solid company, or may have started a business. Or you’re happily married with kids, or maybe just basking in the sweet sound of serenity while lying in a hammock in the comfort of your own home.

All of us want to answer that question the best way we can. But sometimes it can be a challenge to nail down the ideal vision.

That’s where Ayala Land (ALI) ostensibly steps in. Over the past 40 years, the company has been in the business of helping Filipinos paint the perfect picture for where they would

Upscale living away from the big city

be in five years onward. Consider a blissful life in a vast emerald zone where comfort takes on a trendier form and constant progress is the norm.

ALI is adept at long-term thinking and coordinating activities across a broad range of industries. And one of Ayala Land’s projects, Nuvali, a mixed use development in Laguna province, is a prime example that is building not just houses but also schools, churches and sustainable pockets of urban magic for the people who work in the burgeoning South’s factories and call centers.

Recently, Ayala Land Premier (ALP), ALI’s upscale residential brand, launched a new subdivision in Nuvali, bringing to the property market P11.3 billion worth of residential lots for families looking for a gated community in southern Luzon.

Cerilo, the 85-hectare subdivision offering of upscale residential brand Ayala Land Premier (ALP), will have 623 lots with sizes ranging from 520 square meters to as large as 1,300 square meters.

This is the eighth subdivision rolled out by ALP in Nuvali and the one closest to the Laguna campus of Miriam College, ALP managing director Mike Jugo said in a press briefing on last week.

ALP has so far sold about 2,800 high-end residential lots with a combined worth of P33 billion from its seven last Nuvali projects.

Jugo said ALP would start selling lots in Cerilo by early June, beginning with 308 lots worth P5 billion. Average selling price of the lots per square meter is between P22,180 and P33,150. This will bring typical contracts to at least P11.5 million to as high as P43.1 million.

Young families, a veritable target

Based on ALP’s experience in selling subdivision lots in Nuvali, Jugo said this area was quite different as the estate was usually more attractive to end-users as well as young families – with parents aged 30 to 40 – looking to build their house.

Cerilo seeks to build on the site’s undulating natural terrain, Jugo said, adding that the new subdivision development would offer lush, green open space. It will have about 80 percent of the houses adjacent to an open space.

The master planned community will have an average density of only seven lots per hectare, providing a heightened feeling of privacy and exclusivity for its future residents.

Cerilo is designed to take advantage of its natural terrain and wide green space to build an amenity zone. Its two-hectare clubhouse area features the social hall, multi-purpose court, swimming pool and residents lounge.

Buyers’ trust

HEAVEN FOR SPORTS BUFFS. New San Jose Builders, Inc. (NSJBI) recently held a topping-off ceremony for Victoria Sports Tower Station 2, a high-rise condominium located beside the MRT GMA-Kamuning Station in Quezon City. The condo will boast four floors dedicated to the Sports Center, which will have a wide range of facilities for health enthusiasts and health buffs, an indoor basketball court, two indoor tennis courts, three indoor badminton courts, and a squash court. It will also have rock-climbing and rappelling facilities for the more adventurous, a shooting range, a bowling alley, a billiards and darts hall, and a fully-functional fitness center. At the ceremony were (from left to right): EVP Ms. Lorelie A. Urcia; Dr. Isagani Germar, chairman Dr. Jose L. Acuzar; BDO SAVP Ms. Ana Marie Canasa; BDO first VP Ms. Cerwina Santos; BDO EVP MS Jeanette Javellana; BDO first VP Ms. Aurora Zita Panopio; and President Engr. Cesar Sanqui Jr.

IT LITERACY GIFT GIVES MINDANAO YOUTH A SHOT IN THE ARM. Standard Chartered Bank (SCB)

Philippines and Japan recently partnered to donate thirty (30) units of computers to the local government unit of President Roxas in North Cotabato. The units will be used to establish an IT learning centre that will help educate out of school youth in the province. The project is under the supervision of Class for Everyone, a non-profit organisation that aims to create equal educational opportunities for everyone through web-based learning. At the turnover ceremony were Standard Chartered Bank Philippines chief executive officer Lynette V. Ortiz; Standard Chartered Japan’s unit head of technology services Masayuki Fujimoto; Class for Everyone director Koji Takahama; and Municipality of President Roxas councilor Jonathan O. Mahimpit.

“Standard Chartered Bank believes that education plays a key role in a progressive community and this is why the bank’s global sustainability programs largely focus on health and education,” said Ortiz.

Meanwhile, the main park located at the heart of Cerilo encompasses an area of over six hectares while the linear parks and bike trails are spread around the development. Cerilo has also allocated an adjacent two-hectare retail space envisioned to cater to future residents and the surrounding villages.

ALP posted its strongest quarter ever in terms of sales take-up in the first quarter of 2017 with reservation sales generated from various projects reaching P8.1 billion, marking an increase of 26 percent from the previous year.

“I think this is a sign of both the robustness of the market, particularly the luxury segment, and the ability of Ayala Land to execute its projects and the great deal of trust from our buyers,” Jugo said.

Covering 2,290 hectares south of Manila, Nuvali is the largest of Ayala Land’s large-scale, master-planned, and mixed-use estates. In a short period of eight years, more than half of the estate’s total land area has been developed. Today, Nuvali has almost 130,000 square meters of commercial spaces, comprising both retail and office establishments.

Recent developments include Solenad 3, which houses 4 cinemas, Qualimed General Hospital, and top-tier educational establishments Xavier School Nuvali and Miriam College. Cerilo in fact, will be the Ayala Land Premier subdivision closest to the newly opened Miriam College.

LGUs

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

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

C1

SUPPORT FOR MARAWI. The DU30 Cabinet Spouses Association sorts goods they gathered from supportive donors and other basic needs for the displaced residents of Marawi City, spearheaded by Bai Norhata Alonto, wife of

Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, and CSA executive director Ricky Reyes. They loaded the assorted relief goods on the C130 military plane at the Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Thursday. Manny Palmero

Town lives up to its ‘green’ name V

By Ben Moses Ebreo

ILLAVERDE, Nueva Vizcaya—Officials here have introduced massive tree planting among its villagers as their major contribution in addressing climate change and encouraging the next generation to do the same.

“It was a reinforcement of a more active effort and reiteration among all of us in living up to the name of our municipality,” said Mayor Ronelie Valtoribio.

She said they have proven that local governance can integrate caring for the environment among all sectors of the community with their programs,

projects and activities, thereby institutionalizing the advocacy on environment protection as a way of life for every villager.

Part of such efforts is their 555,555 Fruit Trees project, started sometime in 2010. It seeks to encourage participation of municipal officials and employees, barangay councils, schools, private or non-government organizations and residents of Villaverde to help realize its goal of planting that many trees.

The accounting of trees planted, Valtoribio said, is being done

every year in identified planting areas within the municipality.

She said the program was introduced in line with Memorandum circular No. 2011-21 of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), encouraging LGUs to support the Billion Trees Program of the national government.

They have localized the 555,555 Fruit Trees into components such as the Tree for Life, Tree-mits, Tree of Love, Tree for the Future, Tree for Peace and Understanding, Tree to Excellence, Communi-

Tree and School Tree Park Competition, among others.

The Tree for Life requires every recipient of P100.00 financial aid from the LGU to plant one fruit bearing tree (FBT) within his or her backyard. A certification from MENRO that the resident has planted the corresponding FBT must first be secured before he or she can avail of the aid.

Recipients are also advised to take care of their planted FBT so he can avail of another aid in the future. Aids also include subsi-

PAL, Habitat paint houses in Calauan PHILIPPINE Airlines and Habitat for Humanity Philippines recently joined forces to help improve the lives of residents in a relocation site in Calauan, Laguna.

In line with its service philosophies, ‘The Heart of the Filipino’ and ‘Buong Pusong Alaga’, about 70 PAL employees opted to spend their weekend painting houses at Humanity Ville in the National Housing Authority Relocation Site II, Brgy. Dayap, Calauan, Laguna.

Various activities for children were also held such as art and craft workshops, parlor games and gift-giving.

“We came here to express our solidarity with the goals of Habitat for Humanity to build houses for poor Filpinos,” stated PAL President and chief operating officer Jaime J. Bautista in a speech delivered by the airline’s vice president for Security Ret. Lt. Gen. Caesar

Ronnie Ordoyo on his behalf.

Beneficiaries of the housing project are former informal settlers living in high-risk areas along the stretch of Pasig River. Most of the residents came from Pasig, Paco, Pandacan and Laguna.

The project was developed in 2010 as part of the project ‘Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig’ (KBPIP), which was intended to rehabilitate Metro Manila’s major waterway.

Habitat was invited by KBPIP to join the project. It has now built 650 homes at the site.

“We are thankful to Philippine Airlines. Their interaction alone with the community is very helpful. That is what the people need.

Of course, their help in improving the residents’ houses is a big help. But more than that, what is important is how they treat the people and that they know there are people who care for them,” said Charlie Ayco, Managing di-

QC hosts Freedom Walk for PWDs

By Rio N. Araja

A PAL pilot and cabin crew and other employees participate in the kids’ activity, including coloring books and gift-giving.

rector and chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity Philippines, during the event that coincided with the organization’s 29th founding anniversary.

Early this year, PAL forged a partnership with Habitat, committing to support its noble mission to bring people together and build homes and communities. The air-

line donated 500,000 miles to enable them to exchange them for PAL tickets when Habitat officials and staff need to travel in pursuit of their advocacy.

CL indigents get P108m in free medicine assistance

By Romeo Dizon LUBAO, Pampanga—beneficiaries of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s free medicine assistance program for indigents in Central Luzon received their share yesterday, totaling about P108 million.

The funds are exclusive for the use of families or individuals who are among the indigent and disadvantaged sectors, Governor Lilia Pineda said. This was announced during the sectoral committee meeting on social development of the Regional Development Council held at the

dized seeds, tilapia fingerlings, vegetable seeds and animal dispersals extended by the Municipal Agriculture Office, agrarian reform beneficiaries of Department of Agrarian Reform, PhilHealth Indigency Program Beneficiaries, and ambulance users.

The Tree-mits also involves the planting of an FBT, a prerequisite of the LGU’s issuance of Municipal Tricycle Operator’s Permit (MTOP), Business Permits, Mayor’s Clearances, Police Clearances, Zoning Certifications and Building Permit.

Pradera Verde, barangay Prado Songco here.

The committee, chaired by Pineda, said district hospitals can also avail of the funds.

Gemma Cabuya, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare Development Central Luzon, said the funds will be

used exclusively for prescription medicines of the beneficiaries.

Cabuya stressed the funds are solely for the needed prescription medicine of the patients in the seven provinces of the region.

She said other expenses of indigent patients such as laboratory and other services are not

covered by the funds, as the Department of Health has an existing program for this purpose.

Recipients of the funds are those confined at the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital in the City of San Fernando, where most of the indigent rush for treatments.

QUEZON City will host around 2,000 people today in the 7th Freedom Walk at the Quezon City hall compound.

With the theme “Each Rightfull Step, All Barriers We Break,” the freedom walk is one way for persons with disabilities to celebrate Independence Day. The freedom walk aims to give PWDs a united voice in pushing for their rights, acceptance and inclusion in society.

Mayor Herbert Bautista tasked the city’s PWD Affairs Office to oversee the hosting of the event.

The event is the opportunity for the PWDs to showcase their talents and interact with one another.

“This is also an expression of their desire to be free from shackles of discrimination, inequalities and poverty.” Alyansa ng may Kapansanang Pinoy president Oscar Taleon said.

AKAP-Pinoy is expecting 1,500 to 2,000 participants in today’s event.

Tigas: Bataan is apple of housing developers’ eyes

By Butch Gunio BALANGA CITY, Bataan—A provincial board member is optimistic that prominent Metro Manila and Central Luzon land developers and commercial leasing firms will take part in profitable housing ventures in the historic

Bataan peninsula.

Board Member Rolly Tigas, chairman of Housing and Land Utilization Committee, has observed that the great potential in housing demand has motivated several land developers to establish their footprints in the local market, both in commercial and residential

leasing particularly on leisure and lifestyle oriented projects.

The board member is a two-termer municipal mayor of Samal in the province’s first district and was a respected building contractor in Central Luzon before entering politics.

Tigas said several big corporations

engaged in power generation, high-end fashion style shoes, handbags and other accessories, motor spare parts, food, textile and other export manufacturing firms, are investing in the province’s economic and tourism enterprise zones.

He explained the imminent operations of labor-intensive multinational

manufacturing firms would contribute a large volume of socio-economic benefits to the residents and migrant workers from other provinces.

However, this development would also create a shortage of housing particularly in the two Southern Bataan towns of Mariveles and Limay, he added.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT National Capital Judicial Region Branch 216, Quezon City

Standard

TODAY

ZENAIDA F. FLORES, Plaintiff,

Damages; and to pay litigation expense and costs of the suit.

Such other reliefs that are just and equitable under the premises are likewise prayed for.

LUCIMAR B. REJUSO and REGISTER OF DEEDS OF QUEZON CITY Defendants. x---------------------------------------------x

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION WHEREAS, on February 1, 2017, upon motion of plaintiffs, through counsel, the Hon. Alfonso C. Ruiz II, Presiding Judge of this Court, issued an Order in the above-entitled case which reads as follows: “At today’s hearing on the Motion for Leave of Court to Serve Summons by Publication, Atty.

Jesus Roberto D. Bernabe, Jr., counsel for the plaintiffs appeard.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

Respectfully submitted. 12 January 2016.

UY EMBUSCADO LAW Counsel for the Plaintiff Unit 211 2nd Floor Makati Executive Tower 1 Dela Rosa St., Pio Del Pilar, Makati City uyembuscado@gmail.com

By: ELVIS S. UY Roll of Attorneys No. 49767 IBP Lifetime No. 05291-04/12/05-CALMANA PTR No. 4253405/01-24-14-Makati City MCLE Compliance No. IV-0005377/March 29, 2012 Mobile No. 0917.521.1229 Email: elvisuy1229@gmail.com

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

MARK HENRICK F. HILVANO President / Chairman ELEAZAR G. DIAZ Director SIMOS VARIAS Director SALVADOR P. ESCALANTE Director KAREEN FE PIOQUINTO-ENRIQUEZ Director / Corporate Secretary

JESUS ROBERTO D. BERNABE, JR. Roll of Attorneys No. 60596 IBP No. 963860-2/18/13-PPLM PTR No. 2765619/2-17-14-Manila MCLE Compliance No. IV-0019727/May 23, 2013 Mobile No. 0925.8898.654 Email: jr14bernabe@yahoo.com

Let this summons together with the complaint be published at the expense of the plaintiff, in a newspaper of general circulation in Quezon City and throughout the Philippines.

Copies of the summons and this Order are likewise ordered sent by registered mail at the last known address of defendant at the expense of the plaintiff. Said defendant is required to file her Answer to the Complaint with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 216, Hall of Justice Building, Quezon City, within ninety (90) days from the date of publication of this summons.

Quezon City, Metro Manila, February 15, 2017.

(Sgd.) ATTY. LUCITA D. MASANGKAY-CRISTI Clerk of Court V

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Regional Trial Court NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION Branch 216, Quezon City

VERTIFICATION and CERTIFICATION I, Zenaida F. Flores, Filipino, of legal age, married and a resident of Mahogany Street, Vista Real Subdivision, Quezon City, after having first been duly sworn in accordance with law, do hereby depose and state that: 1. I am the petitioner in the captioned case and I have caused the preparation of the present complaint; I have read and understood the same and the allegations therein are all true and correct of my personal knowledge and based on authentic records; 2. I hereby certify that I have not commenced any other action or proceeding involving the same issues in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different Divisions thereof, any branch of the Regional Trial Courts, or any other tribunal or agency; and that no such action is pending in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or different Divisions thereof, or any other tribunal or agency; 3. To the best of my knowledge, no such action or proceeding involving the issuance of owner’s duplicate copy of transfer certificate of title is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency; 4. If I shall thereafter learn that a similar action or proceeding has been filed or is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals or any other tribunal or agency, I shall notify the Court, tribunal or agency within five (5) days from such notice.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of January, 2016, in Quezon City.

Photocopy of which is hereto attached to form integral part hereof and marked as annex “H”.

10. By the foregoing acts, defendant did not act with justice, observe honesty and good faith, and did no give utmost consideration to the rights of the plaintiff.

11. The Deed of Absolute Sale dated 6 January 2011 should therefore be declared null and void and be annulled by this Court for being spurious.

Consequently, the annotation of adverse claim should be cancelled for lack of any legal basis.

12. Consequently, by virtue of the unlawful act of the defendant, Plaintiff suffered sleepless nights, mental anguish, serious anxiety, wounded feelings, and moral shock as a result of defendant’s wrongful act, he should be liable to pay One Hundred Thousand (Php 100,000.00) Pesos.

13. In order to serve as an example or correction for the public good and to deter the defendant from further committing the same wrongful act and omission, he should be adjudged liable for exemplary damage in the amount of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00).

14. By respondent’s unlawful acts, plaintiff was constrained to engage the services of counsel to vindicate its violated rights and to protect its interest and agreed to pay the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) as Attorney’s fee not including appearance fees.

1. Declaring null and void and the annulment of the Deed of Absolute Sale dated January 6, 2011 for being falsified; 2. To the Register of Deeds of Quezon City to direct cancellation of the annotation of adverse claim; and; 3. To declare defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) by way of attorney’s fees; One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) by way of Moral Damages; Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) by way of Exemplary

In this regard, the GSIS would like to invite all interested bidders to participate in the Bidders’ Conference. We also posted the same invitation in the GSIS and PhilGEPSwebsites. Registration is free of charge. Kindly confirm your attendance by sending a confirmation email to GBAC_Secretariat@gsis.gov.ph.

3.

The primary objective of the Bidder’s Conference is to educate/inform/remind prospective/potential bidders of the updated documentary requirements and internal policies and procedures of GSIS in conducting public bidding and contract preparation/ signing/implementation in order to minimize the ineligibility and post-disqualification of bidders due to non-submission of correct bidding requirements and to ensure timely completion, acceptance, and payment of the project.

4.

The following are the topics to be presented to interested bidders: a. Updated procurement projects of GSIS b. Updated bidding requirements (Eligibility, Technical, Financial, and PostQualification Documents) c. Internal policies and procedures of the GBACs in conducting Public Bidding d. Internal policies and procedures of GBAC Secretariat with respect to the sale of Bidding Documents, submission and refund of Bid and performance Securities (for cash and cashier’s/manager’s check only e. Documentary requirements and internal policies and procedures of GSIS end-user units relative to preparation and signing of contract, project implementation, project completion and acceptance, and payment

PAGCOR intends to pursue and implement the development, operation and management of the intermediation platform/audit program for the POGO. In carrying out the Project, PAGCOR requires the engagement of the services of an experienced and qualified consultant that possesses the requisite knowledge, expertise and background, specifically in the field of the development, operation and management of any audit program/intermediary platform to guarantee the successful execution of the project.

(SGD.) ROMEO G. DE LUNA, JR. OIC-Head, GBAC Secretariat (MS-JUNE 10, 2017)

The project is to be funded by PAGCOR to commence and implemented by 2017.

Payment to the consultant shall only start from the time that the systems are fully operational.

PAGCOR will be paying the consultant on every billing period, particularly every three (3) months commencing from the date of actual project implementation, ten percent (10%) of the net revenue earned

by PAGCOR from POGO within the billing period.

Reimbursements shall also be allowed commencing only from the period when the systems are fully operational. All expenses incurred by the consultant during the conduct of systems development and test run shall be solely borne by him.

During the period given to the consultant to develop the systems, the same shall be able to deliver all the hardware necessary to conduct the test run and eventually to fully operate the entire system, providing service to all existing POGO operators. The completeness of delivery of the said hardware shall be certified by the end user unit.

Payment to the consultant shall only start from the time that the systems are fully operational.

Reimbursements shall also be allowed commencing only from the period when the systems are fully operational. All expenses incurred by the consultant during the conduct of systems development and test run shall be solely borne by him.

The consultant shall operate and maintain the intermediation platform or audit program for a period of ten (10) years, including the period allocated for systems development and test run. During said period, the consultant shall undertake to operate and maintain the systems at its optimum. Glitches and breakdowns on the systems and the accompanying hardware shall be addressed by the consultant immediately. Necessary upgrades, to the systems or hardware, as may be applicable, shall be regularly introduced by the consultant in order to make or maintain the intermediation platform or audit program at par with recent technologies.

The consultant shall also ensure that the systems are fully secure from any known computer virus or from hacking by unscrupulous individuals. Further, the consultant shall guarantee that the online audits of the gaming operations of POGO operators are fully accurate, providing for the necessary redundancies in the event of systems failure or collapse or of any breakdown in the existing hardware.

3.

PAGCOR now calls for the submission of eligibility documents for the Procurement of Consulting Services for the Development, Operation, and Management of Intermediation Platform/Audit Program for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) which will perform the following phases of works: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Software Development (0-2 months) Delivery and Installation of hardware component (0-3 months) Systems test run (hardware and software) (2-3 months) Full operation (3 months to 10 years) Systems audit (internal) (every 6 months) Status reporting (every 3 months) Consultant’s billing (every 3 months) Systems upgrade (as may be necessary)

Interested consultants must submit their eligibility documents on or before June 20, 2017 (Tuesday), 10:00 a.m. at the Corporate Lounge, 6TH Floor, New World Manila Bay Hotel, M.H. Del Pilar corner Pedro Gil Streets, Malate, Manila. Applications for eligibility will be evaluated based on a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion.

4.

ANNEX B

The BAC shall draw up the short list of consultants from those who have submitted Eligibility Documents/ Expression of Interest and have been determined as eligible in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9184 (RA 9184), otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The short list shall consist of a maximum number of three (3) prospective bidders who will be entitled to submit bids. The criteria and rating system for short listing are as follows with a passing mark for qualification of Seventy-Five Percent (75%): CRITERIA

5.

ANNEX C

WEIGHTS

Applicable experience and qualification of the firm

Thirty Percent (30%)

Current Workload relative Financial and Logistical capacity

Thirty Percent (30%).

Qualification and experience of personnel to be assigned for the project vis-à-vis extent and complexity of the undertaking

Forty Percent (40%).

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the IRR of RA 9184.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines.

In case the bidders intend to enter into a joint venture agreement (JVA) for the purpose of implementing this project, an undertaking that they will enter into one submitted for the conduct of bid opening and evaluation will suffice provided that the same states the percentages of the relative capital contributions of the bidders and, provided further, that the JVA is registered with the Philippine SEC prior to contract execution with PAGCOR.

6.

Bidders must submit the accomplished Eligibility Documents Submission Form together with all the eligibility requirements/documents. A copy of the template of said document is attached hereto as Annex A.

7.

PAGCOR shall evaluate bids using the Quality Based Evaluation (QBE) procedure. The major criteria and rating system for the detailed evaluation of bids, with a passing score of seventy-five percent (75%), are as follows: a) b) c)

Applicable Experience, Qualifications and the Financial and Logistical Capacity of the Firm – 20%; Qualification of the Key Personnel to be Assigned for the Project – 30%; and Plan of approach and Methodology in Implementing the Project and the Quality and Efficiency of the Proposed Audit Platform (50%)

8.

Complete details for the short-listing are indicated in the Part 1 of the Bidding Documents.

9.

Prospective bidders may also view and download the Bidding Documents free of charge from the following websites: www.pagcor.ph and www.philgeps.gov.ph and shall be allowed to submit the eligibility documents not later than the date for the Submission and Receipt of Eligibility documents on June 20, 2017 (Tuesday), 10:00 a.m.

10.

Short-listed bidders should present to PAGCOR’s Cashier located at the Sixth (6th) Floor, PAGCOR Corporate Office, New World Manila Bay Hotel, 1588 M.H. del Pilar Street corner Pedro Gil Street, Malate, Manila, either the Fee Slip for the Sale of Bidding Documents, which may be secured from PD, or a copy of this REI in effecting payment for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Seventy-Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 75,000.00).

11.

Complete details of the project and of the salient procedures for Second (2nd) Stage of the Bidding are indicated in the Part 2 of the Bidding Documents which will be provided only to the short-listed bidders.

12.

The contract shall be completed within a period of ten (10) years commencing from the date of receipt by the winning consultant of the Notice to Proceed.

13.

PAGCOR reserves the right to reject any and all bids, annul the bidding process, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.

14.

PAGCOR assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of their bids.

15.

In accordance with Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) Circular 06-2005 - Tie-Breaking Method, BAC 1 shall use a non-discretionary and non-discriminatory measure based on sheer luck or chance, which is “DRAW LOTS,” in the event that two or more bidders have been post-qualified and determined as the bidder having the Highest Rated Responsive Bid (HRRB) to determine the final bidder having the HRRB, based on the following procedures:

ANNEX G

a) b) 16.

In alphabetical order, the bidders having the HRB shall pick one rolled paper.

The lucky bidder who would pick the paper with a “CONGRATULATIONS” remark shall be declared as the final bidder having the HRRB and recommended for award of the contract.

Please address all communications to the Bids and Awards Committee through PD, at Room 203, Second (2nd) Floor, PAGCOR House, 1330 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila, Tel No. 524-3911, 521-1542 loc. 223 or 617.

(SGD) RODERICK R. CONSOLACION Chairperson Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) 1

(MS-JUNE 10, 2017)

RESERVE YOUR AD SPACE NOW! (MS-June 10, 17 & 24, 2017)

2.

2.

Once the operation of the systems comes to its full, the consultant shall also fully deploy its personnel committed for the project. Corresponding deductions equivalent to the monthly rate of the personnel involved shall be made to the payment accruing to the consultant for his failure to deploy the said personnel during the given period.

ANNEX H

Araneta St., Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod City

For further information, please refer to: GBAC Secretariat GSIS Bids and Awards Committee Level 2 Core G, GSIS Building, Financial Center, Pasay City Tel No. : (02)976-4961/ 976-4945 / Fax No. : (02)859-0373 GBAC_Secretariat@gsis.gov.ph / www.gsis.gov.ph

The test run shall cover at least fifty (50%) percent of existing POGO operators. Glitches arising during the test run shall immediately be rectified by the consultant at his own expense. Rectification of such glitches shall be complete prior to the start of the period provided below for full systems operation.

PRAYER

GSIS Bacolod Branch Office

6.

ANNEX A

WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that, after notice and hearing, judgment be rendered in favor of the plaintiff:

McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City, 8000

August 25, 2017. 8:00 AM

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), through the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the PAGCOR’s Board of Directors, intends to apply the sum of Six Hundred Million Pesos (PhP 600,000,000.00) per year or a total of Six Billion Pesos (Php 6,000,000,000.00), VATExclusive, Zero Rated Transaction, for ten (10) years being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) or to payments under the contract for Consulting Services for the Procurement of Consulting Services for the Development, Operation, and Management of Intermediation Platform/Audit Program for the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) under ITB No. PB17-035COR-06.

Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at the opening of the financial proposals.

ANNEXES

ANNEX F

Del Rosario, Naga City, 4400

GSIS Davao Branch Office

1.

Initially, the consultant is required to develop the intermediation platform or audit program suitable to the needs of PAGCOR and in accordance with the specifications hereunder provided for the POGO. Before the conduct of test run, the systems shall be presented to the Board for its approval. Any suggested modification made by the Board to the system developed by the consultant shall be implemented.

ANNEX E

GSIS Naga Branch Office

July 28, 2017, 8:00 AM

The Bidder’s Conference will also serve as a venue for prospective bidders to raise issues/concerns or clarify matters pertaining to procurement, preparation and signing of contract, project implementation, project completion and acceptance, and payment.

Doc. No. 246 Page No. 51

ANNEX D

June 30, 2017, 8:00 AM

5.

Attached are copies of proofs of payment of documentary tax and capital gains tax as well as issuance of appropriate Certificate Authorizing Registration dated 23 August 2013 made an integral part hereof and marked as Annexes “D” to “F”.

8.

Based on the annotated adverse claim, defendant made it appear that on 6 January 2011, Clarissa Rodriguez entered into the Deed of Absolute Sale in his favor over the property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 293227.

9. Plaintiff wasted no time and made the necessary call to Clarissa Rodriguez.

Clarissa Rodriguez categorically denied any participation, knowledge or whatsoever in the execution of the alleged Deed of Absolute Sale. She likewise denied the authenticity, due execution and has no knowledge or participation in the execution of the alleged Deed of Absolute Sale. To attest truthfulness of the foregoing, she executed her Sworn Statement dated 13 December 2013.

PNR Site, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, 2400

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PPOCUREMENT OF CONSULTING SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF INTERMEDIATION PLATFORM/AUDIT PROGRAM FOR THE PHILIPPINE OFFSHORE GAMING OPERATIONS (POGO) UNDER ITB NO. PB17-035COR-05

COMPLAINANT, through counsel and unto this Book No. 13 Honorable Court, most respectfully state that: Series of 2016.

7. Thereafter, to plaintiff’s surprise, there was annotation in the memorandum of encumbrances of the TCT No. 004-2013013357 pertaining to an adverse claim dated October 18, 2012 relative to the execution of an alleged Deed of Absolute Sale by Clarissa Rodriguez in favor of herein defendant.

The annotation of adverse claim at the back portion of the subject title is hereby bracketed made an integral part and sub-marked as Annex “G-1”.

Address

GSIS Dagupan Branch Office

Section I. Request for Expression of Interest

The consultant is required to submit a comprehensive report of the project implementation every three (3) months. Billing for the succeeding months/periods shall not be processed until the required report is submitted.

And a photocopy of the Transfer Certificate of Title No. 004-2013013357 evidencing transfer of ownership is also attached and marked as Annex “G”.

Branch Office

Date June 23, 2017, 8:00 AM

A Sure Bet for Progress in Gaming, Entertainment and Nation Building

Zenaida F. Flores

Photocopies of the Transfer Certificate of Title and the Deed of Absolute Sale are hereto attached and made integral parts thereof and marked as Annexes “A” and “B”, respectively.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) through the GSIS Bids and Awards Committees (GBACs) for Goods, Services and Consultancy Clusters I and II and Infrastructure and Information Technology and the GBAC Secretariat, in coordination with GSIS Branch Offices will hold a Bidders’ Conference on the following dates and locations, as follows:

(MS-JUNE 10, 2017)

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this 12th day of January 2016 in Pasig City, -versus- CIVIL CASE NO. R-QZN-16-00362-CV affiant exhibiting to me her Tax Identification (For ANNULMENT OF DEED OF Number 153-097-441 as proof of her competent ABSOLUTE SALE DATED JANUARY evidence of identity, and I hereby certify that I 6, 2011 AND CANCELLATION OF personally examined the affiant herein and that ADVERSE CLAIM AND DAMAGES) I am fully satisfied that she voluntarily executed LUCIMAR B. REJUSO and the foregoing petition and she understood all the REGISTER OF DEEDS OF allegations herein.

QUEZON CITY, Defendants.

5. After paying the purchase price, Clarissa Rodriguez turned over all the necessary documents evidencing the sale including but not limited to owner’s original copy of the Transfer Certificate of Title No. N-293227 and tax declaration. Copy of the Acknowledgment Receipt evidencing full payment of the contract price is hereto attached made an integral part hereof and marked as Annex “C”.

6. Thereafter, after paying the corresponding taxes due thereon, plaintiff successfully transferred ownership under her name sometime on 2013, and is now covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 0042013013357 of the Register of Deeds of Quezon City.

1.

For more information: CALL US at 720-1000 or VISIT US at 7F Sage House 110 V.A. Rufino St. Legaspi Village, Makati City, Philippines

ZENAIDA F. FLORES, Plaintiff,

1. Complainant, ZENAIDA F. FLORES, is a Filipino Citizen, of legal age, married to Reynaldo G. Flores, and currently residing at 15 Lauan Drive Vista Real Executive Village, Brgy. Batasan Hills, Quezon City where she may be served with summons and other processes of the Court.

2. Defendant, Lucimar B. Rejuso, is a Filipino citizen, with principal address at No. 76 Calbayog St., corner Libertad St., Mandaluyong City where he may be served with summons and other processes of the Court.

3. Respondent REGISTER OF DEEDS OF QUEZON CITY is a government entity with office address at Office of the Register of Deeds, Quezon City, where it may be served with summons and other Court Processes.

4. On 4 January 2011, Clarissa Rodriguez sold to the plaintiff that certain parcel of land covered by the Transfer of Certificate of Title No. N-293227 of the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City by virtue Deed of Absolute Sale which was duly notarized by Atty.

Dulcisimo G. Hinanay, Jr. dated February 23, 2011 under Notarial Register Doc. No. 215, Page No. 43, Book II, Series of 2011.

INVITATION (RE: BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE) Dear Bidders/Suppliers/Service Providers/Vendors/Contractors:

ARCANGEL CHRISTIA R. MARCOS – Asst. Corporate Secretary / Processing Manager DARWIN S. CUERBO – Treasurer / Accountant

Affiant

COMPLAINT

PASEGURUHAN NG MGA NAGLILINGKOD SA PAMAHALAAN (GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM) Financial Center, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City 1308

Please be informed of the following New Set of Directors/ Corporate Officers elected for the year 2017

The motion is granted.

SO ORDERED. NOW THEREFORE, defendant LUCIMAR B. REJUSO is hereby summoned and required to file her Answer to the Complaint with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 216, Hall of Justice Bldg., Quezon City, within sixty (60) days from the day after the date of publication of this summons, serving a copy thereof upon plaintiff’s counsel, Atty. Jesus Roberto D. Bernabe, Jr. of Uy Embuscado Law Located at Unit 211 Makati Executive Tower 1, Dela Rosa Street, Barangay Pio Del Pilar, Makati City. If you fail to file an answer within the aforesaid period, the plaintiff will take judgment against you by default and demand from this Court the reliefs prayed for in said Complaint.

CLASSIFIEDS

Makati City for Quezon City.

versus R-QZN-16-00362-CV For: Annulment of Deed of AbsoluteSale dated January 6, 2011 and Cancellation of Adverse Claim and Damages

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email us at advertise@ manilastandard.net or call us at 832-5547

“Galing ng Aurora Ngayon”

R e p u b l i c o f t h e Ph i l i p p i n e s P r ov i n c i a l G ov e r n m e n t o f A u r o r a B i d s a n d Aw a r d s C o m m i t t e e ( B AC) B AC O f f i c e, P r ov i n c i a l C a p i t o l B u i l d i n g , B a l e r, A u r o r a 3 2 0 0 , P h i l i p p i n e s

Standard Form Number: SF---GOODS-05 Revised on: July 28, 2004

Invitation to Bid The PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF AURORA, through its Bids and Awards Committee (BAC), invites all eligible suppliers/manufacturers/distributors/contractors to bid for the hereunder project: Approved Budget Name Of Project Location for the Contract Baler, Procurement of IT Computer & Accessories 1,374,250.00 Aurora Procurement ofBrand New Hydraulic Excavator (Crawler Type) Air Condition Specification: Diesel Engine 6 Cylinder,4 cycle, direct injection, turbo Charged, intercooler.

Flywheel power: Rated output (SAEJ1349)-110KW (147 HP) Rated rpm – 2050 rpm Bore & Stoke – 104mm x 115mm Max.torque-580N.m@ 1400 rpm Piston Displacement – 5.86L Hydraulic System: Pumps-Double variable piston pump and gear pump Maximum discharge flow – 2x235 L/min Maximum discharge pressure-31.4 Mpa Pilot pump-gear type BOOM,ARM AND BUCKET Boom-5.63m Arm-2.93m BucketCapacity-0.8m3 Boom Cylinders-Two, Double acting Bore and Stroke-125mm x 1315mm Arm Cylinder-one, double acting Bore and Stroke-135mm x 1630mm Bucket Cylinder-one, double acting Bore and Stroke-120mm x 1090mm Lubrication-Grease nipples and/ or centralize greasing for remote points Bucket digging force-136kN (High Power) -144kN Arm digging Force-99kN (High Power) -104kN SWING SYSTEM Drive- Axial piston motor with shockless Valve and reduction gear Brake-hydraulic brake that locks automatically when the swing control lever is in the neutral position Max Swing speed-13rpm Tail swing radius-2750mm Min. Front swing Radius -3460mm TRAVEL SYSTEM Drive – Independent axial poston motor with reduction for each side Brake-Independent disk parking brake for each side Travel Speed-Low 3.6km/h -High 5.5 km/h Track length-4170mm Maximum drawbar pull-179.5kN Gradeability-70% 35٥ Track shoes-46 each side Number of track roller-6 (each Side) Track shoes width-600mm Grouser shoe Max.Digging radius-9910mm Max. Digging depth -6700mm Max. Digging height -9,760mm Max.Vertical wall – 6120mm Max. Dumping height-6830mm Operating weight-19,500kg Ground pressure 43kpa With ROPS ( Roll Over Protection Structure) General toolkit, parts book, operation @ maintenance manual

Baler, Aurora

TOTAL

6,800,000.00

Php8,174,250.00

Prospective bidders should have experience in undertaking a similar project within the last two (2) years with an amount of at least 50% of the proposed project for bidding. The Eligibility Check/ Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids shall use non-discretionary “pass/fail” criteria. Post-qualification of the lowest calculated bid shall be conducted.

All particulars relative to Eligibility Statement and Screening, Bid Security, Performance Security, Prebidding Conference, Evaluation of Bids, Post Qualification and Awards of Contract shall be governed by the pertinent provisions of RA 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

The complete schedule of activities is listed, as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Activities Issuance of Bid Documents Pre-bid Conference Submission of Eligibility and Bids Opening of Bids Bids Evaluation Post-Qualification Notice of Award

Schedule June 10, 2017-June 16,2017 June 19, 2017 July 3,, 2017 until 12:00NN July 3, 2017 @ 2:00PM July 4, 2017, 2017 July 5, 2017 July 6, 2017

* Pre-Bid Conference/ Opening of Bids’ date is automatically re- scheduled to the next working day whenever such date is declared a holiday.

The BAC will issue to prospective bidders Eligibility Forms upon payment to the Provincial Treasurer’s Office of the PGA of a non-refundable amount for the following approved budget for the contract.

P

500,000.00 500,001.00 1,000,001.00 5,000,001.00 10,000,001.00 50,000,001.00

-

below 1,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 50,000,000.00 500,000,000.00

= = = = = =

P 500.00 1,000.00 5,000.00 10,000.00 25,000.00 50,000.00

The Provincial Government of Aurora assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the bid. Only those who have purchased the Bidding Documents shall be allowed to participate in the pre-bid conference and raise or submit written queries or clarifications. The PGA also reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to declare the bidding a failure or waive any defect or informality and to accept bids as may be considered most advantageous to the PGA without thereby incurring any of the following: (a) liability whatsoever to offset expenses or losses the bidder may incur in the preparation of the bids and (b) obligation to inform the affected bidder/s of the grounds for the basis of BAC’s action.

(SGD) RICARDO Q. BAUTISTA BAC Chairman

(MS-JUNE 10, 2017)

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Qatar slams Saudi, allies’ terrorism list

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

May faces pressure to quit CEREMONY. This

DOHA―Qatar on Friday dismissed as “baseless” a terrorism blacklist published by Saudi Arabia and its allies that linked individuals and organizations in Doha to support for Islamist militant groups.

The emirate was responding just hours after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain published a list of 59 people and entities linked to “terrorism”.

“The recent joint statement issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE regarding a ‘terror finance watch list’ once again reinforces baseless allegations that hold no foundation in fact,” read a statement from Qatar’s government.

The statement added that Qatar does not support terrorist groups.

“Our position on countering terrorism is stronger than many of the signatories of the joint statement -- a fact that has been conveniently ignored by the authors,” it added. AFP

file photo taken on February 24, 2017 shows French TV host Daphne Burki posing as she arrives for the 42nd edition of the Cesar Ceremony at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.

The Canal + group officially announced on June 9, 2017, the departure of Daphne Burki, who presented the program “La Nouvelle Edition” on channel C8. AFP

Iran attacks ‘reinforce hatred’ for US TEHRAN―The attacks in Tehran this week will only “reinforce hatred” for the United States and Saudi Arabia, Iran’s supreme leader said on Friday at a funeral for those killed.

“Such acts will have no other result than to reinforce hatred for the US government and its agents in the region, like the Saudi [government],” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote in a message of condolence to the families of the dead.

Wednesday’s attacks on Tehran’s parliament complex and the shrine of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini killed 17 people and wounded more than 50.

They were the first attacks in Iran to have been claimed by the Islamic State group.

The funerals for those killed began on Friday morning in Tehran with a ceremony in parliament, with President Hassan Rouhani in attendance.

Parliament speaker Ali Larijani also attacked the United States and Saudi Arabia, which he called “a tribal state very far from anything like a democracy”.

In a speech at the ceremony, Larijani denounced US sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile program.

The United States “knows that the Revolutionary Guard and its Quds force are the most important regional forces fighting terrorists,” he said. AFP

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L

ONDON―Britain went to the polls on Thursday for a snap election called by Prime Minister Theresa May ahead of Brexit after a campaign shadowed by terrorism.

May called the vote in April, when the opinion poll ratings for her and her center-right Conservative party were sky high, presenting herself as the strong leader to take Britain into Brexit talks.

But Islamist attacks in London and Manchester have put her under pressure over her six years as interior minister, while campaign missteps have dented her reputation as a safe pair of hands.

Meanwhile opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, an anti-war campaigner deemed unelectable by a majority of his own lawmakers, has run an energetic campaign, promising change and an end to austerity.

While May has been touring target seats around the country, delivering slogan-heavy speeches to small groups of hand-picked activists, Corbyn has drawn large crowds to open-air rallies.

Speaking to reporters on her plane during a final burst of campaigning on Wednesday, May insisted she had no regrets about calling the vote three years early.

“I’ve enjoyed the campaign,” she said. “There is a very clear choice for people when they come to vote.”

Asked what would constitute success, the 60-year-old vicar’s daughter said: “I never predict election results.”

Corbyn, a 68-year-old leftwinger who has never held ministerial office and defied the odds to win the Labour leadership two years ago, urged supporters in Glasgow to think big.

“Wouldn’t it be great if on Friday we woke up to... a Labour government that will be a government for all of our communities across the whole of the country,” he said.

It is the third time Britain has gone to the polls in two years, twice for a general election and once for the EU referendum, and voter fatigue appeared to be an issue among the early voters.

“I don’t think it has really been a campaign, we don’t know anything about what they are going to do about Brexit, it’s been pointless really,” said Joe Kerney, 53, at a polling station in Hackney, east London.

“I have little confidence in anybody,” added voter Simon Bolton, 41. “I think we lack quality in terms of who we can choose, it is very limited.”

The election is May’s first since taking office after Britons voted by 52 percent to leave the European Union.

May has accused Corbyn of being unprepared for negotiations set to begin on June 19, and unwilling to curb mass migration -- a key driver of the Brexit vote. AFP

Japan clears the way for first emperor abdication TOKYO―Japan’s parliament passed a law Friday that clears the way for its aging Emperor Akihito to step down, in what would be the first imperial abdication in more than two centuries.

The popular 83-year-old monarch shocked the country last summer when he signaled his desire to take a back seat after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne, citing his age and health problems.

The unexpected move presented a challenge since there was no law to deal with an emperor retiring from what is usually a job for life―and it reignited debate about allowing women to ascend the male-only throne.

The one-off rule was passed in the last-stage upper house on Friday in a unanimous decision after the lower chamber gave its stamp of approval last week.

The abdication must take place within three years―and it only applies to Akihito.

Tokyo is eying the end of 2018 as a likely time line for his retirement, Japanese media said.

The status of the emperor is sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito’s father Hirohito, who died in 1989.

Some worried that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan’s future

monarchs at risk of being subject to political manipulation.

Akihito, who has been treated for prostate cancer and had heart surgery, is expected to step aside in favor of his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, 57.

There have been abdications in Japan’s long imperial history, but the last one was more than 200 years ago, so politicians had to craft new legislation to make it possible.

“The one-off law is a result of political compromises, but it will become a precedent for future abdications,” said Setsu Kobayashi, a constitutional expert and professor emeritus at Japan’s Keio University.

Akihito was born in 1933 just as

Japan was embarking on its militaristic sweep across Asia, and was 11 when the war ended in defeat.

His father was allowed to remain on the throne after Japan’s defeat, but his status was downgraded from semi-divine sovereign to a figurehead with no political power.

Akihito embraced the role and tried to use it to help heal the scars of the war while remolding one of the world’s oldest monarchies for a democratic age.

Even before he assumed the throne, Akihito broke with tradition when he married the daughter of a wealthy flour magnate in 1959, becoming the first imperial heir to wed a commoner.

The emperor and his wife Empress Michiko are seen as being the more accessible face of a monarchy that largely remains in the shadows, unlike the British royals.

The couple have frequently attended public events and console victims of natural disasters, including Japan’s 2011 quaketsunami disaster.

Akihito is barred from commenting on politics, but he has over the years hinted at his own anti-nationalist views.

Speaking at a memorial marking the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, Akihito expressed “deep remorse” for the country’s actions in World War II. AFP

Pyongyang praises new cruise missile SEOUL-Pyongyang on Friday hailed the successful test of a new type of surface-to-ship cruise missile, which it said was designed to hit “any enemy group of battleships” that threatened North Korea.

The launch Thursday―the North’s fifth weapons test in a month―was overseen by leader Kim Jong-Un, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, and came less than a week after the United Nations tightened sanctions against the Stalinist regime.

“The launched cruise rockets accurately detected and hit the floating targets on the East Sea of Korea,” KCNA said, referring to the Sea of Japan -- where two US aircraft carriers were on naval maneuvers last week.

The USS Carl Vinson and the USS Ronald Reagan led the three-day exercises that ended on June

3, with a total of a dozen US ships participating along with two Japanese vessels, in a show of force directed at North Korea.

The US has stepped up its muscle-flexing in the region, with a US nuclear submarine, the 6,900-ton USS Cheyenne, whose home port is Pearl Harbor, also arriving in the South Korean port of Busan Tuesday.

North Korea’s top newspaper Rodong Sinmun ran a front-page photo of a beaming Kim surrounded by smiling generals in uniform, with further pictures inside apparently showing the cruise missiles being launched from the back of a tank-like vehicle, and hitting ships at sea.

North Korea has ordered three ballistic missile launches, a surfaceto-air missile, and now Thursday’s cruise missile tests since South Korea’s new President Moon Jaein took power in early May. AFP

OFFICE CAT. Palmerston, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cat, investigates media cameras at ground level in front of 10 Downing Street in central

London on June 9, 2017 after the results in a snap general election show a hung parliament with Labour gains and the loss of the Conservative majority.

British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on Friday after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loom. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader will be unable to form a government and could even be forced out of office. AFP

China rolls out red carpet for US governor

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

World SOFT LANDING. A hot-air balloon in the form of a craftsman lands in Aitrang, southern Germany. AFP

Sacked FBI chief criticizes Trump’s ‘lies’ in testimony W ASHINGTON―Fired FBI chief James Comey has confirmed that Donald Trump urged him to drop a probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, in a preview of hotly awaited testimony Thursday that could rock the foundations of the presidency.

Comey’s bombshell claim Wednesday fueled fresh allegations that Trump illegally tried to obstruct an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

In a written statement ahead of his testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, Comey detailed how Trump

repeatedly raised the Russia case with him earlier this year, asking him to go easy on Flynn, who is accused of improper links to Moscow.

Trump complained the investigation was a “cloud” over his administration that needed to be lifted, Comey said.

And at a private White

House dinner on January 27, just days after the Republican billionaire took office, Comey said Trump appeared to want to “create some sort of patronage relationship” with him.

“The president said, ‘I need loyalty, I expect loyalty.’ I didn’t move, speak, or change my facial expression in any way during the awkward silence that followed,” Comey said.

Comey did not say whether he thought the president’s actions amounted to obstruction, a serious crime that could lead to impeachment.

But he called Trump’s ap-

proaches “very concerning, given the FBI’s role as an independent investigative agency.”

He also described trying to insulate himself and the Federal Bureau of Investigation from political pressure in the weeks before Trump fired him on May 9, as the president complained about the Russian probe and labeled it “fake news.”

Comey’s seven-page statement added volatile fuel to Washington’s political tensions ahead of Thursday’s testimony. Democrats said they would press the issue of obstruction while Republicans hedged their comments.

Cable news stations set countdown clocks to the 10 am (1400 GMT) hearing, and a number of bars in Washington will open early and tune their TVs to live broadcasts of the hearing.

A pub near the Capitol offered free drinks every time Trump tweets about Comey.

Analysts said Comey, an intensely by-the-book, nonpolitical law enforcer whose handling of a separate investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton last year nevertheless may have cost her the presidential election, was studiously avoiding accusing the president of a crime. AFP

BEIJING―China treated a US state governor to a red carpet reception this week, while President Donald Trump’s energy chief received a low-key greeting, a signal that Beijing is ready to go around the White House in the battle against climate change.

Since Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate deal, China has repeatedly vowed to uphold the accord and work with American states that share its determination.

Giving a warm welcome to California Governor Jerry Brown, an opposition Democrat and self-described “envoy for humanity”, while cold shouldering US Energy Secretary Rick Perry signaled Beijing was happy to bypass Washington to make that happen.

“I think the message is that irrespective of the decision of Donald Trump, China is willing to work with individual states and cities in the United States,” said Willy Lam, an expert on politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Brown and Perry arrived in Beijing for a ministerial-level clean energy meeting just days after Trump’s shock announcement.

While Perry maintained a relatively low profile during his visit, Brown, who had described Trump’s move as “insane”, went on a public relations offensive as he sought to fill the vacuum left by the US leader in the climate change fight.

“We are losing ground. We are not moving at the pace needed to prevent catastrophe,” Brown warned Thursday on the sidelines of the gathering.

Brown used several public appearances in Beijing to drum up Chinese support for California’s aggressive efforts to curb climate-warming carbon emissions― including face-to-face talks with Xi in the Great Hall of the People, a venue normally reserved for meetings with visiting heads of state.

His efforts yielded results.

By the end of a week-long tour Brown said he had secured several preliminary agreements relating to clean energy and the establishment of a China-California climate institute at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

China is a “major economic engine that is investing in the low-carbon economy and California is doing things that are similar, on a smaller level of course,” Brown told AFP. Chinese officials have made it clear they want to work with the American state―and beyond.

California has “a lot of experience that is beneficial to the rest of us”, Xie Zhenhua, China’s top climate negotiator, told a forum attended by Brown on Thursday.

“We will not only continue to strengthen cooperation with California, but also strengthen concrete cooperation with other US states, cities, enterprises and scientific research institutions in fields including clean energy.”

Trump’s backsliding on the Paris deal is viewed as handing China the mantle in the battle against global warming―an opportunity Beijing welcomes as it seeks to become a world leader on everything from globalization to the environment. AFP

Storms frustrate search for plane SAN HLAN, Myanmar―Heavy rain and churning seas hampered the search for the victims of a military plane crash off Myanmar’s southern coast on Friday, as hopes faded of finding survivors after 31 bodies were pulled from the water.

Most of the dead retrieved from the Andaman Sea so far have been women and children after a fraught search by navy ships, planes and helicopters hampered by sweeping rains.

The Chinese-made Shaanxi Y8 aircraft disappeared on Wednesday afternoon with 122 people on board around half an hour after it took off from the southern city of Myeik on its way to the commercial hub of Yangon.

Fishing boats helped navy vessels and military aircraft as they continued to hunt for the wreckage on Friday, despite tides reaching over 2.5 meters, the military said in a statement.

“We are having difficulty because of the strong winds and tide,” Major Aung Win, police chief of Launglon township, told AFP. By morning, swelling waters had covered San Hlan beach, where hundreds of people had gathered on Thursday to watch the first bodies being brought to the shore wrapped in white plastic bags.

Fisherman Min Oo said he had helped carry the bodies in his boat from navy ships which could not get close to the beach.

“I felt sorry when I saw the bags,” he said. “I have a family as well”.

More than half of the passengers on board the aircraft were from military families, including 15 children, according to the army. The remainder were soldiers and flight crew.

The bodies have been taken to a military hospital in Dawei, near to where a funeral for some of the victims is due to be held this afternoon overseen by Buddhist monks. AFP

ANNOUNCEMENT. President of the Catalan regional government Carles Puigdemont (C) speaks flanked by president of the Catalan parliament Carme Forcadell (2L) and

Catalan regional vice-President and chief of Economy and Finance Oriol Junqueras (2R) to announce that the referendum on independence will be held on October 1, 2017 at the Palau de La Generalitat in Barcelona on June 9, 2017.

Thai jailed for 35 years for defaming royals on Face book BANGKOK―A Thai man was jailed for 35 years on Friday for his Facebook posts that were deemed insulting to the royal family, a watchdog said, in one of the harshest sentences handed down for a crime that insulates Thailand’s ultra-rich monarchy from criticism.

A Bangkok military court convicted the 34-year-old of 10

counts of lese majeste for posting photos and videos of the royal family on a Facebook account that purported to belong to a different user.

Wichai, whose last name was withheld to protect his relatives from being ostracized, was accused of using the account to slander a former friend, said iLaw, a group that tracks royal

defamation cases.

“The court punished him with seven years per count. Altogether he was given 70 years, but it was reduced in half because he confessed,” said Yingcheep Atchanont from iLaw. Lese majeste cases are routinely shrouded in secrecy, with media forced to heavily selfcensor the details to avoid vio-

lating the broadly-interpreted law.

Reporters were barred from entering the military court where Wichai’s verdict was read.

Later on Friday a criminal court sentenced another lese majeste suspect to 2.5 years in jail for uploading an audio clip from an underground political radio show that was deemed in-

sulting to the monarchy.

Use of the draconian law has surged under a royalist junta that grabbed power in 2014, with more than 100 people charged since the coup.

Prosecutions have continued under Thailand’s new king Maha Vajiralongkorn, who took the throne in late 2016 after the death of his deeply revered father. AFP

By Honor Blanco Cabie

M

ANITOU Springs, Colorado—In the heart of the US mainland, facing the 14,115-foot Pikes Peak Region in this centennial state, stands the Miramont Castle which has on its walls and stair flights a rich 19th century history.

The Miramont, close to the main road Manitou Avenue and the Soda Springs Park, has four floors stepped up the rocky mountainside, which allows each floor to open onto the ground level.

Visitors may join a guided tour of the 30 rooms that cover 14,000 square feet, mostly open to the public.

The building features nine styles of architecture designed by French-born Fr. Jean Baptiste Francolon, who had gone to New Mexico and later relocated to Manitou as the Parish priest of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1892.

Fr. Francolon had the castle built for him and his mother in 1895 – his first home near the upper parking lot was donated to the Sisters of Mercy for use as a sanitarium, in the meanwhile building Miramont, which means, “look at the mountains.”

In the old town, officials say Manitou Springs has eight naturally carbonated mineral drinking fountains throughout the district.

Not like most other mineralized springs, these waters are cool and pleasant to drink, with each artistic fountain having a slightly different taste, depending on its mineral contents which include carbonic acid which created the first carbonated drink.

Old hands say that centuries ago, the great tribes of the plains and mountain Indians paid homage to the healing and spiritual powers of the mineral springs, deep in their belief the medicinal waters were a gift from the great spirit Manitou.

One reason many TB sufferers and other health seekers ages back rushed to Manitou Springs to have themselves cured by the different springs that dotted and still do the old town, which include limestone aquifers nearly 2 kilometers deep believed to be over 20,000 years old.

In the early 1900s, the Francolons returned to France, never to revisit Colorado, which became the 38th state of the mainland in 1876, exactly 100 years after the foundation of the United States.

While surrounding buildings wear the badge of modern America, Miramont continues to breathe with its historic beginnings while inviting tourists to turn a page in its storied past.

It was built by local woodwork contractors Angus and Archie Gillis, and local stonemason William Frizzle.

Throughout the Castle—where visitors are reminded not to cross any gates, ropes or closed doors—visitors see shingle-style Queen Anne, English Tudor, Romanesque, Flemish Stepped Gables, Venetian Ogee, Domestic Elizabethan, Moorish, Byzantine, and Half-Timber Chateau.

The local green sand stone that had been cut for the Castle is no longer quarried.

An emotive side bar during one recent tour is the story of Kelly, now in her 40s and an employee at Miramont, who lived as a young girl near the Castle dreaming she would one day be a princess at the Castle – that dream becoming

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

TRAVEL AND LEISURE

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

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THE CASTLE WITHIN. Miramont Castle’s priest’s bedroom features original oak flooring and has a public bathroom added into it by the Sisters.

9

AT MANITOU SPRINGS’ MIRAMONT CASTLE

styles of old architecture meet the new

The formal dining room which adjoins the serving kitchen from which Madame Francolon’s French servants served meals prepared by the Sisters of Mercy at Montcalme (left), and the grand staircase, its landing one of two locations with oak floors (right)

a nightmare when the building caught fire in 1976.

But one of the visitors, from the Philippines, quickly told her “I now declare you a princess” – prompting her to unleash her smile and spontaneously

exclaim “I love you, thank you very much” while clasping the visitor’s hand.

The Sisters, who had named the sanitarium “Montcalme” purchased the vacant castle in 1904 and used the building during the summer months—June,

July, August in the United States—as part of their Sanitarium.

After the Sanitarium was gutted by fire three years after the purchase, the Sisters moved Montcalme into the Castle.

Kelly said the Sisters ran the Sanitarium “until 1927 when the Castle transitioned into a retreat and vacation home for the Sisters of Mercy.”

The Castle had changed hands 11 times over the 30-year Apartment Era, with the Manitou Springs Historical Society buying the building in 1976 and saving it from total destruction.

Kelly said, “Thousands of hours of volunteer labor have gone into the restoration…the Castle’s mission being to restore the building and to provide educational experiences and resources on the history of Manitou Springs, its indigenous people and artifacts.”

The more than an hour tour begins with the Fire Museum, donated in 2010 by the Manitou Springs Fire department, the original Castle basement which had an unheated floor that housed the furnace and coal rooms.

Visitors go through the Hall, the welcome room for visitors in the 1890s, where they can see the Parlor and the music Alcove connected by a Moorish arch.

The Queen’s Parlor Tea Room through the double glass doors behind the piano was originally a conservatory and veranda.

Today, the tea room is open to the public, serving the Traditional Afternoon Tea and Lunch which is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., without any required dress code and walk-ins always welcomed.

There is also an eight-sided Chapel.

In Francolon’s time at the Castle, this room was his dining room but the Sisters converted it into a chapel, with the small room off the east side the priest’s smoking room.

The rooms include a small room to the east of the Solarium, the Castle’s newest exhibit called Spoils of War, where American, German and Japanese memorabilia are presented in honor “of the patriotic men and women who served the United States.”

Visitors exit the Castle, a history overload on their minds, into the Victorian Gardens, with a view of the last Original Manitou Spring Tuberculosis Hut on display in the upper parking lot constructed by the Sisters of Mercy.

New attractions and bigger developments in Ocean Park Hong Kong OCEAN Park Hong Kong celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and bigger developments are underway for tourists and visitors as Ocean Park develops into an all-round international resort destination. True to its core, it continuously enhances in-park experience to attract more visitors from around the world.

Located on the southern side of Hong Kong Island, Ocean Park is home to thrill rides, animal exhibits and food outlets with spectacular panoramic views of the South China Sea. With real animals and real natural exhibits, Ocean Park has been able to focus on combining entertainment with education and conservation, connecting people with nature, and providing opportunities for visitors to learn and have an up-close encounter with real animals.

Matthias Li, chief executive of Ocean Park, said, “We always try to be creative and make strategic investments that offer our guests a fresh experience every time they visit by rolling out innovative annual seasonal events, such as Summer Splash, Halloween Fest, Christmas Sensation, Chinese New Year celebrations, Chill Out @ The South and Animal Discovery Fest, as well as injecting new elements to make them bigger, grander and more entertaining each and every year. These would encourage guests to celebrate special seasonal offerings at Ocean Park with their family and friends, and give them compelling reasons to come back every year.”

A preview of Ocean Park Hong Kong entertainment was presented during the 40th anniversary celebration of the theme park/ all-round international resort destination

Li added, “Ocean Park is also Hong Kong’s unique homegrown theme park with a heritage of delivering family fun and fond memories. We believe a theme park must be culturally relevant to the markets it serves and Ocean Park has been extremely good at remaining focused on that value of ensuring its offerings are distinctively Hong Kong, while also being unique to Ocean Park.”

In addition to the existing offerings and attractions, a number of world-class

attractions will be launched at the Park in the coming few years. The expectant opening of two hotels, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel and The Fullerton Hotel @ Ocean Park, will enable guests to extend their stay. The first hotel, the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel, is expected to open in the second quarter of 2018. The hotel, which is located right at the entrance of Ocean Park and adjacent to the recently opened Ocean Park MTR Station, will

be a significant milestone for Ocean Park. The two hotels will also provide a new venue for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) event organizers from around the world, which will be easily accessible thanks to the new MTR link to the Park.

Also scheduled for finished in 2019 is the new year-round, all-weather Ocean Park Water World which will be the first and only waterfront water park in Southeast Asia, featuring world-class

and one of a kind water attractions and features. The new attraction will span 64,400 square meter, and boast close to 30 indoor and outdoor attractions, including two wave pools and nine dynamic and state-of-the-art water slides.

It will provide guests with excitement and fun all year round.

Together, these new developments will play an integral part of Ocean Park’s ongoing transformation into an international resort destination offering multiple attractions and hotel accommodation.

As Ocean Park continually targets guests from the Philippines, attractive packages in selected travel agents in the country are on offer right now, including: Super Value Buddy Package: Buy 3 adult tickets get 1 adult free; Themed Restaurant Gourmet Package: Admission ticket plus a 3-course meal at either one of two themed restaurants; Admission Plus Restaurant Meal Combo: Admission ticket plus a main course and soft drinks at one of five restaurants Fun and Shop Combo: Admission ticket plus HK$100 souvenir cash coupon Two joint promotions, each with Enchanted Kingdom and the Philippine National Bank, will also be launched this year. The bank’s credit card holders will be able to enjoy 12 percent discount on daytime admission. In addition, discounts will also be offered on souvenirs and food and beverage items.

For more information and news, visit www.oceanpark.com.hk/en

Life

D2

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

The suite-est

MERCURY RISING

of them all

BY BOB ZOZOBRADO

T

HE presidential suites of hotels are expected to be the biggest, the grandest, the best equipped rooms in the house, and having been involved this long with our country’s Tourism Industry, I’ve seen the presidential suites of all five-star hotels in Metro Manila, including those in some of the other major cities. I must hasten to add that none of them has fallen short of my expectations.

When Conrad Manila entered the local scene, it immediately established itself to be a class above the rest. Aside from its ultra de luxe facilities and service, people are fascinated by its unique cruise ship-like façade, perfect for its location by the Manila Bay. The hotel maximizes its “ownership” of the calming and de-stressing view of the Bay, and this is evident wherever you are in the hotel—at the lobby, inside the guest rooms, having a meal at any of its restaurants, or enjoying a drink at the bar.

The breathtaking view gives the hotel its “Wow” factor.

So, when I received the invitation to the inauguration of the hotel’s Presidential Suite, in celebration of its first anniversary, I made sure I marked it on my calendar. I was eager to see how the hotel’s prime guest room would match up to or surpass, if ever, those of the other hotels in its category. Well, I wasn’t disappointed.

In fact, I found myself raving about it even when I was already back home.

Conrad Manila’s Presidential Suite is on the topmost floor (7th) of the hotel, and boasts of two bedrooms, a study, two terraces and a private pool, all providing an unobstructed view of the Bay. It covers 1000 square meters, a little less than half of it is indoors and the rest is outdoors. Its interior’s curved lines, rounded forms, high-gloss timber and lacquers and polished metal finish give one the feeling of being inside an exclusive super yacht.

Even before you enter, you will immediately have an indication of its size because of the very spacious entrance Foyer meant to accommodate security processes or the customary official protocol for heads of state, industry leaders or the most discerning travelers and guests.

Entering the main door puts you in the short corridor leading to the very spacious living room, with its ceiling, walls and custom furnishings employing organic lines and soft, rounded forms that complement the magnificent view of the bay from anywhere in the room.

The dining room features fabricwrapped silk panels with gold thread and a large custom timber and crystal modern chandelier. The oval dining table has settings for ten people but it is so big, it can easily accommodate double

The 1,000-square meter Presidential Suite of Conrad Manila, located on the topmost floor, boasts of two bedrooms, a study, two terraces, and a private pool—all providing an unobstructed view of the stunning Manila Bay

glass door providing easy access to the terrace. At the foot of the bed is the 50inch flat screen TV, which is electronically hidden inside a console. But what I found interesting was its Bathroom.

First of all, let me say this---I’ve never seen a bigger bathroom than this one. It is as large, or maybe even larger, than a regular sized guest room of any hotel! It has a hydrotherapy shower separate from the bath, a whirlpool and in-mirror TVs. Here’s the nice part---the stand alone bathtub is right beside the panoramic window facing the rest of the hotel guest rooms and the bay. So, go figure, if you want to be naughty or nice!

The well-designed guest room is across the corridor from the master’s bedroom and is larger than the regular room of other hotels. It has the same de luxe furnishings as those in the master’s bedroom, and offers a diagonal view of the bay.

Another impressive part of the presidential suite is the executive study room with its upholstered walls. It is large

cation. I could spend hours in that room and enjoy myself all throughout.

As a Cebuano, I was very happy to learn all the furniture sets in the suite were handcrafted by Cebuano manufacturers. I’ve always marveled at the creativity of my fellow Cebuanos. This pride of place became more prominent many, many years ago, while going around a furniture shop in New York where on display were expensive and beautiful sets imported from Cebu. I saw the same thing at a swanky furniture store in Beverly Hills, California.

All that genius and creativity from Cebuano minds! It must be the corn, or the sauce-less lechon we eat!

The suite’s affordable price of “only P300,000” per night, plus tax and service charge, gives you access to all the The ceremonial ribbon cutting of the Presidential Suite inauguration was officiated by aforementioned luxuries, express checkDirector of Business Development Mike Albana, Senior Vice President Peggy Angeles, General Manager Harald Feurstein, and Director of Operations Leo Holli in and check-out, complimentary buffet breakfast, refreshments throughout the that number. My friends and I can lay the stunning expanse of iconic Manila day, evening cocktails, and the services claim to the fact that we were the first Bay. Certainly, such visual treat will of a personal butler, with a kitchenette ones to use it while enjoying the wide give anyone the drive to do more laps as work area. array of delicious finger food and over- in the pool or just lounge around in any Conrad Manila’s Presidential Suite flowing drinks during the inaugural. of the oversized has definitely The wide expanse of the outdoor poolside soraised the bar terrace is so tempting that every guest fas to soak in of excellence had to check it out as soon as he or she the sun or just and quality of saw it from the living room. Its large plainly relax. hotel suites Typical macho man married typical good-looking lady and, after the curved lounge area with circular sun I was curious hereabouts.

If wedding, he laid down his rules: “I’ll be home when I want, if I want, at what loungers can easily hold 100 guests about the masthe Presidential time I want, and I don’t expect any hassle from you. I expect a great dinner for a party, and there would still be ter’s bedroom Suites of our to be on the table unless I tell you that I won’t be home for dinner. I’ll go much room to move about in. With so I made sure I five-star hotels hunting, fishing, boozing and card-playing when I want with my old buddies, the wind blowing from all directions checked out its were likened and don’t you give me a hard time for it. Any comments?” His new bride said, and the in-your-face mesmerizing every nook and to various deli“No, that’s fine with me. Just understand that there will be sex in this house view of Manila Bay, this has got to be cranny. It has a cious fruits in at seven o’clock every night...whether you’re here or not.” the best part of the suite! polished modan orchard, and Already impressed by the sheer size ern look and I was made to of the terrace, I was even more im- soft glamour choose one, I’d pressed when I saw the large private with organic, glossy forms, upholstered enough to have living-room furniture go for Conrad Manila’s…it’s The Suitepool right next to it. One has to take a ceilings and walls, and pale finishes. set for private meetings. It has a large est Of Them All! few steps up to get to the pool, and any- The king-sized bed looks out into the desk with an avant-garde-designed body doing several laps in it would have terrace and the Bay through the floor- chair, and lacquered built-in shelves For feedback, I’m at a good view of the entire terrace, plus to-ceiling glass wall, beside which is a that add to the room’s subdued sophistibobzozobrado@gmail.com

YOUR SATURDAY CHUCKLE

DOT warns public of bogus travel agencies Marco Polo Ortigas Manila offers five-star promotions after receiving the prestigious Five Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide

5-star getaway EXPERIENCE the five-star luxury accommodation that the only sky hotel can bring—when warm hospitality meets outstanding service.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila received the prestigious Five Star rating from the global authority on luxury travel, Forbes Travel Guide. It is proud to share this win with its guests with a special offer that brings only the most premium accommodations.

Have a Five-Star getaway at a Deluxe Suite until Sept. 30 and indulge in complimentary club services at the exclusive Continental Club Lounge.

Travel in luxury with a round-trip airport transfer or pick up and drop off at any residence within Metro Manila in Mercedes Benz and check-in and checkout at the Continental Club reception located on Level 44.

Have an ultimate dining experience with a buffet breakfast, afternoon refreshments, and evening cocktails with a wide array of canapés and hors d’oeuvres, at the lounge. An authentic Cantonese set dinner for two, specially crafted by Lung Hin’s Hong Kong chefs, brings a perfect triumvirate of flavors. Enjoy a different kind of happy hour with Vu’s Sky Bar and Lounge’s Aperitivo. Starting at 5 to 8 p.m. daily, and have your pre-dinner drinks and appetizers, the Italian way, with the stunning view of Manila.

For more information, contact (02) 720 7777 or book online via www.marcopolohotels. com or email manila@marcopolohotels. com. Visit facebook.com/MarcoPoloOrti- Forbes Travel Guide CEO Gerard gasManila or follow @MarcoPoloManila Inzerillo and Marco Polo Ortigas on Twitter or Instagram. general manager Frank Reichenbach

THE Department of Tourism (DoT) warns the public of fake tour operators offering cheap tour packages.

Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Alma Rita Jimenez stressed the importance of using DoT accredited establishments and facilities to avoid being victim to these bogus activities.

In a recent episode of Travel Pass, a DoT-produced segment on PTV4, Jimenez reiterated the importance of due diligence in choosing the right tour operator and package “to maximize the value of your money.”

“There’s no substitute to your own due diligence because pera mo ‘yun, dapat lang talagang pag-ingatan mo bago mo ipamigay. Hard earned money, so dapat ang verification mo (ng travel agent ay) tama,” Jimenez said.

She urged travelers to observe WISE, the acronym for: Work out your travel plans; Identify your tour/travel agencies; See if they are accredited; and Engage only those verified.

Jimenez also shared three simple steps in verifying the legitimacy of a travel agent.

First, check if the travel agency is accredited by DoT through their web-

site accreditationonline.tourism.gov. ph. Accredited establishments like tour operators, accommodations, and even transport operators have already complied with the Department’s minimum standards in the operation which shall ensure the safety, comfort, and convenience of the tourist.

Second, compare the price of the tour package with other established online booking sites like Agoda. “Tandaan lang ng mga tao kung masyadong mura baka naman sila talaga ay mapapamura dahil naloloko lang talaga sila sa mga paketa na ganon,” Jimenez added.

Lastly is to be wary of the bank deposit payment system. Purchases via credit cards or payment identifiers like PayPal are more likely secured from fly-by-night malpractices.

DoT accredited travel agencies found to be involved in these illegal activities would be stripped off of their accreditation.

The DoT is also in coordination with the Consumer Protection Group of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units thru the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for convergence programs to further protect the general public.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

Korean star Kim Soo Hyun adds excitement to TV launch

I

T WOULD have been just another launch, but the guys over at Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation spiced its reveal of the new QLED TV at Okada Manila recently.

"My Love From The Star" Kim Soo Hyun during an event at Okada Manila

What did they do to make Manilans’ gaga and wanted to attend the launch?

The company flew in Kim Soo Hyun to Manila to be the special guest of the launch.

The 29-year-old Korean actor made millions of Filipino hearts a flutter when the soap operas Dream High, Moon Embracing the Sun, My Love from the Star and The Producers, as well as the movies The Thieves and Secretly were shown on local TV stations or on streaming websites.

When he was introduced by the emcee, the room temperature in Okada, which by then was packed with blogger-fans and some journalist-fans as well, shot up to around 30 degrees Centigrade from around 22 degrees. And when he finally stepped on the podium, phone cameras (along with the professional cameras) clicked endlessly to capture the face of the star (who doesn’t speak a word of English or Tagalog, the kids said, “Never mind, he’s cute anyway.”

The actor (with the help of an interpreter) expressed his

Sci-Fi novel ‘Childhood’s End’ finally makes it to small screen MYSTERY and suspense abound in the new sci-fi thriller Childhood’s End,which airs Fridays on AXN. Based on the highly acclaimed 1953 science fiction novel of British author Arthur C. Clarke, Childhood’s End tells the story of the peaceful invasion of Earth by a mysterious race of aliens, known as The Overlords, which promise the eradication of war, poverty, and disease.

The unlikely gesture from the space invaders ushers in a new era of peace and prosperity for the entire world as humanity welcomes the so-called Golden Age of Man. While much of the world enjoys its newfound utopia, some suspect there’s a price to pay. As the truth behind the hidden agenda about The Overlords’ intentions are gradually revealed, mankind will discover that its purpose to thrive and strive for life to continue will all be for nothing because the consequence to end all suffering would also mean the end of man’s destiny.

‘Murder On The Orient Express’ in theaters soon FOLLOWING the all-star cast photo reveal of the highly-anticipated latest remake of the classic book

by Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express, 20th Century Fox further exposes the whodunit exploits of the uber-intelligent detective Hercule Poirot on its poster and trailer debut - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=_ibNEKpmrJY&feature=youtu.be Directed by Kenneth Branagh who also stars as Poirot, Murder on the Orient Express features a powerhouse cast that includes Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penélope Cruz, Josh Gad, Daisy Ridley, and Olivia Colman who all play a crucial part in solving the elusive answers to a murder committed who are all considered as suspects while on board the Orient Express.

Branagh, in recent interviews said he made a conscious decision not to watch director Sidney Lumet’s (1974) version, and that he had advised the cast also to avoid watching it. “Our goal is to try and find a new approach.

That’s why classic stories are worth retelling,” he said, adding “there are some surprises.”

Murder on the Orient Express opens Nov. 8 in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros.

Childhood’s End airs every Friday at 10:40 p.m. on AXN available on SKYCable Channel 49, Destiny Cable Channel 61, Cignal Channel 121, Dream Satellite TV Channel 20, G Sat Channel 51, and Cablelink Channel 38.

AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, mystery film "Murder on the Orient Express" features a stellar cast led by Johnny Depp

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Saturday, June 10, 2017

ACROSS 1 Humorous remark 5 Ph.D. exams 10 Davenport 14 Prevail upon 15 Rock climber’s gear 16 Under the covers 17 Hubbubs 18 Busch Gardens city 19 We, in Le Havre 20 Nomad dwellings 22 Withdrew 24 Cartoon shrieks 27 Slant 28 Trilling, as a cricket 32 Work in a deli 35 Dropped out of sight 36 Coral reef 38 Find fault 40 With, to Henri 42 Faint 44 Harness part 45 Greenish-blues 47 “Beowulf” and others 49 Neutral color 50 Lax 52 Making giggle 54 Burro’s offspring

excitement to be in town for the launch of the product that aims to give consumers a viewing experience like no other.

Watching TV has changed through the years and is now more central in the lives of consumers. From being a mere source of entertainment, TVs are now considered as windows that let users experience the world right from their homes.

In a gathering held at Okada Manila titled “The Next Frontier,” Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation declared a new era of television viewing as it officially launched the QLED TV in the country.

Hosted by TV personality and radio jock Sam Oh, the event brought together Samsung executives, led

by President Kevin Lee, media, and valued dealer-partners as they witnessed how the QLED TV delivers a next generation display that overcomes the disadvantages of other competing technologies.

The new line-up of the QLED TV is available in authorized Samsung dealers nationwide. For more details, visit the Samsung Facebook page or log on to samsung.com/ph.

56 Ad award 57 Nitwits (hyph.)

60 Cattail’s site 64 Exotic island 65 River-mouth formation 68 Goat cheese 69 High spirits 70 “— Balls of Fire” 71 Sufficient, in verse 72 Bell sound 73 Singer — Gorme 74 Reddish-brown horse DOWN 1 Wharf 2 Lahore tongue 3 Mr. Sikorsky 4 Be a royal pain 5 Decide on 6 Narrow inlet 7 They need a PIN 8 Strides along 9 Munchies 10 Dagwood specialty 11 Woodwind 12 Big quarrel 13 Come-ons 21 Vaccines 23 Finless fish 25 Beavers’ young 26 Turns white 28 Online activity 29 Drones’ homes

30 Role model 31 Crow about 33 Raccoon’s kin 34 Violinist Mischa — 37 Spock’s forte 39 Tiananmen Square crusher 41 — up (not saying) 43 Salt, chemically 46 Move rapidly 48 Thumb through 51 Makeshift fix 53 Comfy shoe

55 Nail-groomer 57 Surrealist painter 58 — Bator 59 Luge or sleigh 61 Vegas rival 62 Portico 63 Goldie of the movies 64 Wanna —?

66 Mai — 67 Stopped for lunch

ABS-CBN’S values-laden programs captivate viewers in May MORE Filipinos nationwide tune in to ABS-CBN for credible news and values-laden content.

Data from Kantar Media showed that eight out of the top ten most watched programs nationwide last month were produced by ABS-CBN, paving the way for the network to increase its average national audience share to 46 percent among urban and rural homes compared to rival GMA that remained at 34 percent.

Still taking the lead as the most watched program in the country is weekday’s top contender FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, which scored an average national TV rating of 38.2 percent.

Weekend’s top-rating talent reality show The Voice Teens (34.7 perecent), meanwhile, landed on second spot as it continues to showcase the talents and fulfill the dreams of young Filipinos, followed by the inspiring stories of letter senders in MMK (31.8 percent) and the magical, valuesladen stories for children in Wansapanataym (31.7 percent).

TV Patrol is the country’s most watched newscast as it recorded an average national TV rating of 30.3 percent, compared to its rival program 24 Oras that only got 19.5 percent.

Primetime’s hit drama My Dear Heart also made it to the top 10 and scored a national

TV rating of 26.9 percent.

Wildflower, on the other hand, continues to enjoy increasing viewership as it hit a national TV rating of 22.5 percent just as when it was about to open its second season.

Home Sweetie Home (23.1 percent) with John Lloyd Cruz and Toni Gonzaga is the only sitcom in the top 10 list of most watched programs in the country.

Half of the country’s households also tuned in to ABS-CBN’s primetime block (6 p.m.-12 midninight), which garnered an average audience share of 50 percent, a solid 17-point lead over GMA’s 33 percent.

ABS-CBN also pulled away in the morning block (6 a.m.-12 noon) with an audience share of 37 percent versus GMA’s 32 percent, in the noontime block (12 noon3p.m.) with 43 percent versus GMA’s 38 percent, and in the afternoon block (3-6 p.m.) with 47 percent versus GMA’s 35 percent.

ABS-CBN also maintained its lead in other areas such as Total Balance Luzon where it recorded an average audience share of 47 percent compared to GMA’s 36 percent, in Total Luzon with 41 percent versus GMA’s 37 percent, in Total Visayas with 53 percent versus GMA’s 28 percent; and in Total Mindanao with 53 percent versus GMA’s 29 percent.

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017

SPEEd officers Salve Asis (fourth from left), Eugene Asis (third from right), and Nestor Cuartero (second from right) pose with celebrities led by Sunshine Dizon (second from right) during the group's annual party held in December last year

SPEED announces nominees for editors awards

A

T NOON today, The Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEEd) will announce the nominations for the first Eddys, the awards for films the group of editors will hand out for the first time in local entertainment.

To hand awards to deserving craftsmen, actors, writers, and directors is one of SPEED’s major thrust when it was formed in 2015.

SPEED is made up of entertainment editors of newspapers circulated daily nationwide.

Currently, this writer is the president and the members (and officers) include Jojo Panaligan, Manila Bulletin as First Vice President, Eugene Asis (People’s Journal, Second Vice President), Ian Fariñas (People’s Tonight, Secretary), Gie Trillana (Malaya Business Insight, Asst. Secretary), Salve Asis (Pilipino Star Ngayon and PangMasa, Treasurer), Maricar Nicasio (Hataw.

Asst. Treasurer), Dindo Balares (Balita) and Dinah. S. Ventura (Daily Tribune) are the auditors, the public relations officers are Dondon Sermino (Abante) and Tessa Mauricio (Manila Times). The rest of the members are Rito Asilo (Philippine Daily Inquirer), Jerry Olea (Abante Tonite), Rohn Romula (People’s Balita), Ervin Santiago, (Bandera) and Nestor Cuartero (Tempo) who acts as adviser to the group.

On July 9, the non-stock, non-profit organization of entertainment editors from the country’s top dailies will hold the first Entertainment Editors’ Award for Movies at the Kia Theater. It will be telecast later on ABS-CBN on the same day.

Dubbed “The Eddys,” it is the group’s way of encouraging Filipino filmmakers, producers, writers, actors and other allied artists in the Philippine movie industry to continue pursuing their passion of creating films that mirror the realities of our society.

“Given our collective experience and many decades of chronicling the careers, artistic processes and success or failure of actors, directors, producers and other players in the Philippine movie industry, we felt that we are in a distinctive position to hand out sound and sincere recognition of the best in filmmaking of the past year, and eventually inspire everyone in the industry to take pride in their craft and continue to enrich the Filipino talent,” I say and add, “We humbly state that in our case, we are doing this solely because of the love we have all come to develop for the Philippine entertainment industry in the course of our respective careers as journalists. We are all fans of the Filipino talent and this is our way of giving it due recognition and support.”

The announcement of the nominations will be held at the 38Valencia.

Officers and members of the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors (SPEED)

ISAH V. RED

*** Award-winning documentary series Mukha celebrates its third anniversary with a special called “Nightshift,” a look into the lives of Filipinos who toil in the night to provide food, respond to emergencies, inform the people, protect the land, build structures, and keep the economy moving while the rest of the nation sleeps.

The whole country gets to watch their inspiring and moving stories and see the important roles they play in our society on Sunday, ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best.

Providing food for the people are fishermen, like Emboy Samartino of Cavite, who’s in the waters all night to catch fish, then delivered to buyers, like Joseph Estrada. Keeping the population safe and healthy are the likes of Kenneth Lacuna, an emergency medical technician (EMT) team leader who responds to critical and emergency situations to save lives, and Dr. Kesiah Bugante of Fabella Hospital, who works round the clock to attend to at least 15 patients giving birth each day.

Capture the routines of informers like photojournalist Vincent Go, who will share the challenges of working the graveyard to provide a slice of truth each day, and of national broadsheet roll man Rolly Damasco, who meticulously checks the papers before they are printed and distributed to different parts of the country.

Mukha will also share the experiences of

protectors like Manila Metropolitan Theatre security guard Danilo Rubio, who tries to keep accidents and disturbances at bay around the historical institution and coast guard Angel Biliran, whose mission as commander of BRP Pampanga is to maintain peace in Philippine waters amidst the aggravating territorial disputes between Philippines and other countries.

It will also delve into the lives of night shift builders like steel man Louie Cabtalan, who is crucial in fortifying the foundation of buildings but is struggling to provide a shelter for his family. LRT Line 2 driver Carlos Valdez, meanwhile, goes to work as early as 2 a.m. to conduct rigorous safety tests on the trains to make sure they are safe to ride by daybreak.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) team leader Ralph Rumbines will also give an inside look into the life of a call center worker, how they deal with targets, health concerns, and discrimination as they strive to respond to queries anytime of the day. Likewise, airport ramp personnel Waynajoy Festijo has the lives of people in mind as she ensures evening flights run smoothly, checking on the weight and balance of an aircraft, as well as the refueling and other technicalities of a plane.

The stories in “Nightshift” were first shown in six parts on ANC, the ABS-CBN News Channel. Mukha made history last year after winning a Silver Dolphin at the 7th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards in France.

It also was a finalist at the 2017 New York Festivals Awards for International TV programs and Films for its entry “Serbisyo” in the Current Affairs category.

Mukha’s “Nightshift” anniversary special narrated by Tony Velasquez airs on Sunday’s Best on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD. It can also be viewed online via iwantv. com.ph and skyondemand.com.ph

Dr. Kesiah Bugante of Fabella Hospital working round the clock is featured in "Mukha," an awardwinning documentary series

Free sport channels on SKY SKY subscribers are in for a huge treat as SKY brings back its #FREESKYCHANNELS promo starting this June. For the whole month, SKY will focus on celebrating champion dads by letting them watch big international sporting events.

Some of the channels opened to subscribers are Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Sports 3, Sports Illustrated, beIN Sports 1, beIN Sports 2, beIN Sports 3, Setanta Sports, and Eurosport, as well as their HD counterparts.

This June, subscribers can check out the tennis grand slam tournaments that are well under way. Fans have a chance to watch the likes of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniaki, and defending Men’s Singles champ, Novak Djokovic take to the clay courts of the French Open. Also known as the Roland Garros, the French Open is the second of four major Tennis competitions held in a year, the others being the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Djokovic is the first man, since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four major titles at once. The French Open is the only tourney played on clay courts and is held in the Stade Roland Garros, named after a much loved French pilot from the 1910’s.

Although tennis superstars Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova are not in competition, viewers can still expect action and excitement as Nadal goes on a campaign for his 10th Roland Garros title. Watch him and the rest of the best tennis players in the world play at the French Open on Fox Sports.

Fans can also watch the rest of the NBA finals games on S+A. Viewers will be able to get into the thick of the action as they watch Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors challenge reigning champions Cleveland Cavaliers led by Lebron James. S+A is also available in high definition exclusive to SKY. Golfing enthusiasts will also be able to enjoy the the US Open on Fox Sports. The US Open is one of four golfing majors held every year. It has no home course or club. Dustin Johnson, last year’s champion is highly favored to also win this year’s tilt. The second major golfing tournament of the year is played mid-June with the finals always scheduled on Father’s Day. Catch the US Open, June 16 to 19 on Fox Sports.

There’s more in store for sports fans and fathers this month. Just log on to mysky.com.ph/ freeskychannels or call 418 0000 for more information.

The #FREESKYCHANNELS promo is available to all One SKY, SKYcable, and Destiny Cable digital subscribers.