Manila Standard - 2017 July 12 - Wednesday

WBO AFFIRMS HORN’S WIN OVER PACQUIAO

CHAMPION HORN. The World Boxing Organization, acting on a request by the Games and Amusement Board, has reviewed and re-scored the welterwight title fight between Jeff Horn (above) and Emmanuel Pacquiao in their bout (inset left) at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. The result: Horn is the new champion. AFP

SYDNEY, Australia—Australian Jeff Horn’s shock welterweight title victory over Manny Pacquiao was confirmed Tuesday after a scoring review by the World Boxing Organization declared him the clear winner.

The WBO took a close look at the fight after Pacquiao, backed by the Philippine government’s sports regulatory body, criticized the referee and the judges and demanded a review after losing in Brisbane on July 2.

“Nothing surprises me now,” said Pacquiao in an official statement reacting to the WBO’s review that affirmed Australian Jeff Horns’ victory in their recent welterweight title fight in Brisbane, Australia.

Pacquiao, who is taking a respite in his hometown in General Santos City, said he will leave the final judgment to the boxing fans who had watched the fight.

“Let the people judge for themselves. People saw what happened.

We have seen worse judgments in the past where judges manipulated results,” said Pacquiao, without making further clarifications. (GAB reaction on A7) Pacquiao was also a victim of a controversial split decision loss to American Timothy Bradley on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their fight was also under the banner of the WBO. As complaints mounted days after the fight, the WBO ordered a review and had five judges scoring the video replay of the bout. The five all scored in favor of Pacquiao and the WBO ordered an immediate rematch.

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‘Siege over in 15 days’

But Duterte warns ISIS still to haunt us Marcos glad poll protest moving fast

By Rey E. Requejo VOL. XXXI • NO. 148 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

THE Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, met behind closed doors on Tuesday to thresh out issues including how it would proceed with the speedy resolution of the protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Marcos claims he lost the vice presidential race to Robredo in the 2016 elections because he was cheated during the counting of the votes.

In a press conference after the hearing that he attended, Marcos said he was pleased that the process on his protest had been moving.

“What is clear with the justices is that they are very interested in proceeding to the arguments and finally to the revision of the counting of the votes,” Marcos said.

“We are thankful that the justices are also interested in how to speed up the process so that our people will really know the real count of the votes.”

Marcos’ lawyer George Garcia said Robredo’s camp tried to delay the process by raising issues that should not have been part of the case. Next page

Palace to give Congress free hand on BBL CONGRESS will have a free hand on the proposed Bangsamoro law, which needs to be created from separate drafts submitted by warring Moro factions, Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said Tuesday.

Unlike the previous administration, which asked Congress to approve a Palace-drafted Bangsamoro Basic Law, the Palace would rely on lawmakers to shape the law creating the Bangsamoro region, which is the basis for a peace agreement with Muslim rebels and the framework for President Rodrigo Duterte’s federal government, Dureza said.

“You cannot preempt a department of government that has the full mandate to propose a bill.

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T

HE siege in Marawi could be finished within 10 to 15 days, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday.

Speaking before traders at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati, Duterte said that the government is looking at finishing the ongoing siege, which saw hundreds of soldiers killed and thousands of civilians displaced 15 days from now.

“The way I see it, it will be over in 10 to 15 days. But remember, the new scourge is ISIS—it will continue to haunt us because of our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Duterte said during the 10th launching anniversary of Davao-based Phoenix Petroleum.

Duterte said what prevents government forces from a swift takeover of Marawi City is the Next page

SWS: 57% of Pinoys back ML

By John Paolo Bencito SOLID SUPPORTERS. Former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. greets supporters after attending a Supreme Court hearing Tuesday

in connection with his election protest filed against Vice President Leni Robredo. He has completed payment for the P66.22- million protest as required by the Court, acting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal. Norman Cruz

By John Paolo Bencito

By John Paolo Bencito and Joel E. Zurbano

self is a hopeless person,” Duterte said.

Once again referring to Trillanes’ claims, Duterte said he will resign if Trillanes can prove he had P211 million in

MOST Filipinos, or more than 57 percent said that they support President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao, but more than six out of 10 oppose expanding it to other parts of the country, the latest Social Weather Stations survey revealed.

Of the 92 percent of Filipino adults who said that they were aware of Duterte’s martial law declaration—some 57 percent

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Du30 tags Trillanes ‘a hopeless person’

By John Paolo Bencito and Joel E. Zurbano PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday branded his constant critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV “a

hopeless person,” after he took seriously a joke about committing graft.

In a speech during his first visit to the Philippine Stock Exchange in Makati, Duterte said his critics were getting

their material from Trillanes, who had accused him of illegally amassing millions of pesos in the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign.

“They’re all trash. They’re doing a Trillanes—who him-

‘PH-China dialogue on sea row excellent’

By John Paolo Bencito and Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

ON THE TRIGGER. MNLF commander Datu Wahib Kali (left) shows one of their highpowered firearms, a modified Browning M2 50 cal. machine gun, in Camp Aripin Sokor, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, to help them crush local criminals who attacked their city on May 23.

Mark Navales

ONE year after the Philippines won its case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claims, Malacañang said the relations between the two countries had greatly improved despite the continuing concerns over the developments in the disputed South China Sea. Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella on Tuesday reiterated that the Philippines and China were now engaged in bilateral talks over the South China Sea, which the Philippines refers to as the West Philippine Sea. “A year after the ruling of the PCA in The Hague, Next page

CEREMONIAL RING. President Rodrigo Duterte makes a ceremonial ringing of the closing bell Tuesday during the 10th listing anniversary of Davao-based Phoenix Petroleum at the Philippine Stock Exchange in Ayala, Makati City. The PSEi closed Tuesday at 7,858.14, up by 20.67 points or 0.26 percent. JP Bencito

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

‘Only Imee could unravel mystery’ A

By Maricel V. Cruz

Marcos’ signatures were on most of the documents on the cash advances made to procure the buses and minitrucks.

“Governor Marcos was the one who requested the purchases, signed their approval, certified the appropriation allotments and signed the disbursement vouchers for the cash advances,” Garcia-Albano said.

“She can bring the documents along with her to prove her claim that all the transactions related to the purchase were aboveboard and cleared by the CoA [Commission on Audit].”

The Ilocos Six have been cited in contempt by the committee led by Rep. Johnny Pimentel for refusing to answer the questions by lawmak-

ers on the alleged irregular cash advances. They have been detained at the Batasang Pambansa complex since May 29.

“It would be better to call them the Six Amnesiacs given their apparent bout with collective amnesia when all of them have uncannily forgotten anything and everything about the three transactions worth P66.45 million that were all greenlighted by Marcos herself,” GarciaAlbano said.

She said Marcos’ refusal to testify at the congressional inquiry and the silence of the “Six Amnesiacs” only bolstered the public perception that there were anomalies involved in the acquisition of the vehicles in three tranches.

Deputy Speaker and Davao Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano said only Marcos could tell the exact participation of the “Ilocos Six” on the the cash advances made by the provincial government under her watch to buy five used buses and 70 minitrucks.

She said the vehicles were bought for P66.45 million using the province’s share in the proceeds from the excise taxes collected from the locally produced Virginia-type cigarettes.

Garcia-Albano said the “collective amnesia” of the six Ilocos

Norte government employees was unbelievable.

“Governor Marcos is the best person to enlighten the committee about these cash advances considering that her signature was in most of the documents whose originals have all of a sudden mysteriously disappeared, Garcia-Albano said.

“She can prove her avowed willingness to cooperate by appearing in the next hearing to explain why P66.45 million worth of buses, multi-cabs and mini-trucks were acquired using Ilocos Norte‘s share in tobacco excise taxes, and worse, procuring them via cash advances rather than the required public bidding.”

Garcia-Albano, a lawyer, said

‘Siege...

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spite three failed attempts already in the past.

“I’ll try again, I don’t want to go there when it’s peaceful already... I’ll try to make it again this week,” he said.

The military is set to hand over its assessment on the implementation of martial law to the President as early as this week, before Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address.

Both Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año and Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had said they would recommend an extension of martial law if the Marawi crisis remained unresolved.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday sought to allay fears of possible abuses under a prolonged imposition of martial rule in Mindanao, pointing to safeguards in the Constitution.

“The Filipino people can rest assured, however, that if martial law is extended, they can continue to trust their defense and security establishments since every decision we make and operation we undertake is anchored on the rule of law and respect for human rights. They can trust their Armed Forces to protect them and advance the people’s best interest,” he added.

Lorenzana, who is also martial law administrator, hinted that he was in favor of a fairly short extension period.

On Saturday, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez suggested a five-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, a proposal that has won little support, even from the Armed Forces, which said five years would be too long.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday said he is not in favor of ex-

tending martial law in Mindanao in five more years, saying it would have negative effects on the country and will send a wrong signal to potential investors.

“There is no basis for that. We want to get this over as fast as we can and we want Mindanao to have sense of normality.... So, I think our interest is really to get back to normal as soon as possible,” Gatchalian said.

As chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, Gatchalian said extending martial rule in the region will also send a wrong signal to potential investors especially to Mindanao.

But Dela Rosa earlier urged the lawmakers to extend martial law in Mindanao to the “maximum period” possible.

He made the appeal after a two-hour briefing with Senators Aquilino Pi-

mentel III, Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan, JV Ejercito, and Gatchalian.

Local Government officer-incharge Catalino Cuy requested the briefing.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Dela Rosa said he proposed that the martial law declaration still cover the whole of Mindanao, as he warned of other “Marawi-style” sieges in other areas of the island.

Apart from the Maute group, Dela Rosa said there are other ISIS-inspired groups, including the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Dela Rosa said he could not still say when the Marawi crisis, already on its seventh week, will end.

But Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the extension of martial law must be requested by the President.

Palace...

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WBO...

The one which has power over that is the House of Representatives [and the Senate.] It’s not the work of the executive department,” Dureza said.

“The President should come in only if both [chambers of Congress] pass a law,” he added.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-backed Bangsamoro Transition Commission is set to submit its version of the BBL on July 17, but Dureza said he hopes the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari can submit its draft in time for Congress to consider both when it drafts the final bill.

When passed, the BBL will be the product of the years-long peace negotiations between the government and the MILF as part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which was signed by the government and the MILF in March 2014.

A Bangsamoro political entity will be the result of the Congressbacked bill, which will then be up for President Duterte’s consideration.

Earlier, government implementing panel chief for the Bangsamoro accords Irene Santiago said the new draft BBL was based on the original BBL but there were some changes to it that made it “better.”

“The Bangsamoro Transition Commission used the BBL as the basic document for the draft that they made…

I think this is even a better version of the BBL. There are some provisions, for example, on transition that are very, very practical,” she said.

“I found that everybody was very pleased with the draft that they made.”

Dureza expressed confidence that the converged Bangsamoro Law will surpass the challenges posed by the old BBL in the previous administration.

“We are confident that the BTC has taken into account the failures in the past, learnings in the past,” he said.

Dureza said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process will recommend the draft submitted by the BTC be turned over by the President to Congress and certify it as urgent.

“As far as OPAPP is concerned, our recommendation is that as soon as the President receives it, he will turn it over to the Speaker of the House and the Senate President.

We will also recommend that it will be certified as an urgent bill,” Dureza said.

“But that’s just our recommendation. You know very well the President makes the final call,” he added.

On Nov. 7, 2016, President Duterte signed an executive order that expanded the BTC membership from 15 to 21 that will have 10 government-appointed members and 11, including the chairperson, from the MILF. On Feb. 10, 2017, OPAPP announced the 21 members of the expanded BTC that will draft an “inclusive” version of the earlier BBL that failed to pass Congress in the Aquino administration.

The expanded BTC was expected to submit the draft of the new enabling law to Congress this July in time for Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address and the resumption of session of Congress. With PNA

Pacquiao won via unanimous decision over Bradley in their rematch in April 2014 and repeated over Bradley in Part 3 in 2016.

This time, however, the WBO’s five-judge committee affirmed Horn’s victory following a review of their bout at the request of the Philippines’ Games and Amusement Board headed by chairman Baham Mitra.

Horn stunned the Filipino legend—who has won world titles in an unprecedented eight weight divisions—with his ultra-aggressiveness to earn a unanimous 12-round decision.

The WBO—which does not have the power to reverse a decision unless fraud or law violations are proven—set up a panel of in-

dependent and anonymous judges who were asked to watch the bout without sound and determine who won each round.

The results were tabulated to show clearly the rounds each fighter won using an average scale based on 60, 80 and 100 percent, with three of the five officials needing to be in agreement.

A similar method has been used to review WBO title fights before.

“Upon the analysis, the findings stated that Pacquiao won the 3rd, the 8th and 9th by 100 percent; the 5th round was won by 80 percent; and the 11th round by 60 percent,” the WBO said in a statement.

“Horn won the 1st, 6th and 12th rounds by 100 percent; rounds 2, 4, and 7 by 80 percent; and then, the 10th round by 60 percent.

“From the results, it can be established that Pacquiao won five rounds

while Horn won seven rounds.

Based on this analysis, Jeff Horn was the winner of the bout.”

The original fight was scored 117111, 115-113 and 115-113 by judges Waleksa Roldan, Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan, respectively.

Horn, a former school teacher written off before the bout by most observers, welcomed the ruling as confirming what he already knew.

“It gives me evidence behind me that I can just use now. Instead of saying I think I won the fight, now a heap of other people—professionally—think I won the fight,” he told reporters in Brisbane.

“It’s definitely nice to have it finally put on paper. I thought I’d won the fight on the day and I think Pacquiao thought it as well.

Now just to have it clear in front of us is good.”

He has made clear he is keen for

a rematch and Brisbane’s CourierMail said talks were already under way for a possible November duel between the two in the same city.

Both the Philippine board and Pacquiao had criticized American referee Mark Nelson for supposedly allowing the underdog Australian to get away with illegal tactics without giving him warnings or point deductions.

The loss sparked calls in the Philippines for the 38-year-old Pacquiao, a national icon after rising from poverty to be considered one of the greatest fighters of his generation, to retire and concentrate on politics.

Pacquiao briefly quit boxing last year to pursue his long-held political ambitions and was elected senator.

But he quickly made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in November, saying he still felt like a youngster. AFP with Randy Caluag

N OFFICIAL said Tuesday only Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos could unravel the “mystery” behind the missing documents on Ilocos Norte’s alleged misuse of P66.45 million worth of tobacco excise tax funds from 2011 to 2012.

unusually high number of arms concentrated in the war-torn city.

“This is the 45th, 46th day? The weapons have not been used up, especially the grenades. These can be fied from a rifle,” he said in Filipino.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said security officials are working on finishing the ongoing siege within the “indicative target” provided by the President.

“That’s just an indicative target,” he said. “You can’t dictate for certain that the battle will be over in 10 days. But that’s an indicative target and we are determined to get that.”

Duterte said he will once again try to visit Marawi within the week, de-

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From A1 undeclared funds in a Bank of the Philippine Islands account.

“I said that’s not true. Even if you search the entire country, and you find even just half of that amount, I will step down,” Duterte said in Filipino.

During the campaign, Duterte agreed to open his account in a bid to debunk the Trillanes’ allegation— on the condition that the senator must present an affidavit on his allegations and identify his sources.

In a Palace news briefing, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella defended Duterte from Trillanes, who pushed the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate Duterte following his supposed “admission” of corruption as grounds.

“I think the senator seems to lack a sense of humor. It was said in jest, obviously,” Abella said.

Earlier in the day, Trillanes sent an excerpt of Duterte’s speech during the 140th founding anniversary of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association last month, in which Duterte apparently said in jest that while he detested corruption, he had also committed such dishonest deeds by stealing many things in the past—then said it he had spent it all.

“I hate corruption. Hindi ako nagmamalinis.

Marami rin akong nanakaw pero naubos na, so

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the Philippines and China are now in dialogue,” Abella told reporters.

“It’s excellent that we are now in dialogue with the other country.”

Abella made his statement even as a retired intelligence official warned Tuesday that China was ready to go to war should the Philippines insist on its arbitral victory over it in the West Philippine Sea. Retired general Victor Corpus said the reason China was continuously building military garrisons in the disputed waters was to protect itself and to prevent a possible US blockade in the event of a military confrontation.

“If we pursue this decision of The Hague, China is ready to go to war to defend what it perceives as its territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Corpus told a forum.

“That is the real reason why China built those islands. It is not for oil, gas or fish. It is for survival.”

The Philippines and China entered into a bilateral consultation mechanism in May 2017, when they reiterated their commit-

wala na, [I’m not trying to look clean. I’ve stolen a lot too, but I’ve spent it all and it’s gone]” Duterte said on June 28.

For Trillanes, Duterte’s pronouncements were enough proof of corruption.

“This admission confirms my corruption allegation against Duterte. I have filed a case against him before the Ombudsman, along with the necessary evidence to support the case. This admission should be a reason to expedite the investigation,” Trillanes said.

In a May 5, 2016 complaint, Trillanes accused Duterte of having P2.4 billion worth of bank deposits, which he claims could have sourced from the salaries of 11,000 ghost employees in Davao.

The complaint also alleges that Duterte had committed malversation of public funds and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. In his complaint, Trillanes said he based his allegations on a Commission on Audit report in 2015 questioning the recruitment of 11,000 contractual workers that cost the Davao City government some P708 million in 2014.

The Duterte camp called Trillanes a congenital liar and a publicity hound.

Apart from plunder, Duterte should also be held liable for malversation of public funds and graft for “unlawful activities” or “predicate crimes” as provided for in the Anti-Money Laundering Act, or Republic Act 9160 for alleged hidden peso and dollar accounts at the BPI-Julia Vargas branch,

ment to cooperate and find ways to strengthen their trust and confidence in the issues related to the disputed waters. “[The] Philippines and China have reviewed their experience on the West Philippine Sea issue, exchanged views on current issues of concern to either side, and they have agreed that they will further discuss mutually acceptable approaches to deal with them,” Abella said.

He said both agreed to meet during the second half of 2017, when the Philippines would raise its concerns on the problem of Filipinos fishing in the disputed waters.

“We will have a second meeting, and I am sure items like that will be considered,” he said.

On July 12, 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a ruling on the Philippines’ arbitration case against China’s so-called ninedash line claim in the South China Sea. The United Nations-backed tribunal ruled that Beijing violated its commitment under the Convention on the Law of the Sea when it built artificial islands in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

China, however, refused to honor the landmark ruling and insisted it had indisputable sovereignty over the contested waters.

Trillanes said.

But Duterte’s camp said the baseless accusation that the President has hidden wealth in a leading bank and not reported in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth proved to be a dud. No less than the bank issued the denial, they added.

Duterte said he does not know Joseph de Mesa, the supposed source of information about the alleged P211-million undeclared money in BPI Julia Vargas branch. He hinted that Joseph de Mesa is fictitious— an invention of Trillanes and those who are behind the avalanche of dirty tactics and black propaganda hurled at him.

Because Trillanes is a liar, he said, people and the media should not take the information that he peddles seriously.

Duterte also described Trillanes, who led two failed coups before being elected senator, as an ingrate, whose education at the Philippine Military Academy was paid for with the money of the Filipino people.

Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday said she opted not to listen to Trillanes because this would be “a waste of time.”

Trillanes earlier described the Senate as “lapdogs” of the Duterte administration because they were afraid to disagree with Duterte.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said he is considering filing an ethics complaint against Trillanes, but would reconsider if Trillanes apologizes. With PNA

SWS:...

From A1 agree that Duterte made the right decision, while 29 percent said that martial law should have been declared only for Marawi City and the Province of Lanao del Sur, and 11 percent said that it should have been declared only for Marawi City, the Province of Lanao del Sur, and nearby provinces.

Some 63 percent disagreed with proposals for Duterte to declare martial law in the Visayas and only 23 percent agreed, while 13 percent said that they were undecided.

The survey also found that 67 percent disagreed with proposals to declare martial law in Luzon, and only 22 percent agreed, while 13 percent were undecided.

Of those who support Duterte’s martial law declaration, support was high in Mindanao at 64 percent, followed by Metro Manila at 58 percent, Visayas at 57 percent, and Balance Luzon at 53 percent. It was a similar 58 percent in overall urban areas, and 56 percent in overall rural areas.

By class, support was highest in class

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“Good thing the tribunal really wanted to open the ballot boxes because they really wanted to find out the truth,” he said.

“The tribunal is hell-bent in proceeding with the case… it’s good that the tribunal disregarded the issues raised by the other parties.”

According to Robredo’s lawyer Maria Bernadette Sardillo, the justices raised questions during the hearing but did not resolve the pending motions earlier filed by both camps.

Sardillo said several magistrates raised concerns on the feasibility and practicability of the plea of Marcos’ camp for a recount and the revision of the voting results.

“One of the justices said it would be logistically hard for the tribunal to conduct the recount,” Sardillo said.

She said the comment made by another justice that it might be hard to reexamine the result of the vice presidential contest without considering the implications on the results in other key positions given that the elections were automated.

She said the justices wanted to limit the witnesses to three per contested clustered precinct.

After the preliminary conference attended by eight justices, the tribunal is expected to issue a ruling on the pending motions of the two parties.

Meanwhile, the Marcos camp has completed the payment of the P66.223-million protest fee as required earlier by the PET for his electoral protest against Robredo.

Garcia said the payment was made on Monday through two checks, one for P15 million and another one for P15.2 million.

The Marcos camp paid the balance ahead of the July 14 deadline set by the PET. The PET had ordered Marcos to pay P66,223,000 for the 132,446 precincts for his election protest. He paid the initial amount of P36.2 million on April 17.

Garcia made the disclosure before the PET was convened to hold a preliminary conference on Marcos’ protest and Robredo’s counter-protest.

Garcia said they made the payment of P30 million to the PET and most of the amount came from the former senator’s friends.

“He received support from his friends,” Garcia said. She said Marcos even sold a condominium unit to defray the cost of his electoral protest.

Marcos filed his protest on June 29 last year, claiming Robredo’s camp cheated in the elections. He sought the annulment of about a million votes cast in Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Maguindanao.

Marcos contested the results in 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clustered precincts covering 27 provinces and cities.

In his preliminary conference brief, Marcos also sought a recount in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Robredo filed her answer in August last year and also filed a counter-protest and questioned the results in over 30,000 polling precincts in several provinces where Marcos won.

She also sought the dismissal of the protest for lack of merit.

But the tribunal, in a ruling earlier this year, junked Robredo’s plea and proceeded with the case.

Robredo won the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos who received 14,155,344 votes.

Marcos earlier said he decided to file his electoral protest due to the series of anomalies and irregularities that marred the May 9, 2016 elections and that such activities led to his loss to Robredo, the vice presidential candidate of the Liberal Party.

ABC at 70 percent, followed by class E at 58 percent, and class D at 56 percent.

While in the middle of a trip in Russia, President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23. Military rule ends in 60 days unless it is extended by Congress.

Duterte said he decided to impose martial law after both the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police told him that “the situation was critical” in Marawi City following the rampage of Islamic Stateallied gunmen.

The administration recently scored a victory after the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao and his suspension of the writ of habeas corpus there after Maute group terrorists overran Marawi City.

In previous speeches, Duterte said he might also choose to expand the area of coverage outside Mindanao on the heels of the clashes in Marawi City.

The Second Quarter 2017 survey, conducted from June 23 to 26, 2017 involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents, and has sampling error margins of ±3 points for national percentages.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Dureza to rebels: Do not extort

By John Paolo Bencito

CULTURAL PROTEST. Students from different Manila universities raise Tuesday placards against the continuing killings in what they call ‘the abusive and corrupt war’ on drugs.

The group, which dubs itself as #YouthResist, will launch before long a nationwide protest for what it hopes will be a formidable cultural protest. Norman Cruz

Guidelines established to address road issues

Solons want BIR officials probed on tax liabilities

By Vito Barcelo

By Maricel V. Cruz

THE Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Energy have signed an agreement for an organized arrangement to address right-of-way conflicts affected by government infrastructure projects to avoid delays or suspension of projects.

A joint circular signed by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi provides uniform guidelines for the payment and relocation of Electric Cooperative facilities affected by government projects.

Villar said the circular would address issues that cause delays and prevent road works from proceeding such as the presence of electrical utilities and right-of-way problems.

“The joint circular with DoE is just a systematized way of addressing RoW conflicts between two entities that promote development. We aim for timely implementation of government projects, at the same time aid electric cooperatives that play critical role in household electrification,” Villar said.

“Under the guidelines, programming or planning of upcoming DPWH projects like roads, bridges, flood-control structures, and government buildings will have to be coordinated with the National Electrification Administration and electric cooperatives to address RoW concerns,” according to DPWH Undersecretary Karen Jimeno.

The DPWH, prior to the preparation of its budget for a proposed government project, will have to inform in writing the concerned electric cooperatives that their facilities will be affected, with copy furnished to DoE and NEA, and to be followed by a joint survey and assessment of both parties.

Within 30 days after the joint survey, electric cooperatives shall submit to the DPWH the proposed program of work for the affected facility with cost estimate duly certified by NEA, and bill of materials.

The DPWH will determine within 10 calendar days the proper compensation or relocation cost which amounts to present value of relocation of facility based on the NEA equipment and materials price index, less depreciative cost, plus dismantling or removal and disposal cost.

The goal will strictly observe and maintain easements and to relocate or compensate improperly located electric cooperative facilities within government’s right of way.

L

AWMAKERS on Tuesday pushed for a congressional investigation of Bureau of Internal Revenue officials amid allegations of plunder leveled against them.

Reps. Dakila Cua of Quirino and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur made the call as they joined Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in calling for a congressional probe regarding the case that stemmed from alleged reduction of tax liabilities of a company to only P65.4 million covering 2011 to 2013 despite the reported assessment for the three years reaching P29 billion in supposed tax deficiency liabilities.

A plunder case has been filed before the Ombudsman against Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay and 17 other officials and personnel for allegedly reducing the tax liabilities of Del Monte Philippines Inc. such

that the government lost P29 billion in potential revenues.

“I support Speaker Alvarez’s strong stance against corruption.

We will study the matter thoroughly so that we can bring out the truth,” Cua, House committee on ways and means’ chairperson, said.

Cua said the BIR must be able to explain the supposed undercollection, otherwise the internal revenue officials “will be held liable.”

Reports said that Alvarez had prepared a resolution to investigate Dulay and other top officials not only for the case involving Del Monte Philippines but also for alleged irregularities in its actions and the cases

filed against homegrown cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp., which allegedly used fake tax stamps to evade payment of billions in excise taxes.

Alvarez wants to conduct the congressional probe when Congress resumes session on July 24.

Reports said taxpayer Danilo Lihaylihay last month purportedly filed a plunder case before the Ombudsman against Dulay and 17 other BIR executives, including Dulay’s chief of staff Gaudencio Mendoza Jr., who allegedly allowed Del Monte to pay only P65.4 million for taxable years 2011 to 2013 despite the assessment for the three years reaching P29 billion in supposed tax deficiency liabilities.

Pimentel, House committee on good government and public accountability chairperson, said the matter should be investigated in aid of legislation, in light of the fact that government has to raise huge revenues for its social programs.

“We are ready to support the

Wanted American woman arrested

By Vito Barcelo AN AMERICAN woman wanted by US federal authorities for kidnapping her two children and who ran away to the Philippines to hide has been nabbed by immigration authorities.

They identified the woman as Ana Centillas Lorrigan of southern California who was cornered in Barangay Calapacuan, Subic, Zambales by operatives from the bureau’s fugitive search unit.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said Lorrigan would be deported to the US for being an undocumented alien as her US passport and that of her two children have since expired.

“Lorrigan left her children with her sister,” Morente said.

“She is considered undocumented and as a consequence she lost her privilege to stay here.”

The US Embassy in Manila sought out the BI for the arrest of Lorrigan who is on trial before a US district court in southern California where she was indicted for the crime of international parental kidnapping.

The International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act, a US federal law enacted in 1993, is a crime by taking away a child from the US or detaining a child outside the US with the intent to obstruct a parent’s custodial rights, Morente said.

“Individuals found guilty of violating the said law may be sentenced to a maximum jail term of three years,” he said.

SOLIDARITY DISPLAY. Members of the Quezon City Police District engage in a ‘boodle fight’ Tuesday at Camp Karingal to demonstrate solidarity as they prepare for security measures in the forthcoming State of the Nation Address by President Rodrigo Duterte on July 24 at the Batasang Pambansa.

Manny Palmero

Speaker,” Pimentel said.

Dulay earlier vowed to respond to allegations filed against him.

At the BIR, reports said Deputy Commissioner Jesus Clint Aranas issued show-cause orders to 12 revenue personnel, namely, Ofelia Yumang, Ruby Villanueva, Fatima Sarrosa, Exzaida Comentan, Lourdes Liwanag, Belinda Balagtas, Amelia Molinos, Noemi Castro, Cheryl Ann Adapon, Ramoncito Ona, Edralin Silario and Catalina Benedicto.

Aranas said he issued the show-cause orders after the case before the Ombudsman surfaced “so they can justify their actions for our evaluation.”

The Tax Informers Network Inc., in a letter addressed to the Office of the President, asked President Duterte to prosecute for plunder, through conspiracy and connivance, Dulay, Mendoza and Assistant Commissioner Teresita Mendoza of the Large Taxpayers Service, among others, for the offense alleged.

PEACE Process Secretary Jesus Dureza on Tuesday reminded communist rebels to comply with their obligations under the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CAHRIHL).

This means they should not extort from business establishments, with backchannel talks proceeding to revive fifth round of talks stalled last May. Pressed on Duterte’s take regarding extortion activities by the New People’s Army to be halted first before any talks with the communists could continue, Dureza said the government peace panel would adhere to “guidance” on whatever the President would tell the panel.

“Whatever the President says, we take guidance...I’m not going to preempt the back channel [talks] but that would be one of the things we will take up with them,” Dureza told a Palace news briefing.

But Dureza took a snide against communists, who would use the collection of socalled revolutionary taxes to extort money from businesses and individuals.

“I would like to tell you in advance that under the CAHRIHL, signed in 1998, the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front and the government committed [themselves to the pact] and among the provisions: not to subject civilians and their properties to attack. That is very clear...these are matters we will take up with them, hopefully in the backchannel very soon,” Dureza said.

While there are no formal dates yet as to the resumption of peace talks, the Peace adviser said they were pushing efforts to secure the return of the stalled negotiations.

“For the OPAPP, we continue the talks. This is the orchestra that the President is playing as a conductor. We have different instruments to play that we needed to harmonize at the end of the day,” Dureza said.

In response, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan SecretaryGeneral Renato Reyes said the government, “through the AFP and PNP, is the leading violator of the CARHRIHL.”

Robredo asks investors: Invest in youth education

By Rio Araja VICE President Leni Robredo Tuesday called on investors to collaborate with government for the education of the youth.

Robredo spoke before the representatives of Chevron Philippines Inc., Department of Education and American Chamber Foundation Philippines in Naga City, Camarines during the relaunch of the “Fuel Your School” project, where she cited the importance of collaboration among those willing to provide assistance.

She stressed the significance of ensuring that all needs of students and teachers be met, particularly the concern on classrooms and school equipment “if education is to become a true vehicle for progress.”

“I am happy to know that the project which Chevron has initiated, aims to provide public high schools in the Bicol province the access to modern teaching implements and educational materials.

This is a crucial step, if we want to revolutionize and improve our education system,” she said.

According to Robredo, the project, a social investment project of Chevron, is

a private sector partner of the Office of the Vice President’s Angat Buhay program.

The project focuses on supporting science and technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) in public schools.

Now on its third year, the Fuel Your School project pledges to donate one peso to selected schools for every liter of fuel acquired from participating Caltex stations.

Proceeds shall go directly to the purchase of equipment to boost Stem subjects for public school students.

Robredo said: “Technology is one of the keys to making the world a much better place. Democratized access to powerful technology will create a [virtuous] circle of innovation that changes the trajectory of our national and global narrative.

“And the best way to begin democratizing access to powerful technology is through public schools where even the last, the least, and the lost can experience it.

“With every new computer, every new LCD projector, every new multimedia device, and every laboratory equipment—you build communities that encourage students to develop their skills and excel in their chosen fields.”

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Sona lessons

A

S PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte prepares to deliver his second Stateof-the-Nation Address on July 24, we hope that he and his speech writers can take some lessons from the past.

Just ahead of the President’s first Sona in 2016, his Communications secretary promised an eager nation that the speech would “awaken the patriot in each Filipino” and that it would take no more than 38 minutes, sans any adlibs Mr. Duterte might make. On a personal level, he added, the speech moved him to tears. These

promises alerted us that we would see history in the making when the President took to the podium at the Plenary Hall of the Batasang Pambansa to inspire us all to be better and to do better with a well-focused address that would speak directly to us, without the superciliousness and self congratulation of his predecessor.

History will remember Mr. Duterte’s first Sona somewhat differently, however. The address, which was highlighted by a declaration of a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels, turned out to be a rambling talk that took an hour and 32 minutes, the longest first Sona in history. If any tears were shed that day, they were probably for that lost hour and a half,

and the missed opportunity to see and listen to a truly inspirational Sona that would go beyond a dry narration of achievements and statistics, but move us all to action toward building a better, more progressive, more equitable and just society. An address that would speak to all, not just to those who supported the administration in power, and one that healed rather than exacerbated the divisions caused by our fractious politics.

Mr. Duterte’s predecessor, President Benigno Aquino III, was known for using his annual addresses to Congress to boost his own political stock by making inflated claims—such as his hollow promise of self-sufficiency in rice—and viciously attacking his

opponents. The net effect of this tiresome routine was that by the end of his term, nobody took Mr. Aquino’s yearly address very seriously. We had seen and heard it all before.

Mr. Duterte does not have to fall into the same trap. With his emphasis on change, he could use his annual address to the nation as a way to truly inspire all Filipinos, not just his supporters and allies, into achieving great things for the common good.

His administration’s decision last year to put an end to the vacuous and tasteless fashion sideshow among lawmakers was a step in the right direction.

Now all Mr. Duterte and his advisers need to do is to hone the message and talk simply, and sincerely, to us all.

Asia’s financial crisis still has five things to teach us now

By Mohamed El-Erian

Martial law express VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ THE most important impact of the Supreme Court’s 11-3-1 decision on July 4, 2017 finding factual, and thus constitutional basis for President Duterte’s May 23 declaration of martial law, is not that the high court supported Duterte.

The most far-ranging effect is that the Supreme Court has grossly devalued the meaning and impact of martial law. The court did so by simply defining what martial law is all about. In philosophy and logic, once you define something, you limit it, because something that is not defined has no limits.

In effect, Duterte, backed by the Supreme Court, has produced what I call the small-dosage martial law, or martial law express—in the same manner restaurant chains, supermarkets, or even banks call their small branches “express,” because they are not the regular thing that people are used to.

So now we have a low-level

martial law, not the martial law that people were used to—and feared— for a long time. This is the Ferdinand Marcos martial law, which was declared from Sept. 21, 1972 and extended until 1981 when he theoretically lifted it. In effect, Marcos’s martial law lasted for 14 years, from 1972 until the dictator was ousted by People Power in February 1986.

Martial law express came about because Solicitor General Jose Calida could not tell the high court, during the three days of oral arguments in June, what the difference is between martial law and the calling-out power of the President.

Calida’s answer: None.

What is the calling-out power of the President? It is one of the three extraordinary powers of the President, as commander-in-chief, the other two being suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus and declaring martial law.

According to the SC decision penned by Justice Mariano del Castillo, “among the three extraordinary powers, the callingout power is the most benign and involves ordinary police action.

The President may resort to this

extraordinary power whenever it becomes necessary to prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion, or rebellion. “[T]he power to call is fully discretionary to the President;” the only limitations being that he acts within permissible constitutional boundaries or

Now we have a low-level martial law, not the martial law that people were used to.

in a manner not constituting grave abuse of discretion.” In fact, Del Castillo points out, “the actual use to which the President puts the armed forces is xx x not subject to judicial review.”

This could mean that the only difference between the President’s calling-out power and the power to declare martial law is that martial law is subject to review by the Supreme Court—and by Congress, which may extend it.

The 1987 Constitution puts limits on any Marcos-era type martial law. These limits, or bedrock standards as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, are the fourth paragraph of Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution: “A state of martial law does not suspend the operation of the Constitution, nor supplant the functioning of the civil courts or legislative assemblies, nor authorize the conferment of jurisdiction on military courts and agencies over civilians where civil courts are able to function, nor automatically suspend the privilege of the writ,” writes Sereno in her dissenting opinion against the imposition of martial law on the entire island of Mindanao, instead of limiting this to just three provinces, including the province where Marawi City is located.

Martial law express has three major limits.

One, ability to legislate.

Says CJ Sereno: “The Constitution specifically provides that a state of martial law does not supplant the functioning of the legislative assemblies… The President is not automatically vested with plenary legislative powers. Ordinary legislation continues to belong to the national and local legislative bodies even during martial law. This necessarily connotes the continued operation of all statutes, even during a state of martial rule. It has been opined that the martial law administrator has the authority to issue orders that have the effect of law, but strictly only within the theater of war—an area that is not necessarily the same as the entire territorial scope of the martial law declaration.”

Two, operation of civil courts.

Explains Sereno: “The rule under the Constitution is that the civil courts cannot be supplanted by military courts. … The civil courts remain open and fully functioning, and the Rules of Court continue to be applicable.” She notes that despite Duterte’s martial law, “all courts, including that in Marawi City are functioning, albeit in a nearby municipality.”

Turn to A5

TWENTY years ago, I was working at the International Monetary Fund in Washington that would scramble—like almost everyone else—to understand and respond to cascading financial disruptions that would throw Asia into a deep recession. Important lessons were to emerge from an Asian miracle that was taking an unexpected turn for the worse, with frightening systemic implications.

Asia painfully learned, and adapted well, and what it taught us remains valid today for other countries, and not just emerging economies. Indeed, had the advanced nations also been more open to these lessons, the global economy could well have sidestepped the even bigger global financial crisis in 2008, whose repercussions are still being felt today.

Here are five of the most important economic and financial lessons whose relevance extends well beyond Asia: Self-insurance, although expensive, is the best way to secure resilience.

Heading into the crisis, the combination of low international reserves, high debt and currency/maturity mismatches made Asia’s particularly vulnerable, not just directly but also by increasing exposure to domestic capital flight and sudden outflows of foreign funds.

Asian countries had no choice subsequently but to build and rely on a big foreign reserve cushion. They also embarked on more prudent debt management, reducing the overall stock, lengthening maturities and lowering foreign-exchange exposure.

Despite the passage of time, it hasn’t been easy to wean some Asian economies from this defensive approach. As such, their international reserves have remained well above what would be warranted by traditional precautionary metrics.

To offset the so-called negative carry that results—that is, earning less on the foreign reserves than the cost of associated domestic liabilities—a few took the additional step of segmenting their holdings into two distinct categories: reserves and wealth management. This helps Asia lessen the cost of maintaining a high level of financial resilience.

Turn to A5

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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

I REALLY do not know what House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is trying to prove by his outlandish, bordering on stupid, proposals. Perhaps he is trying to win pogi points in the eyes of his boss, President Rodrigo Duterte.

First, Alvarez came out with a statement that he would abolish the Court of Appeals for ruling in favor of the “Ilocos 6” who are now detained at the House of Representatives for refusing to answer questions about the use of tobacco excise taxes in Ilocos Norte. He even called the CA justices “idiots.”

Then, he said he supports same-sex marriage and the legalization of couples living together outside marriage. Is he championing his own interests here?

Now we hear him calling for the extension of martial law until the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. That’s another five years! He says this is needed to quell rebellion that has plagued Mindanao for decades.

The Armed Forces is not buying his proposal, though.

With elected people like Alvarez, no wonder some people want to abolish Congress. *** I have been reading portions of the lone dissenting opinion of Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen where he said what is happening in Marawi City is not rebellion but terrorism, extremism and fanaticism.

Some characters writing in opinion pages call Leonen’s dissent magnificent.

I think it is specious and fallacious.

It is clear Justice Leonen is prejudiced. Why can he not call what is happening in Marawi a rebellion? Section 18 Article VII of the Constitution is clear, and we know that the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Groups in tandem with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters want to establish a caliphate in this part of the world.

When terrorists bomb government and public facilities where there are a lot of people killed and injured, isn’t that rebellion? What is happening in Iraq and Syria where lawful governments are challenged by the IS—aren’t they political in nature? Think again, Mr. Justice.

Clearly, Leonen and his admirers do not realize what is happening on the ground. *** I tend to agree with observers that that the real punishment that rogue policemen truly deserve is not being put in the battlefield in Marawi. We have seen heroes die in this conflict. Philippine National Police Director-General Ronald dela Rosa is actually insulting the government forces in Mindanao by making these rogue cops join them.

Dela Rosa should simply charge these erring cops with administrative and criminal cases. Let the chips fall where they may. *** There is reported resurgence of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison traced to the rampant corruption of members of the Special Action Force detailed as security guards. Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II must replace the SAF with Marines.

This reminds me of the time I was covering Customs during the Magsaysay administration.

The President assigned 400 Philippine Military Academy cadets to man the bureau at the piers. Their honesty and idealism should be able to counter the corruption there, he thought.

After a month or so, corruption came back. The cadets were lured with money.

This has been what is happening at the NBP. The solution to the drug trade in the national penitentiary is to relocate it, once and for all. The facility in Laur, Nueva Ecija can solve the congestion.

Alas, Aguirre has been postponing the final bidding for the P50-billion new facility.

Three consortia have already qualified—San Miguel, Megawide and DMCI. Why is nothing happening?

Something smells here! *** S o m e years ago when former Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor of Makati City, he proposed that all the cities of Metro Manila should have an integrated jail facility. This was approved by the Metro Manila Development Authority.

If you go to the individual city/municipal jails,you would see the sub-human conditions of the inmates. There have been reports of sicknesses, but the mayors of Metro Manila do not seem to care.

That is the problem of government people. They do not think outside the box. *** When San Miguel president and COO Ramon Ang was still with Philippine Airlines, he submitted a proposal for an airport in Bulacan. This would be an alternative to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Somehow this proposal gathered dust during the time of the PNoy administration.

There were other plans—one in Sangley Point, Cavite, for instance, to be financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. But transport officials clearly saw an opportunity for kickbacks.

Now, Ang is again proposing that airport, and he will finance it. I do not understand why the Duterte administration should not allow it.

Martial...

From A4

cial warrant only upon authority in writing by the Anti-Terrorism Council. Immediately after taking custody, the arresting officers shall notify in writing the judge of the court nearest the place of apprehension or arrest.”

“The officer is allowed to detain the person for a period not exceeding three days from the moment the latter has been taken into custody. Within three days, the arresting officers shall present the person suspected of the crime of terrorism before any judge of the place where the arrest took place at any time of the day or night.

Judges shall ascertain the identity of the arresting officers and the persons presented and inquire as to the reasons for the arrest. They shall also determine by questioning and personal observation whether or not the suspect has been subjected to any physical, moral or psychological torture. They shall submit a written report within three calendar days to the proper court that has jurisdiction over the case of the person thus arrested.”

Considering the above, I am not surprised that House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez is now talking of an extended Duterte martial law— until 2022, until the President’s term expires.

Leonen’s dissent is specious and fallacious.

Three, despite martial law, there cannot be arbitrary arrests.

“The constitutional guarantee against arbitrary arrests under the Bill of Rights remains in full effect. As a general rule, a warrant of arrest is necessary before an arrest can by validly affected as provided in Section 2, Article III of the Constitution,” insists Sereno.

However, she grants, “because rebellion, conspiracy, or proposal to commit rebellion and crimes or offenses committed in furtherance thereof constitute direct assaults against the State, they are in the nature of continuing crimes. As such, arrests without warrant of persons involved in rebellion are justified because they are essentially committing an offense when arrested.”

Sereno says “The arrest of persons involved in rebellion is thus synonymous with a valid warrantless arrest of a person committing a crime in the presence of the arresting officer.”

On the other hand, the chief points out, “Arrests of persons charged with or suspected of the crime of terrorism or the crime of conspiracy to commit terrorism may be made without judi-

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A5

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Five-year martial law

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

They don’t understand

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO IT IS well and good that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, this early, shot down the absurd proposal of a five-year martial law by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

There have been several harebrained ideas coming from Speaker Alvarez but this one probably is the most outrageous.

For President Rodrigo Duterte to proclaim martial law in the next five years, before the unfolding of events to lay its legal basis, is putting the cart before the horse.

It does not take a rocket scientist or law graduate to know that.

But then, Bebot Alvarez probably wants to stay as Speaker in the next five years. Sucking up to Digong would ensure his tenure against challenges from other congressmen. Alvarez may not know it but his principal, the President, is surely aware the Speaker is doing him a disservice.

The military had enough sense to tell Alvarez that a five-year martial law is too long and any decision on its extension would depend on the situation on the ground. Duterte imposed martial law in Mindanao when the ISISlinked Maute terrorists laid siege

to Marawi. The 60-day limit for imposing martial law, under the 1987 Constitution lapses on July 22, two days before the President deliver his State of the Nation Address before Congress on July 24. Duterte and sidekick Alvarez should just be grateful the Supreme Court ruled that the declaration of martial law in Mindanao has legal basis.

AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla told a press briefing in Malacañang that the military’s recommendation for the extension of martial law will depend on its own assessment of the situation and not on someone’s say-so. The implementation of martial law after all falls on the shoulders of our soldiers. Without them, martial law cannot be carried out.

Worse, a backlash to presidential abuses of prerogatives may just result in the army recoiling and pulling a coup d’etat to unseat the President. This has happened before in Thailand and South Korea.

Except for some remnants and deadly sniper fire, it looks like government troops are about to wind up their clearing operation against the Mautes. It might still be acceptable to extend martial law another month in some parts of Mindanao threatened by terrorist acts. But unless we see urban guerrilla warfare being waged in Metro Manila and other major cities, the government

should be able to handle the situation without declaring the draconian measure of martial law.

But to impose martial law for five years? Even the people of Mindanao who want to get back to their homes and live normal lives will not accept living under the shadow of military rule.

Trump’s Russian link The Trump campaign team’s denial of dealing with the Russians to influence the outcome of the last US elections is beginning to unravel. Listening and watching to CNN’s Anderson Cooper’s interview of political figures and analysts, one gets the sense that there was concerted effort to cover up the unlawful act.

A New York Times report detailed the meeting of Donald Trump Jr., campaign strategist Paul Manafort and Trump sonin-law Jared Kushner met with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya who purportedly offered damaging information on Democratic presidential rival Hilary Clinton.

Now getting info dirt on your rival is par for the course in any presidential election whether here or in America. But to meet with someone who’s Russian and identified as having done work for the Kremlin, betrays Trump’s desperation to win the White House. Putin, on the other hand, must probably think Trump would be more manageable than a Hillary Clinton, the for-

mer US Secretary of State. That Veselnitskaya is Russian should have raised the red flags with the Trump team. It’s rather hard to believe Trump Junior’s claim he does not know who he was meeting considering the Trump Towers in New York was then one of the most secured places during the presidential campaign. To get in one has to show proper identification before a layer of FBI and Secret Service agents.

Donald Jr. was a key player in his father’s campaign for the White House. For him to say he does not the person he was meeting at the Trump Towers in New York City would show he really is a chip off the old block. Thomas Friedman, an author and political analyst, said Trump does not think things through and is prone to talking first and thinking later. These are not our words but Friedman’s. He went on to add that Trump in the Group of 20 summit meeting in Hamburg, Germany failed to capitalize on harnessing the economic powers of these countries in dealing with the China problems on trade, the South China Sea dispute and the North Korean ICBM threat.

It would be interesting to see how much further the Trump team will unravel when they appear before a Senate committee which will investigate the case of Russian meddling in US elections. Senator John Warner wants to grill Trump Jr., et al.

Travel advisories SO I SEE LITO BANAYO IN THE recently concluded United Nations World Tourism Organization conference held in our country, its secretary-general, Taleb Rifai called out the US and other European countries for allowing their foreign ministries to dictate the issuances of travel advisories and bans, something that wreaks havoc on the tourism economies of many nations, particularly the developing ones.

Rifai called the attention of these big countries to their commitment to the UNWTO’s resolution on issuing time-bound and location-specific travel advisories, instead of generalized travel advisories.

An example is what usually happens to the Philippines, whose tourism growth is impeded by frequent advisories. When the Marawi incident started last May 23, many developed countries urged their citizens not to travel to all of Mindanao, instead of a location-specific advisory for the Lanao provinces.

The same thing happened in Central Visayas recently, when a small contingent of the Abu Sayyaf sailed on small boats to Bohol, where they were instantly neutralized by our internal security forces.

Notice how these politicians and their bureaucracies issue quick generalized travel advisories against countries like the Philippines, but have they issued the same for France or the United Kingdom, which have been plagued by terrorist incidents of late?

Asia’s...

From A4

Currency floats aren’t perfect, but they are better than the

alternatives.

As Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand discovered during the crisis, a fixed exchange rate makes countries even more exposed to the disruptive effects of capital outflows. Yet such flexible currency arrangements, as important as they are, are no panacea. They need to be managed well, and accompanied by supportive policies. Otherwise, they can become a problem in themselves.

Liberalize carefully while tweaking economic and financial management.

It’s critical to take a measured approach to liberalizing the capital account of the balance of payments, something the “Washington consensus” that prevailed at the time had pressed hard on emerging nations.

Rather than an end in itself, the careful and nuanced pursuit of capital liberalization became part of the redefinition of the region’s approach to managing the middle-income transition, one of the most difficult

*** Such advisories are not good for the Philippines’ efforts to increase the number of tourists enjoying the fabled sun, sand and sea wonders of our islands as well as the hospitality of our people.

We have noticed a slight decline in Taiwanese visitors to our country in the month of June principally on account of the travel advisories following the Marawi incident.

But for one, our government cannot and must not “bow down” to terrorists, who in fact want to disturb the world peace and order situation through the sheer propaganda value of singular terrorist attacks.

We just have to bear with the travails of an increasingly dangerous world, and undauntedly intensify our efforts to promote our country for its natural beauty and other attractions. *** On a lighter note, a staffer of ours recently made a short list of quaint, if funny, English names of several establishments here in Taiwan.

Examples: “Just Sleep Hotel;” “Beauty Hotel;” and a “Kindness Hotel.” If you don’t want to just sleep in a beauty or a kindness hotel, how about staying in the “Charming Hotel?”

Or if you are in a romantic mood, try the “Love” Hotel.

There is a new restaurant which I tried recently, which has a very generic name: “Cook Beef” Restaurant, which serves roast beef on top of rice, with veggies on the side, all in a hot iron plate atop a small bucket where a heating element keeps the food hot. People line up for a taste of it.

And of course, one of my favorites, albeit quite pricey, is

the “Really Good Seafood Restaurant,” which needs no further explanation. It’s really good, particularly the way they cook lobsters and prawns, and the best XO sauce ever.

To top it all, there is this restaurant which is called “You Must Spend Money to Earn Money.” Yep…that’s the name of the restaurant.

And if that isn’t quaint enough, you can try the “No Name Restaurant.” The owner just gave up trying to translate his idea of how best to describe his gustatory offerings, and just said “No Name.” *** On a more edifying note, we recently had an audience with Dharma Master Cheng Yen of the Tzu Chi Foundation, and we thanked her for all the good works that they have done in the Philippines, particularly the continuing role they play in the rehabilitation of the shattered lives of the victims of Typhoon “Yolanda.”

She most graciously accepted our gratitude, at the same time saying that they learned a lot from their experiences in helping Tacloban and other areas ravaged by “Yolanda,” and they put these lessons to good use among the earthquake victims in Bhutan. She then invited us to visit the Foundation’s 1,000 bed charity hospital in New Taipei City.

It was a marvel to behold.

Not only does it serve some 800 patients a day; it also provides out-patient care for some 4,000 needy people each day.

We were accompanied by the uber-solicitous Larry Lee, our designated “handler” for Meco, and James Huang, a successful Taiwanese investor who lived in the Philippines for 10 years and thereafter decided to devote his life to serving his fellowmen

through the foundation.

The hospital’s operations are fully computerized. It was built out of donations from Taiwanese citizens all over the world and was not built to earn money. Tzu Chi operates seven other such charity hospitals in other parts of Taiwan.

Quite remarkable is their 2,000 ton water-recycling facility, where all the rain water (and in “green” Taiwan, rainfall is quite regular, even at the height of summer) flows into a basement aquifer, pumped to the top of the building to be re-used for sanitation and fire-fighting purposes.

The uniquely designed hospital has six meditation gardens in various floors, where patients and even their families could pray and meditate amidst lush rooftop gardens.

Ninety-five percent of their medical staff can converse in English, among them FilipinoChinese physicians. Last May, a Filipino patient was sponsored by the foundation headquarters in the Philippines for a very delicate reconstructive operation. She was given a new jaw as her face was totally disfigured by a tumor.

A team of doctors, three Filipinos among them, performed a 16-hour operation and took a bone from the ankle to replace the jaw which was gnawed by the tumor.

And all for charity, from a foundation dedicated to serving every fellow human being, regardless of race or creed, and preaches love and peace for all of mankind.

Incidentally, one of their consulting architects, who designed some of their facilities in Iran and the Middle East is a Filipino too—architect Jun Palafox, who frequents Taiwan and the Tzu Chi Foundation.

stages of the economic development process.

Asia came to understand well that foreign capital flows—and, especially, short-term portfolio inflows as opposed to longer-term foreign direct investment—constitute a double-edged sword. Yes, they help relieve financial constraints on the balance of payments and even the budget; and yes, they can be associated with the transfer of human capital. But they can also turn around suddenly, undermining the financial system and sucking valuable oxygen out of the economy. All of which speaks to the importance of getting the right mix and having contingency plans for sudden outflows.

Interact with others, but also build regional institutional backups.

A shift toward a stronger regional construct became another element of this redefinition. But it was a change that initially faced enormous external opposition and took considerable time to overcome.

In the midst of the crisis, several Asian governments felt that the conditional financing available to them from western-dominated

institutions took insufficient account of local circumstances. But their attempt to compensate by building regional institutions— back then, centered on a new Asian Monetary Fund—was quashed by western countries. Although Asia did secure better central bank swap lines, the institutional construct remained heavily western dominated and oriented.

Fast-forward 20 years, and the situation has evolved. The west is less able and willing to block the Asian regional initiatives spearheaded by a more confident and assertive China. Witness the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the “one belt, one road” project.

These regional arrangements can help Asia navigate the more fluid global economy. But there is nothing automatic about this. It requires careful design and implementation, minimizing political interference and maximizing operational autonomy and technical competency.

Your greatest strength can also become your most glaring weakness.

But perhaps the most important lesson of all is not to drink too much

of your own Kool-Aid.It was easy for Asian nations to believe they were exceptional; that they were immune from certain laws of finance and economics; and that nothing could derail their impressive economic development.

But as problems emerged, they were initially either ignored or papered over with measures that involved their own dangers. (Remember Thailand’s use of short-dated forward foreign exchange swaps?)

The same closed-mindset phenomenon made many advanced countries dismissive of what they can learn from others. Remember the notion that Japan’s economic stagnation “couldn’t happen here”?

Or how western experts ignored the important structural insights from Asia’s experience?

In a strange way, the Asian crisis —as painful and as damaging as it was in the short run—saw the region emerge stronger, smarter, humbler and more flexible. Let us hope that the West follows course as it continues to deal with the hangover from both the causes and consequences of the 2008 global financial crisis.

Bloomberg

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

House panel to prioritize funds for ‘Dutertenomics’

By Maricel V. Cruz

T

HE chairman of the House committee on appropriations on Tuesday said Congress would ensure funding support for President Rodrigo Duterte’s massive infrastructure modernization program which is the core of the government’s new economic master plan called “Dutertenomics.”

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles, the panel chairman, made the statement as President Duterte has laid down a three-year rolling infrastructure program that would cost at least P1.13 trillion for 2018, P1.18 trillion for 2019 and P1.29 trillion

for 2020.

Nograles said that his panel will work hard to ensure that the government will have enough funds to make this happen.

“To hasten national economic development, we have to build

and modernize the needed infrastructures nationwide. We anticipate that the President, in his State of the Nation Address, will spell out his crucial public infra-building program that will boost the country’s economy,” Nograles said.

“The logic of Dutertenomics is simple and practical. If we modernize our infrastructure, we will modernize the economy down to the farthest municipality. And everything else will follow,” Nograles added.

Nograles refers to the so called “Dutertenomics” that focuses on building the needed infrastructures to bring balanced development nationwide, especially in long-neglected

regions in Mindanao and the Visayas.

Nograles vowed to prioritize the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program as this will have cascading effects on all aspects of development such as health care, education, job and investment generation, poverty alleviation and even peace and order.

“We cannot waste time.

The time to build critical infrastructures, like railways, bridges, expressways, subways, and other infrastructures is now” Nograles said, adding that a “balanced economic development will help deny the enemies of government reasons for their rebellion.”

Nograles also assured that Congress would continue its efforts to push the government’s drive for tax reform in the country, parallel with the determined anti-corruption campaign in public service.

At a recent business forum, Nograles said the country’s economic managers has stated that “Dutertenomics” will adopt a sustained economic growth strategy based on long term vision that will bring development and reduce inequality and poverty in the rural areas.

Nograles said he believes the Duterte leadership is determined to implement more than P8.4trillion public works project over the next five years.

‘PH faces obesity, overweight prevalence’ THE Philippines faces an obesity and overweight prevalence of 5.1 percent and 23.6 percent, based on a report released by the Asia Roundtable on Food Innovation for Improved Nutrition—a public-private partnership set up to tackle issues related to obesity, malnutrition and non-communicable diseases.

Commissioned by ARoFIIN and produced by The Economist Intelligence Unit, the report is the first of its kind to carry out a detailed analysis on the economic impact of obesity in Asean.

Entitled “Tackling obesity in Asean: Prevalence, impact, and guidance on interventions, the report calls for more concerted efforts” by health authorities to tackle the problem of obesity to avoid strains on health care systems.

Among the six countries studied in the report, the Philippines has the second lowest obesity and overweight prevalence at 5.1 percent and 23.6 percent respectively. But despite low prevalence rates, obesity has a strong impact in the Philippines due to the large number of obese persons in the country—18-million Filipinos are obese and overweight.

In 2016, obesity also cost the Philippines between US$500 million and US$1 billion, equivalent to between four percent and eight percent of its healthcare spending. This makes the country the fourth-highest spender for obesity-related problems.

Indonesia is the highest spender at US$2 billion to US$4 billion, equivalent to between eight percent and 16 percent of national health care spending; followed by Malaysia at US$1 billion to US$2 billion, equivalent to between 10 percent and 19 percent of national health care spending); and then Singapore at US$400 million to US$1 billion (equivalent to between threepercent and 10 percent of national health care spending).

These costs are due to a spike in incidence of related NCDs such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, as well as an increased rate of absenteeism from work arising from illness and poor health.

Apart from costs, obesity-related problems have far-reaching implications. Based on the report, obesity reduces life spans by a weighted average of between four and nine years across the six countries.

LAST RESPECTS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte pays his last respects to the late Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office board

member lawyer Loreto Ata during his visit at the wake of the late PCSO official at the Loyola Memorial Chapel in Makati City on July 10. Presidential Photo

Landmine wounds 6 army soldiers

By Francisco Tuyay SIX army soldiers were wounded after they hit a roadside explosive device laid by suspected New People’s Army rebels at a village in Natipunan town in Quirino province Tuesday morning.

Capt. Jefferson Somera, spokesman of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, did not identify the wounded army soldiers who were rushed to the Diduyon District Hospital and Cabaroguis Hospital in Quirino province.

Maj. Gen. Paul Atal, Commander of the 5th Infantry Division immediately condemned the incident.

“This is a clear violation of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and the international rules of warfare, particularly the protocols on the use of mines and explosives,” Atal said.

The latest incident blamed on the NPA came amid the communist movement’s commitment to talk peace with the government and end the decades-old insurgency in the country.

The NPA has launched a series of attacks on military detachments and posts at the height of the ongoing peace negotiations between the Communist Party and government panel at The Netherlands.

Both panels are expected to meet sometime in August for the resumption of the stalled peace talks due to the unabated NPA hostile posturing against government forces that had so far resulted in the killing of dozen of soldiers and the death of nearly 50 cadres in various clashes in the countryside.

The latest NPA attack occurred at Brgy Sangbay in Natipunan town when soldiers of the 5th ID hit a “pressure-type land mine at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Somera said the soldiers were en route to their camp from a Civil Military Operations (CMO) and coordinating meeting with local officials of Quirino when they accidentally stepped on the landmine.

Somera said no ensued fighting occurred after the incident.

Napoles asks SC to grant bail on PDAF scam case

By Rey E. Requejo SUSPECTED pork barrel scam architect Janet Lim Napoles has appealed to the Supreme Court to grant her provisional liberty while being tried in one of the plunder cases filed against her before the Sandiganbayan.

In a five-page motion filed last July 6, Napoles asked that she be granted bail in the plunder case against her and former Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, in connection with the alleged misuse of the lawmaker’s Priority Development Assistant Fund.

Napoles specifically sought for the reversal of the anti-graft

court’s Oct. 16, 2015 and March 2, 2016 rulings denying her motion to post bail in the case.

Napoles argued that she should be allowed to post bail in this case —just like Enrile—because prosecutors “failed to present strong evidence.”

“The prosecutions’ evidence is built on the questionable credibility of whistleblowers which if exposed to analysis shows inconsistencies manifesting the lies on which they are buil’ read the pleading filed by lawyer Stephen David, Napoles’ lawyer.

“Even the testimonies of the whistleblowers themselves failed to prove the alleged conspiracy between petitioner, Senator Enrile

and lawyer Gigi Reyes.

“Benhur Luy admitted that he did not witness any meeting between Senator Enrile and the petitioner. In fact, none of the witnesses testified that they were privy to or have personal knowledge about the supposed agreement which petitioner, Senator Enrile and Atty.

Reyes may have in the alleged scheme to carry out the purported PDAF scam,” Napoles argued.

The petitioner also argued that the allegation that she and other accused accumulated or acquired ill-gotten wealth in the amount of at least P50 million should “fall into pieces as the amount of money pilfered cannot be exactly determined.”

“The fact of the matter is that the petitioner is not an incorporator, trustee or officer of any of the six NGOs involved in the PDAFfunded projects of Senator Enrile,” Napoles said.

With this, Napoles said that the Sandiganbayan committed grave abuse of discretion in denying her earlier plea for bail.

Napoles’ camp earlier claimed that her acquittal by the Court of Appeals in the serious illegal detention case has destroyed the credibility of Luy as witness in the pork barrel cases.

The Department of Justice has started a reinvestigation on the PDAF cases after her acquittal with DoJ Secretary Vitaliano

Aguirre II even hinting on Napoles’ eligibility as a state witness.

In August 2015, the SC granted the petition for bail of Enrile in the same plunder case with Napoles before the Sandiganbayan due to his “advanced age and poor health.”

The two other former senators indicted with Napoles in separate plunder cases before the anti-graft court—Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong’ Revilla Jr.—also file bail petitions, but were both junked.

Napoles has previously filed several petitions before the SC seeking to stop her indictment in the PDAF cases, but all were dismissed by the high court.

PCSO intensifies war vs jueteng

THE GRADUATES. Graduates who completed the free skills training at Navotas Hanapbuhay Center

may now earn a living after receiving starter kits from Mayor John Rey Tiangco. Eighty-nine Navoteños were given tools after completing their training on bangus deboning, hair cutting, manicure and pedicure with foot spa, and hair and make-up. Andrew Rabulan

THE Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office on Tuesday assured the government of higher tax revenues with 92 Authorized Agent Corporations under its expanded Small Town Lottery nationwide which is aimed to eradicate all forms of illegal numbers game.

PCSO general manager Alexander Balutan said the PCSO Board recently approved the applications of 36 additional AACs, bringing the number of partners AACs to 92.

“Aside from collecting higher revenues for the government, our STL gaming will likewise kill the illegal numbers game prevailing in the countryside, such as jueteng, virtual 2, masiao, swertres, and its other forms that deprives the government from getting appropriate revenues,” Balutan said.

Out of the 92 AACs — 56 is now fully operational, with 50 of them from the original 56 AACs that

were launched last Jan. 31, 2017 while six others were from the 36 newly approved AACs. “With the operation of the 56 AACs, the PCSO can guarantee the government of higher tax remittances that will be used to help more Filipinos in dire need of medical assistance,” Balutan said.

Recently, Balutan scored claims by gambling operator Mr. Charlie “Atong” Ang that the PCSO is “sugarcoating” the actual sales of STL— saying that there is no reason for the agency to under-declare its revenues, which generated P5.018 billion from January to May this year, up from the P2.066-billion earnings in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Balutan said the 56 operational AACs have contributed almost 25 percent of the total receipts of PCSO. The more than P6.17 billion generated revenue of STL within the half year of 2017 were

able to assist 185 thousand beneficiaries under the Individual Medical Assistance Program, with the agency spending P3.6 billion.

A total of 202 ambulance units were also distributed nationwide from January to June amounting to more than P156 million while 31 local government units received medicines amounting to P709,395.30 from PCSO. “We have done a lot in improving our sales within the past few months.

However, we are still asking our partners AACs to continue with the goal of increasing STL revenues to assist the LGUs in the implementation of the various charity programs of the agency which primarily help Filipinos who are in need of medical assistance.

Balutan also renewed his call to the public to support and protect the operation of expanded STL saying that “every peso that they pay for their bet goes to charity.”

Sports

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Altas subdue CSB Blazers T

By Peter Atencio

Games Thursday

(at the Arellano University gym, Legarda) 2 p.m. Arellano vs San Sebastian (jrs) 4 p.m. Arellano vs San Sebastian (srs)

HE University of Perpetual Help Altas overcame numerous turnovers and put away the College of St. Benilde Blazers in a protested 69-65 win yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.

Prince Eze scored five of his 11 point tally in the final stretches of the game to lift the Altas to their first win in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

Genmar Ylagan and Jonathan Yuhico added 12 points as the Altas

joined the defending champion San Beda Red Lions and the Arellano University Chiefs in the early lead.

A displeased Blazers side placed the contest under protest after the Altas showed up wearing dark-colored uniforms, instead of the prescribed white ones.

Meanwhile, CJ Perez made his return to collegiate action a memorable one, hitting 22 points and hauling down 10 rebounds for the Lyceum Pirates in their 96-75 smashing of the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.

Perez, who is back after leaving San Sebastian College three years ago to seek a spot with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, made 11 points in the final period as the Pirates took a 21-point edge at endgame.

The Pirates got off to a great

start, battling turnovers and to move ahead, 27-18 in the first period, and moving away, 68-54, in the third.

“Our concern is our 23 turnovers, and free throws are a struggle. But, we’ll take this win,” said Pirates coach Topex Robinson.

Gab Dagangon led with 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Altas, who finally fought to hold on to the lead in the last 48.3 seconds.

That was after Eze struck with a putback that put them on top for good, 66-65.

The Blazers then bungled two chances to score off rookie Unique Naboa’s attacks in the next play.

The Altas took advantage of

this as Eze scored on a split free throws in the ensuing play, and in the lats 6.5 seconds, This handed the Altas a fourpoint edge as time winded down.

“Nag-collapse din sila. First game kasi,” said Altas coach Jimwell Gican.

Action was delayed by 30 minutes as the management committee deliberated on commissioner Bai Cristobal’s decision to give the green light to the game and for both parties settle the issue on the uniforms after the game.

Kendrix Belgica made 16 points for the Blazers, who played with new coach TY Tang calling the shots.

Dragon Boat team prepares for Asiad THE RP Dragon Boat team has a year to undergo training to prepare for the 2018 Asian Games that will be held at Indonesia on Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.

Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) President Jonne Go said that the team should be well-trained for the Asian Games since the event only allows all-men and all-women participants.

“Prior to the preparation of Asian games next year there would be one more international exposure”, Go said.

According to the PCKF president, sending them to experience and participate in competitions is better than a training camp here in the country.

Before the year ends, the team will participate in the Southeast Asian Championships that will possibly hosted by Thailand.

“Naniniwala kami na ‘pag nagkasama-sama pa sila, sabi nga nung isang teammate nila, hindi mahirap manalo kapag ensayado tayo,” president Go confided.

The PCKF continually searches for aspiring athletes and promising talents who are willing to experience the sport.

The Philippine team bagged a total of 4 gold medals at set a new record with an estimated time of 41.40 seconds in the 2017 Taiwan International Dragon Boat Championship held at Changhua, Taiwan on July 9.

President Go said at the Philippine Sportswriter Association (PSA) Forum (held at the Golden Phoenix Hotel on Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Sunrise Drive, Pasay City) that the secret of the Philippine Dragon Boat team lies within the coaching strategies and how they apply these strategies in the game. Patricia Eculao

Alaska Aces center Sonny Thoss (left) grabs the rebound against Star Hotshots import Ricardo Ratliffe (20). The Aces battle the NLEX Road Warriors to open the 2017 PBA Governors Cup on July 19.

PH to ensure successful AVC tourney THE Philippine government is leaving no stone unturned for the success of the country’s hosting of the 19th AVC Asian Senior Women’s Championship set from Aug. 9 to 17 in Binan City and Muntinlupa City.

Malacañang, through its lawyer Concepcion Ferrolino-Edad, recently tasked all government agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations, to provide support to the country’s hosting of the prestigious tournament, which stakes

port to Philippine volleyball.

Last year, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea declared the month of October as “Volleyball Month” that paved the way for the successful hosting of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship.

Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) acting president Peter Cayco lauded this pronouncement

by Malacanang, saying government support is a major boost to the country’s hosting of the biggest, most prestigious volleyball

ranking points in the FIVB. With the pronouncement, all government agencies will be mobilized, especially vital offices like the Philippine Sports Commission, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, Metro Manila Development Authority and Department of Tourism, to ensure that the country’s hosting of the event will be trouble-free.

This is the second time that the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte showed its sup-

tournament in Asia.

“We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the national government for showing us that they’re behind us in growing the sport by giving us this kind of support.”

“Rest assured that we will do our best to come up with a very good hosting and make the country proud both inside and outside the playing court. We will roll out the red carpet for all delegates and make sure to give them a wonderful experience,” he added.

GAB thanks WBO for prompt response

By Randy Caluag

Games and Amusement Board Chairman Abraham Mitra (right) said the results of the review did not matter anymore but thanked the WBA for the quick review.

THE Games and Amusement Board (GAB) of the Philippines expressed its appreciation to the World Boxing Organization for acting swiftly on its request to review the welterweight title between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Australian Jeff Horn.

Horn won that one but a lot of boxing fans around the world were not convinced of the unanimous decision win.

(The WBO, acting on the formal complaint of the GAB, re-scored the fight on Monday, Tuesday in Manila, using a five-man panel of judges and got the same result—victory for Horn. See related story in page 1.)

For GAB chairman Abraham Mitra, however, the results of the review did not matter anymore .

“We are grateful that the WBO acted promptly on our request, but no matter what review they do, it will be hard to change the result as the referee didn’t call it close. The judges’ scores would have greatly changed if the referee did his job properly,” Mitra said in a statement.

In sending the request for review to the WBO, Mitra said he was not expecting a reversal of the outcome , he was hoping for WBO “to identify possible errors on the part of the referees or judges who officiated the fight.”

Mitra said the referee didn’t have full control of the fight and allowed Horn to employ

unsportsmanlike tactics on Pacquiao and never lifted a finger nor gave the Australian even a mere warning.

“He [referee] didn’t give Senator Manny Pacquiao the respect and fair protection that is due to a people’s champ.”

After the bout on July 2 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Horn earned a unanimous decision win with one judge scoring with a wide margin of 117111 while the two others had it with identical 115-113 scores.

In the rescoring made by the WBO on Monday (Tuesday in Manila), three judges scored in favor of Horn (114113, 114-113 and 115-113) while one judge put it at 114114 even and another had it 114-113 for Pacquiao.

Jockey, stewards sternly warned on race mess THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE SOMETIMES it happens that there are horse owners who run coupled entries in a major race.

One entry is the intended winner and the other the “rabbit” to wear opponents down.

It is a racing tactic designed to strengthen the career accomplishments of one horse over the other. In terms of betting, both entries carry the same number so should either of them win, the bettor’s wager is still good – there is no effect on the betting.

However, this stratagem does take away from the “rabbit” the

chance to win and notch its own victories, unless it’s much better than its partner. In that case, its jockey must, in fairness, ride the horse out and allow it to finish on merit.

But it could happen that a rabbit’s jockey, in his eagerness to please his owner and/or trainer, will trash his mount’s opportunity in order to hand the victory on a golden plate to their partner, the designated winner.

The present leadership of the Philippine Racing Commission takes a dim view of this decades-old ploy. They recently chided jockey Kelvin Abobo for his ride on Brilliance last June 18, 2017 at Santa Ana Park in the second leg of the Philracom Triple Crown, the country’s prestigious race trilogy for 3-year-olds.

Brilliance ran as the coupled entry of Sepfourteen, who had won the first leg of the series. The latter won narrowly and as I noted in my column about the results of that race, Brilliance would have easily won if she’d been given her head.

At the investigation conducted by the Philracom’s Committee on Facilities and Conduct of Races, Abobo explained that he believed his mount was “outclassed” by Sepfourteen. Thus, he “kept looking back to make sure [he] would place second because [he] expected Sepfourteen to gain speed in the last 200 meters.”

However, the rider “admitted that it was possible for [his] horse to [have won] the race.”

In line with the Committee’s findings and recommendation, Philracom deemed that particular

performance of Abobo’s “questionable” and issued him a stern warning, with the further caveat that “any repetition of similar acts will be dealt with more severely.”

Also hauled on the carpet were the Santa Ana Park stewards, who did not impose a penalty on Abobo “because coupled entries [are] treated as one and the betting was not affected.

They also opined that it was but “natural for jockey Abobo to assist [his] coupled entry in order for the latter to sweep the Triple Crown.”

This is the usual way that the rule on coupled entries is interpreted.

Philracom, however, reminded the stewards that “there is no rule prohibiting the imposition of a penalty on erring jockeys in case of coupled entries.” A stern warning was also issued to the stewards.

I’m a firm believer in horses running on their own merits, even the case of coupled entries. I don’t hold with the “rabbit” tactic; coupled entries should be run to double your chances of winning and placing. Why not race them both to win, and see once and for all which one is better? Let’s not even go into the impact that win-lose records have on breeding and sales.

Brilliance could have won the second leg of the Triple Crown this year. If she had, she’d have made racing history a little bit different and a lot more honest and authentic. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @artuoste.

NLEX, Alaska open PBA

By Jeric Lopez

FOUR teams hungry for glory will open the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on July 19.

The Alaska Aces and the NLEX Road Warriors, teams who missed the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup, get their shot at redemption early, battling each other during opening day to see who can fast track its development.

The Aces will parade returning import Buck Henton while the Road Warriors will bank on a fresh face in Aaron Fuller in their bid to attain respectability.

On the same opening playdate of the season-ending conference, the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters and Kia, formerly Mahindra, collide.

Like Alaska, the Fuel Masters will be bringing back their highscoring import from last season, Eugene Phelps.

On the other hand, Kia, which campaigned under the Mahindra brand in the past two seasons, is returning its old team name but will have a fresh reinforcement in Chane Behanan.

Defending champion Barangay Ginebra, led by its returning import Justin Brownlee, will be one of the favorites coming in.

The Gin Kings start their title defense on consecutive Sundays, July 23 and 30, against the Meralco Bolts, in a rematch of last season’s finals, and GlobalPort Batang Pier, respectively.

Grand Slam-seeking San Miguel Beer will open its quest for a hat-trick of championships on July 29 against the Blackwater Elite in Antipolo City.

Venus rises at Wimbledon LONDON, United Kingdom—Venus Williams is ready to roll back the years as the American star eyes a place in the Wimbledon semi-finals, while British contender Johanna Konta faces a grudge match against Simona Halep on Tuesday.

It is eight years since Williams last reached the Wimbledon final, but the 37-year-old showed she is still a formidable force on grass by thrashing Ana Konjuh in the fourth round.

Williams’ quarter-final opponent—Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko—was just 11 when Venus won the last of her five Wimbledon titles in 2008.

The 20-year-old idolized Venus’s sister Serena Williams, the reigning champion who is absent while she prepares to have her first child, and has modeled her go-for-broke game after the American legend.

Having stunned the tennis world by becoming the first unseeded player to win the French Open, Ostapenko is brim full of confidence.

Williams, this year’s Australian Open runnerup, is the oldest Wimbledon quarter-finalist for 23 years and she knows she’ll have to summon the kind of dominant display that made her so deadly a decade ago.

“She had an amazing moment in Paris.

She’s riding on that momentum,” Williams said of Ostapenko.

“I’m playing pretty solid. I’d like to win every round in straight sets. If not, all that matters is you win.

“Winning never gets old at any stage in your career, ever.”

Serena, in 2002 and 2015, is the last player to win the French Open and Wimbledon back to back, with Ostapenko not yet looking that far ahead.

“The first couple of matches here were tough.

I wasn’t playing my best. But I still won. I was fighting. That’s the key for getting your confidence and playing better with every match,” she said.

British star Konta and Romanian world number two Halep clash in what promises to be a heated affair with so much at stake for both players.

Halep can replace Angelique Kerber on top of the world rankings with a win, while Konta is looking to move a step closer to becoming the first woman to win Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1977.

As if that wasn’t enough to fuel emotions on Centre Court, the pair were involved in a spiteful Fed Cup clash between their countries in April. AFP

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

P0 M+ P0 M

Sports

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

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

Lady Jet Spikers battle Maroons HAIR Fairy-Air Force tries to get back on t rack as it tangles with University of the Philippines today even as Adamson and the Power Smashers clash in a duel of winless teams in the Premier Volleyball League at the Filoil Arena in San Juan.

The Lady Jet Spikers kicked off their campaign with a four-set victory over the Perlas-BanKo Spikers last July 1 but succumbed to Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers last Sunday.

They, however, hope to rebound in their 4 p.m. clash with the Lady Maroons, who dropped their first two games to the Pocari Sweat and the BaliPure sides.

Air Force coach Jasper Jimenez is expected to bank on Iari Yongco, Jocemer Tapic, Mary Ann Pantino and veteran Joy Cases as the Jet Spikers face the young UP side priming up for the UAAP wars.

The Lady Falcons and the Power Smashers also lost their first two games, making their 6:30 p.m. a must-win with each side itching to wheel back into contention in the short single round robin elims of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

The Power Smashers, for one, will be trying to shed off their “heartbreak team” tag after bowing to the Water Defenders and the Lady Warriors in a pair of five setters. They blew a 2-1 lead to BaliPure and failed to sustain their fightback from 0-2 down against Pocari.

But veteran coach Ernesto Pamilar is confident his wards would be able to put it all together and unleash a strong finishing kick this time against a collegiate team in the Lady Falcons, who, however, gave the Perlas Spikers a big scare before fading out in four last Sunday.

Pamilar hopes to draw solid games from Dimdim Pacres, Regine Arocha, Wyneth Eulalio, Jovelyn Prado and Katherine Villegas as they slug it out with the likes of Jessica Galanza, Christine Soyud and May Roque and 16-year-old setter Louie Romero of Adamson in a match that would keep the winner in the quarters hunt.

The games can be viewed live via streaming on www.sports.abs-cbn. com/livestream/pvl.

Saso leads PH team YUKA Saso chases the one crown that got away last year as the FilJapanese leads a 43-strong Philippine contingent starting its campaign in the IMG Academy Junior World golf championships in 10 different courses around San Diego, California on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).

Saso, now among Asia’s top female junior players, returns to the 15-18 years division competition at Torrey Pines North as one of the favorites a year after she blew a fourstroke lead in the final round and settled for third place.

The 16-year-old Saso spearheads a solid PH challenge in the centerpiece age bracket that also counts the multi-titled Bernice Ilas and boys bets Luis Miguel Castro and Ryan Abdon who showed has shown a lot of promise in several pro stints.

“That loss is behind me now. It’s good that I have another chance and hopefully I’ll do better this time,” said Saso, who, after the heartbreak in San Diego, went on to post significant feats including a semifinal stint in the US Women’s Amateur and leading the country to a sweep of the individual and team events at the World Junior Girls Championship.

Also tipped to contend carrying the colors of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines and its main sponsor Philippine Airlines as official carrier are Sophia Blanco and Annyka Cayabyab in the girls 13-14 years, Eagle Ace Superal in the girls 11-12 years, and Precious Zaragosa in the girls 6 years and under.

Samantha Dizon, competing here for the first time, will try to carry the momentum of a big victory he scored in the 36-hole Future Champions of Golf International championship days before celebrating her 13th birthday.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal falls after diving to play a shot to Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller during their men’s singles fourth round match on the seventh day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10. AFP

Adios Nadal as Muller wins marathon 5-setter

L

ONDON, United Kingdom—Rafael Nadal suffered fresh Wimbledon misery on Monday as the two-time champion crashed to a stunning 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 fourth round defeat against Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.

Just weeks after winning his 10th French Open title, Nadal was condemned to his fifth exit before the quarterfinals in his last five visits to Wimbledon.

“It was not my best match against a very uncomfortable opponent,” said Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion.

“Well done to him. He played great, especially in the fifth set but I fought to the last ball.”

The 31-year-old Spaniard, finally worn down by Muller after four hours and 48 minutes on Court One, hasn’t made the quarterfinals since 2011.

“Tired,” was 34-year-old Muller’s response after the

thrilling encounter, which had the knock-on effect of pushing Novak Djokovic’s last 16 match against Adrian Mannarino back to Tuesday.

Nadal converted just two of 16 break points, while Muller fired 30 aces and 95 winners.

Muller, seeded 16th, will make his first Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance against former US Open champion Marin Cilic on Wednesday.

“Tired! It was a long match.

I did really well in the first two sets then Rafa stepped it up and in the end it was just a big battle,” said Muller, who won on a fifth match point, more than an

hour and a half after his first.

In a pulsating final set, which stretched to 95 minutes, Nadal saved two match points in the 10th game and two more in the 20th.

In between, Muller had to fight off a break point in the 13th game and four more in the 19th.

Nadal was always chasing the score and he finally cracked in the 28th game of the decider when he went long with a return.

“I said, ‘just give it a shot, go 100 percent’, and it’s a great feeling to be winning that match,” added Muller whose only other win over the great Spaniard also came at Wimbledon, 12 years ago.

Defending champion Murray reached a 10th successive Wimbledon quarter-final with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 win over France’s Benoit Paire.

World number one Murray will face Sam Querrey for a

place in the semi-finals.

“I thought I played well.

Maybe a couple of sloppy service games in the first set but that was by far the best I’d hit the ball so far in the tournament. So I’m really pleased with that,” said Murray.

Only Federer and Jimmy Connors (11 each) have reached more consecutive Wimbledon quarter-finals than Murray.

Murray’s win meant that with Johanna Konta also making the last-eight in the women’s tournament, it is the first time since 1973 that Britain has two players in the quarter-finals.

Federer reached his 50th Grand Slam quarter-final and 15th at Wimbledon with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Grigor Dimitrov.

The Swiss star will now face Milos Raonic, the 2016 runnerup, after the sixth-seeded Canadian clinched a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5,

6-1 win over Alexander Zverev of Germany, the 10th seed.

Raonic defeated Federer in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2016.

Federer, 35, is the second oldest man to make the quarter-finals at Wimbledon behind Ken Rosewall who was 39 when he reached the last-eight in 1971.

“I’m thrilled to be back in the quarters again,” said Federer who took his record over Dimitrov to 6-0.

The All England Club defended the decision not to switch Djokovic against Mannarino to Centre Court.

“It was determined the match could not be moved to Centre Court due to the number of spectators remaining in the grounds,” said a statement.

“As late as 8:30pm, 30,000 people still remained in the grounds, and therefore moving the match would have created a significant safety issue. AFP

Mayweather asks for reprieve on 2015 tax bill LOS ANGELES—Floyd Mayweather has asked US authorities for more time to pay his 2015 tax bill, the year of his money-spinning mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao, filings showed Monday.

Mayweather, who is coming out of retirement to fight UFC star Conor McGregor next month, has requested he be allowed to settle his 2015 taxes after he is paid for his August 26 bout.

The McGregor fight is expected to net Mayweather a nine-figure payday, boosting career earnings that have already topped $700 million according to one estimate in Forbes magazine.

Although the 40-year-old pocketed a mammoth $220 million for his May 2015 bout with Pacquiao, a filing to the Internal Revenue Service posted by the Law360.com said Mayweather’s

assets were mostly “illiquid”.

“Although the taxpayer has substantial assets, those assets are restricted and primarily illiquid,” the petition said.

Cash flow would improve after the McGregor bout.

“The taxpayer has a significant liquidity event scheduled in about 60 days from which he intends to pay the balance of the 2015 tax liability due and outstanding,” the f iling added.

Mayweather quit boxing after beating Andre Berto in September 2015.

However he was lured out of retirement to face UFC star McGregor, who has never boxed professionally. The match-up, which has been widely ridiculed, is expected to be one of the most lucrative bouts in history. AFP

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (center), his daughter Jirah Mayweather and his son Koraun Mayweather attend a 2017 Summer League game between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Boston won 86-81. AFP

Gafurov defends title against Nguyen

Marat Gafurov

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia —Undefeated ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov of Russia puts his world title on the line against top contender Martin “The Situ-Asian” Nguyen of Australia in the main event of ONE: Quest for Greatness at the iconic Stadium Negara on August 18.

Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship expressed his excitement at bringing another world class card featured the promotions best athletes to Kuala Lumpur.

“Our warriors are eager to put on a show for fans in Kuala

Lumpur, and it is our honor to have them perform in this marvelous city. Marat Gafurov and Martin Nguyen are two of the promotion’s finest featherweights. They have met before, with Gafurov taking victory via submission in their first encounter. This time, however, a betterprepared and refocused Nguyen vows to finally bring the title back to Sydney,” he said.

Gafurov of Dagestan, Russia, is the reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion. He is undefeated with 15 wins and no losses. Gafurov is a high-level grappler with 11 of his wins coming by impressive submission over top-caliber opponents.

Rarely challenged and always dominant, Gafurov captured the featherweight title in 2015 with a gutsy victory over former champion Narantungalag Jadambaa in an epic battle.

In his last bout, Gafurov defeated Jadambaa once again in a rematch a year later to cement his claim as the undisputed ONE Featherweight World Champion. He will defend his title next against Australia’s Martin Nguyen.

Twenty eight year old Nguyen of Sydney, Australia, is a former featherweight title challenger with a 8-1 professional record.

His only loss came at the hands of reigning ONE Feather-

weight World Champion Marat Gafurov, when he stepped up to accept their first showdown on just a few days’ notice.

None of Nguyen’s victories have gone to a decision, giving him five solid knockout wins as well as three victories by submission. In his last bout, Nguyen defeated Japanese veteran warrior Kazunori Yokota via first-round knockout. Nguyen’s all-around skill set allows him to compete at the highest level as a professional. In a highly-anticipated rematch, Nguyen once again receives a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship when he takes on Marat Gafurov for the second time.

PH manufacturing grows 5.8% B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

B1

PAL DONATION. Rear Admiral

Narciso Vingson, deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (second from left), receives a P2-million check from Philippine Airlines chairman Dr. Lucio Tan (third from left), as the flag carrier’s support to Filipino soldiers fighting in Marawi City.

Dr. Tan lauded the courage and sacrifice of those in the frontlines and thanked the AFP for their loyal service to the nation. With them are (from left) AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla Jr., PAL president Jaime Bautista and Basic Holdings Corp. president and retired Lt. Gen. Salvador Mison.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, July 11, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

50.6630

Japan

Yen

0.008770

0.4443

UK

Pound

1.288300

65.2691

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128005

6.4851

Switzerland

Franc

1.035733

52.4733

Canada

Dollar

0.775916

39.3102

Singapore

Dollar

0.722282

36.5930

Australia

Dollar

0.760500

38.5292

Bahrain

Dinar

2.654632

134.4916

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266652

13.5094

Brunei

Dollar

0.719683

36.4613

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029342

1.4866

UAE

Dirham 0.272287

13.7949

Euro

Euro

1.140100

57.7609

Korea

Won

0.000871

0.0441

China

Yuan

0.146994

7.4472

India

Rupee

0.015516

0.7861

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.232829

New Zealand Dollar

0.727000

Taiwan

0.032757

Dollar

11.7958 36.8320 1.6596 Source: PDS Bridge

IN BRIEF LBC to refile share sale documents LBC Express Holdings Inc., a logistics company controlled by the Araneta family, said it will refile with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement for a P1.5-billion share sale.

LBC Express said in a disclosure to the stock exchange its board of directors approved during a meeting on July 10 the re-filing with the SEC of the application for the sale of 69.1 million common shares, consisting of 10 million primary shares and 59.1 million secondary shares owned by selling shareholders.

The company set an indicative price of P22 per share, higher than the stock’s closing price of P15.50 per share on Monday.

Philippine Commercial Capital Inc. was tapped as the lead underwriter and issue manager for the follow-on offering.

“The company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes and working capital, including the expansion of retail and corporate business, information technology development, and other corporate purposes,” LBC Express said.

The follow-on offering is subject to the approval of the SEC and the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Hyundai’s car sales increased 9% in June HYUNDAI Asia Resources Inc., the official distributor of Hyundai vehicles in the Philippines, said sales in June increased 9 percent to 3,203 vehicles from 2,952 units in the same month last year.

This pushed total sales in the first half to 17,364 units, up 6 percent from 16,362 units delivered a year ago.

“Hari’s aggressive growth in the first half of 2017 is a strong testament to the impact we have set in the hearts of the Filipino people. A responsive automotive market, together with our high-quality, best-in-class, and customer-focused products and services, keep us on track for another record-breaking year,” said Hari president and chief executive Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo.

HARI’s favorable performance was attributed to the passenger cars segment performance that grew by 7 percent from 11,207 units in the first half of 2016 to 12,037 units in the same period of 2017. June sales was 13 percent higher to 2,269 units from 2,014 units a year ago.

Sales of Accent, which brand’s top-selling nameplate, reached 7,711 units in the first half, said Agudo.

Light commercial vehicles’ sales also improved 3 percent to 5,327 units. Othel V. Campos

PH booked record trade deficit in May T HE Philippines posted its biggest trade deficit since data became available, fueled by a rapidly expanding economy.

The trade gap widened to $2.8 billion in May, the Philippine Statistics Authority said in a statement Tuesday. That’s the highest since at least January 1980. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of nine economists was for a $1.5-billion shortfall.

Exports rose 14 percent from a year ago to $5.5 billion while imports jumped 17 percent to a record $8.2 billion during the month.

Trade deficit hit $11 billion in the first five months of 2017 and $26.7 billion in 2016, eating into the country’s current account surplus.

Import demand in the Philippines is surging as the government powers ahead with an ambitious infrastructure program, boosting economic growth to more than 6 percent, among the fastest in the world.

As the nation’s current account balance swings from a surplus to a deficit, that’s re-

moving a key support for the currency and the government’s credit rating. With remittances also volatile, the peso has become Asia’s worst-performing currency this year and dropped to its lowest level against the dollar since 2006 on Tuesday.

“The deficit widening is something that’s really consistent with an economy that’s powering ahead and doing very well,” said Euben Paracuelles, an economist at Nomura Holdings Inc. in Singapore.

“The deficit will probably stay large and that would imply more pressures on the currency, more depreciation pressure on the peso over that period,” he said.

The bigger-than-expected trade deficit underscores that the currency’s underperformance this year “is a result of a confirmation of a more challenging current account,” Joey Cuyegkeng, ING Groep NV senior economist in Manila said in note.

Electronics, led by semiconductors, remained the country’s top export product, increasing 18 percent in May from a year ago to $2.8 billion The biggest increases in imports came from metal products, which climbed 44 percent, and transport equipment,

which surged 38 percent Biggest growth in imports came from South Korea, Indonesia and Japan.

Data showed total external trade in goods reached $13.731 billion in May, up 15.4 percent from $11.896 billion a year ago.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said the country should continue to promote export competitiveness, diversify its products and markets and maximize trade agreements to sustain trade growth for the rest of the year.

“Our country’s trade growth is consistent with the global pick-up. We are striding forward with world trade performers and we intend to match this growth with sound macroeconomic policies,” Pernia said in a statement.

From January to May, total trade increased 13.9 percent to $63.3 billion, with exports and imports growing by 16.3 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.

“As we aim to diversify our markets, we are pleased to note that our exports to Malta, United Arab Emirates, and India grew significantly,” Pernia said.

Bloomberg, with Julito G. Rada

Britain to keep duty free access of PH products

By Othel V. Campos FORMER British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said the United Kingdom will continue to offer duty free access to most Philippine products, even after London’s European Union exit.

“This includes the GSP+ for the Philippines,” Ahmad said in a farewell message to the Philippines.

Ahmad left the country Tuesday for another diplomatic assignment. He was succeeded by

Daniel Pruce, who came from Thailand where he served as UK deputy chief of mission.

A report from the UK website said “the commitment means that around 48 countries across the globe, from Bangladesh to Sierra Leone, Haiti and Ethiopia will continue to benefit from duty-free exports into the UK on all goods other than arms and ammunition, known as ‘everything but arms’.”

The Philippines was one of the beneficiaries of the EU Generalized System of Preference Plus, a 10-year program that gives

the Philippines a larger export coverage of 6,274 tariff lines at lower if not zero tariff. The reckoning was December 2014.

GSP+ provides market access to Filipino exporters and allows cheaper Philippine products for EU consumers or cheaper inputs for their manufacturers.

Government data showed that Philippine exports to the EU, under the EU-GSP+, increased 27 percent in 2015. It has yet to release 2016 statistics on EUGSP+.

The Philippines was previouslycovered by the regular EU-

GSP which provided zero duty to only 2,442 products and reduced tariffs for 3,767 products.

Trade undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo earlier said that being a beneficiary of the EU-GSP+ program was an essential achievement of the Philippines’ strategy to sustain and nurture the country’s trade and investment relations with Europe.

According to the European Union’s monitoring report, the Philippines has been making good progress on the implementation of its commitments under the EU-GSP+.

BSP: Peso drop not ‘unusual’

By Julito G. Rada BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. said Tuesday he is not alarmed by the depreciation of the peso against the US dollar, saying its weakness is “not unusual.”

“It’s actually just reflecting market conditions and underlying fundamentals. We’ve seen nothing particularly unusual about this. It’s the nature of the exchange rate to fluctuate,” Espenilla said.

“As far as the BSP is concerned, we’re managing excessive volatility,” Espenilla said.

He said the approach of Bangko Sentral remained to let the exchange rate reflect underlying market conditions.

“What we look at isn’t much the exchange rate but the underlying conditions. Today, the underlying conditions are quite healthy, as a result prices reflect those condition… Our focus is keeping inflation low and banking system strong. These are still existing today,” Espenilla said.

He said volatility continued to exist because of policy uncertainties and political tensions and it was “very difficult to say what’s affecting it on a daily basis.”

The peso recovered slightly on Tuesday to close at 50.53 against the dollar, after hitting a 10-year low of nearly 50.7 against the greenback Monday.

University of Asia & the Pacific economist Victor Abola last week said the weakness of the peso could be traced to the expected stronger imports.

The Philippines posted a record trade deficit of $2.8 billion in May and $11 billion in the first five months, as imports growth continued to outpace those of exports.

MRT maintenance firm disputes findings of CoA

By Darwin G. Amojelar

Busan Universal Rail Inc., the maintenance provider of Metro Rail Transit Line 3, explains it has delivered its contractual obligations and even outperformed some requirements to serve the line’s passengers. Shown during a news briefing are (from left) Buri deputy manager for rolling stock Melvyn Capistrano, Busan Transportation Corp. team leader Jongtae Park and Buri spokesperson Charles Mercado. Sonny Espiritu

BUSAN Universal Rail Inc., the maintenance provider of MRT Line 3, on Tuesday contested a Commission of Audit report which found that more glitches were recorded in the system after KoreanFilipino venture took over the line’s maintenance.

Charles Mercado, legal counsel and spokesperson of Busan Universal, said in a news briefing the CoA report was “unfair” because the figure cited in the report was 2014 and not 2015.

“Many of the [COA] findings are fair, except omitting the year 2015. They should have compared our performance to 2015,” Mercado said.

Busan Universal, which took over the maintenance of MRT in January 2016, was able to cut system stoppages to about 1,116 in the first six months from 2,705 in 2016, according to Mercado. In 2015, the system stoppages level was 2,776.

According to the June 23 CoA report, incidents of passenger unloading surged 163.96 percent to 586 in 2016 from 222 in 2014, while train removals rose 19.81 percent to 2,691. Service interruptions went up by 26 percent to 63.

“We vehemently disprove allegations of poor maintenance under our watch, as in some areas of our contract, we performed more maintenance activities than what is required if only to ensure safe train operations,” Mercado said.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

SEC clears Chelsea’s P8-b public offering

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission approved the P8-billion initial public offering of Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp., a company led by Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy. SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong confirmed in a text message the corporate regulator gave its green light on the IPO, despite the accounting issues involving 2Go Group Inc., an investee company of CLC. “Our understanding is that there is no impact since 2Go financial were not consolidated into Chelsea’s financials. Instead, Chelsea reflected its investments in 2Go related entities under Nenaco and Udenna Corp.,” Amatong said.

SEC sources said CLC agreed to issue certification that the restatement of 2Go Group Inc.’s financial statements for the period 2016 and 2015 would not have an impact on its financial statements.

CLC acquired a significant interest in 2Go in March 2017. The new management of 2Go took over only in the second quarter of 2017 with a commitment to steering the integrated transport solutions provider to growth.

The latest registration statement filed with the SEC showed that CLC would set the final offer price of the company’s IPO on Thursday, or after it secured an approval also the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Stock market climbs; Waterfront, ICTSI up S TOCKS rose Tuesday, after a broadly positive lead from Europe and Wall Street, ahead of comments later this week by US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, rose 20 points, or 0.3 percent, to close at 7,858.14, as five of the six major sectors advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, rose 1 point to settle at 4,714.15, on a value turnover of P7.2 billion. Losers outnumbered gainers, 118 to 86, while 50 issues were unchanged.

Twelve of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by hotel operator Waterfront Philippines Inc. which jumped 13.5 percent to P1.18 and developer Filinvest Land Inc. which climbed 3.3 percent to P1.88.

Port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. went up 3.2 percent to P104.20.

Meanwhile, Asian dealers remained upbeat after Friday’s sur-

prisingly strong US jobs data that analysts said has put the Federal Reserve on course for at least one more interest rate hike this year, boosting the dollar.

Eyes will now turn to Fed boss Janet Yellen’s congressional testimony this week for a better handle on the bank’s plans for rates as well as winding down its other stimulus put in place during the financial crisis.

However, the key catalysts for business this week will be the beginning of the corporate report season, with big-name firms including JP Morgan, PepsiCo and Citigroup in line.

“Looking ahead, we think im-

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JULY 11, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 57.9 119,410 103 824,940 3.92 5,000 124.4 1,283,710 1.3 11,000 36.75 335,700 16.18 15,400 31.25 3,196,300 8 3,100 0.66 184,000 1.8 97,000 870 610 0.69 2,692,000 94.95 6,909,010 0.87 1,931,000 15.66 5,000 25 700 67.8 604,240 249 900 110 10,230 88.15 1,320 59 183,800 219.4 546,790 1,635 570 85.5 29,670 1.36 192,000

6,875,226.50 84,742,484 19,600 159,350,835 14,300 12,351,015 247,368 100,192,300 24,800 121,440 171,310 530,700 1,858,020 656,024,111.50 1,690,660 78,300 17,500 41,089,347 224,430 1,204,120 116,358 10,865,219 119,977,260 936,200 2,537,504 261,090

5,054,973.50 -7,606,261 -20,564,487 62,525 -15,523,145 290,471,506.50 31,520 -313,023.50 696,000 4,131,388.50 -102,587,476 -788,650 -129,164.50 -

39.7 8.74 0.84 1.44 31.65 0.26 116 7.08 18.6 30.05 14.12 70 70 1.93 5.26 11.62 12.22 15.58 10 8.1 5.71 1.66 18.56 69.75 15.14 13.5 16 1.79 207 59.5 3.85 3.39 24 31.95 20.8 18.02 266 0.243 7.01 3.15 6.97 9.6 6.8 10.24 1.92 9.8 68 6.29 305 4.4 5.24 2.62 13.92 4.48 0.143 1.38 161 2.03 31 1.05

INDUSTRIAL 40 552,000 8.8 1,968,300 0.84 5,814,000 1.44 4,447,000 31.65 93,600 0.27 7,130,000 116 10 7.08 3,887,900 18.96 2,800,000 31 325,200 14.12 1,600 70 320 70 1,500 1.96 705,000 5.3 54,500 11.62 22,100 12.28 880,700 15.6 4,661,900 10.34 3,238,200 8.13 4,676,600 5.77 35,319,900 1.76 72,000 18.62 978,600 69.8 77,940 15.14 34,700 13.56 330,000 16.5 5,496,700 2.04 17,021,000 208 120,620 59.5 40 4.12 495,000 3.4 165,000 24.95 1,300 32.15 650,100 20.8 3,663,600 18.02 2,819,700 266.8 546,160 0.245 1,680,000 7.07 18,800 3.15 417,000 7.11 102,300 9.6 3,064,800 6.94 707,000 10.3 60,500 1.97 1,842,000 10.22 4,757,600 68.5 134,470 6.4 167,900 305 35,340 4.41 114,000 5.24 1,886,700 2.7 7,542,000 14.3 4,086,900 4.49 100,000 0.144 2,510,000 1.39 99,000 161.7 1,366,630 2.08 4,957,000 31 1,300 1.05 26,000

22,040,225 17,527,152 4,921,020 6,458,700 2,989,395 1,906,950 1,160 27,623,261 53,091,924 9,872,430 22,600 22,400 107,319 1,371,670 288,512 258,382 10,823,576 72,880,554 33,244,558 38,535,235 204,008,259 121,130 18,234,396 5,440,019 525,602 4,463,848 90,135,476 32,832,610 25,077,534 2,380 1,993,980 565,570 31,510 20,884,000 78,503,660 51,143,508 145,655,914 412,550 133,174 1,316,360 721,719 29,619,019 4,938,275 623,890 3,570,740 47,960,562 9,205,134 1,074,285 10,823,500 501,740 10,457,470 20,615,660 58,593,816 449,030 361,360 137,820 221,105,293 10,226,890 40,300 27,380

-12,451,895 -1,394,289 85,000 -2,882,730 -74,450 -6,340,038 39,850,674 11,900 13,720 -78,250 8,678,830 16,943,950 -12,169,130 19,655,488 -50,433,061 14,642,948 226,929.50 -652,310 -18,272,630 -657,760 -4,552,028 -26,950 -17,850 19,829,375 -9,575,925 -29,137,462.00 -36,677,818 223,290 1,069,700 -562,602 31,060 52,076 -4,213,274 -421,151 -10,108,030 -35,240 -132,816 -82,400 -22,014,688 -12,227,743 910,940 6,200 -

0.365 74.2 14 1.25 6.5 0.335 0.33 854.5 8.06 14.5 7.8 6.01 0.203 1,195 7.4 78.35 5.83 0.97 7.16 14.9 6.62 0.052 1.02 2.24 2.56 102.4 2.68 789 1.44 300 0.285 0.208 0.243

HOLDING FIRMS 0.37 1,490,000 74.35 1,298,080 14 5,585,000 1.25 13,000 6.55 106,100 0.335 5,920,000 0.335 1,490,000 867.5 113,550 8.06 713,500 14.56 14,315,200 7.8 221,200 6.01 100 0.203 570,000 1,195 41,300 7.69 111,100 79 1,343,940 6 45,500 0.98 491,000 7.29 1,676,100 15.02 2,014,400 6.62 18,903,400 0.053 41,300,000 1.15 419,000 2.26 3,859,000 2.56 3,000 103.3 151,300 2.68 34,000 790 345,360 1.45 638,000 303.2 14,190 0.285 10,000 0.208 90,000 0.243 200,000

552,100 96,487,821 78,244,222 16,290 690,333 1,983,950 499,350 98,109,385 5,848,640 208,642,256 1,736,970 601 115,710 49,496,955 822,879 105,807,137.50 268,918 477,670 12,110,732 30,309,726 125,798,426 2,188,590 465,060 8,758,050 7,680 15,526,361 92,520 272,905,410 924,850 4,298,194 2,850 19,000 48,600

-45,899,122 -16,898,478 -33,500 18,195,745 2,601,612 88,805,442 14,678,090 -58,055,622.50 -58,500.00 -7,760 -3,023,206 -4,699,682 -19,852,981 9,080 -3,654,246 -32,036,950 56,360 -939,420 -

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

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

57.9 103.6 3.92 123.9 1.3 36.7 16.02 31.1 8 0.66 1.82 870 0.7 94.15 0.89 15.66 25 68.2 250 120 88.15 60.6 221 1,645 85.25 1.4

57.9 103.6 3.92 124.4 1.3 36.8 16.18 32 8 0.66 1.82 870 0.7 95.5 0.89 15.66 25 68.2 251 120 88.15 60.6 221 1,645 86.4 1.44

57.2 101.5 3.92 123.6 1.3 36.7 16.02 31.1 8 0.66 1.7 870 0.69 94.15 0.87 15.66 25 67.5 249 110 88.15 58.8 217.8 1,635 85.2 1.35

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA DAVINCI CAPITAL DEL MONTE DNL INDUS EAGLE CEMENT EEI CORP EMPERADOR ENERGY DEVT EUROMED FIRST GEN FIRST PHIL HLDG GINEBRA HOLCIM INTEGRATED MICR IONICS JOLLIBEE LIBERTY FLOUR LMG CHEMICALS MABUHAY VINYL MACAY HLDG MANILA WATER MAXS GROUP MEGAWIDE MERALCO MG HLDG PANASONIC PEPSI COLA PETROENERGY PETRON PHIL H2O PHINMA PHINMA ENERGY PHX PETROLEUM PILIPINAS SHELL PRYCE CORP PUREFOODS RFM CORP ROXAS HLDG SFA SEMICON SHAKEYS PIZZA SPC POWER SWIFT FOODS TKC METALS UNIV ROBINA VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

40.25 8.93 0.87 1.5 33.4 0.265 116 7.15 18.88 30.85 14.14 70 75 1.99 5.3 11.8 12.3 15.8 10 8.26 5.71 1.68 18.6 69.85 15.14 13.68 16 1.83 207.8 59.5 3.86 3.57 25 32 21.3 18.36 266.8 0.244 7.13 3.16 7.05 9.75 6.98 10.24 1.94 9.8 69 6.46 308 4.41 5.3 2.75 14 4.5 0.144 1.38 163.8 2.09 31 1.05

40.25 9.04 0.87 1.5 33.4 0.275 116 7.2 19 31.5 14.14 70 75 1.99 5.3 11.8 12.32 15.8 10.46 8.4 5.82 1.76 18.68 69.9 15.18 13.74 16.6 2.04 208.6 59.5 4.16 3.57 25 32.45 21.9 18.4 267 0.248 7.28 3.18 7.11 9.8 7.3 10.4 1.99 10.22 69 6.5 309.8 4.41 5.82 2.79 14.5 4.5 0.145 1.4 163.8 2.1 31 1.06

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

0.37 74.35 14.04 1.27 6.5 0.335 0.34 859.5 8.1 14.52 7.9 6.01 0.203 1,195 7.7 78.5 5.95 0.99 7.24 15.5 6.7 0.053 1.02 2.37 2.56 103.3 2.73 791 1.45 303 0.285 0.211 0.243

0.375 75 14.12 1.27 6.55 0.34 0.34 868 8.28 14.74 7.95 6.01 0.203 1,207 7.8 79.25 6 0.99 7.29 15.5 6.7 0.054 1.19 2.37 2.56 103.3 2.75 791 1.46 304 0.285 0.217 0.243

8990 HLDG A BROWN ARANETA PROP ARTHALAND CORP AYALA LAND BELLE CORP CEB LANDMASTERS CEBU HLDG CENTURY PROP CITY AND LAND CITYLAND DEVT CROWN EQUITIES CYBER BAY DOUBLEDRAGON EMPIRE EAST EVER GOTESCO FILINVEST LAND GLOBAL ESTATE IRC PROP MEGAWORLD MRC ALLIED PHIL ESTATES

6.05 1.37 2.43 1.15 40 3.86 5.4 5.27 0.68 1.24 1.57 0.185 0.54 46.6 0.8 0.161 1.84 1.78 1.1 4.52 0.365 0.37

6.07 1.38 2.52 1.15 40.6 3.89 5.45 5.27 0.69 1.24 1.58 0.189 0.54 47.1 0.8 0.165 1.95 1.83 1.17 4.59 0.37 0.375

5.99 1.35 2.43 1.12 39.95 3.85 5.33 5.27 0.65 1.18 1.55 0.185 0.52 46.5 0.77 0.161 1.84 1.65 1.08 4.5 0.34 0.365

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.62 4.07 30.05 24.1 1.77 3.21 33 1.06 6.67 0.97 5.97

0.63 4.15 40 24.45 2 3.29 33.15 1.06 7.29 0.97 5.98

0.61 3.96 30.05 24 1.77 3.21 32.9 1.03 6.67 0.93 5.9

0.62 4.1 38.95 24 1.85 3.21 33.05 1.05 7.29 0.94 5.97

9,491,000 1,309,000 10,200 5,672,500 4,267,000 1,377,000 6,533,600 6,666,000 1,700 875,000 1,721,000

5,879,770 5,320,460 386,850 136,859,765 7,977,620 4,528,520 215,771,900 6,935,240 11,463 825,050 10,259,414

31,000 51,964,445 -11,400 -16,110,075 94,000 -6,831,639

ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL ASIAN TERMINALS BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN GRAND PLAZA HARBOR STAR IMPERIAL INTL CONTAINER IPM HLDG ISLAND INFO ISM COMM JACKSTONES LBC EXPRESS LEISURE AND RES LORENZO SHIPPNG MACROASIA MANILA BULLETIN MANILA JOCKEY MELCO RESORTS METRO RETAIL MLA BRDCASTING NOW CORP PACIFIC ONLINE PAL HLDG PHIL RACING PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRANSPACIFIC BR TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

42 1.75 0.5 0.044 10.78 5.3 9.6 0.089 97.7 9.8 8.58 2.34 970 2,038 6.25 15.7 13.2 2.9 3.4 101.7 8.72 0.186 1.56 3.49 15.5 5.07 1.7 8.45 0.59 2.22 8.83 5 16.2 2.57 11.52 5.04 8.23 175.5 11.08 1,701 1.59 0.415 46.4 88 6.07 4.94 1.53 1.89 3.64 1.05 8.63

42.1 1.78 0.5 0.044 10.78 5.3 9.72 0.089 97.7 9.8 8.7 2.34 970 2,044 6.25 15.7 13.2 2.97 3.5 105 8.74 0.186 1.64 3.5 15.96 5.14 1.7 8.8 0.61 2.29 8.94 5 16.2 2.6 11.52 5.38 8.23 176 11.64 1,727 1.59 0.425 46.8 88.5 6.14 4.96 1.63 1.9 3.65 1.19 8.65

41.85 1.65 0.49 0.043 10.78 5.3 9.5 0.086 96.9 9.6 8.58 2.34 970 2,020 6.21 15.4 13.2 2.88 3.39 101.7 8.71 0.183 1.52 3.41 15.32 4.86 1.62 8.32 0.59 2.22 8.8 4.76 16.2 2.56 11.46 5.04 8.23 174 11.08 1,700 1.55 0.405 45.9 86 6.05 4.55 1.52 1.89 3.53 1.02 8.15

SERVICES 42 1.73 0.49 0.043 10.78 5.3 9.5 0.087 97 9.6 8.59 2.34 970 2,028 6.24 15.4 13.2 2.93 3.5 104.2 8.72 0.183 1.59 3.5 15.34 5.04 1.68 8.5 0.6 2.29 8.92 4.79 16.2 2.57 11.46 5.25 8.23 174 11.46 1,710 1.59 0.42 46.15 87.95 6.13 4.96 1.62 1.9 3.64 1.18 8.59

31,000 881,000 350,000 27,200,000 1,400 100 11,952,200 41,500,000 429,380 2,600 64,000 5,000 100 42,850 368,200 40,600 400 924,000 105,000 2,059,460 300,100 2,960,000 7,119,000 188,000 23,500 3,710,700 739,000 2,326,300 241,000 614,000 1,088,200 8,358,900 3,100 1,250,000 1,800 18,400 409,500 650 6,347,800 135,310 5,496,000 7,380,000 2,422,200 545,750 2,435,600 29,898,000 32,079,000 6,000 3,037,000 106,007,000 21,623,000

1,300,400 1,521,090 173,250 1,170,000 15,092 530 114,502,424 3,599,050 41,658,383 24,980 550,270 11,700 97,000 86,931,230 2,296,758 628,840 5,280 2,709,690 359,360 214,033,546 2,616,674 545,120 11,411,190 645,060 363,882 18,689,535 1,219,220 19,833,075 144,580 1,363,660 9,689,189 40,530,867 50,220 3,219,460 20,676 97,739 3,370,185 113,730 72,596,014 231,399,380 8,682,030 3,084,050 112,153,555 47,988,561 14,847,708 145,072,440 50,766,070 11,350 10,985,120 117,818,000 183,422,195

98,610 -111,800 17,307,829 -6,912,904.50 -420,540 -55,462,490 -11,600 3,390 53,582,166 98,200 -69,296 4,821,409 17,720 4,720,047 -6,326,377 -11,460 -75,250 -19,944,694 -67,296,855 16,990 28,001,250 -1,882,037.50 -2,946,310 -4,004,840 6,869,130 2,960,920 -15,597,692

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

0.0029 1.73 5.1 13.52 2.04 2.05 1.11 0.39 8.65 2.64 0.29 0.193 0.194 0.011 1.9 6.33 2 0.6 0.99 0.011 0.01 0.012 2.62 8.75 3 161 0.0084

0.0029 1.74 5.23 14.96 2.04 2.05 1.13 0.39 8.75 2.67 0.29 0.193 0.197 0.011 1.97 6.33 2 0.63 1.03 0.011 0.01 0.012 2.62 8.9 3 161.2 0.0084

0.0028 1.7 5.1 13.52 2.03 2.04 1.07 0.39 8.65 2.59 0.285 0.187 0.194 0.011 1.89 6.2 1.92 0.6 0.99 0.011 0.01 0.012 2.62 8.75 2.98 160.2 0.0084

MINING & OIL 0.0029 162,000,000 1.71 7,630,000 5.23 23,500 14.9 2,300 2.03 27,000 2.04 16,000 1.07 7,732,000 0.39 1,060,000 8.75 2,800 2.66 3,691,000 0.285 20,000 0.192 15,800,000 0.197 2,280,000 0.011 16,900,000 1.96 318,000 6.27 1,687,600 1.99 368,000 0.61 1,593,000 1.01 145,000 0.011 400,000 0.01 900,000 0.012 2,800,000 2.62 43,000 8.9 1,656,600 3 1,045,000 160.7 579,090 0.0084 2,000,000

468,500 13,074,410 121,072 31,378 54,930 32,780 8,530,380 413,400 24,475 9,736,820 5,750 3,013,570 444,280 185,900 612,130 10,566,167 718,780 972,630 146,130 4,400 9,000 33,600 112,660 14,563,576 3,126,600 93,089,755 16,800

671,160 -1,029.00 -28,700.00 -329,250 1,768,510 -23,660 -2,350,970 2,611,253 9,000 21,513,880 -

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

42 515 105 112 520 6 1,009 1,018 1.05 107.8 1,129 1,018 76.75 81.75 80 78.4 78.1 78

42.1 515 105 112 520 6 1,011 1,018 1.05 107.8 1,129 1,018 76.75 81.75 80 78.4 78.5 79.25

41.65 515 104.9 112 520 6 1,009 1,018 1.05 107.7 1,100 1,018 76.25 81.5 80 78.4 78.05 78

PREFERRED 42 55,200 515 1,600 105 29,070 112 270 520 1,440 6 1,418,000 1,010 9,890 1,018 2,400 1.05 1,121,000 107.7 11,570 1,100 2,175 1,018 1,990 76.7 1,150 81.75 49,400 80 6,160 78.4 200 78.5 1,320 79.25 205,660

2,318,860 824,000 3,051,446 30,240 748,800 8,508,000 9,987,690 2,443,200 1,177,050 1,247,091 2,397,575 2,025,820 87,880 4,032,275 492,800 15,680 103,331 16,173,550

2,150,910 1,692,000 197,575 492,800 -15,680 -

LR WARRANT

3.09

3.2

2.84

WARRANTS 3 4,758,000

14,261,570

-

ITALPINAS PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.89 5.89 8.5

3.95 5.89 8.63

3.88 5.74 8.35

3.94 5.86 8.52

370,740 148,767 15,232,726

6,601,657

FIRST METRO ETF

118.6

119

118.4

446,502

-

1,066

-

MS

PROPERTY 5.99 1.35 2.43 1.12 40.4 3.86 5.36 5.27 0.67 1.18 1.55 0.189 0.53 47.05 0.78 0.165 1.88 1.65 1.08 4.53 0.34 0.365

1,579,500 6,079,000 273,000 6,976,000 8,906,400 259,000 2,642,800 500 162,757,000 288,000 771,000 6,270,000 2,758,000 92,500 6,874,000 570,000 126,199,000 71,239,000 5,063,000 11,941,000 240,750,000 1,670,000

9,489,592 8,260,890 667,740 7,877,190 359,072,010 999,660 14,169,560 2,635 109,417,320 344,540 1,205,720 1,178,970 1,457,060 4,320,665 5,391,710 92,730 239,059,700 121,230,530 5,681,790 54,214,620 84,139,300 618,850

-8,827,006 163,400 49,899,830 -208,530 -21,600 -32,349,190.00 -18,000 -1,570 -338,670 275,755 -1,889,810 16,338,740 2,385,160 -27,578,810 656,450 54,750

USD DMPL A1

10.66

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL

10.66

SHARES

19,678,782

INDUSTRIAL

144,751,995

HOLDING FIRMS

103,966,856

PROPERTY

701,948,128

SERVICES

340,239,483

MINING & OIL

230,738,016

GRAND TOTAL

1,543,242,806

10.66

SME

95,000 25,500 1,795,200

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 119 3,760 DDS 10.66

100

VALUE 1,970.50 (up) 2.03 1,252,727,640.95 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,062.94 (down) 5.50 1,422,316,827.83 HOLDING FIRMS 7,837.52 (up) 3.08 1,279,251,614.645 PROPERTY 3,653.35 (up) 22.11 1,694.68 (up) 10.41 1,426,787,245.55 SERVICES MINING & OIL 12,633.31 (up) 38.68 1,611,470,626.017 PSEI 7,858.14 (up) 20.67 160,132,460.259 All Shares Index 4,714.15 (up) 1.17 7,168,886,289.05 Gainers: 86; Losers: 118; Unchanged: 50; Total: 254

proving corporate earnings are the key ingredient needed to sustain the equity bull market,” said Bob Doll, senior portfolio manager and chief equity strategist at Nuveen Asset Management Llc. “And with economic growth prospects looking solid, we think earnings can climb,” he told Bloomberg News.

Tokyo ended 0.6 percent higher while Hong Kong surged 1.5 percent in the afternoon and Sydney put on 0.1 percent.

Seoul added 0.6 percent, with Taipei more than one percent up and Wellington 0.6 percent higher. However, Shanghai eased 0.3 percent and Singapore gave up 0.6 percent.

Bets that US borrowing costs will rise further continue to underpin the dollar, which held gains against the pound and euro.

However, while it pushed up against the yen, it has struggled to break out, despite the widening gap between US and Japanese monetary policy.

Stephen Innes, senior trader at Oanda, said in a note: “By all accounts with the Bank of Japan and Fed divergence still on the cards, [the dollar] should be trading higher.”

But he said that ongoing geopolitical fears following North Korea’s missile test last week and questions about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s future after recent scandals and an election setback “are weighing on Japanese investors as a drive for downside protection enters the psyche”.

With Bloomberg, AFP

Aboitiz, SunEdison end solar dispute

By Alena Mae S. Flores ABOITIZ Power Corp. said Tuesday wholly-owned subsidiary Aboitiz Power International Pte. Ltd. signed a compromise agreement with SunE Solar B.V. of the Netherlands that will allow the former to fully own a 59-megawatt solar power plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Aboitiz Renewables Inc., the renewable energy arm of the Aboitiz Group, sent notices of default on July 13, 2016 to SunEdison Philippines Helios BV., its joint venture partner in San Carlos Sun Power Inc. which owns the Sacasun project.

“The compromise agreement between AP International and SunE Solar settles the joint venture issues and provides an exit for Sunedison Philippines in the Sacasun project. It will also enable AP International to acquire all the interests of SunE Solar in Sacasun and Maaraw Holdings San Carlos Inc.,” the company said.

The Sacasun project sits on a 75-hectare property inside San Carlos Ecozone in Barangay Punao, San Carlos City on the eastern side of Negros Island.

Aboitiz Renewables is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power and an affiliate of AP International.

SunEdison Philippines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunE Solar.

Under the agreement, Aboitiz Power International will acquire the entire issued and outstanding shares of SunE Solar in SunEdison Philippines. Aboitiz Power, which already owns 60 percent of Maaraw and Sacasun, through Aboitiz Renewables, will increase its ownership to 100 percent.

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

NLEX opens ramp in Bulacan

By Darwin G. Amojelar

PHILAB PARTNER. Healthway Medical, a network of mall-based medical clinics around Metro Manila, has teamed up with Philab Industries Inc. to give full attention to one of the potentially deadly diseases such as dengue. At the signing of the partnership deal during the launching of very first specialty clinic in EDSA Shangri-La are (from left) senior manager for clinic operations Francis Mangonon, MD; Healthway vice president for sales and marketing Carmie de Leon; Philab Holdings Corp. president and CEO Darlene Berberabe; Philab Industries Jennifer Bantang; and MeDx Pte. Ltd. CEO Tee Sing Tang.

PH manufacturing grows 5.8%

By Julito G. Rada

T

HE manufacturing sector grew 5.8 percent in May, faster than the 4.3-percent growth a month ago, driven mainly by higher output of construction- and export-oriented goods, the National Economic and Development Authority said Tuesday.

Export-oriented products include basic and fabricated metals, and non-metallic mineral products, as shown in the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries (MISSI) for May 2017 of the Philippine Statistics Authority, a Neda-attached agency.

Fabricated metals registered

a record-high growth of 116.9 percent while basic metals and non-metallic products increased 29.1 percent and 22.6 percent, respectively.

“These recorded increases led to an overall Volume of Production Index (VoPI) for manufacturing of 5.8 percent, faster than the 4.3 percent growth recorded in the

previous month,” Neda said.

“This also led to the 7.5 percent three-month moving average growth rate, reflecting a robust performance of the sector,” it said.

The Value of Production Index (VaPI) remained positive with a growth of 3.6 percent and a 5.9 percent three-month moving average.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said construction

products were expected to grow further toward the end of the year, backed by the government’s massive infrastructure development spending.

These include the implementation of major infrastructure projects, such as the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, Cavite-Laguna Expressway and PNR North South Commuter Rail.

“Manufacturing output is expected to sustain its growth toward the end of the second quarter, driven by buoyant domestic demand and optimistic business outlook,” Pernia said. “Seventyfive flagship projects have been identified by the administration to address our huge infrastructure deficit,” Pernia said.

Meanwhile, Pernia pressed for efforts across all levels of government to ensure inclusive innovation.

“Bureaucratic procedures at the national and local levels should be simplified across the country, from urban centers to far-flung areas. Market-driven research should also be made available to everyone so that firms, whether small or large, can expand production and reach larger markets,” he said.

Pernia noted that among the pillars of the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 was increasing growth potential, which involves greater use of science, technology, and promoting innovation.

Central Luzon traffic improving, says ICTSI INTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services Inc. said the movement of goods in the northern and central Luzon markets has improved due to its new logistic facility at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Launched last year, the Container Freight Station is one of Subic Bay International Corp.’s value-added services, which envisioned to serve as a regional distribution center.

“The CFS is a multi-user logistics facility especially beneficial for the growing e-commerce and m-commerce markets such as businesses looking into Amazon style same day delivery services into major urban areas in Region 3 and certain parts of the Greater Manila Area. Big box retailers can likewise use the CFS as the consolidated centers for their Northern and Central Luzon stores,” SBITC head Roberto Locsin said.

The CFS has allotted areas for import and export, dangerous goods and customs inspection. It can expand double its capacity and is capable of stuffing and stripping eight containers simultaneously. It is the first and only facility of its kind in

Central Luzon.

“Luzon businesses can benefit from SBITC’s direct services to all of the major intra-Asia ports which provides access to the rest of the world. Many of the same vessels that call Manila now call Subic and in many cases, transit times have improved to the same destinations,” he added.

Recently, Evergreen Marine Corp., Taiwan’s largest shipping company, launched its Korea-Taiwan-Philippines service in Subic and included ICTSI’s New Container Terminals (NCT) 1 and 2 to its port rotation. The service plies the ports of Incheon and Kwang Yang, South Korea; Kaoshiung, Taiwan; and Batangas and Subic Bay, Philippines.

“With the Subic Bay Freeport serving as the gateway of Northern and Central Luzon to global markets, ICTSI has positioned itself as the company that would facilitate the efficient movement of products in the area. Its establishment of the CFS adds value to its operations and, in turn, improve its clients’ productivity,” Locsin said. Darwin G. Amojelar

Aboitiz raising hydro output

CEMEX PLEDGE. Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. pays a courtesy visit to Finance Secretary Carlos

Dominguez (center) to reiterate its partnership with the country as an investor and supplier of innovative building solutions. With Dominguez are (from left) Pedro Palomino, outgoing country president of Cemex Philippines; Ignacio Mijares, incoming country head of Cemex Philippines; Joaquin Estrada, president of Cemex Asia, Middle East and Africa; and Chito Maniago, director for corporate communications and public affairs of Cemex Philippines.

Phoenix Petroleum allots P100m as mutual fund for police, military

By Alena Mae S. Flores PHOENIX Petroleum Philippines Inc. has earmarked P100 million for the creation of a mutual fund for the country’s military and police as well as their families.

Phoenix Petroleum president Dennis Uy announced the mutual fund called “LIFE” aimed to offer substantial financial security to soldiers and their families through sound investment practice and guidance programs.

The company also offered a P10 per liter discount across all

products from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Tuesday at 78 stations nationwide to celebrate the company’s 10th listing anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The product offering caused traffic jams in certain areas in Quezon City.

Uy said the LIFE Fund was the company’s commitment to support the military and police as well as their families who protect the country with their lives.

“Business should not only be about making revenues but about changing lives,” he said.

NLEX Corp. said on Tuesday it opened a new southbound exit in Valenzuela City and Meycauayan City at North Luzon Expressway in a bid to decongest vehicle traffic in these areas.

“The new Lingunan Exit aims to decongest the Valenzuela Interchange which caters to approximately 13,000 vehicles coming in and out of the City via NLEX,” Rodrigo Franco, president and chief executive of NLEX said.

“Aside from providing travel convenience, the new exit will also make the industrial hubs and subdivisions in Barangay Lingunan and nearby areas more accessible,” added Franco, citing that “motorists from the north may now take the Lingunan Exit when going to Valenzuela City instead of proceeding to Paso de Blas and Karuhatan exits,” he added.

NLEX has undertaken the construction of the new exit in Valenzuela City along with two other exits in Meycauayan City as part of the company’s commitment to better serve expressway users.

Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian welcomed the opening of the Lingunan Exit, noting that “improvement projects like this will make the city more vibrant and more attractive to potential investors, thus greatly benefit motorists and businesses in the area.”

NLEX also opened exit ramps at the the northbound portion of Barangay Libtong and the southbound portion of Barangay Pandayan in Meycauayan as part of an enhancement program to deliver quality service to expressway users.

“The new exits hope to relieve rush hour traffic congestion at the Meycauayan Interchange,” Franco said, pointing out that “more than improving traffic flow, these new exits also aim to make commercial activities in the City more efficient.”

Uy hopes the company’s success inspires other businessmen to go public as it has enabled Phoenix Petroleum to “access capital, tap new markets, attract talent, grow the business and generate more employment.”

“We need more entrepreneurs for the country—to create more jobs, to be socially responsible citizens and to spread the wealth,” he said.

Phoenix Petroleum is the first company from Davao City to join the PSE and the first oil company to go public after the passage of the Oil Deregulation

Law of 2008.

The company used the proceeds from the IPO in July 11, 2007 to expand its retail network outside of Mindanao and build the largest storage capacity among small players.

From five stations in 2005, the company grew to 500 stations and has become the fastest growing oil company in the country.

Phoenix Petroleum also recently signed an agreement with Petronas Dagangan Berhad to acquire the latter’s liquefied petroleum gas business in the

Philippines for $126.1 million (P6.268 billion).

Phoenix Petroleum will acquire 100 percent of Petronas Energy Philippines Inc. and 40 percent of its affiliate Duta Inc. to pave the way for the company’s entry into the LPG business.

Petronas Energy, incorporated in 1995, is engaged in the business of selling LPG in cylinders for household and commercial use, as well as LPG in bulk for industrial use and autogas, an environmentally-friendly alternative fuel for vehicles.

ABOITIZ Power Corp. will triple the combined capacity of its Bineng hydro power plant facilities to 19 megawatts by 2019 after receiving the approval of the municipal council of La Trinidad, Benguet.

Aboitiz Power unit Bineng combined hydropower project is developing the project that will increase the capacity of the three Bineng plants from the current 5.48 MW to 19 MW. Hedcor and the local government unit of La Trinidad signed on June 27 an agreement to cover the project and the benefits for the locality.

Hedcor has sustained its growth momentum since its entry in Benguet in 1986. Starting from the rehabilitation of four hydroelectric power plants owned by the City of Baguio, the company later constructed its own generation facilities in the municipalities of La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Bakun and Itogon.

“We are positive that this development will have great impact on the municipality’s growth. The local government will play an active role in making this project a success,” La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said.

The La Trinidad local government unit received about P77 million as its barangay and municipal share from the operation of the hydropower plants last year.

Moreover, Hedcor’s business tax, real property tax, and national wealth tax in 2016 reached P67 million.

The municipality of La Trinidad has also received corporate social responsibility projects worth P13 million, to date. These projects include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, and loans to cooperatives involved in the cut flower business.

Alena Mae S. Flores

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

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

Business

Oil, gas still key to energy supply

By Stuart Williams

I

STANBUL, Turkey―Oil and gas will remain central to the world’s supply of energy for decades to come, the chief executive of giant producer Saudi Aramco said Monday, urging market players to ensure energy security by bolstering faltering investment.

Anti-Uber.

Chilean taxi drivers demonstrate along Alameda Avenue against US on-demand ride service giant Uber, in Santiago, on July 10, 2017. Uber smartphone app has faced stiff resistance from traditional taxi drivers the world over, as well as bans in some places over safety concerns and questions over legal issues, including taxes.

AFP

3 European firms join in robot ship project PARIS―Three European companies are to work on a pioneering project to build a fully-automated supply ship, the French member of the scheme announced on Tuesday.

French offshore services company Bourbon said it had signed up with Automated Ships Ltd. (ASL) of Britain in a scheme with Norway tech firm Kongsberg Maritime to build the first ship of its kind in the world.

It will be “the world’s first autonomous, fully-automated and cost-efficient prototype vessel for offshore operations,” Bourbon said in a press release.

At present, small unmanned

Fresh Eurozone banking rules eyed BRUSSELS,Belgium―German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Monday warned that eurozone banking rules required reform, amid criticism that recent rescues of Italian banks failed to heed the lessons of the financial crisis.

European regulators have come under fire for allowing Rome to use taxpayer money to save two small Italian banks, Veneto Banca and Banca Popolare di Vicenza.

The EU-approved operation could cost the Italian state up to 17 billion euros ($19 billion).

“In light of recent events, we need to look closely at whether our tools are sufficient, if they are effective and if we can do more,” said Schaeuble, the eurozone’s most influential finance minister, as he arrived for talks with his counterparts from the 19-country single currency bloc.

Schaeuble said he regretted the disparity between national rules and the far tougher European rules that only apply to eurozone’s biggest lenders.

“We must have a discussion on how we can change that in the future,” he said.

In the bailout, the two failing lenders’ healthy assets are to be sold to Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy’s strongest bank, for a symbolic price of one euro.

Last week Brussels also approved the bailout of another troubled Italian bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), in a 5.4-billion-euro deal.AFP

boats are used for nearshore operations, but there are no technical barriers to building larger, unmanned and automated vessels, the participants say.

The goal is to produce a selfdrive vessel that can deliver light supplies to the offshore energy and fish-farming industry and provide backup in emergencies.

It could also be used as support for scientific and hydrographic missions.

ASL and the Norwegian firm Kongsberg last year worked together to develop an initial design of a catamaran named Hroenn.

This has evolved into a 37-me-

ter (121-foot) monohull, offering greater payload capacity and mission flexibility, Bourbon said.

The prototype would be built in Norway and assessed at a special testbed for automated vessels in Trondheim fjord under the scrutiny of Norway’s maritime authorities.

On its website, Kongsberg says Hroenn will initially function as a remotely-piloted ship.

It would eventually transition to a fully-automated vessel “as the control algorithms are developed concurrently during remotely piloted operations.”

Hroenn is expected to be built by the Norwegian shipyard Fjell-

strand AS, which is experienced in building ferries and offshore support vessels that incorporate advanced technology, according to Kongsberg.

Bourbon said that its role in the scheme would be to provide its knowledge of the offshore services industry to help finetune Hroenn’s design and costs so that they match market needs.

The company operates a fleet of 514 vessels and has a payroll of 9,300.

It would then work with ASL to help muster the finance to build the prototype.

The cost of the prototype was not identified. AFP

Oil major bosses and energy ministers are meeting at the World Petroleum Congress in Istanbul, with the outlook clouded by the low price of crude oil, currently trading at around 45 dollars a barrel compared with a peak of over 145 dollars in 2008.

This has driven down investment to record lows, while oil majors are also grappling with the new importance of unconventional sources like shale and renewables.

The decision announced last week by Volvo to phase out production of petrol-only cars from 2019 in favor of electric has also sent ripples of concern around the industry.

The chief of the Saudi Arabian energy giant, Amin Nasser, said that there is “widespread agreement” that even as the world moves to greater use of renewables over fossil fuels, “petroleum will continue to be the heart of the energy mix.”

He said that while “expectations for alternatives are through the roof,” history shows that energy transitions to different sources tend to be “long and complex processes.”

“The renewables still have major challenges, they do not compete with oil. It takes a long time for new fuels to seize market share,” he said, noting that electric cars would also still need time to take off.

With the global economy forecast to grow sharply as populations increase, he said it is a “mistaken assumption that alternatives will be rapidly deployed.”

“Rising demand for all sources of energy―with oil and gas at the heart of the mix―will be the reality for decades to come,”

he said.

But he warned that the tens of billions of dollars lost in deferred and cancelled investment since the current spate of low oil prices began risked harming consumers in the long-run.

“Financial investors are shying away from making muchneeded investment,” Nasser said, warning that without higher investment levels “energy transition and energy security may be fatally compromised.”

“New discoveries are also on a major downward trend,” Nasser added, urging industry players to create a “compelling narrative” for increased investment.

The downturn has blown a major hole in the budgets of key Oped and non-Opec producers, reliant on robust oil prices for healthy finances.

Nasser confirmed that to counter the sliding investment trend, Saudi Aramco plans to invest some $300 billion in the coming years and was also looking at diversifying its own business.

“The continuing market volatility is a powerful reminder that we must transform our own business model,” he said.

Nasser said that by 2030 Saudi Arabia should be “nothing less than a powerhouse” for solar power and Aramco would play a full part in this.

The chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell, Ben van Beurden, said the sector faced a huge challenge in the years to come, needing to meet “higher energy demands for a growing population” while also reducing greenhouse emissions in line with the Paris Agreement on combating climate change. AFP

France ‘to end sales of petrol, diesel vehicles by 2040’

By Clare Byrne PARIS―France will end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord, new Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot announced Thursday.

“We are announcing an end to the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2040,” Hulot said, calling it a “veritable revolution.”

Hulot acknowledged that reaching the goal would be “tough,” particularly for automakers, but said that French carmakers PeugeotCitroen and Renault were well equipped to make the switch.

France, home to Europe’s second-biggest car industry, dominates its market for electric vehicles, with the Renault Zoe far outselling other models in 2016.

On Wednesday, Sweden’s Volvo said it planned to phase out production of petrol-only cars from 2019, with all new models to be either electric or hybrids.

The Chinese-owned group is the first major manufacturer to electrify all of its models.

Hulot cited Volvo as an example in making his surprise announcement, part of the government’s new stated plan to make France carbon neutral by 2050.

Motorists still continue to opt overwhelmingly for petrol and diesel models, usually substantially cheaper.

In 2016, hybrid and electric cars accounted for only 3.6 percent of new cars registered in Western Europe, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

The greatest spurt in sales was for non-rechargeble hybrids, which rose 27.3 percent compared to 2015. Electric car registrations jumped by seven percent, while plugin hybrids grew by only 3.9 percent.

Hulot said that weaning France off conventional cars was also a matter of “public health.”

Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and other French cities have a chronic smog problem.

Analysts are split on how quickly electric vehicles will displace those powered by internal combustion engines.

The 29-nation International Energy Agency (IEA), formed after the 1973 oil crisis, sees relatively modest growth, resulting in an eight percent market share―about 150 million vehicles―by 2040.

By contrast, private forecaster Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s predicts a This file photo taken on January 16, 2015 shows a motorist using a pump to fill his car’s tank at a petrol station 22-percent market share for on the A25 motorway near Godewaersvelde, northern France. France will end sales of petrol and diesel vehicles electric vehicles by 2035. by 2040 as part of an ambitious plan to meet its targets under the Paris climate accord, new Ecology Minister AFP Nicolas Hulot announced on July 6, 2017. AFP

‘Public health’ matter Hulot, a veteran environmental campaigner and TV presenter, was among several political newcomers to whom President Emmanuel Macron gave top jobs in his government.

His nomination was seen as a strong statement of Macron’s commitment to greening the economy.

Within days of being elected, Macron crossed swords on social media with US President Donald Trump, after Trump announced America’s withdrawal from the

Paris agreement on curbing emissions.

France is one of several European and Asian countries that have said they want to dramatically reduce the amount of polluting petrol and diesel cars on their roads.

India has said it wants all cars sold there to be electricpowered by 2030.

Norway―where electric cars topped the sales charts for the first time last month― aims to end sales of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 and car giant Germany wants to put one million electric ve-

hicles on the road by 2020.

Cyrille Cormier of Greenpeace France expressed disappointment over Hulot’s failure to set out concrete measures.

The minister said he would give low-income households a grant to help them replace older cars with a cleaner model, but did not specify how much they would receive.

“We still do not know how we will achieve these objectives and respect these ambitious promises,” Cormier said.

SBMA income reaches P240m

Jimbo Owen Gulle, Editor Roger M. Garcia, Assistant Editor jimbo.gulle@gmail.com mslocalgov@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

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By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT— The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority posted P240.21 million in net income for the first five months of 2017, up by more than 126 percent from the same period last year, SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma said Tuesday.

This was part of the “good news (that) kept coming out of the Subic Bay Freeport in the first half of this year,” as the SBMA reported continuing growth in revenue, dividends, investments, exports and tourism, Eisma said in her report to President Rodrigo Duterte ahead of his second State of the Nation Address on July 24.

The SBMA “indicated increases in all aspects of its performance from January to May this year,” Eisma said.

She said the agency recorded a 7.7 percent growth in revenue, from a total of P1.16 billion in the first five months last year to P1.25 billion in JanuaryMay 2017, and a 3.4-percent increase in operating income for the same period.

“Apparently―and this cannot be denied―the SBMA has continued well in its growth path in the last few years and we are actually breaking records here,” she added.

Eisma also said that because of the upsurge in its financial performance, the SBMA has managed to contribute bigger shares to the government than ever before.

This includes a 30.58-percent increase in the revenue shares to local government units that went from P115.22 million in the first half last year to P150.46 million this year; and a 30.42-percent increase in the government’s three-percent share from the gross income earned in the Subic Bay Freeport, which rose from P178.37 million in January to May 2016 to P232.63 million in the same period in 2017.

Untill, the dividends paid by the SBMA to the national government through the Bureau of Treasury, Eisma added, reached a huge 352.7 percent increase, as actual remittances grew from P145.91 million to P660.69 million.

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LGUs LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

TILAPIA FARM. A tilapia grower checks his fish cages in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, on Monday. His cage is just one of 5,000 on the lake that supply the markets in Central Mindanao with fresh tilapia. Amiel M. Cagayan

Davao passes ‘anti-bag’ rule D

By F. Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO CITY—The 18th City Council here passed on the third and final reading an ordinance prohibiting and penalizing the act of leaving a bag unattended in a public place, during the regular session on Tuesday.

The ordinance aims to address the threat of terrorism in the city by avoiding unattended bags or packages that may contain explosives and threaten the security of the city.

The ordinance has two prohibitions in determining that a

person committed the offense: 1. Any person who carries then lays down an unattended bag in a public place and walks away from the same even without causing alarm and panic; and 2. Any person who carries then lay down an unattended

bag in a public place and walks away from the same, and such act causes alarm and panic.

Under the first prohibition, a first offense will be given a warning, second offense will be charged with an administrative fine of P100 and P300 for the third offense.

For the second prohibition, first offense will be charged with P1,000, P3,000 for second offense, and P5,000 or a onemonth imprisonment or both, at the discretion of the court, for the third offense.

Unattended bags will be confiscated and turned over to the

police or the National Bureau of Investigation, the ordinance states. If the bag remains unclaimed within seven days, the same shall be disposed in accordance with existing laws.

The ordinance will take effect 15 days after its publication in two local newspapers.

While the council, made a committee consensus about the ordinance, Councilor Maria Belen Acosta questioned some of its provisions that according to her might burden innocent people.

“The caution is on why a neutral act such as leaving a bag unattended could be considered

an offense per se even without a proper premise, even in circumstances that does not cause any disturbance to anybody,” Acosta said during her privilege speech.

Although she supports the move of the City Council to secure the city from any form of terrorism, Acosta still questioned why a mere act of leaving a bag can be punishable under the new ordinance of the city.

“I feel that making the act of leaving an unattended bag per se an offense under this ordinance, even when it does not cause any disturbance, might going too far,” she said.

Police: Muslim ID Laguna cops nab 55 through ‘Janitor Fish’ ‘not our proposal’

By Roy Tomandao

By Romeo Dizon SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Muslim leaders in Central Luzon recommended the use of identification cards to guard their own ranks and it was not imposed on them by police and military officials, a police spokesperson said Tuesday.

The proposed ID system, which two senators and several critics have condemned as discriminatory, was reached at by about 70 Muslim leaders themselves during a peace and progress dialogue with the police and military in the region, Police Supt. Fe G. Grenas, public information officer of the Regional Police Office 3 based in Camp Olivas here, said.

Grenas stressed that Muslim leaders who attended the dialogue “find it very convenient for them to wear identification cards that is why they recommended it to the authorities during the meeting.”

They based their recommendation on the success of a similar project of a group in Paniqui,

Tarlac, where it is being implemented based on the support of the Muslim population living in the area, the police official added.

Following the model of the Paniqui United Muslims Association, Muslims wearing ID cards must be signed by the local chief of police and the municipal or city mayor, and it must be worn all the time, specially in public places.

Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino, the Central Luzon police chief, stressed that though the idea “is noble, we never ordered its immediate implementation in Central Luzon,” Grenas said.

“The purpose of wearing ID cards of our Muslim brothers and sisters is it aims to separate the lawabiding ones from those who aren’t, and to maintain peace and order, including protecting vital installations in the area,” she added.

Earlier, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Paolo Benigno Aquino called for the immediate halt of the supposedly proposed Muslim ID system in Central Luzon.

STA. CRUZ, Laguna—Authorities have arrested 55 “most wanted” persons for various crimes after the first two days of “Project Janitor Fish,” which the Laguna Police Provincial Office through its Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) launched Monday.

Supt. Vic Cabatingan, chief of the Laguna PIB, said the operation was named after the janitor fish, which cleans up debris in a tropical aquarium.

“The same is true of the operation, as we picked up those facing charges,” Cabatingan said.

According to Acting Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt.

Cecilio R. Ison Jr., this project was conducted in relation to ‘Manhunt Charlie’ and aims to address the grievances of some complainants and victims, including the issuing court, on the slow pace in the aspect of law enforcement, particularly in the immediate arrest of suspects.

The 55 suspects arrested by virtue of warrants of arrest in the different city and municipal police stations were pre-

The Provincial Intelligence Branch of the Laguna Provincial Police Office presents some of the 55 persons arrested for different charges after the launching of ‘Project Janitor Fish’ at Camp Gen. Paciano Rizal in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Roy Tomandao

sented in a press conference.

Arrested persons from the Top 10 Most Wanted Persons Manhunt Charlie were five from the city level—rank number 3 of Cabuyao CPS, rank 4 of San Pedro CPS, ranks 9 and 10 of

Calamba CPS, and rank number 10 of Sta Rosa CPS Nine suspects from the municipal level included two most wanted persons with ranks number 2 and 4 of Sta Cruz Municipal Police Station, rank number 1 of Pila MPS,

QC formally gives P10m for Miss Universe hosting

By Rio N. Araja THE 36-member Quezon City council has given Mayor Herbert Bautista the green light to grant P10 million to the Department of Tourism for the conduct of the 65th Miss Universe pageant hosted by the country last January.

City Resolution 7055-2017,

introduced by Councilors Franz Pumaren, Godofredo Liban II and Alexis Herrera, authorized Bautista to give the grant at the request of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Teo. The pageant was held from January 29 to 30, 2017, with Iris Mittenaere of France winning the crown.

“The 65th Miss Universe

pageant is a great opportunity for the country to showcase its natural attractions, modern infrastructure facilities, and the hospitality of its people,” the resolution read.

“It is a form of good governance to utilize the resources and funds of the City as efficiently and effectively as possible to finance the delivery

of basic services, and the enhancement of various social and economic activities for prosperity and progress of the people of the City,” it added.

“The pageant will bring international prestige, honor, publicity, goodwill and economic benefit to the people,” the resolution said.

Meanwhile, Bautista led

on Monday the opening of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations information kiosk and landmarks exhibit at the lobby of the Quezon City Hall.

The exhibit, organized by the Philippine Information Agency, is part of the Golden Anniversary celebration of the Asean.

ranks number 5 and 6 of Pangil MPS, ranks number 7 of Pangil and of Kalayaan MPS, and rank number 10 of Siniloan MPS. Among the Top 10 Most Wanted Persons in “Lambat Sibat” who were arrested were one rank number 2 of San Pablo CPS for the city level, and rank number 7 and 10 of Liliw MPS on the municipal level.

Two of the 53 arrested most wanted persons from the outside of the jurisdiction were wanted in Bauan, Batangas and Pasig City.

Ison said “We launched this project and will continuously conduct it in our aim to help the citizens to attain justice especially those who became victims of those crimes committed by the suspects.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

LGUs

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TODAY WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

Lepanto boosts reforestation work

By Dexter A. See

M

ANKAYAN, Benguet—Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. is intensifying its reforestation efforts in Mankayan town this year by planting a total of 50,000 Benguet pine and fruit-bearing trees across five hectares of land.

Further, the company committed to donate another 50,000 assorted tree seedlings to interested organizations and local government units in the region.

Since its kick-off on the Earth Day celebration in April, the company has reforested about 2 hectares of land with 20,000 seedlings. The remaining 30,000 seedlings will be planted in Mankayan’s communal forest and watershed areas within the quarter.

The tree-planting activities are carried out every Saturday and on relevant celebrations like the World Environment Day (June 5) and Philippine Arbor Day (June 25) in cooperation with stakeholders such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the academe, LGUs, interns from different schools, contractors, community members, and employees of Lepanto and its subsidiaries.

“For years, Lepanto has been supportive of DENR’S National Greening Program through massive reforestation projects,” shared LCMC president and COO Bryan U. Yap. “Lepanto’s reforestation program started decades ago, and has planted over 6.5 million trees over an area of 800 hectares.

Every milestone or important occasion in Lepanto is marked by tree-planting activities. This is our way of keeping our commitment to the environment.”

LCMC earned first prize in DENR’s Adopt a Tree, Adopt a Mining Forest program in 1999 for planting 1.2 million trees.

The company also donates tens of thousands of seedlings every

year to Mankayan and neighboring towns to support their respective greening programs.

Reforestation and other environment-related activities are embodied in Lepanto’s Annual Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program.

The AEPEP budget for this year amounts to P191.97 million, more than double last year’s P77.59 million, and is a testament to Lepanto’s commitment to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment.

Substantial allocations have also been made for the operation and management of the newly-built engineered sanitary landfill, the first in the Philippine mining industry, and continuous effluent management.

Earlier this year, Lepanto, one of the oldest mining companies in the country, pioneered the operation of an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL) in the Philippine mining industry.

The ESL, constructed on a 2,800 sq. meter lot near Lepanto’s mill site is designed to contain residual wastes from households within the mining community and nearby barangays in Mankayan, Benguet.

Lepanto started utilizing the ESL in January, according to Mine Environment Protection and Enhancement Department Manager Rolando Reyes.

Segregated residual wastes from households in the mine camp and Barangays Sapid and Paco amount to about three cubic meters daily which are now collected and brought to the ESL.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF POTTING MEDIA, SEEDA AND FERTILIZERS The DENR-NCR, through the GAA-CY 20171 intends to apply the sum of FOUR MILLION ONE HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (Php4,192,500.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for “Procurement of Potting Media, Seeds and Fertilizers”. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.

The DENR-NCR now invites all interested PHIL-GEPS registered contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, dealers, authorized franchised dealers to submit Letter of Intent (LOI) and to Bid for the following project, to wit.

Purchase Request (PR) No. 2017-144 (Item No. 1) 2017-144 (Item No. 2)

2017-144 (Item No. 3)

Quantity 2,000

50 50 50 50 500 500 500 100 100 100,000

250 250 100 100 100 500 50 100

Description Potting Media • Rice Hull (50kg/bag Sub-Total Seeds • Palawan Cherry (kilo) • Golden Shower (kilo) • Dwarf Caballero (kilo) • Molave (kilo) • Desmodium rensonii (kilo) • Narra (kilo) • Bignay kalabaw (kilo) • Fleminga congesta (kilo • Banaba (kilo) • Madre de agua (propagules) Fertilizers • Complete Fertilizers 14-14-14 (50/bag) • Slow Release Fertilizer-Osmocot (50/bag) • Liquid Fertilizer-Foliar(liter) • Soil Conditioner-lime (25/kg/sack • Organic Fertilizer-chicken manure (50/bag • Pesticides (50/pack • Insecticide (liter) • Fungicide (kilo) Sub-Total TOTAL

Approved Budget for the Contract (Php) Php200,000.00 Php200,000.00 PhP25,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 225,000.00 600,000.00 500,000.00 45,000.00 100,000.00 500,000.00 PhP2,070.000.00 PhP375,000.00 1,250,000.00 35,000.00 50,000.00 35,000.00 100,000.00 17,500.00 60,000.00 PhP1,922,500.00 Php4,192,500.00

Interested bidder may bid in whole project or per item. Delivery of the Goods is required as indicated in the Bid Data Sheet of the Bidding Documents. Bidders should have completed a contract similar to the project in the last five (5) years. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents.

Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedure using a nondiscretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”.

Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizen/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights of privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138 Interested bidders must submit their Letter of Intent from July 06, 2017 to July 14, 2017 and may obtain further information from the inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below during 8:00 – 5:00 P.M A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders on July 06, 2017 to July 25, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.

The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on July 14, 2017, 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, at the Conference Room, 4thFlr., DENR-NCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City which shall be open to all interested parties.

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before of 10:00 a.m of July 26, 2017.

All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in the Bidding Documents.

Bid opening shall be at 10:30 a.m July 26, 2017 at the Conference Room ,4thFlr., DENRNCR Bldg., National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Quezon City. Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.

The DENR-NCR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to affected bidder or bidders.

For further information, please refer to: BAC Secretariat Procurement Section, 3rdFlr, DENR-NCR Bldg National Ecology Center East Avenue, Quezon City Tel. 3740091 July 04, 2017.

(SGD) ATTY. ALVIN JOSEPH G, CONSTANTINO Chairperson Regional Bids and Awards Committee 1

In the case of National Governemnt Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations, in the case of GOCCs, GFIs, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the Governing Boards in the case of (LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian (Section 5(a), RA9184).

(MS-JULY 12, 2017)

GOOD DEED. School children in Andavit

Elementary School in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao fetch water from the school’s deep well for consumption at a nearby temporary shelter in an evacuation center for those fleeing the Marawi City siege. Nash B. Maulana

Firm expands fuel storage

By Butch Gunio SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The Philippine Coastal Storage and Pipeline Corp., which operates the fuel depot here and the fuel pipeline linking Subic to Clark Freeport, has expanded its operations here with the inauguration of three new 180,000-barrel fuel storage tanks and two tank-truck loading racks on Friday.

The groundbreaking ceremony at the Maritan Hill expansion site was attended by top officials from the PCSPC, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, and the Aboitiz Construction Group Inc., which fabricated the new storage tanks.

The operation of the three new tanks will increase PCSPC’s total fuel storage capacity to 5.2 million barrels, or 827 million liters, said PCSPC chairman Michael Rodriguez.

“This considerable increase in storage is in response to our customers’ demand for quality and available fuel storage in Subic Bay, and we are pleased to be able to provide this new expansion to accommodate their needs.” Rodriguez said.

He also said the construction of the three new storage tanks and the two tank-truck loading racks was completed within one year without any accidents.

The construction was “on time and on budget,” Rodriguez added.

SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma lauded the Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT Third Judicial Region BRANCH 45 City of San Fernando, Pampanga SHERRYL MIRANDA LACSINA, Petitioner, -versusFC CIVIL CASE NO. 381 For: Declaration of Nullity of Marriage LIBERATO LACSINA Respondent. x----------------------------------------x

ALIAS SUMMONS

BY PUBLICATION WHEREAS, on June 16, 2017, the Hon. ROBERT ALEXANDER R. MALIG, Presiding Judge of this Court, issued an Order in the above-entitled case, stating that an alias summons be issued, the same to be served by publication once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

The Petition dated April 12, 2017 is hereunder quoted, to wit:

“PETITION

by the Certification issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) hereto attached as Annex “C”; 12.Thereafter, petitioner further inquired from PSA and found out that respondent first married Ma. Eden Rojo on August 21, 1978 in Manila as evinced by their Marriage Contract attached hereto as Annex “D”; 13.Then, respondent married Cristeta T. Viernes on October 27, 1992 in Manila as evinced by their Marriage Contract attached hereto as Annex “E”; 14.These various marriages were concealed by the respondent from the petitioner and was only inadvertently discovered by the latter after their marriage; 15.Thus, when petitioner married the respondent, the latter has two valid and subsisting marriages as his two aforesaid wives were still alive.

Copies of the Negative Certificate of Death of Ma. Eden Rojo and Cristeta T. Viernes are hereto attached as Annex “F” and “G”, respectively; 16.Under Article 35, paragraph 4 of the Family Code of the Philippines, a bigamous or polygamous marriage is void from the beginning.

17.Pursuant to A.M. No. 02-1110-SC, the petitioner undertakes to furnish copies of this Petition to the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Pampanga and the Office of the Solicitor General within five days from filing thereof.

Petitioner, SHERRYL MIRANDA PRAYER LACSINA, through the assistance of WHEREFORE, premises the Public Attorney’s Office and unto this Honorable Court most respectfully considered, it is most respectfully prayed unto this Honorable Court states: that after notice and trial, judgment 1. Petitioner is of legal age, married, be rendered; 1. Declaring the marriage of Filipino and resident of #122 Saba St., Brgy. Saguin, City of San Fernando, petitioner and respondent on January Pampanga while respondent Liberato 11, 2011 as void ab initio pursuant to Lacsina is likewise of legal age, Article 35, paragraph 3 and 4 of the married, Filipino and with last known Family Code of the Philippines; 2. Ordering the dissolution of the residence at Purok 2, San Pedro, Minalin Pampanga where he may be parties’ system of absolute community served with summons, orders and of property regime with each party to other processes of this Honorable own his/her present properties as well as properties to be acquired by each Court; 2. Sometime in June 2007, of them in the future; and 3. Granting the custody of the petitioner and respondent started living together at Brgy. Madapdap, minor children, John Greggy Lacsina to petitioner.

Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

3. Petitioner and respondent were Other reliefs that are just and blessed with a child name John equitable under the circumstances Greggy Miranda Lacsina who was are likewise prayed for. born on November 26, 2007. Copy of City of San Fernando Pampanga, his Certificate of Live Birth issued by the PSA is hereto attached as Annex 12 April 2017.

“A”; PUBLIC ATTORNEY’S OFFICE 4. After more than three (3) years Counsel for the Petitioner of living together or on 11 January 3RD Floor, Hall of Justice Building, 2011, petitioner and respondent were Capitol Compound, married at Manila City Hall and said City of San Fernando, Pampanga marriage was solemnized by Rev. Telephone Number: (045) 961-3296 Roberto C. Nacianceno as evidenced by their Certificate of Marriage issued By: by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), a copy of which is hereto MARCO POLO E. CUNANAN attached as Annex “B” and series; Public Attorney 1 5. Petitioner and respondent did ROLL NO. 66223 not secure a marriage license. After IBP O.R. No. 1051866, 01-03-17; said marriage, petitioner learned that Pampanga respondent forged her signature in MCLE Compliance the Affidavit of Cohabitation which was submitted in lieu of said marriage Noted by: license; 6. Petitioner exerted diligent effort SOCRATES A. PADUA to secure a copy of said Affidavit of Public Attorney II Cohabitation but to no avail; Roll of Attorney’s No. 52280 7. Under Article 35, paragraph 3 IBP O.R. No. 1051864/01-03-17 of the Family Code of the Philippines, MCLECompliance No. a marriage solemnized without V-0006344/23-2-15 license, except those covered by the exemptions provided for by law is void NOW THEREFORE, respondent from the beginning; Liberato Lacsina is hereby summoned 8. During their marriage, the and required to file with the Regional parties have no existing real or Trial Court, Branch 45, City of San personal properties of substantial Fernando, Pampanga, his verified value; answer to the petition within thirty 9. Petitioner and respondent (30) days from the date of the last have been separated in fact since publication of this summons, serving a September 2016, when the latter copy thereof upon the petitioner, thru abandoned the former without any her counsel, Atty. Tristan D. Lampa, at valid cause; his above-stated address.

10.On November 15, 2016, upon advise of petitioner’s parents, the City of San Fernando, Pampanga, former inquired before the Philippine June 16, 2017.

Statistics Authority (PSA) about the true civil status of the respondent prior (Sgd.) ATTY. MICHELLE ANN to their marriage; 11.Petitioner then found out that L. MORELOS respondent was already married to Branch Clerk of Court two (2) other women namely Ma. Eden Rojo and Cristeta T. Viernes, as shown (MS-July 5 & 12, 2017)

PCSPC project and noted that the construction of infrastructures within the Freeport can be done without any untoward incident. She added that the expansion of the fuel storage facility would also boost business in the Subic Bay Freeport.

PCSPC officials said the new tanks are on par with international standards and will increase the company’s total fuel storage by 540,000 barrels for various fuel products such as diesel, gasoline, jet and fuel oil.

The expansion also completed the PCSPC’s commitment to the SBMA to invest and build 1.8 million barrels of fuel tank storage at the Maritan tank farm.

The PCSPC’s strategic location inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone provides efficient importation of fuel products for storage and onward distribution along the network of well-maintained toll roads to Clark, Manila, Central and Northern Luzon.

“The Freeport also provides an efficient coastal location for hub operations with imports from regional refineries for onward export distribution to the region,” Rodriguez said.

The company has been operating the petroleum storage and pipeline facilities of the former US Naval Base in Subic. The facility was originally constructed in 1953 with a capacity of 2.4 million barrels, but PCSPC has doubled the fuel storage capacity over the past six years, with plans to further expand operation in the future.

P234-m NV road projects near end

By Ben Moses Ebreo BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Several road projects funded by the national government’s Conditional Matching Grant Program here are about to be completed before the year ends.

Engineer Manolo Norial, provincial engineer, said the road projects, spread out to eight municipalities, have a total funding of P234.3 million.

From this fund, about P60 million was allocated to Cagayan Valley Road Diadi Junction-Escoting-Arwas-Talictic in Diadi town, P42.2 million for the Oyao-Ganao road in Dupax del Norte town, about P30 million for the CVR Kinacao-Kurasay-Kinalabasa road in Bagabag town and the CVR Batu-Magapuy, Paitan road in Bayombong town.

About P24 million was also allocated for the San Fernando-Sto. Niño-Manaing-Banao-Litlit road in Bambang town and P14.5 million each for CVR Nagsabaran-Decabacan-Ampakleng road in Diadi town, Banganan-Tucanon-Tabueng road in Aritao town and Junction National Bua-Bulala-Macabenga road in Dupax del Sur town. A total of P8.5 million was also allocated to Junction Galintuja-Balintugon road in Dupax del Sur town.

“The total actual release amounts to P234,240,157.67, which covered 18,354.90 meters of provincial road in the province, with a savings of about P8.5 million,” Norial said.

CMGP is formerly the Konkreto at Ayos na Lansangan at Daan Tungo sa Pangkalahatang Kaunlaran (KALSADA) project of former President Benigno Aquino III, which is being continued by the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte through the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

SBMA...

From C1 Eisma said the favorable financial picture in Subic also extended to new investment commitments, which surged by 642 percent from P5.6 billion in January to May 2016, to P40.55 billion in January-May 2017.

Likewise, the number of new business locators grew by 58, bringing the total number of Subic-registered businesses to 1,527, while expansion projects of existing locators jumped by 85 percent, or from 13 last year to 24 this year.

IN BRIEF 7 Baguio scholars of SM Foundation BAGUIO CITY—A total of 256 SM Foundation graduates were presented to mall tycoon Henry Sy Sr. and other members of his family during the 21st Presentation of Graduates held at SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City last month. Out of the 256 graduates nationwide, 74 finished with Latin Honors.

In Baguio City, SM Foundation had seven graduates, mostly from Saint Louis University. Leading the scholars is Heather Ann Pulido, who graduated summa cum laude with a BSED English degree at Saint Louis University.

The other scholars were Andra Marie B. Garcia (BS Electronics and Communications Engineering, magna cum laude), Arvin Jay G. Gaw (BS Information Technology, cum laude), Rother Jon P. Bobiles (BS Information Technology), Zyjazz D. de Guzman (BSBA Financial Management), Matthew Ezra M. Labre (BS Information Technology), and Crisjan Ira Kashmir J. Ramboyong (BS Management Accounting).

The SM scholar graduates of school year 2016–2017 gathered for a testimonial dinner together with their benefactor, the proud parents, officials of partner schools of SM Foundation Inc., members of the academe, SM officials, clients and friends of the SM Group. The graduates were treated to a special IMAX showing at the MoA moviehouses. Dexter A. See

Leusen takes post as DILG RO2 head TUGUEGARAO CITY—Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr., CESO IV, has assumed his post as the new OIC-regional director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office 2.

Leusen is a native of Benguet and performed as assistant regional director for 10 years in Regions 4B, 3 and the Cordillera Autonomous Region.

“It is about time that we will come up with analysis of all core programs that we implemented. And for our locally-funded projects like the Bottom-Up-Budgeting, it is necessary to identify the root cause of all the delays of these projects; because a day of delay means a lot to the community,” Leusen said.

Leusen stressed the value of the data the department has during his first meeting with the DILG RO2 Management Team composed of Provincial Directors and Division Chiefs. Jessica Bacud

Region 2 tops 2017 CSIS-LRI training TUGUEGARAO—Cagayan State University and Isabela State University top as performing Local Resource Institutes during the training for the implementation of the 2017 Citizen Satisfaction Index System.

CSU garnered an average of 85 percent while ISU got 84 percent in terms of performance in the trial field coverage and data processing and analysis.

The evaluation process of CSIS is data gathering through surveying the schools personally and continue it within the 30 municipalities nationwide. In region 02, the municipalities of Lal-lo, Cagayan and Echague, Isabela will be handled by CSU and ISU, respectively.

The CSIS is a component of the social accountability initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Local Governance Watch.

CSIS is designed to generate citizen’s feedback on the reach and quality of basic government services on health, education, social welfare, governance and response, public works and infrastructure, environmental management and economic and investment promotion. Jessica Bacud

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

World IN BRIEF Japan floods death toll rises to 25

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

PM praises victory in Mosul CITY OF LIGHTS.

TOKYO―The death toll from torrential rain and flooding that swept through Japan’s south has reached 25, the government said Tuesday, as rescue teams battled through thick mud to rescue more than 100 still stranded.

Further downpours were predicted to pound Kyushu after swathes of the southwestern island were devastated last week by overflowing rivers― sweeping away roads, houses and schools and forcing thousands of people into makeshift shelters.

But many remain stranded, with emergency services struggling to reach them amid treacherous conditions.

Some 150 people were still cut off as of Monday evening in hardest-hit Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, according to local government officials.

A total of 25 people have died while at least 25 remain unaccounted for, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters Tuesday. AFP

An artist paints the Eiffel Tower on the Trocadero Plaza early on July 11, 2017, in Paris. AFP

M

OSUL―Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over “brutality and terrorism” in Mosul on Monday, announcing his forces had ended the Islamic State group’s rule over the country’s second city.

Standing with members of the security forces, Abadi hailed the retaking of Mosul―where IS dealt Iraqi troops a devastating defeat three years ago―as a key moment in the war against the jihadists.

“Our victory today is a victory over darkness, a victory over brutality and terrorism, and I announce here... to the whole world today the end and failure and collapse of the mythical terrorist Daesh state,” Abadi said in a televised address from west Mosul, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “These operations were carried out by Iraqi planning and success and implementation,” Abadi said, while also thanking “all the countries that stood with Iraq in its war against terrorism.”

Dozens of members of the security forces erupted into cheers after he spoke, dancing and waving flags and their weapons as they celebrated.

The US-led coalition that backed the Mosul offensive and is supporting another assault on IS’s Syrian bastion Raqa hailed the victory, but warned it did not mark the end of the war against the jihadists.

“This victory alone does not eliminate and there is still a tough fight ahead.

But the loss of one of its twin capitals and a jewel of their so-called caliphate is a decisive blow,”

Acquitted cop leaves police force CHICAGO―The Minnesota police officer acquitted in the fatal shooting of black motorist Philando Castile has quit the force, officials said Monday.

Jeronimo Yanez, 29, was found not guilty of manslaughter last month for shooting the 32-year-old Castile during a traffic stop last year, after the driver informed the officer that he was carrying a gun for which he had a legal permit.

The death of Philando Castile―one in a series of high-profile shootings of African-Americans by police― stunned the nation.

His girlfriend Diamond Reynolds took to Facebook to livestream his agony as blood spread on Castile’s shirt and the officer continued to yell orders with his gun drawn.

His family’s $2.995 million settlement with St Anthony, a suburb of the state capital St Paul, avoided a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Following Yanez’s acquittal, St Anthony said it would no longer employ him as a police officer.

Monday, city police said they reached a separation agreement with Yanez that ends his city employment rights.

He was not terminated or convicted of any crime. But he agreed to end his employment voluntarily, the city said. AFP

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said Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, the commander of the international anti-IS operation.

“Now it is time for all Iraqis to unite to ensure [IS] is defeated across the rest of Iraq,” Townsend said.

US President Donald Trump also praised the victory, saying it was a signal that IS’s “days in Iraq and Syria are numbered”.

But rebuilding the shattered city of Mosul and helping civilians will be a huge task, and aid groups warn that Iraq’s humanitarian crisis is far from over.

Mosul’s Old City in particular has been devastated, with many buildings reduced to little more than concrete shells and rubble littering the streets.

Abadi said that as well as continuing to tackle IS, Iraq had other challenges including “the mission of stabilization and the mission of building”.

Iraqi forces were earlier on Monday still fighting to eliminate the last pockets of IS resistance in Mosul, with jihadist fighters surrounded in a sliver of territory in Mosul’s Old City.

Soldiers armed with machine guns and sniper rifles fired from atop ruined structures in the Old City, and air strikes sent plumes of smoke rising over Mosul’s historic center. AFP

S. Korea’s first black model faces widespread racism SEOUL―Teenage male model Han Hyun-Min’s long legs and powerful strut have made him a rising star on South Korean catwalks, but his agent knew there would be a problem in the ethnically homogenous country: he is half black.

Han, 16, has a Nigerian father in a society where racial discrimination is widespread and people of mixed race are commonly referred to as “mongrels”.

“A dark-skinned fashion model like Han was unheard of in South Korea, so recruiting him was a big gamble,” said agent Youn Bum. Now Han is posing for top

glossy magazines as the country’s first black fashion model.

South Korea has for years sought to foster the image of a modern, sophisticated and techsavvy nation whose pop culture has made waves across Asia.

But behind the facade of an economic and cultural powerhouse lies a deeply-rooted racism―even as its immigrant population creeps up, doubling over the last decade but still only four percent of the population.

Most foreigners in the country are from China and Southeast Asia, migrant workers or women who marry rural South Korean men unable to find local spouses

willing to live in the countryside.

Discrimination against them is widespread. Many are openly mocked at public transport for being “dirty” or “smelly”, or refused entry to fancy restaurants or public baths.

A government survey in 2015 showed that 25 percent of South Koreans do not want a foreigner as a neighbor―far higher than the 5.6 percent in the US and China’s 10.5 percent.

Mixed-race children are bullied at school and constantly taunted as “tuigi”, a derogatory term that literally means crossbred animals.

Many complain of poor oppor-

tunities in many aspects of life, including difficulties socializing, getting a job or finding a spouse.

Han was no exception.

“When I was playing with other kids at school, some mothers whisked them away from me, saying things like, ‘Don’t play with a kid like that’,” he told AFP. He was regularly stared at in public, with an elderly woman once asking him: “What are you doing in someone else’s country?”

“I wanted to become invisible,” he said. “I hated my looks that stand out from everyone else,” he said.

He found his escape in fashion, taking part in modeling au-

ditions and posting his photos on social media until Youn spotted the images.

After seeing the then 14-yearold demonstrate his “electrifying” stride on a Seoul street for five minutes, Youn signed him up immediately.

“Being a fashion model helped build my confidence tremendously,” said Han. “Now I enjoy being looked at by other people, instead of being ashamed or embarrassed.”

He hopes to become a role model for multiracial children. “I want to be more successful, not just for myself but also for people whom I represent.” AFP

‘San Diego in ICBM range in two years’ SEOUL―North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile is “likely” to be able to deliver a 500-kilogram warhead to San Diego within two years, a US monitoring group said Tuesday, after its launch sparked global alarm last week.

The isolated, nuclear-armed state’s first successful ICBM test was described by leader Kim Jong-Un as a gift to “American bastards”.

The Hwasong-14 missile is estimated to have a range of 7,000-8,000 kilometers―enough to reach Alaska or Hawaii―aerospace engineer John Schilling wrote on the respected 38 North website, a monitoring project linked to Johns Hopkins university.

“If the Hwasong-14 is put together the way we think it is, it can probably do a bit better than that when all the bugs are worked out,” he wrote, projecting a range of 9,700 kilometers with a 500- kg warhead on board.

“The North Koreans won’t be able to achieve this performance tomorrow, but they likely will eventually,” he added.

At present it would be “lucky to hit even a city-sized target”, he said, citing limits to its re-entry technology.

But with “a year or two of additional testing and development”, he added, “it will likely become a missile that can reliably deliver a single nuclear warhead to targets along the US west coast, possibly with enough accuracy to destroy soft military targets like naval bases”, such as that at San Diego in California.

The North’s missile technology―which it is banned from developing by the UN Security Council―has advanced rapidly under Kim, ramping up tensions between Pyongyang and Washington.

The impoverished state has also staged five nuclear tests―including two last year. AFP

INSPECTION. Indian troopers search the bags of Hindu pilgrims during the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine cave. AFP

Serbia aid center rejects spy suspicions

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

World FIGHTING BULL. A Fuente Ymbro’s fighting bull rattles a horse during the fourth bullfight of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. The festival is a symbol of Spanish culture that attracts thousands of tourists to watch the bull runs despite heavy condemnation from animal rights groups. AFP

Trump son met Russians to get the dirt on Clinton W ASHINGTON―Donald Trump’s eldest son admitted Monday to meeting a Russian lawyer in a bid to get dirt on his father’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, plunging the White House into another Russia-related scandal.

Donald Trump Jr confirmed reports that he was seeking compromising information on Clinton when he met Russian attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016.

“Obviously, I’m the first person on a campaign to ever take a meeting to hear info about an opponent,” the president’s son

said sardonically in a tweet.

He claimed that the meeting “went nowhere” but he “had to listen.”

The FBI and Congress are investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential vote.

US intelligence agencies have

concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a mass effort to tilt the election in Trump’s favor, including hacking and leaking embarrassing emails from Democrats.

The New York Times reported that Paul Manafort and Jared Kushner were also at the June 2016 meeting.

The pair were two of Trump’s most trusted campaign officials, and Kushner―also the president’s sonin-law―became part of the White House inner circle after the inauguration.

In a potentially even more damaging revelation, the New York Times reported

later Monday that the younger Trump had been informed via email ahead of the meeting that material from the Russian lawyer was part of an effort

by Moscow to aid his father’s presidential bid and hurt Clinton.

Trump Jr’s attorney Alan Futerfas called the reports “much ado about nothing.”

In a statement provided to AFP, Futerfas said the younger Trump had been contacted by an individual named Rob Goldstone, described by the Times as a publicist and former British tabloid reporter.

Goldstone suggested in an email that “people had information concerning alleged

wrongdoing by Democratic Party front runner, Hillary Clinton, in her dealings with Russia,” Futerfas said.

Futerfas said Trump Jr. did not know what specific information would be discussed during the meeting, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes.

“Nothing came of it. His father knew nothing about it. The bottom line is that Don Jr did nothing wrong,” Futerfas said, adding that his client would cooperate with any investigation.

Veselnitskaya is not wellknown in Russia, but represented the son of a senior Russian official involved in a major fraud probe that had international repercussions. AFP

NIS, Serbia―Showing off tents, lifeboats and other rescue equipment at the RussianSerbian Humanitarian Center, co-director Viacheslav Vlasenko laughs at Western suspicions that his workplace is a front for a spy operation.

“We are very open here,” the cordial 70-year-old Russian told AFP at the base in the strategically-located town of Nis in southern Serbia―not far from Kosovo with a large NATO-led peacekeeping force.

Vlasenko listed all the crises in the Balkans that he says his team has helped to tackle, including forest fires, major floods and the huge influx of migrants across the region in 2015.

“We are not politicians, we are fulfilling our mission, I hope in a good way,” he said.

The center was set up on the basis of a 2012 agreement between Russia and Serbia, with the stated aim of providing humanitarian assistance and training for emergencies in the Balkans.

But since its inception, the project has sparked concerns among Western officials and analysts that Moscow has underhand intentions of using it for espionage or as a so-called lily pad -- an outwardly low-key advance base for military intervention in the region.

Russia’s as-yet-ungranted request for the center and its staff to have diplomatic immunity has only heightened the suspicions, although Vlasenko insisted that the request had been made simply to reduce taxes.

“You have seen now each corner of our center,” he said after giving a tour of the building. “Is it possible to use it for military [purposes]? It’s nonsense.”

Russia is often perceived as a big brother figure to Serbia, a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian nation. Moscow backs Belgrade, for example, in refusing to recognize the independence of Kosovo, a former Serbian province.

As Serbia and other Balkan countries pursue European Union membership, however, Russia has stepped up efforts to boost its regional influence.

Last month Montenegro joined NATO-to Moscow’s anger―effectively completing the Western alliance’s control of the Adriatic coast. Albania and Croatia have been members since 2009.

The development came several months after an alleged attempt to overthrow the government in Podgorica, a murky affair in which Montenegrin prosecutors said “Russian state bodies” were involved with the aim of preventing NATO accession.

Moscow denies the accusations.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned in March, when asked about Russia’s role in the region, that the Balkans “can easily become one of the chessboards where the big power game can be played”.

There is little on display to suggest dodgy activities at the quiet center in Nis, where a couple of cheerful men in uniform -- on three-month rotations from Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM)―tick off checklists of rescue equipment.

Screens in a small crisis operations room show satellite images that can pick up fires and project flood patterns. AFP

Turkey isolated after failed coup ISTANBUL―The consequences of the failed July 15 coup in Turkey increased Ankara’s international isolation, exposing shortcomings in the government’s sometimes overambitious foreign policy, analysts say.

NATO member and EU membership hopeful Turkey had expected an outpouring of solidarity after the coup attempt one year ago aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which Ankara blames on the USbased preacher Fethullah Gulen.

But ties with Brussels were bruised and Turkey’s long-running EU membership bid set back as the European Union reacted with alarm to the post-coup purge that has seen tens of thousands arrested.

The US presidency of Donald Trump has so far also given no hope that Turkey has seen the end of the rancor that marked the ties between Washington and Ankara under Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, the diplomatic crisis in the Gulf risks wrecking Turkey’s efforts to keep a tight strategic alliance with Qatar without upsetting Saudi Arabia.

“Turkey has been somewhat isolated diplomatically since the July 2016 failed coup, both because NATO partners were taken by surprise and because the subsequent purge went far beyond anything that could be expected,” said Marc Pierini, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe.

“The crisis between Saudi Arabia and its allies and Qatar only adds to the host of problems Turkey is facing on the diplomatic front,” he told AFP. Ankara’s precarious position is a far cry from what it enjoyed a decade ago, when Erdogan was seen as an essential mediator in almost every crisis and was courted by both the European Union and the United States.

For former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey was a center of the Islamic world and deserved influence from Bosnia to Arabia in lands Constantinople controlled under the Ottoman Empire. AFP

SUNRISE. Passengers look out from the deck to watch the sun rise on July 1, 2017, as the Cunard cruise liner RMS Queen Mary 2 arrives in New York City after sailing in the Atlantic ocean during the Bridge 2017, a trans-Atlantic race between the cruise liner and the world’s fastest Ultim trimarans from Saint-Nazaire, France, to New York. AFP

West Africa struggles to keep bad medicine off the shelves DAKAR, Senegal-As West Africa declares war on the market for expired and counterfeit medicines, start-ups are putting quality control in the hands of patients to stop them risking their lives trying to get well.

Not only can such drugs fail to treat the diseases they are bought to combat, experts say, but they may encourage resistance to an-

tibiotics and even cause death as diseases continue to course unchecked through the body.

At an April meeting in Liberia, the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced a region-wide investigation into the trafficking of expired and counterfeit drugs, and a public awareness campaign.

Traffickers in bad medicine prey on some of the world’s poorest and most in need, who also face high costs for health care and often lack insurance, said Adama Kane, who founded the health start-up JokkoSante in Senegal to tackle the problem.

Perversely, piles of perfectly good medication go unused in Senegal, Kane noted-a prob-

lem that JokkoSante tackles by organizing the collection of unused drugs from people who are awarded points in exchange to obtain other medicines later.

Handing in asthma medication at an exchange point in a health centre in Passy, central Senegal, JokkoSante user Marie Gueye is one of those to benefit.

“My family and I no longer

have problems getting medication. All we have to do is come here and collect the points,” she told AFP. For Senegal’s rural households, up to 73 percent of health-related expenses go on medication, according to JokkoSante research. Half the overall population has no health insurance coverage.

B

EING nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award at the age of eight for her performance in I am Sam made Dakota Fanning the youngest nominee in history.

Followed by films such as Man on Fire, War of The Worlds, and The Twilight Saga with roles alongside some of the most iconic names in Hollywood – Sean Penn, Denzel Washington, and Robert De Niro, Dakota has been in the spotlight as a rising star from an early age.

In addition to her dynamic film career, Dakota has carved her way as a style icon recognized for her impactful and directional fashion nous. Catching the attention of the global fashion industry Dakota’s quirky and romantic style has seen her featured numerous times on the covers of international fashion magazines.

Dakota showcases her individual style in an exclusive shoot on location at The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens. This provides the perfect setting as Dakota mixes her favorite accessories with an ethereal and feminine wardrobe.

“Dakota has such a nuanced and sophisticated understanding of fashion. Unafraid to push boundaries and wear something unexpected. I love seeing someone explore fashion with such maturity and self –assuredness. Her style is bold yet classic and her experimentation with color and pattern suited her perfectly to the Spring Summer collection. The botanic gardens as a back drop made the collection come to life and envelope you in their natural beauty,” said Sandra Choi, creative director of Jimmy Choo.

Discussing career highlights and aspirations Dakota takes us on a personal journey of fashion nostalgia, dream dresses and New York life.

What is your earliest fashion memory?

My earliest fashion memory is clomping around in my aunt’s heels, while visiting her in Miami. I was probably around two years old, and apparently insisted on wearing them absolutely everywhere the entire trip.

Having gone through so many outfits in your career, which have been your most memorable and why?

Recently I wore a Miu Miu dress to the Venice Film Festival. It looked like a mermaid’s tail, and it was truly my dream dress. I felt absolutely magical in it and taking it off was really hard… That dress, combined with such a glamorous location, was a very special moment for me.

And what is your earliest red carpet memory—do you remember what you wore? Do you ever look back and cringe or is there more a sense of nostalgia?

My first red carpet memory is the ‘I am Sam’ premiere. It was my first film, therefore my first premiere. I wore a satin champagne colored dress with capped sleeves. I had a purse that was black patent and shaped like a present, which I thought was very chic. I am sure I still have it somewhere. I do not really look back and cringe too much, definitely more of a warm nostalgia.

How would you put your personal aesthetic into words?

I do not know if I can actually. It really changes all the time. I think I usually have a vibe in mind when I am getting ready and try to execute that as best as I can. I am more traditional than not, but I also like to surprise people, so I try to throw something untraditional into my wardrobe just to keep people on their toes!

Are you meticulous about organizing your closet or is it more of a floor-drobe situation?

I am more on the meticulous side, but I must confess it could be more organized in there at the moment…

What are the go-to shoes in your wardrobe and why? Are you more of a flats or heels girl?

I am more a flats girl when I am in New York because there is so much walking involved when you live in the city. There is a grounded agility that a flat can bring that just cannot be accomplished in heels, no matter how well you walk in them! But with that being said, I love heels of all kinds. Chunky platforms in particular.

Uber or subway? And which shoes help you make your NYC lifestyle easier?

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

FASHION & BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

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DAKOTA FANNING

on Jimmy Choo Actress and style icon Dakota Fanning is featured in an ethereal shoot for Jimmy Choo’s Spring/Summer collection

Subway! Taxis! Walking! I use it all!

Which areas of New York do you love? Are you more of an uptown or downtown woman?

Do you have any favorite restaurants or spots you share with friends when they come in from out of town?

I am most certainly a downtown girl. I love Nolita, the East Village and the Lower East Side.

From your shoot with Jimmy Choo, which were your favorite shoes and why?

There was a pristine white sneaker that I absolutely adored. Very practical, and I love a slightly dirty white sneaker so I wouldn’t mind if the city stuck to them after a while. There was also a beautiful strappy heel with metallic purples and greens. The straps were like the vines of the flower that unfolded across the toes.

Do you have any poignant memories about wearing Jimmy Choo either on or off the red carpet? What does the brand stand for to you?

To me the brand is absolutely iconic. I have worn Jimmy Choo’s too many times to count, because they are able to make a statement, but also seamlessly fit with many different looks.

The Jimmy Choo collection is inspired by the beauty of nature—are you inspired by the outdoors? Do you get out of the city to be amongst nature often? Is it something that’s important to you and if so where do you like to go? What’s your favorite flower?

I would question anyone who said that nature was not important to them! I do not get out into it as often as I would like, but I daydream about all

the places I want to visit when I have time! One of my favorite places I have ever been is Tulum.

There are the most beautiful beaches, as well as jungles that are transfixing. My favorite flower is a peony.

How does a typical Sunday run at your home?

Depends on what happened Saturday night ha ha! Sunday is always a down day for me. Whether friends come over or I have some alone time, there is nothing major ever on the books.

And what about peers – you’ve taken on a lead and producing role beside Kristen Dunst for her directorial debut The Bell Jar – do you have a supportive network in the industry? Are you ever concerned about being a role model?

I have been so lucky to have worked with so many talented and deeply good people thus far in my career. So, yes, I think I have a supportive network for sure. As for being a role model, I try to live my life in a way that I can be proud of and that my family and friends can be proud of.

Many of your roles have included physical endurance and are not always in the most glamorous environments—do those challenges appeal to you more than the glossier leading lady roles?

I do not think that really has ever made a difference when I have been in the process of choosing a role. I would definitely not mind playing a glamorous role! But there is a sort of adrenaline high that comes with pushing yourself physically for a role that I definitely do enjoy.

When it comes to career aspirations what are the most important aspects you look for in pro-

jects now? Would you like to do television or theatre?

I am about to do a television series for the first time, and I could not be more excited. I watch so much television and am so inspired by the subject matter that is being tackled. It is such an incredible opportunity to be able to develop a character over a long period of time. As for theatre, that is something I have yet to do, but absolutely want to.

I know that will be a challenge unlike any other, and I am also very excited for that.

And outside of your work what do you most aspire to achieve?

The basics: being a good person, creating meaningful relationships, enjoying life and not rushing through time. *** In the Philippines, Jimmy Choo is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., and is located at Rustan’s Makati and Shangri-La Plaza East Wing. Follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.

Dakota’s style is described as bold yet classic, as seen in the shoot at The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens where she mixes her favorite accessories with the brand’s feminine wardrobe

Life

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

Most requested liquid foundation is here

By Bernadette Lunas

A

HIGHLY rated and most awaited makeup range has finally landed on the Philippine shores.

Fit Me is Maybelline New York’s range of liquid foundation, foundation stick, pressed powder, concealer, blush, and bronzer first launched in the US five years ago.

Since its introduction, Fit Me, particularly the liquid foundation format, has been receiving glowing reviews among those who have used the product. It’s currently rated 4.3 stars out of five based on 1,720 reviews on Amazon, 4.2/5 based on 1,996 reviews on Ulta, and 3.5/5 based on 767 reviews on makeupalley. com, as of this writing.

Naturally, Filipino makeup junkies eagerly requested for the range to be brought here at home.

“It has been years since people were asking—both on social media and in stores—when will we have Fit Me here in the Philippines,” Maybelline Philippines marketing director Cary Co told Manila Standard.

The Maybelline Fit Me matte liquid foundation, foundation stick, pressed powder, and concealer is now available in Maybelline outlets nationwide.

Co and her team handpicked the shades of the four formats, which according to her are the best fit for the tone and texture of Filipino skin.

For the much raved about Fit Me + Matte Poreless liquid foundation (P399), Maybelline Philippines brought

The highly-rated liquid foundation, foundation stick, pressed powder, and concealer formats of Maybelline New York’s Fit Me range are now available in the Philippines.

10 of its 33 super-saturated shades. The shades include Classic Ivory, Nude Beige, Warm Nude, Natural Beige, True Beige, Soft Tan, Natural Buff, Rich Tan, Sun Beige, and Toffee.

This certified US bestseller takes pride in its “easily blendable” formula. It is ideal for those with normal to oily skin as it has a matte finish and controls shine.

Fit Me foundation stick (P399), on the other hand, is perfect for those on-the-go. It offers coverage of a liquid foundation and matte finish of a powder, the latter due to its exclusive anti-shine powder core that instantly dissolves oil.

The foundation stick comes in eight shades: Por Porcelain, Ivory, Classic Ivory, Buff Beige, Natural Beige, Pure Beige, Toffee, and Coconut.

Fit Me Matte + Poreless pressed powder (P399) promises shine-free and poreless looking skin upon application. It contains blurring micro powders that blur pores and its formulation controls shine, thus making it an ideal setting powder. It’s ideal for nor normal to oily skin.

The pressed powder variant also comes in eight shades, namely, Classic Ivory, Buff Beige, Natural Beige, True Beige, Natural Buff, Pure Beige, Sun Beige, and Toffee.

Finally, Fit Me concealer (P199) gives natural coverage for dark circles and dark spots. It comes in four Filipino skin-suitable shades: Sand, Medium, Deep, and Cafe.

Visit Maybelline Philippines on Facebook for more details.

Achieve the woman-with-power look THIS year’s bronzing trend storms the scene with a strong, intense expression.

A modern interpretation of various tribal and ethno styles has given way to a look that is both strong and girlish. Inspired by feather elements that meet rivets, pearls and haute couture, Make up Factory unites these influences to offer a breathtakingly expressive make up range.

The new bronzing collection, Spirit of Ethno by Make up Factory offers a complete make up range that brings a powerful yet feminine look. A celebration of every woman’s individuality and our ethnicity.

The star product of the collection is the new Pearly Mat Lip Fluid Long-lasting that bathes the lips in intense color with a pearly mat finish. The tones range from intense red through berry and brown to nude. The color scheme comes from two different angles. Natural, earthy shades of brown are joined by intense and eyecatching colors of red, berry and gold.

The Pearly Mat Lip Fluid Long-lasting gives you an intense, long-lasting color with a new gloss texture which is mat and shimmery at the same time, a huge trend on lipsticks this year. The airy and creamy texture dries straight after application and leaves behind a pleasant feel.

The extremely long-lasting and smudge-proof lip fluid provides you with an intense and solid colors even from the first application. The “Tribal Rose” no. 15 is perfect for subtle emphasis of the lips; “Golden Cocoa” no.

24 and “Copper Tribe” no. 32 offer muted earth tones. “Red Spirit” no. 45 lends your lips an intense red color. It consists of pearlescent pigments for an alluring shimmer effect. They are talcfree, and free of mineral oil nor silicon, with a delectable melon fragrance that is dermatologically approved, perfect for busy lips and otherwise.

To match the beautifully intense color of your lips, choose the baked and fragrance-free Eye Shadow in new creamcolored shades of “Light Feather” no.

23C and “Rose Treasure” no. 26F, to subtly emphasize your eyes. For a more intensive radiance, choose the “Secret Terra” no. 28C, a dark brown, and “Aztec Gold” no. 39G, an elegant gold shade. For an even more color-intensive result, apply these pleasantly silky eye shadows with a damp applicator.

With the Sun Teint Powder in the new version “Aztec Vibes” no. 11 with ethno pattern, you can get a natural looking

tan to complete the look. The two harmoniously coordinated colors with mat effect can either be blended together or applied individually, thus enabling you perfect result all year round. The mineral sericite ensures a velvety soft feel on your skin. The Sun Teint Powder is mineral oil, paraben- and fragrance-free.

For picture-perfect-look that’s redcarpet-ready, turn to the Spirit of Ethno

by Make up Factory. From face, eyes and lips, this new and intense make up range will help you and your tribe be at the top of the bronzing game, with professional make up that’s meant for the sophisticated you.

All Make up Factory products are dermatologically-approved.

Make up Factory is exclusively distributed by Rustan Marketing Corporation and is available at Bonifacio High Street Boutique and leading Watson’s stores nationwide. Follow @makeupfactoryph on Instagram and MakeUpFactoryPHL on Facebook for instant updates and make up tutorials.

For more information, contact: Ayet Bernardo-Quimpo, Marketing Communications manager at ABQuimpo@ rgoc.com.ph or 0917-8285118.

The Spirit of Ethno by Make up Factory is a bronzing collection that brings a powerful yet feminine look

Avon Philippines general manager Emie Aguilar

Motivating Avon reps AVON Representatives from different parts of the country trooped to the Mall of Asia Complex for the company’s first ever combined celebration of its Sales Leaders Congress (Leadership Congress) and National Sales Convention (NASCON).

The Leadership Congress kicked off at the SMX Convention Center with “Avolution,” a business symposium that had Rags2Riches President Reese Ruiz and McDonald’s Executive Vice President Margot Torres as motivational speakers. Avon Philippines’ own General Manager Emie Aguilar-Nierves rallied the sales leaders and representatives to “E.V.O.L.V.E.” toward success.

“Avon’s sales leaders and representatives are the true superstars that put the company where it is today. That’s why we encourage them to continue shining their light so that others may be inspired and follow their lead,” Nierves said. She added that the company’s mission to promote women empowerment includes providing the Filipina with quality products and unmatched earning opportunity. “We are committed to bringing beauty for a purpose to the lives of our customers and representatives. Their success remains at the heart of our business.”

Outstanding performances and dedicated hard work were recognized during the Avolutionaries 2017 Recognition and Fellowship Night. Lorina Ravina

of Bacolod received the coveted GM’s Best award, while Davao’s Ging Sibal bagged the Hall of Fame award.

A special segment of the Leadership Congress was the one-day-only experiential product exposition that featured Avon’s best-selling products dubbed Avon City. Another first of its kind event for the company, the expo punctuated the company’s expertise in product categories where it has consistently held top market positions, namely, fragrance, makeup, hand and body lotion, roll-on deodorants, and intimate apparel. Best sellers like jewelry and watches, accessories, and home and kids essentials were also exhibited.

The NASCON was held at MOA Arena. Celebrated under the theme “Ikaw Na”, Avon Representatives were treated to fund and exciting activities throughout.

It was capped by a mini concert featuring Ogie Alcasid and Yeng Constantino.

The major events also proved to be a gathering of high-profile celebrities and Avon ambassadors such as Bettina Carlos, Jodi Sta. Maria, Iza Calzado, Ruffa Gutierrez, Marian Rivera, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Angel Locsin, Jennylyn Mercado, Enrique Gil, Paolo Avelino, Liza Soberano, Anne Curtis, and Daniel Matsunaga.

It also had Nyoy Volante, Zeus Collins, Nikko Natividad, DJ Boyet Almazan, Morisette Amon, Basil Valdez, and Jason Dy performing for the guests.

Look younger everyday AS WE age, so does our skin. Every day we encounter aggressors, which eventually dampen the natural, healthy glow of our face. Your favorite beauty brand, Covergirl, is now back with another skincare-infused makeup from its AwardWinning Simply Ageless Collection.

This all-new liquid makeup doubles up as a skincare regimen to instantly eliminate years while hiding the early signs of aging.

Introducing the all-new Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foun-

dation, a breakthrough liquid foundation that works wonders on your skin with just a few pumps. As skin care, it is enhanced with the tried and tested formula of Olay.

This 3-in-1 liquid foundation succeeds by reducing the early onsets of skin aging delivering that much-needed moisture to keep your skin hydrated at all times. It contains Vitamin E and Glycerin which shield your skin against free radicals while preventing fine lines and wrinkles, as well as Green Tea extracts that builds collagen, restoring that luxurious radi-

ance you truly deserve. As makeup, The Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Liquid Foundation is a fusion of primer, concealer, and foundation. You can go from sheer to full skin coverage with its buildable formula. The built-in SPF also prevents sun damage, improving overall skin tone for an even looking skin.

It’s never too early to fight against aging so put your best face forward and achieve that lit-from-within glow with the all-new Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 Skin care and makeup come together in Covergirl + Olay Simply Ageless 3-in-1 liquid foundation Liquid Foundation.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

embraces diversity

D

ON’T you just love the new Spider-Man – the story, the lead actor, and most of the cast members?

Heavyweight Koreanovela on ABS-CBN DIVERSE CAST. Tom Holland (first from right) leads the cast of millennial actors namely (from left) Angourie Rice, Tony Revoroli, Laura Harrier, Jacob Batalon, and Zendaya movies, Homecoming is not so much an origin story as it is a continuation of Captain America: Civil War (2016). It is a teen action comedy drama, which makes it more enjoyable to watch.

Given its genre, it has an enough amount of action, from a Staten Island ferry splitting in half to high-wire heroics atop the Washington Monument. And it has relatable comedy enough to make the audience sit through its whole 130-minute run.

The story begins with Peter Parker starting as an intern at Stark Industries.

While waiting for his tasks, the teenager roams the street helping out people and busting small-time criminals. When in school, he walks the hallways with best friend Ned, who accidentally discovers his secret and eventually helps him track the sinister flying super villain known as Vulture ((Michael Keaton). Along the way, Peter learns that the Vulture is the father of Liz, the girl he’s been crushing on whom he also invited to be his prom date.

Logically, the twist doesn’t make the story complicated since Peter Parker is determined to be a hero rather than a romantic lad. And Holland is able to paint this picture with his believable portrayal of the character.

Just like its title, the new Spider-Man movie is really a homecoming film reintroducing Spidey to a whole new generation of viewers. It’s a revival of the image Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield established during their time as Peter Parker only Holland is more refreshing and more suitable to be young-looking and young-acting superhero who doesn’t want to take the credits and don’t want to be identified – it’s a subtle advocacy admirable about the film apart from its simple effort to embrace diversity.

Well, this is subjective. But obviously, Jon Watts, the director of the latest Spider-Man movie starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker, has learned from “some” of the mistakes or should we say the little things but equally significant details overlooked by his predecessors. And I am not just talking about product placement.

Most superhero movies are like the annual Oscars. It’s very white. But Spider-Man: Homecoming assembles a refreshing cast that is composed of actors of colors like Laura Harrier as Liz, Zendaya as Michelle “MJ” Jones, Jacob Batalon as Parker’s best friend Ned and the students in decathlon team, which Peter Parker is part of. Although they are relegated to bit roles, the inclusion of these non-white actors is more than commendable.

It may not be the blueprint for future superhero movies, but this move created a message more powerful than any imagined superpowers known to Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Spider-Man: Homecoming is very grounded just like how Tony Stark (Robert Robert Downey, Jr.) wanted Peter Parker to be. It touches reality in many senses.

Set in one of the most diverse cities in the world (New York City), the movie depicts a lead protagonist whose concerns are practically just what ordinary teenagers are confronted by on a regular basis – bullying, some shallow romantic attachment, defying r u l e s and orders from adults, and that phase when you are limited to do simples tasks because you are perceived as someone too young to be entrusted with big stuff. license This gives our screen hero the w h i c h to act stubborn as the movie, describes heralds Spider-Man’s entry to MCU, juvenile who him as a determined 15-year-old got so many abilities, superhuman abilities to be exact, but is only told to stay on the ground, literally.

Unlike the previous S p i d e y

Nora Aunor earns 21st Gawad Urian nomination SUPERSTAR Nora Aunor has scored a milestone, having earned her twenty first nomination in the 40th Gawad Urian Awards.

That may be comparable to Meryl Streep’s record of 2 Oscar nominations. But what is more doubly significant is that the senior actress has achieved the rare feat of getting nominated with her daughter and granddaughter, Lotlot de Leon and Janine Gutierrez.

Aunor was cited for her compelling performance in Kristian S. Corderos’ Hinulid, a Bicolano epic tale of Sita, a justice-seeking mother grieving for the loss of her son, a victim of hazing, played by newcomer Jess Mendoza (also nominated for best supporting actor). De Leon won her first Urian nomination for Adolfo Alix, Jr’s Mrs., a Sinag Maynila Film Festival best film, while Gutierrez also scored her first Urian nomination for her role of an American Military officer’s daughter in the period-movie by Atom Magadia’s Dagsin (an entry in Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival 2016).

Three generations of actresses competing in one

single film awards. This has been accomplished only in the Academy Awards (Oscars) and Golden Globes Awards. Mother and daughter, Diane Ladd and Laura Dern, were nominated at the 1992 Oscars and Golden Globes for their roles in the film Rambling Rose. Father and daughter Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda co-starred in On Golden Fond earning for her an Oscar best supporting nomination and for him the best actor award in 1982. Father and daughter Ryan O’Neal and Tatum O’Neal also co-starred in Paper Moon and were both nominated at the 1974 Golden Globes Awards.

Aunor is undoubtedly the “darling of the Manunuris,’’ from her winning Urian’s first ever best actress awardee in1977 for Mario O’Hara’s Tatlong Taong Walang Diyos to last year’s Urian best picture, Brilliante Mendoza’s Taklub. She was Urian’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient in 2015 and won Urian’s Natatanging Aktress ng Dekada (1990-1999) in 2001.

Aunor at 64 is here to stay.

In the rave review of Hinulid

by Urian chairman Tito Valiente, he said of Aunor’s scintillating, poetic performance, “She has, indeed, grown old in this film, a testament to her dedication to the craft. But more that, she has, in Hinulid, became an even greater actor, if such were still possible with an actor who has already been hailed as the greatest.”

Aunor’s co-nominees for best actress are Jaclyn Jose (Ma’ Rosa), Cherry Pie Picache (Pauwi Na), Angeli Bayani (Ned’s Project), Ai Ai delas Alas (Area), Laila Ulao (Women of the Weeping River), Charo Santos (Ang Babaeng Humayo), Hasmine Killip ( P a m i l y a O rd i n a r y o ) , Irma Adlawan (Oro) and Elizabeth O ro p e s a (Mrs.) The awards night will be held on July 20 with live telecast over Cinema One at 9 p.m. – Eton B. Concepcion

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, July 12, 2017

ACROSS 1 Make a bet 6 Cookbook meas.

10 Widespread 14 Identical 15 Arm bone 16 Plenty, to a poet 17 Thesaurus compiler 18 Oahu welcomes 19 Police squad 20 Doomsayers 22 Elevator inventor 23 Knocks 24 Olive in the comics 26 Banquets 30 Applause 34 Listens to 35 Attentiongetter 36 Tell a whopper 37 “Pretty Woman” lead 38 Leafy recess 40 Medieval humor 41 NBA player 42 Hertz rival 43 Bleated 44 Changed, as a law 46 Utility room 48 Flair for music 49 Upswept hairdo 50 “Family Ties” son

53 Most shabby 59 “Ay caramba!” speaker 60 Zest for life 61 Goof-off 62 Throw off heat 63 Ding-a- — 64 “Affliction” star 65 Mexican staple 66 Coupler 67 Juice holder DOWN 1 Prejudice 2 Healing succulent 3 Band’s bookings 4 Barely gets by 5 Hits the hay 6 Dutch exports 7 Smile upon 8 Angry mood 9 Fail to consider (2 wds.)

10 Mutiny 11 Rolling — — (rich) 12 Points of convergence 13 Fleecy animals 21 Damage superficially 25 Tasty tuber 26 Doctrine 27 Steel girder (hyph.)

28 Daredevil’s

attribute 29 TV’s “Science Guy” 30 Melodramatic cry 31 Helen of Troy’s story 32 Crude hauler 33 Flat broke 35 Delts neighbor 38 Unwillingly 39 Disencumber 40 Make taboo 42 Oklahoma town 43 Polishing 45 Beside (2 wds.)

46 Club car 47 — Wiedersehen 49 April 1 mischief 50 Help do wrong 51 The Dalai — 52 Mr. Clapton 54 Ad award 55 Mega-celebrity 56 Jazzy Fitzgerald 57 Solidifies 58 Three, in Madrid

PRIMETIME has never been this heavyweight when in comes to romance and comedy as ABS-CBN premieres the much awaited Koreanovela about a female weightlifter in Weightlifting Fairy on ABS-CBN. The series premiered last Monday.

It was a big hit in Korea. Pinoy Asianovela fans eagerly anticipate its television airing. It instantly drew loud cheers when ABS-CBN head of Integrated Acquisitions and International Distribution Leng Raymundo announced in this year’s Pinoy Media Congress that the series is one of the Asianovelas to watch in 2017 and also created a buzz online when ABS-CBN aired its promo plug.

Follow the journey of Kim Bok Joo, a young lady who enters the world of weightlifting to fulfill her father’s dreams. Despite the hardships, Bok Joo remains determined to prove herself and to make her family proud. Her love life, however, is on the line because not many guys like women in the weightlifting team.

One day, she meets Jung Joon Hyung, a collegiate swimmer who’s swimming career is also on the line by a mistake he made in one of his competitions. As they cross paths, the Joon Hyung and Bok Joo realize that they know each other way back when they were still kids.

The two become good friends and just as when Joon Hyung is starting to fall for Bok Joo, the latter crushes over her weight loss doctor Jung Jae-Hyi who happens to be Joon Hyung’s brother.

Where will their love story go? When your fit as friends are you automatically fit to become lovers? How will Joon Hyung fight for his love for Bok Joo? How can Bok Joo balance weightlifting and love at the same time?

Weightlifting Fairy airs after A Love to Last only on ABS-CBN. For updates, like https://www.facebook.com/ abscbnkapamilyanovelas/ on Facebook or follow @ KapamilyaNovela on Twitter. You can also catch up by watching the show’s past episodes via www.iWanTV.com.ph.

Lee Sungkyung and Nam Joo-hyuk in the hit Korean series, "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo"

TEAM KAPAMILYA.

ABS-CBN executives, anchors, and reporters show off their trophies from the recently concluded Philippine Quill Awards

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 2017

KAPAMILYA is most awarded TV Network

A

BS-CBN is the most awarded TV network.

Also it was the Company of the Year 1st runner-up.

Both honors were given to the Kapamilya network at the 15th Philippine Quill Awards, totaling 21 recognitions from the country’s highest and most comprehensive awards in business communication – International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines.

Leading the winners is ABSCBN News’ election campaign “Ipanalo ang Pamilyang Pilipino: Championing The Filipino Family in the 2016 Philippine National Elections,” which won an excellence award in the Communication Management category for encouraging Filipino voters to think about the welfare of their family when they vote, and helping people make informed choices in the elections through news and features on ABS-CBN’s news platforms and multimedia channels.

ABS-CBN News’ “#Halalan2016 Digital Project,” also bagged an excellence award in the Communication Skills category, for showcasing ABS-CBN’s transition into a digital company as it informed and engaged citizens during the election season through news and information that were disseminated via the “Halalan

2016” microsite and ABS-CBN News accounts on social media and mobile platforms.

Meanwhile, also cited for effective excellent use of communication were TFC’s overseas voting campaign, “#Vote4ASelfieWorthyPH,” in the Corporate Social Responsibility category and “#Halalan2016 Social Media Center” in the Social Media Programs category.

Four campaigns of the Kapamilya network also ruled the Marketing, Advertising, and Brand Communication category namely “UAAP Season 78 Women’s Volleyball,” “TFC’s Kapamilya Reunion,” “DZMM 30: Balita. Public Service.

Tatlong Dekada,” and ABS-CBN TVplus’ “Kapamilya Box Office: Democratizing Access to Movies and other Premium Content.”

The network’s digital initiatives also got the Quill seal of approval in categories focusing on digital communications and social media such as Cinema One’s “Cinema One Minute Student Film Competition,” “ABS-CBN Sports Hub,” and “Aral ng EDSA.” In the Customer Relations category, ABS-CBN took home awards for “Wow at Saya Audience Experience” and “On the Wings of Love.”

Meanwhile, its internal communication campaigns also nabbed honors including “Isang Pamilya Tayo: Unity in the Midst of Change,” “Kuwentuhan with Carlo,” and “Kapamilya Hottie: The Search for the Next Kapamilya Fitness Ambassadors.”

Other Quill awardees include “KSP: Patrol ng Edukasyon” in the Nonprofit category, “Tales in Tikog Leaves: Weaving past ‘Yolanda’” in the Writing category, “ABS-CBN News Digital Videos/ A.N.D.” in the Audio/Visual category and “Digital Concert” in the Special Events category.

The prestigious annual Philippine Quill Awards is presented by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines to honor excellent communications programs and tools that exhibit clear objectives and strategies, creative executions, and measurable benefits. The 15th Philippine Quill Awards was held on July 5 at the Marriott Hotel.

Kiko Estrada and Chef Boy Logro blessed with another fruitful year KIKO Estrada carries a household name in showbiz but he’s gradually carving his own mark in the business. For him, the journey isn’t easy but he makes sure to surround himself with people - his fans and supporters –who can be a source of motivation that gives him an extra push to be better.

As he turned a year older, instead of having a big celebration, he invited some of his fans to an intimate get together on June 20 at the Kondanda Archery Range in Eastwood City. “I’m very happy to be spending this day with my fans who’ve been supporting me ever since. In our lives, merong mga taong nagiging bahagi ng buhay natin who will love and support us unconditionally. Kaya naman I chose to celebrate my birthday with them. It’s also my simple way of thanking them sa walang sawa nilang suporta,” shared the Kapuso star.

The party was hosted by fellow GMA Artist Center stars Arrianne Bautista and Yasser Marta. They facilitated the short program where Kiko gave a short and sweet message to his fans before playing archery.

After having fun over games, laughter and popcorn, Kiko felt very happy to be able to give joy to his solid supporters.

Meanwhile, aging gracefully is the 61-year old

Chef Boy Logro who decided to celebrate his birthday with a purpose. On June 22, he invited the GEMS Heart Banduria Group, one of the beneficiaries of ChildFund Philippines to his 7 Flavors Restaurant in San Juan. ChildFund Philippines is a nongovernmental organization that acts on the protection of children and focuses on their education.

Instead of wishing something for himself, Chef Boy instead offered a prayer of thanks. “Lagi kong sinasabi na hindi na ‘ko humihingi sa Panginoon, kundi lagi akong nagpapasalamat dahil ‘yung binigay niya sa ‘kin, grabe- siksik, liglig, umaapaw.

Alam n’yo naman saan inabot ng aking pinagaralan. I [did] not really graduate from high school pero binigyan [ako] ng Panginoon [ng maraming blessings],” he said.

A short program was hosted by Top One Project member Joshua Jacobe where the kids played the banduria and performed for Chef Boy. The chef-TV host was filled with joy seeing young ones celebrate the Filipino culture through music. Impressed with their performance, he invited the children to guest in his show, Idol Sa Kusina. The program ended with Joshua’s song number, in which he acknowledged the kind heart of Chef Boy.