Manila Standard - 2017 July 19 - Wednesday

IS Mosul veterans fighting in Marawi

By Rey E. Requejo TEN Islamic State veterans of the fighting in Mosul, Iraq have been seen fighting alongside members of the Maute group in Marawi City, a military official said Monday.

In a TV interview with GMA-7, Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez said the 10 fighters, who looked Caucasian, were seen by civilians who were recently rescued from the war zone.

Mosul was the stronghold of the Islamic State in Iraq for almost a year, until Iraqi forces retook the city from the terrorists.

Galvez said the foreign fighters were “suicidal.”

The same report quoted

military officials as saying that the government forces have retaken Abbas Hospital from the Maute terrorists.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Next page

VOL. XXXI • NO. 155 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P18 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 • www.manilastandard.net • editorial@thestandard.com.ph

‘161 days more for martial law’ Duterte sends request to Congress

PRESIDENTIAL DINNER. President Duterte talks to some members of the House of Representatives and the Senate Tuesday in this photo handed out by the Presidential Photo Office but gave no details on what the President discussed. Presidential Photo

By John Paolo Bencito

P

RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte asked Congress Tuesday to extend martial law in Mindanao to Dec. 31 or a period of five months because the rebellion there cannot be quelled by the time military rule expires on July 22.

“I have come to the conclusion that the existing rebellion in Mindanao, which has prompted me to issue [the martial law proclamation], will not be quelled completely by 22nd July 2017,” Duterte said in his letter to Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. “[B]ecause public safety requires it, I call upon the Con-

TRIGGER READY.

President Duterte holds a .45 caliber handgun, one of 3,000 units handed over during a ceremonial yield to the military at Malacañang on Tuesday. The President has announced plans to extend martial law in Mindanao to defeat Islamist militants who have seized Marawi City, as critics warned the Philippines could be edging towards a dictatorship. AFP

Next page

US offers 2 spy planes, raises new travel alert

40k Uber, Grab taxis taken off streets A TOTAL of 40,320 Grab and Uber taxis will be banned from the streets starting July 26 because they will stop having the franchise to operate on that date, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Tuesday.

The agency said that number comprised 72 percent of the 56,000 Transport Network Vehicle Service units that would be illegal starting July 26. It said only

gress to extend until 31st of December 2017, or for such a period of time as the Congress may determine, the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in the whole of Mindanao,” he added.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said Duterte asked an extension until the end of the

15,440 vehicles of Grab and Uber would have the documents to continue operating on that date.

The LTFRB made its statement even as a House leader on Tuesday asked the LTFRB to explain the backlog in processing the permits for Transport Network Vehicle Service or TNVS drivers.

In a statement, Rep. Winston Castelo, head of the House committee on Metro Manila develop-

ment, said the regulatory board had failed to process the pending applications from Uber and Grab drivers on time.

“Why are there so many applications for permits filed by TNVS drivers that they [the LTFRB] accepted but not processed?” Castelo said.

“If LTFRB’s objective is to lessen congestion in the roads of Next page

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan THE United States government will provide two surveillance aircraft to help Philippines fight Islamic State-inspired terrorists in Marawi City.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said the American government is set to turn over two Cessna 208 aircraft that can be used for surveillance and intelligence gathering.

“We have been providing a very important support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines

in terms of information sharing, intelligence sharing, training, technical advice, as well as equipment grants,” Kim said in an interview over the ANC news channel.

“We’re going to do everything possible to support the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] as it tries to secure the area,” Kim said.

Kim said the support comes under the 50-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty between the two countries.

“I think everything we do is Next page

’Noy expresses ‘surprise’ over criminal raps on him

By Rio N. Araja FORMER President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday he was surprised by the decision of the Office of the Ombudsman to file criminal raps against him before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the Mamasapano clash that took the lives of 44 Special Action Force troopers.

“Definitely [I was surprised].

But I want[ed] to make sure, so I asked myself, was I ever charged for this offense or was there a complaint ever filed? And my lawyers responded: There was no such complaint,” Aquino said.

“So to get a decision on something you were not aware you were complained about, and you never had the opportunity to respond to really was a surprise.”

Aquino complained he was never asked to file a reply on the charges filed against him, former Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima and former SAF chief Getulio Napeñas.

He said he will file an appeal to question his indictment.

“There was no complaint. The complaint would normally be [in] the form of an affidavit of complaint to which you are asked to Next page

Solons back extension of ML in south

By Maricel V. Cruz LAWMAKERS on Tuesday rallied behind President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to Congress for a five-month extension of martial law in Mindanao.

“Congress will grant the desire of the President to extend the imposition of martial law in Mindanao so there will be no gap in the military operations in the region against terrorist attacks,” said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

“Majority of the Filipino are in favor of Duterte’s move to declare martial law to restore peace and order not only in the center of conflict in Marawi City but also to prevent the spread of lawlessness and violence in the entire Mindanao,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez added that even if the hostilities in Marawi stop, the threat of terrorism remains.

He noted that the Constitution requires Congress to hold a joint session if the President requests an extension of martial law, which expires on July 22. The session would decide not only whether or not to support the request, but also decide on the duration of the extension.

Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles also expressed support for an extension.

Next page

AFP clears Turk group of terror tag

SONA REHEARSAL. Presidential Security troops on board two Malacañang presidential helicopters land at

the Batasang Pambansa complex rear entrance in preparation for President Duterte’s arrival on Monday, when he will deliver his second State of the Nation Address before both houses of Congress. Ver Noveno

ARMED Forces Chief Eduardo Año said Tuesday they were not considering the Fetullah Gullen movement as a terrorist group, contrary to the claims made by the Turkish Ambassador to Manila.

He made the statement even as the Turkish nationals in the Philippines who had been accused by their government of being terrorists on Tuesday insisted they were not.

Still, Malacañang said it will Next page

A2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

News

US hearing set on drug war T

By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan

HE Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is set to hold a hearing in the United States on Thursday on the human rights consequences of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.

The commission said it had invited witnesses who would analyze the implementation of Duterte’s war on drugs and its consequences for the human rights situation in the Philippines.

“Although extrajudicial killings have been a major human

IS...

From A1 Eduardo Año said the terrorists are now boxed into an area less than one square kilometer in Marawi City.

“So we’ll have one final push to really break their line and finally clear the whole area of Marawi,” Año said.

As of 7 p.m. Sunday, the military said 411 terrorists have beeen killed in the fighting, while 97 government soldiers have died. Some 45 civilians have also been killed.

Fighting broke out in Marawi City after government troops tried to arrest Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and ISIS “emir” in Southeast Asia on May 23.

Also on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the trial of rebellion cases filed against members and supporters of the Maute group transferred from Cagayan de Oro to Taguig City.

In an administrative order dated June 27, but released only Tuesday, the Court also ordered the transfer of the accused from their current detention in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro to the Special Intensive Care Area inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

The Court also ordered the Taguig Regional Trial Court to “speedily act on all prosecutions and incidents arising from the violent incidents in Marawi City involving the Maute group.”

The Court said Camp Bagong Diwa was just a temporary detention facility as it ordered the Bureeau of Jail Management and Penology to expedite the relocation of the suspects to a suitable detention facility.

The Justice Department earlier asked the Court to designate special courts in Luzon or the Visayas to hear the cases due to the security threat in Mindanao, which remains under martial law.

But the Court designated the Cagayan de Oro Regional Trial Court to take on the cases from the Marawi courts.

The Justice department asked the Court to reconsider its decision, however, saying that there was a lack of proper detention facilities in Camp Evangelista. Through its latest order, the Court granted the department’s appeal. With PNA

AFP...

From A1 probe Turkish Ambassador Esra Cankorur’s revelations against them.

“Definitely, we’re not terrorists,” Bora Aslan, president of the Integrative Center for Alternative Development or ICAD Foundation, told reporters at the foundation’s Fountain International School beside the Flying V Arena in Greenhills, San Juan City.

ICAD and its sister group, the Pacific Dialogue Foundation led

by Cihangir Arslan as president, together with their Filipino employees and partners have denied the terror tag placed against them by the Turkish government.

In a chance interview at the Palace, Año said they had not monitored anything unusual about the group accused by Ambassador Esra Cankorur to have branched out to the Philippines conducting terror activities.

“The Fetullah Gullen movement, we do not consider them as a terrorist group. Right now their activities here are helping the community,” Año said.

But he acknowledged that Cankorur might have other information that the military was not privy to.

“Maybe the Turkish Ambassador has a basis on why she said that,” Año said, but added they would rather not get entangled with Turkey’s internal matters.

“They had an attempted coup [before] and they believe this coup was staged or inspired by this Fetullah Gullen movement, but that is an internal affair of Turkey. We do not want to get entangled with that.”

Cankorur said the Fetullah Gullen Movement had affiliates in 50 countries including the Philippines. John Paolo Bencito and Florante S. Solmerin

rights concern for some time, in its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016 the Department of State recognized that such killings increased sharply over the last year,” the commission said.

The witnesses who will stand

before the commission are iDEFEND spokesman Ellecer Carlos, Amnesty International senior crisis adviser Matthew Wells and Human Rights Watch Asia Division deputy director Phelim Kine.

The commission said these panelists would also provide policy recommendations for ensuring accountability for human rights violations and for addressing the problems of drug abuse and trafficking in ways consistent with promoting public health and strengthening the rule of law.

The commission said the Philippines is a US treaty ally and the largest recipient of American as-

sistance in East Asia.

The US assistance to the Philippines includes counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics support to the Philippine National Police.

“Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and reports of extrajudicial killings raise questions about how the United States should balance its concerns for protecting human rights and the rule of law with its desire to maintain the bilateral alliance and continue to pursue other shared goals,” it said.

Duterte was elected in May 2016 with 38.5 percent of the vote after campaigning on economically populist policies and a promise to eradicate the drug problem in

the Philippines.

The commission said Duterte had been quoted ordering the police forces “to kill drug pushers, holdup men and do nothing... and dump all of [them] into Mania Bay and fatten all the fish there.”

In the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2016, the US Department of State raised concerns on the increasing deaths over the last year.

It cited statistics from the Philippine National Police that 7,025 drug-related killings were carried out between July 1, 2016, when Duterte assumed office, and Jan. 21, 2017, or an average of 34 killings per day.

‘161...

From A1

tial law’s implementation to Defense Secretary and martial law administrator Delfin Lorenzana, who submitted the recommendations to Duterte.

Año said extremist threat in Mindanao from extremist groups such as the Maute group and the Abu Sayyaf, was significant despite the ongoing offensives against them.

He estimated that fighting in Marawi had cut the number of ISaffiliated terrorists from 1,200 to about 800, but said this was still a sizable number.

Año also said the terrorists were using cash rewards to entice others to join their cause.

“Normalizing” the situation in Mindanao would involve more than the liberation of Marawi, but include crushing other groups and sources fueling the rebellion and terrorism in Mindanao, Año said.

“If we look at it, their forces are still there … they were still able to launch attacks and this is far from over. We need to fix this once and for all,” he added.

Duterte, in previous speeches, said that if he declares martial law, it would resolve all threats emanating in Mindanao.

Top IS leaders in the country, Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Omarkhayam and Abdullah Maute are still alive and hiding somewhere in Marawi, Año said.

The extension of martial law would also address threats coming from communist rebels, which recently called for intensified attacks against government forces.

Rep. Edcel Lagman, who had filed a petition against martial law with the Supreme Court, said the extension of martial law would be “several steps back” for democracy.

“That would indicate the possibility of extending the coverage of martial law outside Mindanao,” Lagman said.

Lagman also warned of a potential repeat of the military abuses and political repression during the martial law regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose 20year rule ended with a bloodless popular revolt in 1986.

Opposition Senator Francis Pangilinan said martial rule was an “extraordinary and temporary measure” and that any extension could not be more than 60 days.

Duterte should consider limiting martial law to the Muslim regions of Mindanao, he added.

Both Pangilinan and former President Fidel Ramos, a Duterte supporter who has become critical of the administration, warned that extended martial rule may scare off investments.

“Martial law was necessary in the beginning but any extension should now be considered very carefully,” Ramos told reporters.

Security forces have been conducting a US-backed offensive to root out the gunmen, using airstrikes and artillery fire, and early this week the military said about 60-80 gunmen remained over a one- square kilometer area of downtown Marawi.

Solons...

From A1

present circumstances.

Deputy speaker and Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu added that an extension of martial law would be for the greater good of the Mindanaoans.

“I support President Duterte’s call to Congress for a special session on Saturday, July 22 on the extention of martial law... in Mindanao. It is in accordance with the Constitution,” Abu said. added: “I fully believe that he considered all the available information and intelligence reports before coming up with such decision.”

But Akbayan Party-List Rep. Tom Villarin dismissed the government’s martial law extension in Mindanao as “a whimsical proposal.”

“It has no substantive grounds other than the President’s wishes.

From verbalizing 60 days in a dinner with congressional leaders, now the President wants to make it five months.

“It seems they are not sure when to end martial law nor do they have clear outcomes,” said Villarin, a member of the opposition.

“Clearly Congress needs to put parameters to it as its constitutional mandate for legislative review is now on the table. The joint session on July 22 will be watched closely by our people [to see] how Congress responds to this challenge,” he added.

An administration ally in the Senate, meanwhile, said an extension period longer than 60 days would be difficult to justify.

“The President said 60 days.

That’s easy to extend. But we’ll have a harder time explaining a longer extension,” said Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III. Sotto and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House leaders had dinner with Duterte Monday night. Other majority bloc senators and congressmen were also present.

After the dinner, Sotto said it was Duterte who told him that he wants to extend martial law in Mindanao just for another 60 days. He has since amended that to the end of the year.

Asked if he will support a fivemonth extension, Sotto said he will decide based on the presentation of security officials in support of the recommendation scheduled on Wednesday.

Senator Grace Poe, in a separate text message, said she will also wait for the security briefing.

“Aside from their inputs, we also have constituents on the ground who will send their feedback. Only then will I be able to determine my position on the martial law extension,” Poe said.

Congress is set to convene in a special session on Saturday to discuss the martial law extension. The 60-day proclamation in Mindanao resulting from the attack of the proISIS Maute group on Marawi City last May 23, will lapse on the same day.

In an interview with the news channel ANC, Communist Party of the Philippines founding chairman Jose Maria Sison opposed an extension of martial law.

“The threat to declare martial law nationwide would certainly be a declaration of war against the revolutionary movement,” Sison told ANC. “It would practically kill the peace negotiations.”

Sison said extending the duration of martial law in Midnanao could also be used against communist rebels in the region.

The leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said it feared the Duterte administration was becoming a military dictatorship.

“Is the Duterte regime on its way to becoming a military dictatorship? This is our greatest fear now that President Duterte wants martial law extend in Mindanao and possibly elsewhere,” Bayan said in a statement.

Bayan said the last 60 days of martial law in Mindanao have seen a spike in human rights violations of civilian communities affected by increases and intensified military and police operations.

“In any case, since last year, Duterte has already placed the entire country under a state of national emergency. He is already empowered to call on the military to quell any act of lawless violence, including acts of terrorism,” Bayan said.

“Thus, Bayan registers its strong opposition to President Duterte’s plans to extend or expand martial law. We call on Congress not to be a party to this dangerous ploy. We call on the people to resist such moves to impose a military dictatorship on the country. We say, never again,” Bayan said. With Sandy Araneta

and delivery, standardized fare and safe and comfortable rides.”

• Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said Tuesday Uber and Grab cars were better than taxicabs.

Ejercito is seeking an immediate solution to the problem of the ban to be imposed by the LTFRB on Grab and Uber next week.

The LTFRB has announced that starting July 26, only drivers and operators in the lists submitted by Grab Philippines, Uber Philippines and other accredited TNVS will be allowed to offer ride-sharing and ride-hailing services.

• The chairman of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor on Tuesday said the LTFRB was giving the public a difficult time.

“The paramount consideration in our land transport policy should be the interest of the riding public,” said Terry Ridon as he lamented the mounting complaints on how the

LTFRB had been dealing with different modes of public transport.

Ridon said the first strike was on the jeepney sector where the drivers were composed mostly of the urban poor. He said the LTFRB was continuing to insist on phasing out the jeepneys and replaced by supposedly green vehicles that were yet to show proof of concept, economic viability and operational durability.

• The LTFRB said Tuesday 72 percent of the 56,000 TNVS will be considered illegal starting next week and will no longer be allowed to ply the streets of Metro Manila.

Only 15,440 vehicles of Grab and Uber had the documents to continue operating as TNVS by July 26, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada told reporters.

• The LTFRB said Tuesday the ride-hailing services had not been suspended, but only those with Provisional Authority or Certificate of

Public Convenience would be allowed to operate.

Castelo said the backlog in processing TNVS permits would be “unfair” to the TNVS drivers who now ran the risk of being arrested for operating without a franchise.

“The practice is so unfair to the drivers who have invested hardearned money to join the app riding transport but run the risk of being apprehended because of applications that were not acted on,” Castelo said.

“They [LTFRB] should have provided guidelines and not give false hopes to the drivers who continue to invest only to be charged for violations.”

Starting July 26, Grab and Uber drivers without franchises will be fined P120,000 and their vehicles impounded for three months should they continue to operate. PNA, with Joel E. Zurbano, Sandy Araneta and Darwin G. Amojelar

year to allow government troops to deal with the crisis “unhampered by deadlines.”

Duterte, who placed the entire island of Mindanao under martial law on May 23 after Islamist extremists laid siege in Marawi City, is set to call Congress for a special session on Saturday, July 22 to consider his proposal to extend martial law in Mindanao.

Duterte will also face both chambers of Congress on July 24, or two days after his second State of the Nation Address.

Under the Constitution, only Congress can revoke or extend any declaration of martial law while review powers are with the Supreme Court.

In his meeting with congressional leaders late Monday night, Duterte explained the need to extend martial law, but left them with an assurance that he wanted it extended for only 60 more days, or until September.

Speaking to Palace reporters, Armed Forces chief General Eduardo Año said that the five-month extension will allow security forces to finish all looming threats clouding Mindanao.

“It’s enough for us to do our job and finish this job,” Año said. “We can thoroughly address threats if martial law is in place, because of the features which are helping us right now.”

The military and police earlier submitted their assessment of mar-

“We are 100 percent behind the President in any decision concerning the present situation in Mindanao. As commander-in-chief, the President has in his possession sensitive intel and the best information on the continuing threats of terrorism in the region.”

Nograles said he belives the PDPLaban dominated House of Representatives will grant the request of the President to extend martial law until Dec. 31.

“Up to this point, the declaration of martial law has allowed government to surgically operate against the rebel terrorist groups and led to the capture of ranking rebel terrorist leaders in Davao and Lanao, among others,” Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said.

“If the President and the military need to continue with their operations to ensure that the rebellion and terrorism are contained without spilling over to other parts of the country then we must entrust to our President what the Constitution provides as self-preservation of the integrity of our nation,” Nograles added.

Besides, he said the Duterte administration has been able to show that under this martial law no abuses were committed and no rights were trampled on , and this was even validated by survey results indicating that Mindanaoans are in favor of martial law considering the

40k...

From A1 Metro Manila, then it should clarify why they continue to accept new permit applications for TNVs and allow the documented ones to serve the public. But LTFRB is taking in more applications that they fail to act on.”

In other developments: • Senator Grace Poe said Tuesday she will file a bill to address the problems confronting the drivers and operators of Transport Network Vehicle Services after the government announced its plan to ban most of them from operating.

“We must acknowledge the fact that many of our commuters now rely on TNVS to travel around the city,” Poe said.

“The companies of TNVS provide services that taxi operators have been remiss to provide in the past decade: Point-to-point pick-up

US...

From A1

in a sense under the Mutual Defense Treaty. This is a very, very strong alliance by partners, allies, and friends. And we help our friends and partners in time of need, and the Marawi situation is clearly a very difficult situation for the Philippines,” the envoy said.

“I’ve say, I am very proud of our young men and women who served down there because they really are providing very important support to AFP in this very difficult period,” he added.

Kim admitted that the Philippines and the United States had gone through a “tough period” last year.

He said that under his watch, the diplomatic relationship between Manila and Washington has “dramatically improved.”

Also on Tuesday, Singapore offered a military package to help the Philippines fight terrorism.

The offer came from visiting Defense Minister ‎ ‎ Ng Eng Hen‎ to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana during a courtesy call in Camp Aguinaldo Tuesday morning.

Lorenzana said the Singaporean government is offering assistance in the form of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, which will help in the battle against terrorists in Marawi City.

The assistance will also include food supplies and water purifiers for thousands of resident displaced by the fighting. With Francisco Tuyay

3 justices refuse to hear ‘Ilocos Six’ petition

By Rey E. Requejo THREE Supreme Court justices—including the one in charge of the case—recused themselves from hearing the petition filed by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and six provincial officials detained by the House of Representatives, delaying a decision on a dispute that pit lawmakers against the Court of Appeals.

Deliberation on the case was delayed Tuesday after Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, who was in charge of the case, recused himself for being related to one of the respondents, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and newly appointed Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr. also inhibited themselves from participating in the resolution of the case.

Sereno and Reyes last month issued a joint statement calling the House to recall its showcause order against Court of Appeals Associate Justices Stephen Cruz, Edwin Sorongon and Nina Antonio-Valenzuela.

The three justices were part of the Court of Appeals’ Special Fourth Division that ordered the release of the six provincial officials—the so-called “Ilocos Six”—who had been detained in Congress since May 29.

Peralta’s inhibition paved the way for a new raffle to assign the case to another justice.

Deliberations on the case have been moved to July 25, the Court’s next en banc session.

In a petition filed July 13, Marcos and the Ilocos Six asked the Court to stop the House inquiry into the purchase of P66.45 million worth of motor vehicles using funds from the tobacco excise tax, and to issue a writ of amparo to protect the rights of the provincial officials who have been detained for more than a month.

Petitioners cited the “prolonged interrogations, indefinite detention, coerced confessions, presumption of guilt and torture” employed by respondents in earlier hearings.

The Ilocos Six remain in detention at the House while Marcos “has been threatened with arrest and incarceration in a ‘detention chamber’ by the respondents if she refused to participate in proceedings where her failure to answer questions in a matter satisfactory to respondents will lead to a similar fate of indefinite detention.”

The other petitioners—Pedro Agcaoili, Provincial Planning and Development Office chairperson; Josephine Calajate, provincial treasurer; Eden Battulayan, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff; Encarnacion Gaor, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff; Genedine Jambaro, Provincial Treasurer’s Office staff; and Evangeline Tabulog, provincial budget officer—also asked the Court to assume jurisdiction of their petition for habeas corpus now pending before the appeals court.

’Noy...

From A1 submit your counter affidavit and refute the facts presented by the complaint,” Aquino said.

“But since I wasn’t complained about with regards to usurpation, we never had the chance to rebut or refute any of the allegations.”

Aquino said there was no usurpationof-authority case filed but only reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

The Ombudsman dismissed the case for lack of probable cause.

Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales ordered Aquino charged with usurpation of authority and violation of the anti-graft and corrupt practices act Also included in the charges were Purisima and Napeñas.

“Former President Benigno Aquino III received the order of the Ombudsman this afternoon [Tuesday] and is currently studying it with his lawyers, with the end view of filing a motion for reconsideration,” Aquino’s former deputy spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.

News

A3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Caritassends P10-maid toMarawi THE Catholic Church, through the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, will send a P10million humanitarian aid to the families affected by the ongoing crisis in Marawi.

NASSA/Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez said the assistance will cover the essential needs of 3,000 families or 15,000 individuals in Iligan City such as halal food, and non-food items like hygiene kits, household items and sleeping kits.

The national Caritas will also conduct psychosocial activities, hygiene promotion awareness, emergency preparedness, and accountability trainings.

“We are targeting the home-based evacuees or those staying in their relatives’ houses because our assessment showed that many were still underserved.

The concentration of the responses by other organizations are mostly in the evacuation centers,” Gariguez explained.

NASSA/Caritas Philippines earlier launched a solidarity appeal to all 85 dioceses nationwide. Among those which responded to the appeal were the dioceses of Jaro, Lucena, Iba, Imus, Alaminos, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bontoc-Lagawe, San Jose and Calapan.

Caritas Manila also allocated P2-million relief assistance to those affected by the crisis in Marawi through the Diocese of Iligan Social Action Center.

Ex-mayor, 2 others indicted

By Rio N. Araja THE Office of the Ombudsman indicted on Tuesday former Hinabangan mayor Alejandro Abarratigue of Western Samar, former treasurer Raul Tapia and administrative officer II Analiza Bagro guilty of grave misconduct.

It also ordered the filing of graft against the respondents, their dismissal from the service and imposition of the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, as well from taking civil service examinations and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

“In case of separation from the service, the penalty is convertible to a fine equivalent to their salary for one year,” the resolution read.

In addition, the Ombudsman ordered the filing of charges for violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) against the respondents.

Map of Mindanao island in southern Philippines, locating Marawi, where clashes between islamist gunmen and government troops has left more than 500 dead since May 23.

Leni, Pimentel ratings go up; Alvarez, Sereno remain steady

By John Paolo Bencito

V

ICE President Leni Robredo and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III received “good” ratings for their performance in the second quarter of 2017, an improvement from their “moderate” marks in the first quarter of the year, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.

The Second Quarter 2017 Social Weather Survey, conducted among 1,200 adults, showed the vice president recovering from her double digit drop in the past quarter, with 60 percent of Filipinos saying that they are satisfied with Robredo’s performance and 24 percent dissatisfied.

Robredo’s net satisfaction of +36 recovered 10 points from her +26 in March.

Robredo welcomed her high majority approval on Monday.

“We are grateful for and humbled by the continued trust given us by our fellow Filipinos as shown by the higher

ratings in the recent Pulse Asia survey,” Robredo said.

Some 53 percent of Filipinos meanwhile, said that they were satisfied with Pimentel’s performance and 20 percent dissatisfied, bringing his net satisfaction up to +33, an increase of by 4 points from June.

The net satisfation rating of two other top government officials stayed at “moderate,” the survey showed.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s net satisfaction rating is at +16 in June, up by four points from +12 (37 percent satisfied, 25 percent dissatisfied)

in March.

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s net satisfaction rating went up by seven points to +21 in June from +14 (37 percent satisfied, 23 percent dissatisfied) in March.

The latest survey, conducted from June 23 to 26, has sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages.

Meanwhile, despite his declaration of martial law in Mindanao, President Rodrigo Duterte continued to enjoy the trust and approval of most Filipinos in the latest Pulse Asia survey released Monday.

PH delegation learns how CPC works FUJIAN PROVINCE, China—Having party members undergo “policy training” on how the Communist Party of China works and governs China and the Chinese people were among the topics discussed by the Philippine delegation led

by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III which visited the Chinese province last month.

The CPC, the founding and ruling political party of the People’s Republic of China, is the sole governing party of China. It was organized on the basis of democratic centralism conceived by Russian Marxist theoretician Vladimir Lenin which entails democratic and open discussion on policy on the condition of unity in upholding the agreed upon policies.

The CPC is committed to communist thought and continues to participate in the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties each year, According to the party constitution, the CPC adheres to Marxism-Leninism and Mak Zedong thought, among others.

The PROC also controls the world’s largest armed force, the People’s Liberation Army.

Under the absolute control of the Chinese

Communist Party, the PLA is legally obliged to follow the principle of civilian control of the military.

Pimentel Jr., and the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan where he sits as president, are in talks with senior CPC officials on the training of party members.

Chinese officials said the delegation wants to learn the design and program on how the CPC, which has sole control of the Chinese government since its establishment in 1949, works.

“For instance, they want to know how the CPC was organized, how they make decisions, how they practice in the CPC.... how they work,” said a Chinese official.

The official and his party said the Philippine delegation also wanted to know how the CPC leads the Chinese people and the party to achieve their goals and targets.

Sought for comment about the reported training and the purported agreement with the CPC, Pimentel said the talks were aimed to “enhance our relationship. We use imagination on how to do it. There were no specific activities listed.”

The Senate leader and the members of the del-

egates reportedly stayed for four days in China’s most secluded but highly-industrialized city for political and economic meetings with “partybuilding” as one of the topics.

Chinese officials said the PDP-Laban, the ruling party in the Philippines, entered into an agreement with the CPC last December for members of PDP-Laban to undergo “policy training” in the Fujian Provincial CPC Committee party school.

The school, founded on June 1950, teaches the important work of the provincial party Committee departments charged with important tasks of training of alternative Office-level leading cadres.

Pimentel was reportedly invited by the CPC leadership to make the visit following the renewed trade and economic relationship between China and the Philippines which was strained due to the territorial conflict over the West Philippine Seas.

President Rodrigo Duterte had shelved the arbitral ruling on the Philippine maritime dispute with China and renewed its bilateral ties with the communist country.

In a recent visit to Beijing, Duterte announced his “separation” from the United States, declaring it had “lost” and he had realigned with China.

‘Let public join budget hearings’

By Maricel V. Cruz

STOP HIRING. Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra (right) explains a point while LTFRB spokesperson lawyer Aileen Lizada listens intently during a press conference held at the LTFRB office in Quezon City. The LTFRB officials asked Grab and Uber taxis to stop hiring drivers until they comply with the franchising law set by the agency. Lino Santos

A LAWMAKER on Monday pushed for the passage of a bill that will institutionalize the people’s participation in preparing the national buget.

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the passage of his House Bill 1383 or “An Act Institutionalizing Citizens Participation in the Budget Process” was timely as the House of Representatives is scheduled to begin in August deliberations on the proposed P3.76-trillion national budget for next year.

Vargas’ bill is pending before the House committee on appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles.

Group seeks release of political prisoners

By Sandy Araneta AS INFORMAL talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines are underway, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas on Tuesday reiterated its call for the unconditional release of peasant political prisoners particularly elderly and sickly inmates that remain incarcerated despite repeated demands from different sectors.

“Close to 400 political prisoners remain imprisoned. Those who were released in the past months were released through dismissal of legal cases. Majority of the political prisoners are farmers who were charged with fabricated and trumped-up charges,” said Danilo Ramos, newly elected chairperson of KMP. “The imposition of martial law in Mindanao also increased incidents of harassment and threats against farmers and peasant leaders,” said Ramos.

Ramos said more than 80 percent of the political prisoners are poor farmers from different provinces.

He said their cases are mostly criminal cases that emanated from agrarian and land dispute cases.

“They have been languishing in jails for many years. They do not deserve this kind of injustice,” he said.

Ramos said that if only for humanitarian reasons, the government should release sick and elderly political prisoners as soon as possible without any precondition.

A4

Opinion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

EDITORIAL

Adelle Chua, Editor

Cause for alarm

J

USTICE Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has appointed an officer-in-charge at the Bureau of Corrections after its previous chief, Benjamin delos Santos, resigned over a resurgence of illegal drugs inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Delos Santos resigned after Aguirre ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate reports that illegal drugs were once again being bought and sold in the national penitentiary.

Although Delos Santos left under a cloud, he said he had left his mark on a bureau that has been wracked by corruption scandals.

“I am confident that the seeds of change have been amply spread in the rough and rugged road towards a reformed BuCor,” he said. “I am sure a capable successor will pick up from where I have contributed in our drive to stop drugs, crime and

corruption.”

We are not as certain.

In fact, a resurgence in the illegal drug trade inside the national penitentiary would be a disgrace in any government, but it should be particularly galling to an administration that has made the war on illegal drugs the cornerstone of its peace-and-order agenda.

That jail officials have failed to contain the drug problem inside the national penitentiary was driven home by President Rodrigo Duterte earlier this month, when he spoke at the 26th anniversary of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

As inmates in the national penitentiary still have access to mobile phones, the President said, the illegal drug trade continues.

Not too long ago, this administration charged and arrested the Justice secretary of the previous administration over the same problem.

It even made a big to-do about assigning

commandos from the police Special Action Force to guard the jail.

But now, Aguirre wants the SAF troops removed, saying that some of them may have become too “familiar” with the drug environment inside the prison, an assessment that has not sat well with Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, who is quick to say the SAF troopers guard only the maximum security compound and do not have control over the rest of the prison, where some high-profile drug convicts are jailed.

All of this, however, is irrelevant to the public, which merely wishes to see an end to the drug trade, as the President promised.

It would certainly not speak well of this administration’s ability to solve the illegal drug problem in society, if it cannot even do so within the narrow confines of the national penitentiary, where it should have full control.

VIRTUAL REALITY TONY LOPEZ

Robredo the leader

Damn you, LTFRB! LOWDOWN

JOJO A. ROBLES ONE of my favorite taxi stories has the cabbie asking his potential fare, as they all do: “Where to?”

When the cab-hailer says where he’s going, the driver says no go. The passenger, who had been refused by choosy cab drivers several times already, jumps into the taxi just the same.

“Okay, you tell me where you want to go,” he tells the driver.

“That’s where we’re going.”

What happens when a government agency forgets that it should serve the people above all? You get the current Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, that’s what.

I don’t understand why LTFRB, headed now by one Martin Delgra, insists on making life difficult for people instead of helping ease the pain and the

hassle of their daily commute.

But by going after ride-sharing apps Grab and Uber, which are reputed to have 50,000 vehicles providing a basic service that the government has not been providing, that’s exactly what Delgra and his fellow bureaucrats are doing.

LTFRB is telling us where we want to go, which is not where we’re headed. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let them take me there without raising all the hell I possibly can.

Delgra and his fellow fat-cat LTFRB bureaucrats, who probably tool around the city in government-provided cars with government-paid drivers, still cannot comprehend the problem.

Grab and Uber have stepped in where the public transportation system has abjectly failed; for this, according to LTFRB, they must be punished.

Of course, Delgra and his brain-dead officials don’t put it that way. They make the case for safety and accountability, for

protecting the riding public from themselves and the ride-sharing fleet that they willingly patronize, never mind if riders pay a bit more for the service they feel

cially during rush hour or when there’s a downpour, knows that the reverse is true. The public has been victimized for so long by the taxi drivers that LTFRB is hell-bent on protecting that they will not take this effrontery sitting down.

It’s time to send Delgra, a Davao-based lawyer who served on the legal team of President Rodrigo Duterte before he was appointed with the very first batch of officials named by the new president in May 2016, this simple message: Hell, no, we won’t go! *** Since LTFRB seems hell-bent on imposing the law on Grab and Uber, though the heavens fall, perhaps it would help to look at how the agency has, over the years, regulated the bus companies, the jeepney operators and yes, the taxi companies.

Where do Delgra and all of his they deserve. people find the chutzpah to go But everyone who has tried to after these app-based services, get a cab in Metro Manila, espe- when they can’t even solve the

Why can’t government regulate and protect without harming the people, especially since it has done next to nothing to help them?

old and very deep-seated problems of “colorum” vehicles, drug use among public utility drivers, robberies and rapes and homicides in transit, trip-cutting, smoke-belching and all the other wonderful stuff that those who proudly carry their governmentgiven franchises have perpetrated for decades?

As for the government that LTFRB represents, why can’t it fix the commuter trains, solve the traffic mess, build more highways and streets or even remove illegally parked vehicles and all those who have taken over the sidewalks? Why fixate on bringing down a solution that the government did nothing to bring about?

I understand that government must regulate and protect, but why can’t it do so without harming the people, especially since it has done next to nothing to help them? Finally, has Delgra gone mad or is he just a total idiot?

At this point, my own facility

VICE President Leni Robredo should be careful about what she does or says.

The latest (June 24 to 29) Pulse Asia survey on the performance ratings of the five highest officials of the land is not flattering to her.

Robredo has significantly high disapproval ratings—29 percent in Metro Manila, the highest among the five— President Duterte (a low single-digit disapproval of six percent), Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (16 percent), House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (19 percent), and the Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno (17 percent).

Among these five, Robredo also has the highest disapproval rating, 21 percent, in Mindanao where Duterte has zero, Mindanaoans Pimentel and Alvarez six percent; and Sereno, nine.

Nationwide, Robredo has an approval rating of 61 percent (up three points from 58 percent in March). Compare that to Duterte’s amazing 82 percent (up four points from 78 percent in March 2017). She is even bested

by Pimentel who has an approval of 62 percent (up seven points from 56 percent in March) although the veep has much higher approval rating than Alvarez (43) and Sereno (48).

A 21-point difference in approval rating between Duterte and Robredo is huge, about 25.6 percent. Based on a population of 100 million, it means 21 million more Filipinos approve of Duterte’s performance than they do of Robredo.

A high disapproval rating in Metro Manila and Mindanao should be troubling for Robredo.

Metro Manila is the national capital. It is the political and opinion center of the nation. Mindanao, on the other hand, is an emerging power base, given that Duterte is the first president from Mindanao. It is also the most troubled area where a security crisis requires the strong leadership of a Duterte.

What happens if something happens to Duterte? Vice President Robredo will take over.

But then a huge chunk of the national population—almost a

Turn to A5

Turn to A5

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

Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez Former Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno

Philippine Press Institute The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Anita F. Grefal Baldwin R. Felipe Edgar M. Valmorida

ManilaStandard

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

ONLINE MEMBER

PPI

Chairman Board Member & Chief Legal Adviser Treasury Manager OIC-Ad Solutions Circulation Manager

Ramonchito L. Tomeldan Chin Wong/Ray S. Eñano Joyce Pangco Pañares Adelle Chua

Managing Editor Associate Editors City Editor Opinion Editor

Emil P. Jurado

Honor Blanco Cabie Romel J. Mendez Roberto Cabrera

Chairman Emeritus, Editorial Board

Night Editor Art Director Chief Photographer

Opinion

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte said that the cases filed by Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales against former President Benigno Aquino III, for usurpation of authority and graft, are bound to fail. Mr. Duterte is a lawyer and former prosecutor. I believe him.

In fact, I would say that Morales filed these cases in an attempt to protect Aquino, who had appointed her. Perhaps she wanted to ensure the dismissal of the charges.

How could Aquino have committed usurpation of authority when, as president and commander-in-chief, he was the very authority?

And how could he have committed graft and corruption when he did not steal anything?

Aquino was ultimately responsible for the Mamasapano massacre. Thus, he should be charged with homicide through reckless imprudence.

The Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption put it so well. They likened the incident to a bus accident where 44 passengers were killed and the driver was charged with driving without a license.

So what should be done with Morales? *** I have many questions about the sellout of the PrietoRufino family of the broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer to Ramon Ang: First, were the owners preempting the possibility that President Duterte may use the Milelong property against them? Recall that President Duterte lambasted the Prietos and Rufinos as oligarchs who profited from their connections with the previous administration. The President was reacting to the Inquirer’s continued criticism of him.

Second, are the PrietosRufinos washing their hands of the publication and selling their stake to Ang, one of the contributors to the campaign of President Duterte?

Third, will the sale affect Dunkin Donuts, also owned by the Prietos-Rufinos, which has been slapped with a tax-evasion issue before the Bureau of Internal Revenue?

As they say, “Abangan.” *** Inquirer started as “Mr. & Ms.” magazine during the latter years of the Marcos administration. It was first financed by, believe it or not, Juan Ponce Enrile.

The husband of Eugenia “Eggie” Duran Apostol was his contractor. Eggie constantly

went to him to ask for money to put up a magazine as an underground publication against the Marcos dictatorship. Enrile relented and together with others was able to raise P900,000 for the publication.

Known newspaper icons like Max Soliven, Luis Beltran and Art Borjal also joined the magazine.

It is said that first lady Imelda Marcos found out what Enrile did and it started a rift between them. At the time, Enrile had already established the Reform the Armed Forces Movement to break away from Marcos.

Soliven and Beltran told me that the idea of Apostol was to have a cooperative but this did not materialize because the Prietos-Rufinos had already taken over the publication.

Thus, Soliven, Beltran and the others sought the help of the late Betty Go Belmonte to put up another newspaper, The Philippine Star. I should know because I was part of the team that started it. Now, a majority of The Star is owned by Manny Pangilinan. *** There are reasons President Duterte continues to have excellent approval and satisfaction ratings.

He is the leader we have always longed for.

He is strong, dedicated and committed to what he is doing, for example, in the war against drugs and corruption.

He did not hesitate to fire his friends and supporters upon a whiff of corruption. And now he is fighting terrorism in Marawi by imposing martial law in Mindanao.

Another factor that endears him to the masses is that they are able to identify with him.

Though coarse and vulgar, he is understood by majority of the people. *** In a meeting with newsmen, National Economic and Development Authority director general Ernesto Pernia talked about the Duterte administration’s plan of lifting the equity limit on foreign investments in the Constitution. From 40 percent, they could now own 70 percent.

I would go as far as allowing even 100-percent ownership. I don’t see why we even restrict the entry of investments.

Perhaps nationalists would support this. But business has become borderless.

Lifting restrictions on investments can also mean lower prices. It will bring greater benefit to the people.

Damn...

From A4

a leg and your first-born child, depending on his whim for the duration of the trip. And when he utters those dreaded words, ‘Naku, traffic,’ you begin to wonder how much profit they make if you sell them your blood.

“Yet we understand the need for rules. And the need to protected from these nasty, nasty Uber and Grab drivers in their execrable dilapidated junk heaps. Pass the sarcasm, I don’t think I’m using a heavy enough dose.

“So I hope Uber and Grab get the meanest lawyers this side of the Pacific, who can smile sweetly while hosing down the fog that surrounds the gods in LTFRB. “And I hope they use flamethrowers.”

This is what it means.

with words fails me. So I have to run to a more articulate friend to provide them, specifically Trixie Cruz Angeles, who posted this on Facebook yesterday: “Before Uber and Grab, hailing cabs was a lesson in humility where one begs the driver to please, please, pretty please take me there (wherever ‘there’ is) and for a half a minute this guy has the absolute power over whether or not you show up late for work. Or school. Or your date. Or appointment. Or to donate a kidney.

“And even more, cab drivers also can, like the gods of yore, decide whether or not you will pay only an arm or an arm and

A5

mst.daydesk@gmail.com

Extending martial law

TO THE POINT EMIL P. JURADO

Inquirer’s sellout

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

BACK CHANNEL ALEJANDRO DEL ROSARIO THERE appears to be haste in extending martial law in Mindanao beyond the constitutional 60-day period. Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat wants a full briefing by Armed Forces of the Philippines officials for the basis of such an extension.

A joint session of Congress has been called for Saturday by President Rodrigo Duterte for this purpose apparently to form part of his State of the Nation Address on July 24.

Senator Miguel Zubiri, one of 17 senators invited to dinner in Malacañang the other day, said the Senate is in favor of extending martial law in Mindanao. The Duterte-controlled House of Representatives, no doubt will support an extension of martial law. Zubiri is the proponent of a national ID system that does not specify the religious affiliation of the card holder to avoid profiling Muslims and Christians.

The 60-day limit to martial law is prescribed in the 1987 Constitution. So too is the calling of a joint session of Congress to determine its lawful basis for its declaration and possible extension.

Declared by President

Duterte in response to the siege of Marawi by the ISIS-assisted Maute terror group, there are questions to martial law’s extension in Mindanao in light of the AFP’s pronouncement that government troops are winding up clearing operations to rid the remnants of the raiders still holed up in the southern city.

The President’s imposition of martial law in Mindanao seems to have the support of the people. A recent Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations poll surveys showed Duterte enjoying 80-percent acceptance ratings.

I, for one, support the President on the imposition of martial law in Mindanao to deal with the threat of global terrorism. To extend it another month for mopup operations in the Mindanao region is justifiable considering we are dealing with a cunning, evil force that wants to establish a caliphate in Mindanao. But it is the fear of a nationwide martial law that the populace is wary about. The people are confident the AFP can cope with challenges from international terrorists without the government pushing the panic button.

Aquino accountability The Office of the Ombudsman has made known it would charge former President Benigno Aquino III for the Mamasapano massacre that claimed the lives of 44 members of the Philippine National Police Special Action Force two years ago.

The charges allege that Aquino allowed suspended PNP chief Alan Purisima to head the operations instead of then acting PNP director Leonardo Espina.

Aquino should be made to explain why he broke the chain of command when he chose Purisima to head the operation.

More importantly, why did he not send in reinforcement to rescue the SAF team that was under heavy fire from all sides in an open field? Aquino, while the SAF commandos were crying for help, was just in nearby Zamboanga with his Cabinet officials, including the AFP’s top brass. He was waiting to receive word of Marwan’s capture or death at the hands of the SAF team.

Aquino had with him at least three attack helicopters that ferried to Zamboanga his security escorts. If they had been dispatched to Mamasapano, the sound alone of these choppers would have sent the MILF, BIFF and Abu Sayyaf rebels scurrying. But he did not.

The charge sheet also claims Noynoy kept other key officials like Interior Secretary Mar Roxas in the dark about the Mamasapano operation to get bomb-maker Marwan, the top target of the SAF secret op.

Why Aquino did not involve Roxas, his anointed presidential candidate, in the SAF operations needs a lot of explaining.

Senator Richard Gordon,

chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, wants to reopen the Mamasapano case.

Senator Grace Poe, however, thinks a reopening of the case will not serve any purpose since her public safety committee already submitted a full report holding Aquino accountable.

So, why not let the case in the Ombudsman proceed and let Noynoy Aquino defend himself? He could face years in detention if found guilty. An Aquino detention would make him the third president to be in such situation after former presidents Joseph Estrada, convicted for plunder, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, charged with misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds. Erap was pardoned by GMA after his conviction while Arroyo’s case was dismissed by the courts .

What will be the fate of Noynoy Aquino? If found guilty, he faces the dire prospects of not having his yaya, cook and a coterie of household help in Muntinlupa. Unless of course, he is allowed detention in the family-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. Recall that Erap was allowed to be confined at his resthouse in Tanay, Rizal.

After release, Erap went on to be elected Manila city mayor while GMA kept her position as Pampanga congresswoman, a post she held and performed even while under hospital detention.

The long view SO I SEE LITO BANAYO IN 1998, RIGHT after the Asian recession,we saw fortunes collapsing. The whole region plunged into a severe recession, visitor arrivals to the Philippines numbered a mere 1.6 million. If we deduct the recurring “balikbayan” arrivals, defined for this article as Filipinos who have adopted foreign citizenship or opted to be permanent residents of another country, we really had just a little over a million foreign visitors then.

At the time, Vietnam had just about a million visitors. Thailand and Malaysia had foreign visitor arrivals in the 10 million vicinity.

Slowly, our tourism industry recovered such that last year, 28 years after the Asian recession, we had around 5.8-million tourists. But guess what—Vietnam recorded close to seven-million tourist arrivals. And there are very few “balikbayan” Vietnamese in that number.

The “balikbayan” phenomenon, popularized during the early years of martial rule when the fabled Joe Aspiras was Minister of Tourism, became the backbone of our visitor arrivals at a time when many foreigners were quizzical about visiting a country under “military” rule. Then, just getting a million visitors was the golden benchmark.

Today, we still drool with envy over the recorded number of visitor arrivals who exchange their

Robredo...

From A4

fifth—does not approve of her job performance. She could takeover with a questionable mandate and a questionable performance.

Will the national population accept her? Will the military accept her as their commander-in-chief?

Pulse Asia does not seem bothered by Robredo’s rating. Said the polling agency: “A sizeable to big majority approval scores are enjoyed by three of the country’s leading government officials—Duterte 82 percent, Robredo 61 percent, and Pimentel 62 percent.”

Pulse Asia surveyed 1,200 adults. The survey has an error margin of three percentage points.

During the survey period, the following developments took place: 1. The crisis in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur which began on

precious dollars, yen or won into the economies of countries in Asean like Thailand, Malaysia, and yes, Vietnam and Cambodia whose visiting tourists have overtaken our numbers.

And we keep measuring the success of our tourism efforts on the basis of such numbers. We have been left so far behind. Six million compared to 20 million, when will we ever catch up?

Maybe it’s time we took a long view.

Maybe it’s time we sat back and assess whether we have, to begin with, the capability to host such huge numbers.

Maybe it’s also time we assessed whether the metric we want to use is the number of visitors, or the amount of dollars or yen or won the tourists spend in our country.

This is not to say that we should totally cast aside the numbers. Nor that we should increase the room rates in our dilapidated resorts and shop-worn hotels, already the complaint of many tourists who expectedly measure their expenditure in terms of value-for-money. We cannot replicate Amanpulo or the high-end El Nido resorts all over the country, or charge Shangri-la prices wherever. Far from it.

Truth is, Bangkok and Phuket are far less expensive than our Metro Manila or Cebu holiday costs. Siem Reap where the fabled Angkor Wat has drawn millions each year still charge much less for a good hotel room than those in our tourist destinations.

It’s not just about cutting costs of travel. It’s about looking at where we are now, and where we want to be in the next decade and

beyond. It’s about preserving our natural endowments vis-à-vis the kind of environmental exaction that 1.7-million visitors to Boracay each year has done to our Numero Uno beach attraction.

In the Chinese New Year extended holiday period, common complaints of those who went to Boracay were: (1) they had to line up for food in most restaurants, only to be served food that was not of international cuisine standards; (2) while Filipino staff in hotels and resorts were quite friendly and hospitable, the service wilted under the number of tourists that came on such peak period; and (3) there were hardly any items to buy and bring home (most Orientals love to shop, whether for souvenirs or branded items) other than dried mangoes.

Some were overheard exclaiming in Mandarin Chinese, that many of the souvenir items on sale came from China! From Yiwu to 168 to Bora?

And of course, we all know that wastewater seepage from fly-by-night establishments have brought coliform levels in Boracay sea water up. This despite the fact that the Philippine Tourism Authority put up both freshwater supply and wastewater treatment facilities in that island as far back as 2001. The problem has been one of effective enforcement by the LGU of the need for all establishments to connect to the treatment facility so as to ensure that the surrounding waters off Boracay remain clean and pristine.

Do we really have a Tourism Master Plan? What does it say?

What are the targets? How realistic are the targets? What are our strategies, and how do such

measure up to the goals set up by the Plan?

What are the priority destinations that we want to sell? Are these properly equipped, infrastructure-wise, both public (as in airports, seaports, roads, internet connectivity, etc.) and private (hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, etc.), for the targeted number and the types of tourists we want?

Do we have the corresponding promotions budget? How effective have previous campaigns been, and how much more effective will those in our Plan be?

These and many more are subjects that both policy makers in the tourism sector and their private stakeholders in the industry should seriously discuss.

Successful tourism programs in all countries have always been the product of public and private partnerships. In many countries, there isn’t even a ministry or department to handle tourism matters. Tourism authorities are either attached to their ministries of transportation or trade and industry. But their tourism campaigns are successful, and tourism has become a major driver of their economies.

The Tourism Act which Senator Dick Gordon husbanded through Congress way back in 2005 is a very good framework which involves both public and private sectors from planning all the way to implementation.

What we need these days is to take a long view, and thrash patchwork ideas and un-coordinated implementation.

Ours is a beautiful country.

Would that many more people from other countries see it, appreciate it, and take back wonderful memories of it.

May 23, 2017 when government security forces launched an operation in the area to capture terrorist leader Isnilon Hapilon; the continuing fighting between government security forces and the Maute terrorist group that has resulted in the loss of lives on the part of both camps, the evacuation of thousands of civilians, and the destruction of property; President Duterte earlier vowed that the crisis would be over by the first week of June 2017 but this has not yet materialized; 2. The decision of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to declare martial law in the entire Mindanao region on the same day the siege in Marawi City began; Proclamation No. 216 provides for the imposition of martial law in Mindanao for a period of 60 days and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus; 3. The expression of full support

for the President’s martial law declaration by both Houses of Congress as they each adopted their own resolution backing Proclamation No. 216 (Senate Resolution No. 388 and House Resolution No. 1050, respectively); 4. The filing of three petitions before the Supreme Court in relation to President Duterte’s martial law declaration; one petition filed by a group of independent lawmakers sought to annul the President’s declaration while two others urged the Supreme Court to compel the Congress to convene in a joint session for the purpose of discussing the martial law declaration; the Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the first petition; President Duterte said he will abide by whatever the high court decides on the matter; 5. Questions regarding the state of the President’s health follow-

ing his absence during the celebration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12, 2017 and in the days that followed; amidst the President’s absence, Malacañang assured the public that he was not ill but was just resting; 6. The June 2, 2017 attack on Resorts World Manila by a former employee of the Department of Finance which resulted in the death of 38 individuals, including the perpetrator himself; 7. The clash between members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the military following an attack by the former on a militia outpost in Pigcawayan, North Cotabato on June 22, 2017; the military said the attack was not in any way connected to the Marawi siege and dismissed it as an “opportunistic activity” on the part of the BIFF. biznewsasia@gmail.com

News

A6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

5 construction workers hurt in Skyway collapse S

By Joel E. Zurbano

ENATOR Joel Villanueva on Tuesday urged the government to prioritize a bill promoting a safer workplace following the collapse of coping beam steel bar of a Skyway Stage 3 structure in Makati City.

The senator cited the lack of stricter regulations on occupational safety and health standards as a major factor leading to several accidents in the workplace.

“Incidents such as this recent collapse of structure in South Superhighway could have been avoided if we only have a stricter law that would penalize companies which are non-compliant of our country’s regulations on occupational safety and health standards,” said Villanueva, chairman of Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Hu-

man Resources.

Those injured were Norman Nicolas, Ronald Degano, Jerwin Deocareza, Jay-Ar Balaquidan and Guillermo Santos Jr., all workers of the DM Consunji Inc., the private contractor for the Skyway project.

They were rushed to the Ospital ng Maynila due to minor injuries.

Motorists and commuters from Southern Tagalog provinces going to the cities of Pasay, Manila and Makati experienced traffic jam for more than five hours following the collapse which happened around 9:45 a.m. near Cash and

Carry Shopping Center.

The Southern Police District said the incident also caused the slow moving of traffic on both lanes of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and in the area of Magalllanes and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue intersection.

The collapsed steel bars also damaged two private vehicles— Toyota Avanza driven by Ernesto Castillo and Honda Jazz driven by Amelia Chue.

The DMCI management immediately apologized to the public.

“A portion of our rebar cage in Pier 23 of our Skyway extension project along Osmeña Highway [near Cash and Carry Mall] accidentally tipped over causing debris to fall over the north and south lanes,” the DMCI said in a statement.

“The minor accident is now causing heavy buildup of vehicles in the area. Five of our workers sustained scratches and minor injuries because of the accident

while two private vehicles were slightly damaged. “ The company sent a three-man medical team to assist doctors attending the injured workers at the hospital.

“We are now attending to our workers and fast-tracking the clearing operations to make the affected portions of Osmeña Highway passable to motorists.

We expect to clear the area by 3 p.m today. Our safety and technical personnel are also on site to investigate the cause of the accident. We are advising motorists to take alternate routes while our crew is clearing the area,” the DMCI added.

Villanueva is the author of Senate Bill No. 1317 or “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof” that seeks to amend the 41-year-old Labor Code of the Philippines which, at present, does not declare unlawful

violations of OSHS. For the longest time, violation of occupational health and safety standards has no fines or penalties.

The Department of Labor and Employment only issues a Work Stoppage Order if there is an imminent danger or would result to disabling injury.

Under the proposed measure, an amount of P100,000.00 will serve as an administrative penalty for the erring employer for every day of non-correction of violation while an amount ranging from P250,000.00 to P500,000.00 will be meted out if a worker dies.

“Neglecting to comply with occupational safety and health standards does not only pose risk to our workers but may also inconvenience other people as it could cause heavy traffic and even stop business transactions near the affected workplace,” Villanueva said.

Shoddy steel pipes from China seized

By Vito Barcelo AT LEAST P1.5 million worth of substandard steel pipes from China have been confiscated by the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Davao, officials said Tuesday.

The bureau said the importer tried to smuggle the steel pipes by declaring the shipment as square tubes.

Sub-standard steel pipes are being sold cheaper compared to the industry-grade locally manufactured steel pipes, the BoC said.

The Customs said smuggled steel pipes and other steel products had taken over 40 percent of the local market and deprived government of some P500 million in revenues last year.

The illegal shipment arrived in June this year and declared as 2,060 packages of square tubes consigned to Yagnas 08 Importation Trading.

Customs authorities conducted an inspection of the shipment and revealed it contained steel pipes shipped from China.

The steel pipes are now held at the container yard of the Sasa Wharf holding area in Davao.

The Sasa Wharf in the Port of Davao is largely dominated by container cargo, raw materials exportation, bulk cargo, general cargo and passenger traffic facilities.

The Port of Davao is one of the country’s major seaports, alongside Manila, Subic, Cebu and Zamboanga.

Access to the port of entry in Davao City is through Davao Gulf, which has two approaches: Manila one at Pakiputan Strait between Standard Davao and the water west of SaTODAY mal island, and two at the east side of Samal island mainly used as an exit channel of vessels departing from points of Davao Gulf.

ERRORS & OMISSIONS In Classified Ads section must be brought to our attention the very day the advertisement is published.

We will not be responsible for any incorrect ads not reported to us immediately.

MISCREANT BARS. An official of the DMCI points to collapsed steel bars—part of Skway 3 that will connect Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Caloocan City—which wounded Tuesday five people and damaged two private vehicles—Toyota Avanza driven by Ernesto Castillo and Honda Jazz driven by Amelia Chue. The DMCI management immediately apologized to the public. Norman Cruz

THE Metro Manila Development Authority found at least 10 bus companies along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City violating the government’s “Nose-In Nose-Out” policy.

Terminals of the bus firms— DLTB Co., Lucena Lines, Raymund Bus, St. Rafael, Our Lady of Salvacion, Jam Liner, Superlines, Victory Liner, Dimples Star and Roro Bus Line—will be closed down, according to MMDA officer-in-charge for planning Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. “Starting 7 a.m. tomorrow [July 19], terminals along Edsa that violate Nose-In, Nose-Out policy will be closed down,” he said.

The policy means that buses must go into and out of the terminal front-end first, instead of backing up or maneuvering on Edsa and causing bottlenecks.

The measure should force bus drivers to maneuver or make a turnaround within the terminal itself.

It also requires buses to get in and out of the terminals in one simple maneuver and they are not allowed to load and unload outside their respective terminals.

Last January, the MMDA ordered the closure of nine out of 16 bus companies along Edsa in Pasay City also found violating the traffic scheme.

Most of the bus companies also lacked the maneuvering space at their own terminals, a clear violation of the policy.

The MMDA traffic personnel and other members of the Interagency Council on Traffic earlier conducted a dry run operation to remind provincial bus operators and owners of the long existing regulation.

Under MMDA Resolution 1606, Series of 2016, the agency reiterates the Nose-In, Nose Out policy of provincial buses entering and exiting the terminals along Edsa, stressing that there should be no queueing of buses along the major thoroughfare at anytime.

The resolution also notes that violators will be issued a Uniform Ordinance Violation Receipt for obstruction and disregarding traffic sign with corresponding penalty or fine.

The resolution also prohibits private and public utility vehicles from unloading or loading passengers and cargo in front of the provincial bus terminals that would ultimately cause traffic snarls in the area. Joel Zurbano

Militant lawmaker: Du30’s reform promises ‘intangible’

By Maricel V. Cruz A MILITANT lawmaker on Tuesday lamented that reforms President Rodrigo Duterte promised since the electoral campaign remained intangible and inedible for the country’s poor sectors.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao cited Duterte’s promise to end labor contractualization or “endo” (end-of-contract scheme), genuine agrarian reform and rural development, a stop to rice importation, end the housing problem of urban poor and ending destructive mining.

“The President promised better lives for the poor and this earned him a broad sup-

port from the poor, but it totally relies on the actual fulfillment, that the poor could concretely benefit from,” Casilao told a news conference.

Casilao said Duterte, who will deliver his second State of the Nation Address in Congress next week, failed to end contractualization of labor.

He said the President even promised within a week of his presidency, but after more than a year, his Cabinet could only deliver the Department Order l 174 issued

by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, that allegedly tolerated contractualization and even promoted the monopoly of big business over the labor market.

“Naturally, with the labor scheme still He also denounced a government-tooperating, no significant wage increase was private sector policy on rice importation, felt by the Filipino workers,” Casilao said. which allowed the private sector to import Casilao also noted the supposed pro- rice, beyond the authority of the National farmer program of the Agriculture de- Food Authority. partment, such as free irrigation, had thus “The government’s recent measures for far not been implemented and legislative countryside concerns are ranging from measures for its enactment were still indecisive to detrimental to farmers, espeCYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK pending at the committee level. cially that they are now being subjected In addition, genuine agrarian reform, to massive militarization and aerial encoined by “free distribution of land to bombings,” Casilao said. farmers,” an expansive clamor of farmers “While the President may feel assured across the country, had yet to be realized. of recent [high] approval rating [in surHouse Bill 555 Genuine Agrarian Re- veys], the people of Mindanao registered form Bill proposing for such is pending at their disapproval, presumably due to his the committee. martial law declaration,” Casilao added.

ERRATUM

One-time vehicle stenciling supported

On July 2, 9 and 16 Notice of Dissolution ad placement, the company name should have printed as HYDROCHINA SUBIC LTD. CORPORATION And not as published.

(MS-JULY 19, 2017)

N OTICE Notice is hereby given that 888 SUBIC INC. DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME & STYLE OF CENTRAL PARK REEF RESORT (FORMERLY: 888 SUBIC INC) with office address at 888 Lourdes St., Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, is applying for registration with the Board of Investments (BOI) as a New Operator of Tourist Accommodation Facility under the Special Laws-Tourism related Facilities (Central Park Reef Resort) on a non-pioneer status, with project site located at 888 National Hi-way, Barrio Barretto, Olongapo City.

Any person with valid objection/s on the abovementioned project may file his/her objection in writing, under oath, with the BOI within three (3) days from the date of this publication.

(MS-JULY 19, 2017)

‘Nose-in nose-out’ policy violated

(SGD.) JOY JOSETTE L. LACHICA Officer-In-Charge Infrastructure & Services Industries Service

HARDIN NG LUNAS. Tarlac Heritage Foundation chairman Isa Suntay (left), Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda (center), Army commanding general, and Brig. Gen. Rodel Alarcon (right), AFP commander headquarters and Headquarters Support Group, lead troops in a harvest festival at the Army headquarters in Taguig City. Lino Santos

THE Automobile Association Philippines said Tuesday it supported the idea to make stenciling in vehicle registration a one-time thing.

Augusto Lagman, AAP president, said in a statement one-time vehicle stenciling had several advantages to vehicle owners which lawmakers and the Land Transportation Office must consider.

“One-time stenciling is sufficient.

It is not easy to get to that number especially with new model cars. It has become a source of corruption in the sense that one has to pay somebody to do it for him,” Lagman said.

He added: “People say there are times when these people just carve numbers on soap which numbers are chosen arbitrarily.”

Lagman said the one-time stenciling should be done on the very first instance a vehicle is registered.

He is also open to the proposal of Senator Jose Victor Ejercito to make vehicle registration online.

He said the LTO should start making a research on how online vehicle registration could be done.

“Online vehicle registration is more convenient for car owners. It will also eliminate fixers in the process,” Lagman added.

Ejercito earlier filed a resolution urging the Land Transportation Office to study online vehicle registration.

He said vehicle registration should only take an hour at the most. At present, the registration process takes as much as four days which is a hassle to vehicle owners.

“In reality, the public spends an average of two to four days to register a motor vehicle due to inefficiency and inadequacy of LTO employees and facilities,” he said.

Sports PH spiker earns praise for honesty SINGAPORE—A Filipino volleyball player was awarded a special token by the Ministry of Education Singapore for his honesty after he returned valuable items he found inside the rest room at the Republic Polytechnic here.

Kenneth Culabat, a member of Philippines boys’ volleyball team, found a wallet and Samsung S6 cellular phone inside the restroom situated near the volleyball court where they were scheduled to play a pivotal match against the host country Singapore.

Culabat immediately secured the valuables and gave it to his coach for the proper turnover to the officials of the organizing committee as Culabat’s team were busy preparing for the match.

It turned out that the wallet and the cellular phone is owned by a Singapore volleyball player.

Culabat’s act was greatly appreciated by the officials from the Ministry of Education Singapore, especially by the Divisional Director Student Curriculum Chen Kee Tan. “Great character,” Tan said.

Tan also expressed her appreciation toward Philippine Sports Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey for the great character and honesty Culabat has shown.

Culabat, 18, a Grade 12 student at St. Benilde International School in Calamba City, said he had to return it back to its rightful owner the moment he saw those valuable items left inside the comfort room.

But Culabat made sure that he and rest of his teammates were not distracted from their main focus, which was to win the match.

The Culabat-led Team Philippines whipped the host country Singapore in four sets, 23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-19.

Philippines Chef-De-Mission Rizalino Jose Rosales, in an interview, said Filipino students have imbibed the value of honesty.

“We are just showing the character that we, Filipinos have,” Rosales said.

“Sarap lang sa feeling. Nasuklian ang ginawa ko,” said Culabat as he received the Nila mascot as token of gratitude from the Singaporean player.

Maxey, for his part, said Culabat’s kind act makes him even prouder to be a Filipino.

A7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 sports_mstandard@yahoo.com

Rafols wins triple-jump gold S

INGAPORE— Probably playing in his first and last ASEAN School Games, Filipino triple jumper John Marvin Rafols did not want to end his campaign on a losing note as he fulfilled his long-time dream of bringing honor to his country.

Rafols, a Grade 12 student of the University of Cebu, registered a personal-best 15.02 leap in the triple jump event to finally win that elusive gold medal.

After only salvaging the bronze medal in the long jump

event, Rafols bested rival Srinonta Nattapong of Thailand, who recorded a 14.91-meter leap as the latter snagged the silver.

Rafols’ teammate Karl Arvyn Aquino, who already captured the long jump event gold, settled for the

bronze with 14.88 leap.

“I am really happy to bring honor for the country. Big blessing for me as an athlete,” said the 18-year-old eldest son of Josephine, sales clerk, and Marvin.

Rafols admitted that he gets nervous easily especially during big competitions.

“Mahirap dito (International).

Kelangan ng confidence. Hindi kasi kilala ang kalaban. Pero nagdasal lang ako before ‘yung turn ko,” said Rafols who underwent two weeks of training at the Philsports in Pasig City in preparation for the ASG. But when his turn came, Rafols,

knew he can win the gold medal after Nattapong from Thailand fell short on his target distance during his last jump.

It was only a matter of time as Rafols delivered the country’s 10th gold in the sporting event that aims to strengthen ties among ASEAN member countries among studentathletes.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of their opponents’ tired legs, the Philippine girls’ basketball team orchestrated a convincing performance in the payoff period to stun defending champion Thailand, 77-75.

Que joins ICTSI Golf Classic tilt

Some of the legends of Philippine professional basketball are shown in the photo as their foundation, Samahan ng mga Dating Propesyonal na Basketbolista ng Pilipinas, receive P1 million as seed money for their coming charitable efforts.

UNTV Cup donates P1M seed money to ex-pros ON July 10, 2017 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum during the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off Finals, P1 million was awarded to the foundation of the former professional basketball players of the Philippines as seed fund for the charity works intended for the sick and less fortunate ex-pro ballers.

UNTV Cup commissioner Atoy Co said the idea to create the Samahan ng mga Dating Professional na Basketbolista Foundation also came from UNTV, inspired by “Kuya” Daniel Razon.

“This idea was formed two years ago when we played for an exhibition

game for Samboy Lim who at that time suffered an accident,” said Co. An amount of P1 million was given by the UNTV Cup for the medical expenses of the former basketball legend known as “The Skywalker”.

“And then after that, the idea to create a foundation for former basketball players of the Philippines so that in case something bad happens to one of us, we could help. Kuya Daniel was the one who gave that idea,” he added.

“This should have been done a long time ago because we have a lot of players who have let themselves go,

and failed to lead better lives. This is a big help to those former players,” said Philip Cesar.

Another former hard-court legend, Kenneth “Captain Marbel” Duremdes said: “We hope the launch would be successful and attract attention. To basketball fanatics who supported us in the past, who may now have have successful businesses or doing well in life, if you can help, it’s a good welcome to the group.”

Bong Hawkins also lauded the advocacy.

“This event has a very good purpose, that is, to help the ex-PBA

players who are in need. I hope you won’t stop supporting us,” he said.

Jojo “Jolas” Lastimosa, another 90’s basketball icon was also present at the event.

“Any benefit game that helps, I’m on for it so I’m glad to be here, I’m honored to be here,” said Lastimosa.

Noli “The Tank” Locsin also expressed his appreciation.

“To Kuya Daniel and UNTV, thank you so much. I know you have already helped many. You have been thinking of helping many, including us. This is a big thing for us. May God bless you.”

Familiar names dominate Cebuana tennis FAMILIAR names once again dominated the action at the recent Oroquieta City leg of the on-going Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championship Series, with Iligan City bet Rovie Baulete leading the charge by winning two singles’ and one doubles’ titles.

Baulete had an easy default victory over Ozamiz City’s Janmarie Anghag for the girls’ 16-under title, then eked out a 7-5, 6-4 win over another Iligan City bet Annamarie Mendoza in the finals of the girls’ 18-under. She also teamed up with Mendoza to rule the 18-under girls’ doubles, beating

Cristy Daliman and Princess Grace Gemina, 8-6, in the finals of the tournament supported by Dunlop as the official ball.

A double winner was Dapitan City’s Jason Saavedra as he ruled the boys’ 18-under with a 6-1, 2-6, 10-5 win over 16-under champion Stephen Zion Guia from Dipolog.

Saavedra also shared the boys’ 18-under crown with Eurei Tagal after they beat John Steven Sonsona and Winston Fernandez, 8-5, in the championship match. Guia, meanwhile, went home with the 16-under title after disposing of Lanao del Norte bet Sonsona,

7-5, 6-2, in the finals.

“I am happy that despite the tension in some parts of Mindanao, we were still able to continue with our leg in Misamis Oriental with a lot of young players from different Mindanao provinces joining the tournament. It speaks well of their passion for the game,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier President/CEO, who initiated this grassroots tennis program 11 years ago to promote the game in the provinces.

Other champions in the boys’ side were local bet Nash Agustines in the 12-under as he took out Heinz Asian Carbonilla from Lanao del Norte

in two sets, 6-2, 7-5; and perennial winner Brent Signmond Cortes, a native of Tubod, Lanao del Norte, who added the boys’ 14-under title to his collection following his come from behind 1-6, 6-4, 10-3 win over Eric Jay Tangub from Zamboanga del Sur. In the distaff side, Kristin Guia Margarette Bandolis , also from Tubod, had a walk-over win over Ma. Maxiel Rica Labrador of Zamboanga del Norte for the 14-under crown, while earlier, she also swept Dapitan City’s Christine Gula-gula, 6-1, 6-0, in the finals of the 12-under to emerge a double winner, too.

Gueverra posts rare 3-title sweep in Naga City netfest

Filipino spiker Kenneth Roi Culabat (4th from left) receives a special token from the Ministry of Education Singapore for his honesty after he returned valuable items he found inside the comfort room at the Republic Polytechnic in Singapore. Philippine Sports Commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey (second from left) praised Culabat for his kind act.

GLYDEL Guevarra sustained her form and racked up three girls’ crowns while JB Aguilar nailed another two-title romp in the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala Naga leg regional age group tennis tournament at the Naga City Tennis Courts in Camarines Sur yesterday.

Guevarra, who fell one title short in last week’s stop of the circuit at home in Iriga, completed the three-title feat in style, beating Abby de Castro, Myah Cabrera and Emily Mendez via the same scorelines, 6-0, 6-0.

Aguilar also came away with a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Sam Angeles in the boys’ 12-U finals then the

Camalig, Albay bet stunned top seed JC Gonzales, 6-3, 5-7(7), 106, to snare the 14-U diadem for back-to-back two-title romp in the Group 4 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

“Guevarra’s sweep of three titles impresses us the most and we hope to produce more of her kind and that of Aguilar’s and the other winners through our year-long, nationwide talentsearch,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other winners in the fiveday tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp. and the new Unified tennis group, led by

PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s and B-Meg were Jennard Gonzales, Kurt Molina, Aa Aguilar and Nica Alanis.

Gonzales, from Legazpi City, turned back Osward Hernandez, 6-4, 2-6, 10-6, in the boys’ 16-U finals; Molina, Daet, Camarines Norte, subdued Walter Luzon, 6-3, 6-3, for the boys’ 18-U plum; Aa Aguilar, also from Camalig, took the 10-unisex crown with a 4-2, 4-1 romp over Paul Esplana; and Alanis, also from Iriga, took the girls’ 18-U title for the second straight week with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Patricia Corporal.

Hitting Spree wins Philracom Challenge THE HOARSE WHISPERER JENNY ORTUOSTE HITTING Spree dominated two other opponents to win the 6th leg of the Philippine Racing Commission Import-Local Challenge race held at Metro Turf racecourse last July 16.

The import from the US ran the 1,800-meter race wire to wire, Aussie import Bentley running off the pace at his flank and local-bred Messi many lengths back in the rear.

Messi rallied strongly at the far turn and grabbed second at the home turn by passing beside the rail, where he abruptly swerved out when rider JA Guce aboard hit him

Cager Kristine C. Cayabyab sealed Team Philippines’ victory with a key steal in the dying seconds of the game. Cayabyab also added 10 points, six of which came in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Thailand thrashed the Philippines in the boys’ basketball event on Monday afternoon, 64-53.

Over at the Bishan Sports Hall, Justine Ace de Leon of Philippines claimed the gold medal in the vault finals with a score of 13.600. He bested Lincoln Forest Liqht Man of Singapore (12.900) and Thar Aung Htet of Myanmar (12.575).

on the left flank.

The duo almost bumped into Hitting Spree. Though this did not affect the latter’s chances, the stewards told Guce to “be careful with his ride.”

Total time was 1:50.2 (13’-22’-23’24-27); 2nd Messi, 3rd Bentley.

In the 1,200-meter 3YO and older Colts maiden race that same day, Summer Romance reigned over seven other participants, clocking 1:12 (23’-22’-26) for 1,200 meters.

Summer Romance ran off the pace from frontrunner Moondance, rallying at the far turn to win by three. 2nd Moondance, 3rd Stay Ready, 4th Special Rule.

Fifth-placer Leron Leron Sinta was found by the club veterinarian to be limping on its off-fore. The horse was suspended for one month.

Stranger Danger, who ran all the way

at the back of the pack, came in 75 meters behind the third placer and was meted one month’s rest. *** Philracom has scheduled quite a few major races for the last weekend of this month. On July 30, the muchanticipated Triple Crown trifecta consisting of the 3rd legs of the Philracom Triple Crown, the Hopeful Stakes, and the 3YO Local-bred S. will be held at Santa Ana Park.

This led racing fan Raymund Vincent Reyes to ask, on my Facebook page (Gogirl Racing), why the races will be held there instead of at Metro Turf, because the second leg was already held at Santa Ana Park (the first leg was held at San Lazaro Leisure Park).

As of maybe a year or two ago, races are no longer scheduled at the venues in strict rotation, as was the

practice before.

Philracom has adopted a “highest bidder” format wherein the racing clubs are invited to bid to host the races, by offering added prizes or other incentives and features that will make the race and the raceday more attractive for participants and exciting for viewers. *** All Philracom-backed races dangle hefty purses that are incentives for participants to not only excel in the sport, but also to continue in it.

Sustaining the industry is in fulfillment of Philracom’s mandate to promote and uplift the sport. In fact, if anyone is wondering why a government agency is supporting a sport that has a gambling component, here’s the answer: it’s the law.

Presidential Decree No. 420 (1974) states that “it is the declared

policy to promote and direct the accelerated development and continued growth of horseracing not only in pursuance of the sports development program but also in order to insure the full exploitation of the sport as a source of revenue and employment.”

The Philippine Thoroughbred industry remits around P1 billion in direct taxes to the government each year, not counting what is paid in indirect taxes, fees, and other forms of funds.

The industry also accounts for thousands of jobs in the racetracks, ranches, and various offices. *** Facebook: Gogirl Racing and Jenny Ortuoste, Twitter: @gogirlracing and @jennyortuoste, and Instagram: @jensdecember and @ artuoste

LIPA CITY—Angelo Que hopes to make the most of his break from the Japan PGA Tour, seeking a second Philippine Golf Tour crown in the ICTSI Classic, which gets going today (Wednesday) at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here.

Que has posted back-to-back top five finishes in Japan last month although the long-hitting former three-time Asian Tour champion has opted to downplay his chances in the P2 million event coming off a three-week rest.

“I can’t tell if I’m in top condition since I haven’t played since I got back (from Japan),” said Que, who also skipped the PGT’s The Duel 5 won by his team North over South in Baguio two weeks ago.

Still, he hopes to relive his glory days at the layout’s composite course where he won back-to-back from 2008-09.

“The last time I played Malarayat was when I won,” said Que, who is also eyeing a followup to his runaway victory at Anvaya Cove Invitational last February.

But he’s in for an early test of power and putting as he drew veteran campaigners Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador in the 7:20 a.m. group on No. 1 in one of the featured flights making up the 75-player starting field in the 72-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI. An early shootout looms with the big guns looking fresh and hungry from a month-long break with Tony Lascuña, who topped the Forest Hills Championship for the second straight year last month, taking on Frankie Miñoza and Ferdie Aunzo at 7:50 a.m.

Defending champion Clyde Mondilla is also out for a rebound following a pair of mediocre finishes after sweeping the Southwoods and Philippine Masters titles with the Del Monte ace clashing with Jhonnel Ababa and Keanu Jahns at 8:10 a.m.

Request for P3.8-m equipment okayed EQUIPMENT requests totaling P3.833 million has been approved for three national sports associations that are sending athletes to the Southeast Asian Games.

SEA Games task force member Tom Carrasco said this after assisting officials of indoor hockey, petanque and lawn bowls get the green light in their procurements.

“The kinks have been ironed out. They will get their equipment needs,” said Carrasco following a meeting with Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

Carrasco said there were delays in the procurement for the three disciplines.

The PSC asked NSAs to submit a new request before the new deadline last June 2.

But the three sports bodies were not able to comply after sending an earlier request.

In all, the agency has approved P86,777, 500 to fund the 700-strong delegation to the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia this August.

The approved amount covers airfare, accommodation, uniforms and allowances of the contingent.

A big chunk of the budget is earmarked for the billeting of the national team.

The government sports agency also took the tab for the national team’s training camps and competitions here and abroad.

An estimated 661 athletes and coaches will carry the country’s flag when they vie for gold in 38 sports in the said event. Peter Atencio

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

A8

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Fil-German powers PH to Jones Cup win

By Peter Atencio CHRISTIAN Standhardinger came up with his second impressive double-double as Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a 100-85 rout of Japan yesterday in the 39th William Jones Cup basketball tournament at the Taipei Peace International Basketball Hall, Taipei.

He led Gilas with 22 points and 15 rebounds off the bench.

This gave Gilas its third win in four games.

Import Mike Myers backed him with another monster game with 17 points and 17 boards.

The Philippines shot well from the field as they held their ground against Japan’s shooters all game long.

Gilas trailed at the half, 4142. The national squad then broke off from 66-all deadlock after three quarters.

They took charge in the fourth quarter when Gilas cager Matthew Wright hit eight of his 15 total points.

Wright’s three-pointer at the 3:46 mark put the Philippine squad up by nine, 82-73.

His triple during a crucial stretch allowed the Philippines to pull away for good.

Gilas Pilipinas will meet archrival Korea next as the national team continues to shadow tormentor Canada for the lead.

Alaska Aces guard Simon Enciso (0) slashes between two NLEX Road Warriors defenders in Kevin Alas (6) and Emman Monfort. The Aces and the Road Warriors clash tonight in PBA Governors’ Cup action.

Road Warriors, Alaska clash in Governors’ Cup

By Jeric Lopez

T

HE season-concluding Governors’ Cup of the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association is about to kick-off with two fresh battles pitting four hungry teams.

The Alaska Aces and the NLEX Road Warriors clash at 7 p.m. in the evening’s main event.

Kia Picanto, formerly Mahindra, is on a collision course with the Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters when they open

the show as curtain raisers at 4:15 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Aside from Phoenix, the three other teams seeing action today missed the playoffs of the previous Commissioner’s Cup. Hence,

expect these teams to start their road towards redemption.

After missing out on its original choice due to height issues, Kia will parade returning import Markeith Cummings, formerly of the GlobalPort Batang Pier. He will take on another comebacking import in prolific scorer Eugene Phelps of Phoenix.

The Fuel Masters are expected are favored against Kia. Phelps is known to be a lethal weapon, having scored 50 points or more in several of his past games in the league.

However, Phoenix will miss the services of top gunner Matthew Wright who is currently on loan to the National Team that’s playing in Taiwan for the Jones Cup. In the second game, Alaska is also set to unleash returning import Buck Henton, its reinforcement from last season. NLEX will have newbie Aaron Fuller.

The elimination round will feature a single-round robin format with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals.

From there, the top two teams

Red Lions thrash CSB Blazers THE San Beda Red Lions started badly but finished strong enough to prevail.

After allowing the College of St. Benilde Blazers to take charge in the first period, the Red Lions needed big scoring runs to pull off a 76-52 demolition yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.

Javee Mocon, Robert Bolick and AC Soberano took charge during two crucial stretches in the second canto to pull off their second win in three matches.

Mocon went on to finish with a game-high 12 points for the Red Lions, who stayed in second spot in the 93rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

The Red Lions, who also drew nine points from Bolick

and Soberano are ahead of the Letran Knights (1-1). Jerrick Balanza made the big plays in the fourth period as the Knights held off the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals, 83-80.

With the Generals staying close, 62-66, Balanza scored all of his eight points in the last period.

This included a three-point play in the last 4:42 that allowed the Knights to keep the Generals at bay, 69-62.

Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez said his team started flat in the first quarter.

“The guys are really excited to bounce back,” said Fernandez after the Red Lions finally got over their 73-78 upset loss to the Lyceum Pirates.

In the junior action, Joel

Cagulangan banged in 13 of his 25-point tally in the fourth period to power La Salle Greenhills to an 82-78 upset of the San Beda Red Cubs.

Cagulangan’s charity in the last 36.2 seconds cushioned LSGH’s first win over the Red Cubs in six years.

Kiefer Cordero made 21 points for the Letran Squires as they held off the EAC Brigadier’s late rallies for an 85-81 triumph.

Balanza’s drive with 2:39 to go allowed Letran to stay out of reach, 74-65.

On the other hand, Knights coach Jeff Napa said the win was a wake up for the boys, saying that situations that took place when they lost to the Mapua Cardinals almost happened again. Peter Atencio

Unbeaten Creamline seeks semis against P Smashers CREAMLINE goes for a fifth straight win and the first semifinal berth as it clashes with the struggling Power Smashers even as Perlas-BanKo and UP collide in a key duel in the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference at the Filoil Arena in San Juan.

But the Cool Smashers will have to keep their streak going without their ace player as Alyssa Valdez joins the national team in its Japan training and will miss at least three games.

Still, Creamline remains the slight favorite over the Power Smashers in their 4 p.m. duel although the latter have snapped an early three-game skid with a five-set escape over the Perlas-BanKo Spikers over the weekend to stay in the hunt in the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision.

But the Cool Smashers posted a more impressive win, beating the defending champion Pocari Sweat Lady Warriors 25-15, 17-25, 25-19, 25-19, to grab the solo lead and close in on the first Final Four slot.

Without Valdez, the league’s MVP derby leader who dropped 30 points against the Lady Warriors, Creamline is expected to count on Francesca Racraquin and Perpetual Help standout Jamela Suyat for firepower.

“What is good with our team is that all our players are ready to play. Cesca (Racraquin) has done well last game and Jamela (Suyat) has been doing great in practices and we expect them to be ready in our next game,” said Creamline assistant coach Oliver Almadro.

Perlas-BanKo and University of the Philippines, tied with Adamson and the Power Smashers at 1-3, face off at 6:30 p.m. with both looking for a crucial win that will keep them in the semis race.

Meanwhile, newcomer Mega Builders and Cignal TV tangle at 1 p.m. in a duel of unbeaten teams in the men’s side of the league backed by Mikasa and Asics. At stake is the first semis seat.

Air Force and Instituto Estetico Manila square off in the first match at 10 a.m.

will have a twice-to-beat incentive over the lower-ranked teams while the teams in the middle (Nos. 3 to 6) will figure in bestof-three affairs. The semifinals will be a best-of-five affair. The finals will be best-of-seven.

The Governors’ Cup concludes the 2016–17 PBA season.

The tournament allows teams to hire foreign players with a height limit of 6’5” Due to the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup, the PBA decided to temporarily shelve signing up Asian imports.

San Beda subdues Ateneo

AGUILAS GET CALL UP. Davao Aguilas FC players Jordan Jarvis and Dylan De Bruycker receive their call up to join the national team to the AFC U23 Champion China 2018 Qualifiers. The two will leave Cebu and fly to Cambodia to join five other Davao Aguilas FC players pressed for national service.

Gilas will get PBA players TAIPEI—BA commissioner Chito Narvasa announced on Tuesday that all the PBA teams have agreed to release Gilas pool members to the national team that will vie in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon on Aug. 8-20.

This means coach Chot Reyes will have at his disposal all the players he named to the 24-man Gilas team from which the Final 12 will come.

Recent SEABA campaigners June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright and RR Pogoy lead 19 PBA players in

the 24-man roster.

Other PBA players in the list are Gabe Norwood, Norbert Torres, Kevin Alas, Baser Amer, Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Chris Tolomia and Carl Bryan Cruz.

Naturalized player Andray Blatche, Fil-German Christian Standhardinger, Bobby Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, and Kobe Paras complete the list.

The release of the PBA players to the Gilas pool will be in accordance with the memorandum of agreement between the PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas—30 days before the tourney among the Gilas cadets and 15 days among the PBA veterans.

Narvasa said they will try to find a way to settle the conf lict of the PBA Governors Cup schedule with that of the Asia Cup. “It always affects the PBA whenever there is a change in (FIBA) schedule. We’ll discuss it with (SBP president) Al Panlilio and coach Chot Reyes,” said Narvasa.

The PBA has made the necessary adjustments in its 2017-18 season to give way to the numerous window periods of the FIBA Asia world qualifiers.

One adjustment is to set the season in December.

“No specific date yet.

We want to know the exact dates of the FIBA games first,” said Narvasa.

THE San Beda Red Lions and the Diliman College Blue Dragons turned back separate foes to post their first wins at the start of the 15th Fr. Martin Cup Division 2 basketball tournament at the San Beda-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Senegalese cager Adama Diakhite shot a game-high 23 points for the Blue Dragons in their 86-51 demolition of guest squad West Crame of San Juan.

Eugene Toba and Alfred Sedillo tallied 19 points for the Red Lions as they won over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 73-64.

In the junior division, Iverson Petros knocked in 11 points for the Rich Golden Shower Montessori School in their 87-73 win over the San Beda-B, while Diliman Preparatory School prevailed over San Beda-B, 73-60.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said 30 varsity squads have signed up, with 12 teams seeing action in the senior division, while 18 others are in the junior division.

The 6-foot-9 Diakhite took charge underneath right from start and helped the Blue Dragons limit the San Juan cagers to six points in the first minutes of action.

The Blue Dragons took a 22-9 lead in the first period and widened it to 45-21 at halftime.

The Red Lions broke free from a 54-all deadlock with a 10-0 run that was led by Kyle Carlos and Kenneth Mocon.

After taking a 64-54 lead, the Blue Eagles came charging back behind three triples from Jack Salazar.

The Blue Eagles managed to threaten, 64-69, before the Red Lions held their ground in the remaining two minutes.

Peter Atencio

Aboitiz to hit 2020 goal early B3

Business

Ray S. Eñano, Editor Roderick T. dela Cruz, Assistant Editor business@manilastandard.net extrastory2000@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

B1

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Tuesday, July 18, 2017

F OREIGN E XCHANGE R ATE

Currency

Unit

US Dollar Peso

United States Dollar

1.000000

50.6330

Japan

0.008879

0.4496

Yen

UK

Pound

1.305600

66.1064

Hong Kong

Dollar

0.128136

6.4879

Switzerland

Franc

1.038961

52.6057

Canada

Dollar

0.787712

39.8842

Singapore

Dollar

0.730460

36.9854

Australia

Dollar

0.779800

39.4836

Bahrain

Dinar

2.660707

134.7196

Saudi Arabia

Rial

0.266674

13.5025

Brunei

Dollar

0.727802

36.8508

Indonesia

Rupiah

0.000075

0.0038

Thailand

Baht

0.029700

1.5038

UAE

Dirham 0.272272

13.7859

Euro

Euro

1.147900

58.1216

Korea

Won

0.000887

0.0449

China

Yuan

0.147671

7.4770

India

Rupee

0.015545

0.7871

Malaysia

Ringgit 0.233318

New Zealand Dollar

0.731400

Taiwan

0.032896

Dollar

11.8136 37.0330 1.6656 Source: PDS Bridge

ABOITIZ POWER’S 10TH. Aboitiz Power Corp. celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange as it focuses on pursuing its balanced mix strategy while riding on

the robust economic growth of the country. Shown during the bell-ringing ceremony at PSE are (from left) AboitizPower independent directors Carlos Ejercito and Alfonso Uy, president and chief operating officer Antonio Moraza, chief executive Erramon Aboitiz, PSE chairman Jose Pardo, president and chief executive Ramon Monzon, chief operating officer Roel Refran and AboitizPower executive vice president Emmanuel Rubio.

IN BRIEF Philex spends P1.3m to reforest old mine

PHILEX Mining Corp. said Tuesday it spent P1.3 million for the restoration of the Bumolo copper-gold project in Benguet province.

Philex Mining mine environmental protection and enhancement officer Julius Bayogan said the amount was used for the restoration of the area by replanting and reforestation.

“The program involves, among others, the rehabilitation, regeneration, revegetation and reforestation of Bumolo’s 2-hectare aggravated area,” he said.

Bayogan said Philex planted 200,000 seedlings with an actual cost of P638,278.14 in the first half of 2016 and P638,270.00 in the second half.

“We were able to plant shrubs, calliandra, kawati, napier grass, lantana, and wild sunflowers,” he said.

Bayogan said progressive rehabilitation of areas subject to the exploration was also being done while drilling was conducted.

Anna Leah E. Gonzales

IC studies reducing vehicle insurance cost

THE Insurance Commission is evaluating a proposal of a transport group to reduce the premium collected by insurance firms on comprehensive motor insurance.

Insurance commissioner Dennis Funa said the Kilusan sa Pagbabago ng Industriya ng Transportasyon requested for the reduction of the upfront and recurring cost of jeepney operators by lowering the insurance premium being charged by insurance companies for comprehensive motor vehicle insurance in relation to the jeepney-modernization program.

“As to the proposal on the lowering of insurance premiums, the IC was informed by Kapit that it had spoken with several insurance companies which manifested their willingness to explore ways to make motor car insurance product more affordable,” he said.

He said Kapit also proposed that insurance companies be allowed to extend loans to jeepney operators, transport groups, cooperatives, and transport management companies and for the said loans to be considered as “admitted asset” of the lender-insurance provider. Julito G. Rada

Pangilinan eyes selling ‘Inquirer’ stake to Ang

By Darwin G. Amojelar

B

USINESSMAN Ramon Ang will likely have a full ownership of Philippine Daily Inquirer, after PLDT Inc. chairman Manuel Pangilinan, an early investor, said he is willing to divest from the publication.

Pangilinan said he was willing to divest his stake in Philippine Daily Inquirer if the price was right.

“If there’s an offer to buy our stake at an acceptable price, we are willing to divest,” Pangilinan said in a statement.

Pangilinan’s statement came after Ang, the

president and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp., confirmed talks that he would acquire a majority stake in the Inquirer Group of Companies from the Rufino-Prieto family.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the family of chair Marixi Prieto was selling 85 percent of the company to longtime friend Ang, with the remaining 15 percent still held by Pangilinan.

Ang and the Rufino-Prieto family did not disclose the value of the transaction. The Inquirer group has the Makati City-based Philippine Daily Inquirer as its flagship company. It also has stakes in tabloid Bandera, regional paper Cebu Daily News, Radyo Inquirer DZIQ, digital company Inquirer.net and printing company Print Town Group.

Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings Inc., has a 15-percent stake in the Philippine Daily Inquirer. MediaQuest also has substantial interests in daily publications Philippine Star and Business-

World, Associated Broadcasting Corp. which operates television network TV 5 and cable TV provider Cignal Digital TV. Ang said he had accepted the offer of the Prieto family to invest in the Inquirer Group.

“I am looking forward to be part of this venerable institution and work with men and women who made it what it is now” Ang said.

Marixi Prieto said the family’s decision to divest from the Inquirer after 25 years was a strategic move that would maximize growth opportunities for the Inquirer Group.

“The family is confident that Mr. Ang will uphold the Inquirer Group’s commitment to pursuing the highest standards of journalism,” Prieto said.

“His investments and business expertise will unlock added value in the Inquirer Group’s newspaper publication, internet communications, social media, corporate skills training, radio broadcasting and logistics delivery,” Prieto said.

Shell wins P1.36-b oil import case against Customs

By Alena Mae S. Flores PILIPINAS Shell Petroleum Corp. said Tuesday it won a P1.36-billion case against the Bureau of Customs, after the Supreme Court ruled with finality the oil company is not guilty of fraud in crude oil importation in 1996.

Pilipinas Shell said in a statement that it would now reverse the P1.36-billion provision it made earlier, following the favorable decision from the high tribunal.

“We welcome the finality of the positive decision issued by the Supreme Court in the abandonment case involving Customs. Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. extols the rule of law in the country as it continues to work hand in hand with the government as part of its commitment to nation-building,” the company said.

Pilipinas Shell said in a disclosure to the stock exchange it received the Supreme Court resolution dated June 19, 2017 denying the government’s motion for reconsideration and reiterated

that the oil firm was not guilty of fraud.

The court dismissed with finality the appeal of Customs seeking to collect the amount from Pilipinas Shell, representing the total dutiable value of the firm’s crude oil importation in 1996.

“In the absence of fraud, the Bureau of Customs’ claims against SHLPH have been barred by prescription after the lapse of one year from payment of duties. The Supreme Court likewise held that there can be no automatic abandonment without prior due notice

By Julito G. Rada THE peso slid for a third day to close at a new 10-year low against the US dollar, as the widening trade deficit became a concern among traders.

The local currency lost seven centavos to settle at 50.77 a dollar Tuesday, down from 50.70 a dollar Monday. It was the peso’s weakest level in more than 10 years, since it averaged 50.81 a dollar on Sept. 1, 2006. Total volume turnover reached $653 million Tuesday, up from $256 million Monday.

ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said in a report the peso depreciated again, moving in an opposite direction of other Asian currencies.

“Almost all Asian currencies recovered last week from the weakness of the previous week on the back of a dovish view of Fed Chair Yellen’s semi-annual testimony and mostly weak US consumer-related economic reports,” Cuyegkeng said.

“We attribute the underperformance [of the peso] to the wider than expected trade deficit [for May]. The report comes after BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas] validated market’s fear that this year could see the first full year current account deficit since 2003,” Cuyegkeng said.

The Philippines posted its biggest monthly trade deficit on record in May 2017, driven by a rapidly-expanding economy.

Latest data showed the trade gap widened to $2.8 billion in May, as exports grew 14 percent from a year ago to $5.5 billion while imports rose 17 percent to a record $8.2 billion.

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

Economic managers earlier said import demand in the Philippines was increasing as the government was ramping up its ambitious infrastructure program.

Ang, Alvarez form new firm to distribute BMW

Duterte creates new Finance unit

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte created a specialized group at the Finance Department to provide strategic advice and research on fiscal policies in support of the administration’s socio-eonomic reform agenda focused on sustaining high growth, eradicating extreme poverty and growing the economy to upper-middle income status by 2022.

The president issued Executive Order No. 31which placed the Strategy, Economics and Results Group directly under the Secretary of Finance who, in turn, will assign an undersecretary and assistant secretary to supervise its operations.

The Finance Department said the group would be headed by Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, whom Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III assigned to help craft the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program and coordinate closely with the Congress in fine-tuning the proposal to make the tax system simpler, fairer and more efficient. Julito G. Rada

required under Section 1801 of the Tariff and Customs Code,” Pilipinas Shell said.

The Supreme Court, in its previous decision dated Dec. 5, 2016, granted Pilipinas Shell’s petition and accordingly reversed and set aside the decisions of the lower courts that the company allegedly abandoned its imported crude oil with a dutiable value of P936,899,883.90.

Pilipinas Shell earlier set aside P1.36 billion to cover its financial exposure in case the final decision was not in the company’s favor.

Peso slips further to 50.77 per US dollar

By Darwin G. Amojelar

CARDIAC REHABILITATION WEEK. Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil joins the Philippine Heart Center’s celebration of Cardiac Rehabilitation Week that aims to educate patients and staff to improve their hearts’ health and well-being. Shown are (from left) PHC dieticians Dr. Claudine Tan, Dr. Katherine Ortega, Dr. Perla Esguerra, Jolly Heart Mate ambassador Donita Rose, Dr. Vilma Amil, human resource development manager Jean Wong and Fly Ace Corp. group category manager for oils Zen Prudentino.

SAN Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang and Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez formed a new company for the importation and distribution of BMW vehicles in the Philippines.

San Miguel said in a disclosure to the stock exchange that SMC Asia Car Distribution Corp. would now be the corporate vehicle that would engage in the business of importation, distribution and servicing of BMW vehicles in the Philippines.

The new company will replace Asian Carmakers Corp., the exclusive importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines.

San Miguel will own 65 percent of SMC Asia Car and while

Alvarez will have 35 percent.

BMW has the widest dealership network in the luxury vehicle segment in the Philippines, with eight full service dealer facilities nationwide.

These are AutoAllee BMW in Eton Centris, North Edsa; Autohaus BMW in Quezon City; Motor Ventures BMW in Alabang; Prestige Cars BMW in Makati; Premier Cars BMW in Pampanga; Autobahn BMW in Bacolod; Autowelt BMW in Cebu; and Premium Motoren BMW in Cagayan de Oro. BMW Motorrad has four dealers in the motorcycle business including BMW in Quezon City, Premier Cars BMW in Pampanga, Autobahn BMW in Bacolod and Premium Motoren in Cagayan de Oro.

B2

Business

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

Market extends gains; Metro, MPIC advance S TOCKS rose for a second day, defying the downtrend in other Asian markets, as investors placed their bets on companies that are expected to report strong second-quarter profits.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index, the 30-company benchmark, gained 18 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 7,952.92, as five of the six major sectors advanced.

The heavier index, representing all shares, also rose 2 points, or 0.1 percent to settle at 4,755.68, on a value turnover of

P6.5 billion. Gainers outnumbered losers, 104 to 94, while 57 issues were unchanged.

Thirteen of the 20 most active stocks ended in the green, led by Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. which jumped 6.7 percent to P4.32 and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which climbed 3.6 percent to P6.95. SSI Group Inc.

rose 3 percent to P4.80.

Meanwhile, several Asian equities fell for the first time in seven sessions, led by declines in bank stocks as US lenders reported trading results that disappointed some analysts, damping sentiment for their counterparts in Asia.

Most equities markets staged a recovery from early big losses but trading floors remain subdued, with few catalysts driving business.

Tokyo’s Nikkei ended 0.6 percent lower, with the strong yen dragging on Japanese exporters.

The market was closed for a hol-

iday Monday.

Sydney fell 1.2 percent and Hong Kong was 0.1 percent down in the afternoon after a sixday rally.

But Singapore rose 0.1 percent and Seoul closed marginally higher, while Wellington and Taipei all rose.

Shanghai rose 0.4 percent after the previous day’s sharp losses which had been fuelled by concerns over a crackdown aimed at tackling a debt problem.

In early European trade London and Paris each fell 0.2 percent while Frankfurt was off 0.3 percent. With AFP, Bloomberg

SEC to ease deadline on 20% public float

By Jenniffer B. Austria THE Securities and Exchange Commission plans to giver large companies like San Miguel Corp. a longer period to comply with the 20-percent minimum public ownership requirement.

SEC commissioner Ephyro Luis Amatong said extending the period beyond the 2020 deadline for companies with large capitalization was an option being considered by the corporate regulator to prevent crowding, in case many companies decided to sell equities over the next three years.

The final rules on minimum public ownership is expected to come out this month.

Amatong said the Philippine Stock Exchange also proposed a graduated scale which would mean the public float requirement would depend on market capitalization.

MANILA STANDARD BUSINESS DAILY STOCKS REVIEW TUESDAY, JULY 18, 2017

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

FINANCIALS 4.09 367,000 59 37,790 104.2 1,173,870 3.98 4,000 122.1 2,153,540 1.5 1,522,000 36.6 212,300 16.16 300 32.35 1,677,300 8.28 500 0.68 271,000 1.78 2,000 877 340 0.71 8,698,000 92.95 2,044,320 0.85 247,000 15.6 176,700 25 15,000 67.85 29,710 247 490 117 190 88.15 450 58 1,160,170 224.6 322,600 1,650 375 86.4 77,080 1.38 74,000

1,484,190 2,223,634 122,228,755 15,920 263,020,069 2,233,830 7,753,680 4,848 54,191,815 4,035 178,960 3,560 298,080 6,223,190 189,522,255 211,320 2,773,300 375,000 2,012,462.50 120,264 22,230 39,667.50 68,439,937 71,865,892 618,750 6,658,761.50 102,010

1,731,950 4,466,665 -108,218,029 -29,300 727,285 -16,022,275 -39,930 -20,488,067.50 10,920 2,637,600 205,222 27,054 1,103,580 17,185,614 -528,000 -165,827 -

40.05 8.89 0.83 1.42 30.4 0.265 161 7.15 18.24 165.3 28.4 14.12 64 78.9 2 11.4 12.42 15.34 11.86 7.82 5.91 1.68 19 67.8 14.88 13.62 15.78 2.08 215.4 64 4.01 3.4 22.9 31.5 20 18.6 274 0.242 8.5 3.18 7.18 9.62 7.9 10.3 1.95 10.6 67.3 6.4 302.4 4.53 5.1 3 12.9 4.48 0.145 1.37 161 4.1 2.06 28.95 1.04

INDUSTRIAL 40.05 748,500 9.1 2,222,100 0.84 2,611,000 1.43 2,017,000 31.8 238,700 0.265 3,150,000 200 5,030 7.15 1,590,100 18.3 186,900 165.3 10 29.45 919,700 14.44 15,700 68 103,560 79 8,590 2.02 790,000 11.84 12,700 12.46 1,751,100 15.4 3,641,800 12 9,050,200 7.84 631,500 5.91 10,512,900 1.68 2,000 19 737,300 67.8 110,840 14.9 9,600 13.66 194,700 16.06 2,046,500 2.16 7,514,000 217 516,920 64 500 4.17 517,000 3.45 32,000 23.45 1,200 32.1 230,300 20.1 142,800 18.8 1,221,000 274.6 664,250 0.245 2,240,000 8.69 37,500 3.2 5,365,000 7.7 2,297,200 9.66 2,782,600 7.9 142,000 10.32 38,400 1.96 831,000 11 4,681,000 68.35 2,652,090 6.5 7,200 305 3,390 4.55 1,148,000 5.1 280,700 3.07 9,716,000 13.1 2,342,100 4.52 1,536,000 0.145 80,000 1.4 55,000 161.3 869,500 4.1 47,000 2.06 4,223,000 29.95 21,500 1.05 200,000

30,100,600 19,989,781 2,200,620 2,869,970 7,538,560 835,750 1,033,464 11,525,219 3,421,568 1,653 27,136,890 223,614 6,641,491.50 740,252 1,587,700 146,396 21,810,874 56,115,868 108,797,950 4,975,442 62,413,975 3,360 14,091,318 7,530,955.50 142,908 2,657,994 32,814,984 16,374,360 111,796,312 32,000 2,160,260 109,680 27,590 7,371,565 2,861,130 22,903,936 182,442,812 545,600 322,554 17,151,200 17,491,539 26,890,318 1,130,383 395,586 1,635,890 50,401,810 181,164,549.50 46,868 1,033,692 5,223,510 1,431,758 30,002,430 30,407,750 6,916,040 11,640 75,740 140,348,110 197,130 8,760,180 624,300 209,140

-3,053,600 1,131,200 7,100 -1,216,163 1,104,002.00 276,105 -3,596,280 40,000 -2,775,606 -10,796,336 30,381,858 2,528,784 40,901,320 3,360 -2,304,646 -5,461,291 -227,624 10,241,606 -528,310 68,109,740 5,660,765 237,195 6,840,154 20,471,992 -218,060 191,887 -9,718,056.00 -276,860 -1,846,232 -3,552,850.50 -115,928 -241,880 765,000 5,448,120 759,786 1,277,500 28,871,589 -809,820 66,885 -

0.365 74.9 13.9 1.16 6.95 0.33 0.33 860 7.88 15.16 5.95 0.204 1,208 7.78 79.5 5.2 5.33 0.99 6.85 17.14 0.44 6.72 0.05 1.04 2.11 102.6 2.61 790.5 0.88 1.57 174.1 301 0.29 0.25

HOLDING FIRMS 0.37 1,330,000 75.7 375,000 13.9 2,218,400 1.18 219,000 7.05 195,400 0.335 490,000 0.345 740,000 860 74,530 7.9 660,800 15.24 5,800,300 5.95 3,000 0.215 600,000 1,240 200,435 7.79 73,000 80 1,007,500 5.25 76,500 5.35 1,000 1.05 14,118,000 6.87 892,100 17.14 4,715,100 0.44 10,000 6.95 62,275,600 0.051 27,970,000 1.04 70,000 2.2 2,284,000 102.9 38,260 2.75 2,466,000 795.5 220,090 0.89 325,000 1.61 7,606,000 174.2 220 303.8 8,200 0.29 110,000 0.25 1,150,000

491,050 28,416,478 30,927,322 255,690 1,371,840 162,250 250,950 64,307,975 5,241,127 88,342,420 17,850 128,890 247,790,530 568,620 80,596,275.50 404,192 5,334 14,606,210 6,142,325 82,557,380 4,400 428,634,230 1,416,420 73,060 4,926,920 3,935,484 7,137,760 175,053,815 287,180 12,171,580 38,303 2,490,468 31,950 298,150

10,123,314 -9,716,696 859,940 -1,610,478 66,328,668 185,385,650 -12,766,454 -4,660,595 -12,879,626 206,610,124 7,600 -47,080 1,274,504 9,000 -47,257,450 -148,550 2,511,480 -36,561 -893,240 -216,950

1,217,918 6,051,400 343,650 5,672,670 362,406,140 8,716,210 21,389,295 170,732 74,794,500 580,510 1,640,860 1,892,390 3,240,220 6,224,285 3,899,710 88,400 41,912,140 89,895,300 646,550 82,057,680

-509,977 -461,470 116,288,995 789,390 5,869,362 156,408 -9,097,720 -153,220 -789,880 310,505 -1,200,000 -1,207,400 -34,242,870 41,722,700

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

AG FINANCE 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

3.95 58.6 103.1 3.98 123 1.41 36.6 16.16 32.8 7.93 0.66 1.78 876 0.7 92 0.86 15.5 25 67.95 245 117 88.15 59.05 221.4 1,650 86.45 1.36

4.14 59 105 3.98 123.2 1.5 36.65 16.16 32.8 8.28 0.68 1.78 877 0.73 93.05 0.87 15.7 25 68 247 117 88.15 59.05 224.6 1,650 86.5 1.4

3.95 58.6 103.1 3.98 121.7 1.35 36.5 16.16 32 7.93 0.66 1.78 876 0.69 91.9 0.84 15.5 25 67.4 244.4 117 88.15 58 219.4 1,650 86.35 1.36

ABOITIZ POWER AGRINURTURE ALLIANCE SELECT ALSONS CONS ASIABEST GROUP BASIC ENERGY BOGO MEDELLIN CEMEX HLDG CENTURY FOOD CHEMPHIL CIRTEK HLDG CNTRL AZUCARERA CONCEPCION CONCRETE A CROWN ASIA 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 VICTORIAS VITARICH VIVANT VULCAN INDL

40.05 9 0.84 1.42 30.85 0.265 161 7.29 18.4 165.3 29.6 14.12 68.65 87 2.03 11.4 12.5 15.5 11.86 7.95 5.94 1.68 19.12 68.15 14.88 13.64 15.78 2.18 215.4 64 4.15 3.45 22.9 31.5 20.1 18.8 274.6 0.243 8.7 3.18 7.18 9.62 7.9 10.34 2.01 10.7 68 6.56 302.4 4.55 5.1 3.1 13.28 4.5 0.147 1.37 162 4.24 2.08 29.95 1.05

40.45 9.21 0.85 1.43 32.5 0.27 234 7.37 18.4 165.3 29.85 14.44 68.65 93.1 2.04 11.84 12.5 15.5 12.26 7.98 5.97 1.68 19.2 68.15 14.9 13.66 16.26 2.23 217 64 4.24 3.45 23.45 32.1 20.15 18.82 275.2 0.246 8.7 3.2 7.73 9.77 8.38 10.34 2.01 11 68.85 6.56 305 4.6 5.14 3.17 13.28 4.52 0.147 1.4 162 4.3 2.1 29.95 1.06

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

0.375 74.9 14 1.17 7.05 0.33 0.335 865 7.96 15.3 5.95 0.204 1,208 7.78 80.25 5.45 5.33 1 6.97 18.1 0.44 6.72 0.051 1.05 2.16 103 2.61 794.5 0.92 1.57 174.1 303.6 0.295 0.255

0.375 75.9 14.04 1.18 7.12 0.335 0.345 870 7.99 15.3 5.95 0.215 1,245 7.79 80.25 5.45 5.35 1.06 7 18.2 0.44 6.95 0.052 1.05 2.2 103 3 800 0.92 1.63 174.2 303.8 0.295 0.28

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

5.93 1.41 2.35 1.14 41.45 3.8 5.34 5.32 0.64 1.19 1.53 0.19 0.52 47 0.78 0.161 1.96 1.56 1.06 4.71

5.99 1.46 2.37 1.14 41.75 3.8 5.45 5.32 0.67 1.22 1.58 0.194 0.53 47.5 0.81 0.161 1.97 1.66 1.09 4.77

5.89 1.41 2.35 1.1 41.45 3.68 5.3 5.28 0.64 1.19 1.51 0.19 0.52 46.8 0.78 0.16 1.89 1.5 1.05 4.7

VOLUME

NAME

OPEN

HIGH

LOW

CLOSE

VOLUME

VALUE

NET FOREIGN BUYING/(SELLING), PHP

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

0.4 0.365 0.64 4.62 36.8 24.85 1.87 3.25 33.5 1.02 6.67 0.93 5.9

0.4 0.395 0.65 4.73 36.8 25.05 1.87 3.28 34.35 1.04 7.36 0.93 5.93

0.365 0.345 0.63 4.59 36.8 24.85 1.81 3.25 33.5 1.02 6.67 0.9 5.86

0.365 0.365 0.63 4.7 36.8 25 1.82 3.27 33.95 1.03 7.36 0.91 5.93

133,970,000 10,830,000 11,707,000 1,590,000 300 2,084,600 443,000 70,000 6,919,500 2,005,000 700 1,388,000 4,253,700

50,605,850 3,980,450 7,413,310 7,460,430 11,040 52,101,265 818,570 229,120 234,911,020 2,049,560 4,738 1,262,820 25,137,442

-519,550 -46,100 31,500 315,300 14,902,625 111,500 60,137,260 -9,000 -14,318,620

2GO GROUP ABS CBN ACESITE HOTEL APC GROUP APOLLO GLOBAL BERJAYA BLOOMBERRY BOULEVARD HLDG CEBU AIR CENTRO ESCOLAR DFNN INC DISCOVERY WORLD FAR EASTERN U GLOBE TELECOM GMA NETWORK GOLDEN HAVEN 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 PAXYS PHIL SEVEN CORP PHILWEB PLDT PREMIUM LEISURE PRMIERE HORIZON PUREGOLD ROBINSONS RTL SBS PHIL CORP SSI GROUP STI HLDG TRAVELLERS WATERFRONT WILCON DEPOT

22.8 42 1.92 0.51 0.042 5.32 9.8 0.088 97.5 9.7 8.72 2.31 970 2,034 6.25 15.36 3.01 3.5 105 8.67 0.184 1.52 3.29 15.9 5.45 1.79 9.83 0.6 2.31 8.77 4.04 16.78 2.58 11.5 5.26 3.28 179.7 10.72 1,720 1.6 0.44 46.85 87.5 6.06 4.65 1.52 3.66 1.47 8.09

22.8 42.2 1.95 0.51 0.043 5.32 9.96 0.088 97.75 9.7 8.77 2.39 970 2,050 6.27 15.78 3.05 3.5 105 8.67 0.186 1.52 3.36 15.9 5.47 1.79 9.83 0.61 2.45 8.95 4.32 16.8 2.6 11.5 5.28 3.28 179.7 10.72 1,730 1.6 0.445 47.3 87.5 6.1 4.88 1.52 3.68 1.52 8.37

22 41.95 1.73 0.5 0.042 5.32 9.4 0.087 96.5 9.58 8.7 2.31 970 2,020 6.24 15.24 2.96 3.41 102.5 8.46 0.183 1.4 3.28 15.6 5.03 1.71 9.25 0.57 2.27 8.5 3.83 16.78 2.57 11.44 5.26 3.2 167.5 10.28 1,661 1.58 0.435 46.05 86.5 6.05 4.16 1.46 3.63 1.29 7.9

SERVICES 22.45 42.15 1.8 0.5 0.042 5.32 9.42 0.087 96.7 9.58 8.77 2.31 970 2,020 6.26 15.78 2.96 3.41 103.4 8.5 0.185 1.41 3.36 15.6 5.11 1.79 9.25 0.61 2.4 8.6 4.32 16.8 2.58 11.44 5.28 3.2 167.5 10.5 1,665 1.59 0.435 46.9 86.95 6.06 4.8 1.48 3.67 1.32 8.29

409,500 178,000 1,535,000 309,000 14,800,000 10,000 12,473,800 12,360,000 124,310 2,800 6,600,200 24,000 660 28,405 229,900 36,400 1,315,000 31,000 926,460 275,000 5,110,000 3,382,000 17,000 10,800 3,131,200 235,000 5,251,400 1,588,000 143,000 2,552,200 36,274,000 6,200 909,000 6,100 2,500 4,000 100 1,719,100 171,455 1,045,000 3,550,000 1,419,000 71,260 540,700 45,893,000 18,069,000 1,988,000 119,358,000 14,886,700

9,155,135 7,477,280 2,789,850 157,150 626,800 53,200 119,019,492 1,075,620 12,058,674 26,850 57,434,296 56,240 640,200 57,530,630 1,437,874 569,668 3,929,440 106,430 95,864,941 2,380,451 942,590 4,856,960 56,180 170,276 16,272,909 412,890 49,929,040 921,910 335,250 21,992,980 150,285,850 104,096 2,347,720 69,810 13,176 12,960 17,847 17,960,560 287,851,605 1,652,910 1,551,450 66,691,015 6,199,973 3,275,930 209,118,430 26,806,870 7,264,400 168,670,490 121,507,517

-821,470 129,000 -34,399,526 -3,901,140 -54,995,876 -38,150,370 -4,734 -1,408,904 8,760 -79,000 -445,459 -1,720 -2,700,848 -6,540,049 -43,642,990 928,800 -5,786 3,280 -1,796 -1,814,800 -174,487,185 -25,290 44,500 17,104,990 3,744,056.50 8,917,740 -3,795,640 3,172,000 626,150 -13,208,575

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

0.0031 1.72 5.22 13.52 2.06 1.02 0.395 8.68 2.74 0.29 0.195 0.2 0.011 0.012 2.07 6.5 2 0.63 1.28 0.01 0.012 2.66 9.02 3.05 160.1 0.0086

0.0032 1.75 5.3 14.7 2.06 1.06 0.395 8.7 2.79 0.3 0.206 0.219 0.012 0.012 2.28 6.66 2.01 0.66 1.34 0.011 0.013 2.66 9.35 3.06 160.3 0.0086

0.003 1.72 5.14 13.52 2.01 1 0.39 8.46 2.71 0.29 0.185 0.19 0.011 0.012 2.07 6.5 1.98 0.61 1.25 0.01 0.012 2.65 9.02 3.01 160 0.0085

MINING & OIL 0.0032 2,715,000,000 1.73 4,765,000 5.2 506,500 14.7 700 2.01 28,000 1.06 2,297,000 0.39 350,000 8.7 15,500 2.77 3,670,000 0.29 2,250,000 0.193 39,610,000 0.196 10,710,000 0.012 1,600,000 0.012 5,200,000 2.1 6,031,000 6.5 13,887,000 2.01 239,000 0.62 1,956,000 1.27 5,893,000 0.01 29,300,000 0.012 69,200,000 2.65 23,000 9.25 4,822,000 3.04 959,000 160.1 1,134,220 0.0085 9,000,000

8,559,200 8,257,870 2,647,178 9,582 57,410 2,368,270 137,500 133,126 10,130,390 660,800 7,687,800 2,116,720 18,000 62,400 13,066,040 91,516,000 477,460 1,241,650 7,604,800 301,200 832,600 61,010 44,589,522 2,910,350 181,625,469 77,200

42,400 -8,650 -1,382,737 16,550 53,000 -96,470 -7,200 -291,770 -55,918,981 7,632,718.00 -288,270 22,997,925 -

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

42 516 515 105.6 104.9 114 517 6.03 1,020 1.05 106 106 76.35 80.75 78 80.5 78 78.9

42.25 516 516 107.5 105 114 523 6.03 1,020 1.05 106 106 76.5 80.8 78 80.5 78.5 78.9

42 516 515 105 104.6 114 517 6 1,020 1.05 105.9 106 76.35 80.75 78 80.5 78 78.9

PREFERRED 42.2 27,400 516 1,510 516 290 107.5 29,300 104.6 5,120 114 800 523 120 6 460,000 1,020 1,985 1.05 250,000 105.9 10,000 106 970 76.5 1,070 80.8 16,000 78 10 80.5 1,000 78.5 59,200 78.9 23,000

1,155,480 779,160 149,440 3,100,485 537,158 91,200 62,160 2,762,238 2,024,700 262,500 1,059,700 102,820 81,762 1,292,100 780 80,500 4,629,300 1,814,700

1,045,760 390,720 -314,700 -1,470,200.00 -

LR WARRANT

3.37

3.4

3.13

WARRANTS 3.13 2,924,000

9,426,830

-

ITALPINAS MAKATI FINANCE PHILAB HLDG XURPAS

3.9 3.24 6.06 7.88

3.96 3.25 6.1 8.03

3.89 3.24 6 7.88

3.91 3.25 6.07 7.9

610,920 68,210 1,630,305 16,580,379

2,998,032

FIRST METRO ETF

119.5

120

119.5

627,484

-

USD DMPL A1

10.52

10.52

10.5

105,004

-

MS

PROPERTY 5.96 1.44 2.36 1.13 41.75 3.69 5.33 5.32 0.67 1.19 1.52 0.192 0.53 46.8 0.8 0.161 1.9 1.6 1.05 4.71

205,500 4,228,000 146,000 5,084,000 8,692,600 2,351,000 3,989,900 32,100 113,857,000 485,000 1,061,000 9,880,000 6,160,000 132,500 4,877,000 550,000 21,913,000 56,840,000 614,000 17,359,000

TRADING SUMMARY FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL HOLDING FIRMS

SHARES

20,269,783 95,773,865 138,431,009

PROPERTY

438,780,580

SERVICES

322,920,854

MINING & OIL

2,928,664,241

GRAND TOTAL

3,947,386,634

SME

156,000 21,000 269,700 2,094,300

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS 120 5,240 10.5

DDS

10,000

VALUE 1,963.39 (UP) 7.88 802,683,148.82 FINANCIAL INDUSTRIAL 11,184.90 (UP) 15.05 1,302,471,729.46 HOLDING FIRMS 7,955.07 (UP) 12.16 1,299,980,562.13 PROPERTY 3,750.98 (UP) 30.81 SERVICES 1,671.61 (DOWN) 23.05 1,126,069,050.61 MINING & OIL 12,805.86 (UP) 67.51 1,553,494,135.068 PSEI 7,952.92 (UP) 18.42 387,179,438.429 All Shares Index 4,755.68 (UP) 2.67 6,491,395,863.99 Gainers: 104; Losers: 94; Unchanged: 57; Total: 255

“We think there is something to their statement but the problem we see is bunching. We have already identified the companies that would be affected. Very few large companies would be affected like SMC. The problem is if we give them a short time frame, there would be bunching up. It might be better to give them a longer period of time,” Amatong said.

Amatong said most companies with a public float of less than 20 percent had expressed interest in complying with the 2020 deadline.

“Most companies can comply. It is only the large companies that may have a problem.

So we have to balance that out,” Amatong said.

Amatong said he also expected some companies to delist from the exchange, such as the dormant listed firms which would likely have a hard time complying with the 20-percent public ownership rule.

The SEC earlier identified 68 companies with a public float of less than 20 percent.

The SEC said if all affected companies decided to raise their public float to 20 percent by end-2018, a total of P130.1 billion would be raised through the stock market.

Under the draft rules on minimum public ownership issued by the SEC last month, publicly-listed companies will be given a chance to gradually increase their public float to 15 percent by end-2018 and 20 percent by 2020.

Listed companies that will not be able to meet the public ownership requirement will be suspended and/or their secondary license will be revoked as provided for under the Securities Regulation Code.

DD sells P9.7-b retail bonds DOUBLEDRAGON Properties Corp. raised P9.7 billion from the sale of sevenyear fixed-rate retail bonds on strong demand from retail and institutional investors, one of the underwriters handling the transaction said Tuesday.

BDO Capital and Investments Corp. president Eduardo Francisco said in a mobile message, the bond offering was nearly two-times oversubscribed at the end of the offer period Friday.

The bonds, with a coupon rate of 6.0952 percent annum, will be listed with the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.

The P9.7-billion bond issuance marked the second and the last tranche offered

by DoubleDragon from its P15-billion bond shelf registration approved by the SEC last year.

Proceeds from the fund raising will be used to roll out community malls under the CityMalls brand.

DoubleDragon president Edgar Sia II said this was the company’s last fund raising activity uunder its 2020 program.

Under its 2020 program, DoubleDragon aims to have 100 community malls and one million square meters of leasable space across community malls, office and hotel developments. These projects are expected to provide the company with strong recurring revenues.

The company targets to have 30 CityMalls in operations by end-2017.

Jenniffer B. Austria

Business

B3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 extrastory2000@gmail.com

EDC says electricity output in Leyte up

PH-EU relations. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (fourth from left), Philippine Special Envoy to the European Union Edgardo Angara (third from left), Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo (leftmost) and members of the EU Parliament led by Soraya Post (fifth from left) freely exchange views on the political and economic fronts of the PH-EU relations in a meeting on July 18 in Makati.

Aboitiz set to hit ’20 goal early

By Alena Mae S. Flores

A

BOITIZ Power Corp. expects to surpass its target 4,000 megawatts of power capacity earlier than 2020 with the completion of several plants in the next 12 months.

Aboitiz Power currently has a net sellable capacity of 3,955 MW, with 32 percent coming its geothermal, hydro and solar power plants.

The company is set to add more capacity to a balanced portfolio in the next 12 months, including the 69-MW Manolo Fortich and 8-MW Maris Canal hydro power plants, as well as the 400-MW Pagbilao 3 and 340-MW Therma Visayas ther-

mal power plants.

Aboitiz Power chief executive officer Erramon Aboitiz said the company was on track to reaching its target of 4,000 MW in attributable capacity by 2020, while maintaining a healthy portfolio of renewable energy facilities.

“We will continue to push our balanced mix strategy because we believe that the longterm energy security of the

country can be solved by balancing sustainability, accessibility, and reliability of power,” Aboitiz said.

The company on Tuesday celebrated its 10th listing anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange. The company said it was still focused on pursuing a balanced mix strategy while riding on the robust economic growth of the country.

On the power distribution front, the company will bank on the healthy economic growth in areas served by Visayan Electric Co., Davao Light and Power, Cotabato Light and and several economic zones. The distribution utilities serve around 900,000 customers.

Aboitiz Power closed P40.05 Tuesday, six times its initial

price of P5.80 per share in 2007.

This translates into a 28 percent total return to shareholders compounded annually. Its dividend policy of paying out half of the annual net income is one of the highest dividend yields in the PSE. “We will remain strategic yet disciplined in our approach towards achieving our growth goals, always mindful of our role in nation building,” Aboitiz said.

The Aboitiz Group’s investments in the power industry started in the early 1900s when it invested in small utilities like Jolo Power and Ormoc Power.

It later acquired Davao Light and Power, Cotabato Light and Power, as well as Visayan Electric. It further expanded to power generation after the passage of

the EPIRA Law in 2001.

The company built its first power plant, the 1.2-MW Irisan 3, in 1990 through subsidiary Hedcor.

Aboitiz Power earlier secured a certificate of permit from the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue P30-billion fixed-rate retail bonds to finance expansion.

The company announced in March it would undertake a peso denominated bond issuance of up to P30 billion this year to finance potential acquisitions and future projects.

“The company will use the proceeds of the retail bonds to finance potential acquisitions, future investments, and other general corporate requirements,” Aboitiz Power said.

OVPI, PowerChina to build Wawa hydro RENEWABLE energy developer Olympia Violago Water & Power Inc. (OVPI) has signed an agreement with the Power Construction Corp. of China for the design, procurement and construction of the proposed 500-megawatt Wawa PumpedStorage Hydropower Project in Rizal province, Philippines.

The Wawa PSP is being developed by San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers and Equis Energy, Asia-Pacific’s largest renewable energy independent power producer.

Wawa PSP, with an expected total project cost of $1 billion, is an energy storage asset capable of delivering 500 MW of mid-merit and peak energy to the Philippine power market.

The project will greatly assist in grid management while also providing cheap and reliable peaking power, significantly contributing to the Philippine government’s push to triple renewable energy generation capacity by 2030.

The project is expected to start construction by the end of 2017, with commissioning planned for early 2022.

“The Wawa pump storage project is one of the Philippines’ most strategically important power generation assets in terms of ensuring the immediate reduction of power prices,” noted Equis Chairman David Russell.

“Since our founding in 2012, Equis Energy has completed 100 percent of the power projects on which we have commenced construction, an enviable track record we attribute to our strong commitment to building expert local management teams that understand how to engage with local stakeholders,” he added.

OVPI and SLRB chairman Oscar Violago stressed that their company was fully committed to “deliver a project of national significance, with best technology that will not only provide gainful employment for the local communities but also ensure a stable supply of energy for generations of Filipinos to come.”

PowerChina, meanwhile, was pleased to be selected as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the landmark project. “PowerChina, as one of the top players in the global power industry, will work together with our client to utilize the state-of-art technology and deliver a successful PSP project to Filipinos,” assured Asia-Pacific president Ji Xiaoyong.

OFWs remitting more in ’17—DBS

By Julito G. Rada

UCPB DONATION. Senior officers and associates of the UCPB Group bring hundreds of clothes to the

Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Civil Relations Service as a show of solidarity and support to the soldiers deployed in Marawi City. Shown (fro0m left) are AFP-CRS chief of staff Antonio Francisco, UCPB security assistant Charles Margaret Crame, training officer Jeanielyn Hung, vice president and conglomerate security group Head Elpidio Misolas Jr., AFP-CRS head Major Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, UCPB president and CEO Higinio Macadaeg Jr., VP and Human Resources Group head Stella Fulgencio and training assistant Janna Alaine Mendoza.

Group asks gov’t to act on dumping of low quality cement, steel A CONSUMER welfare advocacy group seeks tougher government action against the proliferation of imported substandard construction materials flooding the local market, saying these products could inflict long-term negative impact on the country’s infrastructure and construction sector.

“Government indifference to the unabated importation of low quality construction materials specifically cement and steel could embolden un-

scrupulous traders to capitalize on this irregularity even at the extreme prejudice of the integrity of the Philippine construction industry,” said Oliver San Antonio, spokesman and counsel of the National Coalition of Filipino Consumers.

San Antonio cited recent reports about alleged foreignmade adulterated cement and substandard steel being sold in the domestic market.

“Cement and steel form the very foundation of our houses

GEOTHERMAL energy leader Energy Development Corp. has restored its marshaling station in Leyte, enabling the delivery of an aggregate 200 megawatts from the Malitbog and Upper Mahiao geothermal plants.

The marshaling station is where power from the Malitbog, Upper Mahiao and Mahanagdong plants is “pooled together” prior to transmitting the output from a “single point” to the islands of Leyte, Bohol, Cebu and Luzon as needed.

“Based on initial assessment, the Mahanagdong Power Plant will need to be on extended outage for repair works on damages to the structures of cooling tower units and to the plant’s substation,” EDC said in a disclose to the Philippine Stock Exchange Tuesday.

The Energy Department earlier said the cooling towers of the Leyte geothermal facilities of EDC tilted and the transformer suffered misalignment after the 6.5 magnitude earthquake that hit Leyte on July 6.

“This is in addition to the earlier reported one unit each of both EDC’s Malitbog power plant and that of its wholly owned subsidiary Green Core Geothermal Inc. Tongonan Power Plant,” the company said.

The Department of Energy said Monday majority of areas in Region 8 and Bohol were receiving electricity 10 days after an earthquake devastated energy facilities in the areas.

Consolidated reports from the EDC, National Grid Corporation and the other distributors said the quake-hit areas in Leyte, Samar and Bohol were being supplied with 194 MW, or 76 percent of the recent 255MW peak demand.

“The DoE assures the public that the energy family is working 24/7 to ensure that all energy facilities affected by the quake are repaired and brought back online to target the projected demand which could reach as high as 291 MW,” the department said.

Alena Mae S. Flores

and buildings. Our government must ensure that substandard imported materials do not contaminate local supplies, especially since there has been a spate of destructive earthquakes and typhoons recently,” San Antonio said He noted that the Philippines is located in a typhoon zone and the so-called Asia’s Ring of Fire, making it one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world.

“This is why it’s extremely vital that we use only the best

building materials to ensure public safety,” the NCFC leader said.

Recent reports indicated that a syndicate was apparently behind the proliferation of cement adulterated with calcium carbonate being sold in the local market. This led to the arrest of nine suspects in San Pedro, Laguna who were accused of repacking cement mixed with the filler, locally known as “kalburo.”

In December 2016, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute,

the umbrella organization for the local steel industry, revealed that “substandard and uncertified steel bars” were used in the buildings that were damaged during the 2013 Cebu and Bohol earthquakes.

Substandard cement and steel were reportedly procured from China and Vietnam.

San Antonio lauded the Department of Trade and Industry for implementing policies meant to ensure that architects and contractors use only highquality building materials.

DBS Bank of Singapore expects remittances from overseas Filipino workers to post another record high this year, saying the higher flows will further boost consumption and cushion the impact of the widening trade deficit.

DBS said in a report Tuesday money sent home by Filipinos working overseas was likely to surpass the $27-billion mark, which is not far from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ estimate of $28 billion this year, or a 4-percent growth from $26.9 billion in 2016.

Latest data from Bangko Sentral showed remittances recovered in May, growing 5.5 percent to $2.310 billion from $2.188 billion a year ago, on sustained demand for local skilled workers abroad.

The May expansion was a reversal of the 5.9-percent decline in April. This brought cash remittances in the first five months to $11.346 billion, up 4.5 percent from the $10.859 billion a year ago. “... At the current pace, total remittances for the year may exceed $27 billion, another recordhigh for the economy. This is important not only for the positive impact it has on personal consumption growth but also as a counter to the widening trade deficit,” DBS said.

Bangko Sentral last month kept a conservative 4-percent growth target for remittances this year amid the improving trade and rosy outlook of the global economy. Bangko Sentral Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo said the 4-percent expansion would translate into a record $28 billion in remittances from the $26.9 billion posted in 2016.

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

B4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Business

US eyeing sanctions vs Venezuela

By Maria Isabel Sanchez, with Andrew Beatty In Washington

C

ARACAS, VENEZUELA―US President Donald Trump threatened Venezuela with swift “economic actions” on Monday if its leader pushes on with an unpopular bid to change his country’s constitution amid mounting condemnation.

CHINA RISKS. New cars are seen in a parking lot of the Brilliance factory in Shenyang, in China’s northeast Liaoning province on July 17, 2017. China posted better-than-expected growth in the second quarter, official data showed on July 17, but authorities warned that the world’s second largest economy faces external and internal risks. AFP

China’s Xi calls for a more ‘open economy’ BEIJING, China―Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an increase in imports and fewer restrictions for foreign investors as Beijing comes under pressure from the US and Europe to provide a more level playing field for companies in the country.

Donald Trump has railed against China’s massive trade surplus while the European Union and US companies have complained about a lack of access to the huge market.

Speaking to a Communist Party committee on financial and economic affairs, Xi called for “expanding imports while stabilizing exports,” state-run media

reported on Tuesday.

China’s leaders trying to transform the economy from a reliance on exports and state investment to one driven by domestic demand, though that has led to a slowdown in growth to 26-year lows.

Xi also said “an open economy” with fewer restrictions to foreign access will serve to “promote balance of payment under the current account,” according to the China Daily.

The large US trade deficit with China was a major talking point for Trump during last year’s presidential campaign, when he claimed Beijing had “stolen”

millions of jobs from Americans.

He also accused China of manipulating its currency to support its exports―a charge he has dropped since taking office in January.

In his statement on Monday, Xi called for measures to liberalize trade and simplify import procedures while reducing tariffs on certain consumer products.

He stressed keeping the yuan currency’s value “basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level,” and steadily pushing it “to become an international currency,” Xinhua state news agency reported.

At the World Economic Forum

in Davos, Switzerland, at the start of the year, Xi stood out as a defender of free trade and globalization in the face of Trump’s protectionist rhetoric.

But foreign firms in China have long pointed out the obstacles to doing business in the country, where they say domestic companies enjoy distinct advantages.

“A market environment featuring fair play should be created in the country,” Xi said in his statement, noting that “national treatment in laws and policies should be granted to foreign-funded companies after they enter the market.” AFP

The warning came as Venezuela’s opposition coalition called a nationwide strike for Thursday to kick off a “final offensive” aimed at forcing President Nicolas Maduro from office through early elections.

Maduro, Trump said in a statement, was “a bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator.”

“The United States will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles,” he said.

Trump did not specify what measures could be taken. But the warning dramatically raised the stakes and scope of the long political and economic crisis that has been battering Venezuela.

Nearly 100 people have died since April, when street protests against Maduro turned violent.

Trump’s stance explicitly sided with Venezuela’s opposition, which accuses Maduro of trying to accumulate dictatorial powers to hang on to the reins.

It risked fueling Maduro’s frequent allegations that he was the victim of a plot by a colluding right-wing opposition and the “imperialist” United States.

There was no immediate reaction from the Venezuelan president.

Separately, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was in Cuba―a close ally of Venezuela―on Monday for meetings with President Raul Castro.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said the Venezuelan crisis was discussed, but she denied reports that Santos traveled to convince Castro to act as a mediator.

Venezuela’s opposition coalition has called a nationwide, 24hour strike for Thursday to add

pressure to Maduro following an unofficial weekend vote it held that rejected the leader’s plan.

That plan, which Maduro has shown no sign of deviating from, entails a citizens’ body― called a “Constituent Assembly”―being elected on July 30 to redo the constitution.

Maduro says that path is the only way to secure peace and economic recovery in Venezuela. His government has dismissed the opposition vote against it as illegal.

But Trump said that, “if the Maduro regime imposes its Constituent Assembly on July 30, the United States will take strong and swift economic actions.”

Venezuela, with the largest proven oil reserves in the world, is almost entirely reliant on its crude exports.

The United States imports around 270 million barrels of oil a year from Venezuela, according to the US government’s Energy Information Administration―a volume in decline by about a third compared to a decade ago.

Venezuela’s opposition is intent on a “final offensive” ultimately aimed at toppling Maduro through early elections.

On Sunday, more than a third of Venezuela’s 19 million voters took part in the opposition ballot, giving an overwhelming rejection to the election of a Constituent Assembly and backing a presidential election before Maduro’s term ends in 2019.

The poll was lauded by the European Union, the United Nations, the US, Brazil and other countries. AFP

US seeks Cheap solar supplying power at night seen soon in Middle East Hirtenstein decreased ByandAnna Mathew Carr trade gaps in Nafta WASHINGTON―The United States on Monday said it would work to shrink trade deficits with Canada and Mexico in talks to renegotiate the landmark 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta).

The Trump administration has focused on boosting domestic manufacturing while cutting trade deficits―which it sees as damaging to the economy―a move that risks undoing the free trade efforts of prior administrations.

The US Trade Representative said that when Nafta talks begin next month, Washington also will seek to lower trade barriers for produce and industrial goods―while eliminating subsidies US officials say are unfair in trade with the two neighboring nations.

“President Trump continues to fulfill his promise to renegotiate Nafta to get a much better deal for all Americans,” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement.

“Too many Americans have been hurt by closed factories, exported jobs, and broken political promises.”

USTR released the Nafta negotiating objectives as required prior to the start of the talks, which will be held under a pressing political timeline due to elections next year in the US and Mexico. AFP

SOLAR plants that supply electricity at competitive prices after the sun goes down are about to become a reality in the Middle East, according to one of the region’s biggest developers of power plants.

ACWA Power International Chief Executive Officer Paddy Padmanathan confirmed his company is the low bidder on a $1-billion project that will feed electricity to the grid for the Dubai Water & Electricity Authority between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m.

More such plants are likely to follow because Chinese companies will start driving down the cost of equipment, he said.

The 200-megawatt Dubai contract, which runs for 25 years, will harness a twodecade old technology called concentrated-solar, or solar thermal. Unlike photovoltaics, which generate a charge directly from the sun’s power, thermal plants use mirrors to concentrate heat on water, turning it to steam to drive a turbine. The heat can be stored in molten salt to be used later. The technology to date has slipped behind PV on cost but is quickly becoming more competitive, the executive said.

“I expect concentratedsolar power, within 18 months, to be head to head with combined-cycle gas, if

Solar panels stand at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in the Mojave Desert near Primm, Nevada, U.S., on Monday, March 10, 2014. Bloomberg

not more competitive,” Padmanathan said in an interview in London. “The focus has been on PV and batteries, but there’s a limit on how long they can hold a charge for.

We’re proving that CSP can work through the night.”

Since it can retain heat, the plant can keep working after dark. The sun’s energy in some cases can heat molten salt to 490 degrees Celsius (914 degrees Fahrenheit), which allows operators to predict when electricity will flow.

Uncertain Outlook While solar thermal plants

are becoming cheaper, PV costs are falling too, raising questions whether the Dubai project really will be as attractive as ACWA expects, said Jenny Chase, head of solar analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

“This plant in Dubai is for delivery by 2021,” Chase said.

“By then, we’re expecting solar PV and batteries to be in the same order of magnitude for cost and will be a lot more flexible than a solar thermal plant.

Also, a lot of these projects are operating below what they’re meant to, such as the entire Spanish fleet and some in India

as well.”

There are 319 gigawatts of photovoltaic panels installed worldwide, compared to about 5 gigawatts of solar thermal, according to BNEF data. The mass deployment has driven down costs of solar panel equipment by about 70 percent since 2010, with the latest record set in Abu Dhabi at 2.45 cents per kilowatt-hour. In comparison, solar thermal was around 15 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour until recently.

China hosts 80 percent of the world’s PV solar manufacturing industry. The nation’s expertise

at mass production is credited with making solar panels more affordable, although companies are now reviving work on thermal technology.

More Suppliers “There are currently just two suppliers in solar CSP,” Padmanathan said. “The others have gone bankrupt. I know of at least five Chinese companies that are starting to enter the market.”

ACWA, which is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bid 9.45 cents per kilowatt-hour, almost cutting in half the cost of concentrated-solar power.

Each of the bidders were also asked to submit an alternative tender. The off-taker will choose between the bid and the alternative bid, so the price may be even lower.

ACWA has also built similar projects in Morocco’s Noor solar complex and South Africa’s desert.

One in each nation are operating, with two more in Morocco and one in South Africa currently under development. ACWA is also seeking to build two more projects in Morocco in the Midelt area, which will have a joint capacity of 350 megawatts.

“I’m also hoping to build one in Saudi,” Padmanathan said. “Right now they’re tendering for solar PV and wind, but I think they’ll want a CSP project as well, especially when they see how cost competitive it can be.” Bloomberg

LGUs

Police in Calabarzon get arms from China CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna―The Police Regional Office in Calabarzon has received a total of 100 M16 Armalite rifles, an M14 sniper rifle, bullets and other ammunition and operational equipment from the Philippine National Police National Headquarters, part of the P370-million arms donation of China to the country.

PRO Calabarzon Regional Director Ma. O Aplasca said the rifles will be distributed to the Regional Public Service Battalion and Police Public Safety Battalion of the five provinces of the region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon).

In addition, the Practical Shooters and Match Officers Confederation also donated 15 reloading machines that will also be given to city police stations in the region, namely Batangas, Lipa, Tanauan, Cavite, Tagaytay, Trece Martirez, Calamba, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Lucena, Antipolo, Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Imus and Cabuyao.

The Public Safety Savings and Loan Association Inc. also donated to the regional police a laptop and desktop computer, a projector and a roll-up widescreen.

“These firearms will surely boost our capabilities in our anti-criminality and illegal drugs campaign and internal security operations,” Aplasca said.

Police Chief Supt. Arnel B Escobal, Director of the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group, was PRO Calabarzon’s guest of honor during its Distinguished Visitors Program and encouraged police in the region to endure the challenges of their chosen career. Roy Tomandao

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS

By Sandy Araneta

TOTAL of 24 school infrastructure projects in Manila worth more than P260 million are set to be completed within the year, in line with Mayor Joseph Estrada’s continuing education reform program.

Estrada said public school students in the city can only expect the best facilities and equipment in the coming years as his administration is bent on pursuing more projects to “level up” Manila’s public education system.

“As our passion to provide quality education to our children grows, the more we need to level up the state of our school buildings, facilities,

and equipment, as well as our entire educational program,” Estrada said.

Now on his fourth year as the city mayor, Estrada reiterated his earlier vow to do more than his level best to make Manila’s 33 public high schools, 72 elementary schools, and two city-run universities at par with top private schools in the country.

According to the Office of the City Engineer, the school pro-

jects in various stages of completion, with a total project cost of P264.29 million, are expected to be finished before end-2017.

Foremost of these projects are the P39-million full rehabilitation of Cecilio Apostol Elementary School in F. Yuseco Street, Sta. Cruz and the construction of a three-storey classroom building at Barrio Obrero Elementary School in Narra Extension, Tondo, worth P10.4 million.

Last month, before the resumption of classes, Estrada inaugurated two school buildings at Gregorio Del Pilar Elementary School at the corner of CM Recto Avenue and Jose Abad Santos that were razed by fire on February 17, 2015. The construction cost P222 million.

Aside from the construction of

C1

new classrooms and the repair of old buildings, this year’s school projects include the repair and rehabilitation of fire protection systems, installation of new roofing, construction and improvement of perimeter fences, comfort rooms, steel doors and gates of various elementary and high schools in the city.

Education is one of Estrada’s priority programs. For 2017, he has allocated more than P2 billion to the city’s Special Educational Fund to finance the construction of additional school infrastructures and other related programs.

In 2016, Estrada constructed and repaired 45 school buildings in various public elementary and secondary schools in the city totaling P2.54 billion to improve the quality of education being

given to poor students.

Of the 45 school building projects, 13 were new structures worth a total of P828.23 million; the rest were repair and rehabilitation works worth P1.72 billion, according to the Office of the City Engineer.

In 2015, the city mayor also completed 44 school infrastructure projects—32 of which have been completed—with a total project cost of P1.49 billion.

For the two-year period, the city government completed 87 school building projects with total project costs of P4.03 billion.

Estrada said it was only during his term that Manila public school teachers had their monthly allowances from the city government increased from P2,000 to P3,000.

JAUNDICE METER DONATION. The Metro Manila

Mayors Spouses Foundation Inc., led by its president Janet A. Olivarez (fifth from left) has donated a jaundice meter an instrument in measuring the yellowish pigmentation of the skin of newborn babies to the Pediatric Department of the Philippine General Hospital. Also in photo (from left) are Dr. Charlotte AverillTan, chief resident of the PGH Department of Pediatrics; Ms. Eva Nono; Ms. Edna Malapitan, MMMSFI auditor; Ms. Tates Gana, MMMSFI secretary; Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, PGH director; Dr. Juliet Sio-Aguilar, chairman of Department of Pediatrics; Former Pasig City mayor Maribel Eusebio, MMMSFI PRO; Ms. Edna Calixto, MMMSFI treasurer; Dr. Miziel Panis-Manalang of Navotas; and lawyer Joy PanggaCruz of Taguig City.

which are familiar to scientists, may have come from bats,” Alviola said.

“My interest came from understanding how the mode of transfer of disease from bats to humans happens, and how to avoid it and in the future what are the plans and management to prevent that kind of contact,” he added.

DoST also recognized seven other young scientists: Aletta Concepcion T. Yniguez from the University of the Philippines Diliman; Lanndon A. Ocampo from the University of San Carlos; Mario Antonio L. Jiz II from the Research Institute for Tropi-

cal Medicine; Nathaniel P. Hermosa II from the University of the Philippines Diliman; Jeffrey S. Perez from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology; Jayeel S. Cornelio from Ateneo de Manila University; and Krista Danielle S. Yu from De La Salle University.

DoST also recognized other remarkable individuals in the field of research and development, technology commercialization, and science administration.

Recognized in the Outstanding Research and Development Award are Dr. Nathaniel P. Her-

mosa II in Basic Research category, and Dr. Lucille V. Abad and Dr. Maria Patricia V. Azanza in the Applied Research category. Abad and Azanza are from the DoST-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute and DOSTIndustrial Technology Development Institute, respectively.

Dr. Jude L. Sasing, Ilustre I. Guloy Jr. and Dr. Ramon B. Gustilo received the Outstanding Technology Commercialization Award. Meanwhile, Raymond Girard R. Tan of De La Salle University received the Outstanding Science Administrator Award.

Hotel Sogo opens 35th branch on Roxas Blvd.

HOTEL Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the Philippines, opened its 35th branch on Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City last June 8.

Celebrities, local officials and media friends attended the grand launch of the new hotel, which is about 30 minutes away from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and gives tourists and travelers an affordable hotel choice in Metro Manila.

The event started with a Mass and blessing led by Fr. Cian

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Manila invests in school infra A

‘Batman’ among DoST awardees for 2017 THE Department of Science and Technology ecently recognized outstanding young scientists for 2017―including one who specializes in bats.

Phillip A. Alviola, a student of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, reveals he has been fascinated with bats since he was in high school.

“Studying bats, basically, it’s out of interest from high school and college. I was interested in their behavior, their interaction with humans, their possible contacts with the disease, novel diseases essentially.

We are finding out if some diseases,

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

Marques. It also featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting and toast with Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, Hotel Sogo chief operating officer Reynaldo Malaca and chief executive officer Gus Corpus. The hotel’s traditional “ninja attack parade” was also performed at the city’s Libertad and Pasay Rotonda districts as well as on Roxas Boulevard.

Hotel Sogo Roxas Boulevard is the chain’s 35th branch.

Leading the parade were Naitas Face of Tourism Sarah Jo- Philippines Shanice Eve Bailon, offers clean rooms and firstson, Supermodel International Miss Heritage International An- rate service at affordable rates. gelica Burgos, Miss Model Asia Along with its fully air-condiPacific Rose Manalo and Miss tioned rooms, guests can enFace and Body of the Philip- joy amenities comparable with higher class hotels such as 24pines April Burgos.

The parade presented a dramatic hour food and beverage service, portrayal of a samurai warrior’s massage service, LED TVs with gallant effort to rescue the Sogo cable, and in-house movie chanlady and her geisha maidens from nels featuring the latest blockbuster movies. the villainous black ninjas.

At Hotel Sogo, guests are welHotel Sogo Roxas Boulevard is conveniently located near fa- comed with the traditional Japamous entertainment places and nese bow, which epitomizes the theme parks like the SM Mall of hotel’s distinct level of courtesy Asia, Star City, Cultural Center and service. To find out more Attending the Hotel Sogo Roxas Boulevard ribbon-cutting ceremony about this and other Hotel Sogo are (from left) Miss Heritage International Angelica Burgos, Supermodel of the Philippines, World Trade Center, Manila Zoo, Philippine events and promos, like and International Philippines Shanice Eve Bailon, Naitas Face of Tourism International Convention Cent- follow the company on FaceSarah Joson, Danifer Calma (manager, Hotel Sogo Roxas Blvd.), Fr. Cian book (facebook.com/hotelsogo), Marques, Hotel Sogo COO Reynaldo Malaca, Pasay City Mayor Antonino er, and Manila Ocean Park.

Hotel Sogo’s excellent Jap- Twitter (#hotelsogo) and InstaCalixto, Paulo Las (sector head, Hotel Sogo), and Sue Geminiano (marketing manager, Hotel Sogo). anese-themed infrastructure gram (@hotelsogo).

Dimaporo cousins clash over road job FORMER Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo-Lantud of Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte is protesting her cousin’s “obstruction” of a major infrastructure project in the area.

Lantud said Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo has been telling the Department of Public Highways to discontinue the Lanao del Norte Interior Circumferential Road, which is part of a package of road projects funded by soft loans from the Saudi Arabian government.

Lantud said that during her term as mayor, the road was still classified as a provincial road.

Dimaporo then authored a bill―which later became a law, Republic Act 10104―converting the 29.8-kilometer stretch into a national road during the Arroyo administration.

With an estimated project cost of P420.3 million, the circumferential road was envisioned as the main access of the inland communities to the markets in the town center to accelerate Lanao del Norte’s economic growth.

The road was designed to start from the Iligan National Highway in Iligan City to the Malabang Tukuran National Highway in Sultan Naga Dimaporo town.

The road was supposed to span 10 municipalities in Lanao del Norte. However, only the first three towns, including Pantao Ragat, were covered by the finished construction, Lantud said.

Only a fraction of the project was done in her hometown, the former mayor added.

Rep. Dimaporo could not be reached for comment as of presstime.

“I may not hold office any more, but the people look up to me as their mother,” Lantud said. “I also want to help my husband, Lacson Lantud, who is now mayor of Pantao Ragat.

I feel sorry when the farmers work very hard to harvest veg-

etables, many of which perish along the way because of the bad roads.”

Lantud said her rift with Rep. Dimaporo began several years ago when the Lantuds and the Dimaporos clashed over political loyalties during the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada in 2000.

When she was the mayor, Lantud said Dimaporo tried to block her school project and the construction of farm-to-market roads in Pantao Ragat.

Despite the lack of funding and “moral support” from the national and provincial government during her three terms, Lantud said she was able improve the road network in Pantao Ragat and won the battle in finishing the school.

However, the cousins’ rift worsened when Lantud shifted her party loyalties from the Liberal Party to the United Nationalist Alliance when she ran for governor last year, she said. Dimaporo is loyal to LP, which was unseated as the administration party with President Rodrigo Duterte’s victory under the PDP-Laban banner in the 2016 elections.

The Lanao del Norte Interior Circumferential Road project was part of an additional P1.96 billion in projects funded by soft loans from the Saudi Arabian government, the DPWH said in 2013.

In a report titled “Saudi Fund for Development-assisted Mindanao Roads Improvement Project,” the road projects, which were scheduled to be completed in May 2014, included the Cotabato City East Diversion Road, with an estimated cost of P709.03 million; Lake Lanao Circumferential Road from Marawi City to Bayang, P421.6 million; Basilan Circumferential Road from Isabela to Tumahubong, P414.9 million; and the Basilan Circumferential Road from Isabela to Sumisip, P415.2 million.

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

C2

TODAY WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Republic of the Philippines ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL

violation; and e.

Relevant documents.

RULES ON THE IMPOSITION OF ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9160, AS AMENDED

Section 4. Notice of Formal Charge. – The Administrative Adjudication Unit shall notify the respondent of the filing of Formal Charge by way of personal delivery, courier service or registered mail; and direct the respondent to file an Answer within ten (10) working days from receipt thereof.

Pursuant to Sections 7(7), 7(11) and 14(f) of Republic Act No. 9160, also known as the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended (AMLA), the Rules on the Imposition of Administrative Sanctions are hereby promulgated:

Section 5. Prohibited Pleadings. – No motions or requests for, extension of time to file Answer, clarification, bills of particulars, dismissal, quashal, or reconsideration on the Formal Charge shall be entertained.

RULE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 6. Answer. – The Answer shall be in writing, under oath, indicate the date of receipt of the Notice, and contain all material facts and certified true copies of supporting evidence. Non-compliance with these requirements shall render the Answer insufficient in form and substance.

Section 1. Title. - These Rules shall be known as the Rules on the Imposition of Administrative Sanctions under Republic Act No. 9160, as Amended.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to protect and preserve the integrity and confidentiality of bank accounts, and to ensure that the Philippines shall not be used as a money laundering site for the proceeds of any unlawful activity. Consistent thereto, the State shall ensure compliance by covered persons with the AMLA, its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (RIRR) and all Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) issuances.

In this regard, administrative sanctions are set to encourage adherence to the provisions of the AMLA, its RIRR and all AMLC issuances.

Section 3. Applicability. – These Rules shall apply to covered persons for violations of the AMLA, its RIRR, and all AMLC issuances committed starting 07 March 2013, the date of effectivity of Republic Act No. 10365.

Section 4. Nature of Proceedings. – The proceedings under these Rules shall be non-litigious and summary in nature, subject to the requirement of due process and substantial evidence.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. – These Rules supersede AMLC Resolution No. 61, Series of 2007, also known as the “Rule of Procedure Governing Administrative Investigation by the Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat”.

An Answer filed by personal delivery or by courier service is deemed filed on the date stamped “Received” thereon by the AMLC Secretariat. In case of filing by registered mail, it shall be deemed filed on the date shown by the postmark on the envelope.

If the respondent fails to file the Answer within the prescribed period, files an Answer that is insufficient in form and substance, or files any document other than an Answer, the respondent shall be considered to have waived the right to file an Answer, and the case shall be submitted for resolution based on available records.

Section 7. Clarificatory Meeting. – The Administrative Adjudication Unit may, at its discretion, call for a meeting for purposes of clarification. No motion or request for postponement or resetting shall be allowed.

Section. 8. Disposition of the Case. – After giving all the parties the opportunity to be heard, the Administrative Adjudication Unit may, based on evidence presented, dismiss the case, or recommend to the AMLC the imposition of appropriate administrative sanctions.

In case of dismissal, the respondent shall be notified through personal delivery, courier service or registered mail.

Section 6. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of these Rules is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Section 9. Resolution. – Upon finding of substantial evidence that the respondent committed violations as charged, the AMLC shall issue a Resolution imposing such administrative sanction as may be proper, setting forth the factual and legal basis thereof.

Section 7. Effectivity Clause. – These Rules shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

The respondent shall be notified through personal delivery, courier service or registered mail.

Section 8. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of these Rules, the following definitions are hereby adopted:

Section 10. Motion for Reconsideration. – The respondent may file a motion for reconsideration on the AMLC Resolution within ten (10) working days from receipt thereof.

a.

b. c.

Administrative Sanction. – refers to the action taken by the AMLC involving a respondent found to have committed a violation. It may include penalty and non-penalty measures, such as fine, reprimand, warning, or such other measures as may be necessary and justified to prevent and counteract money laundering.

Covered Person. – refers to persons and entities enumerated under Section 3(a) of the AMLA. Fine. – refers to the monetary penalty imposed under Rule V of these Rules.

d.

Formal Charge. – refers to the indictment for an administrative case upon a finding by the Litigation and Evaluation Unit of the AMLC Secretariat of the existence of a prima facie case.

e.

Report of Compliance. – refers to the findings of the Compliance Unit of the AMLC Secretariat relative to the compliance issues found in the course of money laundering investigation and in the exercise of its compliance checking functions.

f.

Report of Examination. – refers to the findings on the examinations conducted by the Supervising Authorities in the exercise of their compliance checking functions.

g.

Reprimand. – refers to the act of formal censure or reproof.

h.

Respondent. – refers to a covered person who is the subject of a formal charge.

i.

Restoration. – refers to the restitution of the value of a monetary instrument or property that was released in violation of a freeze order, provisional asset preservation order or asset preservation order.

j.

k.

l.

Substantial Evidence. – refers to that level of evidence which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to justify that a specific violation was committed.

Violation. – refers to non-compliance with any provision of the AMLA, its RIRR and all AMLC issuances. A violation is committed either on a ‘per order/resolution’, ‘per account’, ‘per transaction’, ‘per customer’, ‘per examination’ or ‘daily’ basis.

One violation shall be considered as one count.

Warning. – refers to the act of putting the covered person on guard against the consequence of impending or future violations.

RULE II POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

Section 1. Litigation and Evaluation Unit. – The Litigation and Evaluation Unit of the AMLC Secretariat shall have the following functions relative to administrative sanctions:

No extension of time to file a motion for reconsideration shall be allowed.

A motion for reconsideration filed by personal delivery or by courier service is deemed filed on the date stamped “Received” thereon by the AMLC Secretariat. In case of filing by registered mail, it shall be deemed filed on the date shown by the postmark on the envelope.

No second motion for reconsideration shall be allowed.

a.

Newly-discovered evidence which could not have been discovered and produced at the time the respondent filed its Answer, and which if presented, would materially affect the Resolution rendered;

b.

Substantial mistake in the appreciation of evidence; or

c.

Erroneous computation of fines.

Section 12. Finality of the Resolution. – The Resolution shall immediately become final and executory if no motion for reconsideration is filed within the prescribed period.

Section 14. Surcharge. – A surcharge equivalent to ten percent (10%) of the outstanding fine shall be imposed upon the respondent for its failure to pay the fine within the prescribed period.

RULE IV ATTENDANT CIRCUMSTANCES

a. Asset Size. – the financial capability of covered persons to comply with the requirements of the AMLA, its RIRR and all AMLC issuances in relation to: (1) the money laundering and terrorism financing risks the covered persons face or their financial capability poses; or (2) the covered persons’ impact on public interest.

d.

Sets aside the ROCs and ROEs in the absence of prima facie case, and notifies the Compliance Unit and the Supervising Authorities, accordingly.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

d.

Evaluates motions for reconsideration;

e.

Dismisses case for insufficiency of evidence;

f.

Recommends the imposition of administrative sanctions to the AMLC; and

g.

Issues Notices for the implementation of AMLC Resolutions.

Section 3. AMLC. – The AMLC shall have the following functions relative to administrative sanctions: a.

Determines the existence of substantial evidence that a violation was committed;

b.

Imposes administrative sanctions; and

c.

Resolves motions for reconsideration.

RULE III PROCEDURE

Section 1. How Initiated. – Administrative cases may be initiated upon referral of the ROC or ROE to the Litigation and Evaluation Unit.

Section 2. Preliminary Administrative Investigation. – Upon receipt of the ROC or ROE, the Litigation and Evaluation Unit shall conduct a fact-finding investigation, which involves an ex parte evaluation of documents, to determine whether a prima facie case exists to warrant the filing of a Formal Charge.

In the absence of a prima facie case, the ROC or ROE shall be set aside. The Compliance Unit and the Supervising Authorities shall be notified accordingly.

Section 3. Formal Charge. – Upon determination of the existence of a prima facie case, the Litigation and Evaluation Unit shall file a Formal Charge against the covered person. The Formal Charge shall contain the following: a.

Statement of Facts;

b.

Statement of Attendant Circumstances;

c.

Statement of Findings;

d.

Statement that a prima facie case exists for a specific

Fines shall be in amounts as may be determined by the AMLC to be appropriate, which shall not be more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00) per violation. In no case shall the aggregate fine exceed five percent (5%) of the asset size of the respondent.

Section 2. Fines. – The following are the fines (in Philippine Peso) per violation based on the entity size and gravity of violations: Violations

Micro Small Medium Large A Large B

-

Php3,000,000.00 and below Php3,000,000.01 to Php15,000,000.00 Php15,000,000.01 to Php100,000,000.00 Php100,000,000.01 to Php500,000,000.00 Php500,000,000.01 and above

Micro

Small

Large B

125,000

250,000

375,000

500,000

Major

30,000

75,000

150,000

225,000

300,000

Serious

20,000

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

Less Serious

10,000

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

5,000

12,500

25,000

37,500

50,000

Light

Section 3. Table of Violations and Corresponding Sanctions. – The following are the specific violations and their corresponding sanctions: Administrative Sanctions A. GRAVE VIOLATIONS

Micro

Small

Medium

Large A

Large B

50,000

125,000

250,000

375,000

500,000

1

Non-compliance with the requirement to immediately freeze, upon receipt of the notice of the freeze order, the monetary instrument or property identified in the freeze order (Rule 10.E.1, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on per Resolution (Freeze Order) basis, plus restoration.

2

Lifting the effects of the freeze order during its effectivity (Rules 10.E.1 and 10.E.2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis, plus restoration.

3

Non-compliance with the requirement to immediately give the AMLC and/or its Secretariat full access to all information, documents or objects pertaining to the deposit, investment, account, transaction, and/ or person subject of inquiry or investigation (Rules 11.C, par. 1; and 19.B.2, par. 1, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

Administrative Sanctions B. MAJOR VIOLATIONS

Micro

Small

Medium

Large A

Large B

30,000

75,000

150,000

225,000

300,000

1

Non-compliance with the requirement to establish and record the true identity of each customer and/or the person on whose behalf the transaction is being conducted (Rules 3.M, 9.A; 9.A.b.i, par. 2; and 9.A.b.ii.b, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per customer basis.

2

Non-compliance with the requirement to retain and safely keep records beyond the five (5)-year period, where the account is the subject of a case, until it is officially confirmed by the AMLC Secretariat that the case has been resolved, decided or terminated with finality (Rule 9.B.1, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

3

Non-compliance with the requirement to report to the AMLC covered and suspicious transactions.

(Rules 9.C and 9.A.3, par.

4, 2016 RIRR; and AMLC Resolution No. 61, Series of 2016)

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

C. SERIOUS VIOLATIONS

For this purpose, gravity of violations is classified as follows: Grave violations – these are violations of the specific remedies available to the AMLC in the pursuit of its mandate and, requirements under the AMLA that are essential to pending money laundering investigation and prosecution of cases (Rule V, Section 3.A).

Large A

50,000

b. Gravity of Violations. – the importance or significance of the specific provision of the AMLA, its RIRR and all AMLC issuances, in relation to its effect on the AMLC’s discharge of its mandate.

i.

Medium

Grave

For juridical persons, the total assets, as indicated in the audited financial statement or its equivalent, as of the year the violation was committed, shall be the basis for determining the asset size. In case of natural persons, asset size shall be the gross income as indicated in the income tax return for the year the violation was committed.

For this purpose, covered persons shall be classified as follows:

Conducts clarificatory meetings, as may be deemed necessary;

Section 1. Administrative Sanctions. – The AMLC shall, at its discretion, impose administrative sanctions upon any covered person for the violation of the AMLA and its RIRR, or for failure or refusal to comply with the orders, resolutions and other issuances of the AMLC.

Section 1. Attendant Circumstances. – The following attendant circumstances shall be considered in determining the imposition of appropriate administrative sanction for a specific violation:

Files Formal Charges against covered persons before the Administrative Adjudication Unit; and

c.

RULE V ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS

In cases of restoration, the respondent shall submit a proof of its compliance within the same period.

Conducts preliminary administrative investigation;

Issues Notices of Formal Charge to respondents, and requires the filing of Answer;

Section 2. Effects of Attendant Circumstances. – An aggravating circumstance shall increase, while a mitigating circumstance shall decrease, the imposable fine by twenty-five percent (25%). Provided, the 25% increase or decrease shall be applied on the fine for specific violation committed, not on the total amount of fine after considering all violations.

Payment of fines shall be in the form of Manager’s Check payable to the account of the “Anti-Money Laundering Council”.

c.

b.

g. Corrective Measures. – Actions taken by covered persons to correct the findings of the Compliance Unit or Supervising Authorities prior to the referral of the ROC or ROE to the Litigation and Evaluation Unit shall be considered a mitigating circumstance.

Section 13. Notice of Execution. – If the Resolution involves the payment of fine and restoration, if applicable, the Administrative Adjudication Unit shall issue a Notice of Execution directing the respondent to make payment and restoration, if applicable, within ten (10) working days from receipt thereof.

b.

Receives and dockets Formal Charges from the Litigation and Evaluation Unit;

f. Voluntary Disclosure. – Voluntary disclosure by the respondent of the offense or violation committed before it is discovered by the Compliance Unit or the Supervising Authorities shall be considered a mitigating circumstance.

Section 11. Grounds. – The motion for reconsideration shall be based on any of the following grounds:

Receives Reports of Compliance (ROCs) from the Compliance Unit of the AMLC Secretariat, and Reports of Examination (ROEs) from Supervising Authorities;

a.

e. Material Misrepresentation. – The act of misstating a fact, knowing or believing that: (i) what he is saying is not true or (ii) is not sure whether or not his statement is true, but passes it off as true anyway; and is likely to induce a reasonable person to assent or that the maker knows is likely to induce the recipient to assent, is an aggravating circumstance.

The filing of a motion for reconsideration shall stay the execution of the Resolution sought to be reconsidered.

a.

Section 2. Administrative Adjudication Unit. – The Administrative Adjudication Unit of the AMLC Secretariat shall have the following functions:

which may also include refusal to provide information/documents that would support a finding of liability, or employment of any other means to cover up any violation.

Administrative Sanctions Micro

Small

Medium

Large A

20,000

50,000

100,000

150,000

1

Non-compliance with the requirements on Face-to-Face Contact (Rule 9.A.1.a, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

Large B 200,000

ii.

Major violations – these are violations involving total disregard of customer due diligence, record-keeping, or transaction reporting requirements (Rule V, Section 3.B).

2

Non-compliance with the requirements on Risk Assessment. (Rules 9.A.2 , 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

iii.

Serious violations – these are violations of specific core provisions of the AMLA and its RIRR that have a great impact on the AMLC’s ability to prevent or counter money laundering and terrorism financing (Rule V, Section 3.C).

3

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Politically-Exposed Persons (PEPs) [Rule 9-A.1].

Fine is on a per customer basis.

iv.

Less serious violations – these are violations of the AMLA and its RIRR that hamper or delay the exercise of AMLC’s compliance and investigation functions (Rule V, Section 3.D).

4

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

v.

Light violations – these are violations of specific provisions of the AMLA and its RIRR that are necessary for the effective implementation of the AMLA and its RIRR, but have no immediate impact in the discharge of AMLC’s mandate (Rule V, Section 3.E).

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Correspondent Banking (Rule 9-A.2).

5

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Shell Company/Bank and Bearer Share Entities (Rule 9-A.3).

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

c. Nature of Violation. – Violations of similar nature which a covered person has been previously sanctioned within the two (2)-year period immediately preceding the examination or investigation under consideration, shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance.

6

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Wire/Fund Transfers (Rule 9-A.4).

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

7

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Customer from High-Risk Jurisdiction (Rule 9-A.5).

Fine is on a per customer basis.

8

Non-compliance with the requirements of the provisions on Foreign Branches and Subsidiaries (Rule 9-A.6).

Fine is on a per customer basis.

9

Non-compliance with the requirement to monitor and update all information and identification documents of existing customers.

(Rule 9.A.3, par. 1 and 5, 2016 RIRR)

Fine is on a per customer basis.

10

Non-compliance with the requirement to establish a transaction monitoring system.

(Rule 9.A.3, par. 2 and 3, 2016 RIRR)

Fine is on a per year basis reckoned from the effectivity of the 2016 RIRR or 07 January 2017.

For this purpose, the nature of violations shall be classified as follows: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi.

Customer Due Diligence [Rule V, Sections 3.B(1), and 3.C(1-9, 11, 12), 3.D (1)]; Record Keeping [Rule V, Section 3.B(2), 3.C (13), and 3.E (3)]; Transaction Reporting [Rule V, Sections 3.B(3), 3.C (14), and 3.D(2 & 3)]; Compliance on freeze, bank inquiry and asset preservation orders; and orders relating to AMLC investigation [Rule V, Sections 3.A(1-3), 3.C (15-17), 3.D(4), and 3.E (1 &2)]; Money Laundering Prevention Program [Rule V, Sections 3.C(10 & 18), 3.D(5)]; and Violations of orders, resolutions and other issuances of the AMLC [Rule V, Section 3.C(19)].

d. Concealment or Deliberate Effort to Hide the Violation. – The deliberate effort to hide the violation with the intention to deceive shall be considered as an aggravating circumstance.

Concealment is presumed in cases when the officers or employees of the covered person complicate the transaction to make it difficult to uncover,

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK Manila

Standard

World 11

Allowing the opening of anonymous accounts, accounts under fictitious names, and all other similar accounts (Rule 9.A.4.a, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

12

Allowing the opening of checking numbered accounts (Rule 9.A.4.b, par. 1, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

13

Non-compliance with the requirement to maintain and safely store for five (5) years from the dates of transactions, or from dates the accounts were closed, all records of transactions, including customer identification documents (Rule 9.B and 9.B.2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

14

Non-compliance with the requirement to register with the AMLC’s electronic reporting system within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of the 2016 RIRR or until 07 April 2017 (Rule 9.C.4, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a daily basis after the 90-day effectivity date of the RIRR or 07 April 2017.

15

Non-compliance with the requirement to freeze related accounts subject of the freeze order (Rule 10.E.2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis, plus restoration.

16

Non-compliance with the requirement to secure a written confirmation from the AMLC upon the expiration of the freeze order. (Rule 10.C, par. 2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis, plus restoration in cases where there is civil forfeiture or money laundering case filed and the monetary instruments were withdrawn, transferred or dissipated.

17

Non-compliance with the requirement to submit certified true copies of the documents pertaining to deposit, investment, account, transaction, and/or person subject of inquiry or investigation, within five (5) working days from receipt of the court order or AMLC Resolution (Rules 11.C, par. 2; and 19.B.2, par. 2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

18

Non-compliance with the requirement to formulate a Money Laundering Prevention Program in accordance with the provisions of the AMLA, its RIRR, all AMLC issuances, and the anti-money laundering guidelines and circulars of the Supervising Authorities (Rules 18.B., 9-A.2, 9-A.4, 9-A.5 and 9-A.6 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per examination period.

19

Violation of orders, resolutions and other issuances of the AMLC (Rule 7.B.11, 2016 RIR)].

Fine is on a per resolution, rule, regulation, circular, order and guideline basis.

Administrative Sanctions

D. LESS SERIOUS VIOLATIONS

Micro

Small

Medium

Large A

Large B

10,000

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

1

Non-compliance with the requirement to obtain all the minimum information required from individual customers and juridical entities (Rule 9.A.1.b.i and 9.A.b.ii.a, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis.

2

Non-compliance with the requirement to indicate the true name of the account holder in covered transaction reports (CTRs) and suspicious transaction reports (STRs) involving non-checking numbered accounts (Rule 9.A.4.b, par. 2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

3

Non-compliance with the requirement on the accuracy and completeness of covered and suspicious transactions reports. (Rule 9.C.1).

Fine is on a per transaction basis.

4

Non-compliance with the requirement to submit to the AMLC within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of the freeze order a detailed written return on the accounts subject of the freeze order, (Rule 10.E.4, 2016 RIRR), or related accounts (Rule 10.E.2, par. 2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per Resolution (Freeze Order) basis.

5

Non-compliance with the requirement to provide all responsible officers and personnel with efficient and effective anti-money laundering training and continuing education programs (Rule 17.C, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per examination period.

E. LIGHT VIOLATIONS

Micro

Small

Medium

Large A

Large B

5,000

12,500

25,000

37,500

50,000

Administrative Sanctions

1

Non-compliance with the requirement to submit complete information on the detailed return on the freeze order (Rules 10.E.5.a and c, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per account basis

2

Non-compliance with the requirement to submit to the AMLC an electronic detailed return of the freeze order in a format prescribed by the latter.

(Rule 10.E.4, par. 2, 2016 RIRR)

Fine is on per Resolution (Freeze Order) basis.

3

Non-compliance with the requirement to keep electronic copies of all CTRs or STRs for, at least, five (5) years from the dates of submission to the AMLC (Rule 9.B.3, par. 2, 2016 RIRR).

Fine is on a per violation basis.

Section 4. AMLC Discretion. – The AMLC may dispense with the imposition of administrative sanctions in the following cases: i.

Where light violation was committed, provided corrective action was immediately taken after its attention was called by the Compliance Unit or Supervising Authorities;

ii.

Where less serious violation was committed, provided it is a first time violation and corrective action was immediately taken after its attention was called by the Compliance Unit or Supervising Authorities and;

iii.

Where serious violation was committed, provided it is a first time violation and corrective action was immediately taken after its attention was called by the Compliance Unit or Supervising Authorities, and there is no aggravating circumstance.

In the foregoing cases, a reprimand, a warning that another violation shall be sternly dealt with, or both, may be imposed.

The “Rules on the Imposition of Administrative Sanctions under Republic Act No. 9160, as Amended” is hereby approved by the ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL this 24th day of May 2017 in the City of Manila, Philippines.

(Sgd.) AMANDO M. TETANGCO, JR. Chairman (Governor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas)

(Sgd.) TERESITA J. HERBOSA Member (Chairperson, Securities and Exchange Commission)

(Sgd.) DENNIS B. FUNA Member (Commissioner, Insurance Commission)

(MS-JULY 19, 2017)

CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK

TODAY WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

C3

Cornered by poverty, followed by violence R AKHINE, Myanmar―Hemmed in by Myanmar security forces and menaced by abductions and killings, Rohingya Muslims in a conflict-scarred corner of Rakhine State say fear is one of the few constants in their lives.

Last week foreign media were given partial access to the isolated wedge of the northwestern state for the first time since security forces launched a months-long operation to root out the militants who attacked border police posts.

The UN wants to establish if that campaign amounted to ethnic cleansing after accounts of mass rape, killing and arson emerged from Rohingya who fled to neighboring Bangladesh.

For those left behind in the rattan-walled frontier villages the violence and insecurity is unrelenting, locals told reporters, under the watch of Myanmar border forces who steered the visit.

“Our husbands are on the run.

They left us because they are afraid of border guard police,” one Rohingya woman told AFP, requesting anonymity for safety reasons.

“They burned our house. We have no home and nothing to eat.

Our husbands are hiding somewhere.”

The large-scale military operation has abated but the area remains in lockdown, with sporadic killings by military patrols still intent on rooting out “terrorists”.

The UN believes hundreds may have died in what may be the bloodiest chapter of Buddhist-majority Myanmar’s years-long persecution of the Rohingya Muslims.

The minority are widely reviled as illegal migrants from Bangladesh, although many Rohingya families say their ancestors have lived in the area for generations.

Now a new peril has emerged: scores of local men have been abducted and murdered by unknown gangs of knife-wielding men, with state media reporting they are dressed in black and of-

ten wearing masks.

Authorities say the assassins are targeting leaders from the Muslim minority and anyone perceived to be a state collaborator. They blame Rohingya militants for the murders.

International Crisis Group analyst Richard Horsey says some 60 people may have been targeted in a “systematic” campaign “to take out Muslims who are in some way connected to, or perceived to be connected to, authorities”.

In an area stained by mistrust and rumor it is unclear who is behind the attacks―and the fear is intensifying in the face of the almost daily reports of killings.

Earlier this month unidentified men dragged father-of-six Atthu Suwan from the bed he was sharing with his wife in Maung Hnama village.

They stabbed the 44-year-old, who occasionally worked as a translator for local officials, and carried his body into the darkness, his family and friends told reporters on the government-run press trip.

“I haven’t even been able to eat since they took my son,” his elderly mother Moeyeyan Khatu said, her face etched with sadness.

On Monday state media report-

ed his body had been found abandoned in a nearby creek.

“We are fearful it [the killings] will happen again,” his neighbor, 67-year-old Hanumyar, told AFP. The government blames the attacks on the self-styled Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a newly formed Rohingya militant group.

The group denies any involvement, instead accusing the military in statements issued through an unverified Twitter account.

They do however claim the raids on police border posts last October.

The raids sparked the monthslong “clearance operation” by the military which sent more than 70,000 fleeing into Bangladesh.

Rohingya escapees shared harrowing accounts of security officers slaughtering babies, burning people alive and gang-raping women―abuses UN investigators said may amount to crimes against humanity.

The army denies the claims and says its response was proportionate in the face of terrorist interlopers.

But the crackdown sparked global opprobrium and the UN has commissioned a fact-finding mission to probe the violence. AFP

Iran deal will stay in place for now WSHINGTON―Donald Trump has backed away from a campaign promise to scrap a major nuclear security deal with Iran, with officials announcing the agreement and related sanctions relief will stay in place for now.

The Trump administration faced a new congressional deadline Monday to say whether Iran has curbed its nuclear weapons program in line with the accord.

Under the terms of the twoyear-old agreement, Tehran scaled back production of nukemaking material in return for massive sanctions relief.

“The conditions,” according to one official who the White House would not name publicly, “have been met, based on information available to the United States.”

The 2015 agreement rests on a series of technical benchmarks, and was seen in Washington as a way of avoiding military action to prevent Iran from getting a nuke.

But it has not relieved tensions between Tehran and Washington, which continue to clash particularly over conflicts in the Middle East like Syria and Yemen, where Iran-backed militias hold clout.

On a trip to Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia in May, Trump called on all nations to “isolate” Shiite Iran.

During his election campaign Trump denounced the deal― reached under former president Barack Obama―and promised to renegotiate it and get tough on Iran.

Trump has now twice affirmed Iran’s compliance since taking office, effectively keeping the deal in place.

But the White House took pains to stress it was not going soft on Iran, pointing to new non-nuclear sanctions and stricter implementation of the deal.

An official added: “We do expect that we will be implementing new sanctions that pertain to Iran’s ballistic missile program and fast boat program.”

“Iran remains one of the most dangerous threats to US interests and regional stability,” the official said.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in New York on Monday to attend a UN forum on development, said he has yet to discuss the nuclear deal with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

“There are no communications between myself and Secretary Tillerson,” Zarif said at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations. AFP

ATMOSPHERE. A general view of the atmosphere during The 24 Hour Musicals: Los Angeles at The Ace Hotel Theater on July 17, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Marriage voided after sex change SINGAPORE―Singapore has voided the marriage of a couple after the husband underwent a sex change, making their partnership a same-sex union that contravened the city-state’s laws, a report said Tuesday.

The couple married as man and woman in 2015 but the husband underwent a sex change operation and updated his national identity card to read “female”, the Straits Times newspaper reported.

But when the unidentified couple tried to buy a governmentbuilt apartment, they had to inform the authorities. Married couples receive state grants for first-time purchases of government apartments.

The marriage was voided several months later, making them ineligible to buy the apartment they wanted, the paper said.

Singapore’s Registry of Marriages said it would not give details on individual cases but cited the country’s laws which state marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

“At the point of marriage, a couple must be man and woman, and must want to be and want to remain as man and woman in the marriage,” it said in a statement.

Despite calls for change, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the country is not yet ready for same-sex marriage since society is still conservative.

Singapore maintains legisla-

tion dating back to British colonial rule making sex between men a criminal act although it does not actively enforce the law.

Jean Chong, who co-founded Sayoni, a Singapore-based lesbian advocacy group, told AFP that “policies need to catch up with the realities of society”.

“Families come in all shapes and sizes and of course while people get married as man and woman, there are those who transition along the way, so does this mean their marriage is no longer valid?”

Taiwan’s top court ruled in favor of gay marriage in May, paving the way for the island to become the first place in Asia to legalize same-sex unions. AFP

Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor

C4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Turkey activists to stay in custody

World

Separated by war, Iraqi children wait for parents D EBAGA, Iraq―Adel, 15, hasn’t seen his parents for the past nine months, but that was the price to pay to escape the brutal rule of Islamic State group jihadists in his northern Iraqi hometown.

“I miss my family, nine months is too long,” said the teenager, who is among hundreds of youngsters separated from their parents because of IS and the months-long battle that has expelled the jihadists from Mosul, the main city of northern Iraq.

Adel remembers the long trek on foot out of Hawijah―a town in Kirkuk province that is still held by IS―as he and others made their way to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.

“We walked all night, around 14 hours,” said the teenager.

He now lives in a camp for the displaced in Debaga region, southeast of Mosul, where he has been reunited with one of his brothers and some cousins.

Adel is not from the area, but the battle for Mosul has displaced hundreds of thousands of other civilians, many of whom now reside in camps near Iraq’s second city.

According to the UN’s children agency, UNICEF, more than 1,000 children under the age of 18 have been separated from their parents.

Adel is cared for by the Terres des Hommes Italia, a children’s aid organization, and is among 17 teenagers being sheltered by the charity, which organizes English and computer science classes and sports activities.

“The teachers treat us well. It’s like I’m at home here now,” said Adel.

In the common room, boys wearing T-shirts took turns to play ping pong or table football.

Others lay on mattresses in the dormitory next door busy with their mobile phones, while in the background Arab music blared out at full volume.

In the kitchen, three teenagers were helping the head cook prepare the day’s lunch, and they were learning how to bake bread.

Six months after Adel fled Hawijah, his parents also left for a camp for the displaced in Kirkuk province.

“The only way to contact them is by phone and sometimes on Facebook,” said Adel.

He hopes to go visit them after September, when he is due to resit his school exams after failing at a first attempt.

“There are just over 1,000 children who are separated and unaccompanied,” UNICEF’s Maulid Warfa said after a tour of the Mosul area.

His visit to eastern and western Mosul came after the Iraq government declared the city “liberated” from the jihadists who overran it three years ago.

“Separated means they are with relatives, but not their parents. Unaccompanied means they are all alone, and this group is our top priority,” said Warfa.

He said UNICEF was working to trace the families. “If we can’t find them, the courts will put them in a state institution.”

The UN official said he had met a boy of around seven whose left hand had been badly damaged in an explosion.

“He was clearly very distressed, not talking or interacting, even when we gave him a small ball to play with, he didn’t touch it. We were told his parents were killed in the blast,” he said.

Terre des Hommes official Abdulwahed Abdullah said children and teenagers separated from their families were at risk of psychological scarring. AFP

POSE. Actors dressed as Emoji characters pose for a photo at Sony Corporation’s New York headquarters with the cast of the Emoji movie ‘Girls Who Code And Oath For Good’ for World Emoji Day at the Empire State Building on July 17, 2017 in New York City. AFP

ISTANBUL―A Turkish court on Tuesday ordered that six human rights activists, including Amnesty International’s Turkey director, remain in custody for aiding a terror group, in a case the NGO called a “travesty of justice.”

Turkey director Idil Eser was detained on July 5 along with seven other activists and two foreign trainers during a digital security and information management workshop on Buyukada, an island south of Istanbul.

“Six were remanded in custody and four released on judicial control,” Amnesty International’s Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner told AFP. Prosecutors accuse them of “committing a crime in the name of a terror organization without being a member,” he said.

Their detention sparked international alarm and amplified fears of declining freedom of expression under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The ruling came a day after the activists, who have not yet been put on trial or formally charged, gave statements to prosecutors for the first time since their detention.

Eight of those detained were Turkish rights activists, including Ilknur Ustun of the Women’s Coalition and Veli Acu of the Human Rights Agenda Association. Four of those have now been released, Gardner said.

Two foreigners―a German and a Swedish national who were leading the digital information workshop―remain in pretrial detention.

Gardner said the court verdict was a “shocking travesty of justice.”

“It is politically motivated targeting not just of these six human rights defenders who have been remanded in pre-trial prison custody but it is taking aim at Turkey’s entire human rights movement,” he told AFP. “What we’ve learned today is that defending human rights has become a crime in Turkey,” Gardner added.

“After this decision none of us who defend human rights in Turkey, whether it is Amnesty International or other organizations, are safe in this country. This decision cannot be allowed to stand.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this month that the activists were detained on a tip-off they were working against the government, comparing them to those involved in a failed putsch in July last year. AFP

Rare frogs sold to save them from poachers QUITO―Poachers in Ecuador have long known the hefty prices their country’s rare frogs can fetch. But now environmentally conscious firms are starting to sell the amphibians too―to try to save them from the black market and threatened extinction.

In San Rafael, just outside the capital Quito, the scientific company Wikiri is raising 12 species of frog. Some are native only to Ecuador, while others are at risk of disappearing from their natural habitat elsewhere.

After being raised in hundreds of terrariums, they are sent to Canada, the United States, Japan and various European countries for up to $600 each.

That high value “gives you an idea just how profitable that activity [frog

poaching] can be,” Lola Guarderas, manager of the facility, told AFP. To illustrate her point, Guarderas showed a glass frog, with translucent skin through which its organs and beating red heart could be seen, as it moved along the edge of its container.

On the company’s grounds―5,000 square meters (54,000 square feet) made up of big gardens alongside a river―the frogs are reproduced in labs, so as not to affect local fauna.

They are then put into an “ethical bio-trade” circuit that is the opposite of the poachers’ illegal smuggling and sales.

“It’s totally different from the illegal trade in species, of those who go directly into areas to catch all [the frogs]

they can to then export them, to the detriment of the animals in the forest,” Guarderas said.

As well as running the frog farm, she is a coordinator for the Jambatu Center, which researches and preserves amphibians, and is hosted by Wikiri.

Ecuador, a relatively small South American nation, is home to one of the biggest displays of biodiversity on the planet.

It holds more than 600 species of frogs, of which nearly half can be found only in the country.

According to Ecuador’s environment ministry, 186 of the species are at risk of becoming extinct.

Authorities have banned the capture and sale of all wild animals.

But that hasn’t stopped the illegal trade from the Amazon―sprawled across Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname.

The activity is estimated to have brought in $1.3 billion for those involved between 2005 and 2014, ecological associations say.

Recently, the Jambatu Center announced something of a breakthrough: the reproduction in captivity for the first time of Atelopus ignescens, or the Quito stubfoot toad.

The black amphibian used to be widespread in Ecuador’s Andean regions but was thought to have become extinct three decades ago―until a tiny population was found last year. AFP

US health care reform collapses WASHINGTON―Two more US Republican senators announced their opposition Monday to their party’s efforts to revamp Obamacare, derailing the controversial legislation in its current form and potentially dealing a monumental setback to President Donald Trump.

Republican leaders are desperate for a major legislative victory this year―and keen to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge to dismantle the 2010 health care reforms of his predecessor Barack Obama, formally called the Affordable Care Act. But they had no votes to spare.

Republicans control 52 of the chamber’s 100 seats. Democrats are united against the controversial legislation, while Republicans Susan Collins and Rand Paul declared their opposition last week.

So when Senate conservatives

Mike Lee and Jerry Moran announced late Monday they could not support the bill, the news sent shock waves across Washington.

“We should not put our stamp of approval on bad policy,” Moran―who faced considerable opposition at home in Kansas to the measure―said in a statement, adding that the new bill “fails to repeal the Affordable Care Act or address health care’s rising costs.”

For Lee, “in addition to not repealing all of the Obamacare taxes, it doesn’t go far enough in lowering premiums for middle class families; nor does it create enough free space from the most costly Obamacare regulations.”

Their defections mean that the bill has no chance of even getting a vote on the Senate floor unless Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell decides to make significant changes to woo skeptics

back into the fold.

“Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now & work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate.

Dems will join in!” Trump tweeted after Lee and Moran made their opposition known.

In a statement McConnell acknowledged “regretfully” that his effort had failed. But he wasn’t giving up.

“So, in the coming days, the Senate will vote to take up ... a repeal of Obamacare with a twoyear delay to provide for a stable transition period,” he said, without setting a date.

“Inaction is not an option,” added a White House spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We look forward to Congress continuing to work toward a bill the president can sign to end the Obamacare nightmare.” AFP

CAST. The cast bows at the curtain call during The 24 Hour Musicals: Los Angeles at The Ace Hotel Theater on July 17, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. AFP

Life

Isah V. Red, Editor Bernadette Lunas, Writer isahred@gmail.com

FASHION & BEAUTY

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

D1

REVIVAL. Guess Originals and ASAP Rocky’s ‘Ice Cream and Cotton Candy’ collection features vintage pieces inspired by fashion trends from the ‘80s and the ‘90s.

Ice Cream and Cotton Candy I

NSPIRED once again by vintage pieces from the Guess archives, Guess Originals x A$AP Rocky is back by popular demand.

The “Ice Cream and Cotton Candy” collection is packed with the collaboration’s signature stripes and offers a clean palette of pastels.

The capsule unites timeless Guess designs with a contemporary flair. But while the previous Guess Originals x A$AP Rocky collection featured mostly unisex styles, the new 2017 assortment

will include many pieces exclusively for women. A$AP Rocky’s fond childhood memories of GUESS clothing combined with his vision of modernizing vintage items with new color ways results in a unique twist.

For the “Ice Cream and Cotton Candy” collection, pastel pinstripes and logo tees reign supreme throughout,

drawing on fashion trends revived from the ‘80s and ‘90s. Denim is at the forefront of this capsule offering high and low-rise bell bottoms, button-down and zip-front miniskirts, vintage rocker 1981 skinny jeans, ‘90s icon and cropped boxy jackets as well as baggy high waist jeans in a classic medium wash. GUE$$ logo-mania tees make a splash on mock-neck shirts, short-sleeved maxis and halfsleeved dresses as well as boxy ringer crop tops and oversized retro tees.

After months of waiting, the lim-

Brent Javier was present at the Guess private sale

ited edition A$AP Rocky collections, GUE$$ CLUB, and Ice Cream and Cotton Candy, are available in the Philippines.

At its private sale, social personalities Akiko Abad and Brent Javier were there.

The collection is exclusively available at Guess stores in Glorietta, Trinoma, Megamall, Mall of Asia, Ayala Alabang and SM Cebu.

For more information, visit www.

GUESS.com and www.facebook.com/ GUESSPhil.

Roger Federer and Kate Hudson explore the synergy between sport and style

Clockwise: Kitto in olive, Hawkins in brown, Deacon in taupe, and Blaze in black

What’s ‘ohw?’? ohw? is the shared vision of two footwear professionals with many years of experience. Their aim is simple: to bring a fresh approach to men’s footwear with contemporary and functional designs.

Designs are kept simple and uncluttered, allowing them to showcase these skills, the standard of their manufacturing and their attention to detail. ohw?’s design process takes place in the UK, beginning each season with numerous “field trips” for creative inspiration.

They collaborate with leading footwear designers to translate their pick of the latest trends and then work closely with their production team to develop these from concept into reality.

All the materials used are of the highest quality, ranging from premium suede and nubuck to full grain leathers.

Every pair comes with all leather laces, linings, and socks, as well as authentic details such as hand-stitching and size markers along the cut edges of the upper materials (the traditional

way that shoemakers indicate the sizes of cut pieces).

Although their designs are trend led, function is also a priority. All of their shoes and boots are designed to be “optimum fit” (pretty damn comfortable) and have combination rubber/phylon soles.

Phylon is more usually found in the midsole of sports shoes, which means their footwear is exceptionally easy to wear. From having their own factory to handpicking the people they work with, they believe that everything they do should be a reflection of who they are.

This is the reason they chose the name ohw? and why their first marketing creative features not models, but some of the people who work with them. This commitment extends to every part of the business because they want to emphasize the authenticity of the brand. For this reason, every pair of ohw? shoes is even individually handsigned by the person in the factory doing the final quality check. ohw? shoes are available at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza.

IN THIS month’s episode of CNN Style, host Derek Blasberg explores how sport is leaving its mark on high fashion, contemporary art and athletic wear.

Blasberg meets 18-time grand slam winner and eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer at the Nike headquarters to hear about Federer’s collaboration with Nike to create his own line. Federer tells Blasberg, “The idea is basically to bring the tennis classics into street wear.”

Federer continues, “I change my outfit probably 10 to 12 times a year, so it’s a huge opportunity to actually showcase great tennis looks... Wimbledon’s a big platform just because of its history. The world is watching. Everybody expects everything to be in white, yet with subtle stories, you can really have a big impact and with some special pieces.”

Explaining the details in the collection, Federer shows Blasberg one jacket which features 50 dots on the back: “These 50 little dots actually make the story of the 50 aces I hit in my Wimbledon finals to break the all-time grand slam record back in 2009 when I beat (Andy) Roddick. There’s a little storytelling all around the collection.”

Few people know more about the art of design and athleticism than legendary designer, Tinker Hatfield – the man behind Nike’s most iconic shoes.

When designing for Nike, Hatfield must ensure that the design performs well and scores highly aesthetically.

Hatfield explains, “Our primary purpose is to solve problems for athletes

and that is very scientific. So I think the fun part of my job and the other designers here at Nike is to combine those two very different things; the sports performance world and the fashion world.

And I think, somehow or other, we’ve managed to blend the two artfully and purposefully.”

It’s not only athletes who are combining sport and fashion in their designs.

Blasberg catches up with Kate Hudson

Tennis superstar Roger Federer’s collaboration with Nike features stylish pieces that can be worn from the court to the street

as she launches her latest collection for her sportswear label, Fabletics.

The Golden Globe-winning actress began her label after finding a gap in the market. Hudson states, “We fulfilled that white space in athletic wear for women. Cute, stylish, more fashion focused, more versatile and affordable.”

CNN Style airs on July 29 at 10 a.m. Watch CNN International for replay schedule.

Life

D2

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017 isahred@gmail.com

A smart way to fight

SKIN AGING

NuSkin’s ageLOC Me is a smart delivery device that dispenses skin care products customized to its user’s needs

By Bernadette Lunas

A

HAND dispenser of skin care products is paving the way for anti-aging innovation; it even has an award to prove it.

NuSkin’s ageLOC Me won The Techies 2016 award for the most innovative product in retail, thanks to its consistency, convenience, personalized approach to skin care regimen.

AgeLOC Me is a smart delivery device, a result of a $35-million four-year R&D project. It dispenses a customized regimen of anti-aging products, by the same company, of course, based on a skin care self-assessment of the user.

The app-based assessment (available on iOs and Android) takes into account skin care needs and concerns, environmental factors (such as current location), and personal preferences to determine the user’s specific set of products from more than 2,000 combinations.

In a way, it provides a solution to product choice overload some may face when looking for anti-aging products that best suit their needs, Nu Skin Enterprises Philippines corporate communications manager associate Ren de la Cruz told Manila Standard.

“With ageLOC Me, you answer questions and we find out the right

combination of products for you,” said De la Cruz.

The battery-operated customized skin care device has five cartridges: three for serums and two for moisturizers—day and night. Each serum addresses a certain skin aging concern: green cartridge for pigmentation, purple for cellular turnover, and blue for lines and wrinkles, they are mixed in accordance to the user’s needs.

AgeLOC Me precisely dispenses day and night regimen twice: serum first then moisturizer next.

“What we want you is for you not to have trouble applying or choosing which you would use more of [when it comes to serums]. So that when you put your hand under [the device], it dispenses exactly what your skin needs at the moment, based on the skin type and skin condition you have,” explains Dela Cruz.

Dispensing of products is touch-less and the cartridges

The MISSO s2o promises to extract up to 50 percent of oil from any small seed

The beauty wonders of seed oils BEFORE modern-day beauties there were royalties. Nefertiti and Cleopatra, the ancient epitomes of beauty, served as inspirations to women of all generations. While Nefertiti was adored for her religious revolution, Cleopatra used her charm and intellect to turn beauty into power. Their significant contributions to history kept their names retroactive until today but their timeless beauty included a secret. They have reportedly used black seed oil to keep their skins glowing and their hairs shiny.

Enter the technological era, producers of beauty products have gone head-to-head in a battle of the supreme.

Among the best is South Korea, highly known for its competence when it comes to beauty and cosmetics. This is no surprise, as a lot of Koreans are notable personalities in the show business and music industry. They are also very fond of using natural alternatives like the seed oil for skin care routine, despite South Korea being one of the leading distributors of chemical-based beauty products. Prominent Hollywood celebrities like Megan Fox, Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Emma Stone are some of the modern epitomes of beauty who are also known users of seed oil extracts.

In this modern age of technology and medicine, the rapid increase in demand for beauty products is inevitable and women are more motivated than ever to try a new beauty regime. Most of these beauty products, however, may contain hazardous chemicals which can be harmful if regularly taken in substantial amounts and can possibly be causes of diarrhea, nausea, skin irritations, and other relevant side effects. Beauty enhancement should not put one’s health at risk, but instead it should encourage a healthy life style. Loving one’s self is not limited to maintaining a figure or achieving a smoother skin. It is also essential to stay healthy.

Thankfully, nature answers this dilemma by providing a beauty regime without the need to compromise well-being.

The use of natural alternatives had be-

come important and relevant today, especially to those who are very conscious of their health, as it opposes the negative effects of chemical-based products.

Research has found that seed oils are more than just natural alternatives to beauty products. White sesame seeds, for example, are proven to be helpful in reducing wrinkles, whitening underarms, and relieving eczema and psoriasis. Aside from that, it also has the potential to lower blood cholesterol, cure sleeping disorders, and aid digestion. Flaxseeds can reduce cellulites and tighten the skin while also being able to help in menopausal symptoms and menstrual cramps. Black sesame seeds give a youthful glow and has the power to prevent cancer and relieve arthritis. Chia seeds are ideal natural moisturizers which helps oily skin and clogged pores. It is also high in omega-3, which can help improve brain function.

Seed oil extracts may also be used as cooking element. It may be used as alternatives to the usual cooking oils, as extenders in baking, or as flavors in condiments and sauces. This makes the seed oil versatile and very useful an essential that strikes beauty, wellness, and flavor.

Commercially produced seed oil extracts are far from affordable.

This fact makes personal seed oil extractors a home essential. Some brands from countries around the globe have produced their own extractors the new MISSO s2o Seed-to-Oil Wonder Extractor, a Korean electronic brand, promises an efficient oil extractor which can extract up to 50 percent of oil from any small seed. The brand also introduces the concept of “superseeds,” where consumers may experiment with their own mix of seeds to produce various mixtures of seed oil extracts not available in any market today. As the winner of the Korean Superb Brand Award for 2017, MISSO s2o Seed-to-Oil Wonder Extractor guarantees an oil extractor that’s safe, durable, and easy to use.

Visit or you may check MISSO s2o Seed-to-Oil Wonder Extractor in selected appliance and specialty stores nationwide.

are air-sealed, therefore it’s hygienic.

The device learns when the customer takes doses of serum; it subtracts the earliest and latest time to find out the average time the user takes his doses. It also blinks for 30 minutes or until it dispenses the regimen to remind the user should they have forgotten.

According Nu Skin officials, as told to Techworld, ageLOC Me caters to the three emerging trends in beauty today: the increase in popularity of anti-aging products, the trend towards product customization, and the growth of beauty devices industry.

“Nu Skin’s extensive experience and research in these areas, provides customers a personalized skin care regimen from a single, smart device that is easy to use,” said Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Joseph Chang.

AgeLOC Me is now available in the Philippines. Each unit retails at P40,000 and comes with a one-month calibration

Dispensing of products is touch-less

set, which, according to De la Cruz, is a mild version of each product to prime the user’s skin before they get into their personal regimen. A cartridge set is at P12,000, it comes with three 9ml serums and two 15ml moisturizers.

Visit www.nuskin.com.ph to find out more about this smart device.

Remove stubborn make up in just a few swipes REMOVING makeup at the end of the day is the no.1 rule most skin experts agree on. This is because as you go through your daily routine, pores can get clogged up with makeup, dirt, and dust—all of which can cause your skin to breakout in pimples, increase sebum production, or dry out your skin to the point of flakiness and peeling.

But, the constant rubbing that is typically needed to remove stubborn makeup, especially around the eye area, is also harmful to the skin and can lead to wrinkles, redness, or sagging. In order to keep skin smooth and supple, you have to have a good skincare regimen that involves a makeup remover that’s highly effective yet also gentle enough to use every day.

Biore Micellar Cleansing Water: Japan’s answer to stubborn makeup While there are plenty of makeup removers in the market these days, nothing compares to Japan’s no. 1 beauty brand, Biore. The Biore Micellar Cleansing Water and its new variant, the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water - Oil Control, have been proven to be two of the market’s most effective makeup removers

as well as two of the gentlest—as countless loyal fans will attest to.

Biore Micellar Cleansing Water lifts off more make-up in one wipe while leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed.

Just a pour a few drops on a cotton pad, gently press on stubborn make-up for five seconds then swipe – and enjoy the feeling of having clean, bare skin!

Made up of natural mineral water from the Japanese Alps, and enriched with collagen that leaves skin softer and more supple Biore Micellar Cleansing Water leaves skin clean, moisturized, and smooth—so you can say good-bye to damaged skin, and hello to beautiful skin.

Now, all you need to do to clean your face of the day’s dirt, grime, and even waterproof makeup is to swipe y o u r f a c e with a clean cloth dampened with Biore Micellar Cleansing Water. Even

if you’d had a long day, taking away your makeup and caring for your skin is practically effortless.

Thanks to Biore Micellar Cleansing Water, you can say good-bye to stubborn makeup without compromising the quality of your skin or your nightly downtime. Experience the genius of Japanese beauty innovation by stopping by any Watsons outlet a n d grab your bottle of Biore Micellar Cleansing Water today.

Biore Micellar Cleansing Water removes makeup in a few sipes

Women want beautiful underarms LADIES, let’s face it – we are beauty junkies, eagerly awaiting to try the latest skin and hair trends we see on our social media feeds, and on lifestyle websites. What we don’t realize is that there is another part of our body that’s often taken for granted but needs extra care and protection – our underarms. Even when we shave, pluck or wax them, we don’t always make sure they are cared for.

Dove is championing the need for enhanced care for this delicate and sensitive area of the body, and believes underarm care should be an extension of one’s beauty regime.

This year, Dove, the number one brand recommended by dermatologists, takes underarm care a step higher by launching their most skin-caring formula ever. The improved formulation promises to deliver superior care and mildness to underarm skin, all while maintaining the same level of sweat and odor protection as the previous one.

The new Dove deodorants also have an improved fragrance: softer and less harsh, but maintaining the signature clean and calming Dove scent. With this new extra-care formula found in all their variants, Dove deodorants stays true to its commitment of delivering only the best care for every woman.

For care and protection, Dove Original deodorant is front and center. It contains Dove launches its improved formulation that cares for underarm skin

Dove’s signature ¼ moisturizing cream to deliver gentle care, and to repair your underarm skin. Enriched with Vitamins E and F, it is specially formulated to take care of skin that’s constantly exposed to shaving, and waxing, giving you lighter, smoother underarms.

Stubborn dark spots? Dove Ultimate White is the ultimate solution. Made with face care serum ingredients like Omega 6 and hydrating glycerol, Dove Ultimate White lightens underarm skin from within, for ultimately beautiful underarms.

Armpit skin sensitivity is a common issue among women. To combat skin irritation, Dove introduces its new variant, Dove Sensitive. Created especially for sensitive skin, this hypoallergenic and fragrance-free product is also made with Dove’s signature ¼ moisturizing cream, and has no alcohol or colorants. It’s paraben-free, fragrance-free, and is made to nourish and calm the skin.

Trust only Dove to give the best care for your underarm skin. Experience Dove’s most skin-caring formula yet and achieve the beautiful underarms you’ve always wanted. That’s #TheBeautifulTruth.

Dove Deodorants are available in all leading supermarkets, department stores, and drugstores nationwide.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

Rhian Ramos holds first ever concert at Teatrino

I

NDEED, Rhian Ramos is a lady of so many talents.

Rhian Ramos marks the start of a new decade in showbiz with a concert

To celebrate her 11th year in show business, the GMA star is featured in a mini-concert at 6 p.m. at Teatrino, Promenade in Greenhills on July 29.

It is called Rhian of Steel, representing the metal that connotes her 11th year in the business. She says, “Doing a concert has been a long time fan request that I finally gave into after a decade of being intimidated by the mere thought of it.”

The mini concert will feature songs of love and strength chosen by Ramos herself. Her collaborators on stage will be the Skylight band and the Addlib dancers. The show is being produced by a great group of fans known as the Cyberhians.

By way of thanking her audience for the evening, goody bags with souvenirs from MySlim and Mogu-Mogu will be distributed. They will also be raffling off a three-day, two-night stay at the Rieseling Resort in Boracay and five Sun Life Personal Accident Insurance policies worth P50,000 each.

This mini concert is coming on the heels of her successful recording billed “Hear Me” composed by DJ Luanne and Mecha, with lyrics by Brian Lhoto and is distributed by Jay R’s, Homeworkz label.

Fans can stream it via Spotify and purchase on iTunes by clicking the respective links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/ album/5MtZP6CrGTcsaneyWvkCOi; iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ph/ album/hear-me-feat-rhian-ramos-single/id1249137335?i=1249137340.

You can also use #HearMeRhianRamos as hashtag. The single reached the Top 3 rank on iTunes on its release and the Top 11 spot on Spotify’s Viral 50.

Rhian continues to burn the racing tracks every month as she has found fulfillment winning several awards in this sport. She currently cohosts Full Throttle with Sam YG on Fox Sports and Taste Buddies with Solenn Heussaff on GMA News TV. She also appears in other GMA Network shows.

Readers of FHM have positioned her on its Top 3 Sexiest List in 2017.

And, to this day, her Saving Sally movie portrayal continues to reap recognition. She is very elated to be nominated alongside sterling names in the local movie industry like Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Jacklyn Jose, and Charo Santos in the recent Eddys because of her work in this film.

She considers this a wonderful recognition, by itself, already.

And Rhian has this to say to all those who have been there for her in the past 11 years: “To all of you who faithfully support my works and dreams, who believe in me...my ‘lid lifters’ who are there to help me grow and express new facets of myself...thank you.. you are all part of God’s immeasurable blessings.”

Cable shows to watch out for IF YOU are a big fan of anything and everything North Asian, especially Japanese, then Gem Channel is just right for you.

Since its launch in 2015, GEM has carved a niche in the premium Asian entertainment space offering first-run and exclusive drama series, comedy program, and variety entertainment shows from Japan and other northeast Asian markets.

“Our channel features first-run and exclusive drama series. They are aired within the same week as Japan. Some of the shows even air on the same day,” an executive from the network said during a recent media event in Greenhills, San Juan, “Gem is like Animax only the programs are live action.”

The general entertainment channel, which is a joint venture between Sony Pictures Television (STP) Networks and Nippon Television Network Corporation, is brewing up something for its avid viewers this month.

Here are the shows that fans can look forward to this month: My Loser Husband Just like any other couple, Tsukasa Kobayashi (Ryo Nishikido) and Sayaka (Mayu Matsuoka) have an embarrassing secret. While Tsukasa seems to be an ideal husband — physically attractive and has an impressive educational background — he is “extremely” incompetent at the workplace. He tries keeping the situation from his wife who believes him to be a star in the office. Having too much pressure to deal with, he wants to quit his job. However, the couple finds out that they will soon have a new addition to their family. Now, that complicates things even more. My Loser Husband premiered on July 8 and airs every Saturday at 9 p.m., same time as Japan.

Adventurous Journey Starring Leo Wu, Zhang Yu Xi, and Chen

Xiang, Adventurous Journey follows the misadventures of an Emperor’s loyal subject, Bai Ze (Leo Wu), who is on a mission to search for the mystical stars that will help restore peace and stability in their kingdom. Along the way, Bai Ze meets four teenagers – a troublemaker, a chef, a mysterious girl, and a princess – who join him in his journey. Adventurous Journey premiered on July 7 and airs Monday to Friday at 8 p.m..

Idol Heart Attack Featuring rising music acts including Astro, B.A.P, B1A4, BTOB, CLC, Cosmic Girls, Lovelyz, MONSTA X, VIXX, and UP10TION, the reality show is an intimate look at what Korea’s hottest idols are like offcamera. Viewers can get up close and personal with their favorite K-pop groups at their personal best as they take on the challenge of completing various missions to delight their fans. Idol Heart Attack premieres on July 22 and will air every Saturday at 10:40 p.m.

The Quest Season 5 With nail-biting stunts and amazing discoveries waiting at every turn, this is one variety show that is sure to keep

viewers at the edges of their seats. In the new season of The Quest, the show’s hilarious hosts travel once again to different parts of the world in search of answers to every mystery they encounter. The Quest Season 5 premiered on July 7 and airs every Friday at 10:10 p.m.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Wednesday, July 19, 2017

ACROSS 1 Laundry item 5 Dry-heat bath 10 Dangle 14 Assert positively 15 Urgent 16 Salchow relative 17 Toy building block 18 Click “send” 19 Old Italian money 20 Cries and whines 22 Contact 24 Lend a helping hand 25 Core 26 Got a ticket 28 Tall cactus 32 Cart 35 Colonial dance 37 Row of seats 38 Feel crummy 39 Fray 40 Apply makeup 41 Amphibian 43 Basin companion 44 Gazillions 46 Violent storm 48 One-and-only 50 “The Greatest” 51 Canal of note 55 Mortarboard features

59 Less obvious 60 Give off heat 61 Wee bits 63 Function 64 Little creek 65 Sibling’s daughter 66 Before long 67 Casually 68 Tableware item 69 Olin or Horne DOWN 1 Latin dance music 2 Bakery fixtures 3 Auspices 4 Stipulation 5 Lithe 6 Intends 7 Tony-winner — Hagen 8 Catch redhanded 9 Everything considered (3 wds.)

10 Flounder 11 Line of rotation 12 Rex Stout’s — Wolfe 13 Secluded valley 21 “PTI” channel 23 31-day mo.

27 Sketched 28 Crystal gazers

29 Non-soap opera 30 Enjoy a novel 31 Poets’ eyes 32 Blow gently 33 Ethereal 34 Mashed potato serving 36 Festive night 39 Lubricating again 42 Dreadful 44 Marble block 45 Middle 47 Pamplona yell 49 Musical works

52 Flying solo 53 Fruitstand item 54 Ice hockey locale 55 Lois of “Lois & Clark” 56 In the thick of 57 Window part 58 Farmland 59 Kangaroo pouches 62 Iced drink

Charlize Theron is an assassin in ‘Atomic Blonde’

Charlize Theron in hyperkinetic action film CHARLIZE Theron suits up as the most lethal of assassins in Atomic Blonde, a breakneck actionthriller that follows Theron’s Agent Lorraine Broughton, considered as MI6’s most skilled agent in the midst of a ticking time bomb of a city simmering with revolution and double-crossing hives of traitors.

Directed by acclaimed David Leitch, the director behind hits such as John Wick films and of the upcoming Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde is also based on the Oni Press graphic novel series The Coldest City by Anthony Johnston and illustrated by Sam Hart.

In a story by Deadline.com, Leitch details why he decided to do the movie, “The noir nature of the novel was very interesting, and there’s a graphic sensibility I really loved,” Set in 1989 on the eve of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron) is sent to Berlin to take down an espionage ring that has

killed an agent for unknown reasons. Willing to deploy any of her skills to stay alive on her impossible mission, Broughton partners with embedded station chief David Percival (James McAvoy) to navigate her way through the deadliest game of spies. The movie also stars John Goodman and Sofia Boutella.

The Hollywood Reporter sees Theron as the actress that “has all the steely cool such a movie needs but is forced to keep her wit stashed somewhere alongside her fake passports.”

Theron, who has played all kinds of roles ranging from action to drama, further reveals her versatility in Atomic Blonde as she engages in sleek action scenes brimming with intense sexuality, and dazzling style as a lethal fearless spy.

Atomic Blonde opens July 26 in cinemas from Pioneer Films.

Trailer link: https://www. facebook.com/ViewersChoicePH/ videos/1300603303399081/

Isah V. Red, Editor Nickie Wang, Writer isahred@gmail.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2017

ISAH V. RED

T

WO weeks ago, the Society of Philippine Entertainment Editors or SPEED, of which I am the president, debuted the first Eddys, the name given to the movie awards we decided to give to artists, craftsmen, and technicians that labor in what we, despite its obvious deficiencies, call movie industry.

Whatever, I personally admire the persistence of the people that make up the Philippine film community and marvel at how they flaunt the triumphs they earn in either major or minor international film festivals.

But, it also saddens me that most of them ignore the recognition that local organizations, like SPEED, try to bestow on the people that first and foremost should be glad they are being recognized by fellow Filipinos. Is that how lowly they look upon themselves that they would only rejoice when juries in Cannes, Venice, San Sebastian, New York, Berlin and other festivals abroad acknowledge them and think that a local award doesn’t bear weight?

I watched the telecast of the Eddys last Sunday on ABS-CBN, not because I was there, but simply because I want to see how an awards show would look like without the nominees and eventually the winners.

SAD, that’s how I felt. But I told myself as I drifted off to dreamland (the show was short but ended at about 1 a.m. Monday),”This was just the beginning. Perhaps, the local movie folks needed more time to digest what The Eddys is all about after years of exposure to the FAMAS, Star Awards, et al. And I just had to console myself of the thought that not many in the industry know that there is such an ‘entertainment editor” after years of dealing with ‘kolumnistas’ and ‘reporters.’ The realization will come, not in my time perhaps.” So I slept the rest of the night.

The Eddys doesn’t want to rock the local movie industry, albeit just wants to contribute something more positive and help the industry reach the goals (if it has any) they have set in the coming years.

To those who made The Eddys worth the days and nights of work and anticipation among the members of the Society, I am extending my heartfelt gratitude.

I am very thankful that some people can be generous in extending their assistance to make our first Eddys a success. One of them is talent manager/TV host/ columnist Lolit Solis for allowing her talents Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino to be part of the awards night. Thanks Lolit, Boyet, and LT for giving The Eddys the much-needed lift.

Of course, my heartfelt thanks to the father-son tandem of Edu Manzano and Luis Manzano for making the show more than just a run-of-the-mill awards show.

You’re a great hosting tandem.

Thank you for

Clockwise: Lorna Tolentino and Christopher de leon were the presenters of Best Picture and Best Director, Ogie Alcasid and Martin Nievera performed a medley for a tribute to Willy Cruz

the support for

THE EDDYS

From left: Luis and Edu Manzano hosted The Eddys; Maryo de los Reyes accepted the Posthumous Award for Jake Tordesillas; Boy Abunda and Mother Lily Monteverde received their special awards

I also appreciate for the time Martin Nievera and Ogie Alcasid gave to SPEED that night for the Eddys and my sincerest gratitude for capping the show with aplomb.

Most of all, I am very grateful for those who came to receive their awards – Mother Lily Monteverde (Producer of the Year), Boy Abunda (Joe Quirino Award), and Director Maryo J. de los Reyes for accepting the group’s Posthumous Award to screenwriter Jake Tordesillas.

And my thanks as well to Jason Cayabyab who gave the Joe Qurino award to Boy Abunda, and Manny Pichel’s sister Lolly Mara and her son Tata who presented the award to Lav Diaz (accepted on behalf of the director by Ronald Arguelles of Cinema One) for giving their assent of the SPEED’s special awards.

Also, I am grateful to Annabelle Rama and Jun Lalin for making sure the Gutzy couple –Richard Gutierrez and Sarah

Labahti – was in the show; the same with Sylvia Sanchez for asking her son Arjo Atayde to be a performer. Many, many thanks to you all, I was also deeply touched to see nominees Nora Aunor, Rhian Ramos, and Isabel Lopez at Kia Theater on the night of July 9. Though they didn’t go home with the Eddy, their presence could only mean one thing…going to awards show is not about winning, but about

being with the people in the industry.

I’d like to thank, specially, Jhops Cruz of DMCI for facilitating the group’s screening of films at One Castilla Place weeks before the awards night.

In essence, since the local movie industry doesn’t have something similar to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, SPEED would like to think, in due time, our awards night will be like the annual Oscars, or if not, the Golden Globes.

Where to catch K-Fever on SKY THERE’S a bug going around and people are more than happy to catch it. The Filipino obsession with Korean pop culture is at a fever pitch. Here are five programs that can satisfy anyone’s appetite for K pop culture.

1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo on ABS-CBN The worldwide phenomenon made its Philippine free TV debut in none other than the first and true home of Asianovelas, ABS-CBN. The romantic Korean drama takes the place of another Korean favorite, “Goblin” in the late night primetime slot. Fans will surely get hooked on watching the love grow between weightlifter Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) and her childhood friend Jung Joon-Hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk).

Watch it on weeknights on ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN HD. 2. Bride of Habaek on tvN The anticipated Korean drama, The Bride of Habaek is now on tvN. Nam Joo-hyuk (Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo) stars as Habaek the water god, who is seeking his wife. Who he finds is Yoon So-A, a psychiatrist played by Shin Se-kyung (Six Flying Dragons). However, before he gets his bride, Habaek must first convince her that he’s not crazy. Rounding out the cast are other Korean stars; Lim Juhwan (Uncontrollably Fond), Gong Myun of 5urprise, and Krystal of f(x). Tune in every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9:45 p.m on tvN. 3. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho on Jeepney TV Lee Seung-ki and Shin Min-a are back as Cha Tae-wong and Mi Ho in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. Re-watch and experience on Jeepney TV every Saturday and Sunday at 8:20 p.m. and 10 p.m. all of the kilig in this beloved 2010 K drama about a magical creature who falls in love with a man.

4. Fight for My Way on KBS Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) was big man on campus in high school as a Taekwondo star, while his friend Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won) was looking forward to a successful career in broadcasting. Unfortunately, life did not turn out exactly how they wanted it to. Will they get a second at their dreams? Find out by watching Fight for My Way Monday

through Friday at 8:50 p.m. on KBS. 5. BigBang MADE on E! The kings of K Pop need no introduction. Go on a whirlwind journey around the world with G Dragon, T.O.P., Taeyang, Daesung, and Seungri on their M.A.D.E. World Tour. Watch exclusive footage of their performances, backstage bonding, and also never-before-seen interviews with the boys. The concert documentary gives fans a rare look into the life of the band on the road. It premiered on E! on July 15, Saturday at 6 p.m..

ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN HD, tvN, Jeepney TV, KBS, and E! are available on SKY. For more information on how to subscribe head to www. mysky.com.ph or call 418-0000 or your local SKY office.

Korean drama 'Bride of Habaek' is on tvN

From left: Tom Rodriguez, Carla Abellana, and Dennis Trillo are in a love triangle in GMA's late night soap

‘I Heart Davao’ among most buzzed about shows worldwide VIEWERS and netizens alike cannot help but gush over GMA Network’s primetime offering I Heart Davao (iHD).

Starring Carla Abellana, Tom Rodriguez, and Benjamin Alves, I Heart Davao outdid competition on its pilot week and even earned a spot in the top 10 most-buzzed-about shows worldwide.

The latest romcom produced by GMA Public Affairs dominated the ratings from June 26 to 30, based on Nielsen Philippines TAM’s Urban Philippines people data. On its first episode, it got a 7.4 percent people ratings (based on overnight data); while ABS-CBN’s A Love to Last only managed to get 6.2 percent. I Heart Davao continued its winning streak as the Kapuso teleserye triumphed over competition

for the rest of its pilot week.

I Heart Davao will only air for eight weeks, but it also made waves on various social media networks during the same period. New York-based international media business website WorldScreen.com has included in its Social Wit List I Heart Davao as the fourth most buzzed-about show for the month of June.

The show garnered around 36,000 Twitter and Facebook comments on its pilot episode last June 26. According to Wit List, netizens reacted to iHD as “#Exciting”, “#Funny”, and “#Cinematic”. iHD joined TNT’s NBA Awards ceremony, Brazil’s A Casa on Record TV, and Tales on BET in the U.S. in the top four.

I Heart Davao airs weeknights after My Love From The Star in GMA Telebabad.